(this is) durkin.org

Bush Endorses Election Reform, Avoids Specifics. Well, no shit. Of course, he’s going to endorse reform: 1) he’s already been “elected” 2) he’d look like the biggest asshole and anti-constitutionalist we’ve ever seen. So, he speaks today and says how important this should be to every American. Took him a while, didn’t it?

Empty words, George, empty.

And although I am pleased that the report was written, I have a couple of questions/comments:
Do we really think that making November 2nd every election year a federal holiday will help? Isn’t that just another day to sleep in and avoid leaving the house altogether? Why not really address the issues surrounding voting and make it more convenient, quicker and more accurate? Here’s a suggestion - STANDARDIZESTANDARDIZESTANDARDIZESTANDARDIZE.

It’s true on the web, its true in data processing, I venture to say that its true almost everywhere - If we had one viable, open system that was adopted by everyone, that would make life simpler. Imagine, we wouldn’t have had to go through that post-election crap because we could have settled it without Florida’s Supreme Court. I know, I know - state’s rights and all. I understand that each state wants to be able to determine their own voting procedures and all, but in matters of Federal import such as this, I think Congress should step in and mandate a nationwide system for us all. And soon.

It makes me laugh a little to think about what must have been going through Carter’s head as he went about this report (or read it, whatever his involvement was on the front side)…The last section in the article states his surprise that many states do not allow felons to regain voting rights. And I remember hearing an interview with him on NPR during the post-election mess wherein he stated that the Carter Center, his organization that reviews elections in other countries and certifies them, would not have even touched the Florida mess - his quote was something along the lines of “the rules and laws are just too archaic and widely different for anyone to expect a decent degree of accuracy there.”

I’m off the soapbox. For now. Tell me what you think about this…I don’t have a comment system here, but I will post responses if you like.

Katherine Harris will run for Congress in Florida. God, I hope SNL gets on this early and stays there. Please.

By the way, I stand corrected, or at least informed. The correct line is “boxcars are pulling (out of town).” Thanks, yo.

You know, it sounds foolish at first, but only for a second. An actor as president, you think, right - never happen. [whisperwhisper] Oh yeah, oh right - the 80’s. I was trying to forget. Who’s to say that it isn’t time for a more liberal rendition of the same song and dance? But with all new dj’s and a phat track, yo.

I think he’d be great. But that’s just me. If you think so too, you can send a postcard to spread the word.

In other news, did anyone else hear about those cameras that some cities have mounted at red-lights? They take pictures of cars that run red lights and send a ticket to the DMV-registered driver’s address. Crazy.

I was thinking about it this morning as I was driving to work. There is a traffic light with two right-turn lanes near my office. The center-most lane cannot turn right on red, but the outside lane is permitted (there’s a very large sign with this info posted between the traffic lights). So, the light is red, I am in the outermost lane watching for a break in traffic. It comes, and I go. The folks in the center lane go also, thus breaking the law. I am half-way through saying out loud that those cameras would have caught that when a cop pulls out of the median and pulls over all three cars.

I know its wrong, but it made me laugh.

Hell, on another day, it could’ve been me.

On Friday, there was a two-inch piece of metal in one of MR’s tires. On Saturday, there was a three-inch nail sticking out of one of my tires. What gives? Thankfully, they can both be repaired, but geez, enough already.

In other car-related news: I covet. I want a new car. Not so much new, as new-to-me, you know? Wanna hear the best part?

I want a station wagon. [sigh.] I am so unhip.

But, you have to admit that the VW Passat is a nice car, even the wagon. And what about the Subaru Outback?

07.27.01 | Art=Life, and a first.
Life imitating art.

I just posted my first pet photo to a web site. [Was that out loud?]

07.26.01 | Oops, they did it again
Oops is right.

Its wrong, I know, but just like some other people [ok, person], I love to catch the professionals in a mistake. [Here's a screenshot in case they fix it before you see it.]

*I ported thse to WordPress, as you can see, but couldn’t find any of the images that were supposed to come with.

Holy shit, I thought I had a bad voice. Go Colin, go Colin. [select "Ever seen a secretary of state sing?"]

No, really, please don’t.

In other news - I was listening to Document on the way to work this morning, and I was struck by its newness/strangeness. I haven’t listened to it in years, and it was almost like hearing it for the first time again. Except that I know all the songs.

I started thinking about new music that friends introduce me to, or that you hear for the first time on the radio, and how odd it always sounds at first, then a bit familiar, and suddenly it is part of your internal soundtrack for life.

Maybe its just the commute, but this morning I was really struck by the transformation from new to old.

I went online to Napster today for the first time in a long time. I should have stayed away. I knew the end was coming, but actually getting the pop-up message informing me that I had not subscribed so I could not transfer any files was sad and final.

Uninstall? Yes, thank you, I wash my hands and walk away.

Now, perhaps we should all just suck it up and join up and keep this innovative ship afloat. That would be a smart thing, right? At least, it would be a nice thing. I’m sure they would appreciate it.

But that isn’t the point, it wasn’t the point and I’m not for it.

By the way, is it “Box cars are loading [out of town]” or “Box cars are rolling [out of town]?” Do you know? Will you tell me?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Sure this looks different, but I don’t think we should all get excited and think that I’ll be doing anything with any real regularity.

Set your expectations low, that way we all have the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.