bureaucracies and other beasts

[dchenes]

I think today I'll embark on a fool's errand, also known as converting my driver's license from Ohio to Massachusetts. (I was wrong, by the way; it's going to cost me $110, not $90.) The list of proof of identity that's on the DMV web site is a little overwhelming. I can provide proofs of residency and date of birth, but my passport has expired and I have no idea what constitutes "proof of signature". My Ohio license has my signature on it, along with my Social Security number (I know, that's a bad idea, but I don't have any other proof of SSN). I figure the worst that can happen is I sit in the DMV for three hours and then they send me away because I don't have the right documentation. At least then I can find out what, exactly, the right documentation is. And if it all goes well, I can change my voter registration at the same time.

I've got a rant about Social Security numbers, too, but that's for another time.