The Man Who Saw It Coming: Meet Dr. Doom

The Birth of Dr. Boom?

Nicholas Denton, the founder of Gawker.com, recently wrote a post labeling Roubini, who is single, as a playboy, citing the numerous party pictures of a smiling Roubini posted on the social networking Web site Facebook. Gawker also published a message that Roubini wrote to a woman, joking about a decadent vacation in St. Tropez and inviting her out for drinks.

The Gawker posts prompted an angry response from Roubini, who excoriated Denton by posting messages on Denton's own Facebook page, accusing him of "Nazi-style anti-Semitism."

Neither man will comment on the situation, but Roubini says he stands by his posts on Denton's page. He is also unapologetic about his social life.

"I don't stay home," he said. "I have a life."

The cheery face that Roubini wears at social gatherings may be finding its way into his professional life … at least a little.

His predictions for the economy remain dire -- he expects an 18- to 24-month-long recession, far longer than the typical 8-month U.S. downturn. But he believes that a range of measures, from more government spending on infrastructure to more money for banks to a temporary freeze on foreclosures, could allow the country to avoid an even more severe financial crisis.

And he doesn't think the nation is headed toward another Great Depression.

"I'm sure we'll get out of it," Dr. Doom said.

"A year and a half from now when things are changing," he added, "I might be Dr. Boom."