I’m somewhat surprised at how anyone can still be undecided at this point, after nearly two years of campaigning and just under two weeks to go to the election.

But tonight, a very good friend sent the following email. I felt I had to do my best to articulate my views, which I realized I had not done recently. It turned out to be a very helpful exercise. So to my friend Ron, thank you for this opportunity.

Hello Everyone,

I’m writing to a select group of people whose opinions I respect to ask for just that: your opinions. As some of you already know I haven’t made up my mind yet about who I’m going to vote for. The closer we get to election day, the less sure I am. While I think Obama’s going to win anyway, I still believe my vote counts and I’d like to hear any thoughts you may have about why I should vote one way or another.

Here’s where I’m coming from: I’m registered as a Democrat but I’ve voted on both sides of the aisle over the years. I’m going with the premise that both Obama and McCain would make good presidents. I just want you to convince me which one would be better.

If you’re going to try to convince me that McCain is more of Bush, don’t bother.

If you’re going to tell me that Obama is a Muslim associated with the Weathermen and Rev. Wright etc. also don’t bother.

I’m not interested in hearing why either candidate is BAD, I want to hear why one would be BETTER. So please go with my premise when you answer this e-mail.

Thanks,

Ron

So, I wrote the following message off the top of my head:

Hi Ron,

I am voting for Barack Obama because he believes that Americans are smart enough not to be persuaded by fear, greed and xenophobia, and because he represents a wider swath of the nation with a philosophy that includes people rather than excludes them.

He supports peaceful dialogue as opposed to dangerous warmongering, doesn’t believe that drilling is our only answer to the energy crisis and doesn’t support the trickle down theory of economics. He believes in stem cell research, evolution and women’s rights including reproductive rights. He’s a Christian without being a fundamentalist and he picked a vice presidential candidate who actually knows what a vice president does. And if that’s not enough he also supports Israel and not because of a belief that Jesus will one day appear in Jerusalem to usher in the Rapture.

I am voting for Barack Obama beacuse I want my child to grow up in a world where his country is respected again. A world where we don’t torture people, invade countries that didn’t attack us, where great, inexpensive health insurance is a right and where my vote is fairly counted no matter what my skin color or economic level is.

I’m voting for Obama because he really appears to bring out the best America has to offer, and I am inspired by what I have witnessed in so many people this year.

Daniel

I hope this helps you make your decision. But don’t just take it from me. I have some friends at the New York Times and the Washington Post who also agree.

Dead, again, originally uploaded by dM.nyc™.

This is the second time in about a year my camera has had a “fatal” error. I paid over $200 last time I had to send it in. Not so sure I want to do that again.

Despite the fact that film costs an exponentially higher amount than digital, and that you can’t see what you’ve taken until after you develop the roll, there’s something to be said for the fact that between my wife and I, we have a pair of cameras between 20 and 35 years old that still function as well as ever.

Will there ever be a digital camera that can outlast a mechanical one? I doubt it, but two disasters in 13 months? That’s just bullshit.

Thwart Design Launches Tools for Dying, originally uploaded by La Mariposa.

I saw this today on one of my friends’ Flickr photostreams. Very clever.

That is, unless every day is a weekend. That’s the basic premise of the book I’ve been reading this week:

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

So far, so good. The techniques described within, such as limiting checking email to twice a day, and eventually to less than once per day make a lot of sense. We’re all distracted by so many things on a daily basis, that unplugging from the self-imposed interruption machine is the best way to increase productivity. I predicted this trend years ago. When everyone was rushing to get online, I said to people, “Watch. In a few years, people will be paying good money to learn how to get OFF the internet.”

And it has come to pass. I’m enjoying this book a lot, and I hope to have lots more time to write about how it’s working for me.