Voting is an important part of the democratic process.  Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion — often following discussions, debates or election campaigns.  Voting is at the core of health policy decisions that impact the health of  the public.  VOTING IS BOTH a right and a responsibility.  Voting is free and it’s every citizen’s right.

Election night can be as confusing as it is exciting.  Election officials are far more worried about mass cheating.  Election administrators and the American people must see beyond the critical hype and hypothetical worst-case scenarios and vote for common sense.  Elections may take place at many different times, but in the United States, general elections (for federal officials) are held every two years in even-numbered years, on the Tuesday that falls between November 2 and 8.

Voters’ preferences are now data-entered into computer systems, which then process the recorded votes to determine the results of the election.  Voters not wishing to use the “above-the-line-voting” option maintain the entitlement to indicate preferences for individual candidates; this is referred to as below-the-line voting.  Voters need a reason to make the effort to vote, and young people need to understand the importance of the election results to their own lives.  Voters have a lot of control over how and when they vote.  Voter registration postmark deadlines vary from 30 days before the election to just a couple of days before the election.

Ballot papers are counted according to prescribed set of rules which prescribe the method used in the counting of the ballots and the distribution of preferences.  Ballot papers which are not marked according to the rules for voting are called informal votes.  Ballot papers cannot be counted if they are informal.  Ballots are tabulated, and the Kids Voting election results are reported to the media just like the adult results are.  Ballot screens are simple to use and user friendly

Register Voters In order for college students to vote, they’ll need to be registered.

Candidates can concentrate their campaigning energies on issues rather than encouraging voters to attend the poll.  Candidates could focus on converting voters, rather than trying to get them to the polls.  Candidates for office often proclaim that children are our future.

Voting is not an intrinsic obligation and the enforcement of the law would be an infringement of the citizens’ freedom associated with democratic elections.  Voting is not the fairest, most effective way to make decisions in a group.  Voting is one of the worst ways to make decisions in a group.  Voting is an effective and fair way to make some decisions.  Voting is often (and perhaps typically) unfair because voting systems are designed to exclude certain voices, but with an endowed sense of process legitimacy.  Voting is the foundation of our democracy.

Article By:   Mark Breck   11/3/2008

Senator John McCain is making environmental news headlines again for taking a stance on climate change and distancing himself from the Bush Administration. In recent days, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate has campaigned in the Pacific Northwest touting his pro-environment commitment and agenda. McCain’s commitment to fight global warming differs from current Administration policy and from many other standard-bearing Republican Party agendas.

For McCain, the cornerstone of his environmental plan mandates a “cap and trade” system. McCain argues that establishing a cap on carbon emissions and setting a national goal to reduce overall carbon emissions to 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 is a realistic, and effective way to tackle climate change. (In contrast, both Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton have said they would set a goal to reduce overall carbon emissions to 80 percent of 1990 levels by mid-century.)

In McCain’s analysis, establishing a national standard for tradable carbon emission permits will allow the so called “good carbon emitters” to offset the “bad” ones. Furthermore, a nationwide cap and trade system would provide the necessary incentives to promote growth of solar, wind, and other renewable energy industries. McCain does not offer specific policy or market tools for solar or wind technologies because he is confident that a cap and trade system would sufficiently bolster those and other similar renewable energy markets. Nor has McCain outlined a more detailed plan on how his cap and trade system would work or what industries and activities would be targeted.

For McCain, alternative energy means energy independence. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, of the three current presidential frontrunners, John McCain most vocally favors reinvesting in nuclear power. He views nuclear energy as the most viable technology to meet the nation’s electricity demands. In his speech he made in Oregon (and posted on his website), McCain views the nexus among energy, the environment, and national security as one of the most important issues facing our nation.

McCain’s voting record, however, leaves critics dubious about his intentions and commitment toward the environment. The League of Conservation Voters who created a National Environmental Scorecard gives McCain a lifetime rating of 24 percent for his previous voting record regarding the environment. For this year’s legislative session, McCain gets a Zero; thus far he’s been absent for any of the environmentally related bills that have come up for a vote.

Critics point to inconsistencies in McCain’s voting record. As an article in Monday’s Washington Post points out, McCain has embraced some environmental provisions, yet shunted others not so seemingly different from the ones he supports.

Supporters contend that McCain, as a political maverick, has consistently distinguished himself from conventional Republicans. They cite that McCain was one of the first in Congress to acknowledge climate change and introduce legislation addressing the issue.

He’s certainly savvy when it comes to renewable energy photo-ops. In February McCain stood in front of a solar photovoltaic manufacturer when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his endorsement for the Senator. On Monday, McCain restated his environmental policy at a wind power company in Oregon. Time may reveal whether these press events truly signify McCain’s intentions toward renewable energy.

Being a web/software development company, we use a wide range of applications to create content/products for our clients.

Quite often, clients will ask for some kind of animation incorporated into their design. Some common uses of animation in websites are banners, logos, and navigational buttons. One of the most popular authoring environments for creating these animations is Macromedia Flash. Not only can Flash be used to create the elements mentioned above, it can be used to create entire websites or applications which are much more interactive than traditional HTML sites. It can also be used to create animated cartoons, games, and for displaying video on websites – YouTube being a good example.

Flash content can be viewed through any internet browser which supports the Adobe Flash Player. Flash content can also be viewed on selected mobile and non-PC devices that support a Flash Player plugin.

The Flash authoring environment supports a wide range of file formats, covering images, audio, and video. Having the ability to display high quality raster – or bitmap – images allows the user to create slideshows or add interactivity to images that are otherwise static. However, Flash’s real power lies in its ability to create vector graphics; using this form of artwork helps to cut down on file sizes which helps to keep animations running smoothly, and games performing as the developer intended. This is particularly true for older or slower computers.

Another powerful feature of Flash is its scripting language, ActionScript. Using programming allows the developer to create Flash ‘movies’ which are dynamic, can perform complex calculations, communicate with server side applications, and generally, allow a great deal more control over animations and user interactions.

At T-Enterprise, we use the Flash Authoring environment to create custom games for our clients. These range from simple puzzles to more complex platform games. The client will usually give us a brief of what they are looking for; usually it will require a theme that corresponds to the product or service which they provide. ActionScript allows us to create game ‘engines’ that can simulate real world physics, such as gravity and collision detection. As a result, our games offer high levels of interactivity whilst retaining the initial idea that the client suggested.

Use of, and support for Flash continues to grow, as does the number people who use the internet. Having a viral element – such as a game or video clip – on your website may help to increase traffic to your pages.

Create a video blog…instantly.

The Election of CHANGE

(C A Brooks, Elizabeth Pendleton)

It’s no wonder each of the top presidential candidates in the U.S. 2008 election has adopted the slogan “Change”.  Historic planetary aspects are taking both on Election Day itself and in the broader background leading up to and following this momentous day.  From the Spring of 1964 through 1966 Saturn had a series of oppositions to Uranus.  In short hand, Saturn represents tradition and structure while Uranus challenges the status quo.  These two powerful outer planets begin their next series of oppositions on November 4th.

Both Virgo and Pisces are mutable signs which are known for their ability to see more than one side of a situation.  Mutable signs tend to break apart or dissolve the fixed energy of the signs preceding them (Leo and Aquarius in this scenario) and paving the way for the new energy of the cardinal signs to follow (Libra and Aries). In a nutshell, the mutable signs represent Change.

At its best, Saturn represents maturity, wisdom learned through experience, self-knowledge leading to self-discipline and accepting responsibility for our lives and our choices.  At its worst, Saturn feels like external rules and regulations, structure, and oppression – the ultimate outside authority constricting our lives.  Without periodic and sober reflection it is true, the structures we create and accept in our lives can become outdated and cease to function as originally intended.

Sitting on the other end of the astrological teeter totter is Uranus, the rule breaker, representing rebellion, the independence and sometimes genius of adolescence, and forever the seeker of change, the novel and the new.  This rebel is all too willing to challenge the status quo, fly in the face of convention, and force us to reevaluate every value we hold dear whether we want to or not.

The tension of these two forces in opposition to each other is easily recognizable in the campaigns dominating this election.  While it would be totally unfair and unrealistic to characterize either candidate as representing just one end of this continuum, as we step back and view the “stage” we see the action taking place.  The John McCain critics accuse him of being “too old and crotchety, out of touch” and wanting to use all the old methods and structures for solving problems (Saturn).  The critics of Barack Obama claim he is “too inexperienced, too radical and even dangerous – palling around with terrorists” (Uranus).  McCain’s campaign encourages him to draw to his strengths by highlighting his experience, and long history of serving his country (Saturn) while cautioning him to avoid emotional outbursts and “erratic” exclamations and behavior (Uranus).  Meanwhile Obama’s advisors encourage him to demonstrate calm and assertive leadership (Saturn) and avoid getting “rattled” (Uranus).

As usual the truth is usually found in the middle ground. This is actually an exciting, if uncomfortable time.  Both planets are change makers in their own ways.  Saturn likes to clear the clutter – anything deemed not useful or functional and set up new boundaries and rules.  Uranus is usually flashier – wants to create some chaos, fight the establishment, and break things apart – which may be warranted at times.  Uranus change is not the soothing predictable and slow evolution like the tides moving in and out.

And just like the election is not the end, but rather the beginning of something new, the storm (or is it fun?) of this planetary oppositional pairing is far from complete.   Over the next two years the two planets will each move along in their designated courses, both continuing their dance of opposition as each planet moves in both forward and retrograde motions. In fact the two will be in direct opposition in February and September of 2009, and in April of 2010.  If we have done our homework – examined our lives, our beliefs and been open to new information, the July opposition in Aries and Libra will allow us to give birth to something new.  No doubt we will see the fruit of our labors as a country as well.

While Saturn and Uranus may have the greatest influence on Election Day itself, Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto are also set to play important roles in the shapes of things to come during the next Administration.

Beginning on September 2, 2007 Saturn entered Virgo which is when stories of the current mortgage crisis began to surface.  Saturn’s stern and sober review of the books coupled with earth sign Virgo’s relentless attention to detail will continue to leave no stone unturned in the world of financial affairs through October 29, 2009 when Saturn enters Libra.  Saturn in its highest aspect is one of life’s greatest teachers.  It gives sound structure to realistic goals, provides consistent strength and encouragement to worthwhile endeavors and rewards work well-done.  But it will not tolerate sloth and dishonesty.  That the fatal flaws of a financial boom built on unhealthy lending practices fueled by unprecedented greed from the bottom up are having a serious reality check now is no surprise.  Saturn simply won’t stand for cooking the books nor self-indulgence.  Add Virgo’s meticulous approach to life, particularly the material world, and its devotion to service, and the irregularities and faults of our economic system will continue to be exposed.   Saturn will demand that the next President help us get our fiscal houses in order, personally and nationally.

Also making the economy the ultimate focus this election year has been the planet of Jupiter in Capricorn which began back in January.  Capricorn is an earth sign ruled by Saturn.  So our national examination of the financial facts and real value of assets has been subject to this second heavy dose of reality.  In January 2009 Jupiter will move into  humanitarian minded Aquarius.  Under the right leadership, this is an excellent aspect for political change that serves the common good.  An example of how this could manifest would be government spending on infrastructure improvements and tax incentives for investments in green technologies.

But the most subtle yet significant aspect of all in the 2008 election is Pluto’s movement into Capricorn in late November, a trend that will last until March of 2023.  The last time Pluto went through Capricorn was 1762 to 1778.   One only needs to recall the Tea Taxes of the early 1760’s and resulting American Revolution to understand the powerful implications of this placement.  In short, it is a generational opportunity to reshape business, government and our other major institutions under Capricorn’s no-nonsense vigilance.  The good news about this ambitious sign is that he gives us both realism and the stamina for long-term goals.  He is not interested in being an overnight sensation.  And given the magnitude of the problems we now face, his endurance, pragmatism and willingness to roll his sleeves up to do what needs to be done are well-timed.   So, as we can see, the consequences of our selection on November 4th are profound and far-reaching.  2008 is indeed a time of “Change”.