Uhmmmm, What?!

I awoke this morning to a g-chat message from Zach, talking about McCain's VP choice. I was confused. Low and behold, McCain had in fact picked his running mate.....

The Pros for McCain - it's hard for Obama to attack Palin too much without hurting his chances with female voters on the fence. Appeals to Hillary supporters who are on the fence (and are bitter Hillary didn't get the nomination....)

The Cons for McCain - this women is hardly qualified to be VP, she is already being investigated for ethics, and she pretty much embodies everything McCain claims Obama is: a politician with minimal experience.....

I'd write more, but I don't feel like reading up to get all of the facts, and then re-typing them on here. It's an interesting election. I'm sure (MC) Karl Rove has something up his dirty sleeve. Let's hope it doesn't work. This is just bad news bears all day.

Life as a Cookie Monster

There are all kinds of monsters around me.

Snack Monsters: those who constantly snack. I have photos on my phone of the trail left behind a snack monster. This includes: (a) an open pantry door, (b) a closet full of snackery goodness, and (c) wrappers (not the singing kind) strewn about.

Sleep Monsters: those who sleep excessively. Although the older I've gotten, the more I value sleep.

Cookie Monsters: those who consume gross amounts of cookies in a short period of time. Yesterday, I became a cookie monster (no, not the cookie monster....just A cookie monster)

The court coordinator was busy scarfing down some cookies and walked by the bullpen (where all the clerks sit at). I was alone, as no one was coming into work that day, and so she quickly did an about-face and ran and got a bag of homemade cookies. She dropped them on the desk and instructed me to have some. Chewy, buttery, and ohhhhhh sooooooooo good chocolate chip cookies. She commented that she had eaten about 4 or 5 in just a span of minutes.

"geez," I thought, "get a grip...." Then I had one....then I had two. In the span of a minute and a half, I consumed 4 cookies.....and then I understood the problem....these were some AWESOME cookies. I kept eating them. Another minute passed and I figured out that I needed to stop. I zipped up the bag and walked in her office. "You're trying to make me fat, aren't you!? It's not going to work. You take these cookies back, right now." I sat them on top of a book shelf and turned around.

Another five minutes passed, and she walked out, exclaiming, :"I feel nauseous...I ate too many cookies." Then she told the balif that it was me who ate all the cookies.

Moral of the story? Being a cookie monster will: a) cause you to lie to others about who consumed the cookies, and b) give you a tummy ache.

This was quite possibly the dumbest post in a while...my apologies. And thanks Brooke, for the photo. COOOOOOOOOOOKIES.

Cuban + Taekwando = AWESOME [Lifetime Ban]

did that just happen? Yes.

Okay, so my friends came over on Saturday and I think it was Julio who was trying to explain a referee getting kicked in the face during an Olympic Taekwondo match. Unfortunately (and according to my memory) he did it no justice. Sorry Julio, but Angel Matos WENT INSANE. According to the Australian commentator, he had a "brain explosion" causing him to kick the ref in the face. Oh and he punched some other blue-jacketed Olympic officials. NOTHING SHORT OF AWESOMENESS.

Not to mention the lifetime ban that dude got for doing this. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO BEFORE IT GETS TAKEN DOWN

GOOOOOOOOOOOLD

I am absolutely thrilled that the US went undefeated and killed it in the gold medal game. We hosted a small get together last night, and it ended up being about 7-10 of us who stayed up to watch the game at 1:30 am. It was exciting. I lost my voice chanting, USA, USA, USA, USA, and then abruptly stopping.

D-Wade KILLED IT. Kobe finally showed up and did his thang BIG TIME. Hitting some majorly clutch shots. The intensity was so thick in the house that Mani and I even argued about Lebron vs. Kobe. I have no idea why. I think my point was that Lebron and Wade have been absolutely solid all throughout the games, whereas Kobe has been jacking and not really being the offensive force he normally is. If you know me, you know that rarely will I ever lobby for Lebron. But he has been an absolute beast throughout the games. (14pts, 7 rebs in the gold medal game).

Highlight though? Rudy Fernandez crowning Dwight Howard. This never should have happened. Due to copyright laws, you guys get the jpeg version of it. NASTINESS. Portland is gonna be a monster with him, Bayless, Roy, Blake.....nuts.


Also, Juan Carlos Navarro was killing it for Spain. Dude came over for a year, but jetted back to Spain or wherever because he likes it there more. Couldn't argue with that. Plus his buddy Pau left for "greener" pastures, stranding Navarro in Memphis. And on another note, Marc Gasol (a Grizzlie because of the Pau to LA trade) looks like a lunatic.

It's Been a Week....

And what a week it's been. I feel like I'm still struggling to catch my breath (insert dumb smoker joke here).

Slight recap

1st place in the mock trial tournament
5th place for best speaker

Although it sound exciting, I was pretty exhausted and didn't really care much afterward. I largely kept competing because the team really wanted to win. Although winning is fun, so is maintaining my sanity, which I think I lost touch with by the end of the week. 6 trials in six days, switching from defense to prosecution....it drove me to the edge for sure. Thanks to all those who were there to support me and offer me advice.

Andrew, my old college roommate (it's funny writing that since it wasn't that long ago that we were living together). Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend too much time with him because of the trial stuff, so I felt entirely bad.

Then when we did hang out, we golfed and it absolutely poured. Being that we became "serious" golfers in Massachusetts, we understood bad weather, so we waited it out for a little over an hour after which time I decided it'd be awesome if I accidentally broke my driver (notice, no quotation marks). So now I'm back to swinging the 1 iron off the tee.

Class started up. I'm exhausted.

Work started Tuesday, still exhausted.

It's been an interesting week. Exciting, all the while tiring.

USA made it to the gold medal round.

I've lost touch with reality and all things going on in the news. Drop me a comment ye faithful readers.

Doping + Pistols = Disgrace

Apparently doping really helps you in shooting an air pistol.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2008114967_olynews15.html?syndication=rss

In all fairness, the guy used some kind of chem-agent that blocks shakiness, which would in fact help him win in shooting. Shooting. I don't think I've ever aspired to be deadly with an air pistol. I never grew up thinking, man, I should get really good with an air pistol. Like, the best in the world. And then, when I started getting better at air pistols, I was like, dude, I need to get some drugs to solidify me being the best.

But then again, I'm a slacker.

Russians: Trouble Understanding

This reporter gets shot during a supposed cease fire. I can understand though. Although my Russian is a little rusty, I think cease fire translates to shoot unarmed persons. I think....


Georgian TV Reporter Shot By Sniper - Watch more free videos

Wall Street Got Drunk; Hungover

This site has a list of quotes of President Bush. It also has archives from previous years. The best of the year thus far would be a tough choice, but hilariousness tells me its:

"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." --George W. Bush, Charlottesville, Va., July 4, 2008

But then again:

"There's no question about it. Wall Street got drunk -- that's one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras -- it got drunk and now it's got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments." --George W. Bush, speaking at a private fundraiser, Houston, Texas, July 18, 2008 (Watch video clip)

Since it's hard to pick a favorite, check the site out. There are a ton

Roadblocks to Gold: Spain

As an aside, I think the interviews went well on Saturday. I won't bore you with the details. Hopefully I get a callback, but if you know me, I downplay everything. Lowered expectations.

Went to the Battle in Bejing at the Toyota Center yesterday (thanks Brooke, you're the best!). For $50, it was admission, breakfast for two, two tickets to New Jersey vs. Houston during the regular season, and a Chinese New Year's event. Not a bad deal. USA looked a bit concerning at first. THEY CANNOT GUARD 3-POINT SHOOTERS. Too much collapsing on the ball handlers, as previously stated. China exposed (I don't know if it's really exposing if everyone knows) this problem, knocking down a ton of threes. The US's lead dwindled on more than one occasion because of timely threes. It was clear that China could not continue this pace of play into the second half. And they did not. Team USA waxed China by 31 in the end. Yi did absolutely nothing except committing a loose-ball foul (which wasn't called) on a put-back over Carmello's back/neck/head/etc. China is not the worst of our concerns though. Spain is.

Spain has a plethora of NBA talent. Pau Gasol and Jose Calderon are the two biggest names that have come over from Spain and played extremely well in the NBA. In addition, Rudy Fernandez (Portland) is a highly touted prospect that will finally come over and play this year. Juan Carlos Navarro played with Memphis and did well, but jumped ship to return to Europe, which he has said he enjoys more. Ricky Rubio (who I've shown on here before) is a 17-year old prodigy, who draws numerous comparisons to Pistol Pete. Marc Gasol is a seven footer, as well as Pau's brother, whos is coming over to play with the Lakers (I think). This is a team littered with legit NBA talent. In addition, these are guys that have grown up playing together, unlike Team USA who is thrown together. Chemistry on the court is everything. Lets hope we can outplay them when the time comes. It will be tough.

Speaking of Court, mock trial starts today. First round is in the federal courthouse. I'm extremely nervous. Wish me well.

The Morning Of

Today I have a couple of interviews. It's funny to me, particularly because to a non-law person this either sounds like, a) it's not a big deal, or b) I'm a job-less loser. So I should take a second to explain. In the legal community, getting a first year internship is huge and I can see why. Someone likened it to me like this, "you know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to do much." First year is cluttered with doctrinal courses and it lays the foundation for becoming a lawyer. But in all reality being a lawyer requires constant education. And in all reality I know jack. So instead, firms will look at you in the fall of your second year. It's kind of like the minor league for athletics. "Hey kid, you've got some potential, so next year, why don't you come see us next summer. You can work for us, and we'll see if you fit our team's needs. If that works out, maybe we'll make you an offer."

What sounds like maybe just an interview is really setting the course for my future. A firm that I interview with today may be a firm that I might work for next summer, which in turn might be a firm I work with once I graduate. Scary stuff. Now these are the first of (hopefully) what ends up being many, many, more interviews. But, as we all know, tomorrow is never promised. So I have to make the best of what I have.

Sitting at the dining room table, eating eggs and oatmeal, enjoying a bottle of water and coffee, I ponder this. And as my heart races, I realize it's 8:05. I should finish eating and get showered. Naturally I slept poorly last night. Anticipation, anticipation, anticipation. Plus I was nervous I would sleep through my alarm, so of course I woke up at 4AM, and it took me a while to fall back asleep. Then 7AM hit, and so did my alarm. Wish me well.