• Uh huh.

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    This is Beth. She’s clearly not impressed with my idea to take a picture posed under the sign for the women’s rest room.

    Today wasn’t a great day, but this picture made me smile. Beth is a good sport, even when I’m making very little sense.

  • Nothing new to see here… just the silly way we elect a president

    I’m quite the cynic this morning…

    The two party political system has been in Florida news a lot lately. The reason? Florida has entered the absurd race to hold one of the nation’s first presidential primaries. Florida’s decision to enter the fray is particularly silly, since the Florida date is decided by the Florida state legislature, and they’re only in session for two months in the spring. Given the state of things, what was the chance that other states were going sit idle after Florida moved it’s date? Early May to November is a long time. In fact, it appears Michigan’s state legislature has just decided to leap-frog Florida (to January 15th).

    This is a perfect example of the necessity of a strong Federal government. Left to their own devices, the states are turning our election process into a (bigger) joke.

    For those not in the know, the move of the Florida date is particularly insidious. The Florida Legislature is controlled by an overwhelming Republican majority. However, the Democratic party has decided to sanction states who hold their primaries earlier than a certain date (I think it’s something like February 5th). The national Republican party apparatus has no such sanction. What is the sanction being threatened by the Democratic Party? They’re not going to count all or some Florida’s delegates at the convention (when the Democratic candidate is officially nominated/selected).

    Effectively (pending almost certain litigation), the Republican led state legislature has disenfranchised all registered Democrats in the state of Florida (assuming the Florida primary will have any meaning anyway… due to every other state jumping over Florida between now and November).

    Once again, Florida becomes the nation’s electoral joke… and this one isn’t particularly funny either. This is one of those times when I hate living here. There are those of you who might suggest moving… and Cheryl has frequently tossed around same idea. As you may already know, I can’t risk leaving behind my health insurance (with a possible re-emergence of my cancer looming, and temporary exclusions for pre-existing conditions common). So you’re stuck with me, and I with all of you.

  • An endorsement for Logitech

    Do you get soreness in your shoulder from all the lateral movement associated with “mousing.” If so, you might want to try a trackball.

    I was a victim of repetitive motion, and the havoc it can wreak on your joints. It had gotten to the point that ibuprofen warranted it’s own line in our budget. A while back I decided to try a different tack. I picked up a twenty dollar track ball at Comp USA… a modest little Logitech number with four times the buttons of my PowerBook track-pad. I have no problem parting with one likeness of Andy Jackson for a shot at input bliss. I liked it so much I bought… a keyboard.

    I’m typing up this entry on a wireless Logitech keyboard. The trusty PowerBook is still hooked up to the HDTV (a holdover from doing a pinch of work from home).

    Now I wonder if I’m doomed to trade a little tendinitis in my shoulder for carpal tunnel syndrome.