It's early. I'm up early to begin training as a Census Bureau enumerator. Simply put, if you don't fill out your census this decade -and please don't, I'll tell you why in a minute- an enumerator will be sent to you to fill out the census in person.
The big question I am hearing is why I applied to be a census taker/enumerator? Simply put, I don't have a job. For the first time since my 14th birthday, I've had trouble finding work. Maybe it's the economy, the fact that 14% of my state is unemployed,or maybe it's because age discrimination exists amongst employers. Hmm. That would be a good topic. I could do an expose where I go out and interview for jobs and record the interviews. I could then type up the dialogue and let readers see if they can pick up on biased reactions. Maybe have a few interviews where I "mistakenly" list the wrong age until the day of the interview.
Nah.
So why don't you want to fill out the census form when it is delivered to you? Well enumerators need jobs. if you send in the form then that is one less person the Census Bereau has to send some one out to visit. So when the forms come, maybe fill them out and set them aside for the enumerator. It will help speed up the interview and also give a job to someone in your area.
Here's some enumerator info from a fellow blogger. He put it together very well without requiring me to give you an essay or several links.
My breakdown is this. I am going to drive my poor little Civic around to God-knows-where and knock on doors in the meth capital of the south east. I can't help but wonder if I'll be shot. I seriously have some anxiety about that. I'm not afraid of it but I can't get it out of my head. I'm glad to have found a way to pay off some of the bills that have been stacking up since October. I thank God for the job. i know God protects His own. I know I am His. But I also know that one Moses killed a man on his path to being used by God. What if I am not a Moses but one of the path stones? Just something I've been thinking about lately.
This is odd for me. I've never been one to live in fear and I honestly don't have fear or intense anxiety right now. I'm just acutely aware of my potential for being referred to as "the victim" in a future trial.
I don't have anything else to say right now.

Another shameful addition to South Carolina's 2009 conduct record.  When did my home state get to be so full of unethical people?

Carolina Hurricane Tuomo Ruutu will sit out the next three games as the NHL has suspended the forward for a hit from behind on Colorado’s Darcy Tucker.

Tucker was slammed into the boards by Ruutu during the second period of Friday night’s 5-4 Colorado win.

The Avalanche forward fell to the ice after his head hit the glass — he was unconscious as medical staff attended to him.

I would like to point out though that Tucker was not unconscious whenhe was getting medical attention.  Here's the video.

Okay, so maybe my headline is a little different from the BBC headline above this article.  I'm just wondering where equal rights to marry who and whatever you want in this country came to beign able to force anyone to give up their belief in doing what is right or, especially in this case, doing what you are told by those in your community is the wish of your community.
Do I condone mixed marriages?  Why not?  If two dudes in Rhode Island can get married and adopt a kid from Tahiti with an extra leg and it's all legal, by all means, let's nto draw a line at skin color.
I do have a problem with anyone forcing another person to go against their freedoms by forcing them to perform the ceremony though.  It's a little like saying your right to free speech means I have to listen to you.  The rights cover the freedom to  have a ceremony by a qualified person and to enjoy the happiness of the bond and the benefits of the co-joining under the law.  Coming froma  long line of ministers, I know that a couple can be counseled and then be refused by a given minister simply because he or she feels they aren't compatible, mature enough, prepared, serious, etc.  Not sure if a justice has the same leeway but I shoudl certainly hope so lest the entire country and institution becaome one laughable, drunken night in Vegas.
Get over it, he said no.  you live in Louisianna where nearly everyone can perform some sort of vceremony under the law.  Find the next guy and stop targeting him simply because he's white.  How do the readers feel this couple would have reacted if the justice had been another skin color or homosexual?

Just a conversation that I imagined. Do't get me wrong, no fanatical revelation.  Maybe more of a wish.

"Peace Talks"

You say, "Rest with me" on a battlefield I've raged on all my days.
You hold out nail scarred hands and smile while fear explodes like flash grenades.
My tear stained chin dips from my shame; moist eyes note my uniform
bearing the insignia of Satan's slaves, blowing in strips where flesh is torn.

"You think of me as victim, Lord, but I'm a commander in his ranks."
And He just smiles and says, "I know. My hand knit you that way."
"I raised in you a  leader, son, to lead in my campaign.
The weapon wielded by my foe was never his to claim."

"I also have a task for you.  Perhaps you'll wear my crest.
It's formed as that desire which pounds within your chest.
I see the heart you claim is black; it beats despite your will.
I won this war upon a cross; upon another hill."

"Now meet me on the other side.  You wear new armor, son.
No bullet, shaft, nor blade can pierce it.  So there's no need to run.
I wait just there where sounds of war and bloodshed cease to be.
This battlefield's not meant for you.  Your place is next to me."