WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF CAT FOOD LOOMS

The UN Committee on World Hunger reported that demand for cat food, mainly in industrialized countries, has soared, resulting in severe shortages. In the United States, supply problems and higher prices have been particularly prevalent in Florida and Arizona, but officials note that problems exist throughout the country.

Social agencies have reported that many of its senior clients are suffering from early stages of malnutrition. Complaints of price gouging have risen dramatically and several states have enacted laws and are imposing fines. The Association of Community Senior Centers has called for congressional hearings.

Several pet food manufacturers are working round the clock and all deny any unwarranted price increases.

A spokesman for AARP issued a statement that, although acknowledging that the world is overrun with too many cats, there is no truth to the rumor that it is preparing a cookbook with recipes for cooking cats.

homer   www.altara.blogspot.com

Poltifact.com has given a long analysis of the ties the McCain campaign has made between William Ayers and Obama, the major one being that they ran a "radical education group" together.

They are referring to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (founded by conservative multi-billionaire Walter Annenberg's organization), where Obama served on the Board from 1995 until it's dissolution in 2001 and where he was Chairman for 4 years.

Crossposted at Motley Moose

Quick diary to alert everyone that McCain might well take another impetuous maverick move before the debate on Wednesday.

The balloon has been hoisted up by Bill Kristol in today's New York Times:

It's time for John McCain to fire his campaign.

He has nothing to lose. His campaign is totally overmatched by Obama's. The Obama team is well organized, flush with resources, and the candidate and the campaign are in sync. The McCain campaign, once merely problematic, is now close to being out-and-out dysfunctional. Its combination of strategic incoherence and operational incompetence has become toxic. If the race continues over the next three weeks to be a conventional one, McCain is doomed.

Over at Fivethirtyeight Nate Silver has been reading the runes...

I think this is a well deserved prize for someone who has been giving us the warning signals for many years. As a columnist in NYTimes, Krugman has been a fearless and very balanced commentator taking on both the right and sometimes the left. He has been attacked from both sides but in most cases his analysis has been spot on.

The Sewdish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science, or to use it correct title The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

Was awarded today to Dr. Paul Krugman of Princeton University.

for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.

Congratulations to Dr. Krugman!

Ladies and gentleman, it's the start of the week, so you know what that means!   Welcome to another edition of Manufacturing Monday!  This week, one could possibly say, is the first in our new financial post-apocalyptic age.  Last week we saw the market face a level of decimation not seen in almost a generation!  The heart of the problem was, well actually still is, credit.  Credit is the life blood of our economy, from aiding customers buy products to helping businesses meet payroll.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/100 8/14508.html

This guy does not know which way to go. All the better...

See below for video of Axelrod schooling Rick Davis.

On FOX News Sunday this morning, Axelrod flashed his mastery of the verbal smackdown by dismantling Rick Davis's exhausted talking points in sensei-like fashion. Axelrod controlled the entire segment by subduing interruptions, deflecting lies and reducing Davis's patented GOP drivel to a feeble, incoherent mash-up of tired conspiracy theories.