Banning marriages between individuals who don't love each other.

http://www.theonion.com/video/new-law-would-ban-marriages-between-people-who-don,14401/

With the seemingly relentless debate and legislative action revolving around the topic of marriage, Its nice to have a little satire. Although the video is sarcastic, a lot of the points made in the video are honestly kind of true about traditional marriages. After watching this video I was curious to see what strange marriage laws may exist in our society today.

1. It is legal to annul a marriage that was done on a dare- Seems like a reasonable reason to bring up during a divorce hearing .....

2. Military members can get married by proxy if they desire too- because nothing says I love you more than sending your good friend billy to marry your wife for you.

3. Lastly, in South Carolina it is illegal to propose marriage and not mean it if ones is over 16 years old. Its actually a misdemeanor under the offenses against morality and decency act.

It seems that some areas of society hold on to their quirky marriage laws no matter how ridiculous they may seem.

Marriage Law Info
http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/dating-marriage/10-obscure-marriage-laws-in-the-us-110196

Common Law Marriage in Colorado

Common law marriage is used to describe a marriage that has not met the legal or "statutory" requirements as being necessary for a typical ceremonial marriage.  The degree of acceptance of a common law marriage varies state to state given that each state has varying laws that surround marriage.  The concept stemmed from English common law in which a couple would present themselves as being marriage and both consent yet not fully adhere or perform a ceremonial wedding with all of its legal jargon, kind of saying we just do what we want if we say we are married then we are married.  In 1877 precedent was set saying that valid common law marriages were valid unless the state passed a law forbidding them or saying they are not.  Colorado has yet to pass such a law, therefore under the definitions, a common law marriage is to the same respects the same as a ceremonial marriage and all the benefits it gives as well as things couples are bound to such as divorce or death being the only way to end it.  Those definitions are: that the parties are not already married, "hold" themselves out as husband and wife, consent to it, live together (for an amount of time), and have a reputation in the community for being married.  Such a concept can be seen, I suppose, as a loophole for whatever minor or major purposes it could be needed for (such as business and its relationship to marital laws and such), regardless it is, if anything, interesting.    
All information came from coloradoattorneygeneral.gov
Now here is a kind of funny video

Beware Common Law Marriage!

Banana Republic National Song and Dance

...as performed by George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Mentors

To tell the truth, I do not have a lot to say about mentors. Just try to avoid them in my life. Don't like overloading people with my own stuff. But, I myself was a mentor to several people. It is a big responsibility and a big pleasure, when you see that the person you were trying to help succeeds.

MENTORS

 

While Mentors are usually associated with helping advance a career, or artistic endeavor, they can be an extremely valuable asset in just living a persons life.  As each decade passes, life becomes more and more complicated, demanding, stressful, and more intertwined with other persons, and multiple tasks. For a person to have a mentor to guide and advise them, even in their younger years, could  help them avoid certain pitfalls that can hinder them or even force them to alter their choices later in life. At say 18 years old a lot of things sound great, that an older person may have experienced or been through or learned from, that could possibly save them from some future heartache.  In these times, with higher tuition, and more specialized career paths, a person in college needs to make major decisions as to what path to take study wise, so that after graduation they  are prepared to accomplish their goals, whether they be academic, artistic or business wise.  Having a mentor to help guide them would be  a huge benefit when choosing their study plans and goals.

As to going about finding a mentor, I am at a loss.  In the earlier stages of life, I would imagine that a mentor would be someone that would come about through a family connection. Maybe a relative, or a friend or coworker of the parents. Perhaps a youth takes an interest in something that an adult acquaintance is involved in.  Thus sparking a mutual interest in an activity.  Maybe a college student stands out to an instructor, or shows an exceptional talent for a certain endeavor. This talent causing a spark of interest, in the students talents. Or perhaps it is at a future job, where someone shows a real interest in a career, and maybe reminds a senior employee of them at an earlier time.

It seems to show, when a person has a real enjoyment for and love of something.  Whichever scenario occurs, I feel that if someone has a genuine feeling, talent or aptitude for a certain "Thing," it will manifest itself to others, who will want to pass along their experience and knowledge, as a mentor.

National Anthem

The Banana Republic is the best.
We are the country that rules the west.
With our military strong and ready.
Ruled by a government strong and steady

Over other countries we stand high.
We shine bright like a star in the sky.
With the amazonians at our side.
If you want to survive you will abide.

Imports and exports with money made.
Our business might will never fade.
Our treasury full of gold.
Our economy will never fold.