Hostess Brands, Inc. — maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ring Dings, Funny Bones, Yodels and Wonder Bread — is going out of business for good, liquidating. The sudden news, which came Friday, prompted a few entrepreneurial souls to raid stores across the area, buy up the remaining Twinkies and sell them on eBay. Such are the times (and the economy) we live in.

For most of us, getting along without those sugary treats will be easy enough. But it will be a lot harder for the company’s 18,500 workers, who will soon be laid off. In addition to its factories, Hostess operated 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers and 570 outlet stores across the country.