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Free goodies on Election Day – the other perks to voting

…The poll worker may not even ask you for an ID [seriously disturbing...seriously], the amendments may sound like they were written by a 5th grader with a thesaurus but no dictionary, and you may not even be entirely 100% certain which is the lesser of two evils…but the democratic process–and the promise it holds– is still worth celebrating, worth defending, worth participating in. – Sarah Joy

While I whole-heartedly share those sentiments (get out and vote!), I’m also a fan of free goodies. Lifehacker is reporting there are a number of places that are having giving aways for showing off your “I Voted” sticker. Krispy Kreme, Chick-Fil-A, and Ben & Jerry’s to name a few. Jump on over for the full list.

Have you heard of anyone else celebrating Election Day in a similar fashion? Please leave word in the comments.

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A year ago: 5 simple, last-minute Halloween costume ideas

Have a brain cramp when it comes to picking a costume? Just don’t care about Halloween enough to put a lot of effort into it? Here are five simple, last-minute costume ideas:

Sick and Tired
Put on some PJs, slippers and a robe. Mess up your hair. Have a box of cold medicine and tissues sticking out of your pockets. This can also be a couple’s costume: one can be sick, the other tired. (Thanks to the Hawks for the idea.)

Dirty Laundry
Cut out the bottom of a cheap plastic laundry basket. Step into it and pull it up around your waist. Partially fill it with clothes (preferably dirty) and safety pin some random items (socks, whitey-tighties) to your shirt. Good for trick-or-treating as you can carry your candy in the basket instead of a separate bag.

“Pi-rate”
A punny couples costume, but probably the simplest of all. Print out a pi symbol on one piece of paper and “4.61%” on another. Tape to your shirts, respectively. Now you’re “pi-rates.”

Envy
Green clothes. Green face paint (readily accessible at your local grocery store). Test the face paint before you apply it everywhere. I could tell you a really funny story about our IT guy at work…

Zombie
A Halloween classic. Buy a cheap make-up kit at your local grocery store, or use your wife’s/mom’s makeup. Give yourself dark rings around your eyes, dark lips and maybe some of that fake blood oozing out of the corners of your mouth. Spike/mess up your hair. Tear up an old dress shirt and get some dirt on it. If you feel so inclined, you can buy some rubber zombie hands too, but at the very least you should make your nails look dirty with some of the make-up.

BONUS: Baby Pirate
My wife pulled this one off an hour before a Halloween party using things she found lying around the house.

Cut a white onesie down the front in the shape of a “V” and shear/tatter the sleeves. Tear a red cloth for a bandanna (we used an old t-shirt) and fasten with a rubber band or hair tie. You can use the same fabric for the cummerbund as well.

This next part takes a little time, but sew the end of one of the pant legs inside a toilet paper tube to make a peg-leg.

We got a lot of compliments about this costume!

I hope this helps. Have a great Halloween, be safe, and if you’re allergic to peanutbutter you can send me any Reese’s Peanutbutter Cups that would otherwise go to waste.

Any other ideas for simple Halloween costumes? Leave word in the comments and/or send in a picture.

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How to simplify your voting experience

With political discussion and debate at a feverish pitch, we’re just days away from a number of important elections, both locally and nationally. While I’m not going to get political here (except to ask, “Uh…is there a door #3?”), I will say that I think it’s important to look at voting as a duty and a right (in that order) instead of a burden or chore. That being said, I know life is busy and carving out time to vote on a workday can be difficult. Here are some steps to help make your voting experience a little simpler and smoother.

Find your polling location in less than 30 seconds

Google has provided an easy solution to find your voting location. Using a special version of Google Maps, you can type in your residential address and, voila, not only the address of your polling location, but the fastest route to get there, information on obtaining an absentee ballot, how long you have to mail your ballot in and links to find out whether or not you’re registered.

Save time by voting early

Many states have the option of voting early at select polling locations. (Here in Utah early voting runs from October 21-31.) The idea behind this is to spread out the crowds a bit and allow people to schedule voting around their lives instead of the other way around. The unprecedented turnouts expected for this election may slow things down a bit, even for early voters. If you find yourself standing in line on an early vote day, just keep reminding yourself of how much crazier it’s going to be on November 4th.

Know who to contact

While responsibility may vary by state, in Utah the lieutenant governor is the one who oversees elections so all questions about voting can be directed to his office. If that’s not the case for your state, contact your governor’s office and they can point you in the right direction.

I’ve called the governor’s office here before and got right through to a helpful lady who pointed me in the right direction. Don’t be afraid or intimidated to make the call. Remember, they’re called public servants for a reason – they’re there to serve you as a concerned citizen.

Pre-vote

It’s a good idea to know who you’re going to vote for before you get in the booth. Part of this is not having any surprises on the ballot. States mail out voter information pamphlets with information on all the candidates and issues. Study that ahead of time and circle who you want to vote for. Then bring it to the polls and voting will be as easy as checking names off a list.

Utah has a site called LeaveYourPrint.com. After entering your name, address and birthdate, the site will tell you whether or not you’re registered, which party you’re registered under, provide a mock ballot with links to each candidate and issue, and has the address of your designated polling location. It’s a one-stop-shop for pretty much everything you need to know before you hit the polls. Check with your respective states (governor’s offices or county clerks offices are a good place to start) to see if they have something similar.

Schedule it – now

Perhaps one of the easiest things you can do to ensure you make it to the polls is schedule a specific time to go do it. Put it on your calendar: Vote, 3:30-4:30, and the address. Set an alarm or reminder. Treat it like any other meeting that you wouldn’t blow off. Besides, don’t you want one of those “I voted stickers”?

What did I forget?

I’m sure there are many other ways to simplify the voting experience. What are some of your tips? Also, what are some of the reasons you haven’t voted in the past? Please share in the comments.

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8 steps to building a better community through personal responsibility

My thoughts lately have been drifting toward the subject of responsibility. This isn’t surprising as we consider the state of affairs around us. In a world that is seemingly less friendly, more prone to finger pointing, and always on the lookout for Numero Uno, I’ve been thinking about some simple things we can do to better our communities.

1. Don’t litter. Fewer things bring down the appearance of a neighborhood and community faster than trash lying around. Take responsibility for your own stuff: hang onto that wrapper or soda can until you can find a trash can or (even better) a recycling bin.

2. Pick up litter. It’s the little things that count, right? Not only will you be beautifying the area in which you live and spend your time, but others may see your example and do the same.

3. Say hi to your neighbors. Have you noticed that we seem to have largely become a “pull in the garage” society? We drive home from work, pull in the garage and shut the door before we’re even out of the car (or so it seems). This hardly fosters neighborly interaction!

One excellent way to counter this is to go on a walk around the neighborhood with your family and look for opportunities to stop and chat with those you meet. Take it upon yourself to go out of your comfort zone a bit and strike up a conversation. I’m sure the people you meet will be happy to have someone make an effort to come talk to them. Wouldn’t you feel the same way if someone approached you in a similar manner?

4. Host a block party. You could even go so far as to organize a “block party” where you invite everyone on the block to a pot-luck style gathering held in someone’s front yard. For the last three Fourth of July holidays I’ve participated in a neighborhood breakfast. While it’s sponsored by my local church, people from all around (and of all different faiths) have made it a tradition to come to the breakfast. It’s been a great experience to be able to meet a lot of people I may not have had the opportunity to otherwise.

5. Volunteer for something. There is so much need in our communities, which means there are so many opportunities to serve! (How’s that for a glass-half-full perspective?) :) You can tutor at a school at any level. Anybody can help and I assure you that our overworked public school teachers (my wife used to be one) would welcome the help.

Are you an expert at something? Bird watching? Computers? Working on cars? Underwater basket weaving?  Sign up to be a counselor and pass off merit badges for Boy Scouts. (Note: I actually have the underwater basket weaving merit badge.) There are limitless opportunities to volunteer in your community, and chances are it can be involving something in which you already have an interest.

6. Keep up your yard. Working in your yard can help class up your whole neighborhood, even if you’re the only one on your block doing it. You don’t need fountains and professionally-groomed shrubs to have a good-looking yard. Regularly mowing and trimming your lawn, pulling weeds and planting the occasional flower will do wonders and doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Not only does it help set a higher standard for those around you, but it means you’re outside getting your hands dirty and I happen to think there’s a lot of value in that. Bonus: when you’re out working in your yard, you’re more likely to run into your neighbors.

7. Support community events. Go to high school football games, plays at the community theater, and local parades. You’ll care more about a community you’re involved in.

8. Vote. With voter turn-out at less than 50% in many places, your vote counts for more than you think it does. Please, for the love of all that is pearly and white, set an evening aside to study the issues and candidates and make an informed decision about how you’re going to vote on election day. (Or, if your state allows for early voting, schedule a time ahead of election day so you don’t have to wait in potentially long lines.)

But before you do that you’ll need to register. Most states have a PDF version of the registration form you can download. If it’s anything like the one here in Utah, it’s one sided and the questions aren’t any more difficult than, “What’s your birthday?”. It literally takes about four minutes.

In conclusion…

No, these things aren’t going to fix the economic mess we’re in, nor will they end poverty or any of the other challenges our country is facing. But they’re something each of us can take responsibility for and influence for the better.

What other things can we do to build up our communities? Leave word in the comments.

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It’s the little things that make you happy

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day everyone.

Arrrg.

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