Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore. I bought this book based on the title alone but it, unfortunately, did not live up to my expectations. Linguistics? Magic? It sounds perfect, I know. However, the book is framed around a videogame called Sparkle Dungeon, which to be fair, sounds like a really fun game. I think video games are great but it turns out that I am not at all interested in reading about them. The action takes place in the real world, the realm of Sparkle Dungeon, and a metaphysical place called the “logosphere.” It’s pretty wacky and out of control. This book is a cool idea, but ultimately not for me.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell. This book really was right up my alley. It’s a look at cults and other cult-adjacent groups (like MLMs or crossfit) and how they use language to disarm people and keep their members. It was interesting and a good read.
The Secret Life of GroceriesBattle of the Linguist MagesCultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Meanwhile, on the internet:
Tiktok’s enshittification via Pluralistic. This is an excellent explanation of the pattern of how internet platforms become shitty. If you’ve asked yourself why the internet sucks now, this is your answer.
FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model via The Washington Post (link is a “gift” article; you should be able to read for free). The title here is pretty descriptive. The gist is that the FDA would promote an annual vaccine based on whichever covid variant is ascendant and we would get the vaccine in the fall like with flu shots.
Against copyediting: Is it time to abolish the department of corrections? via Literary Hub. First, I am obviously not against copyediting because, you know, it’s my livelihood. Second, I don’t think the author is against it either. Finally, this bit spoke to me, “Copyediting shares with poetry a romantic attention to detail, to the punctuation mark and the ordering of words. To treat someone else’s language with that fine a degree of attention can be an act of love.”
I’ve gotten caught up with everyone and watched both seasons of The White Lotus. First, I must say that I genuinely love the theme song. It’s a real banger for reasons that I will probably never be able to comprehend. This show had me captivated by the spectacle of rich people being obnoxious. I had heard a lot about how it has good gay representation, but somewhere during season two I was like, wait a minute, do all these gay characters hate themselves? Also, the gays are all villains. It’s giving “I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs” (and I wish I could find the original tweet [I think?] for that statement), but for gay people. Finally, Aubrey Plaza is in season two. She and I are about the same age and something about seeing her being a full-on adult and looking grown up has made me feel my age in a way that nothing else has. I’m not sure how all this information stacks up if you’re looking for a review, but these are my thoughts about it.
Making Things and Doing stuff
Languages
I mentioned in my last post that I was thinking about translating some wikipedia articles. I would like to thank my past self for bookmarking the list of articles needing translation from Spanish because I actually started translating! And it’s fun! Contributing to wikipedia is something I’ve wanted to do for a while but it seems daunting because there’s already so much there and I didn’t know how to find a niche. This is perfect for me though because I can fill in English articles with existing information from the Spanish. So far, I have mostly translated articles about random small towns in Spanish-speaking countries (there are a lot of articles in this genre). Though today I happened onto an entry in the “to be translated” list for a drag queen from Spain. I was finally able to put my powerful knowledge of RuPaul’s Drag Race to use for the greater good.
One of the random small town articles led to my very first bout of wikipedia editing drama. I translated an article about this town and, within maybe a minute of publishing the changes, a veteran wikipedia editor reverted the article and removed my work because it didn’t have any citations. I told her that the original Spanish didn’t have any citations either. She basically said “I don’t know how they do it in Spanish wikipedia, but you have to have citations here.” So, now I’m not translating anything if it doesn’t have citations.
Kitchen Witchery
pecan and white chocolate snacking cake
I’ve gotten back to some easier baking lately and this week that included a cake from Snacking Cakes. This is the pecan and white chocolate cake and it was quite tasty.
Cat Therapy
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves.
Huey supervising as I soak my feetFritz serving us a perfect cat photo
Hello, friends and enemies. I’ve felt a little uninspired in the blogging department lately. Although I’ve been assured that what I have to say is interesting, I feel like there’s not enough happening in my life or my thoughts from week to week to warrant saying much here. Like, yes, I read more books, I cooked more foods. This is my status quo. There’s nothing wrong with my status quo, but is it interesting to document? A friend suggested I could change up the blog format if I’m not feeling this one anymore and I like that idea, but I’m not sure where to go instead.
This blog is now ten years old, if you can believe it. I’ve only been using this weekly format for the last three or four years. When I first started the blog, I was finishing grad school, where I had taken a class about web design (yes, as part of my library and information science degree) and part of the class included setting up a WordPress blog. I had been thinking I was also going to set up a portfolio website so I bought lindseyhalsell.com and this domain for my blog. I never did make that portfolio, although I start new plans for it every other year, but the blog has endured. I started the blog to write book reviews because I thought somehow I was going somewhere with that (the reviews are still up under the book review tag, if you want to see my old book thoughts). My most viewed post is actually this review of a book about the Independent Fundamentalist Baptists, which I think people are finding by searching “Are independent fundamentalist baptists a cult?” (If you’re searching that question and found this post: it doesn’t matter if it’s a cult or not. You’re allowed to feel safe, fulfilled, and happy. If you’re not getting that where you are, I hope you can leave).
I’m sure I want to keep writing about my life and things happening in the world around us in some capacity, but I’m not sure what. The posts I’ve been most proud of are my informational ones, like the voter guides, although those are also the most work. I’m open to suggestions if anyone has any insights.
Books and Other Words
I’m off to a good start with reading this year. I won’t say “could this be the year I read 100 books?” because I always seem to curse myself. Plus, it’s easy to want to lie around and read at this time of year.
The Amberlough DossierHigh Times in the Low ParliamentEgypt’s Golden CoupleMiss Iceland
The Amberlough Doissier by Lara Elena Donnelly. I really loved this trilogy. It’s set in a sort of alternate-universe 1930s. The main characters are two lovers, a spy who is bad at his job and a male cabaret performer/self-proclaimed “sovereign of the demimonde.” Encroaching fascism makes them both need to leave the country and they each secretly make plans to try to get the other out. Hilarity ensues?
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson. This was a fun little book. Lana works as a scribe but is really only interested in flirting with all the girls. Thanks to unfortunate circumstances, she gets summoned to be a scribe in parliament, which consists of representatives throughout Europe and is run by fairies. The fairies have announced that they are going to drown humanity and start over if parliament can’t get its shit together, which reads to me like an allegory for climate change. You know what? Shout out to Kelly Robson for making climate dread fun and sexy.
Egypt’s Golden Couple: When Akhenaten and Nefertiti Were Gods on Earth by John and Colleen Darnell. These authors are living the dream I had at 18 of being part of a married couple of Egyptologists and writing books about eighteenth dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten, my personal favorite. Although I am glad I did not become (and marry) and Egyptologist, I still like to visit my old academic stomping grounds from time to time. I liked how the authors incorporated stories into their book to complement the historical reporting.
Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. I didn’t know what this book was going to be about but it’s Icelandic and I had heard good things so I read it. I thought it would be some kind of send-up of a beauty contest but it’s much better than that. The main character, Hekla, just wants to write books. She moves to Reykjavík to work and write but is constantly harassed by men (this is set in the 1960s—peak harassment era), particularly one who insists she should be Miss Iceland for a beauty competition, in which she would get to travel to scenic Long Island. The story is great, it’s well written, and will make you mad about misogyny and homophobia.
Meanwhile, on the internet:
Starting off the new year without a smartphone via Slate. I don’t necessarily want one of these but I do really like the idea that you can get a phone that’s just a phone again. I’ll stick with keeping my phone on vibrate and disabling more and more notifications for now.
Lost something? Search through 91.7 million files from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s via arstechnica. We love an archive! There were so many things on CD-ROMs that could be lost so I am glad to see someone maintaining them for us. The only thing I could think to search for was Typing of the Dead, which is a zombie game that helps you learn to type. I recommended it to one of my sixth grade students struggling with typing many years ago.
Making Things and Doing stuff
I don’t think I’ve had a chance to mention that I tried weed again after my very boring first time. I dedicated new year’s eve to this second experiment and my friend Abby came over to record any potential antics. I did actually get high this time, though not wildly so. My brain slowed down a little and I felt like I was laughing a lot more. Kirk said I seemed the same though. Also, since I’m already pretty weird and open about my thoughts, I wondered if we’d even know if I was high. Abby theorized that I might start talking about economics or something profoundly normal/boring if I was out of my mind. She’s probably right but I didn’t take enough to get to that point (and thank god, right? How insufferable would that be?).
Moving It
Last week I had a vision therapy follow-up appointment. It’s been three months since I finished 52 weeks of vision therapy for my stupid, misaligned eyeballs and the appointment was to check that I hadn’t lost what I’d learned. I was stressed that they were going to tell me I needed more therapy (have I mentioned that it’s very expensive and not covered by insurance?). Fortunately, my eyes are as strong as they’ve ever been. The therapist told me I nearly broke one of the tests—a computerized one that adapts as you respond correctly—and nearly doubled my score from last time I took it. I’m extremely relieved to be done for good with this.
Languages
I’ve been having a lot of fun with Spanish lately working with translations. I’ve been translating a story from Spanish to English, which is not the direction I’d go if I were a professional translator (it’s much preferred to translate into your native language), but it’s helping me refine what I know and bringing up a lot of nuances in the language for us to discuss. I recently translated the very silly title Not Pounded by the Physical Manifestation of Bisexual Gatekeeping by Chuck Tingle. I’ve started on All Systems Red by Martha Wells, for my second translation.
I keep thinking about finding ways to get more into translation and then not doing anything. I know there’s a whole genre of wikipedia editing dedicated to translating articles from one language to another to fill in gaps. A while ago, I was also trawling some volunteer board for little translation jobs. Perhaps I’ll look into that again. It’s hard to imagine that translating can ever be my full-time job, even though I know intellectually that I’m not too old to change careers, but I at least want to play around with it a little more.
I also started having a little fun (and frustration) translating in Icelandic. I can’t over-emphasize that my Icelandic is not actually good enough for this task, but it’s informative as a learning experience. I have knitting reference books in both Icelandic and English, so I tried translating just a little bit of each, hoping that working in the same topic would make it easier. It sort of worked. Translating into Icelandic was hard as hell. I know nothing of syntax. That said, I am going to try this exercise again. I’m thinking I’ll use cookbooks next.
Kitchen Witchery
raspberry-chocolate scones
I was on a real losing streak in the kitchen for a few weeks, which included a cake stuck in the pan, a completely inedible Christmas dessert, and more than one botched dinner efforts. Fortunately, I have finally broken free of it and have made some good food this week. I made a delicious beef pot pie (recipe from The Harvest Baker), but the photos don’t look like much so you’ll just have to picture it in your mind. I also made these really good scones with raspberry “jammy bits” and chocolate chunks. Kirk said I should make them again, which is high praise from him.
Cat Therapy
I would be remiss to not mention that it’s two years today since Viola died. I miss her terribly but having Fritz has made it a lot easier to bear the loss.
Princess ViolaViola cooling her heels
Finally, here are some more recent cat photos for your nerves.
I know I have said this before, but every time I sit down to write an end-of-the-year post I’m like “eh, nothing happened” and it’s never true. Although I suppose for this year, it may be more accurate to say that I don’t have any big thoughts or commentary about the year. That said, here are the hits of 2022:
I went to a few Sac Ballet performances with my friends and I saw a play called Proclivity for Kiting.
I knit some cool socks, a hat, and a giant sweater.
I started a new job again. I dearly hope I don’t need to find a job again this year. I can’t take it.
I made some good foods and tried making some new things like samosas and a bakewell tart.
I finished vision therapy after 52 weeks!
I tried weed for the first (and second) time and found it underwhelming. I’m already unhinged when I’m sober so it doesn’t do a lot for me.
We (mostly Kirk) set up a gym in the garage and we got a new air conditioning for our house. Homeownership!
I got to perform in a dance recital on an actual stage and wear a pink top hat! Fashion!
DELE timeOrcas at twilightDELE scoresdoing some cultureProclivity for Kitingready for jazzKirk and I at vantajökullA beautiful day at Hraunfossarpetting and Icelandic goat!Red Robin socksHazelnut socksa finished berethomemade samosasneopolitan cookiesannual pan de muertoLito and I in Lake Tahoebakewell tartgarage gym!this is what vision therapy looks like
I usually have a lot of ideas about what I want to do in the new year, but this year I have nothing. I have no specific goals and that feels good right now. I don’t mean to say that I’m going to do nothing (have you met me? lol), but I don’t have any grand gestures planned for my life at the moment. I plan to keep working on my Spanish and Icelandic, and going to dance classes. I’m sure I’ll find some new things to bake and I have many knitting patterns in my queue. That’s plenty for right now.
Finally, I present my 2023 mood board, featuring the vibes I hope to carry through this year. We’re having a good time, being weird, and bringing chaos and destruction upon our enemies. Here’s to the new year!
I can hardly believe I’ve been keeping a list of what I read for 15 years now. This year I only read 51 books, which is my lowest count since 2016. I felt like I had a hard time getting excited about most of the books I read this year (with some notable exceptions). Maybe I read less because I wasn’t picking the right books. Or maybe I was just tired. It doesn’t actually matter how much I read, but there are so many good books out there that I feel a sense of urgency about it. Here’s to more reading in 2023.
Here are this year’s stats.
Page count: 18,118 pages
Library use: 22 books from the library and 29 of my own books
Digital and analog: 30 ebooks and 18 paper books
Fiction and non-fiction: 38 fiction and 11 non-fiction books. This year seems particularly light on non-fiction for me.
Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly. I actually just read this one last week and am currently in the middle of the series’ second book. It’s so good but also so sorrowful to me. Sometimes the imaginary fascism feels a little too close to our real-life fascism.
Gideon the Ninth, Harrow the Ninth, and Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Nona was this year’s new edition to the Locked Tomb series, so I re-read the first two books to fully appreciate the new one. There’s so much crazy shit going on in these books, you could read them twenty times and still discover new things.
Happy holidays, friends and enemies! I hope everyone is having a pleasant solstice/Hanukkah/Christmas/winter season. I’ve been semi-hibernating the last couple of weeks, trying to relax and doing as little as possible. I’m already coming out of this little funk though because it never takes long before I’m bored and want to start doing everything again. Still, it’s nice to remind myself that I don’t have to do anything if I don’t want to.
So, I am a 36-year-old Californian and, until yesterday, had never tried weed. I have been presented with many opportunities to partake, but had always turned it down. I grew up Mormon and then maintained reservations about drugs because my brain is weird, but I finally decided to see what the fuss was about. Yesterday I took a 10-mg edible. The results? Literally nothing happened. I don’t know if this means weed isn’t for me, maybe this was just a first-time bust, or I have a consciousness that has evolved beyond the need for pedestrian substances like marijuana. I was sort of hoping for some kind of amusement or antics (my friends were definitely hoping for antics, and who could blame them?). I’m already kind of a weirdo when sober though so maybe I just have to embrace sober weirdness, but I will probably run another experiment soon.
Consuming
Here are some things I’ve recently read, watched, or bought.
Books and Other Words
I recently read Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell and Even though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk. When I started Ocean’s Echo, I was confused because I thought it was a sequel to Winter’s Orbit. It is in a way, but it doesn’t follow the same characters. Once I got into the story though, I really enjoyed it. Even though I Knew the End was good too. It’s a shorter book than Polk’s other works. I didn’t love it as much as her other novels, but given the length, I assume that’s largely due to not having as much space to develop the world and the characters. I also find it a little hard to get into noir, but this was still a good story.
Ocean’s EchoEven though I Knew the End
Meanwhile, on the internet:
Congress wants to overhaul retirement plans. Here’s what might be coming. via The Washington Post (you should be able to read this even without a subscription). Congress is proposing some really good changes to 401(k) plans, like a federal government match for people earning less than a certain amount.
Violent Delights via The Believer. This is a long read about the “serial killer media industrial complex.”
TV and Music
I watched two movies this week, which is nearly a personal best. On Christmas we watched Thor: Love and Thunder. Although I am rather fatigued by Marvel movies, they got me good with this Thor franchise. This movie was fun and entertaining, but it’s no Thor: Ragnarok (the best Thor movie, in my view). What made this movie fun was the details rather than the actual plot. I laughed so hard at the community theater production that takes place in the movie, for example. Yesterday I watched Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. This was also fun to watch. It’s nice to see a movie in which an old gay man and a black woman team up to say “fuck this rich guy in particular.” Plus, it had jokes.
Rampant Consumerism
Given that it’s Christmas, I’ll talk about things I received instead of things I bought. Kirk got me a delightful new rug for my office, which looks great. He also got me a new kobo ereader that I wanted (my old one was getting beat up). It’s nice and I am actually reading faster because I’m not having to mess around with the touch screen to advance the page since this one brought back page-turn buttons.
Making Things and Doing stuff
There are some things I’ve made and stuff I’ve done.
Moving It
ready for jazz
My dance recital was a lot of fun! We got to be on a real stage (at a local high school, but it was a respectable theater for sure). I enjoyed all my pieces for different reasons. Ballet was a vibe, for sure. Our jazz piece to the Pink Panther theme was a lot of fun to dance. My tap class was all hive-minded and fully in tune with each other. I can’t wait for the next one! And I am going to find reasons to wear this hat in the future. New Year’s Eve is coming up, for example.
I’ve also been spending more time in my garage gym. I’ve been trying to ease back into lifting, which has been testing my patience, but this week I did deadlift 205 pounds. It’s nowhere near what I was lifting pre-pademic, but it felt good. I think the biggest limiting factor for deadlifting now is my grip. I have to build my callouses back up.
Kitchen Witchery
I actually did a lot of baking this month but did not document it very well. Elk Grove’s most exclusive bakery stayed busy with lots of cookies, fudge, toffee, and my signature “million peso shortbread,” which has become a very hot commodity (based on this recipe but with more flavor). I tried out this orange loaf recipe, which was good, but came out better in my second batch when I disregarded NYT’s underestimations for how much seasoning to use.
iced orange loavesmillion peso shortbreaddulce de leche coconut fudge
baked potato soup
I have made some actual food too, but it hasn’t been that thrilling. I’m mostly only documenting cooking when it’s new or extravagant, and I’ve been doing little of that. However, I did try this baked potato soup recipe from the New York Times, which was very tasty.
Cat Therapy
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves. This was Fritz’s second Christmas. Last year he was deathly afraid of the Christmas tree (reasons unknown, he is not old enough to have seen a Christmas before coming to us). He wouldn’t even be in the same room with it. This year, he maintained a healthy distrust of the tree, but was able to behold it without fleeing to the other side of the house. I’m not sure what’s so spooky about the tree, but maybe next year Fritz will finally get over it and embrace Christmas like Huey does.
Huey in box modeFritz, as close to the tree as he dareslong cat being long
Hello, friends and enemies. This week I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic. I recently had some old VHS tapes of circus performances from 1992 (when I was six years old) and 1999 (when I was 13) converted to DVD and watching them has been pretty fun. It’s funny to see that I have truly always been a ham. I’ve been showing everyone some of the screenshots I took from the videos because I think they’re cute and hilarious. Much like my stuck in second grade statement, this seems to indicate that I’ve had a remarkably consistent sense of self and it’s interesting to see that. It’s also giving me a little burst of joy to look at these with a dance recital coming up because it’s been such a long time since I’ve been in a performance on a stage and I’m glad that’s something I still get to do as an adult with a boring day job (contrary to my second-grade prediction, I am not famous).
I was also reflecting on the idea that there are some things I have peaked at. Not to be all “I’m old and it’s downhill from here,” (because it’s not. I haven’t even learned to swordfight yet), but it’s odd to consider that I was the best I’ll probably ever be at riding a unicycle when I was maybe 16 and it’s unlikely I’ll ever be that good again, not the least because I don’t have the will or the interest to do so. I mean, I still got it but nothing compares with the casual skill of an adolescent practicing several times a week like it’s their job. I have new hobbies now but it’s nice to think about my old ones still being there if I want them. There are too many interesting things in this life and sometimes it feels unfair to have to pick and choose.
unicycling in 1998unicycling in 1999juggling knives on a unicycle
Consuming
Here are some things I’ve recently read, watched, or bought.
Books and Other Words
I accidentally created a double feature for myself of speculative-fiction, cruise-ship murder mysteries. First up was A Restless Truth by Freya Marske, the sequel to A Marvelous Light. The story is set in an Edwardian England (well, in this case on a trans-atlantic cruise back to Edwardian England) that has real magic. The main character, Maude, is determined to figure out who murdered the woman she was escorting back to England, and gets mixed up with some chaotic, bisexual magicians in the process. The next book was The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal, a murder mystery set on a space cruise to Mars. In this story, Tesla Crane is on a honeymoon with her retired detective husband. Of course, someone gets murdered and yes, hijinks ensue. Something interesting about this book is it depicts disability. Tesla has a service dog (a Westie named Gimlet) to help her manage her PTSD and she uses a cane. Disability is not the focus of the book but it does impact the character’s choices and I thought it was really cool to see that portrayed as something normal.
Twitter king Dril on Musk’s chaotic reign via The Washington Post (note: the link to this article is a “gift” and you should be able to read without a subscription). You may need to be a chronically online person to appreciate this article, but I laughed so much reading it. The whole interview is a work of performance art.
I have finally watched the last season of Schitt’s Creek. I love the show but was reluctant to watch the sixth season, perhaps just for not wanting it to end. It was a great ending though! I’m glad I’ve finally caught up with everyone.
Last night Kirk and I watched Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. It’s both based on Weird Al’s life and a bizarro parody of his career. Daniel Radcliffe plays Weird Al in the most unhinged way possible. Madonna is a villain. Conan O’Brian plays Andy Warhol. I expected to be amused by it but I was not prepared to laugh so hard and so often.
Making Things and Doing stuff
There are some things I’ve made and stuff I’ve done.
Moving It
It’s dance recital season and I’ve been having fun learning the routines for my ballet, jazz, and tap classes. I also love costumes. I am a bad influence and keep suggesting additional costume accessories because we can always add more flare. Do we need a flower crown? Does this need a sparkly bow tie? No, but I want it.
It’s bread and soup season in my kitchen. Although I cook a lot and am respectable at modifying a recipe, I have not done a lot of making my own recipes. So I was delighted with how good a chickpea soup recipe I made up came out. I used the broth from cooking the beans and added vegetables and parmesan. It was really good! I also made some delicious cheese and chive biscuits and tried a new pumpkin roll recipe.
chickpea and veggie soupcheesy chive biscuitsdelightful pumpkin knots
Cat Therapy
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves.
Hello, friends and enemies. We have survived another election and may live to vote in another midterm if we’re lucky. I’m glad that Democrats are maintaining control of the Senate (or, at least, parity) and most of the stuff I cared about on my local ballot went the way I thought it should. You can see the election results on the Secretary of State website. There’s also a Sacramento County website with election results and a handy graph showing voter turnout. Only 24 percent of registered voters in Sacramento County voted! That’s crazy to me. You get a ballot in the mail! Voting has never been easier. Why wouldn’t you vote!
I’m relieved that California approved proposition 1 to guarantee the right to reproductive freedom.
I’m also glad to see that we’re funding art and music education (proposition 28). However I don’t understand how 37% of voters were against that. There’s not even a tax increase, it’s just allocating existing funds to education.
Unfortunately, we have once again voted not to have medical practitioners and additional regulation for dialysis clinics (proposition 29) because diabetes is basically a crime in this stupid country.
Something I did not know before the election was that proposition 30 was actually quite contentious. I just read it as, sure tax the millionaires a little more. Apparently, Lyft was a big donor to the “yes” campaign because it wanted the state to help subsidize their switch to electric cars. Everything is complicated.
Consuming
Here are some things I’ve recently read, watched, or bought.
Books and Other Words
I read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, starting it without knowing much about it other than it was really popular for a while. I did not like it that much. The writing is nice but kind of nothing happens? It sort of reminds me of a Salinger Glass family with its precocious children story but with more opioids and, like … a lot of opioids. So, this book is over 700 pages long in the service of the question “What if good things can happen as a result of a bad thing?” Really? All that? It’s so much angst for so little reward.
I read and enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. This book was a lot of fun, plus I love anything about witches. This is another book in the genre of what I’m calling “cozy fiction,” which consists of books trying to make us feel safe and warm with our found families despite the madness of the modern world. It’s a cute story, there’s magic, a little romance, and people trying to change the world for the better.
The GoldfinchThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Meanwhile, on the internet:
Dead Letters via Cory Doctorow. A discussion of mailing lists and email in the age of social media. It’s interesting seeing someone discuss how hard it is to maintain an internet presence outside of all kinds of corporate junk, even for a veteran. I also learned that certain email providers block domains, so if, like me, you send emails from your own domain and not gmail or yahoo, your email might be marked as spam or not get through at all.
Welcome to Hell, Elon via The Verge. I loved this take on the current twitter fiasco. Running twitter is not going to be a good tine for Musk. However, I’m having a great time watching the carnage.
TV and Music
Kirk and I are currently watching BBC’s Ghosts, a show about a young woman who inherits an old house full of ghosts. After a near-death experience, she can see and interact with the ghosts and hijinks ensue. It’s very funny and worth watching.
Making Things and Doing stuff
Last week, my good friend Lito came to visit. It was great! We chat all the time but haven’t seen each other in a few years. I am not even sure what we did all week to be honest but we got to talk a lot, watch some good TV, and eat delicious food. We also made an afternoon trip to Lake Tahoe, which was beautiful.
a mountain streamLake Tahoe stormy views
Abby and I in front of a ridiculous costumed mannequin
On Friday, Kirk and I took another trip into the Sierras to go to Reno. Our friend Abby was in Risk!, which is a show/podcast featuring people telling their stories. I hadn’t heard of it before Abby was in it (because Abby is a trendsetter), but the show was fun and it was a good excuse to get out of the house. I didn’t get any pictures of the performance but we did take a photo in front of this very silly outfit they had on display in the theater.
Kitchen Witchery
It’s baking season! I made a batch of pan de muerto again for Día de Muerto this year and received rave reviews from my very small audience. I think using vanilla sugar on top made it extra tasty, if not exactly traditional. I recently tried out a pumpkin bread recipe from Smitten Kitchen that was, of course, a success.
annual pan de muertoextra-craggly pumpkin bread
Cat Therapy
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves. The cats are focused on being as warm and cozy as possible in this chilly weather.
Hello, friends and enemies. It’s nearly Halloween and this is the first regular post I’ve made in almost two months. I did, however, post about our trip to Iceland and write a voter guide for the midterm election, which I translated into Spanish.
I am not doing anything for Halloween this year besides putting candy outside for the trick-or-treaters, which is now my preferred method of candy distribution. Although I have been wearing costume elements to dance class because that’s encouraged, which got me thinking about some of the cool costumes I made when I was a kid. I wish I had photos. I always picked the weirdest shit. One year I wanted to be a package of gum, so I cut armholes in a cardboard box and painted it accordingly. Another fun one was a teapot costume—two either poster boards or pieces of cardboard hung over my shoulders, cut in a teapot shape—that my aunt Janet, who is a great artist, helped me paint. Though I do wonder why I so often picked inanimate objects for Halloween costumes. It makes me think it might be an autism thing, finding it easier to imagine oneself as a thing instead of a person or character.
Consuming
Here are some things I’ve recently read, watched, or bought.
Books and Other Words
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty
I recently finished You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. It was good but ultimately not for me. I checked it out from the library knowing almost nothing about it (I saw it on an instagram post asking “Which Akwaeke Emezi book should you read?” According to the flowchart, this one is for the bis. Which … I guess). The writing is nice and the characters were fully realized. It does a lot around the theme of grief, which is highly relevant for us all in these stupid plague times. What I did not like is that the central conflict of the plot is about a relationship between a 20-something-year-old woman and a man old enough to be her dad. Sure, everyone’s an adult, but that’s a little gross for me. Although two of the main characters both describe themselves as bisexual and the main character’s roommate is a lesbian, all the romance in the book is hetero, which is fine but not what was advertised.
Meanwhile, on the internet:
Here’s a double feature about Millennials getting older and having feelings about it on the internet: Growing Old Online via Wired and Are You Sure You’re Not Guilty of the ‘Millennial Pause’? via The Atlantic. I think the Wired article is the more insightful of the two, but I thought it was interesting that multiple outlets are talking about this right now. Millennial mid-life crisis discourse is imminent!
Mortgage rates rise about 7 percent as Fed scrambles to slow economy via The Washington Post (the link is a gifted article and should allow you to read it even without a subscription). SEVEN PERCENT is completely bananas. We bought our house originally at four-something and refinanced last year to two-something. When are we going to start the next recession?
The Instagram capital of the world is a terrible place to be via Vox. This resonated with me probably because I was just traveling and watching people try to get perfect photos in places like the rainbow street in Reykjavík. I obviously enjoy taking photos of my travels but this article makes the sort-of obvious argument that traveling based on seeing pretty pictures online feels empty.
I’ve been rewatching Schitt’s Creek lately because it’s a great show but also because I never watched the last season. Last week though, I’ve been watching too much of it so now I have Moira’s voice in my head narrating things I read.
Rampant Consumerism
Last weekend, I took three tote bags full of books to the local used book store to sell, and I got $80 in cash and $80 of store credit, which is a delight. Bringing books to the bookstore just to use the funds to get new books feels like a pyramid scheme somehow but I love it.
In other purchases, I bought some Birkenstocks for my stupid feet. I recently learned I have plantar fasciitis after a friend in the group chat said she had it and described it. Then I was like, oh shit, I have had this for years. My feet hurt all the time. I talked to my doctor about it and he said I shouldn’t walk around barefoot so now I have Birkenstocks to wear in the house. Wearing them feels a little hippy, a little cool, but mostly makes me feel like I’m becoming my mom on some level lol. Anyway, I don’t appreciate having another malady to manage, but it does explain why sometimes during roller derby practice, I had to stop because my feet hurt so bad. I have once again chalked a legitimate issue up to “oh, that’s just being alive” instead of “this is a real problem that can be treated.” Will I ever learn? (no).
Making Things and Doing stuff
There are some things I’ve made and stuff I’ve done.
Languages
I translated this year’s voter guide into Spanish, which is the third guide I’ve done now. It was definitely much easier this year than previous years, so I must be learning something (including learning to use spell check in Spanish). I’m still figuring out what I want to “do” with Spanish, which is a chronic, existential problem I will never solve. After I passed the DELE exam, people were asking me what it was for or what I could do with it. I don’t know. It just means I know Spanish. Probably the only change so far has been saying “yes” when people ask if I speak Spanish, instead of hedging in some way like “I’m pretty okay.”
Moving It
I realized that I have not had a chance to mention on the blog that I finally finished vision therapy. I ended up doing 52 sessions, which is 20 more than what I the original estimate I got (which my vision therapist said was wrong because she definitely meant to schedule 40 to start). I’m so relieved to be done. My vision is way better too. It was a slog but it was worth it. I’m currently doing maintenance activities. I’m still supposed to do my vision exercises three times a week for a month, then twice a week and once a week for the next two months, respectively. I go back for a follow-up in January, so let’s hope I don’t backslide horrendously.
Kitchen Witchery
In my Iceland post, I said I was going to try making the geothermally cooked bread in my crock pot. Well, I did it and the results were mixed. Yes, you can cook it in the crock pot, however I irredeemably burned the edges. The recipe called for “cultured milk,” so I used buttermilk. This resulted in an extremely strong tang. It was bad enough that I didn’t want to eat more than my initial sample piece (Kirk stopped after one conservative bite), so I think I’ll have to make some adjustments and bake it in the oven next time.
In successful cooking activities, I made a lentil-stuffed acorn squash recipe from Grist (the recipe is also on Washington Post, where I saw it before buying the cookbook). This was tasty and very filling. I also made some bean and bacon soup, which is among my favorite soup recipes. I recently bought some beans from Primary Beans and I used their alubia beans for the soup. They worked perfectly.
Icelandic rugbrauð attemptstuffed acorn squashbean and bacon soup
Cat Therapy
special guest: Patrick the dog
After I came back from Iceland, my friend and almost-neighbor Mandy was out of town so Kirk and I spent a little time hanging out with her dog Patrick every day. Patrick is obsessed with me. He wanted to lie on the couch with me and be touching me at all times. He also has a little goblin face.
As for my cats, Fritz has recently discovered he can snooze in the bottom tier of the cat tree and is not limited to lording around on the top level. Huey has been enjoying lounging on the couch since it’s now blanket weather and I’ve put a big blanket out there. She owns it now. I don’t really get to use it, but I suppose she has her rights.
Finally, here are some cat photos for your nerves.
Fritz in a new lounging spotall legs no catHuey presiding over the couch
Hola, ¡es otra guía para votantes! Nuestra próxima elección general es el 8 de noviembre de 2022, pero es una votación a mitad de legislatura, lo cual significa que es probable que el número de votantes sea más bajo que en un año de elección presidencial. Es aún más importante que participes en una votación a mitad de legislatura. La votación para asuntos locales afecta nuestras vidas mucho más que la votación para el presidente.
Inscríbete para votar. El último día que te puedes inscribir es el lunes 24 de octubre. Aún puedes inscribirte después del 24 de octubre, pero necesitas seguir el proceso para el registro del votante en el mismo día (sitio es en inglés).
Descargo de responsabilidad: No soy experta en la política ni el gobierno. Soy solo una persona quien tiene habilidades de leer y buscar información. Si confías en mí, puedes votar como yo. También puedes usar esta guía como un punto de partida para decidir cómo quieres votar.
Consulta rápida
Este cuadro resume mis votos para la elección estatal. Sigue leyendo para ver mis explicaciones y ver mis votos para las elecciones locales en el condado de Sacramento y la ciudad de Elk Grove.
Oficina o propuesta
Mi voto
Todos los cargos nominados por los votantes
Candidatos Demócratas
Senador de los Estados Unidos (mandato completo y mandato parcial)
Alex Padilla
Distrito 7 del Congreso
Doris Matsui
Distrito 8 del Senado Estatal
Dave Jones
Distrito 10 de la Asamblea
Eric Guerra
Jueces de la Corte Suprema de California
Sí
Jueces de la Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito
Sí
Superintendente de Instrucción Pública
Tony Thurmund
Propuesta 1
Sí
Propuesta 26
Sí
Propuesta 27
No
Propuesta 28
Sí
Propuesta 29
Sí
Propuesta 30
Sí
Propuesta 31
Sí
Cargos nominados por los votantes
Para todos estos cargos, tenemos la opción entre un candidato Demócrata y un candidato Republicano porque es como el sistema funciona aquí en California. En mi caso, me rehúso a votar por ningún candidato Republicano. Su plataforma contiene muy poco con lo que coincido. Además su plataforma es una versión reciclada de su plataforma de 2016. En 2020, el partido publicó una resolución diciendo que no escribiría una nueva plataforma y Trump sería el caudillo del partido. Voy a ser breve en esta sección porque voto solo por los Demócratas.
Gobernador: Gavin Newsom
Vicegobernadora: Eleni Kounalakis
Secretaria de estado: Shirley Weber
Controladora: Malia Cohen
Tesorera: Fiona Ma
Procurador general: Rob Bonta
Comisario de seguros: Ricardo Lara
Miembro de la Directiva de Impuestos sobre Ventas, Uso y Otros – Distrito 1: Jose S. Altamirano
Senador y Representante de los Estados Unidos
Es un poco confuso porque hay dos votos a senador aquí pero, de hecho, los dos refieren al mismo escaño, solo en momentos diferentes (nuestra otra senadora es Dianne Feinsten quien no va para la reelección hasta 2024). El “mandato parcial” es un voto para hacer cumplir el periodo de Kamala Harris, que terminaría en enero de 2023. El “mandato completo” es el periodo normal de seis años que empieza después de que Harris concluyera su tiempo como senadora.
Aunque no voto por los Republicanos, vi el sitio web del candidato Republicano, Mark Meuser. Quiere que el gobierno federal corte sus gastos y aumente la producción doméstica de petróleo y gas. Se queja de “políticas progresivas woke.” Todo es una bandera roja para mí.
Con respecto al contendiente de la Representante Doris Matsui, el Republicano Max Semeneko, su sitio web anota que uno de sus asuntos más importantes es que “se defienda la Segunda Enmienda.” No creo que la Segunda Enmienda necesite aún más ayuda. Me gusta Doris Matsui y creo que hace un buen trabajo.
Senador de los Estados Unidos mandato completo: Alex Padilla
Senador de los Estados Unidos mandato parcial/no terminado: Alex Padilla
Representante de los Estados Unidos, distrito 7: Doris Matsui
Senador Estatal – Distrito 8
Mi voto: Dave Jones
Es el primer voto en mi boleta que tiene dos candidatos Demócratas. Mirando a sus sitios web respectivos, los dos Jones y Ashby presentan algo que parece un currículum, mostrando sus cargos pasados, en vez de sus planes de que harían como senadores. Parecen candidatos muy similares diciendo las cosas correctas. Lo que me hizo decidir fue quien da dinero a estos candidatos. Entre los donantes más grandes de Ashby son los comités de acción política (conocidos como PACs, o political action committees, en inglés) de California Association of Highway Patrolmen (Asociación de Agentes de Patrulla de Caminos de California), de Los Angeles Police Protective (Protección de la Policía de Los Ángeles), y de California Real Estate (Inmueble Californiano). En contraste, los donantes más grandes de Jones son PACs de maestros, enfermeros, empleados de escuelas, y otros grupos laborales. Prefiero votar por alguien que los maestros y enfermeros apoyan en vez de alguien que la policía apoya.
Miembro de la Asamblea del Estado – Distrito 10
Mi voto: Eric Guerra
No me siento fantástica de ningún candidato, para ser honesta. Eric Guerra recibió un montón de dinero de un PAC de escuelas charter, lo que me aflige (por lo general, las escuelas charter intentan socavar la educación pública). Sin embargo, sus políticas me suenan bien. Stephanie Nguyen parece una aficionada de la policía (está entre sus donantes más grandes). Dice también que ella “sabe que el crimen crece.” ¿Cómo sabe eso? La tasa de crimen ha estado bajando por décadas. ¿Qué ella sabe algo que el FBI no? Prefiero alguien que toma dinero de las escuelas charter a alguien pro-policía de una forma exuberante.
Cargos no partidistas
Corte Suprema de California
Aunque el público no elige a los jueces de la Corte Suprema de California, tenemos la oportunidad de ratificar a los jueces. Se consideran estos cargos “no partidistas” porque los jueces no se presentan para el cargo como un miembro de un partido político. No obstante, tienen, como individuales, posturas políticas e historias que podemos buscar y usar para decidir si los queremos en nuestra corte. Me refiero a la guía de CalMatters.org y no vi nada que me preocupe de estos jueces.
Patricia Guerrero para Jueza Presidenta de la Corte Suprema de California: Sí
Goodwin Liu para Juez Asociado de la Corte Supremade California: Sí
Martin J. Jenkins para Juez Asociado de la Corte Supremade California: Sí
Joshua P. Groban para Juez Asociado de la Corte Supremade California: Sí
Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito
La Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito es una de las seis cortes de apelación en California, las cuales tienen un nivel inferior al de la Corte Suprema estatal. La corte de apelación desafía las resoluciones judiciales que fueron decididas en las cortes inferiores.
Stacy Boulware Eurie para Jueza Asociada del Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito: Sí
Laurie M. Earlpara Jueza Asociada del Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito: Sí
Harry Hullpara Juez Asociado del Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito: Sí
Peter Krausepara Juez Asociado del Corte de Apelación Tercer Distrito: Sí
Escuela
Superintendente de Instrucción Pública
Mi voto: Tony Thurmund
Parece que Thurmund de veras lo capta. Sus planes se fijan en ayudar a los estudiantes a recuperarse del trauma de la pandemia. Quiere proveer más oportunidades de aprender otro idioma, preprimaria gratis universal, y comida para todos los estudiantes. En contraste, Christensen quiere que los padres de los estudiantes se involucren más en determinar el currículo estatal. He trabajado como maestra y sé que nadie necesita que los padres se involucren en el currículo. Estoy segura que este plan es solo una puerta para dejar entrar el cristianismo extremo, el racismo, y otra basura que no necesitamos en las escuelas públicas.
Condado, Ciudad, y Distrito Municipal
Miembro, Junta de Supervisores – Distrito 5
Mi voto: Jacyln Moreno
Me gusta la postura de Moreno en los asuntos. Parece que tiene un sentido claro de cómo el condado puede ayudar a las personas sin hogares (en cambio de penalizarlas). Quiere más profesionales de la salud mental sin uniformes que puedan responder a las llamadas de 911, y apoyar la vivienda asequible. Son todas cosas buenas en mi opinión.
Alcalde de la Ciudad de Elk Grove
Mi voto: Bobbie Singh-Allen
Singh-Allen es nuestra alcaldesa actual. No me encantan todas sus posturas (¿Realmente necesitamos más policía? ¿Ayudan las prohibiciones para camping a las personas sin hogar?), pero por lo general creo que hace un buen trabajo.
Me molesta la inclusión aparente de una teoría de conspiración sobre el 5G en el sitio web del candidato Brian Pastor. Parece que cree que 5G es dañino. No hay evidencia para esta creencia.
Director del Distrito de Servicios Comunitarios Cosumnes, División 2
Mi voto: Ali Moua
Parece que a Ali Moua le importan mucho los parques y servicios de Elk Grove. Su oponente, Peter Spyros Sakarais, no hizo el esfuerzo para crear un sitio web para su campaña, entonces no sabemos lo que cree o le importa.
Director del Distrito Municipal de Servicios Públicos Sacramento, Distrito Electoral 4
Mi voto: Rosanna Herber
Los dos sitios web de Herber y Cressman son escasos. Para mí, Cressman me da mala onda.
Medidas presentadas a los votantes
Estado
1 Derecho constitucional a la libertad reproductiva
Enmienda la Constitución de California para incluir de manera expresa el derecho fundamental de una persona a la libertad reproductiva, el cual incluye el derecho fundamental a elegir realizarse un aborto y el derecho fundamental a elegir o negarse a usar anticonceptivos. Esta enmienda no restringe ni limita los derechos existentes a la privacidad y a la igualdad de protección de conformidad con la Constitución de California. Impacto fiscal: No hay ningún efecto fiscal directo, porque los derechos reproductivos ya se encuentran protegidos por la ley estatal.
Mi voto: Sí
Ya tenemos derechos reproductivos fuertes aquí en California, pero la Proposición 1 fortalecería estos derechos y ampliaría nuestro derecho a la privacidad. Esta proposición es una respuesta directa a la Corte Suprema anulando el caso de Roe v. Wade en meses anteriores este año.
26 Permite las apuestas en persona con ruleta, juegos de dados, apuestas deportivas en tierras tribales
También permite: las apuestas deportivas en algunos hipódromos; juicios privados para hacer cumplir ciertas leyes de juego. Destina los ingresos al Fondo General, programas de problemas de juego, aplicación. Impacto fiscal: Aumento de los ingresos estatales, alcanzando posiblemente decenas de millones de dólares al año. Algunos de estos ingresos respaldarían el aumento de los costos estatales reglamentarios y de aplicación que podrían alcanzar algunas decenas de millones de dólares anuales.
Mi voto: Sí
Esta y la Proposición 27 van juntas. Algunas tribus formaron un PAC que se llama Sí a 26, No a 27 – Coalición para Juegos Seguros y Responsables (Yes on 26, No on 27 – Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming). Un montón de las tribus nativas de California apoyan esta iniciativa, que tiene sentido porque van a beneficiarse de esta ley. Los partidarios de esta proposición también incluyen al Partido Paz y Libertad y al NAACP, lo que acepto como un signo positivo. La gran oposición de esta proposición viene de corporaciones de juegos y casinos, lo que me sugiere que están enojados de que alguien más ganaría dinero por los juegos. No estoy segura que me importe de una manera u otra de los juegos pero no veo ninguna razón por la que las tribus nativas no lo deben aprovechar. Prefiero que las tribus ganen dinero que las corporaciones aleatorias.
Esta proposición también contribuirá a los ingresos públicos. Habrá un impuesto de 10% en todos los juegos, lo que se va a distribuir al Departamento de Salud de California, la Agencia de Control de los Juegos, y el Fondo General.
27 Permite las apuestas deportivas en línea y vía dispositivos móviles fuera de las tierras tribales
Permite que las tribus indígenas y las empresas afiliadas operen apuestas deportivas en línea y vía dispositivos móviles fuera de las tierras tribales. Destina los ingresos a los costos reglamentarios, programas para la falta de vivienda, a las tribus no participantes. Impacto fiscal: Aumento de los ingresos estatales, posiblemente en cientos de millones de dólares, pero no es probable que supere los $500 millones anuales. Algunos ingresos respaldarían los costos estatales reglamentarios, alcanzando posiblemente media decena de millones de dólares anualmente.
Mi voto: No
Lo revelador para mi es que el Partido Democrática de California, el Partido Republicano de California y el Partido Paz y Libertad todos están opuestos a esta proposición. Ha unido literalmente a todos. El argumento principal para la Proposición 27 es que iría a ayudar a las personas sin hogar. La guía para votantes del estado dice que la Proposición 27 impondría un impuesto de 10% en los juegos, que pagarían los costos regulatorios. Del dinero que quedara después de los costos regulatorios, 85% iría a “programas para la falta de vivienda” no especificados. El análisis de la legislación dice que no sabemos exactamente cuántos ingresos la legislación generaría, pero sabemos que va a generar más trabajo para regular los juegos en línea. No creo que sea la ayuda para las personas sin hogar que los adeptos de la proposición se imaginan.
28 Otorga fondos adicionales para educación artística y musical en las escuelas públicas
Otorga fondos adicionales del Fondo General estatal para la educación artística y musical en todas las escuelas públicas desde preescolar hasta 12.º grado (K-12) (incluidas las escuelas subvencionadas). Impacto fiscal: Aumento de los costos estatales de alrededor de $1 mil millones anuales, a partir del próximo año, para la educación artística en las escuelas públicas.
Mi voto: Sí
Es obvio que apoyo que el gobierno financie la educación, en particular para algo que recibe crónicamente menos fondos de los que merece. El arte es lo que vale la pena de vivir. Los niños deben tener la oportunidad de participar en el arte. Los fondos para respaldar a esta proposición vendrían del Fondo General estatal (alrededor de una mitad de un porcentaje de su presupuesto) y mayoritariamente pagaría nuevos empleados para las artes en escuelas.
29 Exige un profesional médico con licencia en las clínicas de diálisis renal y establece otros requisitos estatales
Exige que un médico, enfermero practicante o asistente médico esté presente en el sitio durante el tratamiento. Exige a las clínicas que: divulguen la participación de propiedad de los médicos; informen sobre los datos de infecciones. Impacto fiscal: Aumento de los costos del gobierno estatal y local probablemente de decenas de millones de dólares anuales.
Mi voto: Sí
No es la primera vez que hemos votado sobre este asunto. En 2020, los Californianos rechazaron la Proposición 23, que hubiera requerido que las clínicas de diálisis renal tuvieran un médico en el local. Parece que el Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection PAC (el PAC de Californianos para proteger a los pacientes de diálisis renal) ha modificado sus objetivos esta temporada. Ahora demanda un enfermero practicante, asistente médico, o un médico en las clínicas. Tal vez esperen que haya más apoyo en esta forma. Creo que es una buena idea que las clínicas tengan un médico a mano para la diálisis renal. De veras, no entiendo porque es controvertida.
Como normal, creo que el dinero cuenta una historia. DaVita, Inc. y Fresenius Medical Care—dos empresas grandes que ofrecen la diálisis renal—han donado $52.7 millones y $27.3 millones, respectivamente, a la oposición de esta proposición. En contraste, el único grupo apoyante a la Proposición 29, Californians for Kidney Dialysis and Patient Protection, ha contribuido con un poco menos de $8 millones. Si estas compañías pueden gastar tanto dinero en la política, pueden contratar unos médicos y enfermeros.
30 Otorga fondos a programas para reducir la contaminación del aire y evitar incendios forestales mediante el aumento de impuestos en ingresos personales de más de $2 millones
Asigna ingresos de impuestos a incentivos para la compra de vehículos de cero emisiones, estaciones de carga de vehículos y prevención de incendios forestales. Impacto fiscal: Aumento de los ingresos de impuestos estatales que van desde $3.5 mil millones a $5 mil millones anuales, usando los nuevos fondos para apoyar los programas de vehículos de cero emisiones y actividades de respuesta y prevención de incendios forestales.
Mi voto: Sí
Siempre apoyo a exigir el pago de impuestos a los ricos. La Proposición 30 aumentaría “el impuesto sobre la renta personal superior a $2 millones en un 1.75%.” El dinero financiaría actividades de respuesta y prevención de incendios forestales (20%) y estaciones de carga de vehículos/algún tipo de financiamiento para comparar vehículos eléctricos. No estoy segura de que enfocarse en carros eléctricos sea la mejor forma de prevenir los incendios forestales—es una conexión no muy clara—pero bien, no lastima a nadie.
31 Referéndum sobre la ley de 2020 que prohibiría la venta minorista de ciertos productos de tabaco saborizados
Un voto “Sí” aprueba, y un voto “No” rechaza, una ley de 2020 que prohíbe la venta minorista de ciertos productos de tabaco saborizados. Impacto fiscal: Reducción de los ingresos por impuestos estatales al tabaco que oscilan entre decenas de millones de dólares anuales y alrededor de $100 millones anuales.
Mi voto: Sí
En 2020, California prohibió vender productos de tabaco saborizados, es decir que el estado quiere evitar que los niños compren vapes (cigarrillos electrónicos) que tienen sabor a dulces. Los únicos grupos que apoyan la campaña de “no” son verdaderas compañías de tabaco y el Partido Republicano. Las compañías de cigarros y tabaco no necesitan beneficiarse a costa de los niños fumando cigarrillos electrónicos.
Condado
Medida A
A fin de arreglar los baches y reparar las calles dañadas; proporcionar rutas seguras a las escuelas; ampliar los servicios de tránsito asequibles para personas de la tercera edad y personas con discapacidades; eliminar los cuellos de botella y mejorar los tiempos de respuesta ante emergencias; reducir el congestionamiento vehicular; y mejorar la calidad del aire; ¿se debe aprobar la medida que aprueba la Ley para la Reducción del Congestionamiento Vehicular, el Mantenimiento y la Seguridad del Transporte del Condado de Sacramento de 2022 – Iniciativa de Impuesto sobre las Transacciones y el Uso Minoristas, que incluye un impuesto sobre las ventas del 0.5% durante 40 años que recaudaría aproximadamente $212,512,500 anuales para proyectos de transporte y tránsito?
Mi voto: No
Antes de buscar más información de esta medida, mis primeros pensamientos fueron que vivimos en una sociedad y una parte de eso es pagar nuestra porción para los caminos, el tránsito, y servicios esenciales. Esta medida financiaría líneas de trenes ligeros entre el aeropuerto y Elk Grove, lo que me interesa mucho. No obstante, el Sierra Club, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (Defensores de ir en bicicleta en la región de Sacramento), el Partido Republicano del Condado de Sacramento, varios clubes del Partido Democrática de Sacramento (Young Democrats, Environmental Democrats, etc.), y el Sunrise Movement se oponen a esta medida. Leí un artículo del Sacramento Bee (del que no puedo compartir el enlace porque lo leí a través del sitio web de la biblioteca) del 12 de Octubre de 2022 titulado Move forward or backward? Measure A would raise $8.5 billion to reshape regional transportation (¿Haciendo progreso o dando pasos atrás? La Medida A aumentaría para remodelar el transporte). El artículo provee más contexto y hace acordar que los ciudadanos en el Condado de Sacramento ya financian proyectos de transporte. Esta medida nos pediría pagar aún más. El Sacramento Bee también publicó un editorial el 10 de Octubre se llama Sacramento County voters must reject Measure A (Los votantes del Condado de Sacramento tienen que rechazar a la Medida A), argumentando que la Medida A solo es una oportunidad para que los constructores se beneficien de nosotros. El editorial remarca que añadir otro 0.5% de impuestos sobre las ventas alcanzaría el límite legal, lo que significa que el condado no podría imponer más impuestos sobre las ventas para alguna otra cosa (sino que eliminaría otro impuesto sobre las ventas).
Medida B
¿Debe adoptarse la medida para financiar servicios mejorados para las personas sin hogar del Condado, incluyendo aquellos que benefician a American River Parkway, mediante el establecimiento de un impuesto especial sobre los ingresos brutos de los negocios de cannabis y cáñamo en el Condado de Sacramento no incorporado, que no supere el 6% para la ventana al por menor, 4% para la fabricación, 3% para la distribución, 2% para las pruebas y 3% para el cultivo o $10 por pie cuadrado de dosel ajustable por inflación, que generará un estimado de $5,100,000 a $7,700,000 anuales y se recaudará hasta que los votantes lo deroguen?
Mi voto: Sí
Fue difícil encontrar información sobre esta medida. La guía para votantes del condado contiene solo un argumento a favor del impuesto, que me sugiere que no hay otra organización suficientemente opuesta para entregar un contraargumento. Esta medida empezó con el Concejo Municipal de Sacramento, pero la ciudad decidió enviar el asunto a los votantes. Es una medida poco extraña porque solo afecta a las áreas no incorporadas del condado. Además no veo la conexión entre los servicios para las personas sin hogar y la venta del cannabis, pero supongo que no hay una razón para no beneficiar a las personas sin hogar.
Medida D
¿Se debe autorizar al Condado de Sacramento no incorporado y las ciudades incorporadas forman parte del mismo, incluidas Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, e Isleton, a desarrollar, adquirir o construir anualmente viviendas para personas y familias de bajos ingresos, incluidas personas de la tercera edad o personas con discapacitadas, equivalente al 1% de las unidades de vivienda actuales en el Condado? Cualquier unidad de vivienda sin construir en cada año será transferida anualmente.
Mi voto: Sí
¡Sí, inmediatamente! Necesitamos un montón más de viviendas a buenos precios. Los costos son excesivos y la gente no puede encontrar lugares en que pueden vivir. Esta medida ni siquiera aumentaría los impuestos, usaría dinero del Fondo General.
Ciudad
Medida E: Medida de Seguridad/Calidad de Vida de Elk Grove
Para apoyar los servicios esenciales como la reducción del crimen; la respuesta rápida al 9-1-1, bomberos, policía, emergencias médicas/desastres; mantener las áreas públicas seguras/limpias; abordar la falta de vivienda; reparación de baches/mantenimiento de calles/parques; programas de prevención de delincuencia juvenil/pandillas; y otros fines generales de la comunidad; ¿debe adoptarse la medida que establezca un impuesto sobre las ventas de 1 centavo que proporcionará aproximadamente $21,300,000 anuales hasta que los votantes le pongan fin; requiriendo auditorías, supervisión ciudadana, divulgación del gasto público y todos los fondos controlados localmente?
Mi voto: Sí
El Concejo Municipal de Elk Grove presentó esta medida para obtener más fondos para Elk Grove en particular. Y este punto es dónde digo en serio, vivimos en una sociedad y una parte de eso es pagar nuestra porción para los caminos, el tránsito, y los servicios esenciales.
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Hello, it’s another voter guide! Our next general election is on November 8, 2022, but This is a mid-term election, which means voter turnout will probably be lower than in a presidential election year. It’s extra important to vote in a midterm election. Voting on local issues has a much bigger direct impact on our lives than voting in presidential elections.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on politics or government. I’m just a person who’s good at reading and looking things up. If you trust my judgment, you can vote how I vote. You can also use my guide as a starting point for your own research.
Quick Reference
This table summarizes my votes for the statewide items on the ballot. Keep reading to see my explanations and to see my votes for local elections in Sacramento County and Elk Grove.
Candidate or Proposition
My Vote
All voter-nominated offices
Democratic candidates
U.S. Senator (full and partial terms)
Alex Padilla
U.S. Congressional Representative District 7
Doris Matsui
State Senate District 8
Dave Jones
State Assembly District 10
Eric Guerra
Supreme Court Judges
Yes
Appellate Court Judges
Yes
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tony Thurmund
Proposition 1
Yes
Proposition 26
Yes
Proposition 27
No
Proposition 28
Yes
Proposition 29
Yes
Proposition 30
Yes
Proposition 31
Yes
Voter-nominated offices
For all of these positions, we have the option between a Democrat and a Republican because that’s how California’s system works. I refuse to vote for any Republicans. Their platform contains very little I agree with. Additionally, their current platform is just their recycled platform from 2016. In 2020, their released a resolution stating they’re not making a new platform and Trump is the leader of the party. I’ll keep this section short because I’m voting all Democrats.
Governor: Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor: Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State: Shirley Weber
Controller: Malia Cohen
Treasurer: Fiona Ma
Attorney General: Rob Bonta
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara
Board of Equalization Member – District 1: Jose S. Altamirano
United States Senator and Representative
This is a little confusing because there are two votes for senator here, but they are actually for the same seat, just at different times (our other senator is Dianne Feinsten, who will not be up for reelection until 2024). The partial-term vote is for a senator to finish Kamala Harris’s term, which ends in January 2023. The full term is the regular, six-year senate term that begins after Harris’s would have ended.
Although I am not voting for Republicans, I did look at the Republican candidate’s, Mark Meuser, website. He wants the federal government to cut spending and “increase domestic oil and gas production.” He complains about “woke progressive policies.” These are all red flags for me.
As for Representative Doris Matsui’s challenger, Republican Max Semenenko, his website lists one of his top issues as “defend the second amendment.” I don’t think the second amendment needs any more help. I like Doris Matsui and think she’s doing a good job.
United States Senator Full Term: Alex Padilla
United States Senator Partial Term: Alex Padilla
Representative – District 7: Doris Matsui
State Senator – District 8
My vote: Dave Jones
This is the first race on my ballot that has two Democratic candidates. Looking at their respective websites, both Jones and Ashby present something more like a resume, showcasing past work, rather than listing plans for what they would do as senators. They look like very similar candidates who are both saying the right things. The deciding factor for me is who is giving these candidates money. Among Ashby’s top donors are the California Association of Highway Patrolmen Political Action Committee (PAC), the Los Angeles Police Protective PAC, and the California Real Estate PAC. In contrast, Jones’s top donors are PACs for teachers, nurses, school employees, and other labor groups. I would rather vote for someone who teachers and nurses support than who the police support.
Member of the State Assembly – District 10
My vote: Eric Guerra
I don’t feel great about either of these candidates, to be honest. Eric Guerra received a bunch of money from a charter school PAC, which I find troubling (charter schools are, generally speaking, working to ruin public education). However, his policies sound good. Stephanie Nguyen seems like a big fan of the police (they are among her top donors). She also says “she knows that crime is on the rise.” How does she know that? Crime rates have been falling for decades. What does she know that the FBI doesn’t? I prefer someone taking money from charter schools to someone who’s exuberantly pro-cop.
Nonpartisan Offices
California Supreme Court
Although the public doesn’t get to select who serves on the California Supreme Court, we do get to ratify the judges. These are considered “nonpartisan” offices because the judges don’t run as part of a political party. However, they still, as individuals, have political stances and histories that we can look up to decide if we want these people on our court. I referred to the CalMatters.org guide on the justices and I didn’t see anything that made me worry about these judges.
Patricia Guerrero for Chief Justice of California: Yes
Goodwin Liu for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Yes
Martin J. Jenkins for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Yes
Joshua P. Groban for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Yes
Third District Court of Appeal
The Third District Court of Appeal is one of California’s six appellate courts, which is a level below the state Supreme Court. The appellate court hears challenges to cases that lower courts decided.
Laurie M. Earl for Associate Justice Court of Appeal Third District: Yes
Harry Hull Associate Justice Court of Appeal Third District: Yes
Peter Krause for Associate Justice Court of Appeal Third District: Yes
School
Superintendent of Public Instruction
My vote: Tony Thurmund
Thurmund seems like he really gets it. His plans are focused on helping students recover from the trauma of the pandemic. He wants to give more opportunities for learning another language, free universal preschool, and meals for all students. In contrast, Christensen wants parents more involved in determining the state’s curriculum. I’ve been a teacher and I know that parents meddling in curriculum is not what anyone needs. I’m sure this is just a gateway to let in extreme Christianity, racism, and other garbage we don’t need in public schools.
County, City, and Municipal
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 5
My vote: Jacyln Moreno
I like Moreno’s stance on issues. She seems to have a clear sense of how the county can actually help homeless people (instead of criminalizing them and shuffling them around). She wants more non-uniformed mental health professionals who can respond to 911 calls, and she supports affordable housing. All good things in my opinion.
Mayor of Elk Grove
My vote: Bobbie Singh-Allen
Singh-Allen is our current mayor. I don’t love all of her positions (do we really need more police? are camping bans actually helping homeless people?), but I think she’s generally doing a good job. I am troubled by the apparent inclusion of 5G conspiracy talk on candidate Brian Pastor’s website. He seems to think 5G is unhealthy for us. It’s not.
Consumnes Community Services District Director, Division 2
My vote: Ali Moua
Ali Moua seems like he really cares about our parks and services here in Elk Grove. His opponent, Peter Spyros Sakrais, couldn’t even be bothered to create a campaign website, so we don’t know what he thinks or cares about.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Director, Ward 4
My vote: Rosanna Herber
Both Herber’s and Cressman’s websites are pretty sparse. For me, Cressman’s vibes are off.
Measures Submitted to the Voters
State
1 Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom
Amends California Constitution to expressly include an individual’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which includes the fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. This amendment does not narrow or limit the existing rights to privacy and equal protection under the California Constitution. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal effect because reproductive rights already are protected by state law.
My vote: Yes
We already have fairly strong reproductive rights here in California, but Proposition 1 would strengthen these rights and broaden our right to privacy. This proposition is a direct response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this year.
Also allows: sports wagering at certain horseracing tracks; private lawsuits to enforce certain gambling laws. Directs revenues to General Fund, problem-gambling programs, enforcement. Fiscal Impact: Increased state revenues, possibly reaching tens of millions of dollars annually. Some of these revenues would support increased state regulatory and enforcement costs that could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually.
My vote: Yes
This and Prop 27 go together. Some tribes formed a PAC called the Yes on 26, No on 27 – Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming. A whole bunch of California’s native tribes support this initiative, which makes sense because they stand to profit from it. Also in support are the Peace and Freedom Party and the NAACP, which I take as a good sign. The big opposition to this proposition is coming from gaming and casino corporations, which suggests to me that they’re just mad that someone else would make money off gambling. I’m not sure I much care one way or the other about gambling but I see no reason that native tribes shouldn’t benefit from it. I’d rather they profit than random corporations.
This proposition will also contribute to state revenues. There will be a 10% tax on all the gambling, which will be distributed to the California Department of Health, the Bureau of Gambling Control, and the state’s General Fund.
27 Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands
Allows Indian tribes and affiliated businesses to operate online/mobile sports wagering outside tribal lands. Directs revenues to regulatory costs, homelessness programs, nonparticipating tribes. Fiscal Impact: Increased state revenues, possibly in the hundreds of millions of dollars but not likely to exceed $500 million annually. Some revenues would support state regulatory costs, possibly reaching the mid-tens of millions of dollars annually.
My vote: No
What’s telling to me is that the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, and the Peace and Freedom party ALL oppose this proposition. This has united literally everyone. The main argument for Proposition 27 seems to be that it’s going to help homeless people. The state’s voter guide says Proposition 27 would impose a 10% tax on gambling, which would pay for regulatory costs. Of whatever money is left after the regulatory costs, 85% would go to unspecified “homelessness programs.” The analysis of the bill says we don’t really know how much revenue this would generate, but we do know that it would create work to regulate online sports betting. I don’t think this is the big boost to homeless people that its proponents are pretending it is.
28 Provides Additional Funding for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools
Provides additional funding from state General Fund for arts and music education in all K–12 public schools (including charter schools). Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $1 billion annually, beginning next year, for arts education in public schools.
My vote: Yes
I’m obviously going to support funding education, especially for something so chronically underfunded like the arts. Art is what makes life worth living. Kids should get an opportunity to participate in it. The spending to support this would come from the state’s general fund (about one-half of a percent of its budget) and mostly go to pay for new arts staff at schools.
29 Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional at Kidney Dialysis Clinics and Establishes Other State Requirements
Requires physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site during treatment. Requires clinics to: disclose physicians’ ownership interests; report infection data. Fiscal Impact: Increased state and local government costs likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually.
My vote: Yes
This is not the first time we have voted on this issue. In 2020, Californians rejected proposition 23, which would have required dialysis clinics to have an on-site physician. It seems like the Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection PAC has adjusted its goals this season to require a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or a physician on site at a dialysis clinic, perhaps in hopes of getting more people to go along with it. It does sound to me like a good idea to have a medical professional on hand for kidney dialysis. I’m not sure why it’s controversial actually.
Once again, I think the finances tell the story here. DaVita, Inc. and Fresenius Medical Care—two big companies that offer kidney dialysis—have donated $52.7 million and $27.3 million, respectively, into opposing this proposition. In contrast, the only committee supporting Proposition 29, Californians for Kidney Dialysis and Patient Protection, has contributed just under $8 million. If these companies can spend that much on politics, they can afford to staff a few doctors and nurses.
30 Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution and Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income over $2 Million
Allocates tax revenues to zero-emission vehicle purchase incentives, vehicle charging stations, and wildfire prevention. Fiscal Impact: Increased state tax revenue ranging from $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually, with the new funding used to support zero-emission vehicle programs and wildfire response and prevention activities.
My vote: Yes
I’m always going to support taxing the rich. Proposition 30 would require “taxpayers with incomes above $2 million each year (annually) to pay an additional tax of 1.75 percent on the share of their income above $2 million.” The money would go to wildfire response and prevention (20%) and to charging stations/some kind of funding to help people buy electric vehicles. I’m not sure if I agree that focusing on electric cars is the best way to prevent wildfires—it’s a stretch—but okay. It can’t hurt.
31 Referendum on 2020 Law that Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products
A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, a 2020 law prohibiting retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products. Fiscal Impact: Decreased state tobacco tax revenues ranging from tens of millions of dollars annually to around $100 million annually.
My vote: Yes
In 2020, California banned the sale of flavored tobacco products, which is to say the state is trying to keep kids from buying candy-flavored vapes. The only groups supporting the “no” campaign are literal tobacco companies and the Republican party. Smoking and tobacco companies don’t need to profit off of kids smoking e-cigarettes.
County
Measure A
To fix potholes and repair damaged streets; provide safe routes to school, expand affordable senior and disabled transit services; eliminate bottlenecks and improve emergency response times; reduce traffic congestion; and improve air quality. Shall the measure approving the Sacramento County Transportation, Maintenance, Safety and Congestion Relief Act of 2022 – Retail Transactions and Use Tax Initiative, including a 40-year 0.5% sales tax raising an estimated $212,512,500 annually for transportation and transit projects, be adopted?
My vote: No
Before I started reading up on this, my initial thoughts were that we live in a society and part of that is paying our share for roads, transit, and emergency services. This would fund light rail lines between the airport and Elk Grove, which is of personal interest to me. However, the Sierra Club, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, the Sacramento County Republican Party, various Sacramento County Democratic clubs (Young Democrats, Environmental Democrats, etc.), and the Sunrise movement all oppose this measure. I read a Sacramento Bee article (which I cannot really link to because I read it through the library website) from October 12, 2022 called Move forward or backward? Measure A would raise $8.5 billion to reshape regional transportation. The article provides more context and reminds that citizens in Sacramento County are already funding transit projects. This would ask us to pay even more. The Sacramento Bee also issued an editorial on October 10 called Sacramento County voters must reject Measure A, arguing that Measure A is just an opportunity for developers to profit off of us. The editorial points out that adding another 0.5% of sales tax would put us at our legal limit, meaning the county couldn’t levy sales tax for anything else (unless it gets rid of another sales tax).
Measure B
Shall the measure to find enhanced County homeless services, including those benefiting the American River Parkway, by establishing a special tax on the gross receipts from cannabis and hemp business in unincorporated Sacramento County, not exceeding 6% for retail, 4% for manufacturing, 3% for distribution, 2% for resting, and 3% for cultivation or $10 per canopy square foot inflation adjustable, generating an estimated $5,100,000 to $7,700,000 annually, and levied until repealed by the voters, be adopted?
My vote: Yes
It was difficult to find information on this measure. The county voter guide only contains an argument in favor of the tax, suggesting that no organization opposed it enough to submit a counter argument. This measure started out in the Sacramento City Council, but the Council decided to send the issue to the voters instead. It’s kind of a weird measure because it would only affect the county’s unincorporated areas. I also don’t really see the connection between homeless services and cannabis sales, but I guess there’s no reason not to use the tax to benefit homeless people.
Measure D
Shall the unincorporated County of Sacramento and incorporated cities within, including Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, and Isleton be authorized to annually develop, acquire, or construct housing for low-income persons and families, including elderly or disabled persons, equivalent with 1% of the existing housing units in the county? Any unconstructed housing units in each year will be carried over annually.
My vote: Yes
Immediate yes! We need way more affordable housing. Prices are unreasonable and more and more people are not able to find a place to live. This measure won’t even raise taxes, it would use money from the state’s General Fund.
City
Measure E: Elk Grove Safety/Quality of Life Measure
To support essential services such as crime reduction, rapid 9-1-1, fire, police, medical emergency/disaster response; keeping public areas safe/clean; addressing homelessness; pothole repair/street/park maintenance; youth crime/gang prevention programs; and other general community purposes; shall the measure establishing a 1-cent sales tax providing approximately $21,300,000 annually until ended by the voters; requiring audits, citizen oversight, public spending disclosures, and all funds locally controlled, be adopted?
My vote: Yes
This measure was submitted by the Elk Grove City Council as a way to get more funds for Elk Grove specifically. And this is where I will say for real, we live in a society and part of that is paying our share for roads, transit, and emergency services.
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If you made it all the way to the end, wow, you’re a trouper! I invite you to share this post if you found it useful. Please leave a comment if you think I missed something important. Thanks for voting!
