I didn't find anything objectionable with the actual press release, but it doesn't reveal the questions used-- for example, is it "if you are planning to spend money for NYE how much are you planning to spend"? I'm also curious about the fact that only 10% of revelers watch TV at home-- does that leave out the 25% that don't plan to celebrate?

The one thing that jumps out at me from the release is that they mention 40something percent of people buying new clothes specifically for NYE, and don't mention whether that's included in the calculations.

Hah, my New Year's plans include a variety of cheeses, some cheap wine, cats, the TV (and/or DVDs), and Hubby. Clothing will likely be my fuzzy robe.

Interesting poll on views about Iraq and 9/11.

[link]

The poll found that 22% think Saddam was behind the 9/11 attacks.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's son, Theo.

NYE concert tickets can get very expensive, and a lot of people go to those things. That's all I got on thta subject, I think.

I am back. Santa Fe was cold, except when it wasn't. And I just have to bitch.

So on Monday, the 19th, I set up an interview with this guy for the 29th (i.e., today). He was supposed to e-mail me details. There were no details by the 23rd, the day before I left town. I e-mailed him and poked him for details, like "where" and "are we actually having this meeting?" No response before I left town.

Arrived home last night. Checked e-mail. No response. Began to make plans for today.

Guy e-mailed at TEN THIRTY to say he'd call me in the morning. The hell? When in the morning? No idea. I e-mailed him back and suggested he call me. He did, we agreed on 9AM, but he insisted on calling me at 8:30 to confirm.

The meeting went fine and all that, but I still have residual grumpiness over exactly how much bullshit I had to go through.

that guy is a jackhole. I'm adding him to the list.

OMG, a guy just came into the room where I'm sitting and took a Spider-Man lunchbox out of the fridge. He is my new favorite person ever.

NSA no longer using illegal cookies:

The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite strict federal rules banning most files of that type.

The files, known as cookies, disappeared after a privacy activist complained and The Associated Press made inquiries this week. Agency officials acknowledged yesterday that they had made a mistake.

Nonetheless, the issue raised questions about privacy at the agency, which is on the defensive over reports of an eavesdropping program.

"Considering the surveillance power the N.S.A. has, cookies are not exactly a major concern," said Ari Schwartz, associate director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a privacy advocacy group in Washington. "But it does show a general lack of understanding about privacy rules when they are not even following the government's very basic rules for Web privacy."

How to build an interplanetary rocket: [link]

Actually, this is aimed at SciFi writers who want scientific plausability in their fictional spaceships, yet must maintain reader interest. It might also be interesting to those science geeks who don't write science fiction.

Also, lots of pretty pictures of '50s and '60s scifi spaceships from pulps, etc.