Citizenship: Update Your Ohio Voter Address Online!

If you're anything like me, you've slowly gotten used to the idea that you can do almost anything online.  Post office lets you forward or hold your mail online.  You can renew your car's registration online.  File taxes.  Pay bills.  Change addresses, update phone numbers, and other contact info for almost everything.

Also, if you're anything like me, you've moved in the last 4 years and realized, "Dammit, I need to go to the library/school/post office/whatever, get a form, and mail in my change of address so I can vote."  And you've gotten grumpy, because the Secretary of State office is so far behind the times.

Well be grumpy no more.  Now you can update the address on your voting record with a simple online form!

Here's what you do:

• Go to the Secretary of State's webpage, and select the "Elections and Voting."
• Direct link
• There's a lot of cool stuff on this page about elections, so I'd bookmark it.  For our purposes, find "Voters" in the top left corner of the collage and click it.
• Again, a LOT of good stuff here.  You can find the ID requirements, an FAQ, early and absentee voting info...browse it all at your leisure.
• For now, click "Change MY Address Online"
• A new tab/page will open
• You've got 2 options
• Update online (in Green)
• Update manually (in Red)
• Do you see what they did there?
• Once you click "Click Here to Continue" you'll be prompted to enter some information, so they can make an accurate match to your voting record
• Driver's license number
• Your last name, as it appeared when you registered to vote/changed your registration
• Date of birth
• Last 4 of your Social Security number
• From there, you'll see what they have listed as your current address, and the fields to fill in to change it
• Editor's note: Phone number and e-mail address are optional, and I left mine blank. I get enough harassment from candidates and activists as it is.
• The next page will show you the finished product
• make sure it looks right and either 
• go back and fix it or 
• confirm it
• Once you submit the change, you'll have the usual page dedicated to you affirming your eligibility to vote
• You'll see a message at the end telling you the change has been forwarded to the proper authorities for processing.  My guess is once it's official, you'll receive one of those little post cards
• When/if I get mine I'll update this portion ;-)

This is just for Ohio, mind you.  I know there are states out there without any online system in place, so make absolutely sure it's a real application you're using before punching in a bunch of personal info--scammers love to cash in on our need for convenience.

*** UPDATE 9/17/12 ***

Yes, the Board of Election sent in a confirmation card like usual.  Tho ironically, this doesn't qualify as proof you live at that address...

International Angle: Another Black Mark on Religious Rule

This story just baffles me.

I wasn't raised to believe there's one right way to think--about anything.  I also wasn't raised to believe it's my job to punish people on any god's behalf.  I also wasn't raised to believe that someone from another faith has to play by my rules.

This whole thing just feels...wrong.

It also highlights my whole problem with basing a legal code on religious teachings. Any religious teachings.  I don't care if you're Baptist, Buddhist, Mormon, or Muslim--you keep your faith in your temples and out of my courts.

I don't care about your religion, in the most positive way possible.  You do what feeds your spirit, and I won't get in your way.  All I want is the same courtesy--which means I draw the line at legislating faith into my secular code of laws.

It's 2012, ladies and gentlemen.  It's time we got over the idea of a scary creature in the sky ready to punish us for misbehaving.

Local Corner: State Plane Usage

As much as I'd love to rag on GOP officials abusing privileges of office...these two cases highlighted here don't strike me as abuse.

Especially in the case of House Speaker Batchelder--dude used state resources to get back to his state job, and paid for it to boot.  I really don't see an issue with that.

That being said, I'm not exactly impressed by the Lieutenant Governor using state resources to save herself an hour and a half car ride to Sidney, presumably to enable her to take advantage of cheaper airfare/better flight time into Canton/Akron.  So she could take personal time.  And only pay a fraction of the total cost to fly her around to this and other trips.

I would definitely say some guidelines need to be laid down on what constitutes "appropriate" use of state resources--if it's genuinely the best way to get state officials around, great.  But if we're strictly enabling lazy habits or personal convenience, you can take that tax money and pay my tuition this semester instead, ok?

The party of small government--except when a bigger government can pay for easy air travel.

National View: Arizona "Papers" Clause Upheld

The Supreme Court had already ruled this into effect, and directed that the "Show me your papers" provision cannot be challenged again until it goes into effect.  But Federal judge Susan Bolton reiterated this fact, while providing a preliminary injunction against <>(BBC, 9/6/12 1245PM).

This one's been done to death.  I still want to know what constitutes "reasonable cause" to check immigration status--speaking Spanish, brown skin, working 3rd shift?  Mostly I feel for the cops who are supposed to double as immigration authorities.

All I know is the Arizona law is proof that nature abhors a vacuum--Federal authorities have been silent on the immigration problem for too long.  I also know this law won't solve a damn thing; the problem is bigger than any single piece of legislation (no matter how many states adopt it) can resolve.

But we're Americans.  It's become very hard for us to look at large problems, view them objectively, and break them into smaller pieces.  Instant gratification has destroyed our abilities to problem solve, and until we re-learn that skill we'll continue to be plagued by massive problems--and worse, the slap-dash bandaid-style fixes for them.

International Angle: Save the Children Staff Kicked Out of Pakistan

Pakistan has ordered foreign staff for the charity group Save the Children out within two weeks.  According to the BBC (which has the story) the Pakistani government hasn't given a reason, but there's plenty of reason to believe they think there's CIA links with the organization.

This story caught my eye because it's an exercise in perspective.  While most of us in the West read this and go, "That's insane!  It's a charity!" that would logically be a perfect place for a CIA informant to be recruited.  Think of all those Islamic charities we shut down in the wake of 9/11.  I'm willing to be a large percentage of the Muslim world was going, "That's insane!  They're charities!"

What I also find interesting is this order effects only 6 people out of 2000.  Either they have some very good, targeted information or it's an irrational, reactionary move.  Either way, it shouldn't bother operations very much for the group.

Local Corner: Husted Called to Account

Jon Husted, the Ohio Secretary of State, has been called to appear in Federal court about his decision to restrict voting access, despite the preliminary injunction by Judge Economus.  Essentially, the Judge thinks Husted's decision to forbid voting hours on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before the November election is contrary to Economus's ruling that voting be allowed those days.  Dispatch has the story.

I'd be baffled about this crusade against extended voting hours if I were less cynical.  Who benefits from extended voting?  Anyone who can't get time off work at some point Tuesday to vote (generally not Republicans).  Anyone relying on volunteer transportation more readily available on the weekend (again, generally not Republicans).

Limiting voting hours is the same as bizarre ID requirements is the same as a poll tax is the same as a literacy test: a gimmick employed by those who want to control who is allowed to vote.

This is one of those situations where I feel the need to loudly express, "That guy was hired over my strenuous objections."

National View: Turn-about is Fair Play

NPR pointed out the faulty-facts at the RNC, and has done the same for the DNC.  Just in case anyone needed a reminder that all politicians lie and cherry pick their truths.

Also, I think this is a good illustration of just how biased towards the left NPR is (not as much as the GOP wants us to think)--I was astounded when a FOX commentator points out Paul Ryan lies, but I'm hardly surprised this story was on the front page of the NPR website.

I also really liked these 5 Takeaways.  I didn't watch any of the convention, just like I didn't watch any of the Republican convention, but what's trickling in through the media and social outlets just FEELS better to me.  Less angry.  Less threatening.  Less smug.

Whatever.  It's not secre I identify with the Democrats far more than the Republicans ;-)

International Angle: South China Sea

So as happens from time to time, China decides they own parts of the world other countries also claim to own.  If ever there's going to be a major conflict between sovereign nations in the near future, this is what it'll be over--islands, fisheries, and mineral resources in the South China Sea.

Currently, the Chinese government is a little pissed off that the US has been advocating a local, multi-lateral solution to the disputes through Asean, the Association of South East Asian Nations.  According to the BBC, state-run media in China is accusing the US of "attempting to sow discord in order to fish for advantage."

Mrs. Clinton's actual statement? <>(BBC, 1101 9/5/12)

Yep, them's fighting words alright.  Our apologies for not urging everyone to surrender their sovereign rights to the desires of the Chinese government, of course.  Perhaps America is historically qualified to judge thinly-veiled imperialistic endeavors, just maybe?

Local Corner: Flat Rate Library Fines?

Evidently, the board of the Columbus Metropolitan Library is considering a flat-rate fine for overdue items, instead of the current system of daily fines.  Story from the Dispatch.

Highlights of the proposed changes:

• Fine levied only after a 14 day grace period
• Renewals doubled--10 renewals instead of 5 (if no one has the item reserved)*
• New system being considered to automatically renew items
• Card access blocked after an item is 2 weeks late, instead of $10 in fines

The goal of the change would be to reduce the number of people who hit the $10 in fines currently necessary to block card use.  Between the grace period, the threat of heavier fines, and the increase in renewal opportunities the plan is to make it so fewer users have late items.  Objections seem to be based on the fact that $5 for a 1-day-late item would be excessively punitive.

To that I say it's NOT 1 day late--it's 15 days late by the time they issue a fine.  Your due date, plus 14 days of grace.  That's TWO EXTRA WEEKS for you to remember to put the video, or book, or CD in your car and drop it on the way to work.

This is the problem with grace periods in this society--we take them for granted.  We assume it's just extra time we can take, making a mockery of the original due date (which is, by the way, is the date the library does business based on).

And I know you kids have been waiting on a reserved item, going, "Why the hell isn't this in yet??"

It's because someone's going, "Eh, I'll just pay the fine and return this whenever."

*** Update 12:34 AM 9/6/12 ***

Something I failed to point out from the Dispatch's article: These are proposals the board hasn't yet voted on as of now.  The changes already voted on and approved simply lowered the daily fines and increased the number of times one can renew an item, with NO flat rate.

Last week, the library board voted on so-called "Phase One" of the plan, which lowers fines on adult accounts to 20 cents a day, and juvenile accounts to 10 cents a day.  Phase one also includes the total fine per item reduction (from $15 to $5 for adults or $1 for kids), and the increase in renewal instances (from 5 to 10).  According to the Dispatch, these changes roll out October 1st.

*Initially, I listed this as one of the proposed changes--this is actually a change voted on in "Phase One" set to roll out at the beginning of next month.

National View: Better Off than 4 Years Ago?

Flipping through NPR's homepage, I saw an interesting little link: Are You Better Off Than Four Years Ago?

My answer to that is fortunately a resounding "Yes."  That has precious little to do with Obama, however--I've taken plenty of steps in my own life to better my position.

I've changed jobs, changed industries, mated my work ethic to fortunate circumstances, gotten back to school.

One can make a healthy argument in either direction whether or not Obama has any direct effect on my improved fortune.  Personally, I don't think it's as cut and dried as that--it's shades of gray, partial truths, incomplete data.

I tend to think anyone would have bailed out the insurance, auto, and banking industries had they been in the hot seat (Looking at you here, Ryan).  I don't care about your stance on public debt; if you're faced with the certain downsizing of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of jobs, you're sending the cash.  No President will knowingly hurt the economy, period.  No President will go out on a limb if there's a chance the next Depression can be blamed on him.

What's that got to do with me?  The overall health of the economy is crucial to the well-being of my industry, my company, my job.  If the consumer isn't spending on luxuries, I don't have a job.  If staving off total disaster was the only thing Obama accomplished this term, I'm grateful for that.

Fun Fact: when I answered the question (morning of 9/4/12) there had been 649 clicks--390 saying "Yes," 165 "No," and 94 "The same."  Totally not scientific, and I wonder what effect the target audience (NPR listeners with internet access and free time) has on the results...

International Angle: South Africans Decide NOT to Use Apartheid-era Law Afterall

So let's say you're out on strike.  While you're out on the picket line, a group of your union brothers and sisters gets a lil rowdy, and starts throwing rocks at the cops.  The cops open fire with lethal force (as they do) and kill a bunch of the picket line.  Turn the page.

You're charged with the murder of those other picketers.  The ones the cops shot.  Because the picketers were throwing rocks.  While you were chanting slogans.

No folks, that's not a plot hole.  That's just the gut reaction of the South African government when police opened fire on a group of miners refusing to go back to work.  Interestingly enough, the law forming the basis for this decision was designed by the apartheid-era government in order to keep the black population down.

Consistency.  It's a myth.

But apparently prosecutors figured out this isn't the wisest move, and "provisionally dropped charges."

Local Corner: High School Student Incites Panic?

This is a cute one, and speaks directly to the balance between prevention and paranoia.

In a nutshell, a Gahanna high school student is arrested because he made a few tweets and posted two videos.  I watched the video--it's still up, as there's no particular reason for it not to be--and I can definitely see how it might concern people.

Especially suburban parents.  Especially in an era where we're no longer shocked when someone DOES decide to commit an act of violence at a school.  So I do not blame parents or students from getting creeped out, and contacting the cops.

What does trouble me is the fact that the sum of all these parts is supposed to make a felony.  This troubles me on several levels:

• This video is more mild than the average Baptist sermon.  "I just wanted to let you all know how you live your lives is dangerous and wrong and you have grown weak-minded and pathetic." Really?  This is inciting panic?  
• I've said the same thing to employees, though in less-blunt terms.  
• There are entire think-tanks full of people paid comfortable salaries to publish papers to this same effect.  
• Is it a threat because the production value is low?  If it was polished it'd be edgy?
• "Next time we meet I will have something more interesting to show you all." I don't read this as dramatic foreshadowing--as in, "next time I'll have pictures of a blown-up school."  I read this as, "Hey keep watching for my next video cuz I know this one kinda sucks but I'll get better!"
• Do you remember being 16?  Do you remember having it all figured out, knowing it all, and helplessly watching people fuck up their lives every day?  It was frustrating, wasn't it?  You just wanted to scream from the rooftops how stupid they all were, didn't you?  Well, at least I did.
• Since when is "I'm not going to hurt anyone" taken as a threat?  Have we completely lost the ability as a society to even consider something at face value?

Like I said, I get why the cops were called.  Especially because of tweets that were sent to specific people.  It's unnerving, and it was quite correctly checked out by authorities.

My problem is with authorities finding nothing more serious than some self-righteous kid with a Youtube account trying to play at being a big bad political activist, and charging him with a felony.  Just what we need, more suburban kids who will never find meaningful employment.

But maybe there's more to this.  No word on what was found when the home was searched, and the school isn't talking about the kid himself.  But from what I'm seeing, this is just a poorly thought out statement by a kid who simply didn't think out the possible repercussions.

Clint Eastwood

So if you haven't seen it yet, ABC News has the full 11-odd minutes of Clint Eastwood rambling here.

What do I think about this?  I can sum it up in a few short bullet points.

• This is funny
• Clint is an old man
• He's saying a lot of things that neither Mitt nor Ryan can say
• It's supposedly unscripted (I'll buy that) so we can't blame the RNC for it
• Clint is 82 damn years old
• How many 82 year old men do you know don't ramble?
• It has nothing to do with anything
• Except maybe pulling attention away from the issues at hand.

While we're all pointing and laughing at a batty old man being obscene and hawking old catch phrases, Mitt isn't answering any questions. Ryan is also not having to account for the gross inaccuracies in HIS speech.  We're all too busy talking about Clint Eastwood, who means exactly "fuck-all" to the future of this country's government.

I'm getting just cynical enough to believe this WAS some stunt Clint was put up to (or came up with himself, the man IS a smart dude) to muddy the waters.  Not that the average American voter tries too hard to see through the murk--that's not the point.

The point is, if someone IS to say, "Wait a minute, why exactly did Ryan make all that crap up?" and start looking into the facts there had better be plenty of distractions and obstacles in the way.  And Clint Eastwood being loony-tunes is a WONDERFUL distraction.

That's really all I have to say about Clint and his chair.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack

So.  It's been...quite some time now.  I've quite honestly not had a lot to say, and not a lot of time to say it in.

But maybe, just maybe, it's time to try again.  Because things are...troubling.  Too many people screaming, not enough people thinking.  Thinking's my strong suit--I probably do too much of that.

So I should share some of these thoughts, release-valve style.  Because when one keeps thoughts bottled up too long, they tend to take on a life of their own.

And that's how we end up with random acts of violence.

So sit back, and join the non-existent crowds already enjoying these random acts of ranting (which, I think we can all agree, are far better than violence).