The thing with voting for third parties is that it does not actually establish third parties. You don't change a rigged system by acting as though it is not rigged - especially if it is structural and not just rule-breaking. If "0" on the roulette wheel only pays the house,no betting strategy will change it. Changes to electoral politics come after successful issue organizing. They don't precede it. And they don't happen at the same time. I think a project manager might describe it as a dependency: successful campaigns appeal to organizations built around issues. The conventional politicians appeal to long established existing powers. If you want someone like Jill Stein, only successful, you need grassroots organizations that can organize successfully around stuff like single payer, and ending wars, and funding solar and wind power. Then a Jill Stein can ride the wave of those organizations and win. But Jill Stein can't contribute much to building those organization to begin with, or even to building the Green Party. Note that the Green Party is no bigger today than it was 12 years ago. Neither for the most part are the grass roots organizations I mentioned. But success of the grass roots organizations is a neccesary condition for decent politicians. And give that pre-condition, a third party might not be the only way to get those decent politicians.

Just to be clear, I don'ts say you end up with zero. There is Maxine Waters. And until he was restricted out there Kuchinich. And a few others. But politicians on the right side of most issues are damn rare - for good reason. If the grassroots around those issues are weak, then you won't get many politicans being elected who are on the right side of those issues - certainly not a President.

Tom Scola is only a couple of bad days away from advocating government by dueling pistol.

That didn't work out so well for Burr or Hamilton.

You knew it was coming. Amazon binder reviews: [link]

I just saw the flash mob on goodstuff, and I have found that flash mobs, like parades , are good for making me cry every time.

I am with Liese and Kate on the politics thing. Also, starting to like the look of Scola's camp.

Sophia, FWIW, garlic will go through your entire body, somehow, if you apply enough of it to your skin; I guess turmeric is like that?

I probably have the most in-jokes with my BFF. My ex Mike is close second though. I also really miss having good friends nearby. Except the 3 years I lived with Mike, I haven't had that since I lived in Tennessee, 18 years ago.

I really don't like any of my options for Senator. There's a Tea Party guy who's made some really scary statements about women, there's a pro-life anti-gay-marriage Democrat, and there's a third-party candidate who, as far as I can tell, has never held any public office, and wants to start a national lottery to fund a health-care co-operative plan. Best option there seems to be the Democrat, but it's really just the least bad option.

t deductibles, HSAs and annual enrollment OH MY

I wish someone else could manage my finances. I'm not bad at it, I'm just not fantastic and I really hate the space it occupies in my head. And no, I don't want to pay someone. Also, having this all hit along with a spendy car repair bill, biannual car insurance bill, two crowns and an emergency temp crown buildup and HELLO, need to set up to pay bills that come due when I'm on the other side of the world? Makes me tired.

AARGH.

I have busted my ass for WEEKS on making this deadline and...

• data centre realises AFTER LUNCH that they have a whole new application and version of .NET to install
• ISO ran a security test that had 1 error (explained) last time, and TWO PAGES of critical and urgent security flaws now

Fuck everyone and everything. Seriously. My project went from green to red in one bullet point that should have been a gimme, because he tested these images before! I swear to god, the stuff he does makes no sense.

Ah, the constant parade of confusing ballot initiatives and propositions. I try to always go through the voter guides in advance and make informed choices...but sometimes if I can't figure out the intricacies or have a strong opinion I'll choose not to vote on those items rather than possibly make a poor choice. I always voted absentee (before moving to OR where it's all by mail, WINNING!) so it was pretty easy to sit there with the booklet and the ballot double checking my entries. I think I would need some kind of cheat sheet if I went to a physical polling place, the wording on so many of those is awfully confusing.

We have three state constitutional amendments on the ballot. I agree with the issues, but don't think they are amendment worthy. Frustrating.