My own for-what-its-worth prediction: Bush will win with 287 electoral votes.

This is my WAG for this election, based on the map below.

Here's where I'm arriving at the wild and whacky 287 number:

Colorado: I don't believe Colorado is going to go for Kerry and I think the campaign knows it. I'm basing this on the Kerry/Edwards campaign pulling their ads from the state. They've lost it, according to their internal polling, and they need the money elsewhere.

Michigan: This state's been comfortably blue most of the time I've been checking it, moving to barely blue and now tied. It will, in my opinion, go barely for Bush.

Iowa: Has been polling (barely) for Bush since mid-September. Now it's tied, but I think Zogby's weighting it towards Democratic voters too much. Like Michigan, it will go barely for Bush.

Add their numbers together to the 254 that Electoral-Vote.com has Bush currently holding, and Bush is at 287. Add to that his possibly winning Ohio and new Jersey and you've got an out-of-the-ballpark 322.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

7/11, prescient pollster?

That's right, 7/11. Home of the Big Gulp, the Slurpee and the 1/4 Pound Big Bite Hot Dog.

7-Election: Every Cup Counts!

Ye gods. A six pound burger.

In another installment of my multi-part series on sandwiches bigger than your head (see previous installment here), I present a six-pound burger. Yikes.

Moment of Zen
————-

Pink Faces After Opera House Drama

Nobody asked for it, so you're getting it anyway.

That's right, more electoral vote blogging.

State of the nation today, according to Electoral-vote.com:

Couple of interesting things up on the board today from my perspective:

1. Hawaii's red. That's a surprise. Gore took Hawaii by 18.3%. Is this some local quirk or a harbinger? No idea. The poll was also taken almost a week ago, so the numbers may have shifted yet again by Election Day.

2. Arkansas is tied, making it the only standout in an otherwise fairly solid field of Bush red. This poll was also taken almost a week ago, so the above caveat applies.

I'm not buying that Colorado will go for Kerry. I think Zogby's oversampling Democrats and overestimating the number of undecideds that will break for Kerry. Do I have any proof? Not a shred, it's my opinion only.

Another thing I'm not buying is the final projection:

Waaay too many tied states here. Also, it's assuming both Colorado and Ohio will break for Kerry. Not buying it.

FedEx rocks hardcore.

I don't know if this applies to all countries, but FedEx in Korea will send you ballot for free to your local election clerk's office at no cost to you.

Message sent to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea members, via Republicans Abroad-Korea:

“FedEx Will Mail your Ballot for Free”

To help ensure timely arrival of your absentee ballot, Federal Express has agreed to ship absentee ballots to your local election clerk's office at no cost to you. This service will be available until November 1, 2004. There is no pick-up service. Ballots may be dropped off at any FedEx service center, station, or ship center (for a listing of FedEx offices, please see http://www.fedexapac.com/kr_english/dropoff/ ). For more details, you may call FedEx Customer Service at toll free 080 023 8000 or 02-333-8000.”

Nice.

Moment of Zen
————-

Bart Simpson Would Be Proud of Them

Being informed about who you're voting for is good for you.

As can attest from the reduced noise level, I'm almost burnt out on politics this season. Before the flame goes out though, the third Presidential debate is up on the iTunes Music Store, courtesy of Audible.com

2004 Third Presidential Debate

Moment of Zen
————-

Woman Seeks Husband on a Billboard

Pay attention to your gifts, there may be a quiz later.

Both and I had a moment of brainlock tonight over an unlikely subject of debate: What had she gotten me for our anniversary? We racked our brains over this for a solid fifteen to twenty minutes.

Was it…..Sharpe DVDs? No, Mi Mama had gotten me those for Christmas.
A book? No, I'd bought The Bad Popes myself.
Webscriptions? No, had had problems accessing that last Christmas.
Not clothing….
Not jewelry….

Good Lord. What was it?

My mind drifted to things outside the hous-the grill! My baby had gotten me our grill!

The moral of this story? Sometimes, there is a quiz.