PDD Event — Netroots and Politics

This looks like a really great event from the PDDs. Details are from the PDD announcement: Lecture and Q&A by Prof. Matt Kerbel, author of "Netroots, Online Progressives and the Transformation of American Politics".

Call It! Predictions of Nov 2 Elections (Weekend Practice Run)

So next Tuesday there are multiple off-year elections that people are watching. We're launching this thread early so you can spend the weekend debating and working out your selections of the outcomes of Tuesday's races. On Monday AM we'll put up another thread where you can make your FINAL predictions complete with winning spreads. Whoever gets the most wins correct, with the closest guess to the winning spread and closest guess to the Bonus Question wins a delightful prize.

Friday Open Thread — Halloween Movies Edition

This week, The Daily Beast is featuring the Top 11 Scariest Horror Movies of All Time as selected by the total film geek Martin Scorsese. What is cool about this list is that they also provide some clips of each of the movies Scorsese has selected.

President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Act Today

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed by President Obama in a White House ceremony today. This new law is an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill, which will be signed in a separate event to day. This long needed law (and one promised by the Obama campaign):