Today's quote: Wait a minute... nice boys don't kiss like that.
Johnnie Cochran? Hm...the only thing that comes to mind is that a certain town in a Southern state is probably assembling to dance on his grave. You know how in our civ pro text it says that in class action lawsuits the fees are more about the attorney's fees? Yeaaah. This town was a typical one, except one of those industrial factories came in and dumped straight into the water supply. The result? More than 25% of the children were born with missing limbs, and even older people who were just exposed to the water developed cancer. I read one particularly horrifying account of a small family that walked to school every morning, and one of the little boys had a fascination with lingering in the polluted stream right outside of the factory. The boy died before he was 30, with massive complications from several illnesses. Anyway, good ole Johnny somehow got wind of this, and swooped down upon them. Everyone thought he was their savior. After the lawsuit was settled, the shocking truth came out. After attorney's fees, the average plaintiff received approximately $300. I'm surprised they didn't try to tar and feather Johnnie. Needless to say, his name is mud in that town.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
Quickest way to a Man's Heart
Today's quote: SixWingAngel (1:28:10 AM): "the quickest way to a man's heart is between the third and fourth rib. Pierce there with your rapier."
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Parents suck
Today's quote: I have to tell the maid to buy diapers and get the pool boy to walk the dog? Can't I just make out with Kevin all the time? Being married sucks.
How am I supposed to deal with the most freaking insane parents in the world? They think that when they call me I'll just automatically drop everything to talk to them. Today, for instance, they called right when I was in the middle of cooking dinner. Three pots going on the stove, and the bloody phone rings. I go to pick it up, like an idiot, and it's my parents! I'm the idiot, because the phone I answered with is corded, so I'm a prisoner to the wall, while my stove is on, cooking merrily away without yours truly. My dad always calls me to ask how to do things, like what does this red blinking light on the fax machine mean, or how do you change the print options in the menu, etc. I don't mind helping anyone, but he always asks me how to do things that obviously require someone being there to know 1) what the hell he's talking about, and 2) what the hell he's talking about. Ugh. So I finally came to my senses and switched phones. By the time I got back to the stove, stuff was burning, or splattering away. I started swearing like a banshee because I got burned by two splatters, and my dad kept asking me why something looked like it didn't fit into the cd changer. Finally I lost my temper, and repeated for the third time that I wasn't there, I don't know why it didn't fit. Dad got really mad and said my attitude was shitty, and hung up on me. I really don't think my parents know the meaning of "reasonable."
How am I supposed to deal with the most freaking insane parents in the world? They think that when they call me I'll just automatically drop everything to talk to them. Today, for instance, they called right when I was in the middle of cooking dinner. Three pots going on the stove, and the bloody phone rings. I go to pick it up, like an idiot, and it's my parents! I'm the idiot, because the phone I answered with is corded, so I'm a prisoner to the wall, while my stove is on, cooking merrily away without yours truly. My dad always calls me to ask how to do things, like what does this red blinking light on the fax machine mean, or how do you change the print options in the menu, etc. I don't mind helping anyone, but he always asks me how to do things that obviously require someone being there to know 1) what the hell he's talking about, and 2) what the hell he's talking about. Ugh. So I finally came to my senses and switched phones. By the time I got back to the stove, stuff was burning, or splattering away. I started swearing like a banshee because I got burned by two splatters, and my dad kept asking me why something looked like it didn't fit into the cd changer. Finally I lost my temper, and repeated for the third time that I wasn't there, I don't know why it didn't fit. Dad got really mad and said my attitude was shitty, and hung up on me. I really don't think my parents know the meaning of "reasonable."
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Cyberbullying?
I came across this article, which made my jaw drop.
**********
You've got hate mail
Cyberbullying, in which school kids anonymously spread gossip online, is an epidemic authorities find hard to stop
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
KATE TAYLOR
(excerpted)
The rise of cyberbullying -- the use of new communication technology to hurt others -- is affecting more and more middle and high school students, experts say. It's an insidious new form of bullying because those who do it can harass their victims anonymously, and away from adults' notice.
Parry Aftab, director of the national WiredSafety.org, an online safety group, said 55 to 60 percent of the 1,000 students ages 9-14 she polls each month have been involved in a cyberbullying incident.
"The problem is bad and it's getting worse. It's getting worse because it's so easy, and kids are bored or angry," Aftab said from her New Jersey office. "It's growing because parents are putting powerful technology into their kids' hands and they are clueless about what that technology is. Parents don't know half the time what text messages are or that kids take pictures of other kids in locker rooms with their cell phones."
"It's like an electronic Dodge City," said Tim Drilling, principal of Lake Oswego's Lakeridge High School, referring to the brawling town in the long-running "Gunsmoke" television series. "Nobody seems to respect the behavioral norms -- it's wide open, people seem to be able to say whatever they want. You can be anonymous, and that seems to make people feel very free."
Attacks are vicious because the senders can be anonymous, said Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use in Eugene. "The social norms online seem to encourage disinhibition. Also, students often don't have any tangible feedback about how they're affecting someone."
Devin -- the school newspaper's page design editor -- taps a few keys, and up pops a Web log that depicts him as jealous, small-minded and incompetent. The same Web log also aims insults at other classmates and teachers.
Stevie Viaene, a web design teacher at Tigard High School, says "Kids have been driven to tears by some very nasty e-mails. Lots of kids spend a lot of time blogging, and putting scathing things about other students on them."
While parents have struggled to understand how cyberbullying happens, schools are only beginning to look for ways to fight it. Cyberbullying often happens off school premises and after hours, and experts say much of it is protected by free speech. If schools can identify the students who are doing it, they take measures to stop the cyberbullying, but tracking messages and Web log entries requires serious detective work.
At least one lawmaker has taken steps to help schools. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has proposed legislation that would require school harassment policies to prohibit cyberbullying.
In the meantime, Aftab said, schools can do a few things to help stop the abuse. They can establish an anonymous tip phone line for those who witness cyberbullying, and organize student-run awareness campaigns about cyberbullying. She also advocates awareness workshops for educators, parents and community leaders.
"They have to do something about this now. I couldn't stand it if this happened to one other child," said the mother of the Lake Oswego girl who moved to another school after cyberbullying demolished her social life, as well as her ability to focus in class. "That's the only reason we came forward. Others have to know how much it hurts."
Kate Taylor: 503-294-5116; katetaylor@news.oregonian.com
**********
Well, well. How interesting. Dear Iowa Law community, this "cyberbullying" thing seems to hit a little too close to home. One thing I disagreed with was how the article seemed to imply that kids are the most hurt by blogs. Although she did not state such a thing, the article seems slanted that way. Maybe she could have included how widespread these kinds of things are in the real world, like how people have lost their jobs because of blogs.
Cyberbullying, in which school kids anonymously spread gossip online, is an epidemic authorities find hard to stop
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
KATE TAYLOR
(excerpted)
The rise of cyberbullying -- the use of new communication technology to hurt others -- is affecting more and more middle and high school students, experts say. It's an insidious new form of bullying because those who do it can harass their victims anonymously, and away from adults' notice.
Parry Aftab, director of the national WiredSafety.org, an online safety group, said 55 to 60 percent of the 1,000 students ages 9-14 she polls each month have been involved in a cyberbullying incident.
"The problem is bad and it's getting worse. It's getting worse because it's so easy, and kids are bored or angry," Aftab said from her New Jersey office. "It's growing because parents are putting powerful technology into their kids' hands and they are clueless about what that technology is. Parents don't know half the time what text messages are or that kids take pictures of other kids in locker rooms with their cell phones."
"It's like an electronic Dodge City," said Tim Drilling, principal of Lake Oswego's Lakeridge High School, referring to the brawling town in the long-running "Gunsmoke" television series. "Nobody seems to respect the behavioral norms -- it's wide open, people seem to be able to say whatever they want. You can be anonymous, and that seems to make people feel very free."
Attacks are vicious because the senders can be anonymous, said Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use in Eugene. "The social norms online seem to encourage disinhibition. Also, students often don't have any tangible feedback about how they're affecting someone."
Devin -- the school newspaper's page design editor -- taps a few keys, and up pops a Web log that depicts him as jealous, small-minded and incompetent. The same Web log also aims insults at other classmates and teachers.
Stevie Viaene, a web design teacher at Tigard High School, says "Kids have been driven to tears by some very nasty e-mails. Lots of kids spend a lot of time blogging, and putting scathing things about other students on them."
While parents have struggled to understand how cyberbullying happens, schools are only beginning to look for ways to fight it. Cyberbullying often happens off school premises and after hours, and experts say much of it is protected by free speech. If schools can identify the students who are doing it, they take measures to stop the cyberbullying, but tracking messages and Web log entries requires serious detective work.
At least one lawmaker has taken steps to help schools. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has proposed legislation that would require school harassment policies to prohibit cyberbullying.
In the meantime, Aftab said, schools can do a few things to help stop the abuse. They can establish an anonymous tip phone line for those who witness cyberbullying, and organize student-run awareness campaigns about cyberbullying. She also advocates awareness workshops for educators, parents and community leaders.
"They have to do something about this now. I couldn't stand it if this happened to one other child," said the mother of the Lake Oswego girl who moved to another school after cyberbullying demolished her social life, as well as her ability to focus in class. "That's the only reason we came forward. Others have to know how much it hurts."
Kate Taylor: 503-294-5116; katetaylor@news.oregonian.com
Well, well. How interesting. Dear Iowa Law community, this "cyberbullying" thing seems to hit a little too close to home. One thing I disagreed with was how the article seemed to imply that kids are the most hurt by blogs. Although she did not state such a thing, the article seems slanted that way. Maybe she could have included how widespread these kinds of things are in the real world, like how people have lost their jobs because of blogs.
I'm just a 1L...
Today's quote: You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bo staff.
Does anyone else get bombarded with friends calling you demanding advice on what to do in their problems? My family and friends keep calling me every now and then giving me some problem and asking me if it's in their best interests to sue, or how else to deal with it. Everyone knows that the best thing to do is resolve the situation without resorting to going to court, but what do I know? I'm just a 1L.
Note: I DO NOT give anyone legal advice. I always tell them I don't know anything, and to go seek professional counsel. I only think about these situations in the context as if a hypo given in class, and how I would address these hypos if given on an exam.
For instance, my friend, an administrative assistant, called me a few months back, absolutely hysterical. She'd made a mistake of some kind on obtaining information that resulted in costing her boss a whole day in fruitless activity. Anyway, while he was spending the day finding out that what she'd told him was a huge mistake, my friend had taken the afternoon off for her dental appointment. Therefore, she was not in the position to answer her phone. When she left the office, she saw that she had a voice mail from him. She checked it, and listened to the most crazily obscene and profane message, calling her "a stupid bitch who was going to be in big trouble, and why wasn't she picking up the fucking phone" etc. Apparently, every other word was profanity. In her panic, she deleted the voicemail because she didn't want to hear anymore of it. I told her that was a big mistake to begin with, you never delete evidence, just common sense.
Then, the next day she went to work, he demanded to see her. The co-president had forewarned her to be as subdued as possible, because the man had been ranting about wanting to fire my friend. So she goes in, and sits down. He begins with, "How much do you make here?" Basically, everyone there knew that my friend had just purchased a new home. She was struggling to meet the mortgage payments on her measly salary, and everyone at the company knew this. So it was especially heinous that he played that card. He went on to disparage her past work, saying she just wasn't up to par, and made her feel like life wasn't even worth living. This was the first mistake she'd ever made.
A few days later she called me, and asked me if there was anything that she could do. I told her she'd have to go see an attorney for this kind of thing, since I didn't know much about it. The only thing that I could think of was that it sounded a lot like IIED, so I went through the prima facie case for it, and I'd thought she might be able to have a decent case, except for the fact that she'd deleted that voicemail. If she'd been able to obtain testimony from other workers at the company about his frequent rages and how he just fired people at a whim (this was a frequent pattern), maybe it would have made up for it. But everyone was so terrified of the man that she was sure that no one would help her for fear of retaliatory consequences at work. I told her that she should go find counsel (maybe at a clinic since it might be cheaper), who might tell her to go see a shrink and obtain medical documentation to establish expert evidence. Plus, I'm sure the fact that the company is a private corporation will have some impact on this. I called my old workplace to ask an attorney what she thought, and she said that employees have a very difficult time winning lawsuits against private employers for this kind of thing.
It really sucks knowing that my friends and family are out there having these problems, and there's nothing that I can do about it. This was exactly the kind of thing that I'd hoped to remedy by entering the legal profession. At times like this, I feel like I'm not learning fast enough.
Does anyone else get bombarded with friends calling you demanding advice on what to do in their problems? My family and friends keep calling me every now and then giving me some problem and asking me if it's in their best interests to sue, or how else to deal with it. Everyone knows that the best thing to do is resolve the situation without resorting to going to court, but what do I know? I'm just a 1L.
Note: I DO NOT give anyone legal advice. I always tell them I don't know anything, and to go seek professional counsel. I only think about these situations in the context as if a hypo given in class, and how I would address these hypos if given on an exam.
For instance, my friend, an administrative assistant, called me a few months back, absolutely hysterical. She'd made a mistake of some kind on obtaining information that resulted in costing her boss a whole day in fruitless activity. Anyway, while he was spending the day finding out that what she'd told him was a huge mistake, my friend had taken the afternoon off for her dental appointment. Therefore, she was not in the position to answer her phone. When she left the office, she saw that she had a voice mail from him. She checked it, and listened to the most crazily obscene and profane message, calling her "a stupid bitch who was going to be in big trouble, and why wasn't she picking up the fucking phone" etc. Apparently, every other word was profanity. In her panic, she deleted the voicemail because she didn't want to hear anymore of it. I told her that was a big mistake to begin with, you never delete evidence, just common sense.
Then, the next day she went to work, he demanded to see her. The co-president had forewarned her to be as subdued as possible, because the man had been ranting about wanting to fire my friend. So she goes in, and sits down. He begins with, "How much do you make here?" Basically, everyone there knew that my friend had just purchased a new home. She was struggling to meet the mortgage payments on her measly salary, and everyone at the company knew this. So it was especially heinous that he played that card. He went on to disparage her past work, saying she just wasn't up to par, and made her feel like life wasn't even worth living. This was the first mistake she'd ever made.
A few days later she called me, and asked me if there was anything that she could do. I told her she'd have to go see an attorney for this kind of thing, since I didn't know much about it. The only thing that I could think of was that it sounded a lot like IIED, so I went through the prima facie case for it, and I'd thought she might be able to have a decent case, except for the fact that she'd deleted that voicemail. If she'd been able to obtain testimony from other workers at the company about his frequent rages and how he just fired people at a whim (this was a frequent pattern), maybe it would have made up for it. But everyone was so terrified of the man that she was sure that no one would help her for fear of retaliatory consequences at work. I told her that she should go find counsel (maybe at a clinic since it might be cheaper), who might tell her to go see a shrink and obtain medical documentation to establish expert evidence. Plus, I'm sure the fact that the company is a private corporation will have some impact on this. I called my old workplace to ask an attorney what she thought, and she said that employees have a very difficult time winning lawsuits against private employers for this kind of thing.
It really sucks knowing that my friends and family are out there having these problems, and there's nothing that I can do about it. This was exactly the kind of thing that I'd hoped to remedy by entering the legal profession. At times like this, I feel like I'm not learning fast enough.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Clever ruse, or huge mistake?
Today's quote: I smoke, I snort, I've killed and robbed, I'm a man.
Just thought it was funny. I heard on the radio this morning how they'd somehow messed up the numbers for calling in and voting last night, so they're having to redo the voting tonight, and then hold the result show tomorrow night. It's all very fishy to me. Either someone was really stupid and lost their job over this, or this was a cleverly engineered ploy to gain more airspace for the hottest show on television. Hm, I wonder which?
I have to agree with Professor Yin on his assessment of the Idols. My favorite pick, Mario, is gone and I'm very sad. He was hot and could sing! The total package. I bet he can dance too, which would make him an ultimate triple threat. I just hope that Mikalah gets voted off. She seems like a sweet gal, but I just can't stand hearing that girl speak. Otherwise, I was not very impressed with anyone. I liked Vonzell's song pretty well, and Anwar's (wow Chaka Khan), but for the first time I didn't like Nadia's pick. The song was the wrong range for her, and it was just blah for me. I'm waiting for someone to put on the performance of the season. Last season it was Fantasia's rendition of Summertime, and the first season it was Kelly Clarkson's rendition of Walk On By (IMO even though the judges didn't like it).
I wish they would bring back Fame, the new show, which ran about 1-2 years ago sometime in the summer (?), did anyone see it? It was singing, dancing, and performing. I'd say that the suckiest singer on that show could kick some serious ass on American Idol. I'm still of the opinion they should put real singers into a show like American Idol. How quick do you think Britney Spears would get voted off?
This reminds me, I'm debating whether to sign up for Lawlawpalooza. I still think there should be an acappella group from the school.
Just thought it was funny. I heard on the radio this morning how they'd somehow messed up the numbers for calling in and voting last night, so they're having to redo the voting tonight, and then hold the result show tomorrow night. It's all very fishy to me. Either someone was really stupid and lost their job over this, or this was a cleverly engineered ploy to gain more airspace for the hottest show on television. Hm, I wonder which?
I have to agree with Professor Yin on his assessment of the Idols. My favorite pick, Mario, is gone and I'm very sad. He was hot and could sing! The total package. I bet he can dance too, which would make him an ultimate triple threat. I just hope that Mikalah gets voted off. She seems like a sweet gal, but I just can't stand hearing that girl speak. Otherwise, I was not very impressed with anyone. I liked Vonzell's song pretty well, and Anwar's (wow Chaka Khan), but for the first time I didn't like Nadia's pick. The song was the wrong range for her, and it was just blah for me. I'm waiting for someone to put on the performance of the season. Last season it was Fantasia's rendition of Summertime, and the first season it was Kelly Clarkson's rendition of Walk On By (IMO even though the judges didn't like it).
I wish they would bring back Fame, the new show, which ran about 1-2 years ago sometime in the summer (?), did anyone see it? It was singing, dancing, and performing. I'd say that the suckiest singer on that show could kick some serious ass on American Idol. I'm still of the opinion they should put real singers into a show like American Idol. How quick do you think Britney Spears would get voted off?
This reminds me, I'm debating whether to sign up for Lawlawpalooza. I still think there should be an acappella group from the school.
Help, a bit lost...
Can someone tell me where we are in property? I've missed so many classes that I don't even know what chapter we're in. I bet I'm going to fail property this semester. It's a bit scary because I think I have 100+ pages to read for the class, and I didn't get any work done over spring break. Have other people started outlining yet? I keep saying I will but I end up surfing the net or doing some other time-wasting activity *cough*.
I wonder if Professor Hovenkamp is going to discuss Terri Schiavo like our other professors have been. It's weird, because I'd first heard about her a year ago, and I'd thought by now it would have been resolved. Obviously I was "naive and misguided." It's incredible that her parents have even offered the husband all the money if he would just divorce her, and it's even more incredible that he's refused. I don't know about others, but I would rather not be kept alive in such a fashion. Sure, maybe for a few months to see if I get better, but it's an emotional drain on the people around you to see you like this. It keeps hope alive in such a torturous way. And the financial drain! Does anyone have an estimate on how much keeping Terri Schiavo alive has cost? Not to say that there is a price on a human life, but it must be tremendous. To begin with, keeping someone on life support is crazily expensive, plus all the litigation that has gone on over the custody battles between the parents and the husband, and now with the passing of this Terri Schiavo law it means there have been even more resources devoted to this subject.
I just wonder what's going on in the husband's mind. I would think that since the parents care so much about hanging on to every hope that he should grant custody to them.
I wonder if Professor Hovenkamp is going to discuss Terri Schiavo like our other professors have been. It's weird, because I'd first heard about her a year ago, and I'd thought by now it would have been resolved. Obviously I was "naive and misguided." It's incredible that her parents have even offered the husband all the money if he would just divorce her, and it's even more incredible that he's refused. I don't know about others, but I would rather not be kept alive in such a fashion. Sure, maybe for a few months to see if I get better, but it's an emotional drain on the people around you to see you like this. It keeps hope alive in such a torturous way. And the financial drain! Does anyone have an estimate on how much keeping Terri Schiavo alive has cost? Not to say that there is a price on a human life, but it must be tremendous. To begin with, keeping someone on life support is crazily expensive, plus all the litigation that has gone on over the custody battles between the parents and the husband, and now with the passing of this Terri Schiavo law it means there have been even more resources devoted to this subject.
I just wonder what's going on in the husband's mind. I would think that since the parents care so much about hanging on to every hope that he should grant custody to them.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Etc.
Today's quote: I'll show you how to do something once, I'll help you if you mess up twice, but the third time you're on your own. 'Cause that's how it is in the world.
Am I the only one who's sad that LostInIowa doesn't allow comments on his blog anymore? What I don't understand is why people say disallowing comments is such a bad thing. The short-lived IA Jurist went even further than that, and dismantled his entire blog. What I find ironic about that is that he'd said early on that he would never erase or get rid of comments, but in my opinion he has done exactly that in the most final way possible.
So why is it so surprising that comments are disallowed? Why on earth would you let people say such mean things to you when you could easily avoid that? The only thing is, now no one can comment, including those of us who would like to try to take a fair view of things. Is he living in his "bubble" as one person put it? Maybe, maybe not. He knows people are pissed. Constructive criticism or an honest opinion is one thing. But people didn't stop there, and instead resorted to some nasty name-calling. I think many of us might also have disallowed comments under the circumstances. Sure, maybe what he said was not the best thing to have articulated, but I really don't think that calling someone an asshole or a douchebag is the way to get at the heart of the matter. Is it just me, or is there a chilling effect here?
Something that came up in conversation with my friend was the fact that people think of you as the person who writes the blog. They never think that sometimes it's more of a persona, and may represent an element of a person but is not truly completely representative of everything that person is. Maybe people should try to remember that passing such judgment someone's character happens in a context where the judge does not have all of the information about a person to hand, and so is not really making an informed decision. Just a thought.
I came to law school thinking that here would be a wide-ranging collection of people who would at least be reasonably intelligent and open-minded. Instead, I find some of the worst examples of intolerance I have ever seen in my life. Freedom of expression is such a precious right. But when people jump down your throat for things you say, this can create an inhibition on what that person feels free to express. If someone finds something a blogger has written about reprehensible, why not approach the subject in a dignified manner as befitting a law-student-soon-to-be-professional? Or if it's unresolvable, just don't read the blog. It's not like the blog is confronting a person wherever someone goes. Just don't read it.
People say that us bloggers are "rabid" attack dogs who spew their vicious insults at people. Well, I really think the finger-pointing goes both ways. Some of the nastiest insults I saw on blogs were the ones left by the commentors. Those of you who say that we are nasty/juvenile people spewing our immature vitriol into the mainstream? Maybe you should hold up a mirror, because most of the responses were no better.
It's very disappointing how little respect we show each other. IA Jurist said something on his blog at one point:
"Law students love to see other law students bleed a little."
What? Sure, we may enjoy seeing each other mildly discomfited occasionally, but not all of us are the social piranhas you make us out to be.
Am I the only one who's sad that LostInIowa doesn't allow comments on his blog anymore? What I don't understand is why people say disallowing comments is such a bad thing. The short-lived IA Jurist went even further than that, and dismantled his entire blog. What I find ironic about that is that he'd said early on that he would never erase or get rid of comments, but in my opinion he has done exactly that in the most final way possible.
So why is it so surprising that comments are disallowed? Why on earth would you let people say such mean things to you when you could easily avoid that? The only thing is, now no one can comment, including those of us who would like to try to take a fair view of things. Is he living in his "bubble" as one person put it? Maybe, maybe not. He knows people are pissed. Constructive criticism or an honest opinion is one thing. But people didn't stop there, and instead resorted to some nasty name-calling. I think many of us might also have disallowed comments under the circumstances. Sure, maybe what he said was not the best thing to have articulated, but I really don't think that calling someone an asshole or a douchebag is the way to get at the heart of the matter. Is it just me, or is there a chilling effect here?
Something that came up in conversation with my friend was the fact that people think of you as the person who writes the blog. They never think that sometimes it's more of a persona, and may represent an element of a person but is not truly completely representative of everything that person is. Maybe people should try to remember that passing such judgment someone's character happens in a context where the judge does not have all of the information about a person to hand, and so is not really making an informed decision. Just a thought.
I came to law school thinking that here would be a wide-ranging collection of people who would at least be reasonably intelligent and open-minded. Instead, I find some of the worst examples of intolerance I have ever seen in my life. Freedom of expression is such a precious right. But when people jump down your throat for things you say, this can create an inhibition on what that person feels free to express. If someone finds something a blogger has written about reprehensible, why not approach the subject in a dignified manner as befitting a law-student-soon-to-be-professional? Or if it's unresolvable, just don't read the blog. It's not like the blog is confronting a person wherever someone goes. Just don't read it.
People say that us bloggers are "rabid" attack dogs who spew their vicious insults at people. Well, I really think the finger-pointing goes both ways. Some of the nastiest insults I saw on blogs were the ones left by the commentors. Those of you who say that we are nasty/juvenile people spewing our immature vitriol into the mainstream? Maybe you should hold up a mirror, because most of the responses were no better.
It's very disappointing how little respect we show each other. IA Jurist said something on his blog at one point:
"Law students love to see other law students bleed a little."
What? Sure, we may enjoy seeing each other mildly discomfited occasionally, but not all of us are the social piranhas you make us out to be.
A defense of Iowa Law blogs
Well, given the recent turn of events and how Iowa Law blogs have come under fire, there are a number of arguments to be noted from the comments people leave:
1) The bloggers are harming Iowa Law's reputation.
2) You should be careful about how your blog could affect your career, and your chances at one.
3) People think that just because a blogger's identity is exposed, this will enact an automatic censor on that person.
4) Some people out there believe that they are authority to critique or rank other blogs.
5) If you feel the need to gossip about classmates or professors, don't leave evidence (there's the widespread belief that law school is much like high school).
Here are some of my thoughts on these themes:
1) The above statement could very well be true. Sure, some people may see some of these blogs and believe that we are a crappy school with nothing better to do than gossip about others in this medium. However, I prefer to think that the main audience will take what they read with a grain of salt, and will not be prey to such broad generalizations, as one comment put it. The chances are good that if someone is reading this kind of blog, they're a law student, faculty or soon-to-be law student. I think that the people who comprise this audience will tend to realize that just b/c some blogs are a certain type that they are not representative of the caliber of the student body/school. I also believe that some bloggers simply use their blog as an opportunity to vent, or create some kind of reflection of law school, as they see it. Sure, they could learn to exercise a little discretion when discussing their peers or teachers. In any case, to me it seems like a creative endeavor. Besides, didn't someone say any fame is good fame?
2) I agree wholeheartedly with being careful about letting your blog affect your career. For pete's sake, don't thoughtlessly append your bloglink to your resume without first giving careful review to what you have written, and deciding if you have written anything to be ashamed of, or something that would create the impression that you do not know how to conduct yourself as a professional.
3) The truth of this depends on the nature of the person. If they really are a coward, then maybe exposing the identity of a blogger will keep them from making such distasteful/unpopular comments in the future. But there are those who will stand by what they said no matter what. Is it misguided stubbornness, or strong confidence that is to be applauded? The fact is, once you cross that line and put into print someone's identity linked to their blog, they have nothing left to lose. There's really nothing they can do, except stand by what they said and own it.
4) This really amuses me. Iowa law has spawned so many blogs now that it has even spawned a few that rate the other blogs. Who are these people? And what do they base their judgments on?
5) Yep, it seems best to play it safe. It is definitely true that the law school is like a pressure cooker that gives much fuel for this type of behavior, but the least you could do is not get caught at something that others may find "reprehensible."
Overall, I am fond of the Iowa Law blogs. Even if they seem puerile to others, the fact of the matter is that they are often a TRUE reflection of what many people are thinking or feeling. Please don't tell me that you have never had a thought or comment that was not politically correct, and had a good chance that others would find it offensive. Does anyone realize that all some of these blogs do is express what many have already thought? Maybe what upsets people so much is that there are some who dare to be so brutally honest that they expose those aspects of human nature that most would prefer be left concealed.
1) The bloggers are harming Iowa Law's reputation.
2) You should be careful about how your blog could affect your career, and your chances at one.
3) People think that just because a blogger's identity is exposed, this will enact an automatic censor on that person.
4) Some people out there believe that they are authority to critique or rank other blogs.
5) If you feel the need to gossip about classmates or professors, don't leave evidence (there's the widespread belief that law school is much like high school).
Here are some of my thoughts on these themes:
1) The above statement could very well be true. Sure, some people may see some of these blogs and believe that we are a crappy school with nothing better to do than gossip about others in this medium. However, I prefer to think that the main audience will take what they read with a grain of salt, and will not be prey to such broad generalizations, as one comment put it. The chances are good that if someone is reading this kind of blog, they're a law student, faculty or soon-to-be law student. I think that the people who comprise this audience will tend to realize that just b/c some blogs are a certain type that they are not representative of the caliber of the student body/school. I also believe that some bloggers simply use their blog as an opportunity to vent, or create some kind of reflection of law school, as they see it. Sure, they could learn to exercise a little discretion when discussing their peers or teachers. In any case, to me it seems like a creative endeavor. Besides, didn't someone say any fame is good fame?
2) I agree wholeheartedly with being careful about letting your blog affect your career. For pete's sake, don't thoughtlessly append your bloglink to your resume without first giving careful review to what you have written, and deciding if you have written anything to be ashamed of, or something that would create the impression that you do not know how to conduct yourself as a professional.
3) The truth of this depends on the nature of the person. If they really are a coward, then maybe exposing the identity of a blogger will keep them from making such distasteful/unpopular comments in the future. But there are those who will stand by what they said no matter what. Is it misguided stubbornness, or strong confidence that is to be applauded? The fact is, once you cross that line and put into print someone's identity linked to their blog, they have nothing left to lose. There's really nothing they can do, except stand by what they said and own it.
4) This really amuses me. Iowa law has spawned so many blogs now that it has even spawned a few that rate the other blogs. Who are these people? And what do they base their judgments on?
5) Yep, it seems best to play it safe. It is definitely true that the law school is like a pressure cooker that gives much fuel for this type of behavior, but the least you could do is not get caught at something that others may find "reprehensible."
Overall, I am fond of the Iowa Law blogs. Even if they seem puerile to others, the fact of the matter is that they are often a TRUE reflection of what many people are thinking or feeling. Please don't tell me that you have never had a thought or comment that was not politically correct, and had a good chance that others would find it offensive. Does anyone realize that all some of these blogs do is express what many have already thought? Maybe what upsets people so much is that there are some who dare to be so brutally honest that they expose those aspects of human nature that most would prefer be left concealed.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Midterm...blah
Today's quote: A South Central deer?
Ok, that midterm was really easy. However, sad as it is, I missed the very last question. I simply hadn't gotten that far in studying the flashcards, because I left off at #194. Curses. So I'm going to be one of the ones who has to take it again. I ran up to the professor after the midterm as he was wheeling away the tests, and asked him how he was going to make us take the test again. He looked at me and goes, "I can't imagine that anyone would have to take it again!" I shamefacedly replied, "Yes, yes, I am THAT stupid.." He has a real sense of humor. He said that he would have all of us sit in one section together in the front of the class, and then started laughing maniacally. I guess my round eyes and agape jaw said it all, it's pretty easy to pull my leg. Then he asked me how my break was, and if I really allowed myself a vacation. I replied, "Yeah, I think that I might have had too much of a vacation..." He said, "Oh, I guess I should have stayed away from that question considering I just gave you a midterm!" Yeah.
Ok, that midterm was really easy. However, sad as it is, I missed the very last question. I simply hadn't gotten that far in studying the flashcards, because I left off at #194. Curses. So I'm going to be one of the ones who has to take it again. I ran up to the professor after the midterm as he was wheeling away the tests, and asked him how he was going to make us take the test again. He looked at me and goes, "I can't imagine that anyone would have to take it again!" I shamefacedly replied, "Yes, yes, I am THAT stupid.." He has a real sense of humor. He said that he would have all of us sit in one section together in the front of the class, and then started laughing maniacally. I guess my round eyes and agape jaw said it all, it's pretty easy to pull my leg. Then he asked me how my break was, and if I really allowed myself a vacation. I replied, "Yeah, I think that I might have had too much of a vacation..." He said, "Oh, I guess I should have stayed away from that question considering I just gave you a midterm!" Yeah.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Dungeon deja vu
Today's quote: Uh huh, hasta la vista Schwartzennegro!
I'm so sad. It seems way too early to be back in the bowels of this dungeon. I forgot that there would be a midterm on Monday, so I think I'm screwed. Oh well. Let's see if the professor is game for living up to his "I'll give the test as many times as it takes you to pass."
It's so weird coming back to school. I feel as if I've been in a tunnel for a long time, and now I'm re-emerging into the light. I have no idea what's going on with the news, my friends, my family, nada. Well, my parents tried to call me a couple of days ago while I was playing WoW, but I was distracted since I was in mid-fight, and my mom got mad and hung up on me. How childish is that? I'd told them I would call back after, but apparently that wasn't good enough for her highness. I didn't bother calling back. Mothers. I tell you, can't live with 'em, and you can't divorce 'em.
Btw, anyone know of a good restaurant around here to try?
I'm so sad. It seems way too early to be back in the bowels of this dungeon. I forgot that there would be a midterm on Monday, so I think I'm screwed. Oh well. Let's see if the professor is game for living up to his "I'll give the test as many times as it takes you to pass."
It's so weird coming back to school. I feel as if I've been in a tunnel for a long time, and now I'm re-emerging into the light. I have no idea what's going on with the news, my friends, my family, nada. Well, my parents tried to call me a couple of days ago while I was playing WoW, but I was distracted since I was in mid-fight, and my mom got mad and hung up on me. How childish is that? I'd told them I would call back after, but apparently that wasn't good enough for her highness. I didn't bother calling back. Mothers. I tell you, can't live with 'em, and you can't divorce 'em.
Btw, anyone know of a good restaurant around here to try?
Friday, March 18, 2005
Someone cut me off
Today's quote: When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about. And that was the beginning of fairies.
OMG... must stop playing World of Warcraft. Everyday I sit here at my desk fully intending to study, and only take breaks to play, but it's not turning out like that at all. The first day I hit lvl 7, the second day lvl 11, and today I'm at lvl 13. I've been cutting down on the time I spend playing, but even when I'm not playing I'm thinking about how much I want to play. Sick. I even dreamt last night that I was in the game. In the game, mind you, not playing the game. I woke up all exhausted because I'd been fighting huge spiders and timberlings all night. Ugh.
On the other hand, just bought a new computer. It's going to get here next Thursday. I'm psyched, because then I can get rid of this last reminder of my ex. It comes with an lcd monitor, so I'm thinking I'm going to have a dual monitor setup going on. I'm wondering if it's going to be weird, because my older lcd has about a 10ms slower response time. Good lord, how geeky can I get?
OMG... must stop playing World of Warcraft. Everyday I sit here at my desk fully intending to study, and only take breaks to play, but it's not turning out like that at all. The first day I hit lvl 7, the second day lvl 11, and today I'm at lvl 13. I've been cutting down on the time I spend playing, but even when I'm not playing I'm thinking about how much I want to play. Sick. I even dreamt last night that I was in the game. In the game, mind you, not playing the game. I woke up all exhausted because I'd been fighting huge spiders and timberlings all night. Ugh.
On the other hand, just bought a new computer. It's going to get here next Thursday. I'm psyched, because then I can get rid of this last reminder of my ex. It comes with an lcd monitor, so I'm thinking I'm going to have a dual monitor setup going on. I'm wondering if it's going to be weird, because my older lcd has about a 10ms slower response time. Good lord, how geeky can I get?
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Good to be back
Today's quote: Would you wait around to find out if it's just a necklace, or if it's sex and a necklace, or if worst of all it's a necklace and love? Would you stay, knowing life would always be a little bit worse? Or would you cut and run?
Well, it's good to be back. It's always awesome taking a trip somewhere, but there's no place like home. Nowhere feels quite as comfortable as home, since you can't just walk around naked after a shower, or eat wherever you want to.
And what's this drama with the blogs? I really can't help but wonder if this whole blog thing is morphing into something very complicated, probably with consequences as yet unforeseen. I've asked my friends at other law schools to see if the blog thing has seized them as completely, and they've said no. Interesting.
Otherwise, spring break simply has not lasted long enough. At least I've stocked up on movies. Saw Ray, Collateral, White Chicks, The Girl Next Door, Boys Don't Cry (this made me bawl). Now if I could squeeze in a bunch more since I'm sure it'll be quite a while till I have time again. I've also become alarmingly addicted to playing World of Warcraft. No wonder I've been gaining weight so quickly; all I do is study for class, then play computer games, and eat buffalo wings and pizza all the time.
Well, it's good to be back. It's always awesome taking a trip somewhere, but there's no place like home. Nowhere feels quite as comfortable as home, since you can't just walk around naked after a shower, or eat wherever you want to.
And what's this drama with the blogs? I really can't help but wonder if this whole blog thing is morphing into something very complicated, probably with consequences as yet unforeseen. I've asked my friends at other law schools to see if the blog thing has seized them as completely, and they've said no. Interesting.
Otherwise, spring break simply has not lasted long enough. At least I've stocked up on movies. Saw Ray, Collateral, White Chicks, The Girl Next Door, Boys Don't Cry (this made me bawl). Now if I could squeeze in a bunch more since I'm sure it'll be quite a while till I have time again. I've also become alarmingly addicted to playing World of Warcraft. No wonder I've been gaining weight so quickly; all I do is study for class, then play computer games, and eat buffalo wings and pizza all the time.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Reaching my boiling point
Whew! Just turned in my brief, in the nick of time too. There were so many last minute details to take care of, plus I'd had a last minute meeting with the writing center on my paper. I had to reorganize a great deal of it, and it was still under the page limit by a whole page, so now I'm scared that I left out some primary argument whose absence will make my brief crap. Oh well, like I said to a few people yesterday, at least I had it turned in to the writing center, so at least it can be crap with good grammar. Then I had to make my caption page, plus table of contents and table of authorities. I never learned how to put in leaders, so I had to sit there and put in all the little dots myself...I was ready to punch my keyboard by the time that was done. Plus I found an error like a missing year on half the pages for the cites, so had to keep reprinting, swearing in the meanwhile.
It's amazing how much every little thing will annoy you when you're under a deadline. Someone upstairs was playing music with really heavy bass, and I was ready to take a bat to their kneecaps because I was so mad. Then my dog was whining because I wouldn't let her out and play with her until I threw my highlighter at her. I know, poor dog. She has a bad owner. Even my computer restarting annoyed the hell out of me, it seemed to take a year to restart (actually I've been told my computer really is slow, it's not just my imagination, takes 4 MINUTES). I'm just happy to get this thing off my hands and turned in. I'm surprised the stupid train didn't come and block the tracks like the last time.
It's amazing how much every little thing will annoy you when you're under a deadline. Someone upstairs was playing music with really heavy bass, and I was ready to take a bat to their kneecaps because I was so mad. Then my dog was whining because I wouldn't let her out and play with her until I threw my highlighter at her. I know, poor dog. She has a bad owner. Even my computer restarting annoyed the hell out of me, it seemed to take a year to restart (actually I've been told my computer really is slow, it's not just my imagination, takes 4 MINUTES). I'm just happy to get this thing off my hands and turned in. I'm surprised the stupid train didn't come and block the tracks like the last time.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
To work, or not to work...
Today's quote: I learned everything I know about being a woman from gay men. I learned all about sex from gay men. I kind of have sex like a gay man. I act like a gay man most of the time, actually.
Since I may not be able to get a job for next summer, I guess the next step is to maybe look for an RA-ship. But if I want to write for one of those journals it would be really hard to be a RA too. Now, as most of my friends can testify, I am one lazy bastard. I don't know if I could even handle one of those, let alone both.
Ok, I know I'm officially stressed. My hair is falling out in clumps again. The last time this happened I was prescribed Prozac because I wasn't sleeping for days.
I think I'm becoming addicted to VH1's hottest celebrity bodies show. So get this, Jada Pinkett Smith while training for the Matrix was working out like crazy. The woman is barely 5ft tall, and she can bench 170lbs. That's one LostInIowa.
Since I may not be able to get a job for next summer, I guess the next step is to maybe look for an RA-ship. But if I want to write for one of those journals it would be really hard to be a RA too. Now, as most of my friends can testify, I am one lazy bastard. I don't know if I could even handle one of those, let alone both.
Ok, I know I'm officially stressed. My hair is falling out in clumps again. The last time this happened I was prescribed Prozac because I wasn't sleeping for days.
I think I'm becoming addicted to VH1's hottest celebrity bodies show. So get this, Jada Pinkett Smith while training for the Matrix was working out like crazy. The woman is barely 5ft tall, and she can bench 170lbs. That's one LostInIowa.
Skeletal
I'm betting there aren't going to be that many people in civ pro today, nor property tomorrow. I wonder if the professor is going to retaliate for a bunch of us skipping class?
I have a stiff back today. I spent the night on my futon last night, because I was trying to take a nap from the brief. I woke up all crazy stiff and cranky because my pets were making a racket in the kitchen this morning, and it was way too bright in my living room. My bedroom is nice and dark, just the way I like it.
I can't wait until this assignment is handed in and the people I know return to normal. Everybody is so touchy these days, and easily prone to being pissed off.
I can't wait for spring break to get here.
I have a stiff back today. I spent the night on my futon last night, because I was trying to take a nap from the brief. I woke up all crazy stiff and cranky because my pets were making a racket in the kitchen this morning, and it was way too bright in my living room. My bedroom is nice and dark, just the way I like it.
I can't wait until this assignment is handed in and the people I know return to normal. Everybody is so touchy these days, and easily prone to being pissed off.
I can't wait for spring break to get here.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Relieve some of that stress!
I believe most of us have our briefs due this Friday, which explains the general aura of panic in the library. Anyway, I remembered this great little game online that used to make me laugh. Play Slap the Monkey Game.
Oh, and have your sound on the first time you play it.
Oh, and have your sound on the first time you play it.
Simon says..
Today's quote: One side of Trish was peaches n' cream, and she was devil Satan face on the other.
I officially love California today. It would be awesome if the law school enacted this for our library, especially since hot weather will soon be approaching.
Smelly Readers Banned From Calif. Library
San Luis Obispo, CA - A new county law aims to keep readers from reeking. Libraries in San Luis Obispo County have had their own rules banning offensive body odor since 1994, but the policy became law after the Board of Supervisors last month adopted an ordinance that lets authorities kick out malodorous guests.
"What is bad odor? A woman who wears a strong perfume? A person who had a garlicky meal?"
Haha...I can't wait to see who they piss off first.
I officially love California today. It would be awesome if the law school enacted this for our library, especially since hot weather will soon be approaching.
Smelly Readers Banned From Calif. Library
San Luis Obispo, CA - A new county law aims to keep readers from reeking. Libraries in San Luis Obispo County have had their own rules banning offensive body odor since 1994, but the policy became law after the Board of Supervisors last month adopted an ordinance that lets authorities kick out malodorous guests.
"What is bad odor? A woman who wears a strong perfume? A person who had a garlicky meal?"
Haha...I can't wait to see who they piss off first.
Stressed and depressed
Aghh. I went to bed at 2, but then couldn't sleep. This always happens when I'm stressed about something. Gee...I wonder what that certain 5-letter something is. I held still as possible in bed but then couldn't fall asleep. It was as if my mind kicked into overdrive because suddenly it was racing through hundreds of thoughts and images, and wouldn't stop. I watched the clock creep by: 2:32, 2:53, 3:17, all the way until 5. I fell into a fitful sleep only to wake up to my alarm at 6. Needless to say, I was swearing like a trucker while I reached over and turned it off.
This assignment is ruining my quality of life.
This assignment is ruining my quality of life.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Martha, Martha
Today's extra quote: Martha is under house arrest for 5 months. Did you know a suicide watch was set up? Not for her, but for her staff... And you know who called her first as soon as she got out? Michael Jackson. He wanted to know what it was like being a white woman in prison.
Yeah, ok seriously. Whatever happened to wrongdoers shouldn't profit from their acts? Her stock has more than tripled since her release, and she is now valued at over $1 billion. Snap. This woman was earning $0.40/hr just a few weeks ago on cleaning duty. Anyway, not only all this, but she has a book deal in the works, 2 network shows (not one, but two), and an expansion of her furniture line. Apparently, she's going to be the new high-end Ikea. That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one. And what's up with the two network shows? Do we really need to see her on every channel telling us how to live like her? I really don't think that we need tips for insider trading. Oh yeah, and Donald Trump better watch out. Producers are talking about giving Martha her own version of the Apprentice. I feel sorry for the future contestants already. No man can be bitchy as a woman.
Yeah, ok seriously. Whatever happened to wrongdoers shouldn't profit from their acts? Her stock has more than tripled since her release, and she is now valued at over $1 billion. Snap. This woman was earning $0.40/hr just a few weeks ago on cleaning duty. Anyway, not only all this, but she has a book deal in the works, 2 network shows (not one, but two), and an expansion of her furniture line. Apparently, she's going to be the new high-end Ikea. That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one. And what's up with the two network shows? Do we really need to see her on every channel telling us how to live like her? I really don't think that we need tips for insider trading. Oh yeah, and Donald Trump better watch out. Producers are talking about giving Martha her own version of the Apprentice. I feel sorry for the future contestants already. No man can be bitchy as a woman.
Lincoln Real Estate SUCKS
Today's quote: The federal commerce power covers everything except a naked man in a tree, and it covers him when he climbs down.
Why does it seem like every good thing is heralded by a really bad thing? Take spring break, for instance. Our brief is due at 4pm on Friday. I like how I'll get to recuperate over the break from probably having stayed up two nights in a row and also skipping property yet again. I bet I fail property this semester because I've missed so many classes in it. It's all small section's fault. Darn them for always putting the writing assignment due date on Fridays.
So it looks like it's nearing time to look for another apartment again. Here's a tip: DON'T LEASE WITH LINCOLN REAL ESTATE. THEY WILL SCREW YOU OVER. Their rent isn't even that competitive, plus they make you pay a $300 deposit for your pet, even though it specifically says in the lease "No pets, no exceptions." That just goes to show you that they're a bunch of money-grubbing pigs who only want more money. So here's a question: I paid two $300 deposits (that's right, a total of freaking $600) for the two pets I had when I signed on with them, and since they took my money, does this constitute a waiver of the no-pet clause? Since then I got my dog, which I never told them about, because I figured that I had paid enough in the way of pet deposits. Those bastards. Anyway, I'm wondering if they're trying to catch me with a pet, because I recently got served with a notice to remedy, saying that I had a cat. I had a huge laugh over that. So I called them back immediately, and told them I didn't have a cat. They go, "You don't have a cat?" I'm thinking, didn't you fuckin hear me the first time? "No, I do NOT have a cat." Of course, I didn't tell them that I had a dog. They wanna make my life difficult, I'm gonna make their lives difficult. As a result, they have been "showing" my apartment over the past month or so. So far they've shown it 5 times, plus one inspection time to make sure that I didn't have a cat. Somehow, I don't really think that there really are that many people looking for apartments in January and February. Of course, I can't prove anything. All I know is that they haven't been showing any of the other apartments in the building.
I can't wait to move out of here. Those rotten bastards. So far, the deposit they have on me is one month's rent ($575) and the two pet deposits ($600) for a grand total of $1175. This is ridiculous. I could have been living at the Lodge or something with that money. So anybody know of a good apartment building w/ reasonable rent, neighbors who don't do drugs, and pets are allowed?
Why does it seem like every good thing is heralded by a really bad thing? Take spring break, for instance. Our brief is due at 4pm on Friday. I like how I'll get to recuperate over the break from probably having stayed up two nights in a row and also skipping property yet again. I bet I fail property this semester because I've missed so many classes in it. It's all small section's fault. Darn them for always putting the writing assignment due date on Fridays.
So it looks like it's nearing time to look for another apartment again. Here's a tip: DON'T LEASE WITH LINCOLN REAL ESTATE. THEY WILL SCREW YOU OVER. Their rent isn't even that competitive, plus they make you pay a $300 deposit for your pet, even though it specifically says in the lease "No pets, no exceptions." That just goes to show you that they're a bunch of money-grubbing pigs who only want more money. So here's a question: I paid two $300 deposits (that's right, a total of freaking $600) for the two pets I had when I signed on with them, and since they took my money, does this constitute a waiver of the no-pet clause? Since then I got my dog, which I never told them about, because I figured that I had paid enough in the way of pet deposits. Those bastards. Anyway, I'm wondering if they're trying to catch me with a pet, because I recently got served with a notice to remedy, saying that I had a cat. I had a huge laugh over that. So I called them back immediately, and told them I didn't have a cat. They go, "You don't have a cat?" I'm thinking, didn't you fuckin hear me the first time? "No, I do NOT have a cat." Of course, I didn't tell them that I had a dog. They wanna make my life difficult, I'm gonna make their lives difficult. As a result, they have been "showing" my apartment over the past month or so. So far they've shown it 5 times, plus one inspection time to make sure that I didn't have a cat. Somehow, I don't really think that there really are that many people looking for apartments in January and February. Of course, I can't prove anything. All I know is that they haven't been showing any of the other apartments in the building.
I can't wait to move out of here. Those rotten bastards. So far, the deposit they have on me is one month's rent ($575) and the two pet deposits ($600) for a grand total of $1175. This is ridiculous. I could have been living at the Lodge or something with that money. So anybody know of a good apartment building w/ reasonable rent, neighbors who don't do drugs, and pets are allowed?
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Bling Bling
I just watched a segment on E! for how Hollywood It Girls live it up. They seemed to portray Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Mischa Barton, the Olsen trolls, Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan the most.
The show started off mild, showing what you might regularly expect these type of people to spend: couple g's on a high-end fashion purse, accessories, $700 on a hairstyle, etc. But then it got progressively worse: Mischa paying her hairstylist $4,000 a day to stay on stand-by just in case she wants her hair or makeup touched up, $62,000 on a diamond-encrusted watch for Lindsay Lohan, Nicole and Paris dropping $112,000 on a shopping spree in one day. Apparently Nicole and Paris fight over who gets to pay the bill, because they're both so rich. Really? I know Lionel has some $$$, but can he really compare to Paris's hotel mogul dad?
By this point, I felt so nauseated by the excess blinging and money thrown around that I had to turn the tv off. I honestly felt like puking. Is it really necessary to spend that much money? I mean, sure, I spent $90 on a flat iron for myself, but that's because this is the best flat iron that gets the job done. I figured my time was worth the extra money spent to save an extra 3-4 hours a week. I guess the same argument applies for them, but really…!
Oui, c'est vrai, non?
Today's quote: I don't need to know nothin' 'bout women when I got a momma, a cat, nine sisters and a gay uncle.
The engineer's amazingly accurate rendition of life:
The engineer's amazingly accurate rendition of life:
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Crying in a Corner
Yes, I know it's all my fault. I have no one to blame but myself. Now that I'm looking for a summer job, I can't find one. Except for a volunteer internship with the public defender in MO. But who wants to be in MO?! Should I just give up already?
I shouldn't have let regular schoolwork blind me to the longer-term goals. Now I can't find a job in the places I'm looking for, and I'm starting to panic. I guess my fallback plan can be to just stay here in the summer and take classes so as to lighten my load for next year. But I really don't want to do that, because I've taken summer school every year I was in undergrad, and I've really learned that summers should be cherished. Right now I'm comforting myself with a few drinks. I figure by the time I graduate law school I'm going to have various addictions to alcohol, smoking, and caffeine. Somehow I don't think following a spicy bloody mary with a ice cream mudslide was such a good idea.
So, what to do, what to do?
I shouldn't have let regular schoolwork blind me to the longer-term goals. Now I can't find a job in the places I'm looking for, and I'm starting to panic. I guess my fallback plan can be to just stay here in the summer and take classes so as to lighten my load for next year. But I really don't want to do that, because I've taken summer school every year I was in undergrad, and I've really learned that summers should be cherished. Right now I'm comforting myself with a few drinks. I figure by the time I graduate law school I'm going to have various addictions to alcohol, smoking, and caffeine. Somehow I don't think following a spicy bloody mary with a ice cream mudslide was such a good idea.
So, what to do, what to do?
I am not..
Today's quote: You're the worst kind. You're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.
My friend and I were flipping through channels while we were eating dinner, when we landed on a movie on the Oxygen channel. The man was talking about high and low maintenance women, and his best friend wanted to know which one she was. The man replied with the above quote. I turned to my friend, and asked him if I was high maintenance, and apparently he emphatically thinks that I fit into the above category. So what if I like things a particular way? I think it's better to be definitive than wishy-washy.
I'm wondering if I'll be able to get the brief written in time. I'm honestly beginning to be afraid that I won't. It seems that the fates are against me even when I try my best to get going on my work. For instance, yesterday I stayed at home and printed off the Westlaw stuff to the school printers. 9:30 came, and I left at 9:40 to go to school, since it takes about 3 minutes to drive to school. I forgot to take one thing into account: the fucking train. I swear, the goddamn train knows just when to come and fuck me over. So instead of getting to school at 9:45, I get there at 9:55. I raced into the library, only to find the print lab locked. Maddeningly enough, I can see my print jobs piled up on the printer, tantalizingly out of reach. Of course, the old man wouldn't open up the lab so that I could get my stuff. As my friend said, he's a very bad man. Bad man, indeed.
My friend and I were flipping through channels while we were eating dinner, when we landed on a movie on the Oxygen channel. The man was talking about high and low maintenance women, and his best friend wanted to know which one she was. The man replied with the above quote. I turned to my friend, and asked him if I was high maintenance, and apparently he emphatically thinks that I fit into the above category. So what if I like things a particular way? I think it's better to be definitive than wishy-washy.
I'm wondering if I'll be able to get the brief written in time. I'm honestly beginning to be afraid that I won't. It seems that the fates are against me even when I try my best to get going on my work. For instance, yesterday I stayed at home and printed off the Westlaw stuff to the school printers. 9:30 came, and I left at 9:40 to go to school, since it takes about 3 minutes to drive to school. I forgot to take one thing into account: the fucking train. I swear, the goddamn train knows just when to come and fuck me over. So instead of getting to school at 9:45, I get there at 9:55. I raced into the library, only to find the print lab locked. Maddeningly enough, I can see my print jobs piled up on the printer, tantalizingly out of reach. Of course, the old man wouldn't open up the lab so that I could get my stuff. As my friend said, he's a very bad man. Bad man, indeed.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Dying Young
I don't want to live to be this old...
She's 125 years old. Usually by then the mortal shell is falling apart.
So what's the best way to die? I hope I don't live to be so old that I become a burden on my family, and have all these lawsuits over my custody and will. Nope, nuh uh. Hopefully I'll live to see my grandchildren, but that's about it.
Perhaps my stints at the Alzheimer clinic were more traumatic than I thought.
She's 125 years old. Usually by then the mortal shell is falling apart.
So what's the best way to die? I hope I don't live to be so old that I become a burden on my family, and have all these lawsuits over my custody and will. Nope, nuh uh. Hopefully I'll live to see my grandchildren, but that's about it.
Perhaps my stints at the Alzheimer clinic were more traumatic than I thought.
It's a Beautiful Day
Today's quote: You come in here with a skull full of mush and you leave thinking like a lawyer.
Ok, it's a beautiful day, marred only by the stress of researching for this stupid memo. Oops, I meant brief. I've been bitching about the memo for so long that it's stuck on me. Well, a brief really is just a long one-sided memo, right? Same thing.
I just came back from walking Angry Little Iowa Law Dog. Or rather, being dragged along by her. It never fails to amaze me how much energy she has. I know I present a funny sight running helter-skelter after this little 5lb dog. She's on a leash, but I hate choking her against it, so when she starts running, I have to too. I guess she's got me wrapped around her little paw. Maybe I should rename her Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.
I wonder if she's in heat? I haven't had her spayed, which never was really an issue before. However, this time we passed another woman walking her dog, and the dog kept lunging at mine. Anyone know of any cheap places a starving law student could take her to get spayed?
Ok, it's a beautiful day, marred only by the stress of researching for this stupid memo. Oops, I meant brief. I've been bitching about the memo for so long that it's stuck on me. Well, a brief really is just a long one-sided memo, right? Same thing.
I just came back from walking Angry Little Iowa Law Dog. Or rather, being dragged along by her. It never fails to amaze me how much energy she has. I know I present a funny sight running helter-skelter after this little 5lb dog. She's on a leash, but I hate choking her against it, so when she starts running, I have to too. I guess she's got me wrapped around her little paw. Maybe I should rename her Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.
I wonder if she's in heat? I haven't had her spayed, which never was really an issue before. However, this time we passed another woman walking her dog, and the dog kept lunging at mine. Anyone know of any cheap places a starving law student could take her to get spayed?
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Look Professor Kurtz
As posted by Three Years of Hell,
>>
In the great state of Illinois, this is now settled law:
The judges backed the lower court decision to dismiss the fraud and theft claims [regarding a woman's decision to keep the output of oral sex and later use it to impregnate herself], agreeing with Irons that she didn't steal the sperm.
"She asserts that when plaintiff 'delivered' his sperm, it was a gift -- an absolute and irrevocable transfer of title to property from a donor to a donee," the decision said. "There was no agreement that the original deposit would be returned upon request."
<<
It would seem that "deposit" is the right word..
>>
In the great state of Illinois, this is now settled law:
The judges backed the lower court decision to dismiss the fraud and theft claims [regarding a woman's decision to keep the output of oral sex and later use it to impregnate herself], agreeing with Irons that she didn't steal the sperm.
"She asserts that when plaintiff 'delivered' his sperm, it was a gift -- an absolute and irrevocable transfer of title to property from a donor to a donee," the decision said. "There was no agreement that the original deposit would be returned upon request."
<<
It would seem that "deposit" is the right word..
The Law Student Prostitute
Here is an article (from the Legal Underground, see links to left) about a Stanford law student who graduated, didn't want to be a lawyer, so turned to prostitution. Apparently she posted on an online forum discussion about paying off about $300k of law school debts by prostituting herself.
What I want to know is, how do I find a money scheme that doesn't involve prostitution?
Stanford Law Call Girl
By the way, why on earth do they call it a brief, when it's anything but?
What I want to know is, how do I find a money scheme that doesn't involve prostitution?
Stanford Law Call Girl
By the way, why on earth do they call it a brief, when it's anything but?
Are you sure you want to delete?
Today's quote: Are we like couples you see in restaurants? Are we the dining dead?
If you could erase someone from your mind, would you? What if s/he made you so unhappy, that in the end the only things you were left with were the bitter and angry memories of that person?
I forget where I saw this expression before, but someone once described her experiences as having left thumbprints of various sizes on her. The fleeting impressions were shallow imprints, whereas the ones that affected her strongly were deep imprints.
What I've never understood about myself is my collection of deep thumbprints. They're very random: certain lines during movies, how someone looked at a particular moment, the smell of freshly laundered clothing, etc. So far, I have to say that law school has not left me with any lasting impressions that I can carry away with me. Half the time I feel like I'm slowly walking across the bottom of a swimming pool, going through the motions of being here.
So what if? What if the thumbprint someone has left on you is a bad type? The type that hurts you more than anything else ever did, that leaves a festering sore behind? We're all a collection of our experiences to some degree. I don't want to think that I am merely reacting to negative experiences I've had, but when I realize what I look for in a person, that's exactly what I'm doing. I don't know what I want, I only know what I don't want.
If you could erase someone from your mind, would you? What if s/he made you so unhappy, that in the end the only things you were left with were the bitter and angry memories of that person?
I forget where I saw this expression before, but someone once described her experiences as having left thumbprints of various sizes on her. The fleeting impressions were shallow imprints, whereas the ones that affected her strongly were deep imprints.
What I've never understood about myself is my collection of deep thumbprints. They're very random: certain lines during movies, how someone looked at a particular moment, the smell of freshly laundered clothing, etc. So far, I have to say that law school has not left me with any lasting impressions that I can carry away with me. Half the time I feel like I'm slowly walking across the bottom of a swimming pool, going through the motions of being here.
So what if? What if the thumbprint someone has left on you is a bad type? The type that hurts you more than anything else ever did, that leaves a festering sore behind? We're all a collection of our experiences to some degree. I don't want to think that I am merely reacting to negative experiences I've had, but when I realize what I look for in a person, that's exactly what I'm doing. I don't know what I want, I only know what I don't want.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
The Great Porn Debate
So a bunch of us were sitting around downstairs, when this fabulous topic came up. H mentioned how she'd been watching Dr. Phil, and that he'd said porn was bad, absolutely bad, and that those porn stars were people who'd taken a bad turn somewhere. This is how the fuse got lit. (I don't get why these people apparently took a "bad turn"? Why can't some people do it just b/c they like working in the industry?)
What's the average take on porn? Apparently, my view is rather in the minority here at the school. I tend to have some issues with it, but now that I think about them carefully, I really do think they stem more from how my ex dealt with the subject. He hid it from me, and then I caught him downloading it when I was over at his place, TWICE. He knew from the first time that I had a major problem with it, so when I caught him the second time I really thought I was going to go bonkers. If he'd been open about it from the beginning, instead of hiding it from me, then maybe I wouldn't have felt that it was something he was keeping from me, and doing God knows what.
The other thing is that I think I unfairly tend to hold others up to my own standard. If I am in love with someone like the way I say that I am, then I don't notice other men. I especially don't want to watch porn, because sex to me is something that is highly private and emotional, something I would only share with that other person. I want to know that if I'm engaging in the act, that the guy is thinking about me, not some woman he's visualizing from a porn he saw (and we all know how visual men are). It's bad enough knowing that guys have sex on the brain pretty frequently, without me irrationally fearing that the guy is fantasizing having sex with someone else. To me, when I truly love someone, I not only reserve my physical body, but also my mind. To be cheesy, I guess I really only have eyes for them. But I know this is just me, and is probably another aspect of how possessive my nature is.
A number of interesting views were expressed, H thought the fact that the man wanted to watch porn was disconnected from his love for her and therefore she didn't mind at all, whereas M said his fiance felt exactly the way I felt. Apparently, I was the only one in the group that felt the way I did, the major consensus being that this was one more thing that the couple could share, and thus be more honest and intimate about. At least, that's what N and S think.
The only thing for sure: it's a sensitive subject, and should be handled with kid gloves. People obviously hold different opinions on the subject, and we were wondering what other peoples' takes on it were.
What's the average take on porn? Apparently, my view is rather in the minority here at the school. I tend to have some issues with it, but now that I think about them carefully, I really do think they stem more from how my ex dealt with the subject. He hid it from me, and then I caught him downloading it when I was over at his place, TWICE. He knew from the first time that I had a major problem with it, so when I caught him the second time I really thought I was going to go bonkers. If he'd been open about it from the beginning, instead of hiding it from me, then maybe I wouldn't have felt that it was something he was keeping from me, and doing God knows what.
The other thing is that I think I unfairly tend to hold others up to my own standard. If I am in love with someone like the way I say that I am, then I don't notice other men. I especially don't want to watch porn, because sex to me is something that is highly private and emotional, something I would only share with that other person. I want to know that if I'm engaging in the act, that the guy is thinking about me, not some woman he's visualizing from a porn he saw (and we all know how visual men are). It's bad enough knowing that guys have sex on the brain pretty frequently, without me irrationally fearing that the guy is fantasizing having sex with someone else. To me, when I truly love someone, I not only reserve my physical body, but also my mind. To be cheesy, I guess I really only have eyes for them. But I know this is just me, and is probably another aspect of how possessive my nature is.
A number of interesting views were expressed, H thought the fact that the man wanted to watch porn was disconnected from his love for her and therefore she didn't mind at all, whereas M said his fiance felt exactly the way I felt. Apparently, I was the only one in the group that felt the way I did, the major consensus being that this was one more thing that the couple could share, and thus be more honest and intimate about. At least, that's what N and S think.
The only thing for sure: it's a sensitive subject, and should be handled with kid gloves. People obviously hold different opinions on the subject, and we were wondering what other peoples' takes on it were.
How about a big helping of manners..
Today's quote: Shut up! SHUT THE FUCK UP! Shut up! Shut, shut, shut, shut, SHUT UP! Are you threatening me?
I often wonder about people who just interrupt you while you're talking. You can be talking to someone, and they just come up to the person you're talking to, and start talking to them as if you aren't there. Are these people incapable of common courtesy, or are they really that oblivious to your presence? What should I say to these rude people?
For me, it's not one of those things that I can just say, "Excuse me, I was talking." It almost doesn't seem worth it to say, because then it feels like you're making a big deal out of nothing. But what if someone does it to you repeatedly? Are they really unable to reform bad habits, or are they doing it intentionally? I guess it's just one of those little annoying things that are present in life that you just have to live with, or confront the issue and risk having other people think that you're over-sensitive. Either way, it seems like I lose.
It's one of those things that I would almost never do myself, like chew with my mouth open (ugh don't get me started on that), unless it was a dire emergency. I'd still say the typical "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I'm in a hurry..."
It just seems so shocking to me, because I have always been brought up to respect the fact that other people are talking, and to politely wait my turn. Times like this, I think I'm just too wussy for law school. As a future lawyer, I should get ready to run over other people and get my shots in, not be the doormat that always gets run over.
I often wonder about people who just interrupt you while you're talking. You can be talking to someone, and they just come up to the person you're talking to, and start talking to them as if you aren't there. Are these people incapable of common courtesy, or are they really that oblivious to your presence? What should I say to these rude people?
For me, it's not one of those things that I can just say, "Excuse me, I was talking." It almost doesn't seem worth it to say, because then it feels like you're making a big deal out of nothing. But what if someone does it to you repeatedly? Are they really unable to reform bad habits, or are they doing it intentionally? I guess it's just one of those little annoying things that are present in life that you just have to live with, or confront the issue and risk having other people think that you're over-sensitive. Either way, it seems like I lose.
It's one of those things that I would almost never do myself, like chew with my mouth open (ugh don't get me started on that), unless it was a dire emergency. I'd still say the typical "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I'm in a hurry..."
It just seems so shocking to me, because I have always been brought up to respect the fact that other people are talking, and to politely wait my turn. Times like this, I think I'm just too wussy for law school. As a future lawyer, I should get ready to run over other people and get my shots in, not be the doormat that always gets run over.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Over-qualified sewage worker
I took the Job Predictor test Edward posted. So far, the results from the various combinations of my name:
Your ideal job is a Funeral Director.
Your ideal job is a Sewage Worker.
Your ideal job is a Animal Therapist.
Your ideal job is a Quiz Show Contestant.
Your ideal job is a Rally Car Driver.
Your ideal job is a Between the hours of 12 and 1pm on days with a W in them.
I don't get the last one. Is that something I want to know?
These results only feed my theory that I'm not meant to be a lawyer.
Your ideal job is a Funeral Director.
Your ideal job is a Sewage Worker.
Your ideal job is a Animal Therapist.
Your ideal job is a Quiz Show Contestant.
Your ideal job is a Rally Car Driver.
Your ideal job is a Between the hours of 12 and 1pm on days with a W in them.
I don't get the last one. Is that something I want to know?
These results only feed my theory that I'm not meant to be a lawyer.
Give that back!
Today's quote: Tucker, she's a whale!
Library confiscated my soda today. I was pissed. Luckily for me, the woman didn't see my Wheatables, Cheez-its, and my chili sitting in the tupperware. I didn't believe other people when they warned me that the library nazis make patrols of the library for food confiscations. That's because I've left my food and what-not in a carrel for months, and nothing was ever taken. But today was apparently my lucky day. I was reading my civ pro book when I heard this weird rumbling noise start and stop repeatedly, progressing ever closer to me. I didn't know what it was, nor did I bother to look. I'm a firm proponent of the "mind your own business" philosophy. However, the rumbling stopped right behind me, and one of the circulation desk workers peered into my carrel. Her eyes alighted on my diet Pepsi, and she summarily swiped it. What was the rumbling noise? It was the sound of the cart she was pushing along, laden with all the edible booty she was swiping from the various carrels.
Strange, this just in: the judge overseeing Saddam Hussein's trial has been assassinated.
Library confiscated my soda today. I was pissed. Luckily for me, the woman didn't see my Wheatables, Cheez-its, and my chili sitting in the tupperware. I didn't believe other people when they warned me that the library nazis make patrols of the library for food confiscations. That's because I've left my food and what-not in a carrel for months, and nothing was ever taken. But today was apparently my lucky day. I was reading my civ pro book when I heard this weird rumbling noise start and stop repeatedly, progressing ever closer to me. I didn't know what it was, nor did I bother to look. I'm a firm proponent of the "mind your own business" philosophy. However, the rumbling stopped right behind me, and one of the circulation desk workers peered into my carrel. Her eyes alighted on my diet Pepsi, and she summarily swiped it. What was the rumbling noise? It was the sound of the cart she was pushing along, laden with all the edible booty she was swiping from the various carrels.
Strange, this just in: the judge overseeing Saddam Hussein's trial has been assassinated.
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