Ever read The New Yorker's "Talk of the Town"? Wikipedia describes it as "a miscellany of brief pieces-frequently humorous, whimsical or eccentric vignettes of life in New York -- written in a breezily light style." Now, imagine that same feature, but people-powered with submissions and stories from a network of thousands around the United States (and world, for those of you out there). Picture funny and playful stories and anecdotes from people about life just weeks before our much-anticipated presidential election.
That's exactly what we'd like to introduce to HuffPost readers, but we need your help.
Think back to what you've seen and heard this week, gossip and all. Think of the interesting stories you've told and been told. Think of those few poignant moments (or crude ones, if you will). Think of what's made you laugh or cry. Most importantly, think of what sticks out to you as worth passing on.
Now write it down in 50-100 words. Use your best prose. Keep it simple and direct. Keep it under 100 words, or else we won't accept it.
Submit it to us using this Survey Monkey page.
Can't think of anything? Pretend you're at a boring work party and need to spice things up. Or maybe a first date, a blind one. What story would you tell from the last week? We've got a fictitious sample at the end of this email.
The best submissions will be published as the first edition of "Eyes And Ears," a new feature here at HuffPost's OffTheBus. Witty and informative, that's what we're shooting for.
Follow Amanda Michel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmandaRMichel
My stomach is a little queasy. Today, I watched Barack Obama's numbers drop below 50% today (49.9%) and McCain move up to 44% on the Real Clear Politics website.
If the election next Tuesday comes down to disputed votes like it did in 2004 in Ohio and McCain ends up squeaking into office with Sarah Palin at his side, I will not be angry at them; I will be angry at the Obama supporters who decided that their "support" consisted of cheering for Obama and trashing McCain soley from the comfort of their living rooms and keyboards. Oh yes, we'll hear "But I voted!" or "I told my friends and family to vote for Obama" or "But he was doing so well leading up to election day! How could this happen?" or "McCain ran such a dirty campaign, he doesn't deserve the office!" or "It's just not fair!" But you know what: that is 100% irrelevent because he will have already won.
Think about it for a moment.
Now go to http://www.barackobama.com/index.php and volunteer to help. Right now. Challenge yourself this time around. Join me and all the other folks giving slivers of their time or huge hunks of their time to make calls (from the comfort of our homes with targeted recipients). Do for your family. Do it for your country. Do it for yourself.
Total ballots cast: 1,623,107
Registered Voters: 6,220,485
Turnout: 26%
Seriously, if you are voting this election cycle I encourage you to get out and go now. There are lines in some places but there is no doubt that there will be long lines on election day. Early voting polls are open through 1 pm on Saturday 11/1/08.
The total turnout for the 2004 election? 62% We should shatter that this year and hopefully turn the state blue.
Last night's rainstorm brought a lot of wind with it.
All the small political signs were missing on the way out to grab a coffee this morning. The cluster next to the WWII monument, the 3 big Sununu signs on lawns along the main drag, the goofy hand made McCain sign across from the general store....all gone. Seems like mother nature retired them early.
Part of living in New Hampshire means that, like it or not, the elections are long! Forget election day, we pretty much just want to get them over with somewhere in mid-August. During the last two months, it all just becomes repetitive and down right annoying.
I'm sure most of the signs that got blown down will be back in place by tomorrow. There might be a few that got damaged that will not return, but it was nice to get a glimpse of what life here will return to soon.
Yet, somehow we know that is will be VERY short lived. The next red, white and blue buss is just a few months away and the circle of life in New Hampshire, home of the First in the Nation Primaries, where the long winds of the politicians last longer than the winters.
All that hot air and you'd think by now we'd learn to harness it as an energy source, huh?
I also wonder if I missed something. Tom Brokow asked a question about global warming in which he referred to the Manhattan Project. McCain responded but I do not recall Obama being given a chance to answer.