users.757.org blogs

hannie: what not to wear (intro to doorbelling)

hannie — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:07 +0000

Now that the election time is upon us, you’ll either see or you’ll be a volunteer, going door to door, and talking about your favorite candidate. I’ve done this before, and yes, it’s really exhausting (and especially for a girl my size, but dog gone it, I hit 249 last week, so back off. I’m working on the weight thing, I am. Considering post-Katrina near death weight when I first returned to Washington state soil which was 326, and if you even saw those great pictures of me covered in the local papers, you’d say, yea, you really ARE working on your weight. I am. So keep those “fat girl” thoughts in check.) and you meet some people who want to hear your message, some who are “too busy” for you, some who just don’t answer the door and then the occasional mean rabid person who wants to darn near kill you.

It’s fun to doorbell though, in that you meet people in your community, and you hear stories and ideas of what they think “change” is about, and how they’d like to see county/state government run. It’s great to be able to get a different perspective than what you necessarily believe in, or a different idea of how people are living and thinking in Kitsap County. That’s perhaps the most rewarding part of doorbelling to me, to be able to exchange ideas and thoughts and get a first hand “hear” of how others are thinking these days.

However, in the “hannie” version of “intro to doorbelling”, I offer but this first suggestion. Take into careful consideration what you’re wearing while talking about your candidate. DO NOT wear any college themed apparel, especially if it’s anything involving UW or WSU. For it’s just like as you do anywhere else, you get the rivalry going on between Husky to Cougar fans, and oh yes, you’re not there to distract your potential audience and hear them go OFF about how your team is rotten…and your original idea you wanted to present is lost. Wear a plain colored t-shirt, sweatshirt, whatever. But don’t wear anything like what I have as an example. It just does not work very well.

Matter of fact, I’m in the middle of my promise to Derek that I would read the Obama book. I’m really liking it so far, because he’s saying things that you know have been true about our country for a long time, but were afraid to say because well, we just don’t talk about that, or, it’s easier to just ignore it and not confront it head on. We’re all guilty of this, even to our personal lives.

But here’s what Barack had to say, and it really made me think. “We think of faith as a source of comfort and understanding but find our expressions of faith sowing division; we believe ourselves to be a tolerant people even as racial, religious and cultural tensions roil the landscape. And instead of resolving these tensions or mediating these conflicts, our politics fans them, exploits them, and drives us further apart”

He’s right. And it can even go down to a simple rivalry between college teams. Okay, back to reading. And remember, no wearing the college stuff while doorbelling.

757 Wiki: projects:hcmms

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:23:40 +0000

HCMMS Haxor Con Media Management system Base Idea A complete end-to-end system to facilitate video capture of conferences during conferences, video playback (movie rooms, other displays), schedules, and information displays. Types of systems * Control server(s) - manage things via web app * Storage server(s) - file storage, could be on the control server * Capture nodes - anything that captures video * PC w/ hardware video encoder & our app * Perhaps some embedded janks if we c…

757 Wiki: projects

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:07:47 +0000

Building things is fun. Seeing a creation work is a satisfying reward. This page is for information regarding various projects that have been started or completed by 757.org members. A few of these projects cross over into commercial ventures, but the information is free for public use. Others are strictly for fun!

hannie: you know you have it made when….

hannie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:06:07 +0000

even people halfway across the country even give you accolades.

[23:30] (livegirl) lol, I have no generic whine for hannie :p
[23:31] (livegirl) she cracks me up! I love her political rages!! hehe

Speaking of accolades, perhaps half a week ago Mom gasps, and tells me to come see the paper she has. I saunter on over, and peer over her shoulder, and it’s a letter, addressed to me from Representative Carolyn Powers. Woah! Here’s what the letter says.

Dear Johanna:
I was very pleased we had a chance to get acquainted when you and the other Girl Scouts visited the Legislature last Friday. I’m sorry we didn’t have more time to visit, but I hope that you had a very pleasant and worthwhile day. I would like to encourage you to continue your interest in the legislature and all other levels of government as the impact of governmental decisions on our all lives is very great. Interested, concerned, and involved citizens can and do influence those decisions.

I wish you the very best future. If I can ever be of help to you, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Powers

I remember this trip I took to Olympia so long ago, as a girl scout and spending the day running around and seeing the capitol campus. It was awesome, it was breathtaking, and I was just so enthralled. Hearing the story about Ralph Munro climbing to the top of the Capitol Dome (I think that’s where he climbed to…can’t totally remember, except that I remember looking up and knowing I couldn’t do it, I would be too scared of falling) and all about our state government (they had to throw a fun story in there somewhere to make it interesting for us girls, right?). Oh it was one of my very best memories of being a Girl Scout, I mean, I have many, but this one would have to go on top ten.

Funny, I wonder if Carolyn knows of just “how” involved I am, and how I take my right to vote seriously and am so interested in politics. Who would have known that the little Girl Scout would become not only a democrat, but a blogger who just, hm, writes about stuff that she thinks is really important to her….I just have to giggle. But if you’re a hater, you know what, blame Carolyn. Either that or just add her to the list of those to blame.

(Special thanks to Mom *blame her too* for finding this cool letter from when I was little. Tres cool for sure!)

Last but not least, I am so so sorry I wasn’t able to make it for Kitsap Pride. I wanted to, really I did, but I had to help Mom with the house and I thought I was going to get a couple hours to come by, but no, no such luck. I hope a great time was had by all, and the weather was beautiful.

hannie: um.

hannie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:12:38 +0000

I hope that all of you fine Washington state residents who are NOT registered to vote got out and registered, as today is the last day to register before the primary in August. You know what, register regardless. November is coming up as well. Go here if you are a resident of the Evergreen state and get that registration done. Go already. But come back and have a good looksee at this.

Okay, correct me if I’m wrong, but if you watch McCain do a backpedal half-hearted attempt to try and answer how Viagra is more important than birth control, I have to giggle. I do. Exactly what is it that we as Americans pay you to do again? Wouldn’t you think, as a member of our government, and someone who is in the running for the Presidential position, that he’d have a little more knowledge of issues that affect our citizens? It’s distressing, really it is. But I hope that you take a moment to view the information, and please go ahead and sign the petition too. Grr. I hate to break this to everyone, but you know what, affordable birth control for females is pretty important. I mean, I’m not advocating everyone from teenage years on run out and have sex all the time, but I am saying hey, the option and availability needs to be there.

That’s my thought of the day. I’m feeling better, but still pretty spotted. (I have shingles, and on top of shingles, I have sunburn, but now it’s just peeling and my arms are looking like Hawaiian Tropic girl. Note to self, next time I decide I’m going to be gardening princess, must wear sunblock. And this my friends, is super important, as my stepdad has skin cancer and I get to drive him to Tacoma every six months to get checked for more spots. Scary stuff.) I need to get my backside back in gear again because we need some fresh news and some fresh stuff to discuss.