Tom Jensen, Ann Arbor native and the Director of Public Policy Polling, one of the most accurate polling sources on key political races across the country, talked with AADL about the 2012 elections, voter sentiment, political trends and the art and science of polling.

As Director, Tom Jensen oversees Public Policy Polling's day to day operations. During his time at PPP he has been a frequent guest for television and radio stations across the region, and has been called on for expert analysis by publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and US News and World Report.

census

We're dead even with Ohio in return rate for Census 2010 forms: 75% each. We can't let the Buckeyes beat us. Get those questionnaires returned ASAP so we can win the bet and collect the white pine promised by Ohio's Governor Strickland.

census

Schools, pools,
Day care, rideshare,
Traffic lights, historic sites,
Farmland, dunes sand,
Senior centers, reading mentors,
Nutrition, adjudication,
Sanctuaries, libraries . . .

Are funded by counting heads.

Census 2010 forms have been mailed to every residence in this county and state. 10 questions, 10 minutes. That's all it takes to make sure Washtenaw County and Michigan get their fair share of funding for thousands of programs and services vital to the well-being of all our residents. Fill it out, mail it back. Be counted!

Do you need fast answers and facts? You can always call or visit the Ann Arbor District Library!

...

But this is not an advertisement for you favorite local library. Submitted for your approval is a new type of search engine under the name of WolframAlpha. This engine has new, unusual features. It will try to compile and calculate information for the searcher. Give it a try! Here are some suggested searches to try (courtesy of the website):

enter any date (e.g. a birth date)
enter any town (e.g. a home town)
enter any two stocks
enter any calculation
enter any math formula
enter any two first names
enter any food
enter any measurement
enter any chemical formula
enter any musical notes

If you try these you will find calculations and charts for mathematical problems, statistics from towns, stock comparisons, and more.

Give it a try, then leave comments here on how effective the engine is!

baby

Jane Austen Rules! That can be the only explanation for Emma bumping out Emily for top girl's name in this year's Most Popular Baby Names List. The coolest part is the Search Page where you can enter your kids, grandkids or future kids names and find out where they rank. You can check popularity by state, change in popularity and much more. I checked out the Popular Names for Twins and mine did not make the top 100. That's what I get for not being alliterative. BTW, we've got lots of Baby Name books if you don't want your next one on the top 10 list.

readingteensreadordie

Love to read? Hate to read? Maybe you're somewhere in the middle? Please TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! You are invited to take a quick survey to let the authors of the forthcoming book, Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, 4th edition, know about your reading habits and your perception of reading in general. So if you read willingly and often, reluctantly and rarely, or have a more challenging relationship with reading - we encourage you to share your experiences. The authors are Michele Gorman and Tricia Suellentrop. Take the survey here.

arb

Tree Town IS AARP The Magazine's Healthiest Hometown in America. With the mayor and other dignitaries on hand at Nichols Arboretum Education Center today, July 23, AARP made the announcement. Arb walking and Border-to-Border biking definitely put us at the top of the list.

Is NOT, repeat NOT hunger, according to the Committee on National Statistics. Instead, 35 million Americans last year experienced “low food security” and 10.8 million experienced “very low food security” per the 2005 Household Food Security in the United States report by the USDA. “Hunger” has been banished from the federal government lexicon as “too amorphous.” The U.S. Conference of Mayors, however, continues to count hungry people as “hungry.” Look for their new report in early December. Speaking of banished words, check out the annual lists of banished words from Lakes Superior State College.