Who Needs PMBR Books?

Helping my online buddy LawGeekGurl out. She wants to [EDIT: GIVE AWAY] her PMBR books. If you happen to need study aids for the MBE give her a holler. Those books must be good for something other than paperweights.

Confessions Poll: Will Brian Survive His Tax Final?

I either live or I put a bullet in my brain Saturday.

My brain is so tired from all this minutiae and I'm so frustrated with my inability to even solve some of the problems. What concept am I forgetting?

Studying has been the blind leading the blank and you can flip a coin to determine which person is which. 'D' is for Diploma. I have no pride, just let me pass the exam.

EDIT: NOT DEAD YET!

I'm not going to say anything substantial about the exam as several people still need to take it. I'm frustrated by the sheer lenght of it. I'm also frustrated in that the more we studied the past few weeks the more obvious it was we didn't really learn the concepts to well in class. For whatever reason it sounded okay in lecture didn't transcribe into functional well-educated neurons in my poor brain. I so could have used a diagram on the chalkboard. When I see formulas they make far more sense to me. Must be a relic of my physics major days.

I do have this small comfort. I'll graduate with 94 credits. If I fail the exam I'll still have 90 credits. I don't believe I failed, but I guessed or winged it on too many questions for my comfort. Just remember, 'D' is for Diploma!

JAG Series Finale Tonight

During my break from the Tax Death March I will watch the JAG series finale tonight on CBS. Come on you want to see how Harm and Mac figure out their lives. 8pm on CBS I think, maybe 9pm.

Law School Is Not Burger King: You Don't Get It Your Way!

I'll elaborate more later, but after seeing one comment thread elsewhere I'm amazed at the A) gall or B) sheer lack of understanding about how the real world works of some people.

Life is hard, sometimes life sucks, and sometimes you have to deal with people you never want to. If anything school should teach you to deal with some major asshats because plenty of those exist in the real world. I've run into students, professors, and others that I never want to see again. That's the real world though and whether you're a newbie or an academic retread you need to get used to that.

PS: When using the term 'asshats' I am NOT referring to any one specific person. I am referring to a class of people. The characteristics should be fairly obvious from the context of this post.

Confessions Poll: Hot For Teacher

Yes I've been inspired by the Van Halen song of the same name. Poll question is simple: have you ever been hot for teacher?

If yes feel free to spill your guts as much as you're comfortable with.

Do They Speak English In What?

Your Linguistic Profile:

75% General American English

20% Dixie

5% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Found The Cool Song!!

I think these are the lyrics of a song I keep hearing on X103 lately. I love the song, but have no idea who sings it or what the title is. I put in some of the lyrics I could remember and got these lyrics with an indication they might be Linkin Park [boy was I way off on that], but maybe not.

It is driving me nuts folks so if you can help a music starved student out I would appreciate it.


In the chill of the night, I can feel my heart racing as I run towards the light that seems so far away.
Wandering forever, in the darkest of shadows, wondering if I will ever see you again.
Wondering if I will ever see you again.

I'll take your love (I'll take your love), take your hate (take your hate).
I'll take your desire (desire). I'll take the world when it turns on you, I'll set it on fire!
The, the walk, the walk, the walking dead (the walking dead).

Digging in the dirt, I can feel you getting closer. Steady my hands through the blistering pain (blistering pain). Anxiously awaiting for the Earth to reveal you, wondering if I will ever see you again (see you again), wondering if I will ever see you again.

I'll take your love (take your love), take your hate (take your hate),
I'll take your desire (desire). I'll take your heart, I'll take your pain (I'll take your pain), I'll bring you to life!

I'll bring you to life...The, the walk, the walk, the walking dead (walking dead), The Walking Dead.

I'll bring you to life...I'll take your love (I'll take your love), take your hate (take your hate), I'll take your desire (desire).
I'll take the world when it turns on you (turns on you, on you)
The, the walk, the walk, the walking dead (walking dead)I'll take your love (I'll take your love), take your hate (take your hate), I'll take your desire (desire).
I'll take your heart, I'll take your pain (I'll take your pain). I'll bring you to life! "

EDIT: FOUND IT!!!!! The artist is DJ Z-Trip, the album Shifting Gears and the song is Walking Dead. Excellent I'll have to hit a store sometime.

Veronica Mars

Dear LawGeekGurl,

You got me addicted to Veroncia Mars now. Damn you.

Signed,
Brian

No Plan Survives Contact With The Enemy

Plan for today.

1. Get Ranger to the shop.
2. Get ride to school.
3. Print out practice test sans answers so it forces me to really work the problem.
4. Study with study partner for exam by going over the practice exam.

Reality so far.

1. Get Ranger to the shop.
2. Get ride to school.
3. Fight the lab printer that keeps jamming up.
4. Reprint job 3 times. Continue fighting paper jams.
5. Print to different printer in a different lab.

Sometimes you just have to work around the problem.

I Win The Bet

Some believed the Mighty Green Ranger would fall apart like the Bluesmobile two weeks before graduation. That date was Sunday and the MGR is in one piece still. I win.

However, the bearings on the compressor are gone so for the past few days it sounds like I'm driving a diesel. I don't think Ford ever put a diesel engine in a Ranger at least not domestically. I figured it would only affect the air conditioning so I didn't care. It does affect the defrost setting though. With all the rain lately I need a heated defrost to get the fog of the windshield so I can see. If I let the engine idle with the compressor running it'll kill the motor. Very interesting when I'm in the middle of a turn and the power steering goes out along with the motor. Thank god I have a stick shift and could just pop the clutch.

So the MGR is getting surgery tomorrow. I emailed my friend's shop and he replied that at least we knew this was coming. Lovely.

Blondie Bear No More

I'm crafty in that I usually have a small stockpile of posts in reserve so I can throw something up when I don't have time to write. Since we're in finals now I've been boosting up the stockpile. See you all in a few weeks.

I rather enjoyed being a blond these past few weeks. My roots started to show lately, but that isn't why I got my hair cut very short. In 2 weeks I'll be running/walking/hobbling the Mini-Marathon and I didn't want excess hair to trap heat. Though freaking freezing now (who let winter back in) I expect it'll be more temperate on May 7th. I'm hoping for slightly below normal temperatures that day. 50 degrees would be nice. This being Indiana it could easily be 75 degrees when starting out and muggy.

I went with the 4 clip (1/2 inch) and now I have a blond/brown version of salt and pepper hair. If it were not for the fact I KNOW this isn't right I think it could pass for natural looking if I met a stranger. I'm not very vain, but I don't want to look freakazoid either. That was the other reason to get it cut 2 weeks before graduation, I can let it grow 2 weeks and see what happens. If something disasterous occurs I have no qualms going for that shaved look ala Micheal Chiklis.

Mom might freak out on those graduation pictures though.

Anti-Climactic Endings

Why is it that my last class ever as a law student was Income Tax? Couldn't it have been a class that I enjoy more like Freedom of Speech, Press, and Religion or even Criminal Procedure? Yet even those classes didn't light fire under me this semester. Perhaps I should have taken State & Local Government as governmental structures do fascinate me. It is the Josh Lyman in me.

Regardless I think this melancholy mood is simply due to the fact we go directly to finals and the aforementioned tax final is up front. I now have four and a half days to figure out the basics of Tax. 'D' is for diploma at this point.

Classes are over, but it is like getting a double. I still need two more bases till I get to score.

Okay This Creeps Me Out

Who at school is doing 30 page views here over the course of 4 hours? This is the last day of classes. Go study for finals! This blog isn't going anywhere.

The Cost Of Doing Business

As both an academic opportunity and a career, we accept that law school and the legal profession are high stress areas. We accept certain imbalances between work, school, and life. Our threshold for suspecting something is wrong with ourselves and others becomes set at a higher level. Yet by setting such thresholds at higher levels, we ultimately harm ourselves or others.

From Teaching Human Lawyers by Molly Stuart J.D.

We live in a world where studies show that although law students enter law school quite happy and idealistic about helping others, there soon is a troubling shift to major indicators of psychological distress. These negative changes persist through law school and into the students early careers, making it clear that the negative findings do not represent a brief adjustment period at the beginning of law school. The incidence of clinically elevated anxiety, hostility, depression, and other symptoms among law students ranged from eight to fifteen times that of the general population. In addition, a significant percentage of practicing attorneys are experiencing significant psychological distress well beyond that shown in the general population. These trends seem to be directly traced to law study and law practice. The unusual symptoms are not exhibited when the student enters law school but emerge shortly after beginning law school and remain, without significant abatement, well after graduation. This heightened distress can lead to significant depression, suicide, substance abuse, major life dissatisfaction and lack of professionalism.

The above problems and illnesses aren't simply feeling stressed in school or in a new career. Those are serious psychological and physical issues that affect how we work, study, and live. They are widespread and common, though you likely don't realize that.

Thanks to TV movies of the week we're familiar with the pitfalls of drug and alcohol abuse. The physical and mental destruction it will do to our bodies includes lack of concentration, short term memory loss, blackouts, cirrhosis of the liver, and other symptoms.

Though somewhat dated now a 1993 AALS survey of 3,400 law students at 19 schools discovered

that 3.3 percent of law students said they needed help to control their substance abuse, and approximately 12 percent said they abused alcohol during law school. That amounts to 15,000 law students nationwide who acknowledge problem drinking. Uncalculated are the number who get into trouble when they inhale, shoot, snort, or pop their substances. . . . Studies indicate that lawyers engage in higher-than-average drug and alcohol abuse, affecting from 15 percent to 18 percent of the profession, compared with 10 percent of the general population. The impact on clients can be devastating when lawyers miss filing deadlines, spend money held in trust, or are asleep at the switch in trial.

Disciplinary bodies discover that chemical dependency problems are at the root of 40 percent to 70 percent of complaints about lawyers, says New York state Chief Judge Judith Kaye, president of the Conference of Chief Justices.

For more nebulous conditions such as depression

[a] study of law students and practicing lawyers in Arizona discovered that when students enter law school, they suffer from depression at approximately the same rate as the general population (approximately 8 - 10%). However, by the spring of the first year of law school, 32% of law students suffer from depression, and by the spring of the third year of law school, the figure escalates to an astonishing 40%. Two years after graduation, the rate of depression falls, but only to 17%, or roughly double the level of the general population. . . .

Recent research in the science of the brain has shown that depression causes structural damage to the brain. Scientists now think that the depressed brain suffers areas of cell shrinkage or death because of the depression itself. Depression can be the source of cell atrophy or cell death in the brain and after each episode of depression that causes cell damage a person is ever likelier yet to have another episode of depression. . . . Depression is now understood not to be just decreased mood; it is a neurological event that can have permanent impact on the brain structure. Law school stress may be setting the biological stage for further, deeper or permanent damage to the brain and or depression in our students.

The American Bar Association has noticed the severity of the issue:

In 1991, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore interviewed 12,000 workers about depression. Lawyers ranked No. 1 on the list of occupations that were most depressed.
While 3 percent to 9 percent of the population at any given time may experience depression, a quality-of-life survey conducted by the North Carolina Bar Association in 1991 reported that almost 26 percent of the bar's members exhibited symptoms of clinical depression. Almost 12 percent of them said they contemplated suicide at least once each month.

As we approach finals simply reminding everyone to 'keep it real' seems woefully inadequate. If you are a student, an attorney, judge, or someone else in the legal field every state has a Lawyer Assistance Program. Every school and university has some type of assistance program. If you think you have a problem, or others told you they believe you have a problem, go check to see if you need assistance. We are taught to resolve other people's problems. We forget to resolve our own.

The costs to ourselves and others in this legal experience isn't just student loan debt, time, putting familial and friendly relationships on the back burner, but also potential and devastating damage to our physical and mental health. In 13 days we graduate. The extra cost for some walking across the stage will be around 1 in 10 have abused alcohol or other substances, 40% will have brain damage, and after graduation 1 in 10 may contemplate suicide every month. I hope we can bring those extra costs down in the future.

"I will say this for being a tyrannical dark overlord: you get great service at restaurants."

This is the wrong time of year to get something like this. Finals starting and I certainly don't need the distraction. I can't help but LMAO when reading Darth Vader's blog.

Courtesy of The Atlas Group.

Defense Wins Championships

The Colts used their first three picks to go all DEFENSE! The first two picks were used to get corners, a position that needed some upgrading IMHO. Picked 29th in the first round Marlin Jackson was a four-year contributor at Michigan, dividing 39 career starts between safety and cornerback.

The Colts stayed in the Big 10 for Round Two and picked Illinois player Kelvin Hayden who started 11 games at corner as a senior including four interceptions. As a junior, he was a wide receiver who caught a team-high 52 passes. Wide receiver to corner eh? Sounds like a very athletic person and you can usually figure out a way to use athletes.

Third round pick was defensive lineman Vincent Burns from Kentucky. I hope his run blocking is pretty good. Colts let mediocre running back have career days a lot last year. The picks make sense and I hope everyone can contribute in the fall. Ahhh...football. If I snag a job maybe I'll even go to a game.

Friday Spies

Friday Spies©

1. Which Simpsons character are you most like?

This may shock some people, but really Groundskeepr Willie is closest to me.

"On the surface, Groundskeep Willie is surly, gruff, hot tempered sort of a fella, and what you see is what you get. As far as this shaggy-haired, thickly-accented Scotsman is concerned manners are for bath-taking, underpants wearing lily huggers. Willie would rather wrestle a wild Alaskan timber wolf than sit down to high tea. At the faintest sign of trouble, Willie rips off his shirt and hurls his muscular body into the fray."

Yeah, that's the ticket!

2. Name a song you hate that is performed by a band you like. Name a song you like by a band you hate.

I'm going to have to come back to this one later. Hard to think of a band I hate but a song I like.
As for the song I hate, but the band I like I love Van Halen, but Pound Cake is just weird to me.

3. What skills do you possess? Nun chuck skills? Computer hacking skills?

I can unscrew almost any stuck valve on a brass instrument. If it was stuck before they looked for a wrench they looked for me! My hands may be small, but they have high torque. That comes in handy for my infamous back massages. I can anger almost anyone. I feel this is more inate ability than a skill though. A high tolerance for alcohol is never to be dismissed. Oh yeah, I seem to be a good writer to boot.

4. Coen Brothers or Farrelly Brothers?

The Coen Brothers hands down. I've hardly seen any Farrelly Brothers' movies because they don't interest me. On the other hand Coen Brothers classics: The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Bad Santa, The Lady Killers, and Raising Arizona.

5. What do you predict will be the worst part(s) of the new Star Wars movie?

Any romantic dialog between Anakin and Padme. I swear George Lucas is incapable of finding a writer that understands romance at all. The lines in Attack Of The Clones were so wooden I expected the Queen to slap Skywalker's face. Even I have slightly better lines than him.

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Monday is our last day of classes. We took Martin Luther King day off so we have to make up that Monday. This actually works in my favor a bit. Rumor has it some people aren't ready to leave school. I consider such people, if they actually exist, FREAKS! Spring Break of last year was when I reached official apathy. I learn more by doing and observing, not by reading books. That was how I had my previous career. I taught myself computers and to be honest I ended up being damn good at it. I miss doing things.

I wish I could express my thoughts on the matter, but right now I have too many. Suffice it to say, I'm ready to leave this place forever. I like the idea of having a law degree. I like the idea of working in certain areas of the law. I just can't stand law school. I haven't for over a year now. Welcome to law school folks, potentially the worst three years of your life.

I Want Old School Filibusters!

Due to a location mistake on my part I wasn't able to attend the Save The Filibuster discussion we had at school Thursday. For those not in the loop currently several Republican Senators are frustrated by Democratic filibusters of certain judicial nominees. Their theory being that it is the Senate's role to advise and consent to the judicial nominee, meaning and up or down vote of 51 out of 100 senators. If a filibuster occurs it takes 60 senators to break it. Note the current political composition of the U.S. Senate is 55 Republicans, 45 Democrats (Jim Jeffords counts as a Democrat despite his independent tag). To some, the nuclear option of eliminating the use of a filibuster concerning judicial nominees allows the straight up or down vote the Constitution requires.

Okay I don't want to filibuster nuked. However I do want it changed. I want it to go Mr. Smith Goes To Washington style. I want one Senator to force the Senate into a grinding halt. That Senator has to read a cookbook, the phonebook, has a stadium buddy with him so he can't leave to use the rest room (I have no idea if there is a female equivalent). I want EFFORT put into a filibuster. The current filibuster is a lazy filibuster. If someone or a team of someones has to force the Senate to pay attention to them, that is the filibuster I respect!

Get that written into the Senate rules.

The Force Is With Us Today

I had to take a different route to school today. I went through downtown and the attendees to the Star Wars Celebration are out in force. Within a few blocks I saw a couple of Storm Troopers, several Jedi were walking into the White Castle (who knew The Force depended on Sliders), a cute 8 to 10 year old girl was in a Princess Leia outfit from the first movie complete with the honey bun hairdo. (I'm so glad the Britney Spears influence has not tainted this young one to wear the metallic bikini from Return of the Jedi which would have been creepy.)

At the law school I've seen a Sith walking by, a couple of Jedi, and a few Rebel pilots.

Oh how did these guys get here? Three guys are in complete Ghostbuster uniforms and two have the proton packs on their backs. Wrong movie guys!

I haven't seen Lord Vader yet, but I think we turn into him upon graduation. Or do we turn to the Dark Side upon passing the bar exam?

We Will Have Popcorn Superiority!

Purdue University researchers have discovered what makes unpopped popcorn not pop.

It's long been known that popcorn kernels must have a precise moisture level in their starchy center — about 15 percent — to explode. But Purdue University researchers found the key to a kernel's explosive success lies in the composition of its hull. It turns out there is an optimal hull structure that allows kernels to explode, and leaky hulls prevent the moisture pressure buildup needed for kernels to pop.

The unpopped kernal, or old maid in industry terms, will sit there if a leaky hull lets too much moisture escape. The findings could be good news for people who savor the snack and those who grow the 17 billion quarts of popcorn sold each year in the United States. My uncle has a few hundred acres, this might help him out.

Naturally this demonstrates further Purdue University superiority over Indiana University. Not that I'm bragging or anything.

All The News...

Courtesy of Rocket Scientist.

This iceberg used to be the size of Jamaica. Now it is merely the size of Long Island or Luxembourg. It stopped moving when it got stuck on a sand bar, but now the roving 115 kilometer ice cube ran into part of a glacier and tore off a 5 kilometer chuck of an "ice tongue."

Maps of the continent will, they say, have to be re-drawn. The huge chunk of ice has played merry hell with the normal ocean currents, stopping much of the sea ice from breaking up during the Antarctic summer.

Anyone have any idea what the insurance deductible to a continent is?

In other news this Romanian woman had an interesting idea on stealing a cell phone. She swiped it from a diner and...umm...stuffed it into her vagina. Police quizzed the 34-year-old without success and were about to let her go when some bright spark suggested they call the mobe. "On dialing the number they heard a sound coming from under Gardian's clothes and took her to police headquarters to be strip-searched," the report continues. You know the rest. Suffice it to say that a shaken officer Aurel Popescu commented: "I've seen a lot in my time as a policeman but never anything like this."

For her sake I'm hoping the phone was one of those small slimline models. Last time I checked that space wasn't particularly roomy and spacious. The owner of the phone refused to take it back and will claim it as an insurance loss.

The Important Question: Who's The Prom Date?

Post Show Edit Down Below

No West Wing tonight so the most important issue is who is Clark Kent going with to the prom?
Should it be Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan, or Lois Lane?

Who do you vote for?

Here is my vote:
Lana Lang is still dating the former assistant football coach (as far as I know), but hey student/(former) teacher dating is frowned upon. So taking Jason would be bad form. Besides Lana is a redhead and whether natural or bottled, they are nothing but trouble. I speak from lots of experience.

Hey we know Clark Kent eventually ends up with Lois Lane so why have him take her to the prom? They'll get plenty of romantic chances for those two later down the road. Besides why would a college freshman (okay she did get kicked out this semester) want to go with a high school senior to the prom? That is so high school.

Obvious choice should be Chloe. She is owed for by the wannabe-Superman for ditching her at the last prom. I know there were a few tornados involved, but hey he didn't have to leave her at mid-dance. So very unromantic. Chloe has been the best friend lately. Besides since this character was created specifically for this series I'm betting she gets killed off in the series finale, whenever that is, so she should be allowed to have some good things happen to her.

This could be the biggest prom date since Angel showed up at Buffy's prom. I wonder what natural disaster will occur this time. I don't watch very many shows, but the few I watch I am almost religiously fervent in watching. I need my mindless entertainment so bad.

Post Show Edit:
On a personal note: I don't like body swapping/possessed spirt episodes. They usually come off cheesy, but not always. I think I would have liked this episode better if the possessor wasn't some one-off sterotypical I live for only the prom teen queen.

Did you get the impression Annette O'Toole enjoyed playing a 18 year old for a bit? Mr. Kent, you had a chance to dance with either/both Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan. Get it in gear boy you could have had fun. Quite moping around over Lana Lang. Of course just to mess with your psyche the writers managed to have you dance with the redhead. They all had great dresses though. Wow, prom has certainly progressed since I last went in the Dark Ages. I can't believe I went to 3 in 2 years.

We have confirmation Jason is evil and in league with his mother. Ummm...I wonder where that will end up. If they go to college next year can the show still be called 'Smallville' because no college is in that town.

The Wisdom Of Dogs

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.-Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. -Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. -James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul --chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinleim

Speak softly and own a big, mean Doberman. -Dave Miliman

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between dog and man. -Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and he the dog will give you a look that says "Wow! You're right! I never would've thought of that!" -Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.

A Matter Of Focus

Dear Congress,

As a loyal participant in this democratic experiment I would like for you, my elected representatives, to fill out what you think is are the society priorities that demand your attention.

___ A more balanced budget.

___ The War on Terror.

___ Reforming Social Security so the younger generation can retire someday.

___ Tort Reform.

___ Activist judges.

___ Helping stimulate the economy to create jobs.

___ Investigating steroid abuse by NFL players.

Thank you.

Pope Ben

I know this a big deal to many people, but I can not in good faith really offer any commentary on the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany as Pope Benedict XVI. I know my limitations and when it comes to religious matters I know squat. So I will not even attempt say anything constructive about this event.

If you want to say anything to right ahead. That's what the Comments box is for.

But For

But for blah blah blah, this event would have never happened.
- Proximate Cause from Torts.

If a bird flies through the air it eventually rains in California. There comes a point where some action is so attenuated that it really had nothing to do with what happened. I can't say that this time. It appears I was a gateway between two worlds unknown to each other. When those worlds collided horrible dissonance resulted. Whoops!

If everyone is smart, they'll learn some lessons from the collision. No, that isn't quite the right statement. If everyone is smart, they will learn the right lessons from this and try to improve themselves. That I doubt.

Pro Bono

Some people really harp on the value of doing pro bono work. They had the pro dinner last Friday to recognize the people that had done volunteer work. All you have to do is 50 hours over the course of 3 years to get a little recognition of your effort. As a 1L I said it wouldn't be a problem meeting that piddly requirement. As a 2L I figured I could squeeze something in between classes, moot court, writing my note for the law review, being president of a student org, and all the other things I was doing. As a 3L I figured that things would be so much easier this year that I finally had the spare time to donate a little to the pro bono causes.

Nearly 3 years later and how many hours of pro bono work have I done: ZERO!

The purpose of pro bono is to give back. I like to think that I gave much of my time to others. I just didn't do it in ways that would count towards the pro bono dinner. I fixed people's laptop problems. Sometimes to recover a document, sometimes to get a floppy disk out with a knife, sometimes to loan someone who needed a floppy disk desperately. I tried to mentor students behind me with sage wisdom. I helped work out possible class schedules. I listened to them whine and complain about how hard it was. I bought them Starbucks just to make their day a little better. I helped edit their legal writing assignments and law review notes. I tried to post good ideas and profound thoughts on the blogosphere to inspire others, to solve others' problems, to make others relax in these stressful times. I loaned textbooks and supplements that would help them understand their classes. I was a student leader trying to bring guest speakers to enlighten the student body. I sent emails, wrote letters, made phone calls, booked rooms, and gave of my time for the betterment of ourselves.

I like to think that I did give back of my time. I like to think that I meet the spirit of pro bono work if not in the normally recognized ways that would have gotten me a shiny star and meal. I know I gave of myself for a lot of people, and I didn't have to do that. It is simply who I am. I just hope some people appreciated the effort.

Sounds Cool If I Wouldn't Kill Myself

You Should Try Street Luge

With speeds of up to 70 mph, Skateboarding laying down is not as tame as it seems.

What Extreme Sport Should You Try?

Night Students, Can You Help A Brother Out?

First, I'm glad I have the upgraded Haloscan account that emails new comments to me. If not for that I would never have known this comment was posted.
Second, even after searching a bit of the archieves I still can't find the post the comment goes to.

Here's the deal. A potential student to this school sent this to me asking for an insider's perspective. While I've taken some night classes, talked with various night students, and made my own observations I'm really a day student for the most part and a bit of an outsider. I'll send a reply later this week when I have some free time, but if you could offer your own commentary I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Anyway, I just got an acceptance letter into the part-time evening program
at IUI and was hoping to talk with someone about it who cangive me a real,
unbiased opinion (vs. blindly believing whatever willbe said at the official
open house this Saturday). I'm sure you have exams very soon and are quite busy
with other obligations, but if you do have a few minutes to spare, I would be
infinitely grateful if youwould be so kind as to send an email my way. Namely,
I'm curious about the part-time program (how satisfied students are with it, if
they feel they missed out on opportunities and activities, what your opinion is
regarding the quality of instruction, etc etc) and also any advice you might be
able to give me, as I will be a first year student from out of state
(Wisconsin). If not, no worries. Take care!

Days Like Today

Today is a perfect day weather-wise. It makes me wish I had a motorcycle to go riding around the countryside and city streets. It makes me wish I knew HOW to ride a motorcycle in the first place. I need riding lessons. Perhaps next year I'll sign up for some once I have money and free time.

Oh Crap I've Been Chain Meme-ed!!!!!

Okay, I protest! I thought this thing was supposed to be sent only to women. I guess I misread that rule. Damnit I'm kinda drunk now too! I may have to answer this in the morning when I can type better. Legal I luv ya, but you're a bitch for sending this to me.

1. You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be saved?
Okay though I haven't read the book at least I know what it is about unlike numerous other bloggers! If only one book can be saved it needs to reflect the human experience. It needs to reflect our highs and lows. It needs to inspire.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Dana Scully from The X Files (Is any explanation needed?), Chloe Sullivan from Smallville (But only because Allison Mack is of age. Otherwise it would be creepy and illegal.) , Andrea Zuckerman from Beverily Hills 90210 (I know a very unpopular choice and I'll lose 70 points on some people's scales, but she had brains, was real world, was cute in those glasses, and the fact that I was already in college when it came out and Gabriel Carteris was an older actress really appealed to me.), Lilah Morgan from Angel (yes the bitch queen lawyer of Evil, Incorporated herself). I'm sure there are a few others, but I can't recall them at this time.

3. The last book you purchased?
That wasn't a textbook? I have no friggin' idea! Might have been a few technical manuals on Garand rifles. I think "The Bear and The Dragon" by Tom Clancy. I haven't had a chance to read it yet as the dust indicates.

4. What are you currently reading?
That isn't a textbook or a magazine? I'm pretty up on my magazines: MotorTrend, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, BackPacking. See no Playboy, Penthouse, etc. there for me. I am going through one book at the moment that was the subjected of a very funny case in my Freedom of Speech class: Hitman. Someone dropped this into my lap because she thought I would be amused by it. I AM! This book reads like a BAD 1980's spy novel. Paladin Press' defense should have no "Your honor, no one in their right mind would think this is a serious book. Therefore we win."


5. Five books you would take to a deserted island?
Let me check my bookshelves at the moment. I may have to carry these on my next plane flight. Never know if I'll need them! This list also reflects that I'm a pragmatist, Boy Scout type of guy.

1. Primative Wilderness Living & Survival Skills.
2. Primative Wilderness Living Skills, Applied & Advanced
3. The Basic Essentials of First Aid
4. Basic Essentials: Knots For The Outdoors
5. The Brothers Karamozov (I was given this book from my dorm for being a straight A student. Ahh...I remember getting As for a grade. I've never read it. If I'm stuck on a deserted island I guess I'll finally have some free time to see if it is any good.)

Okay, for the three people I wish to torture I select Lawren, Disoriented Express, and LawGeek Gurl. I *HEART* you all so have fun! Tag you're it.

It Was So Much Easier To Graduate The First Time

Perhaps it is my grad school induced Swiss-Cheese memory, but I don't recall having to do very much to graduate from undergrad. I've had to order my cap and gown, fill out my "Yes I'm Still Unemployed" form from the Office of Professional Development, fill out a student survey, and who knows what other forms I've filled out lately. I still need to get some form for the Perkins Loan exit interview. I still need to pick up my Exam Number. I filled out the Bar Application.

In undergrad I recall getting my cap and gown, filling out one form, and I was out! Why do we make it far more complicated now?

Tax Day

If you waited this long to file your taxes you're screwed. Just have TurboTax do the number crunching and send it online to the IRS for you.

Which reminds me of a funny story from my tech support days. Users ARE NOT supposed to put non-business related software on their computer. I would state that over the phone. However, if the user really insisted I went ahead and wrote up a trouble ticket. I wish I could see the on-site person walk over and laugh at the user's request. One April 15 at around 4:30 I received a frantic call from someone asking for help to install TurboTax so she could do her taxes. I figured she was pretty screwed so I went ahead and solved her simple problem. Yes sometimes I show mercy. I hope she got her taxes in on time that year.

Friday Spies

Friday Spies © Courtesy of Frolics & Detours and Begging The Question.

1. What names did you consider for your blog?
To be honest Confessions of an Exhausted Mind was my first choice. Had I thought about it at the time I would have made the URL the same as the title, but I didn't know what I was doing at the time. The movie Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind just came out on DVD. I thought about borrowing that title, but being a law student concerned about copyright violations and wanting to march to my own drummer I went with what my current state of mind was: EXHAUSTED! The title is far too accurate given the past year.

2. What is your favorite adult beverage and why?
Amaretto and Sour. Easy to make and yummy. My roommate made some after a certain ex-girlfriend really dissed me on graduation night.

3. If you could cancel 3 televisions shows, what would they be?
Shows, screw that I would cancel entire genres!

First: Reality TV! Reality TV is either a bunch of real people put in totally fake situations (Fear Factor, Survivor, American Idol, etc) or fake people put into ordinary real situations (The Simple Life). Besides all those people watching American Idol killed Angel. For that reason alone Reality TV should die.
Reality TV making America dumber since 1998.
COPS is a true reality TV and would be brought back if it is no longer being made. [EDIT] I loved it when my neighbor was on COPS. He was a sheriff and always had good one liners.

Second: Infotainment Shows. Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, shows like that. 10 parts crappy gossip with 1 part actual entertainment news. GONE!

Third: the entire UPN network. I know some people like Enterprise and Veronica Mars, but they aren't enough to save the network. Buh-bye! [EDIT] Yes I know UPN gave us 2 more seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer (one of Brian's Top 10 Shows Of All Time), but I simply haven't found any other shows currently on that interest me. I admit it. I am picky with my TV. Even when I still had cable TV I averaged only one TV show a night that I watched and Wednesday had four of them! Wednesdays became laundry night so I could be home. I'll admit aside from Smallville I don't miss The WB either since my antenna isn't good enough to pick up that channel. Okay we can flip a coin as to which network should get whacked and any good shows can carryover to the surviving network. Hey wait a sec, that might be a good idea!

4. You've been asked to host SNL. Which cast would you choose to work with, and who would you choose as the musical guest?
How about the original cast with Dan Ackroyd, Jim Belushi, etc with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey thrown in? Musical guest is Metallica. Like that was a question.

5. What will Britney Spears name her baby and which three names will she consider and reject before settling on the "winner"?
I'm not even going to guess what goes through BS' mind, but I know the ultimate name will be a loser! Can "Ho-Bag" be considered a name? [EDIT] Oh yeah it is supposed to be the baby's name, not the talentless mother's name. Can the child wear a t-shirt saying "My Daddy Left Me When Mommy Was 6 Months Pregnant With Me" That's going to happen I'm telling ya!

Political Junky Tip For The Day: Borders Book Signing

In case you're curious today.

Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will get together for a book-signing promotion Thursday at Borders bookstore, 11 S. Meridian St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Fleischer will autograph copies of his memoir "Taking Heat: The President, the Press and My Years in the White House." that lists for $26.95 includes recollections and analysis of the events Fleischer observed as press secretary during President Bush's first term in office.

Daniels will sign copies of "Notes from the Road: 16 Months of Towns, Tales and Tenderloins," about experiences he had on the gubernatorial campaign trail. It sells for $12.

Decisions Decisions

You hear murmurs all the time through the blogs: what do you do with your blog when you graduate? This tends to apply more for those of us who write publicly instead of anonymously. At the beginning of the fall semester I didn't think I would need to worry. I didn't write things that are controversial so what did I have to worry about.

But lots of topics and thoughts are controversial to someone. The irony is that in the land that champions freedom of speech we're very intolerant, quick to anger, and quick to judge others. I call it like I see it, and I get people mad. I decided to cover something in a satirical manner, and I get people mad. I cover something in a serious way with detailed analysis, and I hear "My god you really think that?" "You can't say that because you represent us!" Over the past 8 months I can't use humor, I can't use analysis and commentary, because some consider me a leader/representative/higher being; therefore, I'm not allowed to be human and have my own thoughts. How messed up is that?

Given so many of the totally insane topics and phraseology I use you might be under the impression that I don't censor myself at all. Some would think I'm crass, others would think I'm brave. The truth is that over the past 8 months I've increasingly censored myself. I'm an artist that can't use my chosen medium in a manner that I want to. Isn't it ironic the fact that because of my soon-to-be legal position, power, and status the reflection I cast upon people and institutions is more of a chain to freedom of expression than to some 19 year old pot-smoking slacker without a care in the world.

I'm becoming more uncertain as to what the direction of Confessions will be. Certain topics I've learned to simply avoid as they cause nothing but trouble to me. I don't mind an honest debate, but sometimes I look at some emails, comments, and discussions with people and think, "What are you whining about?" My thoughts, opinions, ideas, and beliefs get thrown back at me in ways I never imagined could happen. The edgier I get the more flack I take. The internet is weird. Due to the factors of anonymity and convenience it emboldens the cowardice and incivility in ourselves.

Our online school community is so atypical. I don't think many of us even thought about anonymous blogging as this was simply a circle of friends. Most of us didn't think that those outside the family would even read our words. Our school blogging community is very different from others that I've seen: we're very open and public. Still, we have several anonymous bloggers here (and I'm not telling you who) and you never know when any of the public ones show a different side elsewhere. Given the ease of anonymous blogging it is clearly an error for you to think otherwise. Who knows, perhaps I do as well so I can use this medium in a way I want to. You never know.

Still the question is what to do about Confessions. Does it continue to evolve like it has for the past year? Does it simply come down because I can't use it for all the things I would like to use if for? Do I narrow the focus of Confessions and go elsewhere for other interests? I don't need to make the decision now, but it is obvious I'll have to make the decision sometime.

Win A Bad Date With Brian

Ah yes my dating life. I'll admit a certain non-existence of it since entering this hallowed halls. Unless you count the Phi Delta Phi SpeedDating for some charity event that I did twice. Those were fun, but I wouldn't count them as a dates. The Black Hole is too caustic with my time and my personality. And just about everyone else's personality now that I think about it. Anyway LLM is attempting to hook me up with someone. Her first choice was a nice second-grade school teacher on the rebound from her loser ex-boyfriend. LLM even made sure her friend was non-Catholic as "you've had way too many problems with us Catholics over the years so I found you a cute Protestant. Maybe a change in religion will do you good Brian." Sadly before what was supposed to be our first meeting Miss Teacher went back with her ex-boyfriend again.

Now LLM and Miss Teacher, who has recently broke up with the loser boyfriend again, have decided they want to hook me up with Miss Engineer. Until last night I had never heard of Miss Engineer. Aside from the fact Miss Engineer works in town and is taking her Professional Engineering exam (really big exam like Boards or Bar Exam) this Friday I know nothing about her. Oh yeah they gave me her phone number too.

Anyone have any ideas how to make a phone call to a total stranger? It is awkward for both of us, but why is the pressure on me? In this enlightened equal rights age why is it the man that has to always call first? It never hurts to have a conversation with someone (a lesson so many other people need to learn).

Miss Engineer seems pretty nice if shy. I honestly tried to do as little talking as possible. I listen, unlike so many other people. Meeting her at Starbucks next week should be interesting. Uh-oh, I wonder if she has red hair? Redheads, whether natural or bottled, are nothing but trouble.

The Money Pit

I've gone online to find all the student loan debt I actually have between Stafford and Perkins loans. It could be worse. I could have been an out of state student or a med student or had undergraduate debt as well. Still, it is an English Assload of debt (not to be confused with the Metric Assload of debt).

It was higher than I expected because I didn't realize I have that much in Perkins loans. Which brings up a sore point. The university set up exit interviews for people with Perkins loans as that is a requirement of the program. You don't go to the interview, then the school can withhold your transcript and other nasty things. I remember filling out a form at the beginning of the semester concerning the financial aid office and checking a box saying I would like an email reminder to set up an interview in April. I never got that email reminder and those Perkins interviews were last week. Instead of having a nice 20 minute interview now I have to fill out some paperwork. However that paperwork isn't at this campus, but at the Bloomington campus! It appears it can be mailed to me so I don't have to drive an hour to Bloomington, but I would like to note that for the past year Indiana University has no idea how to distribute financial aid and the student body (undergrad and graduate) is pretty damn sick of it.

Back to the English Assload of debt: now I get to run the numbers through Sallie Mae to see how much of a monthly payment I can save by consolidation. Instead of paying it all back in 10 years I can stretch it out to 25 years. Yeah me! You never know I could land an actual high paying job that would allow me to pay it off early. No I can't be that lucky.

Can someone explain to me why the job market is so crappy now?

What Is You Inner Europoean

It must have been the pasta. Oh how I love a good pasta. I'm just glad I wasn't a rifle dropping French person.

Your Inner European is Italian!

Passionate and colorful. You show the world what culture really is.

Who's Your Inner European?

You know what? I don't look that good in heels though after last night I do know someone who does.

Meet Da' Mayor

Though I often refer to him as "Mayor Bart (D'oh!)" it is out of a homage to The Simpsons and not as a slam on Mayor Bart Peterson. I like Mayor Bart. He does things I like and he does things I hate. In other words, a typical mayor. At least Mayor Bart finally came around to his senses and tried to further consolidate City and County governments. It isn't his fault the State Legislature put up a tremendous hissy fit on the idea. Indianapolis Works or Unigov 2.0 is an idea with merit. I simply wish the higher ups would let us try it out. It'll work or it won't but hey doesn't the city deserve a chance to sink or swim?

I like Mayor Bart's ideas on a cultural pedestrian/bike trail connecting various downtown districts. I like that he seems to have put a lot of energy into getting an arts culture. Oh yeah that deal to keep a professional football team in town doesn't hurt my opinion of him either.

Mayor Bart is craftier than many people think he is. When he first announced the stadium/convention center deal he threw out the idea of gambling taxes while saying he really preferred a regional tax of some kind, but he knew it wouldn't be passed. Smart move on his part: propose a idea NO ONE will like so that the alternative ALMOST no one would like sounds reasonable by comparison. Slick thinking Mayor Bart as that is what happened with the regional food and beverage tax that is being passed to fund the Convention Center expansion and new dome.

Mayor Bart is coming today as a capstone to the Democratic Law Society's year. It'll be nice hear him speak and try to ask him a few questions. I wonder if DLS will have the Republican Detector out again?

The Cows Have Not Yet Won!

If you're out of state I have to explain something to you so this entire post will make sense. Indiana, along with Arizona and Hawaii, doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time. Indiana is always in the Eastern Time Zone, but pragmatically we're in two time zones during the year because everyone else does observe DST: New York time in the fall and winter, Chicago time in the spring and summer. I'll admit certain trips at certain times of the year become nice because jumping a time zone cuts an hour off.

However this goofy time situation is nothing but a pain for anyone that has dealings out of state. When I worked at a very large multi-national company I always had to put in the notes of the trouble tickets what time it was, in both local and Indy terms, so the person could be called back. I always seemed to explain to a caller why Indy wasn't on the time they expected it to be. It made us look like idiots as you could hear the confusion from the other end of the phone. I also had the fun task of standing on top of desk and cabinets to change all the clocks to reflect the proper time. We had clocks for various locations like Hong Kong, London, and maybe a few others. I was the only one crazy enough to risk my life to stand on the desks so that's how I got the job.

This debate has been going on for 40 or 50 years. One of the biggest reasons for DST defeat back when dirt was still new was someone arguing the cows would be upset at the changes in their milking schedules (a lowering of milk production argument). Funny those cows in Wisconsin, California, and other states seem to be doing okay.

Now that you have the background I can continue on. The newly elected Governor Daniels made it a priority to get DST passed for Indiana. He viewed it as an no-cost economic boost. Get rid of one stupid idiosyncrasy so businesses will invest in the state and make it easier for Indiana businesses to deal with out of state businesses. It appears Gov. Daniels had some convincing numbers to back him up. So DST evolved into a big political issue, but it wasn't Republicans vs. Democrats as one might expect. DST crossed party lines and some people liked it and others hated it.

DST was killed a few weeks ago when House Democrats just walked out of the office on the last day they could ship bills to the Senate. Their tactic killed over 100 bills. The bill was revived when it was attached as a rider on a similar type bill from the Senate (I think, the politics get very confusing at this point even for me.) Then someone in the House had the brilliant idea of allowing counties to opt out of DST if they wanted to do so. Great now you had the potential for one county to be on DST, but the neighboring county to not be on DST. What a cluster__ck that would be! Then the U.S. Department of Transportation, the agency in charge of time zones, informed the lugnuts that counties can't opt in or out of DST as that is illegal. The state can opt in or out (which we've opted out for years now), but not the counties.

The House had to pass this illegal bill yesterday so the Senate could get it and then if it passed there everyone was praying the conference committee would get rid of the illegal part. This is what happened, the bill initially lost a 49-50 vote, but you need 51 votes to pass or kill a bill. The Governor arm wrestled a few NO votes to switch their votes to YES. The bill got called up again and people voted again. One problem, one previous YES vote was missing. People even looked for this guy in the men's room, but it appears he was never found. Finally one previous NO changed his mind and voted YES so DST passed the House 51-47.

What will happen in the Senate is anybodies guess. All this happened only a 2 blocks from me. The Statehouse is a very pretty building, but it hides lots of ugly politics. After seeing this debate on DST unfold the past few months I'm starting to wonder if the cows are ruling over there. The thought processes appear similar to me.

Speaking of the cows I've heard unconfirmed reports they are gathering near Muncie and Lafayette for a possible invasion. Size, composition, and ordinance are unknown at this time. Please tell your elected Senators and Representatives to fight the cows on DST. I refuse to be ruled by something I want to turn into hamburger.

When Eric Cartman Grows Up.

What happens when those kids in South Park grow up? They can't stay 4th graders forever. It dawned on me the other day; Eric Cartman grown up becomes me. Oh boy!

So this is me as a South Park character. I have beer and a S-Mart's top of the line boomstick so I'm happy. Just as a safety tip though don't go drinking and using a boomstick at the same time. Not even if you're a trained professional. I scare even myself sometimes.

Link found here thanks to E.Spat.

Should I Work While I Study For The Bar?

Okay I need advice from those that have been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt. I'm running out of money. Stafford Loans don't go very far and there is no way that I can stretch my pitiful checking account all the way through the summer. I can probably beg and borrow money from my family, but I would prefer not to do that.

I could get the job I had last summer grading standardized tests from high school students again. There is a 5 hour night shift so I could go to bar review classes in the morning, study in the afternoon, and work at night. Is that a good idea or should I truly focus only on the bar review classes.

I DO NOT want to take the bar exam more than once. If working 25 hours a week isn't a good idea please let me know. If it is realistic please let me know.

Yes I'm A Nutcase. So What?

I blame school on this. I never even heard of the term OCD until I came here. Now I see it all the time in so many people. Maybe something about school draws all the OCD people here. Maybe something about school converts us to OCD freaks. You make the call!

You May Be a Bit Obsessive Compulsive ...

Meticulous and detailed oriented, you have some irrational obsessions. Maybe it's your super neat closet or washing your hands a gazillion times. You probably know it's weird, but you just can't stop thinking about it. In fact, the more you think about your quirks, the more you have to do them.

What Personality Disorder Are You?

As seen on Legal Quandary.

You Had To Have Been Disappointed.

One way to get to Confessions is by entering the term "hot sexy horny nude ladies eating hot dogs" Suprisingly I end up #14 on the list of hits. It appears by posting the lyrics to Sir Mix-a-lot's Baby Got Back is close enough for Yahoo's search engine.

I have a long standing policy of 'hey whatever floats your boat is okay by me' as I'm a firm believer in 'live and let live'. Yet I will admit that even I rasied an eyebrow at that one.

Confessions: contributing to obscure pornography since March 2004 whether I want to or not.

More Than Meets The Eye

Director Michael Bay (Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and The Rock) is in talks to direct a live action version of the 1980's classic series "The Transformers." The movie is based on the Generation I characters so we get Optimus Prime, StarScream, and the badass Megatron. For those unfamiliar with the basic plot two warring factions of robots (one good and one evil) search the universe for more fuel and find a great big gas tank called Earth. The Transformers bring their little war with them and humanity is stuck in the middle. A November 2006 release is planned.

I wonder what my little green Ranger can transform into? Does anyone know what the mileage on energon cubes is? Oh this will either be decent or suck really bad.

'C' Is For Cookie

I can understand what PBS is trying to do. They want to make eating healthy look like a cool thing to do for kids. But the character's names is "Cookie Monster" and that means he's a monster around cookies! What is healthy eating for Cookie Monster? Is is scarfing down only one bag of chocolate chip cookies? If I turn on Sesame Street and see the big blue furry guy scarfing down a salad I'll be sick.

A cookie is a sometimes food. Yeah right tell that to student about ready to take finals. We want comfort food and we want it now! I feel sick, the terrorist have finally won.

PS: I did blog on this last night, but Blogger ate my post. I'll give the hat tip to my buddy Jewboy for floating this to Atlas this morning though.

It's Illogical!

Wait a second! I know I got at least the first one correct as it is a math problem that is easy to check. Or law school has totally corrupted me. I'm going for the last explanation that my brain is totally shot. It has been since Spring Break of last year by my reckoning.

You Are Not Logical

(You got 0% of the questions right) Logic is obviously not a talent of yours Or maybe your brain is totally fried today Try again later!

How Logical Are You?

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Victory Field is only 3 blocks from campus. Sadly it is raining right now and the afternoon will be dreary if drier. Why do I care? The Indianapolis Indians start their home opener at 2pm today against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will be pitching for Pawtucket as part of his ankle rehab.

Why do I have one class today that conflicts? Doesn't Opening Day count as a holiday? I thought it did. I implore my professors to cancel their afternoon classes. Some things are simply more important than the law. Maybe we should boycott classes? Who would have thought 3 years here would have turned me into such a rable-rouser?

EDIT: If it were warmer, or at least sunny, I would have skipped. If a friend could have snuck out of the office I would have gone. You have to have some incentive to go when the weather is sub-optimal. Another 2pm start time occurs just after graduation. That sounds tempting!

JAG Has Been Decommissioned.

Everyone's favorite JAG lawyers have been axed by CBS after 10 seasons. Series star David James Elliot leaving for ABC seems to be the reason for the axe as JAG's ratings are still decent. JAG ruled! It had topical plots, humor, romantic undertones, and showed big boys with big toys. Harmon Rabb Jr. (who approaches MENTOS (TM) Levels of Coolness) got to fly F-14 Tomcats and toys don't get much bigger than that.


Okay script writers, if the series finales hasn't been written yet just get Mac and Harm together!

Thanks for the Hat Tip Lawren.

Pace Car For 2005 Indianapolis 500

It is so nice and warm and I know the sound of engines turning at the track will happen in about a month. Growing up on the west side, if the wind blew the right way I could hear the cars from my house. They've announced this years pace car and it is worthy: 2005 Chevy Corvette Convertible. I didn't catch who the pace car driver is, but IMS may not have decided on who it is yet.

I do love the new Corvette, don't get me wrong, but I was pulling for the new Mustang to be the pace car.

Hello, Is There Anybody In There?

If you were an elevator repair person wouldn't the first question you have be something like, "I wonder if anyone is stuck in that broken elevator?" How did they miss the fact that someone was stuck in the broken elevator? A shame this guy had already delivered the three Chinese orders else he could have had some food for his three day ordeal.

Ming Kuang Chen, 35, had been the subject of a widespread search after he failed to return to his restaurant Friday night with $200 in receipts, prompting speculation that he was the victim of armed bandits or some other urban horror.

Authorities were questioning why police officers and the building's private security force found no sign of Chen, who claimed he had repeatedly cried out and pushed an alarm button in the elevator.

An investigation determined that the security camera and alarm system in the elevator were working. But security officers told police they never heard nor saw Chen until Tuesday. Authorities showed up at the building Tuesday after firefighters got a call that an elevator was stuck. Even maintenance workers who were called to check out the disabled elevator on Monday missed Chen, police said.

The Axe Effect, BK Cowboys, And Bras

Okay I've seen a Victoria's Secret commercial with background music from Gladiator. That is wrong on so many levels.

Does that Burger King commercial with the singing cowboys creep anyone else out? Seriously? You got some cowboy (is that Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish?) singing some goofy song with the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders dancing around, two Daisy Dukes on a handcart, and the Whopper King pushing a Southern Belle in a bustier(sp?) on a swing. It's like watching a freight train hit a car. You know you shouldn't watch, but you have to see the carnage.

Those Axe Deordorant commercials are a classic example of, "Men stink. Men want to get laid. To succeed at the latter, they must deal with the former." I've seen the female wrestlers pile onto the poor guy wearing Axe. Oh that Death From Above move had to hurt when she landed on him. About this one with the mother hitting on the daughter's boyfriend, is Axe implying that a woman's breasts will expand 3 sizes upon contact with the Axe aroma? Does Axe has some weird chemical interaction resulting in spontaneous silicone? Or is the button on her blouse flying off just some party trick that certain women can do, something akin to tying a cherry stem into a knot with only her tongue?

The problem being the Axe effect doesn't work. I'm wearing it now and the attractive blond second year across from me isn't suddenly lunging at me. Not that I would mind, but I'll admit this wouldn't be a most appropriate place for Public Displays of Aroma Induced Lunging (PDAIL). As I'm about to graduate and need a source of income perhaps I should sue Axe for false advertising? Their product is not performing in the way I was led to believe it would. Sadly my legally trained mind has already come up with a crippling defense, Axe never stated PDAIL would occur in law students. They've only advertised PDAIL with MILFs and wrestlers. I don't run into wrestlers very often.

Oh my poor fragile mind needs to get out of here.

Crayola Would Never Go For This One

I do not ask. I do not tell. But if you want to have fun...

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

Illini Stuck In The Tar

Don't get down by 15 points! You can do that once in a tourney, not twice! Bad ball handling in the last minute of the game. The Illini were my pick so now I'm disappointed.

In other sports related news I've been invited to a fantasy baseball league. Two problem that I see are: 1) I haven't been following sport much the past 3 years so I don't know that I want to spend time and energy in a fantasy league when I'm studying for the bar exam and, 2) I don't know a damn thing about baseball. I'm serious! I've never followed baseball, I don't know what a lot of the stats mean, I have no idea who is good in what positions, and my knowledge of baseball is slightly above that of hockey.

I was sheltered child so gimme a break! I like going to baseball games, but you won't get me into an in-depth analysis of the game because the average 8 year old child knows more about the game than I do. I just go to have a good time with friends. I don't think I'll join the fantasy league.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

From Green Day: American Idiot

.......

I walk a lonely road

The only one that

I have ever known

Don't know where it goes

But it's home to me and I walk alone

....

I walk this empty street

On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Where the city sleeps

and I'm the only one and

....

I walk alone

I walk alone

I walk alone

I walk alone

I walk a...

....

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

'Til then I walk alone

....

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah,

Aaah-ah,Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

....

I'm walking down the line

That divides me somewhere in my mind

On the border line

Of the edge and where I walk alone

.....

Read between the lines

What's fucked up and everything's alright

Check my vital signs

To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

....

I walk alone

I walk alone

I walk alone

I walk a...

....

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

'Til then I walk alone

.....

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah,

Aaah-ahAh-ah, Ah-ah

....

I walk alone

I walk a...

...

I walk this empty street

On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Where the city sleeps

And I'm the only one and I walk a...

....

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

'Til then I walk alone...

Women's Tourney

Had I been near a TV I would have likely watched the Women's NCAA Final Four games last night. Especially since Indy is hosting the games. I bet you forgot there was even a women's Final Four. With luck they probably get a tenth of the coverage and promotion the men's get.

Anyway Baylor, hardly a traditional powerhouse, was supposed to be slaughtered by powerhouse Louisiana State. That didn't happen. In fact Baylor won 68-57 in a huge comeback.

Then you have Tennessee against Big 10 representative Michigan State. What can you say about Tennessee? They are the New York Yankees of women's basketball. They're always favored and they almost always win. Give Pat Summitt credit, she's built one helluva program, but I hate those guys...er...girls. They tend to be the buzzsaw Purdue runs into in the tourney. Yet those Spartans, from the Big 10 of course, managed to knock the Lady Vols off coming back from a 16 point deficit! Yeah baby!

Now I have two championship games to watch and two teams from my conference to root for. Life is good!