It implies that Clinton is so set on ensuring that Obama doesn't get the nomination, not only is she willing to take extra-ruthless steps, but in the end neither she nor Obama win the gold.

(In this metaphor, presumably, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would be Oksana Baiul. Does that make former President Bill Clinton Jeff Gillooly?) (Link)

The narrator's inflection and cadences sound like those in nature documentary voice-overs, making you feel as if you’re watching hyenas and not people. The unseemliness of shows like "Ax Men" comes from this sense of exploitation. Workingmen are served up as untamed beasts, a thrill ride for a world full of bored cubicle Joes who take risks when they change their screensavers. (Link)

Matt Lounsbury, Stumptown's director of operations, said: "We've had discussions, but nothing's solidified. Our eyes are open for opportunities, but so far our expansion is mostly focused on the Pacific Northwest."

The big question - can New Yorkers handle coffee Portland-style?

If you're not, it's a great introduction to a fascinating chapter in Portland food history. This quote must grate (sorry) with a lot of people here:

"I decided to live differently and create differently with the hope that people would see that. But I became the distinct scapegoat for the fall of Ripe, even though I had been the one who spent the most energy and time trying to save the company." (Link)

Yet in a city often uncomfortable with corporate gloss, what is most distinctive about the emerging cycling industry here is the growing number of smaller businesses, whether bike frame builders or clothing makers, that often extol recycling as much as cycling, sustainability as much as success.

The latest from the New York Times' Portland Bureau: a 4-minute video report from Erik Olsen & William Yardley on how Portland is developing a bike economy. (Sorry, no embedding from the Times' player -- you get to click through.)

One more bicycling note - long before this recent spate of deadly bicycle accidents, we here at Newschannel-8 started crunching the numbers to get to the bottom of who's really to blame - bikes or cars - for the accidents that do occur. We found some interesting stats. You can check out report tonight on Newschannel-8 at 11.

In a post on their website, the band cites the illness of one of its members. They hoped canceling some European dates would allow time to heal, but that turned out not to be the case.

Pitchfork has the full statement from the band, and the complete list of canceled dates. Bummer for Portland fans - their three Crystal Ballroom dates in early December are among those canceled.

• The first happened last night at SW 4th & Madison. Police say the cyclist was heading the wrong way down Madison, blew through a red light, and got hit by a pickup truck. The cyclist appeared uninjured. The cyclist was cited for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and failing to obey a traffic control device.
  
  
• The second happened early this morning at SE 17th & Schiller. In that case, police say a PT Cruiser made a left turn and hit an oncoming bicycle. It was dark and foggy, but the cyclist had lights on the front and back of his bike.  He was taken to the hospital, but didn't have any trauma injuries or broken bones. The driver of the PT Cruiser was cited for making a dangerous left turn.

• For January through August 2007, Portland Police issued around 72,000 traffic citations. Of those, less than 1,000 were issued to cyclists. I realize the math is a little fuzzy, but that means cyclists received less than 1.4% of traffic tickets.
  
  
• According to the most recent numbers I could find, cyclists accounted for 4.4% of all trips to work in Portland in 2006. Bottom line: at least as far as traffic tickets go, Portland Police are not going after cyclists at a disproportionate rate.

Judges were impressed by the Washington troopers' formal uniform, which includes the black bow tie on a long-sleeved blue shirt, with darker blue pocket flaps, epaulets and cuffs. (Link)