AshAndBurn.com > "Miami Beach, a sunny place for shady people"

… for those wondering what the soil looks like on parts of Mars:

Microscope Image of a Martian Soil Surface Sample / NASA

 I thought this article summed-up the recent financial situation pretty well:

… “They allowed an $8 trillion housing bubble ($110,000 for every homeowner) to grow unchecked. People like Henry Paulson, Ben Bernanke, and Alan Greenspan repeatedly insisted that there was no housing bubble as house prices got ever further out of line with fundamentals. President Bush regularly boasted about record rates of homeownership as the sleazes at outfits like Countrywide, IndyMac, and New Century pushed predatory mortgages on moderate income families.       

 It just took a little common sense to see that a disaster was imminent, even if the exact timing and course could not be predicted. But, our elites lacked common sense, and that is why we now face such a dire economic situation. 

 The main cause of the economy’s weakness is not insolvent banks and lack of credit; it’s the loss of $4 trillion to $5 trillion in housing equity as a result of the bubble’s partial deflation. Families used their equity to support their consumption in the years from 2002 to 2007, as the savings rate fell to almost zero.” … Dean Baker Posted in The Huffington Post - September 29, 2008 | 08:57 PM (EST) 

They’re implodong Miami Arena tomorrow, Sunday (9/21) at 8am - Temporary closure of the Historic Overtown/ Lyric Theatre Metrorail station and the Arena/ State Plaza Metromover station: Due to the Miami Arena implosion on Sunday, September 21, 2008, the Historic Overtown/ Lyric Theatre Metrorail station and the Arena/ State Plaza Metromover station will be closed from approximately 7:45 a.m. until about 8:30 a.m. Regular Metrorail and Metromover service will resume after 8:30 a.m. next?… gone! 

Did you know gas was less than $1 a gallon up until 1980? Less than $2 before 2005!  This gas pump has remained untouched since I was a kid in Kennebunkport, Maine

I’ve been a fan of Martin Atkins (a killer drummer) since his days in P.I.L., check out his trip to China.

Martin Atkins (member of PiL, Pigface, Killing Joke, etc.) documents his 2006 trip to Beijing, China, where he recorded the cream of the Beijing music scene crop. Exclusive Studio footage including the recording of the china dub soundsystem album, upcoming chinese artists including Snapline, The Subs, and P.K.14. Also contains music videos, cultural commentary, exclusive music, and more! Bonus Features: Cultural Revolution Poster slideshow, videos for Snapline’s “Pornostar” and China Dub Soundsystem’s “Yellow Cab”. Also includes trailers for the Tour: Smart and Look Directly into the Sun DVDs.  

… Chinese music never sounded better!

Here’s a few images from around New England … a funny flyer for a lost dog in Kennebunkport (the image faded)

on “Mothers Beach” in Kennebunk, ME

“Abe”on Thayer Street in Boston (South End)