Mindless Philosopher

I’m off to Sunday River for a weekend ski trip! I’m actually voluntarily missing a half-day of work (!) — a sure sign that I’m becoming an adult.

Whoops, look what someone happened upon:
GOP Guide To Social Security Reform [2.6MB]
I found the “Why Not 100%?” Section on Page 75 to be especially hypocritical.

Worked somewhat late coding (yay!) in VBA to make the Mellman Group processes run more efficiently. Raced home and ate a quick dinner consisting of three comestibles I’m fairly addicted to: two vanilla yogurt granola bars, one velvety potato soup-at-hand, and a half-bag of baby carrots. Pretty healthy, I think…though, I should probably pop a multivitamin.
Had to eat quick so I could bowl with Marcie and Laura. Bowled two games right-handed and two left-handed. Overall, it was pretty terrible bowling, and none of my scores is worthy enough to post. But, fun nonetheless. (I successfully managed not to walk outside with my bowling shoes on this time.)
And Happy Birthday to my brother.

Friday night my brother brought his gf home from school for a family dinner. My dad only completely embarrassed us twice, which is about average at these types of occasions. When we returned home, Marc showed off the yo-yo he made during IAP and the tricks he has since learned.
Saturday, I practiced my backwards crossovers and watched the snow start to fall. Sunday I played in the snow and went over to Nick and Sean’s for some evening activities. We watched “Kung Fu Hustle,” which was directed and writen by the same guy that did “Shaloin Soccer” (a fantastic flick). “Hustle” proved to be a funny movie in its own right, with some interesting social commentary to boot.
We followed the movie up with a couple games of 3-person Settlers Of Catan. I was demolished in game 1 (perhaps I was a bit rusty), but squeaked out a victory in game 2. (And for the first time I won with longest road instead of largest army–KC would be proud.)
In the political news today, itp proved prescient as the DNC state chairs endorsed Howard Dean (even though their exec board recommended Fowler). Let’s now hope that people *do* listen to Mark Brewer, as he is encouraging all the state chairs to vote as one.
LOTD: Star Wars, Episode III: A Lost Hope

Sigh.
Well there’s always February 12th.

In case anyone is on the fence (as I was a few days ago) about whether Senators should confirm Alberto Gonzales for US Attorney General, I recommend this editorial.
On a wholly unrelated note, tonight’s West Wing significantly upped my blood pressure. I recommend campaign consultants (or those wishing to be campaign consultants) watch it with caution.
LOTD: I hope my Prius isn’t next

Hanna Rosin (of paper bag and Laura Bush==girl fame) continues to earn her pay at WaPo.

Saturday night I used what I think I can safely safe was the best Chanukah book I got: The Star Wars Cook Book. The menu was:

• crackers with Jabba the Hummus (brought by Nick)
• TIE Fighter Ties (breadstick in the shape of TIEs)
• Boba-fettucine
• Greedo’s Garlic Bread (brought by Leslie)
• Yoda Soda (my personal favorite)
• and Wookie Cookies for dessert

Six others braved the snow to join me for eating the Star Wars themed food and watching Episode I: The Phantom Edit.
Sunday I went to the Masonic temple in Alexandria and watched the kids sled down the hill. The new fad for riding the snow is the mini-snowboard (about skateboard width), though the majority of vehicles were still toboggans. One group of kids set up a plastic ramp; the goal was to get enough air on the jump to be able to shift from chest down on the toboggan to standing upright on it. No one I witnessed managed it, though some got close.
This evening I observed focus groups for the first time in my short polling career. The topic was health care and one woman related a story that I feel the need to share.

My husband and I were both employed full-time and had health care through each of our jobs. When I was expecting we decided that I would stay home with the kid and thus should move over to my husband’s health insurance. But, when I tried to sign up, they rejected me because I had a “pre-existing condition:” my pregnancy. So I had to stay on my job up until the day I went into labor to keep my insurance.

That’s my definition of a broken system.
LOTD: Big Jimmy, in memoriam

Doing my best, and succeeding thus far, at this boycott today.

Lia Nistler’s Letter to the Editor, Eden Valley Journal Patriot. (We conducted the poll in question.)

Meeker County Public Health, Citizens for Smoke-Free Meeker County and the Meeker County Memorial Hospital have been actively pursuing and pushing for a Smoke-Free Ordinance for Meeker County. These organizations claim in press releases, headlines and radio advertising, that a survey of 400 registered voters in Meeker County shows the majority of Meeker County residents would support a countywide ordinance prohibiting smoking in workplaces.
I would like everyone to do the math. Get ready to crunch the numbers!
A call to the Meeker County Auditor, Barb Loch, revealed that in the last election (2004) there were 13,040 registered voters in Meeker County. 400 is only a little over 3% of that total. To claim a majority of the Meeker County registered voters, what is needed is one-half of 13,040, or 6520 plus 1. This is not a majority and far from a majority.
If you do the math according to the lead sentence from a press release/news article which appeared in the West Central Tribune on 1/5/05-reading “Nearly three fourths of Meeker County Residents support a county-wide ordinance prohibiting smoking in workplaces,” three-fourths of 400 is 300. This drops the percentage to just under 2.5% of 13,040. This is still not a majority and even further from a majority.
We do not want to forget the unregistered voters. They are residents of Meeker County too!
According to the US Census Bureau (Minnesota Quick Facts from the Internet Website) the 2003 estimate of resident population in Meeker County is 23,205. We will use their total population from the year 2,000, which is 22,644. Factor in and take away the 27% for persons under 18, for the year 2000 and that leaves 16,530 residents over the ages of 18. I for one know that 2.5% (or three-fourths of the 400 registered voters who were polled) are not the majority of Meeker County Residents and I am sure others will agree.
This is misleading information, that the above organizations are using, to created their messages and passing it off as representing support for this ordinance by the majority of residents of Meeker County.