Ah, the joys of voting in Florida

[zouzounaki]

Yeah, so my sister was off to the polls first thing this morning. Believe the hype folks: Florida is teh suck when it comes to voting. You can start out bright eyed and bushy tailed, confident that "Those things" only happen in extreme situations; the voters being turned away from polling places because the "machines aren't working"; the volunteers trying their damned hardest to frustrate and turn away as many people as they can.

Hell, it happened to my sister. Yup, in nice, residential, safe Gainesville, where the vote is usually overwhelmingly Democratic (we were one of the very few counties were no recount was required, Gore was the clear winner) did we run in to one horrendously stupid and stubborn woman who, because she couldn't understand what my sister was saying (my sister's deaf but speaks very well and very clearly, to the point where most don't realize she is completely deaf, though it does say it on her licence) wanted to hold her back. Absolutely truthful. She made my sister recite our address TWICE while she scrutinized the signature on her driver's licence against the one she used to sign in; she wouldn't give her back her licence until she was satisfied it was the same. I think she was a step away from telling my sister that she was "unfit" to vote when another, friendlier and younger woman stepped in and corrected it as fast as she could. A less tenacious voter would have given up, which I'm pretty sure was the point, but we are talking about my sister here! ;-) Did I mention that it proudly displays our party affiliations next to our names?

Stupid, obnoxious, prejudicial bitch.

Peace, Ghani

Comments

[dreamybritactor.livejournal.com]

I see you and I voted the same. May I say WTF?

I think it is a plot by the Republicans against the Democrats myself. ;-)

When I started voting, I voted Republican and after GW, I switched to Democrat. We just got this call, it was a mean man's voice - This is your last chance to get out and vote. The Republican's need your vote. I hung up the phone at that point. GEEZE Louise!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Whew! I guess they take it pretty seriously there in FL... I remember all the bumper stickers and t-shirts with pictures of Florida and the words "electile dysfunction"... But you know, I've NEVER had a hard time voting. Never had anyone hassle me, never any trouble getting a machine, nothing. So when I hear about it, it surprises and disappoints me. No wonder we can't get people out to vote.

On a completely unrelated note, Someone I Know is looking for good Dr. Who 9 het. R or above if possible. If I have to send it on I prefer it not involve Rose Tyler. So do you know of any? :) Figured you'd be the one to ask!

(And so which # doctor was Paul McGann again?)

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

We were actually just shaking free of a double-Bush-whammy in the gubernatorial race (though neither of the two candidates seems so smashingly better than Jeb, le sigh!)

Oh, God, I got all those aggressive phone calls too! What's up with that?! It's as if they decided that the millions of junk mail postcards I get and throw out and the hours of dirty campaign commercials weren't enough, they have to hassle you over the phone too! That's just rude no matter what the party!

I'm just not crazy about a system that allows partisanism at a polling place. I mean, sure, there are always the hundreds of signs stuck to the ground just beyond the library or church's property, but the amount of people hassling me on my way to the door and the pollers wearing partisan buttons while being able to see your party affiliation right there, it's uncomfortable and just doesn't seem quite fair.

The system's just broke in Florida, we have trouble EVERY election, and it's not going to be fixed any time soon. Grrr.

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

It's the first time electorial incompetence has really affected us but I doubt it'll be the last. It did always feel like, 'Oh, you know, thos epeople, down there, they're the ones having trouble'. It never seemed quite real.

Hm, good # 9 het, you say? I actually don't know of any, I'm embarrassed to admit (though I'd certainly read some myself and I share your feelings on Ms. Tyler, bleh!) There's some action in my stories but it mainly involves Jack... Okay, all of it involves Jack, snerk! Maybe I'll just have to write some Nine!porn myself, heeheehee! I've had ideas...

And Paul McG is Doctor # 8.

Mwah!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

LOL, YOU don't know of any? Gawrsh. Tho Capn' Jack is pretty damn hot. Was. Whatever. We're just through season 1 and watching season 2 on Sci-fi. I remember when Capn' Jack first appeared I was like, woohoo, someone interesting for the Dr. to have chemistry with and My Roommate called me a slasher. Can you believe that? ;) Well, I can't help it! He even had chemistry with Rose. He's just a chemical fellow.

I don't hate Rose as a character, I just think that Rose/Dr. (any)is the most boring possible combination. Dr./Tardis is sorta cool. They need a female character as neato as Captain Jack, someone who can be an equal.

And now I'll shut up! But I was really relying on you, 'cause Someone I Know will start reading Dr./Rose out of desperation and then I'll have to listen to it and then what will I do???? ;)

Hugs babe.

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

Rose was always just a little too precious for me, being apparently too good for a nice boyfriend like Mickey and a loving parent like Jackie and supposedly (snort!) being the Doctor's equal!

There was a character in the original series, Romana- a Time Lady the Doctor traveled with, who I would love to see make a come back! In both ehr incarnations she had unbelievable chemistry with the Doctor (and the second actually married 4th Doctor Tom Baker in rela life!) and we weren't bogged down with all the stupid human mouth breather crap. I always resented being told I should identify with that and not any of the SMART or freaky characters. Now that Rose is gone, it looks like they're just replacing her same type/different race.

Mmm, Jack's got his own show now, dontcha know! Dunno when Torchwood's coming to the States but if one is, ahem, industrious, one can find episodes now... It really is fab, better than the second season of Who in my opinion, though still weighed down by the same faults.

Jack is easiest to write smut for as, well, his methods of information finding and interogation can be... creative ;-)

If you go to the advanced search on A Teaspoon and an Open Mind (www.whofic.com), you can search specifically for 9th Doctor het, though you'll probably have to wade through all the Rose crap. And, I'm sad to say, my own 9th Doctor story (Restless by Mrs Peel) was somewhat edited to be posted there to avoid the dreaded sexual label. Ah well, hope that helps a little!