Unshelved	by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum

I like how our ballots look

Sample Ballot for Cove Lake Precinct, Lexington/Fayette County

We've had electronic voting for years, but it's not on a screen. Rather, a putty-coloured board has the above printed on it, making it easy to read. You press the box next to the candidate you choose, and a red light lights up to show that you have made your choice. You can change votes easily by pressing another toggle box. When you're finished, you press a big button to register the votes and that's it. :) Mine is very straightforward this year...I still need to find out about the Board of Education race, and that's it. Otherwise, I know my votes.

If you're in Kentucky and want to see a sample ballot for your own precinct, go to http://sos.ky.gov/electionballots/

Eilir raved on 13:59 Links to this post

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Timely and fun

Who would Dracula vote for? This is a Flash animation illustrating that 1) Kerry and Bush are 9th cousins, twice removed, and that 2) they both descend (11th generation) from Vlad the Impaler.

Check here for more, including other relatives, such as both Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Eilir raved on 12:03 Links to this post

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Guess this makes reunions a pain :)

Bush Relatives for Kerry

Eilir raved on 11:26 Links to this post

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Is it any wonder some of us are sick and tired with such 'leaders'?

Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Oh, Oklahoma!

I love seeing what outsiders think of the US, and this article from Britain highlights some of the wackiness of our senate races, including one in Kentucky. By the way, several Republicans are now playing a game against Dr Dan by calling him limp-wristed and making other insinuations that he's gay (and I haven't heard anything within the gay community along that lines and have no reason to think he's a closeted politician) but then saying that it's not wrong because, after all, there's nothing wrong with being gay. Of course there isn't. But when you're spreading spurious rumours about someone that you know will harm them amongst conservative voters, it's still a smear campaign, and it just shows that the incumbent, Jim Bunning, is so weak on issues that there's nothing left to do other than coat-ride on Bush or attack the opponent personally. (Bunning also said Mongiardo, whose family was Italian, looked like one of Saddam Hussein's sons...wacky.)

That's the theme around here these days. Meanwhile, they're running ads against Nick Clooney (father of George), calling him 'Looney Clooney' and running down a list of things he supports that are out of touch with Kentuckians...things I happen to agree with. It's not one of my races, and it does bother me that he is for marriage to remain between a woman and a man, but hey, you can't have everything from every candidate.

The Republicans seem to be making the most blunders, but an ad against a proposed amendment in Kentucky that would make marriage strictly between a man and woman and prevent any civil unions or basic rights for gay couples was yanked from several television stations as a result of some misleading information in terms of some statements by the governor, Ernie Fletcher (whose brother is running for a race in which his main schtick has been, 'hey, I have Sunday dinner with the governor every week'...please). They're trying to appeal to women, saying that the amendment will hurt those unmarried women who seek emergency protective orders, etc. I'm not sure about that; I haven't seen the full amendment and do plan to before I vote, although obviously I'm for gay marriage and against yanking even the possibility of civil unions away from people, which is why many do not support the amendment. Even if they don't like the idea of same sex marriage, they don't want to leave them totally without rights.

I don't know whether politicians think we're all stupid, or if they are all stupid, or what. But I'll be very glad when the whole debacle is over. I'm off at my state job on Tuesday and I'm going to take off at the hospital, too. I'm also taking Monday off from both jobs...it was a good opportunity to get a little R&R, but I'm definitely going to go vote, then friends and I are going to have dinner and come back and watch the returns. Kentucky closes its polls quite early, 6 pm I think, so we get results sooner than many. Who knows if we'll even know who's president, though, that night?

Oh, and it looks like the tax referendum to support our bus system has a lot more support than anyone--even its proponents--thought possible. A recent poll put supporters ahead by 17 points. That's great. Lextran has been struggling and its services have been a joke. No one can rely on the system in this town, and having spent many a four-hour grocery run, I'd like to see it get some stable funding. Mind you, I don't own property, so it doesn't effect me as of yet, but I would certainly pay property taxes to fund public transportation. I at least have used it regularly and I'll probably never use the Fayette county school system. But some thing you just help pay for out of civic duty. Those two are examples.

Eilir raved on 11:04 Links to this post

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Well, at least I got a glimpse

I took Cerys out a little before midnight last night and got to see the lunar eclipse at nearly full coverage for just a few moments when the clouds parted. I enjoyed it, of course, from a scientific and religious point of view. Sports fans probably see it as an omen, given the Boston Red Sox win in the World Series for the first time since 1918. I have a co-worker from Boston whose comment was that it was wonderful. 'I've waited for this all my life.' I'm glad they won. Even though I'm not much into sports (mainly figure skating and soccer, of all things), I like any sort of comeback story like that one.

Last night right before I rang off at the phone bank, I got a 102-year-old lady who'd been a speech teacher. She proceeded to lecture me about going too fast (she had lost her hearing in one ear and had trouble with the other) and about my enunciation. Y is just thrilled; he's been lecturing me on mumbling for years now. I tend to think faster than I talk, and I get all jumbled up. If I slow down, I sound, well, defective. He thinks I just wasn't socialised well. The thing is, they're both right. I do 'clutter' (it's a defect sort of like stuttering, but where you repeat words) and often can't seem to find the right word, because I just hit an impasse. I never realised I occasionally stutter until I worked as a telephone surveyer, because you get feedback when you listen to yourself more. It's amazing what things come out on the phone. Anyway, I'll take her admonition to heart...although she went on to lecture me about the proper way to draw my eyebrows on when I get older, too. :) She was a delightful, zany character. I hope I'm just as difficult at that age.

Eilir raved on 15:29 Links to this post

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Oh, this is too nifty for words

Remains of New Species of Hobbit-Sized Human Found

Mind you, considering the stories of small human-like creatures that abound in that area, you have to ask...do they (or did they until recently) continue to exist, giving rise to the legends, or are oral traditions just that remarkably old, and if so, what does that mean for other such stories that are dismissed as pure poppycock?

Eilir raved on 14:13 Links to this post

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Today's Blogsticker: Lying

: WEKU
: Tired



I'm sorry for the dearth of posts lately. In addition to the standard lack of immediate access through most of the day, I've been busy with both the regular jobs (I finished one project for distance learning, and I've finally got to a bit of breathing room at the library) and at the new temp job. We had training on Wednesday and Thursday, then hit the phones Monday, which, since I worked all three jobs, was an 11-hour-day for me. Monday I only got $65 in pledges, but last night was $301! It starts out slowly because we call the people who have lapsed the longest first. But considering on Monday many of my leads had moved, or worse, died, yesterday was definitely better, and it's set up to improve as we go along. Tonight I suspece many people will be watching the World Series, so hopefully they won't be too enthralled to speak to us. At least we're not political pollsters. I think people are sick of getting things in the mail and getting phonecalls and visits. I have to admit, I will be happy once the election is over myself.

It's nice to be working full-time again, even if it's at three jobs and somewhat variable pay. The phone-a-thon at least has an opportunity to make quite a bit in the six weeks we're working. Plus, there's another in March to look forward to.

My hands have been causing me more pain lately, especially when I first wake up in the morning...they just clench in spasm. Warm water, massage, and pain relievers help, though, and I haven't been impaired in my work, although I'm finding it harder to give massages or do some fine motor skills. I'm hoping we can get this taken care of soon.

Otherwise I'm doing pretty well. I'm reading PD James' Adam Dalgliesh mysteries, and I'm on the third one in a 3-in-volume. I'm looking forward to an 11-day break from taxi duty (not that I mind it, but it makes for a late night when you pick someone up from work at midnight), so I'm hoping to get to bed earlier and catch up on some sleep. I've been going to bed between 2 and 4 for awhile.

I guess that's all for now. I miss being able to wind down online at night...I think that's one reason I'm having trouble sleeping. Maybe I can eventually get back on. A phone at home will certainly help with my job search! But for now, despite being tired, I'm finding something much more important...I feel useful again. I didn't realise how much my self-image had eroded after the job cut. I mean, I know it wasn't because of my work or anything, but it is always a blow when your job falls out from under you. Working full-time is actually helping me feel more capable again.

The classical music and gloomy day are making me feel sleepy. Time to go do something to keep me awake and ready for what lies ahead today. Ciao.

Eilir raved on 13:25 Links to this post

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I have to agree with this

User Education Is Not the Answer to Security Problems

The best way to attack a problem is not to blame the users, but change the system to make users less vulnerable. It's the same thing we do in the business world for safety...why don't we in the tech world, too?

Eilir raved on 11:42 Links to this post

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Here's another survey that helps 'match' you with a candidate

AOL Presidential Match Main

On this one, I came out Kerry 88%, Bush 8%

Eilir raved on 11:37 Links to this post

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Today's Blogsticker: President

: 'Once More, with Feeling' from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the Musical)
: Okay considering I just spilt Diet Coke over a good part of my desk!



I received an e-mail of late-night campaign humour and found this gem from Jay Leno:

In an interview in USA Today, Teresa Heinz Kerry said she didn't think Laura Bush, who was a public school librarian for nine years, had ever held a 'real job.' Let me tell you something, if you're a librarian married to George W. Bush, there is no harder job on earth.

So right!

Autumn is in full swing in Kentucky...the leaves are changing, I can see the wetlands behind my apartment clearer because the treeline has shed many of them. Some of the fruit trees are having that 'second-burst' of flowers here and there that missed out on spring. My allergies are their normal fall impediment. Election day will soon be here and gone, and life as channelled through the media can return to normal for a bit.

I'm enjoying the new job, although Monday is the first night we'll be on the phones, so that will truly tell if I'm any good at 'selling' public television to people. One great thing about being a state employee is that I get paid for holidays, even as a part-timer (I'm not sure that's true for the telemarketing gig, which is contract work, but it is for my distance learning position). That includes Election Day, Veteran's Day, and two days for Thanksgiving next month. I think I'm going to take the first couple of days of November off from the hospital and have a nice, long weekend. For one, it's my main religious holiday (Samhain). For another, a friend who's very politic-oriented is taking some time off to campaign and recover from the aftermath of the election, and his birthday is that weekend but we'll probably have to celebrate it a little later because he'll be visiting family. So that will give us a chance to do something.

Then on the 3rd I learn my fate in terms of setting up surgery for the carpal tunnel. I'm hoping that I can have the left hand done sometime by late November (maybe just before Thanksgiving?) and then the right after the phone gig ends mid-December, for recovery during the holidays. I have plenty of extended illness time and personal time off if I need it, but I don't think I have to be off much. One woman I knew went back to work the next day, but others have taken off a week, especially with the dominant hand. But if I can do that, it'll be great for work and I could be recovered by the time 2005 swings into action. I can't believe this, but I'm looking forward to the surgery, and more importantly, feeling my hands and ending the pain I've been having. I've been functioning, of course...I gave up sewing years ago but of course still keyboard, shelve books, all the things I have to do, it's just causing me quite a bit of pain now, and once I have the surgery that should improve quickly, and it's rare for it to recur again.

Well, that's all for now. Happy Friday!

Eilir raved on 09:06 Links to this post

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Today's Blogsticker: Elections

Couldn't resist...I have fond memories of my great-grandfather (a lifelong, nearly religious old Southern Democrat) making phone calls during election season, and complaining the last year that he was actually putting a Republican into office because the Democrat had done him wrong. I never knew whether he just campaigned or bought candidates, but hey, there's a reason they call Kentucky counties 'little kingdoms'. My great-grandmother, on the other hand, was born into a world without a woman's right to vote, but only used it once in her life--to vote for a candidate her father wanted her to. Times have certainly changed.

Some of us were discussing our choices, and I came up with this:

I re-did the quiz from the SelectSmart website, because they sometimes change the issues (and they have recently, with more regarding Iraq or 9/11 security issues). I came out:

72% John Kerry (Democrat)
70% David Cobb (Green)
70% Ralph Nader (Independent)
61% Walt Brown (Socialist) [This is a friend's favourite]

so, really, I have a whole plethora of candidates to pick from. I have a lot of respect for Nader's consumer protection career, but I 1) do think his candidacy contributed to Bush's win in 2000 2) given how close the race is, I don't want to go independent in this election. I have to admit given the way things played out in 2000 and the closeness of this election, I'm a little ticked at Nader/ites, but then, it's his right to run, and their right to vote. But the closeness of the race was my main reason for not voting for Nader/Green last time, and it's still valid. I actually matched Dennis Kucinich much more than Kerry in the early part of the race, but it's unlikely he'll ever get elected, as he's too far on the Progressive Democrat side. (He was the one who wanted to establish a Department of Peace).

Unsurprisingly, I matched up with Bush only 24%.

Of course, the most important thing is to get out and vote, rather than who's voting for whom. And remember, if you have children, that taking them to vote with you can instil a positive sense of civic duty early on.

What I always have trouble with is finding information on the local and state elections, which have more impact on our daily lives. Here are a couple of links where you can check out platforms, etc.

Project Vote Smart (this one has a questionnaire that you can take where several candidates have also completed one and you can compare your answers with theirs--except that neither Bush nor Kerry filled one out)
The League of Women Voters' DemocracyNet (It allows you to put in your address and it gives you everything down to the state level)
Declare Yourself
and for Kentucky, KET's Election Coverage/Voter Education page

For local council races, there's some information in this article, but usually the Herald-Leader does a comparison right before the election (like maybe the Sunday paper before?)

And if you want a bit of humour, check out this candidate from the National Barking Spider Resurgence party. Yes. Really. And there's a list of the sheer numbers of people running for president/vice-president. Only 6 candidates are on our ballot, though.

Ever thought about running for a local office? Check out 'Taking the Plunge', a guide from the Kentucky League of Cities.

But regardless of how you feel about the various candidates, be sure to get out and vote and let your voice be heard. Remember, if you don't vote, you can't complain later. :)

Eilir raved on 11:07 Links to this post

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Too much excitement

This evening I:

• was rear-ended by a guy who might have insurance, probably doesn't have a driver's licence, and most likely is not in this country legally. Good news: no one was hurt, and the car just has a tiny scrape near the licence plate. But it left me late for
  
• an appointment where a friend and I were going, but we were still able to get in, and then I dropped the friend off and went to
  
• a new temporary job I have, running through December 16th. Like the distance learning gig, it's with our public television station, but in fund-raising. I'm basically going to call former members and ask them to renew. I have telephone survey experience, but not telemarketing, although it's very soft sell, it's for a non-profit, and it's a worthy cause, so I don't think it'll be a problem. Plus, since we're in-house, their donations are actually going to the programming rather than some third-party company. The good thing is I get paid a minimum for just breathing, but I get an additional amount based on the donations, plus bonuses. A friend who did it last year averaged about $13-$18/hour when all was said and done, and since I'll be doing it 16 hours a week (in the evenings), that will really help. So far we're just training, but we get snacks, it seems like a great bunch, and I think it'll actually be fun and profitable. :) Yay!
  

That's all for now.

Eilir raved on 22:13 Links to this post

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It's a week for surveys

Last night I answered a short phone survey on politics. Today I received a request from Daniel Sciboz on how I relate to people of other cultures. Here are my replies:

*********************************
QUESTIONS
*********************************
---Please type your answers

1. Cultural background (country of origin, nationality, ethnicity): USA; Anglo/Celtic/Amerindian

2. Native language(s): English

3. Age: 37

4. Gender: Female

5. Education (field or type of study / apprenticeship): Master's level/Library Science, History

6. Profession/ occupation: Librarian

7. Do you already have an experience interacting/working with people with a different cultural/ethnic background from yours? Yes

If yes, what kind? I was raised in the American South, with children of African descent. I grew up in the military and knew children of other races and who had parents from other countries (i.e., Italy, Korea, Germany, and VietNam). I have worked with international students in college, especially those from Malaysia and India. I encounter clients with other languages and cultural backgrounds (especially Spanish speakers and Amish). I have many Jewish acquaintances, and a few Christians and Muslims from Israel and Iran.

8. Do you speak any foreign language(s)? Yes.

If yes, which one(s)? German, Spanish, and Hebrew. I can read French.

---Please take a few moments to read the following statements. You may write the number corresponding to the degree of agreement or disagreement (as displayed in the scale below) at the end of each statement.

******************
3 = strongly agree
2 = moderately agree
1 = slightly agree
0 = partially agree
and partially disagree
-1 = slightly disagree
-2 = moderately disagree
-3 = strongly disagree
*******************

9. Establishing an interpersonal relationship with individuals with a different cultural background is easy. (2)

10. Dealing with cultural uncertainties is troublesome. (-3)

11. I (would) feel stressed working with people having a different cultural background. (-3)

12. In a workgroup, a greater amount of new ideas can be generated, if individuals with different cultural backgrounds are present. (3)

13. In a workgroup with colleagues having different cultural backgrounds, there are greater chances for an incurable conflict, than in a homogeneous group. (1)

14. Hearing an individual speaking my native language incorrectly confuses me. (-2)

15. When in a different country from my own, I (would) look forward to meeting my fellow citizens. (2)

16. I tend to develop closer relationships with people having a similar cultural background than with people having different cultural backgrounds. (1)

17. Due to cultural similarities, my fellow citizens are more likely to understand me.(-1)

18. I can deal with whatever difficult feelings or frustrations I might experience in a new culture. (3)

19. Information sharing in a team decreases, if individuals with different cultural backgrounds are present. (-2)

20. I do not feel I am a member of any particular culture; I feel I am something else.
(2)

---Please choose one of the three options a, b, or c:

21. In which environment (would) do you prefer to work? (b)

(a) with people having a similar cultural background
(b) with people having a different cultural background
(c) it does not matter whom I work with

---Please type your answers

22. If you would had the choice, from which country/region or countries/regions would you choose colleagues? I don't really have a preference; it would be easier to bond with other English speakers, because I haven not been able to use my German and Spanish enough to maintain fluency. But I am interested in all cultures.

23. If you had the choice, from which country/region or countries/regions would you avoid choosing colleagues? I know people from my same culture who are narrower-minded than I could find in the most fundamentally narrow culture half-way around the world. I think attitude matters more than where a person comes from, and each individual should be judged on his or her own merit than on the basis of cultural background.

Eilir raved on 14:03 Links to this post

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Strange takes on Pokemon

Japan for the Uninvited: Pokemon

By the way, this site Japan for the Uninvited is an interesting look at Japanese pop culture.

Eilir raved on 13:36 Links to this post

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