Something I Learned from Dickens

This is a photo of Charles Dickens from The Guardian, a British daily newspaper. To me, he looks like a kindly man looking at me, with sincere concern. 

I couldn't find an image of him smiling. I looked. Although he was an international literary celebrity, famous for his humor, satire, and cutting observations of people and society, he did live and work during the Victorian Era and smiling for photos was "simply not done."

Those of you who know me, know I am addicted to many things, one of which is Charles Dickens' novels. And as such, I periodically MUST read Dickens. Then about three-quarters of the way through, I swear I will NEVER read Dickens again.

Well, I read Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead (See my review here) and could not resist revisiting Dickens' David Copperfield.

Now I am of a region of the country and of a generation that falls easily and thoughtlessly into "old sayings." I say "thoughtlessly" lightly, but it is absolutely the correct adverb to use. 

About a quarter of the way through David Copperfield, I came to a statement by an as yet unimportant character named Malden. He said "I don't want to look a gift-horse in the mouth, which is not a gracious thing to do...." 

I do know what that means, or thought I did. Don't question good fortune, like it's bad luck or something. Not being of pre-automobile times, I never thought about what it literally means.

I have known for a very long time that horse traders are infamous for their sharp dealings when selling a horse, especially to an unwary buyer. The buyer should watch the horse move to be assured that it is sound on its legs.

 And the buyer should also check the horse's teeth, because you can tell its age and its general history of care from their condition.

So...when someone does you a favor or hands you a gift, of course it would be rude to look for a nefarious motivation or an otherwise flawed gift.

Who knew?!

And now that I look at that Dickens photo, I'm reminded of Fidel Castro. Oh, well.

I Voted Today

 

I'm up later than usual this morning. The traditional polling places open at seven in the morning, the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. So if  I were going to the polls, I would not be first in line. 

                            This is my polling place!                                But first breakfast.

Since we live in Colorado, we can vote anytime after we receive our ballots in the mail. We got ours a couple of weeks ago. And about a week before that we received our Ballot Information Booklets -- One from the State for elective offices and statewide questions and issues and one from our county for questions and issues pertaining just to our county.

  

 

These booklets give the titles and text of the questions we are voting on plus a summary and analysis of those questions including arguments for and against and the fiscal impact of the question. 

For example: Amendment E to the state constitution, Extend Homestead Exemption to Gold Star Spouses "reduce property taxes for the surviving spouses of both United States Armed Forces service members who died in the line of duty and veterans who died as a result of a service-related injury or disease." Plus arguments for and against this amendment and the Fiscal Impact "Amendment E will increase state spending by $288,000 in state budget year 2023-24 to cover the reimbursements [to the counties who normally benefit from property taxes] authorized in the measure."

The State booklet also gives information about the judges being considered for retention. In Colorado, judges for the State Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and the District Courts are selected through assisted appointment -- the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. Those judges then come up for Retention votes two years after their initial appointment, then after 10-year-terms for the Supreme Court Justices, 8-year-terms for Appellate Court judges, and 6-year-terms for District Court judges. We vote yes or no on each judge up for retention.

An independent research firm conducts judicial performance surveys on judges. Commissions made up of attorney and non-attorney volunteers evaluate the information collected and makes recommendations of "meets performance standards" or "does not meet performance standards" which we voters can use to decide our vote. Good information for those of us who do not have courtroom experience with our judges, thank goodness.

When it comes to candidates running for the various and sundry offices, we voters are on our own.

 

                          Time to mark my ballot.                          Sign it and seal it in its special envelop.

Then pop it in a drop box. In this case outside the rec center where I have exercise class.

Civic duty done.