#166 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday October 11)
Good morning,
NATIONAL WHATEVER DAY
I forgot to wish everyone a happy “National Hair Day” on October 1st. That’s right; such a special day exists—just for hair! I thought it was absurd enough that we had a “National Daughters Day” on September 25th, followed a few days later by “National Sons Day.” While I thought commemorative days had “jumped the shark” with National Sons and Daughters Days (after all, isn’t every day their day?), when National Hair Day rolled around, I was convinced all was lost.
If you missed these days, fear not. World Anesthesia Day is coming on October 16th, to be followed closely thereafter by World Vasectomy Day on the 18th. I’m sorry, but even Hallmark Cards could not imagine all the commemorative days on the calendar. There are more than 50 such days in October alone. The best special day this month even beats World Pi Day (3/14—get it?). October 23rd is Mole Day (which I believe is an “official” holiday created by scientists with time and wit on their hands). We’re not talking about the animal, nor the Mexican dish (which is one of my favorites). It’s celebrated at 6:02 on 10/23, representing Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x 10 to the 23rd power). Avogadro’s Number (or a “mole”) of atoms, molecules or ions, represents a standard number of items, a “mole” of that matter.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Of course there are commemorations throughout the calendar that bear greater import and warrant further education than National Hair Day or Mole Day. One such month that we commemorate is National Hispanic Heritage Month. A few days ago I noted that it begins on September 15th and runs through October 15th. In a display of my ignorance, I asked why a commemorative month begins mid-month. I received a reply from Hydee Feldstein Soto (who happens to be a candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney). For those who share my lack of knowledge, here are Hydee’s comments:
“September 15th is the anniversary of El Grito de Delores—literally translated, “The Cry of Dolores,” Dolores being a place, not a woman. The cry or call for independence from the then priest of Dolores, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, resulted in the beginning of Mexico’s 11 year war for independence. Miguel Hidalgo is generally considered to be the father of the Mexican Independence movement and Mexican Independence Day (9/16) is celebrated starting the evening of the 15th.”
FACTS ARE VARIABLE
I and others have written a lot about how one can navigate a world where facts are only facts if acknowledged by the listener. Peter Bain notes that the challenge is “how to function in a world where the ‘truth’ seems to no longer exist except as a fluctuating variable depending upon which narrative one’s tribe asserts at any given time.”
You may recall President Trump’s speech following the Arizona Cyberninjas’ “forensic audit.” In his speech, Trump said, nonsensically, that the Arizona audit “confirmed that we won Arizona, and won by a lot.” That audit, one will recall, found that President Biden not only won the vote previously certified—but he actually gained votes. How do we reconcile Trump’s assertion with the fact that he lost and the fact that a Republican-led and controlled audit confirmed the outcome? It’s because when Mr. Trump makes such statements, regardless of whether supported by facts (and typically not supported by facts), it feeds the base and keeps their anxiety and feeling that something is taken from them at the forefront of the news.
All the best,
Glenn
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