Written by Dallea Caldwell

Gas prices dropped below $3 per gallon nationally – the lowest since 2010. So, where are we spending that extra change burning a hole in our glove boxes? Well, for one, we’re buying a lot more Starbucks. And, lots of you are probably enjoying the lowered overhead costs of making home service appointments. You may even be investing the savings back into your business. But, surprisingly, the relief at the pump has rekindled the national love affair with gas guzzlers, like SUVs and pick-ups. The shift in trend may drive up truck costs and hurt those of you whose current truck is overdue for retirement. Even worse, the trend represents a resurgence of the recreational truck-lovers that commercial truck-using truck lovers love to hate.

The Vanity Truck Owner

You almost feel bad for the truck.

Clean. Shiny. Completely unfamiliar with a hard day’s work. Parked on a well-paved urban road or downtown office building.

The truck bed is just a hollow grave eternally cloaked in shadow. 97 inches of cargo capacity and 17,500 lbs of towing capacity on a 6.6 and 3.73:1 axle put completely to waste.

When you see trucks like that, you can make a number of relatively safe assumptions:
– The truck has never lifted a heavy load, save its owner’s inflated ego.
– A bedroom dresser is its paint job’s only known threat
– Any job or favor that involves removing the cargo bed tie downs is a source of secret resentment for its owner

In fact, CNN may think Mitt’s 49% comment lost him the election, but we all know it was his embarrassingly glossy truck bed at that one campaign event.

But, why are these soft-core truck-lovers so irritating?

Could it be because commercial truck users have a love for their trucks based on partnership and dependability, while everyone else is prancing around with it like some cheap floozy on their arm for show? It’s like watching a great hunting hound chase a laser pointer or seeing a lion forced to wear a tutu. It just feels wrong.

Perhaps the real reason is fear. Worse than the degradation of the pick-up truck in idle hands is how, you fear, those vain truck owners might reflect on you. You don’t want to be mistaken as someone who idles in idolatry when you work so hard to be such a hard-working hard-worker.

But, rest assured. The occasional paint splatter, rusted nails, and grit on your truck is a sign of commitment, the consummation of your true truck-love.

Today is the first Tuesday of November. Do you know what that means?

It’s US General Election Day! I know. Waiting in line at the polls isn’t how you wanted to spend a Tuesday afternoon but you have to remember the importance that comes with this day.

Voting is a right that many people take for granted. We leaped to exercise our free speech rights ad nauseum when we disagree with our representatives. But, when it’s time to make a statement at the ballot box, too many are deathly silent.

That simple ‘I voted’ sticker is a type of badge. Go earn it by voting. Then, wear it with honor to encourage others to likewise fulfill their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

And, if you won’t exercise your right to vote because….

Your vote determines and influences the people whose influence determines the quality of all our our lives and the lives of our children.

Countless people have fought and died, marched, and starved for the right too many take for granted.

Those who don’t vote, don’t matter as politicians will work hardest only for those who do.

It’s the right thing to do.

Then, you can still do it for the amazing deals many businesses are offering to those wearing that ‘I voted’ sticker. Check them out  here!

Be sure to get educated on the issues first! Just follow this link to find all of the pertinent information you need to know. Though this should be the last time savings influence this decision.

So, for those of you out there who haven’t already, vote and let your voice be heard.

(And yes, one vote does make a difference.)

Written by Krystal Moore

The New Year is almost upon us. You can’t even remember last year’s resolution well enough to feel guilty about flaking out. Now, just as you were about to start planning your new New Year’s Resolution, you read these words:

“Now is the time to stop wasting time!”

Today is the first of Now-Vember. And sure, I just made it up, but then I discovered that countless others did too. So, I’m not the only one who is using the month of November to spur immediate action and extreme productivity.

The point: Don’t wait for the ball to drop in Time Square before getting on the ball yourself! In the spirit of “Carpe diem”, “YOLO”, “No time like the present”, and “Tomorrow is not promised”, here are six month long efforts to inspire 30 days of creativity and productivity. Find one you can get into right Now-vember!

NaNoWriMo

Perhaps you’ve heard people say that NaNoWriMo is right around the corner and they don’t have a plan yet. Then you asked yourself, “What the heck is NaNoWriMo?”

NaNoWriMo is shorthand for National Novel Writing Month. People try to create a novel rough draft of at least 50,000 words – in only one month! Sounds crazy, right? That’s because it is. It’s crazy and insane and even if you don’t complete it, it gives you the push to really get started on something you’ve been dying to write.

So, dust off that idea you’ve been dreaming about and get started!

The 30 Characters Challenge

If you don’t have a story idea but plenty of characters to write about, then you’d have more fun with the 30 Characters Challenge.

This challenge involves creating 30 brand new characters throughout the 30 days of November. You can draw them so people see all their details or just give a brief character synopsis so we know all about your characters. After that, you can find a really cool idea for them later.

The November Photo Challenge

How about becoming a part of the November Photo Challenge? It’s pretty easy. On these websites, you’ll be able to find a list that gives each day of November a different theme. On each day, you will take a picture of something related to the theme and post it on your social media page. So, you do what you usually do but with an added twist.

No-Shave November

No-Shave November (sometimes known as Movember) gives men the perfect reason to grow their facial hair. Not only can it keep you warmer in the colder days, but you’ll also be growing it for a good cause. The purpose of No-Shave November is to raise awareness of cancers specific to men. You grow your hair to grow awareness. So guys, keep growing that hair and use the money you would spend on shaving products to donate to worthy causes.

The No-Vember Challenge

No link for this one but it’s real easy. Just say no to the negative things in your life this month. Say no to super unhealthy foods. Say no to being mean to people when you’re upset. Say no to saying, “I can’t do this.” You can say no to everything that you don’t need and see how wonderful you feel come December.

The Choose-For-Yourself Challenge

Or maybe you’re not interested in any of these challenges. Then make your own!

Make November the month where you do one thing a day: a good deed, a new food, anything that pushes you towards what you truly want to be. There’s no limit to the challenges you can make for yourself. And yes, that means you don’t have to limit it to a one-month challenge. Just challenge yourself all year round with whatever you want to do.

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It may not feel like it, but there’s plenty of interesting things you can do before you set that Thanksgiving dinner down. Now-vember is the time to get started. So, pick a challenge (or two) and have fun!

Have you ever heard of a story that really touched your heart? Have you seen organizations that do incredible things for wonderful causes? Have you ever asked yourself: “How can I help them so they can keep helping others?” We know how you feel and are ready to inspire you with an amazing story that happened just this weekend.

A Surprise Challenge at the Sikh Awards

This weekend, TalkLocal’s founders (Gurpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh and Amandeep Bakshi) had the honor of attending the 2014 Sikh Awards in London after being nominated for the Sikhs in Business – Entrepreneurs category. Although it was Sukhi Singh Ghuman who won the award (Congrats, Sukhi!), the founders took special note of the Sikh Helpline, which won for Sikhs in Charity.

In fact, Gurpreet Singh felt so inspired that he issued an unexpected challenge to the audience at the Sikh Awards: Raise £10,000 for the Sikh Helpline by the end of the evening and an anonymous donor will match your donations up to £10,000. And, you know what happened?  Not only did the attendees raise £20,000, they did it in the first five minutes!

That flood of support sparked a movement. Gurpreet immediately launched the Global £1 Million Challenge to get even more people involved in supporting the Sikh Helpline.

What is the Sikh Helpline?

The Sikh Helpline is a UK-based professional and confidential counseling service that helps members of the Sikh community overcome the bullying, discrimination and acts of violence which so many have experienced. Not only do they offer assistance to Sikhs in need, they also try to educate others who may have questions in regards to the Sikh faith, reducing the ignorance and fear that breeds intolerance. To understand why this is a worthy cause, just browse the newspapers for hate crimes against Sikhs, even in the U.S. To see how the Sikh Helpline is making a difference, just browse their website for the stories of lives they’ve touched.

What’s Happening Next?

With the goal set to £1,000,000, the Sikh Helpline is raising money so it can expand its counseling services to over 60 countries worldwide – a step towards fighting and eliminating hatred against Sikhs everywhere in the world. Gurpreet is already using TalkLocal’s algorithm as a basis for technological improvements that will make the Sikh Helpline more effective at helping those in need. However, they also need your help.

How Can I Help?

Whether or not you are of the Sikh faith, you’ve probably felt the sting of bullying or prejudice. More importantly, you know that no one should have to. So, join the movement: make a donation to the Sikh Helpline and tell them that you want counseling services for Sikhs right here in the U.S. Or, find an organization that fights against racial or religious discrimination in your community. Always remember, even the littlest contribution makes a huge difference.

(When donating to the Sikh Helpline, please be aware that donation amounts are listed in euros so please take conversion rates into account.)