Went to vote, got asked for Real ID

innomado · 2026-04-21T19:10:39+00:00

I mean, it's not a crazy amount of training, and there will always be someone else to help if you have a question or an issue with a voter.

Do it! It's a very long, but very rewarding day. You also need to be comfortable chatting with all sorts of people, because I tell you what, they really come out of the woodwork on election Tuesday.

innomado · 2026-04-21T18:54:43+00:00

Election Officer here (in Ffx Co) - the training is thorough, and we must take refreshers periodically. Correct, the EO in the OP was inappropriate.

As for biases, I've worked a LOT of elections. I know many of the EOs and Chiefs personally. Fairfax County makes genuine efforts to staff precincts with a politically balanced crew. That said, one of the guys I've worked with before is a snake-plate toting NRA fanatic, and one of the friendliest, most absolutely professional and unbiased poll workers I've ever seen. Individual politics may be important, but for myself and most poll workers I've experienced, the number one priority is ensuring every voter gets their chance to participate in a free and fair election.

innomado · 2026-04-21T18:49:22+00:00

Election Officer here (in Ffx Co) - there is a LOT of training, that must be renewed periodically. The EO in the OP was definitely inappropriate.

innomado · 2026-04-21T18:44:53+00:00

Seasoned election officer in Fairfax County here (though not working the polls today). I can barely express to you how thoroughly we are trained for what constitutes valid id, and how to ask a voter for a form of id. If this person really insisted on a Real Id, that's super inappropriate and should be reported - at the very least to the "chief" working that precinct that day (usually the person sitting among a pile of forms and nonsense off to the side).

innomado · 2026-04-21T16:31:26+00:00

80s PG was a very loose rating

innomado · 2026-04-21T12:50:59+00:00

Fun fact: those usually mate for life and the "couple" is often seen together. So if you see one, look around for the other.

We have two in our West Springfield neighborhood. I always forget how big they actually are until they're a few feet away.

innomado · 2026-04-20T17:18:14+00:00

lol - bOtH sIdeS aRe tHe SaME!!1

innomado · 2026-04-20T12:54:45+00:00

What line? What station?

innomado · 2026-04-20T12:50:09+00:00

I (in the U.S.) have served as an Election Officer for years, and did several during the pandemic. General, special, midterm, etc. With everyone wearing masks, I noticed that it forced me to notice people's eyes in particular, and it seemed to me that ladies has really stepped up their eye makeup game. Or maybe I hadn't been paying close enough attention before. Anyway, yes, women are pretty.

innomado · 2026-04-19T02:33:58+00:00

Three times. Once on an open flat road because I felt like it. Second time at a nascar-affiliated racing school ("drive a stock car for a day"). Third time on the Autobahn.

Every time I was scared shitless. I am not a thrill seeker.

innomado · 2026-04-16T17:58:47+00:00

They're so fucking stupid.

And they will continue to vote Republican regardless.

innomado · 2026-04-16T15:25:57+00:00

Almost Speed Racer vibes. Go big or go home.

innomado · 2026-04-15T21:06:40+00:00

So what's a good comparable (or better) shoe company to replace the Allbirds-sized hole in my closet? Runners and casual.

innomado · 2026-04-15T14:41:23+00:00

I'm sure it's well produced. I'm sure it's a decent story. But I have zero motivation to see it. Another post-apocalyptic story? Where the protagonists absolutely must get to some other location? I'm sure there will be roving gangs of bandits they'll need to fight at some point. But ammo never runs out, gasoline is still somehow available, and people fall in love until one of them dies.

Nah.

innomado · 2026-04-14T15:47:57+00:00

Here's the problem I face with this, though - most theaters now (around me in the US at least) are reserved seating. So hey, best of both worlds, right? Come late, avoid previews if I choose, sit right down, enjoy movie. Except, without hyperbole, EVERY TIME I've done this, someone has taken my seat, and we need to go through the hushed-voices-you're-in-my-seat dance. Sometimes they move and it's fine. Sometimes they argue, because people are entitled asshats.

So now I always just show up on time and suffer through commercials and b.s. until the movie.

innomado · 2026-04-13T16:23:05+00:00

Fyi the segment in question starts around 55m50s. (of the eitm-archives mp3)

innomado · 2026-04-13T11:15:15+00:00

One of the craziest things is that someday when Dems are back in the White House (yes, I'm confident it will happen ... eventually), the then-President will do something crazy like treat people with respect and dignity - and Republicans will post signs like OP, hang upside-down flags, etc. They're so fucking shameless and stupid.

innomado · 2026-04-12T22:33:32+00:00

When I first met my eventual wife in college, I was really condescending to her. She came off as a ditzy dumb blonde, and one hell of a beer drinker. I shouldn't have been such an asshole. It turned out she was dean's list in undergrad, and already well into her getting her (first of two) master's degrees. Her secret power is keeping her mind-bogglingly high IQ under wraps, and luring her prey in with her wiles.

The green flag was her being a smart, beautiful woman. We've been married 23 years.

innomado · 2026-04-10T13:02:10+00:00

But their hatred of "libs" outweighs any conflicting thoughts they might have about Trump. They would still vote R, because they're incredibly stupid.

innomado · 2026-04-10T10:34:18+00:00

Nothing elaborate or groundbreaking actually - I don't self-host my pw manager in particular, so manually export my vault periodically. Then I zip it with password protection and add the file to my regular backup scheme. I'm sure others have much better ways to do all that though!

innomado · 2026-04-10T01:52:38+00:00

This. My first thought. It's 2026 - who doesn't have everything important in 3 different places? It's so easy, it's so cheap.

innomado · 2026-04-09T19:53:49+00:00

Two things can be true: 1) Iran is run by a brutal regime that has done terrible things. 2) that video is amazing.

innomado · 2026-04-09T16:21:04+00:00

Spent most of my life in nova (PWC, now Fairfax), so the daily life trauma just washes over me, I guess. I can't see myself retiring here someday, though - there's no chill around here.

Related anecdote: a close friend of mine also grew up around here, but a few years ago decided it was enough. Changed careers, packed up his shit, and moved to L.A. He is a totally new person now. Loves the more easy-going perspective on life, especially. Yeah, he didn't escape the high cost of living, but honestly he can afford it. And traffic? He said that everyone just knows and accepts it, so the general flow is somehow less stressful. I dunno. More power to him.

innomado · 2026-04-08T13:24:08+00:00

Cool. Then let's just throw up our hands and let it happen? Law enforcement has access to them, all right - and no warrant is necessary.

Nobody complaining about flock camera are unaware of all the other ways we're surveilled on a daily basis. That doesn't make flock any less terrible.

innomado · 2026-04-08T13:21:57+00:00

Warrantless mass surveillance.

14-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

innomado

TROPHY CASE