Calm, calm, calm.

There’s so much wrong with the news. War, financial collapse, environmental degradation…It’s tough to pick up a newspaper these days.

Will stock markets around the globe be given a “time out”? It appears that’s one scenario being considered as most of us watch savings evaporate.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Japan is preparing to get more actively involved in the global financial situation by utilizing its $1 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. I don’t know whether this story is available to non-subscribers.

Speaking in advance of Friday’s Group of Seven meeting of finance and central bank officials in Washington, Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said he will call on the International Monetary Fund to set up a program to extend loans to nations in need of rescue.

“We are ready to provide our funds to the IMF,” Mr. Nakagawa said.

Such a move would send a lifeline to countries like Iceland, where the government’s efforts to bail out the country’s three biggest banks has pushed the small nation to the edge of bankruptcy.

It would also be the latest evidence of Japan’s rising global influence during the deepening economic turmoil of recent weeks. Japanese banks have come to the rescue of some of America’s largest financial institutions. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. is set to acquire 21% of Morgan Stanley. Nomura Holdings Inc. has acquired some of the Asian, European and Middle East operations of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

Does that have any implications for Japan-Hawaii travel?

Enough, for now, of the things we can’t control.

Did you see that Michelle Obama announced that they will adopt a dog from an animal shelter if Barack is elected? Good on them for putting a rescued dog in the White House. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ledger, Sarah Palin is on the receiving end of major criticism on her animal welfare record.

Sometimes it gets crowded at our house! This was the scene earlier in the week when Ms. Wally’s dental surgery led to canned food being served all around. The sound of a can opening brings all the cats running without fail. So I’m sharing at least a couple of photos as the crowd gathered, along with a few others for good measure.

Just click on the photo for this Feline Friday collection.