tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50444711673831708982011-11-27T18:55:23.886-05:00Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.comBlogger1881100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-80080797270444378922008-12-01T07:32:00.003-05:002008-12-01T07:53:05.486-05:00

Effective immediately, this blog is going on indefinite hiatus. Although there are still stories left to be shared, it has become overwhelming clear they would only receive deafening silence in response. It is increasingly obvious that the premises upon which this blog was built have not, and will never, be realized. Therefore, in coordination with the overall re-evaluation of my life and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-72523476900190750452008-11-26T02:30:00.004-05:002008-11-26T04:42:01.453-05:00

A necessary sidebar to any discussion of my sophomore year of high school is the story of my relationship with K. Some of our first and best moments together took place, perhaps unfortunately, with football as the backdrop. While most of the details of our relationship must, as always, remain private, a few snapshots are worth sharing for the view they allow into my story and my character.Of all

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-86396559001611853712008-11-20T14:38:00.003-05:002008-11-20T15:20:53.378-05:00

Has anyone else seen the show "Evolve" on the history channel? Here is a short clip from the show. Every episode focuses on one trait (eyes, skin, jaws, flight, venom, sex, etc.) and shows how and why different animals possess different versions of that trait. Since I figure the topic of "sex" would be the most interesting to my readers, here is a (9 minute) clip from the end of that episode. I

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-68391415815115269252008-11-20T12:06:00.005-05:002008-11-20T14:49:30.294-05:00

I would like to think that stress does not effect me. That it happens to "other people" and is just a "Madison Avenue word, something that be cured with flavored coffee and bath bubbles." That there are people in the world facing much more difficult problems much more frequently than whatever tests, academic and otherwise, that I am currently facing.The fact of the matter is, though, that even if

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-87436335513126462012008-11-18T11:56:00.003-05:002008-11-18T15:39:17.735-05:00

"I used to write like this. It was ten months ago. I don't understand what's going on. I really don't. I've had slumps before. Everybody does, but this is different. I'm sorry, we don't know each other, but there aren't that many people I can talk to about it. I don't understand what's happening. There's no blood going to it. I never had to locate it before. I don't even know where to look."

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-81837802358285864862008-11-14T01:00:00.009-05:002008-11-14T02:16:32.976-05:00

My first memory from the actual season is of the pain that shot up my shoulder and neck after an unusually forceful hit during a tackling drill on one of the first days of pads. I was the ball carrier trying to make a diagonal run against a teammate who, I swear to god, insisted people call him "Dash". He, of course, led with his head and we smacked our helmets and shoulder pads together so hard

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-62739896886845749392008-11-11T00:04:00.001-05:002008-11-11T00:04:01.008-05:00

A year ago I prematurely ended a multi-part entry about my days playing high school football because Thanksgiving, the national holiday of turkey and football was over, and my law finals were fast approaching. I wish to resume that series now for no better reason than discussions with friends about Thanksgiving, and our annual Turkey Bowl, have rekindled some long dormant memories. If you will

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-32667641165907704572008-11-04T17:42:00.005-05:002008-11-04T18:32:04.841-05:00

It is now only about an hour before the first polls close in the east. I hoped to write this last entry with time to influence and educate my readers about the election, but by now I assume anyone who was going to vote has already done so. Better yet, if people are still relying on this blog for guidance on voting they probably should not vote at all.With the deadline fast approaching, I

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-43004334729228369582008-11-04T12:52:00.003-05:002008-11-04T16:30:15.057-05:00

Then there is the Senate, where Democrats hope to reach the highly coveted 60-seat threshold. This super-majority would allow them to cut off debate, particularly on judicial appointments. While I fear what this could do to the minority rights long championed (for better or for worse) through the filibuster process, I welcome the opportunity this might provide to achieve real change. To get there

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-60730179143188589442008-11-04T09:45:00.004-05:002008-11-04T12:50:46.065-05:00

Before beginning with the House, I should note that this article describe the situation in simpler and greater detail than I could do here. As that article states, the big question in this election is not who will control the gavel in the next session, but rather how large the Democratic majority will be. In the 110th Congress Democrats held 235 seats (or 54%). With such a comfortable majority,

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-74115328564960437992008-11-04T08:24:00.003-05:002008-11-04T09:44:22.185-05:00

I planned to bore my readers with a great treatise on the historical and current power and importance of Congress, and the dramatic change this election could bring to it. Then I remembered the amazing cognitive dissonance most Americans have towards the people's representatives.CBS News and The New York Times recently (Oct. 25-29) conducted a nationwide poll in which they asked, among others,

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-83922760333415374972008-11-03T06:17:00.003-05:002008-11-03T07:30:40.133-05:00

Then it was two. And then three and four and five. The extra night at school grew into a weekend and then a whole break. The missed call turned into none at all. The disagreement became a fight that broke off factions. The waning enthusiasm was now waning interest. The valid excuse beget the lame excuse that beget the no excuse at all.Seeing the cracks begin to form, I saw two options. The first

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-73251367811327405842008-11-03T05:45:00.004-05:002008-11-03T06:18:41.297-05:00

When I first started hanging out with the guys in my group I used to purposely decline invitations to hang out about a quarter of the time regardless of whether I had other plans. It was a defense mechanism I picked up after past friends had bailed and left me holding the check. I felt it signaled independence to them, and more importantly, kept me from getting too attached too quickly.But

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-17612578314890207342008-11-03T04:15:00.003-05:002008-11-03T05:50:47.557-05:00

The second order of business in this new year must be the telling of the story of my fall break. Last year, as you may recall, I met up with three of my oldest friends in Pittsburgh for a Hallaween weekend of adventure. This year, I sat alone in my house eating leftover spaghetti, finishing Stephen King's "The Stand" and watching the History channel. Last year, the highlight of my break was the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-81960225735721041042008-11-02T03:59:00.002-05:002008-11-02T06:00:16.552-05:00

The first order of business in this new year must, unfortunately, be a matter of house cleaning. I noted a year ago that "In order to preserve the dignity and privacy of those mentioned in this blog, all names of people I actually know have been changed to a defining letter or two." Since then, twenty-two of my friends have been so coded. Some have found the anonymity unnecessary and others

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-80076579846872554372008-11-01T06:39:00.004-04:002008-11-01T08:13:09.244-04:00

"There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand. I am practically industrious - painstaking, a workman to execute with perseverance and labour - but besides this there is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions I am about to explore."

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-33005123925623418752008-10-28T16:06:00.006-04:002008-10-28T17:01:24.762-04:00

#6 - "Twenty Hours in America, Parts I and II" (4x01, 4x02) - 11**Josh, Toby and Donna are stranded by the motorcade after a campaign stop in the middle of Indiana and, though a series of errors, take a day to get back to Washington. On the way they learn the values of Midwestern humility. Sam is asked to fill in for Josh as the President's "wide-angle lens" and gains a new perspective on Josh

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-18621764094365456062008-10-27T00:18:00.002-04:002008-10-27T01:08:31.138-04:00

#2 - "Twenty Five" (4x22) - 12*To some, this episode was where the show jumped the shark. The show's creator/writer, Aaron Sorkin, and main director, Thomas Schlamme, were both leaving over a dispute with the network, and it would seem they wanted to go out with an unbelievably shocking and, perhaps, irrevocably big bang. With plots and pieces built up over the previous half-season (and more),

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-28212656741908441842008-10-24T16:27:00.008-04:002008-11-02T06:15:57.931-05:00

The Game of the Week: #1 Cl (6-1, ---) vs. #5 BH (4-3, +32.64)This should be a really great game. The new king, undefeated except for that week 3 debacle, going up against one of the most unpredictable teams with a nearly 20-point projected advantage. With Campbell against the Lions, Gore (Seahawks), Daniels (Bengals), Jones-Drew (Browns), and the Jets defense (Chiefs), Cl's reign may be very

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-36486144300819882672008-10-22T08:49:00.002-04:002008-10-22T11:10:18.017-04:00

I have, on two previous occasions, compiled Top Ten lists of the best episodes of my favorite shows. Both entries were largely random in nature and conducted, in part, to spend my time in a somewhat productive manner.Since I knew I would waste weeks of my life watching re-runs anyway, I figured I might as well analyze each for their value. Furthermore, to enhance the authenticity of my lists, I

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-63192896717218278052008-10-18T00:46:00.002-04:002008-10-18T12:01:42.879-04:00

Has anyone else begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel? After over a year of near-constant campaigning and media hysteria, the 2008 Presidential election is less than three weeks away. The debates are over and early voting has begun. The Al Smith Dinner, likely the last joint appearance of both candidates, was surprisingly funny and light-hearted. I think both candidates could win more

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-46519167247590624592008-10-16T00:05:00.002-04:002008-10-16T00:23:49.814-04:00

As my weekly Commissioner's Notes and numerous other entries make clear, I love football. I love playing, watching and debating it. The violence and passion. The strategy and gamesmanship. The parity among teams and true conception of teamwork. This point could not be made any better than how it was by the late George Carlin:However, I realize many people do not share my love of the game. In fact

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-24200744091003212012008-10-14T13:54:00.002-04:002008-10-14T15:10:06.029-04:00

I like to think I had a pretty normal and average childhood. I had (and, fortunately, continue to have) two loving and supportive parents, an annoying older sister, and enough aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents to make every holiday party an adventure. I also had friends from school and the neighborhood with whom I played sports and games, burned off excessive energy, and enjoyed the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-58067629226967651562008-10-11T12:03:00.004-04:002008-10-11T12:25:51.792-04:00

Every week I receive about two-dozen emails from various clubs and organizations at my law school bribing students to attend various meetings and lectures with pizza and sandwiches. Most of these I delete without even reading since I figure I am not really the target audience of such groups as the Women's Legal Forum and Black Law Student Society. However, every now and then (and especially when

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-46380210399526557322008-10-08T16:29:00.005-04:002008-11-02T06:12:45.755-05:00

The Game of the Week: #3 Cl (4-1, -61.96) vs. #4 J (3-2, +19.51)You would not believe the gripes I heard from J last week after putting her in the blow out game and saying I hoped that she, as the former champ, lost. Woman doesn't even read the entire entry, or my blog in general for that matter, and still gives me grief. Well despite what precedent this may establish, here you go. Cl deserves it

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-79912737283450922702008-10-06T09:33:00.003-04:002008-10-07T11:45:17.266-04:00

[Part 1 and Part 2]...Heeding her silent siren call, two men approached the woman in green unaware of her insincerity. The woman watched them, swearing into the near-empty glass at her lips. She anticipated, with some sardonic satisfaction, the chance to transfer the quiet man's inattention and sink their hopes.However, halfway toward her, the two men paused. The older of the two waived to a

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-66314696125652343572008-10-04T10:24:00.003-04:002008-10-06T11:23:12.411-04:00

What a difference a month can make. In fact, what a difference a week can make. A month ago, the Republican ticket was riding an incredible bump from their convention into a dead heat in both national polling and the electoral college. Then, after a series of missteps (of which this was the most blatant and televised) that bump began to fade. When the US economy imploded so to did the Republican

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-12827599266018063992008-10-02T08:00:00.006-04:002008-11-02T06:10:54.607-05:00

The Game of the Week: #1 M (4-0, ---) vs. #2 BD (3-1, +4.62)Another week, another challenger to the crown. After dispatching with S, J and BH over the last three weeks with great skill (and a very large amount of luck), M is still on top. However, with both Westbrook and now Boldin banged up, this might just be the week that the king falls. A lot of late-week proposed trades could change both

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-13905376544849249932008-09-30T06:38:00.003-04:002008-09-30T13:10:04.128-04:00

#10 "Are you injured or are you hurt?"Anyone who has ever played a sport, and especially football, has been asked this question. I remember having to stand in a circle on the side lines around one of our team's running backs in the middle of the game as a coach told my teammate to bite down on his mouthpiece and then jammed his dislocated shoulder back into place so he could play another series.

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-40758645035857313782008-09-30T06:36:00.002-04:002008-09-30T06:53:53.513-04:00

In desperate need of a distraction from things last weekend, I sought out and relied on an old favorite. With a handful of beers left from the previous weekend, I selected, from my dvd collection, a cult classic I have probably seen close to forty times: The Program.This movie "touches on the season of the fictional college football team, the ESU Timberwolves, as they deal with the pressure to

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-68322177483952583232008-09-28T04:56:00.001-04:002008-09-28T06:27:04.307-04:00

The first of three Presidential debates was held last Friday night as I hope many of you were aware. Unfortunately, despite some pundits' prognostications, the debate only garnered 29.5 million viewers. Even if you throw in the numbers for the big cable news stations, this number is far lower than the 80 million viewers that some predicted. Further, that number does not even come close to

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-41555558773766762172008-09-26T00:03:00.003-04:002008-11-02T06:09:35.564-05:00

Last week's entry was the longest I have ever written. Not just among Commissioner's Notes, but among all my two-hundred odd entries. To try and limit the amount of mindless dribble I ask you to read, I am hereby cutting out all subsequent introductory remarks and shortening my comments on the various matchups. I am sure you all care.The Game of the Week: #1 M (3-0, ---) vs. #2 BH (2-1, +25.56)

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-34520476044275434272008-09-22T01:12:00.007-04:002008-09-22T05:09:31.751-04:00

...., Mr. Bliss. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Mr. Bliss cursed in a slightly noticeable southern accent. "Watch where the hell you're going," he continued while massaging his cheek."Sorry, boss," the bartender replied, "just goin' in back to find that asshole another drink." He then tried sliding past his boss and through the doorway. However, Mr. Bliss, an old walrus of a man who once played on the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-33366065406560905672008-09-16T01:50:00.001-04:002008-09-16T01:50:00.276-04:00

After taking care of other needs, I returned to the cable matter last Wednesday, the 10th. I re-verified my contact information, explained the situation, and re-scheduled an appointment for yesterday, the 15th, between 1 and 4pm.The common practice for Comcast, I have found, is to send out two automated messages before every appointment: (1) the night before to remind the customer of the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-7856445727011160042008-09-16T01:21:00.000-04:002008-09-16T01:21:00.865-04:00

I interrupt my regularly scheduled series of entries to bring you the following story that I feel is unfortunately comparable to what many have similarly encountered.I must preface the following with the additional comment that, after working several summers in the service sector and another few on behalf of personal injury plaintiffs, I tend not to fight over the finer points of customer

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-47769274934259538562008-09-13T17:28:00.005-04:002008-09-13T17:58:31.774-04:00

"Bud Light, glass of Chardonnay, and a double shot of Cuervo," the bartender listed as he set each drink in front of the quiet man at the end of bar. "I didn't order that," the man replied without looking up. "I know, sir, sorry, sir, but we don't have the wine you wanted in stock." "Look again," the quiet man directed after a pregnant pause. Following

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-52773015435610559912008-09-10T00:40:00.000-04:002008-09-10T00:45:52.555-04:00

As promised in the previous entry to allow my readers an additional opportunity to see and hear from the leaders and nominees of both parties, here are the best speeches from the two conventions. Since CNN and other "news" agencies seem content to only provide soundbites, I also suggest viewing the actual websites of the two conventions to see all the videos in their entirety. In addition, here

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-1576253316645017192008-09-09T09:20:00.000-04:002008-09-09T09:31:18.224-04:00

The primary reason I waited a week to post this entry was that I wanted to allow the conventions and running mates of the two parties to be factored in to the newest polling data. The largely symbolic conventions serve two functions: (1) to rally the base to more actively endorse their nominees, and (2) to allow independent and/or undecided voters to see and hear from the leaders and nominees of

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-20625273252112014412008-09-05T02:21:00.000-04:002008-09-05T02:21:34.298-04:00

On Day 1, we (by which I mean my travel companions and I) will fly to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and stay for three days and two nights at a Ramada Plaza Resort. It appears to be your basic hotel with pool, spa, jacuzzi, fitness center and close proximity to the city and beach. We have free access to a rental car for the whole week as part of the package (with a security deposit required since we

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-45891396007156087392008-09-05T02:20:00.001-04:002008-09-05T02:20:54.468-04:00

Until now, I have resisted the disclosure of both the existence and details of my trip for a number of reasons beyond my usual penchant for secrecy. The first, and most obvious, reason for my deception is that I have felt ashamed for almost being "taken" by this promotional agency. In my view, there was no reason to elicit ridicule for nothing. The second reason is that I was in a very peculiar

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-63638584117672002992008-09-03T07:40:00.000-04:002008-09-03T08:21:28.246-04:00

"Congratulations, you have been selected to receive a...," were the first words I heard when I picked up the phone one random night last February. Still a little groggy from a nap I had just awoken from, I stopped the lady on the phone in mid-sentence and asked her to start from the beginning. She kindly repeated herself, explaining that when I went to the North Beach bar last winter with my

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-56567284265421852932008-08-30T11:44:00.001-04:002008-08-30T11:44:01.201-04:00

He never called back. It's what I expected and probably what I would've done if I were him. I mean, really, what is there to say when the girl you were sorta seeing leaves a voicemail saying, "It was good while it lasted. Call me, otherwise your silence will be understood as your acceptance?"It wasn't the right thing to do, and maybe if I had let another week go by, I could've found and tapped

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-79122332001300906792008-08-28T08:20:00.005-04:002008-08-29T08:26:08.064-04:00

79,448.That is how many words I have so far written on this blog over the last ten months. Given that a standard double-spaced Word page holds approximately three hundred words, that total comes out to about 265 pages. In all honesty, I never expected to write so much. I never expected my attention to last so long. While I knew I would have stories to tell and ideas to float, I also knew my

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-91458249707435718472008-08-26T11:55:00.005-04:002008-08-26T15:42:16.409-04:00

I began thinking about the admittedly random previous entry while moving into my new place last weekend. While packing up my life, it was hard not to see the similarities and differences between that first trip and this last one.The differences, in particular, are numerous and obvious. It took fourteen hours (or a plane ticket) to get to college, while I can now drive to my law school in less

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-30958435389947845402008-08-24T09:16:00.003-04:002008-08-26T12:19:39.834-04:00

From my older sister, returning high school alumni, various movies and those friends of mine with early start dates, I entered my first year of college with several assumptions. Keggers and bar nights, football games and storied programs, horrible diets and mid-day naps, empty lecture halls and absentee professors, I thought I knew what to expect when I opened my dorm room door. Unfortunately, it

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-20557301541304269702008-08-17T14:11:00.004-04:002008-08-17T14:28:13.486-04:00

I just deleted 786 words. About 4 weeks ago, I wrote the first version of this entry explaining what I had promised so long ago in Part 3: the relationship quirks that concerned me and the hints of hopefulness that countered them. However, a sense of anxious patience (an oxymoron, I know, but a true one) forced me to wait before sending it. I was waiting for something to happen; maybe a bit of

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-41737422355132739352008-08-15T22:34:00.003-04:002008-08-16T00:15:46.215-04:00

I have struggled, for three days, to put into words the degree of awkwardness I felt walking into The Log Cabin last Saturday night. Suffice to say that even though we had been there before, our khakis, dress shirts, college degrees and fluent knowledge of the English language set us apart from the rest of the bar's clientele. After leaning into the regulars sitting at the bar to show the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-62381622048843316872008-08-12T21:00:00.003-04:002008-08-12T23:48:46.728-04:00

After sitting around Saturday starving myself in preparation for our dinner, I showered, shaved and found appropriate attire for the occasion. What I did not do was call around and make sure everyone was still on the same page. When I finally resumed my parenting duties our plan for pre-dinner drinks was no longer an option. Moreover, while BT and I wore dress shirts and khakis, and S wore a polo

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-65146154571247566442008-08-11T02:38:00.005-04:002008-08-11T08:50:56.604-04:00

Six summers ago, during the last weeks of August, my guy friends and I started a new tradition. Over a family style Italian dinner at Maggiano's Restaurant, we each promised that, regardless of how much college and life might pull us apart, we would try our best to come together for one night a year to celebrate our friendship. To our credit, despite the physical and tempermental distances

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-19312348452082962532008-08-04T19:28:00.014-04:002008-08-04T21:11:59.793-04:00

Then, one morning, with my office nearly empty and my desk devoid of assignments, I came up with a new and better project. Scanning the collection of recent polls on realclearpolitics.com, and researching the previous state-wide election results of each state, I developed my own system for predicting the results of the upcoming Presidential election. In my opinion, an electoral map based

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-17084863664045299322008-08-04T14:10:00.002-04:002008-08-04T19:28:14.123-04:00

As you may recall, two weeks before Super Tuesday I bored all my readers with what eventually became a painstakingly researched 13-part series on the policy preferences of each major primary candidate. Since then, I have, as promised, refrained from discussing political issues in this blog for the obvious, but generally overlooked, reason that most people simply do not care. A poll referenced (

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-19380095279107576602008-08-02T10:42:00.001-04:002008-08-02T15:26:17.077-04:00

"If I had to, I could clean out my desk in five seconds, and nobody would ever know that I had ever been here. And I'd forget too." After eleven weeks of mind-numbing boredom, I finally finished my summer internship. Despite wanting to quit nearly every day, I somehow managed to get through the summer with my reputation and bank account intact. I now have several weeks to relax and recharge my

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-82340186592831090212008-07-29T16:47:00.004-04:002008-07-30T15:53:38.364-04:00

Then, earlier this year, as the temperature began to rise, the ringing became intolerable. I searched online and diagnosed myself with Tinnitus. At one point the ringing became so loud that I had to rely on a website that produced constant soothing noises like waves and thunderstorms in order to sleep. I even gave in and told my parents about the problem so that they could set up an appointment

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-64274926635808324242008-07-29T15:31:00.003-04:002008-07-29T16:47:13.041-04:00

Eighteen months ago I began noticing a faint ringing in my ears. Unlike the temporary ringing many hear shortly after a concert or other loud event, the ringing I experienced is constant. The problem is especially irritating at night. To understand how annoying my problem can be, place your cell phone under your pillow and try sleeping as someone constantly calls your phone. Better yet, imagine

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-17177847734269580392008-07-25T14:18:00.007-04:002008-07-25T17:08:39.515-04:00

In singling out the aforementioned individuals I did not intend to ignore the excellent work of the movie's stars. Christian Bale is by far the best Bruce Wayne (since Adam West at least), and Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldman were perfect. Maggie Gyllenhaal did as best as she could with her miserable character, and Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine worked wonders with their limited (and sometimes

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-75478137019642602202008-07-25T12:15:00.002-04:002008-07-25T13:55:11.207-04:00

Last Monday passion defeated reason. After months of anticipation, and hours spent re-watching trailers and vingettes, I ignored the fact that I had work early the next day and drove out to the middle of nowhere with several of my friends to see the late night IMAX showing of The Dark Knight. For the seven people left in the United States who have not yet seen it, I suggest disregarding the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-58127949331858663162008-07-22T11:17:00.005-04:002008-07-22T12:24:58.079-04:00

Last Friday I gave my two weeks' notice. Needing time to re-charge my batteries before the new schoolyear, I chose to work only eleven weeks (or fifty-five days for those counting at home). When I told my boss of my intended stop-date we somehow got into a discussion about my future career coals that ended with him commanding me to spend my last ten workdays sitting in on depositions and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-21535263913397350002008-07-15T12:03:00.005-04:002009-08-30T17:26:40.585-04:00

The first place we looked at was nice and relatively inexpensive, especially considering the amenities it offered. However, the complex was close to 20 minutes from campus and it only offered 12-month leases. We filled out the required paperwork, but continued our search. Devoid of available one-bedroom units, the second location referred us to their sister property. This complex, called Castle

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-24704566098634001772008-07-07T02:35:00.004-04:002008-10-22T11:09:05.348-04:00

#3 (13 points) Deus Ex Machina (1x19, Locke)#4 (13 points) The Man Behind the Curtain (3x20, Ben)#5 (13 points) The Constant (4x05, Desmond)Like a Bell Curve, the number of episodes per score greatly increase after the aforementioned. Earning a score of twelve points are seven episodes, of which only the first five conclude my top 10. I leave off the last two, Catch-22 (3x17, Desmond) and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-40065446894654118412008-07-07T01:00:00.004-04:002008-10-22T11:07:32.791-04:00

With the fourth season of LOST ending over a month ago, and the fifth yet to begin for another six, I admit that this entry may appear ill-timed. However, in the course of writing the final episode review I felt the need to take a more comprehensive view of the show's evolution and development. To that end, I chose to re-watch each episode from the beginning.Seeing as in some cases this would be

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-5090329100429733672008-07-05T04:05:00.003-04:002008-07-05T05:02:50.713-04:00

One of the few disadvantages to living at home is that, unlike at school, I do not have a place here to go to in the middle of the night to think.As only my close friends, and unlucky roommates, know, when I feel overly overly stressed or unusually unhappy I often try and get away to gather my thoughts. Unlike most people, I dislike sharing my negative feelings with others. While I do complain

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-10997424564188211242008-06-30T16:28:00.004-04:002008-06-30T19:11:16.672-04:00

When I came home from school this last spring the very first thing I did was dump my boxes and bags in a corner of my room. There they sat for nearly two months until, late last night, I decided to clean up my room and purge it of the many old and unnecessary pieces of junk taking up space and collecting dust. Besides the random pieces of paper and wrappers from snacks cluttering up my floor and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-14996224632860721942008-06-29T16:30:00.002-04:002008-06-29T16:57:08.568-04:00

I've found Walken attractive enough to maintain association with him. (Note: I could insert a picture or two of him I found on facebook, but... that's kinda weird). Anyway, we know looks will not hold over for long. I need intellectual and emotional stimulation, dammit..."This enjoyment of quieter moments seeps into other interests: museums, libraries, strolls in the supermarket or Target. I love

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-16961776930821064382008-06-22T13:45:00.003-04:002008-06-22T14:20:53.165-04:00

Yesterday, in response to my previous entry I received a phone call from none other than E herself. Apparently, after another former friend of ours (who weirdly enough also reads the blog) informed her of the entry's contents E read it over herself and felt the need to ring me up and see how things were going. Though surprised that she would be mentioned at all in my blog, let alone made the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-38331629315367404032008-06-19T20:25:00.022-04:002008-06-20T20:16:20.975-04:00

E is a short, smart, latte-drinking, VW bug-driving, government-loving, America-hating, ultra liberal elitist in the best sense of the term. Given my own conservative tendencies, our friendship was largely defined and built through constant debate. Though born into a privileged interracial family, she largely resists, all the while tactically accepting, the labels and expectations of her

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-391850491870271442008-06-16T19:26:00.002-04:002008-06-16T19:45:51.353-04:00

It took a month, but this morning I finally gave in and broke an informal rule of public transportation. A full book and a half ahead of the other members of my book club, I chose, this morning, to instead spend my commute working on the RedEye crossword and sudoku challenges. With it no longer necessary for me to devote my full attention to the written word, I also chose to listen to my iPod

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-35269571627286640202008-06-14T14:56:00.003-04:002008-06-14T15:15:13.161-04:00

In the second part of the original series, I explained that listing specific qualities in your mate has been recommended to clarify your preferences and increase your ability to recognize them in others more easily. I spent a good amount of time with Walken the other weekend, learning more and liking more about him. And yes, I began to recognize parts of my list realized in him. Well, let me show

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-13567468312087006352008-06-06T19:43:00.004-04:002008-06-06T19:50:40.483-04:00

Since my first day I have not written any entries about my job out of the fear of sounding dull and repetitive. Nearly every day involves the same monotonous grind. I wake up (every day a little later), take a shower, shave, find clean and unwrinkled clothes, dress, pack my stuff, and get driven to the train station by 8am. On the el, I read or do crossword puzzles as I try my best to reduce

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-66787478694188081942008-06-05T19:23:00.002-04:002008-06-05T19:41:43.022-04:00

So I've met someone. Yes, a guy. And so far so good.I met "Walken" a month ago. If it were up to Samantha (a manager pal from Panera), she would have set us up last winter, but you know how I am. I brushed off any real discussion of meeting him until it was unavoidable. I contacted Sam to meet her at her new job for a drink. She responded with the following text: "I just got off work, but I'm at

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-82876033831843262592008-06-04T16:55:00.002-04:002008-06-04T19:16:14.152-04:00

A month or so ago, before I fully realized the tiring grind of my occupation, J invited me to a concert "near" my job on June 2nd. She explained that because her cousin could no longer go (because of school) her only other option was to sell the tickets before the show. Not wanting her to miss a band she had shown unusual interest in ever since she was in London, I agreed to attend. It of

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-76816787626426673862008-06-03T19:04:00.004-04:002008-06-03T19:23:33.451-04:00

Following the awkwardness of Victoria's Secret, J and I resumed our search for a new suit. We first stopped by Nordstrom's, where the saleswoman could not believe that a young man dressed as I was (in jeans, tee shirt, flip flops and my customary sunglasses) would be able to either pick out or afford a proper suit. As if to underscore the point, she walked us to the Italian-made suits worth more

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-1170932915350239182008-06-01T14:28:00.004-04:002008-06-01T21:12:18.274-04:00

I woke up Saturday morning, after hitting my mental snooze alarm several times, with one goal in mind - buy a new suit. Despite being momentarily sidetracked by laziness, I eventually roused myself up, in part to avoid doing housework, and met with J to go shopping.The first stop on our quest was the Men's Warehouse near Golf Mill mall. Since I had joined their customer database when I purchased

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-77631042303596063092008-05-29T19:53:00.006-04:002008-05-29T20:44:17.632-04:00

The flashbacks in this episode detailed the Oceanic Six's initial, full reentry into the greater world. For the most part, despite whatever initial joy they might have felt, it was clear they could not outrun their demons. As Doc Jensen pointed out, Hurley still saw the Numbers, Kate was still alone, and Jack was still burdened by his father.#73 How exactly were the Oceanic Six rescued? The

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-79825984479461764152008-05-29T19:14:00.006-04:002008-05-29T20:32:58.807-04:00

With the two-hour season finale less than two hours away I will not even try to provide a detaile analysis of the finale's first part. Instead, I will merely, and quickly, go through the many questions raised by this first section even though many may be answered by the finale's concluding hours. I will then, with my last entry of this series (I promise) provide a more detailed analysis next time

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-70438445696252854062008-05-28T00:50:00.000-04:002008-05-28T01:55:35.836-04:00

In my very drunken stupor the other night I apparently entered into an intense (and likely one-sided) debate with JC over which graduate study was more difficult. As I took great effort to point out, medical school was far more difficult and important than law school. She, and other would-be doctors, train to win battles between life and death. I, and other would-be lawyers, train to win battles

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-79376203103554358342008-05-26T14:57:00.003-04:002008-05-26T15:16:10.797-04:00

"The real crime, I think, was the beard."Goodbye, Toby: Live Play-by-Play of the season finale of The Office.Opening with a classic Jim-Dwight prank: "Oh hello, Mater. Good news. I've married, tell Fater."Hahahaha Michael's foot money."The timing's perfect" - Is it? But it's awesome that Pam got into graphic design school an Jim appears very supportive.Operator: "Anti-gravity machine? ....

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-29268927810655319022008-05-22T07:09:00.001-04:002008-05-22T07:44:57.297-04:00

Several weeks ago I floated a largely unnoticed trial balloon in this blog in which I stated that I had compiled a list of over 300 novels I wanted to read before I die. Now that I am done with law school and the dozens of pages of daily required reading, I finally have the opportunity to begin this project. Whatsmore, between my lunch hour and daily commute, I have several hours each day with

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-75642740366862935642008-05-20T05:21:00.003-04:002008-07-16T16:31:09.842-04:00

Yesterday I reentered the lion's den, starting my old job as a law clerk at a small law firm in Chicago. The firm specializes in personal injury and worker's compensation law. Although the firm also handles cases involving car accidents and premises liability, it generally services workers who are injured through their job. For instance, one case I began working on yesterday involved a

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-8371770356508630592008-05-19T02:06:00.002-04:002008-05-19T02:26:03.686-04:00

"A blank sheet of paper equals endless possibilities."My sister and I are preparing for the season finale of The Office, which will be showing in about... one hour. So quick run-through of the best bits of last week's episode:Cold Opener - Kelly's gushing comparison of her beau to Barack Obama was a good way to start the show. Lately, Darryl bumps up any scene from a hmmkay to a hopeful

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-23627323715022241262008-05-18T06:45:00.005-04:002008-05-18T07:38:37.409-04:00

Before concluding with a brief synopsis of the largely insignificant side story on the freighter, I would like to add a very insightful theory postulated by Doc Jensen.#67 Was Ben a cosmic contigency plan for Locke's failure to accept his destiny? In Doc Jensen's own words:Which brings me to the provocative Big Idea that I strongly believe "Cabin Fever" was jerking its head toward, hoping that we

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-50753950044991606452008-05-18T03:05:00.007-04:002008-05-18T06:45:33.258-04:00

Rather than tell a story paralleling on-Island events, the disjointed flashbacks in this episode were alternatively intended to facilitate greater understanding of the character of John Locke. The audience has learned through past episodes that he is, for good reasons, angry, lonely and hurt. Locke's greatest character trait, however, is his incredible faith in both destiny and the Island. Until

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-89249998387638305162008-05-15T17:12:00.002-04:002008-05-15T21:28:34.270-04:00

"Begin at the beginning... and go on till you come to the end; then stop." I know of no better way to approach this episode than to follow its flashbacks and proceed through a simple chronological analysis.The first flashback re-introduced John Locke's mother as a teenage girl rebelliously in love with a man twice her age (presumably John's conman father). The girl then runs out into the rain to

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-1231208500422214522008-05-15T06:14:00.009-04:002008-05-18T02:35:17.865-04:00

It is usually very difficult for men and women to find the perfect gifts for friends of the opposite sex and sentiment. This task is further complicated by my stubborn, abrasive and secretive personality. Few of my friends even knew the other day was my birthday, let alone whether or what I might like as gifts. A, however, responding to random comments I had made over the preceding months, gave

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-11329245141043204582008-05-14T07:27:00.007-04:002008-05-18T07:27:50.933-04:00

This episode also contained another side story with interesting implications. As the unlikely trio of Sawyer, Claire (and Aaron) and Miles trekked across the Island, two significant questions were raised.#60 Why were Karl and Rousseau buried? If the freighter commandos were sent to the Island to find Ben and kill everyone, why did they bother wasting time burying two individuals no one would miss

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-61883260386798210852008-05-14T03:53:00.004-04:002008-05-14T08:34:03.730-04:00

Since this entry is extremely belated, I will not belabor the episode's developments. Fortunately, this episode, like the second chapter of Alice in Wonderland, was a "partially transitional passage in the Lost saga, a busywork episode designed to put all the characters in position for the year's big finale." As such, my truncated entry should not disadvantage anyone's understanding or enjoyment

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-62478330506846404602008-05-11T13:09:00.004-04:002008-05-11T20:31:14.793-04:00

Last night, after much discussion, S and I went on a mini bar crawl among the several local watering holes. At the Emerald Isle we drank with the usual clientele, watched the Sox game and the Celtics-Cavs playoff, and began making plans for this summer, including a potential joint birthday party, and beyond. However, without those friends of ours more prone to binge, our pace eventually slowed.

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-35667790193687428292008-05-10T01:43:00.002-04:002008-05-10T01:25:39.089-04:00

"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story."Done. Finally. Another semester and another year. After four exams, a complete mock trial, a month of twelve-plus-hour days in the library and a final project that ballooned into over one hundred written pages (and two hundred and fifty total), I am finally done with my second year of law school.As it happens

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-648123615536606692008-05-08T12:02:00.003-04:002008-05-08T12:18:08.877-04:00

"I can't even hear you... Its just noise coming out of an ugly scientist."This week's episode of The Office was a better-than-last-week hmmkay. Let's break down why:Cold Open - Overall, kinda funny because the scene required dialogue from a majority of the cast. We even got a "That's what she said."Pam's back-up glasses - Generally seen as the office hottie, some of the guys weigh in on Pam's

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-83865141484136208192008-05-06T10:26:00.003-04:002008-05-06T11:09:41.748-04:00

This last week, from April 29th to May 5th, was a great week for two reasons.First, as many of you know, I have been keeping stats on the blog's visitor rate for some time now. Unfortunately the counter I have been using is mysteriously inaccurate and incomplete. Nevertheless, with little other reader feedback, I have been forced to use that counter to guess at what types of entries people would

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-14854126194720732282008-05-01T17:13:00.007-04:002008-05-01T17:31:50.137-04:00

"It's not the horniness, ok? It's the loneliness."I'm diving right in. My favorite parts of "Night Out":"Do you have a question, Kelly?" "Yeah, I have a lot of questions - number one: How dare you?""You resemble a Tolkien character.""Hey... Chief. This is Jim Halpert from... where you work ...""This place is like a sexy preschool"Pam hitting Meredith's face with a football.Everyone simultaneously

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-27839731651736719342008-05-01T15:08:00.003-04:002008-05-01T17:12:26.442-04:00

Despite this episode's significant on-Island plot developments, the real action took place in its time- and space-jumping flash forwards. Ben's first flash saw him waking up in the middle of the Sahara Desert, amid a cloud of dust/smoke/cold air, wearing a parka and boots, with no evidence of where (or when) he came from. He is shortly thereafter found by two Bedouin horsemen who ask the same

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-41221879001915032452008-04-30T08:19:00.005-04:002008-04-30T15:26:01.495-04:00

Another fault I found with this episode was the blatant use of redshirts throughout the siege of the Barracks. In "Meet Kevin Johnson" the freighter commandos managed to shoot (and presumably kill) Karl and Rousseau with only three bullets. Similarly, they shot and killed three redshirts with only three bullets during the initial siege. However, when Sawyer was trapped behind the impenetrable

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-80795396812742192892008-04-30T05:12:00.010-04:002008-04-30T14:01:31.737-04:00

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." At first glance, last week's episode, like most of this 4th season, has been "game changing" to say the least. For the first three seasons, the main focus of the show has been on our mysterious little Island. Character flashbacks merely served to illustrate and contextualize the Island's events. Now, with flash-forwards, freighters and flings

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-7093711687925233982008-04-28T08:07:00.005-04:002008-10-22T11:06:10.881-04:00

As promised, I spent an unbelievable, unreasonable and unnecessary amount of time over the last week re-watching past episodes of The Office to determine my all-time favorites. Here then are my Top Ten with accompanying written and video highlights (courtesy of NBC - please do not sue me).#1 The Coup (3x03) ~ Good: Dwight's Conversation with Jan; Stamford Call of Duty; Michael's trick on Dwight.

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-25743040208341347902008-04-27T07:12:00.005-04:002008-04-27T12:16:08.810-04:00

Throughout the course of this blog I have tried to illustrate my various stories and points with pictures and videos from both the internet and my computer. In doing so, I generally linked the illustrations from their appropriate reference point instead of posting the illustrations on the entries themselves. This was done not only to save myself time and effort, but also to preserve privacy and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-59269913354492696562008-04-25T11:58:00.002-04:002008-04-27T12:02:42.288-04:00

In law school you very quickly learn the value of precise language. Very important decisions, having impacts on the physical and financial healths of groups of people, hinge on the exact meanings of words and clauses. (Examples are numerous, but largely irrelevant for this discussion) Implicit in this importance is the need for lawyers and lay people to possess a basic understanding of diction

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-79451068748890274362008-04-24T11:17:00.005-04:002008-04-27T12:03:41.150-04:00

Then I will have two chairs... only one to go.And with that, Creed's one line made "Chair Model" funnier than the "Dinner Party" episode. It was great to have the episode actually take place in the office and have other characters featured in the subplots. Without further ado, I present my favorite lines and aspects of last week's Office episode:Could an average size rowboat support her without

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-1391791461592714892008-04-22T03:40:00.004-04:002008-04-22T04:36:33.022-04:00

If this blog serves any purpose it is to provide me with a forum in which to share things with my readers that I find interesting. Case-in-point this article and video I stumbled upon the other day.To summarize its contents, a man was working late on a Friday night in an office building in New York City when he went down to the lobby to have a cigarette. After his break he got back in the

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-40999601492566147652008-04-21T03:27:00.008-04:002008-10-22T11:04:25.329-04:00

As has become my modus operandi, it is the middle of the night and I am too tired to work and too awake to sleep. In search of entertainment I re-read A's last entries and clicked on her links. This lead to the time-wasting wonders of YouTube. There I found several Office-related gems including an unbelievably well-made Clint Eastwood fan video. From these videos and clips I decided to try and

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044471167383170898.post-56081268412607169772008-04-17T04:07:00.004-04:002008-04-17T04:32:24.993-04:00

That One Night... You Made Everything All RightWith the opening scene of last week's episode, I immediately felt relieved to see the old gang in the familiar workplace. However, when Jim got duped by Michael into a couples-only dinner party, I felt a little disappointed once it became clear that the rest of the show will take place in Jan and Michael's shared condo - none of Phyllis' timid

Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14649524711896086766noreply@blogger.com1