The largest school shooting in American history. A dear friend in a car wreck last week now still in a coma. Fellow classmate who broke her foot last night in our co-ed soccer game - surgery to put two plates in her foot a week before exams...
God's Grandeur
Gerard Manley Hopkins
The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; Bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.
And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs--
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Who said Covenant was the only marriage mill on the hill?
One of the most common refrains/complaints we heard in undergrad about our college - too many girls are there just to get the ol' Mrs degree.
We've got news folks. Covenant ain't unique.
Consider: an average Wednesday night in the law school library, briefing the cases in our Property book and trying to be a good student, when along come two cute girls who plop down across the table from us. We've never seen them before -- and we recognize just about everybody at the law school. Within seconds we've struck up a conversation, and one girl quickly asks if we'd be willing to answer some questions they have for a research project they're doing for their investigative journalism class.
This explains why we've never seen them. They're undergrads.
Perhaps unwisely, we agree to answer their questions. They never really explained what the project was about, nor gave much introduction to the questions. Pretty soon they're asking us our thoughts about girls scoping out the law and med school libraries for a date, what we think about trophy wives, and how we feel about gold diggers. Slightly uncomfortable (and confused) by their questions, we call our buddy Will over for back up. He gets peppered with questions too.
It didn't take too long for the girls to get the answers they had come for; they thanked us and told us they'd email us the final product of their research.
Well, my friends, the research is complete. You can read all about it here: Majoring in MRS is becoming less BS.
For the record, they didn't really quote us accurately. Will pointed out later that we never said anything about "visions" to be shared with a wife. Of course, we should have foreseen this problem when we noticed that the note-taking girl only jotted down a few words to every response we gave - and they weren't Yes or No questions.
So for all of you naysayers who always criticized the Covenant dating culture, take note that it isn't only the small private schools that are handing out Mrs. degrees these days. No, the folks at the big universities are pursuing that elusive degree as well.
Our hunch: wherever girls and boys are located, there also will you find the girls on the prowl. And if you boys are looking, we've got two prospects for you.
We've got news folks. Covenant ain't unique.
Consider: an average Wednesday night in the law school library, briefing the cases in our Property book and trying to be a good student, when along come two cute girls who plop down across the table from us. We've never seen them before -- and we recognize just about everybody at the law school. Within seconds we've struck up a conversation, and one girl quickly asks if we'd be willing to answer some questions they have for a research project they're doing for their investigative journalism class.
This explains why we've never seen them. They're undergrads.
Perhaps unwisely, we agree to answer their questions. They never really explained what the project was about, nor gave much introduction to the questions. Pretty soon they're asking us our thoughts about girls scoping out the law and med school libraries for a date, what we think about trophy wives, and how we feel about gold diggers. Slightly uncomfortable (and confused) by their questions, we call our buddy Will over for back up. He gets peppered with questions too.
It didn't take too long for the girls to get the answers they had come for; they thanked us and told us they'd email us the final product of their research.
Well, my friends, the research is complete. You can read all about it here: Majoring in MRS is becoming less BS.
For the record, they didn't really quote us accurately. Will pointed out later that we never said anything about "visions" to be shared with a wife. Of course, we should have foreseen this problem when we noticed that the note-taking girl only jotted down a few words to every response we gave - and they weren't Yes or No questions.
So for all of you naysayers who always criticized the Covenant dating culture, take note that it isn't only the small private schools that are handing out Mrs. degrees these days. No, the folks at the big universities are pursuing that elusive degree as well.
Our hunch: wherever girls and boys are located, there also will you find the girls on the prowl. And if you boys are looking, we've got two prospects for you.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Science says so: global warming and literal 6 day creation are Fo' Rizzle
"The 2007 Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy Survey on American Attitudes on the Environment reveals that Americans want action on global warming and energy conservation – and most agree that they have a responsibility to do their part." - Memorandum from the Global Strategy Group to the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy
I read and hear stuff like this every day; not so subtle ways of promoting the global warming theory/agenda. It assumes that global warming is true. It proposes that most peope assume the same. And it implies that anyone who begs to differ is out of step with reality and science.
To be honest, I haven't made up my mind completely on the global warming issue.
But I do know this - it's anything but a scientific consensus.
The liberal talking head on some PBS show I was watching the other night scoffed at another round table participant when he suggested that there was scientific evidence contradicting some fundamental premises of the global warming theory. She said something to the effect of "only a right wing conservative like you, and few others, are still having that argument about whether global warming is scientific." As proof that it is, she noted how much the media and popular culture accept it as fact.
If that is the measure of scientific validity, then my name is Abe Lincoln.
And the liberals are talking out of both sides of their mouth.
Here's why:
The memo I quoted above is based on the recently published Yale Environmental Poll. Poll results include:
**The percentage of Americans who say global warming is a serious problem has risen to 83% from 70% in 2004.
**More than two out of three (68%) Americans agree that global warming is something people can control. And fully 81% agree with the statement, “It is my responsibility to help reduce the impacts of global warming.”
**Close to two-thirds (63%) of Americans agree that our country “is in as much danger from environmental hazards such as air pollution and global warming as it is from terrorists.”
** 58% agree that "as the Bible says, the world was literally created in six days."
Wait a second. What was that? Not even evangelicals have a consensus on that last point - and yet a majority of Americans think Moses (and God) got it right?
If that's the case, why aren't the liberals and mass media on huge campaigns for 6 day creation? (Surely only an uninformed ignoramus, and few others, are still having that argument about whether 6 day creation is scientific) Why aren't former vice presidents (and presidential hopefuls) getting Oscars for documentaries supporting the "Biblical" theory (query whether 6 day creation and Biblical theory are synonymous?) of how the earth came into being? (if you don't think that Oscar was politically motivated and the biggest rigged award ever, I don't know what is)
I mean, you can't argue with science, right? Basically, if you read this poll correctly, the biblical story of creation has only slightly less scientific merit than global warming.
So why don't we here the global warming folks championing the unquestionable scientific fact of literal 6 day creation?
One possible answer is revealed further in the Yale Poll.
71% of the people polled agreed with the statement "I consider myself an intellectual."
59% agreed that "I have more ability than most people."
America is made up of an overwhelming majority of intellectuals, a majority of whom have more ability than the majority. If you don't believe me, ask 2 out of every 3 people you know. They'll know what I mean.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Happy St. Patty's Day (Alabama style)
Despite the continued search for the Wee Lil' Man, it appears some of these folks have already discovered the "Pot O' Gold Teeth..."
Friday, March 02, 2007
Some Inconvenient Statistics
I watched a little of the Oscars the other night. Until "An Inconvenient Truth" picked up a trophy for Best Documentary. I got a sick feeling in my stomach just listening to Al Gore speak. At least is wasn't John Kerry.
Evidently, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research issued a report on Gore's personal participation in the global warming scam - TCPR obtained utility records from Gore's mansion, which they described as "located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville":
Evidently, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research issued a report on Gore's personal participation in the global warming scam - TCPR obtained utility records from Gore's mansion, which they described as "located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville":
The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh--more than 20 times the national average.
Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh--guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore's average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.
Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.
Gore's extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore's mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.
The Tennessean reports, however, that Gore is buying his indulgences:
Gore purchased 108 blocks of "green power" for each of the past three months, according to a summary of the bills.
That's a total of $432 a month Gore paid extra for solar or other renewable energy sources. . . .
"Every family has a different carbon footprint," said Kalee Krider, a spokeswoman for Gore. The Gores' 10,000-square-foot house on Lynnwood Boulevard has a large one.
The Green Power Switch program isn't all that Gore and his wife, Tipper, are doing, Krider said.
They use compact fluorescent light bulbs and are in the midst of a renovation project that includes having solar panels installed on their home to reduce fossil fuel consumption, she said.
Their car? A Lexis hybrid SUV.
"They, of course, also do the carbon emissions offset," she said.
That means figuring out how much carbon is emitted from home power use, and vehicle and plane travel, then paying for projects that will offset that with use of renewable energy, such as solar power.
According to WSJ, however, "not every wealthy politician lives in a vast private mansion, and TreeHugger.com reports on one who lives more simply:"
Is it possible that George Bush is a secret Green? Evidently his Crawford Winter White House has 25,000 gallons of rainwater storage, gray water collection from sinks and showers for irrigation, passive solar, geothermal heating and cooling. "By marketplace standards, the house is startlingly small," says David Heymann, the architect of the 4,000-square-foot home. "Clients of similar ilk are building 16-to-20,000-square-foot houses." Furthermore for thermal mass the walls are clad in "discards of a local stone called Leuders limestone, which is quarried in the area. The 12-to-18-inch-thick stone has a mix of colors on the top and bottom, with a cream- colored center that most people want. "They cut the top and bottom of it off because nobody really wants it," Heymann says. "So we bought all this throwaway stone. It's fabulous. It's got great color and it is relatively inexpensive.
Just keeping it real.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Quote of the Day: Irony or Coincidence?
“I had never really traced my family history...”—Al Sharpton, who has repeatedly demanded reparations, upon finding that an ancestor was owned by a distant relation of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond
Friday, February 16, 2007
Yankees...worse than fire ants
"Slowly but surely they have taken over Hilton Head, they've taken over Beaufort County. They're infiltrating Jasper County...they're worse than fire ants."After discussing a case in property today regarding negative deed restrictions that prohibited the sale of property to Negroes and Mongolians (why Mongolians were mentioned I have no idea - guess I forgot about that huge influx of Asian immigrants in St. Louis in the 1910's), our professor presented us with an interesting story.
-Henry Ingram
A dude in South Carolina (Henry Ingram), owner of the Delta Plantation just north of Savannah GA, has certain restrictive covenants preventing the sale or lease of his property to people of the "Yankee race."
These prohibitions include:Thankfully, ol' Henry has lightened up a bit in his old age. Now, the modified covenant allows a Yankee to purchase the land, only on the condition that he recite a Southern Oath, promising that "when speaking of Yankees, I will refer to them as scalawags or carpetbaggers." Furthermore, these proselytized folks must "whistle or hum Dixie as a sign of [their] loyalty and as a token of [their] new outlook on life."
1. Anyone from north of the Mason Dixon line (or who have lived above the line for over a year)
2. Anyone with the last name of Sherman, or whose last name can be rearranged to spell Sherman
3. No redwood can be used on the property (evidently there are certain types of redwood named after General Sherman)
Ahhh...just another fine day in South Carolina property law land.
Northerners are a people lost to all shame . . . cowards by nature, thieves upon principle, and assassins at heart. . . . The tiger that laps the blood and the beetle that gorges excrement, are but Yankees of the animal kingdom . . . our feelings towards [these] scarabi and vipers of humanity should be characterized neither by rage nor nausea, but by a fixed cheerful Christian determination to . . . curb their inordinate and bloody lusts by such adequate means as natural with suggests; and, as a general thing, to kill them without idle question as to whether they are reptiles or vermin. - John Daniel, Richmond Enquirer, 1863
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
V-day and Global Warming (but not in my words)
I'm so busy entertaining all the various lady friends in my life, I don't have time for original thoughts on this Valentines Day.
But James Taranto from the Wall Street Journal does:
London's Daily Telegraph reports that sending flowers on Valentine's Day can contribute to warming--and not just of your sweetie's heart:
But James Taranto from the Wall Street Journal does:
London's Daily Telegraph reports that sending flowers on Valentine's Day can contribute to warming--and not just of your sweetie's heart:
The Valentine's Day bouquet--the gift that every woman in Britain will be waiting for next week--has become the latest bête noire among environmental campaigners.
Latest Government figures show that the flowers that make up the average bunch have flown 33,800 miles to reach Britain. . . .
Environmentalists warned that "flower miles" could have serious implications on climate change in terms of carbon dioxide emissions from aeroplanes.
The Telegraph's headline reads "Valentine Bouquets 'Are Bad for the Planet.' " It occurred to us that some neglectful husbands and boyfriends are going to use this as an excuse: I would have sent you flowers, honey, but I wanted to save the planet. Trust us on this one, guys, it won't work.
On the other hand, think of how much more meaningful it now is if you do send flowers. The message: You mean more to me than the whole world. This may be the best thing ever to happen to the floral industry.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Manville Mustache Mania
Lawyers are, by and large, clean-shaven, well groomed, suave looking shmoozers. I'm sure that someday, I will find myself conforming to this stereotype. For now, I've found my own little way to rebel against the status quo.
Two words: fu manchu.
Interviews are approaching, and with them, the unavoidable question...to conform, or not to conform. Put differently, to shave, or not to shave.
Personally, I'm sticking with the 'stache.
Two words: fu manchu.
Interviews are approaching, and with them, the unavoidable question...to conform, or not to conform. Put differently, to shave, or not to shave.Personally, I'm sticking with the 'stache.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Guys night out meets girls night out
Guys night out consisted of seeing Borat at the $1.50 theater, followed by a trip to the Ale House for a drink and some nachos. The Ale House is a nice, new, dedicated to sports bar, similar to the Fox and Hound.
Evidently Girls night out consisted of going to the Ale House. Jeff noted the plethora of women in the restaurant when we walked in - not necessarily attractive, just numerous.
For the first time in our life, we sat in a sports bar surrounded by TV's all of which were playing women's sports.
Sharapova v. Williams.
NCAA women's basketball on the giant projection screen.
Female snow boarding.
And figure skating.
That's right, they had figure skating on multiple big screen tvs at a sports bar.
We will never go to the Ale House again.
Evidently Girls night out consisted of going to the Ale House. Jeff noted the plethora of women in the restaurant when we walked in - not necessarily attractive, just numerous.
For the first time in our life, we sat in a sports bar surrounded by TV's all of which were playing women's sports.
Sharapova v. Williams.
NCAA women's basketball on the giant projection screen.
Female snow boarding.
And figure skating.
That's right, they had figure skating on multiple big screen tvs at a sports bar.
We will never go to the Ale House again.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
What do Jesus, MLK, and ESPN have in common?
I just read one of the better articles I've seen on ESPN.com. If you're like me, you probably get a little annoyed with the athletes who always thank God after winning the big game - its almost cliche. However, the two head coaches in the upcoming Super Bowl are anything but insincere, and although they will be the first black head coaches ever to take a team to the Super Bowl, it's character (i.e. Jesus), not color, that separates Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy.
While Michael Smith (no, not THAT Michael Smith), the author of the above article, is trying hard to get past race issues, the NCAA can't see anything BUT color. I'm not sure exactly what the NCAA actually does, but my impression is that it's one of three things: (1) Find and punish college kids who happen to play sports and also happened to accept some cupcakes from a tailgating fan (or other similar recruiting/compensation violations); (2) Seek and destroy any college that has a mascot that resembles an Indian in any fashion; (3) Beat the "America-is-still-racist-and-we-as-a-athletic- organization-are-personally-gonna-to-fix-that" Drum until it busts. And then beat it some more. It appears that the NCAA wants to further limit universities in South Carolina and Mississippi ability to host post season tournaments/games, simply because we "display the Confederate flag." And by display the flag, they mean that there is a monument on the state house grounds that commemorates that significant part of our history, and the flag flies there. The absurdity of all this warrants no more of my time than I've already given. NCAA - sub yourself out.
The front page of ESPN.com has a huge picture and link to an article about some 20 year old kid in jail in Georgia. The whole article is basically criticizing Georgia for having what the author believes is an "antiquated law," and caricatures the Peach State as a backwards, racist place, while making this kid out to be an innocent victim of biased white southerners. Nevermind the fact that the guy had oral sex with a 15 year old, or that he did drugs as a high schooler. How an article of this nature, that argues public policy issues and grossly stereotypes an entire state, fits in a sports magazine, I don't know.
This from the same ESPN that was so quick to jump on the bandwagon that berated the Duke lacrosse players for their alleged sexual assault of a dancer, making it out to be a huge issue of race. A Black dancer. Raped by White, Middle Class, SUV driving prep school Males. Turns out they probably didn't do it (they did maintain their innocence all along), meanwhile the relentless prosecutor who's main goal in life apparently was to bring down the Duke lacrosse players is facing ethics charges from the state bar. I may only be a 1L law student, but I'm pretty sure that that's about as bad as it gets as a lawyer.
While Michael Smith (no, not THAT Michael Smith), the author of the above article, is trying hard to get past race issues, the NCAA can't see anything BUT color. I'm not sure exactly what the NCAA actually does, but my impression is that it's one of three things: (1) Find and punish college kids who happen to play sports and also happened to accept some cupcakes from a tailgating fan (or other similar recruiting/compensation violations); (2) Seek and destroy any college that has a mascot that resembles an Indian in any fashion; (3) Beat the "America-is-still-racist-and-we-as-a-athletic- organization-are-personally-gonna-to-fix-that" Drum until it busts. And then beat it some more. It appears that the NCAA wants to further limit universities in South Carolina and Mississippi ability to host post season tournaments/games, simply because we "display the Confederate flag." And by display the flag, they mean that there is a monument on the state house grounds that commemorates that significant part of our history, and the flag flies there. The absurdity of all this warrants no more of my time than I've already given. NCAA - sub yourself out.
The front page of ESPN.com has a huge picture and link to an article about some 20 year old kid in jail in Georgia. The whole article is basically criticizing Georgia for having what the author believes is an "antiquated law," and caricatures the Peach State as a backwards, racist place, while making this kid out to be an innocent victim of biased white southerners. Nevermind the fact that the guy had oral sex with a 15 year old, or that he did drugs as a high schooler. How an article of this nature, that argues public policy issues and grossly stereotypes an entire state, fits in a sports magazine, I don't know.
This from the same ESPN that was so quick to jump on the bandwagon that berated the Duke lacrosse players for their alleged sexual assault of a dancer, making it out to be a huge issue of race. A Black dancer. Raped by White, Middle Class, SUV driving prep school Males. Turns out they probably didn't do it (they did maintain their innocence all along), meanwhile the relentless prosecutor who's main goal in life apparently was to bring down the Duke lacrosse players is facing ethics charges from the state bar. I may only be a 1L law student, but I'm pretty sure that that's about as bad as it gets as a lawyer.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Maybe he was telling the truth?
Every now and again we get these scam artist emails about transferring $25 million into our personal account on behalf of some Nigerian prince. We usually delete them.
Sometimes, however, they can be pretty humorous. Murray used to laugh with us at the Craigslist scammers that sent him emails. This one we received recently is especially funny. We saw a special on these guys on 20/20 a few weeks back - notice how they've tailored the email to fit certain profile descriptions they've created for us (e.g. lawyer, our name, etc.)
Sometimes, however, they can be pretty humorous. Murray used to laugh with us at the Craigslist scammers that sent him emails. This one we received recently is especially funny. We saw a special on these guys on 20/20 a few weeks back - notice how they've tailored the email to fit certain profile descriptions they've created for us (e.g. lawyer, our name, etc.)
This may have not been a wise decision, but we responded. We couldn't resist.Good Day [Sleuth],I crave your indulgence to kindly attend to this in good faith. I do not mean any disrespect approaching you through this medium. It is due to the time constrained of this matter.My name is Barrister Bill Johnson, a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to Mr.Quan [Sleuth], a national of your country here in after referred to as my client. My client Mr.Quan and his family was involved in an unfortunate 21st April 2002 fatal auto crash along loftus road London in which people were burnt to death. he lost his life alone with his family.My late client was an oil magnet working with Chevron Oil Plc United Kingdom and had left behind a deposit of Eight Million seven hundred thousand pounds only (£8.7million) with a finance company. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his Attorney to provide his next of kin who should inherit his fortune. This according to them is their policy in sure circumstances. But Since his death I have made several Enquiries through your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relative but this exercise has proved unsuccessful. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or his next of kin. The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned fund.The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of 1996 to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me. But after an investigation in the finance company, I found out that some members of the company wants to divert this fund into their private accounts for their own interest and only want, to use the excuse that since I am not able to look for some one to make the claim, the money should be made unserviceable and that means submitting the fund to the federal government of this country and some to the company management which is not their main intentions.I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as the next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are at an advantage, bearing the same surname and equally from the same country, so that the proceeds of This Bank Account valued at £8.7 Million pounds can be paid to you, before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge deposit were lodged. note that this is legal, and 100% risk free since I have all vital documents that would be requested by them and that would confer you the legal right to make this claim.I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client, but had thought it unprofitable for his funds to be summated to the federal government of this country. My aim now is to retrieve this fund, and for this I seek your assistance. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account valued at £8.7 Million pounds can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money, 60%to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same last name as my late client. But after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you, can I trust you on this?. Will you be willing to assist me make this claim. I shall assemble all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up your claim.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by alternative email billjohnson_esq@excite.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction. My phone number is 44-76-2415-5245 Fax:+44-87-1256-3615 if this proposal is acceptable by you; do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent response.Best regards,Bill Johnson (Esq.)Reply To:billjohnson_esq@excite.comTel:+44-76-2415-5245Fax:+44-87-1256-3615PLEASE TREAT AS ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL.
Barrister Bill,
I regret to inform you that "your instinct" was wrong on this one. I believe the email address you meant to send this letter to was Ihavedumbasswrittenonmyforehead@gmail.com. Perhaps they can crave your indulgence.
Keep "reasoning professionally." You're doing great so far.
Sincerely,
J. Edgar Hoover
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department of Justice
Thursday, January 18, 2007
SEC Football - it's a Southern thing
Most of you that know me know that I love me some college football. Especially SEC football. Especially South Carolina Gamecocks football.
I'm not unique. There are a lot of people who share my opinions - 5.5 million, to be exact. That's how many people attended SEC football games in the fall of 2005 (2006's numbers haven't been released). In case you're wondering, that's about 74,583 fans per game, and 97.4% of the SEC stadiums' capacity. That's .5 million more than attended Big 10 games, and 1.3 million more than attended Big 12 games, while the ACC is almost 2 million behind us.
The SEC is Big Boy Football, People. We don't mess around. As you probably heard repeatedly during the National Championship, the SEC is known for its speed - especially on defense. By and large, college football analysts and experts acknowledge that the SEC is "the best, toughest, wildest conference in the land."
If you ever want to hear someone whine, read the above paragraphs to a Big 10 fan. If there is such a thing as conference rivalries (and I think there is) then it doesn't get any more bitter than SEC v. Big 10. Every year I end up in a debate with some Big 10 friend about which conference is better. The issue has never been settled. Take this year for example. There were three Big 10 v. SEC bowl games (the best chance to see how the conferences match up) and the Big 10 won 2 of the 3. Of course, they lost the one that counted, the National Championship, and overall the Big 10 was 2-5 in bowl games this year, compared to the SEC's 6-3 record. And of the three SEC v. Big 10 games, that was the one that every thought had already marked as a Big 10 win.
Since 1990, the SEC is 30-23 against the Big 10 in head-to-head games (including bowls). And since the BCS began in 1998, the SEC has produced 3 national champions to the Big 10's 1 (and Auburn was denied a shot after their perfect 12-0 season in 2004).
Of course, if you think there are rivalries between SEC and Big 10, you should check out the intraconference matchups. Some of them are some of the oldest rivalries in all of college football. Some are newer. All are heated. Auburn v. Alabama. Georgia v. Florida. Tennessee v. Alabama. Georgia v. Auburn. Ole Miss v. Mississippi State. South Carolina v. Florida.
In some ways, the SEC is very much a microcosm of southern culture. There is a strong allegiance to the entire conference, and yet each state/university maintains a strong and loyal following.
I tell you all of that just so that this story about the Georgia congressman who opposed the pro-Gators resolution makes a little more sense. And maybe now I'll make a little more sense. Because I'd probably do the same thing.
I'm not unique. There are a lot of people who share my opinions - 5.5 million, to be exact. That's how many people attended SEC football games in the fall of 2005 (2006's numbers haven't been released). In case you're wondering, that's about 74,583 fans per game, and 97.4% of the SEC stadiums' capacity. That's .5 million more than attended Big 10 games, and 1.3 million more than attended Big 12 games, while the ACC is almost 2 million behind us.
The SEC is Big Boy Football, People. We don't mess around. As you probably heard repeatedly during the National Championship, the SEC is known for its speed - especially on defense. By and large, college football analysts and experts acknowledge that the SEC is "the best, toughest, wildest conference in the land."
If you ever want to hear someone whine, read the above paragraphs to a Big 10 fan. If there is such a thing as conference rivalries (and I think there is) then it doesn't get any more bitter than SEC v. Big 10. Every year I end up in a debate with some Big 10 friend about which conference is better. The issue has never been settled. Take this year for example. There were three Big 10 v. SEC bowl games (the best chance to see how the conferences match up) and the Big 10 won 2 of the 3. Of course, they lost the one that counted, the National Championship, and overall the Big 10 was 2-5 in bowl games this year, compared to the SEC's 6-3 record. And of the three SEC v. Big 10 games, that was the one that every thought had already marked as a Big 10 win.
Since 1990, the SEC is 30-23 against the Big 10 in head-to-head games (including bowls). And since the BCS began in 1998, the SEC has produced 3 national champions to the Big 10's 1 (and Auburn was denied a shot after their perfect 12-0 season in 2004).
Of course, if you think there are rivalries between SEC and Big 10, you should check out the intraconference matchups. Some of them are some of the oldest rivalries in all of college football. Some are newer. All are heated. Auburn v. Alabama. Georgia v. Florida. Tennessee v. Alabama. Georgia v. Auburn. Ole Miss v. Mississippi State. South Carolina v. Florida.
In some ways, the SEC is very much a microcosm of southern culture. There is a strong allegiance to the entire conference, and yet each state/university maintains a strong and loyal following.
I tell you all of that just so that this story about the Georgia congressman who opposed the pro-Gators resolution makes a little more sense. And maybe now I'll make a little more sense. Because I'd probably do the same thing.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Blast from the Past
Most of you Covenant folks will remember this from back in the day...I just came across it recently.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Dave Page is Flava Flav incarnate anew
"That girl was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I can't even describe how beautiful she was. I mean, it was like she had a face like a deer."- Flava Dave
"Yeah, boyeeee..."
- Flava Dave
"I want a girl who looks good when she wakes up in the morning. We could take her face and dip it in dough and she’ll make some nice face-cookies. Some girls wake up, man, you could put their face in dough and you’ll get a gorilla cookie, for real!”
– Flava Flav
"Yeah, boyeeee..." - Flava Flav
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Dellynnidate Update
Dellynnidate 2006 was exciting, entertaining, full of twists, and generally a pleasant success, though one wonders if any Elimidate from here on out will be a
ble to match the fairy tale ending that made Elenadate 2005 a story for the ages.There were a few naysayers, particularly Mr. Bintz, who lamented that Dellynnidate 2006 was "a debacle," and rumor has it that several in our company felt the bachelors had not stepped up to the plate. For the untrained eye, this may have appeared the case, but to the seasoned veterans, the whole event was both interesting and competitive.
The weekend nearly ended as soon as it began, when an external The Committee (we're still not sure who was on said committee) announced that Rabib would be Dellynne's escort to the semi-formal evening at the 1640 Hart House.
With the romantic setting in a private room in one of the oldest buildings in America, and the unfortunate seating arrangement (which placed Rabib and Dellynne together at the end of the table), it appeared that Rabib had bolted to an early and insurmountable lead. I mean, Diamond Dave hadn't even arrived in Boston yet, and Rabib and Dellynne were
already sharing a steak dinner. Fortunately, Murray and The Sleuth worked their wooing magic on one KZ, and Rabib's advantage was soon lost when he failed to buy Dellynne's dinner. You can hear Rabib's thoughts on the evening here.Rabib didn't let the dinner hiccup affect his A game, however, and he continued to put the pressure on the other bachelors, taking Dellynne grocery shopping and creatively manipulating the car situation so that he and Dellynne were together on the ride to Boston, while the other bachelors were left wondering what happened as they rode alone. The tensions were high and Rabib's seemin
gly exclusive control of Dellynne erupted in a snowball fight among the bachelors. Murray and The Sleuth concocted a plan to disrupt Rabib's flirting, and spent the 45 minute drive to Boston text messaging Dellynne. The brilliant plan was not without its hitch, as Dellynne struggled to keep up with the two expert texters, and was ultimately confused as to which texts came from which bachelor. Although neither Murray nor The Sleuth got the edge in the texting, their plan was successful in that Rabib was no longer the center of Dellynne's attention.The next opportunity for exclusivity came on New Year's Eve, when The Sleuth boldly bolted ahead of the meandering group and whisked Dellynne away to observe a lively street performance on the streets of downtown Boston. Upon Dellynne's confession
of her unbridled attraction for black men, The Sleuth used his lawyering skills to secure Dellynne a spot in the street performance, where she was one of 4 women over whom the flying acrobat somersalted his way to a few more dollars. Had the bachelors been watching, they would have seen the black street performer put more moves on Dellynne in 30 seconds than the entire lot of Diamond Dave, Murray, The Sleuth and Rabib did all weekend. Thankfully, The Committee ruled that the street performer was ineligible, and the eligible bachelors were saved. Later that evening, The Sleuth stamped his seal of pursuit on Dellynnidate by ending 2006 and beginning 2007 with Dellynne in his arms, as they effortlessly whisked around the apartment, swing dancing to the likes of Glen Miller and company.
Murray's tendency to be a more subtle and coy pursuer is well documented, and time and space prevent me from cataloging his numerous attempts to win Dellynne's heart. But those who know the Murr Man well know that he never does anything half-assed, and when it comes to women, few can resist his boyish good looks and charming personality. Only time will tell if his playful antics will prevail.Diamond Dave, in true fashion, was at times reserved and at times
confidently forward. While he announced to the group during our Sunday morning lounge around that he was "sorta dating this girl back in Nashville" (The Committee is still out on the exact definition of "sorta dating") he was also the only bachelor to play his Timeout Card with Dellynne. His timing was nothing short of impressive, and his 15 minutes of alone time with Dellynne were spent walking arm in arm along Singing Beach off of the coast near Ipswich and Essex.
Although not a participant, because of his failure to actually show up in Boston, Macey also made his present known in Essex through his Eposts on Dellynne's Efacebook. However, his failure to be physically present ultimately cost him, and any promises of victory were empty attempts to make him fell wanted, bless his heart.In the end, Dellynne refused to name a winner (probably because she had no idea she would be IN Dellynnidate until she arrived in Boston, and because she did not want to risk offending any of her brother's friends). However, she did offer the following thoughts on the whole weekend:
The Sleuth, my neck looks bigger than my dad's [a reference to the tshirt]. But, who cares... you look good [I know].
Murray- leaves early. and, he's running his own business and stuff, he's too busy for Bostonian liberals.
Diamond Dave- is he available? hmmm... hard to say. plus, he may end up marrying a beautiful African lady, and who am I to stand in the way?
Rabib- don't know. he's at least within a reasonable distance. But, he's running off to get a doctorate somewhere...
The Sleuth- available- but, distance is an issue. Plus, he smokes a pipe, nobody likes a pipe smoker [for the record, Dellynne is the only girl we know who in fact owns her own pipe, and smokes it]. Macey- from Lakeland, his biggest appeal. But, maybe I don't want a Lakeland guy... plus, he didn't put in the effort to be here... he therefore must lose.
Dellynnidate 2006. She won't vote, so you must...cast your vote now.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Christmas in Chapin
Two little elves.
If you can imagine the choir from Charlie Brown Christmas, you can imagine what she sounds like.
TOO MUCH EGGNOG.
I can't think of a cuter picture.
CHRISTMAS MORNING...NO ONE goes downstairs until we've taken a picture on the steps.
A Christmas Eve tradition - Paintball at the Luther's. In a few hours, these same four gunners will transform into a string quartet of Bachish flair at the Christmas Eve service. Mighty Morphin Paintball Stringers.
NOAH. Assassin.
What I usually do on holidays, or Sundays, or any day where we eat a big meal and then lounge around. I'm gonna make a totally sweet Grandpa one day.
Keira Knightley fans. Two boys after my own heart. Thursday, December 21, 2006
Merry Christmas from Manville
Dave Page at his merriest. Perhaps ol' Evan or Jack had just visited...
Friday, December 15, 2006
Top 10 reasons you know you go to law school in South Carolina
10. Your professor's final exams always make derogatory references to Clemson and its graduates (e.g. please sign your name at the top of the exam packet, or if a Clemson graduate with special permission, make your mark; or fact patterns refer to a student from Clemdaughter, a Clemson graduate named Guber, etc.)
9. Your reading (for ANY class) regularly involves statements to the effect of "the vast majority of states recognize XX legal doctrine, with the exception of South Carolina" (e.g. SC the only state that doesn't recognize res ipsa loquitur, SC only state with 20 year theory of adverse possession, SC one of two states that still has fee simple conditional posessory estate, no second degree murder in SC, etc.)
8. Even the community desk/bench (it's large and semicircular, perhaps even a BFD) in the law school lobby, which students use for everything from eating to studying, has some serious history behind it. It was handcrafted as the first bench in the original South Carolina Supreme Court.
7. The winning class (2 year lawyer wannabes) in the annual Harvest Hope Food Drive won with 29,381 pounds of foot, probably 29,000 lbs. of which were large 50lb. bags of salt. And yet the law school thought this was pro bono enough of them to put pictures on the web page. Perhaps the 2L's got confused, and thought that instead of helping needy families, the food drive was actually a environmental effort to replenish the ocean's salt supply.
6. Despite your love for our glorious state (and all things South Carolina), you secretly hoped that the Charleston School of Law would not get accredited. When it passed accreditation a few weeks ago, you secretly hoped Charleston might try to secede from the state, and take its law school with it.
5. Your school's most notable publication is the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, the premier scholarly publication in the property and probate fields (it is the second largest law review in the country). Which is ironic, given that South Carolina is somewhat of a property law anomaly (see #9 above).
4. Your professors will call on you repeatedly simply because you wear a shirt containing any shade of orange. You will also be ostracized/ridiculed by your classmates (except for the other gubers wearing orange).
3. Bow ties are a common clothing accessory among faculty and students alike.
2. Some guys in the back row dip while taking their finals.
1. With 20 minutes left during your last final exam, you hear the pop of an aluminum can being opened...one of your classmates hands in his exam and walks across the front of the classroom with a small brown bag in hand. He turns, waves to the class, and chugs the whole beer as he exits the room.
9. Your reading (for ANY class) regularly involves statements to the effect of "the vast majority of states recognize XX legal doctrine, with the exception of South Carolina" (e.g. SC the only state that doesn't recognize res ipsa loquitur, SC only state with 20 year theory of adverse possession, SC one of two states that still has fee simple conditional posessory estate, no second degree murder in SC, etc.)
8. Even the community desk/bench (it's large and semicircular, perhaps even a BFD) in the law school lobby, which students use for everything from eating to studying, has some serious history behind it. It was handcrafted as the first bench in the original South Carolina Supreme Court.
7. The winning class (2 year lawyer wannabes) in the annual Harvest Hope Food Drive won with 29,381 pounds of foot, probably 29,000 lbs. of which were large 50lb. bags of salt. And yet the law school thought this was pro bono enough of them to put pictures on the web page. Perhaps the 2L's got confused, and thought that instead of helping needy families, the food drive was actually a environmental effort to replenish the ocean's salt supply.
6. Despite your love for our glorious state (and all things South Carolina), you secretly hoped that the Charleston School of Law would not get accredited. When it passed accreditation a few weeks ago, you secretly hoped Charleston might try to secede from the state, and take its law school with it.
5. Your school's most notable publication is the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, the premier scholarly publication in the property and probate fields (it is the second largest law review in the country). Which is ironic, given that South Carolina is somewhat of a property law anomaly (see #9 above).
4. Your professors will call on you repeatedly simply because you wear a shirt containing any shade of orange. You will also be ostracized/ridiculed by your classmates (except for the other gubers wearing orange).
3. Bow ties are a common clothing accessory among faculty and students alike.
2. Some guys in the back row dip while taking their finals.
1. With 20 minutes left during your last final exam, you hear the pop of an aluminum can being opened...one of your classmates hands in his exam and walks across the front of the classroom with a small brown bag in hand. He turns, waves to the class, and chugs the whole beer as he exits the room.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: Essien wonder goal
I was cruising ESPN Soccernet last week, killing some time and getting my football fix for the day.
Arsenal had faced off against Chelsea the day before, so I read the recap.
I searched in vain for video footage of the 35 yard thunderbolt - surely a shot like that is worth watching. Thanks to Johnny T, however, the search is over.
As Macey and I used to say - an absolute howitzer.
Arsenal had faced off against Chelsea the day before, so I read the recap.
"Essien rescued Chelsea with a 35-yard thunderbolt six minutes from the end and the home side were unlucky to finish on level terms when they twice hit the woodwork in stoppage time."
I searched in vain for video footage of the 35 yard thunderbolt - surely a shot like that is worth watching. Thanks to Johnny T, however, the search is over.
As Macey and I used to say - an absolute howitzer.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Monday's with Murray: Musings on food and the character of some friends while eating at a diner with Winston
We know most of you Subscribers probably wet yourself with excitement when you saw this Blog post title. He's back!
Indeed, our beloved Murray has returned (by proxy). And, with the highly anticipated reunion over New Year's Eve in Boston, we're sure there will be more where this came from...
[The following is from a recent Blackberry email from Murray entitled "Musings on food and the character of some friends while eating at a diner with Winston." We have inserted bracketed explanations for your reading ease - Eds.]
There's Winston [third founding member of MPC and current Project Manager] who always orders the worst thing on the menu ("egg sandwich sunny side up"). Characteristic of his bad taste in pop culture and most food.
Jamey ["Cool" Poole] who always eats free (years of practicing golf have finally paid off). Ironic since Jamey doesn't come across as much of a gambler.
Slippery [if you don't know who Slippery is...] who always eats free... at home instead of eating out with us. Before he got slippery he was known as Stingy Sleuth.
Andy Givens [Murray's Pensacola roommate] who always upsets the waitress ("would you like a beer?" "No just cheerios and orange juice" after being singled out for a driver's license at Big Bear). Andy likes to upset people.
Brien [Murray] who is always stuck with Jamey's bill. Typical of his ill-luck with golf.
Scott Hudson who always orders the best thing on the menu (and probably most expensive). Scott demands the best in quality and is willing to pay for it.
Miller Weedn [MPC salesman] who always eats out three times a day, 7 days a week. Miller Time to find a wife.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Christmas Cheers
Thanks to Noel and Elissa, the past few years have seen a new staple of Christmas celebrations - the Saint Arnold Christmas Ale. Noel found this local microbrewery somewhere in Houston a few years back, and he's been supplying us with a steady stream ever since. After all, you've got to support a brewery that makes a beer named after your wife.
Well, now its my turn to add to the Christmas spirit(s). And so, I present to you [drum roll]...
Santa's Butt. And his helper, Seriously Bad Elf.
No joke. And there's more where they came from.
You may have heard about them in the news recently - apparently Maine has banned the sale of Santa's Butt - sketchy advertising or something like that. And for holiday reading, you can check out the Brewery's take on the whole debacle in their beer blog.
For now, I just want to try an English Ale that is 9.0%.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Law School Exams, Day 4
Quote of the week:
"Don't get icing on your fingers. When I hand you this piece of cake." - Martin McWilliams (my Contracts professor), as he handed out our exams.
If that was a piece of cake, then I'll pass on desert.
"Don't get icing on your fingers. When I hand you this piece of cake." - Martin McWilliams (my Contracts professor), as he handed out our exams.
If that was a piece of cake, then I'll pass on desert.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Law School Exams, Day 2: Thoughts on Day 1
Noel, Gilli, Tricia, Paige, and all my fellow Apple mates, you will find this particularly nauseating.
USC now (as of this school year) began requiring all law students to own a laptop. Unbeknownst to me (prior the semester) the requirement was that all law students own a PC laptop.
Let the discrimination/frustration/superiority complex begin.
First, there is a fairly cumbersome procedure one must go through every time one attempts to access the law school wireless. My PC user friends have all had trouble with it at some point this semester. I have not.
Mac 1 - Bill Gates 0.
The one time I DID have trouble (at the very beginning of the semester) I was turned away by the law school IT guy because they don't support Mac. I figured out the problem on my own.
Mac and Me 2 (since I discovered the solution) - Law School Techie who apparently has an old 486 shoved up his butt, 0.
Now the fun begins. The laptop requirement exists because of an evil program called Secure Exam. Secure Exam hates Macs. Actually, from my experience, it doesn't get along well with PC's either. Secure Exam was probably created by kids who don't play well with others.
Here's how it works:
1. Shut down all programs.
2. Access USC wireless.
3. Log in to Clean Access Agent - I have no idea what this does.
4. Log into VPN Client - extra protection hoop for wireless access.
5. Log into Secure Exam.
6. At this point, your entire computer is frozen except for Secure Exam - no accessing the internet, other files, etc. And if you're computer shuts down, it logs automatically back into Secure Exam, and you can't get out of it without a Proctor's password.
Again, this doesn't work with Apple computers.
So if you're a Mac user, you're SOL. A month ago I was informed that I would have to find a PC to borrow during exams. Difficulty #1, who can just loan a laptop out for 2 weeks? Difficulty #2, Secure Exam requires you to delete all antivirus protection (Norton, McAfee, etc.) and turn off a bunch of other stuff I don't understand (and neither to the IT guys). I find it no coincidence that USC announced this fall that they are hiring/creating a new Head of IT position for next year.
After deleting all of the protective software and updates etc. from my mom's computer and spending an entire Saturday in the library downloading and installing all the necessary programs, Secure Exam still did not work.
I gave up. Also, I swore a lot.
USC finally owned up to their ignorance, at least partially, and offered a loaner computer to Mac users during exams this fall. Since they claim this is a one time deal, I may still have to purchase a PC for next spring.
NOW...
Prior to yesterday's first exam, our class received an email stating that, inter alia, Secure Exam has found a glitch where if you attempt to use word count or spell check (both of which are important because our profs are sticklers about spelling and length of answers) there is a 15% chance the program will freeze and you will lose your work entirely. Brilliant.
Query: What Mac has EVER frozen from running a word count or spell check?
Answer: None. No not one.
Mac 3 - USC, Secure Exam, Bill Gates, and all PC's in general, 0. Minus 1 million for every brain cell you caused me to lose, and because I hate you. So now, -1 million.
Further, just minutes prior to taking the exam, our proctor instructed us that at least 5 or 10 of us would get an error message when attempting to upload our completed exam - alert her IMMEDIATELY or all is lost.
Thankfully, my loaner computer worked fine. Not everyone can say the same - some folks had trouble logging in before the exam started. Some folks had error messages regarding the completed exam. I think we all survived. But thanks to the PC world, our first exams in law school are even more stressful than they should be.
And to think I get to do it all over again on Friday...
USC now (as of this school year) began requiring all law students to own a laptop. Unbeknownst to me (prior the semester) the requirement was that all law students own a PC laptop.
Let the discrimination/frustration/superiority complex begin.
First, there is a fairly cumbersome procedure one must go through every time one attempts to access the law school wireless. My PC user friends have all had trouble with it at some point this semester. I have not.
Mac 1 - Bill Gates 0.
The one time I DID have trouble (at the very beginning of the semester) I was turned away by the law school IT guy because they don't support Mac. I figured out the problem on my own.
Mac and Me 2 (since I discovered the solution) - Law School Techie who apparently has an old 486 shoved up his butt, 0.
Now the fun begins. The laptop requirement exists because of an evil program called Secure Exam. Secure Exam hates Macs. Actually, from my experience, it doesn't get along well with PC's either. Secure Exam was probably created by kids who don't play well with others.
Here's how it works:
1. Shut down all programs.
2. Access USC wireless.
3. Log in to Clean Access Agent - I have no idea what this does.
4. Log into VPN Client - extra protection hoop for wireless access.
5. Log into Secure Exam.
6. At this point, your entire computer is frozen except for Secure Exam - no accessing the internet, other files, etc. And if you're computer shuts down, it logs automatically back into Secure Exam, and you can't get out of it without a Proctor's password.
Again, this doesn't work with Apple computers.
So if you're a Mac user, you're SOL. A month ago I was informed that I would have to find a PC to borrow during exams. Difficulty #1, who can just loan a laptop out for 2 weeks? Difficulty #2, Secure Exam requires you to delete all antivirus protection (Norton, McAfee, etc.) and turn off a bunch of other stuff I don't understand (and neither to the IT guys). I find it no coincidence that USC announced this fall that they are hiring/creating a new Head of IT position for next year.
After deleting all of the protective software and updates etc. from my mom's computer and spending an entire Saturday in the library downloading and installing all the necessary programs, Secure Exam still did not work.
I gave up. Also, I swore a lot.
USC finally owned up to their ignorance, at least partially, and offered a loaner computer to Mac users during exams this fall. Since they claim this is a one time deal, I may still have to purchase a PC for next spring.
NOW...
Prior to yesterday's first exam, our class received an email stating that, inter alia, Secure Exam has found a glitch where if you attempt to use word count or spell check (both of which are important because our profs are sticklers about spelling and length of answers) there is a 15% chance the program will freeze and you will lose your work entirely. Brilliant.
Query: What Mac has EVER frozen from running a word count or spell check?
Answer: None. No not one.
Mac 3 - USC, Secure Exam, Bill Gates, and all PC's in general, 0. Minus 1 million for every brain cell you caused me to lose, and because I hate you. So now, -1 million.
Further, just minutes prior to taking the exam, our proctor instructed us that at least 5 or 10 of us would get an error message when attempting to upload our completed exam - alert her IMMEDIATELY or all is lost.
Thankfully, my loaner computer worked fine. Not everyone can say the same - some folks had trouble logging in before the exam started. Some folks had error messages regarding the completed exam. I think we all survived. But thanks to the PC world, our first exams in law school are even more stressful than they should be.
And to think I get to do it all over again on Friday...
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Law School Exams, Day 1: Contracts
Inconvenience and injustice would result if matters in writing, made with consideration, and intended to embody the entire agreement were liable to be controlled by the uncertain testimony of slippery memory. - Lord Coker, quoted in Thompson v. Libby
I hope to heck that for once, I'm not Slippery.
In a commercial transaction it does not promote justice to seek strained interpretations in aid of those who don't protect themselves. - Judge Learned Hand, James Baird Co. v. Gimbel Bros., Inc.
On the other "Hand," the Lord helps those who help themselves. Or something. Anyway, I've helped myself about as much as I can.
Reasonable reliance resulting in a foreseeable prejudicial change in position affords a compelling basis for implying a subsidiary promise not to revoke an offer for a bilateral contract. - Justice Traynor, Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
In other words, if you build it, they will come. And if they don't, we'll sue 'em all. Also, those who study a lot should get better grades.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Snatch this soundtrack up
We're still looking for your musical ideas/suggestions/advice.
In consideration of your input (let no one ever say that ol' Slippery is not a legal bargain for exchanger), we recommend our own musical selection...
Snatch Original Film Soundtrack.
We've rediscovered the soundtrack over the weekend, after a long sabbatical dating back to probably our junior year of college. Snatch was a sweet film. The soundtrack is equally groovy. With the exception of Track 16 (Sensual Woman, by The Herbaliser - you can tell by its name is probably not worth your time) and maybe the Madonna cut (although some argue that a dose of Madonna on occasion is healthy for you) this eclectic album makes for some fun study music, and at least for us, brings back some great memories. We're pretty sure Dreadlock Holiday made it on to a PBT mix on year.
In consideration of your input (let no one ever say that ol' Slippery is not a legal bargain for exchanger), we recommend our own musical selection...
Snatch Original Film Soundtrack.
We've rediscovered the soundtrack over the weekend, after a long sabbatical dating back to probably our junior year of college. Snatch was a sweet film. The soundtrack is equally groovy. With the exception of Track 16 (Sensual Woman, by The Herbaliser - you can tell by its name is probably not worth your time) and maybe the Madonna cut (although some argue that a dose of Madonna on occasion is healthy for you) this eclectic album makes for some fun study music, and at least for us, brings back some great memories. We're pretty sure Dreadlock Holiday made it on to a PBT mix on year.
From Amazon: "In the same vein as Trainspotting and Pulp Fiction, the soundtrack covers a spectrum of musical hipness that is essential to the tone of the film artists included are Massive Attack, Madonna, Mirwais, Oasis, The Stranglers and The Specials."Which reminds us, Murray, did you ever get the Snatch DVD back from Antonio...?
Friday, December 01, 2006
Must Have Music - Please Advise
Disclaimer: We stole this idea from a contemporary philosopher/southern intellectual.
We have re-signed with BMG music - we're a sucker for their sales, and we've found that $5 cd's make great Christmas gifts. (The trick is to keep signing yourself up under different pseudonyms - you get 5 free CD's for referrals, plus the 12 for 1 sign up deal = 17 for the price of 1)
So We need your help - what sort of meaningful music have we missed, what essential "must haves" should we include in our pending 17 CD order?
Anybody else?
Now taking suggestions...
We have re-signed with BMG music - we're a sucker for their sales, and we've found that $5 cd's make great Christmas gifts. (The trick is to keep signing yourself up under different pseudonyms - you get 5 free CD's for referrals, plus the 12 for 1 sign up deal = 17 for the price of 1)
So We need your help - what sort of meaningful music have we missed, what essential "must haves" should we include in our pending 17 CD order?
We think Gilli will include some Phish
We think Jamey may refer us to Sufjan
Macey will lead us in the ways of techno. Or Rush.
Noel has probably found some new hip hop band with sweet grooves that you would never imagine a computer programmer would jive to...
Strawbridge will lavish praises on some shuttle bus driver/musician that he met at the airport
Murray = Phoenix
Bintz says Mother Love Bone, but we seriously doubt BMG has that
Johnny T's music collection is already identical to ours
Anybody else?
Now taking suggestions...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Law School: Milestone #4
As best I can figure, there have been at least 3 milestones in my law school career to date.
Milestone 1. Being accepted.
Milestone 2. First day of class.
Milestone 3. First time being called on.
Today I reached Milestone #4 - Completion of first semester of law school classes.
Good news? Not exactly. This means Milestone #5 is in full effect - the deflowering of my law school exam virginity. I like to think of it as Mental Statutory (of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a statute; i.e. all things LAW) Rape.
Surely this is a crime.
Milestone 1. Being accepted.
Milestone 2. First day of class.
Milestone 3. First time being called on.
Today I reached Milestone #4 - Completion of first semester of law school classes.
Good news? Not exactly. This means Milestone #5 is in full effect - the deflowering of my law school exam virginity. I like to think of it as Mental Statutory (of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a statute; i.e. all things LAW) Rape.
Surely this is a crime.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Carolina 31, clemson 28
The 2004 debacle is gone (though not forgotten). The streak of 4 straight losses is over. The Spurrier Streak has begun.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Meaningful Music (Mozart, Metallica, and beyond)
I'm currently sitting in Panera, working on my outlines for Contract and Criminal law, and listening to the classical music that is playing softly in the background.
As a kid, I listened to a lot of classical music. Partly by my own choosing, mostly because its all my parents would play in the house/car. I developed a great appreciation for classical music.
High school and college were much different. Classical music quickly = not cool. Give me some good ol' rock and roll. Let me jive occasionally to some smooth jazz or the catchy rhythms of hip hop. Shoot, I even tried some of that indie rock razzmatazz (although I've never been a huge fan and I'll just as soon pop in some Skynyrd or CCR as I will a little Wilco or Sufjan).
Since starting law school, I've rediscovered classical music. That junk is good. I love Bach because of his precision and technicality (almost like listening to a good logical analysis put to music). Beethoven brings out that romantic side of me that many of you question if I really have. Tchaikovsky is as passionate about his music as I am about college football. And then there's Mozart. I don't know which I like more - the fact that his music is probably what the angels play in heaven, or that by the time he was my age he had written more brilliant music than I'll be able to listen to in my lifetime.
There's a great article in the recent edition of Christianity Today about Mozart. Lengthy, but good. In it, the author quotes Hans Kung, the pupil of Karl Barth, who talks about the "traces of transcendence" in Mozart's music, i.e. within good religious music itself there can be an "intrinsic liturgical significance," even without words, which can potentially make music a "source of revelation alongside the Word":
Whether it be classical, rock, or independent, that's the kind of music I want to listen to. Let me know if you've found it.
As a kid, I listened to a lot of classical music. Partly by my own choosing, mostly because its all my parents would play in the house/car. I developed a great appreciation for classical music.
High school and college were much different. Classical music quickly = not cool. Give me some good ol' rock and roll. Let me jive occasionally to some smooth jazz or the catchy rhythms of hip hop. Shoot, I even tried some of that indie rock razzmatazz (although I've never been a huge fan and I'll just as soon pop in some Skynyrd or CCR as I will a little Wilco or Sufjan).
Since starting law school, I've rediscovered classical music. That junk is good. I love Bach because of his precision and technicality (almost like listening to a good logical analysis put to music). Beethoven brings out that romantic side of me that many of you question if I really have. Tchaikovsky is as passionate about his music as I am about college football. And then there's Mozart. I don't know which I like more - the fact that his music is probably what the angels play in heaven, or that by the time he was my age he had written more brilliant music than I'll be able to listen to in my lifetime.
There's a great article in the recent edition of Christianity Today about Mozart. Lengthy, but good. In it, the author quotes Hans Kung, the pupil of Karl Barth, who talks about the "traces of transcendence" in Mozart's music, i.e. within good religious music itself there can be an "intrinsic liturgical significance," even without words, which can potentially make music a "source of revelation alongside the Word":
I think that music which speaks the truth is not just limited, say, to vocal music or explicitly religious music; it also includes purely instrumental music—and especially the intimacy of many second movements. An abstract masterpiece can speak the truth in the pure language of sound… . And though music cannot become a religion of art, the art of music is the most spiritual of all symbols for that "mystical sanctuary of our religion," the divine itself. In other words, for me Mozart's music has relevance for religion not only where religious and church themes or forms emerge, but precisely through the compositional technique of the non-vocal, purely instrumental music, through the way in which this music interprets the world, a way which transcends extra-musical conceptuality… . With keen ears [one] may perceive in the pure, utterly internalized sound, for example, of the adagio of the Clarinet Concerto, which embraces us without using any words, something wholly other… . So here are ciphers, traces of transcendence.
Whether it be classical, rock, or independent, that's the kind of music I want to listen to. Let me know if you've found it.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Will the real USC please stand up?
At some point every year, some dufus not from the South mistakes southen cal for USC.
Little do they know. For those of you who live in the Blue States, the following is provided to help clarify the difference between USC and Southern Cal.
USC v. USC
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Enough to make you want to be a criminal prosecutor...
This kind of stuff makes me sick. In case you haven't heard, OJ Simpson is apparently about to publish a book entitled "If I Did It," a hypothetical thought experiment of how he would have killed his wife, say, if it HAD been him that had killed her.
How tactless, low-class, self-centered, shameless, and disgusting can a person be? It's a complete spit in the face of justice. A cold hearted disregard for his deceased wife's family. And its the most repulsive display of attention seeking I have probably ever seen.
It's almost enough to make an aspiring civil attorney consider criminal law.
How tactless, low-class, self-centered, shameless, and disgusting can a person be? It's a complete spit in the face of justice. A cold hearted disregard for his deceased wife's family. And its the most repulsive display of attention seeking I have probably ever seen.
It's almost enough to make an aspiring civil attorney consider criminal law.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Law School imitates real life
Last week we got into the Parol Evidence rule and principles of interpreting contracts that may appear ambiguous on their face. One case we read began like this:
"The issue is, what is chicken?. . .To support its [interpretation], plaintiff sends a number of volleys over the net; defendant essays to return them and adds a few serves of its own." - Frigaliment Importing Co. v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp. (screw the Blue book citations)
From today's headlines:
What is a burrito? Is a burrito a sandwich?. Basically - no.
In his ruling, Locke cited Webster's definition of a sandwich and explained that the difference comes down to two slices of bread versus one tortilla: "A sandwich is not commonly understood to include burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans." - (from a suit between Panera Bread Company and Qdoba Mexican Grill)
"The issue is, what is chicken?. . .To support its [interpretation], plaintiff sends a number of volleys over the net; defendant essays to return them and adds a few serves of its own." - Frigaliment Importing Co. v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp. (screw the Blue book citations)
From today's headlines:
What is a burrito? Is a burrito a sandwich?. Basically - no.
In his ruling, Locke cited Webster's definition of a sandwich and explained that the difference comes down to two slices of bread versus one tortilla: "A sandwich is not commonly understood to include burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans." - (from a suit between Panera Bread Company and Qdoba Mexican Grill)
Friday, November 10, 2006
Happy Birthday, volk man.
Today marks the birthday of the man who Inspired this Blog.
November 10, 1483.
We celebrate Martin Luther's birthday, in part because of his enormous influence. He changed the way the Church views soteriology, ecclesiology, theology, marriage, God, the State, and pretty much anything else to which Christianity might relate.
He changed the Church.
Because of Luther, we don't go to mass, Rome's appeal is historically romantic (not theologically fundamental), our pastor has a wife, we don't work hard to get to heaven (even in the South), chills go through us when we hear the tune of Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, the Diet of Worms is not just for fish, we pulled for Germany in the World Cup final, and we like beer and don't feel guilty for it.
We're not alone. There are 400 million other protestants who's lives as they know it have been intimately affected by this lawyer turned priest.
Hans and Margarethe must be proud of their boy.
Luther's Seal.
November 10, 1483.
We celebrate Martin Luther's birthday, in part because of his enormous influence. He changed the way the Church views soteriology, ecclesiology, theology, marriage, God, the State, and pretty much anything else to which Christianity might relate.
He changed the Church.
Because of Luther, we don't go to mass, Rome's appeal is historically romantic (not theologically fundamental), our pastor has a wife, we don't work hard to get to heaven (even in the South), chills go through us when we hear the tune of Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, the Diet of Worms is not just for fish, we pulled for Germany in the World Cup final, and we like beer and don't feel guilty for it.
We're not alone. There are 400 million other protestants who's lives as they know it have been intimately affected by this lawyer turned priest.
Hans and Margarethe must be proud of their boy.
Luther's Seal.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
"How to Apologize," by John Kerry.
For those of you contemplating parenthood, keep this in your files as a model apology for when you teach your kids how to say “I’m sorry.”
WHAT JOHN KERRY SAID:
“You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
HOW HE APOLOGIZED:
"I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member or American who was offended."
“Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how: I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy.”
Hmm…he’s not sorry, or apologetic, and definitely not repentant, for anything he said. He’s just upset that his “words were misinterpreted,” and he’s only sorry that people were offended by it.
Slick Dick had a good response. “Of course, now Senator Kerry says he was just making a joke, and he botched it up,” Vice President Dick Cheney said in remarks prepared for a campaign appearance in Montana. “I guess we didn’t get the nuance. He was for the joke before he was against it.”
Then again, perhaps Kerry’s bad joke is true. After all, our Haughty French Looking Senator from Massachusetts who by the way served in Vietnam was in a man in uniform, and apparently he got 4 D’s his freshmen year at Yale, one more D his sophomore year, and an overall grade average of 76. Don’t study = get stuck in ‘Nam.
Or, as Jay Leno notes, “those who don’t campaign well and are really boring will get stuck in the Senate…It’s so hard to believe Kerry botched a joke because he’s usually just so hilarious. ... It’s hard to tell when Kerry is joking because of all the Botox. ... Who would have ever thought that the Democrats would miss the wit and charisma of Al Gore?”
Disclaimer: I contemplated posting this yesterday, but decided not to on principle – John Kerry deserves to get NO mention, good or bad, on Election day.
WHAT JOHN KERRY SAID:
“You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
HOW HE APOLOGIZED:
"I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member or American who was offended."
“Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how: I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy.”
Hmm…he’s not sorry, or apologetic, and definitely not repentant, for anything he said. He’s just upset that his “words were misinterpreted,” and he’s only sorry that people were offended by it.
Slick Dick had a good response. “Of course, now Senator Kerry says he was just making a joke, and he botched it up,” Vice President Dick Cheney said in remarks prepared for a campaign appearance in Montana. “I guess we didn’t get the nuance. He was for the joke before he was against it.”
Then again, perhaps Kerry’s bad joke is true. After all, our Haughty French Looking Senator from Massachusetts who by the way served in Vietnam was in a man in uniform, and apparently he got 4 D’s his freshmen year at Yale, one more D his sophomore year, and an overall grade average of 76. Don’t study = get stuck in ‘Nam.
Or, as Jay Leno notes, “those who don’t campaign well and are really boring will get stuck in the Senate…It’s so hard to believe Kerry botched a joke because he’s usually just so hilarious. ... It’s hard to tell when Kerry is joking because of all the Botox. ... Who would have ever thought that the Democrats would miss the wit and charisma of Al Gore?”
Disclaimer: I contemplated posting this yesterday, but decided not to on principle – John Kerry deserves to get NO mention, good or bad, on Election day.
Monday, November 06, 2006
A Political Machine...
...That's what Bob Corker is. And by default, that's what our good buddy Brad Smith is. You can check him (Corker and Co.) out in what the New York Times is labeling "the most captivating Senate race in the nation" in part because the "Senate race here packs historic potential."
Of course, the one big reason the NYT likes this "historic" race is just that. Race. You can see it throughout the article, referring to Tennessee as the "former Confederate" state, and noting that Harold Ford could be the first black Senator from TN since Reconstruction. They even put in a plug for our former president, Bill Clinton, subtly playing the race card by calling Clinton a "bad white boy" (bad as in good, bad white boy as in "that brother might as well be a brutha"). And, through guilt by association, they carictature Corker supporters as quasi-racist - one Corker man named Eddie Murphy reportedly distinguishes himself from the REAL Murphy by saying that he has "no color, no money."
You know what? Whatever, man. If that's what the NYT wants to approach this thing, then fine. Apparently they are incapable of moving on in history, and will keeping ringing the race bell as long as it serves their purposes. To label TN as a former Confederate state, while a true statement, is ultimately misleading becaus it invokes a closer sense of proximity to the present than is really accurate - that's like referring to the US as a former British colony.
Plus, I don't understand the "first black Senator from TN since reconstruction." As far as I can tell, he'd be the first black senator from Tennessee EVER. The reference to reconstruction seems meaningless other than a little jab to remind people that, oh by the way, back in the 19th century TN had to be Reconstructed in order to let blacks even vote. Oh yeah, did I mention Bob Corker's white?
And apparently they forget that Ford has already been a Congressman for something like 6 years. Do you think the people of TN really draw a strict line between Congress and the Senate, where they are progressive in one election but hopelessly stuck in their ante-bellum past in the other election? "Come On!" (see Gob, Arrested Development)
But I digress. My point was not to critize the NYT - they just make it so easy - but to point out the incredible experience ol Brad is getting. This is prime time, baby, and Brad's right in the thick of it.
So, go Brad. Hopefully, you can actually sleep and talk to your friends again once all this over tomorrow.
(look, Brad's in teh background)
Of course, the one big reason the NYT likes this "historic" race is just that. Race. You can see it throughout the article, referring to Tennessee as the "former Confederate" state, and noting that Harold Ford could be the first black Senator from TN since Reconstruction. They even put in a plug for our former president, Bill Clinton, subtly playing the race card by calling Clinton a "bad white boy" (bad as in good, bad white boy as in "that brother might as well be a brutha"). And, through guilt by association, they carictature Corker supporters as quasi-racist - one Corker man named Eddie Murphy reportedly distinguishes himself from the REAL Murphy by saying that he has "no color, no money."
You know what? Whatever, man. If that's what the NYT wants to approach this thing, then fine. Apparently they are incapable of moving on in history, and will keeping ringing the race bell as long as it serves their purposes. To label TN as a former Confederate state, while a true statement, is ultimately misleading becaus it invokes a closer sense of proximity to the present than is really accurate - that's like referring to the US as a former British colony.
Plus, I don't understand the "first black Senator from TN since reconstruction." As far as I can tell, he'd be the first black senator from Tennessee EVER. The reference to reconstruction seems meaningless other than a little jab to remind people that, oh by the way, back in the 19th century TN had to be Reconstructed in order to let blacks even vote. Oh yeah, did I mention Bob Corker's white?
And apparently they forget that Ford has already been a Congressman for something like 6 years. Do you think the people of TN really draw a strict line between Congress and the Senate, where they are progressive in one election but hopelessly stuck in their ante-bellum past in the other election? "Come On!" (see Gob, Arrested Development)
But I digress. My point was not to critize the NYT - they just make it so easy - but to point out the incredible experience ol Brad is getting. This is prime time, baby, and Brad's right in the thick of it.
So, go Brad. Hopefully, you can actually sleep and talk to your friends again once all this over tomorrow.
(look, Brad's in teh background)
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium:
105,000 seats.
18,000 teeth.
(seen on a sign on a Cockaboose tonight)
105,000 seats.
18,000 teeth.
(seen on a sign on a Cockaboose tonight)
Friday, November 03, 2006
Vote Yes (or no, depending on what you're voting for)
Some of you may remember that campaign oh so many years ago, when a little 17 year old from Chapin nicknamed Flex shocked the TeenPact world with his successful bid for the Lt. Governor seat. The campaign catchphrase still rings true to many:
"Flex for your Lt. Governor."
Or, you may remember how that same kid went on to become Student Body President of Covenant College, suprising everyone (including himself) with the 11th Hour upset of the incumbent senator, thanks in part to his ingenious use of stuffed Chick-fil-A cows and a campaign skit that will forever be remembered (at least by me) in Covenant history.
"Who doesn't want a Sleuth for President?"
Well, back in the beginning of September, I again put on my politician's suit and attempted to run for a Representative position on the Student Bar Association. I lost. But not without winning major points with many of my classmates and numerous upperclassmen.
You see, the common element in all of my campaigns is humor. Everybody loves to laugh. You remember a good joke. And usually, you remember the person who told it. Mission accomplished.
So in keeping with the spirit of the upcoming elections, I've decided to post some of my better campaign flyers. Feel free to VOTE for your favorite.
(click on the picture to view it in a new window)
"Flex for your Lt. Governor."
Or, you may remember how that same kid went on to become Student Body President of Covenant College, suprising everyone (including himself) with the 11th Hour upset of the incumbent senator, thanks in part to his ingenious use of stuffed Chick-fil-A cows and a campaign skit that will forever be remembered (at least by me) in Covenant history.
"Who doesn't want a Sleuth for President?"
Well, back in the beginning of September, I again put on my politician's suit and attempted to run for a Representative position on the Student Bar Association. I lost. But not without winning major points with many of my classmates and numerous upperclassmen.
You see, the common element in all of my campaigns is humor. Everybody loves to laugh. You remember a good joke. And usually, you remember the person who told it. Mission accomplished.
So in keeping with the spirit of the upcoming elections, I've decided to post some of my better campaign flyers. Feel free to VOTE for your favorite.
(click on the picture to view it in a new window)
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Halloween Hullabaloo
A word of wisdom to all you Tricker-Treaters before you embark on this evening's festivities, from the gerMan whose Reformation Day makes Halloween look like nothing more than, well, childish games and candy:
"Germany would be much richer than she is, if such store of velvets and silks were not worn, nor so much spice used, or so much beer drunk. But young fellows without their liquor have no mirth at all; gaming makes not merry, nor lasciviousness, so they apply themselves to drinking. At the princely jollification lately held at Torgau, each man drank, at one draught, a whole bottle of wine; this they called a good drink. Tacitus wrote, that by the ancient Germans it was held no shame at all to drink and swill four and twenty hours together. A gentleman of the court asked: How long ago it was since Tacitus wrote this? He was answered, about fifteen hundred years. Whereupon the gentleman said: Forasmuch as drunkenness has been so ancient a custom, and of such a long descent, let us not abolish it." - Martin Luther, King of Hops (no joke, true nickname)
Sooo, better to have beer than money?
Go Protestants.
Nota bene: speaking of Protestants and their booze, check this out: http://www.calvinus.ch/
Saturday, October 21, 2006
If you could ask the Chief Justice one question, what would it be?
A fun query for many of us, we often ask ourselves what question we would pose to different individuals, given the chance. Usually, we wonder about high profile individuals, often they are people unique to our situations/context. For instance, the theologian might quizz Calvin or Luther, while the business man might question Rockefeller or Henry Ford. Most Americans would probably want to interrogate President Bush, or God.
For the lawyer, aspiring or practicing, the one person to whom we'd love to posit a question is the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, to wit, the highest ranking judicial officer in the entire world.
I wonder what I'd ask him? Actually, I KNOW what I'd ask him. Because I already did.
Yes, our beloved Chief Justice John Roberts came to the USC law school yesterday to preside over the final hearing of our student Moot Court Bar Competition. He wasn't alone;there were plenty of secret service agents that were walking around in the library while I was trying to study yesterday morning, and the panel of guest judges also included:
The Hon. Jean H. Toal, chief justice, Supreme Court of South Carolina;
The Hon. William W. Wilkins, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit;
The Hon. Kaye G. Hearn, chief judge, South Carolina Court of Appeals; and
The Hon. Joseph F. Anderson Jr., chief judge, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
So, to take advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity to stare eye to eye and dialogue with the king of stare decisis, I had to ask the Justice a question. And, being the good the 'ol Carolina boy that I am, it had to include football.
"Do y'all tailgate at Redskins games?"
Actually, it was a little more intelligent than that. And the heart of my question was a genuine curiosity as to what life for a justice is like behind the closed doors of the Supreme Court. It was a good question. Clear. Concise. Sincere. It wasn't one of those let-me-show-you-how-much-I-know-by-pretending-this-is-a-question questions. And on two occasions, my query made the Chief Justice (and the rest of our packed out auditorium) burst into laughter. Top that, Jay Sekulow.
"Could you talk about the relationships between the justices outside the conference room and your discussions of different cases before the Court? I know that here at the USC law school, one of the biggest skills we are learning is the ability to argue and disagree with your classmates in class, but still be able to go out with them for happy hour afterwards. So I'm curious what the camaraderie is like between the justices, even when you may disagree on certain issues. I mean, do y'all tailgate at Redskins games on the weekend?"
Roberts laughed, told us that he was in fact a Bears fan, and then gave a serious response to my mostly serious question.
And that was it. I talked to John Roberts. He talked back. Probably the coolest thing I've done in a while. I love law school.
So be ready, in case YOU ever get the chance to ask that one person that one question that you've always wanted the answer to.
I know what mine is: "What'd you think of my first question?"
For the lawyer, aspiring or practicing, the one person to whom we'd love to posit a question is the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, to wit, the highest ranking judicial officer in the entire world.
I wonder what I'd ask him? Actually, I KNOW what I'd ask him. Because I already did.
Yes, our beloved Chief Justice John Roberts came to the USC law school yesterday to preside over the final hearing of our student Moot Court Bar Competition. He wasn't alone;there were plenty of secret service agents that were walking around in the library while I was trying to study yesterday morning, and the panel of guest judges also included:
The Hon. Jean H. Toal, chief justice, Supreme Court of South Carolina;
The Hon. William W. Wilkins, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit;
The Hon. Kaye G. Hearn, chief judge, South Carolina Court of Appeals; and
The Hon. Joseph F. Anderson Jr., chief judge, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
So, to take advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity to stare eye to eye and dialogue with the king of stare decisis, I had to ask the Justice a question. And, being the good the 'ol Carolina boy that I am, it had to include football.
"Do y'all tailgate at Redskins games?"
Actually, it was a little more intelligent than that. And the heart of my question was a genuine curiosity as to what life for a justice is like behind the closed doors of the Supreme Court. It was a good question. Clear. Concise. Sincere. It wasn't one of those let-me-show-you-how-much-I-know-by-pretending-this-is-a-question questions. And on two occasions, my query made the Chief Justice (and the rest of our packed out auditorium) burst into laughter. Top that, Jay Sekulow.
"Could you talk about the relationships between the justices outside the conference room and your discussions of different cases before the Court? I know that here at the USC law school, one of the biggest skills we are learning is the ability to argue and disagree with your classmates in class, but still be able to go out with them for happy hour afterwards. So I'm curious what the camaraderie is like between the justices, even when you may disagree on certain issues. I mean, do y'all tailgate at Redskins games on the weekend?"
Roberts laughed, told us that he was in fact a Bears fan, and then gave a serious response to my mostly serious question.
And that was it. I talked to John Roberts. He talked back. Probably the coolest thing I've done in a while. I love law school.
So be ready, in case YOU ever get the chance to ask that one person that one question that you've always wanted the answer to.
I know what mine is: "What'd you think of my first question?"
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Law School Life Imitates The Office (BBC)
"In my public presentation of this illustration at the University of Notre Dame in 2005, I used the Star Trek character of Spock rather than Sarek in my example. It was, however, pointed out by the moderator, Gerard V. Bradley (Professor, Notre Dame Law School), that the character of Spock is half-human, and thus my illustration was not quite to the point. So, that is why I employ the character of Sarek, Spock’s full-Vulcan father, in the published version. Special thanks to the logical Professor Bradley for correcting me on this matter. May he live long and prosper."
- Francis Beckwith, Legal Professor at Baylor University, who in his lecture today (which I attended) on Roe v. Wade used the Vulcan illustration when discussing characteristics of personhood versus human being.
"Oh, let's not rake up old graves. I don't wanna talk about whether Spock was a human or Vulcan or vice versa."
- David Brent, on discussing the last time Gareth was Quiz Master, where controversies over Quiz Mastering nearly cost The Dead Parrots their win. David relives the fateful evening in which Gareth had the incorrect answer to the question "What type of alien is Mr. Spock?" Spock is not a full Vulcan as Gareth claimed, but half-Vulcan and half-human. To that Gareth says now what he said then, "Look at his ears." Apparently, David was so convinced of his answer that he rented a cab to go home and get some Star Trek literature to prove his point.
- Francis Beckwith, Legal Professor at Baylor University, who in his lecture today (which I attended) on Roe v. Wade used the Vulcan illustration when discussing characteristics of personhood versus human being.
"Oh, let's not rake up old graves. I don't wanna talk about whether Spock was a human or Vulcan or vice versa."
- David Brent, on discussing the last time Gareth was Quiz Master, where controversies over Quiz Mastering nearly cost The Dead Parrots their win. David relives the fateful evening in which Gareth had the incorrect answer to the question "What type of alien is Mr. Spock?" Spock is not a full Vulcan as Gareth claimed, but half-Vulcan and half-human. To that Gareth says now what he said then, "Look at his ears." Apparently, David was so convinced of his answer that he rented a cab to go home and get some Star Trek literature to prove his point.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Slippery is one proud Cock
I have a good friend here at home who is one of the pastors at First Baptist Church of the booming metropolis of Chapin. We have reconnected since my return to the Promised Land, and have had a good time re-establishing our friendship. Not to generalize, but if there are a few key things that my friend knows about me, it's that I am a diehard Carolina Gamecock, and that my friends now call me Slippery.
To generalize in return, my pastor friend is a huge Clemson fan (yet still a Christian - I've yet to reconcile that one), and a notorious prankster.
Which explains my surpise, and yet not suprise, when I drove by his church the other day (just up the road from our house) to see the below message on the church marquee:
I'm working on a response. Any help is appreciated.
To generalize in return, my pastor friend is a huge Clemson fan (yet still a Christian - I've yet to reconcile that one), and a notorious prankster.
Which explains my surpise, and yet not suprise, when I drove by his church the other day (just up the road from our house) to see the below message on the church marquee:
I'm working on a response. Any help is appreciated.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Monday's with Murray: Fine Art
Picture used by permission from the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Italy. Special thanks to Jamey for finding this.
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