Elect-o-Ween

It's been a busy week, what with my regular work (proposal writing), freelance work (radio writing), preparing for my jaunt to Spain, gearing up for this weekend's Halloween festivities, and (duh) losing a frightful amount of sleep over this nerve-wrecking election madness. That's not to say I haven't felt compelled to deliver my typical rants here over the past few days. Frankly, I just haven't had the energy.

I did, however, make time to pick up the final recording from the late Elliott Smith and I must encourage you to check it out. Under a major dump of rain, I stepped into the local record shop to find the CD (one of painfully few I've actually purchased in recent years). When I handed it to the sales clerk, she gazed out the rain pounding against the store's enormous front window and said, "Perfect weather for it." No doubt about that (though his music has never exactly been the type you'd throw on at, say, a kegger). His final work is a heartbreaking listen, but I'm grateful to Elliott's family for providing his fans a chance to hear his beautiful closing compositions.

Back to the election for a minute. For those concerned (and rightfully so) over whether or not their vote will actually be counted, I'd like to direct you to this vital website, which (thanks to MIT and CalTech) provides seven crucial steps to ensuring your ever-important vote is counted Tuesday. Each state has a phone number to call with questions (California's is 800-345-VOTE). Please use yours. In light of appalling news stories like this, it's never been more vital that Americans use any means necessary to exercise our right to be counted.

Posted by ayelet at October 29, 2004 11:07 AM