factoid of the day

"Even before Wall Street's crash in October 1929, many executives thought their markets saturated. For example, in 1923 new cars outsold used cars three to one, but by 1927 the ratio had been reversed. To solve the 'used car evil' Chevrolet was paying dealers twenty-five dollars for each old car they destroyed." -- Nelson Lichtenstein, State of the Union: A Century of American Labor

This is the kind of rapid social change I just love to find as an SF writer. Just four years to change things that much! Betcha there were scientifiction writers shaking their heads and saying, "Look, nobody can write anything set in the near future any more. Things are just changing too quickly."

Books read, early October

This is the fortnight when I officially got back my nonfiction reading ability. Hurrah. I can't actually swear to whether I have regained my old nonfiction reading ability or whether I have learned how to do it under current circumstances. Still and all: useful and welcome.

( books read, early October )