International Pollin' Roundup

Hey, did you know there are other countries? I didn't. I mean, I'd heard about Iraq and Canada and maybe Mexico once, from like this dude on TV.

Wait, no I didn't.

But there has been a dearth of polling news lately. So now we play the "lets look up some international polling news game". This is a fun game because after this game you know that I will play the "lets do a 'best of' post" game. And everyone loves 'best of' posts!!!

First up, the Lebonese opposition has some serious issues with Syria, according to this article from the Arab News. They accuse Syria of fixin' the polls to keep the Pro-Syria ruling party in power.

Next, all the way in Eastern Europe, we've got the last in the latest line of a string of leftist, western-leaning opposition parties nearing power. This time it is in Slovakia, where a liberal opposition group is performing strongly in pre-election polls.

Finally, out of Africa, we have a very different, very unhappy opposition party. In Zimbabwe the opposition party accuses President Robert Mugabe's government of fixing the recent elections.

Polling the Culture of Life

A recent ABC news poll has found that most Americans support the court's initial decision on the Terri Schiavo case.

Seventy percent of those polled thought it was wrong for Congress to become involved in a private medical matter. In fact, sixty-seven percent also believe that the lawmakers involved did so for political reasons.

Some interesting numbers, especially given the decisiveness with which some members of congress have taken action on this issue.

UN-Believable!

Think polling a city is hard? A state? A country?

Try 23 countries.

A new poll from the BBC shows that people of twenty-three nations - more than 23,000 people, in fact - overwhelming support both expanding the UN security council and giving the UN itself a larger role in world affairs.

Yes, that includes the United States. Maybe it would be a good idea for us to pay those dues this time?

Stuck in The Office?

No, not the actual office in which you will spend most of your puny mortal lives. I mean the TV show, which parodies your puny mortal office lives.

If you're British, of course. We Americans don't really get any decent TV (oh, wait, I forgot Joey) but overseas they've got some decent options.

A new UK Comic Relief poll has The Office coming out ahead of series such as The Simpsons and Friends as the funniest TV show ever.

The survey also included hits like The Black Adder and Monty Pythons Flying Circus, plus a few more that you've never heard of and thus are irrelevant. If you're American, that is.

Apparently There is a Hip Cell Phone Only Crowd I was Not Aware Of...

At this very moment they are preparing their revolution from the depths of Williamsburg like all other hipsters. Thats right. Not a bunch of college students, or young artists, or professional mimes, or Crispin Glover.

No. Its the "Cell Phone Only Crowd". No landline, no problem.

According to a new article from CNN, pollsters are finally confronting the issue of dealing with this peculiar portion of the population. If you recall, it was a serious issue last election, as cell phone numbers are often more difficult to find, and even more difficult to justifiably call for survey purposes.

Plans include reinbursement schemes and consideration of safety concerns like what to do if a respondant is driving or operating a chain saw while performing neurosurgery.

No word on the safety concerns for if the respondant is also Crispin Glover.