How near to people are polling stations in the US. Generally if you live in a town or city over here they are within a fairly easy walk
It depends on where you are. Bear in mind that in many parts of the country, including some towns and cities, very few things are within a fairly easy walk.
Where my mom and dad used to live, their polling place was about ten miles from their home. Mine right now is about three and a half miles away. Voting by mail is much easier, and we have done so for almost twelve years, now. Where I live, these distances to the polling places are pretty typical.
By good chance I happened to read Terry Pratchett's Going Postal just a few weeks ago. It pretty much sums up the job of the next US Postmaster General if this latest trumpery isn't stopped, i.e. the hero has to overcome massive corruption in restoring service to a system that has failed and shut down. A prescient story.
I live in a village (now designated a small town) of 10k persons with three polling stations, one of which is under a five mins walk. This isn't typical and I don't know how far most people have to go. Still, here in the UK we have shorter distances to everything than in the US!
Inside the Polling Station, we are separated into two areas by address and each side is attended by three officials, which always seems overkill to me as there's rarely any waiting or queuing and they mostly have a relaxed time.
I have queued to vote in London. Our polling station was about 10 mins walk max. They have them very near so people can vote easily. I am unsure about rural areas. No wonder mail voting is popular over there.
I have queued to vote in London. Our polling station was about 10 mins walk max. They have them very near so people can vote easily. I am unsure about rural areas. No wonder mail voting is popular over there.
I feel I need to include this short quote from the Metro on voting here:
Some people chose to deliberately spoil their ballot to express their frustration with the political system. Protesters have been known to tick every box, write all of the ballot paper, and, of course, draw a penis on it. Just make sure the genitalia isn’t only marked in a single box or you might end up voting for someone you don’t want.
By good chance I happened to read Terry Pratchett's Going Postal just a few weeks ago. It pretty much sums up the job of the next US Postmaster General if this latest trumpery isn't stopped, i.e. the hero has to overcome massive corruption in restoring service to a system that has failed and shut down. A prescient story.
Is that the one where the villain, a flamboyant businessman, lives in Trump Tower?
I feel I need to include this short quote from the Metro on voting here:
Some people chose to deliberately spoil their ballot to express their frustration with the political system. Protesters have been known to tick every box, write all of the ballot paper, and, of course, draw a penis on it. Just make sure the genitalia isn’t only marked in a single box or you might end up voting for someone you don’t want.
Our polling station is about 10 yards away - each village has one. So hardly anyone has to do anything other than walk. Obviously there are a few outlying farms but the basic aim is to make no-one has to travel further than a few miles. As a result there are a lot of polling stations so there is never anything resembling a queue.
By good chance I happened to read Terry Pratchett's Going Postal just a few weeks ago. It pretty much sums up the job of the next US Postmaster General if this latest trumpery isn't stopped, i.e. the hero has to overcome massive corruption in restoring service to a system that has failed and shut down. A prescient story.
Well, sadly, you've a bit of a wait for the next UK General Election*, I think, but perhaps there are some upcoming in Scotland?
IndyRef2, maybe?
*By which time I expect *ConDom Cummings* will unilaterally have declared himself Great Leader in England, at least, having observed the machinations of The Mad God-King across the Pond...
For UK & Commonwealth folks, maybe this would be a good time for King Arthur to return?
I can't think of any American equivalent. There might be a Native American person/being/teacher.
Zombie George Washington. Seriously. That was a thing. When Washington died one doctor proposed reviving him using the best Enlightenment-era (mad) science, which is somewhat ironic given that the prescribed course of bleeding that killed him was also regarded as the best Enlightenment-era science.
This is a short story or novella just waiting to be written.
The Father of his Country would recognize his church as having barely changed since the days when he (rumor has it) slept through many a sermon. Perhaps he could become a Mystery Worshipper.
The Pohick Church was MWd pre-2005, earlier than the cutoff date applied to reports that were ported over from the old Ship software to the new.
For UK & Commonwealth folks, maybe this would be a good time for King Arthur to return?
I can't think of any American equivalent. There might be a Native American person/being/teacher.
Interesting idea. I can't offhand think of any English monarch I'd like to see back in charge, except perhaps Alfred The Great (reigned 871-899 or thereabouts - he was born in 848/849 or thereabouts - they don't seem to have kept accurate registers in those days...).
Harold II may have turned out well, but he got something in his eye in 1066...
Out of curiosity, how have we strayed from Trump to Robert the Bruce, to whom a truly unbelievable number of families with Scots origins (including mine) claim kinship / lineage / blood ties?
For UK & Commonwealth folks, maybe this would be a good time for King Arthur to return?
I can't think of any American equivalent. There might be a Native American person/being/teacher.
Interesting idea. I can't offhand think of any English monarch I'd like to see back in charge, except perhaps Alfred The Great (reigned 871-899 or thereabouts - he was born in 848/849 or thereabouts - they don't seem to have kept accurate registers in those days...).
Harold II may have turned out well, but he got something in his eye in 1066...
Ahh, a challenge!!
Henry V, hands down. Cut down at the peak of his career, Henry set up a situation where the crowns of England and France were united in the person of his son. Had Henry lived, I feel certain that English rule of the perfidious French would have lasted a thousand years!
Robert the Bruce is far back enough that the entire population of Britain could potentially be descended from him on both sides.
Indeed. A recent DNA study claimed that a large proportion of Central Asia (8% of the male population) is descended of Genghis Khan. Given his acquisition of wives and concubines, and the number of generations between the 13thC and today, it's possible. HIs domestic arrangements certainly gave him an advantage over the Bruce.
A recent DNA study claimed that a large proportion of Central Asia (8% of the male population) is descended of Genghis Khan.
That's only the men who are direct descendants in the male line (ie their father was a descendant and his father's father all the way back without ever going through the mother). So the number of people actually descended from Genghis Khan is must be larger than 8%.
Also, the region covered stretches from Turkey to China. (Strictly speaking we don't know that the common ancestor was Genghis Khan, but the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.)
The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!
Looks like he’s hoping a vaccine before November will save him. 🤔
Does he realise how many of his base are anti vaccers?
The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!
Looks like he’s hoping a vaccine before November will save him. 🤔
Does he realise how many of his base are anti vaccers?
It's more like he's hoping to announce a vaccine before November, regardless of whether one has been proven to be both safe and effective, and expects the FDA to contradict him.
Elizabeth Warren is also investigating whether his attack on USPS is stopping people from getting their prescription medications (a lot of people get drugs like insulin delivered by mail). Handy that the Deep State is really what stops access to medicines.
Elizabeth Warren is also investigating whether his attack on USPS is stopping people from getting their prescription medications (a lot of people get drugs like insulin delivered by mail). Handy that the Deep State is really what stops access to medicines.
This is especially true for veterans. The Veterans Administration (which handles health care for honorably discharged veterans) sends most of the prescription drugs in its system through the U.S. Mail. That's not going to look good.
And Mike Pence has his own take on COVID-19:
John Harwood
Pence answering Biden’s indictment on the pandemic:
“we think there is a miracle around the corner...a tribute to President Trump’s leadership”
Does Pence actually believe what he himself says? Or is it about cozying up to someone more powerful? Or is he humoring T, because he can't think of any other way to handle him? Or is he deluded?
Does Pence actually believe what he himself says? Or is it about cozying up to someone more powerful? Or is he humoring T, because he can't think of any other way to handle him? Or is he deluded?
(Or all of the above?)
It's not very fruitful to ask what a politician really believes. It's usually better to ask "how will they govern?" Pence will use whatever power the vice presidency has (ha!) in a manner consistent with the premise that a miracle will solve the COVID-19 pandemic and Donald Trump will get (and deserve!) the credit for it.
Link to a Guardian report. Against a backdrop of a global pandemic, heightened racial tensions, and widespread unemployment, Donald Trump framed his Democratic rival Joe Biden as the real danger to the country’s safety and economic welfare in his address to the Republican convention on Thursday.
He’s projecting. Will it work? Who knows?
These are such uncertain times. On the day of the election and the days following I’m hiding away, ostrich style. I’ll get my news from the Ship until I get the ‘all clear’!
Party conferences are preaching to the converted, particularly that audience (not keeping to the two metres rule). My gut still says he won’t get in again. That said my gut was wrong about Brexit.
Comments
I may have misunderstood but I think it depends on your bank balance and skin tone.
Inside the Polling Station, we are separated into two areas by address and each side is attended by three officials, which always seems overkill to me as there's rarely any waiting or queuing and they mostly have a relaxed time.
Ours is about 4 miles away.
Is that the one where the villain, a flamboyant businessman, lives in Trump Tower?
But some candidates are pr*cks, aren't they?
(Miss Amanda will fetch her wrap.)
Yup. Good book, and sounds about right.
[tangent]
And, as of 1st September, I shall once again have a vote!
Because we never gained Canadian citizenship, I haven't had a vote anywhere for the last 16 years, so bring on the next election!
[/tangent]
IndyRef2, maybe?
*By which time I expect *ConDom Cummings* will unilaterally have declared himself Great Leader in England, at least, having observed the machinations of The Mad God-King across the Pond...
Parliamentary election next year, though you just have to be resident in Scotland to vote, not a citizen.
For UK & Commonwealth folks, maybe this would be a good time for King Arthur to return?
I can't think of any American equivalent. There might be a Native American person/being/teacher.
Zombie George Washington. Seriously. That was a thing. When Washington died one doctor proposed reviving him using the best Enlightenment-era (mad) science, which is somewhat ironic given that the prescribed course of bleeding that killed him was also regarded as the best Enlightenment-era science.
This is a short story or novella just waiting to be written.
The Pohick Church was MWd pre-2005, earlier than the cutoff date applied to reports that were ported over from the old Ship software to the new.
Interesting idea. I can't offhand think of any English monarch I'd like to see back in charge, except perhaps Alfred The Great (reigned 871-899 or thereabouts - he was born in 848/849 or thereabouts - they don't seem to have kept accurate registers in those days...).
Harold II may have turned out well, but he got something in his eye in 1066...
No, he’s the the one who let the cakes burn in Somerset! The spider watcher was Robert Bruce of Scotland.
Ahh, a challenge!!
Henry V, hands down. Cut down at the peak of his career, Henry set up a situation where the crowns of England and France were united in the person of his son. Had Henry lived, I feel certain that English rule of the perfidious French would have lasted a thousand years!
Indeed. A recent DNA study claimed that a large proportion of Central Asia (8% of the male population) is descended of Genghis Khan. Given his acquisition of wives and concubines, and the number of generations between the 13thC and today, it's possible. HIs domestic arrangements certainly gave him an advantage over the Bruce.
Also, the region covered stretches from Turkey to China. (Strictly speaking we don't know that the common ancestor was Genghis Khan, but the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.)
Will the majority of Americans be descended from Trump, in the same way that the majority of the English will be descended from Johnson?
Looks like he’s hoping a vaccine before November will save him. 🤔
Does he realise how many of his base are anti vaccers?
It's more like he's hoping to announce a vaccine before November, regardless of whether one has been proven to be both safe and effective, and expects the FDA to contradict him.
This is especially true for veterans. The Veterans Administration (which handles health care for honorably discharged veterans) sends most of the prescription drugs in its system through the U.S. Mail. That's not going to look good.
And Mike Pence has his own take on COVID-19:
Apparently Donald Trump can now work miracles.
Pence, BTW, must surely qualify as one of the greatest Fruitloops of the century...
The black sheep of the family. No, make that the orange sheep.
(Or all of the above?)
It's not very fruitful to ask what a politician really believes. It's usually better to ask "how will they govern?" Pence will use whatever power the vice presidency has (ha!) in a manner consistent with the premise that a miracle will solve the COVID-19 pandemic and Donald Trump will get (and deserve!) the credit for it.
https://tinyurl.com/yycjgepp
Link to a Guardian report. Against a backdrop of a global pandemic, heightened racial tensions, and widespread unemployment, Donald Trump framed his Democratic rival Joe Biden as the real danger to the country’s safety and economic welfare in his address to the Republican convention on Thursday.
He’s projecting. Will it work? Who knows?
These are such uncertain times. On the day of the election and the days following I’m hiding away, ostrich style. I’ll get my news from the Ship until I get the ‘all clear’!