...In Iceland, that is. Former Prime Minister Geir Haarde is on trial for negligence over the 2008 financial collapse. From the BBC:

The recession has come to Sesame Street, as the show plans to introduce us to a new Muppet named Lily, a little girl whose family struggles to afford food.

Here's depressing news from our nation's most depressing state. Residents of Flagler County, FL are eagerly awaiting the opening of a two-in-one Red Lobster/Olive Garden restaurant, hoping it will provide much needed jobs and revitalize a struggling community.

According to a new survey done by U.S. News & World Report, people under 30 have watched the current financial horrorshow unfold and have taken lessons from you idiots. Namely, they're going to pay down debt and save their money.

In case you were worried about the ongoing recession, here, in a video about a woman who is already camping outside a Best Buy to be first for post-Thanksgiving sales opportunities, is proof that our economy is back on track.

As America's Second Great Depression wears on and the Christmas season approaceth, it's time to think about present budgeting, even for the nation's top 10% of wealth. They've settled on a spending figure, and it's even lower than last year.

The Way We Live Now: dangerously close to the dark side. The American worker is a timid bird, quick to skitter about based upon the slightest change in economics forecast. Will you ever work again? As a brick thief, yes!

The Way We Live Now: riding the roller coaster. Playing the blame game. On the comeback trail. On the rebound. Entrepreneurially. And all sorts of other cliches that add up to one big goat on the roof, economically speaking.

The Way We Live Now: spacing out. Fly your pie in the sky if you so choose, sheeple—meanwhile, China grabs the money, Spain grabs the zombies, and the government grabs your home. But enjoy your space trip, sure.

The Way We Live Now: spreading fitfully. Moving warily. Gazing wistfully. Charging droopily. It would be an overstatement to say that good times are here; nevertheless, we can safely say that bad times are... somewhere. Here? That wouldn't be good.

The Way We Live Now: looking to the East. The future is in China, friends. Everyone "in the know" knows it. American richies are favoring the Chinese with obsequious bows. Meanwhile, the Chinese rich are assholes, just like us.

The Way We Live Now: hoodwinked. And bamboozled! Where is our revolutionary agenda? What do we get for finally electing a Manchurian Candidate-style socialist Muslim to the presidency? Business tax cuts! We are disappointed! And fearful!

The Way We Live Now: short. And sweet? Well, one out of two ain't bad. Who wants to dwell on economic troubles longer than necessary when it's time to leave work and wish you had the money for a vacation?

The Way We Live Now: getting out. Packing it up. Packing it in. Rolling it up. Leaving the market. Leaving the schools. Leaving the food behind. Leaving Las Vegas. Fuck it.

The Way We Live Now: ignoring all evidence. Did you buy stocks, like we told you? Wall Street is up today! Despite the fact that we can't even afford the name-brand Trapper Keeper for our kids. Ignore that!

The Way We Live Now: stoically ignoring that which is impossible to ignore. Homeless people are everywhere, for chrissake. Investors worldwide are dumping stocks. Wages are down everywhere. A bad storm's a-coming. Cover up or get blown down.

The Way We Live Now: buying stocks. You better be! We are telling you, brother. You want a plan for long term financial success? Buy stocks. Right now. This is not even a joke.

The Way We Live Now: separating the chaff. It's the easiest job in the world: there's only chaff left. No wheat. No firehouses. No Cipriani. No independent dentists. Not even any credit card profits. Big bowls of chaff for everyone!

The Way We Live Now: in perfect balance. For every positive economic development, there is a negative one. Foreclosures down? Loan delinquencies up. Higher pay? Higher risk. Good job? Bad job. Smile? Hit a banker with an acid bomb.