The Way We Live Now: Out of proportion. Small portions of the housing market may be stabilizing. The world economy may not collapse any further. Ah well. We're already fully invested in jewel thieving and brilliant ATM scams.

Look, there's some "hope that the real estate market is beginning to recover." In Miami, a small amount of the huge pool of trash, useless condos are beginning to sell. And this mysterious "Beige Book" says "the recession is losing force or economies are beginning to stabilize." But not both!

That smells like success, economically speaking! Positive mental attitude=housing for everyone.

Luckily we've hedged our bets by buying a chunk of the marketing rights to the story of the Pink Panther jewel thieves. The rest of you: just put on a disguise, go to the ATM, withdraw all the money from your account, tell the bank someone stole your ATM card, let them refill your account, and repeat. It's the American way.

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