polls gone wild

News I'd like to see Ryan's take on:

I have a hard time accepting this poll as having anything like a real handle on the population it claims to poll. Not that I think the results are wrong; it seems to me the results could be arrived at by anyone who had read much of anything about the situation in Afganistan. But if the stories on the lack of basic infrastructure are anything close to accurate, how can you do a "poll" of Afgans at all?

This also ties into a story I heard on New Orleans radio today: a telephone poll to find out how many people had suffered a stroke. Doesn't it seem the results would be slightly skewed? I think there is probably a statistically significant number of stroke victims who are either reluctant to answer to phone or phsycially incapable.

complain, complain, complain

One thing I forgot to mention the other day: while we were out at an Alexandria sports bar the draft beer cost $5.40/pint.

There isn't much I miss about living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. But the dollar drafts at The End Zone are the one thing worth pining for. Of course, I understand now the beer costs $1.50, so the nostalgia doesn't get my anywhere, except having to increase my beer budget even when I'm drinking less.

when "new" means "from the last millenium"

In Springfield, Mo., I occasionally tuned the radio to a station billing itself as Springfield's "New Rock Alternative."

During commercial breaks, the station promo would say something to the effect of: "The station for new rock." The first time I heard this promo, the next song was Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge."
The second time i hear the promo, the playlist brought up No Doubt's "I'm just a girl," followed by Metallica's "Enter Sandman."
I don't even think I was in high school when Enter Sandman was released. Is it possible to file some sort of false advertising suit here?

if you're looking for Jesus, check the gutter

In the great town of Springfield (city motto: it's close to Branson, and nothing else) is a bowling alley.

The sign on Lighthouse Lanes proudly proclaims: "Where Christians come to play." This makes more sense when you consider in Springfield, "Christians" means "Southern Baptists." So I assume the alley doesn't serve alcohol. I wonder if they have sermons on the side.

And I found its web address. Interestingly, online the alley makes no mention of its motto that's so promenient at the actual site. Instead, the website simply promotes "family-friendly" bowling. Did they feel they would lose business if they touted themselves as a Christian bowling alley on the web? I think they compromised their principles in the wild west of the web.