Today is the
California Recall Election, wherein people get to vote whether or not
to recall our present governor, Gray Davis, and elect one of 130+
replacement candidates. Lots of people have looked at this event --
which has been building up from a couple of months -- as some sort of
joke or an indication of how messed up politics can be. I don't look at
it that way. I've seriously gone and looked and researched, however
lightly, all candidates and I chose the one that I think is the best
one.
There are two big political parties in the United States, the Democrats
-- referred to as the Left -- and the Republicans -- referred to as the
Right. Looking at one aspect, Democrats want equality and equal rights
-- whether racial, sexual, gender, wealth, or whatever metric -- and
Republicans want equal opportunity along the same lines. Democrats want
everyone to be treated the same, everyone to be more or less equal.
Republicans don't care about everyone being the same as long as they
have the same opportunities, everyone starts at more or less the same
point and after everyone has more or less the same chance to succeed,
and if they don't then they don't.
I don't think that the majority of people really care either way. Most
people want security, for themselves and for their family. Usually this
means financial security although physical security is part of it too.
Most people don't care what the government does outside their own
little corner of the country. And I think that's a good thing. People
want to work, make money, provide for their family and enjoy life. They
may pay particular attention to a handful of larger issues but for the
most part each person doesn't care what the government is doing in some
far off country, or even on the other side of our own country.
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One of my
friends, Eric Fulton, moved out of his house last weekend and into an
apartment. He's been out of a job for about a year and finally ran out
of money so he has to sell his house. Kind of sad, though I don't think
he minds as much. I would probably be more upset if I had to give up my
house, because I have a good amount of investment in it, both monetary
and emotional. And of course I'm thankful that I do still have a job,
work that I enjoy and that I do fairly well, with people I like being
around.
Another friend, Dave Sweet, and his wife Julie just had a son, Riley
James Sweet, early in August. Cute kid, but I guess most kids are cute
when they're that young. Apparently he's a heavy sleeper, though of
course he only sleeps for a few hours at a time. It'll be interesting
to see what kind of parents Dave and Julie turn out to be. My friend
Billy has a son who is about 13. That kids is quite hyperactive and
boisterous. Not a bad kid, though barely controlled by his parents.
At work, one of my coworkers, Stanley Yue, left at the end of last
week. He's bee in our group for a year and a half and is going to
another computer company, Veritas. Nice guy, also grew up in Sacramento
and went to UC Berkeley, though about four years behind me. Still, it
was good to have someone with about the same background as me. He's the
first guy to leave our group in at least a year, maybe more like two
years. Our group has been pretty static and we've been fortunate that
we've had people who like working here and aren't just putting in some
time before moving on to the next job. Of course, a bad tech job market
helps keep around too.
I've was hosting our weekly game day at my house all last month. My
friends and I meet almost every Saturday to hang out and play games. I
like to host because it gives me a chance to use my house and provide
good food and I don't have to drive anywhere on Saturday. It is a bit
of work cleaning up afterwards but I think everyone likes to play at my
place so it's nice.
That's it for now. I hope to hear from you soon.
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