Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Wed, Dec 14 2005
Keeping The Diebold Record and the Check Register Open
As the news of CEO Walden O'Dell leaving Diebold comes to us, I'm hoping that the company will seek to maintain a clean record, present quality products and become a strong competitor in e-voting. Voting is a very basic privilege. While America is busy helping citizens in other countries, such as Iraq, to vote for honest leadership we need to be sure our own methods of voting and tallying are as accurate and fair as possible. Mr. O'Dell publicly displayed openly partisan associations in the past and his leaving Diebold now is a good indication that he recognizes the fact that his actions could have exacerbated Diebold's recent bad press.
I do not, however, agree with any company, including Diebold, forbidding its employees, including executive officers, from making political contributions. Personal contributions, like voting, should be a matter of choice and should be unencumbered by company interests or company pressure. Besides—personal contributions are a matter of public record and are quite a different matter from making private remarks to hungry politicians and holding private fundraisers with elite guest lists. Personally, I'd like to know exactly which candidates and issues all company executives are willing to pull out their own checkbooks for. Let them write all the checks they want so that the rest of the company personnel and the American taxpayers have a pretty good idea where their true interests lie.
posted at: 15:21 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
As the news of CEO Walden O'Dell leaving Diebold comes to us, I'm hoping that the company will seek to maintain a clean record, present quality products and become a strong competitor in e-voting. Voting is a very basic privilege. While America is busy helping citizens in other countries, such as Iraq, to vote for honest leadership we need to be sure our own methods of voting and tallying are as accurate and fair as possible. Mr. O'Dell publicly displayed openly partisan associations in the past and his leaving Diebold now is a good indication that he recognizes the fact that his actions could have exacerbated Diebold's recent bad press.
I do not, however, agree with any company, including Diebold, forbidding its employees, including executive officers, from making political contributions. Personal contributions, like voting, should be a matter of choice and should be unencumbered by company interests or company pressure. Besides—personal contributions are a matter of public record and are quite a different matter from making private remarks to hungry politicians and holding private fundraisers with elite guest lists. Personally, I'd like to know exactly which candidates and issues all company executives are willing to pull out their own checkbooks for. Let them write all the checks they want so that the rest of the company personnel and the American taxpayers have a pretty good idea where their true interests lie.
posted at: 15:21 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
Looking Like Famous People
Several people had a link to interesting pictures of celebrities without makeup. There are more here. These are usually female celebrities, but the occasional painted peacock sometimes makes the list. It's interesting how different people look when their eyes are lined, their brows darkened and other features are either enhanced or played down. Maybe that's how we get the whole celebrities separated at birth idea. I must say I don't quite agree with some of those comparisons. George Clooney does not remind me of Cary Grant in the least, but maybe that's because the way they carry themselves and speak on film seem very different to me.
I once knew a young man with light features who looked so much like Donny Osmond that some of us threatened to tackle him and dye his hair and eyebrows so we could take a comparison photo. And then there's the matter of voices. Each of us supposedly has a unique voice or voice print. I used to fill in as a receptionist at an office frequented by a client who sounded so much like actor Jack Nicholson that I always had to look at his face just to do a double-check.
Some people look so much like celebrities that they make a career out of it. Check out the lookalikes for Yul Brynner, Queen Elizabeth and Clint Eastwood. And while I'm sure it carries mixed blessings, there are those who manage to make a great living looking like Bill Clinton or George Bush.
posted at: 09:37 | category: /Playing | link to this entry
Several people had a link to interesting pictures of celebrities without makeup. There are more here. These are usually female celebrities, but the occasional painted peacock sometimes makes the list. It's interesting how different people look when their eyes are lined, their brows darkened and other features are either enhanced or played down. Maybe that's how we get the whole celebrities separated at birth idea. I must say I don't quite agree with some of those comparisons. George Clooney does not remind me of Cary Grant in the least, but maybe that's because the way they carry themselves and speak on film seem very different to me.
I once knew a young man with light features who looked so much like Donny Osmond that some of us threatened to tackle him and dye his hair and eyebrows so we could take a comparison photo. And then there's the matter of voices. Each of us supposedly has a unique voice or voice print. I used to fill in as a receptionist at an office frequented by a client who sounded so much like actor Jack Nicholson that I always had to look at his face just to do a double-check.
Some people look so much like celebrities that they make a career out of it. Check out the lookalikes for Yul Brynner, Queen Elizabeth and Clint Eastwood. And while I'm sure it carries mixed blessings, there are those who manage to make a great living looking like Bill Clinton or George Bush.
posted at: 09:37 | category: /Playing | link to this entry
