This year's edition ran last Sunday, as usual, in a fancy spread in the paper and online. The winner, the Post assured those of us who took the trouble to read the thing, would be announced this Sunday, Nov. 7. Which means Washington City Paper is in a position to do some real service journalism: We scored the contest and, below, report the winner, so you don't even have to open Outlook at all!

The roster of nine contestants this year represented a perfect slice of D.C. punditry. The good old MSM was represented by Politico editors John Harris and Jim VandeHei, competing jointly; Amy Walter, political director of ABC News; David Chalian, political editor at PBS NewsHour; Candy Crowley, chief political correspondent at CNN; Chris "The Fix" Cillizza, managing editor of the Post's own political site; and Ken Rudin, NPR's political director. To get a frisson of partisanship, Daily Caller editor Tucker Carlson and Huffington Post czarina Arianna Huffington entered. And finally, to allow the Post to show it still cares deeply about local news, the AP Government class at Oakton High School put in its predictions, too.

A total of 18 points were up for grabs. Each contestant had to predict the final tally of Senate and House seats, as well as the winner (and winning margin, and percentages) in the Nevada Senate race, the Colorado Senate race, the California governor's race, and the Maryland governor's race. Presumably, that last one—which no one expected to be close at all—was included for the same reason the Oakton kids were. The rules were a little convoluted, and to be honest, our scoring may not wind up the same as the Post's; we weren't clear on whether Price is Right rules applied, but we assumed they were. Pundits got a point for each correct prediction, and whoever came closest to predicting the actual point spread between the winners of the various races got one additional point. A second bonus point would be awarded to anyone who got not just the margin, but the percentages right, but no one did. The tiebreaker, naturally, required predicting the final percentage of votes won by Christine O'Donnell, who had no chance of winning the Delaware Senate race, but who's good for Web traffic.

It will not surprise you to learn that the predictions all hewed pretty closely to each other. The final scores were:

• Carlson: 6
• Chalian: 6
• Cillizza: 5
• Crowley: 4
• VandeHarris: 6
• Huffington: 4
• Oakton High: 3
• Rudin: 6
• Walter: 5

That left a four-way tie for first. The winner, who came the closest to projecting O'Donnell's 40 percent showing, was Chalian, whose guess was 41. (The other three he tied with guessed higher, betraying their obvious disdain for the intelligence of Delaware voters.)

We're assuming you don't actually care who answered which question how, because, frankly, we don't either. If you do, you can e-mail me or—if you dare—read Outlook this weekend.

UPDATE: Outlook editor Carlos Lozada e-mails along this update: The winner isn't yet known!

"Unfortunately, with a handful of House seats still undecided, it's not officially David Chalian's victory. If enough of the final House seats go for the Democrats, Tucker Carlson and/or Amy Walter could get the 2 bonus points for getting within 5 seats of the final House breakdown. This would catapult them over the group currently tied for first. Not likely, but possible. Once those House results are official, we'll call it one way or the other..."

We at Washington City Paper are here to help, with our free walks from the Smithsonian Metro station to the rally site, a long eight blocks away. We're like Arianna Huffington, but with no buses. Meet up with City Paper staffers at the Metro any time between 10:45 a.m. and noon, when the rally starts. They'll help guide you to the rally—providing a service that merely following the hordes of other fake protesters wouldn't accomplish.

After the rally is over, here's where to eat in D.C., and how to keep the irony going the rest of the day.

And remember, if you see those City Paper staffers laughing, as opposed to chuckling politely and non-genuinely, report 'em.

Photo by Minesweeper via Wikimedia Commons

We at Washington City Paper can't rely on a fortune quite as large as Arianna's, so we can't afford quite such a generous gesture. And besides, most of our readers are already here in D.C., where Metro will be running frequent buses and subways toward the Mall for just a bit more than a buck (and, okay, the chance you might get run over). But inspired by the HuffPo's shuttle, we still wanted to pitch in somehow. So:

Washington City Paper hereby announces that we will offer free walking tours from the Smithsonian Metro stop to the Rally to Restore Sanity/Keep Fear Alive on Saturday morning, for anyone who may have trouble navigating the eight blocks along the Mall without the assistance of a media organization. Look for City Paper employees near the Metro between 10:45 a.m. and noon—they'll be wearing City Paper garb of some sort—and tell them you need a walk to the anti-protest protest.

Important legal disclaimers: City Paper will not assume any responsibility if you get distracted by the carousel on the Mall and wander away from the tour. City Paper employees may be willing to hold your hand to help guide you to the rally, but only if you're cute and ask nicely. Like the Huffington Post, City Paper is a free publication; unlike the Huffington Post, City Paper does not get much Web traffic from celebrity nipple slips. Offer of walking tour is only valid to the rally, so memorize the route. Do not taunt City Paper employees.

Remember, only you can keep fear alive. Restoring sanity is probably beyond all of us.

• Minnesota has finally come to its senses and decided that Al Franken will be its second senator.  It only took the ballot counters and lawyers eight months to figure that out.  The former Saturday Night Live writer will take his seat following the July 4th recess.  Franken will be the 60th Democrat in the Senate, making it possible for the party to break a Republican filibuster but he wants everyone to know that he's not looking to block legislation on a regular basis.

• An FDA advisory panel is trying to make life more painful for patients.  Literally.  They recommended a ban on Vicodin and Percocet because the high levels of acetaminophen can negatively affect the liver.  The panel also wants a decrease in daily dosages of acetaminophen, as well as the dosage per pill and the number of pills per container.  The active pain-relieving ingredient in medicines such as NyQuil, Tylenol, and Excedrin, acetaminophen might kill your liver but the pain might make it worth it.

• Brightest Young Things spotted the first Real World cast members walking through town today.  How?  The two girls were followed by five camera people.  Way to blend in, MTV, way to blend in.

• We Love DC apparently still loves the city, even after reporting on a supposed dognapping outside the P Street Whole Foods on Sunday night.  Molly, a 4 year old Vizla, was tied up outside and when her owner came back, she was gone.  Normally, this would be the cause for posters and neighborhood email lists, but ever since NBC4 picked it up on their website, Molly has become Logan Circle's cause.  I think this is what Arianna Huffington was referring to when she referred to "citizen journalism."

• And just when she thought we forgot about her, Sarah Palin has returned to the news with another audacious claim.  This time, she thinks she can beat President Obama in a foot race.  "I betcha I'd have more endurance," the killa from Wasilla told Runner's World magazine.  The White House is not commenting, but perhaps a pit bull would be a better opponent for the former vice-presidential nominee.  The president is a little bit busy trying to pull troops out of Baghdad and push gay people into the military.