You can look to the news for signs that the global economy is
weakening. There are the obvious stories about the cost of gas, the
bursting housing bubble, the price of silver, and over-extended
"consumers*".

*aka: people...who buy stuff

But it's the little stories on page A10 of the newspaper that are
the most telling. For example, earlier this year there was a report
about indebted SUV owners setting their vehicles on fire in order to
claim the insurance money so they could buy more efficient cars.

Some SUV owners burning more than gas

Last month, there was a story about a booklet that was issued to
laid off employees by Northwest Airlines management. It suggested
that they try some alternative shopping strategies.

Try dumpster-diving, airline tells workers

This week's big little-story is about home sellers invoking St.
Joseph to help them unload their over-valued houses.

Superstitions, statues reflect cooling housing market


Once people resort to hiring Jesus' non-heavenly father to get the
job done, you know things are getting bad. Next thing you know, we'll
see a report on CNN that collecting gold coins is all the rage. Of
course, by that time it will be too late . Most people won't be able to
afford that hobby - unless they're in the business of manufacturing
little statues of Joseph.

I think that you'll be able to recognize the final breath for suburbia
when you read this headline:

Homeowners across America attempting to stay warm by burning pressure-treated fences

Barry