The jar concept was revived last week during the presidential debate. My daughter pulled out two glasses and a bag of almonds, one glass for John McCain and one glass for Barack Obama. Each time a candidate made a verifiable fact or positive remark, she put an almond in the appropriate glass. While it was an amusing way to watch the debate, it was another way for truly undecided voters to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate.

This is an interesting election year. Each party has a minority running for one of the nation’s top two positions. Each party has a seasoned senator running for a top office. And each party has a longtime, active member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in the race.

McCain is the only still-serving senator who founded the caucus in 1987. He also was the first member of Congress to hold a hearing on the FIRE Act.

OCTOBER

FDSOA's Annual Safety Forum
27-31, Orlando, Fla.
Contact: Fire Department Safety Officers Association, 508-881-3114; www.fdsoa.org

Firefighter Escape
27-28, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Off-Shore Rig Rescue
27-31, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Petzl EXO End-User Training
29, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

10th Annual Technologies for Critical Incident Conference and Exposition
29-31, Chicago
Contact: Center for Technology Commercialization, 508-870-0042

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
31, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

NOVEMBER

2008 Annual Conference for Fire Prevention Professionals - Community Fire Safety in Good Hands
3-7, Eau Claire, Wis.
Contact: Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association; www.wsfia.org/conference.html

Public Safety Grant Writing National Seminar
4-5, San Francisco, Calif.
Contact: CHIEF Grants, David Furrer, (888) 588-8569 ext. 4535, davidf@chiefsupply.com; www.chiefgrants.com

National Backyards And Beyond Conference
6-8, Tampa, Fla.
Contact: Firewise Communities, www.firewise.org

Preventing and Surviving the Fireground Mayday
7, Romeoville, Ill.
Contact:RICOFIRERESCUE, (815) 372-4042; www.ricofirerescue.com

8-Hour Industrial Fire Training
10, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Annual Confined-Space Refresher
10-12, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

8-Hour Hazardous Material for First Responders-Awareness Level
14, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
14, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Firefighter Seminar
16, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Contact: Valley Shore Mutual Aid Association, John T. Dunn, (860) 388-4599, hayride@oldsaybrookfire.com; www.fireseminar.com

32-Hour Industrial Fire Team Leader
17-20, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

8-Hour Foam Operations
18, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Air Management and SCBA Skills for Fireground Survival
21, Romeoville, Ill.
Contact:RICOFIRERESCUE, (815) 372-4042; www.ricofirerescue.com