Quiet desperation

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things."

A MODEST PROPOSAL. Robert Reich has a simple--and timely--idea about green jobs: put young and jobless people to work dealing with BP oil mess.

LISTEN TO THE MINERS. This editorial in the NY Times speaks approvingly of WV Senator Jay Rockefeller's call for coal mine safety reforms that protect whistleblowers and hold corporate executives more accountable for safety violations.

THIS IS REALLY WEIRD, but El Cabrero's beloved state of West Virginia isn't doing all that badly, at least compared with most other states, in dealing with the recession.

THIS EXPLAINS A LOT. Adolescent brains seem to be wired for risk-taking.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED