But not to worry: During this time of harrowing uncertainty, WaMu is putting on a happy face in their advertising. They reassure us: “We [WaMu’s management] love Chase. And not just because they have a trillion dollars.”

Is today’s financial climate really the time for such adorably snappy headlines?

During the blitz in WWII, Londoners coped by going about their business as usual. Though the German bombing continued for 57 days, movie theaters continued to show films during the attacks, and seats continued to fill. People continued to dance. People simply continued.

Sitting home worrying wasn’t going to stop Luftwaffe planes from doing their best to destroy your city. As historian Peter Stansky wrote, “The sustained attack on a great and civilized city provided ample scope for cowardice, selfishness, criminality, and fecklessness.” But human beings, at their core, essentially require the ability to “push aside” situations of extreme duress - to maintain the conviction that, despite everything, this too, shall pass.

Remember our friend Brett Yormark from the Nets? He told the Journal: “We’ve never sold wins and losses. We sell hope and fun.”

But banks aren’t in the business of selling fun. Or hope. Could things be better? Absolutely. Without a doubt. Unquestionably. Right now, from a financial point of view -- and if you’ll pardon the coarse language -- things suck.

But let’s not forget the old proverb: “To be redheaded is to be better than to be without a head."