MY USA TODAY COLUMN: Will cocooned liberals be surprised by Romney? My thoughts on the “preference cascade.”

ON THE LATE JIM BAEN’S BIRTHDAY, the folks at Baen Books are re-running this slideshow tribute.

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THIS IS WHAT A BLUE STATE LOOKS LIKE — AT LEAST UNTIL WINTER ARRIVES: Zombie’s latest photo essay features lots of pixelation over nudity — but you still might want to think twice before clicking if you’re at work: This Is What a Blue State Looks Like: Rally for Nudity in SF.

THE NEW CIVILITY: Wisconsin Senator’s Son Beaten to a Pulp by Anti-Romney Thugs. “Kedzie caught the two men removing a Romney sign outside of his apartment around two o’clock in the morning. After telling them to put the signs back, one of the thugs attacked Kedzie and then put him in a choke hold and continued to beat his head.”

PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM the Mid-Life Squeeze. I think they overestimate the relative stress on women, though, by — as usual — undervaluing the importance of income-generation on the part of men. That’s just kind of taken for granted.

But predictable Psychology Today sexism aside, this is a real phenomenon, along with the Senior Squeeze, and the Junior Squeeze. How’s that hopey-changey stuff workin’ out for ya?

WAPO SWING-STATE POLL LEANS ROMNEY: “In the seven states designated as ‘toss-ups’ by The Washington Post plus Ohio, it’s Romney 52 percent to Obama’s 46. That six-point margin is not a statistically significant edge given the sample size, but a reversal from where things have been, paralleling shifts in state polling over the past few weeks.”

GETCHER Romney-Ryan Beer Koozies right here.

And it’s not too late to order magnetic bumper stickers. Also, a window sticker.

THE ITALIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN COVERING ITSELF WITH GLORY LATELY: Italian scientists convicted over earthquake warning.

This calls into mind Robert Heinlein:

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.

This is known as “bad luck.”

This has created a lot of incentives for scientists to leave Italy and to avoid giving any sort of earthquake advice to the Italian government. I predict a run of bad luck.

NEWS YOU CAN USE: How To Weaponize Office Supplies.

THESE WILL LEAVE A MARK: The Truth About Libya

VOTE LIKE YOUR GUNS DEPEND ON IT: Obama’s Bizarre Anti-Gun Debate Flub.

ASSAD’S CHILD VICTIMS: Vice magazine, the folks behind the outstanding Vice Guide to Travel, just uploaded some grim footage from a field hospital in Syria where children are taken after having their guts ripped out by the government. They aren’t kidding around with the content warning. Don’t watch this if you’re squeamish.

WHEN WE LOST CUBA: The Cuban Missile Crisis @50: A Reconsideration.

THE WAGES OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION: My son is schizophrenic. The ‘reforms’ that I worked for have worsened his life.

AT AMAZON, Warehouse Deals in Automotive & Industrial.

Also, today only: Save up to 70% on Select SanDisk Memory and More.

I LINK, YOU DECIDE: Stephen S. Roach argues that blaming China’s current manipulation is tempting, but wrong while Peter Navarro says confront China now.

I KNOW THEY’RE IN THE TANK, BUT WHY DO THEY PUT UP WITH THIS? The Politico story today that “Reporter ‘not allowed’ to talk to voters at Biden event” follows several previous stories of journalists being manhandled by Biden’s staffers:

• Biden Team Apologizes to Reporter for Sticking Him In Closet.
• Thug Administration: White House Wants Jason Mattera Investigated for Biden Question.
• Campaign Staffers Prevent Reporters From Asking Joe Biden Questions At Ohio Event.
• MSNBC, Politico, WaPo Reporters Complain About Biden Campaign Control Of Press.

I thought Obama was the cool, aloof, prickly one who needed the ‘prompter and lots of glad-handing, and Biden his friendly, cheerful, “hail fellow fare thee well” surrogate. But then trying times often bring out the face of desperation.

21st CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: “He Dumped Me Because I’m Married To Someone Else.”

MIKE RIGGS: Why Firing a Bad Cop Is Damn Near Impossible: A brief history of the “law enforcement bill of rights.” Privatize ’em.

IF MSNBC SEEMS ANGRIER THAN USUAL THESE DAYS: Chuck Todd: Seven-Out-Of-Ten Challengers In Romney’s Position Win.

RELATED: MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: Obama ‘Shows Lack Of Command Of The Moment.’

THE BIAS OF BOB SCHIEFFER: Michelle Malkin rounds up the top seven moments.

CHANGE SAME: Obama Administration Speaks Out on Marijuana Ballot Measures: Federal Raids Are Here to Stay.

WHY GEORGE MCGOVERN SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT: “Am I saying that Nixon in the White House contributed to the fattening of America? No, I’m saying that McGovern in the Senate did.”

PRESCRIPTION FOR LOVE: “Have Maintenance Sex.”

Well, we’ve been over this before.