Newsbleep 006
I Scream
This is not a smile. It’s a monster. With ice cream.
Quickly Now
Ok. Apologies to Camp Friends for not posting about last weekend. Last weekend, Holli and I went to Camp Okoboji. It went well. The atmosphere felt really relaxed. The girls did scrapbooking (which is a huge industry, I’ve discovered), and the guys played video games. Thanks to Luke for his patient explanations of the games as I painstaking learned my way around them. I’m sure if he hadn’t already beat them all hundreds of times, he would have been pretty frustrated with my n00b console skills. Pictures are in my Scrapbooking – 18 Nov 06 photoset.
Also, to Bryan, Luke, and Keith: this is the “Lazy Sunday” video that was parodied in the “Lazy Scranton” video in that Office episode.
I haven’t posted (for reals) this week because I’m way behind on the novel, and I’m also trying to put together a Newsbleep episode, so I don’t really have time to fill you retards in on my daily life. Just kidding! Well, I am kinda. Anyways, I’m going to sleep. Good night!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.
Musebleep 008
One Size Fits All
Taken in a Perkins bathroom.
Holli’s Famous!
Holli’s going to be in a commercial on KSFY for DSU!
4 8 15 16 23 42
I’m tired and I’m about five chapters behind on my novel. If I wasn’t tired I’d say that there was the musical this weekend, that it went really well, that Holli did a great job taping, and that there were nearly 230 people in the Gregg household all at once watching the play they had just performed. At first I thought it was a little silly, but then I remembered being in High School plays and how I’d probably do the same thing. The kids were happy and that’s all that matters.
If I wasn’t so tired, I’d also tell you that I got lots of pictures, and I’d say that you could check out Little Shop of Horrors – 11, 12 Nov 06.
I’d also say that on Sunday Larry, Carol, Holli, Marissa, MacBook, and myself recorded Musebleep 007: Chapter Eight. It went well, and you can hear the fruits of our labor, if you haven’t already, on the Musebleep site.
I’d finally close by saying that whenever I think of something in Lost, like “Who is that strange character we’ve never seen before?” or “I wonder what Hurley’s back story is…” then they explain it in the next episode. How cool is that?
What is your guys’ favorite musical and why?
Musebleep 007
oh my god
I see this thing everywhere.
The Vote Is Dead; Long Live the Vote
Val Rausch (along with Steve Street) are District 4’s Representatives! Mike Rounds is South Dakota’s Governor! Congrats to everyone who won in yesterday’s elections!
Last night Holli and I drove out to Big Stone to celebrate with Dad and 14,000 other people. Holli and I mostly hung out upstairs webcamming with Bryce and, later for a short while, Tony. Bryce was the star attraction, as all the little ones were upstairs, and they were fascinated with being seen and seeing someone on a computer screen. I also got two more chapters written on the way down to the party.
Quick Results (on what I reported on Monday):
Constitutional Amendment C: Yes (52%)
Constitutional Amendment D: No (80%)
Constitutional Amendment E: No (89%)
Constitutional Amendment F: No (68%)
Initiated Measure 2: Yes (61%)
Initiated Measure 3: No (57%)
Initiated Measure 4: No (52%)
Initiated Measure 5: Yes (55%)
Initiated Measure 7: No (67%)
Initiated Measure 8: No (61%)
Referred Law 6: No (56%)
This last weekend, Holli and I came back to Big Stone. We hung out with Tony, and tried really hard to watch the pilot of Lost, but Mom and Dad showed up (who apparently didn’t know we were coming by) and ruined everything. Saturday the big thing we did was record Musebleep 006: Chapter One. I had great fun doing this, and I think it turned out really well. To go along with this, I created (and will update) a page devoted to the novel. You can read the chapters as they get finished! Just go to MilesRausch.com/nano2006 and read away!
Sunday we spent celebrating Grandpa’s birthday. We ate at the Texas Roadhouse (as you saw), and we then chilled at Grandma and Grandpa’s new apartment. It was laid back. Bryce called me, and we talked for a while about nothing much. Then Holli and I drove back, and I did some more writing. Pictures of the apartment are available in my Grandma and Grandpa’s New Apartment – 5 Nov 06 photoset.
Then, Tuesday, I got to vote. I was excited. It’s not every day you get to vote. Last time, I remembered voting absentee, so I’d never been subjected to Madison’s actual voting procedure. I drove up to the Playhouse, following Holli who was going to take some pictures of the stage. We said goodbye, and I took note of the tables. There were a lot of tables, all of which were manned by 90 year old women. I did notice that the first one was right next to a big map that showcased who voted where (by Ward and Precinct). I located my apartment on the map, and I headed for the big room down the hall.
This room had tables all along the walls, with numbers above them. These, I guessed, were the Ward-Precinct combinations I’d seen on the map. I located my booth and headed over there. I smiled at the lady, gave her my ID, and told her my name. She pried open the thick pile of names that some decades-old dot matrix printer had spit out and searched for my name. She looked and looked, and verified the spelling, and couldn’t find it.
We brainstormed, thinking that maybe I was actually registered in the W-P that the address on my ID said. So, I walked across the room to that table. I started to explain my predicament, once again getting out my ID, but the lady answered with a loud “What?” So, I just gave her my name, three times, and she searched for my name. Again, I was absent. She asked me my address, and I started to explain why my current address wouldn’t help us out here, but she insisted, and I told her, three or four times. She suggested I go to yet another table. Or, I could walk back out to the 100 year old woman by the map and look in that gargantuan book of names. I opted to do that.
I stand in line, by the big map which everyone and their idiot is walking past to talk to this ancient old lady with glasses nearly as thick as the printout she has to page through. I wait, and I finally have my chance. I tell the lady my name. “Miles Rausch” is what I say, because – look at the address bar – that’s my name. She says, “What?” Of course, she would say that. I say, “Rausch,” and she says, “G-R-E…”, and I say, “No, no, no. R-A-U-S-C-H,” and she says, “R-A-U-C-T…?”, and I say, “No. S-C-” and she cuts me off saying, “Well, we’ll start with R-A-U.”
I smile, resisting the urge to grab the book and look my own name up. She gets to the R-A-U section and then we go through a similar process figuring out the S-C-H part. Then I look down the page. She uses a ruler to help her line people up, and she’s covering part of the names on the bottom, but there it is: Rausch, Patricia. No “Rausch” above it or below it. Apparently, despite my previous two voting endeavors, I am not registered in Lake County. I might not be registered at all to vote.
So, great. I went home feeling annoyed and disappointed. I mean, I even did all the work in becoming an informed voter on the ballot measures, and I couldn’t even excercise my voice-right. I guess if the choice is Vote or Die, then I’m dead.
Musebleep 006
2006 Voting Guide
Well, tomorrow is voting day, and while this isn’t a Presidential election year, it has proven to be a banner year for the South Dakota ballot. There are four Constitutional Amendments, 6 Initiated Measures, and 1 Referred Law. Well, to help explain away some of the possible confusions is our very own Representative Rausch. For the sake of being truthful, I’m using the South Dakota Secretary of State page devoted to ballot questions for my Attorney General explanations. Get more info on the election from South Dakota Secretary of State’s website.
Constitutional Amendments
Constitutional Amendment C
Attorney General says:
South Dakota statutes currently limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman. However, the State Constitution does not address marriage.
Amendment C would amend the State Constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. It would also prohibit the Legislature from allowing or recognizing civil unions, domestic partnerships or other quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex.
A vote “Yes†will change the Constitution.
A vote “No†will leave the Constitution as it is.
Rep. Rausch says:
“What I voted on was to make it constitutional that marriage can only be between a man and woman.”
Constitutional Amendment D
Attorney General says:
The State Constitution currently requires that all taxable property be valued for tax purposes at no more than its actual value, and that all property be classified and taxed uniformly.
The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would base the taxable value of property upon “acquisition value†for property sold after January 1, 2007. The Legislature may authorize the assessed value of such property to be annually adjusted by up to three percent, using the 2003 assessed property valuation as the base year.
The taxable value of the property may be further adjusted if the property has changed use or classification or has been subject to addition, improvement or destruction.
The limitations of this amendment will not apply to centrally assessed property or to any property sold prior to January 1, 2007.
A vote “Yes†will change the Constitution.
A vote “No†will leave the Constitution as it is.
Rep. Rausch says:
“It is my opinion, and it is shared by many, that this will cause an unconstitional balance. […] Causing a recession and a slow-down.”
Constitutional Amendment E
Attorney General says:
Citizens serving on juries, school boards, city councils, county commissions, or in similar capacities, and prosecutors and judges, are all required to make judicial decisions. Their decisions may be reversed on appeal, or they may be removed from office for misconduct or by election. However, they cannot be made to pay money damages for making such decisions. This allows them to do their job without fear of threat or reprisal from either side.
The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would allow thirteen special grand jurors to expose these decision makers to fines and jail, and strip them of public insurance coverage and up to one-half of their retirement benefits, for making decisions which break rules defined by the special grand jurors. Special grand jurors are drawn from those who submit their names and registered voters.
The proposed amendment is retroactive. The special grand jurors may penalize any decision-maker still alive for decisions made many years ago.
If approved, the proposed amendment will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the US Constitution. If so, the State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs.
A vote “Yes†will change the Constitution.
A vote “No†will leave the Constitution as it is.
Rep. Rausch says:
“What makes this very scary is that our Attorney General has interpreted it as saying anyone who sits on a judiciary position, so it could- it’s anyone who is making decisions for people […] will be personally held liable for their decisions.”
Constitutional Amendment F
Attorney General says:
This proposed amendment to the State Constitution includes recommendations by the Constitution Revision Commission.
The amendment would remove the current limitation on expense reimbursements received by legislators, and would allow legislators to receive salary, per diem, expenses and mileage reimbursement as provided by law.
The amendment would remove the current specific prohibitions against enacting private or special laws. The Legislature would be restricted by a general prohibition against enacting a special law when a general or local law can be made applicable.
The amendment would remove the Congressional term limit, which the federal courts have found unconstitutional. The procedure for introduction of a bill would be shortened. The amendment would require a two-thirds vote to close a legislative session to the public and prohibit any vote to be taken in a closed session. The amendment would allow the Legislature to exercise emergency powers in the event of man-made and natural disasters.
A vote “Yes†will change the Constitution.
A vote “No†will leave the Constitution as it is.
Rep. Rausch says:
“This one is some changes that need to be made to our Constitution, mostly in clean-up language and just some tweaking.”
Initiated Measures
Initiated Measure 2
Attorney General says:
South Dakota currently taxes tobacco products. The proposed law would increase taxation on tobacco products sold in the state. The tax on a 20 stick cigarette package would be raised by $1.00; the tax on a 25 stick cigarette package would be raised by $1.25. The tax on all other tobacco products such as cigars, roll-your-own, and chewing tobacco, would increase from 10 percent to 35 percent of the wholesale price.
The proposed law would deposit up to $30 million of tobacco tax revenue into the state general fund. The next $5 million, if any, will be deposited in the tobacco prevention and reduction trust fund. Tobacco tax revenue in excess of $35 million, if any, will be divided among the property tax reduction fund, the education enhancement trust fund, and the health care trust fund. The proposed law also establishes continuous appropriations out of the tobacco prevention and reduction trust fund for specified purposes.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“I don’t really know. I don’t like new taxes, and I don’t like the fact that they’re dumping the $30 million into the state’s general fund. […] I probably won’t actually decide until I get into the poll booth. […] It’s not cut and dry. If you really hate smoking, and you think this will help, put it in, but it’s $30 million more that the state gets to spend in general funds. So, it’s a little dangerous.”
Intiatived Measure 3
Attorney General says:
State law currently allows local school boards to establish the start of a regular school term on any date. The proposed law would prohibit local school boards from establishing the start of a regular school term prior to the last day of August.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“I’d just as soon have the month of August to do things with my family. […] However, I will be voting against this because I think the starting of our school term and our school calendar should remain a local issue not a state issue.”
Initiative Measure 4
Attorney General says:
This initiative would allow persons, including minors with parental consent, with a debilitating medical condition, to be certified to grow (not more than six plants), possess (not more than one ounce) and use small amounts of marijuana for medical purposes.
“Debilitating medical condition†is defined to include cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, or a chronic, debilitating condition that produces cachexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, including epileptic seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by spinal injury, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or fibromyalgia or any other medical condition approved by the Department of Health.
Certification may be accomplished by submitting medical records to the Department of Health or by submitting a doctor’s recommendation.
A person may not drive while impaired by marijuana and may not smoke marijuana in any place where tobacco smoking is prohibited.
Growth, possession and use of marijuana will still be illegal under federal law but certification is a defense to criminal prosecution under state law.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“As a compassionate individual I really do feel for those that suffer and the fact that this does help some people in their medical condition and alleviate some of their discomfort, I will be voting against this. Part of this, it would still be an illegal drug for everyone else. […] We have other drugs that will work and will offer comfort.”
Initiated Measure 5
Attorney General says:
State law currently allows state employees to use vehicles owned or leased by the State only for state business. There is a limited exception for state employees with a supervisor’s approval. The Governor and certain law enforcement personnel are exempt.
The proposed law requires aircraft owned or leased by the State to be used only for state business, with no exceptions. A person violating this provision would now be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“It doesn’t really matter to me. It’s not really a shrug; I think I’m going to vote against this. I think it’s something the Governer of our state deserves. Call it a perk if you will. […] Maybe we need to come up with liability waivers and things like that that passengers going with him have to sign […], but I don’t have a problem with the Governor having a perk like that.”
Intiated Measure 7
Attorney General says:
The State operates video lottery as authorized by State law. During the last year, the State received approximately one hundred twelve million dollars ($112,000,000.00) from video lottery which is 11% of the state general fund budget.
The proposed law would repeal video lottery and eliminate this source of revenue.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“If you’re against gambling, and you think that’s a moral problem, this in itself will not take care of that problem. […] I’ll probably leave video lottery alone. I don’t play it; I’m not addicted to it. I am a little bit addicted to the 112 million [dollars it generates]. […] But I certainly will honor the challenge, if it is voted out, to try to replace those dollars without one grimace.”
Initated Measure 8
Attorney General says:
State laws impose a four percent tax on the gross receipts of companies providing wireless telecommunications (cell phone) services instead of a property tax.
Last year the State received approximately eight and one-half million dollars ($8,500,000.00) from the cell phone tax. Forty percent (40%) of these revenues are distributed to counties based on population; the balance goes to the State.
The proposed law would repeal this tax, and eliminate this source of revenue.
A vote “Yes†will adopt the proposed law.
A vote “No†will reject the proposed law.
Rep. Rausch says:
“The second part of this that I see is that the counties, our local counties, take- they get their share of tax money off of this. And so, without a way to replace those revenues, even a Grant County is going lose about $32,000.”
Referred Laws
Referred Law 6
Attorney General says:
Current South Dakota law generally allows a pregnant woman to obtain an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond 24 weeks, abortions may be performed only if necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.
House Bill 1215 would prohibit any person, at any time, from providing any medicine or other substance to a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy. However, a person may provide a contraception substance to a woman without penalty prior to the time her pregnancy could be determined by conventional medical testing.
HB 1215 would also prohibit any person, at any time, from using any instrument or procedure on a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy, unless the person is a licensed physician performing a medical procedure to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.
Any person other than the pregnant woman who violates the provisions of HB 1215 would commit a felony.
If approved, HB 1215 will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the US Constitution. If so, the State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs.
A vote “Yes†will allow the Act to become effective.
A vote “No†will reject the Act.
Rep. Rausch says:
“I was very proud and privileged to vote in favor of that, and I will definately vote in favor of Referred Law 6. I wanted it to be law when I voted for it in the House, and I want it to be law now.”