Why do all DMV's suck?

SHUT. UP. AND. DRIVE!

Sorry, people talking on their phones while driving was getting on my nerves today.

I went to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles last night to look at the specialty plates, since I've decided I don't like the standard Florida plates, and while I was there I discovered that Florida requires new residents to register their vehicle within ten days of establishing residency. They require proof of Florida insurance, which while more expensive than Wisconsin was simple enough to deal with, and a VIN verification form signed by God. Oh, and I had to prove I purchased the car more than six months ago to avoid the 6% use tax. Much muttering occured as I dug through my paperwork looking for the bill of sale, since the title I have only has the new issue date from when I turned in the paperwork for the paid off loan.

The VIN verification form is a odd bit of excess bureaucracy. For reasons unstated, they want the Vehicle Identification Number to be verified by a (theoretically) trustworthy source: a cop, car dealer, DMV employee, Notary Public, or military officer. Since these are all groups of people I tend to avoid knowing, this is a problem. While I was at the Insurance agent's office, I asked about notary's and learned that the person I was talking to was a notary, but she said that if I was driving the car to be registered to the DMV, the DMV employee I talked to would be able to take care of it at that time.

So, documentation in hand, I wander off the the Tax Collector's office. In an strange fit of common sense, Florida places their motor vehicle licensing and registration offices in the same location as the tax collector's ofice rather than scattering government offices around the landscape. Upon arrival, I discover three things: First, November 11th is Veteran's Day. Second, Veteran's Day is a leagal holiday for Florida government employees, being observed this year on the prior Friday. Third, Like all good bureaucracies Florida governmental offices are open 8:00AM-4:30PM, Monday through Friday. This will make getting my new plates without getting fired more interesting.

On the upside, On my way back from the Tax Collector's office I stopped at the Visitor's Information Center and (finally) got a phone book. I also stopped at Circuit City to order a new Monitor (Samsung Syncmaster 204B) to replace my 11 year old, 14" CRT (yes really). Eventually I also intend to replace the painfully slow (but only 8 year old) desktop. While I do like my laptop, I want something more reliable which I can fix myself if it does break. I also want the larger screen size for when working on projects.

Since turning in my notice, I've had a rekindling of my desire to play with computers, so I want the Linux desktop again. This further proves in my mind how soul sucking Physics was.

Oh wow, It's eight already. I need to have dinner before my stomach claws it's way out.