Have you wondered which opinion poll is more correct, when two pollsters point in different directions?

My editor at Decoded Science asked my that question when a Gallup Poll and a Rasmussen Poll disagreed recently. My response is found in my recent online article, “How Statistics May Help Select a Reliable Pollster“.

Can Statistics Decide between Gallup versus Rasmussen?

"George Gallup" image via Quibik and The Gallup Organization

My article tries to distinguish what can and cannot be determined by statistics. It includes a pointer to another writer’s article; she speaks knowledgeably about the different methodologies behind Gallup and Rasmussen.

As always, the American presidential election is a hot topic in the USA. Opinion polls might guide the politicians in deciding what policies or slogans should be embraced or shunned.

It’s important to ask “How accurate has this pollster been”? Mathematically, that is the guide for a statistician in deciding which results to believe.

Further Publicity for Statistics about Opinion Polls

As is customary, I also publicize my article in my Xanga blog (”Presidential Pollsters versus Statistics“), while my Blog of Writing offers a complementary writing tip in “Preview of Statistics to Pick Pollsters“.

Professional Writing by DeHaan Services

DeHaan Services writes web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in articles in Decoded Science, Environmental Graffiti, Squidoo and Suite 101. That’s why we highlight my online articles on this blog page.

To only see our Toronto events or fitness, please click on the appropriate category in the “Categories” section at the bottom of the right-hand margin.

Thank you for reading about my recent Decoded Science mathematics article about judging the reliability of opinion pollsters based on their statistical accuracy.

My thanks to Torontonicity’s Lori Bosworth for being the first to bring Doors Open Toronto 2012 to my attention, in her article “Tall Ships and Cruise Boats Part of Doors Open Toronto 2012“.

Doors Open Toronto is an opportunity to go behind the scenes into Toronto buildings: both the famous and the obscure. This is one of those rare annual free Toronto events that helps us understand and appreciate this city.

Without Ms Bosworth, I would not have remembered this annual event until the mainstream media managed to bring it to my attention. Thanks!

An executive summary of this article would recommend spending Saturday May 26 and Sunday May 27, 2012, visiting interesting buildings in Toronto. Check the first link, above, for more details.

There are enough buildings scattered across Toronto that you could spend several years to visit them all. May I suggest three themes to open doors in Toronto.

Open the Doors to Places Rarely Visited

"Inside the Portlands Energy Centre" image by George Socka of beachdigital

My first thought is to find buildings that I would never expect to be permitted to enter. The Portlands Energy Centre is one such place. When else could you tour a recently-constructed power plant? Does anyone remember the recent controversy about building a generating station in Toronto, rather than encouraging energy conservation measures to reduce electricity requirements?

My thanks to George Socka of beachdigital for placing his professional photograph onto Flickr under a “use with attribution” license. Is the interior of the building truly lit with sodium vapour lights?

Other places I would not expect to enter otherwise include:

• The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant does not offer parking, but it’s an amazing sight on an amazing site near the eastern end of Queen Street. Plan on a bit of a walk, whether you drive or take the Queen streetcar to the Neville Park terminus.
• Queen’s Park, the Ontario Legislature Building, may allow visitors in a gallery but those of us who do not serve as an MPP are unlikely to see much of the interior.
• Osgoode Hall is a landmark at Queen and University, but I had never planned to walk past its fence.

Open the Doors to Tourist Attractions

I like the idea of going places where tourists may go, but with the chance to look “backstage”. These attractions are available without using Doors Open Toronto, but it’s a different experience.

• I’ve spent many hours at Black Creek Pioneer Village, thanks to participating in the MCC Black Creek Pioneer Village Relief Sale (which benefits Mennonite Central Committee’s charity work) on the third Saturday of September. Their buildings were constructed at different times and for various purposes during the early settlement of this region.
• Colbourne Lodge Museum, in High Park, is touted as a great example of its architectural style. High Park is also a terrific place to spend the day with your children, especially in good weather.
• Old City Hall reminds me of paying parking tickets and witnessing a friend’s civil wedding ceremony. I also love spotting the gargoyles guarding the exterior. This building is well worth the visit.

Open the Doors to Places of Worship

While many of us worship religiously in one building, Doors Open Toronto permits us to visit sites used by people of different faiths. The following list is just a quick sample; please don’t be offended if it omits your place of worship.

• Islamic Information & Dawah Centre International serves the Muslim community at Bloor and Dufferin.
• Periya Sivan Temple is “the oldest…Canadian Hindu” temple.
• Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple of Toronto is on Heintzman Street, and was converted from its previous use as a piano factory.
• St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic church, nearing its first century on Roncesvalles Ave.

Bonus Themes for Doors Open Toronto in 2012

You might visit buildings where you have been entertained, such as the Princess of Wales Theatre or the Winter Garden Theatre.

The city of Toronto operates other museums and historical houses; you could pursue them throughout the year.

Several Toronto fire halls are listed. These are always popular with youngsters.

Several interesting businesses open their doors; so do public and private schools and colleges.

Important Note for Doors Open Toronto

Please review the details for the building you wish to visit, particularly for the day and time. Use the first link from my article, then pursue that attraction’s link for further information.

Photographers and videographers must review each building’s rules. Do they permit photographs or videos? Do they permit the use of a tripod?

If you have any question about directions, again the main site has information and, usually, maps once you click on the specific attraction.

Enjoy Toronto as you indulge in Doors Open 2012, one of the many Toronto events I like to publicize here.

Although we Canadians usually think of kudzu as an Asian vine that invaded the United States, it has also achieved a foothold in Leamington, Ontario.

“Kudzu Invaded Canada while Under Attack in the United States“, in Suite 101, reports on kudzu’s recent achievement.

Kudzu Has an Invasive Enemy in the United States

"Kudzu Engulfing a House", image by NatalieMaynor

I’m sure that the above photograph was not taken in Canada. However, the vine seems able to survive in Canada’s warmest climate zone.

By the way, an invasive Asian insect has made its way into the southern USA, where it has attracted attention for attacking kudzu as well as some farm crops.

Other Publicity for this Kudzu Article

My article is promoted by my Xanga blog (”Kudzu is No Longer Just for Americans“). As well, my Blog of Writing has a brief publicity blurb in “Kudzu, a Bi-National Invader“, along with a no-obligation writing tip.

Professional Writing by DeHaan Services

DeHaan Services writes web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in articles in Decoded Science, Environmental Graffiti, Squidoo and Suite 101. That’s why we highlight articles on this blog page.

To only see our Toronto events or fitness, please click on the appropriate category in the “Categories” section at the bottom of the right-hand margin.

Thank you for reading about my expose on the kudzu vine’s invasion of Leamington.

My “Computer Algorithm Solves Arranged Marriages via the Hall Theorem” article was published yesterday in Decoded Science.

Can a computer create a romance? That’s not quite what the Hall Theorem promises.

"Bride and Groom" image by epSos.de

The Hall Theorem Sets Conditions

Actually, the Hall Theorem sets a specific condition for a computer program to be able to match picky women with willing men.

The algorithm that my article outlines is nothing like a dating service that tries to match compatible but finicky singles with their ideal partners. That is an entirely different problem.

However, it’s not a trivial task to decide that a computer could even hope to find matches for people in simpler circumstances…but that’s what the Hall Theorem provides.

Further Publicity and a Writing Tip

As usual, I also promote my article in my Xanga blog (”Impersonally Arranged Marriages“). My Blog of Writing also adds a writing tip to “Arranging Marriages by Computer“.

Professional Writing by DeHaan Services

DeHaan Services writes web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in articles in Decoded Science, Environmental Graffiti, Squidoo and Suite 101. That’s why we highlight articles on this blog page.

To only see our Toronto events or fitness, please click on the appropriate category in the “Categories” section at the bottom of the right-hand margin.

Thank you for reading about arranging marriage by computer algorithms.

Apparently the Hon. Vic Toews, Canada’s minister of public safety, had announced that May 6-12, 2012 is “National Emergency Preparedness Week” in Canada.

I certainly can use an annual reminder to re-stock my emergency first aid kit.

But I only noticed this because of the red banner on the Environment Canada weather site that I check almost every day.

Environment Canada with Red Banner Link

Prepare for Emergencies during May 6-12, 2012

The important resource is the Government of Canada’s “Is Your Family Prepared?” site.

Read and heed, if you please!

A Gap in Online Coverage for Emergency Awareness?

This afternoon I ran a quick search for “toews safety emergency” in the Bing search engine. Other than official Canadian government web sites or historical news and articles, the only other top-10 reference that I noticed was that the MarketWire service did publish an advisory on May 2nd. Didn’t the media cover this event and publish it online? The announcement was to have been made on May 3rd.

I know that I hadn’t noticed it in the news…so I assume most of Canada missed it, too.

Valuable Emergency Preparedness Information from the Canadian Government

The government site has links to a number of publications and articles.

We may think we know about storing emergency candles in the home, and keeping a sleeping bag in the car’s trunk. Do we actually keep some clean drinking water handy in case the water main breaks?

It’s a lot easier to read about emergencies and to prepare for them before they occur. As the Boy Scouts might say, “Be prepared”!

Feedback: Did You Know about Emergency Preparedness Week?

After being flooded with spam comments some time ago, I added a “captcha” and now receive very few. I just tried to make a comment, and received an “internal server error”. (Insert expletive of your choice).

Please send me an e-mail if you already knew about about “National Emergency Preparedness Week”, and your source of information. Thanks!