So I have some kweshuns for you:

How worried are you, at this point, at much of the econ news that's coming down the pipe right now? How are you faring, personally, and how are your fortunes, for what they are, growing or shinking or otherwise changing? I love Meaningless Personal Anecdotes, I'd love to hear yours.

Also: have you ever made "brine pickles?" If so, how'd they turn out? Where did you 'age' them? What veggies did you use? There's this brand of Israeli pickles I love, with the very simplest of ingredients. But they're brined, and I'm not willing to do that...yet. Have you? Did it work out? What did you use?

I'm fortunate, this year at least. I found/saved up enough to put up a very nice holiday table. I may not be able to buy such luxe again, soon. So I'm all about Grandma's Special Recipe and any gourmet touches you've found to add to your homegrown. I invite all area liberals to my "family is gone away for the holiday visit" party at my post-Thanksgiving holiday weekend party this year, and likely others in future gawdless holidays. I don't think I can stand to read about one more "my family called and said we won't be talking politics this year" dinner request/invite/command. Call me crazy, but no one tells me what I can say, or not, at the dinnertable. Evah.

I'm reminded of that scene in Godfather III, for which I can't seem to find a YouTube, in which Michael learns that Old Yurp ain't so askeerd of his new world tough guy shit after all. I don't know jack about econ, but this seems important to me:

IHT - Politicians, regulators and financial specialists outside the United States are seeking a role in oversight of American markets, banks and rating agencies in the wake of recent problems related to subprime mortgages.

Their argument is simple: The United States is exporting financial products, but losses to investors in other countries suggest that American regulators are not properly monitoring the products or alerting investors to the risks.
"We need an international approach, and the United States needs to be part of it," said Peter Bofinger, a member of the German government's economics advisory board and a professor at the University of Würzburg.