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The Trouble with Real ID and Voter ID Laws
Author: clintster    Date: 10/15/2012 11:21:19

It started as just another Saturday morning. My wife and I were driving to the DMV to have her driver’s license renewed. She had actually gone to renew in July, but because she didn’t have a birth certificate, she was given a temporary license while her home state sent it to her. She was aware that our state’s laws had changed and we needed more documents to renew, but as we arrived at the DMV, we would see just how far the rabbit hole went.

After having to go back to the house to retrieve her Social Security card, my wife got a number and waited in the lobby to finally get her driver’s license. When her number came up, she went to her assigned window and was promptly told by the clerk that she didn’t have all her necessary documents together.

Mind you, she had already brought her birth certificate, Social Security card, several bills, and her passport (not to mention her previous license.) The clerk told my wife that she needed to provide a copy of her marriage license as proof of a name change. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back; my wife railed at the clerk about the unfairness of the new license law declaring it discriminatory and a violation of civil rights. Unfortunately, she needed the license in order to drive, so we headed back to the house one more time to finally retrieve the last document she needed to get her license.

I have to say that my experience in license renewal earlier this year was rather complicated as well. I also had to provide a copy of my birth certificate for my license, but unlike my wife I was able to drive back to the town where I was born to buy a copy of the document. When I got there, I learned that I could have stayed home and picked it up in my home county; the state of Georgia allows residents to do this as long as they were born in-state. Unfortunately, I found this out only after traveling 120 miles.

Why is all of this important? It came to my wife and I as we were making the trip back to the DMV for the third time. The problem with these “secure IDs” was twofold. First was the matter of the documents that the state required. It seems discriminatory to have a woman show additional documents if she has been married just to prove her name change is legal. In addition, there is the fact that so many times people have gone to the DMV to renew their license under the new rules. My wife and I are literate, educated, and overall rather well-informed; nonetheless, we spent considerable time, gas, and emotional distress in the process of gathering all the documents we needed. I can only imagine the battle it would have been if we were poor, elderly, or otherwise had no reliable internet access.

The other issue with these new rules is its connection to the drive to require these licenses (or a similar ID card) for voting. It’s been no secret that Republicans have been pushing voter ID laws for years, ostensibly to stem voter fraud at the ballot box. (SIDEBAR: can we really call it the “ballot box” anymore when most precincts use a touchscreen booth now?) It is also no secret that the GOP has passed these laws with the actual aim of stemming participation amongst women, the poor and minorities, and by way of extension the Democratic party. We have all seen the footage of Pennsylvania state representative Mike Turzai bragging about how Voter ID would deliver his state to Mitt Romney in November. The laws have become a new kind of “poll tax” to weed out the undesirables from the voting rolls and achieve the “permanent Republican majority” that Karl Rove spoke of many years ago.

In all the focus on the application of these laws in the “battleground” states, however, there has been virtually no focus on the effect these laws have in supposedly safe states on the political map. Even in solid red states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, there are pools of progressives and liberals working hard to bring more equitable representation at a local and state level. These efforts can only be hampered if senior citizens have to navigate a maze of bureaucracy to receive an ID card. Even with those states offering “free” ID cards for voting, the hurdles set up can mean that a potential voter working at near minimum wage must sacrifice much-needed work time and money in order to find the documents, travel to the DMV and wait to have their ID made. None of this can be seen as a coincidence; in a choice between feeding your family and voting with a card that is unusable anywhere else, it may be more affordable short-term for the working poor to simply not vote. Unfortunately, this is not an accidental side effect of Voter ID laws.

A few days before last week, I took my son to visit the Georgia state capitol building. We browsed through the portraits of the past governors and notables and came across the portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. hanging in the 2nd floor hall. This was the one my son was most excited about and as I think about how enthusiastically he spoke about MLK, I wonder how the good Reverend would have handled these laws and their application.

http://mydd.com/uploads/40/original/View_of_Crowd_at_1963_March_on_Washington.jpg


I wonder.
 

79 comments (Latest Comment: 10/16/2012 20:01:27 by Raine)
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Comment by velveeta jones on 10/15/2012 12:04:14


Comment by TriSec on 10/15/2012 12:41:10
TriSec is very sad.

I had a couple of Boy Scout popcorn sales this weekend. (Called "Show & Sells, a table set up at the supermarket.)

We were in Mitt's alleged "hometown" of Belmont....and I had quite a few refusals over our national membership policy.

It got to the point where I pulled the boys aside and told them if anyone says no and adds "because of membership, gays, atheists" or if they say that "Scouts are against" any of these things, to flag me immediately and I'd talk to the person. (You're well aware of my Council's non-discrimination policy, one of the first four in place nationally, circa 2001.)

In an organization for young boys, National is now forcing me to have conversations with underage youth that I am not entirely comfortable having. And they are cutting into ouf fundraising efforts.

This is not good - I'm penning a letter to our Council President about it sometime today.


Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 12:45:16
Good morning!

TRi, I'm so sorry that you are in such a position. I'd be dishonest when I tell you that when I see boy scouts I always think about the position you and your council have taken, and it does give me pause.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 12:49:45
My mom shared this on FB. and uhm....



Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:08:58
Morning

geez, you know there a lots of times I consider myself fortunate, not having to go to the DMV to renew is one of them. In VA we can renew online and they mail it to us - in fact it cost $5 more if you go into the DMV office.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 13:11:42
I am amazed at the difficulty she had to go thru to get a drivers license RENEWED. When I moved here to Virginia I had no ID whatsover. (My wallet was lost just a few weeks after moving here) I had to provide my BC, proof of residency (a bill) and my Social Sec card. I brought my Marriage license just in case, but they told me it wasn't needed.

It does raise serious question as to how difficult state governments are making it just for a BASIC identification -- voting not withstanding.

Thanks for a great blog today, Clint.


Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:22:49
Quote by Raine:
My mom shared this on FB. and uhm....




Me after listening

http://digipropolis.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/listening_dog.jpg


oh dear.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:25:05
we are getting robo-called like crazy! Family Research robopolled on Sat asking if we thought our religious freedom was being taken away cause of marriage equality.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 13:27:29
Quote by wickedpam:


Me after listening

http://digipropolis.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/listening_dog.jpg


oh dear.



Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 13:30:11
Quote by wickedpam:
we are getting robo-called like crazy! Family Research robopolled on Sat asking if we thought our religious freedom was being taken away cause of marriage equality.
Is it true that one can't robocall a cell phone?


I got a Romney MAiler the other day, I was like how did they get my address and why in the name of all things would they think for one minute that I would EVER consider voting for him?

I know that wehad a romney canvasser show up a few weeks ago, and Bob told them he would not in any shape or form support Romney -- and they asked about me, he said the same -- so maybe they decided not to listen to him and mailed me this anyway.

It's really annoying.


Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:42:21
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
we are getting robo-called like crazy! Family Research robopolled on Sat asking if we thought our religious freedom was being taken away cause of marriage equality.
Is it true that one can't robocall a cell phone?


I got a Romney MAiler the other day, I was like how did they get my address and why in the name of all things would they think for one minute that I would EVER consider voting for him?

I know that wehad a romney canvasser show up a few weeks ago, and Bob told them he would not in any shape or form support Romney -- and they asked about me, he said the same -- so maybe they decided not to listen to him and mailed me this anyway.

It's really annoying.


not sure about that when it comes to Celly's. I know on a land line they can cause its not a technical sales call.

We're getting flooded with mailers - all in mom's name which is weird cause she's a registered Dem and voted for Obama AND keeps telling them when they call that she's voting for Obama. Our speculation is its because she's over 65.


Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 13:46:25
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
we are getting robo-called like crazy! Family Research robopolled on Sat asking if we thought our religious freedom was being taken away cause of marriage equality.
Is it true that one can't robocall a cell phone?


I got a Romney MAiler the other day, I was like how did they get my address and why in the name of all things would they think for one minute that I would EVER consider voting for him?

I know that wehad a romney canvasser show up a few weeks ago, and Bob told them he would not in any shape or form support Romney -- and they asked about me, he said the same -- so maybe they decided not to listen to him and mailed me this anyway.

It's really annoying.


not sure about that when it comes to Celly's. I know on a land line they can cause its not a technical sales call.

We're getting flooded with mailers - all in mom's name which is weird cause she's a registered Dem and voted for Obama AND keeps telling them when they call that she's voting for Obama. Our speculation is its because she's over 65.


BTW, Strategic Allied consulting is the ONLY new voter and absentee ballot registration firm that the GOP of Virginia has used.

So....


Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:56:37
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
we are getting robo-called like crazy! Family Research robopolled on Sat asking if we thought our religious freedom was being taken away cause of marriage equality.
Is it true that one can't robocall a cell phone?


I got a Romney MAiler the other day, I was like how did they get my address and why in the name of all things would they think for one minute that I would EVER consider voting for him?

I know that wehad a romney canvasser show up a few weeks ago, and Bob told them he would not in any shape or form support Romney -- and they asked about me, he said the same -- so maybe they decided not to listen to him and mailed me this anyway.

It's really annoying.


not sure about that when it comes to Celly's. I know on a land line they can cause its not a technical sales call.

We're getting flooded with mailers - all in mom's name which is weird cause she's a registered Dem and voted for Obama AND keeps telling them when they call that she's voting for Obama. Our speculation is its because she's over 65.


BTW, Strategic Allied consulting is the ONLY new voter and absentee ballot registration firm that the GOP of Virginia has used.

So....



its so sketchy - even if its technically legal

Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 13:58:50
the Morgan Freeman ad is just wonderful!

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/15/2012 14:19:48
Quote by wickedpam:
the Morgan Freeman ad is just wonderful!



Well, he's God after all

Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 14:26:41
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
the Morgan Freeman ad is just wonderful!



Well, he's God after all



I know, right!

Comment by TriSec on 10/15/2012 14:26:44
Presented in its entirety. Mr. Chuck Eaton is our Council President and CEO.


Dear Mr. Eaton:

I am writing to you today to relate a disturbing occurrence during a recent Troop popcorn Show & Sell.

On Sunday, October 14, my troop set up our table and popcorn display at the Shaw’s Supermarket at 535 Trapelo Road in Belmont, MA. Sales were admittedly slow, but I attribute that more to the rain that morning and lack of foot traffic at our particular location.

Unfortunately, during the sale, I had several refusals from potential customers, and when asked, they pointedly made reference to our national membership policy and stated point-blank that they could no longer support Scouting because of this.

I do know that we have a non-discrimination policy dating to 2001, and that we were one of the first four councils nationwide to do so, but I don’t believe that is enough anymore. There needs to be publicity and outreach, no matter what the risk to our local program.

At this time, by the mere act of wearing the uniform, it would seem that it identifies us as members of a hate group that are fostering intolerance and discrimination, no matter what our local policies are. It is regrettable, but National has so poisoned the scouting program with their position, that it is starting to affect our recruiting and fundraising efforts. Two years ago, I had a genuine shouting match with a prospective parent over National Policy at a public school recruiting event while in full uniform, which I admit was not my proudest moment as a Scouter.

I am particularly dismayed that I had to have a talk with my young scouts yesterday (aged 11-13) about gays, atheists, national policy, and what to do if anyone refuses on these grounds. I was fully prepared to respectfully confront any balked sale on these grounds, but once they refused, any potential customer was no longer interested in discussing the matter.

I know you told us at the Scout Summit back in August that National was “not interested” in listening to our position. This too is unfortunate, and further illustrates the disconnect that the policy makers have with the folks in the trenches.

Simply put, discussions about sexual orientation and religious intolerance have no place in a Scouting program. They never have, and never should be. Unfortunately, because of national policy, I am now forced to have discussions about these things with underage boys, something I am very uncomfortable about doing. Is this the kind of Scouting program National Leadership wants us to administer?

I am now considering whether or not my Pack should participate in any further Council fundraising events, if this is the kind of public reaction we are going to face. I am not in this program to support this policy; in fact, it runs counter to everything that I have learned and known as a scout and scouter. I simply do not want my Cub Scouts to have to face this kind of rejection and stigma because of what National is doing.

But isn’t that what it comes down to? It would seem to be all about the money. While I have no information on how much money National receives from our council popcorn sale, this could possibly be used to leverage our position. I know it would hurt the council, but what would the repercussions be if Boston Minuteman chose not to participate in Popcorn Sales next year? There must be other ways to raise funds that would not expose the boys to all the things I have listed in this letter. I know we can make this up with local fundraisers for the Pack and Troop, but bleeding council dry won’t help us in the long run.

Finally, I’d like to tell you just a little bit about my Scouting background. I’ve been involved with my local unit for fifteen years now, which is an unusually long length of time for anyone to stay in a Cub Scout program. My son has just graduated to the Troop after earning his Arrrow of Light last year. But this is a second Scouting life for me. I became a member of this organization in the fall of 1974 at the age of eight. I have never been out of uniform.

What National is doing is killing me; their policy runs counter to everything I have tried to impart to the youth I have had the privilege of training over the last quarter-century. If this is the direction that National leadership wants for the Boy Scouts, I have to seriously question how long I can remain involved. This is simply not who I am, and not what I teach to my Scouts. I cannot in clear conscience continue to do this, if this is what we are to become.

Finally, I wonder if anyone has ever asked National Leadership how the current membership policy is in compliance with the Scout Law? I’m not even worried about the more obvious points like Kind, Friendly, or Loyal. If our organization is no longer Trustworthy with potential members and supporters, then all is lost.


I would urge all of you to seek out your local Boy Scout Council and start peppering the executive emails with similar letters of support for overturning the policy. (I can help put you in touch with the right people, if anyone wants to.)


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/15/2012 14:46:03
Quote by TriSec:
Presented in its entirety. Mr. Chuck Eaton is our Council President and CEO.


Dear Mr. Eaton:

I am writing to you today to relate a disturbing occurrence during a recent Troop popcorn Show & Sell.

On Sunday, October 14, my troop set up our table and popcorn display at the Shaw’s Supermarket at 535 Trapelo Road in Belmont, MA. Sales were admittedly slow, but I attribute that more to the rain that morning and lack of foot traffic at our particular location.

Unfortunately, during the sale, I had several refusals from potential customers, and when asked, they pointedly made reference to our national membership policy and stated point-blank that they could no longer support Scouting because of this.

I do know that we have a non-discrimination policy dating to 2001, and that we were one of the first four councils nationwide to do so, but I don’t believe that is enough anymore. There needs to be publicity and outreach, no matter what the risk to our local program.

At this time, by the mere act of wearing the uniform, it would seem that it identifies us as members of a hate group that are fostering intolerance and discrimination, no matter what our local policies are. It is regrettable, but National has so poisoned the scouting program with their position, that it is starting to affect our recruiting and fundraising efforts. Two years ago, I had a genuine shouting match with a prospective parent over National Policy at a public school recruiting event while in full uniform, which I admit was not my proudest moment as a Scouter.

I am particularly dismayed that I had to have a talk with my young scouts yesterday (aged 11-13) about gays, atheists, national policy, and what to do if anyone refuses on these grounds. I was fully prepared to respectfully confront any balked sale on these grounds, but once they refused, any potential customer was no longer interested in discussing the matter.

I know you told us at the Scout Summit back in August that National was “not interested” in listening to our position. This too is unfortunate, and further illustrates the disconnect that the policy makers have with the folks in the trenches.

Simply put, discussions about sexual orientation and religious intolerance have no place in a Scouting program. They never have, and never should be. Unfortunately, because of national policy, I am now forced to have discussions about these things with underage boys, something I am very uncomfortable about doing. Is this the kind of Scouting program National Leadership wants us to administer?

I am now considering whether or not my Pack should participate in any further Council fundraising events, if this is the kind of public reaction we are going to face. I am not in this program to support this policy; in fact, it runs counter to everything that I have learned and known as a scout and scouter. I simply do not want my Cub Scouts to have to face this kind of rejection and stigma because of what National is doing.

But isn’t that what it comes down to? It would seem to be all about the money. While I have no information on how much money National receives from our council popcorn sale, this could possibly be used to leverage our position. I know it would hurt the council, but what would the repercussions be if Boston Minuteman chose not to participate in Popcorn Sales next year? There must be other ways to raise funds that would not expose the boys to all the things I have listed in this letter. I know we can make this up with local fundraisers for the Pack and Troop, but bleeding council dry won’t help us in the long run.

Finally, I’d like to tell you just a little bit about my Scouting background. I’ve been involved with my local unit for fifteen years now, which is an unusually long length of time for anyone to stay in a Cub Scout program. My son has just graduated to the Troop after earning his Arrrow of Light last year. But this is a second Scouting life for me. I became a member of this organization in the fall of 1974 at the age of eight. I have never been out of uniform.

What National is doing is killing me; their policy runs counter to everything I have tried to impart to the youth I have had the privilege of training over the last quarter-century. If this is the direction that National leadership wants for the Boy Scouts, I have to seriously question how long I can remain involved. This is simply not who I am, and not what I teach to my Scouts. I cannot in clear conscience continue to do this, if this is what we are to become.

Finally, I wonder if anyone has ever asked National Leadership how the current membership policy is in compliance with the Scout Law? I’m not even worried about the more obvious points like Kind, Friendly, or Loyal. If our organization is no longer Trustworthy with potential members and supporters, then all is lost.


I would urge all of you to seek out your local Boy Scout Council and start peppering the executive emails with similar letters of support for overturning the policy. (I can help put you in touch with the right people, if anyone wants to.)



Damn dust. I know that had to be one of the most difficult letters you've ever had to write, Tri.

Comment by TriSec on 10/15/2012 14:51:54
Mondo, I'll tolerate a lot of things in Scouting, but when you start affecting my Scouts, then all bets are off.

This is wrong. Always has been wrong. Always will be wrong. I can't support this anymore if people are looking at 8-year-olds in a Cub Scout uniform and are thinking "Homophobes-in-training".



Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 15:11:16
Good morning, bloggers!!

Clintster, thanks for a great blog. I fear that these new voter ID requirements, to repeat what Attorney General Eric Holder said, is a new poll tax. If you and your wife did not have the right financial resources and the documents, she could not get a driver's license or vote.

As for myself, I am well. My sister in law is recovering from the angiogram. I spent yesterday with an old friend and had a fantastic dinner downtown.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 15:16:08
Quote by TriSec:
Mondo, I'll tolerate a lot of things in Scouting, but when you start affecting my Scouts, then all bets are off.

This is wrong. Always has been wrong. Always will be wrong. I can't support this anymore if people are looking at 8-year-olds in a Cub Scout uniform and are thinking "Homophobes-in-training".




TriSec, this must have been a very hard letter to write. I have to wonder how many good people have left Scouting over the national policies.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/15/2012 15:18:03
Quote by TriSec:
Mondo, I'll tolerate a lot of things in Scouting, but when you start affecting my Scouts, then all bets are off.

This is wrong. Always has been wrong. Always will be wrong. I can't support this anymore if people are looking at 8-year-olds in a Cub Scout uniform and are thinking "Homophobes-in-training".



Change is hard. Especially when you have to deal with reactionary elements in the national office.

Comment by BobR on 10/15/2012 15:22:29
Quote by Raine:
I am amazed at the difficulty she had to go thru to get a drivers license RENEWED. When I moved here to Virginia I had no ID whatsover. (My wallet was lost just a few weeks after moving here) I had to provide my BC, proof of residency (a bill) and my Social Sec card. I brought my Marriage license just in case, but they told me it wasn't needed.

It does raise serious question as to how difficult state governments are making it just for a BASIC identification -- voting not withstanding.

Thanks for a great blog today, Clint.

That's because you kept your maiden name.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 15:29:33
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
I am amazed at the difficulty she had to go thru to get a drivers license RENEWED. When I moved here to Virginia I had no ID whatsover. (My wallet was lost just a few weeks after moving here) I had to provide my BC, proof of residency (a bill) and my Social Sec card. I brought my Marriage license just in case, but they told me it wasn't needed.

It does raise serious question as to how difficult state governments are making it just for a BASIC identification -- voting not withstanding.

Thanks for a great blog today, Clint.

That's because you kept your maiden name.
That's probably true, it really pisses me off that women have to go thru such malarky just becuase they change thier name.


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/15/2012 15:40:58
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
I am amazed at the difficulty she had to go thru to get a drivers license RENEWED. When I moved here to Virginia I had no ID whatsover. (My wallet was lost just a few weeks after moving here) I had to provide my BC, proof of residency (a bill) and my Social Sec card. I brought my Marriage license just in case, but they told me it wasn't needed.

It does raise serious question as to how difficult state governments are making it just for a BASIC identification -- voting not withstanding.

Thanks for a great blog today, Clint.

That's because you kept your maiden name.
That's probably true, it really pisses me off that women have to go thru such malarky just becuase they change thier name.



Conversely, if you are a woman and want to name change in Virginia, it is really easy. Since VA is common law state, all a woman needs to do when they are getting a new license you just tell the nice people at the DMV you've gotten married, show em you marriage license and your name's changed. That is how Mrs Modo changed her name.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 15:46:22
Quote by wickedpam:

its so sketchy - even if its technically legal
You have no idea...

well, I think you do, but take a read here.


Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 16:04:53
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:

its so sketchy - even if its technically legal
You have no idea...

well, I think you do, but take a read here.



wow- that's a whole lot of over laping threads there

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 16:18:28
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.

Comment by clintster on 10/15/2012 16:22:07
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 16:24:02
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.



It may mean that we both end up not being here much in the morning, but jobs for both of us would be great news.

Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 16:32:37
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.



It may mean that we both end up not being here much in the morning, but jobs for both of us would be great news.
I would be willing to not see you two wonderful men if it meant you both doing what you are meant to do: TEACH!


Comment by BobR on 10/15/2012 16:33:16
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.


It may mean that we both end up not being here much in the morning, but jobs for both of us would be great news.

I think I speak for all of us when I say we would much rather you have jobs than have you posting here in the morning unemployed.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 16:37:23
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.


It may mean that we both end up not being here much in the morning, but jobs for both of us would be great news.

I think I speak for all of us when I say we would much rather you have jobs than have you posting here in the morning unemployed.



I can post in the afternoons, which I normally do after subbing.

If I get the job, I would have to move to the city within six months. Probably, I would move to around where my Mom and sister live as the job is on the South Side.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 16:38:23
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have good news!! I have a job interview for an English teacher position tomorrow at a Chicago Public High School tomorrow at 9 AM my time. It is not the best school in the city, but I think that I can make a difference.


Congrats Will! I'm hoping to hear back today about a teaching position in Georgia.



It may mean that we both end up not being here much in the morning, but jobs for both of us would be great news.
I would be willing to not see you two wonderful men if it meant you both doing what you are meant to do: TEACH!





Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 16:39:17
Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 16:53:52
Comment by livingonli on 10/15/2012 17:00:15
Good day, folks. The house hunting continues since I am seeing a place at 2 today which looks nice but the only drawback with being in Oyster Bay is that it's not that close to the job and there's no parkway or expressway that way. It just sucks that by looking for location and price (for my budget reasons and wanting to save wear and tear on gas) that it's gotten so close to the wire but at least with what I got, the worst case scenario would be that I would have to stay at a hotel since I have no one to crash with until November 1st at the latest but hopefully it won't come to that. It just sucked that I couldn't vacation time until the 27th since I am taking vacation time from the 27th until election day to help with what will largely be the settling in at my new place.

Comment by livingonli on 10/15/2012 17:02:03
At least I know if I had a place with a pool and a cat, I would take it in an instant.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/15/2012 17:02:07
Quote by wickedpam:


read the comments - hysterical



This is pretty damning. I think that Ryan and Romney have a grave authenticity problem.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/15/2012 17:05:09
Ugh.. afternoon all..
Computer problems all morning long, from dropping packets to fake trojan scanner trojans to mixing up the order of the cables on the router.

As for Ryan's camera stunt, i'm amazed he even went that far. Maybe he thought he'd look MORE guilty if he just posed for the photo op rather than actually doing some work!

Comment by wickedpam on 10/15/2012 17:09:02
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by wickedpam:


read the comments - hysterical



This is pretty damning. I think that Ryan and Romney have a grave authenticity problem.



Anyone who's ever worked in any kind of commercial kitchen knows that when washing dishes -

1) you don't wear jewelry or watches
2) you don't wear nice clothes (we used to have to add bleach to the wash water)
3) you don't wear anything with long sleeve cause they'll get soaked


Comment by Scoopster on 10/15/2012 17:11:34
...AND if you're smart you wear thick rubber gloves to help cut down on blisters from the hot water and industrial chemicals.

Comment by TriSec on 10/15/2012 17:15:04
I've done a lot of work on the kitchen crew at the dining hall at camp.

It's noplace for a white shirt and a tie.

When the meal is finished and before we hit the cleanup phase, it usually looks like a nuclear weapon went off nearby.



Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 17:47:05
Quote by wickedpam:
Anyone who's ever worked in any kind of commercial kitchen knows that when washing dishes -

1) you don't wear jewelry or watches
2) you don't wear nice clothes (we used to have to add bleach to the wash water)
3) you don't wear anything with long sleeve cause they'll get soaked


or -- try to at least look like you are doing something. MLK day of service:


the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks:


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/15/2012 17:48:15
Comment by Raine on 10/15/2012 17:51:05
In case you missed it, Clintster isn't the only one who wrote a post today.

Comment by TriSec on 10/15/2012 18:15:10
Well, as long as we're all writing blogs today, I updated this, too.