Z.Monkey’s Blog

I really wish I read a local newspaper because maybe then I’d know we’d be voting on constitutional amendments. Thanks DPL! The first amendment is one to stop private companies from using imminent domain to take people property. The second is not so clear to me. Anyone? Old Guy?

Update: Here is an article in the Union Leader about this. It looks like Old Guy was a little off, this amendments would allow for floterial districts, i.e. districts that span across town lines. Thus representatives represent a body of people and not a town or part of a town (which could be defined as bodies of people). I think this would just force the NH supreme court, when it is forced to redraw the district lines next the legislative cannot do its job, they have to use floterial districts.  Am I off? I also am amused the argument against this amendment, “It’s too long and too difficult to read, so people wont vote for it.”  Wow.  No argument against its merit, just against its verbiage.

Pretty much nothing. I’m wide awake but brain fried. I think it may have something to do with working 10 hours yesterday and getting less than 7 hours of sleep last night. The changing of the clocks is messing with me a bit more than usual. Is it screwing with anyone else?

Okay, I did pick my team for fantasy congress, so I guess I did something.  It looks like only two others have signed up and that none of them have actually picked there teams (why tizzom? why?).  I’m thinking that I’ll activate the league after the middle-term election… I’ll have to revamp my team depending on gets elected and who controls the house and senate.  If there is democratic majority in both then the big players will probably be dems.  Hmm.

I can’t really improve on the title… anyway check out the pictures over at the nonist.  Don’t worry it’s work friendly.  I do like monumental architecture and I think libraries are the perfect building to put use it in because they tend to have and need large rooms, and those large rooms tend to be open to the public.  Check out the Library of Congress photos we took on our trip down to D.C. (Note: that these are prime examples of why I should not be asked to take pictures… focus!)

 

I’m in the middle of reading through an article entitled, “How to steal an election by hacking the vote“. It’s pretty long but its purpose is to explain to everyday people how simple it is to mess with the electronic voting systems that are in place today and why it is important to have a paper trail. It’s a good read so far and I would recommend checking it out. Update: It looks like Quebec may throw out the electronic voting systems because they are not cheaper than manual systems and not as accurate or reliable.

You may be wondering why I haven’t commented about the big news more. Well, part of it has to do with being used to keeping it a secret and part of it is that I don’t know what to say. I’m excited and worried; happy and a little sad; e&c. I think that this will be a great thing but I’m sad that it will make everything change (expect for my job situation but I did just sign my PDQ so maybe I’ll actually get that raise I was told I’d get 3 or 4 months ago). Also, I think that I have become more interested in politics lately because I think I need to be now. I need to make sure that other people don’t fuck everything up for our kid… though maybe it is already too late.

Okay, so the election is coming up shortly (when is that? November 7th!) and it looks like there are more ballot issues in NH. This time its the absentee ballots, so if you are from Dover, Lebanon, Nashua, Gilford, Newington, Fremont or Canterbury make sure you get an updated ballot. Also, while you are thinking about who you should vote for, check out how much the War on Terror in Iraq is costing us.

I know I can’t pay this, I have a little one on the way.

Note: There is a debate Tuesday 24th of October at 7pm (i.e. Tomorrow) between Jeb and Carol. If you live in NH-01 it might be good to check it out.

Update: There was actually a poll taken in NH! This is the first one I’ve seen. The margin of error is 5%, which makes both races neck-and-neck.

1st CD

Bradley (R) 49
Shea-Porter (D) 37

2nd CD

Bass (R) 39
Hodes (D) 48

I’ve never played Fantasy Football or Hockey or anything but this could be interesting.

Anyone interested in playing?

Now I could not help but laugh at this comment (though I’m not entirely sure how true it is because I’m sure most people haven’t even heard of Shea-Porter):

“We are building a network on the ground in every part of the District,” said Shea-Porter after the event. “Unlike Jeb, we have real people — not just big signs.”

God I am sick of those big signs everywhere.

An Olbermann bit on Habeas Corpus.  Check it out.

So, someone put together a site that shows you how much you make in relation to everyone else in the world.  Now if only someone would put together one where your income is compared with your cost of and standard of living, and then ranked.  I wonder how one could do that…

Is you senator or state representative pandering to corrupt lobbyists? Here is a list of the NH State Senators and Representatives that have signed the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge. What about repealling Bush’s unfair tax cuts?

The Pledge reads:

I, ____________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _____ district of the State of _________ and to all the people of this state, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes. __________________________ Signed __________________________ Date __________________________ Witness __________________________ Witness

Surprise! It’s expensive to live in NH! From the Concord Monitor.

– We have the seventh highest rents in the nation, with a monthly median of $854.

– In 2000, median rent was $726 per month.

– There are 360,000 owner-occupied homes in New Hampshire. Their median value is $240,000. In 2000, it was $144,000.