Unfortunately, economic trends seem to be impacted by forces beyond our control. This is what frustrates so many people. We may lament our collective inability to create endless resources with alternative uses, but it’s a reality that things are changing to benefit some and harm others. Sometimes you need to stick your finger out to note these trends….

“Food and energy prices push OECD inflation to its highest rate since 2001: THE rise in inflation across the world is a big worry for central bankers and policymakers. This week the OECD announced that consumer prices for all items in its 30 member countries increased by 3.9% in May compared with a year earlier, the highest rate since 2001. Energy and food prices are the main contributors, rising by 14.6% and 6.1% respectively in May. If these are excluded, the rise in prices is a far more moderate 2.1%.” – The Economist

Government intervention – in terms of a break from high gas prices – this will actually exacerbate the situation. Although it is politically tempting to intervene, particularly from the left perspective. At the whim of market forces, major social changes in behaviour are going to become increasingly more apparent throughout this year. I look forward to the steep decline in SUV purchases versus hybrid investment….

This is what disturbs me about the iPhone: Soon they won’t just be popping the question for you. They will begin marrying eachother and having little micro-iPhones for you to buy. Then what? Once they get married, who’s going to do that iBeer trick at cocktail parties? Who? We just can’t go down that slippery slop!!! Re-reading this post in the afternoon….it’s not actually funny.

Obama can claim he has more grassroots support than the establishment funding mechanisms of the McCain campaign. Obama also has almost 3x the contributions that McCain has. That’s taking into account the 3rd candidate Clinton’s competition with Obama. Funding is very important. There are a myriad of barriers for McCain other than campaign financing but this is a massive issue because it represents, in economic terms, a campaign’s viability. Therefore, anyone who thinks McCain will win this election: (a)has been impacted by the false consciousness implimented by the media’s need to build tension and deny there will be a slam dunk Democratic victory, (b) believe that racist thinking will be a barrier to Obama’s victory when empirical evidence has shown controvening evidence or evolving opinion on that subject, (c) are hoping for a devasting unrealized event that will cripple the Obama campaign [which is a possibility] or (d) probably wanted Clinton to win the nom. Does it make sense that McCain will win in November even if core members of his own party clearly dislike him, Obamacons are growing in numbers, etc etc?

The idea that climate change refugees will have the luxury of a Lilypad city is laughable. Thank you architects, leave the thinking to political scientists, mkay?
BUT the design is curious. I have long believed that mobile urban centres will be possible within the next 40 years. Whether there will be economic, political capital to contruct such structures is another question all together. The ambition needed would be highly private/corporate. The risks of terrorist attack would also need to be assuaged. Ultimately, the concept is engaging. More on it later….

Here’s the Old Freedom Ship that never was. What kept it out of the water? Economics. The demand is too low for a floating disaster of Titanic proportions. Again, dreaming big is excellent. It’s the thinking that goes along with it that would also be helpful. It’s the right direction, though. Because the advantages of mobility, counteracting climate change, population in a controlled urban environment all bring new problems but exciting OPPORTUNIES.