For all his success outside of it, David Mamet has done all right by Hollywood. More than all right, in fact: His screenplays for The Verdict and Wag the Dog were nominated for Oscars, and, like Woody Allen, he gets to direct his own scripts just the way he wants to because 1) he’s got such unassailable artistic cred that everybody wants to work with him, and 2) he never spends very much money….

>> In case you missed today’s most bizarre news tidbit: National Symphony Orchestra oboist H. David Meyers awaits sentencing by a federal judge for his role in orchestrating (heh) a complex illegal sports gambling ring. Meyers’ story, which he’s peddling to newspapers through a publicist, is that he didn’t know what he was doing was illegal, and that he shouldn’t go to jail because his musical gift will suffer. Oboe he didn’t! [WaPo] >> Two…

>> Okay, not technically voting news, but we’re convinced that Britney Spears is filing for divorce today in order to sway the elections in some manner. Perhaps going on a campaign of “Don’t Marry Total Effing Idiots”? [TMZ] >> Robocalling — the new hotness? Over on his personal blog, DCist Tom explains just how it’s done — and just how easy it is to do. Please don’t try this at home. Seriously. [Manifest Density]…