Today was primary day in Pennsylvania (uh, yeah, the polls have closed already… You missed it.) Eliz and I went to vote this morning on our way to work at our business, Salon Supplies + Interiors. We pulled into the parking lot at the municipal building and laughed when we noticed that we were the only car in the lot. This is, of course, a far cry from last November. When we walked in, we were told we were numbers nine and ten. I was a bit shocked. The polls had been open for an hour and fifteen minutes. They then confirmed our party affiliation; both of us are Republicans. Here’s where I get uneasy. Since I can’t see the names on the machine, someone, usually Eliz, has to go in with me. I always get a little angry as this is yet one more thing I can’t do on my own.
I have been told that these new machines have an audio device so that the visually impaired can vote on their own. I have also been told by a poll worker where I vote and another polling official from another county that it takes quite awhile to vote using the devise. If I used that device today, it would have been an inconvenience to me. Last November, I’m not sure I would have made it home alive as the queue was 15 to 20 minutes long without anyone using the audio device. I am not a fan of these fairly new (five or six years) machines.
Tonight, I had an Advisory Board meeting at Anthem Institute (the school formerly known as Chubb Institute.) Chris Stahley asked me to join after I completed the Graphic Design & Multimedia program there in 2004. Chris left Chubb a few years ago, but I still get invited back… I enjoy going and seeing the new things that are being considered for the program. For example, we didn’t get any video production, but as part of the board’s input back in 2005, it was added. I’d love to have done some video work…
As I was sitting there listening to Ken Rementer go over the current curriculum and textbooks, I realized that I will never be able to learn more than the programs I already know. And, as each new version of the programs that I know is released, the more difficult it will be to work with them. I don’t know why that just sunk in tonight. I’ve had great difficulty using Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash, et al. for well over a year. I really miss creating logos, doing web design, and making flash movies. Very frustrating indeed. I’ve got to find a hobby that doesn’t require seeing…