A strange irony indeed !

What a strange irony the current financial predicament has put upon us. Science will let us all live to be 100 or more, but the economy will make sure that the last 40 years we'll be running on empty. Almost a poetic justice of sorts.

Inconspicuous consumption

Typically, people spend when those around them are spending, but in a downturn, the need to compete evaporates. You can stay right where you are without falling behind. Consumers’ focus may have shifted from striving to catch up to those above them to contemplating the fates of those below them.

A standing 'paradox'

A very cogent explanation of the difference between knowing and doing. A standing 'paradox' is why great athletes seldom make the best coaches. The answer appears to be related to the difference between knowing how and why something should be done, and being able to do it without analytical thought.

Similarly, w.r.t trading and investment, not every analyst (technical or otherwise) may be a great trader or investor, and many traders and investors may be only marginal at analysis.