CONTRIBUTORS

Cindy Perman
News Editor at CNBC.com and the author of The Pony Blog (ponyblog.cnbc.com). She has also written a book, “New York Curiosities,” and does stand-up comedy.
Jane Wells
CNBC business news reporter, based in Los Angeles, covering the defense and technology industries. She writes the CNBC.com blog Funny Business.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

The news can get a little heavy sometimes, with debt crises, vicious markets and crappy earnings reports. So, we dispatched our crack reporters, Cindy Perman and Jane Wells, to find some levity amid all this seriousness. May we offer you a Keynesian cocktail with a side of bacon?

Why a Pony? To be clear, there were no ponies harmed in the making of this blog. The blog’s name, “There Must Be a Pony In Here Somewhere,” comes from an old joke, a favorite of Ronald Reagan’s, that essentially means, with a pile of you-know-what this big, there MUST be a pony—a bright side—in here somewhere!

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There Must Be A Pony In Here Somewhere

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Jan.26

11:56 AM ET

Monday, 26 Jan 2009

Welcome to the Pony Blog. Wait, What’s a Pony Blog?

Posted By:Cindy Perman

Topics:Economy (U.S.) | Wall Street

As the world confronts the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the headlines are wrought with stories of market plunges, corporate destruction, executives headed to jail and families facing financial devastation.

We in no way mean to make light of these terrible circumstances or disrespect the people and families involved.

The Pony blog’s intent is to find the lighter side of the economic crisis and distract you with humor long enough for the seeds of hope to spring forth from the rubble. Seeds take time, as you may be aware. We just want you to know we’re here for you, buddy.

Hopefully, we’ll make you laugh. Though, just so you know, that’s a lot of pressure. Worst-case scenario (how many times have we said that lately?) you can grunt and sniff about how completely unfunny it is.

Seriously. We’re here for you — whatever it takes.

Now, about the name. It was one of former President Ronald Reagan’s favorite jokes and the punchline hits close to home in the current crisis. Essentially, a psychiatrist is asked to treat twin brothers with extreme personalities — one a pessimist, the other an optimist.

The pessimist’s treatment was a room full of toys. The boy burst into tears, refusing to play with any of them. He was afraid he would break them.

With the optimist, the treatment was a room full of manure. (Yeah, that’s right. We’re starting with a No. 2 joke to warm up the crowd. Remind me sometime to tell you about the two-story outhouse in Phelps, NY. True story.) Anyway, the optimist, true to form, climbs to the top of the pile and exclaims, “With all this manure, there must be a pony in here somewhere!”

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