Prop 8 - The Musical December 3, 2008 10:54 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Politics, Publishing, Touchy Subjects, United States, Video , add a comment
Sarah Palin Slaughtered November 21, 2008 9:20 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Of Interest, Politics, Publishing, Touchy Subjects, Video , 3commentsRuss made my eyes water with this homage to the WKRP Thanksgiving Turkey Drop. I don’t think Saturday Night Live could have written this interview with Sarah Palin and her other brother Daryl in the background any better. Her closing line nailed it. Just what was the cameraman thinking?
Sources: Original post from The Huffington Post and the direct link to the Youtube video.
3commentsI really like Tennessee November 10, 2008 11:28 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects , 3commentsBut apparently there are about 43 states better suited for my family.
3commentsElection Night Drinking Games November 4, 2008 9:35 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , 2commentsShouldn’t we be drinking tonight? Say, every time one of the news guys says that a state has gone to the other guy take a drink. Every time the news guys point out that they are making judgments on very low percentages of returns, take a drink. Every time a state flips, take a drink. Every time CNN puts up that "holograph," take a drink. (Actually its pretty cool in the way that Star Wars knocked our socks off in 1977 but makes us cry today). Every time Wolf Blitzer makes it evident that he wants McCain to win, take a drink.
2commentsI congratulated a first time voter November 4, 2008 8:35 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a comment
We shared some laughs, talked about the lines at the polls, celebrated her first time at the polls, and wished each other luck in the express lane at Kroger.
add a commentVote and get free stuff November 4, 2008 12:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Bargains, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , 3commentsAfter you vote, run over to Starbucks for a free cup of coffee. Take your coffee over to Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut. Grab some Chick-fil-a for an early dinner.Unconfirmed Then have a free ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s for desert (5-8pm). Then for 2nd deserts head over to Baskin Robbins from 5pm-8pm for another free scoop.Unconfirmed…I think the person who told me this one was confusing it with Ben & Jerry’s. (I am trying to get links for confirmations but my machine isn’t cooperating. I can personally confirm that Starbucks is giving away free coffee.)
Update: You can also get a free sex toy if you live in New York City or Seattle. And just in case you aren’t reading what you are clicking, that link isn’t safe for work.
3commentsFree coffee for voting November 3, 2008 3:01 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentStarbucks wants you to vote.
add a commentTomorrow is the big day! November 3, 2008 11:36 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentEvery vote counts!
add a commentObama’s Infomercial November 2, 2008 2:48 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentIn case you missed it, here’s Obama’s infomercial that played on 3 networks last week:
add a commentMcCain says Obama NOT a Socialist October 31, 2008 10:02 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentSee The Huffington Post for the transcript.
Also, according to taxfoundation.org, it looks like Republican’s lean more toward Socialism than Democrats.
add a commentPresidential Poll October 30, 2008 10:00 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentMichael Silence puts McCain on top.
add a commentKnox County Charter Amendments in Plain English October 29, 2008 12:12 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Local Politics, Politics, Touchy Subjects , 13commentsUpon examining the sample ballot from the General Election in Knox County, TN November 4, 2008, I found the questions of the Charter Amendments confusing. So I emailed the Election Commission and learned that they are not allowed to comment on the ballots. However, the County Law Director’s Office writes the questions so I called and spoke to a very kind and informative lawyer at the County Law Director’s Office. He also pointed me to today’s Knoxnews Editorial (which says vote yes to 3 and 4. I disagree.). The following is my interpretation of the Chart Amendment questions based upon his answers to my questions. Please see this earlier post or the sample ballot for the actual questions.
LIQUOR REFERENDUM
First we discussed the Liquor Referendum. There are not overreaching implications of this question. Either we want to be able to have liquor by the drink served in bars and restaurants in the county, just like we do in the city, or we don’t. It’s a very straight forward question.
COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTION 1
This is a housekeeping amendment to bring our county into conformance with state law. In short, the amendment says, "Amendments can be added to the ballot."
COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTION 2
This is also a housekeeping amendment. Apparently the current charter does not explicitly state how the composition of a Charter Review Committee (that is, who makes up the committee). I looked for the actual wording in the current charter but Google is failing me at the moment. So, as a matter of housekeeping, this question adds to the charter language that says:
a Charter Review Committee is "composed of 27 members with 1 member of the County Commission from each commission district to be nominated by the Commission, 9 non-commission members who are registered Knox County voters nominated by the Commission and 9 noncommission members who are registered Knox County voters nominated by the Knox County Mayor."
There is no hidden agenda or far overreaching implication.
COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTION 3
This question is actually two unrelated questions in one. The first half of the question is asking do we reduce the number of county commissioners from 19 to 11. Each commission district would be reduced from 2 representatives to 1. And 2 at-large commissioners who would serve county wide and not be bound to district. This is similar to the way the city government works. So if you feel the city’s representation of the people is effective, then that part of the question is a YES vote. If you feel the city’s government is ineffective, then that half of the question is a NO vote.
The second half of the question regards a nepotism policy which obviously prohibits family from supervising or influencing employment of a relative. It also says that no person drawing a paycheck from Knox County would be able to serve as a commissioner. For example, a Knox County school teacher could not also be a Knox County Commissioner.
This is a tough question simply because the first half has to weigh between less overhead in our county government versus less representation. And the second half has to do with eliminating the good ol’ boy network in our county government (again, my interpretation, not the County Law Director’s Office). However, you cannot vote NO to half and YES to the other half. Your vote is either FOR or AGAINST.
COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTION 4
Right now, the positions of County Trustee, County Clerk, Register of Deeds and County Law Director are all elected positions. If you live in the county, you get to vote for the people who hold those positions. This question proposes that those four positions will no longer be elected. Instead the Mayor will appoint those positions.
That’s it. To review and my recommendations:
- (YES) Housekeeping
- (YES) Housekeeping
- (NO) Two unrelated questions: a) reduce the number of commissioners b) Instate a nepotism policy
- (NO) Change 4 elected positions to positions appointed by the Mayor
I don’t have to blog politics anymore October 29, 2008 10:36 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentNewscoma said it all. fin.
add a commentLooking forward to November 5 October 27, 2008 3:04 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Blog, Politics, Publishing, Touchy Subjects, United States , 3commentsI’ve wondered in this political season how many people who enjoyed a particular blog quit reading because of that person’s support for a particular candidate. I feel this election is very important and as such I have been very outspoken in support of Barack Obama. I hope that has not driven people away who have enjoyed Reality Me in the past. Recently, Cathy and I upset, and ran off, one reader that we assumed was passing through and making brief comments on blogs supporting Obama. We forgot that the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon taught us that all people are closely connected. In this case, our "passing" Republican was not a troll but a quiet reader of both our blogs who delurked for a political statement. I know this because it turns out she is a friend of my brother.
So, I’m looking forward to November 5, 2008, to cut back on some of the political posts and get back to the humor in life, some tech, pictures of my children, and news of the odd.
Blogging, at least mine, is an opinionated form of publishing that may be biased and at times without objectiveness. With its world-wide reach, the potential audience for a blog is huge. As such, the odds are someone is going to be disturbed, or offended. I can only hope that spurs some interesting conversations in comments and perhaps an opportunity to meet for coffee and discuss our differences. So if the Pro-Obamaness of Reality Me has driven you nuts, let’s have some coffee together and talk something other than politics. In the meantime, check out this great video from Obama!
And this transcription of his remarks in Canton, Ohio.
3commentsWassup! October 25, 2008 12:46 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Humor, Politics, Publishing, Touchy Subjects, United States, Video , 2commentsAlright Youtube, I’m giving you another chance because this video is just plain funny and has a great end.
Its been eight long years since the boys said wassup to each other. Even with the effects of a down economy and imminent change in the White House, the boys are still able to come together and stay true to what really matters.
For reference, here is the original wassup commerical:
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