Dave D. - 2004-11-02 10:45:25
I experienced the same thing in Ward 3 at the River st. Church. Got there at 7 am, and there was already an extended line. The polls seemed understaffed, and they were resorting to what looked like old refrigerator boxes rigged up to be privacy screens. Took me about 45 mins, but I was moved by the overwhelming turnout, and how many people realize what an important election this is. Took the day off, and heading to the pub for a full day of TV for the political junkie. :) Cheers, Dave D. * * * * * * * * * * * *
That sounds like a good way to spend the day--they were talking on the radio about how little work would get done today (and maybe tomorrow) due to everyone riveted to the returns. * * * * * * * * * * * * Ypsidweller - 2004-11-02 10:54:06
I got to the River st. church at 7:00am. The line wasn't too bad. I was about ten feet from the door (outside) and in five I was inside, another 15 was voting. I wanted to tell the poll checkers or whoever they were to go to hell, but I refrained. She is stuck with her ugly wrinkled face forever and for that is enough punishement for her lack of intelligence. I was in my truck, heading for work at 7:40. Wasn't that bad. More time than the freight house it seemd but not as long as in 88 when I voted at a dorm at U of M. I remember sitting for a couple hours then.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 10:57:59
Your vote sounds fastest so far, Ypsidweller. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-02 11:01:27
(Brett also voted...I'm delighted to see that all the thoughtful and cool people are voting).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura yet again - 2004-11-02 11:05:07
(does anyone know if there are any returns-watching parties/gatherings at, say, Frenchie's, going on tonight?)* * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2004-11-02 11:27:22
I will be laying on the floor in front of the tv with my nose firmly pushed into the furry monsters ear. (They smell so good) tonight. And my hands tucked under his hot furry armpits.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 11:31:44
That sounds like the best way to watch them, to me.
This is the one time I wish I had a TV. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-02 11:34:11
May I ask, YD, what is your furry monster's name?
You probably already mentioned it somewhere, in which case I've forgotten, sorry.* * * * * * * * * * * * Vince Prygoski - 2004-11-02 11:38:17
Even in rural Argentine Township (where I vote) there were quite a few people already there at 7:30 or so when I got there. Held my nose and voted Kerry for prez even though I would have much rather voted Cobb or Nader. Voted Green for everything else where it was an option (including for a recent U of M Flint grad who ran for Drain Commissioner!!!), Dems otherwise. If there was only one candidate I wrote someone in just to be contrarian (I figure the unopposed people are going to win anyway). For one unopposed race I wrote in Ficus (as in the plant) which was a Michael Moore suggestion from a few elections ago! We will see what happens. I certainly hope that Boy George is soundly defeated. If Kerry does win, I will immediately begin writing him letters demanding that he actually live up to some standard of "progressive" rather than merely being "not quite as bad as Boy George."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 11:50:48
You're the second kind reader who "held his nose and voted for Kerry"...he seems to be underwhelming people to say the least.
Vince, it sounds like we voted remarkably similarly. I voted Green or Libertarian whenever possible (except for voting for Kerry, or rather, for the peppy and smart Edwards) and also wrote in one person in the unopposed township clerk race, in lieu of voting for Brenda Stumbo.
Yes on the very confusing Prop 1, no on 2 needless to say, and yes on the WCC millage.* * * * * * * * * * * * Vince Prygoski - 2004-11-02 12:16:58
I voted "nyet" on both propositions, and I agree that prop 1 was VERY confusing, with both sides presenting compelling arguments. I would like to see Instant Runoff Voting become standard for the entire nation. Then we could have voted for Cobb (or Nader, or the Libertarian prez candidate) as our first choice and Kerry as our second. If our first choice did not place first or second in the first runoff, the vote would count for Kerry (assuming Kerry was one of the top two in the first runoff). Voila...no more worrying about your vote "spoiling" things!* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 12:38:30
i understand that the sidetrack and the elbow room are both offering drink specials if you wear your voter sticker tonight. This would also be the only way I'd be able to see a television set recieving a live signal, so my wife and I may check one of them out.
I was a bit surprised at the 'straight party' section at the beginning of the voter sheet, which I've never encountered before (this is my first Michigan election I've participated in, so maybe it's common here). Unfortunately there was no "straight ticket Utilitarianist", so I left that part blank.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 12:44:15
Vince: Yes, people in line were talking about how confusing Prop 1 was, & how sick they were of all the slanted ads about it; "I wish they'd just tell us the language of it, explain it, and say, 'What do you think?'" said one guy in line.
Brett: Ah, there we go, thanks Brett--I figured some bar would be doing something. Thank you for the info.
:) Utilitarianist? * * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 13:07:11
utilitarianism is a philosophy most popular in the 19th century, which basically judges the value of any decision by whether or not it brings "The greatest good to the greatest number of people". Jeremy Bentham (currently a pickled corpse on public display) was the most well-known spokesperson for the movement.
It is not a philosophy which ever caught on in the U.S., where "Social Darwinism" (its polar opposite) holds sway. * * * * * * * * * * * * Suzie - 2004-11-02 13:10:41
Precinct 1 & 3 were both at the river st. church, and precinct 3 had a long line; precinct 1 you could walk right in. Odd. Wondered if it was more due to the different precinct sizes or due to demographics. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 13:15:34
Interesting, I never heard of this before! Wikipedia says:
"Utilitarianism was originally proposed in 18th century England by Jeremy Bentham and others, although it can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurus. Bentham found pain and pleasure to be the only absolutes in the world: "nature has put man under the governance of two sovereign masters: pleasure and pain." From this he derived the rule of utility: that the good is whatever brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. Later, after realizing that the formulation recognized two different and potentially conflicting maximanda, he dropped the second part and talked simply about "the greatest happiness principle".
Both Bentham's formulation and the philosophy of Epicurus can be considered different types of hedonistic consequentialism, since they judge the rightness of actions from the happiness that they lead to, and they identify happiness with pleasure. Note, however, that Bentham's formulation is a selfless hedonism. Where Epicurus recommended doing whatever made you happiest, Bentham would have you do what makes everyone happiest." .
And of course I have to ask: a pickled corpse on public display?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 13:17:10
Suzie: that is odd. Are there demographic differences between precincts 1 & 3?* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 13:36:52
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Bentham-Project/Faqs/auto_icon.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Laura - 2004-11-02 13:47:23Ohhh...kay.
"The wax head was therefore substituted, and for some years the real head, with its glass eyes, reposed on the floor of the Auto-Icon, between Bentham's legs. However, it proved an irresistible target for students, especially from King's College London, and it frequently went missing, turning up on one occasion in a luggage locker at Aberdeen station. The last straw (so runs yet another story) came when it was discovered in the front quadrangle
being used for football practice. Thereafter it was removed to the College vaults, where it remains to this day."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-02 13:57:20
Hmm...I am intrigued by Utilitarianism, Brett. I wonder: would Utilitarianism work well with hotly debated questions that people have conflicting values about? Who would be the arbiter of "the good"? What would Utilitarianism say about, for example, gay marriage? Just wondering.* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 13:58:56
I'm sure ypsidixit will be pleased to know the motivation for his own taxidermy was largely due to his being a raging atheist who didn't feel that there was any such thing as a soul, or any spiritual meaning to the flesh.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 14:02:06
Well, he's clearly doing a lot to give atheists a good name as sane, normal, reasonable, auto-taxidermists.* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 14:06:17
the simple "greatest good for greatest number" motto is a tricky one to implement, to be sure, especially when you have to take into account the issue of some people's faith in the truth of scripture, which although physically unobservable, they will list as an important factor in the above equation (i.e., risk of eternal damnation, etc); the people who came up with the philosophy were NOT of that sort, though, and would certainly have advocated sexual freedom (many derided the notion of marriage entirely, due mainly to the restrictive and mysoginistic modern interpretation of the institution). * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 14:12:41
It seems to me to be a rational or reason-based system, which might perhaps run up into the rocks when confronted with messy emotional issues.
Your point about people having internalized scriptural precepts that would color the "greatest good" factor is a good point.
There was an interesting story on NPR today about the relative secular nature of Europe, where, it was said, people kind of snicker at the strong vein of religiousity here and, if Tony Blair said "God Bless England" at the end of a speech, would laugh him off the stage. That sort of secular environment might be a more fertile one for Utilitarianism, it seems to me.
Brett, just wondering: did Bentham ever marry? * * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 14:13:47
sorry to have hijacked the thread, but I assume everyone is like me and wants election news, and the fact is there won't be any for hours (or months), so i figured we should have something to distract ourselves with in the meanwhile...* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 14:17:16
Well, I can't speak for others, but I secretly love it when people hijack the thread, especially with such offbeat yet very interesting information that I for one knew nothing about.* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 14:18:15
I don't think he did ever marry, or produce offspring, but I'm not 100% sure. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 14:20:35
Oh. Hm. I was just wondering.
As far as election news, oddly enough the AP will be the only ones permitted to report the returns.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-02 14:35:17
Interesting: Bentham also designed a rather Orwellian prison called the Panopticon, a design that was later picked up by one Pentonville Prison and some other prisons.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 14:41:52
that prison design basically made it so the prisoners could be constantly observed, without seeing their observers.
I've felt that way constantly these last four years.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 14:42:48
(glad she's not the only one).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura, who else? - 2004-11-02 15:02:54
In its rather extensive article about Bentham, in a section examining Bentham's belief that man is governed by the two principles of pain and pleasure and his ideal of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number," my Encyclopedia Britannica muses, rather mysteriously, "It is doubtful whether happiness can be defined in terms of pleasure and the absence of pain."
* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 15:08:22
simple. the guy that wrote your encyclopedia must have been a sado-masochist. They provide a big conundrum to the philosophy (and they generally vote republican).
I made that last part up. I think.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 15:13:58
Brett, I'm losing your signal, here, kiddo, forgive my porous old brain please.
I venerate the Encyclopedia Britannica with a worshipful reverence, and the notion that the esteemed and scholarly author of that fascinating article was into S&M is...shocking, deeply shocking.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura naturally - 2004-11-02 15:16:40
(mistily remembers rainy childhood days spent looking raptly at the colour plates in her parents' set of the Britannica...)* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 15:20:18
Would you rather he be a "good Christian"?
as for you interjecting the phrase "...shocking, deeply shocking" into a discussion about sadomasochism, I have no comment.* * * * * * * * * * * * Vince Prygoski - 2004-11-02 15:23:44
Went to get the oil changed in my car just now and just had to pop a Phil Ochs tape in to my car. He, for those who have never heard of him, was a 60s folksinger who wrote many of the signature songs of the 60s movements before, sadly, committing suicide in 1976. His song "Here's to the State of Mississippi" started out as a sarcastic commentary on that state's racism, then was transformed in the early 70s into "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon" which of course was a protest against Tricky Dicky. I took the liberty of updating it to "Here's to the State of Georgie Dubbya!" So many of his songs remain relevant, although for example you may have to change the Vietnam references to Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever the United States may be fighting a war on any given day. Now back in my office I have a 1975 Bob Dylan live disc playing...with versions of "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" and "Blowin' In the Wind." Also still relevant after 40 plus years. * * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 15:26:54
Vince- thanks for changing the subject. Really.
As a pacifist and a historian, I'd have to say Ochs' "I ain't Marchin' Anymore" is one of my all-time favorites.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 15:30:59
That peppy song was covered (and also updated) at the peace concert at the ark a year or so ago. Most of the songs they did were updates of 60s songs, to my disappointment. Disappointment because there is no similar contemporary shared body of well-known protest songs. None that I know of, anyways, but I'm not the most well-informed person when it somes to music. Everyone's cocooned away in a separate musical niche these days.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 15:35:30
Duh. I totally forgot that new Eminem song. Haven't heard it. Wonder what the lyrics are.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 15:49:10
Eminem's "Mosh":
[I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation under God
Indivisible?
It feels so good to be back..]
Scrutinize every word, memorize every line
I spit it once, refuel, reenergize, and rewind
I give sight to the blind, mind sight through the mind
I ostracize my right to express when I feel it's time
It's just all in your mind, what you interpret it as
I say to fight you take it as I? gonna whip someone's ass
If you don't understand don't even bother to ask
A father who has grown up with a fatherless past
Who has blown up now to rap phenomenon that has
Or at least shows no difficulty multi task
And juggling both, perhaps mastered his craft slash
Entrepreneur who has held long too few more rap acts
Who has had a few obstacles thrown his way through the last half
Of his career typical manure moving past that
Mister kiss his ass crack, he's a class act
Rubber band man, yea he just snaps back
Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors
To the people up top, on the side and the middle,
Come together, let's all bomb and swamp just a little
Just let it gradually build, from the front to the back
All you can see is a sea of people, some white and some black
Don't matter what color, all that matters is we gathered together
To celebrate for the same cause, no matter the weather
If it rains let it rain, yea the wetter the better
They ain't gonna stop us, they can't, we're stronger now more then ever,
They tell us no we say yea, they tell us stop we say go,
Rebel with a rebel yell, raise hell we gonna let em know
Stomp, push up, mush, fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home come on just . . .
Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors, come on
Imagine it pouring, it's raining down on us,
Mosh pits outside the oval office
Someone's trying to tell us something, maybe this is God just saying
we're responsible for this monster, this coward, that we have empowered
This is Bin Laden, look at his head nodding,
How could we allow something like this, Without pumping our fist
Now this is our, final hour
Let me be the voice, and your strength, and your choice
Let me simplify the rhyme, just to amplify the noise
Try to amplify the times it, and multiply it by six
Teen million people are equal of this high pitch
Maybe we can reach Al Quaida through my speech
Let the President answer on high anarchy
Strap him with AK-47, let him go
Fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our soil
No more psychological warfare to trick us to think that we ain't loyal
If we don't serve our own country we're patronizing a hero
Look in his eyes, it's all lies, the stars and stripes
They've been swiped, washed out and wiped,
And Replaced with his own face, mosh now or die
If I get sniped tonight you'll know why, because I told you to fight
So come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors
[Eminem speaking angrily]
And as we proceed, to mosh through this desert storm, in these closing statements, if they should argue, let us beg to differ, as we set aside our differences, and assemble our own army, to disarm this weapon of mass destruction that we call our president, for the present, and mosh for the future of our next generation, to speak and be heard, Mr. President, Mr. Senator"
* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 15:54:27
Song: I Ain't Marching Anymore By: Phil Ochs Lyrics from: http://search.able2know.com Oh, I marched to the battle of New Orleans At the end of the early British war The young land started growin' The young blood started flowin' But I ain't a-marchin' anymore But I've killed my share of Injuns In a thousand different fights I was there at the Little Big Horn I saw many men lyin' I saw many more dyin' But I ain't a-marchin' anymore CHORUS It's always the old to lead us to the war Always the young to fall Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun Tell me, is it worth it all For I stole California from the Mexican land Fought in the bloody Civil War Yes I even killed my brothers And so many others But I ain't a-marchin' anymore For I marched to the battles of the German trench In a war that was bound to end all wars Oh, I must have killed a million men And now they want me back again But I ain't a-marchin' anymore CHORUS For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky Set off the mighty mushroom roar When I saw the cities burnin' I knew that I was learnin' That I ain't a-marchin' anymore Now the labor leader's screamin' when they close the missile plants United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason" Call it "Love" or call it "Reason" But I ain't a-marchin' any more. No, I ain't a-marchin' any more * * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 15:55:59
wouldn't some use of line breaks improved the above post? I think so.* * * * * * * * * * * * Bob - 2004-11-02 15:56:23
For what it's worth, below are the lyrics to Eminem's 11th hour rally call, "Mosh". I don't care much for the tune or the video but I can't help but wonder what impact it may have had on the impressionable youth that idolize him if he had just released it a month or two ago. "Scrutinize every word, memorize every line I spit it once, refuel, reenergize, and rewind I give sight to the blind, mind sight through the mind I ostracize my right to express when I feel it's time It's just all in your mind, what you interpret it as I say to fight you take it as I�m gonna whip someone's ass If you don't understand don't even bother to ask A father who has grown up with a fatherless past Who has blown up now to rap phenomenon that has Or at least shows no difficulty multi task And juggling both, perhaps mastered his craft slash Entrepreneur who has held long too few more rap acts Who has had a few obstacles thrown his way through the last half Of his career typical manure moving past that Mister kiss his ass crack, he's a class act Rubber band man, yea he just snaps back Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, Come with me, and I won't stear you wrong Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight, We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors To the people up top, on the side and the middle, Come together, let's all bomb and swamp just a little Just let it gradually build, from the front to the back All you can see is a sea of people, some white and some black Don't matter what color, all that matters is we gathered together To celebrate for the same cause, no matter the weather If it rains let it rain, yea the wetter the better They ain't gonna stop us, they can't, we're stronger now more then ever, They tell us no we say yea, they tell us stop we say go, Rebel with a rebel yell, raise hell we gonna let em know Stomp, push up, mush, fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home come on just . . . Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, Come with me, and I won't stear you wrong Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight, We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors, come on Imagine it pouring, it's raining down on us, Mosh pits outside the oval office Someone's trying to tell us something, maybe this is God just saying we're responsible for this monster, this coward, that we have empowered This is Bin Laden, look at his head nodding, How could we allow something like this, Without pumping our fist Now this is our, final hour Let me be the voice, and your strength, and your choice Let me simplify the rhyme, just to amplify the noise Try to amplify the times it, and multiply it by six Teen million people are equal of this high pitch Maybe we can reach Al Quaida through my speech Let the President answer on high anarchy Strap him with AK-47, let him go Fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our soil No more psychological warfare to trick us to think that we ain't loyal If we don't serve our own country we're patronizing a hero Look in his eyes, it's all lies, the stars and stripes They've been swiped, washed out and wiped, And Replaced with his own face, mosh now or die If I get sniped tonight you'll know why, because I told you to fight So come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, Come with me, and I won't stear you wrong Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight, We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors [Eminem speaking angrily] And as we proceed, to mosh through this desert storm, in these closing statements, if they should argue, let us beg to differ, as we set aside our differences, and assemble our own army, to disarm this weapon of mass destruction that we call our president, for the present, and mosh for the future of our next generation, to speak and be heard, Mr. President, Mr. Senator" * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob - 2004-11-02 15:58:32
Oops. I should've refreshed my browser before I posted. I didn't realize the lyrics were already up and more cleanly formatted. Sorry to have littered this thread.* * * * * * * * * * * * Bob - 2004-11-02 15:59:15
Thank you, Bob, for taking the trouble to dig them up--sorry. I'm kind of mentally comparing this song to the ones Vince and Brett mentioned and "All Along the Watchtower" to boot. Eminem's song seems so fractured to me by comparison. "Watchtower" and "Marchin'" have a strong narrative thread, but Eminem's song is kind of a great big basket of angry phrases that don't knot together into a story in the same way. Not saying that's good or bad--just a comparison. What's your opinion, Bob?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:00:12
Not at all, Bob--that's fine. It's helpful, because sometimes I don't know if lyrics, &c. that I find online are correct or not, so your post helped me check that. Thanks.* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 16:01:32
speaking of littering threads, I'm trying to write ebay auction listings right now and nearly pasted the Phil Ochs lyrics into a description of a 1920's Psychology textbook about "Female Sexuality". * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:02:57
(laughing!)* * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2004-11-02 16:05:22
a worse mistake would have been earlier, when I listed a book of children's craft projects, and could have accidentally linked to the Bentham image. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:11:14
Oh, my gosh (laughing again) yes, that's a nice craft for the wee ones--"hey kids, let's make the wax head of a late 18th/early 19th-century Utilitarian philosopher!"* * * * * * * * * * * * Bob - 2004-11-02 16:12:39
I guess it would be too easy to boil it down to kids raised on MTV having a different kind of attention span and means of disseminating information. But really I think that's the main difference between that generation's appreciation of those 60's protest songs compared to something like "Mosh". And personally, I really wouldn't even compare them at all. I don't think "Mosh" will stand the test of time the same way the aforementioned songs have. But more power to someone with that kind of influence at least trying to shake things up. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:13:50
Incidentally, Bentham's will stipulated that after his death he would be dissected--down to the skeleton--in front of his friends. And he was. That fact sure gave me pause. Did he think his friends would want to see that? Phew.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:16:22
Oops, sorry, Bob, you beat me to the comments.
I agree with your assessment of the differences. And yes, I have to say I admire Eminem for making the effort.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-02 16:27:48
Brett and Bob, sorry for Diaryland messing up the formatting of your lyrics. Here's a little trick I use that may be of interest: I copy the lyrics from online, paste them into a new Word document, use the "replace" tool under "edit" to replace all the para marks (check in the "special symbols" box or whatever it's called) with the html "break" mark, which is < br > (except mash the pointy things next to the "br"--I can't do it here since it'd disappear.) Once the para marks are changed to break marks, select-all, copy, and paste into this comment box. That seems to work. You probably know all that I'm sure--just thought I'd mention it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 16:49:00
Also, I mistakenly wrote, as the comment-writer's name, "Bob" instead of "Laura," in the comment 10 comments up, there, that starts "Thank you, Bob, for taking the trouble..." oops. Sorry, Bob. Silly mistake. Can't fix it without major trauma.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-11-02 19:51:37
polls close in one minute. we're off to the sidetrack to go watch the states turn red and blue.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-02 21:05:48
I couldn't get ahold of my adventurous friend, and don't want to hang out in a bar alone, so I'm watching the NYTimes site online (posted in a new post) and biting my nails...* * * * * * * * * * * * lynne - 2004-11-02 23:04:34
Oh, it is going to be a nail biter for sure. I think I am going to have to force myself to go to bed. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-03 07:13:35
Still biting the morning after...looks like Ohio will be the new Florida. Otherwise, it doesn't look good. The whole country, in election maps, is bathed in red...looks bloodsoaked.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dave D. - 2004-11-03 09:11:00
I heard something on NPR that said the provisional ballot tally could take up to 11 days. It was a surprisingly bad day for Dems, and I'm bummed Tom Daschle lost in South Dakota, and it looks like the GOP picked up a few seats. Even though new voter registration among younger voters was high, it appears only around 10-15% of the 18-25 range showed up. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-03 09:11:53
Everyone at work is depressed.* * * * * * * * * * * * Vince Prygoski - 2004-11-03 12:56:03
Canada or Europe are looking better and better to me right about now. I'll probably end up staying here because this is home, but it is getting harder to bear with each mediocre and corrupt "president" and "congress" we have to endure. This just really sucks, I can't think of any other way to put it. Florida was probably fixed again and has basically become a "banana republic" not unlike the Duvaliers' Haiti or the Somozas' Nicaragua. And all those other "red" states...some may be fixed, others may just have a lot of mentally ill, fearful people. Think I'll go see if Hunter Thompson has anything new to say post-election. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-03 12:58:57
I think with "fearful" you put your finger on it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-11-03 13:06:02
I vacillate between depressed and full of rage. I may have to go spray bullets somewhere -- thanks GW, for making assault rifles so easy to get.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-03 13:10:44
I just feel somewhat scared of the future.* * * * * * * * * * * * Vince Prygoski - 2004-11-03 14:06:17
On the way to work today, I "flipped the bird" at all houses I passed that had Bush/Cheney/Republican signs. When I got to work I mentioned this to my immediate supervisor (who is also left of center) and he said he did the same thing! Depressed? Check. Full of rage? Check. Scared of the future? Check.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-03 14:11:43
Kerry's closing speech is all about sustaining hope.
It's going to be a long, long four years.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: