You can check if you are on the list by entering your address here (hint: Even if you normally go by Bob, they may have you as Robert). 

You can still vote if you’re not on the list, just make sure you take your ID and stuff with you. For more information, please contact the town.

You can add yourself (or correct information) by using this form.  Remember,you can start voting on the 11th, you don’t have to wait until the 25th of October.

I find Milton’s election site informative, but confusing to browse. After learning that they couldn’t fix it in time for this election, I created my own last night.

It was late and I was tired, so there may be errors and omissions. I apologize for those. Otherwise check it out : http://miltonvote.wordpress.com/

The site has RSS Feed, so you can subscribe and will be notified of changes.

Neighbours: I have a favour to ask. 

Not many people like neighbourhoods littered with yard signs.  Unfortunately, for non-incumbents like myself, they are critical in getting name recognition. They also help establish a candidate since when people see their neighbours supporting someone, they are more likely to consider and support the same candidate.

I would be honoured if you lend me a small portion of your yard for my sign.  Someone from my campaign team will put it out (at an undisclosed date).  We will remove them immediately after the election. 

Please e-mail me if it’s cool to put a sign on your lawn, or leave a comment (without your address) and I will contact you for details.

I know I have asked for a lot of favours lately: I asked for donations, and many of you gave me your hard-earned money; I asked for support, and many of you volunteered; I asked for publicity, and you told all your friends about my campaign.  Words cannot expressed how humbled and honoured I am to have such awesome neighbours. 

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not just my personal campaign. It is a community campaign.  Ward 8 needs an involved neighbour in the council, that’s what this is about.  I appreciate your help in getting real representation for this community. 

Last night’s council meeting was a marathon session that went past 11pm.  Bernadette Mason did an excellent presentation on traffic calming devices that I‘ve been talking about for years. You can see it here.

I actually wanted to talk about something else. 

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You may want to read Christina Commisso’s excellent article on candidates using social media to campaign before reading further.

Candidates really have a lot more social media presence this time around, but all presence isn’t equal.  Simply creating facebook and twitter accounts, and registering a blog isn’t enough.  If they are not engaging in a meaningful two-way conversation then they might as well have no presence. 

Many candidates use social media sites purely for marketing, and not to form connections and start dialogues.  Those candidates are not getting it. 

This really belongs in Why My Hair Dont Grow No More.  Want to see why kids alone aren’t responsible for my hair loss? Well, read on.  Some days Murphy strikes hard and everything that can go wrong, goes wrong (and then some). 

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Milton Transit will host four (yes, 4) Public Information Sessions to announce new transit routes and other changes:

Wednesday, August 18
• 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Milton Seniors’ Activity Centre
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Milton Sports Centre

Thursday, August 19
• 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Milton Public Library (Beaty Branch)
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Town Hall

I will be there for three of those sessions (fourth one conflicts with the Wind Turbine Public Open House). You can see new transit routes in the community map (warning: large file).  Hope to see you there.

In January I did a few posts encouraging readers to consider donating money to Haiti.  A few of you e-mailed me saying you made a donation.  Thank you!

Now I am here to ask you to help people with another disaster.  Politics aside, over 20 million people are homeless and 3.5 million children are at serious risk due to water-borne diseases.  In fact, number of people impacted are greater than the 2004 Asian Tsunami, 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and 2010 Haiti Earthquake combined. 

Once again, I am not recommending a specific charity. I am myself donating to one not affiliated with the government of Pakistan (umm, obvious reasons).  There are plenty of good private charities.  This Government of Canada website lists a number of good charities.  

Image on the left is from Woodinville, WA.  On the right is from Ballard, WA.  Both in the Greater Seattle Area.  Which one do you think is efficient for people, emergency response vehicles, transit and traffic?  In fact, research shows that traffic goes up when there are cul-de-sacs in a community.  Also, another research shows that as neighbourhoods become walkable, more people start walking and biking (makes sense).

Milton actually discourages cul-de-sac.  A resident during door knocking asked why because she liked them.  Luckily I found this picture that really says it all.