I read an astonishing piece of research this morning in my regular e-mail from The White House Project, a women’s political advocacy group whose slogan is “Add Women, Change Everything.” In a study conducted before the most recent presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain and Sarah Palin, one in four kids (age 5-10) think it’s illegal for women and minorities to be elected president. And three in four of them think that gender and racial bias is the reason there hasn’t been a woman, African-American or other minority president.

When you look at what kids see in their history books, it’s not too surprising they think presidents can only be white guys, but, as the researcher who did the study points out, no one really tries to explain to them that it’s possible for the president to look different. I wonder what will happen if this research is repeated after Election Day 2008? Surely kids’ perceptions of what’s possible will have changed. Won’t they?

In a word: the Shelby County Election Commission. Yep, I expected lines like the ones in the photo — taken at the Agricenter on one of the first early voting days. But Friday at 5:30, I pretty much waltzed right into the Election Commission offices downtown at the corner of Poplar and Second. Plan to spend some time figuring out what you think of the Charter Commission recommendations; the rest of the ballot is pretty straightforward. Though my cell phone rang as I was voting, and I immediately felt like a criminal … several of the poll workers began shouting at me to turn it off, turn it off!

But no matter how long it takes, and no matter how decided you think the races you’re voting on are, it couldn’t be more important that your voice be heard. VOTE!

OK, moms, you know we get scary e-mails all the time about dangers to our kids, recalled products, etc., etc. But this one is real, and given that Halloween and Hanukkah are coming up, really scary. Seems that the Sherwood brand Pirate’s Gold milk chocolate foil-covered coins come from China, and contain the melamine that has been sickening (and killing) Chinese babies this summer and fall. These coins are sold in bulk and individually at dollar stores and variety stores, mostly in Canada, but also in the US. Find more details here at Snopes (a favorite rumor-debunking site). And look through that Halloween candy with an extra-careful eye.

It’s tough to focus on happiness these days, I know, but evidently quite a few of you enjoyed reading about it yesterday in my column, which I’ve posted in full text after the page turn. My voicemail was full this morning of women sharing their girlfriends-saved-my-sanity stories, and others just thanking me for a ray of sunshine in this tough season. And since I got my quarterly 401(k) statement last night (the graph goes right where you’d suspect — straight down), it’s worth reminding myself, too, that money doesn’t equal happiness. It’s the people in our lives who do that. Read the rest of this entry »

Before there was Lady Diana Spencer — soon to be HRH the Princess of Wales, and eventually the Princess of People’s Hearts, there was her foremother, Lady Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire. You’ve probably heard about the new movie, opening mid-October, starring Kiera Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Now’s your chance to see a preview for free next Thursday, Oct. 2. Click this link for a printable PDF movie pass for you and a pal — theduchess.pdf. Sponsored by skirt! magazine, lover of formidable women from every generation. (Click the link at right to find out where to get your free copy.) See you there!