Brad's In Jail. I am sure some of you are saying "Finally!" Lest you worry, there are no criminal charges here. Instead, I have volunteered to go behind bars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual Telethon Executive Lock-up. Any help in raising my bail would be appreciated. I may be calling some of you on Thursday, as I sit behind bars, but if I don't feel free to contribute to MDA anyhow. Any size donation will be greatly appreciated. Some examples of what even a modest donation can mean are: $25 would cover the cost of a flu shot--critical for those who suffer from MD, $65 will keep MDA's worldwide research program going to another minute, $100 covers the cost of a vital support group meeting. The list goes on and on. Please help the MDA continue its research and provide needed services to children who really appreciate your help.

How I Keep Up with National Politics. One of the hidden gems on the internet is that of Rasmussen Reports, a national polling organization that polls major political race and issue preference polls throughout the country. A service they provide is a daily report that is chock full of interesting little tidbits on races and issues that may be of interest to you. At the very least, it provides an opportunity to gauge the public will from a number of angles.

For more information, go to: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/ . In the upper left-hand corner of the page, you can enter your e-mail and receive a free daily update. It's a bargain at twice the price.

More Free Stuff. Education Week also provides a free e-newsletters on a variety of topics. An Education Week subscription is fairly inexpensive (around $70 for 52 weekly issues), but in these tight times, that may prove too steep for many. The top stories on the Education Week website are free and along with the free e-newsletters, you can get a ton of information about what is happening on a variety of education issues around the nation.

Education Week website: http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html