I am working on a long post to summarize the first speaker of my fall speaker series featuring the environment in the Supreme Court: Lisa Heinzerling. Stay tuned. Unfortunately, I won't have time until early next week. Why, you ask? Because tomorrow I have a "date" with a Supreme Court Justice (no, I'm not kidding) and then I'm promptly leaving to go visit my best friend. I'm gonna enjoy what the Yanks call "foliage" and what we Southerners call the "leaves turning" and muddle over some serious best-friend-only issues.
In momentary news, I'm aquiring some seriously good new music and I had a much needed night off. It made up for my messing up in class, though I'm still kicking myself there. I know I'm a 3L, but I really like this professor, and I am deeply embarassed that I didn't read the case he called me for. Alas. I'm sure I'll make up for it, seeing as how I'm a debilitating perfectionist. Anyhow, I gotta pack all my stuff, seeing as how I'll be camping on wet ground. See ya'll in a few days!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Like the Titanium in my neck, baby
| Your Love Element Is Metal |
 In love, you inspire and respect your partner. For you, love is all about fusing together for one incredible life experience. You attract others with wit and a bit of flash. Your flirting style is defined by making others want and value you. Greatness and optimism are the cornerstones of your love life. You may let go too easily, but you never get weighed down by your past. You connect best with: Earth Avoid: Fire You and another Metal element: will control and smother each other |
You know, it's stilly and cheesy, but these things can sometimes be eerily correct.
Thanks to Zuska!
Dear 2L
Dear Random Person who got to my blog using the search string "missing classes callbacks",
Way to rub it in.
You Suck.
Lyco
Dear Random Person who got to my blog using the search string "Drunk little sister",
Don't think I don't know that you're the same person as "missing classes callbacks." I told your firm. Sicko.
Best of Luck,
Lyco
Way to rub it in.
You Suck.
Lyco
Dear Random Person who got to my blog using the search string "Drunk little sister",
Don't think I don't know that you're the same person as "missing classes callbacks." I told your firm. Sicko.
Best of Luck,
Lyco
Monday, September 25, 2006
Bummer
So my short run is to run from GULC around the National Mall, and back to campus. My longer run involves running the streets all the way around the monument. So I always thought that running around the monument is 5 miles, and that therefore running around the mall, but not the monument, was 4 miles, including the trip to and from campus. It's not. The trip around the memorial is just over 4 and a quarter miles and the trip around the mall is just under 3 and a quarter miles!
Damn the Gmaps pedometer! Here I thought I was running 4-5 miles. I don't know about any other runners out there, but that's a pretty big difference to be running 3/4 of a mile less than you thought. And it's kind of depressing. Here I thought the run was so much easier because it was so flat. Instead, it's because it's frickin SHORT. Argh!
Needless to say I ran my "long" run today and was feeling really proud of myself for keeping my pace better, blah blah blah, and now I feel like that kid who starts middle school based on the false confidence provided by her mother. All the real cool kids (read: the Gmaps pedometer) are telling me what's what and I'm realizing that my shirt with the puff paint kittens... well, maybe it ain't as hip as I thought.
Now I have to go prepare for a purchase agreement negotiation. Which I'm sure I'll get creamed on because that class is gunner-rific... and then there's me. Last class I got a jolly rancher stuck in my hair. It's that bad. The jolly rancher was good though.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Paralysis to the Face
Ah, the joys of my life.
Yeah, so half my face isn't working. Which is interesting. So I dropped into the dentist and they gave me novocaine for no good reason. Simple clerical error. You know, it could happen to anyone. Anyone named Lyco. I keep smiling and the other half of my face kind of flops around like a seal. So, you ask what else could happen to me this glorious day? Well, I'll tell ya. The first is that I got a call for an interview (yay!) which was awkward and full of me drooling on the phone and slurring. They might as well hear me like that, as that's how I sound after a night of heavy drinking anyhow, and if I worked for them, I'm sure there would be lots of those nights. But of course they call today after my clerical error novocaine application. The second is just best if I show it to you (names withheld to protect the stupid). Please note that this was in EMAIL form, which just makes it that much more galling:
Ms. Lyco Perisicum
blah blah
address address
Dear Ms. Fointicref:
Although we enjoyed your taking up our oxygen at the interview at GULC, we reject you. Blah blah blah. Best personal regards. Reject reject reject.
Sincerely,
The Firm
And my immediate reply:
Dear Firm,
Thank you for your email. It would help if you got my name right in the future. Not that there will be a future. But you still got the wrong name. Douche. Best of luck on your search. You might really want to get their names right.
You suck,
Lyco
I actually did write them back. Only without the douche comment. I figured why the hell not. I figure if only my half face works, I can always blame the drugs.
Yeah, so half my face isn't working. Which is interesting. So I dropped into the dentist and they gave me novocaine for no good reason. Simple clerical error. You know, it could happen to anyone. Anyone named Lyco. I keep smiling and the other half of my face kind of flops around like a seal. So, you ask what else could happen to me this glorious day? Well, I'll tell ya. The first is that I got a call for an interview (yay!) which was awkward and full of me drooling on the phone and slurring. They might as well hear me like that, as that's how I sound after a night of heavy drinking anyhow, and if I worked for them, I'm sure there would be lots of those nights. But of course they call today after my clerical error novocaine application. The second is just best if I show it to you (names withheld to protect the stupid). Please note that this was in EMAIL form, which just makes it that much more galling:
Ms. Lyco Perisicum
blah blah
address address
Dear Ms. Fointicref:
Although we enjoyed your taking up our oxygen at the interview at GULC, we reject you. Blah blah blah. Best personal regards. Reject reject reject.
Sincerely,
The Firm
And my immediate reply:
Dear Firm,
Thank you for your email. It would help if you got my name right in the future. Not that there will be a future. But you still got the wrong name. Douche. Best of luck on your search. You might really want to get their names right.
You suck,
Lyco
I actually did write them back. Only without the douche comment. I figured why the hell not. I figure if only my half face works, I can always blame the drugs.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Nuisance Suit for Effects of Global Warming
Since I am in Corporations again, I decided to post something far more interesting. Apparently, the State of California is suing a bunch of car manufacturers for money damages because of the damages their emissions are causing.
Sweet!!
The case is a public nuisance suit. Specifically, they are citing these car companies' contributions to global warming. About one third of the carbon emissions in California are attributed to car emissions. They are claiming that defendants knew or should have known that their product was contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and resulted in injutries to CA citizens and that their emissions are a direct and proximate cause to the injuries in question. They are also looking for a declaratory judgment making the defendants liable for future damages as well. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This is the first case of its kind to hold companies liable for the damages caused by their emissions.
The complaint cites strong scientific backing for their claims, and it's nice to see it in the legal field so strongly. I hope that certain "members" of our society will start to shut their traps about believing that global warming is a myth. You can read the complaint here. This is extremely interesting and I'm excited to watch it develop. Do I think it will fly? Not a chance. But it will be fun to see what comes out of it. And I'm glad there's some fight in us yet.
Sweet!!
The case is a public nuisance suit. Specifically, they are citing these car companies' contributions to global warming. About one third of the carbon emissions in California are attributed to car emissions. They are claiming that defendants knew or should have known that their product was contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and resulted in injutries to CA citizens and that their emissions are a direct and proximate cause to the injuries in question. They are also looking for a declaratory judgment making the defendants liable for future damages as well. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This is the first case of its kind to hold companies liable for the damages caused by their emissions.
The complaint cites strong scientific backing for their claims, and it's nice to see it in the legal field so strongly. I hope that certain "members" of our society will start to shut their traps about believing that global warming is a myth. You can read the complaint here. This is extremely interesting and I'm excited to watch it develop. Do I think it will fly? Not a chance. But it will be fun to see what comes out of it. And I'm glad there's some fight in us yet.
Jobs 19, Lyco 0
After my crushing defeat in Atlanta (read: 19 resumes and 0 call backs), I have been hesitant to send out any more job applications. It was hard to take that smack (19 of them) to the face and immediately turn around smiling to a new bunch of closed and open fists. I feel like I'm a hard worker, and it's hard not to take so much rejection personally. But I recognize that I was (A) only applying to large law firms (my resume reads like a public interest sex orgy) and (B) I was only applying to environmental practice groups (not the largest Atlanta market ever). So after justifying rationalizing understanding the true nature of why I didn't get hired, I am facing my fears and applying to a series of government and public interest positions. Some of them are really interesting and amazing, and most of them are just a 1 year commitment, so that I could go on to clerk the year after.
It's hard not to get my hopes up. There are a few of those jobs that I really would give up a six figure salary for (as if I had that option) so it's going to be super hard if I get the palm to the face all the way around. I had a really good late night conversation with a dear friend that reminded me that I have always ended up where I should be and that I have always had faith in that. And I do. We both had that uncanny ability to find ourselves randomly in the place we needed to be the most. But faith or no, I could use a little reinforcement right about now. Particularly if the reinforcement rhymes with "yob" or "dalary."
At least it's been a good excuse to not do my Corporations reading. But alas, the resumes are in, and so I should try and "read" for a while.
It's hard not to get my hopes up. There are a few of those jobs that I really would give up a six figure salary for (as if I had that option) so it's going to be super hard if I get the palm to the face all the way around. I had a really good late night conversation with a dear friend that reminded me that I have always ended up where I should be and that I have always had faith in that. And I do. We both had that uncanny ability to find ourselves randomly in the place we needed to be the most. But faith or no, I could use a little reinforcement right about now. Particularly if the reinforcement rhymes with "yob" or "dalary."
At least it's been a good excuse to not do my Corporations reading. But alas, the resumes are in, and so I should try and "read" for a while.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Community and the Tieboutian Hypothesis
Probably the most interesting class I'm taking this semester is my Land Use seminar. Part of the reason I went to law school was specifically land use policy, and in particular, how it could be used to restructure municipal areas to foster community. This past week, I read a paper by Lee Anne Fennel, who was writing on how land use actors (she was mostly writing to the legal field) could use aspects of the Tieboutan hypothesis to address negative externalities created by exclusionary land use controls. She was essentially saying that governments should be imposing a tax on formal exclusionary controls to spread the negative impacts on problems like white flight and inner urban deserts.
For a quick breakdown, Tiebout (pronounced Tee-beaux) created his hypothesis in resonse to theories by prominent economists in the 1950s who claimed that local governments would always be inefficient in terms of satisfying consumer demand. Tiebout countered that people have choices and that they actually shop for government services in a market setting - people using their feet as consumer-voters.
So Fennel was essentially arguing that exclusion can be an attractive element in the bundle offered by a local government. At the same time, exlcusion keeps people out of a full range of choices and we learn less about their true preferences. Obviously, there are some major differences between consumers of products and consumers in this homebuyer context, which she addresses. As an editorial moment - I cannot stand when people turn to an economic model to explain citizenship and community - there are some things that just cannot be quantified. The Tieboutian hypothesis, although an interesting and brilliant response, is naturally over simplified. Some things are too complex for that system and to try and box them in is to degrade and flatten those aspects. But aside from my problems on an essentialist level with this approach, I thought that her theory was interesting.
What Fennel is advocating is that each consumer-voter is also a producer of a public good in the bundle. Each person makes a pretty big difference until there is a critical mass to achieve enough "quality enhancing users" to achieve a particular public good. So this is also assuming a linear function (that everyone is contributing roughly equal amounts) - of which we have no empirical evidence mind you. Of course, it's not possible to have all the residents preferences fulfilled, but there is the tendency that once a critical mass has been achieved in a community, it tends to equate with money and white suburbia - and suddenly there's a common resource dilemma when we start talking about associational entitlement rights to equal public goods despite the community (like public schools, for example - see D.C. v. NoVa). What happens is that the upper class white community starts to take over a community and then impliment exclusionary practices to ensure that others coming in are like them (single family home zoning, no low income housing, no public transportation, etc.). The idea is that this imbalance is actually creating an overall loss because once the critical mass is achieved, it would be more effiecient for the quality enhancing users to move to other communities instead. But there is no incentive for governments to curb exclusionary practices.
Enter the tax.
I actually, despite my hatred of the economic method, like this. I think that imposing a tax on exclusionary zoning practices will actually fill in some gaps with regard to currently underutilized antidiscrimination laws. Because, basically, I think most of those zoning laws are just a proxy for keeping a community rich and white. Which, other than being gross, is illegal. So all in all, I think that it is a worthy thing to explore. of course, there are times when I think exclusionary practices can be good things - so it's a tough issue.
For example, I think that developers often go into communities without regard to what is most beneficial for that community in terms of growth, but rather what is going to make them the most money. So, for example, what used to be single family homes are being turned into absurdly expensive cluster housing complexes. This does not provide for diversified community members, but rather saturates an area beyond its capabilities and can generally turn a tigh-knit community into an anonymous shopping district. Not good. I am hesitant to say that we'll know a bad exlcusionary practice when we see it, but it seems like there is room to create a list of protocals for taxing exlcusionary practices without disarming neighhood alliances from protecting the integrity of a community against developers.
It's certainly an interesting topic, and I'd love to see a pilot program in the works. Fennel starts at Chicago law school next fall, so we'll see where she goes with it.
For a quick breakdown, Tiebout (pronounced Tee-beaux) created his hypothesis in resonse to theories by prominent economists in the 1950s who claimed that local governments would always be inefficient in terms of satisfying consumer demand. Tiebout countered that people have choices and that they actually shop for government services in a market setting - people using their feet as consumer-voters.
So Fennel was essentially arguing that exclusion can be an attractive element in the bundle offered by a local government. At the same time, exlcusion keeps people out of a full range of choices and we learn less about their true preferences. Obviously, there are some major differences between consumers of products and consumers in this homebuyer context, which she addresses. As an editorial moment - I cannot stand when people turn to an economic model to explain citizenship and community - there are some things that just cannot be quantified. The Tieboutian hypothesis, although an interesting and brilliant response, is naturally over simplified. Some things are too complex for that system and to try and box them in is to degrade and flatten those aspects. But aside from my problems on an essentialist level with this approach, I thought that her theory was interesting.
What Fennel is advocating is that each consumer-voter is also a producer of a public good in the bundle. Each person makes a pretty big difference until there is a critical mass to achieve enough "quality enhancing users" to achieve a particular public good. So this is also assuming a linear function (that everyone is contributing roughly equal amounts) - of which we have no empirical evidence mind you. Of course, it's not possible to have all the residents preferences fulfilled, but there is the tendency that once a critical mass has been achieved in a community, it tends to equate with money and white suburbia - and suddenly there's a common resource dilemma when we start talking about associational entitlement rights to equal public goods despite the community (like public schools, for example - see D.C. v. NoVa). What happens is that the upper class white community starts to take over a community and then impliment exclusionary practices to ensure that others coming in are like them (single family home zoning, no low income housing, no public transportation, etc.). The idea is that this imbalance is actually creating an overall loss because once the critical mass is achieved, it would be more effiecient for the quality enhancing users to move to other communities instead. But there is no incentive for governments to curb exclusionary practices.
Enter the tax.
I actually, despite my hatred of the economic method, like this. I think that imposing a tax on exclusionary zoning practices will actually fill in some gaps with regard to currently underutilized antidiscrimination laws. Because, basically, I think most of those zoning laws are just a proxy for keeping a community rich and white. Which, other than being gross, is illegal. So all in all, I think that it is a worthy thing to explore. of course, there are times when I think exclusionary practices can be good things - so it's a tough issue.
For example, I think that developers often go into communities without regard to what is most beneficial for that community in terms of growth, but rather what is going to make them the most money. So, for example, what used to be single family homes are being turned into absurdly expensive cluster housing complexes. This does not provide for diversified community members, but rather saturates an area beyond its capabilities and can generally turn a tigh-knit community into an anonymous shopping district. Not good. I am hesitant to say that we'll know a bad exlcusionary practice when we see it, but it seems like there is room to create a list of protocals for taxing exlcusionary practices without disarming neighhood alliances from protecting the integrity of a community against developers.
It's certainly an interesting topic, and I'd love to see a pilot program in the works. Fennel starts at Chicago law school next fall, so we'll see where she goes with it.
And one more: YARRRR!
There is still half an hour of INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY (MATEY, YARR!), and in the sprit, I discovered my true inner-pirate, care of In Limine (good timing homeslice!).
My pirate name is:
Captain Bess Bonney
Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!
Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network
My pirate name is:
Captain Bess Bonney
Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!
Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network
Yarrrr!
As many of you know (because I won't stop talking about it), I'm dressing up as a pirate for Halloween this year.
In the spirit of that, I'd like to spread the word on the most important day of the year: today. Why you ask? Well, only because it's
INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!!
I think I'll go rent a pirate movie or six. Yarr. In the spirit, I think we need a little ballad (double yarrr)
A Ballad of John Silver
- John Masefield
In the spirit of that, I'd like to spread the word on the most important day of the year: today. Why you ask? Well, only because it's
INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!!
I think I'll go rent a pirate movie or six. Yarr. In the spirit, I think we need a little ballad (double yarrr)
A Ballad of John Silver
- John Masefield
We were schooner-rigged and rakish, with a long and lissome hull,
And we flew the pretty colours of the crossbones and the skull;
We'd a big black Jolly Roger flapping grimly at the fore,
And we sailed the Spanish Water in the happy days of yore.
We'd a long brass gun amidships, like a well-conducted ship,
We had each a brace of pistols and a cutlass at the hip;
It's a point which tells against us, and a fact to be deplored,
But we chased the goodly merchant-men and laid their ships aboard.
Then the dead men fouled the scuppers and the wounded filled the chains,
And the paint-work all was spatter dashed with other peoples brains,
She was boarded, she was looted, she was scuttled till she sank.
And the pale survivors left us by the medium of the plank.
O! then it was (while standing by the taffrail on the poop)
We could hear the drowning folk lament the absent chicken coop;
Then, having washed the blood away, we'd little else to do
Than to dance a quiet hornpipe as the old salts taught us to.
O! the fiddle on the fo'c'sle, and the slapping naked soles,
And the genial "Down the middle, Jake, and curtsey when she rolls!"
With the silver seas around us and the pale moon overhead,
And the look-out not a-looking and his pipe-bowl glowing red.
Ah! the pig-tailed, quidding pirates and the pretty pranks we played,
All have since been put a stop to by the naughty Board of Trade;
The schooners and the merry crews are laid away to rest,
A little south the sunset in the islands of the Blest.
Like So Much Teen Boy Trying Not to Disappoint
You know, I meant to post something on an interesting law and economics approach to dealing with exclusionary practices in communities - a method of taxing communities for imposing inefficient (selfish) exclusionary practices to the detriment of other commuties as a method of deterrence. It's really interesting and I want to explore it, but tonight, my mind is on something else: baseball.
I went to the most redundant baseball game today, which actually made it a blast. The Nats and the Braves were battling for last place. This just meant that I could do anything I wanted, so I got some booze and started screaming at Renteria and LaRoche to get their fannies in on base if they wanted me to keep the sheets warm for them. I also called a nice hit by Andruw Jones (I love it when he hits the ball), which caused me to get up and dance. I then yelled at Felipe Lopez to come visit his illegitimate child soon, and that I forgave him (who apparently by his playing is a secret agent for the Braves, but boy is he HOT - I'll have that boy's baby any day). The row in front of my was all Nats fans - they left early and shot me nasty glances. What??? First of all, it's not my fault that the Nats dropped the ball 14,000 times (literally and figureatively - at one point someone dropped the ball three times in a row) and decended from the EXPOS. Like this was some kind of serious game?? No. They were battling for LAST PLACE PEOPLE. What does it matter if I scream about LaRoche's tush and Soriano's oddly-shaped head?? Lucky for me, there were probably more Braves fans there than Nats fans.
Now, I knew this was gonna be a crappy season, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. LaRoche turned out a decent season, and despite my screaming during the game, so did Renteria (although he sure as hell wasn't making that clear tonight). But never in all my years did I think I would be sitting in a mostly empty stadium at this point in the season watching the Braves battle the freakin Nats for last freakin place. Stuipid season. Speaking of which, I've been further upset at the recent trade rumors. I know a lot of people don't like Andruw Jones, and I can understand. But Jones' homers are sugar sweet, and I - like most short-sighted Braves fans (I openly admit it) - have a real soft spot for hard hitters with not much else goin. And that's not even true. But anyway, I know he's getting traded and I have a feeling I know where... and I'm feeling highly grumpy about it. They've been takin' our sloppy seconds for years, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
And then I found out the Mets took the division today. I need to call my Grandad, who is doubtlessly whooping and waiting to rub it in. Take what you can get old man. I've still got my youth.
Oh, and I completely forgot the most important part: the Braves won - for whatever that's worth. Take that you ball dropping Nats!
I went to the most redundant baseball game today, which actually made it a blast. The Nats and the Braves were battling for last place. This just meant that I could do anything I wanted, so I got some booze and started screaming at Renteria and LaRoche to get their fannies in on base if they wanted me to keep the sheets warm for them. I also called a nice hit by Andruw Jones (I love it when he hits the ball), which caused me to get up and dance. I then yelled at Felipe Lopez to come visit his illegitimate child soon, and that I forgave him (who apparently by his playing is a secret agent for the Braves, but boy is he HOT - I'll have that boy's baby any day). The row in front of my was all Nats fans - they left early and shot me nasty glances. What??? First of all, it's not my fault that the Nats dropped the ball 14,000 times (literally and figureatively - at one point someone dropped the ball three times in a row) and decended from the EXPOS. Like this was some kind of serious game?? No. They were battling for LAST PLACE PEOPLE. What does it matter if I scream about LaRoche's tush and Soriano's oddly-shaped head?? Lucky for me, there were probably more Braves fans there than Nats fans.
Now, I knew this was gonna be a crappy season, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. LaRoche turned out a decent season, and despite my screaming during the game, so did Renteria (although he sure as hell wasn't making that clear tonight). But never in all my years did I think I would be sitting in a mostly empty stadium at this point in the season watching the Braves battle the freakin Nats for last freakin place. Stuipid season. Speaking of which, I've been further upset at the recent trade rumors. I know a lot of people don't like Andruw Jones, and I can understand. But Jones' homers are sugar sweet, and I - like most short-sighted Braves fans (I openly admit it) - have a real soft spot for hard hitters with not much else goin. And that's not even true. But anyway, I know he's getting traded and I have a feeling I know where... and I'm feeling highly grumpy about it. They've been takin' our sloppy seconds for years, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
And then I found out the Mets took the division today. I need to call my Grandad, who is doubtlessly whooping and waiting to rub it in. Take what you can get old man. I've still got my youth.
Oh, and I completely forgot the most important part: the Braves won - for whatever that's worth. Take that you ball dropping Nats!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Shared Moment
I'm in the Love Cafe, doing some work (read: blogging) and Blue Oyster Cult's (Don't Fear) the Reaper just came on. Simultaneously, the two tables of people (including mine) starting to mock Will Farrell hitting the cowbell. We all started laughing hysterically. I love those moments. My favorite time something like that happened, I was in a fancy fondue restaurant on a date I never should have been on - we were the kind of people that belonged at a monster truck rally - not a white tablecloth joint. Anyway, I ate the fondue and it was too hot, so I quoted the Simpsons:
"I ated the purple berries..."
but before I could finish the sentance, from across the restaurant, I heard a faint
"They taste like burning."
Suddenly my head and a frizzy headed girl from the other side of the room perked up and locked knowing eyes. We giggled and waived, and I went back to pretending to be appropriately serious and proper. Luckily the guy I was with laughed as hard as I did, or else that date would have been officially over.
Awesome.
"I ated the purple berries..."
but before I could finish the sentance, from across the restaurant, I heard a faint
"They taste like burning."
Suddenly my head and a frizzy headed girl from the other side of the room perked up and locked knowing eyes. We giggled and waived, and I went back to pretending to be appropriately serious and proper. Luckily the guy I was with laughed as hard as I did, or else that date would have been officially over.
Awesome.
More and More
Elle Woods over at Legally Blond posted this on what your hair part says about you. Since I part my hair on the left, I found it not so surprising. What I did find surprising was how niave I can be: I really just thought I'd part my hair there because it was flattering and it "felt natural." Of course there was some unconcious social mess dictating which way I part my hair. Not that I'm changing it. Even if I'm a slave to social dictates, I like my hair - I think it's nice :). Anyway, my part can be pretty amorphous at times, mostly because I don't brush it as often as I should. Heh.
It seems to be a theme for me lately that I am finding definitions of myself in this culture. From the recent experience reading Mama Day (which I finished in a 3:30 am marathon) to my hair parting, and most recently, my taste in poetry. I stopped into Busboys and Poets today to do some work (they were crowded so I had to bite the bullet and move) and I saw my former teacher's work on the shelves. Which of course caught my eye and made me look over the entire poetry section. It read like my dream poetry library, which made me chuckle. Of course I want to hang out there - whoever is managing the bookstore has fabulous taste in poetry. Well, and of course the name of the place is after Langston Hughes' famous dual career. My entire love of poetry can be pretty much brought back to Hughes' Mother to Son. So it seems fitting that I would find myself at home there. But highly amusing to see 90% of my favorite poets on a series of shelves off U Street.
I like where I live. It's a 10 minute straight shot on a bus to U Street and a 10 minute straight shot on a bus to school. That seems to be my pulse right now, and no complaints are comin from me about that.
It seems to be a theme for me lately that I am finding definitions of myself in this culture. From the recent experience reading Mama Day (which I finished in a 3:30 am marathon) to my hair parting, and most recently, my taste in poetry. I stopped into Busboys and Poets today to do some work (they were crowded so I had to bite the bullet and move) and I saw my former teacher's work on the shelves. Which of course caught my eye and made me look over the entire poetry section. It read like my dream poetry library, which made me chuckle. Of course I want to hang out there - whoever is managing the bookstore has fabulous taste in poetry. Well, and of course the name of the place is after Langston Hughes' famous dual career. My entire love of poetry can be pretty much brought back to Hughes' Mother to Son. So it seems fitting that I would find myself at home there. But highly amusing to see 90% of my favorite poets on a series of shelves off U Street.
I like where I live. It's a 10 minute straight shot on a bus to U Street and a 10 minute straight shot on a bus to school. That seems to be my pulse right now, and no complaints are comin from me about that.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Slingin the Fat
Today was what you would call "productive." I've been going nonstop and I even got in a workout. I feel like for the first time, I'm starting to find my "law school rhythm ." It's a hideous thing, but it does turn out a lot of product. And tonight I'm going to have fun!
You know, I have to admit, it's been an awful week for me. I've been semi-depressed and loooow. I was definitely in an isolated place and feeling like I wasn't part of a community. That's essential to my happiness - belonging to a community. It was something about all the 2L ego inflations from their recent interviewing successes mixed with some personal issues mixed with the huge transition from my small town summer to my full-speed law program. New home, new people, and of course, I'm still getting denied jobs left and right. When anyone who could hire you won't, it's hard not to apply that denial to other things in your life. Instead of just spending some time alone, it suddenly meant others didn't want to hang out with me. Instead of letting things roll off my back I analyzed them to the Nth degree. Never a good thing.
But ... for now ... I feel reinvigorated. Even though I'm in my Friday night Corporations class, I feel chipper. Of course, I'm not listening to anything he's saying, but still. We got a new roommate and tonight we get to celebrate with her by going out for some drinks. Yay!
You know, I have to admit, it's been an awful week for me. I've been semi-depressed and loooow. I was definitely in an isolated place and feeling like I wasn't part of a community. That's essential to my happiness - belonging to a community. It was something about all the 2L ego inflations from their recent interviewing successes mixed with some personal issues mixed with the huge transition from my small town summer to my full-speed law program. New home, new people, and of course, I'm still getting denied jobs left and right. When anyone who could hire you won't, it's hard not to apply that denial to other things in your life. Instead of just spending some time alone, it suddenly meant others didn't want to hang out with me. Instead of letting things roll off my back I analyzed them to the Nth degree. Never a good thing.
But ... for now ... I feel reinvigorated. Even though I'm in my Friday night Corporations class, I feel chipper. Of course, I'm not listening to anything he's saying, but still. We got a new roommate and tonight we get to celebrate with her by going out for some drinks. Yay!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Walking Cliche
I promised myself this year I would read more nonlaw to keep myself balanced. So far, it's been a lovely goal (in the two whole weeks I've been in law school). I'm currently reading Gloria Naylor's Mama Day. It's a powerful mix between the look at community from Zora Neale Hurston, the epic nature and the magical realism estblished by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Toni Morrison. My three favorite authors are Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Alice Walker, and Zora Neale Hurston - so it's natural that I would like this.
Anyhow, something odd happened. There's a lot of inner narrative taking place in the book right now. One of the major characters, Ophelia, is thinking a lot about love and how she approaches being in love. Specifically, she has fallen in love with a man and is over analyzing it and acting like a complete moron. You might as well have taken my own damn mind and put it on the page. I sat there reading myself thoughts that I have had and I realized something very important: I am a total cliche! I mean, am I really so easy to figure out and mass market? Apparently so! It was the equivalent of finding a catalog that could have been produced from your closet. It's disconcerting at best - am I really that much of a category?
Well, the one thing is that I love the book. It's really well done and powerful. So at least I'm a beautifully written cliche.
Anyhow, something odd happened. There's a lot of inner narrative taking place in the book right now. One of the major characters, Ophelia, is thinking a lot about love and how she approaches being in love. Specifically, she has fallen in love with a man and is over analyzing it and acting like a complete moron. You might as well have taken my own damn mind and put it on the page. I sat there reading myself thoughts that I have had and I realized something very important: I am a total cliche! I mean, am I really so easy to figure out and mass market? Apparently so! It was the equivalent of finding a catalog that could have been produced from your closet. It's disconcerting at best - am I really that much of a category?
Well, the one thing is that I love the book. It's really well done and powerful. So at least I'm a beautifully written cliche.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Sweet as Pie
Hot darn I just set up my very first wireless account.
And by set up, I mean I plugged it in, and then I connected to it. And it only took me an hour.
God bless automatic wireless routers.
And by set up, I mean I plugged it in, and then I connected to it. And it only took me an hour.
God bless automatic wireless routers.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Because I'm a Giant Idiot
So remember that bike ride? well, I took my keys out and put them in my bike bag for the ride. My bike bag is where? Ooooh, right: attached to my bike. My bike is where? Ooooh yeah: inside a LOCKED DOOR.
I'm sitting on my stupid porch to reap my own stupidity. I wish Montana and Idaho would come home. At least I found a hotspot. Only my battery is about to die. Why? Because God hates me.
To think - they are about to give me a law degree and a license to practice. That is, if I don't lock myself out of my house the night before the bar.
I'm sitting on my stupid porch to reap my own stupidity. I wish Montana and Idaho would come home. At least I found a hotspot. Only my battery is about to die. Why? Because God hates me.
To think - they are about to give me a law degree and a license to practice. That is, if I don't lock myself out of my house the night before the bar.
Death to Sofa Art
Well, I just moved my 60 mile charity ride to the 30 mile category. Why, you ask? Because I rode 33.1 miles yesterday and relied heavily on holding on to children's bikes to pull me forward. Luckily, it was a Sunday and there were lots of kids learning how to ride.
The Scop was kind enough to ride with me and give me tips. This is a brave thing for a person to do because I *hate* getting tips and immediately become incredibly hostile. And often, there is merit to it. Each person rides/works out/etc. in a very individualized way. Other people encroach with their "expert" opinion and it DOES NOT work for you. Suddenly you're in a completely awkward position holding your breath and glaring and the person that told you to just try a set of crunches on your head. Anyway, this was not like that and I got great advice.
The ride began by riding up to Takoma Park and visiting the old market. It was nice but hot. Then breakfast and the real ride began. We rode from Takoma Park, down through Rock Creek Park (always fun on the way down). At the end of the Park, we rode through Georgetown. I don't know if anyone who reads this blog has ever ridden there, but it's a terrifying, if life affirming process. You go through the entire ride praying that the dumb broad with the Gucci sunglasses won't open her door to spit out her gum and that the pregnant woman with the baby carriage on her cell phone jaywalking on a busy avenue will notice that you are riding by. I do a lot of shouting and premptively holding my hand out to stop any doors. It's a mad house. And although it's a mere 5-6 blocks, it's deadly. Like a snake. On a plane.
Once exiting the plane, you think you're safe because you are now on the lovely Potomac bike path. No so. It's Sunday and everyone and their baby and their dog and their friends pet iguana is out on the path flouncing about. You spend a lot of time slamming on your brakes when some 5 year old teeters out on her tryc. Once you are past the airfield (we're in Arlington, Virginia now), it's clears out to bikes and the occasional roller bladers.
Ok, this is an aside, but seriously - what the hell is wrong with people who roller blade. Don't they understand that they look completely ridiculous?? And you can't get past them because they keep swaying baack and foorth, baack and foorth. On big ugly shoes with little wheels at the bottom. And there is *definitely* a type who roller blades. I am clearly not that type.
I apologize for the digression. Anyway, the farther toward Alexandria I got, the more exhausted I got. I'm now just over 20 miles and my legs are starting to laugh at me. Openly. I could hear them telling jokes about how I look in spandex. Bastard legs. So I beat them into submission by keeping my pace up past the sailboats and into the city.
On this particular Sunday, there was an art festival going on. I'm using the term "art" loosely. Very loosely. It was the kind of art festival where suburbanites with big asses in bad shorts walk around with swatches of their sofa and wallpaper to find "the perfect little thing." Ack people. Let me tell you something: my entire room is a kind of country quaint - it spawns from my days at Warren Wilson I guess. I have a dulcimer over my fireplace in front of my bed. My grandmother's old dresser. A big yellow quilt. A small painting of a rooster from a Russian fairytale, dried ferns and leaves in the windows, and a red silk Irish panel. Oh, and a small pale yellow desk with a comfy white chair. Now, I also have a large brick wall with a giant abstract painting by Dustin Spagnola from his 2004 series (you can check them out on the website). The painting is about 6 feet by 3 feet and comes out from the wall about 6-8 inches. It's one of the most incredible pieces of art I've ever laid eyes on and I am completely proud to own it. Does it "match" my room? Certainly not. Does that matter at all? NO. What *does* matter is that it has a good backdrop and (will soon have) good lighting. And it moves me. Moves me. And to me, that is the reason one buys art. I will never understand Art (capital "A") as something one buys to compliment their furniture... like a LAMP. But then again, I grew up in a gallery, so I think I might be biased.
Sorry for the long aside. After snickering at the art during the festival (can you say paintings of vases and bad African mockups?) we went for a break to eat a 25 mile pastry. And I found my dream drink: freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice granita. It was heaven after that ride. Heaven. The good thing is that I will certainly be riding back for that one. Afterwards I readied myself to go back, and I got about 5 miles before completely giving in. Basically, I ran out of kids to hang on to. We cut off the path and rode up to the green line metro (another 3 miles) where I collapsed. I was dissapointed in myself for not being able to make it. And embarassed. But I am where I am and there is something to be said for trying. What am I kidding. I'm a slug on wheels.
Now I just need to see if I can do 30 miles next week without the stop.
The Scop was kind enough to ride with me and give me tips. This is a brave thing for a person to do because I *hate* getting tips and immediately become incredibly hostile. And often, there is merit to it. Each person rides/works out/etc. in a very individualized way. Other people encroach with their "expert" opinion and it DOES NOT work for you. Suddenly you're in a completely awkward position holding your breath and glaring and the person that told you to just try a set of crunches on your head. Anyway, this was not like that and I got great advice.
The ride began by riding up to Takoma Park and visiting the old market. It was nice but hot. Then breakfast and the real ride began. We rode from Takoma Park, down through Rock Creek Park (always fun on the way down). At the end of the Park, we rode through Georgetown. I don't know if anyone who reads this blog has ever ridden there, but it's a terrifying, if life affirming process. You go through the entire ride praying that the dumb broad with the Gucci sunglasses won't open her door to spit out her gum and that the pregnant woman with the baby carriage on her cell phone jaywalking on a busy avenue will notice that you are riding by. I do a lot of shouting and premptively holding my hand out to stop any doors. It's a mad house. And although it's a mere 5-6 blocks, it's deadly. Like a snake. On a plane.
Once exiting the plane, you think you're safe because you are now on the lovely Potomac bike path. No so. It's Sunday and everyone and their baby and their dog and their friends pet iguana is out on the path flouncing about. You spend a lot of time slamming on your brakes when some 5 year old teeters out on her tryc. Once you are past the airfield (we're in Arlington, Virginia now), it's clears out to bikes and the occasional roller bladers.
Ok, this is an aside, but seriously - what the hell is wrong with people who roller blade. Don't they understand that they look completely ridiculous?? And you can't get past them because they keep swaying baack and foorth, baack and foorth. On big ugly shoes with little wheels at the bottom. And there is *definitely* a type who roller blades. I am clearly not that type.
I apologize for the digression. Anyway, the farther toward Alexandria I got, the more exhausted I got. I'm now just over 20 miles and my legs are starting to laugh at me. Openly. I could hear them telling jokes about how I look in spandex. Bastard legs. So I beat them into submission by keeping my pace up past the sailboats and into the city.
On this particular Sunday, there was an art festival going on. I'm using the term "art" loosely. Very loosely. It was the kind of art festival where suburbanites with big asses in bad shorts walk around with swatches of their sofa and wallpaper to find "the perfect little thing." Ack people. Let me tell you something: my entire room is a kind of country quaint - it spawns from my days at Warren Wilson I guess. I have a dulcimer over my fireplace in front of my bed. My grandmother's old dresser. A big yellow quilt. A small painting of a rooster from a Russian fairytale, dried ferns and leaves in the windows, and a red silk Irish panel. Oh, and a small pale yellow desk with a comfy white chair. Now, I also have a large brick wall with a giant abstract painting by Dustin Spagnola from his 2004 series (you can check them out on the website). The painting is about 6 feet by 3 feet and comes out from the wall about 6-8 inches. It's one of the most incredible pieces of art I've ever laid eyes on and I am completely proud to own it. Does it "match" my room? Certainly not. Does that matter at all? NO. What *does* matter is that it has a good backdrop and (will soon have) good lighting. And it moves me. Moves me. And to me, that is the reason one buys art. I will never understand Art (capital "A") as something one buys to compliment their furniture... like a LAMP. But then again, I grew up in a gallery, so I think I might be biased.
Sorry for the long aside. After snickering at the art during the festival (can you say paintings of vases and bad African mockups?) we went for a break to eat a 25 mile pastry. And I found my dream drink: freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice granita. It was heaven after that ride. Heaven. The good thing is that I will certainly be riding back for that one. Afterwards I readied myself to go back, and I got about 5 miles before completely giving in. Basically, I ran out of kids to hang on to. We cut off the path and rode up to the green line metro (another 3 miles) where I collapsed. I was dissapointed in myself for not being able to make it. And embarassed. But I am where I am and there is something to be said for trying. What am I kidding. I'm a slug on wheels.
Now I just need to see if I can do 30 miles next week without the stop.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
One Soft Tomater
First off, I've only been at law school for two days, but it (of course) already feels like I never left. Eeeew. My classes so far are good (except Corporations) and engaging (except Corporations) and mostly worthwhile (except Corporations). I decided to take Corp pass/fail. Plus, I refuse to overdo it this semester, so I think it's going to be a pretty easy time. With lots of time to workout. Because I have gotten a little... well, lumpy.
I went to my first spinning class today and forgot how hard it is. I wanted to fall off my bike and barf through most of the class. Luckily, I have a strange need to show that I can keep up with any bright-eyed bushy-tailed blond perky 1L that shows up in her new matching Prana outfit. Which means I was red and throwing sweat and white around the eyes. It was a good class.
I also took a run around the National Mall for the first time in a while. All summer, I thought I had been building up my endurance. However, it turns out I was just running so unbelievably slow as to allow me to run for long periods of time. I discovered that one should never run for extended periods of time alone on an isolated trail because one thinks one is running quickly, when in fact, one is running like your grandmother's equally decrepit dog. However, I'm sure Uncle Limey played a role in slowing me down. That nasty dirty Uncle.
Anyhow, this is my 3L year. Though I may be jobless and without hope, I'm going to approach this year as if I were already hired as an associate at a top 10 firm. I think it's a good plan.
*Sigh* I still have to bike home. I better go before my legs just fall off my body and start flopping around on the ground.
I went to my first spinning class today and forgot how hard it is. I wanted to fall off my bike and barf through most of the class. Luckily, I have a strange need to show that I can keep up with any bright-eyed bushy-tailed blond perky 1L that shows up in her new matching Prana outfit. Which means I was red and throwing sweat and white around the eyes. It was a good class.
I also took a run around the National Mall for the first time in a while. All summer, I thought I had been building up my endurance. However, it turns out I was just running so unbelievably slow as to allow me to run for long periods of time. I discovered that one should never run for extended periods of time alone on an isolated trail because one thinks one is running quickly, when in fact, one is running like your grandmother's equally decrepit dog. However, I'm sure Uncle Limey played a role in slowing me down. That nasty dirty Uncle.
Anyhow, this is my 3L year. Though I may be jobless and without hope, I'm going to approach this year as if I were already hired as an associate at a top 10 firm. I think it's a good plan.
*Sigh* I still have to bike home. I better go before my legs just fall off my body and start flopping around on the ground.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Gosh I'm Predictable.
I found this at Parens Binubus. Live from my Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Transaction Documents.
| You Belong in the East Village |
 A little bit arty, a little bit punk - you seem to set trends that many people follow. It's likely that you're an academic of sorts, even if it's just on the weekends. |
Friday, September 01, 2006
And in Other News
I just found out that my namesake's been in the South since 1744. Cool.
The other half of my family, of course, came to the US during the potato famine.
I'm a walking contradiction.
The other half of my family, of course, came to the US during the potato famine.
I'm a walking contradiction.
Stupid Weather Not Matching My Mood
So I woke today bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I think the night of fun propelled me into a great mood this morning. Plus, I slept so well with the sound of rain. Ahhh. But then I went downstairs and opened the door and I found that the rain was SIDEWAYS and COLD and blowing with much wind and thunderousness.
So I put my pajamas on and I'm sitting my butt right down in my house. It's supposed to be like this all. weekend. But I don't have to deal with it now! Unfortunately, there are two things that must be done around my house. One is that my cabinet doors must be put on. I already did this once after much banging and strenuous clacking and drilling and screwing and the stupid thing wouldn't freaking close! I was so mad that I've refused to do anything more with it for several days now.
The other thing is setting up a wireless network. Now I try not to be the type that refuses to do something just because it's unfathomable to me - I attempt to learn it and at least master a basic skill set that will allow me to function in said land of wireless and other equally difficult requirements. However, this one is just awful. Besides being almost entirely computer illiterate, I am completely wirelessly impaired. Every time it's time to set up a network, I get totally baffled and utterly upset and confused. But apparently, today I'll set one up. Ack. Stupid rain not letting me stupid procrastinate. My original plan was so frolic my way to Teaism and read some of my EXCITING new books! Stupid being productive. Thanks rain.
So I put my pajamas on and I'm sitting my butt right down in my house. It's supposed to be like this all. weekend. But I don't have to deal with it now! Unfortunately, there are two things that must be done around my house. One is that my cabinet doors must be put on. I already did this once after much banging and strenuous clacking and drilling and screwing and the stupid thing wouldn't freaking close! I was so mad that I've refused to do anything more with it for several days now.
The other thing is setting up a wireless network. Now I try not to be the type that refuses to do something just because it's unfathomable to me - I attempt to learn it and at least master a basic skill set that will allow me to function in said land of wireless and other equally difficult requirements. However, this one is just awful. Besides being almost entirely computer illiterate, I am completely wirelessly impaired. Every time it's time to set up a network, I get totally baffled and utterly upset and confused. But apparently, today I'll set one up. Ack. Stupid rain not letting me stupid procrastinate. My original plan was so frolic my way to Teaism and read some of my EXCITING new books! Stupid being productive. Thanks rain.
Drunk Dialing...I mean Posting
Whoot! I just got back from a 3L reunion dealio at the local pool tavern where we (after having our own fun at a local bum-tavern we all know and love from previous tequila-ridden experiences) had a huge get together and had a grand ole time. Needless to say, I got pretty dern hammered and enjoyed much company of my classmates. It was funny because some 1Ls showed up looking nervous and jumpy and we all laughed and teased them as much as we could. Silly 1Ls with their hopes and dreams. It'll be fun to watch those be dashed yet again.
I have to say, as a 3L, this year has started off completely differently from previous years. Everyone said it would be this way and it was. It's kind of ridiculous that even though I walk to the beat of a different drum and all that, my law school experience basically turned out just like everyone said (with the second year working to death). But I guarantee that I am not going to be bored to death this year. People are constantly coming up to me and commenting on how different I seem - and you know what? It's true! We have determined that our household has a new name to fit the occasion and therefore the new pseudonyms are as follows: Team Jagermeister Shark after our household mascot.
Jager= Me
Meister = Montana
Shark = Idaho
In my humble opinion, it's perfect. Our mascot is a blow up shark by the name of Jagermeister. He is mean and ferocious. It was perfect that we should find him and have him for this year. Speaking of which, we ran into a very serendipitous meeting with a non-law school type and even he noted the change in our attitudes. Even though I may be jobless and semi-hopeless, I'm having an enormously good time and others are noticing. That feels great! Chicago Typewriter noted that I was as Southern as ever, so at least I'm staying myself.
Speaking of such things, we are throwing a housewarming party on NEXT Friday (9/8) evening. If you need to know more info, get in touch and I'll send you details. I have the feeling this will be a much more fun year.
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