How is the Milk Arrowroot holding up?

Today we saw the Australian market fall, albeit not by as much as that in the US. We also saw a dual press conference with the Master and his Apprentice --- very serious stuff. Sound prudential regulations...blah blah blah...good relative position compared to overseas...blah blah blah...4 out of 20 AA-rated institutions in Australia...blah blah blah. Alan Kohler has pointed to an IMF report that sings the same tune.

Even with all these positive vibes, it's probably wise to start asking some questions.

Old skool biscuit action.

Such as: is my wage going to stagnate? Is the value of my house going to plummet? Or just generally, are things going get a bit shit (not as much as I-really-need-to-do-runny-number-twos-and-the-only-option-is-to-go-on-the-ground-but-oh-no-its now-running-down-my-leg but a bit more than I'm-stuck-in-a-traffic-jam-and-really-need-to-wee-but-have-this-500mL-Sprite-bottle)?

And even more generally, am I more likely to get stabbed/bashed/held at knifepoint in the Safeway carpark at night? Are my best mates more likely to get a divorce? Are the hospitals going to be overflowing with sick people?

Aha. I can answer that last one. Sort of. (Not really.)

Christopher Rhum, a health economist in the US, has conducted a series of studies on economic growth and health. A few interesting findings.

1. Mortality tends to go down when the economy is in recession. Why? Good times bring about different deaths compared with bad times. Good time deaths = motor vehicle accidents, and heart disease. Bad time deaths = suicide. Cancer is not strongly correlated either way.

2. When the economy weakens, people clean up their acts by:

• smoking less;
  
• drinking less heavily; and
  
• exercising relatively more.

Interestingly, this result is borne out amongst the alcos, nicotine addicts and bariatrics (that's the nice sciency word for people who just can't say no to fried items out of a bain marie). Those of us who only fancy the odd tipple, a social puff and have just breached the threshold where they can no longer squeeze into their skinny jeans, are not likely to change their consumption patterns. But unclear whether this finding has accounted for relative income differences. If not, then probably not that exciting.

More here.

R.I.P. & near death experiences.

Good morning friends,

The US Congress has rejected its own cooked up proposal to throw $700 billion worth of floaties to the sinking US economy.

What does this mean? Well immediate effects = record drop in Dow Jones index, damaging blow to John McCain's (suspended) campaign efforts after his hand-on-heart support for the bill, a few US regional banks will probably file for Chapter 11 in the next 24 hours, Seek.com will receive a record number of hits from investment bankers looking for a change in career.

And in Oz? It's all about China. If China is affected by the US then in turn, Australians will feel some pain. In fact, there will be some pain no matter what. One word - superannuation. (I really should go to a seminar about that one day...)

What to do? Perhaps pass on the foie gras for now.

The question is - will the Milk Arrowroot of an economy make it?
In other news, a man has died in England from gorging on his own 'super hot' chilli concoction. I must say, the news shocked me deeply as I am a large fan of chilli. This is a sad day for chilli lovers and those prone to spice in their life.

More details here

Whiter shade of Palin

The biggest blight on women to come out of Alaska, the US or even the womb = Sarah Louise Heath Palin.

I had the top score on Big Buck Hunter Pro at the local for 8.3 years.

But it ain't all bad. She has some value... comedy wise.

This dress used to match our old bathroom tiles. // Sadly, my cullotts were in the wash but I still had my puffy shirt.

Has anyone seen the Nair?

Har har.

Although you don't want to laugh too hard because when everything is said and done, it is possible that this woman would be able to take the helm as the leader of the "free world".

Possible but hopefully unlikely scenario is as follows:

Step 1: John McCain could beat Barack Obama to the presidency.

Yessssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ridgey Didge Baby!!!!!!!
Hot microwaved goods are on me.

Step 2: John McCain might die in office. The man is an ox health-wise but lately has been sporting a grey waxen hue. He also has had glazy vision and cannot move his shoulders:

I can feel you but can't see you...

and then ARGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Introducing the Queen of Ice.

In the beginning.

Welcome to Confessions of a Crazy Mind.

There has been a fair share of kerfuffle in the set up of this blog. But good things come to those who wait... or do they?

Here it is. The start of existence:

Or in secular form, if you are that way inclined:

Aunty Marcia says: "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Speaking of Aunty Marcia, I feel absolutely blessed to have seen last night's ep of Idol. She used the h-word. As in the Santa saying but minus two of the extra h-words. Um-mah! Very naughty.