In plain english! How Did This Happen?

Step by Step: The Market Meltdown of 2008

From Kiplinger

Bicycle Production Quarduples over last 50 years.

From the Economist.com

On your bike

Sep 22nd 2008

Bicycle and car production since 1950
FAT-BUSTING but not wallet-busting, the humble bicycle is an increasingly popular choice of transport. Around 130m bikes rolled off production lines in 2007 and even more are set to be made this year. Bicycle and car production grew pretty much in tandem in the two decades beginning in 1950. But since 1970 bike production has nearly quadrupled while car production has roughly doubled. Much of the recent growth has been driven by electric bikes; production has doubled since 2004, to 21m.

Today Only: Parking Day L.A.

From the website:

The first annual Park[ing] Day LA, was on Friday, September 21st 2007, which brought together a diverse constituency of community groups, neighborhood councils, design & architecture firms, professional organizations, non-profits, cyclists & pedestrian advocates as they worked together and transformed numerous parking spaces & parking lots located throughout LA into ephemeral parks for the day. By occupying a parking spot, volunteers enhanced the streets with sustainably designed pocket-parks.

Click here to see the invite.

Click here to find the nearest parking spot turned garden paradise.

Jewish Voters Report Obama Smear Call

Jewish voters are complaining of a poll that, after confirming their religion, asks a series of questions that appear aimed at alarming Jewish voters, including linking Barack Obama to Palestinian terrorist groups.

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Now, I don't think John McCain is behind these calls, but he certainly has tarnished his image as an honest straight talking politician. Check out this disection of his campaign on the Washington Post by Richard Cohen.

What impressed me most about McCain was the effect he had on his audiences, particularly young people. When he talked about service to a cause greater than oneself, he struck a chord. He expressed his message in words, but he packaged it in the McCain story -- that man, beaten to a pulp, who chose honor over freedom. This had nothing to do with access. It had to do with integrity.

McCain has soiled all that. His opportunistic and irresponsible choice of Sarah Palin as his political heir -- the person in whose hands he would leave the country -- is a form of personal treason, a betrayal of all he once stood for. Palin, no matter what her other attributes, is shockingly unprepared to become president. McCain knows that. He means to win, which is all right; he means to win at all costs, which is not.

It's good to look back every now and then.

When it comes to Palin, Alaskans know best

Read the low down dirty mess straight from Daily Kos

From the Oracle: Look for an Obama Charge 'Round Hallow's Eve

Democrats are scared stiff by McCain and Palin. So much so, they donated over $66 million to Obama last month, and will probably break that record this month.

Oh yea of little faith.

Does a little known Alaskan Governor rallying conservatives to the aid of McCanine really signal the fall of our Hope for Change?

Perhaps, it's only 4 years ago that a majority of Americans elected a "retarded cowboy" to his second term as president, a feat his much more talented father could not accomplish.

Times have changed. We're facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Our reputation and clout around the world is in tatters. China owns all our debt.

Have some backbone, my fellow democrats. Look for our man to come thru in a blazing fashion at just the right moment, in the final stretch. These next 2-3 weeks are important, but October 15th onward is when we'll really see who's able to present the best case to the American people.

Trust that they will vote with their heart. It's time for a change. Be strong.