Failing Up

I just love November!   There is a calm and peace after the rush of the seasons.  It is a month to catch our breath after all that, back to school, Halloween, and the endless search for peak foliage.  News flash, its past peak now.  Of course this year there was a historic midterm election full of insanity and hate.  I find  November a time to reflect back over the year or years with sense of loss and sadness, but also much love.   A chance to be still before the rush of the holiday season plows us over.  It is not the Christmas season until Santa Clause shows up at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 12pm EST.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday quietly sandwich between the end of one season and the start of another. 

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The midterm elections of November 3rd, 2026 will go down in history as one of the most consequential elections of all time in the United States. It was a night when democracy came alive and the voice of the people was heard loud and clear, enough is enough.  As America's 250 birthday is approaching an end I cannot think of a better way to celebrate then to have the people heard through the voice of their vote!  Not a tacky cage fight with the White House, (the peoples house) as a locker room, not with an Indy car race through the streets of  DC, but instead exercising our freedom to vote!  A freedom so may died for. A freedom that informs leaders that their positions are temporary, but the office they hold,  our democracy and the health of the people, all people is sacred and permanent.

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I find myself in a state of confusion and searching for reality most of the time.  This podcast was recorded on the eve of the midterm elections, possibly the most consequential election in our nations 250yrs.  We are at war, gas prices are hitting the ceiling and people can't put food on the table, and the President at a rally on October 22nd was fixated on the Senator from Ohio, Jon Husted's ass?   Now mind you I really don't care what a person's thing is, but to make this the focus during a campaign rally with times like these strikes me as strange.  Maybe it's Congress' lack of balls, not nice a nice ass that as gotten us to this point. The Republican party is now the party of "Rump"  

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In this episode we are visited by our new reoccurring guest, Uncle Dave the Baker.

He shares with us his wonderful sugar cookies he made from the King Arthur Cookbook.  We also talk about traditional pies and other cookies.  Next month Uncle Dave will be sharing his home made bread with myself and Jungle Jim!   

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On October 22nd 1962 the youngest person ever elected President of the United States John F. Kennedy informed the American people that the United States will be imposing a quarantine on Soviet naval ships attempting to get to Cuba. This was the result of a discovery of nuclear missile launch sites being built in Cuba supported and by the Soviet Union. The world was on the verge of nuclear war and this young President did not back down.  After negotiations and many close calls the crisis came to a peaceful conclusion.  A year later this President and war hero was assassinated.  A monument was built in his honor, a performing arts center. Sixty four years later on October 21, 2026 a Special Envoy by the name of Steve Witkoff a real estate professional  for the oldest man elected President, Donald Trump, tells the President Putin of Russia who has invaded a country unprovoked, bombed and killed may innocent people,  "you are a great humanitarian sir."  If you support this statement how can you call yourself an American.  There is no defending it or the leaders who support it.  Drop the mic!!

Now this old President who avoided serving in the military during time of war, praises dictators and plowed  over and tiled the young President's wife's  iconic  Rose Garden, wants his name on the memorial dedicated for the slain hero.  There is no reflection in the reflecting pool just darkness.  Wake up it's time to come together red, white, and blue and shine the light for a new generation!!

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I firmly believe that women are natural leaders, its in their DNA.  This is why for hundreds of years there have been attempts to keep them down.  Let's face it the old white man experiment has run its course!  Who do we run to as children for safety, comfort, security and reasoning, our mother, grandmother aunt, guardian. Why is this, because they are able to provide comfort and take time to be thoughtful.  Throughout history woman have made history in the shadows.  We would have not gotten into space with out the women engineers and computer experts.  The time has come to pass the torch to a new gender, because the current one is a mess!  Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Madam President, now more than ever is needed!

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There is a unique connection between the beautiful season of autumn and a peaceful Sunday afternoon.  Autumn in all its beauty and warmth among the chill marks an end to the cycle of seasons, yet the beginning of many other activities, including, school, holidays, and nature's transitions.  There is  warmth in the chilly air as we wear sweaters and flannel.  Sunday afternoon marks the end of the weekend and yet the beginning of the week.  Just like autumn it is transitional.  For a brief moment there is peace on a Sunday afternoon, a stillness, as we like nature shift gears for a moment to listen to the silence. 

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Way back in my high school days I really did not want to be pegged or placed in a group with a title, or activity.  I liked to hang out with a wide array of characters.  I was not, nor wanted to be  one of the cool kids, not a good student, I played sports but did not want to be a "jock".  I liked to break the rules and challenge most of the teachers.  Classes were structured and lessons cookie cutter.  I was bored and a bit of a screwball.  That changed in September of 1975 when ABC premiered a television program titled, "Welcome Back Kotter".  It was about a teacher who returns to his roots and has a class of irreverent students called Sweathogs.  A fun loving bunch who did not fit into a mold. That was me! I was a Sweathog!  Sweathogs did have confidence, a mischievous nature, and aversion to the status quo.    We also paid a price for our individuality, but it was worth it every time!   Fast forward many years and this Sweathog is an Assistant Dean at Syracuse University and then  Cornell University.  This was my revenge towards all those chalk board, (Bored) jockeys of years gone by.  I still tend to tweak authority and I am not impressed by standing and title alone.  I am still a  bit of a screwball.  Most importantly though, I am a lifelong Sweathog!

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There is no such thing as "Fake News". There is accurate news, and inaccurate news.  When a person/leader responds to a question with "fake new" is means they are not smart enough or quick enough on their feet to answer the question and explain the premises of their answer.  If the news pertaining to the question is inaccurate point it out with counter accurate information.  I must say I do miss the day the of intelligent sparing with the press.  Calling the reporter derogatory names and saying. "fake news reminds me the spoiled kid who name calls and whines, that's not fair" when they don't get their way. 

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So, all the pouting has led to the attempt to change the name of the "Great Lake of Ontario" to the "Lake of America".  Few observations: 1. Does this make it America's Lake even though it is the smallest of the great lakes  2. Seeing if borders only New York State on the U.S side why not name it Lake New York?  3. The lake is split between the United States and Canada, are we naming only half the lake? 4. Does this mean the lyrics to Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" need to be changed?  The name Lake Ontario derives I believe from The Wendat Nation (or the Huron-Wendat First Nation) of Quebec. The  original name was Ontari'io, which means, the lake is beautiful, the lake is great. It has had this name for 400 years.  I'm guessing it will remain for at least another 400. 

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