Wait, What?

. . .

Tiempo Tiempo

Mediodía estancado entre relentes. Bomba aburrida del cuartel achica tiempo tiempo tiempo tiempo. Era Era. Gallos cancionan escarbando en vano. Boca del claro día que conjuga era era era era. Mañana Mañana. El reposo caliente aun de ser. Piensa el presente guárdame para mañana mañana mañana mañana. Nombre Nombre. ¿Qué se llama cuanto heriza nos? Se llama Lomismo que padece nombre nombre nombre nombre. Cesar Vallejo

Gatito

I met this cat in the summer of 2009, in a small village in Peru called Motupe. I snapped this photo just has she stretched out and rolled around in the dirt to scratch her back. Several locals, amused by my amusement, shouted out, "Take her home with you! Don't you need a kitten?"

Motupe, Peru

Unfortunately, they were wrong, I didn't need a kitten. She stayed there and I went on my way, leaving behind Motupe, Peru, South America.

The Invisible Shield of Anonymity

Here at school, discussions on the student listserv often devolve into inflammatory (and often elementary) name calling. I think there are several basic reasons for this. In the first place, emails are often half-read, or skimmed. People jump head first into these arguments after having read just the first of four paragraphs of an argument. Conclusions are jumped to, and responded to, even though they might not have ever existed.

Read carefully.

Things quickly become personal. It starts with subtle jabs, questioning someone's ability to read, think, or articulate. These are always degrading and condescending. "I'm left to wonder if Mr. Jones has even travelled abroad, or knows what it's like to be in prison." You could always present your argument by explaining the benefits of traveling abroad, for example, or by describing the realities of prison life, ooooooor you could simply deconstruct your opponent by making blanket assumptions and sweeping judgments about the value of their life experience, or lack there of. You don't need to know if these things are true, just say them anyway.

From here things often turn ugly. Sure, there are always a couple of reasonable, even handed responses, usually sent with the intent of cooling the flames or putting an end to the ridiculousness that is ensuing. These messages are either ignored entirely, or repeated (practically verbatim) by others who feel the same way and either didn't read the first message, or just want their moment on the soapbox.

The conversation is instead dominated by the loud and obnoxious, generally. Despite spending countless hours in Legal Writing classes, learning how to carefully articulate arguments and present ideas, law students quickly fall back on more primitive tools of persuasion, like using ALL CAPS for the REALLY IMPORTANT WORDS, such as, "YOU'RE AN ASS!" or "APOLOGIZE OR ELSE." Keep in mind, these discussions are taking place before an audience of hundreds.

What's striking is not the language used, or the elementary argumentation taking place between groups of grad students. Rather, it's the ability of human beings to forget that they actually know the people they are talking to or about. It's our ability to write an angry, impassioned, and inflammatory email about a person who we see on a weekly, if not daily basis, and then knowingly send the email directly to that person.

Even if you never have to face the person (as is the case with the law school listserv), don't we all have to co-exist? Don't we have a kind of evolutionary duty to not fall back on our most cowardly, ineffective, lazy, and hurtful tools of argument?

Or don't we?

(Note: This is not to say that a person doesn't occasionally deserve a swift kick in the pants or an angry/impassioned email. It's just to say that a person doesn't deserve to be insulted when they disagree with you on basic questions of policy, law, etc.)

Hike with a Friend

I went hiking a few weeks ago with a friend of mine. I told my friend that I like music that makes me feel something. I like songs that can make me feel like I'm going through a break up or loss of a loved one, even when I am not. I like music that makes you want to move and dance and forget your worries.

This conversation got me thinking about the power of music. These songs and artists aren't just things that we listen to, but powerful arrows in our quiver. They can be used to motivate, tranquilize, relax, excite, and console. We have control over when and how they will be heard. Today, we will dance. Tomorrow let us be pensive and introspective. Should I clear my mind, or invite distraction? These are the things that can shape our mood, and consequentially the way we interact and are perceived by others. Will I be open to new ideas, new faces, new horizons and possibilities--or will I hunch under the stormy rain cloud that exists only in my distorted perception?

I have never being all I want to be. But maybe tomorrow I will be.

Rejected

Rejection letters are cold, blunt, and economic in word use.

"We reviewed your application and will not be hiring you."

I'm not sure what's worse, a heartless rejection letter or the straight up silent treatment. The rejection brings closure and allows you to move on. It's also a brutal blow to your ego which can take days or weeks to recover from, something that the silent treatment spares you. Just once I would like to receive the following rejection letter:

Jean Smith, VP Human Resources

Dream Employer Incorporated

Pleasantville, USA 90001

November 17th, 2009

Dear Applicant,

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing your application. It was awesome. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but unfortunately we can't hire you. I know what you're thinking, but trust me: it's not you, it's us.

First of all, don't be self conscious about your cover letter. It was the perfect length, nearly typo free, and that quip in the second paragraph nearly made LOL. Seriously! It was awesome that you spent last summer in Peru, you seem like a really great guy. It kills me that we can't hire you!

You're probably going to think that your resume isn't up to par, but don't. Your resume was great. Sure, you don't have any directly relevant experience, and there's no real indication that you'll excel with us, but it looks like you're involved in some great activities. You worked at a call center during undergrad? That's amazing, I'm sure you're really hard worker.

The truth is if it were up to me I would have hired you. There are just a lot of factors involved that are totally outside of my control, and your control as an applicant. I mean, you are amazing in every way, and still didn't get a job with us? I guess it's all about who you know, which is total bull crap because you're awesome.

Keep your head up. You're young and in control of your soon to be flowering young career. Someday we'll be kicking ourselves for passing you up, I'm convinced of that.

Sincerely,

Jean

4th Meal

You know we have a weight problem when Taco Bell's "4th Meal" advertising campaign, which is basically an attempt to insert a giant calorie-heavy meal into the middle of the night, seems like a good idea to a large part of the population.