PSA for those worried about getting time to vote: advice from MoveOn.org

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

[compiled from a couple of emails they've sent recently]

In Massachusetts, companies that don't give their employees the chance to vote are breaking the law.

It's important that managers and HR departments know that companies standing in the way of voting could be breaking a state law. It's wrong for companies to take advantage of rigid work schedules, long commutes and limited child care options to keep people from voting. No one should have to choose between earning a living, raising a family and exercising their right to vote.

If you have questions about whether your company's policy is legal, please go to: http://www.timetovote.net/voter_leave_laws.html

or email: info@timetovote.net

If you feel that your employer is not respecting these laws, or if you see things happening in your local area that suggest that the election is not being administered with integrity, please call the Election Protection Toll-Free Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

But please don't call it now to find out your state's voter leave laws. For that, please refer to the website or the email address above.

Also, to find out more about Election Protection and to find your state's Voter Bill of Rights, please visit: http://www.electionprotection2004.org

( Ten Recommendations for Companies on Voting Policies )

grocery stores

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

comment on quality of different grocery stores near davis?  also comment on car vs. t accessibility (both or fine, i'm just curious).  i've been using the one in porter but want to branch out.  also any other convenient stores (e.g. target in everett) etc.  thanks!

Bike Paths are for Bikes, too

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

I commute from between Alewife/Davis on the bike path. It's only 8 minutes, but almost everyday I find myself incredibly frustrated after the ride.

-If biker says "ON YOUR LEFT," it means that you should move to the right, s/he is not asking you to move to the left.
-Stay on the right side of the path. This particular section of the path does not have a line down the middle, but the rule still applies.
-LEASH YOUR DOGS. Today a German shepard, no leash, charged a small dog on a leash and I almost ran over them both. I said, "Please put your dog on a leash," and a pedestrian had the nerve to say "actually, it was the one ON the leash that got in your way." That is not the point. The German shepard should not be able to scare the small dog from so far away.
-If wearing headphones, either play the music at the level so that you can hear biker's warnings when passing, or make sure you stay to the right of the path at all times. It's very dangerous to be in the middle of a bike path when you can't hear any warnings. This goes for other bikers/rollerblade-rs, etc.
-Please don't walk side-by-side, blocking the entire path. Share.

And for bikers:
-Wear a helmet. You look dorkier without.
-Bike on the right side of the path! A biker should know better!
-Use lights if biking at night
-Please, please, please use hand signals

I would love to encourage others to commute by bike. It is better for your health, better for our environment, and should be more enjoyable than being stuck on a bus or train. But without cooperation from all bike path users, commuting by bike becomes a pain in the neck. It's really a shame. (and then there's biking in traffic--which is another realm, I won't get into that now..)

In light of the recent post re: one way street, I wish there is a way to tag the folks that do not follow bike path rules. :\

Please share the path!!
http://www.minutemanbikeway.org/Pages/guidelines.html