* Curiosities of the American presidential race explained, like why Obama gestures with his thumb. * Holiday requested for our five worst presidents. * Wonkblog Tax Reform Calculator: Try and pay for Romney’s tax cuts by axing deductions and exemptions. * Bolivia asks Sean Penn, "militant for noble causes," to get
* Sandy exposed New York's inequalities. * As climate change progresses, bananas could replace potatoes. * America's drone war marks its 10th anniversary next week—and shows no sign of letting up. * For many in the UK, quality of life may stagnate over the next decade. * Some children struggle
* Recovery begins in New Jersey after "incalculable" loss; Christie says he'll reschedule Halloween. * Round-up of emergency gear. * Effects of Hurricane Sandy broken down by the numbers. * Scientists expect more storms and tidal surges of unprecedented intensity. * Various ways to volunteer and help victims of Sandy.
* No matter how the election turns out, everyone will have known it all along. * The proper balance calls for the care of a skilled surgeon, excising cysts from the [voter] rolls in an atmosphere of quiet calm. * How Hurricane Sandy could change the election: by forcing the candidates to discuss
* Summary of Hurricane Sandy's destruction so far, including multiple deaths, vast power outages, flooding, and blizzards. * Round-up of photographs of Sandy-swamped New York City. * See also: Large-scale Sandy photos. * Among the best blogs providing live Sandy coverage: CNN's "This Just In."
* What you could buy with the money the candidates have raised so far. * The demands of a presidential campaigns require amazing stamina. * New York subway stations are empty, shut down in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. * Movies to watch on Netflix when you're on lockdown for Sandy. * Though Armstrong
* Connecticut governor says Sandy is "the largest threat to human life our state has experienced in anyone's lifetime." * Sandy has killed the presidential campaigns. * Times building points high-quality webcam at Sandy to update every minute. * Lindsay Lohan urges East Coasters to quit freaking out about
* Why companies in the same industry tend to wind up in the vicinity of one another. * Interactive graphs show America's economic stagnation over the past decade. * Iraq and Afghanistan didn't achieve desired outcomes for the U.S., but its military still dominates all others. * John Warner
* By the election, the presidential candidates and their parties will each have raised more than $1 billion. * New Obama ad featuring Lena Dunham extolling her "first time" is the same as an old Vladimir Putin spot. * Political ads have "shockingly small" influence; the campaigns are spending
* The GOP is now so splintered that a Romney win could spell the end of the Reagan coalition. * For the first time since the Great Depression, median family income has fallen substantially over an entire decade. * Writer Vanessa Veselka remembers the time in 1985 that she hitched a ride with
