@messaging.sprintpcs.comAt CJ’s with Becky. She looks perplexed in this photo… possibly wondering why I’m taking her picture. :)

Drudge has the rundown on the debate ratings:

NBC News 17.2 million
CBS News 13.48 million
ABC News 11.50 million
Fox News Channel 9.56 million
Fox broadcast 5.2 million
CNN 4.4 million
MSNBC 1.2 million

The 9.56 million is a new record peak for Fox News in particular and cable news in general.

Four years ago, CNN won the debate ratings war among the cable networks with 3.27 million; Fox News had 1.88 million. So while CNN’s ratings increased about 35%, Fox’s more than quadrupled. MSNBC’s were pathetically stagnant, increasing from 1.03 million to 1.2 million.

UPDATE: The total number of viewers on all networks is even higher than previously estimated: 62,459,000!

@messaging.sprintpcs.comThe campus is buzzing with excitement. Where in the world, besides Notre Dame on a football weekend, can you find green traffic cones? :)

Here’s my fellow 1L and debate-drinking-game participant Brooke’s take on last night’s events. Summary: “Toes are tingly. Debates are funny.” Heh. She’s also perplexed about those “Islamic Muslims” that Kerry mentioned.

Scientists are saying that the eruption was exactly what they were expecting. In addition, seismic activity has stopped, leading scientists to believe that for now, this is it.

[UPDATE]
Well, she must not be done yet. Seismic activity has started up again, so we may be in for some more throat clearing from our friendly neighborhood volcano.

The TV version of CNN is reporting that Mount St. Helens began emitting mass quantities of steam at around noon pacific (melting the snow in the crater), and now has settled down slightly. Perhaps a final prelude to eruption is on its way, although the scientist on CNN is hedging on exactly what is going to happen next. The CNN Science section is not yet updated to reflect this change, but I imagine will be shortly.

UPDATE FROM THE WEBMASTER: Thanks for the update, Dane! Here’s the live webcam view:

Here’s an article: Steam eruption begins at Mount St. Helens.

Live video stream here.

“Is [being an alcoholic] any less voluntary than being stupid?” –Prof. Gunn

There’s a new Al Qaeda tape out, in which Ayman al-Zawahri threatens attacks against U.S. and British interests, as well as Australia, France, Poland, Norway, South Korea and Japan. He tells Muslims “not to wait any longer, otherwise, we will be devoured, one country after the other.”

Over on TNR’s blog, they agree that Kerry “won” the debate, but they’ve got a good post on his missteps and missed opportunities last night. And they’re worried Kerry will misinterpret his “win.”

Justice Scalia thinks Americans should have more orgies. Justices Ginsberg and O’Connor could not be reached for comment.

An estimated 55 million people watched the debate last night, a significant increase over the 46.6 million who watched the first presidential debate in 2000, according to Drudge.

The New York Post reports:

A group of Florida swing voters last night said Sen. John Kerry cleaned President Bush’s clock in the first high-stakes presidential debate.

Of the 18 swing voters taking part in pollster Frank Luntz’s focus group last night, they scored it a 16 to 2 Kerry victory.

Nine of them say Kerry’s debate performance convinced them that he’s the right man to lead the country for the next four years, while just two are committed to voting for President Bush. Seven are still up for grabs.

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