Tuesday Trinkets

Good morning from New York! After a few nice days on the West Coast, I am back home, blogging from (as The Daily Gotham says) the center of the universe. Although the weather is undoubtedly nicer out there, this is home, where people actually walk and are able to use mass transit (despite Spitzer's, Bloomberg's and the MTA's effort to hike prices so that people cannot afford to ride it). My girlfriend (from the east coast) found it hard to believe that people do not walk as a means to get from point A to point B in Los Angeles, even if that is from one mall to the next, half a mile away.

Anyways, here are a few things going on nationally and locally:

• The campaign of hope (Obama) threw cheap shots at the populist candidate (Edwards) over lost jobs. It turns out that in one specific case, both were connected to the job-cutting Maytag family, though it seems to be a pathetic argument to see who is more closely associated with them.

• Surprise, surprise! The White House has been systematically trying to hide the effects of climate change. The detailed report comes from Congressman Waxman...though what if anything will be done about it, is anyones guess.

• Cindy Sheehan for Congress is now officially open for business...er, campaigning.

• There is a lot of talk going on about the M.T.A.'s fare increase, but it seems without Spitzer's support (or a miracle) we will be paying 6.6 percent more for a monthly pass. Shame on Eliot, Bloomberg and the board for not keeping prices down.

• And one last thing...how well do you know Rudy Giuliani? Come on down and take the quiz!