About halfway through the debate, my dad and I paused it (thank you DVR) and I asked him how he thought it was going. I was shocked to hear that he thought that McCain might have gained more ground than Obama. To me, Obama was the more poised, well-articulated candidate, and the one who had more compelling answers.
I am liberal though, and so I agree more with Obama, but I tried to be aware of that when evaluating the two candidates' performances. Still, though, I would chalk this one up for Obama. McCain held his own for the most part, though at times he seemed flustered, but what frustrated me about his answers is that he seemed much less willing to debate the issues, most notably in the segment on the economy. Obama repeatedly pointed out the differences between their tax plans, but McCain only wanted to pin the label "big spender" on Obama. Frankly, it felt like a return to Bush's (regretably successful) tactic of labeling Kerry as a flip-flopper. I can understand how it is important to point out where a candidate is wrong or hypocritical, but please at some point debate the issues.
The other thing that bothered me about McCain was that he seemed to use misleading information to try to sway voters away from Obama. This is probably something that both candidates do, but I don't think Obama did this during the debate (at least, McCain never called him on it). What I am referring to is how McCain said that Obama said at one point that he would never cut spending on the troops, but then did. Obama pointed out that what he did was vote against the Republican funding bill that didn't include a time table, but he did vote for the bill that included one. It just seemed dishonest, and a shameful tactic to use.
That said, McCain did pick up ground on the foreign policy segment. Though I think the two came out even on this, I can see how people would say that McCain won this half of the debate. However, I would then agree with the analyst from Fox News, of all places, who said that although McCain won the segment on foreign policy, Obama won the first half on the economy, and since the economy is the more pressing issue, Obama came out ahead overall.
I'm not uber-political, as you all probably well know. I do think that both of these men want the best for America, and I'm a lot more optomistic about these candidates than I was in the last election. All that is to say, this post is about how the candidates faired in the first debate, not what people think of them overall.
Do you agree, or am I way off base (way to the left, no doubt)?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
A Day in the Life of Sam Black
It drizzled as I made my way up to my office. It's been raining for weeks, it seems. I was meeting a client about a case I had been working on. The case seemed simple--they all do--but I kept having the nagging feeling that this one wasn't. At first glance it appeared to be a simple accident, a man slipped and fell, hurt his head, but the dame who was paying my bills suspected foul play. The guy doesn't remember anything, not even his name, so he's been no help.
It all revolves around Jill. I had talked to her when I first took the case and thought she was a good broad, but messy--the kind that will make you forget things just by looking at her. I wouldn't mind forgetting things with her for a while...and that's what makes me distrust her.
As I mounted the steps to the fifth floor I turned the facts over and over in my mind: on Saturday, September 13th at 10:40 in the morning, two people go up a hill to get some water. Why were running errands together at such an early hour? Were they lovers? Ex-lovers? At the crest of the hill, Jack, according to Jill, falls down and splits his skull. Why did they choose the steepest part of the hill to climb when it was so wet? Could Jill have overpowered Jack, knocked him over the head and caused him to fall down the hill? Here the details become fuzzy. Jack, in a raving, confused state, stumbles back to his house and covers his head with vinegar and brown paper. Or is it Old Dame Dob who bandages his head? So far everyone has had tight lips about this one. Where was Jill during all of this? Her alibi was sketchy at best. And how does Old Dame Dob come into the picture? An innocent, well-wishing bystander? Unlikely.
All of this could be accidental, or coincidental, but in my business I've found that things rarely are. But I still can't see how these people are tied together. Was there money involved? Drugs? Is this some sort of bitter love triangle? With these thoughts rattling around my head, I opened the door to my office, expecting to see my client, whose role in this remained an even deeper mystery. Instead, I was greeted by the steely eye of a revolver. I didn't recognize the man who was holding it, and he didn't offer a name. "Sit," he said. I could tell he wasn't one for pleasantries. As I walked to my chair, I felt the hard kick of the butt of his gun against the back of my head. The world slid away from me as I hit the floor.
When I awoke, my office was mostly unchanged, though now there was a jackhammer at the base of my skull. At times like these I turn to the only faithful friend I've got, Mr. Daniels. I poured myself a drink and noticed that there was note on my desk. How thoughtful.
Mr. Black,
You should think about dropping this case.
You're in over your head and you're sinking fast.
Consider this a warning. Next time won't be so friendly.
I'm sinking fast...funny that's what my wives used to say. I could see that this case was more complicated than I thought. If one of the parties was willing to bring in hired goons, well that must mean that I'm on to something. But the only one who knew that I was coming to my office at this time was my client, which means I was probably set up. But my client was the one who set me on this trail in the first place. Things just didn't make sense. They didn't have to, as far as I cared, as long as my check came in the mail.
I grabbed my pals Smith and Wesson and made my way to the street, the only place I felt at home. Once again, I reviewed the facts: Jack and Jill go up a hill, to fetch a pail of water. Later Jack is found with a broken crown...and then all hell breaks loose.
I head towards the scene of the crime, hoping to find some clue--something, anything--that will link all these pieces together. It's raining harder now, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up today. Perhaps it never will...
It all revolves around Jill. I had talked to her when I first took the case and thought she was a good broad, but messy--the kind that will make you forget things just by looking at her. I wouldn't mind forgetting things with her for a while...and that's what makes me distrust her.
As I mounted the steps to the fifth floor I turned the facts over and over in my mind: on Saturday, September 13th at 10:40 in the morning, two people go up a hill to get some water. Why were running errands together at such an early hour? Were they lovers? Ex-lovers? At the crest of the hill, Jack, according to Jill, falls down and splits his skull. Why did they choose the steepest part of the hill to climb when it was so wet? Could Jill have overpowered Jack, knocked him over the head and caused him to fall down the hill? Here the details become fuzzy. Jack, in a raving, confused state, stumbles back to his house and covers his head with vinegar and brown paper. Or is it Old Dame Dob who bandages his head? So far everyone has had tight lips about this one. Where was Jill during all of this? Her alibi was sketchy at best. And how does Old Dame Dob come into the picture? An innocent, well-wishing bystander? Unlikely.
All of this could be accidental, or coincidental, but in my business I've found that things rarely are. But I still can't see how these people are tied together. Was there money involved? Drugs? Is this some sort of bitter love triangle? With these thoughts rattling around my head, I opened the door to my office, expecting to see my client, whose role in this remained an even deeper mystery. Instead, I was greeted by the steely eye of a revolver. I didn't recognize the man who was holding it, and he didn't offer a name. "Sit," he said. I could tell he wasn't one for pleasantries. As I walked to my chair, I felt the hard kick of the butt of his gun against the back of my head. The world slid away from me as I hit the floor.
When I awoke, my office was mostly unchanged, though now there was a jackhammer at the base of my skull. At times like these I turn to the only faithful friend I've got, Mr. Daniels. I poured myself a drink and noticed that there was note on my desk. How thoughtful.
Mr. Black,
You should think about dropping this case.
You're in over your head and you're sinking fast.
Consider this a warning. Next time won't be so friendly.
I'm sinking fast...funny that's what my wives used to say. I could see that this case was more complicated than I thought. If one of the parties was willing to bring in hired goons, well that must mean that I'm on to something. But the only one who knew that I was coming to my office at this time was my client, which means I was probably set up. But my client was the one who set me on this trail in the first place. Things just didn't make sense. They didn't have to, as far as I cared, as long as my check came in the mail.
I grabbed my pals Smith and Wesson and made my way to the street, the only place I felt at home. Once again, I reviewed the facts: Jack and Jill go up a hill, to fetch a pail of water. Later Jack is found with a broken crown...and then all hell breaks loose.
I head towards the scene of the crime, hoping to find some clue--something, anything--that will link all these pieces together. It's raining harder now, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up today. Perhaps it never will...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Pardon the Interim
Two weeks ago, on Thursday the 21st, we were told by our landlady that the house we were renting from her was sold and that we had 30 days to move out. This came somewhat as a shock, even though the house had been on the market for a while and people had come by to look at it (though not many stayed for long). Frankly, I would never buy that house, and I think anyone who does will regret. It was great to rent for $300/month, but it had too many problems to ever come out on top with it. It's not a fixer-upper, it's a do-over.
So, we moved kind of fast after that. On Friday we went around and looked a bagillion apartments and townhouses and finally fell in love with the last one we looked at, The Cliffs. We signed the lease on Monday and booked the Cliffs's moving van (if you're moving from Fayetteville to Fayetteville, you can use their van for free, which is pretty sweet) for Thursday. That week we moved pretty much everyday, though the bulk of it obviously came on Thursday and then over the weekend as we unpacked everything. By Monday we had everything in its place, and to celebrate we had my dad and step-mom over to play games. We can actually invite people over to entertain. Amazing.
Here are the advantages of our new place:
It's aweful shiny.
It has (and our old place did not): a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, central blessed heating and air, walk-in closets (two of them), a game closet(!), and lastly: doors.
Yes, I meant doors. Our last place, strangely enough, was arranged in such a way that only the bathroom had a door. And you had to nudge the water heater out of the way to shut that door. We're talking ghet-to.
It also has a sweet amenities package that includes access to a workout space, a pool, a sauna, a hot tub, and their business center that has a couple of computers and a copier and fax machine. We can also get a free massage from the on-site masseuse once a week. Heavenly.
Of course, the con is that it costs more, and currently I only have a part-time job, so that may turn out to be a problem. But right now, I'm basking in my airconditioned, door-enclosed, large-enough-to-hold-all-of-my-books office, and I say whatever. I like it here.
So, we moved kind of fast after that. On Friday we went around and looked a bagillion apartments and townhouses and finally fell in love with the last one we looked at, The Cliffs. We signed the lease on Monday and booked the Cliffs's moving van (if you're moving from Fayetteville to Fayetteville, you can use their van for free, which is pretty sweet) for Thursday. That week we moved pretty much everyday, though the bulk of it obviously came on Thursday and then over the weekend as we unpacked everything. By Monday we had everything in its place, and to celebrate we had my dad and step-mom over to play games. We can actually invite people over to entertain. Amazing.
Here are the advantages of our new place:
It's aweful shiny.
It has (and our old place did not): a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, central blessed heating and air, walk-in closets (two of them), a game closet(!), and lastly: doors.
Yes, I meant doors. Our last place, strangely enough, was arranged in such a way that only the bathroom had a door. And you had to nudge the water heater out of the way to shut that door. We're talking ghet-to.
It also has a sweet amenities package that includes access to a workout space, a pool, a sauna, a hot tub, and their business center that has a couple of computers and a copier and fax machine. We can also get a free massage from the on-site masseuse once a week. Heavenly.
Of course, the con is that it costs more, and currently I only have a part-time job, so that may turn out to be a problem. But right now, I'm basking in my airconditioned, door-enclosed, large-enough-to-hold-all-of-my-books office, and I say whatever. I like it here.
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