The end of a pretty interesting year is upon us and I thought I should share a few thoughts, some glib, some cautionary, and some pretty random. The old Chinese curse is "May you live in interesting times..." and I'm pretty sure that 2008, certainly the fourth quarter qualifies as "interesting". But, we must soldier on regardless, so here goes.....

1. While greed and arrogance in our political and financial circles has been outed for sure, it has by no means been eradicated. Now that US citizens' retirements have been sabotaged for good and all, the next round of avarice is just beginning.

2. Barack Obama, while seemingly a good and honest man will not be able, single-handedly, to solve this country's problems. In fact,he will be doing great if he can simply get the right questions on the table.

3. A bitter pill still awaits the citizens of this country and the world as they discover the real meaning of "downturn". Many of today's young adults have never endured a serious recession, much less a depression.

4. The days of foreign military adventure should now finally be over. The last eight years have proven that, like a great bull in a china shop, the USA has caused a great deal more harm than good in its pursuit of "terrorists". The real terrorists were sitting in the board rooms and fancy offices picking us clean from within the whole time, while we were entranced by the television coverage of a war with no cause and no end.

5. It's time to go back to work.

Early in 2009, my predictions for the new year. In the mean time, eat drink and be merry for the "times, they are a'changing."