Well, if there is a silver lining to this thing, I think it is that its motivating people to become more knowledgeable about economics and more responsible with their personal finances. I've been devouring every thing I can find about this crisis out of pure intellectual curiosity. Economics is endlessly fascinating, such a delicate balance resting on complex interrelations and yet...such an inexact science, subject to the vagaries and capriciousness of human behavior and perception.

Personally, this crisis is having a measurable effect on my career goals. I am fortunate enough to have scholarship offers to several law schools. As of a few months ago, I was relatively convinced that I wanted to turn down these offers and pursue a career in the creative arts. Now...I just don't think I can justify that. I hope to still pursue the arts during my spare time, and who knows where the future will take me, but that law degree from a top school will be more of a commodity in an unstable economic climate. Ultimately it will be more valuable for my long term goal to support a wife and family, which supersedes any personal career goals I may have.

I'm a little disappointed, but I can live with my choice. The people who really need our sympathy and support are those who worked their whole lives, saved wisely, and never spent beyond their means, who are nevertheless seeing their retirement accounts and especially college saving funds for their kids being wiped out. Imagine working your whole life to be able to give your children better opportunities than you had, and then not being able to send them to college because the market has collapsed. This thing is real, and affecting real people in tragic ways. I don't think it is at the absolute breaking-point crisis level yet (though it might escalate to that if some plan to inject liquidity into the credit market and prevent a freeze is not enacted) but don't think this is just affecting greedy wall street execs and irresponsible people who took out risky subprime mortgages--even responsible people who did nothing wrong are being affected.

That must have been some homecoming for the homeowners:

Neighbor: Hey there, folks. While you were out I saw two men stealing your VCR.

homeowners: Oh, dear.

Neighbor: Oh no, don't worry. I confronted them with a fully-loaded shotgun and then mercilessly blasted them in their backs as they tried to leave. They writhed in agony, full of burning hot lead, as they bled to death on your front lawn...No need to thank me!

homeowners: Um.....okaaaay...that was one way to go...

(sorry if this is a double post) I don't feel bad for the robbers. Of course I guess I really wouldn't feel bad for Joe Horn if the robbers' relatives were to come and blast him in the back as he was walking into his house. Neither party in this incident demonstrated a modicum of respect or compassion for fellow humanity so f@#k 'em all I guess.

What a loser. If you want to keep a gun locked up at home, fair enough. But this is just another example of mediocrity and stupidity insinuating itself into society. Normal people in society talk about literature, film, music, etc. These gun-obsessed (i.e. must always be in possession of their weapon) people are too stupid or illiterate to engage in such conversation, so they create their own niche clique where guns become an object of obsession and worhsip. Trust me, this is the kid who had no friends in high school because he had no humor, wit, or imagination, so he turned to guns as a way to fit in with other gun-obsessed losers.

Like most Americans, I was thoroughly dissatisfied with the Bush presidency. McCain supports many of Bush's failed policies--in 2008 and 2007 he voted with Bush 100% and 95% of the time, respectively. Thus McCain is obviously not the right choice if a change of course is desired. I believe Obama has the potential to bring about that change. Who better to restore the constitution than a scholar of constitutional law? Who better to unite us than someone whose base of support reaches across gender, class, racial, and etnic lines? Obama has even demonstrated an ability to reach across the political divide and accomplish goals (obama-lugar nonproliferation legislation, e.g.)Most of all, Obama is incredibly intelligent (you don't become president of the harvard law review if you're an idiot)and speaks to us like we are mature, intelligent adults. My hope is that he will raise the level of discourse in this country so are no longer manipulated by fear; no longer manipulated by the machinations of those who think every issue is a matter of patriot vs. traitor, war vs. surrender. Diplomacy, international cooperation, prosperity, and peace--at least we have a chance for these things with Obama. Even if its a small one, its still a bigger chance than we would have with another Republican administration.

dog-eat door

Fang Shui

"peek-a-bamboo, I see you"

(sorry for all the comments, I'm really bored at work)

One of the most tragic dismounts in the long and storied history of panda gymnastics.

*Edit:

Panda diplomacy took a turn for the worse when, in 1976, China’s prized Ling-Ling offered a blatant and distasteful “up yours” to American diplomat Henry Kissinger (not pictured).

Panda diplomacy took a turn for the worse when, in 1976, China's prized Ling-Ling offered a blatant and distasteful "up yours" to America.

For the longest time, I thought 6.02 x 10^23 was known as "Avocado's Number." This was puzzling to me, as I could not comprehend how avocados were a basic unit of measurement in chemistry. My confusion was eventually allayed when I realized that it was "Avogadro's Number" and that guacomole does not, in fact, appear on the periodic table of elemnts.

"It's okay, I'm a limo driver"

I can do you one better. Here's a clip from the local news in Columbia, MO (where the University of Missouri is located). I'd say this one has the comedy edge, due to the news lady's protracted "uhhhhhhhhh"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=INl10X5ZL9s

The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you! Be gone from this belly, Satan!