Experience the Gold Dome from your iPhone

Georgia's State Capitol is truly one of the best ways to learn about Georgia history- and its free. Another way to experience it for free without even having to travel to Atlanta is this new iPhone tour app from Georgia State University.

The video segments are narrated by Monica Kaufman Pearson (etc., etc.) and there is even a welcome from Governor Nathan Deal. I hope they update it with more videos and definitely more pictures (I mean, there isn't even a two-headed animal mention), but it is an awesome start.

Some Lucky People Can Soon Vote on Sunday Sales

Steve moved to Atlanta in 2002. One of his first Sundays in Atlanta, he visited a convenience store to purchase beer. He opened the dark cooler (I doubt he noticed) and carried his purchase to the counter. The clerk told him the bad news.

"Sir, we don't sell beer on Sundays."

"Why the hell not?" my impatient future husband replied.

It's coming. After years of back and forth under the Gold Dome, legislators returned local control to counties and cities whose citizens will be allowed to vote on Sunday alcohol sales. 

Many counties/cities will hold the first votes on November 8. You can find a full list here. I am a full supporter of the initiative, although it looks like this Cobb County voter will have to wait longer. If you don't want to buy alcohol on Sunday, don't buy alcohol on Sunday.

You have the power to make the decision. I highly encourage you to vote, especially because the State of Georgia makes it so convenient. Here are the steps.

1. Are you registered to vote?

You can check your voter registration on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website here: http://sos.georgia.gov/MVP/

Complete the form and submit. If you aren't matched in the database, you probably aren't registered to vote. On the right side of the page, it will give you helpful links to register, including this one http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/GA%20VOTER%20REGISTRATION%20%20APP(Fill_2007).pdf. Submit it to the Secretary of State (address on application). The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the October 11.

If you are registered, the next website will show you the address where you are registered, your polling location, a mail in ballot request and a sample ballot (closer to Election Day).

You are legally required to vote at the address where you reside. If you are currently registered somewhere else, make sure to update your registration prior to the voter registration deadline.

Step 2: How do I vote?

Voters can choose one of three ways to cast their ballot.

1. Vote by mail (my favorite!): To receive your ballot via mail, fill out the absentee ballot request form on the Secretary of State’s website (http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/absentee_ballot_app.pdf) and mail it to your county elections supervisor. Addresses can be found on the Secretary of State’s website (http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/CountyRegistrarsIndex.asp).

You can request ballots for the General Election now.

Ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day. Please consider the time it takes to receive and process an application, mail a ballot to you, and return the ballot by mail when requesting a ballot.

2. Vote early: Honestly y'all, I'm not much help here. They changes the rules recently and I think they're even different for municipalities. If you would like to vote early and in person, I suggest you call your county elections supervisor, who many need to transfer you to the city elections office. Phone numbers can be found on the Secretary of State’s website (http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/CountyRegistrarsIndex.asp).

Remember, voters casting a ballot in person must provide photo ID.

3. Vote on Election Day: You can find your Election Day precinct location on the same place you checked your registration. Your municipal voting location may be different than your county location. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. I will be shocked if the whole process takes more than 10 minutes.

Remember, voters casting a ballot in person must provide photo ID.

Help?

If you need more help, call your county or municipal elections office. They can tell you if/when your area will hold an election. Either way, please vote. With all these options, you're really a lazy bum if you don't.

Book 4: Game Change

 I love politics. Since I was 16 years old watching Bush debate Gore, I've been enthralled with candidates, campaigns, media and grassroots politics. I love America, I love her promise and I want to know about the individuals who will make decisions about her future.

Also, there's something exhilarating about politics. It's the biggest reality TV show there is. There's so many elements, strategies, personalities, tactics. It's easy to find yourself deep into the minutia before you realize it.

After volunteering my time and working in an official capacity on campaigns since I was a wide-eyed College Republican, I finally took a step back early this year. While I now work with candidates, non-profits and companies on social media and messaging strategy, I don't consider myself a full-time politico anymore and I was happy for the reprieve.

However, after six months away, I find myself being drawn back in. Maybe it's the economic climate or the heightened partisan rhetoric. Maybe now that I don't feel like my career is dependent on the right talking points, I can embrace it more. Whatever the reason, I'm finding joy in keeping up with politics again.

Game Change is written as the behind-the-scenes information on the 2008 Presidential campaign. It's kind of written like a reality TV synopsis: gossip and play-by-play over policy. Written by two reporters and compiled from lots of off-the-record interviews, I took it with a grain of salt. However, the insight was unmatched and it was really interesting to see the candor with which some of the information was given. (I guess that's the benefit of off-the-record interviews.)

Most of the book focuses on the Democratic race because (let's face it) it was more interesting. I did enjoy the McCain section. I was always confused how McCain went from carrying his own luggage at campaign stops (literally) to becoming the nominee. The book didn't shed a lot of light on that, but it did help me understand the campaign structure. I heard horror stories about the campaign's disorganization throughout 2008. From the book, you can see the candidate was never fully sold on running. Sure, he'd be President but campaigning didn't really appeal to him. Also, his staff was cobbled together after his first round of staffers quit when funding ran out. We were left with a candidate who wasn't committed to the campaign and staff that wasn't committed to the candidate. That campaign will never work.

Game Change assumes that you come to the book with a lot of knowledge of the Presidential campaign process and doesn't offer much background on the progress of primary dates or campaign deadlines unless they fuel the story. Also, I frankly found the authors' writing style pretentious. However, overall the book was a great read with enough gossip to keep it interesting.