 I don’t claim to be a political expert at all, but I am intrigued by politics, both here and elsewhere.
So, my curiosity has reminded me how Americans will choose their president next month: namely, via the Electoral College. That’s the system where 333 million American voters don’t actually pick the president. Who does? Why, it’s the 538 Electoral College votes, of course! Doing a bit of research on this, it’s soon revealed that the current system is nothing like what the founding founders (who created the Electoral College in the first place back in 1879) had in mind. Their intention was that electors would actually debate and consider multiple options. As the Sightline Institute (an independent, nonprofit research and communications center) says, “The Electoral College is enshrined in the US Constitution, right? Yes, and the US Constitution is notoriously hard to amend. Fortunately for voters, there’s no need. The Constitution leaves the decision of how to select electors and how to distribute their votes completely up to states. Most state legislatures have chosen to give all their Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins in their state, but they could instead choose to cast their Electoral College votes for the candidate who wins the national popular vote. And if enough states chose to cast their electoral votes for the popular winner, US voters would no longer see a mismatch between who wins the national popular vote and who wins the presidency. The Electoral College would always agree with the people: a national-winner-wins system rather than a state-by-state winner-take-all one.” I gather some states are already making changes. Sightline tell us: “Sixteen jurisdictions have signed on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, pledging to assign their Electoral College votes to the popular winner once enough other states have also signed on, so that together those states have enough electoral votes to guarantee the popular winner— states controlling at least 270 electoral votes.” And listen to Carolyn Dupont, a history professor at Eastern Kentucky University: “The electors now actually just serve no purpose. What they actually do is to provide openings for fraud, because they’re human beings. So I think (the founders) would be disturbed about that.” Consider too that in 2016, Donald Trump had a substantial Electoral College victory of 302-227, except that nearly 3 million more Americans preferred his opponent, and roughly 7 million voted for a third-party candidate. It seems the current system gets results that conflict with the expressed wishes of a majority of voters. For sure, changes to this system are not going to impact the upcoming U.S. election, since it’s only 22 days ahead. But it’s something the new government ought to take a serious look at.
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 I was unaware that October 8 was National Heroes’ Day. This got me thinking about heroes, and I thought I’d better check on just what constitutes a hero. The dictionary tells me a hero is a person who is admired and acknowledged for their courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities, including being stronger, smarter, kinder, and more considerate of other people in desperate situations.
Seems reasonable So, do you have any heroes in your life? I do: my two sons, Charlie and my late son Jamie. Some time ago I listed them as heroes of mine because I‘ve always been incredibly proud of their depth and resourcefulness as it pertains to life. The internet suggests we have heroes in our homes, such as “a friend who is always there to lend support, a grandmother who always has a kind word to offer, a teacher who is considerate of her student’s needs… we should consider ourselves lucky to be surrounded by people who never hesitate to go above and beyond their call of duty.’ I think our ability to celebrate heroes should go beyond Oct. 8. You can honour your heroes by… 1.Celebrate all the wonderful qualities of your heroes; thank them for inspiring you and honor them with gifts, cards, and kind words; heroes like to feel loved too 2.Do something nice: offer to volunteer, donate blood, or organize non-profit drives; find ways to contribute in some manner to your community 3.Be someone’s hero: help a person in need, be there for a friend who needs you, or simply be your own good self OK, I’m inspired. And I’m going off to celebrate my heroes. Hope you are too…  Today being October 1st, I decided to check what holiday – if any – fell on this date. Well, wouldn’t you know it but today, October 1, 2024, is “Less Than Perfect Day”. What? That’s right: Less Than Perfect Day. OK, this definitley warranted some investigation.
Firstly, I discovered that Less Than Perfect Day shares the date with International Raccoon Appreciation Day. Who knew? Meanwhile… I figured if I was going to try to understand what a less than perfect day might mean, I better start with understanding what a perfect day itself signifies. My research led me to a website where it’s explained as follows: “A perfect day can mean different things to different people. Some may consider a perfect day as one where everything goes smoothly, they spend it doing something they love, or they have meaningful interactions with loved ones. It is important to try to make the most of each day, and appreciate the good moments, even if the day as a whole isn't ‘perfect’.” OK, fine. Now that we know that, what would a less than perfect day look like? The web had an answer for that one too: Less Than Perfect Day is a period of time to accept that it's okay to not be perfect. “Some people are perfectionists that are very hard on themselves if they make a mistake, and some people are okay with their faults. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, today is a day to remember that we all make mistakes and that we should try hard at everything we do, but not so hard as to stress ourselves out.” Lovely. So, that left one question for me to think about: given that today is Less Than Perfect Day, how should we go about celebrating it? The answer to that came with these suggestions: “Spend the day trying to keep yourself from stressing out about things you aren't perfect at. It might be a day to challenge yourself to try new and difficult things, because at the same time you will be focusing on not caring if you can't do them with perfection.” Makes sense. Essentially, we are being reminded to promote self-acceptance, reminding us to see the beauty in imperfection by commemorating the benefits of not being perfect. We’re encouraged to embrace our flaws, learn from our mistakes, and accept our unique qualities. And there you have it. Happy Less Than Perfect Day! (And a big appreciative Hi to your raccoon, should you have one as a pet on its special day!)  AHA! Time for suicide commentary. Again.
With the news that several people have been taken into custody in Switzerland following the first use of an assisted suicide device, once again we find the do-gooders lining up against the practical folks. I have long believed that should any one of us decide we simply don’t want to be here any longer, we ought to be able to do something about that. Surely that’s a foundation of human rights. I mean, isn’t that our entitlement as human beings with at least some control over our lives? I’ve written before, asking why it is that Kurt Cobain, of the grunge music band Nirvana, was forced to spray his guts and blood all over the walls and floor of his home for his wife and child to discover after his shotgun did it’s awful duty. And why did poor jazz singer Susannah McCorkle, staggered by personal and professional setbacks, jump out of her 16th-floor Upper West Side apartment, splattering her remains on the sidewalk below for passers-by to glory in. And then there’s Robin Williams, hanging himself from a rafter in the basement of his home with a belt around his neck, for his poor wife to discover. Aren’t we humane enough to provide people like them – and the many others who seek redress away from this world – with an out that is quiet, dignified, not painful. Apparently not. We insist that they leave with terrible discomfort. And isn’t that just what the people in Switzerland were trying to do with the Sarco capsule? It features a sealed chamber in which a person sits in a reclined seat and pushes a button to release nitrogen gas that takes the place of oxygen in less than a minute; the individual loses consciousness and falls to sleep after a few breaths; they die in less than five minutes. Result: a peaceful, fast and dignified death. Now, that sure sounds to me like a reasonable out. But no, we have the usual band of do-gooders who purport to know more about you than you know about yourself. They have all the answers for questions that don’t need asking. And they want you to know that they are there to ensure your final wishes are ignored. That’s wonderful, because with their actions, you can now spray your guts across the room with a shotgun… or you can leap out of your window and fall to your splattered death while the hoi polloi looks on… or you can wrap a belt around your neck, fasten it to a beam in your home and hang yourself for your spouse to find later. Yup, you do-gooders – we owe you such a big vote of thanks for designing such a swell way to exit. And don’t worry, because this same group will arrange the laws to ensure anyone suggesting the Sarco capsule is accessory to suicide and “suspected incitement”. Yeah, right…  I’ve just learned that Sérgio Mendes has died. He was 83 (way too early to go!) and passed away after suffering from the effects of long Covid. I was a big fan!
Mendes was a marvelous musical talent. One of the most successful Brazilian artists of all time, he was a pianist, songwriter, arranger and bandleader whose career started with the 1960s bossa nova boom. “His success was based on his skill in matching Brazilian songs and rhythms against different western styles, from jazz and rock to funk and hip hop,” stated an online obituary. It’s true: from recording in the 1960s with jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley… right up to collaborating in 2006 with will.i.am and other members of the rap group Black Eyed Peas, Sergio managed to escape the “rules” that hold too many artists in place. One of my favorite recordings of all times, “So Many Stars”, features a wonderful tune written by Sergio with lyrics by my favorite writers Marilyn and Alan Bergman (I was thrilled to interview Alan for my book about Ruth Lowe). The song’s on Sergio’s early album for A&M Records, “Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66: Look Around”. Listen to Lani Hall’s brilliant vocal, along with Sergio’s backing, on this YouTube selection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3x6R6iNxXU RIP Sergio!  September is World Alzheimer's Month. If you follow this blog at all, you’ll know I’ve chosen finding a cure for ALS as my principal charity. Buy the reality is, you’re more likely to get Alzheimer's than you are to come down with ALS.
Alzheimer's Disease is such a lousy condition to watch loved ones deal with. But there is growing evidence that people can prevent or reduce their risk of cognitive decline by making key lifestyle changes, including participation in regular physical activity, staying socially engaged, and maintaining good heart health. This combination, with a focus in clinical care on brain health and early detection, can have significant results. The US Against Alzheimer’s website says this: “Just as we have found ways to reduce heart disease risk, researchers increasingly are finding evidence that there may be steps we can take to reduce our risk of Alzheimer’s—or at least delay its onset. Until recently, it was not clear that there was much providers could do without pharmacological treatment. But rapidly advancing science now points to the ability to reduce dementia risk and enhance cognitive function and health as we age.” Want to know more? You can learn specifics here: https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/alzheimers-prevention?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3P-2BhAEEiwA3yPhwNPPp5tkVkHtvhrLwOjK4MWkgvLnR4GJCDBOihvYGhR7Tx_dhMoB1hoC16QQAvD_BwE  Many scientists are optimistic that we're on the cusp of age breakthroughs. Not only to help us live longer, but - more importantly - to extend the number of years we live with good health.
With that in mind, I was a financial backer for Ed Marshall’s recent celebration wherein he raised money for Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital by jumping out of a airplane and parachuting to the ground. He did this to commemorate his 100th birthday! At the completion of his jump, the 100 year old Mr. Marshall said, referring to the parachute itself, “Thank God it opened!” Apparently he showed no nerves, but did state he doesn't plan to do it again. Meanwhile, donors have already raised more than Ed’s original goal of $100,000: “$1,000 for each year of my life!” Now, I thought that was pretty impressive (and it certainly gave me ideas of what to do to celebrate my 100th birthday one day). But, not to take anything away from Ed, I’ve just learned about a woman, Manette Baillie, who’s become the oldest skydiver in Britain after she jumped out of a plane at age 102. When asked about this momentous occasion, the 102-year-old said, “I just want other people who are getting towards 80 and 90 not to give up anything. Just keep going.” Like Ed Marshall, Manette is using this feat to raise money for a series of UK-based charities. BTW, it’s not the first time she’s attempted extreme events at an advanced age. Two years ago, just ahead of her 100th birthday, she drove around the U.K.’s famed Silverstone racetrack, reaching speeds as high as 130 mph. When asked what’s next, Manette said this would likely be her final fundraising challenge, adding about her new goal: "I shall be taking up knitting!"  Welcome to National Dog Day: August 26. This special occasion celebrates the love and companionship that dogs bring to our lives. As the website publicizing this day states: “National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure. Our mission is to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day... for personal protection, for law enforcement, for the disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, now they're detecting cancer and seizures...things even humans cannot do.”
I’ve had wonderful rescue dogs throughout my life. But since my lovely Macy (pictured here) died 3 months ago, I have been without a canine companion. It was always my plan to observe a grieving period, and then head to the SPCA to see what pup might join us as our new rescue dog. But since we currently have 3 relatives staying with us while they find new accommodation, I’m dealing with their small dog being here too. Given the 4 cats we also have present, I’ll have to wait until the guests depart with their dog, and then look at getting a new pup. Meantime, let’s look at this item that’s also from the nationaldogday.com website: “While we feel that everyone has right to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying dogs from pet stores supplied by puppy mills, backyard breeders, the internet and newspaper ads. Rather, we encourage those seeking new canine companions, to consider choosing adoption first. If you'd like a pure breed dog, look into a pure breed rescue in your city, to see if they might have some little furry soul just waiting to make your life complete. Another great place to find a new best friend is at large chain pet stores that host adoption drives for local shelters and rescues. When considering buying from a breeder, verify that you're buying from a reputable breeder by checking out their licensing, internet reviews and ask for local references such as from a veterinarian. It's vital to educate yourself about the breed you're considering parenting.” Wise words. OK, ‘nuff said: let’s celebrate National Dog Day!  Don’t know about you but I’m fascinated by the politics of our neighbor to the south. It is now settled that that Republican Donald Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance will be up against Democrat Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz.
Robert Kennedy, who was running as an independent (having previously listed his political affiliation as a Democrat, as with the longstanding majority of his family members), is bowing out of the race and apparently is now a Republican. He’s siding with Trump, much to his family’s irritation ("Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear," wrote sister Kerry Kenned, adding “My late father would detest everything about Trump, including his lying and fascist sympathies."). But this move has resulted in even more money flowing into the Democrats. Go figure. It will be interesting to see what happens during the next 2+ months of campaigning. Never a dull moment!!
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