My take on: Presidential Election – Part II : Delegate and Superdelegate

Following my post on Caucuses, the next question I was left with was: what are delegates and superdelegates?

So, this is post II on understanding the election process, and without further ado… I give you:

1. What are Delegates?

A delegate is a person chosen to be a representative for a larger number of people who all belong to the same group, association, union, corporation, political party, etc.

Delegates are chosen at a state or local level.

Note: Even though the term delegates and superdelegates can be used when speaking about different topics, this post will focus on their use within the Presidential Election context.

Harry and the Potters at the Independent Film Festival in Boston

Quick note…

Harry and the Potters will be in Somerville, MA on Saturday, April 26 for the Independent Film Festival, Boston, that will run from April 23 – 29.

These guys will be there, along with Draco and the Malfoys and the Hungarian Horntails, for the screening of We are Wizards, a documentary which “examines the fascinating subculture that is inspired from the Harry Potter phenomenon”.

Come check it out if you can. I know I hope to make it!!

UPDATE — 4/1/08

Tickets will go on sale at the end of this week. Go to http://www.iffboston.org/2008/tickets.php to find out.

Check out the trailer…

When The Cats Is Away The Mice Will Play…

The big news this week is that since yesterday and for the next 2 weeks, the boss is away. That will give us some time to get a few stuff done (at work!) and give me time to spend on my blog.

I like my boss, but she’s a freak! She likes to be in control of everything, and when I say everything, I mean everything! What she also likes is to complain about the fact that she has to take care of everything. So having her away for a few weeks is like a breath of fresh air.

News update on my little Harry Potter fixation…

I have started reading Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince over the week-end and was thinking about starting some kind of book report on all the books. If anyone wants to give me feedback on what would look nice and informative – or if it sounds like a good idea, let me know.

I was arguing with myself whether I should read it or not, or wait for the movie.Well, seriously, the movie comes out in November, and there is just NO WAY I can wait 8 month without touching that book

My take on: Presidential Election – Part I : What is a Caucus?

I’m sure you have, at one point of another, asked yourself: “But what on Earth is a Caucus???”. I know I have.

For the sake of complete disclosure, I’d like to point out that I’m not a US citizen. Therefore, I cannot vote. However, I’ve lived here enough that I am interested – a little – in what goes in in that country. I am very curious to see who gets elected so I have been following the campaigns and primaries. Watching CNN and other news reporting programs I have been hearing that “Caucus” word all over the place. After asking around a bit, I realized that almost no one knows what it is.

So I’ve decided to compile that post to try and answer as clearly, and in as little words, as possible the following few questions:

1. What is a Caucus?

Here is a simple definition: A caucus is a gathering of people from the same political parties in order to make decision. Any decision that is – not just select a candidate. People coming together for a conference can be called a caucus. For the sake of this post, I will be referring to caucus with regard to the Presidential Election.

I’m addicted to: Desktop Tower Defense

This one came to me from a co-worker. We were talking about video games and he mentioned he played Desktop Tower Defense (DTD) and asked if we ever played it.

Well, I hadn’t, so I checked it out. It is awesome!!

I’ve been playing for a few weeks and have to admit that I spend too much of my regular work time on it.

So go check it out and have fun!!

Tax Stimulus and All the Ways I Have Been Told to Spend it

All of my favorite PF (that’s Personal Finance) blog writers have already wrote at length about the government Tax Stimulus package. I will not elaborate about it. But if you’re still not clear about what it is, where it came from or if and how much you should get or anything else, check these posts:

• Blueprint for Financial Prosperity
  • 2008 Tax Rebate Stimulus Package Explained
  • How To Get Your 2008 Stimulus Rebate Check Faster
• FiveCentNickel
  • Qualifying for an ‘Economic Stimulus’ Tax Rebate Check
  • Tax Stimulus Rebate Payment Schedule

I have already heard many ads on the radio and on TV telling me all the fun ways I have to spend that money. Off course, I should tell you that it would be very wise to save it or pay off a loan or a credit card balance. And I am!

Pay off a loan or a credit card balance! – There, you can’t say I didn’t tell you.

What I am pretty amazed off – although I should be used to it by now – is how fast those ads and commercial “suggesting” you how you should spend that check have popped up.

My Healthy Obsession with Harry Potter

So I know, I’m 28 (only since the beginning of the month, though, so I’m almost still 27 – talk about your denial!). But seriously, Harry Potter is just as fun for kids as it is for adults.

One of the presents I had asked hubby for Christmas was the 7-book Hardcover set. Never touched it because I didn’t want to “crack” the books.

Well, I got started on them Friday before last (the 7th). And after 2 full weeks, I have already gobbled up the first 4 books and am half-way through the 5th one. I am so excited about everything I am learning. Don’t get me wrong, I love the movies. The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets are pretty good at containing almost all of what’s in the books, but the rest of them miss a whole lot. Nothing that would prevent you from following along, the storyline, but enough. For instance:

• How does Sirius escape from Azkaban? And how/why on earth does he turn into a dog?
• How did Barty Crouch Jr. manage to replace “Mad-Eye” Moody in the first place?
• What happens to Percy Weasley and Oliver Wood?
• Who wins the House Cup after year 1?
• What about Hogwarts Quidditch cup?
• And so on…

Funny story the other morning, I was doing my day’s reading little summary to hubby while going to work. As I was talking, he looked at me in a funny way. When I asked “What?”, he just said: “You realize that you’re talking about these people and event as if they were really happening?”. He had a very puzzled look, indeed. I think he got scared for a few seconds. All I could reply was: “Well, duh! They are!”… He freaked out at that point and I just jumped off the car to go into the train station with a big grin on my face.
I’m not sure he knows I was joking.

So get ready for more posts about Harry Potter.

If you’re curious, interested or are looking for info, check out The Leaky Cauldron webisite. And if you listen to podcasts, check out PotterCast, made by the same people who run The Leaky Cauldron.

(photo: The Leaky Galleries)