So many interesting things going on. So many things I'd love to respond to. Too tired to do that, though.

The bad of the first day back at the school: everything I was worried about has come true and more. This school year is going to SUCK! Lots of teachers are unhappy. We started a pool today on how many people will leave by the end of the year. (I'm down for 20) One of the new teachers kept saying that this is the strangest school he has ever worked at and was amazed that things were as wacky as they truly are.

The good of the first day back at the school: The new Band and Art teachers are totally adorable. I am now the only female in my department. Had a nice talk with several of the female teachers, too.

One thing I enjoy is listening to all the non-English interviews and such and hearing how English is sneaking in. I think it was one of the French athletes talking about her training, and she used the word "stress" for, well, stress.

A friend of mine sends me a Happy Djibouti Day! (their independence day?) e-card every year. I have no idea what started that.

Dude, that's some good thinking. Ultimately counterproductive, but points for recognizing there was a problem and being quick on his feet to get around it.

Actually not, because I bet he remembers to this day the rule that the names of most islands don't take articles. I'm sure I gave him public praise for thinking outside the box.

Oh thank god I have internet again. Don't leave me, internet!

t waves at aurelia

You think the people in France are less biased towards their athletes than U.S.?

Not that I got to watch any of the coverage yet on the current games, but the coverage here is completely biased in favor of the competitions in which the Israeli athletes take part (as marginal and small as it may be), mostly at the expense of "bigger" competitions, which interest more people.

And they're not at all in the "we're the best" spirit, but rather in the "oh, wow, look, they actually have achievements" spirit.

Well, OK, maybe less so in recent years, when there actually were achievements. But still.

Of course, the difference between a tiny place as Israel and a country which sends so many athletes - who win so many medals - as the USA makes for a completely different coverage. On the rare occasion that an Israeli athlete wins a medal, it's pretty much impossible to find somebody not rooting for them. It's totally "Israel won" on top on "Specific Person won". On the last games, an Israeli athlete won a golden medal for the first time, and it a huge deal.

French athletes talking about her training, and she used the word "stress" for, well, stress.

I'm sad to report that the French for stress is in fact "le stress".

I guess I just get down on America and Americans so much that I am worn out. I'm willing to believe other countries aren't as baised in their coverage. I guess for me, sports are the perfect time to be completely biased and superstitious and ridiculous and all that; it's one of the reasons I find them so much fun. It doesn't have to make sense for me to love the Giants and hate the Dodgers and argue relentlessly against the DH. It's just fun. (And I am acutely anti-ridiculousness and anti-bias in the "important" areas of life, like my job, so, like a lot y'all, I needs that outlet like WHOA.)

Then again, I've been watching most of the events with the volume turned off. I DID enjoy the 400M relay's comentary though. That was a terrific call.

Welcome back, aurelia!

I skip and skim, and really can only be counted on to babypicspam.

Razzberry Man, Rocket Man, Tickled Grace, and more.

I hope your year goes better than expected GG.