5 posts tagged “texas”

Hello, just some quick feedback about the recent newsletter, and the call I just received this morning. In the newsletter, the quotes selected were from unknown, Associate Justices that have not had a remarkable effect on history. Perhaps there is someone out there doing a dissertation on any or all of those quoted, but generally, selecting a quote from the unknown is not one's best decision. Secondly, it is remarkable to me that the choices given on that survey call from Rep. Marchant were so colored that there was not even the opportunity to select, "Other" or "None of the Above", or be allowed to record my interest. This is especially poignant when he asked, "Which of the following 3 social issues is most important to you?" And the choices were: Pro-Life Issues, 1. Protection of Marriage Issues, 2. 2nd Amendment Issues, 3. Listen, it was an offense that a politician cannot even frame a question without expressing outrageous bias! Regarding 'Pro-Life Issues', I feel that women own the sovereignty of their bodies, and as such, know what is best regarding their pregnancies--in all cases, though such sovereignty may go in a gray area in cases of underage persons. Regarding 'Protection of Marriage Issues', it is a shameful thought to deny a sovereign person the right to love whomever they please, and this prejudice is underlying every single utterance of "protect marriage," shame on you! The real issue could be resolved if civil unions are granted, through the State, allowing for equal protection under the law. If you choose to believe it, such persons will NOT be protected by your conception of G*d's law, but in America, Church & State are, and should remain, separate. Make our laws accordingly, and leave the mortal justice to Your G*d. And lastly, I do believe the 2nd Amendment is a valuable part of our privilege & responsiblity as Americans, but if I'd selected #3, it would have been like writing you a blank check. The right to bear arms should never have handed our country over to gun manufacturers who sell the most sadistic weaponry ever conceived, for the purpose of killing people--such rampant disrespect for others as is repeatedly espoused by people of the Republican Party and the so-called Right, such as yourself, is what makes our country weak.

Bruce Sherbet, Dallas County Elections Administrator
Dallas County Elections Department
2377 N. Stemmons Fwy, Ste 820
Dallas, TX 75207

June 21, 2008

Mr. Sherbet,

I attended an Election Judge Training with a friend in February.  You, Ms. Pippins, and Mr. Stool were the presenters.  My reactions to that training were such that a letter seemed more appropriate than a feedback questionnaire.

Though we arrived an hour late, the greeters at the door handed us a large packet and emphasized the importance of filling out the top page and returning it.  The top page was an attendance sheet, as we learned from the presentation, to ensure we would be paid at a higher rate than any who had not set foot in such a training.

The stack of papers was so large that I undertook separating the various packets to attempt to find where you were in your presentation.  The packet that seemed designed to parallel a power point presentation showed that you were deviating significantly.  To assure you, I believe you must be very passionate about your duties and probably hold extremely high standards of personal integrity and, to your team's credit, all presenters spoke clearly and at sufficient volume; however, the training was so convoluted that it left me worried.

Trainees began leaving early, I noted around 11:30 am.  I asked one such person why he was leaving and he said 'because nothing was new.'  He said he'd been an election judge several times before, but only a couples times here in this state .  Also notable were the two ladies sitting near me who began chatting above whisper-level.  From their comments, I deduced that they were "veteran" election judges, but was surprised that during Mr. Stool's slideshow of how to secure a vote counting machine one said to the other, "Oh!  Is that how you do it!?  I never do that!"  Those ladies also happened to leave early.

To give you an idea of what kind of improvements I should think necessary to assure legitimately trained election judges, new information should be presented in a kind of bulleted note page.  Each highlighted change would then point to the source document for further study.  I noted that new information was still being presented as late as 12:54 pm (nearly an hour overtime, and when less than half of original attendees were still in the room.)  All the "important changes" which your team spoke of were not highlighted within the handouts, and it is quite unlikely that those who left early ever bothered to study the printed materials.

Attendance should only be legitimate if taken at the beginning and at the end--no one should be allowed to come late or leave early and still be considered 'trained'.  To ensure sufficient learning retention, a test must be designed so that trainees could reinforce their learning, but really establish a minimum level of knowledge and competence.  Questions should, of course, include the new information.  Open book testing might even be allowable so long as cheating is not possible.  Minimum to pass should be 80%.  Opportunities to retest for a passing grade would be good and it is conceivable that such a test could similarly be administered through your internet site.  As trainers, your team should assure themselves and voters that the election will not be the testing grounds.

Mr. Sherbet, I spoke with you about the susceptiblity of electronic voting machines a few years ago--in the interim, I have learned more about the wide variabilities between county to county election procedures.  Because all of this is probably not known by many voters in this country, I intend to share my letter and your response as widely as possible so that we can all become closer to the concept of 'Transparency.'

Regards,

Mari Vega, nèe Dominguez

Duncanville, TX 75116

Since moving into my own place, and thus being entitled to till the soil, I have been composting.  Kitchen waste, found lawn clippings from neighbors' curbs, collected leaves from our lawn maintenance guy.  And lo, earthworms abound.

In fact, last year some edible plants "volunteered" themselves, such as a sunflower, a tomato plant, a poblano plant, a cantaloupe vine.  This year, I've done a little more toward growing an edible garden.

So far, I've planted:
raw peanuts
an organic potato
sprouted garlic cloves
sprouted green onions

lettuce seeds (in "hot boxes"--layered with raw compost in the bottom to keep the soil warm)

Gardenguy

lavender
native & adapted Texas wildflowers

Just starting to bloom are the iris plants I received from someone on craigslist--pretty.

Here's a little buddy that wanted me to think he was an early blade of grass.  The other night, inside the house, I turned suddenly to see a brown grasshopper eyeballing me.  I politely turned him out, into the garden, where I believe life shall be very good for such a critter.

Problems with the Vox/Safari interfacing.  It won't include my uploaded photos or video within the body of my message.  It's been icy here for a few days so I am on my 6.5th day not working (or using the PC there).