Complicated ballots and social media ads | Pickering

12 Nov 2026, 11:45 · The Fresno Bee

That was quite a ballot we had this time around. I can't imagine figuring all that out in the polling booth – which is what I did the very first time I voted – the year I turned 21 (right when they gave 18-year-olds the right to vote).

I was a bit miffed about that then, but soon agreed that if they could be drafted, they can vote). They send us "sample ballots" so we can make our decisions, and then fill it out ahead of time – copying the information on to the actual ballot. Anyone who doesn't do it that way would have to have a screw loose – although I'm sure it happens.

The number of statutes and such we had to vote on was prodigious. Trying to determine what they actually said – and meant – was quite a task. I'm still not sure what some of those things were about, and I'm a retired lawyer! Going through all the background material made my head spin. At least I had a 50/50 chance of being right when it was "yes" or "no." But I'm proud of one thing – I didn't ask an AI agent to suggest how I should vote.

I'm sitting here at my desk watching photos and videos of Max scroll across the digital picture frame I bought my wife. But now it belongs to me, since I had to move it out of the bedroom because it made her too sad. I can look into that face and it's almost like he's still here with me. Speaking of missing Max, we're considering fostering a dog. This would again, provide me with a constant companion, and he/she (they?) would get out of the shelter, and free up valuable space for others. They also hope that these bigger dogs might learn a few manners – which should increase their chances for adoption. And there's always a chance the foster attempt might fail, i.e. which counter-intuitively means that we adopt the dog ourselves. We'll see. We have too much love left in this house not to share it with an animal in need – one with absolutely no responsibility for their predicament. I'll keep you posted.

I've been seeing this ad on social media that keeps repeating, "This is your last chance to print out your seven-minute a day, tai chi chair workout, exclusively for men over 55 who haven't exercised in years."

I can't believe the claims they're making about all the results you're supposed to see in just a few weeks. They show this really-buffed AI-generated fellow who tells everyone he's 61 years old. He pretty much guarantees to the fat guy and his wife that he's talking to, that soon she will have eyes only for him (and not this AI-buffed stud-muffin).

Give me a break! Unless reality has drastically changed, one must workout hard to obtain those kinds of results. I wasn't born yesterday. But what I really can't understand is – what's in it for them? It's supposedly free to print out (minus the cost of your ink). So, how will they make any money? Will hitting the print button download a terrible virus or Trojan horse that will enable them to loot all your assets? Maybe they're selling a special chair to use for the exercises?

Or are they simply capturing personal information to sell to folks eager to promote fitness and health products to fat, older men? I've been thinking of asking ChatGPT what their angle might be. Maybe she has an inside track to an answer.