Republicans and Democrats both claim that technology (or lack of it) is skewing poll results, as pollsters fail to survey those who own cell phones, have Caller ID, or even those who have no phone at all. Read the full story.

There's an e-mail going around saying that Starbucks is dissing American troops; it's not true. Read the full story.

Although SpaceShipOne's XPrize victory brought attention to the private manned spaceflight industry, it hasn't brought a flood of dollars. Read the full story.

A rundown of what I'm reading in November 2004, including Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub, the latest issue of Wired, Robert Jordan's The Dragon Reborn, Alderac's The Pointman/Fixer Class Guide for Spycraft, and Expeditous Retreat's A Magical Society: Ecology & Culture.