(image via here)

After months of development by our brother David, last week saw the soft-launch of Voteraide, a nonpartisan social network designed specifically to give voters a stronger voice and a place to participate and engage in politics.  We’re so proud of him and wanted to introduce you to the site.

Having worked on numerous political campaigns, David gained first hand knowledge of how campaigns use voter lists to target their efforts and predict outcomes.  Voteraide takes these same campaign tools and applies them in a way that empowers voters, maximizing individual power.  Users can find election information, see their ballots, pledge support of and endorse campaigns, connect with other users, post articles and voice opinions.  As Facebook is for your online social life, and LinkedIn is for your online professional life, Voteraide is for your online political life.

While Voteraide will be available to all registerd voters nationwide and worldwide, this test version is offered exclusively to REGISTERED OHIO VOTERS.  However, if you’re not a registered voter in Ohio, you can still sign up as a General User.

We encourage you to check out Voteraide.

*Image via here

*Image via here

Just a couple of lessons learned along the way…

If you are with someone for 4 months straight, force yourself to spend some time apart.

They do not call it rainy season for nothin’.

The practice of being at peace in every situation is a significant one.

You will never have the same experience that some one else had.  Don’t expect to.

India is organized chaos.

If you don’t enjoy someone’s company, don’t keep it.

*Image via here

Several years ago some of our family was trying to talk our grandmother, Nonnie, into buying a computer.  She wanted nothing to do with it.   They tried to sell her on the merits of keeping in touch via email and the breadth of possibility offered by the web.  But she was obstinate in her refusal.  Still trying to sway her, we asked her why she was so uninterested.  With some aggravation and her characteristic quick-wit, she replied, “What am I going to do, sit around and surf all day?!”

(National Geographic image via Flickr)

Touche.  But should you fancy a surf, I’ve put together some links below I think are worth a visit.

1. Design Love Fest filmed a marvelously spooky & stylish video tribute to Stanley Kubrick

2.  A rundown of some humorous, quick truths about what it’s like to live in NYC.

3.  The New Yorker quickly noticed that its readers differed in their method of voicing reaction to this week’s magazine cover based on political leanings.  I think the cartoon is hilarious, while slightly irreverent.

4.  I am definitely making this fabulously delicious looking Goddess Bowl with Tahini Sauce from Healthy Crush.  So easy and perfect for fall.

5.  Tig Notaro’s post-cancer diagnosis comedy set, LIVE, is so, so worth the $5 download cost on Louis CK’s website.  Words I’ve seen used to describe it include honest, candid, raw, funny, relatable, open-hearted personal, brave, motivational and inspirational.  It is so touching.  You can also listen to an except for free at This American Life.

Have a great weekend!

Ahh, Friday.  Nice one.  This was a long week, for me anyhow.  Not even for any real reason but I’m still ready for a little downtime (also really looking forward to the weekend which is to include a visit to a rooftop farm and seeing my wonderful friend in her first appearance on Boardwalk Empire!).  In the mean time, while we’re here for the moment, if you’re over 30 yrs old and have never had cancer, please join me below.  If you’re anyone else, please come as well.

The American Cancer Association is looking for people ages 30-65 without a personal history of cancer to enroll in a groundbreaking study in cancer prevention.  See if your state has participation locations here; you can decide if you want to enroll while you’re checking.  It’ll take five minutes or less.

If research participation doesn’t feel like the right thing for you right now, you can Like or Share this information to get it out to others.

Happy weekend.

I am really enjoying these Photoshop/collage works by Dutch artist Ruud van Empel.  They so take me back to the annual experience of picture day during elementary school.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that the auditorium curtains we were arranged in front were the exact same goldish-yellow color.

(Ruud van Empel, Generation 1, 2010, Chromogenic Print, Dibond, Plexiglass, 49 × 130 inches.)

I love the varying degrees of staidness, skepticism and aloofness conveyed in the faces of the children.  And they look like they are all just a few outfit changes away from the adults they will become.

(Ruud van Empel, Generation 2, 2010, Chromogenic Print, Dibond, Plexiglass, 49 × 130 inches.)

I also love how the dress of all the students is so reminiscent of the effort that was put into making sure you looked your best on picture day, be it your parent’s or your own version of what that was.

(Ruud van Empel, Generation 3, 2011, Chromogenic Print, Dibond, Plexiglass, 49 × 130 inches.)

Then there was always that kid (I’m pretty sure it was me at least once) who forgot it was picture day and showed up obviously looking like no thought had been put into the day whatsoever. At least they always scheduled another day for retakes. (What a funny concept that is!)

*Click through the images to enlarge the images on Rudd Van Emple’s site