Register, Register, Register

I had planned to post this a few days in advance of the U.S. election on Nov. 4, but since in most states the deadline for voter registration is fast approaching, it's better said now.

As I said in my first post, I do not aim to be (overly) political in this blog. So you won't see an endorsement for a candidate here.

Instead, a plea:

Register AND get out and vote. Encourage everyone you know and everyone you see to vote. The U.S. participation in voting is pathetic. Show the world that our country is awake and participating in our democracy.

Is there a stronger message to send than that? Isn't an engaged democracy a better democracy?

Some will say that NOT voting is also a right in a democracy. Of course it is. But isn't participation more important than protest? Don't think about being "correct" in your vote. Just make your choice and have a voice. Choose who you prefer. No choice is perfect. 

I've heard that some professionals (journalists, military leaders, to name a few) often opt not vote as a matter of objectivity or ethics or something else. This strikes me as backward. Be a citizen first then a professional.

Again: Participate.

Voter Registration Links

Rock the Vote
Just Vote.org

Tweet Wannabe
If 70% or 80% of us show up and vote, I think we can all live a lot better with whoever is our next president. (Or at least we'll know that 80% of our citizens are morons and it really is time to move to Australia.)

6 Things, 6 Tags (Chain Letter '08)

I'm quite late to the game, but here goes...

@CalamityJen, one of my favorite tweeters (especially for her stories about the witness protection program) tapped me to participate in this 6-6 chain challenge thing. And I'm obliging. 

Lower your expectations and proceed...

Six Interesting Things About Me

1. My father is literally a rocket scientist and I'm named (middle name) after the astronaut John Glenn.

2. I've only been in two formal groups in my life: the Cub Scouts and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. They were huge fun while they lasted and I wouldn't change a thing...

3. My favorite author is John Irving...unless he disappoints me again (e.g., A Son of the Circus and Until I Find You.)

4. I play a 65-year-old acoustic guitar (Gibson LG-1). It's beautiful. My playing is not.

5. I met my wife while working at the Entomological Society of America. She is NOT an entomologist. (Neither am I).

6. I once spilled an entire pitcher of iced tea on George Thorogood's seamstress...and the shirt he was about to wear on stage (insert "s-s-s-soaked to the bone" joke here).

Tag, You're It

1. @lizwebpage, Our Hypothetical Blog (The Spin Queen of Beantown—it's the RPMs not the lies)

2. @pprlisa, Our Hypothetical Blog (this may get her to post for once—lazy Pepper)

3. @jessicaknows, JessicaKnows (and YOU need to know Jessica)

4. @PRsarahevans, PRsarahelizabeth’s Weblog (a new, and promising tweeter/blogger)

5. @akaMonty, The Daily Bitch (don't know about that, but she's the hostess with the mostest)

6. @Jeckles, Jeckles Geek Blog (Trying to make up for the hatin' I did)

Official Rules

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on the blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post.

5. Let each person know they have been tagged.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Tweet Wannabes

Truly participating in this "challenge" meant taking my blog public. (CJ, if it was your goal to drive me out of my hole—well done). I hadn't planned to be unguarded for many months/a year. (History has shown that I'm not that dependable.)

I was also once a runner-for-a-day for the Cowboy Junkies. I was the only person in the seats at sound check and Margo Timmons sang "Misguided Angel" just to me. She's almost as beautiful as... 

...My wife killed hundreds of insects while working at ESA despite the strict catch-and-release policy in the employee handbook. And she was the head of marketing... 

Gee, we couldn't get another six on this challenge? Then it really would have been the devil's details...