Good Idea!

When discussing what to do with leftover or bargain basement easter candy today, I believe I coined the 'smeep. I.e. A marshmallow chick slapped with chocolate and smooshed between two graham crackers. I have not yet tried one, but I have no doubt they will take off like mad.


Note: I googled the term and the only relevant link I found was in a Sean Hannity forum. I refuse to link to that... so just know that it exists.

I'm Sure This Has Happened to You

You know when you just always assumed an expression meant one thing and then learn you were wrong? I recently realized when discussing what is the "carrot" and what is the "stick," I had been thinking the stick is what you use to lure the donkey to do what you want them to-- by using the stick to hold the carrot out in front of the donkey. Like so:



BUT everyone else is talking about hitting the donkey with the stick. Which is frankly disturbing and maybe cruel. Anyone else have any realizations lately? Is this stupid?

In my absence

Some things that happened:
-I saw Bill Clinton three times in one day.
-Also Wesleyan 03er and 05er, one more famous than the other. I was more pleased to see the less famous one.
-Also Lance Armstrong, who I don't like.
-I stayed in a haunted mansion for a week and had two haunted experiences.
-I supervised 120 students. They will bring $60-120,000 to FEMA trailer park residents in "economic stimulus" money. Some got on the news by busting heads at City Hall.
-I added another 440 to students I've placed in New Orleans/Mississippi.
-I met some great people.
-I got to reconnect with some great people I already knew.
-Lots of law students complained. One cried. Most had a great time. Some told me they had a great time.
-I did not sleep very much.
-I drank quite a bit and ate even more.
-I got more excited for the summer.
-I got a 5-10 year plan.
-I saw Bill Clinton three times in one day. I mean, come on, isn't that still the most impressive one?

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Can you?

Netflix for Eggheads

Instead of nerds of the lazier variety.

Here.

Success!

One good thing that happened last week:

I have a client at prison who was arrested for assault and bailed out of jail. While he was out, he was arrested for his federal crime and sentenced to something like 12 years. So this old charge, which had turned into a warrant was hanging over his head. And so long as something like that is out there, he couldn't go to a halfway house and couldn't complete the full drug treatment program in prison. 48 states have signed on to something that means they have to deal with things like this if the inmate asks for it, but his warrant and assault were on one of the two that aren't signed on. So I spent June-January trying everything I could think of to get this judge in Mississippi to deal with it, I even found a Mississippi lawyer who was willing to help us out. Nothing ever worked and in February I finally told the client I was really sorry and fustrated (although I am sure not as frustrated as he is since I get to eat sushi and go to Target) but there was nothing we could do.
So meanwhile, the U.S. Sentencing Commission was reducing the disparity between cocaine and crack sentences, Congress was approving it and the world of federal criminal law was gearing to figure out what the hell was going to happen when the new guidelines went retroactive on March 3.
Well, apparently what the hell happened was that my client's sentence was effected and he was let out on the 4th. It's a strange and kind of unsatisfactory end to the whole episode. I mean, we count it as a "win," no doubt... but as wrong as it was to deny him the full drug treatment program and transitional housing as a policy... telling him to pack it up and get out after 10 or so years in prison is unsettling, too.

Unrelated:
In Madison, the mayor's name is "Mayor Dave" and he says it's spring time now.

And I like this. Because while I am pro-smoking ban, I am more pro-cleverness.

Crime Wave?

First my stolen bicycle seat. Then the neighborhood murder. Now the girl who lives on the other side of the first floor of the building-- her car was stolen out of our driveway yesterday. Jeez, louise. I am slightly comforted by the fact that my bike seat is more attractive to thieves than my car...

This is not my car because this one doesn't have a supercool sunroof. Duh.

Another Walgreens Story

Up the street, picking pills to block my betas (which I have not even been taking lately because the heart thing is better, although still refilled because, you know, I like to hoard things.)

A father and two young girls standing in front of the sunglasses display.

Daughter: What are these for?

Dad: These are for people who don't have real glasses.

What?!?! I mean, I could understand if it's the reading glasses...

If

His bootstraps story weren't enough reason to vote for him. Here are some other good reasons. Click on them.

The Little People

Two great passions, united at last: Airborne and False Advertising! I believe that Airborne DOES work, and has saved my life. And is also delicious. But I do appreciate the zealous advocacy on behalf of bourgeois vitamin supplements. Pay day loans can advertise on TV but Airborne is making overstated claims about how fast it can sure a cold... Jeesh!

Ain't No Nation Like An Alienation.

Or Alien Ant Farm or something. This past weekend we hosted the NLG regional meeting here at UW. Things were hectic in the preparation (especially since the SHN trips season is in full swing) but I am really, really happy with what Paul and I were able to pull off. We had cool panels, we had awesome speakers, we had t-shirts and professional-looking signs and bagels and workshops and dinner reservations. And so kudos to us. But very few people from the law school came. We had a couple undergrads there, some folks from the community and people came in from Chicago and the Twin Cities. But my peers and friends were vastly underrepresented. There were some people who put in lots of time and were great help/support. But out of 700some law students, approximately 8 came. And that's including me, my co-organizer Paul and Charlie. Who may or may not have actually wanted to come, but had to and had to say he wanted to.
And I'll be honest, so few people showing up hurt my feelings. It wasn't shocking by any means, but felt a very dramatic confirmation that I haven't made close friends in law school. In an ideal world I would have friends around me who all cared about the same things I did... but I would be really pleased to have friends around who care about me enough to participate in the things I care about. It's not the hugest deal, and I am trying to not to let the disappointment in people cloud what really was otherwise a very successful event. But I feel a little like last fall when folks were wandering around like zombies, blabbing about their six-figure salaries. Or, even more dramaticly, when G.W. was re-elected... It's not necessarily that I do or don't belong here-- I feel very distant from everyone else.

Pricey but Genius

If you're like me, you have a hard time packing salads for lunch. You haven't been able to figure out how to transport the dressing (soggy, gross little ziploc? Icky and not ecologically sound!)

Well, check out the answer to all of our problems. Yes, it $9 tupperware. But I am using it right now and let me tell you...

Jellies are back (again)!

Remember the plastic shoes of youth? And why did we all want them so badly? Now plastic shoes seem like a terrible idea. Boy, moms were right about that one. Here is a little photo essay about three plastic shoes trends, meeting all at the same time at Target, I hope you enjoy it.


"Jellies" popular in both the early to mid 1980s and early 1990s. These particular jellies may have been in Target storage since they were last popular.


"Wellies" are cute on children and annoying on adults. This season's Ugg boots for the UW girl who has it all, they are worn with pants tucked in them and generally should be discussed as though they are necessary event though nobody had them a couple of years ago. Except losers like me who got rubber boots for our jungle trek in Peru way back when and now can't wear them for fear of looking like a loser. Or, more like a loser than I am sure I already do to those ladies.


And finally, the plastic shoes trend that won't die, not matter how unattractive and sweaty the shoes are, the CROCS. There is a river in Yellowstone that feeds boiling hot water into cold water. In the middle of winter folks hike down to it, take off their clothes and sit in the warm water that is created. So far, this is the only acceptable use of CROCS I have encountered. If you have others, I encourage you to submit them... although I kind of doubt they exist. Another interesting fact is that at one point, my sister claimed CROCS were edible. According to the internet, this is not true. Which is too bad, because that would be another acceptable use for them.