Jerry Seinfeld reminisces about his pre-packaged childhood Halloween costumes, and the never-ending hunt for candy!

The rest of the country – and certainly the X Factor judges – are finding out what we in Seattle have known for a long time – LeRoy Bell is the real deal.

His adventure on the X Factor enters its next phase this Wednesday when audience voting begins. Finally you can lend your voice to help push LeRoy to the top! Here’s how:

The options to vote are different than other shows; X Factor uses, Phone, Facebook, Twitter and Text messages.

HOW TO VOTE FOR LeRoy Bell…

PHONE:
You can vote via calling a toll-free phone number.
Each act will be assigned their own toll-free number, which will appear on screen after their performance.

TEXT:
You can vote via Verizon SMS/text voting.
Each act will be assigned their own four-digit short code, which will appear on screen after their performance.

ONLINE:
If you have a Facebook account, you can vote online at www.TheXFactorUSA.com and follow the instructions there.

TWITTER:
You can vote by sending a Direct Message containing the number of the act for whom you wish to vote via Twitter if you follow @TheXFactorUSA. (Note: We don’t need to follow you back.) Tweets do NOT count. The number assigned to each act is based on order in the performance show each week, much like the toll-free and SMS voting methods. So, if you wish to vote for act number 1, send a Twitter Direct Message containing the number 1 to @TheXFactorUSA. Or, visit www.twitter.thexfactorusa.com and follow the instructions for how to Direct Message your Twitter vote(s).

MOBILE APP:
If you are a Verizon subscriber with an Android device, you can vote via The Xtra Factor App. Download the app now! For Verizon Android tablets, you will need to log into a Facebook account. For Verizon Android handheld devices, you vote via SMS/text message. Beware: for the Verizon Android handheld device voting the short codes and keywords for the acts will be different to those shown on air, but that’s the only thing different.

A few more things to keep in mind here before you pick up the tellie or get your texting fingers warmed up — voting opens five minutes before the end of every performance show and is open for two hours after the show ends in each time zone. Voting is available to people from within the Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

If you want to go crazy voting, direct SMS, SMS in-app, and telephone votes are unlimited. But online and Twitter votes are maxed out at 50 votes. Got that?

If you’d like to see how LeRoy got to where he is today watch this:

Some people still think “golf cart” when they hear all-electric vehicle.

What can I do to convince them (or you) that my Nissan Leaf from Eastside Nissan in Bellevue is no toy. Perhaps a demonstration is in order?

Behold my Nissan Leaf, with it’s whiplash-inducing acceleration, as it goes head-to-head against a 5.7L, 370hp Dodge Charger. One of Detroit’s most powerful gas vehicles. It took me awhile to find one on the road, but when I did .. the race was on! Although, in fairness to the other driver, without an engine to rev it was hard for me to communicate my intent.

Any rock star who’s been called on to promote a new record knows it’s all about answering the same five questions over and over and over again. And if you get playful with your answers, you’ll spend the next few weeks explaining what the hell you meant.

The Black Keys, who were in Seattle last week for the opening of the city’s first Microsoft Store, were apparently tired of those five questions and brazenly asked John Fisher for something better, maybe a question about hats?

So, it’s pretty obvious that Pat Carney (left, in the video, with glasses) and Dan Auerbach (right) would just prefer to let the music speak for itself. But a grizzled interviewer like John Fisher isn’t going to let them off easy. Go ahead, John, ask them to talk about their new song. (Woah, he’s actually going to do it):

OK, not that insightful. Let’s get back to talking about random stuff, like cars. Just don’t mention that the vehicle in their promo video for the new CD El Camino is not an El Camino. (Whoa, he’s actually going to do it):

Right now beyond the door of the studio, The Fray are playing a live set in The Music Lounge. If like me, you are not in the audience, you can hear one song at 3:15 today and watch some sweet video tomorrow once we get it all dolled up.

…how about with a previously unreleased U2 song from the forthcoming Achtung Baby reissue?

U2 – Blow Your House Down (Previously Unreleased) – _646943

Did you miss me?

Okay, granted, this guy’s a NASA engineer, so you expect him to come up with something brilliant, but really . . . this is the perfect costume for right now.

You can read more about Mark Rober and his giant brain here

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I’m a bit of a car guy. Hey, when you grow up in Detroit, it’s hard not to be a car guy. So every November, when the Seattle Auto Show comes around, I get pretty excited and start geeking out on cars as only a . . . well, as only car geek can.

My friends at the Auto Show thought they’d rev up my anticipation just a little bit more by tossing me the keys to the brand new redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, which is just one of the many new rides you can check out at the show, which runs this Wednesday through Sunday at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.

Here’s Part One of my adventures with the 21st Century update of an automotive icon:

You want to join me at the Seattle Auto Show? The Beetle’s just one of the new cars you can check out, sit in, and fantasize about. For more on the show, go here. See you there!

People are always asking us: “What’s new? Who’ve you heard that I need to hear? What’s your current favorite music?”

Now we each answer those questions in our own way. Here are our current Mountain Music Discovery picks. You listen and then decide: Which song deserves the coveted honor of becoming The Nug Of The Week?

Last week you chose Shawn’s pick, Warren Haynes. Who do you like this week?

John Fisher
The Jayhawks “She Walks In So Many Ways”

This legendary Twin Cities band is back with Mockingbird Time, their strongest record since 1992’s Hollywood Town Hall. A super-catchy melody, gorgeous harmonies, and just a hint of a twang. Enjoy!

Shawn Stewart
Dum Dum Girls “Bedroom Eyes”

Miss The Pretenders? Girls groups are making a big comeback and at the forefront are the ironically titled Dum Dum Girls. This is smart rock for the sisters and the men who idolize them:

Marty Riemer
My Morning Jacket “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”

It’s a Sunday Brunch – or a gray, fall day – kind of a song. A delicate new ballad called “Wonderful (The Way I feel)” from My Morning Jacket: