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October 31, 2004

i smell victory
07:58 PM

This afternoon I finished my last canvass for Kerry. In Oregon nearly 60% of registered voters have already mailed in their ballots. Oy, have they turned in their ballots! Out of 100 households we only found a few who hadn't. We gave them a list of authorized drop sites. I can tell you that the remaining 20-25% of registered voters will be dominantly Democract and that Oregon will be sending its electoral votes for Kerry.

If you are not reading Daily Kos every day, you are missing out on the best up-to-the-minute coverage of what matters in the campaigns. At this time in 2000, polls showed Bush with a lead of 5 points over Gore. And we know how that came out. Bush continues to track at 48% which is death for an incumbent.

I see Kerry with 54% of the popular vote and a likely landslide in the electoral college. But only if people in Ohio and Florida continue to fight like hell. It is a fact that there has *never* been a get out the vote effort as we have seen these past 6 months. We have matched Republicans dollar for dollar and are beating them in airtime in battleground states. And phalanxes of lawyers, if needed, are at the waiting. I don't think we'll need them this time, but it's good to be ready.

state of the household
04:42 PM

It's been a tough weekend in the Naze household. My employer, Portland Public Schools, had something of a payroll disaster. Thousands of employees, including me, did not receive their electronic deposits on Friday as scheduled. Needless to say, money is always helpful when you want to pay for things, like food.

Cathy's annual Halloween party is famous among our children's friends. But they exact a pretty heavy toll on the stress levels during preparation. A backdoor draft (kind of like Bush's) is instituted and no arguments are brooked. To top it off, our 8 year old, David, is enrolled in a language immersion school where the homework load is quite high for a 3rd grader. He's melting down into screaming tantrums on such a regular basis that we are on the verge of switching him to a regular curriculum school. It's a big decision because he'd be saying goodbye to classmates he's been with since kindergarten.

And then there is the election where a ballot measure will decide whether I have a job next year or not.

October 27, 2004

lost p.e. to ripken to red sox exorcise the curse
10:10 PM

Due to one part declining state tax revenues and one part declining enrollment in Portland Public Schools, we lost our P.E. teacher this summer. He had taught at our school for 14 years.

Everything we are learning about brain research tells us about the fundamental connection between movement and learning. So we classroom teachers pick up another subject, p.e., in addition to math, reading, writing, social studies, science, and behavior management.

We're a small school and we're lucky to have smart leadership. The Nike PE to Go program is built just for our situation, but usually reserved for low income schools. (We're right about in the middle income-wise.)

Tomorrow morning I attend a Nike PE to Go training along with 4th and 5th grade teachers from some other schools in our district. As a bonus, Nike was kind enough to extend an invitation to one of our staff to attend a Cal Ripken event held on Saturday billed as Coaching the Ripken Way.

It was my first time "inside the berm". The Nike campus is beautifully designed. The Tiger Woods building is nestled in a grove of trees and features a fascinating marble sphere spinning on a thin film of water.

The clinic was well attended by about 600 little league and high school coaches in the state-of-the-art auditorium.

Cal was cool and they laid out a very direct, methodical method of teaching baseball based on his father's decades of coaching with the Orioles.

It turned out to be an excellent program, but really Baseball the Ripken Way, not Coaching the Ripken Way. I'm interested in baseball but my reason for being there was to learn how to teach my students p.e. Following two and a half hours of pitching technique (I think I'd probably pitch twice as well as I used to...although I've never pitched before) from John Habyan, I grabbed a quick lunch, jumped in my car and crossed town to do an afternoon canvass with Bill.

As a huge fan of Ken Burns' Baseball, I was fairly well acquainted with the travails of the Boston Red Sox. I don't follow baseball that much, but got caught up in the excitement and the success that the Mariners experienced in the 1990's. As a Mariners fan, it's not a long trip to really not being a Yankees fan. It was amazing to watch the Red Sox claw themselves out of an 0-3 hole to crush the Bronx Bombers and let the momentum steamroll the Cardinals and The Curse.

Go Sox!

p.s. I see Boston celebrating another hometown hero on Tuesday. :-)

October 24, 2004

democracy in action
09:18 PM

Bill is a retired Teamster, but is now essentially a full-time volunteer. He works tirelessly for Multnomah County Library and for Race for the Cure. He and I have been to probably a thousand doorsteps in north and northeast Portland. Just like me, he was a registered independent for many years. We were both inspired by Howard Dean to take back our country.

He's a good comrade and I'm proud to have served with him.

October 23, 2004

the devil within
10:34 PM

Right-wing Republicans make lots of bad decisions and they made another one tonight.

My brother was having a family dinner to celebrate his son's 5th birthday. It was a festive time. Craig showed me a little room he'd made in his basement where he stows away some memorabilia and where he keeps a few bottles of good scotch. He introduced me to one I'd never tried before, Ardbeg, I believe. It tasted like a slightly bolder flavored version of Laphroig, which I am fond of.

People had to be seated at two separate tables to accommodate everyone. Just coming from an afternoon of canvassing for Kerry, I decided not to initiate any conversations about politics. However, my brother's father-in-law is still socially tone deaf and thinks that you can still prod and poke others about the presidential race. My stepfather joined in.

And then that was it.

I unloaded on him with a few of the facts of W's failures. These were his various replies:

"Herbert Hoover was actually an excellent President. FDR stole his best ideas from him and then implemented other programs that doubled the length of the Great Depression."

[WTF?! Um, we're voting on Bush, not Hoover.]

"We're at war!"

[And...?]

"Kerry shot Vietnamese in the back!"

[According to the discredited Swift Boat Liars.]

He had no defense for Bush's failures at all. Nothing to recommend about W. Living in complete denial just like George.

The father-in-law:

"I don't think Kerry will be able to do much. You'll see after 6 months."

[The patient is in intensive care, Sherlock. It's gonna take a long time to undo W's damage. I think we'll give him 4 years and then compare records.]

It was a joke.

There are times in the path of a nation when a leader denies even the most obvious facts, searches out and creates enemies, and slowly begins to erode rights of the citizens. And then there is a choice: the people cave or the people fight. History is riddled with citizens who caved and paid a terrible price.

These aren't very funny stories.

October 22, 2004

100 Facts & 1 Opinion
05:58 PM

No one should vote without reading The Non-Arguable Case Against the Bush Administration.

[You can download a quick PDF to print and share with undecideds.]

October 21, 2004

bush says "black is white" -- do you believe it?
10:09 PM

If you believe the worst jobs record in 70 years, millions more in poverty, and millions more without healthcare is good for America, by all means, vote for W.

But for god's sake, please, please, please, don't tell me that you are voting for Bush because of security. Look at the facts: Bush has been a miserable failure on security. He was specifically warned about Bin Laden and he failed to act. In fact, he was on another marathon vacation.

Cargo containers not inspected. Nuclear materials unaccounted for and unprotected. Chemical plants not secured. Spawning new generations of terrorists in the Middle East.

Miserable. Failure.

You trust an AWOL pilot who failed to even show up for a physical required to maintain flight status over a decorated Naval officer who volunteered to face VC in the jungle?

There's no excuse for citizens who act like sheep, mewling in fear. Get a backbone and look at the facts. Kerry is 10 times the warrior W will ever be.

October 20, 2004

sweet victory
09:17 PM

"There is no torture this time, no hour of humiliation. Better yet to Boston fans, it's the Yankees left to suffer the memory of a historic collapse."

October 19, 2004

there are more smart republicans than you think
09:49 PM

Check out the Republicans voting smart for Kerry.

October 18, 2004

best finish to a wired article. ever.
07:16 PM

"Dude," said Puppetmaster 2, "it's a hurricane. Put the phone down."

October 17, 2004

with a pencil you will change the world
03:58 PM

I voted and mailed my ballot yesterday.

Oregonians: I will be bugging my family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and you until you get your ballot in. Remember, there are more people like you and me who give a damn about their community than there are of the selfish and ignorant.

All of the rest of you, especially in Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania -- do your duty.

Vote now.

night out
10:30 AM

[Note the candy cigarettes -- nice touch.]

Just back from the annual anniversary splurge with Cathy. We stayed at Hotel Lucia and loved it. Easily our best Portland hotel stay ever. The hotel is filled with art. The hallways are filled with large prints by political photographers.

I ran down to a neighborhood store to grab a few items and forgot the room number. I went up to the 6th floor and knew I was in the right place because of a black and white print where Dick Cheney (circa 1976) was laughing and almost human in a bumper car. And between the two elevator doors was the ugliest image (by far) I have ever seen of Diane Sawyer. (Circa 1970. Extreme close-up of her sticking out her tongue -- she's wearing octagonal shaded glasses.

The rooms combine classic and modern sensibilities. The attention to detail is excellent. For example, the showers have Speakman showerheads, Aveda soap, and the curtain rods bow slightly outwards from the tub creating more area in which to maneuver. The beds are heavenly with a panoply of pillows and high thread count sheets.

We ventured out but returned soon as it was our favorite spot on our night out.

October 14, 2004

compare and contrast
06:15 PM

Patriot vs. Patriot Act.

[via matt]

October 13, 2004

edwards rocks portland
09:51 PM

My brother, Craig, works on the legislative committee for the Portland Association of Teachers and knew I've been canvassing hard for Kerry/Edwards. He got a message to me that the Oregon Educators Association had red tickets for John Edwards' rally today at Pioneer Courthouse Square followed by a public viewing of the debates on big screens.

Red tickets allow you to get in and stand next to the barrier on each side of the path that Edwards took to his speaking platform. Sweet! It was a gorgeous Portland autumn afternoon. As we waited to get in, a couple about my age (turns out she is Spawn of '64 as well) asked me if I had any more red tickets. I told them no, but that it reminded me of when I was in NYC in 1984 waiting in line with my extra Letterman ticket. That started a long conversation that went wonderfully the whole evening. I managed to slip them into the red ticket area and we had laughed and cut on Bush and had a lot of fun killing time waiting for the headliner.

Edwards was amazing. The Oregonian coverage of the event fails to capture Edwards' enormous charisma and ability to engage the people.

On his way in to the event, my neighbor chose an unfortunate moment to elevate his camera, although I managed to squeeze a shot through his framing arms.

On the way back out, I stepped forward to the barrier and got a partial handshake from the senator. I looked him in the eye and said, "Thank you, John."

I decided to hang out with my new friends and watch the debate as did about 1000 Portlanders. We sat down on the warm brick and had a marvelous time cheering Kerry's mastery of the issues and commanding presence. I exchanged e-mail addresses with my new friends and walked back to the parking structure. An elderly couple rode the elevator up with me. The woman turned to me and smiled. "Wasn't it great?"

With a wide grin I agreed.

October 10, 2004

oregonians must register to vote by tuesday, october 12
07:02 PM

My fellow Oregonians,

This is the most important vote in 70 years. You must be registered to vote within 46 hours.

Oregon votes 100% by mail, so our election process is by far the most secure in the nation. Registering gives you the right to vote out the worst president in U.S. history, to reject an anti-marriage constitutional change, and to keep vital services including basic education for kids intact.

You will be joining a tidal wave of citizens that are fed up with the radical right and their selfish, intolerant, un-Oregonian agenda. This country was founded over the issue of who would have control of how things were run.

Do your part. Register.

...
Note - Re-register if: 1) You have moved since you last voted, or 2) You have not voted within the last year. Some voters who have not voted for a period of time have been cleared from the rolls. Be safe. Re-register.

Oregon ballots will be mailed out on October 15. Vote early.

fresh memories of japan - kobe 2
05:09 PM

In June 2004, just 2 days after my last day of work for the school year, I took a flight along with 50 fifth graders who participate in a partial immersion Japanese language program here in a Portland Public School. It was my first visit to the country whose culture has fascinated me for decades.

I began posting pictures in July, so you may visit the archives (see below) if you'd like to catch up. Today, I return to the beautiful city of Kobe on the southern edge of Honshu.

We were greeted at our host school with candy garlands from primary grade students. Nothing says hello like candy! :-)

Our students met with their primary grade students to engage in a card game requiring knowledge of Japanese written characters and fast reflexes. The action was fast and furious.

I was served okanomiyaki twice in Japan, both at social gatherings. It strikes me as the least Japanese of all the Japanese cuisine I experienced. Pancake-like batter is poured over a griddle. It is seasoned with a fish-flavored spice. Bacon(!) is placed on the cooking batter. When it is done, you may spread a mild red chili sauce on top or a mayonaise-like (?!) mixture. Of course, you eat it with chopsticks. One of my very favorite memories was from 4 days earlier in Fukuno where jolly members of the local PTA took us out to a local bar, cooked us okanomiyaki at the table, and proceeded to goad us into the traditional quaffing of small cups of beer, loud toasts, and laughing loudly. So if you are offered okanomiyaki, figure it's party time.

Just a couple of blocks down the narrow alley from our host school is a wonderful little ceremonial tea house. Our students conducted themselves with the utmost gravity and acquitted themselves well in front of our skilled servers. Their kimono were the most beautiful I saw during my trip.

Our host family lived in a fairly well-to-do neighborhood just north of Kobe. Space is really tight! They have 2 cars, so naturally one must be elevated. There is no room to park on the street.

One day my host, Yamamoto-san, my fellow guest, Brandy and I commuted to school on the train. It was punctual, fast, and pretty damn clean, just as you would expect.

October 09, 2004

time out for quiz
11:24 AM

I thought I could get them all, but I missed 2 of the 15 words in this quick spelling quiz.

October 08, 2004

...and taking names
09:18 PM

Kerry seriously kicked ass tonight.

I'll gladly take to the streets tomorrow, rain or shine, for a new President who knows how to speak, who knows how to lead, and knows that the Dred Scott decision was about racism, not property rights.

w can see the retirement ranch from here
02:58 PM

"New unemployment figures, the last before the election, showed Bush as the first president since the Depression to have the nation lose jobs during his term."

-YahooNews

"Truly, Bush is President No Jobs."

-James Galbraith in Salon

October 07, 2004

adios "the apprentice"
10:49 PM

For the second time this season, Trump has gone psycho and fired the most qualified person in the Board Room. I've worked at places that were like that. I don't need a t.v. show to submit to that flavor of torture.

Trump: you're fired.

bon soir
10:45 PM

"So the good has always outweighed the bad, which means that this is not easy, closing this particular book. Even now, as I sit here, I'm trying to find a reason not to quit. Six years of doing anything even remotely consistently is a pretty good record for me. And I'm not the best at letting go of things."

I've followed Elizabeth from nearly the beginning of her site and I'm sad to see her go. Her final entry is very much a reminder of the truth that life is truly joyful sorrow and sorrowful joy.

October 04, 2004

tabula rasa
09:21 PM

I've got 2 PCs in my classroom that have solid apps ready to be installed, but through a strange twist of fate, no operating systems. Anybody out there have 1 or 2 (legal) copies of MS XP (Home or Business)? I have 28 4th graders who would be most grateful. Let me know: christopher AT naze dot net.

whee!
09:10 PM

I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

I just got my first Gmail invite and [use Dieter voice] I'm as happy as a little girl!

October 03, 2004

i will not be defeated
09:36 PM

I come home on Sunday afternoons and I am tired. I begin the weekend by getting up early on Saturday and cranking hard on laundry and dishes. I fix the kids' breakfast and then I grade homework and social studies tests. This way I'll have the afternoon to pound the pavement for Kerry.

I do pretty much the same thing on Sunday. I tell you: it gives me a deep feeling of satisfaction. I'm not looking at the flawed polls or the corporate biased media. I'm knocking on doors, registered the unregistered, swaying the few undecideds, and praising the majority - responsible citizens voting for Kerry.

Ask anyone who talks with lots of voters. There is an energy out there that has not been seen in this country in quite some time. Voter registrations are shooting into Oregon elections offices and they are Democracts 2-1 over Republicans.

I smell victory. It will take more hard work and focus, but make no mistake about it. I smell victory.

Regardless of the outcome of this election, I am energized. There are plenty of bad guys in Congress that need to be replaced. They are next on my list.

now you see it
07:53 PM

Jenn has the creative energy of ten mortals. She's always up to something. In fact, she did my Movable Type install.

She asked readers to come up with a tagline for her site. So I was honored when she chose mine. Thanks, Jenn!

christopher at naze.net

-Cato

They may forget

what you said,

but they will never forget

how you made them

feel. 

-Carl W. Buehner