"Why do presidential candidates touting their concern for the economy pose with factory workers rather than with ballet troupes?" asks Pittsblog (pittsblog.blogspot.com). "After all, the U.S. now has more choreographers (16,340) than metal-casters (14,880), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More people make their living shuffling and dealing cards in casinos (82,960) than running lathes (65,840), and there are almost three times as many security guards (1,004,130) as machinists (385,690). Whereas 30 percent of Americans worked in manufacturing in 1950, fewer than 15 percent do now. The economy as politicians present it is a folkloric thing."

As housing markets tank, Scott Thill at AlterNet.org reports, "trash-outs" are on the rise. Homeowners losing their houses to foreclosure are busting them up on the way out the door, leaving owners, lenders and banks fighting over who should pay the clean-up bill.

On CNN/Money.com, Fortune describes how foreclosed homeowners also are burning down their houses to collect insurance money. Needless to say, this trend "has insurance executives on edge."

From William Saletan at Slate.com: "A study suggests extreme happiness may be bad for you.

"Findings: 1) 'The highest levels of income, education and political participation were reported not by the most satisfied individuals, but by moderately satisfied individuals.' 2) But extremely happy people 'earned significantly less money' and earned lower school grades than moderately happy people. 3) The highly happy 'may not live as long,' either.

"Theories: 1) Happiness makes you complacent and kills your drive. 2) It makes you slow to adapt. 3) It makes you too optimistic and insufficiently vigilant about your health. 4) It may overstimulate your cardiovascular system."

As usual, the moral is: everything in moderation.

The new Pittsburgh blog Lunch Box Central(http://lunchboxcentral.blogspot.com), came across another blog that's all about failing, screwing up, crashing and burning. Check it out: The Fail Blog (http://failblog.wordpress.com/). You might feel better.

From PGH IS A CITY (http://pghisacity.blogspot. com/):

"Anyone else notice how much we need more parking (or more public transportation) in the city of Pittsburgh? I've only once made the mistake of attempting to drive into the city of Pittsburgh and park on a weekday. I was trying to go to my closest DMV station to get my license changed to a PA license. After a frustrated hour or so driving around to ... full lots, I gave up and went to the suburbs. To those who say this city is dead/dying, have you tried to park in the city on a weekday??

"... There should be a goldmine for building another parking garage in the city of Pittsburgh. Investment Opportunity #342 after I get myself some venture capital."

From a blogger at Allegheny Republicans (http://www.alleghenyrepublicans.com):

"As I have been walking door to door ... the most discussed issue is property tax. Residents in South Fayette are stressed about the continual increases, the inability to prevent further raises and the distrust that Harrisburg will deliver on previous promises. One person commented that any relief on property taxes only offsets the raises that occurred in the last two years ... ."

Silja J.A. Talvi reports in In These Times (www.inthesetimes.com) that "the SUV-driving, stun-gun-wielding housewife is coming to a suburb near you. In Arizona, Tupperware-style Taser parties have become all the rage ... The women in attendance are encouraged to grab a C2 and take turns shooting at a cardboard cutout representing a male attacker."