You Big Fat Beautiful State

Election results. Everytime I check the site it looks more like a landslide. I'd like to think it's all due to my entry last night. But no, it's because the good people of Ohio are all knowing and wise. Of course as I write this the complete results are not in, but two of the issues were being trounced with a 70% no vote so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Please Vote

Tomorrow is election day. It's late to be posting this I know and chances are my plea won't sway anyone one way or another. I was just excited about voting. I got to cast my vote early for the absentee ballot (I'm now in Texas) and I was giddy. Voting on local and state issues is funner than the presidential race. I feel like I have a say in it. No Chinese diplomats or Haliburton executives mucking things up. For my friends in Ohio, I don't expect you to go on just my say but you must vote no on issues 2, 3, 4, and 5. Here are the details. I'm particularly interested in Issue 3's clause that "Permits labor unions, and other nonprofit unincorporated membership organizations, to contribute funds from regular membership dues paid by the organization’s individual members to a small donor action committee. The small donor action committee is not required to report the names of individuals who contribute in this fashion." What's a small donor action committee mean? It also allows a candidate to spend an unlimited amount of his own money. Which should be good for the rich candidates. I like to think of this amendment as the Incumbent Protection Act. I could go on so I think I will. Issue 2 would allow everyone to vote absentee with no reason needed. There are currently 13 reasons to receive an absentee ballot and none are checked out very stringently. I hate to sound like one of those obnoxious guys the internet tends to breed but seriously, I think you should put in a little effort to vote. The argument against in the pamphlet gives some different reasons but I think it all comes down to this, get off your lazy ass and participate in the voting process.

The thing that aggravates me the most is the opposistions whole reason to vote yes is to end corruption. I think IF election reform is required this is not the amendment to do that. Someone is trying to replace the current form of corruption with one more to their advantage. And besides, is "end corruption now" really a rational arguement? Great catch phrase though.

So in conclusion just let me say the air is mighty sweet up on top of my high horse.

My Yard In The Fog

My Yard In The Fog,
originally uploaded by briankeithglass.

Just a little picture of my yard. I took it last week while I was home. It reminds me of a Japanese garden, not just because of the bamboo chimes. I love the yard and miss it while I'm away. This was a great day, it stayed foggy most of the day and the neighborhood was even quieter than usual.

Ohio Express

Diving For The Ball,
originally uploaded by briankeithglass.

While I was home I went to West Virginia to watch the girl's basketball team my brother coaches. It was a lot of fun. I always enjoy spending time with Brent. I had a good time getting some action photos. I'm hoping to get some more in the future.

Jumping the shark

Well that was a terrible entry yesterday. I've slowly started to embody all that is wrong with blogging. I've taken some standard, who-are-these-people observations and made them even lamer by seemingly not being able to write more than a few sentences on each subject. I was going for a Larry King in USA Today thing and it just didn't work out. I hope people don't read my blog to be entertained. I had a strange epiphany a few weeks back when I started giving my sister-in-law the Andy Rooney in training spiel about something. She responded that she had read that on my blog. I was mortified on several different levels. It shocks me that people actually read what I have to say. I know both my brothers read it but I just figured they felt obligated, you know, being my brothers and all. When I found out that Bryce's friend Gary checks in every once in awhile I was starting to get a little intimidated. I felt like a had an audience to write for, albeit a very small and probably drunk one. My original intent on starting this whole thing stems from a drunken night of web surfing and this kind of crazy hysteria I go into when doing said surfing. I was on Guerrillagirls.com or some such silly socialist, website and was crazy angry with an article on stereo-types men place on women. I thought their whinny little bitchfest was just furthering ugly stereo-types of both men and women. I didn't want to post on their message board (I was drunk not insane) so I searched for a free blog site. I think the search exhausted me so much I ended up just going to sleep and when I woke up the passion for the argument was gone. I do recall sending a poorly worded email to my brother on the virtues of all the wonderful women I've known before the "exhaustion" had set in. So with the sober realization that I tend to write stupid stuff when I'm drinking I haven't really done much of the drinking and blogging thing. So now I'm stuck with a blog I feel obligated to write, I would feel like a quitter now. So after yesterday's entry I felt like maybe out of respect for all those people who write incisive, witty, pointed blogs with a cohesiveness of thought, maybe I should retire the blog. But like Happy Days and That Seventies Show, maybe I'll keep going for just a little bit past my prime (if I ever had one). And to all you misguided, bored people who take the time to read this dreck, thank you sincerely. It still mortifies me but I appreciate it all the same.

Life's Been Good To Me Up Until Two Months Ago

So it only cost seven hundred something dollars to replace all the parts I doused in Yuengling. Yes, I KNOW! That was an expensive beer, stop reminding me.

Is it me or wasn't Eminem just suing Apple for using some of his music in ads? Now he's shilling for them. That was just a couple of months ago right? I guess since the Clash broke up every artist is a whore. That's not true, I just like using the word whore.

For those having a hard time keeping up with me, I'm in California again. I just got into Willows California. It's a small, small town an hour or so north of Sacramento.

I'm happy about the appointment of John Roberts to the Supreme Court. It's one of the few things Bush has done right. Did you know that Bush hasn't vetoed a spending bill since being in office? I thought Republicans were suppose to be anti-big government? And to all you liberals out there, this doesn't mean I want to start getting those stupid anti-Bush spams. Your guys are all as stupid as Bush any day.

Well, I feel like I'm off to a tepid start at best. Same old crap but my heart's not in it tonight. I just felt obligated to get something down after the loooonnng absence. Maybe I'll elaborate on some of this stuff later. Possibly not.

Limping On From Alabama

Well, as Homer Simpson once said, "Beer is the cause and cure of all the world's trouble". I've spilled a glass of beer on the computer a few weeks ago. It was an embarrassing display of sobriety gone awry, I can't even blame impaired coordination. The computer did start but the keyboard is not working so I've stolen a few minutes at work to put something down. I feel a little guilty if I don't post something every once in awhile.

I've done a few good rides since being in Alabama. A few weeks ago I rode to Georgia to check out Chickamauga Battlefield. I returned via Tennessee. It's beautiful country here. I took nothing but back rodes, a motorcycling cliché. Another is the idea of stopping at a small family diner for something to eat. I rarely do that and always feel a little guilty (again with the guilt). I usually stop at Taco Bell, McDonalds or Burger King. I stopped feeling guilty when I realized I don't ride to eat. I don't like taking time from the bike to wait on service. I do eat at the odd diner as a treat though. It makes it special that way.

Well it may be a while til the next post, I'm leaving Alabama tomorrow morning and who knows where I'll find the next computer.

Katrina

I had a big rant written about my anger at the people looting and raping in New Orleans and my anger at the federal and state governments for dropping the ball but it's not worth it. There are enough Monday morning quaterbacks for that. I'm just praying that the people who lost everything find themselves better off after it's all said and done. It's a niavé hope, but you never know.