tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.comments2014-12-24T11:50:55.647-08:00Dispatches From The Age of PostliteracyJeffreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-3438663298792602282014-12-24T11:50:55.647-08:002014-12-24T11:50:55.647-08:00at an early age I was taught that one should trust...at an early age I was taught that one should trust their mother but always cut the deck of cards. So it is with the police.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960355593456670654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-25312973328740324002010-01-25T09:46:59.244-08:002010-01-25T09:46:59.244-08:00Mandylu, thanks for the kind words. It truly is sa...Mandylu, thanks for the kind words. It truly is sad that citizens of a wealthy nation like ours begrudge anyone who wants to help the citizens of a much more desperate nation. And Janine---in the spirit of full disclosure, Janine is my wife---I noticed that this facebook status has this double meaning, but as you noted it is still terribly shortsighted. Unfortunately, I've read a number of comments on these statuses that reveal an even more callous and unpleasant attitude.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-25236526404858914162010-01-25T09:28:42.810-08:002010-01-25T09:28:42.810-08:00Actually, rereading the chain status, I don't ...Actually, rereading the chain status, I don't think that it was created to say that we are the only country with poverty, but that we are the only country with our own poverty who went out of their way to broadcast this telethon on all major networks. The only other places it aired was on MTV UK and youtube. I am hoping this status is actually a miswritten attempt at demonstrating how generous we are as a nation. I still would never copy and post it, because it does show insensitivity to victims of a natural disaster. <br /><br />We do have our own dire economic problems, but we should never let it put blinders on our eyes to those in desperate need throughout the world. <br /><br />Oh, and not to mention the fact that if our government had not wasted its surplus and put us into debt in the trillions because of spending billions of dollars a month on a fabricated war, perhaps the citizens in our country would all be in a better place right now, and nobody would have to think twice about helping another country in need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-39109445161879636252010-01-25T08:48:49.006-08:002010-01-25T08:48:49.006-08:00Jeffrey,
Love this blog. When I first saw the FB ...Jeffrey,<br /><br />Love this blog. When I first saw the FB post this morning, I couldn't believe my eyes! Why must everyone be so shortsighted and "me" oriented to the point where noone could possibly be worse off than America. For a country that often times runs on inflated egoism and misplaced patriotism-we could use a little humility and thought before we speak and comment in the social networking arena. <br /><br />I agree that America is not without it's share of problems, however; I also think we spend far too much energy blaming and shuffling instead of pulling up our sleeves and offering real solutions.<br /><br />As I read that FB post this morning, I listened to the story of a hotel worker who was found after 11 days under the rubble and had survived on chips and soda for the first eight days. I was in front of my computer, in my house, drinking coffee and "deciding" what to have for breakfast. It was in that moment I have never felt such gratitude for my life. <br /><br />I hope others read your blog and sincerely think before they put that kind of energy and thought out into the world.Mandyluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02457015143381383235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-76263208120985717452009-03-15T20:00:00.000-07:002009-03-15T20:00:00.000-07:00Thanks for reading my blog, Ann, I'm very pleased ...Thanks for reading my blog, Ann, I'm very pleased that you took the time. I found your article very intriguing and thought-provoking, and while I still disagree with the idea that a popular television show can address societal issues, it has become more plain to me how American Idol "closets" their gay contestants through omission of any real personal footage. This does smack of cowardice.<BR/><BR/>Of course I agree that neither American Idol, nor pop, nor our society are racially blind. Still, I stand by my theory that none of AI's contestants, black, white, or otherwise, have any intention of sublimating the musical styles of any other culture. And naively or not, I stand by the idea that for these young 21st century kids, music is not culural or racial, but universal. I hope this is true.<BR/><BR/>I would love to see you address another aspect of American Idol I've long contemplated: what factors might have contributed to the phenomenal success of some winners (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood) and the relative (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard) and abject (Taylor Hicks) failure of others, and how race---both the winners' and the paying public's---might factor in. A thorny subject to be sure, but worth exploring.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your kind words, and thank you, also, for your very sane and rational approach to the topic. It's all too easy for entertainment reporters to fall back on histrionics to drum up controversy. Your style is a refreshing departure. Take care.<BR/><BR/>---JeffreyJeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-71099897369639775722009-03-15T11:48:00.000-07:002009-03-15T11:48:00.000-07:00Thanks for the thoughtful response to my piece. It...Thanks for the thoughtful response to my piece. It's generated some strong response, both pro and con. I have to disagree with your point about gay contestants basically being "out" on the show, however. If that were true, then Danny Noriega's or Adam Lambert's boyfriend would be shown in the weepy montages of family life that serve as backstory for every other kind of contestant. Uttering the phrase "I'm gay" may not be key (though I believe in the pride it represents); showing a loving same-sex partner would be.<BR/><BR/>As for race -- I've received several letters saying, why can't I see "Idol" as racially blind? Well, because it isn't. Nor is pop. American pop has its roots in black and Latin musical forms, full stop. (Yes, including country and Tin Pan Alley.) Read great books like "The World That Made New Orleans" by Ned Sublette or "Love and Theft" by Eric Lott to discover how deep those roots go. "Idol" represents positive change in many ways -- its judges are of mixed ethnicity (and gender), its contestants are also usually a decent mix. Yet strangely enough, being "too black" has become more of a problem as the show has evolved. It's hard to imagine a Fantasia winning now -- that's not what appeals to the core audience of Idol at this point, but it's also not what the producers may want, given which previous Idols have succeeded commercially and which haven't. <BR/><BR/>Anyway -- this stuff is so complicated -- and I appreciate you responding with the same seriousness and calmness that I hope I bring to my own writing on "Idol." Keep reading please!<BR/><BR/>-- Ann Powersannkpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02979060302207710272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-38271622379033892122008-11-18T12:56:00.000-08:002008-11-18T12:56:00.000-08:00"Hello Janine". Your points are incredibly valid. ..."Hello Janine". Your points are incredibly valid. No doubt it is the position of the Catholic church that supporting Obama is, in fact, sinful. I'm glad that you seem to agree with my end argument, that members of the clergy live in an insular world that their flock don't have the pleasure of enjoying. Therefore some of them have weighed, as you did, the relative value of Barack Obama despite his position on abortion. Your response was very perceptive and engaging. You might consider a blog of your own...Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-57480028703809876942008-11-18T10:08:00.000-08:002008-11-18T10:08:00.000-08:00"Cafeteria Catholics" such as myself can find sola..."Cafeteria Catholics" such as myself can find solace in such organizations as http://catholicsforobama.org/. Martin Sheen supports him, he's Catholic and he played a Catholic President on TV. <BR/><BR/>All jokes aside, perhaps catholicsforobama.org can help us during this time of struggle. I want to believe that all of the good that President Elect Obama can possibly do for our nation and the world will make up for the abortion issue. <BR/><BR/>I think you are mistaken when you say that it is not Father Newman's place to ask for his congregation to repent. His job as a priest is to help guide his church toward life EVERLASTING. He wants to help guide as many souls as possible toward that life, which, according to the doctrine he follows, requires that we confess and repent for the acts that we commit which go against the teachings of the church (termed sins). According to Catholic doctrine it is not only his duty to do so, but the duty of all Catholics. The following is part of a letter that the Bishops of Dallas and Fort Worth released to their dioceses prior to the election:<BR/><BR/>----------------------------------<BR/><BR/>"As Catholics we are faced with a number of issues that are of concern and should be addressed, such as immigration reform, healthcare, the economy and its solvency, care and concern for the poor, and the war on terror. As Catholics we must be concerned about these issues and work to see that just solutions are brought about. There are many possible solutions to these issues and there can be reasonable debate among Catholics on how to best approach and solve them. These are matters of "prudential judgment." But let us be clear: issues of prudential judgment are not morally equivalent to issues involving intrinsic evils. No matter how right a given candidate is on any of these issues, it does not outweigh a candidate's unacceptable position in favor of an intrinsic evil such as abortion or the protection of "abortion rights."<BR/><BR/>As Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship states:<BR/><BR/> "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed." (28)<BR/><BR/>5. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in paragraphs 34-37, addresses the question of whether it is morally permissible for a Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports an intrinsic evil – even when the voter does not agree with the candidate's position on that evil. The only moral possibilities for a Catholic to be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who supports this intrinsic evil are the following:<BR/><BR/> a. If both candidates running for office support abortion or "abortion rights," a Catholic would be forced to then look at the other important issues and through their vote try to limit the evil done; or,<BR/><BR/> b. If another intrinsic evil outweighs the evil of abortion. While this is sound moral reasoning, there are no "truly grave moral" or "proportionate" reasons, singularly or combined, that could outweigh the millions of innocent human lives that are directly killed by legal abortion each year.<BR/><BR/>To vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or "abortion rights" when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and, therefore, morally impermissible. "<BR/><BR/>-------------------------------<BR/><BR/>The problem we have here is that while Father Newman's congregation may be willing to repent for ignoring the abortion issue when choosing their presidential candidate, he is not going to get them to truly be sorry for voting for Barack Obama. Catholics as a whole, came to a crossroad on November 4th, where they had to decide which life was more important to them, the one they are living here on earth, or the everlasting life they are trying to attain. Catholic Faith came into play here, and it did not win out. At least that is the way I saw it when I cast my ballot and voted for Barack Obama. I was not voting FOR ABORTION but if I had voted for John McCain it would have ONLY been a vote AGAINST ABORTION. I voted for the candidate that I felt offered the best chance of mine and my family's survival on this planet. I voted for the here and now, which shows a lack of Catholic faith on my part. I voted for my own survival and the survival of my loved ones, over the survival of the million unborn babies who are aborted each year. <BR/><BR/>I think our Catholic Priests do need to find a way to help us come to terms with our standing in the church. Perhaps there is a better way to go about it than the tactics of Father Newman. I for one welcome such guidance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-80983783813941860102008-11-11T05:30:00.000-08:002008-11-11T05:30:00.000-08:00So, we agree on something. Hopefully we can agree ...So, we agree on something. Hopefully we can agree that my posts rise above what those slobs wrote?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-6858493838233668982008-11-10T18:11:00.000-08:002008-11-10T18:11:00.000-08:00Amen! What did you think I've been bitching at yo...Amen! What did you think I've been bitching at you about? It's not just about what the terrorists can see, it's what anyone and everyone can see. Negativity creates anger and anger is hard to overcome. Practice what you preach. Think before you type…Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-18478895273176922742008-11-09T17:10:00.000-08:002008-11-09T17:10:00.000-08:00Yes, of course I agree the pettiness needs to be l...Yes, of course I agree the pettiness needs to be left behind, which is why I take Boehner to task for issuing a petty public statement about Obama's first staff pick. And no, I don't live in a battleground, but a solid blue state. But if I'm not mistaken, didn't Obama decline moveon.org's endorsement of his candidacy?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-80190006641474774822008-11-09T10:32:00.000-08:002008-11-09T10:32:00.000-08:00That is until the rich guy decides he is unwilling...That is until the rich guy decides he is unwilling or unable to keep up.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-58558962955558926512008-11-09T10:30:00.000-08:002008-11-09T10:30:00.000-08:00So can we agree that in order for this country to ...So can we agree that in order for this country to go forward, at least amongst the citizen (I can't speak for the immature children running the country) - we need to put all the pettiness behind us? All it seems to do is piss the other side off and make them unwilling to work with one another. And for the record - you must not live in a battleground state, the Obama/moveon.org, etc. ads were just as bad and plentiful.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-84201478558800010442008-11-09T06:39:00.000-08:002008-11-09T06:39:00.000-08:00Yes, Adam, I caught that. We pay our taxes the way...Yes, Adam, I caught that. We pay our taxes the way you describe, of course. The issue is, you're trying to illustrate the "injustice" of the graduated income tax that places an "unfair" burden on the wealthy by using a word problem that inadvertently highlights the fact that everyone pays the same amount for goods and services, no matter how rich or poor. The tenth man, despite his wealth, still has far more money than everyone else, and he will always be able to afford as many goods and services as he wants. The first four men will always be struggling---with beer, rent, healthcare, everything. If you're poor, sometimes you might have to choose between rent and groceries. This is the ultimate definition of unfair, yet the nation's wealthiest people cry when their tax burden might be raised a bit? Guess what, folks? You're gonna be alright.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-22628122927309731972008-11-09T06:30:00.000-08:002008-11-09T06:30:00.000-08:00Well, Adam, perhaps I misread your comment, but yo...Well, Adam, perhaps I misread your comment, but you have read an awful lot into mine, and my posts. Since we've never met, it's interesting how much you know about how I've been speaking and acting regarding President Bush for the last 8 years---my "behavior", which you have never personally observed. Just to dispel some illusions you seem to have about me, I did not vote for Al Gore in 2000, or Bush. I am disinclined to vote Republican, but Gore turned me off quite a bit in the debates. I considered warnings about Bush as a potentially dangerous president to be overblown and histrionic. I voted for the party I consider to be closest to my political views---Libertarian. Through the beginning of his Presidency up until the launch of the Iraq war, I had few problems with Bush. However, from the Iraq war on, that changed. If you are one of those who somehow still considers Bush to be a good president, then there is no reasoning with you (I reserve the right to try, anyway). For this election, tossing a vote away on a third party would have been hard to rationalize, even if I didn't believe Barack Obama was the best man for the job. And since in your responses you seem to be using the "royal you" everytime you say "you" (meaning, all liberals and/or Democrats, though I'm not really a Democrat), I guess I'll do the same. You have certainly been hitting Obama below the belt during this campaign, with all the Hussein crap, Muslim falsehoods, overblown Ayers crap, and Reverend Wright distractions. Meanwhile Obama's campaign never once to my knowledge waged a negative attack on anything but McCain's policies, voting record, and political relationships. So, who has to make the bigger adjustment when it comes to respecting the new President? John McCain did such a good job trying to smear Obama this year that if you squinted a little, you might think he was Tucker Eskew. No wonder his own supporters booed him when he tried to say Obama was a good man, even at his very genuine-sounding concession speech. And as a final note, whatever I may have actually said about Bush over the last five years or so, I never took "pleasure" from it, because the things I criticized were life-and-death, world-altering decisions and mis-decisions he was making. There was nothing "pleasurable" in watching him mishandle Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, our energy crisis, global warming, and our financial problems. The only "pleasure" I'm going to have during his Presidency is his final day in office.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-32708960138043420292008-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:002008-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00The key word is "IF" - IF they paid their bill the...The key word is "IF" - IF they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-67412080432660639792008-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:002008-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:00And if you read what I wrote, you would see that I...And if you read what I wrote, you would see that I said that I have totally accepted Obama as my President. From Tuesday night on. You know why? I'm a mature adult. I asked you, and you still haven't answered so I'll ask again - how do you expect me or others to work together with you or the likes of you when you've been bashing someone I/we support for 8 years? Regardless of how you feel about my party, don't you think you're being a bit of a hypocrite when you have been immature for eight years, and you expect others to not do the same? And I'm not talking about the oblivious stuff you may hate Bush about - I'm talking the sheer pleasure you take in making fun of someone and hitting below the belt for eight years. And the whole "he's not my President" attitude. THAT's what I'm saying when I say you don't care. I'm not saying you're not patriotic, but what I'm saying is - that type of childish attitude destroys the country – if nothing else, it breaks down any willingness that we the people have to work together. If I'm a Bush supporter and I have to listen to your BS for eight years, don't you think I would be completely unwilling to work with you? Now you're asking people to work with you. It's total hypocrisy. Picture this - after eight years of Obama - and yes, it'll be eight years, I doubt there's anything he can do to turn off the voters who got him in this time - he's treated like a god. Anyway - picture this - let's say everyday for the next eight years, I make snide little below the belt comments about Obama and in 2012 a Republican is elected President. I ask you, Jeffrey - let's stand together as one and work together! Are you going to take me seriously? I don't know you, but my feeling is no - I'm not taking your request all that seriously. Again, I'm doing the right thing on my own, without your influence. It's just irritating that you would even entertain the idea of asking others to come together after your behavior. Even today, you post things about someone who didn't even win the election - snide comments. It goes against everything you're asking in this post. I'm asking you to rise above that, and moving forward, try to give respect when you ask for it. I'll leave you alone, but I'll be keeping my eye on your posts - keeping you in check. ;) Bye...for now...<BR/>One more thing , so we’re clear, this isn’t about who the President is or was – it’s about your attitude.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-30025236133976703942008-11-06T20:33:00.000-08:002008-11-06T20:33:00.000-08:00There are two problems with this analogy. We don't...There are two problems with this analogy. We don't pay for our beer (goods and services) the same way we pay our taxes. The same beer at the same bar costs just as much for everyone. And two, the bar never does lower the cost of the beer, does it?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-88344012117972908762008-11-06T20:26:00.000-08:002008-11-06T20:26:00.000-08:00Adam, you might want to go back and read the begin...Adam, you might want to go back and read the beginning of my post again. I actually said straight out that I didn't expect McCain supporters to get over it. Nor did I ask you to support Obama because I want you to. It seems my post has touched a nerve with you that it was not intended to. I apologize for that. However, it's pretty rude for you to conclude from what I wrote that I don't care about this country. If anything has caused the divide between Republicans and Democrats, it's the Republican tendency to call Democrats anti-American or traitors.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817075555941944675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-68929262506763584212008-11-06T20:07:00.000-08:002008-11-06T20:07:00.000-08:00Bar Stool Economics: Suppose that every day, ten ...Bar Stool Economics: <BR/> <BR/>Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: <BR/> <BR/>The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. <BR/>The fifth would pay $1. <BR/>The sixth would pay $3 <BR/>The seventh would pay $7. <BR/>The eighth would pay $12. <BR/>The ninth would pay $18. <BR/>The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59. <BR/> <BR/>So, that's what they decided to do. <BR/> <BR/>The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost just $80. <BR/> <BR/>The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. <BR/> <BR/>And so: <BR/>The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). <BR/>The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). <BR/>The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). <BR/>The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). <BR/> The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). <BR/>The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings). <BR/> <BR/>Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!" <BR/> <BR/>"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I did!" <BR/>"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"<BR/> <BR/>"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!' <BR/>The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill! <BR/> <BR/>And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, or attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-9709388202948935582008-11-05T15:45:00.000-08:002008-11-05T15:45:00.000-08:00This is total hypocrisy. For eight years Republic...This is total hypocrisy. For eight years Republicans have had to put up with the constant barrage of insults and comments like "he's not MY president!" from Democrats and the left. Now, all the sudden you want McCain supporters to work with Obama and get over the fact that he won? Should we follow the example of the Democrats over the past eight years and act immature? You didn't accept Bush as your "next president" when he won in 2000 or 2004. Why should I accept Obama? Because you want me to? I'll do it because I'm a mature adult who doesn't kick and scream when I don't get what (or who) I want. I'll do it because I was going to do it anyway, without you making a case for it. I'll do it because it's the right thing to do, because unlike you, I care about this country. But I sure as hell am not going to do it because you asked me to. Get over yourself! If you reply, please don't start making another case for your argument or bashing Bush – this isn't about who's President, it's about Democrats and their lousy negative attitude. Baby got his bottle, so go be happy – and remember your own words the next time a Republican is elected.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058556386119894228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097044646077845987.post-27166559468740274812008-11-04T10:24:00.000-08:002008-11-04T10:24:00.000-08:00It was only a matter of time. This should be good...It was only a matter of time. This should be good.<BR/><BR/>You are of course correct, sir. Every time I go to the Massachusetts polls at Birchland Park Middle School and have to fill in the oval with my black marker I am reminded of those awful days of standardized tests CATs, SATs, the Otis Lennon IQ test etc. And I miss the days of walking around the corner to the community room at the nearby Jersey City Marion Gardens Projects, where I would go behind the magic curtain and pull those cool levers. Oh well, at least we don't have chads. <BR/><BR/>I want to know why some states have early voting. It strikes me as kind of fishy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com