Save Greendale!

R.I.P. Harry "Bill Gannon" Morgan

Now he's busting hippies in Heaven.  

Harry Morgan was quite funny on Dragnet, and one of the things that makes it watchable.  The characterization is actually more subtle than his turn as Col. Potter in M*A*SH.  There's a running joke about his character's obsession with wallpaper that's particularly rewarding...

Most Horrifying PSA Ever

This series, Protect and Survive, never actually aired in the UK, but was held until the event of a nuclear incident. I think if I saw this one ('Casualties'), I'd really feel it was all over.

Voting Machines, part two

Regular "Foulard" reader Stephanie lives in the only state where the old-fashioned voting machine is still used, as far as I can tell.

"In this New Yorker magazine cover from 1956, election officials tally votes registered on the counters visible on the back of a gear-and-lever voting machine. These machines were last manufactured in 1985 and remain in statewide use in Louisiana and New York. They are being phased out under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which provides aid to states to acquire new voting equipment."

http://americanhistory.si.edu/vote/votingmachine.html

But it looks like today's election is the last for the New York voting machines:
http://aplfriends.blogspot.com/2009/10/loss-of-lever-voting.html
Here in Seattle, we've finally gone over to mail-only voting. Last year's presidential election was the final time Beebo and I got to go to the polls. But Beebo's name wasn't on the list, so she got a provisional ballot--which was a lame way to go out!

Votin' Time!

I think I only voted in one of these old-school voting booths once, 25 years ago. I was actually still 17, but in Indiana you could vote in the primary if you'd be 18 in time for the general election.

p.s. I voted for Fritz both times...

Don't forget to vote!

How to park on Howell Street at Summit Ave

There are a few simple rules you need to follow if you wish to park your car on Howell Street between Olive Way and Summit Avenue.

1. Make sure you're not very good at parallel parking. If you can get your car in the space in less than five minutes, you're doing something wrong.
2. The street is on a 30 degree incline, so you'll want to be driving a stick shift that you haven't really mastered. This will ensure that your car makes lots of violent, herky-jerky movements as you try to squeeze into that tight space.
3. Don't get your brakes fixed! The squealing, shrieking sound is music to the ears of the people who live in the apartments on both sides of the street.
4. Have a really old beater car that takes 10 minutes to warm up while you sit inside enjoying that first morning cigarette. Make sure to rev the engine intermittently, so that people will think you're finally about to leave. You can also have your stereo blaring the whole time if you want. Any black, billowing clouds of exhaust are a bonus, naturally.
5. If you leave your car parked, you should have an antiquated alarm system that will go off if a hummingbird hovers within ten feet of it.
6. As you're pulling out, do a prolonged 8-point turn so that you don't have to drive around the block to get turned in the right direction. Don't worry, no one minds how long it takes! You can drive up on the sidewalk if necessary.
   
7. When you leave, be sure to pull out and tear down the street as violently as possible, as if you just turned into Steve McQueen in Bullitt.
   

Keep in mind that this is a densely populated area, so you'll want to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of your presence. Happy parking!

Note to Self

Take Beebo to Dollywood one of these days...

A public service announcement

It's always nice when people you're lecturing just nod sadly and don't talk back.

Darn, I was really looking forward to the bus ride out to the Kent Regional Justice Center!

Time to celebrate in the traditional manner--with trombone jazz and a frugging Bunny.