What did you think I was going to write about today?

I saw a movie called "Friday Night Lights" a week ago in some sort of preview screening. Roommate Ned likened it to living through multiple car crashes. Sports movies, unfortunately, have that whole Sunday afternoon timbre to them, and to compensate they try to pack such films with "emotion" and sound effects of bones breaking. For a movie like "Mighty Ducks," well we were young and we ate the emotion up. But now, I don't want to see emotion out of guys as big as Jim Belushi.

Anyhow, as I watched the debates last night, it was perhaps the most suspenseful TV I've ever seen, barring some early childhood X-files scenes. Now, I've never been a diehard Kerry fan, he's more of a means to an end. But, the flipper did good -- made me proud to be a part-time Massachusettian. Not entirely clear why he chose to tell a story about the French Prime Minister, but hey, we were already a nation divided.

And so, as I spent the hour after the debate flipping from network to network, I was dreadfully disappointed that the punditry either decided not to comment on "who won" (nobody did, according to them, as there were no knockouts). Well, Kerry did good. And Bush came off as defensive, repetitive, angry, and clinically inarticulate. What's more, the media decided to compliment Bush for his ability to cite the names of foreign leaders. Did they miss his pronunciation of Vladamir? Regardless, it was suspenseful but satisfying.

And that's about it. I had my first day of classes, and I'm paralyzed by the thought that I really have to produce good work for the next six years. It's not about grades anymore, it's really about churning out good ideas and skillful research. So, bottom line, time to get on top of my game.

That about does it. No more sports metaphors for a week.