Interesting segment on the Today Show this AM, including a panel of experts such as Steve Forbes and Jim Cramer. One panelist suggested a recession, like most things, has some good long-term effects such as bringing prices down due to reduced demand. Cramer said dump the ethanol program - all it's doing is driving up the price of every food product that is corn dependent, including meat and poultry. He said we should exploit natural gas: we've got incredible reserves, and the technology is here now to use it in cars and trucks.

As for dealing with the stress brought about by economic worries, I re-read Adrift by Tristan Jones. It restores my perspective on what "down and out" really means.