As home equity evaporates unemployment jumps up and gas prices sky rocket.  The stock market seemed to get realistic on Friday.  I think times could get a bit rougher here.  We'll all survive no doubt but I can't help but to think that these are signs that life the way we know it might be over (perhaps for the better in the long run).  Mass transportation is totally lacking in Phoenix, as we still wait for the first of it, the light rail, which I suspect will be packed like sardines in a can when it opens.  Too bad that wasn't something started many many moons ago.  Here in the valley we have this suburban sprawl which requires you to get into your car and drive miles for most anything needed.  Downtown doesn't even have a grocery store yet.  Food prices will continue to rise with gas and I suspect home values of the ex-burbs will continue to plummet.  A huge economic downturn is not good for any part of this city but you have to guess that it increases the desire for people to move back towards the city center leaving the outskirts in decline.  Are the new blighted areas going to be the far out suburbs?  Homes and strip malls only a few years old tagged up with gang signs "Queen Creek Homeboys",  "Maricopa City Kingz"?  Abandoned new builds stripped of their copper and fixtures on every block?  Maybe it's time to go back to horses?  How much does it cost to feed 'em?  Can we get a horse lane on the 17?