techno.blog("Dion")

Although Bush wasn’t as much of a baboon in this debate, I still think Kerry did a good job.

Bush comes across as someone who is angry

Kerry came across as someone who would explain things and was there for you

I wish Kerry would hit harder sometimes though. Bush KEPT saying “if you showed up” type comments.

Mr. Bush:

• Why didn’t you show up for duty at the national guard?
• Where were you when the memo was put on your desk saying that something like 9/11 was in the works?
• Why are you always in Crawford, TX and not in the White House?

There are five people left at the table.

I have A Q with A X X from the flop.

I know the other guys has A – Y.

We are all-in.

He has A 8

What card do you think he gets on the river?

I hate bad beats. :)

Do you like to travel?

A lot?

Really a lot?

Enough to spend $3M to go whenever you want?

If so, get this.

This says it all.

Last night, I wrote my entry without seeing anything from the press. So, I didn’t know what the spinners had said about the debate, before or after.

Today, I heard everything come out, and was really happy to hear that everyone admitted that John Kerry came across better (it is hard to say “won” or “lost” in this type of debate).

I, along with family, participated in a DebateWatch experiment tonight.

A group of people went to a local auditorium and watched JUST the debate, with no spin before or after the debate.

We all filled out surveys both pre, and post-debate. And, then we got to discuss the debate in groups.

It was really interesting to feel part of the community in this manner.

I was really happy with the debate. I thought Kerry did very well (although he could have been a little more aggressive in areas). I had low expectations of the event in general, since this isn’t a REAL debate.

However, Kerry got to come across well, and differentiate himself, as well as show the american people that he is “Presidential”.

Bush came across as a mean bully, and kept repeating himself.

I think a lot of people are “anti-Bush”, and this debate gives hope of being more “pro-Kerry” which is important.

Great job John, and long may it continue!

I know a lot of Essex Boys aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. So it seems to make sense to me that Dubya is actually an Essex Boy. But I was really surprised to hear that Kerry also has heritage in Essex.

In fact, both Bush and Kerry are related. Back in the 1600’s the common ancestor of both candidates hailed from Wickford, Essex, England.

For those who don’t know what the hell I am gabbing about… Essex is a county that borders the Greater London area. These counties are known as home counties, and Essex is where I come from.

Essex boys are known as being likely lads, and Essex girls? Well, think of the blonde jokes, substitute s/blonde/essex/g and you will have the same jokes.

Lovely jubly!

My wife is a teacher (as I have mentioned before). I am often amazed at the things that happen at schools these days. There are the typical programs such as allowing corporate sponsorship. Isn’t it strange to have Pizza Hut day? Coca Cola ONLY?

Well, I recently heard that at my wifes school they have a new program which makes the kids slave labour.

It is really a smart idea. Someone must have thought:

I want to mobilize a sales force.

Wait a minute. What if I use KIDS as a sales force!

• I can get them cheap by promising them prizes for selling well
• People always feel like they have to buy from a kid

This is what is happening. A slick set of sales people came into the school and got the kids excited about selling magazines. The kids that sell the most get toys such as “boom boxes”, skate boards, and more.

Why can’t we get someone in to get the kids excited about something that is actually educational? Instead, we get them running around selling Hunting and Fishing magazine.

Oh, and some of it goes to charity of course… but look at the small print on how much.

Why do I get more and more angry at the state of our educational system? The most frustrating part is that there is SO much potential. There are great people in the system (great teachers, and administrative people). And, if you spend some time with the kids you know that they have infinite potential. We are letting them down.

Oh, and we are leaving them a nice record deficit to deal with. What have my grandkids done for ME anyway!

Maybe I am paranoid since the virus is still in me, making me barely able to speak (I think my wife likes that).

However, when I have been concious, I have seen 5 cars driving down my road… stop… and take a photo of my house.

I wonder if Dubya Bush has read my blog and has put me on his list?

Good job lads.

I didn’t know when I would next see someone beat the Aussies. They are too good.

Well, it is great to see that maybe England really is improving, as their results are showing. Watching Flintoff is like watching Botham in the old days, and it is so fun to watch.

This was a great thing to see as I sit around with no energy, being sick.

Teachers keep getting abused. It is outragious. We need to make teachers feel like professionals again for gods sake. My wife has spent a LOT of money already this year on supplies for her kids, and this takes the biscuit.

Teachers lose tax breaks for class expenses

If Doreen Seelig pocketed all the money she has spent on classroom supplies over 35 years as a teacher — the printer cartridges, the paper, the pencils and the paperback books lent to her Venice High School students — she figures she would have a new car by now.

Now, as the new school year gets under way, the burden on Seelig and other teachers around the country is even heavier.

Because of a budget crunch, California has suspended a tax credit that reimbursed teachers up to $1,500 for classroom supplies. Meanwhile, a $250 federal tax deduction for teachers that helped defray out-of-pocket spending expired this year.