Just when I think I have a good idea of whom I should vote for in the 2008 US Presidential election, I watch a debate and hear some uncomforting positions. So, I am going to set clear what issues are important to me, and where I stand on them, then hope someone (anyone?) can point me to the best fit.
Okay, in order of most important to least important (naturally issues lacking any importance to me whatsoever are left off).
1. I believe that the NATIONAL government should keep it's hands off of corporate regulation (e.g. interfering with market 'crisis' such as mortgage foreclosures, raising minimum wage, interfering with international trade, etc.)
2. I believe that the US is not China and thereby should not build a great wall across the US / Mexico border. I believe that the problem is not a lack of border protection; the problem is the lack of an efficient legal process leading to citizenship.
3. I believe that military force in Iraq (and the middle east in general) is senseless, whether we are blowing up bridges or training locals to fight other locals. However every penny currently spent on military force in the middle east would be worth its weight in gold if it were diverted to sending intellectual / brainpower to the region of the world.
4. I believe that the government should dedicate relatively enormous resources to increasing the quality / effectiveness of education.
5. I believe it is wrong for the government to do *anything* secretly (e.g. wire-tapping) for *any* purpose.
6. I believe that government spending should be accountable to the same Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that every legitimate company in the US is held to.
I ran a "choose your candidate" calculator at votehelp.org and was pointed towards 1. Ron Paul, 2. Barack Obama, and 3. Hillary Clinton, followed by the Republicans...
Tonight on Conan O'Brien the musical guest knocked me off my feet.
Jake Shimabukuro, whom in the last few hours I have come to learn, has turned the ukulele into his slave.
If you have any interest in some fantastic acoustic music, he's well worth a download. I recommend starting with 'Going to California,' or 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.'
My Saga of Commenting on ASU President Michael Crow's and ASU UTO Adrian Sannier's Blogs
and My Efforts to Find Out Why My Comments Were Held Up for Over a Week
First let me start off by explaining my assumptions. If I am way off base here, please tell me now so that I can stop my boiling anger and look in the mirror.
- Blogs are not another medium to distribute press releases
- Blogs are meant to bring about discussion
- Any message / information a blog is able to distribute is a very handy byproduct of writing a blog
With those assumptions, as well as my ever critical attitude towards bloated bureaucracy, especially at Arizona State University, I recently commented on ASU President Michael Crow's blog (ASU President Michael Crow's Blog) as well as Arizona State University Technology Officer Adrian Sannier's blog (ASU UTO Adrian Sannier's Blog).
The Bureaucratic Commenting Process
President Crow's blog is easy to comment on... same system as 95% of blogs, leave your name, e-mail address, optional URL, and your comment.
ASU University Technology Officer Adrian Sannier's blog is not so easy to comment on. The blog's audience as near as I can tell is anyone... He posts a lot about tech stuff related to Arizona State University, but also manages to squeeze in Marvin Gaye songs, and mentions of Refresh Phoenix. Yet when it comes to attempting to comment you are first required to register. This process in itself is bureaucratic.
- Right off the bat you are told "Attention ASU Users:Enter your ASURITE UserID as your Username." What if I am not an ASU user, can I still register? What if I am an ASU user, but do not want to use my ASURITE UserID? Why do you want me to use this as my username?? What if I realize that your blog system is in no way connected to the ASURITE UserID system and decide to deviously register with someone else's ASURITE UserID?
- Then, before you can comment, you have to wait for your confirmation e-mail which can take a few minutes (much longer than I typically would wait to comment on a blog)
- Then even after you have registered (after figuring out if you want to play by the strange rules), verified your e-mail address, navigated BACK to the post to comment, submit your comment...
ALL COMMENTS ARE HELD FOR MODERATION
With both blogs, even if you have already commented on the blogs before, all comments are held for moderation. When I made my comments on the afternoon of April 27th I really didn't think much of this issue. Then when I checked both of the blogs the evening of the 28th I was a little frustrated to see that they had not been posted yet. Then by the afternoon of April 30, 3 full days later, when they still hadn't been posted, I was outright angry. I responded with vigor.
Read the e-mail I sent to ASU President Michael Crow and UTO Adrian Sannier after the jump...
Continue reading "Blogs Are Not Press Releases" »
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