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Thursday, October 07, 2004

Independent

"When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. "- Kahlil Gibran


The numbers are out:

Dade County:
Number of total registered voters: 1,043,000
Registered Democrats: 448,105
Registered Republicans: 363,027

Broward County:
Total registered voters 1,035,733
Registered Democrats: 523,755
Registered Republicans: 279,183

Palm Beach County:
Total registered voters 705,020
Registered Democrats: 317,881
Registered Republicans: 228,119


This seems like good information...let just hope people show up to vote. Btw, I am registered in Dade County as an independent. You probably have to do some math to see those numbers.

Today I had another fun discussion about the vp debate and the administration. Pretty much the argument I was hearing was that it was Gore's fault for dividing the country and now Kerry is making it worse. How can people be so divorced from reality? Look at me using talking points.

So as I mentioned in the past, I got a ticket. I pretty much just paid it because I don't have a Florida license so I don't have to worry about points and that stuff. Well ever since I put the letter in the mail, I have been uninitiated with letters from lawyers willing to fight my ticket for me for 60 bucks (50 dollar savings from 115 I paid), but that is plus court costs which last time were 30 bucks, so its like a 20 dollar savings at best, if I win. I guess the point is moot since I have paid it already. It is kind of scary how your name can quickly become public record. Some of the lawyers sending me letter graduated from St. Thomas...that makes me feel wonderful about my future legal opportunities...Fighting speeding tickets, yay.

I have 4 days until my exams, so I figure 1 day and exam and that's the best I can do. So I'm gonna buckle down and just get working and you will get to hear all about it.

Boston

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Sugga Bugga

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." - not sure

I feel so much better after a normal night of sleep. I don't feel completely normal, but so much better than the zombie I was for the last two days. I stayed up and watched the VP debate. Cheney was good, but I don't feel honest. I have found that there is no use talking to people about politics who are so one sided. They are so stuck in their ways that they just want to justify their stance instead of really talk about things. It polorizes me because if I agree with then on a sub-issue I can't conceed it because they will just beat that issue like a drum. So they won't conceed any sub-issues either. This just polorizes both sides and that is why you rarely get truth now a days. All spin and both extremes.

Yesterday I was sitting down talking to 3 classmates and the debate came up, and I found myself talking to 3 republicans. That is always fun. I know where they are coming from since I long considered myself a republican, but I think people mistake definitions on what it means to be conservative. Being liberal doesn't mean you want taxes, dress slutty, and want more governement. It means seeing the injustice in the world and the unfair balance of power between the rich and poor. People get rich and then become republicans. You really have to get to issue by issue to have a good discussion on this. Well, we started with the issue of is Fox News really news or entertainment and then on to the debate. I sang the praises of my daily show and compared Fox to Allgeriza (spelling?). The main theme you get is that poor people and minorities are that way because they are lazy. That they worked their way out of poverty, so why can't they? Urgh...misconceptions people perpetuate.

I sometimes forget how people can stand up by this administration, so I quite enjoy the conversations.

I kind of liked it, I didn't expect to like it.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Open Memo

Man this open memo has been an ass kicking. I started working at about 5pm yesterday and I worked until 5am. I do admit some time was procrastination, but I spent the time confined to my room and in front of my computer. It took forever to read the cases and figure out what I wanted from them. Then I had to use them to develop arguments and finally I had to put them together in an order that made logical sense. The writing prep probably took as long as the actual writing. When I finally got all that done, I started busting out some real work, but I noticed I wasn't spending as much time actually tying in the facts of the case I was presented in with the cases I found. I went to bed at 6am and woke up at 10am. It was a good 4 hours of sleep, but it felt like 2, and I don't think the night before's 5 hours helped it much.

I skipped my morning class and worked on my memo from 10:30am to 1pm. I went to class and then worked from 2:30pm - 4:30pm. Class is at 6:30 pm, so I am done 2 hours early, but I had wanted to be done last night. Now time to start working on outlines and getting ready for those exams Monday and Tuesday. I tell ya, it's unfair we get no study period for these midterms. These tests are a 1/4th of our grade, yet we dont get a 1/4 of a study week for them. I'd even take that.

Last night I talked to a friend for a bit I hadn't talked to in some time. Without knowing it, she really made my day. She was telling me about this guy she was dating, but he was moving to Florida. (She isn't from FL). He asked her to move with him after they had only been dating for 3 weeks. Of course its an easy request since it means he doesn't have to move or do anything and she has to give up her life and career. She told him he was crazy. She said that her conversations with him were not that great and that she enjoyed mine better. I don't know, but when a person tells you that they enjoy talking to you, it makes you think that you must be doing something right. I really enjoy talking to people...I try to work on not talking at people, but conversations are what really keep me going. This is while i write too because it's like having conversations with friends and myself.

On the topic of conversations, I can talk to some people for hours...just about nothing and everything. I have been pretty lucky that I have met people who I have enjoyed talking to for that long. It's weird because the more you talk to someone the more you have to talk about, where as if you don't talk to a person for a long time, you feel like you have less to say. I have some good friends that we can talk, but we just don't have that much shit to talk about. Hell, I don't have enough time to talk to everyone for hours a day, so I guess you pick your battles. I do note that I tend to talk a lot more and longer to girls I like, which I guess is normal and explains why teenagers are always on the phone. Some girls aren't good conversationalists, so when I find one who is, I am pretty happy.

I recieved an email from another friend. It really made me start to reflect. She said:
"isn't it funny what happens to people in life? did we really expect to end up where we did in college? like adri in texas, u in miami, iris in dc, george in the bronx, herbert in malibu, me a kate spade specialist [in La]! its crazy i tell u, lol!"

Life is funny and a year ago I would have no clue this would be my life. 2 years ago I would have had less of a clue. New isn't always better, but I always try to make the best of it. Who knows where i'll be next year or in 3 years. God willing I'll be alive and enjoying this wonderful life I've been blessed with.

Ok well I'm going to read some property before this class and tonight I'll be watching the VP debate. I love the line, "this is not a debate competition." Well it should be because if you lose a debate, it might just mean that you are wrong, your policies are wrong and that all the spin in the world won't change that fact.

Monday, October 04, 2004

Handshake

Did anyone notice the awkward handshake at the beginning of the last presidential debate? Kerry held on a bit longer than Bush expected I think. Here is my handshaking advice. First, always make sure you do the firm grip thing because if you are like me and have smaller hands, someone can really crush the shit out of you. Start off by not completely extending your arm as to make them come towards you to shake your hand rather than you going towards them to shake their hand. Finally, try to get a bit of a downward tilt going where your palm is somewhat facing down. All this non-verbal shit should at least make you feel more confident if it doesn't accomplish anything else.

This is what I think about when this open memo is due.