Real political junkies who want to check up every day on the presidential race or the senate races (or normal people who'd just like to know a little more about why different polls end up with different predictions about elections) might like http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/. It doesn't just tell you what some new poll said; it does its best to explain how each poll was done, and to discuss the strengths and possible shortcomings of each poll's methodology. (Also has on-the-ground reports about campaigns' field operations from a few different states each week.)

Best wishes,
Thad

P. S. There's an article in today's NY Times about this phenomenon comparing (very minimally) several of the poll aggregation sites, including FiveThirtyEight.com.

I'm Plotting How to Integrate Jusby the Mad (Clown) Hatter into the Tumwater Halloween House 2008.  {Current scheme involves LASERS, Flares, Wireless Sound System}

REPOST from myspace

Most of you probably know by now that I (Mike of Eastside Big Tom's) put on a little fundraiser each year in my yard for the Thurston County Food Bank.

It's kind of Halloween themed.

This is the tenth year I've decorated and invited the general public into my little nightmare of a brain brought to life in my yard.

There's a lot of construction going on in my neighborhood this year and I could use a little help getting the word out that we're open this year.

Folks seem to think the road is closed or something. I'm not sure why that is.

Anyways, you can come through the cemetery if you think those pesky road closed signs are for real. No one has enforced them since the project started so it's hard to imagine they'll start now.

Park in the cemetery. Everyone does it this time of the year. The Masons are the coolest neighbors in the world. OK, it's a toss up between them and all the dead folks.

This Halloween Bread and Roses has teamed up with local downtown businesses to end poverty. Support The Brotherhood, Traditions Cafe, Le Voyeur, Old School Pizza and Batdorf and Bronson through sales and tips and Support Bread and Roses of Olympia.

A portion of their TIPS and SALES from the day goes to Bread and Roses Homeless Advocacy Services. Celebrate Halloween Downtown this Year and Support a good Cause.

Readers at one UK site were greeted with news that McDonald's profits were up -- way up -- and that this may be, possibly; okay, surely, has something to do with the terrible American economy. To drive the point home the UK press chose to illustrate the article with a picture of two scantily clad, morbidly obese women eating McDonald's food.

They claim the dollar menu is responsible for the great upsurge in profits. The double cheeseburger for a dollar being cited as the heavy hitter of the dollar menu. Meanwhile they explain that Whole Foods profits are down. Way down. Down much further than McDonald's profits are up. Down 31% as opposed to McDonald's being up slightly more than 6%.

Meanwhile, Portland's KATU reports that in Vancouver Washington the wheels of the economy are turning thanks to hotdog grease. The big winner in Vancouver is a hot dog stand. They show a picture of an open-air hotdog stand with a whimsical statue of a hot dog -- an anthropomorphic hot dog -- squirting mustard on himself, as anthropomorphic hot dogs are wont to do.

They claim the great upsurge in business for the hot dog stand is created by -- hold on to your sense of reason -- the terrible American economy. It seems that, daily, long lines form in front of the business, known as the "Wiener Wagon", because of the low prices. And because of all the business failure that permeates Vancouver Washington, according to the article.

The Wiener Wagon's basic hot dog sells for $1.29.

Moving Forward: Resources for Artists
Saturday, November 8, 2008, 2-4pm
Olympia City Council Chambers, 900 Plum Street SE

Miguel Guillen, Information Services Manager for Artist Trust, will discuss the essentials of presenting your work; how to get informed about the funding and exhibition possibilities available to Washington State artists; and information on professional resources, health care, insurance, emergency assistance, and legal services available to artists. Miguel will also present information about Artist Trust's grant programs, information services, and the EDGE Professional Development Training Program for visual artists. NOTE: this year’s workshop has an extended section on new trends on using the internet as a promotional tool. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. Please contact Miguel Guillen at 206/467-8734 x11, 866/218-7878 x11 or miguel@artisttrust.org to register. Please include your discipline when registering.

Contact:
Stephanie Johnson
Arts & Events Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
(360) 709-2678
sjohnso1@ci.olympia.wa.us

Uh, oh.  Looks like someone can't stay on message....