I Don't Know From Money, Honey

The world financial crisis has certainly captured the imagination of many. It's a constant on the news and experts have come out of the woodwork to tell us what to do with our dwindling this and inflating that. Many of my colleagues have never been more interested in the topic of money, and it is a constant in conversation around the office. 

It is interesting to most people in some way.

I will admit though, to not being one of them. 

I find it really dull. I'm sure I could understand the more esoteric elelments of the markets if I put my mind to it, but I have never been able to put my mind to anything that I don't care about. In our personal lives, Emergency Contact and I have realised this, and have paid someone else to look after all that stuff. Honestly though, that person could be ripping us off blind, and I wouldn't have a clue.

I think I have hit a new low in wilfull ignorance about the financial state of the world, though.

December's Vanity Fair came into the house yesterday, and after I had torn my eyes off a near naked Kate Winslet, I saw that Niall Ferguson has written an article spruked by the header: Is This The End Of Banks? And I stood there for a while and thought,

"Do you know, as big a fan as I am of Iain's, particularly of the Culture novels, I reckon it could be. His last couple have been really lame, and it has hurt me to say it. I even took Gooby aside recently and said that I hoped that we could still be friends, but I was going to have to say that Banks has turned out some crap lately. Thankfully, Gooby is a forthright fellow, and not only agreed with my premise, but agreed to keep it a secret. But is all of that unfair? I mean, he can still bring it back. He's quite young. He only has to turn out another Espedair Street or Excession and all is forgiven... strange thing for Vanity Fair to put on the cover though... predictions of a literary demise... wait... banks... oh."