"Ah take the cash and let the credit go." (Omar Khayam)

Last January 1, the market was teeter-tottering--shaking like a leaf in the wind, rocking like a ship at sea, trembling like an Aspen tree--and above all, making me very nervous. I had no intention of taking the chance of losing a lot of money that I saved for retirement, so I dropped the funds I had in my IRA and had them put in a one-year savings fund at 3%--a paltry but safe investment. Today, I went back to check what my investment would be if I had kept the two IRA funds in the market; the result was that if I had left the money with the mutual funds, I would have lost $10,000 in 2008. Did someone say the economy was in a recession? President elect Obama is coming into office with more major problems than any previous president; the economy, health insurance, three wars to worry about--Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza. I cannot help but feel the pain that so many people are undergoing over their finances, their homes, their health, and their sons and daughters in conflict. What can one man do to alleviate the national distress? Hopefully, as Plato suggested, our government will be filled with "Philosopher Kings" who will address these problems and find solutions for them. Or what's a government for?

Lately, I've begun to wonder whether or not the computer adds dimension to one's life or takes it away. I find that Rho and I spend altogether too much time with it, writing and reading dozens of nondescript emails of jokes, coming events, idiotic articles, games, movie and book reviews, sports news, world news, new news, and many other items that take one's time away from doing meaningful work--like housecleaning, the laundry, freezing food, making beds, reading books, taking adult courses, chatting with friends and a myriad of other things that were once done before computing and cell phoning. Besides the email of the computer, snail mail keeps piling up all over the house; hospital and doctor bills, insurance premiums, credit card notices, coupons, bank statements, requests for donations, electric and phone bills, catalogs of every shape, color, and product. What kind of life is this? Consolidate! Consolidate!

As promised, I am continuing the practice of providing my blog readers with my "10 best lists". I indicated that I would give you my 10 best foods--but then I thought, why not start with the appetizers before going on to the entrees? So here are my 10 best loved appetizers--not necessarily in size places: 1) Shrimp cocktails 2) Garden salad with 1000 Island dressing on the side 3) Caesar salad 4) Matzoh ball soup with matzoh ball on the side so more soup will fit in the bowl 5) Wonton soup 6) New England clam chowder 7)Lobster bisque 8) Split pea soup 9) Half a grapefruit 10) A beer

After such a salutary beginning, the rest of the meal--including dessert is mouth watering. My next 10--the meal itself will be coming along shortly. But at the moment I have to begin preparing for my "Hamlet" class. My friends who are reading this ought to sign up or miss the cultural experience of their dull and listless lives. "Fun With Shakespeare" opens on Friday, Jan. 9.