October 1, 2004
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1: Did you watch last night's televised debate between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry? If so, despite which candidate you support, who do you feel did a better job? If you didn't watch, are you planning on watching either of the two remaining televised Presidential debates or next Tuesday's Vice Presidential debate?
Q2: Have you ever given something up--either for religious reasons or just because you wanted to--for a specified period of time? If so, how did that work out for you... were you able to stick with it for the duration of time you had originally planned or did you cave earlier than planed? If you can remember, what was it that you gave up and why?
Q3: If you could change jobs tomorrow in order to start working directly for anyone in the world--either dead or alive--whom would you choose to work for and what would you do?
Q4: Halloween is just 30-days away. What's your best Halloween-related memory and/or costume?
Posted by Mikal at October 1, 2004 12:11 AM
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1. I was surprised at the substance of the debate. There is a huge movement just getting under way due to a story that ran on the program NOW with Bill Moyers, about a Harvard Law student's book regarding the hijacking of presidential debates by the two big parties. Americans will be hearing more about that. See http://opendebates.org/. That said, I think Kerry won hand-idly. The split screen that ran on CSPAN told the big story. CSPAN coverage never left the candidates faces (Jim Lehrer was not shown). Bush's appearance went from confused, to angry, to frustrated to - geez this guy is kick-in my ass.
2. I have for religious and for logical reasons given up various things in my life. Unfortunately, I have not, probably ever, been 100% successful at any of them. But I find solace in the words of a Spanish priest and now Saint, Jose Maria Escriva who said, "Spiritual life is - and I repeat this again and again, on purpose - a constant beginning and beginning again...you begin again because you offer a new love to God. So, whether it is being critical of others, cokes, t.v. or something more sinister, I think just like our species evolved very slowly but very certainly, so too may I.
3. Charlie Rose - I would help him to prepare for his interviews.
4. My birthday is the day before Halloween and when I was little, my birthday was the big Halloween party for all my elementary school classmates. My cakes were black and orange and there were witches on them.
1. I did watch the debate. I thought the first encounter was not bad. I loved the format, but I felt that the President abused the 'discussion extensions.' Otherwise, I think that Jim Lehrer did a fabulous job of moderating, especially when it came to clarifying several positions. I felt that Kerry won on substance and Bush won on emotional tugs and simplicity that will resonate with 'typical' Americans.
2. I have given up things, mostly as the result of bets or dares. When I was young I was forced to give up things for Lent, but I never understood why. Those things that I gave up as a late teen, early adult I did fairly well with. I would give up coffee on occasion during college b/c many people were under the impression that I couldn't quit cold turkey. At two points I gave it up for the specified 3 months with no cave-ins, nor any normal withdrawal symptoms.
3. I would work for Jaun Valdez. Ok, not really Juan, as he is a fictional character, but some coffee plantation owner so that I could learn how to manage a coffee plantation.
4. Umm...yeah, I guess my favorite Halloween memory was hanging out with the Deerwood kids b/c they were rich and we walked around to all the big rich-people houses. I envied their lives so much, felt somewhat out of place, yet so fortunate to be invited into their 'club.' All seems kinda silly now.
1. I watched the debates and I think Kerry was very straightforward and didnít fumble his words or look uncomfortable. Bush didnít give a smooth delivery. It seemed like he had a hard time expressing his thoughts and was repetitive. I donít trust either candidate. No politician does everything he says he will do once heís in office. I will be watching the next Presidential debates. (I just heard that according to the Gallup Poll: John Kerry won last nightís debate 53% to Bushís 37%).
2. Usually during Lent, I try and focus on improving myself. Itís not that I give something up, like chocolate. It is more about worrying less and listening to my inner voiceóbeing more connected to who I am and what I believe.
3. This goes back to the question: ìIf you could have any job, what would it be?î And I have a hard time answering that question. I donít have an answer right now.
4. My best Halloween costume actually won me a prize! My senior year in college, the Campus Activities Board held a Halloween party/contest. I decided to go as a bag of leaves. I got a garbage bag and taped leaves all over the outside. Cut a hole through the bottom and two holes on the sides of the bag for my arms, and put it over my head to wear. Then I painted leaves on my face and stuck some in my hair (I had really long hair in college, so it got a bit messy). Anyhow, I went to the contest with my friends and we paraded in a circle for the judging. The judges made their decision and before the party ended, I had won second place--$50! Back in college, $50 was a lot of money. And I still remember when one of the judges called out, ìAnd in second place, the Tree wins!î First of all I was a bag of leaves, but who am I to correct them? I got 50 bucks out of the deal. The year before that, my friend Lori and I went as Ernie (me) and Bert (her). I have the photos to prove it! I love Halloween!
1. No. I do not have a television. If it's online, that's also too bad. I only have dial-up. I'll probably read a transcript or something.
2. Not really. (Well, I guess I gave up TV and high speed internet connections. It was more out of necessity rather than something I really wanted to do.)
3. I wouldn't want to work *for* anyone, even if they're famous. My temperament just doesn't allow me to be happy in such a situation.
4. It was a group costume with each person representing one atom. The whole thing was a molecule of serin (nerve gas).
I didnít what the whole thing, but what I did see I thought that Kerry won. Bush had a lot of what I thought was disconnected thoughts, like they told him, ìYou got to keep say this.î to emphasis some point they want to get across. Also, Bush asked for 30 more seconds and didnít use them. So I thought that Kerry gave a much better performance ( I wonít call it a debate, it was more like a 90 minute political ad. )
No, but because of a heart condition I had to give up smoking pot. I smoked pot from 1971 to 1999 and the day the doctors said I had to stop, I stopped cold turkey. I missed all the little rituals, lighting up a joint while watching the Red Sock game and etc.
I would of liked to worked with maybe Nicola Tesla, who? Tesla was the one who invented the AC motors, transformers and generators. Edison and he never got along, Edison was DC, Tesla was AC and they fought like cats and dog.
If not with him, then with some other person like Jonathan Salk or some other scientist or inventor.
Maybe my best memories of Halloween go back to my childhood gong out with my friends. One of my lasting memories is of a Halloween that I dressed up in college as a scuba diver, everyone was pouring beer down my snorkel and sticking a joint in it and giving me a shotgun ( If you ever smoked pot you will know what that is, ah....college life!! )
A1: Watched it after taping the CSPAN broadcast. However, let's all get real about these debates! They are not "real" debates, especially when a 32 page document spells out the rules. Don't even get me started on the questions, nor their responses. I will say one thing...neither candidate impressed me with their typical campaign rhetoric. The questions asked by Jim Lehr were not well balanced, as 75% of them focused exclusively on the situation in Iraq. For a debate about foreign affairs/national security, I wish questions would not have been so heavily focused on a "single issue". Foreign affairs and national security are not solely dependent upon the situation in Iraq. This emphasis on Iraq deters anyone in our current government from seeing the outlying issues that are creeping away from our "should be" focus.
Yes...I will watch the other debates!
A2: From time to time I've made commitments to give up or take up something, but it doesn't always necessarily coinside with a religious celebration (i.e. Lent).
A3: I would have worked for John Muir, as his writing assistant and guide. Since childhood I've been an avid fan of John Muir's writings, explorations of our vast country, and his spirituality.
A4: Best Halloween memory would have to be the celebrations we'd have as children on the family farm with family and friends. After trick-or-treating, we'd all come to the farm for hot chili, hot chocolate, hay-rides/horseback riding, bonfire, and roasting marshmellows for s'mores.
Never really had a "great" costume that won awards or anything (like Missy), but my twin sister and I went as Raggedy-Ann and Andy...we looked just like them. However...my freshman year of high school...we also worked at Six Flags as "characters". I was Bugs Bunny and she was Daffy!
I'm up. For the last two weeks actually ;-)
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