Odd things don't make the news. Like the opposition party in Japan taking over one house of parliament for the first time ever. And the SEC offering up a 1-year stay-out-of-jail-free card to proud American citizens who didn't get around to getting jobs after they got mortgages:

The SEC has announced that they will allow mortgage lenders to work out resetting mortgages with borrowers in cases where there is an obvious default about to happen. In many cases, that will mean extending the lower coupon rate another year. That may just put off the problem, but it will keep a home off the market and allow for a more orderly solution.

--John Mauldin

So far, I can't find a reference for this, if anyone does, please add a comment. If this is true, I expect the real estate bubble not to pop as badly as I expected over the next year. If people who couldn't afford the true mortgage payment on their houses have another year to sell or get better jobs, I expect many will wake up and do so. Thus, I expect that the stock market won't crash as badly as I thought. Which isn't the same as saying it'll go up...