A few reasons to hold onto your britches

And all this from google news on just October 15, 2007 10:00 PM Eastern.... Notice the first item, can you hear the cash being sucked out of the economy?

First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security FOX News - WASHINGTON - Kathleen Casey-Kirschling filed for early retirement Monday, becoming the first baby boomer to start collecting Social Security.

China’s Leader Closes Door to Reform New York Times - By JOSEPH KAHN BEIJING, Oct. 15 - Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to address social fissures, a degraded environment and rampant corruption during his second term as China’s top leader, but he all but ruled out more than cosmetic political reform

Russia's Putin emerges from Iran plot 'like a hero' Reuters - By Conor Sweeney MOSCOW, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Commentators were both amused and intrigued at the heroic light thrown on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday when he defied what he said were security service warnings of a plot to kill him in Iran.

Bernanke Says Housing to Remain `Drag' on US Growth (Update3) Bloomberg - By Craig Torres and Scott Lanman Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the housing slump will be a ``significant drag'' on US growth into next year, though evidence of a broader impact on spending is limited.

DMV Chief in New York Defends Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Licenses New York Times - By DANNY HAKIM ALBANY, Oct. 15— In a hearing punctuated by angry exchanges about terrorism, Senate Republicans grilled the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles on Monday, pressing him to defend Gov.