nonpretentious

Would you like to know what “financial crisis” means?

I know I did.

If you have not listened to the This American Life Episode #365, I highly recommend it.  It’s informative, impartial, and interesting.  (iii reflects !!!)

My favorite part of the program was the 2nd piece on credit default swaps.
Ira tells* us that “one way to think about this product is this: if bad mortgages got the economy sick, these next things you’re about to hear about spread the sickness into an epidemic. these are credit default swaps.”

And, Alex Blumberg says*, “Now normally when you think of physicists inventing scary things, atomic weapons come to mind. And credit default swaps have been called [by Warren Buffett]… financial weapons of mass destruction.”

*tells and says: what i heard & transcribed. but, have a listen for yourself!

Who has the better radio voice – Jesse or Ira?

here’s a conversation between me and a co-worker.

i’ve redacted some not-so-nice things that may have been said in the heat of the moment.

so, like tough_love and her polls, please feel free to leave your comments…

co-worker: im listening to the sound of young america

(hey, boss, if you’re reading this – co-worker means in general. not, like, at work or anything. and, this chat took place in the hallway. not over gchat. i made mental notes and typed up the transcript when i got home.)

me: oh i just recommended the george saunders interview to someone.

The Sound of Young America: George Saunders

me (continued): …i know [Fortuna_Köln]’s a fan [of TSOYA] but [Jesse Thorn's] voice annoys me.

co-worker: his voice is weird

me: not as soothing as ira’s [as in, Ira Glass. as in, "this american life."]

co-worker: …[Yes, Jesse] doesn’t have the voice of a young american.

me: seriously. it’s false advertising. he needs to pull a milli v. (milli vanilli)

so, who do you think has the better radio voice – Jesse or Ira?