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Oct 2, 2004

I owe a lot of policy debaters an apology.

It has always been my stance that policy debate in no way prepares you for the realities of public speaking. Policy teaches you to speak unclearly and quickly, use obscure sources and wild abstractions, and bicker unceasingly over minuscule matters of procedure.

However, after watching the Bush/Kerry debate in full, I have to admit that in one lonely way, policy debate does help you with public speaking. Policy nerd Kerry's scribbling while Bush talked was definitely a flow (that's the right word, isn't it?), and his arguments were always logically constructed and linear. Bush, of course, was lucky to remember a smattering of unconnected campaign slogans.

It irritated me, though, that Bush didn't have the presence of mind to question Kerry on the weak points he displayed, mostly on Iraq. I really do want to hear how exactly Kerry expects to step up the timetable in Iraq. Bush is right when he says that it would be criminally irresponsible of us to back out before the Iraqis are self-sufficient, and the only suggestion Kerry was able to make is that we pull in more countries - how that's going to make Iraq go faster is still a mystery.

In fact, despite his uncharacteristically clear explanation of his Iraq stance - the right fight fought the wrong way - Kerry still hasn't given me any warm and fuzzies on the issue. Any idiot can tell that things aren't going well, and Kerry hasn't gone beyond that to say how he'll make them better.

Nonetheless, for once I can't complain about the way Kerry carried himself (hehe). Anyone who thinks he didn't win outright is nuts.

But at least Bush can say he has cornered the Polish vote.
Nick ::: 1:44 PM ::: 0 comments

No one wants to make autobiographical haikus? Does this mean I have to make something poppy-uppy about each of you?
Nick ::: 1:08 PM ::: 0 comments

Sep 29, 2004

Today totally sucked until the very, very end.

I had a test in my History of Rock class - which isn't the slackerly waste of credit-hours some people assume - and I completely missed it for no reason at all. We have three such exams all semester, and each counts for 20% of the final grade. The class policy is no makeups without proof of hospitalization.

I did what anyone would do; I panicked. I was presented with the unpleasant choice between a C and a WF - withdrawn, failing. Either way I'm fucked with my parents and in dire straits as far as HOPE is concerned. All day I worried about what I was going to say to my professor.

Then at the end of class, I told him very frankly that I'd fucked up and had no excuse or explanation. And now I'm taking the makeup tomorrow after Speculative Fiction.

Speaking of which, has anybody read The Master and Margarita or Magister Ludi: The Glass Bead Game? I'd like to discuss them with someone outside my class. Not that the people in my class aren't cool, but they're all a little self-censored because of the PK in their midst.

Does anyone have a few hundred bucks to spare? Or maybe a job?
Nick ::: 5:18 PM ::: 0 comments

This is the blogskin I've been working on for so long. It's interactive and clicky and if you mouseover stuff it talks gibberish at you. But now that I look at it, I'm not so sure about the whole notebook thing. What are your thoughts?

You may also submit a haiku which I will magically cause to pop up when people mouseover your link. Remember, seventeen syllables! Or if you aren't on the list, let me know.

I will be continually adding more link/picture titles, so keep an eye on stuff that doesn't talk yet.
Nick ::: 1:46 AM ::: 0 comments