to brainwash or not to brainwash, that is the question

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of uncoached debate
or to take arms against a sea of troubles by just being blatantly anti-Bush among 11-year-olds ...

um, or something like that.

They're only fifth-graders, but we still need to talk about the election. Of course we do, so they'll know why I'm crying and wearing black next Wednesday.

Anyway. There are five groups, each researching the differences between Bush and Kerry on a different issue. They also have to read generic biographies from Scholastic News (remember them?). So more than one kid read the Kerry bio and then didn't want to read the Bush piece because "he's stupid."

To which the correct response is, of course: "And if you read the article, then you'll be able to tell your parents and everybody exactly why he's stupid."

And then if they don't understand the gory details, explain, using words like "unfair" and "mean."

It's only the truth, right?

pop culture, take 2

( excuses, excuses )

So I need a PG-rated Halloweenish movie to entertain both me and the kidlings. Suggestions?

Bonus points if you can tell me where to find it between South Seattle and Fremont. Further bonus points if you'll deliver (and while you're at it, bring me a Nalgene full of margaritas ... a girl can dream, can't she?).