onomatopoopa

So much for faith in the democratic process. Our voting day sucked.

Our polling station is literally next door -- fifteen feet from our front door. I went in to vote at 7am, as soon as the polls opened. I passed through a small crowd pushing literature at me on my way into the polling station (which is illegal), and once inside was greeted by the sound of the polling judge loudly proclaiming misinformation about the voting process (who refused to listen when I pointed out the inaccuracy).

There is a political watchdog organization in Philly called the Committee of Seventy. I called to report the voting problems, and they confirmed that what I'd experienced were violations of voting law and said they'd send someone over to the polling station.

When we got home, Katie went over to vote. That's when the real crap began. When she experienced the same problems with campaigning I did -- thanks to supporters of Kenyatta Johnson (see photo) -- she asked them why they weren't 10 feet from the polling station, as they are required to be. They laughed at her. She went inside to the table of the polling judge to ask about the problem, and one of the people who had been mocking her outside came in and sat down at the table. At this point it shouldn't surprise you that he proceeded to loudly ridicule her, as did the other poll workers. He said, "Does it even matter?" She said, "Yes, because it's the law." He laughed. When they had reduced her to tears, she left, unable to vote, literally to the jeers of the poll judge, campaigners, and accumulated loitering neighbors.

For simplicity in the narrative, I left out the details regarding poll workers opening the ballot booths while people were voting, the polling official refusing to allow the girl ahead of Katie to vote, the Obama campaigner roaming around in Obama apparel with literature INSIDE the voting station, and the patronizing apathy of the police who came to take the report.

Screw you, Kenyatta Johnson, Barack Obama, Philadelphia police, and United House of Prayer for All People.

Our new house! (Video to follow, sometime after we move in next Saturday.)

Several weeks ago, Bart and I were really excited because a three-day weekend had finally come. We planned all week for the tremendously good sleep we were going to get three nights in a row. Unfortunately, some idiot in Philadelphia decided to ruin our plans when he/she installed a car alarm in their ugly Acura. After two nights of hearing this alarm go off for about an hour at a time every two hours or so, I decided to take the matter upon myself. I was going to write a polite note to the person to let them know how much their car sucked and how much they themselves also sucked and how much their alarm sucked. However, much to my dismay (actually, to my pleasure) we saw this car sitting about five houses away...

Pennsylvania is one of the last states -- and the last large swing state -- to hold it's presidential primary elections (Apr 22 this year). Normally that means that the decision has already been made, so PA voters have little influence on who the presidential nominee is. This year the Republican race is already decided (pretty much), but the democrats are running neck and neck -- so PA may very well decide who wins the nomination. You can't vote in primary in PA unless you are a registered voter in that party. So, as this blog title hints, Katie and I changed our registration to the Democratic party so that we can cast the deciding votes. Go Hillary Obama. (We have firm plans to change our registration back to independent on April 23, however.)

The bit about the bathroom? It ACTUALLY HAPPENED.