I've not really been consistent about reminding all of you that my Kewpie Contest is scheduled to end Monday. Bad, bad Margot. I should have made a sidebar widget, but I didn't. Since several people have told me they forgot, I've decided to extend the deadline another week. Your 1MB or smaller Kewpie jpegs are due by Monday September, 15th to margot@margotpotter.com. If your email bounces back, resend it to felfmom@yahoo.com. I'm gathering up the fabulous prizes as we speak. Remember that there are three categories: Most Kawaii (cute), Most Original, Funniest. Okay? Here's a link again to the 411.

I've been more than a little stressed about the current election. Why? Well without blathering on about my personal views, I feel as if we're a nation of people who mostly don't pay attention. Because of that, we aren't willing to do the work required to make educated decisions when we stand in the voting booth. That means reading platforms, researching voting records, educating ourselves about our local and state and federal issues. That means participating in our government and not just passively standing by either cheering or complaining. It means doing the research to make a considered decision. The politicians bank on our ignorance and our votes are swayed by sound bites or pretty words or appealing faces or empty promises or believing the endless spin churned out by pundits and the campaigns that is more often than not completely fabricated of half truths and lies spun with lots of cotton candy to make them palatable. As much as Karl Rove sickens me and not only because he's a borderline facist but because he is a bald faced liar, I have to admit the man is a political genius. He could make Charles Manson sound like a viable candidate.

Seriously folks, what is going on in this country? I wonder sometimes if people aren't too selfish or too lazy to care enough to pay attention. It's not all about me, it's all about we. The Power of We. That's democracy (I know we're a republic but I'm trying to make a point here.) No matter your affiliations, it's your duty to become engaged, involved and keyed in to what's going on. Anyone who doesn't vote should be ashamed of themselves. Yes, I said it and I meant it.

And if you're a woman and you aren't voting after what women went through to get you that right...well...that's a sad, sad thing sista. A lot of folks thought women should stay home and make babies and bake bread and let the menfolk take care of the politics, a lot of folks still do. Women fought hard to make sure our voices were heard.

More people vote for American Idol than for the President. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, they don't register to vote because they don't want to serve Jury Duty. Um, that's part of the deal. We couldn't have juries if folks didn't step up to the plate. I did my Jury Duty and even though it was truly a royal pain in the patootie, I can proudly say I served. Without that willingness to serve, to participate, to involve ourselves, this runaway train is going to jump the tracks and I wonder if it'll ever get back on.

Ah...it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay on the sunny side, but I effort.