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My Voting Experience

Earlier in the week Dana checked the city’s web site and determined we should go to the community center. We got there just after 7 AM. The line was short, maybe 15 people or so. There was a guy in front of us who heard me ranting about the media and the government, and then kicked in with his opinion, saying the media and the government mean to control us and keep us down (so far, so good) and he then suggested we watch some 2 hour movie on YouTube. I muttered something about not trusting YouTube since they do not have a history of respecting the rights of creators, and since Google, a large evil corporation now owns them, they really can’t be trusted. (I’m guessing the guy was not a Democrat, since he had a ‘Dump Doyle’ sticker on his long black trenchcoat.)

So we get to the front of the line and Dana is not listed, so they send her to register. I am not listed either. I give them my address, and one person tells us to go to Greenland Elementary School, while another suggests we go to City Hall and ask them. We opt for Greenland since I voted there previously when I lived a few blocks away. Greenland had a long, long, line. Not 15 people long, more like 50 or 60, and it seemed to be moving slow. It was just after 7 AM though, so maybe that’s why.

The voting process itself was pretty smooth and easy. At Greenland they had sample ballots on the wall so you’d know what it would look like. They handed me a ballot and a small slip of paper with a number (I was number 99 – I believe it said ‘voter 0099’ to be precise.) I walked to the little standup desks with sidewalls filled out the paper ballot using a black felt tip pen that was provided, and then brought it to a machine (it was not a Diebold, but I do not remember the name of it.) A woman instructed me to insert it into a slot on the machine, and I did so, and handed her my number slip, which she placed on one of those spike things people use on their desks to hold expired bits of paper. That was it, so we left… Hooray for Democracy!

Tags democracy, voting

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Aaron’s Money

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2006-11-03

Aaron’s writing is often fascinating. Now Aaron has money, and he’s not sure what he will do with it:

A friend told me to be sure not to let the money change me. “How could it possibly do that?” I asked. “Well, first you’d buy a fancy new car.” “I don’t know how to drive.” “…you’d buy a big house in the suburbs.” “I like living in small apartments.” “And you’d start wearing expensive clothes.” “I’ve worn a t-shirt and jeans practically every day of my life.”

This seems to demonstrate how different people see money’s use. Someone did comment on the idea that “Money doesn’t make you happy” by saying:

Money can’t buy you happiness. But it can buy you freedom. And freedom can buy you happiness.

Freedom = happiness. I agree with that. To me, having enough money to provide me my freedom would allow me to do things I want to do, without worrying if they provide sufficient income. I could make music, and films, and art and not worry about having to sell them. It would also allow me to attempt to improve things like software, the internet, technology, things that I think could help improve people’s lives. I’ve got dozens and dozens of ideas. It’s bascially all those things I try to do now with the spare 10 minutes I have each day, I could just expand that to 10 hours per day.

Right now, the chances of me selling a startup seem pretty slim. So I probably won’t have to worry about sharing Aaron’s problems any time soon…

Tags aaronsw, freedom, money

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Making Bread

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2006-11-02

I made some bread. Not money… actual bread, 2 loaves of bread. French bread.

I’m not saying this bread would win the approval of Aaron, but I thought it turned out pretty good. (It made great toast along side a pasta dinner, I used it for a sandwich, and we finished it off as french bread pizza.)

The most interesting thing to me was the whole process. It took about 2 and a half hours from start to finish. First you need to make the dough, then let it rise for 1 hour. Then roll it out flat, and roll it up, and cover it and let it rise for another hour. Then bake it. Then let it cool. Then you’re done.

It sounds like a simple process really, and it is, but it takes time. I was able to keep myself occupied during rise time, so I didn’t sit in the kitchen the entire time, but I had to be there for each step in the process. I like baking things. I wouldn’t doubt that after Make and Craft they put out a magazine called Bake. (Ok, they probably won’t, but they should.)

I understand the allure of a bread machine. I owned one many years ago, and if you’re into convenience, it makes sense. I also understand the whole “greatest thing since sliced bread” but I think people were referring to the fact that you could buy bread for so cheap, not that it was sliced.

It is just the fact that years ago people made their own bread because they had plenty of time, as compared to nowadays, where we are all (supposedly) so damn busy? Should making bread really cause me to think about it this much?

Tags bread, food

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Trick or Treat Observations

Post author By Pete Prodoehl
Post date 2006-10-31
1 Comment on Trick or Treat Observations

I took the kids Trick or Treating over the weekend. Below are some observations (well, rules really) I came up with afterwards…

If you are old enough to drive, maybe you shouldn’t be trick or treating.
If you have to tell the person you are talking to on your Motorola RAZR to “Hold on” so you can say “Trick or Treat”, maybe you shouldn’t be trick or treating.
If you need to pull a wagon with 2 six packs of beer in it, maybe you shouldn’t take your kid trick or treating.
If you are not wearing anything that is recognizable as a costume, maybe you shouldn’t be trick or treating.
If you are going to complain about the candy you get 2 seconds after you get it, you don’t deserve any candy.
If you are a female below the age of 21, you should have your parents approve your costume.

Besides all that, we had a blast. Most people have some common sense which helps them navigate Trick or Treating, so I really can’t complain too much.

I love the people who get so into it, they recruit every member of their family to be part of the show on the front lawn, either working the elaborate set, or dressing up like a maniac, or pretending to be a live pumpkin head… Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. There’s no baggage involved, it’s pretty much just about fun.