How family chitchat can drive strategic voting:

Turkey talk could help turn races in Toronto

And the races that the politically attuned will be watching in the city and the GTA on Tuesday night:

Election-night races to watch in 416, 905

At the dawn of the 20th century, Britain started developing the notion that their empire might be in decline. About a century later, the financial crisis wreaking havoc in the U.S. might be ringing the same alarm bell.

On the other hand, American capitalism has proven to be remarkably resilient.

From Globe and Mail Update:

Harper's handlers warn he may no longer take questions from media

STEVEN CHASE
Globe and Mail Update
October 11, 2008 at 8:09 PM EDT

LONGEUIL, QUE. — Stephen Harper appears to be bunkering down to avoid last-minute mishaps in the final days of the campaign: His staff are warning it's likely that the Conservative Leader won't take any more questions from journalists accompanying his tour until election day.

From the NYT:

From the BBC:

IMF in global 'meltdown' warning

Strauss-Kahn said rich nations had so far failed to restore confidence The world financial system is teetering on the "brink of systemic meltdown", the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned in Washington. Dominique Strauss-Kahn said rich nations had so far failed to restore confidence, but he endorsed a new action plan by the G7 group. He also said the IMF was ready to lend to countries in dire need of capital.