techno.blog("Dion")

I have never carved a pumpkin. Halloween isn’t as big a deal in England as it is here. Back home we were more into Guy Fawkes day, where we have a bonfire night and fireworks.

However, I was with my family driving to my wifes grandparents and stopped at a farm which had a self service system:

Then I did my carving, with what I think is the most important message:

I was delighted to have kids come over and all say that their parents are voting for Kerry. I think we are going to be surprised. The young, and the women, are especially going to come out and vote out the regime.

I was driving all over a suburban neighbourhood and I noticed that almost all yards had signs for Bush or Kerry.

I started to add up the signs and found that:

- There were 5 Kerry HOUSES for each Bush HOUSE
- Each Bush house had 5 signs
- Some Bush houses had HUGE HUGE HUGE signs (making up for something? ;)

I have often wondered why statistics are so important in american sports.

This is especially true in baseball. When you watch the game for the first time you are bamboosled with ERAs, RBIs, and other TLAs.

It dawned on me that one of the reasons is probably the fact that there is so much time in a game where NOTHING is happening.

Compare this to football (soccer). A commentator has to spend most of his time talking about what is happening, since the action is almost continuous. There is minimal time for stats (although they are shared).

In baseball, there is time in between each at-bat. each pitch. each inning. while someone is singing. and forever after on ESPN :)

I can’t believe it. What a series this was.

It was like a heavyweight boxing match. There were many swings, and both were on the mat.

The Red Sox got up before the count.

I can’t wait to fly in to Boston tomorrow!

This Red Sox vs. Yankees series has be amazing. I can’t believe the Sox have managed to get back to 3-3. Out of this world.

I really hope that they sneak through tonight. I know that the history of the Sox is to get close and lose it at the last minute, but maybe this really is their year ;)

I feel really sorry for any Red Sox fans who had to go to London and miss the series ;)

Jon Stewart REALLY is my hero. Now more than ever.

STEWART: In terms of absurdity and their world matching up to the one that — you know, it was interesting. President Bush was saying, John Kerry’s rhetoric doesn’t match his record.

But I’ve heard President Bush describe his record. His record doesn’t match his record.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: So I don’t worry about it in that respect.

But let me ask you guys, again, a question, because we talked a little bit about, you’re actually doing honest debate and all that. But, after the debates, where do you guys head to right afterwards?

CARLSON: The men’s room.

STEWART: Right after that?

BEGALA: Home.

STEWART: Spin alley.

BEGALA: Home.

STEWART: No, spin alley.

BEGALA: What are you talking about? You mean at these debates?

STEWART: Yes. You go to spin alley, the place called spin alley. Now, don’t you think that, for people watching at home, that’s kind of a drag, that you’re literally walking to a place called deception lane?

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Like, it’s spin alley. It’s — don’t you see, that’s the issue I’m trying to talk to you guys…

BEGALA: No, I actually believe — I have a lot of friends who work for President Bush. I went to college with some of them.

CARLSON: Neither of us was ever in the spin room, actually.

(BELL RINGING)

BEGALA: No, I did — I went to do the Larry King show.

They actually believe what they’re saying. They want to persuade you. That’s what they’re trying to do by spinning. But I don’t doubt for a minute these people who work for President Bush, who I disagree with on everything, they believe that stuff, Jon. This is not a lie or a deception at all. They believe in him, just like I believe in my guy.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: I think they believe President Bush would do a better job.

And I believe the Kerry guys believe President Kerry would do a better job. But what I believe is, they’re not making honest arguments. So what they’re doing is, in their mind, the ends justify the means.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: I don’t think so at all.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: I do think you’re more fun on your show. Just my opinion.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: OK, up next, Jon Stewart goes one on one with his fans…

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You know what’s interesting, though? You’re as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Now, you’re getting into it. I like that.

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: OK. We’ll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Well, that was a boring 90 minutes wasn’t it?

We heard the same ole same ole. I understand that messages need to be hammered home but geez.

The choice on questions was awful at times. How in the world do we get time to spend on whether a candidate thinks homosexuality is a choice (er, hello), and have NO time to spend on the environment?

Terrorism is a danger and has the potential of harming us.

Harming the environment IS harming us, our kids, and the future of the world. Why isn’t this one of the leading issues? Dubya and his buddies don’t care of course. They just want to get their coffers full and have a good day.

Argh. It drives me nuts. Look around. How have the last 4 years been? How in the world could you want another 4?

Come on Kerry. Let’s bring it home!

I was at a friends wedding, and late in the night his boss and I were chatting. At first we were dueling with jokes which start out with “There was an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman”.

Somehow we got onto the subject of Tony Blair, and he asked why the English are “such pussies” since they are against the war.

I knew that this was a crossroads. I could just shut up and move on. But I am sick of idiots like this. This is a successful business man, who doesn’t see reality.

So I step up to the plate this time and try to explain how RIDICULOUS this “war”on Iraq is. Needless to say he didn’t understand me, and thought that you have to go into these countries to make sure that they don’t have “WMDs”. I wonder how he would feel if someone came into THIS country and occupied it to see if we have these weapons. Well, that is stupid. We are the GOOD GUYS :/

The third debate comes around tomorrow. The worst part about it is that it is at the same time as my poker tournament…. but I will have to skip it :)

Come on Kerry. We need change so badly!

Christopher Reeve passed on today.

I hope that we keep pushing for the changes that he was fighting for.

Let’s get stem-cell research on the front burner and help save lives.

A solid performance from England. Wales are a good team, and you never knew how it would turn out. England dominated though, and should have had more.

Beckham’s goal was fantastic, but then he did a typical footballer thing.

He went in on a stupid tackle which ended up injuring him a little. I with he was taken off now, but instead he went back on and retaliated. Dood, YOU were the idiot! Now he has another yellow card which knocks him out of the next game. Good job. Worth it.

Rio and Sol at the back. How solid can you get? I can’t wait for Germany 2006! :)