Presidential Debate --> No Winner

Colleague Richard Cohn and I watched the first debate of the presidential candidates on Friday at my house and both of us didn't see a clear winner. Actually, we both felt the debate was too tame and I personally was disappointed that the candidates essentially refused to engage each other in debate, always relying on the moderator to run the show.

Right now I can't appreciate either candidate. I'd say that Obama is the better choice, but I am concerned about the position both candidates take on Russia and on NATO. Sure, this is a bunch of foreign policy stuff that many people may not care about, but in my eyes NATO is a relic of the cold war and should not be strengthened, instead you might discuss disbanding it.

The rhetoric on Georgia and other nations that border Russia joining NATO is scaring me. I do not want a second cold war. Imagine what would happen if Russia struck a similar pact with countries in South America (think Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile...)

While I know that Putin isn't democratic and has done terrible things in his country especially as it comes to the freedom of the press, I suggest the candidates in the U.S. tone it down a bit and go for diplomacy rather than aggression through NATO expansion. Also, the president of Georgia might be everyone's best friend in the U.S., but he's the one who provoked Russian action with help from the U.S., he should be reprimanded.

One Click Tennis

Tennis is one of the ways I try to keep fit and One Click Tennis has been a great help. In the past I have found tennis buddies on Craig's List, but that's a far cry from One Click. The Web site is like an old fashioned tennis ladder, but automated.

It is super simple, you advertise your availability on a calendar and One Click finds a partner of similar skill level who wants to play at the same time. The site has a great database of tennis courts and it always places you on a court nearby both players' residences.

Creator Z has done a fantastic job, each time I want to play the Web site finds me an opponent. Through One Click I have played a wide variety of people, young and old with all kinds of backgrounds. Silicon Valley is a true melting pot and One Click once again proofs that. Anyway, if you're looking for tennis partners in the San Francisco Bay Area, try One Click and for $50 a year I think it is a bargain, far less than a fitness club.