In Britain, given the size of its finance industry, housing boom and consumer debt, the balance-sheet adjustment will, if anything, be greater.

ECONOMIST: The world economy

Keep in mind that balance in life requires constant adjustment.

FORBES: Crystal balls, marathons and big rocks: 3 metaphors for work-life balance

This time around, it seems that the more flexible and much weaker rouble will be used as a main shock absorber if the world crisis deepens, and should provide a mechanism for a rapid balance-of-payments adjustment.

FORBES: As EU Crisis Unfolds, Russia Bracing For The Worst

More broadly, in the United States, for example, the dollar made artificially expensive by capital inflows related in part to its reserve currency status has prevented the exchange rate adjustment needed to balance our trade in goods and services.

FORBES: The Euro's Dutch Disease

Contrary to what the critics of speculation suppose, the main task of futures markets has been to signal these fundamentals to firms and households, speeding up their adjustment to the changing balance of supply and demand for physical commodities.

ECONOMIST: The real lesson from volatile commodity prices

The patent application also covers what could be controlled using the touchscreen, including settings like the focus detection area, flash adjustment, ISO, white balance, and exposure correction, to name a few -- all of which will surely be welcome to some, but we just hope the touchscreens will be accompanied by at least a few buttons and knobs for us old curmudgeons.

ENGADGET: Canon patent application points to touchscreen DSLRs