Four Generations, Four Hours, and a Lifetime of Love-Part 2 of 2 

I am the oldest generation in this photograph. Beside me is my daughter Dinah. Next is my granddaughter Elaine. In front of us is my great-grandson, Beau Joseph. By his side is his Dad, Kyle Joseph. Four generations are represented in one image below.

 

The Joseph Family, Dinah and I, Rohnert Park, CA, 9-2-26

September 2 was one of the happiest days of my life this year.

Dinah and I drove for several hours to visit my great-grandson, Beau Joseph, who lives with his parents in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. The Family were vacationing in Santa Rosa. After another four hours with him and his family, I drove home tired, but deeply happy and grateful.

The long drive was worth every mile. The last time I saw Beau was in October last year, when he was barely four months old. Today, at thirteen months, he has changed so much. He has begun to crawl, and his little personality is beginning to reveal itself. He looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask:

Who is this old man looking at me with such a loving gaze?

I smiled at him and called him guapito- my little handsome boy.

For a few precious minutes, I was able to hold him in my arms. I kissed him gently on the head for a few seconds. Those moments may seem small to someone else, but to me they were enormous. They filled my heart with happiness and gratitude.

I am grateful that I am still able to make the journey. I am grateful that my arms could still hold him, even if only for a short time. I am grateful that my eyes could watch him crawl and explore, and that my heart could feel the wonder of seeing another generation of our family grow before me.

Today, I was not only visiting Beau. I was reconnecting with four generations of love.

I spent time with his mother, my granddaughter Elaine; his father, Kyle Joseph, my grandson-in-law; and my daughter Dinah, Beau’s grandmother and my oldest daughter. To see all of them together reminded me that a family is not merely a collection of individuals. It is a living story, passed from one generation to the next.

When I look at the photograph, I see more than five faces. I see the passage of time. I see the continuity of love. I see the people who came before us, even though they are no longer visible in the picture. I also see the future embodied in Beau, who is only beginning his journey in this world.

Pride in a Young Family

I am also very proud of Elaine and Kyle.

About three months ago, they purchased a single-family home in a good neighborhood near Portland. They both have jobs, and through hard work, careful planning, and financial discipline, they were able to buy a home during the early years of their married life.

For young people today, this is not an easy achievement. In many parts of the United States, owning a home has become increasingly difficult for a young couple. The cost of housing is high, and the financial demands of beginning a family can be overwhelming.

That is why I admire what Elaine and Kyle have accomplished. Their new home represents more than bricks, walls, and a mortgage. It represents determination, responsibility, hope, and a place where Beau can grow.

I imagine him crawling across the floor, taking his first steps, learning new words, and gradually discovering the world around him. That home will hold many memories: birthdays, holidays, family dinners, laughter, disagreements, celebrations, and perhaps the sound of Beau calling for his parents.

A home becomes meaningful because of the life that takes place inside it.

The Gift of Being Present

We went to a Children Play Ground  Nearby after Lunch to Enjoy the Sun and More Visit Time

As we grow older, we learn that happiness does not always arrive in grand or dramatic ways. Sometimes it comes quietly, in the form of a child resting in our arms. Sometimes it appears in a kiss on a small head, a curious look, or a few hours spent with people we love.

Today reminded me that presence is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another.

I could not stay for several days. I could not spend the night or watch every new milestone. I had only four hours with Beau and his family before beginning the long drive home. But those four hours were enough to fill my heart.

Time is measured by clocks, but meaningful time is measured by what remains in the heart.

The drive home left me physically tired. My body reminded me that I am no longer young. But my spirit felt renewed. I carried with me the memory of Beau’s face, his curious eyes, his developing personality, and the warmth of holding him.

I also carried gratitude for my daughter, my granddaughter, my grandson-in-law, and this beautiful child who connects us all.

A Lifetime in One Photograph

One day, Beau may look at this photograph and wonder about the old man standing beside him. Perhaps he will be told that I was his great-grandfather, that I traveled four hours to see him, and that I held him in my arms and kissed him on the head.

He may not remember this visit. He may not remember the word guapito. But I will remember it for the rest of my life.

And perhaps, many years from now, he will understand what this picture represents: four generations gathered together, briefly united by family, history, and love.

Today was only one day. It was only four hours. But sometimes four hours can contain a lifetime of love.

Personal Note: I have another great grandson, two months older than Beau. His name is Graham and the son of Dinah's son, Ian.  

I have not seen him in person for a quite a while. I am hoping to see him on my 92nd Birthday this coming December 20.  

Lastly, My Photo of the Day:

The jade vine, Strongylodon macrobotrys, is a leguminous vine endemic to the Philippines. Specimens were collected on Mount Makiling, Luzon, in 1841 by the United States Exploring Expedition, and Harvard botanist Asa Gray described it. Its claw-shaped turquoise flowers hang in trusses up to 3 meters long and are pollinated in the wild by a bat. On Luzon the flowers are eaten as a vegetable called tayabak.

Hara Hachi Bu: How Mindful Eating Can Combat Outsized Portions

This article is inspired from my recent experience of our Dining Offerings here at THD. Several months ago, at the suggestions of several residents initiated by my blogs, THD management added in our menu the line : 1/2 servings Portions Available. 

 Most of the residents were happy, however a few informed me they will order full servings and will eat it all, so there will be no waste of foods. 

Just recently, THD change its Menu Format, Adding a Full Page of " Always Available" and retain the 1/2 servings line on the Dinner Menu-an improvement. 

However, in our Dinner Menu this week, I noticed the 1/2 servings line was omitted. Is this intentional? Will the Dinner servings be portions that seniors could consume without waste. Just curious, since the  past weeks,  I also observed that the servings I have experience is perfect for my needs of eating only to 80% of my Full Satisfaction, Thus this article:   

Hara Hachi Bu: Finding Balance in a World of Outsized Portions

In our fast-paced, modern food culture, the finish line of a meal is almost always the same: feeling completely stuffed. But across the ocean, in the longevity hotspot of Okinawa, Japan, an ancient Confucian mantra dictates a healthier boundary. Hara Hachi Bu teaches practitioners to eat until they are only 80% full.

This simple shift from maximum capacity to light satisfaction is one of the foundational secrets to Okinawan health and longevity. However, importing this ancient wisdom into our modern lives isn't as simple as just deciding to eat less. We live in an environment that actively works against our body's natural cues, making the 80% threshold a moving target.

The Modern Dilemma: Outsized Portions vs. Ancient Wisdom

The biggest obstacle to practicing Hara Hachi Bu today is the dramatic inflation of modern portion sizes. Over the last few decades, restaurant plates, fast-food servings, and even packaged grocery items have grown exponentially. What we visually perceive as a "normal" single serving is often enough to feed two or three people.

This hyper-abundance distorts our internal baseline. When we are served an oversized plate, our psychology shifts from listening to our stomachs to finishing what is in front of us. This biological misalignment overrides our natural fullness signals, meaning that by the time we visually "clean our plate," we have long blown past the 80% mark and entered the zone of metabolic strain. To combat this, we must shift our focus away from the size of the plate and back to the physical sensations within our bodies.

Practical Tips to Master the 80% Threshold

Transitioning to mindful eating requires resetting your relationship with satiety. Here are practical, actionable strategies to help you recognize and honor your 80% limit:

• Embrace the 20-minute delay. It takes roughly 20 minutes for your stomach to chemically signal your brain that it is full. If you eat quickly, you will hit 100% capacity before your brain even registers that you’ve started. Slow your pace, chew thoroughly, and give your internal communication system time to catch up.
• Downsize your dinnerware. Trick your brain by using smaller plates and bowls. A portion that looks meager on a massive restaurant-sized plate looks abundant on a smaller salad plate. This satisfies your visual hunger before you even take your first bite.
• Assess your hunger mid-meal. Halfway through your food, pause for a moment. Put down your utensils, take a breath, and ask yourself where you land on a scale from 1 to 10. If you no longer feel empty but aren't quite heavy yet, you are approaching the 80% sweet spot.
• Reframe leftovers as a win. Remove the societal guilt of leaving food on your plate. Instead of viewing leftovers as a chore, see them as a gift to your future self—a free, effortless lunch for tomorrow that spared your body from unnecessary digestive stress today.
• Eliminate digital distractions. Eating while scrolling on a phone, watching television, or working at a desk blindsides your awareness. When your mind is fully occupied elsewhere, your hand will mindlessly move food to your mouth long after your body has had enough.

By actively dialing back our intake and resisting the pressure of modern portion sizes, we can reclaim control over our health. Hara Hachi Bu reminds us that true dietary abundance isn’t about eating everything available, it’s about having the clarity to stop when our body is perfectly fueled.

 My Photo of the Day: 

One of My Favorite Pinoy Dishes: The Dish, I will order in any Filipino Restaurant.   

Finally, The biggest news stories of the day include:

• Justice Department Charges James Comey Again: The U.S. Justice Department has brought a third round of criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of leaking information to the media.
Trump Administration Election & Voter Fraud Moves: President Donald Trump announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of voter fraud, while the administration is facing legal battles over efforts to block vote certification in Alaska and challenge mail-in ballots in California ahead of the midterms. 
Israel Election and Regional Tensions: Israeli voters participate in high-turnout national elections with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fighting for political survival following heightened military and regional developments.
Jay-Z Super Bowl Halftime Show: Rapper Jay-Z was announced to headline the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show. 
Ares Capital Acquires MidCap Financial: In major financial news, Ares Capital Corporation agreed to acquire MidCap Financial Investment Corporation in a $2.6 billion cash-and-stock deal.
Federal Judge Blocks D.C. Golf Project Trees: U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued an injunction halting further tree removal and course closures at East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C..

The Healing Power of the Sea- Lumpia Ubod

I often wonder, why I felt good after a swim in our backyard at Chateau Du Mer Beach House in my younger days during our annual winter sojourn in Marinduque, Philippines. The following article fully explained my personal experience why I feel great after swimming in the of ocean of the Amoingon Beach, Boac, Western Marinduque.

Recent scientific evaluations have pointed to ocean immersion as one of the most effective natural methods for regulating the nervous system and absorbing essential minerals. This finding is shifting the perspective of modern wellness, suggesting that blue spaces offer therapeutic benefits that are often more accessible and potent than synthetic alternatives. When the body interacts with the chemical composition of seawater, it undergoes a series of physiological resets that support both physical and mental health. The approach is quickly becoming a cornerstone of environmental medicine for people seeking a natural way to manage stress and mineral deficiencies.

Balancing the Nervous System

One of the clearest benefits of the ocean is its ability to regulate the nervous system through stimulation of the vagal pathways. Submersion in water, particularly cooler ocean water, triggers the mammalian dive reflex, which slows the heart rate. That shift moves the body from a sympathetic state of fight or flight into a parasympathetic state of rest and recovery. Cortisol levels drop, and the physical symptoms of chronic stress begin to ease almost immediately upon contact with the water.

The Role of Marine Minerals

The ocean acts as a natural mineral bath containing high concentrations of magnesium, an element involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions. Through thalassotherapy, the skin interacts with these trace minerals, allowing a form of natural replenishment that many people prefer over standard oral supplements. The exact rate of transdermal absorption is still under study, but the effects of sea salt on muscle tension and skin health are well documented. The mineral-rich environment offers a way to support the body's internal balance without synthetic additives.

Comprehensive Physical Advantages

The physical act of swimming or floating in the sea provides a range of health benefits that work together to improve overall vitality. These advantages come from the combination of water pressure, mineral content, and the coastal environment. Notable benefits include better skin barrier function and hydration from the high saline content, improved mood from inhaling negative ions generated by crashing waves, reduced inflammation and muscle pain from the buoyancy of saltwater, and stimulation of the lymphatic system, which aids natural detoxification.

Embracing Blue Mind Science

Integrating regular ocean visits into a wellness routine can lead to long-term improvements in how the body handles daily stressors. By providing mineral therapy and nervous system grounding at once, the sea acts as a wellness center that is available to everyone. The approach emphasizes environmental connection in maintaining internal harmony. It encourages a shift away from synthetic solutions and back toward the elements that have supported human life for centuries .

Sources: Blue Mind: The Science of Coastal Well-Being

Marine Minerals and Human Physiology

Thalassotherapy: Ancient Practice and Modern Science

AI OVERVIEW:

Our Backyard -Chateau Du Mer Beach House and David E enjoying the Sea 

The ocean offers both mental and physical health benefits through its mineral-rich water, coastal air, and soothing environment.

Physical Benefits

• Mineral Absorption: Seawater contains high levels of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin, helping relax muscles, support cellular energy, and aid nerve function. 
• Skin Health: Salt water acts as a natural exfoliant, clears excess oils, and magnesium-rich seawater can help soothe skin roughness and inflammation. 
• Low-Impact Movement: The buoyancy of salt water reduces stress on joints, making swimming, walking, and paddleboarding easier ways to build cardiovascular strength.
Airways and Breathing: Coastal air carries fine mineral particles and sea mist that can help keep upper airways moist. Breaking waves release negative ions that promote relaxation and clear breathing.

Mental Benefits

• Stress Reduction: Simply sitting or swimming by the sea lowers cortisol levels, slows the heart rate, and shifts the nervous system out of "fight-or-flight" mode.
• "Soft Fascination": The rhythmic sound of waves and expansive ocean horizons allow the brain to rest from mental fatigue, a concept explored in coastal wellness and National Geographic research.
• Mood Enhancement: Time spent near blue spaces helps trigger positive brain waves and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• 
  
• Community Perspectives

Opinions differ on the direct medicinal effects of seawater. While many view the ocean as a natural restorative, some users on Quora note that while salt water can help clean minor surface scabs, open wounds exposed to ocean bacteria can sometimes take longer to heal.

Finally, My Photo of the Day: Lumpia Ubod

Lumpiang ubod is a Filipino appetizer of julienned heart of palm and vegetables wrapped in a thin egg crepe. It comes from Silay City in Negros Occidental, where the original version is small, finger-sized and wrapped in wax paper. It can be served fresh or deep-fried. Another of my favorite Pinoy Dish during my younger years in Iloilo, Philippines

The San Francisco 49ers Lose Their First Game of the Season

David At Nearing 92: The San Francisco 49ers Lose Their First Game of the Season

A painful lesson in American football: A halftime lead does not guarantee victory

Today, October 25, 2026, was a disappointing Sunday for me as a football fan. The San Francisco 49ers, one of my favorite NFL teams, lost to the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 29–20.

What made this defeat particularly disappointing was that the 49ers were leading at halftime. They started the game well, but the Falcons gradually took control and eventually handed San Francisco its first loss of the season. Until today, the 49ers had won all six of their games.

As I watched the game, I was reminded of an important lesson in sports and perhaps in life: It is not how you start that matters most, but how you finish.

How the Game Unfolded

The 49ers started strongly. Running back Christian McCaffrey scored the team's first touchdown, and backup running back Kaelon Black added another with a 30-yard run. San Francisco built a 14–3 lead in the second quarter.

However, Atlanta fought back. The Falcons scored a touchdown and a field goal before halftime, narrowing the 49ers' lead to just two points. The halftime score was San Francisco 14, Atlanta 12.

The second half was a different story. Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts and Drake London, helping the Falcons take control. Penix threw three touchdown passes during the game.

The 49ers tried to rally in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Brock Purdy connected with fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a touchdown, bringing San Francisco within six points. Unfortunately, the 49ers missed the extra-point kick.

San Francisco still had opportunities to recover, but costly mistakes hurt its chances. Purdy threw two interceptions, and the 49ers lost possession of the ball on fumbles. Atlanta took advantage of these mistakes and added a field goal to secure its 29–20 victory.

The result was a surprise. The undefeated 49ers had suffered their first defeat of the season, while the Falcons earned an important home victory.

A Simple Explanation of American Football Scoring

Some of my worldwide readers may not be familiar with American football. Unlike soccer, where each goal normally counts as one point, American football awards different numbers of points for different plays.

Here are the basic rules:

• Touchdown — 6 points: A player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone or catches a pass there.

• Extra point — 1 point: After a touchdown, the team usually kicks the ball through the goalposts.

• Two-point conversion — 2 points: Instead of kicking, a team can try to carry or pass the ball into the end zone again.

• Field goal — 3 points: If a team cannot score a touchdown, it may kick the ball through the goalposts during a play.

For example, a touchdown followed by a successful extra-point kick earns seven points. That is why football scores often look quite different from soccer scores.

A game consists of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes of playing time in the NFL. The clock frequently stops, so a game usually takes considerably longer than one hour to watch.

Teams also have limited opportunities to advance the ball. The offense generally has four downs, or attempts, to gain at least 10 yards. If it gains those 10 yards, it earns another set of four downs. If it fails, it usually must give the ball to the opposing team.

This makes every possession important. A fumble or an intercepted pass can change the direction of a game in a matter of seconds.

What Went Wrong for the 49ers?

In my opinion, the most important factor was the number of costly turnovers. The 49ers gave the ball away four times, including two interceptions and lost fumbles. The Falcons converted these mistakes into valuable scoring opportunities.

Football is a team sport. A good offense can score many points, but the team must also protect the ball and play effective defense.

The 49ers had opportunities to win, but Atlanta made the important plays when they mattered most. The Falcons deserve credit for their victory.

There is also a concern about injuries. McCaffrey, one of San Francisco's most important offensive players, left the game temporarily with a thigh injury. His condition will be worth watching as the season continues.

My Thoughts as a Football Fan Nearing 92

At my age, I have learned not to expect every day to go according to plan. The same is true of football.

A team can dominate early and lose its advantage. A player can make a brilliant play and then make a costly mistake. Sometimes, a small detail, such as a missed kick or an intercepted pass, can determine the outcome.

I have followed sports for many years, and I still enjoy the excitement and uncertainty of watching a close game. That is part of what makes sports entertaining. We can make predictions, but we cannot know the outcome until the game is over.

I will continue cheering for the San Francisco 49ers. One defeat does not erase the team's six victories or determine what will happen during the rest of the season.

For my readers who follow soccer, basketball, cricket, or other sports, the lesson is familiar: a lead is never completely safe until the contest is finished.

And for those who do not follow American football, I hope this short explanation has made the game a little easier to understand.

Win or lose, there is always another game to watch, another lesson to learn, and another Sunday to enjoy.

At nearly 92, I am grateful that I can still follow the games, share my thoughts with readers around the world, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Go, 49ers! I hope you come back stronger in your next game.

Finally My Photos of the Day:

One of My Calamansi fruit is Ripening- getting Reading for my Calamansi-Lemonade Concoction

From My Picture Window- Can you See my Cat Robin, enjoying the warm Autumn Day here in Northern California?  

I Mailed My Ballot: Should We Ask Artificial Intelligence Who to Vote For?

Yesterday, I mailed my ballot.  At my age, approaching 92, I no longer drive. Mailing my ballot is not simply a matter of convenience. It is a necessity that allows me to continue exercising one of my most important rights as an American citizen: the right to vote.

I live at The Heritage Downtown, a senior living community in Walnut Creek, California. Although I live alone, I am not lonely. I continue to play bridge, write my blogs, follow the news, and take an interest in what is happening in our country and around the world.

Growing older may limit some of our physical activities, but it should not mean giving up our voice in the affairs of our nation.

Today, however, two news stories caught my attention. One concerned the growing number of Americans who have already voted in the upcoming November 2026 elections. The other, reported in the news, concerned Americans turning to artificial intelligence, or AI, for help in deciding which candidates deserve their votes.

The second story made me stop and think.

How Does Voting Work in America?

For my readers outside the United States, let me briefly explain the American electoral process.

The United States is a representative democracy. Citizens who are eligible to vote choose people to represent them in government. Depending on the election, they may vote for a president, members of Congress, state officials, local leaders, judges, or other positions. They may also vote on specific proposals called ballot measures.

The United States has elections at several levels of government. Federal elections concern the national government, state elections concern individual states, and local elections may determine who governs a city, county, or school district.

In November 2026, Americans will participate in the midterm elections. These elections take place halfway through a president's four-year term. Voters will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and approximately one-third of the United States Senate, along with many state and local officials.

Unlike countries where elections are conducted through a single national system, American elections are administered largely by individual states and local election officials. Rules concerning voter registration, identification, mail ballots, and deadlines can therefore differ from one state to another.

There are several ways Americans can vote.

Some go to a polling place on Election Day. Others vote in person before Election Day through a process called early voting. Many voters, including senior citizens like me, use mail-in ballots.

A mail-in ballot allows an eligible voter to receive a ballot, mark the choices privately, and return it according to the state's rules. Depending on the state, it may be returned through the postal service, placed in an authorized ballot drop box, or delivered to an election office.

For people who no longer drive, have mobility difficulties, or cannot easily stand in line, voting by mail can make participation in democracy much more accessible.

I mailed my ballot yesterday because I want my voice to be heard, even though I can no longer drive myself to a polling place.

Millions of Americans Are Voting Early

News reports this week described millions of Americans already casting their ballots before Election Day.

According to a report published on October 21, approximately 14.3 million Americans had voted in the 2026 general election at that point. About 9.1 million had voted by mail and 5.2 million had voted in person before Election Day.

These figures are an early snapshot, not the final national total. They show that Americans do not all wait until Election Day to exercise their voting rights.

For me, the important point is not which candidate or political party receives the most votes. It is that citizens have an opportunity to participate in deciding the future of their country.

Democracy depends not only on the people who run for public office but also on ordinary citizens who take the time to vote.

When Artificial Intelligence Enters the Voting Booth

The other news story surprised me even more.

Some Americans are asking AI chatbots to help them decide whom to vote for. They may ask a chatbot to compare candidates, explain their positions on important issues, examine their professional backgrounds, or even recommend which candidate they should support.

A Pew Research Center survey published on October 23, 2026, offers some useful perspective. Among American adults surveyed, 8 percent said they were using AI chatbots for information related to the 2026 elections.

Among those using AI for election information, many wanted to learn where candidates stood on issues or check the accuracy of claims they had heard. Forty percent of this group said they had used chatbots for suggestions about how to make their voting choices.

These findings suggest that AI is becoming another source of election information, although most Americans are not yet using it for that purpose.

I can understand why people might turn to AI. American ballots can be complicated. A voter may face several candidates for different offices, each presenting promises and arguments. There may also be ballot measures written in language that is difficult to understand.

AI can explain unfamiliar terms, summarize a candidate's stated policies, and help compare different positions. Used carefully, it can help citizens become better informed.

But there is an important difference between asking AI to explain the choices and asking AI to make the choice for us.

I Ask AI to Help Me Write, Not to Decide My Vote

I have been using AI to help me write my blogs for readers around the world.

I write about my experiences growing up in the Philippines, my years as a pharmaceutical chemist, my late wife Macrine, my Catholic faith, aging, science, and the many changes I have witnessed during my lifetime.

Sometimes I ask AI to explain a scientific discovery in simpler language. At other times, I ask it to help organize my thoughts or make an article easier for readers whose first language is not English.

I find this particularly useful because my readers come from many countries and backgrounds. I want them to understand my stories without having to struggle with complicated English.

Nevertheless, the experiences and opinions expressed in my blogs are mine. AI can help me communicate them, but it cannot replace the memories, values, and personal reflections that make them my own.

The same principle applies to voting.

I would ask AI to explain a candidate's position, but I would not ask AI to tell me whom to vote for.  Why?

Because voting is not merely a mathematical exercise in which a computer compares several names and announces a winner. It is a personal decision involving our values, our experiences, our hopes for the future, and our understanding of the responsibilities of government.

Two intelligent people can examine the same facts and reach different conclusions. One may place greater importance on the economy, another on health care, and another on education, immigration, the environment, or the country's international responsibilities.

There is no reason to assume that an AI chatbot understands an individual's priorities better than that individual does.

Can We Trust Artificial Intelligence?

As a retired pharmaceutical chemist who spent many years working with scientific information, I have learned to distinguish between a claim and the evidence supporting it.

AI is an impressive technology, but it is not infallible.

It can provide outdated information, misunderstand a question, overlook important details, or present an incorrect statement in convincing language. Its responses can also be influenced by the information available to it and the way a question is framed.

Political information presents particular challenges. Candidates may change their positions, campaign advertisements may contain misleading claims, and different sources may describe the same event in different ways.

An AI-generated summary may sound balanced without necessarily giving equal attention to all the facts that matter.

Therefore, anyone using AI to research an election should check its claims against reliable sources, including official election websites, candidate statements, reputable news organizations, and independent fact-checking services.

AI can help us find and understand information. It should not become our only source of information.

And we should be especially cautious when a chatbot gives us the answer we already want to hear. Agreement can be comforting, but it is not proof that we are correct.

The Ballot Is Mine, and the Responsibility Is Mine

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I have lived through many political changes, technological advances, and international events.

I have seen the world change from an era when information traveled slowly to one in which a person can ask a computer a question and receive an answer within seconds.

This is progress, and I welcome many of its benefits.

Yet some responsibilities should remain firmly in human hands.

My ballot represents my judgment as a citizen. I may seek information from newspapers, television, conversations with other people, official documents, and even artificial intelligence. But after considering the available evidence, the final decision belongs to me.

I do not expect every reader to agree with my approach. Some may find AI useful in narrowing their choices. Others may prefer to study the candidates entirely on their own.

What matters is that we remain thoughtful, independent, and willing to examine the evidence before making a decision.

In a democracy, we should not surrender our judgment simply because a machine can produce an answer quickly.

Yesterday, I mailed my ballot. I did so because I still believe that my voice matters, even at nearly 92.

I may need a cane to walk, help with some computer tasks, and the assistance of my children for certain errands. But I can still think, reflect, and make my own decisions.

That is a privilege I do not take for granted.

A Final Reflection

Technology can help us write our stories, understand complicated subjects, and communicate with people across the world. It can also help us become better-informed voters.

But technology should assist our judgment, not replace it.

I will continue asking AI to help me write about the world I have experienced and the lessons I have learned. When it comes to voting, however, I believe the responsibility must remain my own.

My ballot carries my name, my conscience, and my responsibility as a citizen. No machine should cast my judgment for me.

At nearly 92, I have learned that growing older does not mean surrendering the right to think for ourselves.

And perhaps that is one of the most important lessons we can pass on to the next generation.

Until my next blog, may we use the gifts of technology wisely, preserve our independence of thought, and never forget the value of a single human voice.

Suggested References :

• Pew Research Center — How Americans are using AI chatbots for 2026 election information. 

  USA.gov — Learn about voting and elections in the United States.

• California Secretary of State — California voter information.

AI Impressions and Notes on this Topic: 

This is an excellent subject for your David At Nearing 92 blog. Your personal experience of mailing your ballot gives the article a human touch, while the question of asking artificial intelligence for voting advice raises an important issue for our time: AI can help us understand the world, but should it decide how we vote?

For your worldwide readers, I have explain the American voting process in simple language, compare your use of AI for blogging with using AI to choose candidates, and emphasize the importance of personal judgment and civic responsibility.

Editorial note: I have treated the early-voting figures as a dated snapshot, rather than a final count. The published figures I found for October 21 were approximately 9.1 million mail ballots and 5.2 million early in-person votes. 

My Photo of the Day: