Name Dropping: Becky Gulsvig

After last weeks name dropping of Rich Sommer - and his crazy success on Mad Men and guest starring on The Office - I thought I could do some more. Everyone can use a little more attention of their achievements.

Becky Gulsvig.

Becky is a good friend of my wife's. They went to school together and have done a number of shows together. I have had the pleasure of meeting Becky and getting to know her and her husband over the last couple years.

Anywho, Becky plays Elle in the national touring company of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Look here to find more info about the show and the tour.

Becky has also played Amber VonTussle in Hairspray, and was Leilani and the Elle understudy in Legally Blonde: The Musical on Broadway.

For the latest info, check out Becky's Website. She has a blog that keeps her fans up to speed on the progress on the tour.

Paul Newman

Last night Paul Newman past away age the age of 83 after being diagnosed with cancer. Newman was known best for his work in classic movies like; "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "Cool Hand Luke", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Sting", and his Oscar winning performance in "The Color of Money".

Yet, there are two aspect of his life that set Newman apart from the majority of movie stars.
1. His Marriage to actress Joanne Woodard. They had been married since 1958 and had three daughters together.
2. Newman's Owe. All the revenue (reported over $220 Million) from his product line has gone straight to charity, including his own Hole in the Wall Gang camp for seriously ill children.

Here is the statement from the Hole in the Wall Gang website.
Here is an article written by Richard T. Jameson for MSN,

Katie Couric Interviews Vice President Candidates

Here is the link for the Sarah Palin interview.
Here is the link for the Joe Biden interview.

You can read the transcripts at http://www.cbs.com/.

Jon Stewart Hits Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, and Dick Morris on Sarah Palin Hypocrisy

When I first saw this clip, my jaw hit the floor. This is an article about the clip from the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but the video is what you need to watch.

Makes me sad and happy at the same time.

Presidential Candidates Stances on Education

In the October 2008 issue of America Teacher, they had a breakdown of the stances that the two Presidential Candidates have on eduction issues.

As I have felt in past elections, this issue is extremely important. Along with; the economy, international relations, the war in Iraq, education must be a topic at the debates and through the rest of campaigns.

I was unable to find a link or graphic to show, so this the same content from the Oct. 2008 issue of American Teacher. All of the content and info are the same, I only changed the format.

John McCain: "Under my reforms, we will put money and the responsibilities where they belong - in the office of the school principal."
New York Daily News - 8/4/08

Barak Obama: "I oppose using public money for private school vouchers. We need to focus on fixing and improving our public schools, not throwing our hands up and walking away from them."
Speech at AFT Convention - 7/13/08

Issues

No Child Left Behind
Obama: Will reform NCLB. Believes "NCLB has done more to stigmatize and demoralize out students and teachers in struggling schools than it has to marshal the talent and the determination and the resources to turn then around."
Speech in Manchester, NH - 11/22/07

Supports full funding. Supports reforming and fully funding NCLB and ensuring that teachers are not forced to teach to the test.
www.barakobama.com

McCain: Supports NCLB as a "good start." Believes that the threat of tough sanctions gives schools and educators a big incentive to succeed.
Wall Street Journal - 5/29/08

Opposes full funding. Opposed multiple efforts to fully fund NCLB and provide schools, educators, and students the resources they need to succeed. Vote 35 - 3/10/04; Vote 60 - 3/09/03; Vote 5 - 1/16/03; Vote 192 - 6/17/01


Private School Vouchers
Obama: Opposes private school vouchers. Opposes using public money for private school vouchers.
Speech to AFT convention - 7/13/08; Education Week - 2/20/08; AFT 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire

McCain: Supports private school vouchers. Supports expansion of private school vouchers and has repeatedly voted to set aside public tax dollars for vouchers.
Des Monies Register, editorial board, 10/24/07; Vote 170 - 6/12/2001; Vote 260 - 9/30/97; Vote 89 - 6/23/97

Head Start
Obama: Supports expansion of Head Start. Supports increased funding for and expansion of Head Start and Early Head Start, and proposes Early Learning Challenge Grants to help states move toward voluntary, universal preschool.
AFT 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire; www.barakobama.com

McCain: Opposed increased funds for Head Start. Voted against increased funds for Head Start.
Vote 333 - 9/9/03


School Construction
Obama: Supports Additional funds for school renovation. Supports additional funding for capital improvements to schools to modernize their infrastructure.
AFT 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire

McCain: Opposes expansions of school renovation programs. Opposed funding tax incentives and other programs for school construction and renovation.
Vote 108 - 5/16/01; Vote 242 - 7/30/99


You can find more about the candidates platforms at;
http://www.johnmccain.com/
http://www.barakobama.com/

This website is a quick way to see how you match-up with the candidates and also as info on specific issues - www.votechooser.com.

Name Dropping: Rich Sommer

Congrats to Rich Sommer. Rich plays Harry Crane on AMC's Mad Men, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

I went to college with Rich at Concordia and we sang in choir together and may have done one directing scene together our freshmen year.

He will also be guest-starring on the season premiere of The Office on NBC Sept. 25th.







http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen
http://richsommer.com/