Walt’s Ruminations

Vote by all means!! Here’s why:

Even if you don’t like the candidates you should go cast a valid write in vote. Do not stay home in protest as you will simply be ignored.

Example:

Candidate “A” wins with a little over 50% of popular vote, while candidate “B” comes in second with a bit under 50%. You know the news will be all about how “A” had a bit over 50% and “B” had a bit under, but they won’t be spending a lot of time on the fact that only half of the registered voters bothered voting.

That’s right, the 50% that stayed home will simply be glossed over. At most, it will be mentioned in passing; but no emphasis will be made on the fact in most cases.

If the 50% that would have stayed home goes and casts valid write in (No, Donald Duck, etc. votes don’t count!), then the winning candidate will win with about 25% of popular votes. They will know that 75% of the country wanted somebody else. Figures like this cannot be ignored or passed over.

Simply take the responsibility to cast a valid write in; neighbor, school shop teacher, whoever is eligible to be in the office in question.

You may hear that write ins “thin the votes” or something like that… I say “???”! You are making your opinions known in a way that cannot be ignored. Yes, the popular vote percentage is lowered significantly, and that puts the message loud and clear to the winning candidate that there is no comfort margin at all in feeling that half the country is behind them.

You may also feel that it will make no difference as to who wins, but you can still lower the percentage comfort margin in a way that can’t be ignored.

Voting is a right that not every country enjoys; take advantage of that right and go vote, even if you don’t like who is running. Make your voice heard whether you vote for an established candidate or submit a write in!

I noticed this week while driving on Interstate 64 near Crozet, VA that some trees seem to be starting their leaf color change. I guess it is getting close to that time of year…

Really, I would have expected more changes taking place at higher elevations, but much of what I noticed wasn’t that high up. A few did seem to be changing on top of Afton Mountain as well, but those didn’t surprise me.

Even in the Fredericksburg area some leaves are starting to simply change appearance, but not a real color change yet.

You know what this means (besides cold weather around the corner)… time to make sure the camera is ready to take tons of pretty fall color pictures!!

Who would have thought that summer could have so much going on even though I thought I have been playing lazy!  Maybe my being lazy is the real reason I haven’t posted lately!

I have added a few pictures to the gallery and want to do more on the entire site.

I’m trying something to maybe help get more posts up; it should let me write entries on the computer and then send them up to the blog when I am ready instead of my having to log in and write posts. This may or may not be as flexible so forgive me as I play with a few things here such as color, fonts and so on.

OK, time to see what (hopefully) happens!

If you notice to your right, under “Photos and Notes”, you will find references to pictures. I have been unable to make Gallery work, so I’m putting them here.

Most of the slow loading ones are the larger ones that I made large just in case you want to use one for wallpaper.

I will be adding pictures as I can.

Enjoy!!!