And you need not go further than one of our stores on midnight at the end of the month. And it's real interesting to watch, about 11 p.m., customers start to come in and shop, fill their grocery basket with basic items, baby formula, milk, bread, eggs, and continue to shop and mill about the store until midnight, when ... government electronic benefits cards get activated and then the checkout starts and occurs. And our sales for those first few hours on the first of the month are substantially and significantly higher.

And if you really think about it, the only reason somebody gets out in the middle of the night and buys baby formula is that they need it, and they've been waiting for it. Otherwise, we are open 24 hours — come at 5 a.m., come at 7 a.m., come at 10 a.m. But if you are there at midnight, you are there for a reason.

Why is Barack Obama allowing these retreads from the Clinton era who went on to great riches on Wall Street to set economic policy for his administration? The fatal hallmark of this president’s financial policy is that it is being designed by the very people whose previous legislative efforts created the mess that enriched them while impoverishing the nation, and they now want more of the same.

"Misconceptions from local leaders that Southeast Michigan isn't dense enough or wouldn't ride mass transit are either not looking at the numbers or missing the point."

Jim Kunstler agenda for the world of tomorrow

"How the S.U.V. ran over automotive safety."

Lou Glazer's take on a "flat" / post-industrial / whatever Michigan economy.

Impulse buys or terrain grabs as funding model for online games. (Contrast to current flareup re: Elder Scrolls for-pay extras on xbox 360.)

I'm still developing a response to this. Rhetoric of "places" is powerful, but it might have nasty side effects. Good read.

"A Reason debate featuring Milton Friedman, Whole Foods' John Mackey, and Cypress Semiconductor's T.J. Rodgers."

Mega crapola Starbucks at State and Liberty doesn't pass challenge (sorta).

Crapola Starbucks on Main and Liberty passes the fair trade challenge.

"According to Business Week, 31 percent of new mortgages are interest only, a sign that people are stretching to their financial limits."

"Editors are on the corners with signs that say 'WILL EDIT YOUR "WILL WORK FOR FOOD" SIGN FOR FOOD.'"

Intro to the 'fourth economic activity.'

"Encouraging the spread of mobile phones is the most sensible and effective response to the digital divide."

"The characteristics of information--be it software, text or even biotech research--make it an economically obvious thing to share. It is a 'non-rival' good: ie, your use of it does not interfere with my use."

"The year's most egregious price gougers, polluters, union-busters, dictator-coddlers, fraudsters, poisoners, deceivers and general miscreants."

Art installation that makes a damn good point about "freedom 0" and crapola licensing.

"A ... reappraisal would require us to recognize that it will be far less expensive and far more effective to address the underlying problems of public health, population and environment that ultimately cause threats to us to emerge in poor countries."

Evilcorps buying organicorps, etc.

"Considering its scope, Mr. Kerry's health plan has received remarkably little attention. So let me talk about two of its key elements."

"The last time oil prices were this high, on the eve of the 1991 gulf war, there was a lot of spare capacity in the world, so there was room to cope with a major supply disruption if it happened. This time there isn't."

"Conservatives make a fetish out of privatization of government functions. ... in Iraq, where there is little public or Congressional oversight, the administration has privatized everything in sight."

"A decisive President, one who grasped the gravity of the situation, would start by bringing up a taboo subject--tariffs."

"If the economy fully recovers — or even if investors just think it will — interest rates will rise sharply."

"Redefining Progress works with a broad array of partners to shift the economy and public policy towards sustainability."

"George Bush has, of course, tried to be the anti-Clinton in all things. ... For three years, they've had nothing but red ink to show for their efforts."

"Girl walks into a bar. Says to the bartender, 'Give me a Diet Coke and a clear sight line to those guys drinking Miller Lite in the corner.'"

"in the years 1996-2000 - the height of the boom - 60% of American corporations paid no federal taxes."

"It's a house of cards, of course, a total fraud and extremely dangerous. It's Enron accounting at its most deceptive, the kind of self-delusion that led to the absurd run-up of stocks in 1929 and the subsequent collapse."

[Q] "But you think the tax cuts should be made permanent, as he says?" [A] "Sorry, no English."