Thoughts...

So now that I'm some kind of business reporter, I've got my mind away from the area's collection of broken teeth, mangled flesh and monthly body count that is the crime beat.

Covering a country in a recession is all sorts of messed up. People are trying to "think green" by using less and trying to save money by spending less, but in turn are hurting an economy that was founded on people discarding everything and spending more than we could ever make. Our foolishness is catching up with us at a rapid rate, sending us clamoring for ideas on how to resolve it.

Frankly, I think we're screwed and deserve it. Don't get me wrong, I don't want anyone without a job, especially one they've given their soul and fingerprints to for the last few decades. I love those guys and girls. I was raised among them.

I'm just hoping that whatever comes of these economic predictions — if things are really as bad as people say they are — is that we all become smarter. Maybe with all of this we can see the ramifications of things we thought were easy choices.

Take for example the simple thing of food, something we all often look over as a means to end hunger. Honestly, I hope the recession kills fast food. Since we're all trying to save money (or at least us middle class and poor kids), I hope we all start thinking about where we are putting our money. Instead of jamming the pockets of the corporations that dole out bonuses in the millions and billions to their top people, can we support the companies that support charities with causes close to our ideals?

Do we stop feeding the McMachines, the Big Boxes and the rest of the places that give us sub-par living, as both the consumer and the employee? I have. I've sworn off fast food, vending machines and anything that gives me over-processed crap for eager money. I've finally started shopping, knowing when I'll get hungry. I stash my food and don't buy crap I might think for a second that I'd throw out.

I shop where my friends work, even if I have to go out of my way to go there. I shop the places in my neighborhoods. If someone gives me crap service, they won't see me again.

With limited money to spend as I try to dig myself out of debt — whether in preparation for grad school or the beautiful fact of not owing anyone any money — I'm more conscious of where I plug my bills. If they paid for a Super Bowl ad — chucking out $3 million for 30 seconds — I won't buy their stuff. (Although www.aconstantsuicide.com is a Go Daddy site, a company that has treated me very well in terms of service) If they advertise with our paper (thus paying my paycheck) they've got a better chance of seeing the money back. Sorry Wal-Mart, none for you.

There's tons of places I'd like to take all of this rambling, but I won't...this time.

We're all going to see hard times, in one fashion or another, if we're not there already.

We just need to think more. We need to be more deliberate with what we do.

After all, thinking is a good thing. I'm going to try it out for once.