Making A Difference

Ever so often, I check out what the buzz is all about at Buzzflash.com. Today, however, instead of feeling gloom and doom, I read a glimmer of hope.

If, in your community's quest of positive development, you have never heard of Curitiba in Brazil, then you really should check them out. Although my community is small and rural, we are still primarily hindered by many who spend so much time and effort to deny change.

With two major highways that bisect our community, we have easily become disconnected with each other and with the center of our small community. Our downtown sees more truck traffic than shoppers stopping to do business. The downtown truck traffic is just as much of an eye sore as the once beautiful old 19th century buildings that continue to decline and rot, regardless of their occupancy.

It seems almost unimaginable to transform a town center in a week, let alone a weekend. But Curitiba did it. And they aren't a rich community by any means.

Reading this excerpt inspired me knowing that although the local elections are over, it doesn't mean that we as caring, concerned citizens stop acting to help our communities. In fact, now is the time to start kicking our concern into overdrive and make change a good thing.

Voting Just Isn't As Fun As It Used To Be

Today, as an active and conscientious citizen, I voted. But, it just wasn't like it used to be. No fanfare of pulling the drapes shut. No kachunk of the vote when the lever's pressed down. No grand exit when the curtain is drawn. No intrigue. No mystery.

This is the second election our county has changed from the old, tried and true lever voting booths to the "new" optiscam (er, optiscan) ballots, and along with them, the cheap, cheesy and flimsy pseudo-aluminum framed boxes with a shelf and plastic on three sides for you to fill out your secret ballot. Man, these new voting booths are humiliating.

The old sturdy metal booths made a statement about the United States of America. They made a stately statement, and made you feel like you were a part of a strong democracy and that your vote was so well regarded that the booth was secure and felt almost virtually impenitrable. Just like your grandpa's Oldsmobile, those booths were built like tanks.

The new booths make me feel like the vote is insignificant and meaningless, even though I know the dire importance of my vote. The ballots are not even ballots anymore. They are school test sheets where you have to fill in the oval for your choice. I almost didn't vote for one of the sections because I didn't like any of the candidates, but that nagging teacher came into my head and said if you don't complete all of the questions with one answer each your test will be invalid, so I voted for the least offensive candidate.

Bring back that proud Made in the USA steel behemoth of a voting booth, and if anything, put the stupid touch screens in those monster voting booths and bring back some dignity to the voting process.

Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark...

Hamlet could not have stated it better... And it's not just in the state of Denmark. Hmmmm... It reminds me of something I wrote this past summer about Muslims infiltrating Europe. De ja vu? Oh, speaking of the French, what did they do to upset the Muslims so much? Cappucino too hot, or too cold? Not enough froth? And what about the isolated incidents of riots in Denmark? What's wrong with the Danish? They give you a cheese danish when you wanted an apple one?

I'm waiting for the day when the peaceful Muslims get together to protest the militant Muslim's actions and start singing REM's "Losing My Religion." But, I won't hold my breath on that. Oh, well.

Someone should check and make sure that those Europeans aren't getting lead poisoned in small doses, or that their rye bread doesn't have some odd infestations.

I wonder what Rosencranz and Guildenstern are saying as they dig those graves at the graveyard??

A Mile High... And Then Some

Yup. Denver did it. 54% of voters in Denver said its ok to possess an ounce or less of Mary Jane.

It's not so much of a surprise that the referendum to basically legalize marijuana in Denver would pass. They are the southern neighbor of Boulder, where it seems marijuana has temples of worship there (somewhere near Pearl Street Mall).

The law only protects persons in possession from prosecution only from Denver authorities, and there's still a $100 fine to pay for possession, but no jail time. The USA Today article likens this to a speeding violation.

I have never tried marijuana, but being at concerts where it was tried by many, I am sure there is some sort of enjoyment that can be had by smoking it. But, I am not a smoker. I have no idea. I just know that when I was in high school it was just as bad as LSD or Crack Cocaine--pure evil. Our Colorado neighbor friends mentioned how enjoyable it was when they were in college (I'm sure they didn't inhale). And, if you think about it, candy bar makers and pizza delivery places should be rejoicing in Denver right now, since it sounds like one of the side effects is that it not only makes one more mellow, they get hungry. I'm sure Scooby and Shaggy are considering a move to Denver.

Now you know what to do in Denver when you're dead...

Political Temper Tantrum

It looks like the reasons behind the Iraq War has finally festered into a political temper tantrum for the Senate Democrats.

Think of your 3 year old in your favorite super department store when seeing his favorite action figure demands to have it, and you ignoring his pleas, goes into a wild screaming and body thrashing frenzy of monumental proportions. Right there in the middle of the store. All you wanted to do is get laundry detergent, some pull-ups and overnight diapers (you know, to protect from leaks), and buy that "How to Raise a Supreme Court Judge" book you've been eyeing the past couple of days. There goes your plans to get that needed laundry detergent, and the diapers. And, you may as well forget about your aspirations for your future Supreme Court Judge.

"If you don't pipe down, we are marching right out of this store right now, Mister," you demand, like your 3-year-old cares about your agenda at the store.

"Buzz Lightyear, Buuuuzzzz, Mommy. I want Buzz!" your 3-year-old whines as he grabs the action figure in the box and presses the buttons.

"To infinity, and beyond," the toy declares as you, too, think that your child will whine to infinity and beyond, too. "Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"

You sigh, knowing that the action figure's words might have some truth to it. "Yes, yes, Junior, Buzz Lightyear to the rescue. Now, put it in the cart and let's go. I've got shopping to do."

Makes you wonder what Fitzgerald has uncovered during his investigate about the outing of the CIA agent.... Hmmmm...

Will the saga in the Senate play out like the illustration in the store, or will the Democrats whine to infinity and beyond, or will the Republicans drag the Democrats out of the store kicking and screaming? Stay tuned to the exciting adventures of Danny the Democrat and Robbie the Republican in Crazytown on Nack Jr.