A few random things

1. Note to self: start downloading and listening to Podcasts to and from work. I've had several people mention their own penchants for doing this to me in the last week; I should at least look into it. Does anyone have any recommendations? If not, I'll probably just start with NPR and go from there.

2. Mark Morford's columns. I've already forwarded this recommendation to many of my lady friends, but the entire world should know about them. While they certainly are not going to appeal to everyone (warning: SUPER DUPER liberal - he writes for the San Francisco Chronicle, after all), they are funny and loaded with sarcasm. Best recent column: "Thank God You Are Not Karl Rove".

3. Cookblog with girlfriends. I've started one. Mainly I just post on it. Maybe other people don't blog (and actually, in glancing at my archives, I hardly qualify as a bonafide blogger either), but they always say they will. I'm hoping it's just a slow start and the other girls will come through. But who knows? Anyway, if you're interested in my thoughts/experiences with cooking (now that I'm all out in the "real world"), feel free to check it out here.

4. Talking shop with strangers. Do other people do this or just me? Is it interesting like I find it, or just obnoxious? So hopefully, you haven't been living under a rock recently and have noticed all of the subprime lending/housing/credit crises currently unfolding in our lovely little economy. Basically, we've screwed most of the world over by taking advantage of super low interest rates and easy credit, lent money to people who sometimes didn't even have to prove their income (low documentation loans - nice.), lent money to people who didn't even have to put up a down payment (100% loan-to-value - nice.), created all sorts of exotic loan structures (interest only, negative amortization, option ARMs - nice.), then built a whole crapload of houses because everyone was buying - some were buying second homes, first homes, investment properties, everyone was flipping properties, and in some areas, this caused HUGE home price appreciation (near 50% in one year in Phoenix). Now it's come back and bit us in the ass, just like everyone knew it would. And the funny thing is, while we certainly weren't the only ones doing this, we were definitely the biggest source of the problem, and now, the ENTIRE WORLD economy is being affected. So that's the problem, that's what my job entails knowing about. I've gotten into so many random conversations, with friends, lovers and strangers, about this that I'm wondering if they even care. It fascinates me, but do you think it fascinates them? It's a pretty dismal subject, and I tend to treat it with a little bit of sarcasm and contempt, despite the fact that foreclosure rates have skyrocketed (and I DO feel bad for homeowners who were suckered into these loans or fraudently treated - but not the ones who knowingly overextended themselves and certainly not for the sophisticated investors who took on so much risk - you knew what it was, and you're getting exactly what you deserve). I always wonder how much to keep to myself. Thoughts? Oh, and on a similar note, I hope you all have seen this.