Update a couple days later: Well it turns out I was looking in the wrong account. I have TWO photobucket accounts and I only ever use ONE of them. The other, apparently, I had totally forgotten about. I sent a complaining e-mail to their tech support and they got right back to me trying to be helpful, at which point I wish I had done a little-harder looking before I sent the e-mail. The interface now is less great than it was, but at least my pictures are still there.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Everybody Caught A Case of the Stupid?
First Blogger went and cocked up their interface, now Photobucket? Well, Blogger at least saved all my old posts. Photobucket decided to just flush a thousand photos - with links all over the internet going back to my album - straight down the crapper. AND the interface sucks.
Thanks guys. I think I'll find my own image server.
Update a couple days later: Well it turns out I was looking in the wrong account. I have TWO photobucket accounts and I only ever use ONE of them. The other, apparently, I had totally forgotten about. I sent a complaining e-mail to their tech support and they got right back to me trying to be helpful, at which point I wish I had done a little-harder looking before I sent the e-mail. The interface now is less great than it was, but at least my pictures are still there.
Update a couple days later: Well it turns out I was looking in the wrong account. I have TWO photobucket accounts and I only ever use ONE of them. The other, apparently, I had totally forgotten about. I sent a complaining e-mail to their tech support and they got right back to me trying to be helpful, at which point I wish I had done a little-harder looking before I sent the e-mail. The interface now is less great than it was, but at least my pictures are still there.
PEC at Night
The Pedernales Electric Co-op has put up a few lights again this year. Wandering around under the trees is magical, especially for little children. For adults, it's pretty sweet too.
Walking up the street to the PEC building: (click the image to see a larger version, hit escape to close the picture)
Walking up the street to the PEC building: (click the image to see a larger version, hit escape to close the picture)
A Little Premature
The President has given a list of outrageous demands to the
Republicans with no concessions on his part, as his play in negotiating the upcoming "fiscal cliff". The
Republicans had already started talking about compromise before the Democrats even thought
about coming to the table. This will end in the age-old pattern: tax
increases with no corresponding budget cuts because the cuts were put
off into the future and the political cowards on Capitol Hill will not allow
them to go through when the piper comes for his
pay.
Today I cashed in my 401(k) account. I am
sure the President would love to convert it -today- to a government account but
the Republicrats still stand in the way. The wishy-washy
Republicans that can't even make up their mind to allow a previously agreed-to
bipartisan compromise to happen, when they are certain to get the blame no
matter WHAT happens.
Well, my capital is flying. Now. Unless
they make a confiscatory law retroactive to today, my money will be mine.
The gains (all the gains) my money made will be lost, but I will preserve the
capital.
The ruling elite in Germany thought they could
control Hitler with the national legislature, and we all (should) know how well
that came out. Maybe I'm wrong. I stand to lose significant
capital gains, but at least I am making an effort to be prudent.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
No News, As They Say...
My kids have taken to saying "I've got good news and bad news" lately. On a recent trip home from church . . .
#2 (2.5 years old): Ah gah goonews ambanews.
DW: What's the bad news?
#2: No. No news.
VFD: And no news is good news so...
#2 (2.5 years old): Ah gah goonews ambanews.
DW: What's the bad news?
#2: No. No news.
VFD: And no news is good news so...
Monday, November 19, 2012
Windows 8 Sales Unexpectedly Weak
- Take the greatest mass-consumed computer operating system in the last decade (arguably, Windows 7)
- Determine all on your own that right-frikken-now is the time for the world to begin using tablets instead of PCs or Notebooks
- Focus all your energy on a new operating system that combines the hopefully-greatness of the next generation operating system and the totally-useless-for-more-than-one-thing-at-a-time interface of a tablet and slash the price.
- Sit back and wait as the money totally fails to roll in like the tide.
The Windows 8 user interface is horrible on anything besides a small touch screen. If all you want to do is check your stocks real quick on your phone, then whatever. Me, personally, I have FOUR 22" monitors going all day every day and usually eight to twelve applications running in WINDOWS on the desktop, where I can see what each is doing with minimal overlap and interact with different programs by moving my cursor.
WindowS. As in, more than one thing displayed at a time. You know what windowS 8 can't do? Yessir that is correct. Aside from having a counter-intuitive interface for EVERYTHING, Microsoft has decided the new Windows does not need to give you the ability to effectivly multi-task with so many as TWO displayed windows on your quad-core computer with 8 gigabytes of RAM and enough video hardware to simulate a nuclear explosion. One thing displayed at once, because shut up that's why.
Thereby holding fast the time-honored Microsoft tradition of releasing a new operating system nobody wants or "upgrades" to, every-other OS they put out.
DOS: changed the world
Windows 3: meh
Windows 95/98 (same thing) changed the world
Windows Me/2000: ignored by the world
Windows XP: 40% of the world still uses it
Windows Vista: Unless a new computer came with it nobody bought it
Windows 7: What Vista should have been, a real winner
Window 8: sucks at using. Runs good, uses bad.
Way to fail, Microsoft. Here's hoping this bombs hard and fast enough that 9 goes back to what we are all used to, and willing to pay money to upgrade to: a desktop with a Start button and Metro interface onto the dungheap of /dev/null allstars.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
"Well, [deleted]."
So I am trying to wipe the hard drive on a laptop with no optical drive. No problemmo! The Customizing UBCD page at ultimatebootcd.com has a two-line text command and a built-in program on the Ultimate Boot CD will automagically turn a formatted USB stick into a bootable Ultimate Boot . . . uh. . . Stick. This used to be a hassle with older versions of UBCD, but now it is dead simple and worked
PERFECTLY
on the first go. So I booted the laptop, changed the BIOS settings to boot from USB first and rebooted. It loaded the UBCD menu in frikken RECORD time and shaBAM here I am in Darik's Boot and Nuke ready to blast the data on my hard drive all to smithereens. So as usual I typed "autonuke" at the prompt and DBAN started a'wipin all the drives it saw. Including my shiny new UBCD-on-a-stick flash drive.
At this point, I said rather a naughty word. Then I was happy I had the Customizing UBCD page still open, and (after reformatting the USB drive in Windows Disk Management) I proceeded to REmake my bootable USB UBCD drive. Like a boss. Only perhaps, next time, I will tell DBAN just exactly WHICH drive to nuke.
Complacency will get you, and your flash drive software, killed.
PERFECTLY
on the first go. So I booted the laptop, changed the BIOS settings to boot from USB first and rebooted. It loaded the UBCD menu in frikken RECORD time and shaBAM here I am in Darik's Boot and Nuke ready to blast the data on my hard drive all to smithereens. So as usual I typed "autonuke" at the prompt and DBAN started a'wipin all the drives it saw. Including my shiny new UBCD-on-a-stick flash drive.
At this point, I said rather a naughty word. Then I was happy I had the Customizing UBCD page still open, and (after reformatting the USB drive in Windows Disk Management) I proceeded to REmake my bootable USB UBCD drive. Like a boss. Only perhaps, next time, I will tell DBAN just exactly WHICH drive to nuke.
Complacency will get you, and your flash drive software, killed.
Even My Darling Wife Had To Laugh
In Hawaii, the Libertarian candidate for President got 2.5% of the vote. He only barely made 2% in a few states on the mainland. 5% is the threshhold for public funding next time.
Headline from Yahoo! News: "Johnson runs most successful Libertarian campaign in history"
The affectionate term is "Losertarian" for very, very good reason. Nobody knows like a Libertarian exactly who will NOT be winning in any given political race. We need at least one third party, but I am afraid Libertarian is not going to be it, given their very long association with dismal failure at all levels.
Headline from Yahoo! News: "Johnson runs most successful Libertarian campaign in history"
The affectionate term is "Losertarian" for very, very good reason. Nobody knows like a Libertarian exactly who will NOT be winning in any given political race. We need at least one third party, but I am afraid Libertarian is not going to be it, given their very long association with dismal failure at all levels.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Well, What Did You THINK Would Happen?
Congratulations, Republicans. You selected the worst of all possible choices to be your candidate, and he lost. AGAIN. Fuck you very much.
The country is currently on the fast track to "screwed." Let's see what the New Boss does with all those environmental regulations he put off until after the election, eh?
The country is currently on the fast track to "screwed." Let's see what the New Boss does with all those environmental regulations he put off until after the election, eh?
November 6, 2012 Travis County, Texas Voter's Guide
As this is the Most Important Election of Our Lifetime, is this VoteForDavid’s most important Voter’s Guide EVAR? Well if so we’re in deep trouble. Or something. I compiled this guide, like the others I've posted here before, for my benefit. For a change, I didn't post it for your benefit. I hope you managed to muddle through without me. Without further ado:
These are the notes I made for myself, for the races where I live, plus a couple for Travis County elections I have comments on. You people are on your own for the rest. Not that you will voted anyway. The URLs are where I found the sample ballots.
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_General_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
Straight Party - Only if you are a fool. I hit the straight party button because it filled in most of my selections for me.
President
This is a wasted vote, no matter how you cast it. If you are a Christian you have nobody to vote for. If you are an American and not a Christian, vote for Romney. All the others are destined to lose or are evil, or both. I voted for the Losertarian on the off chance they might get 5% of the total, and so we could theoretically have a third party with public funding . . . next time.
United States Senator
Ted Cruz - REP - This is a no-brainer.
District 17, United States Representative
Bill Flores - REP – vote for Bill Flores. His website is full of stuff that reads like election year soundbytes, but at least I agree with most of them.
Ben Easton – LIB – like most libertarians, goes too far toward the “Liberty” side of the equation. Vote for him if you like this sort of thing. Note: he will lose, because he is running a campaign on principles instead of money. Sad but true.
Railroad Commissioner
Christi Craddick - REP – by process of elimination my vote goes to Christi Craddick. Not a bad candidate, but this isn’t exactly a vote FOR.
Dale Henry - DEM – Old, too old. Sorry old people. He’s going to be 80-dead by the time the next election rolls around.
Vivekananda “Vik” Wall - LIB – a believer in glowbull warmening has no place on my Railroad Commission!
Chris Kennedy - GRN – it looks like the Green party is about as sophisticated at getting candidates to have campaign websites as the Libertarians were a few years ago (hint: not at all)
Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term
Barry Smitherman - REP – As I recommended in my previous voters guides, please keep Commissioner Smitherman in his position.
Jaime O. Perez - LIB – For a huge change, a Libertarian with a website! Not a CAMPAIGN website, more of a blog/screed site where he denounces the evils of modern fiscal policy.
Josh Wendel – GRN – on the ballot, but apparently not running a campaign? If you want to WIN, you have to RUN!
Place 2, Justice, Supreme Court
Don Willett - REP – please keep Justice Willett in his position on the court.
RS Roberto Koelsch – LIB – another Libertarian not taking campaign contributions is another libertarian who will lose.
Place 4, Justice, Supreme Court
John Devine - REP – the candidate who has been a judge. Everybody else is a n00b. This guy.
Tom Oxford - LIB
Charles E. Waterbury - GRN
Place 6, Justice, Supreme Court
Nathan Hecht - REP – Please keep Justice Hecht on the court
Michele Petty - DEM – says she likes to do what she thinks is right, regardless of precedent. Not good.
Mark Ash - LIB
Jim Chisholm - GRN
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Sharon Keller - REP - She's there, let's keep her. She made a single controversial call and that's about all the opposition has to say against her.
Keith Hampton - DEM
Lance Stott - LIB
Place 7, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Barbara Parker Hervey - REP – Please vote for Judge Hervey
Mark W. Bennett – LIB – Spouts off personal opinions on matters about which he might have to issue court opinions. Horrible judgement for a JUDGE candidate.
Place 8, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Elsa Alcala - REP – I’ll be voting for her this time.
William Bryan Strange, III - LIB
This is one of the few times I will put my check in the “R” box and move on. Both seem to be decent candidates, with Judge Alcala having the slight advantage of currently BEING a judge.
District 10, Member, State Board of Education
Tom Maynard - REP – I was for him during the primary, and I am still for him. See my first 2012 voter’s guide for the reasoning.
Judy Jennings – DEM
District 14, State Senator
Kirk Watson - DEM – not the worst Democrat out there, but still somewhat typical. I’m not a Democrat
Ryan M. Dixon – LIB – I’m voting FOR Ryan Dixon for District 14. I’m also not a Libertarian, but I agree with a lot of what he has to say.
District 46, State Representative
Dawnna Dukes - DEM – not the worst Democrat out there but still a Democrat. As long as Democrat = “social justice” and leftist policies in general, we need fewer of these.
Andy Fernandez – LIB – seriously? He looks to be about 12 years old and is (surprise) a Libertarian without a website.
For a change, I will NOT be casting a ballot for State Representative. This is a shameful place for our State to be but here we are: a child vs. a democrat.
Place 2, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Jeff Rose - REP – is in the job and I haven’t heard anything bad about him. Let’s keep him.
J. Andrew Hathcock – DEM
Place 3, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Scott Field - REP – His website reads like a judge’s should. Bonus points for intentionally taking cases from civil litigation and appellate fields, and serving as a lawyer for defense and prosecution.
Diane Henson – DEM – listening to her makes me a little sick to my stomach. Looking at her doesn’t make it any better. Video at HIS website.
Both are career lawyers, and she has been on this bench for a term. I’m pulling out my “R” and “Y” cards and he gets my vote. “Y” card: that chromosome, he has it. Yes it’s sexist. Deal with it. He was my pick in the primary election too ;)
Place 5, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
David Puryear - REP – keep Justice Puryear on the job for six muryear. Bad pun intended.
Karen L. Watkins - DEM
Place 6, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Bob Pemberton - REP – Keep Justice Pemberton on the court also!
Bryan Case - DEM
Sheriff
Raymond Frank - REP –seems like a solid candidate, if rather VERY old for taking on a new job
Greg Hamilton - DEM – I will be voting for Greg Hamilton AGAIN. Yes, a Democrat, yes again. He is in the office and seems to be doing a decent job, plus he has big ideas for the next four years.
Jaclyn L. Finkel – LIB – wow another Libertarian without so much as a website. Way to get on the ballot, guys!
County Tax Assessor-Collector
Vik Vad - REP – I like all his talk about making this slice of the government more efficient. Let’s let him try.
Bruce Elfant - DEM – If Vad were not running, I could vote for him with reservations. Let’s be honest, it says something about your personality if you physically resemble a pig.
Mike Burris – LIB – a Libertarian with a website! Oh wait, that’s the website for his 2010 run for Treasurer. No, back to ‘another Libertarian without a campaign website’
Precinct 2, Constable
Toby J. Miller - REP – I would have been happy with either of the Republican candidates and will happily vote for Miller this November.
Adan Ballesteros - DEM – Almost anyone would be a better candidate than this guy.
Raul “Roy” Camacho – LIB – If there were no Republican in this race I would be all about voting for Camacho, but there IS a Republican in this race. Here’s hoping Camacho doesn’t turn out to be a spoiler and give us Ballesteros again!
The Democrats have done quite a job of being the only ones running for various judgeships. This sucks, but where were YOU when the primary season came and went?
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_Other_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
For Austin Community College, Austin I.S.D., Round Rock I.S.D., Travis County M.U.D. No. 18, North Austin M.U.D. No. 1, Wells Branch M.U.D., Lakeside M.U.D. No. 3, Williamson-Travis Counties M.U.D. No. 1, Southeast Travis County M.U.D. No. 1 & No. 2, Tanglewood Forest Limited District, Travis County WCID- Point Venture, Westbank Community Library District, Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Remember as you read these proposed proposals, $1.50 per $100 of assessed property value is about $250 a year out of your pocket for EACH measure. Do you really have that to spare? If you can think of another way to accomplish the purpose for which they propose the tax, vote AGAINST it and let them try again the more-efficient way next year.
SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1, CONFIRMATION ELECTION, SYSTEM FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, MAINTENANCE TAX ELECTION, PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, ROAD BOND ELECTION AND PERMANENT DIRECTORS ELECTION
This election is to decide whether the voters of Precinct 402 would like to have TWO new taxing bodies to take their money, and then they will all be voting themselves $31,106,650 worth of community indebtedness as well as an annual NEW tax of about $500/year for each family. Level-headed individuals will vote AGAINST all these proposals. They will probably all pass with a handy majority.
SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 2 CONFIRMATION ELECTION, SYSTEM FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, MAINTENANCE TAX ELECTION, PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, ROAD BOND ELECTION AND A PERMANENT DIRECTORS
ELECTION
This election is to decide whether the voters of Precinct 401 would like to have TWO new taxing bodies to take their money, and then they will all be voting themselves $46,522,233 worth of community indebtedness as well as an annual NEW tax of about $500/year for each family. You may guess my opinion on this subject.
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_Cities_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
For Central Health, Cities of Austin, Lakeway, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Pflugerville, Village of Point Venture, Village of Spicewood Canyon
CENTRAL HEALTH TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION
All precincts
PROP. 1, CENTRAL HEALTH
Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.129 per $100 valuation in Central Health, also known as the Travis County Healthcare District, for the 2013 tax year, a rate that exceeds the district’s rollback tax rate. The
proposed ad valorem tax rate exceeds the ad valorem tax rate most recently adopted by the district by $0.05 per $100 valuation; funds will be used for improved healthcare in Travis County, including support for a new medical school consistent with the mission of Central Health, a site for a new teaching hospital, trauma
services, specialty medicine such as cancer care, community-wide health clinics, training for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, primary care, behavioral and mental healthcare, prevention and
wellness programs, and/or to obtain federal matching funds for healthcare services.
Please vote AGAINST Proposition 1. The University has a billion dollars in the bank. If they want a few hundred million dollars to build a hospital, let them write a check! This will be, to put it bluntly, a combination of a hospital to serve homeless people and illegal aliens, and a research facility that the University could pay for out of pocket. The SECOND largest hospital group in the city has come out against this. Guess which hospital group benefits from it? Hint: it rhymes with “diggest”
PROP. 3, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from 10 geographical
single-member districts, with the mayor to be elected from the city at large, and to provide for an independent citizens redistricting commission?
Vote YES on Proposition 3 if you like the idea of representative government. If you like the bicycle lobby and the rich folks in Terrytown to continue to run your city into the ground, then vote No.
PROP. 4, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from eight geographical single-member districts, with the mayor and two additional council members to be elected from the city at large?
Vote NO on Proposition 4. This is a head-fake by the people currently running the city to distract you from the better proposal in Proposition 3.
PROP. 10, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide a civil service system for most city employees who are not already covered by a state civil service statute?
PROP. 11, CITY OF AUSTIN
Adoption of the emergency medical services personnel civil service law.
Vote AGAINST Propositions 10 and 11. Civil service laws = government employee unions. If you think your city services suck now, just wait. You haven’t SEEN inefficiency and poor treatment of the Citizen until you’ve seen the government employee figure out they can’t be fired thanks to a fat union deal on their behalf.
The next section (Propositions 12 through 18) is nearly guaranteed to all pass, because bond measures in Austin ALWAYS pass. This is a series of elections for Austinites to add $385 MILLION to their community indebtedness. Most of it SHOULD fail, and the City should be made to do what it can with LESS money, not more. Buuuut that’s not who Austinites are, so:
LOL it’s all monopoly money anyway and it doesn’t come out of MY paycheck! APPROVE ALL THE BONDS!!!!!
CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE GENERAL ELECTION
COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 3, CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE
Vote for one
Omar Peña - I almost didn't take the time to read the other candidates' websites to see what they had to say. This guy, and this guy by a mile!
These are the notes I made for myself, for the races where I live, plus a couple for Travis County elections I have comments on. You people are on your own for the rest. Not that you will voted anyway. The URLs are where I found the sample ballots.
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_General_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
Straight Party - Only if you are a fool. I hit the straight party button because it filled in most of my selections for me.
President
This is a wasted vote, no matter how you cast it. If you are a Christian you have nobody to vote for. If you are an American and not a Christian, vote for Romney. All the others are destined to lose or are evil, or both. I voted for the Losertarian on the off chance they might get 5% of the total, and so we could theoretically have a third party with public funding . . . next time.
United States Senator
Ted Cruz - REP - This is a no-brainer.
District 17, United States Representative
Bill Flores - REP – vote for Bill Flores. His website is full of stuff that reads like election year soundbytes, but at least I agree with most of them.
Ben Easton – LIB – like most libertarians, goes too far toward the “Liberty” side of the equation. Vote for him if you like this sort of thing. Note: he will lose, because he is running a campaign on principles instead of money. Sad but true.
Railroad Commissioner
Christi Craddick - REP – by process of elimination my vote goes to Christi Craddick. Not a bad candidate, but this isn’t exactly a vote FOR.
Dale Henry - DEM – Old, too old. Sorry old people. He’s going to be 80-dead by the time the next election rolls around.
Vivekananda “Vik” Wall - LIB – a believer in glowbull warmening has no place on my Railroad Commission!
Chris Kennedy - GRN – it looks like the Green party is about as sophisticated at getting candidates to have campaign websites as the Libertarians were a few years ago (hint: not at all)
Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term
Barry Smitherman - REP – As I recommended in my previous voters guides, please keep Commissioner Smitherman in his position.
Jaime O. Perez - LIB – For a huge change, a Libertarian with a website! Not a CAMPAIGN website, more of a blog/screed site where he denounces the evils of modern fiscal policy.
Josh Wendel – GRN – on the ballot, but apparently not running a campaign? If you want to WIN, you have to RUN!
Place 2, Justice, Supreme Court
Don Willett - REP – please keep Justice Willett in his position on the court.
RS Roberto Koelsch – LIB – another Libertarian not taking campaign contributions is another libertarian who will lose.
Place 4, Justice, Supreme Court
John Devine - REP – the candidate who has been a judge. Everybody else is a n00b. This guy.
Tom Oxford - LIB
Charles E. Waterbury - GRN
Place 6, Justice, Supreme Court
Nathan Hecht - REP – Please keep Justice Hecht on the court
Michele Petty - DEM – says she likes to do what she thinks is right, regardless of precedent. Not good.
Mark Ash - LIB
Jim Chisholm - GRN
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Sharon Keller - REP - She's there, let's keep her. She made a single controversial call and that's about all the opposition has to say against her.
Keith Hampton - DEM
Lance Stott - LIB
Place 7, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Barbara Parker Hervey - REP – Please vote for Judge Hervey
Mark W. Bennett – LIB – Spouts off personal opinions on matters about which he might have to issue court opinions. Horrible judgement for a JUDGE candidate.
Place 8, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Elsa Alcala - REP – I’ll be voting for her this time.
William Bryan Strange, III - LIB
This is one of the few times I will put my check in the “R” box and move on. Both seem to be decent candidates, with Judge Alcala having the slight advantage of currently BEING a judge.
District 10, Member, State Board of Education
Tom Maynard - REP – I was for him during the primary, and I am still for him. See my first 2012 voter’s guide for the reasoning.
Judy Jennings – DEM
District 14, State Senator
Kirk Watson - DEM – not the worst Democrat out there, but still somewhat typical. I’m not a Democrat
Ryan M. Dixon – LIB – I’m voting FOR Ryan Dixon for District 14. I’m also not a Libertarian, but I agree with a lot of what he has to say.
District 46, State Representative
Dawnna Dukes - DEM – not the worst Democrat out there but still a Democrat. As long as Democrat = “social justice” and leftist policies in general, we need fewer of these.
Andy Fernandez – LIB – seriously? He looks to be about 12 years old and is (surprise) a Libertarian without a website.
For a change, I will NOT be casting a ballot for State Representative. This is a shameful place for our State to be but here we are: a child vs. a democrat.
Place 2, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Jeff Rose - REP – is in the job and I haven’t heard anything bad about him. Let’s keep him.
J. Andrew Hathcock – DEM
Place 3, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Scott Field - REP – His website reads like a judge’s should. Bonus points for intentionally taking cases from civil litigation and appellate fields, and serving as a lawyer for defense and prosecution.
Diane Henson – DEM – listening to her makes me a little sick to my stomach. Looking at her doesn’t make it any better. Video at HIS website.
Both are career lawyers, and she has been on this bench for a term. I’m pulling out my “R” and “Y” cards and he gets my vote. “Y” card: that chromosome, he has it. Yes it’s sexist. Deal with it. He was my pick in the primary election too ;)
Place 5, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
David Puryear - REP – keep Justice Puryear on the job for six muryear. Bad pun intended.
Karen L. Watkins - DEM
Place 6, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Bob Pemberton - REP – Keep Justice Pemberton on the court also!
Bryan Case - DEM
Sheriff
Raymond Frank - REP –seems like a solid candidate, if rather VERY old for taking on a new job
Greg Hamilton - DEM – I will be voting for Greg Hamilton AGAIN. Yes, a Democrat, yes again. He is in the office and seems to be doing a decent job, plus he has big ideas for the next four years.
Jaclyn L. Finkel – LIB – wow another Libertarian without so much as a website. Way to get on the ballot, guys!
County Tax Assessor-Collector
Vik Vad - REP – I like all his talk about making this slice of the government more efficient. Let’s let him try.
Bruce Elfant - DEM – If Vad were not running, I could vote for him with reservations. Let’s be honest, it says something about your personality if you physically resemble a pig.
Mike Burris – LIB – a Libertarian with a website! Oh wait, that’s the website for his 2010 run for Treasurer. No, back to ‘another Libertarian without a campaign website’
Precinct 2, Constable
Toby J. Miller - REP – I would have been happy with either of the Republican candidates and will happily vote for Miller this November.
Adan Ballesteros - DEM – Almost anyone would be a better candidate than this guy.
Raul “Roy” Camacho – LIB – If there were no Republican in this race I would be all about voting for Camacho, but there IS a Republican in this race. Here’s hoping Camacho doesn’t turn out to be a spoiler and give us Ballesteros again!
The Democrats have done quite a job of being the only ones running for various judgeships. This sucks, but where were YOU when the primary season came and went?
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_Other_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
For Austin Community College, Austin I.S.D., Round Rock I.S.D., Travis County M.U.D. No. 18, North Austin M.U.D. No. 1, Wells Branch M.U.D., Lakeside M.U.D. No. 3, Williamson-Travis Counties M.U.D. No. 1, Southeast Travis County M.U.D. No. 1 & No. 2, Tanglewood Forest Limited District, Travis County WCID- Point Venture, Westbank Community Library District, Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Remember as you read these proposed proposals, $1.50 per $100 of assessed property value is about $250 a year out of your pocket for EACH measure. Do you really have that to spare? If you can think of another way to accomplish the purpose for which they propose the tax, vote AGAINST it and let them try again the more-efficient way next year.
SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1, CONFIRMATION ELECTION, SYSTEM FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, MAINTENANCE TAX ELECTION, PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, ROAD BOND ELECTION AND PERMANENT DIRECTORS ELECTION
This election is to decide whether the voters of Precinct 402 would like to have TWO new taxing bodies to take their money, and then they will all be voting themselves $31,106,650 worth of community indebtedness as well as an annual NEW tax of about $500/year for each family. Level-headed individuals will vote AGAINST all these proposals. They will probably all pass with a handy majority.
SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 2 CONFIRMATION ELECTION, SYSTEM FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, MAINTENANCE TAX ELECTION, PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BOND ELECTION, ROAD BOND ELECTION AND A PERMANENT DIRECTORS
ELECTION
This election is to decide whether the voters of Precinct 401 would like to have TWO new taxing bodies to take their money, and then they will all be voting themselves $46,522,233 worth of community indebtedness as well as an annual NEW tax of about $500/year for each family. You may guess my opinion on this subject.
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/sample_ballots/2012.11.06_G12_Cities_Bedsheet.pdf
Travis County Clerk Elections Division
November 6, 2012 Joint General and Special Elections
For Central Health, Cities of Austin, Lakeway, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Pflugerville, Village of Point Venture, Village of Spicewood Canyon
CENTRAL HEALTH TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION
All precincts
PROP. 1, CENTRAL HEALTH
Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.129 per $100 valuation in Central Health, also known as the Travis County Healthcare District, for the 2013 tax year, a rate that exceeds the district’s rollback tax rate. The
proposed ad valorem tax rate exceeds the ad valorem tax rate most recently adopted by the district by $0.05 per $100 valuation; funds will be used for improved healthcare in Travis County, including support for a new medical school consistent with the mission of Central Health, a site for a new teaching hospital, trauma
services, specialty medicine such as cancer care, community-wide health clinics, training for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, primary care, behavioral and mental healthcare, prevention and
wellness programs, and/or to obtain federal matching funds for healthcare services.
Please vote AGAINST Proposition 1. The University has a billion dollars in the bank. If they want a few hundred million dollars to build a hospital, let them write a check! This will be, to put it bluntly, a combination of a hospital to serve homeless people and illegal aliens, and a research facility that the University could pay for out of pocket. The SECOND largest hospital group in the city has come out against this. Guess which hospital group benefits from it? Hint: it rhymes with “diggest”
PROP. 3, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from 10 geographical
single-member districts, with the mayor to be elected from the city at large, and to provide for an independent citizens redistricting commission?
Vote YES on Proposition 3 if you like the idea of representative government. If you like the bicycle lobby and the rich folks in Terrytown to continue to run your city into the ground, then vote No.
PROP. 4, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from eight geographical single-member districts, with the mayor and two additional council members to be elected from the city at large?
Vote NO on Proposition 4. This is a head-fake by the people currently running the city to distract you from the better proposal in Proposition 3.
PROP. 10, CITY OF AUSTIN
Shall the city charter be amended to provide a civil service system for most city employees who are not already covered by a state civil service statute?
PROP. 11, CITY OF AUSTIN
Adoption of the emergency medical services personnel civil service law.
Vote AGAINST Propositions 10 and 11. Civil service laws = government employee unions. If you think your city services suck now, just wait. You haven’t SEEN inefficiency and poor treatment of the Citizen until you’ve seen the government employee figure out they can’t be fired thanks to a fat union deal on their behalf.
The next section (Propositions 12 through 18) is nearly guaranteed to all pass, because bond measures in Austin ALWAYS pass. This is a series of elections for Austinites to add $385 MILLION to their community indebtedness. Most of it SHOULD fail, and the City should be made to do what it can with LESS money, not more. Buuuut that’s not who Austinites are, so:
LOL it’s all monopoly money anyway and it doesn’t come out of MY paycheck! APPROVE ALL THE BONDS!!!!!
CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE GENERAL ELECTION
COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 3, CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE
Vote for one
Omar Peña - I almost didn't take the time to read the other candidates' websites to see what they had to say. This guy, and this guy by a mile!
Monday, November 5, 2012
TOMORROW You Will Learn of the "Redskins Rule"
Today the only people happy to report on the so-called "Redskins rule" were right-wing talk show hosts. 17 of 18 times the Redskins lose, the opposition candidate wins the Presidential election. Well, now that the NFL says they should have won, you will hear lots of interested speculation throughout the next few days as to how valid the rule should be considered to be.
What you will still not hear is, every time the election is held on November 6th, the Republican wins.
What you will still not hear is, every time the election is held on November 6th, the Republican wins.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
New Jersey Won Handily By President Obama
Citizens of New Jersey displaced by the recent storm will be allowed to vote by e-mail. What's the worst that could happen? At least they are pretenting to try to do it right, treating it like a rapid-turnaround ballot-by-mail type deal. I guess this is the only alternative for those who, like NJ, have exploding-head syndrome when they hear the alternative in some places is to go cast your vote inside a repurposed MILITARY truck.
Friday, November 2, 2012
ERMAHGERD! PRLEESE!
Today on the way home from work, I heard a siren. I looked around and couldn't see the origin. I heard a BIG horn honk with the siren and was expecting to see an ambulance or fire truck. Couldn't see it. Louder and louder, still couldn't see it. The car behind me moved to the right and finally I barely-saw in my mirrors a policeman on a motorcycle, blindingly coming out of the setting sun (as we drove East). I made a typical Austinite's get-in-where-you-fit-in merge and the cop went up to the next car. A couple cars more moved over, and then he got stuck.
This car had a police motorcycle on its 7:00 for maybe half a mile, with lights and sirens going. There is NO way the driver didn't see the flashing lights. Finally a couple of neurons connected somewhere and the cop saw the driver looking at him. The policeman waved VERY big "move over" waves with one arm and the driver thought about it for a moment, finally yielding HALF a lane. Close enough for a motorcycle though, and the cop was off like a rocket to the next car, who let him go by and on it went.
I pulled up behind this car that had failed to yield for entirely too long and I kid you not - the plate said 9DRRK. Drrk drrk drrk drrk (with hand banging chest) To top it off, it was a handicapped plate, and the headliner was drooping in the back window. For the win. Turned out to be an old man driver. Well, at least he did eventually move over, but he cost me a humm-dinger of a woman driver joke.
This car had a police motorcycle on its 7:00 for maybe half a mile, with lights and sirens going. There is NO way the driver didn't see the flashing lights. Finally a couple of neurons connected somewhere and the cop saw the driver looking at him. The policeman waved VERY big "move over" waves with one arm and the driver thought about it for a moment, finally yielding HALF a lane. Close enough for a motorcycle though, and the cop was off like a rocket to the next car, who let him go by and on it went.
I pulled up behind this car that had failed to yield for entirely too long and I kid you not - the plate said 9DRRK. Drrk drrk drrk drrk (with hand banging chest) To top it off, it was a handicapped plate, and the headliner was drooping in the back window. For the win. Turned out to be an old man driver. Well, at least he did eventually move over, but he cost me a humm-dinger of a woman driver joke.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Just Maybe, I Was Wrong?
I have called this election a landslide for Romney, with low turnout. Apparently not everyone is as unhappy about Romney being the candidate as am I. I may have been wrong.
I'm still calling a win for Romney, don't get me wrong but I've been hearing these reports - and then today happened. I kept hearing people all over the USA say it was crowded when they went to vote early. Today I went to swing by the nearest early voting location after work (yes, I have a voter's guide, no I haven't posted it yet, yes I am waiting for Christmas). There were cars literally around the block at the polling place. The line to vote was back-and-forth across a 30 foot room several times and out the door. This was the same as I saw on Election Day, 2010. Mission downgraded to: get a sample ballot to make sure I knew all the votes I was going to cast. Cruise into the parking lot. 20 seconds later, cruise out of parking lot. Parking lot full.
For EARLY voting.
I now think this may election may have quite a high turnout rate.
I'm still calling a win for Romney, don't get me wrong but I've been hearing these reports - and then today happened. I kept hearing people all over the USA say it was crowded when they went to vote early. Today I went to swing by the nearest early voting location after work (yes, I have a voter's guide, no I haven't posted it yet, yes I am waiting for Christmas). There were cars literally around the block at the polling place. The line to vote was back-and-forth across a 30 foot room several times and out the door. This was the same as I saw on Election Day, 2010. Mission downgraded to: get a sample ballot to make sure I knew all the votes I was going to cast. Cruise into the parking lot. 20 seconds later, cruise out of parking lot. Parking lot full.
For EARLY voting.
I now think this may election may have quite a high turnout rate.