Our deficit and our debt are at record levels, even compared to WWII. Then, the debt was financed internally, not by other countries, so the interest we could pay was lower and the money was recycled in the U.S. Now, the debt and deficit are mostly financed by other countries through bond offerings and the like. And as they grow, those debtor countries will want higher interest rates on repayments, which drains money out of the U.S. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Oct 5, 2009 - 4 answers

How to compartmentalize and get centered during a rough time. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 6, 2009 - 9 answers

Since I began a reading life (at about age eight), I have had a problem: my mind automatically places action in just a few places familiar to me from my life: my house, the main street of my hometown. Whether the action in a novel takes place in 16th century Scotland, or the Black Forest, or under the Unisphere. Are there ways to get around this, or to learn to read fiction more actively, and, fantastically/creatively? [more inside]
posted by Tufa on Jan 29, 2009 - 30 answers

What do you do to stay positive and sane while job searching? [more inside]
posted by onoclea on Nov 14, 2007 - 13 answers

Presbyopiafilter... My lovely wife has started to lose her powers of ocular accomodation. No biggie, but... [more inside]
posted by Calibandage on Jul 7, 2007 - 12 answers

It's been taking me at least several hours to fall asleep every night. What's the best way you've found to deal with insomnia?
posted by transona5 on Sep 13, 2004 - 36 answers