FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Junior: The most common name suffixes are "senior" (Sr.) and "junior" (Jr.), and are far more frequently applied to men than to women. What do you think it says about a person (or a couple) who chooses to name a child after himself or herself?
Q2- Parking Meters: In the state of California, automobile drivers with handicap parking permits are allowed to park anywhere except in private lots and in designated no-parking zones. In addition, drivers with handicap permits do not have to put anything into that device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. In other words, people with handicap permits get to park for free, even in metered spots. How do you feel about this?
Q3 - Language: How do you feel when you're surrounded by people, all of whom speak a language you do not understand (e.g., in a nail salon, a restaurant, beauty supply store, someone's home, etc.), and there's no one there to translate?
Q4 - Seatbelt: Edward J. Hock invented the seatbelt first used by the Ford Motor Company as standard equipment, while he was on active duty with the military as a flight instructor. In 1955 the U.S. Navy accepted his idea, and Hock was awarded $20.50 for his invention. The original schematic and blueprints shows he utilized scrap parachute strapping to implement his idea. He was never awarded anything other than the $20.50, a letter of recognition, a picture with military brass, and a newspaper article to his credit. When you're driving a car, do you start the car first and then fasten your seatbelt or do you do it other way around?
May 8, 2008
Random Thoughts - Barack Obama on The Role of the United States
CNN is reporting that Presidential contender Barack Obama told CNN's Wolf Blitzer (in an interview scheduled to air later today on "The Situation Room") that the most important thing he could do as President of the United States would be to "deal with Iraq and the threat of al Qaeda in Afghanistan while improving our influence around the world."
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Obama running for the Democratic nomination? Sure sounds like a Republican to me.
From CNN:
Obama said he thinks the United States' influence around the world has been diminishing.
Really. Ya think?
"The world wants to see the United States lead. They've been disappointed and disillusioned over the last seven, eight years." ~ Barack Obama"I think there is still a sense everywhere I go that if the United States regains its sense of who it is and our values and our ideals, that we will continue to set the tone for a more peaceful and prosperous world." ~ Barack Obama
Did he just say "the world wants to see the United States lead?" Please, not in his wildest dreams does the rest of the world want the U.S. to lead. I have friends living all over the globe--from Germany to Australia and from India to Ireland--and from everything I have heard for the last 25 years, the rest of the world just wants to be left alone, isn't looking for a hero, and cannot stand the role the United States' plays in foreign affairs, environmental stewardship, and capital markets.
The only countries with a need for the United States to lead are those overrun by warlords, absolute dictatorships, and natural disasters, and even then, it's not the countries themselves that often want our help... instead, it's the citizenry on the ground/in country that need us to lead. The people of the Sudan, for instance, readily come to mind, as do the famished and malnourished in Chad, Ethiopia, Bolivia, the occupied Palestinian territories, and elsewhere.
More from Obama (again, from CNN):
Americans want to succeed, he said, "but we're going to have to make some investments and ensure that the dynamism and the innovation of the American people is released." "It's very hard for us to do that when we're spending close to $200 billion a year in other countries, rebuilding those countries instead of focusing on making ourselves strong," he said.
Not that I'm abdicating an entirely black or white approach to political leadership, but unless CNN just did a really awful job of editing Obama's interview, it sure sounds like the candidate is trying to be all things to all people. From that latest quote, he sounds like a Democrat.
When asked to respond to John McCain's supporters who have said Obama is not ready to be commander in chief, Obama said he thinks what people are looking for is "good judgment."
"I think I've consistently displayed the kind of judgment that the American people are looking for in the next president." ~ Barack Obama
Really? Seriously? Do you call ignoring your responsibilities as an elected member of the U.S. Senate just so you can run for higher office "good judgment"? I certainly do not, and to everyone else out that thinks there's noting wrong with an elected official running for another office other than their own while still in office, it's time to get your head out of the sand and get a good whiff of the political halitosis that's mucking up the very air we breath. These people will say anything to get elected, including the absurd, like the rest of the world wants the United States to lead.
Aside from the people I already mentioned, the only other people who want to see the United States position as a world power full restored are those U.S. citizens who live in the past and hold onto the notion that we as a people are somehow better than everyone else manning the globe. It's time those people and our political leaders face facts. The world's a different place today than it was five, 10, 15 and 25 years ago, and it's going to be different tomorrow than it was today. Living in the past--or making public statements to appeal to those who do--is foolish.
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - You Choose: History starts now... what kind of world do you want?
Q2 - Counting: Do you count the money you receive from ATM/cash machines or do you trust that the machine provided the correct amount?
Q3 - Dying to See: What entertainer--dead or alive--would you give your first born or left arm to see in person (not literally but you know what I mean)?
Q4 - Read Me a Story: For some weary travelers, the perfect antidote to a sleepless night might be a warm glass of milk or, perhaps, a bedtime story. Now guests at London's Andaz Hotel can order just that... a personal reader to come to their room for an hour and read them a story. There's even a menu of books to choose from. If this service were offered by the next hotel you visited, would you take advantage of it?
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Allergic Reaction - Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Last night, against my better judgment, I ate a tortilla-wrapped sandwich from KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) that I believe is the cause my swollen left eye (above) and smaller hives near my right wrist and on the bottom of my left foot. I took a look at KFC's website, and they do a fairly decent job of providing nutrition information and safety warnings for their menu items. From the site, I'm able to see the ingredients that went into preparing my sandwich (it's called the Toaster Wrap with Tender Roast Chicken): lettuce blend, tomatoes, chicken, wheat, MSG, gluten, soybeans, and something called pepper mayo.
Since people in my family have similar reactions to pepper and MSG, I'm going to go with the combination of both as the cause of my reaction, but since I hardly ever have such a reaction to either ingredient, I'm wondering if it could have been something else. For example, is it possible that KFC uses an over-the-top amount of MSG or perhaps uses Splenda in preparing the Ranch Dressing that was slobbered all over my sandwich/wrap?
Has anyone else experienced similar allergic reactions or food intolerance with KFC products?
April 25, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Your Job: What's the best thing about your job? If you do not have a job, what's the best thing about not working?
Q2 - Health Insurance: Whirlpool Corporation's refrigerator plant in Indiana has suspended nearly 40 production workers suspected by the company of continuing to smoke despite claiming on health insurance forms they were nonsmokers. Additionally, the company charges smokers an extra fee for health insurance. Do you think companies should be allowed to deduct higher amounts of money from employees paychecks for health insurance if the employee smokes cigarettes?
Q3 - Borders: In its quest to secure the 2,000-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has embarked on a construction project to build a 15- to 18-foot high wall along large swaths of the territory. But a lot of south Texans are mad about the plan. The proposed path of the fence cuts directly through some residents' backyards and even a local golf course. Do you think the United States should be erecting such a wall?
Q4 - Deterrence: A wall-mounted gadget designed to drive away loiterers with a shrill, piercing noise audible only to teens and young adults is infuriating civil liberties groups and tormenting young people. Nearly 1,000 units of the device, called the "Mosquito," have been sold in the United States and Canada, which according to its manufacturer, is a completely harmless solution to the problem of unwanted gatherings of youths and teenagers in shopping malls, around shops and anywhere else they are causing problems. Background: it seems that there is a very real medical phenomenon known as "presbycusis" or age-related hearing loss which, according to The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, "begins after the age of 20..." It first affects the highest frequencies (18 to 20 kHz ) notably in those who have turned 20 years of age or older, which means, there's real science to this Mosquito gizmo. How would you feel about the Mosquito's use in areas you or children frequent?
April 22, 2008
AL QAEDA CHIEF SLAMS MUSLIMS FOR LACK OF SUPPORT
Is it just me or does this headline and story read like it was written by the staff of The Onion? From the pages of Aljazeera.com:
AL QAEDA CHIEF SLAMS MUSLIMS FOR LACK OF SUPPORTAl-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri criticised Muslims for failing to support Islamist insurgencies in Iraq and elsewhere in a new audiotape posted Tuesday on the Internet. Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant also blasted Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas over their reported readiness to consider a peace deal with Israel. "I call upon the Muslim nation to fear Allah's question (at judgement day) about its failure to support its brothers of the Mujahedeen (holy Warriors), and (urge it) not to withhold men and money, which is the mainstay of a war," he said
It's hard not to find humor in that story. Not nearly as clever as "Baggage-Handling Mix-Up Sends Dirty Bomb To St. Louis" or "Howard Stern Organizes Women's Health Symposium," but pretty damn close.
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Cell Phone Usage: According to an article I just read, there are two types of public transportation passengers: those who hate it when you whip out your cell phone and start yakking away, and the yakers themselves, who feel freedom to communicate is a natural born right. Some cities have instituted no-cell phone zones on trains and buses while others maintain an honor system. Do you think cell phone usage should be limited or banned on public transportation?
Q2 - Keychain: Are the keys on your keychain ordered in a specific way or are they slapped onto the ring in random order.
Q3 - Couch Potato For a Day: What TV-show marathon would keep you on your couch all day?
Q4 - Happy: Someone asked me the other day, "Are you happy?" (and not as in, are you happy right now but in general). How do you define happiness?
April 11, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Moving: If you were forced to leave your home for a location at least 500 miles away for one year, where would you choose to go? Keep in mind that your job would be secure and your financial situation would the same as it is now (mysteriously, your job would follow, and of course, if you're married or have kids or animals, they'd be able to come with you and you'd all live at the same standard as you do now).
Q2 - Recycling: An all-time high of 56% of the paper consumed in the United States in 2007 was recovered for recycling, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), setting an all-time high and achieving an industry goal five years ahead of schedule. In announcing this news earlier this week, AF&PA also set a new goal of 60% recovery by 2012. Do you recycle paper? If so, what percentage would you say goes into a recycling bin?
Q3 - Crime: The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced last week that 63-year-old Louis McGuinn, a/k/a "Lowell Craig McGuinn," was sentenced to one year of probation and one hundred hours of community service for wearing service medals and badges--including the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and multiple Purple Heart medals--that he did not earn or have authorization to wear. McGuinn, who was discharged from the Army in 1968 as a private, falsely held himself out as a Lieutenant Colonel. In imposing the sentence, the Judge stated that he took account of the "likely damage the defendant caused to the prestige" of individuals that had legitimately earned the medals, and specifically imposed community service to try to "redress damage to the community because of the defendant's misconduct." Do you think it should be illegal for someone to wear armed service medals and badges they did not earn, and in this case, do you feel the punishment fit the crime?
Q4 - Friends: If you could have prevented one thing from happening between yourself and a family member or a friend, what would that one thing have been?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Dogs: Downward-facing dog is one of the most widely recognized poses of the ancient art of yoga. Some instructors are taking that pose literally by inviting canines into the yoga studio for classes with their owners. Do you think yoga can provide real health benefits for dogs, and if so, would you be interested in doing yoga with a dog.
Q2 - Money: If I gave you $175.00, what would you do with it?
Q3 - Life: In the United States, life expectancy is just 78 years, which apparently is too short for those of us opting to be cryogenically frozen after death. If having yourself cryogenically frozen gave you a 50/50 chance of being brought back to life at some point in the future, and you had the money to make it happen, would you go for it, or are 50/50 odds not enough for you? If 50/50 doesn't work for you, what if the odds were increased to a 100% probability of success in restoring you back to life?
Q4 - Odors: It's not just the fat and cholesterol in that sizzling bacon that will kill you: The irresistible aroma might too. A recently published study of fruit flies by a University of Houston researcher raises the possibility that even smelling rich foods may reduce the health benefits of dieting. How tempted are you by the smell of food?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Research: A study published in 2006 in The New England Journal of Medicine, which claimed up to 80% of lung cancer cases could be prevented with CT scans, has been revealed to have been underwritten, in part, by a cigarette company. An investigation uncovered what some say is an undisclosed conflict of interest in the study, which was authored by the Weill Cornell Medical College. Generally speaking, how much stock do you place in research studies, and do you now question the validity of this one because of who paid for it?
Q2 - Airline Safety : In this post- 9/11 world of ours, airline safety is said to be key, but it may not be Federal Air Marshals who are keeping the nation's flights safe. According to news reports earlier this week, Air Marshals themselves say they are only on about 1% of the 28,000 or so flights that take off or land in the U.S. each day. Are you surprised to learn that so few flights are protected by Air Marshals?
Q3 - March Madness: This is the time of the year that college basketball fans and at least some who could care less join in on what is often referred to as a March Madness Basketball Pool. Whether it's for money or just for fun, did you fill out a March Madness Bracket for this year's Men's or Woman's Division I Basketball Tournament, and if you did, how is your bracket fairing?
Q4 - Which Matters More: In an article in today's BBC News, Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who depicted the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban, says he will sue the maker of an anti-Islam film for using his cartoon without permission. According to the BBC, Westergaard told Danish TV that his cartoon was a "protest against terrorism, not Islam as a whole." They have "a right to make [sic: a] movie but.. not permission to use my drawing." Based on what I just you, what do you feel is the most important issue at stake in this story... religious intolerance, intellectual property rights, free speech, or zealotry?
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Four For Friday
Q1 - Drinking & Fighting: Debate over lowering the national drinking age is heating up in several states, fueled in part by legislators who contend that men and women who are old enough to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan are responsible enough to buy alcohol legally. Legislation introduced in Kentucky, Wisconsin and South Carolina would lower the drinking age for military personnel only. A planned ballot initiative in Missouri would apply to everyone 18 and older. An initiative in the works in South Dakota would allow all 19- and 20-year-olds to buy low-alcohol beer. Earlier in the week, Presidential hopeful Barack Obama made headlines by telling an underage Army veteran in Connecticut that lowering the drinking age would not be something he would support under any circumstances. What do you think... if someone is old enough to enroll in the armed services and participate in acts of war, should they be also be allowed to drink alcohol even if they're underage?
Q2 - Gasoline & Taxes: A recent poll reveled that 48% of U.S. citizens are unwilling to spend even a penny more in gasoline taxes to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. According to the poll's sponsor--the National Center for Public Policy Research--18% of Americans are willing to pay 50 cents or more in additional taxes per gallon of gas to reduce greenhouse emissions, which is exactly what U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has called for--a 50 cent per gallon increase in the gas tax, used to motivate Americans to conserve fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounts for 33% of the U.S.'s man-made carbon dioxide emissions. Over 60% of these emissions--or about 20% of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions--result from burning gasoline in personal automobiles. What amount, if any, would you be willing to pay in gasoline taxes to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions?
Q3 - Email & Interruptions: If you use a desktop email program like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Mail, etc., do you have it set to check for mail automatically or do you manually check for mail? If your primary email account is Web-based--like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, etc.--do you have a desktop "notifier" to alert you to new mail or do you check your account manually for evidence of new messages? In either case, do you think people would be more productive at work if email were only available upon manual checks (as opposed to it automatically showing up in an In box and potentially interrupting real work?
Q4 - Charity & Donations: When was the last time you made a charitable donation to an organization other than one with a religious affiliation? What's the name of the organization and do you think your donation eventually went to a worthy cause?
March 20, 2008
GOVERNORS GONE WILD
Don't you just love political cartoonists?
March 14, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Organic: Recent tests of "natural" and "organic" soaps, shampoos and other consumer products show that nearly half of them contain a cancer-causing chemical that is a byproduct of petrochemicals used in manufacturing. Many items that tested positive for the carcinogen are owned by well-known brands, including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate products, sold in retail stores across the nation. Generally speaking, before you heard this news, did you trust that "organic" products were safer or better for you than non-organic products?
Q2 - Spokesperson: If you could be the spokesperson for any company or organization for one year, what company or organization would you choose?
Q3 - Barack Obama: Results from a national study among Democrats indicated that more than half (53%), do not agree with former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro's comment that "Barack Obama would not have made it this far if he was a white man." What do you think... if Barack Obama were Caucasian, do you think he would be one of two candidates remaining in the race for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency?
Q4 - You Choose: A full-time housekeep to do your laundry and keep your house in tip-top shape five days a week, or a professional chef to cook you three squares a day, five days a week?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Storage: Do you have a storage unit? If so, what percentage of items that you currently store would you say you could easily live without? If you do not have a storage unit, would you be inclined to pay for one if the price were right?
Q2 - Affirmative Action: Come election time this November, voters in five states might have a decision to make as big as whom to elect president. Ballot initiatives have been proposed in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma that would give voters the chance to decide whether they want to do away with affirmative action in government-funded projects and public schools. How do you feel about affirmative action?
Q3 - Sign of the Times: Which concerns you more... gas prices or home depreciation?
Q4 - Sick: When you're sick (or suspect that you're sick), how many days will you typically wait before making an appointment to see a doctor?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - You're the Designer: If you had to design a popular mass-market T-shirt, what kind of design/message would you produce?
Q2 - Parlez-vous francais: Without looking it up, how many countries border France? Can you name them? Regardless of whether you can name them, do you think it's important for people to know the answer to this question or questions like this one?
Q3 - What he Said: Yesterday, during a press conference, President Bush fielded the following question from a reporter:
Mr. President, you've stressed over and over in recent days particularly the importance of keeping America safe, and yet you have not yet filled a key national security post--Homeland Security Advisor. Fran Townsend announced her resignation as Homeland Security Advisor months ago, in November. What is the delay there, and what are Americans to make of that delay? Is America less safe because of it?
The President's response:
We got a fine man named Joel Bagnal working that office right now. He's a professional. I trust his judgment. He's a real good guy. And no, they shouldn't worry about Joel. He knows what he's doing. Joel Bagnal has occupied the position. He's doing the job, and I've got confidence in him. And so should the American people have confidence in him. He's a fine professional. He knows what he's doing. And I'm very comfortable in saying, on your cameras, that our staff in the White House, led by Joel Bagnal, knows what they're doing when it comes to advising the President on matters of homeland security.
Apparently, the Homeland Security Advisor position is one that needs to be officially appointed by the President, yet he hasn't done so. Knowing only what you just read, do you find the President's response to the reporter's question (as well as his handling of the matter) acceptable?
Q4 - Cell Phone Plan: Recently, Verizon announced a new cell phone calling plan that allows customers to place an unlimited number of calls anywhere in the U.S. at anytime of the day for $99 per month. Within hours of announcing the new plan, several other cell phone providers matched Verizon's price and terms. Taking into consideration how much you pay for your current cell phone plan (assuming you have one), what do you think of the $99 rate plan?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Human Nature: The new season of "Big Brother" (a popular reality television show on CBS) already has more than its share of controversies. One guy has been accused of being a racist; one woman has been called a whore; another was called the "c" word, over and over, loudly; one man referred to autistic people as "retards"; one couple is pretending to be lesbians; one woman revealed that her dad committed suicide, only to later have a roommate tell her to "go hang yourself." Regardless of whether you watch the particular television show in question, can all of this be good for the television viewing audience (that these issues are raised)? Or is it just shameless provocation? Is human nature really this bad?
Q2 - Foreign Relations: Three days after stepping down as Cuban leader, Fidel Castro is calling on the United States to change its longtime policy of sanctions toward Cuba. Do you think the United States should lift its embargo on Cuba?
Q3 - Stamp It: Earlier this week, the U.S. Postal Service immortalized novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953), best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, and her memoir Cross Creek In the foreground of the stamp art is a portrait of Kinnan Rawlings based on an undated photograph. The background depicts a fawn at a watering hole in the Florida scrub, which is consistent with descriptions in The Yearling. Who, if anyone, would you like to see immortalized on a postage stamp, and what imagery would you suggest including on the stamp?
Q4 - Lineage: How far back can you trace your family's lineage?
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IMPROV EVERYWHERE IN GRAND CENTRAL STATION
I'm not exactly sure when this occurred, but recently, about 200 people from an improv group called Improv Everywhere came to a complete halt in New York City's Grand Central Station for five minutes, amusing some while others apparently didn't even notice. From Improv Everywhere's blog:
On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world's largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station. Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but today, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around them. Enjoy the video...
Click on the play arrow below!
Two words: Absolutely Brilliant!
Thanks to Steve Lindhorst of GenuineSeller.com for the find.
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Prescription Drugs: Unless you've been living under a rock these past few weeks, you know that actor Heath Ledger tragically died earlier this month of an accidental prescription drug overdose. Despite the fact that doctors and pharmacists are drilled in the art of explaining to their patients and customers exactly how to take prescription drugs, far too many people--a lot of them actors--still get it wrong and accidentally over or wrongly medicate themselves. Have you ever become sick because of drugs your prescribed by a doctor, or have you ever accidentally over medicated yourself?
Q2 - Advice: What advice would you give to a young boy or girl who expresses a sincere interest in becoming President of the United States?
Q3 - The Sky Is Falling: Taking a page from Hollywood science fiction, the U.S. government said yesterday it will try its darnedest to shoot down a broken down, bus-size U.S. spy satellite that's on a collision course with Earth. The Pentagon hopes to smash the satellite as soon as next week--just before it enters Earth's atmosphere--with a single missile fired from a Navy boat in the Pacific Ocean. Do you have faith that the Navy will succeed in hitting the satellite, which will be about 150 to 175 miles above the Earth's surface when the shot is fired?
Q4 - Spam: Which do you find more annoying... email spam or snail mail junk mail?
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FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Economy: Do you think the U.S. economy will improve, worsen or stay the same upon the election of the next President?
Q2 - Interviewing: Have you ever had a really bad job interview? If so, what happened? If not, can you recall the best or worst interview question you've ever asked or been asked? If not, what's one question you would like to ask a potential employer during a job interview but would not (for fear of not getting the job)?
Q3 - Women: How would you feel if a woman became President of the United States of America?
Q4 - How Long: Give this a try (not to worry, a new window will open and it is work-safe): Click on this link, read the ensuing instructions, try the exercise at least three times, and report back on your best result. Good luck!
About Me Allergic Reaction - Fat Lip Automobile Bicycling Blogging Corporate Slogans Either Or And Why Family Fishing Hurts Food Four For Friday Funny General Health & Weight Management Holidays Indiana Living Indianapolis Media - Commercials Mikal Updates Mikal's Birthday Mikal's Friends Mikal's Life Monday's Big Interview Movies My Articles Other People's Money Politics Publishing Real Estate Fraud Reality Television Recent Moments Running & Walking Splenda Sports Stuff I Sell on eBay Television The Media The Monday Interview Unconscious Mutterings Weather Website Updates What Would Larry David Do? Who KnewFebruary 6, 2008
A FRIEND'S CAUCUS EXPERIENCE
A friend from Colorado just sent me this account of what it was like to participate in a Presidential caucus:
I went to my Democratic caucus last night. I thought it was cool to see all these people pouring into this elementary school--men, women, old, young, white, black, Hispanic--democracy at its most fundamental.
There were caucuses for 6 Democratic and 2 Republican precincts, and the place was packed. There were 73 people at mine--73 big people camped into a room made for 15 little people. They said that in 2004 they had 3 people show up for the caucus. For all of Colorado I heard that 120,000 -150,000 (depending on the news outlet) turned out last night, compared to 15,000 in 2004.
It took a very long time for everyone to sign in because they required more than just your name on the registration sheet. And only one person at a time could be signing in.
- First, they read the rules, which literally took about 10 minutes.
- Next we elected a chairperson and secretary. There were two people there that had been trained and wanted to do it so that was easy.
- Strawpoll election with all of the people that have ever declared their candiacy even if they have withdrawn: 37 for Hillary; 33 for Obama; 1 for Richardson; and, 3 uncommitted. There was one person I had literally never heard of. We voted by raising our hands and then lowering them as we counted off.
- It was suggested and voted on that two people would be allowed to speak for each candidate for one minute.
- After five people spoke, someone suggested that anyone that wanted to talk could do so. That was voted down by a big margin.
- The final vote: Hillary-38, Obama-35. Then, using a convoluted equation, 8 delegates were awarded to Hillary and 8 to Obama (who I voted for).
- Then they started the process of electing delegates to the county caucus which elects delegates to the state caucus which then elects delegates to the National Convention.
I left at this point because I had cast my vote and didn't want to be a delegate.
The race continues.
About Me Allergic Reaction - Fat Lip Automobile Bicycling Blogging Corporate Slogans Either Or And Why Family Fishing Hurts Food Four For Friday Funny General Health & Weight Management Holidays Indiana Living Indianapolis Media - Commercials Mikal Updates Mikal's Birthday Mikal's Friends Mikal's Life Monday's Big Interview Movies My Articles Other People's Money Politics Publishing Real Estate Fraud Reality Television Recent Moments Running & Walking Splenda Sports Stuff I Sell on eBay Television The Media The Monday Interview Unconscious Mutterings Weather Website Updates What Would Larry David Do? Who Knew


