Did Tom already link to this? [link]

I'm glad I signed up for vote-by-mail. The off-year primaries often escape my notice, but the ballot showed up at my place and made me dig out the flyer that came out that summarized the candidates. The mayor and a lot of the city council are up for re-election, and it turns out this election is a referendum on the amount of residential development in town. Apartment buildings are going up all over to house all the techies that are coming into the valley for the new tech companies, and a lot of old-time residents are horrified by the focus on apartments and "transient populations" instead of single-family homes. Half the candidates are vowing to move the town back towards families and "family values" and away from things like population density and public transit and such. This level of election is where people are really impacted, because it's immediate and visible to folks who see bigger issues only on TV.

So I sorted through the dozen or so city council candidates, found the least-objectionable ones, made sure to vote against the candidate for mayor who swore to stop all the development so we could do more "prudent reflection" and make sure to vote for my wife for city council, and dropped the ballot in the mailbox on my way to my car. Civic duty to my new town done.

Kudos for civic duty performed!

I've been volunteered for a committee. "Increasing Social Engagement in the Office." That office don't need no more social engagement. They need to shut up occasionally, and come back from lunch on time and maybe sober. Needless to say, I will not be offering that opinion to the group. Why am I on this committee?

Zen, don't you work from home? How the heck are you supposed to work on social engagement, play games during the workday with coworkers?

I am glad Washington is all vote by mail but it misses some excitement at some elections.

Vote by mail is awesome.

40 minutes ago, my coworker initiated a "quick call." We are still on the phone.

I do work from home! I never go in to the office anymore; I can't play their reindeer games even if I wanted to. Why am I on this committee?

That's kind of hilarious, Zen. It only makes any sense if they are looking for different perspectives, I guess.

Another set of co-workers are discussing the disposal of dead bodies. Some of us may not have enough to keep us busy.

Super aggravating work day with passive men not doing what asked. Men questioning or challenging every direction I give. Half ass doing jobs. Nay saying everything. This is why I don't want to head up any projects when none of them report to me. Fuckwits the lot of them.

Oh, that sucks msbelle. Responsibility without power, ick.