Free Nook book

It's Hobbit Day tomorrow. Barnes & Noble's Free on Fridays is offering a book that might be of interest for Tolkien fans:

Today we’re also highlighting a special free offer for Tolkien fans. As many of you know, tomorrow is Hobbit Day—Frodo and Bilbo’s birthday in the classic book series. As you gear up for the December release of The Hobbit movie, dig into the realm of Middle-earth with this free Reader and Educator Guide to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. At over 200 pages, and offering a deeper look at the events and lives of the characters from these epic tales, this is a must-have resource for every Tolkien fan.

West Wing reunion as political ad

Bridget Mary McCormack, whose sister Mary McCormack played deputy national security adviser Kate Harper on NBC's television series "The West Wing," is on the ballot this fall in Michigan as a nonpartisan candidate for the state's Supreme Court. Her campaign "The Bridget Mary McCormack for Justice Campaign" has paid for a YouTube video that has the show's cast reprising their roles as West Wing problem solvers focusing on the thorny issue of the nonpartisan section of the ballot, and one particular cast member's sister who happens to be on it.

Hoping to boost November turnout for candidate McCormack and to drive general nonpartisan ballot voting awareness, the "West Wing" star and her former cast mates shot two versions of the four minute video which taps into several quintessential moments from the hit show. One version focuses strictly on promoting nonpartisan ballot awareness and the other (shown below) also advocates for McCormack.