This article from Vanity Fair makes it easy to understand what caused the world’s economic meltdown. Short, clear, & covering all the bases, Nobel-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz’s piece, “Capitalist Fools,” tells a long story that begins w/ Ayn Rand, her acolyte, Alan Greenspan, & Ronnie Reagan, and continues to the Crash of 2008. POWERFUL & GRIM!!!

As a kicker, there’s another piece from the same issue about the gilded Wall Streeters, & their mighty fall.

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there’s Bernie Madoff & his $50 billion Ponzii scheme, Rod Blagojevich allegedly auctioning Barack’s seat, & Sam Israel III, who hasn’t gotten as much ink—to name 3 solid citizens. I’m sure they’re the tip of the iceberg.

Corruption & greed are the oldest stories ever told, but in the last several years materialism has reached unprecedented heights. Middle-class folks were living like millionaires, & suddenly there were thousands of billionaires. Didn’t it seem too good to be true? As “The Real Housewives of OC” hobble along in their Louboutins, there’s a fall-of-Rome feeling in the air.

While The Big Three are begging for a multi-billion dollar bailout, Jack Nicholson might be wondering what took them so long?! Jack got rid of gas in 1978, anticipating the Green Wave by almost 30 years. Check out this video:

Two monkey waiters in Japan, Yat-chan and Fuku-chan, are serving customers at Kayabukiya, a local hangout just north of Tokyo. Tourists, from around the globe, are flocking to see them. Leave the bananas at home. These simian staffers prefer to be tipped with boiled soy-beans. Yum!