Off by 9%? What Was That Margin in 2000? 2004?

A recent meeting of the House Science Committee heard testimony on the reliability of voting machines. "It would take somebody relatively unsophisticated to hack into a machine," reports Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore. "The biggest problem isn't hacking, but programming errors. In some cases, the margin of error is 9 percent." Say what?

"The election system in its entirety exhibits shortcomings with extremely serious consequences," wrote Steven Hertzberg, director of the study by the San Francisco-based Election Science Institute, "especially in the case of a close election." If I recall correctly, we are in the mess we are in called Iraq because the Supreme Court installed W after less than a 1% difference in Florida in 2000. The mess was exacerbated after the administration was allowed to remain in office in 2004 after a vote difference of less than 2%.

Congress, despite this hearing, doesn't seem overly concerned by this 9% error in a country that calls itself a role model for democracy. A bill by Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., to require paper trails for any voting system has collected more than 200 signatures in the House, but the leadership won't allow a vote. The Republican leadership. The leadership of the party who'd president won by less than 2% in both the last 2 elections.

The midterm Congressional elections are now just over 2 months away and I have a very uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

One Word on Ann Coulter

Skanky.

Organic Grapefruit/Lemon Juice.....oh, and Vodka

Since I quit dopin' and boozin' (I was really a bigger doper, I just used booze to "soup up"the benzos), I've been exploring tasty, strange and exotic non-alcholic juices, waters and other beverages. I've discovered an Italian soda that Central Market makes that comes in a variety of flavors.

I was in the store a couple of weeks back stocking up on my grapefruit/lemon Italian soda as well as apple-lemon-ginger juice, vanilla flavored soy protein powder, good spices.......oh, and I also always grab a handful of roasted, salted macadamia nuts which are $14.95 a pound but gratis if you just grab a few and are "sampling". I'd made my circuitous route through the store and was in line to check out. I'd set all my goods on the conveyor belt and as the cashier was ringing me up, a fellow behind me commented on my juice.

"That's really wonderful stuff, huh?" "Yeah, I'm downright addicted to the stuff....I love it" I said, studying the man's puffy profile and swollen, baggy eyes. "It's a little pricy though" he said. "Yep" I replied, "but since I quit drinking booze, it's a tasty luxury I can afford."

"You should try it with vodka. It's really good" he said in is seemingly unaware state.

Hello? What?