On Saturday I had dinner with a friend from college and her husband, neither of whom I had seen since their wedding in the fall of 2002. We had reservations at a chi-chi restaurant in Hyde Park, but upon arrival we were informed that due to an unfortunate mix-up and a rare overbooking, the restaurant wasn't able to seat us at a table. The apologetic Maitre-d offered to seat the three of us at the counter, and as a salve to this indignity said he would comp a 5-course meal for each of us, including three glasses of wine (Champagne, Pinot Noir, and Chianti).
First I have to wait for 5 minutes at Starbucks in Waco when I order "bold" coffee, and now I have to sit at a counter. What the hell is wrong with service in Texas?
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Killer hippos
Yesterday NPR had a story about a killer hippo on the Congo River. Killer hippos are no joke. The NPR report brought back memories of the disturbing and surreal experience I had almost six years ago when the students in my environment club and I went on our weekly trip to the river only to find a hippo playing with the corpse of a teenage bather it had recently killed.
The NPR story had an interesting twitst. The name of "my" killer hippo was America; the name of the Congolese killer is Osama. I wonder which would leave bigger tusk marks if America and Osama were to rumble.
Ces sont très mechants
The NPR story had an interesting twitst. The name of "my" killer hippo was America; the name of the Congolese killer is Osama. I wonder which would leave bigger tusk marks if America and Osama were to rumble.
Ces sont très mechantsWednesday, February 08, 2006
Memories...
Security scare forces US Capitol evacuation.
"A suspected nerve agent forced the evacuation of a U.S. Senate office building late on Wednesday until tests concluded the vapor that set off the alarm was harmless, police said."
Good thing, too, or else they'd have to kick out the entire Congress + staff, take over the GAO building for three weeks, and then fumigate the office buildings. Then they'd have to send the third lowest paid staff member into the office before it was ok'ed to back up the computer files and water the plants.
I'm still wearing my superhero clothing.
"A suspected nerve agent forced the evacuation of a U.S. Senate office building late on Wednesday until tests concluded the vapor that set off the alarm was harmless, police said."
Good thing, too, or else they'd have to kick out the entire Congress + staff, take over the GAO building for three weeks, and then fumigate the office buildings. Then they'd have to send the third lowest paid staff member into the office before it was ok'ed to back up the computer files and water the plants.
I'm still wearing my superhero clothing.
10:29 - 10:34
10:29 Finish meeting with professor A about last semester.
10:30:30 Arrive in class with professor B. Quietly enter and take seat.
10:31 While opening computer and book, get called on to answer question about case, most likely as retaliation for arriving late. Professor B mispronounces my last name.
10:31:10 Employ time-tested stalling tactic of asking professor B to clarify the question.
10:33 After some fumbling and page flipping, answer correctly with "4th amendent."
10:33:30 Receive follow-up question.
10:34 Answer correctly with "section 1983."
Receive snaps from four neighboring students after class.
Which of the following best describes the lesson from today's incident?
a) Always read for class
b) Don't be late for class
c) Professor B is evil
d) Wear superhero clothing for special magic powers in emergency situations.
10:30:30 Arrive in class with professor B. Quietly enter and take seat.
10:31 While opening computer and book, get called on to answer question about case, most likely as retaliation for arriving late. Professor B mispronounces my last name.
10:31:10 Employ time-tested stalling tactic of asking professor B to clarify the question.
10:33 After some fumbling and page flipping, answer correctly with "4th amendent."
10:33:30 Receive follow-up question.
10:34 Answer correctly with "section 1983."
Receive snaps from four neighboring students after class.
Which of the following best describes the lesson from today's incident?
a) Always read for class
b) Don't be late for class
c) Professor B is evil
d) Wear superhero clothing for special magic powers in emergency situations.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
BLE blahs
I got a letter from the BLE this afternoon acknowledging receipt of my bar application. Along with the letter, they enclosed a detailed reminder of the three days of hell that I will face in July. This made me realize how few of the subjects covered on the bar exam that I have studied in my 2+ years of law school. The gaps include exciting subjects like Texas civil procedure, federal criminal procedure, business associations, family law, uniform commercial code, consumer rights, and oil and gas. I should be okay on evidence, wills and trusts, and property. If there is a bonus question on Brazilian environmental law, I'm good to go and hopefully that will make up for all the other sections I fail.
I am troubled that of the three days, I am most looking forward to Wednesday, where I will have 7 hours to answer 200 multistate questions. My answer sheet will probably look like this:
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
I am troubled that of the three days, I am most looking forward to Wednesday, where I will have 7 hours to answer 200 multistate questions. My answer sheet will probably look like this:
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
SOTU and the clinic
I watched Bush's State of the Union this evening and managed to not puke up my tacos. Almost nothing new was presented, and there is no money for the new things that were presented. I'm a little unsettled at how many Members I can still name and the gossip I remember about some of their offices.
Far more interesting was the busy phone day at the clinic. My español got a workout, as did my Capitol Hill-honed phone skills. A tip for callers from New York City who (1) have stable jobs with the Department of Whatever, (2) speak excellent English, (3) can afford to fly themselves and their cousin to San Antonio for a court appearance, and (4) already know what a motion for change of venue is yet still want free representation for a relative from clinic students in Texas: you are not our client demographic. I'm being very nice and helpful by providing you with a referral in your area. If you push the point, become argumentative and waste my time, I will hang up on you.
Far more interesting was the busy phone day at the clinic. My español got a workout, as did my Capitol Hill-honed phone skills. A tip for callers from New York City who (1) have stable jobs with the Department of Whatever, (2) speak excellent English, (3) can afford to fly themselves and their cousin to San Antonio for a court appearance, and (4) already know what a motion for change of venue is yet still want free representation for a relative from clinic students in Texas: you are not our client demographic. I'm being very nice and helpful by providing you with a referral in your area. If you push the point, become argumentative and waste my time, I will hang up on you.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Free Coffee
I got free coffee yesterday. On my drive back to Austin from Dallas, I stopped at the Starbuck's along I-35 and ordered a small (excuse me, "tall") coffee. When asked if I wanted bold or regular, I responded, "um, bold." The barrista then told me that the bold was brewing and that I would have to wait 5 minutes. I said, "okay" and then handed over a twenty only to be told that there was no charge since I had to wait. In addition to the indignity of having to wait all of 5 minutes for some free coffee, team barrista messed up my order - they gave me a medium (I mean grande), which is 4 more ounces than I wanted. The nerve.
Two snaps for Starbucks and free coffee, and for bringing good coffee to places like Lubbock and Waco.
Two snaps for Starbucks and free coffee, and for bringing good coffee to places like Lubbock and Waco.
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