However, this is unlikely, because in the US the government happens to be debt addict and gambler number one. As individuals, we may have been as virtuous as we wished, but the government will have still run up exorbitant debts on our behalf.

While it may be true that the government is addicted to debt, a big part of the problem is that most people are too.

I think my most recent smile would be the msbelle and mac show, although Isaac putting on his sister's Dorothy-esque sparkly red shoes and running around the playground shouting "here comes the astronaut! OH NO! Ready for BLAST OFF!" was also made of win.

From Kos (quote of former Republican Rep. Mickey Edwards):

Oh, brother. What idiot came up with this stunt?

It ranks somewhere on the stupidity scale between plain silly and numbingly desperate. McCain and Obama are both members of the senate and they're both able to help craft a solution if they wish to do so without putting the presidential campaign on hold; after all, I’m sure congressional leaders would be willing to accept their calls if they have some important insights to impart. And while one of them will eventually become president, neither one is president yet, nor is either one a member of the congressional leadership; I’m confident that somehow the administration and the other 533 members of congress will be able to muddle through without tapping into the superior wisdom and intellect of their nominees. Sorry, john; it really sounds like you're afraid to debate. This sounds like the sort of ploy we used to use in junior high school elections.

[link]

I'm with Dana in the wanting to have a tantrum camp.

billytea, I'm here looking for you. I was just talking to a coworker who teaches an evening journalism class and we got talking about Komodo Dragons. She referred me to an article that she uses in class, an interview with Sharon Stone about what happened when Phil Bronstein was bitten. It's from 2001 so maybe you've seen it, but, well, anyway, here: [link]

I'm with Dana in the wanting to have a tantrum camp.

Count me in and pass the bottle.

The solution to both these pitfalls is to combine any bailout with improved regulation and oversight (I think transparency is a good place to start, let the markets know what risks the banks are taking), and to make sure that there's plenty of pain for the captains of finance who forgot in spectacular fashion that markets go down as well as up.

Totally and completely agree with you, billytea.

I'm sure the current administration will get right on that.

And, if it weren't apparent before, it's official. I love billytea so so much.

I agree with the regulations. And I have a particular thought about the consequences. I think the actual bailing out should consist of taking over the institutions that need bailing out. No buying of assets no accepting of warrants that leave a stake for existing stockholders. You are profitable or able to pay your debts or can work out a deal with your creditors, more power to you. You can't, congratulations, you are now government owned. Not the only thing that needs to be done, but should be part of the bailout.

Timelies all!

Need to do a couple of things, then I head to the airport. Whee!

Don't you think he looks tired?

t loves Amych

The last thing that made me smile was Dylan saying "Byebye!" to me this morning when I left for work. He's starting to "get" non-noun parts of speech and it is so fucking cool!!!! (Like, this morning when I picked him up to give him a hug but he wanted to be running around with his musical toothbrush and he said "DOWN!" Awesome!)

Dude, I woke up and got my ass to work by 7:50 for an 8:00 meeting that yesterday afternoon got changed to 8:30 and I didn't notice. Well, poop.

Slacktivist made me smile: NEW YORK -- Mets manager Jerry Manuel announced Wednesday night that, due to the urgency and gravity of the financial crisis on Wall Street, the New York Mets will be suspending their pennant race. "This is just too important," Manuel said. "It's time to put country first."