AIG Execs Give Pigs a Bad Name.

Edward Liddy, AIG, compliments of Design Crisis

Erin of Design Crisis has written an excellent post today on this very topic (with a design twist!). Read it here.

Has the Waterford Ball Dropped for Good?

LONDON – Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed. Read the full story here.

The article notes that Spode and Royal Worcester had previously filed.

Blue Italian at Williams-Sonoma Home.

What sad signs of the times to see such icons bite the dust.

I'm not sure if it's the economy or if the market for goods such as these has just dropped off due to the fact that people live so much more casually now. Or if quantity rules over quality. Or if the companies' products are just too dated.

What do you think?

I have Waterford because my mom bought it for me when I graduated from college and Spode because I liked it then and still like it now (no small feat for me, as fickle as I am).

Do you have formal china and crystal, etc.? Do you use it? Did you buy it or inherit it or receive it as a gift?