Dinner & a Movie

Beef Tenderloin stuffed with Shrimp Etouffee. Beef Tenderloin stuffed with Blue Cheese and Spinach. Baked Vegetables on a bed of Mixed Greens. A bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon. Yum! The girlfriend found the recipe for the meal in one of her magazines, so we decided to make an evening out of it. I thought it would be good because it incorporated one of my favorite things: meat stuffed in meat. And I was right.

After dinner, the girlfriend, my buddy Jordan and I watched Batman Begins. It came highly recommended, and I can say without qualification that it is the best Batman movie to date. Christian Bale was superb, but then again, I can't think of a movie in which he wasn't.

Other than the dishes, it was a great evening all around.

Word of the Day

re·verse an·o·rex·i·a (ri-vurs' ane-rek'se-a)
n.

1. Incorrect belief that one is much thinner than is actually true.

Usage: That fat chick in the tube top has reverse anorexia!

Many of my classmates suffer from this horrible affliction. Unfortunately, this particular disease causes greater suffering in those that don't have it than in those that do.

OU Bomber

Everyone here has read the stories, seen the news, and heard the rumors. Personally, I think that there's a lot more to this story than we've been told. There are easier ways to committ suicide, and there are safer locations to detonate a pipe-bomb. I think this guy intended to do something more destructive, but either had a change of heart or just failed to execute his original plan successfully.

A rumor about town is that the bomber tried to buy a large amount of fertilizer a few days before he self-detonated. Some of his friends may have been with him, and if so, are still at large. It is just a rumor, but if it is based in fact at all, it chills my heart and strengthens my resolve to be more vigilant. I'm afraid Norman just passed a threshhold, and that the worst is yet to come.

Lazy Sunday

The girlfriend and I just spent the day watching movies, dozing on the couch, and in all other ways being as lethargic as possible. Now we're off to The Red Dirt to see our friend Ro's band. I've heard from the brother that they're really good, and I know that Ro has talent, so I'm excited to see what he's got.

Cause for Concern

It seems that Mr. Kerry is having some trouble running his campaign. Here's an excerpt:

At a recent meeting of senior staff members, Democrats said, Mr. Kerry's aides became entangled in a lengthy debate over what might seem to be a less than urgent issue: whether they should send a Democratic operative to Bush rallies dressed as Pinocchio, a chicken or a mule, to illustrate various lines of attacks Democrats want to use against Mr. Bush. (They say they want to portray him as a liar, a draft avoider and stubborn.)

Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or something on the fringe, you should read it and weep. A representative democracy can't work if there aren't viable candidates representing different points of view. Right now, we have to choose between a man who protects our freedoms from , and a man who may protect our freedoms to.

Well, That Sucked

My performance on the Contracts final this morning can best be described as dismal. Verbal flatulence. Unorganized dreck. Pick one, they're all charitable. I felt pretty good about my understanding of the material this morning, but then I began scanning the exam.

One strategy to taking a final is to look over the entire final, then begin working on the question that's worth the most points. I did that, then realized I wasn't really sure how to attack the problem. So I decided to put that one on hold and attack the next most valuable question. No dice. Okaaay, how about the question that's only worth like 5% of the grade? I spent ten minutes doing some half-assed analysis on UCC 9, then went back to work on the first question.

It's over, so now I'm going to have some people over to the house to play beer and drink some poker. Or something to that effect.

Turbo Blogging

Gimme Gimme: I want something from here!

Interesting meme: Colin Powell for UN Secretary.

FYI: The Congressional Medal of Honor.

Found: What The Truth Is.

Too little, too late: UMass Student Apologizes.

Status: Crim Law is finished, and I feel pretty good about my performance. So does everyone else, so it's a good thing Professor R. doesn't use a curve. Contracts this Saturday, and my good friend Dave is coming to town tomorrow (er, later today). See y'all later!

The Growing Divide

While reading different articles discussing the War on Terror, I get the feeling that the debate is over and neither side will budge. Case in point is this story, Taking Chance Home, about the respect we pay to the soldiers who have fallen while defending our freedom. It begins with this:

Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.

Contrast that story with this op-ed, entitled Pat Tillman is not a hero: He got what was coming to him. Here's an excerpt:

I've been mystified at the absolute nonsense of being in "awe" of Tillman's "sacrifice" that has been the American response. Mystified, but not surprised.

I don't think I've ever felt such a sharp contrast between humble awe and sick loathing in so short a span of time. Every one is entitled to an opinion, but I can only feel contempt for a person that can't show a modicum of respect for our boys over there. Rot in hell, Rene Gonzalez. God bless you and your families, Army Ranger Pat Tillman and PFC C. Phelps USMC.

One Down, Three to Go

Guinness, that is. I'm rewarding myself with 14.9 ounces of Guinness Draught after every exam.

The Torts final was fair, as expected. Two essay questions and 22 multiple choice. The first essay was about Products Liability and Strict Torts, and it definitely had the most material to cover. I used four of the seven theories, and then had to answer some policy questions concerning Strict Liability vs. Negligence. The second essay was about Defamation, and I was proud to distinguish the Plaintiff's concurrent public/private persona.

How do I think I did? That's always a tough question, because predicting an 'A' is a surefire jinx, but predicting a 'D' or 'F' is considered to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I honestly think I wrote 'B' quality essays, so it just depends on how I guessed during the Multiple Choice portion, and the vagaries of Professor M's grading. I'll let you know in three to six weeks.

Torts Final in 8.5 Hours

After a few days of study, I've managed to learn Torts according to Professor M. Strict Liability and Defamation were not too bad, but Product Liability? The analysis for Design Defect alone has seven theories: Risk/Utility, Restatement 2nd (Consumer Expectations), Restatement 3rd (Reasonable Alternative Design), Pure Risk/Utility, Hybrid, Modified, and Presumed. They're all variations of the same factors, but each one potentially would lead to a different conclusion of liability for a manufacturer or consumer. I have them bouncing around my head right now, so I'm going to go over my notes and flowcharts one more time and hit the sack.

Sleepless Nights

I went to bed early last night, sometime around 12:30am, in the hopes of catching up on my sleep and having the energy to jump-start my studies in the morning. Good idea, except I was attacked by the 1L bugbear while trying to fall asleep: panic that I was going to fail every class, no matter how much I studied. I was in bed, wide awake, debating whether I should just get up and do some more practice questions.

Eventually, of course, I did fall asleep. Now I'm a bit groggy, but I'm only one cup of coffee away from getting my day started, and that monster has succumbed to the bright light of the morning. I'll be at the law school all day, cramming Strict Liability, Products Liability, and Defamation into my head with the help of my classmates. The Torts final is tomorrow at 9:00am, and I intend to be prepared.

Deviant Focus

I began this blog on February 25, 2003 by saying that "I'm starting this blog because I'm frustrated by the lack of discussion of current events by my fellow blogger." I don't know what I was thinking then, because I have since discovered how difficult it is to say something original about current events. Every time something newsworthy occurs, I found that the big boys on my blog roll had already commented on it with more insight and clarity than I could ever hope to match.

I began to feel frustrated with blogging after a few months. It felt like I was spending a lot of time talking to nobody. I continued to read other blogs, and I finally realized what was missing from The Bell Curve. In a word, Me. I was trying too hard to imitate the Instapundit, USS Clueless, and every other blog that I followed. I was trying to outdo the top linker and the top thinker, simultaneously. It wasn't working, and I can show the (lack of) hits to prove it.

The one reason for anyone to read my posts was to understand the world as I perceived it. Really, that's the only reason to read anyone's blog. That's why I believe Lileks occupies such an exalted position in the blogosphere. He's better than anyone else at showing us his world, and doing so with an entertaining style. I decided to begin focusing more on how events in the world affected me on a personal level. I no longer tried to argue a point in the abstract, but rather began to show why a certain point of view makes sense for me. The results of this change are apparent:

It took almost a year exactly for my site to register the first 1000 hits. It took just two months to see the next 1000. I began blogging with a new focus in mid-January, and it feels like I'm finally catching a few people's interest.

To all my repeat visitors, many thanks for making me feel like I'm not just talking to myself. To any new visitors, I hope you enjoy seeing the world through my eyes and decide to return. Now I just have to get through finals, so that I'll be able to really explore this wonderful medium called blogging!

Enrollment

My window for enrollment in the Summer and Fall semesters was yesterday. Due to an administrative glitch, I was unable to handle the process on my own, so I had to enlist the help of one of the ladies in the Administrative office to fill out the form. Kind of silly, but she was able to get me into most of the classes I wanted.

I'll be taking Professional Responsibility (3 hrs) this summer, which is scheduled for three days a week, starting at 7:30am. [gasp] I'm not a morning person, but it's a required course and this summer is the best time for me to take it, so I'll just have suck up my gut and deal with it. I'm debating the idea of enrolling in Administrative Law (3 hrs) as well, but it depends on what kind of job opportunities (i.e. pro bono v. paid) I can make happen. I also intend to submit a note for Law Review, in the hopes of writing on, which means I'll be spending a good chunk of time over the summer researching and writing. Busy busy!

Next fall, I'll be taking Evidence (4 hrs) and Wills & Trusts (3 hrs). I will also be re-taking Constitutional Law (4 hrs) in order to raise my grade from last fall. I'm not too excited about that, but it's necessary for many reasons. I did not get into Real Estate Transactions (3 hrs) like I had hoped, so this Monday I'll try to enroll in Bankruptcy (4 hrs), and then see what kind of magic I can work during Add/Drop next fall.

Male Stereotypes on TV

I watched The Cosby Show as a teenager. It was a good show, with a funny script and good characters, but something about it always bothered me. I realized that the recurring theme of the show revolved around Cliff (and occasionally Theo) trying to do something clever and Claire outwitting him.

I first noticed the formula in the episode in which Claire hurt her foot, and she and Cliff had to go to some fancy party. They made a bet over who could be better dressed, which Cliff assumed he would win because of Claire's cast. After showing off his tuxedo to the kids, she came down the stairs in a nice evening gown, marred only by the paper sack wrapped around her cast. After the kids oohed and ahhed, Cliff pointed out the ugly sack around her leg, sauntered over, and tore it off. The surprise was that she had decorated the cast, knowing that Cliff would reveal it, and thereby showing how she had outwitted him. Every show after that had some similar situation in which Cliff was ultimately shown as the lesser intellect. While it made for a funny sit-com, I no longer enjoyed the show because it never deviated from the formula. (Not to mention the fact that Cliff was a doctor, and yet was supposedly less intelligent than his attorney wife. I know a few smart attorneys, but I don't know any dumb doctors.)

Lileks mentioned something today about the stereotype of men in mass media. He shared this example:

There's an ad for an internet travel agency on the radio now - a husband brings a pair of tickets to his wife for a Mexican vacation. Totally unexpected. She manages to reveal, in three questions, that this hotel is on a golf course. "Nice try," she says, in a condescending and contemptuous tone of voice that you DO NOT USE in a marriage, because it sounds like you're appealing to an unseen chorus of girlfriends who will back you up here, totally. It's obviously an ad aimed at women, because guys have one reaction to the interchange: well, thanks for nothing, BITCH.

I don't watch much TV anymore, for a number of reasons (ahem, Law School), including the fact that nearly every show and every commercial I see has the recurring dumb guy/smart woman motif. A minivan commercial in heavy rotation right now shows a guy trying to figure out how to fold down a seat, then watching in amazement when his wife does it with one hand. Another commercial shows a group of guys making fun of a dog for running when they ring a bell, followed by their own Pavlovian response to the pizza guy ringing the doorbell. McDonald's has one where the wife is out of town, and the husband claims that he can take care of feeding the kids, but after trying to make a meal at home, he gives up and takes the kids to you know where.

I'm not saying that there are no good shows on TV, or that the occasional appearance of a male idiot is inappropriate. I just want to see some balance. Until that happens, I will have little sympathy for the network executives who are surprised that TV ratings have taken such a nosedive recently, especially among 18-24 year old males. The biggest question I have is why didn't it happen sooner?

Tonight's Image to Fall Asleep To

I must have led an interesting and odd life to see something like this: The brother, wearing a Neutrogena Deep Clean Oil-Controlling Mask, sitting in Pepe I, with the puppy in his lap licking the mask off.

If I'd only been quicker with the camera, I'd share a visual. As it is, I'll have to settle with giggling myself to sleep tonight. Sweet Dreams, y'all!

Exam Preparation

I finished my reading for the remaining term last week. I also started collating my notes, third-party sources, and outlines a while back. This weekend I began actual studying, as opposed to the busy work that interfered with learning the material throughout the semester. Here's my gut-feeling about what's in store:

Property(4 hrs) -- This is my last final. I'll have five days to prepare for this once exams begin, which is more than most of my section. (I was fortunate to have completed Civil Procedure II last summer in the Early Admission Program, which only a select few of us were invited to attend. It is not some honor to be invited; rather, it was based upon a determination of which students might be on the bubble, academically speaking. I had low grades and a high LSAT. Some of the others were in the opposite boat, but not one of us was an outstanding candidate for admission.) While most of the section prepares for the Civ Pro final, I'll be reworking the Property workbook (A Student's Guide to Estates in Land and Future Interests, 2nd). That will leave about two days to study the other material we covered, which amounts to about 19 pages of notes. Fear Factor: Medium.

Contracts II(2 hrs) -- This is my third final. I have 18 pages of notes, which doesn't really cover everything we were supposed to learn this semester, so I'll be relying on some outlines from former students and some commercial flashcards. We finished the book in this class, but most of it happened last semester. There are fewer issues to study this time, but they're more involved. This is my only open-book final, but that really only makes it more intense, so I do have some concerns. Fear Factor: High.

Crim Law(3 hrs) -- This is my second final, and I think this will be the most straight-forward. I just have to make flashcards to memorize the elements of every crime, distinguish the common law from the Model Penal Code, bone up on some Con Law issues, and take one of the practice exams on file. I have 41 pages of notes, but it won't take too much effort to condense that to a reasonable outline. Fear Factor: Low.

Torts II(2 hrs) -- My first final, and in theory should be the easiest. Except I only have two pages of notes for the entire semester. It's a testament to the inscrutable nature of my Torts professor's lectures. This man is an Ivory Tower genius, but his teaching days are long past. I downloaded a final of his from 1974. I taught myself the entire subject of Intentional Torts last semester, so this semester I'll have to do the same for Product Liability, Strict Liability, and Defamation. Fear Factor: Medium.

Dinner with the Judge

Last November, the girlfriend and I went to the OAWL Auction. Poor as we are, we somehow managed to make the winning bid for a dinner with the Honorable Judge Johnson. In addition to presiding over the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, he is the father of a fellow 1L who is a friend of mine. The girlfriend and I were quite excited at the opportunity to spend an evening with this man.

Because of my school schedule and the Judge's work schedule, we had a heck of a time figuring out an evening to meet. I was relieved to get a note this past Wednesday suggesting that we have the dinner on Friday. A few phone calls later, the date was set for the girlfriend and I to have dinner at the Judge's house with his wife, his son, and his son's wife.

On the way over, I asked the girlfriend if she knew the Judge's politics. That question was answered soon after we arrived, when we were offered some wine while we chatted. The Judge explained that the wine was from Chile, but grown on a vine that was imported from the Château Lafite-Rothschild vineyard. I mentioned that I had removed all French wine and cheese from my household, to which the Judge replied, "[Wife], they can stay for dinner!"

What a meal! We started with the Chilean red wine served in huge goblets. That was followed by shrimp and a nice dry white wine, and then a Caesar salad with enough anchovy to notice. Some more red wine. My friend then brought out a huge platter of Beef Wellington stuffed with mushrooms and ham, accompanied by some brocollini. We then finished the meal with another glass of wine and Strawberries Romanov.

We talked quite a bit about the practice of law with the Judge and his wife, who is also an attorney. My friend and I shared some stories from our summer classes, and the girlfriend talked about the kinds of law she'd like to practice. We heard some stories about law school in the good 'ol days and how the life of an attorney differs from the life of a judge. During the fog of my 1L year, it's reassuring to hear about the opportunities that may be in my future.

Congratulations to Kris B.

I just learned that my good friend Kris B. has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma College of Law Class of 2007! She took a rather, uh, meandering route through her undergraduate days, but decided last year that she wanted to go to law school, and just rocked her LSAT. She completed her application this past January, and then began to wait. And wait. And waited some more. OU took its sweet time making a decision, but finally came through with her acceptance.

My route to law school worked on an entirely different schedule. I took the LSAT back in 1999 almost on a whim. I just wanted to find out if law school was even a possibility. I did well enough to begin assembly of my LSDAS package (recommendation letters, transcript, etc.), and even filled out a few applications. Then I just kinda put the whole thing on the back burner. I was enjoying the working life and was not prepared to reenter academia.

Three jobs later, with a layoff thrown in, I was pretty much burnt out in my field. The money was good, but day to day I felt like the best I could do was go through the motions. Nothing new ever came across my desk, just the same B.S. from management about how to "do more with less" and various other fad-based management directives. "New cover sheets on all the TPS reports" kind of stuff. I needed to change the direction I was headed, and law school seemed like a good candidate among my options.

A few months later, I had quit my job, left Dallas, and moved into a house in Norman with my brother. I did keep the girlfriend, but that was about the only constant in my life. Within a month of moving here, I had my application to OU filed. Three weeks later, I learned that I had been accepted.

I'm looking forward to my 2L year. It'll be nice to find my groove at school and watch the incoming class go through all the ups and downs that the life of a 1L brings. Kris, I know that you'll do fine. The girlfriend and I are already lining up outlines, books, and study aids to help you out. Good luck and congratulations.

NOTE: Any advice you might have for Ms. B would be appreciated. Just leave them in the comments. "Don't do it", by the way, is not advice, you nitwits. :)

NOTE: Natalaw was just accepted to the University of Kentucky. Congratulations are in order. I'm still disappointed that OU didn't work out for her, considering the drive and ability that's apparent from reading her blog.

Tax Day

I finished filing my taxes (federal and state) earlier this evening. I owe $43 on account of some income I earned earlier this year. Unfortunately, it's the kind of income that is not offset by my Lifetime Learning Credit (Form 8863), so I had to pay. Did it all online, so at least I don't have to worry about mailing anything. Really, I can't complain too much, considering how much more I wish I would have earned last year.

I also downloaded the Summer and Fall curriculum, and spent an hour figuring out what I want to take next year. If I can get the Professional Responsibility course handled this summer, I'll take Evidence in the fall and get that Intern's License. That's about the depth of my analysis at this point. I'm sure I'll figure out more before Friday, when we're supposed to enroll.

I should stop rambling now and go to bed. Good night, y'all!

What I Like About Sen. Kerry (Seriously)

I'm going to vote for George W. Bush this November. I have a lot reasons to believe that he is the better candidate on the issues that are most important to me. Do I agree with President Bush on everything? Hell no. There are a number of issues that I strongly disagree with him. Some are trivial, but many are near and dear to me.

I've mentioned numerous times why I won't vote for Kerry. See here and here for a few examples. Do I disagree with Sen. Kerry on everything? Well, no. There are a few issues that I have to admit I'm closer to him than to GWB. He is pro-choice. He is also for allowing and aiding further stem-cell research on a federal level, which I believe is the only sane choice.

This is both a personal and a practical choice that I make. All research has the potential to be used for good or evil. That's not a reason to avoid learning what the research has to offer. Stem-cell research is the last, best hope that thousands of Americans have in their search for a cure to what ails them. I understand that for many people, the questions about abortion and stem-cell research are linked because of how it affects an unborn fetus. I don't care. I want cures, and I want them now!

Oddly enough, I discovered Sen. Kerry's point of view about stem-cell research via this article, where I learned that a task force of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has discussed excommunicating Catholic politicians who don't use their power to promote the teachings of the church. That, in a nutshell, is what I don't like about GWB and some members of his staff. I do not want a church, any church, to hold sway over our national government. I don't want laws that proscribe or require acts based upon religious grounds to be legislated, executed, or upheld by any branch of our national government. In this narrow way, I like Sen. Kerry more than I like the President. I want the person who holds the office of POTUS to be able to separate his religious beliefs from his official duties, and by all accounts, it is the Senator who is more capable of doing just that.

Studying

Spent the weekend with the parents and girlfriend. I've found that I can study more effectively at their house, due to lack of distractions. So. Blogging will be light today. And probably overall, until finals are complete. I hope to at least make a daily post, so we'll see how it goes.

Condi's Testimony: Introduction

Due to school obligations, I was unable to see Condoleezza Rice's testimony to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States this morning. However, I have since had the opportunity to read the transcript, and there is plenty to say about it. My initial impression is that a lot of good questions and better answers were presented. There was also an unhealthy amount of partisan dreck, notwithstanding the commission's mandate "... to provide a full and complete accounting of the events of 9/11. And that means that we are going to ask some searching and difficult questions.... Our purpose is not to embarrass, it is not to put any witness on the spot. Our purpose is to understand and to inform." (Hamilton, Opening Statement.) I stated before that I agreed that Rice would "mop up the floor with Clarke." Let's see if I was correct.

NOTE: My professors have warned that reading a dry transcript is not the same thing as seeing and hearing testimony, so I will try to interpret the hearing in the light most favorable to the speaker.

The hearing began with some pleasantries, a swearing in, and then Rice's Opening Statement. She began with a statement that sums up America's greatest weakness:

The terrorist threat to our nation did not emerge on September 11, 2001. Long before that day, radical, freedom-hating terrorists declared war on America and on the civilized world. The attack on the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983, the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985, the rise of Al Qaeda and the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, the attacks on American installations in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and 1996, the East Africa bombings of 1998, the attack on the USS Cole in 2000 -- these and other atrocities were part of a sustained, systematic campaign to spread devastation and chaos and to murder innocent Americans.

The terrorists were at war with us, but we were not yet at war with them. For more than 20 years, the terrorist threat gathered, and America's response across several administrations of both parties was insufficient. Historically, democratic societies have been slow to react to gathering threats, tending instead to wait to confront threats until they are too dangerous to ignore or until it is too late.

Later in the hearing, Rice is questioned about why GWB didn't do more to counter this growing threat. The short answer is that the people of America do not have imperial ambitions, nor did we (prior to 9/11) believe in pre-emptive action. If GWB had not waited "to confront threats until they [were] too dangerous to ignore", he would have committed political suicide. The marches of today would seem like a high-school rally, and before September 11, I may very well have joined them. Of course, that day did happen, and now we have to handle it by changing both our attitudes and our tactics. Hence this:

So the attacks came. A band of vicious terrorists tried to decapitate our government, destroy our financial system and break the spirit of America. And as an officer of government on duty that day, I will never forget the sorrow and the anger that I felt, nor will I forget the courage and resilience of the American people, nor the leadership of the president that day.

Now we have an opportunity and an obligation to move forward together. Bold and comprehensive changes are sometimes only possible in the wake of catastrophic events -- events which create a new consensus that allows us to transcend old ways of thinking and acting.

And just as World War II led to a fundamental reorganization of our national defense structure and the creation of the National Security Council, so has September 11th made possible sweeping changes in the ways we protect our homeland.

Rice closed by saying, "In the aftermath of September 11th, those were the right choices for America to make -- the only choices that can ensure the safety of our nation for decades to come." That's the whole point of the commission, the whole point of the hearings, and the whole point of the War on Terror. We have to decide whether more stringent homeland security, pre-emptive attacks, and regime change in countries that oppose our survival are necessary to ensure our safety. I believe that they are.

To be continued...

Hammock Time

After a Crim Law double-header this afternoon, I needed a break. The weather was sunny and warm, so the girlfriend and I decided to spend an hour dozing in the hammock. Nothing finer than that.

Diplobabble

Lileks invented a new word today while excoriating Kerry. It's fun for the whole family!

In Vino Veritas

According to the Oklahoma Wine News, it appears that we may finally be able to order wine over the Internet! The bill (SB1506), introduced by Sen. Harry E. Coates (R-28), amends 37 O.S. 2001 sec. 505(c), by adding this:

2. A winery licensed or permitted pursuant to laws regulating alcoholic beverages in a state which affords this state an equal reciprocal shipping privilege may ship into this state wine produced at the winery, by private common carrier, or sell for transport into this state, to a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older, not more than eighteen (18) liters of wine per month. Such wine shall not be resold. The sale of such wine shall be considered to have taken place at the winery. Any shipping container of wine so received in this state shall be clearly labeled to indicate that the container shall not be delivered to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age, and furthermore, shall require picture identification of the recipient. Such wine shall not be delivered to a person visibly intoxicated. All wineries, both in the state and out of the state, originating shipments under this provision shall annually submit a report to the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, in a form approved by the Commission, of all such sales and shipments in and to this state, accompanied by evidence of permit or licensure for the period of shipping reported. A person who knowingly makes, participates in, transports, imports or receives out-of-state shipments in violation of this paragraph shall be guilty as described in this subsection. (Emphasis added.)

This would be good news for all the wine-lovers in this state, but I'm sure that the distributors and retailers are opposed. It would loosen their stranglehold on the wine market by allowing consumers to circumvent them altogether. I expect to see some serious lobbying against this, but I remain hopeful that the bill will pass.

Filed Under 'Things That Are Just Not Right'

Topping my eeeeew factor this month is this article about eyeball jewelry.

Yes, you did read that correctly. Here's what happens:

The procedure involves inserting a 3.5 mm (0.13 inch) wide piece of specially developed jewellery -- the range includes a glittering half-moon or heart -- into the eye's mucous membrane under local anaesthetic at a cost of 500 to 1,000 euros (270 to 540 pounds).

I wear contacts, and I can touch my eyeball with my finger without blinking, but this is too much. I don't care what the good doctors of the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery have to say, somebody is going to lose an eye over this.

UPDATE: ColdFury has this to say: "Just how stupid are the Europeans, anyway ? This one really takes the cake. Don’t think that’s what meant by the old proverb, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', guys."

Chin Up!

Mr. Whittle has another one. Go read it.

Law School One-Liners

Sue Sponte covets a certain T-shirt, which reminded me of some of the law school insults I've heard since class began:

You Have a Mens Rea
Dirty Contract Breacher!
Your Momma is Intestate
Tortfeasor!
I'm Gonna Get Some Brief-Wielding 1Ls and Get All 12(b)(6) On Your Ass
It's So Hard to Understand You, It's Erie
and my favorite: Res Ipsa This, Beeotch!

From the Mailbag

My mother wrote the following, in relation to the new banner up above: "Do you think your dad is normal or two standard deviations away? Doesn't each generation differ by one standard deviation?" Based upon intelligence, caring, love, and ability, I'd have to say that he's two deviations away, towards the good end. I didn't say anything here earlier, but since it's only a week or two late, Happy Birthday Dad. We love you!

Salty Dreams

While researching other sites looking for my new site design, I found Fresh Bilge by way of Sekimori Design, which is a firm used by many of the top bloggers for their site design. In addition to being a pleasing and well-designed blog aesthetically, I found a fellow sailor with stories to share!

To my chagrin, I had only begun to read his stories when he posted Departure:

I'll be en route to Fargo today, with limited time and battery power for blogging. I leave Dreamweaver berthed stern-to, which makes for a difficult exit with my last belongings. All the hatches are dogged, the bilge is dry, the galley bare and wiped clean, the water tanks run dry....

That will be the end of the music; back in Fargo I'll be facing music instead of listening to it. My winter in Fort Lauderdale was very different from Matt's, though he paid a higher price. I'm only losing my boat....

Seventy pounds of anchor, chain, and rope is about all I can tote across the deck of a boat nowadays. Dreamweaver was my last bid for a spell of cruising life, before I'm too old. So much for that.

A quick perusal of his site shows how tough that last realization must be for him. I'm saddened by the situation he's in, not least because I might have to make a similar decision.

Law school expenses being what they are, and my current income being what it is ($0), I am faced with the unpleasant necessity of selling my beloved boat. At this point, it's hard to justify to my brother why we should shoulder the monthly loan payments, especially considering that I've been unable to get the boat into the water for over a year. [The reason why is a different story, but it also has to do with money.] I have one option that I'm exploring, but it's a bit of a longshot, and I can't get into the details right now. If that falls through, well, I guess I'm at the end of my rope.

Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. V!

My good friends Ryan and Stephanie are celebrating their two year anniversary today. Ryan, along with my old roommate Dave, are among the few people I've kept in touch with since I moved from Dallas to Norman. Law school and life in general don't allow me to see them as often as I would like, but I do think of them often. They are what I miss most from the Big D.

The girlfriend and I look forward to seeing your new house soon, and we wish you all the best. Happy Anniversary, Ryan and Stephanie!

Questioning The Da Vinci Code

Apparently, there are some people out there who think that The Da Vinci Code is a persuasively written religious diatribe, and not a work of entertaining conjecture. Why else would they bother to write Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Answers to the Questions Everybody's Asking? For the three people who haven't read Dan Brown's book, here's a synopsis:

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. While working to solve the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci -- clues visible for all to see -- yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion -- an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others.

In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who seems to anticipate their every move. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's ancient secret -- and an explosive historical truth -- will be lost forever. (Via Amazon.)

[spoiler]The "explosive historical truth" that is the founding premise of the book is that Jesus had a wife who begat a child. From there, Mr. Brown intertwines some interesting conspiracy theories and logical conjecture to create a great piece of mind popcorn.[/spoiler]

My question for the author of Breaking is this: Is your faith on such shallow ground that you felt the need to rebut Mr. Brown's conjecture, or are you merely trying to make a quick buck off of someone else's talent and effort? It was a piece of fiction, and anyone who cannot recognize that needs to develop some critical thinking skills. It appears to me that this rebuttal is an attempt to ride Mr. Brown's coattails, and not much else.

What a Difference a War Makes

It's hard to believe this story (via The Volokh Conspiracy) is true, but if so, then it is yet another example of how the War on Terror is succeeding. Many people believe the whole point in invading Iraq was for oil, or perhaps because it was the humanitarian thing to do. I don't believe the first reason, and I see the second one as a beneficial by-product, but the real reason we invaded Iraq was to destabilize the autocratic regimes and promote democracy in a region that hasn't seen anything similar to real freedom in decades. (Obviously, I'm not including Israel here because it presents an entirely different set of problems for the U.S., most of which I think are being handled appropriately by the elected government there.) This story shows that Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, understands:

"Instead of shouting and criticizing the American initiative, you have to bring democracy to your countries, and then there will be no need to fear America or your people,'' said Seif al-Islam Gadhafi. "The Arabs should either change or change will be imposed on them from outside.'' (emphasis added)

Think about that. He believes that democracy, freedom for his people, is the only way for a government to participate in this world without fear of being overthrown from within or without. Do you think he felt that way back in 1991, or 1996, or even 2000?

Shrimp on the Barbie

Last night, the girlfriend and I had dinner with the Lizard. (Lizard is our nickname for the girlfriend's mother. Her aunt is Duck. Nicknames are an important part of her family's dynamic. But that's another story.) We were testers for a dinner that Lizard was preparing for Dinner a l'Art, called the "Shrimp on the Barbie Brunch."

We started with Vegemite and Sun-Dried Tomatoes while chatting with Lizard's friends, Cindy and Charlie. After that, we sat down for some soup and shrimp, then had lamb and minted peas for the main course. A nice salad followed, then some of Lizard's homemade Pavlova, which I can attest is the best that you will find anywhere, including in Australia. I showed considerable self-restraint by stopping after three servings. We also had a bit of wine, and then the most unusual part of the meal, a sparkling shiraz. Let me tell you, when you start pouring what you think is champagne, and a frothy liquid that shares a part of the spectrum between currants and strawberries fills your flute, you'll be as surprised as we were. It wasn't too bad, but it certainly made an impression.

After the meal, Charlie and I began discussing current events and the WOT. I'm not sure if he is a Democrat, but I'm positive that he doesn't like Bush. We went back and forth on what was happening in Iraq, what a Kerry presidency would look like, and what we didn't like about either candidate. It was a thoroughly enjoyable discussion, because we actually discussed the issues, by listening to what the other had to say, not just espousing our own opinions. We ended the conversation by recognizing that our opinions are based upon two very different media sources, which meant that we were seeing two divergent stories about the state of the world. All in all, a nice discussion to follow a great meal.

Done With Style

I'm about finished tweaking the site, and I thought I would describe the technical details of the update. The idea to do an update has always been in the back of my head, especially after a comment by my fellow blawger to the effect of "your site is soooo eighteen months ago."

I began my quest at glish.com, where I learned about Cascading Style Sheets, and the advantages they possess for future interoperability. I ultimately designed a site that doesn't use a single table definition, except for the mandated banner ad at the top. Everything here is done with HTML and CSS.

I then began working on my banner, using MS Paint and some .gifs of a bell curve I had downloaded previously. I also studied the layout of some of the more popular blogs out there, and tried to assess what would be possible within my self-defined constraints. I publish using Blogger. I host using Blog*Spot and Cox Communications, my cable provider. Comments and Trackback functionality are provided by HaloScan. SiteMeter provides the hit counter. I'm proud of the fact that this site does not cost me a penny to maintain.

Off the Deep End

I believe my fellow 1L blawger has gone off the deep end. I know for a fact that he does not have any roosters for sale, nor has he ever. I, on the other hand, once raised a chicken in a bathroom at my house growing up. It started off as a third-grade science project, in which each student incubated an egg. My egg was one of the few to hatch, so I was lucky enough to be allowed to take the chick home to raise. I know that my parents were thrilled. Especially when the chick began to fly out of the tub, so he could leave droppings all over the bathroom. I still remember the day I came home, and my parents told me they had given him to a nice lady who would keep him at her farm, to cluck and play with all the other chickens. That's the story they gave me, and I'm sticking to it.

Medieval Fair

Overheard while my brother and a friend were preparing to go to the Medieval Fair: "Am I dressed okay for this?" His friend responded that he was ahead of the curve merely by not wearing chainmail, and I added he'll be fine as long as he doesn't say things like "comely wench" or anything about a "broadsword".

On the other hand, any comment about a "holy hand grenade" is always welcome.

Careful What You Wish For...

Condi is going to testify, publicly and under oath. It's what the Dems have wanted, and they are about to have their way. I have to wonder, though, if they've really thought this one through. Money quote: "Rice is the most poised, articulate, and convincing speaker in the entire administration. She will mop up the floor with Clarke."

What Has Gone Right in Iraq

I found a great op-ed by Jeff Jacoby over at the Boston Globe. He talks about the return of refugees in Iraq, and of people who are no longer afraid of Saddam's regime. Here's a quote:

With all the news coming out of the Middle East, here is a detail you might have missed: A few weeks ago, the United Nations shut down the Ashrafi refugee camp in southwestern Iran. For years Ashrafi had been the largest facility in the world housing displaced Iraqis, tens of thousands of whom had been driven from their homes by Saddam Hussein's brutality. But with Saddam behind bars and his regime crushed, Iraqi exiles have been flocking home. By mid-February the camp had literally emptied out. Now, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports, "nothing remains of Ashrafi but rubble and a few stones."

Mr. Jacoby then calls on all the naysayers and doom-and-gloom types to apologize for their outlandish predictions of mass refugees and humanitarian tragedy, and maybe even admit that they were [gasp] wrong! Sadly, it'll never happen.

Household Words

Living with my brother and my girlfriend, I find that certain words take on different meanings when we're alone. Sometimes, we even make up words to describe something we see around the house. Here's a few that I've noticed recently:

flomp: Used originally when talking about the dog, it now means collapsing in an unseemly fashion on the floor, without warning, whenever one is feeling tired.
squish: Move, get out of the way, usually a gentle way to tell the girlfriend that she's blocking the hallway.
contaminate: Three people. One bathroom. 'Nuff said.
cleaning day: Announced when one of us has really important things to do, but would rather not.

Law School Ranking

The administration can't be happy about this. We fell in the U.S. New & World Report Law School Ranking to #67. I'm interested to hear the spin, because I know that a few years ago a similar drop occurred, and the administration blamed it upon a clerical error. I'll let you know when I hear.

UPDATE: David Bernstein over at The Volokh Conspiracy has some thoughts on the subject as well. His basic concern is that both prospective and current law students might be swayed by the ranking, to their own detriment. In my case, I applied to OU and nowhere else. For me, it was the only school that made sense financially, academically, and regionally. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be in law school now if OU had not accepted me.

UPDATE:Sua Sponte weighs in, with this:

The dirty secret that no one's allowed to acknowledge outright without being branded elitist is that options really do decrease as you move down the scale.

She has an interesting take on the issue, but as a 1L, it feels like my options are more related to my class rank than the University of Oklahoma's rank. The top 10% from the fall semester have all been busy with interviews, but more than half my class has not been on even one. The law school rankings would mean more to me if I saw that our top 10% were unable to land jobs that the bottom 10% of a higher ranked school were offered. Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence to offer?

Moot Court: Mea Culpa

To my partner in the Moot Court Competition:

We didn't win the Sweet Sixteen tonight. After the rave reviews of the previous two events, it is obvious that my poor showing in the first session handicapped our ranking. I am sorry. I promised you that I would be solid performer when it counted, but I let you down the first night by being unprepared. It is not a consolation, but I believe that you deserve a speaker's award, and that regardless of which, you will go on to be an effective and successful attorney. Please accept my apologies for letting you down in the first round.

Required Reading: Chapter II

Mr. Whittle has added added another chapter to his story. Go read it here!

Moot Court: First Impression

We just finished the third round of Moot Court, and tonight was interesting. The judges seemed intent on throwing issues at us that were not part of the record, such as why the farmers did not have crop insurance or why there is no record of expert testimony about weather foreseeability. Short answer: Because this is Moot Court, and we never had details about a trial presented in the record. Long answer: Well, your Honor, that issue was raised sua sponte, and a decision was reached in an unpublished opinion, so at this time there is no record of why x did or did not occur.

I'm off now to the Firehouse for a few drinks and the announcement of the teams that go on to the Sweet Sixteen. I give my partner and I about a 30% chance of making it. More later...

Site Update

I've decided to update my site with a new format. Hope y'all like it. If something looks off-kilter or astray, please drop me a line or leave a comment. Thanks!

Australia: Tuesday

We started off the day by heading to the Cairns Railway Station, en route to Kuranda. We had decided earlier that we would have one touristy day in Cairns and one in Sydney, so the decision to take a train didn't feel too hokey. It took about an hour to get there, and we were thankful we had chosen to take the train in the morning, as it was already becoming pretty humid. The scenery along the way was gorgeous, and the ride afforded us an opportunity to see it in a way that a car or bus would never allow.

We detrained[?] in Kuranda, which is probably the biggest tourist trap in Australia. We saw a few people that I think were authentic aborigines, but then again, how would I know? The town was built on the side of a hill, so everywhere we went seemed like it was straight up or straight down, with shops packed on both sides of the street. We poked our heads in a few stores, and then the girlfriend fed me a meat-pie, which was quite good and probably the cheapest meal we had the entire trip.

After lunch, we were off to see the rainforest by way off an amphibious Army Duck. The guide told us that these vehicles had originally played an integral part in the Allies naval invasion, and were constructed by the thousands before being decommissioned after the war. Sitting in one wasn't too bad, but the good visibility we had probably scared the pants off of the soldiers who rode in them, because the high seats presumably would make them sitting ducks. [ducking] [[double-pun intended]]

The tour lasted about 45 minutes, and we were lucky enough to see a bit of wildlife, but it was the flora that was really fascinating. The guide talked about the battle that every plant wages against the others to climb to the top of the forest for sunlight. He talked about one plant that would leave silica slivers in your skin that were so painful and so difficult to remove that more than a few people died from it. Another plant, the "wait awhile", had tentacles with tiny barbs that could grab hold of you and rip the flesh off your body. All around, a neat perspective of the rainforest.

(to be continued...)

Required Reading

Mr. Whittle has posted another essay, entitled Chapter One - And Then a Miracle Occurs... Go read it. (Note: This appears to be his 91st post. That's pretty amazing when you consider how many hits his site has had: 789,988. I don't know what to call that ratio, but it's an incredible accomplishment in the blog world.)

Overheard in Torts

Professor M said something at the end of class today that just plain amazed me. He said that tomorrow we were going to talk about THE TRUTH. Anyone who has been to law school can tell you that you NEVER hear about the TRUTH, in fact the TRUTH is to be shunned, hidden, manipulated, or just ignored. Needless to say, I was shocked. Until I realized that the prof was talking about defenses to libel; apparently, if you tell the truth, no one can sue you for libel or slander. Good to know.

Moot Court

This week all the lowly 1L's have Moot Court, to be followed by more Moot Court next week. The professors recognize that we're devoting most of our attention to this rite of passage, and have pretty well left us alone. One prof even thanked us for showing up to his class this week.

The interesting aspect is that we have three rounds of oral arguments, but only the first one is graded. A few of us played with the idea of acting flippantly with the judges (students, professors, and others) during the last two rounds by wearing inappropriate clothing, muttering obscenities under our breath during opposing counsel's argument, and then making ad hominem attacks about both the judges and our opponents during our turn. Good for a laugh, but I doubt anyone follows through.

UPDATE: Mr. Rickey over at Three Years of Hell has already finished his penance. Lucky B*st*rd! My partner and I will be finished with the first round sometime late Friday, if everything goes according to schedule. Which so far it hasn't.

Student Bar Association Treasurer

I've just finished my Campaign Flyer for the SBA Treasurer election that will be held later tomorrow. [er, today.] I've continued my theme from the previous election by poking fun at the Jackson family. We'll see how it goes with my classmates.

UPDATE: I won the election! I am next years SBA Treasurer. Assuming I don't flunk out first due to incessant bloggin. D'oh

Australia: A Few Photos

It took me a while to figure out how to effectively add photos to this site, but now that I've climbed that curve, here are a few without comment:

Australia: Home Again

The girlfriend and I made it home, about four hours after we left Sydney. (There is the small issue of a date line, so that includes about twenty-eight hours of airport and airplane time.) My body tells me that it's about 4:00am right now, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to talk about the trip. The most important tidbit is that we had an amazing adventure in Australia, and I look forward to returning. Also, we (as in Delta Airlines) lost a small piece of luggage between LAX and home, but they assure me it will be delivered to my door soon. [holding breath] The film is at the developers, so hopefully I'll be able to post some photos tomorrow as well. Cheers!

Australia: Monday

Another morning up at 6:30am. I guess jet-lag can work in your favor, if you're lucky. We had a different driver to the marina this morning, very talkative and friendly. I guess that could be said about most of the Australians we've met. Heading out to sea, the weather was a bit choppy, and about half the people on board were sea-sick, but once again the girlfriend and I were fine. She even spent some time reading, which impressed the crew to no ends. Her nickname is now "The Iron Stomach."

Dive #1 -- The goal for today was to see a sea-turtle and a shark. We didn't see either on the first dive. We did pet a ferocious looking sea-cucumber (really) and see some enormous cod, bigger than myself.
Dive #2 -- We saw a shark! He was only about three feet long and smaller than the cod from before, but it was exciting. He pretty much kept his distance, so no worries. We also saw quite a few rays and fish
The crew of the TUSA III: Great people and helpful in every way. They took to the girlfriend and were friendly from the get-go. At one point the wheelchair decided to go on walkabout, and everyone jumped to catch her before she took off.


Back to the hotel, we cleaned up, took a three hour nap, and ate dinner at the hotel bar. Wine, fruity cocktails, and a vodka tonic were consumed, along with squid-ink pasta and some bland chicken. I dropped the girlfriend off at the room and came out to the hotel lobby to do some blogging. This is costing me at $.70 US a minute, so it's a good thing I wrote all this out before I logged on.

Australia: Sunday

Up at 6:30am for the transfer to the marina. On the boat by 8:00am. It was raining at the dock, but cleared up nicely once we were out to sea. A few people were sea-sick, but the girlfriend and I were fine, drinking coffee and eating muffins on the TUSA III.

Dive #1 -- Do not drink sea water. It will leave a taste that will not go away. Otherwise, the dive went well. We saw a lot of coral and a few fish, but I found myself thinking, "This is it? It's better than an Oklahoma lake, but not as good as I expected."
Dive #2 -- This is what diving is about. I picked up a clam shell bigger than my head. It must have weighed about 15 pounds, and when I handed it to the girlfriend, she dropped to the bottom (19 meters) like a rock. We say an eagle-ray, which is similar to a manta-ray, but much smaller. We found Nemo, but I didn't take a picture when he was playing in the coral. We saw schools of fish of every color, some of which must have been invented just for the Great Barrier Reef. It was amazing.

Back to the hotel by 4:30. Showers and a change of clothes helped restart the engine, and then we went to Neptune's on the beach for dinner. We had the Seafood Platter, which at $130 AU, was worth it. We had mud crab, bugs (mini-lobsters), oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp. The pineapple was tart and wonderful as a side. We split a carafe of house red, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Australia: The Trip Down Under

Thursday to Saturday
Travel Time: 30 hours. Oklahoma City to Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to Sydney to Cairns.
Movies Watched:

Intolerable Cruelty -- Good flick. The girlfriend liked it, mostly because there were inside lawyer jokes. Definitely worth the watch. This was our "date night" movie, complete with wine and munchies. We actually managed to curl up in our seats and enjoy.
Master and Commander -- I liked this more than the girlfriend, probably because it was related to sailing. Good humor, good action, and lots of unexpected plot directions.
School of Rock -- If you're stuck on a 14 hour flight, this isn't the worst thing you could see. The beginning and the end were ok, but the middle was a bit incoherent.
Duplex -- Ben Stiller's worst effort, ever. This was predictable dreck. Don't see it if someone pays you.

Customs: Do not try to sneak Beef Jerky in to Australia. The cutest little drug-sniffing beagle will hit on your bag, and the customs officials will berate you for five minutes about what a bad person you are. Then they say, "No worries."

Hotel: The Novotel Palm Cove Resort has a great tropical entrance and decent rooms. We had the Seafood Buffet for dinner, which was good, except Australians think "cocktail sauce" is yellow and sweet. Ask for drawn butter and you'll see some strange looks. The girlfriend had a glass of Rosemount Cab Sav, which was good, and I had a glass of Lindeman's Shiraz, which was a little too sweet for my tastes.

Weather: apparently, the non-stop rain is unusual, even though Cairns is in a rainforest. Go figure.

Off to Australia!

The bags are packed for our ten day excursion Down Under. Getting there is going to be a drag (four flights over 22 hours), but it'll be worth it. The girlfriend and I are spending two days SCUBA diving at The Great Barrier Reef, two more days in Cairns, then four days in Sydney with the girlfriend's brother. We've been planning this trip since I started Law School, but I've been so busy that I'm just now allowing myself to get excited. I'll drop a line if I find an Internet connection, but the big goal is to come home with a tan, some great pictures, and some fantastic memories. I hope that my brother and all my classmates in Section 1 have a great Spring Break, because I know that I will.

Let Me Tell You About 'Impracticability'

I've got your 'impracticability' right here! I finished that damn LRW&A brief this evening. Two all-nighters and few afternoon/evenings of work, but it's finished. My biggest frustration is that no matter how hard or long I worked at it, the brief was never going to be something I was proud of. I'm learning that a big part of law school is a turn the crank and grind the gears experience, with only occasional "Aha!" moments that provide a glimpse of clarity. I spent far longer than should be necessary getting the Propositions right, checking cites, and creating the required Index that must be formatted in such a way that Word is unable to do it automatically. Oh well. It's over, and now I'm ready for Spring Break.

Protecting the 'Rents from the Eeeevil Internet

Rex Momus might appreciate this article, via Slashdot, about Protecting Our Parent's PCs. Most of the geeks recommended OS X, iMacs, or [gasp] Linux [/gasp]. Really now, does anyone here really think Mom can recompile her own kernal? Lucky for me, my dad has enough savvy to handle most computer related issues, and only saves the real head-scratchers for the occasional weekends I come home.

Sooner in the Sand

Every once in a while, the OU Daily has something on the Op/Ed page worth reading. Today is one of those days. A quote from Spc. Eric Hartmann,

You come to realize that the job here was a part of something deeper than just removing a tyrant. Rather, it was another instance of a people being given the breath of democracy. The people of Iraq now have the right and freedom to speak their minds and elect those who would represent their ideals best for the whole of the country, not what is best for a single man.

Go read the whole thing, and join me in thanking Eric for the service he performed for all of us, here and abroad.

UPDATE: I recieved this email from Mr. Hartmann, and am posting it with permission:

I am safely back in the United States, and I just found out that you all responded to my article. So, I wanted to let you all know that I very much appreciated the gratitude that you expressed in your responses. Thank you very much.

Sooner NOT in the sand anymore, :)
eric hartmann

Gridiron Pictures

Party Pics are here. And Mr. Jenkins has some good ones, with commentary here. I'll have to ask him what the post above the pictures is about, but damn, is he hot or not?