On November 6, Americans will choose every single member of the US House of Representatives, a third of the US Senate, and many of the state and local officials who influence how our communities function daily.
Sounds important, right? Unfortunately, it’s pretty uncommon to see strong voter turnout during midterm elections. Only 36% of the voting-eligible population cast ballots in the 2014 midterm election, according to the US Elections Project. Voter turnout among women between 18 and 24 was just 18% during the last midterm election.
Source: US Elections Project
We’ve joined the TurboVote Challenge, powered by the non-partisan non-profit Democracy Works, to help the US achieve 80% voter turnout by 2024. Democracy Works develops technology to help Americans overcome process barriers related to voting, including registration problems, lack of time, or inconvenient polling places. Through their TurboVote tool, you can register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and receive reminders about local, state, and federal elections.
The Uncommon Life
Fashion Designer Arzu Huseynova Wins UncommonGoods’ Fall 2018 Scholarship
September 6, 2018
Photo by Alexandra Fedotova
We’re always on the lookout for the next great design. Of course, great designs don’t create themselves. Learning to craft something beautiful takes patience, time, and willingness to learn. We’re proud of all the dedicated folks out there committed to learning to do what they love. That’s part of the reason we started our UncommonGoods Scholarship program.
This time around, our scholarship team was wowed by the beauty of winner Arzu Huseynova’s fashion design. Arzu, who’s collection was inspired by Burning Man, received $1,000 to use toward continuing her education at The New School in New York, where she’s currently enrolled as a fashion design major.
We asked Arzu, who speaks four languages, to share a little more about her career aspirations, her love of fashion, and how her mom’s tailor shop inspired the collection that earned her this award. Check out our Q&A below to learn more.
Model Ianina Burnaeva. Photo by Sana Nodelman
We compiled the top trends in food, film, TV, and music to help you celebrate in the style of your marriage year. Be prepared for a little nostalgia and a lot of great anniversary date/party ideas!
What year did you get married?
1968
Popular Song
“Hey Jude” by The Beatles
Originally written for John Lennon’s son, Julian, “Hey Jude” was the longest of any Beatles single, clocking in at over seven minutes. At the time it was the longest single to ever top the British charts and tied for the longest run at the top of the US charts.
Photo by ingen uppgift (Scanpix) via Wikimedia Commons
1969
Popular Food Trend
Fondue
The trendiest thing to serve guests at a dinner party in 1969 was fondue. It could be cheesy or chocolate, but it always had to be seductive and delicious.
Photo by 663highland from Wikimedia Commons
1973
Popular Food Trend
Granola
Granola. The hippie movement has contributed quite a bit to contemporary culture. Perhaps its most symbolic contribution is granola, a simple breakfast dish made by roasting oats in honey and adding fruit and nuts.
Photo by Hail Merry via Wikimedia Commons
1975
Popular Food Trend
Sushi
A long time staple of upper class Japanese cuisine, sushi swept like wildfire across America in 1975. Part of the reason why it has stuck around is that sushi is actually a catch-all term for various types of rice and fish-based dishes (including nigiri, sashimi, California rolls, etc.).
Photo by Japan Sushifrom Wikimedia Commons
1977
Popular Food Trend
Pasta Primavera
In Italian cooking, primavera means fresh vegetables. For increasingly health-conscious consumers, this lighter dish offered welcome respite from the heavier pasta dishes often associated with Italian cuisine.
Photo by Stacy Spensley from San Diego via Wikimedia Commons
1980
Popular Song
“Call Me” by Blondie
The singer of Blondie (Deborah Harry) was ready to set the tone for a new era of independent women just calling it like it is. And if it’s love your feeling, then embrace it.
Photo by Private Stock Records via Wikimedia Commons
1982
Popular TV Show
Three’s Company
Most of us have found ourselves, at some point or another, living in unusual circumstances without a reliable income on the horizon. Three’s Company gives props to the absurd fun that can emerge in these transitional periods of life, foreshadowing the popularity of sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends in the ‘90s.
Photo by ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons
1986
Popular Movie
Top Gun
Tom Cruise made a strong impression in this romantic military action movie. The critics did not give rave reviews, but as is often the case with film, the general public loved every bit of it. A sequel is in the works for 2019!
Photo by LCDR DAVID BARANAK via Wikimedia Commons
1988
Popular TV Show
The Wonder Years
What did we just say about coming-of-age stories? The top show in 1988 was The Wonders Years, which depicted the trials and tribulations of a suburban teenage boy in the 1960s. Not the most cutting-edge plot ever conceived, but like we said, if it’s about young people learning valuable lessons about the world we just lap it up!
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
1992
Popular Song
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Seriously, what is not to love about Whitney Houston? She has the vocal cords of a goddess, supermodel looks, and a heart big enough for every soul on the planet. With this song she instantly became the soundtrack to countless weddings across the country.
Photo by PH2 Mark Kettenhofen via Wikimedia Commons
1995
Popular Food Trend
Molten Lava Cake
This soft-centered chocolate mouthful was first introduced in New York City in 1995. Though it’s creation was a mistake, our taste buds never lie, and within a year it was popping up on the desert menu at high-end restaurants.
Photo by Vegan Feast Catering via Wikimedia Commons
1998
Popular Food Trend
The Cosmopolitan
What drink did you have on the first date with your soulmate? If you were following the trends it was probably a Cosmopolitan, a drink made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry, and lime juice. Granted, it could have been another specialty drink of the moment, as the Cosmopolitan embodied the best of an emergent craft cocktail culture that has since become the norm.
Photo by Jon Sullivan via Wikimedia Commons
2000
Popular Food Trend
Smoothies
Do you remember the smoothie craze? Business popped up left, right and center offering low-cal, nutrient-rich drinks full of fresh fruit and added protein supplements. You can see why they were so popular when initially introduced!
Photo by Stephanie from Austin TX via Wikimedia Commons
2005
Popular TV Show
Grey’s Anatomy
Perhaps the success of Scrubs induced ABC to make a hospital drama of their own. Grey’s Anatomy had little humor about it, focusing more on the minutia of the doctor’s craft and detailing the personal sacrifice required to make it in the medical field.
Photo by Hunterfk88 from Wikimedia Commons
2006
Popular Food Trend
Ramen
This Japanese noodle soup is a relatively recent creation, but it feels like it’s been around forever. Packed noodle soups definitely had a role to play in popularizing ramen soup across America, a status it has retained every year since.
Photo by Kyoww from Wikimedia Commons
2010
Popular Song
“Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
Like all the most gifted songwriters, Bruno Mars has an incredible ability to send a simple message about one of the most important aspects of a relationship. We all want to reach for the stars in life, but we also want to be with someone who loves us for who we are, inside and out.
Photo by Brothers Le [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons
2012
Popular Food Trend
Rainbow Cake
Any birthdays you attended in 2012 (including your own) probably included rainbow cake. Usually sectioned off into bite sized quarters, rainbow cake was yet another confectionary creation designed to delight the eyes as much as the tongue.
Photo by Mervat from Wikimedia Commons
2015
Popular Song
“Hello” by Adele
The Queen of the charts returned in 2015 with a track full of nostalgia for old friends you never see anymore. The video for the song was directed by Xavier Dolan and set the Vevo record with over 27.7 million views within a 24-hour span.
Photo by marcen27 from Glasgow, UK via Wikimedia Commons
2016
Popular Food Trend
Avocado Toast
If you have ever experimented with avocado at home (like, when all you have at home is an avocado and a loaf of bread) you will know it can stand alone on a piece of multi-grain. It is the ideal healthy-yet-slightly indulgent snack. Restaurateurs took notice, and 2016 became the year of avocado toast.
Photo by Takeaway from Wikimedia Commons
2017
Popular Song
“Passionfruit” by Drake
Although Drake is not married, he clearly understands some of the challenges of a long-term relationship. Commitment is one thing, but helping each other overcome interpersonal barriers? That’s a whole other level of devotion.
Photo by The Come Up Show from Canada (Jorja Smith & Drake) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
We teamed up with the New York Times to create a book that celebrates those who dared to stand for equal rights through a collection of articles covering more than 150 years. New York Times–Women Making History features an introduction by Susan Chira, a senior correspondent and editor on gender issues. She has also served as deputy executive editor, overseeing The Times’ daily news report, and as foreign editor. She was part of the team that won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for public service for coverage of workplace sexual harassment issues.
Susan Chira, photo by Earl Wilson
June 20 marks World Refugee Day, a global movement to shed light on the resilience and strength of people who have escaped conflict and are rebuilding their lives. We’re proud to support our longtime partner the International Rescue Committee in standing with the most vulnerable around the world.
Refugee resettlement in the US is at an all-time low. With over 65 million people displaced in the world, the need to support refugees is more urgent now than ever. Watch the video below for practical ways you can make a difference for refugees in the US right now. Find out how you can get involved by visiting www.rescue.org/worldrefugeeday
Vera Thompson, Customer Service Team Lead
My hometown…
Brooklyn, NY
I’m inspired by…
Hard work and dedication.
Something that always makes me laugh…
The Ikea commercial “Start the Car.”
When I was little, I dreamed of…
Becoming a teacher.
The most challenging thing I’ve ever done is…
Complete the NYT crossword puzzle entirely in pen
I’m stubborn about…
Going to the doctor.
My favorite place to go in New York City is…
The movies.
An uncommon fact about me…
I can only swim underwater.
