So today was primary voting day in WV, and I am even more disappointed than expected at the electronic voting machines that I had expected. (And my expectations were pretty low.)

I think electronic voting machines are a terrible idea. We had been using optical scanners, which allowed you to fill in a paper ballot with a pencil. Perfect, easy, foolproof.

But no. They had to switch to the computer voting machines.

Here are the problems I noted.

First and foremost, you cannot write in a candidate unless it was already set up in the machine to do so. THIS made me angry. Why? Because Mollohan is unopposed in the primary. And Mollohan deserves to be voted out of office. Now I’m going to be stuck with a choice between a someone with no ethics, and whatever incompetent boob the Republicans are going to put up. (You think I exaggerate? Ha.)

Second, the set-up was such that the ballot was not secret while you were voting. The three machines were set up all in a row so that you had behind other voters either coming or going, and as the font is OMG I’m going BLIND huge, even glancing in the direction of another voter’s screen you’d immediately see everything. Not a huge deal for a primary, when no one is likely to show up, but still completely unacceptable.

Third, the set-up was such that we had to walk over extension cords. Extension cords that were, of course, not taped down. I’m pretty sure that such a set-up is in violation of many safety regulations.

Fourth, I do not see how the set-up could be at all handicapped accessible to someone in a wheelchair or using a walker. Remember the extension cords? Remember the having to walk behind the other voters? Did I mention that this was a fairly narrow path? I find it unlikely that such a set-up would pass the muster for handicapped accessibility.

In summary, I HATE the new voting machines, and want to know why the hell the state has wasted so much money on them. Go ahead. Call me a Luddite. I’m too pissed off to care.

War for the Oaks (1987) Emma Bull

Wow. I’ve been bypassing this book for years. Initially, because wasn’t on the shelves. Then when the reprint came out, because the cover made it look like something I wouldn’t like.

Boy was I wrong.

Read More about War for the Oaks

Some belated flower pr0n from April.

Not the best I’ve taken, unfortunately. But, can’t have everything.

Also, a picture from our trip to Akron, for Michael’s grandmother’s birthday.

Last night we finally saw “Memoirs of a Geisha.” (First part: excellent. Second part: Bleh.) Afterwards, I wanted the book to check that the movie really had diverged that much in the second half, because it’s been a really long time since I read Memoirs of a Geisha–I believe I read it the year it came out, in 1997.)

It’s not here.

I looked on every bookshelf. Michael looked on every bookshelf. I went back and looked again.

Then I noticed that I didn’t see my copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. So we both looked for that.

It’s not here.

It this point I was somewhat distraught. Because I’d re-read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in October, so I knew I wasn’t imagining that I owned it.

Then I went to pick up the next book I wanted to read. I decided I wanted to finally read China Mieville’s Perdido Street Station.

Not here.

Now, it’s possible that I borrowed “Memoirs” from my mother. Possible. And it’s possible that Perdido Street Station ended up at the used bookstore the last time we culled the books. And it’s also possible that “Midnight” is in Baltimore with my grandmother.

It’s possible.

However, it was very disconcerting to look for three different books, and find that they were no longer there. I mean, I know precisely on the bookshelf where Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil should be. (Living room. Bookshelf by the entertainment center. Middle shelf. Far left. Beside Midnight in Sicily and The Madman and the Professor.) I may have a lot of books, but if it’s a book I really liked, I can to tell you precisely where that book is. So to look for three books in a row and find them all missing is rather upsetting. (I decided not to check on my favorite books, on the off chance that looking for these books was causing them to disappear.)

So I won’t be re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha immediately. But I’m going to find a copy soon, because I really loved the book, I don’t want the second part of the movie to get stuck in my mind, displacing the book I enjoyed so much.

ADDENDUM the First:
If you’d like my recommendation on the movie: Rent it. When the planes and WWII intrude on the story, turn the movie off and return it. Then go get the book.

When you get onto an elevator full of people, and are going to the top floor, MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE ELEVATOR. Don’t stand in front of the doors, and then act all surprised when people are trying to get past you.

I can’t tell you how glad I am that the semester is over.

I got distracted yesterday, and forgot to mention the Word of the Day.

I found it rather disappointing.

My brother just sent me an e-mail with a link to this news item, and the subject “Happy now?”

Original ‘Star Wars’ films coming to DVD

Yes. Yes I am happy now.

This morning at the rec as I was drying off, I heard what I first thought was an alarm, then realized was a cell phone ringing. I heard a shower turn off, some indistinct mumbling, and then I heard, “I’m in the shower at the rec” more indistinct mumbling, and finally the conversation closed with, “I can be there in twenty minutes if I hurry. (pause) I am NAKED in the SHOWER. (pause) Bye.”

This just in:

Spring plant sale under way at Greenhouse
The spring plant sale is under way at WVU’s Plant and Soil Sciences Greenhouse. Hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Greenhouse on WVU’s Evansdale campus. The sale will continue for a minimum three weeks. A selection of vegetables, herbs, and annual and perennial flowers are available. For additional information, call the Greenhouse at 293-4480.

There goes my month’s spending money…

I love listening to Sound & Spirit.

Even without all the other things I love about XM radio, I’d keep it just so I could continue to listen to Sound & Spirit, which isn’t available locally. (That’s become a mantra recently. “No, WV public radio doesn’t have THAT show either.”)

Anyway.

This week’s show was on courage, and I found it very interesting. I never knew that courage meant something else in medieval times. I mean, I knew that its etymology is French (and Latin), meaning, “from the heart,” but I never thought of courage as relating to… er… well…

I’m suddenly thinking that I’ve missed an awful lot in some of the books I’ve been reading over the years.

For your edification, the traditional ballad: My Husband’s Got No Courage in Him

Blood Pact (1993) Tanya Huff

Surprisingly, I like Blood Pact a lot more than Blood Lines, the last book, although it was quite different than the previous four. In this book they battle not magic, but science: a group of researchers are reanimating the dead.

I say surprisingly because the researchers were creating zombies. Vicki, Mike, and Henry kept speaking of Dr. Frankenstein, but really, it was zombies.

I HATE zombies.

Read More about Blood Pact

Blood Trail (1992) Tanya Huff

Okay, I did have a very strong drink to celebrate the end of the semester, so that may have been part of the reason why I laughed out loud several times last night while reading this book. Or, it could be that the book was actually amusing. Your call.

Read More about Blood Trail

Blood Lines (1993) Tanya Huff

In the third book in the Victory Nelson Private Investigator series, an ancient mummy is released from his bindings and takes up where he left off–gathering power and souls for his God. Several strange deaths draw Mike Celluci, and then Vicki Nelson and Henry Fitzroy onto the case.

Read More about Blood Lines

Sometimes Kat reminds me of a dragon.

I don’t mean to insinuate that I have actually seen a dragon—I haven’t. Nor am I saying I believe that they exist—I don’t.

It’s just that sometimes, the way he moves his head reminds me of how I imagine a dragon would move. And sometimes he looks at you as if he’s seriously considering using his fiery breath to turn you into a crispy snack, except that it would require too much effort. And besides, then he’d have to go hunt his own food, and that would definitely be too much effort.

orology
noun
The study of mountains