Sam’s random musings

Electoral Map:

This map was created by Michael Gastner, Cosma Shalizi, and Mark Newman at the University of Michigan. It adds to the standard maps two crucial factors: (i) counties are drawn with a size proportional the number of their inhabitants, (ii) purple shades between red and blue are used to represent the distribution of votes (since most counties do not have very large majorities for either party).

In their analysis, Gastner, Shalizi, and Newman also point out that there are largely two kinds of counties in the USA: (i) ones that are almost 100% democratic (many here in Massachusetts for example), and (ii) ones that are very nearly evenly split between the two parties. There are relatively few “all red” counties where the Republicans have a huge majority.

[Thanks to Crooked Timber for the pointer.]

Wow this one is cool looking

(Via Geek Notes, esp. on Mac OS X and Latex.)

Another Kind of Election Map:

Barry Ritholtz has compiled a great collection of election maps. The most important message: Land area does not equate to people. At left, for example, is a reduced version of another useful way to look at the polling results. The Republicans won, but this is more evenly divided nation than the geographic county and state maps suggest. Barry has collected links to lots of other informative maps as well. It’s useful to have perspective.

There are really some great views on the nation, not as polarized as one might fear, perhaps

(Via Dan Gillmor’s eJournal.)

J. G. C. Brainard:

“Hate no one; hate their vices, not themselves.”

(Via Motivational Quotes of the Day.)

“Committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President”:

Oh, jeez — it looks the first major vote-tallying computer error has come out of Ohio, to the tune of nearly 4,000 votes accidentally awarded to Bush in one voting precinct alone. Given that the current difference between Bush and…

The first of many, where will they be collected?

(Via Q Daily News.)

US military ’seals off Falluja’:

The US military closes all roads into the Iraqi city of Falluja, amid speculation a major assault is imminent.

People said that Bush would move on insurgents after the election, too messy to do before…

(Via BBC News.)

Kerry Won

I know you don’t want to hear it. You can’t face one more hung chad.  But I don’t have a choice. As a journalist examining that messy sausage called American democracy, it’s my job to tell you who got the most votes in the deciding states. Tuesday, in Ohio and New Mexico, it was John Kerry. Most voters in Ohio thought they were voting for Kerry. CNN’s exit poll showed Kerry beating Bush among Ohio women by 53 percent to 47 percent.  Kerry also defeated Bush among Ohio’s male voters 51 percent to 49 percent. Unless a third gender voted in Ohio, Kerry took the state. So what’s going on here? Answer: the exit polls are accurate. Pollsters ask, “Who did you vote for?” Unfortunately, they don’t ask the crucial, question, “Was your vote counted?” The voters don’t know.

Yet another series of events that will not unfold. Don’t forget that the CEO of Diebold (maker of the evoting machines in ohio) promised to “deliver ohio” for Bush….

Dept. of Paranoia:

This creeps me out.

Thanks to Jim for the pointer.

Ok this creeps me out too, I think there are a lot of wheels turning behind the curtain, this is a freaky wizard of oz world

(Via The Doc Searls Weblog.)

Someone at CNN.com has a sense of humor…:

jluster.orgOK, this is so going to blow up…

You HAVE to go see this, it’s funny the little easter eggs out there… (by the way it has been fixed now)

(Via Joi Ito’s Web. Via Jonas was the start)