Voting

I know this election is very derisive and I am not about to talk politics but I am going to stress how important it is that you exercise your right to vote. Sadly only about 50% of eligible voters actually vote.  I have heard many people say they hate both candidates so much they will not vote.  Not voting does not solve any problems and doesn't allow you to throw up your hands and say you are not responsible because you still are.

 

What got me thinking about voting was a story I heard on NPR.  I am not going to mention the name of the foundation because I believe that their whole platform is misguided and not founded in facts.

The person being interviewed stated that his foundation needed to exist because America is one of only a few countries that votes on a weekday and that we should vote on the weekend. But this was not what he was advocating for. No, his foundation wants companies to give employees the whole day off to vote.

I heard this and thought that he started with a strong case, many countries vote on the weekend, and then abandoned that for the argument that businesses must give employees the whole day off to vote. That seemed ludicrous to me. It doesn't take a whole day to vote and the polls are open before and after work. Not to mention that many states allow time off to vote without retaliation from your employer and in some states that time can be taken with pay.

I was discussing this with my husband and said I couldn't understand why this person is pushing for something that is covered by laws in so many states. I was shocked when my husband said he was completely unaware that we lived in a state that allows paid time off to vote and that there were such laws in place.

Since voting is so important, and it seems that people may not be aware of their voting rights I wanted to take a moment to share information about your right to vote, depending on where you live.
Voting laws by state

I hope that everyone who can will exercise their right to vote.

Happy Writing!
Kat

In case you were interested in the arguments for switching our voting from a weekday to a weekend here is some information for you.

NPR 2012 article about voting on the weekend

NY Times 2008 article about voting on the weekend.

Voting

I know this election is very derisive and I am not about to talk politics but I am going to stress how important it is that you exercise your right to vote. Sadly only about 50% of eligible voters actually vote.  I have heard many people say they hate both candidates so much they will not vote.  Not voting does not solve any problems and doesn't allow you to throw up your hands and say you are not responsible because you still are.

 

What got me thinking about voting was a story I heard on NPR.  I am not going to mention the name of the foundation because I believe that their whole platform is misguided and not founded in facts.

The person being interviewed stated that his foundation needed to exist because America is one of only a few countries that votes on a weekday and that we should vote on the weekend. But this was not what he was advocating for. No, his foundation wants companies to give employees the whole day off to vote.

I heard this and thought that he started with a strong case, many countries vote on the weekend, and then abandoned that for the argument that businesses must give employees the whole day off to vote. That seemed ludicrous to me. It doesn't take a whole day to vote and the polls are open before and after work. Not to mention that many states allow time off to vote without retaliation from your employer and in some states that time can be taken with pay.

I was discussing this with my husband and said I couldn't understand why this person is pushing for something that is covered by laws in so many states. I was shocked when my husband said he was completely unaware that we lived in a state that allows paid time off to vote and that there were such laws in place.

Since voting is so important, and it seems that people may not be aware of their voting rights I wanted to take a moment to share information about your right to vote, depending on where you live.
Voting laws by state

I hope that everyone who can will exercise their right to vote.

Happy Writing!
Kat

In case you were interested in the arguments for switching our voting from a weekday to a weekend here is some information for you.

NPR 2012 article about voting on the weekend

NY Times 2008 article about voting on the weekend.

Odd Story Inspiration

I had to go to downtown LA for work recently.  I got on Google and looked up the address and then went to the street view so I could recognize what I was looking for.

Ever helpful, Google brought up locations near where I was going.  It suggested a breakfast place with a terrible name, Eggslut, and then right below that Google offered the Guadalupe Wedding Chapel. 
The juxtaposition of Eggslut and the wedding chapel gave me a chuckle.

Then I noticed the photo of the chapel and what struck me first was the big income tax sign. I wondered if they were pushing weddings as a tax benefit and then, when I looked more closely, I saw that not only can you get married at the wedding chapel and get your taxes done, you can also get divorced!

 

I am sure that is every woman's dream to get married with as much convenience and as little hassle as possible. You can even rent or buy your dress there.  And they can tell you if your dress rental is a tax write off or not.
Putting that wonderful perk of convenience aside, I know that I would not have been happy seeing a sign advertising services for divorce on my wedding day.

I think the only service that is missing from this wedding chapel is Immigration.  Oh, maybe paternity testing! But once they add Immigration they will truly be a one stop, full service wedding venue.

To all the writers out there, don't you just want to write the story about the girl who has to get married here or the one who chooses this as her perfect option?!?

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to leave my meeting site and check this place out before having to leave the city.  I hope to make it back there and read the sign on the sidewalk and even go inside and check it out.

For now I have a few items outlined for a story that I hope to flesh out once I see this place in person.

Have you run across a place that inspired a story or a character?

Happy Writing!