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This morning I decided that I should write my Senators. Why? Electronic voting. The picture that accompanies this post is an electronic voting machine. You probably saw one (maybe you used one) in the last election. After the mess that was the 2000 election Congress passed the HAVA¹. One requirement of HAVA was that all local governments must provide for individuals with special needs. Electronic voting machines were an easy route since not only could they support the blind they could also support non-english speakers. Since some local governments were buying new machines to comply with the act anyway whole precincts were replaced with these voting machines².

What’s the problem with this? Well besides the fact that the machine’s are easily hacked³; that the CEO of one voting machine company has personally endorsed and said he would “deliver” the election to Bush in 2004; the fact that the voting machine manufactures refuse to release the source code⁴; that there is no voter verified paper trail for most of these machines; or maybe that some of these voting machines can be opened with the same key that opens a minibar⁵? Well besides those small details they’re pretty great!

Some of these problems can be resolved in a fairly simple manner, a voter verified paper trail. If the voting machine immediately prints exactly what it’s storing into it’s memory to paper so there is a paper receipt of the vote that the voter can verify and if needed can be used in a manual recount it doesn’t matter how the machine tallies the votes. Currently there is no law requiring voting machines to have such a paper trail, and almost none do. This is changing and there is currently a bill working it’s way through the Senate to change this (S. 3212). However, the bill makes an exception for voting machines purchased before January that were bought to comply to HAVA. This is completely unacceptable. If the exception stands these insecure voting machines will undoubtedly remain in use for years.

When I found out I decided that I needed to write to my Senators. Most of these machines in Iowa are only used to meet the requirements of HAVA in order to accommodate disabled voters. One Iowa Senator, Tom Harkin, has a long history of supporting disabled voters. The other Iowa Senator, Chuck Grassley, I really don’t know how he’ll stand on this. Either way, I thought that it was important enough that I let both of my Senators know my feelings on this issue. S. 3212 appears to be a good bill with many measures needed to fix the electronic voting mess and I hope it passes, even with this exception.

One last thing. There is a really easy way to avoid all of this. Use paper ballots. There are braile ballots and ballots printed in other languages. It’s not that hard, and doesn’t need any fancy, and expensive, toys to fix.

For those of you who wish to contact their senators I’ve included my letter as a sample. Most senators and representatives have online forms that are respected just as much as a paper letter. It doesn’t take much time. Just fill in the lines I’ve left for your information and google “contact ” generally the first hit will be the page you want.

Dear Senator ______, It has come to my attention that a highly necessary bill to improve the accountability of America’s electronic voting machines is making it’s way through the Senate (S. 3212). I support this change no matter the expense as very little is more important then the accountability and security of our elections.

However, there is an exception placed in this bill for voting machines purchased before January 1, 2009 to meet HAVA’s requirements. Such an exception would lead to Americans that use these machines because they must (the disabled and non-English speakers) to use these sub-par, unverifiable voting machines for years.

I understand an exception may be needed to allow local governments to meet the law for this coming election cycle however I think the exception should have a termination point. Give local governments a grace period, but don’t give them the chance to marginalize these voters forever. Thank you for your time.

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I am so amazingly pumped. I get my kitty tomorrow! I’ve picked a name. I’m naming her “Dimmit” which is Amharic for “cat.” However I’m planning on calling her “Dimmie” most of the time because that sounds less like an expletive, and it’s cuter. Many photos will be taken an posted.

UPDATE: The Picture of the Week is now a picture of me and Dimmie. I’ve also uploaded pictures to flickr here. There have been additions to that flickr set since the potw for those of you who already saw those.

This post is a bit of a rant, you’ve been warned.

Today is the two hundred and twenty third anniversary of the adoption¹ of the Declaration of Independence. Two hundred and twenty three years ago the United States officially declared themselves separate and independent of the tyranny of the King of England. It’s a day to be remembered, and it is. People everywhere will be going to see fireworks and grilling and celebrating with friends and family. One thing as of late has bugged me about the celebration of Independence Day, the way people acknowledge the day. It has become more and more common to wish someone a “happy 4th” rather than a “happy Independence Day.” It’s a little silly, but this really really bugs me. If we have a holiday in remembrance of something, remember it and say it out loud. You don’t wish people a “Merry 25th” for Christmas, so why wish people a “happy 4th?”

On that note. Have a Happy Independence Day everyone. Celebrate your freedoms, remember those who have fought for it², and go see some fireworks.

While digging through Wikipedia for the previous post I did some reading in the article on Isaac Asimov. None of it was particularly new to me however I did find something very enlightening¹ in this section. Specifically:

For many years, Asimov called himself an atheist; however, he considered the term somewhat inadequate, as it described what he did not believe rather than what he did.

Now I don’t identify as an athiest but an agnostic. I think the people claiming to know that god doesn’t exist have just as little to stand on as those who do. However as this section states this describes very little of what I believe. Humanism² has always been something that I’ve felt described my beliefs well and is a movement that I wholeheartedly agree with. Which begs the question, why don’t I identify myself as a Humanist rather than an agnostic? There is no good answer for it and there is very good reason to identify as a Humanist, and so from here forward I will.

So partially to make progress on goal 4, and partially because I absolutely love Pixar I saw WALL•E¹ tonight. What can I say, it was fantastic. While watching the movie a thought came to mind, why we² make movies. Without giving too much away, WALL•E isn’t just a movie about a super incredibly cute robot. The film starts out in the barren landscape of a post-apocalyptic Earth. We find WALL•E working away at his primary mission, clean things up. Now WALL•E’s idea of cleaning things up is pretty similar to a child, or the typical college student, take your crap and make it into piles. Things really are really only a little better then when he started. Instead of junk scattered everywhere, there is junk everywhere in really really neat piles. It’s cute, but quite frankly for a movie partially targeted at children it is really dark.

WALL•E however is science fiction at it’s finest and by the end of the movie thing’s aren’t all better with everything fixed, but they’re better. However this had me thinking about why I love science fiction, something I’ve always known. Science fiction is frequently about hope. This hasn’t always been the case however but thanks to the brilliant mind of Isaac Asimov and his rejection of the Frankenstein complex this is what science fiction has become.³ Star Trek is a perfect example of modern science fiction that takes this and runs with it. Above all other thins Star Trek was a rejection of the typical dystopian science fiction and an example of what can be.

Star Trek was made in the 60’s a time of social and political upheaval. Amongst many other things the airing of the original Star Trek coincided with the height of American involvement in Vietnam, the African-American Civil Rights Movement, some of the most heated moments of the Cold War, and the assassination of American leaders, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. For many Star Trek gave people hope that everything would turn out all right. This was no coincidence as Asimov was a friend and adviser to Gene Roddenberry the creator and produce of Star Trek.

But back to WALL•E. WALL•E represents the same things that Star Trek did, in a time not so dissimilar. People are searching for hope as much now as ever. If you were asked to define Barack Obama’s campaign for president in one word hope would be high on the list of responses.⁴ WALL•E doesn’t go as far as Star Trek and suggest that everything is going to work out perfectly but it does suggest that we can overcome. Hope has been in short supply lately and WALL•E does it’s very best to add some to the mix. Fortunately WALL•E’s very best the work of Pixar and their very worst is better then what some can ever hope for. Amongst other things, hope is why we make movies.

Ian and I took a trip out to see his Aunt in Marshaltown today.  This trip had two objectives.  He wanted to see his sister off, and I wanted to look at kittens.  His Aunt’s cats both just had litters and some of the little ones need homes (the remainder will live on the farm).

Last weekend Mom said that she would probably be ok with keeping a kitten for a few weeks until I move into my new apartment so I figured going out and looking at them was ok.  They’re still a tiny bit young for adoption but that didn’t stop me from sizing them up.  The two you see me holding were pretty quickly the prime contenders.  The one is a long haired all grey kitten.  He was very affectionate and far more interested in people then any of his siblings/cousins/whatever.  The little orange one (with cute little white socks!) was probably the most mellow.  She wasn’t trotting up to me as quickly but she certainly didn’t jump out of my arms when I started petting her either.  They also didn’t present any other clear flaws such as: scratching things, scratching people, hissing, running away, and/or alien infestation.

In the end I decided the only possible methods to choose between them were a) call my Mother (her only insight was that a longer haired cat would leave more hair) and b) make them duke it out.  The end result of option b is pictured here.  Neither were fond of the idea however Bo (the little grey one) retreated far sooner and was declared the loser.

My only problem now is that the name I had picked out (Agathon) really doesn’t work so well and the female equivelant (Agatha) really isn’t sitting too well with me anymore either.  I’m now working on a name, suggestions are welcome.

The title of this post probably sounds a little unusual.  That’s because it is.  For those of you who are fans of off-color humor check out You Look Nice Today: A Journal of Emotional Hygiene. For those of you easily offended and white you should probably still check it out. (This itself is an off color joke ha! A meta joke!)  Enough about the title though.  I’ve stolen their title and have totally ignored their use.

To say I’ve been a bit of a mess the last few months is a touch of an understatement.  If you read this blog you already know part of the reason for this.  The next reason is that I haven’t graduated.  I was supposed to in May, but didn’t This is partially a result of the first reason, and mostly a result of my own stupidity.  I let non-academic things get in the way of school work.  Which, if you didn’t know, is a pretty bad move.  These two rather dramatic changes in my life have lead to a fairly nasty mess. (For an example of something approximating this mess, see image at right.)

Quite frankly, enough of it.  I need to get moving on making an improvement.  My single goal for this summer has been just that, but I haven’t really gone about doing much to reach this goal.  I’m only working part time this summer (10-4 Monday-Thursday) which is helping a ton (although not helping my wallet), this was a really good move.  I need to do more though.  So here is my plan, enumerated in quasi-chronological order from planned start date of the item.  I’m posting it here as a bit of a check on myself.   If people know about it, in theory, I have a little more then myself to move for progress, I also have the guilt of knowing that other people know my plans (negative motivator, bad thing, or good thing shrug).

1. (Started) Post more frequently and substantively on Tedger.com.    –I’ve started on this already.  If you subscribe to the new RSS feeds you’ll be getting this in several forms.  So far I’m at over a month running posting new Pictures of the Week (substantive and frequent enough).  I post something new on the tumbleblog about once every two days on average (frequent, not very substantive, typically amusing).  Lastly, I’ve been fairly good about new content here, on the main blog, and I’m going to try to keep this up.  I like including images in the posts.  Pictures liven things up, this is going to continue.  Lastly, if you use Twitter (see “Status:” on the sidebar or go here) I update that at least once a day, if not more.  An asside: twitter is sweet, check it out, if you join follow me!
2. (Started) Clean my room.  — I’m not even kidding.  It’s been a total mess lately, not unlike me.  This is in progress.  I had a pile of clothes (clean) on my floor until about 30 minutes ago.  It had been sitting there for at least a week.  The room still isn’t entirely in order, but it’s better.  Tomorrow I’ll continue the work.
3. (Tomorrow) Go to Student Counseling. — I went once, I haven’t been back.  This is purely out of my own laziness.  They called me to schedule a more regular appointment and I never got back to them.  I’m calling tomorrow.
4. (End of the Week) Watch more Films – Ian and I have Netflix, and we haven’t been using it.  This is going to change.  I’m returning the three movies that we have right now (and haven’t watched) and we’re getting fresh ones.  I enjoy good movies and I need to see more.
5. (July 1st) Develop a plan to Lose weight –  This deserves it’s own post.  The short version however is that I need to do it.  Losing weight, or at least reaching a healthy one, helps with emotional well being and is just good for me in general.  This requires a plan in it’s own, and is going to get one.
6. (July 31st) Move –  I’m going to be homeless the night of July 31st (assuming the tenant in my new apartment doesn’t vacate early).  I need to figure out what I’m doing with myself, and my stuff, that night.  This is a work in progress, but has a deadline of July 31st.
7. (Oct 1st) Volunteer for the Democratic Party – I don’t just need this, I think everyone needs it.  I do truly believe that Barack Obama represents a new beginning to American politics.  In the last decade we’ve become too divisive, too dismissive.  We scoff at the notions of people we see as political opponents without even listening.  It’s time for it to end.  Come November 4th I want to know I was a part of making it happen.
8. (Oct) Find a (new) Job — This year is my break, I don’t need any more breaks before Law school.  Law Schools also don’t start till the fall (for the most part).  I’m going to need a job till then.
9. (Dec. 20th) Graduate – Obvious solution to the second issue that has caused this whole mess.
10. (Jan ‘09) Apply to Law Schools – Becoming a lawyer is step one for a much longer plan.  I can’t become a lawyer without getting into law school.

So there it is.  This is going to change.  I’m going to be adding things and completing things.  The list is a work in progress just like the end goal.  Things will be completed, others will be added, it’s a working document and now it’s public.

Maybe I should have added “Sleep” somewhere on that list.  Either way, it’s time to get some.

So I went to see the new Indy movie last week (I went twice actually). I liked it. It wasn’t as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Last Crusade but I think it was better than Temple of Doom. It stuck to the Indy feel fairly well and the blend of fantasy and reality held true to classic Indiana Jones.

My biggest problem with the movie is summed up pretty well by the image at the right (which I posted on the tumbleblog).  There were several moments where all I could do was groan and think to myself “Damn it George.”  I imagine there were probably several conversations somewhat like this:

George Lucas: Steve, Steve, Steve!  I’ve got an idea!  We’ll have Shia swing though vines like a monkey! WITH MONKEYS!

Steven Spielberg: George… we had this discussion already. CG animals don’t make things better.  We gave you the gophers.

GL: STEVE! Common!  We cut half of the gophers–

SS: I KNOW… Geoge… they were terrible, I left them in because you’re my friend.  Why would the monkeys be in the trees with Shia anyway?

GL: Because the monkeys will attack the Commies!

SS: …. Why?

GL: Because they’re the bad guys!

SS: I know… but why would they attack the communists? George, no, no monkeys, no Shia in the trees.  It’ll be just like Jar-Jar all over again

GL: Common Steve! Jar Jar was great! Kids loved him! The problem with Jar Jar was that there wans’t enough of him! WE NEEDED MORE JAR-JAR!  MOAR JAR-JAR!

SS: ….

Yeah… that’s pretty much exactly how I imagine it.  George Lucas, as much as I love his old films, needs to just have a happy retirement.  Away from my movies.

Along with all the sweeping changes to the layout here I’ve changed the comment system to Disqus, the comment system I’ve been using on my Tumbleblog for a while now.  All posts without comments have switched over (including all future posts) to Disqus automatically .  Anything with a comment in the old system will stay in the old system in order to keep the old comments intact.

I’ve also changed the RSS feeds.  Now all of Tedger.com feeds are integrated into two feeds, one for posts, one for comments.  The Comment feed is integrated simply by having all comments go through Disqus (Comments made in the old Wordpress system wont be on this feed).  The posts feed was integrated using Yahoo! Pipes and Feedburner as described here.  If you read Tedger.com via RSS update your feeds!

I really thought this was going to take longer then it did.  I started working on this Wednesday evening and have worked on it while taking breaks from studying since then.  I’m not satisfied with how the titles currently are and that will require some tweaking but on the whole I’m pretty happy with the new look.  You’ll slowly see this working it’s way into the rest of tedger.com but at the pace this went you can probably expect it sooner rather than later.  If you have any suggestions, or notice any visual glitches, by all means let me know.