Waking up usually isn't the best part of my day. I am not a morning person. I like to sleep late and let the sunlight slowly fill up my senses like the mountains in springtime (thank you John Denver). A lot of times, my negative mood while getting myself to work finds its way into the rest of my day. One thing goes wrong here or there in the morning and I become a sour sally full of sarcasm. Granted, I don't take my frustrations out on others (at least I don't think I do), but I also don't prance around jovial and full of life. Because of this, I have made it a point to find positivity before bedtime.
Bedtime is a happy time for me whether I'm going to sleep with a special someone or all by myself. I try to turn to the hilarious and goofy Conan O'brien for some sweet dream preparation. Still, he's on late at night and a lot of times I fall asleep before I can enjoy his fluffy bright troll doll haircut. Therefore, at 2am, when I realize I am sleeping on my couch and ready to go to bed, I remind myself of all the good things in my life.
Most nights my list of appreciation goes along the lines of how safe I am in my home, and how often I take that for granted. I live in a peaceful apartment with a wonderful friend and roommate. I have food in my tummy and blankets to keep my warm. This safety is something that too many people in this world don't get to experience, whether it is because they live in a place where they can't access the things they need to survive, or if they live in a home with violent people as their guardians or loved ones. I am incredibly lucky.
I also realize that I am a healthy person, and any aches and pains I have only come with being able to be active and live my life to its fullest. I get to go ride my bike, run, jump, twist and shout! I must take advantage of my youth, be optimistic, and enjoy the ride I am on.
These basic things are the post valuable things I have. Safety, health, and the ability to be thankful for them. But there is one thing that made me go to bed thankful last night, and wake up again today feeling the same way.
That thing was my ability to vote.
I stood in a peaceful line at 7:30 am today in a church in St Paul, Minnesota to tell my government what I wanted. I was surrounded by diverse people and for the first time, having the first black man as President of the United States was within reach. Although I know it is a right in our society, I feel priviledged. Great strides are being made, and I am here to be a part of that. I am savoring these moments where the everything is in limbo. It is impressive, whichever way the election swings.
I hope if you're checking out this blog today and are participating in the same election that I just did, you are appreciative and satisfied that you simply have the ability to participate. Our constitution and our systems may be flawed in some ways, but their ability to be amended is incredibly valuable. Someday soon, I think we'll all be truly equal.
Just make sure you're voting to help make that happen.
Tomorrow will probably be a significant day to American history. That's right, the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election will be held. Due to the US voting system it's important who is considered most eligible by each and every state. The winning candidate in each state gets a certain amount of votes in an electoral college, and who has the most votes there may call himself the next President of the United States.
Now, Election Day is always quiet exciting since results come dropping in state after state, not just all at once. For example, New York wakes up earlier than California so the NY results will probably get in earlier then the ones from CA.
It may become a little messy keeping track of the results. You can go for a slid of paper with all the states and jot down the results as they come in, or you can download the Create-Your-Own Electoral College Map and put it up your wall.
Just color in every state with a blue or red crayon after you've received the result, and at the end of the day you'll have a map that is awesome-ish and even cooler then the one they show you on NBC. The map is available in a ridiculously high resolution through flickr.
Have a great Election Day and the best of luck when voting.
What would be more awesome then presidential candidates? Right! Foldable presidential candidates!
And that's where foldUScandidate comes in. The website hosts pdf files containing templates of respectively: the candidates (Obama and McCain), their wives and the running mates (Biden and Palin). For the Clinton fans they also have a file for Hillary, yay!
So the idea is that you download a file, cut it out, put some glue on the destined lines and fold your candidate! After you've crafted a few you can do fun things with it. For example hold your own debates, use them in your puppet theatre, or you can let them... dance!
How awesome. There's also a flickr photostream where users from around the world can share their presidential-puppet-creations.
With the US Presidential Elections in just a few weeks and the battle for votes about to begin there is possibly no better time to address the environment as a serious point on the political agenda.
But with the United States of America being in a Wall Street nightmare the focus tends to shift from the environment to stock, banks and the global economy.
Well, luckily enough for the green-minded garment company Under The Canopy designed an awe-some t-shirt telling you what to vote on November 4th.
That's right, Vote Ecologically. No matter what party you vote, vote for the outdoors. It's propaganda for the green, and available for $28 or $34 from Under The Canopy. And did I mention it's been made of organic cotton and 2% of the money goes to the Rainforest Foundation?
Dave Stewart just released a new video (for a song he co-wrote with Bono) in support of Barack Obama!
"When I set out to make a video for the new version of this song, I wanted to honor all of those millions of people, especially young people, who are, for the first time, feeling empowered to voice their beliefs. I wanted to capture how Obama's message of change has echoed across the broad fabric of what is America. To do that, we've cast the film with an eclectic array of personalities, including Forest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow, Joan Baez, Macy Gray and Joss Stone. They appear alongside veterans, teachers and everyday citizens— all of whom have been touched by this simple idea of change."
Could Obama be any more hip?
Here is a link to the website for more information about the song: "American Prayer".
Posts
