Fiddler's, chocolate, and the kindness of strangers

A bunch of us went to Fiddler's Hearth on Friday night, in lieu of the law school's Winter Formal. It was really crowded, possibly because an Irish band was performing that evening. We got to hear them play a little bit before leaving. They were a three-person group (though they usually have four), including one guy who played the bagpipes. But as Brooke noted, they did not have a fiddler. Maybe he was on the roof. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

The service at Fiddler's left something to be desired. Still, the food was good, the company was good, and we even had a mysterious benefactor. Apparently a woman gave our waitress a $10 gift certificate for our table. We have no idea who it was.

For dessert we headed over to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe. It was also quite busy; we stood around for a while before a table opened up. They have lots of tasty treats to choose from. After perusing the selections, I finally overcame indecision and got some dark chocolate coconut haystacks and dark chocolate raspberry truffles. Both were very good.

Manatees roll on

Despite attrition in our ranks, morale was high tonight. Blacklights, 80s music, and potent potables -- what's not to like?

Not much to say in the way of highlights tonight. Nugatory did manage to bounce a ball out of the gutter once, and I demonstrated the meaning of "choke" by following up two strikes by bowling a 1. I didn't get a turkey; I simply bowled like one. Well, maybe a turkey would've done better.


"I could've bowled better than that."

Yeah, so consistency continues to be our weak suit, but hopefully that will improve over time. Supposedly this was the last night of "practice," meaning that our scores didn't count. It all starts for real next week.

Phil says six more weeks

Happy Groundhog Day!

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter. Who is this pint-sized furry meteorologist? Phil's been making weather predictions in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, since 1887 (see his all of his predictions here). He's billed as America's most famous groundhog, and was featured in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day and starred alongside Bill Murray. Phil's birthdate is listed "c. 1887," which would make him 119 years old. I don't think groundhogs, no matter how well pampered, live that long, so my guess is that it's similar to a Dread Pirate Roberts thing. Or maybe it's more like the typical sitcom plot involving replacing pets with a lookalike.

Want a second opinion? Staten Island Chuck and Wiarton Willie both predict an early spring. No word on whether resident weather nerd, Brendan Loy, saw his shadow today. :)

Exceptional Skaters

I'd like to take a minute to preview some of the U.S. figure skating medal hopefuls for this year's Olympics. We're fielding some good skaters this year, but some have qualified for the event in rather unorthodox ways. As is frequently the case in such situations, there are a number of grumblers and naysayers. But as Stephen Colbert recently noted, "People who are good at something are exempt from the rules." (Go here and click on 'T.O.') In this case, however, it may be more appropriate to say that people who are good at something have special rules just for them.

First, consider the U.S. ice dance team of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. They're the reigning national champions. Belbin and Agosto also won the silver medal at last year's World Championships, America's first world medal in ice dance in 20 years. But until recently they were not eligible to represent the U.S. at the Olympics because Tanith Belbin was not a U.S. citizen (she's Canadian). Although she was in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship, it would not go through in time for them to compete in Torino.

At least, that was the status of things until a few months ago. In December, during the waning days of 2005, Congress changed the law to speed up the naturalization process. In short, the legislation decreases the waiting period (from five years to three years) for "aliens of extraordinary ability." As a result, Belbin was sworn in as a U.S. on December 31. Now that Belbin and Agosto can compete on Olympic ice under the U.S. banner, America has its best chance at an Olympic medal in ice dancing since the sport's debut at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck. I didn't realize that U.S. Figure Skating had such a powerful lobby in Washington. But based on the timing and speed which this bill was passed and signed, it's pretty clear that the entire intent of this law is an attempt to grab a few extra medals later this month. For more on the inequities of the new law, check out this article.

The other U.S. figure skater who qualified for Torino in an unusual way was none other than Michele Kwan. She's the most decorated skater in history, and has won at every event save one -- the Olympics. Kwan's competed twice in the Olympics, earning silver and bronze medals. She has nine national titles and five world titles. Her mark on the sport may be second only to Sonja Henie. And now she's going to make one last bid for Olympic gold.

So what's the controversy? Michelle didn't compete in this year's nationals, the qualifying event for America's Olympic team, due to an injury. Instead she petitioned to be added to the U.S. Olympic team by what amounts to a medical bye. Usually the top three finishers at nationals will advance to the Olympics; Michelle basically asked U.S. Figure Skating to bump the bronze medalist in favor for placing her on the team. Such medical byes, while not commonplace, are certainly not unprecedented. The most famous example was the medical bye given to Nancy Kerrigan for the 1992 Lillehammer Games. Kerrigan won the silver that year, but success from a medical bye is the exception rather than the rule.

U.S. Figure Skating accepted Michelle's petition subject to a review of her abilities in late January. Last Friday, the five member team met to watch Michelle perform her short and long programs, and they ultimately agreed that she may compete later this month in Torino. I'm sure that being Michelle Kwan didn't hurt her case.

While it will be undoubtedly exciting to see big names like Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto and Michelle Kwan competing for the U.S. later this month, I can't help but feel for the alternates. There will always be people who can say, "That could have been me," but these athletes have a slightly stronger claim to the sentiment.

Just as an interesting aside, I know two of our Olympic competitors. Back when I used to compete, I actually competed against Ben Agosto (who had a different partner at the time). And Marcy Hinzmann, who will represent the U.S. in pairs with her partner Aaron Parchem, used to skate out of my home rink in Columbus as a member of the Columbus Figure Skating Club. Marcy and Aaron have a website that you can check out here.

Oscars, and me being a grouch

Well, the nominees for this year's Academy Awards are out (see the list here). Looking over the list, it seems like I've seen even fewer of the nominated movies than usual. But perhaps even more interesting is that more than ever I'm not particularly interested in the movies considered to be the best of 2005. And given my lack of knowledge/interest in this year's crop, I don't think I'll be participating in any Oscar-picking contests.

I'm already aware that my taste in movies tends to be very different from the critics. I probably just don't appreciate fine filmmaking when I see it (for further evidence, check out my list of favorite movies). But I do have one particular bone to pick with the Academy. Why didn't the most recent Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith, get a nomination for best visual effects?! Say whatever you will about the merits (or lack thereof) of it as a movie, but if there's one thing the Star Wars movies have it's eye candy. I don't mean to say that the nominees (Narnia, King Kong, and War of the Worlds) don't have some impressive visual effects. And I know that (for whatever reason) the Academy has chosen to limit this category to three nominees instead of the five for most other categories. And Revenge of the Sith did get a nod with a nomination for best makeup. But it still feels like a snub. I mean, War of the Worlds and not Revenge of the Sith? I know it's a Spielberg flick, but does War of the Worlds even deserve one (let alone three!) nominations?

Okay, rant over. Let's hope the upcoming year brings some more interesting movies, including a few I might be able to back come this time next year.

Happy New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year, that is.



2006 (or, by the Chinese calendar, 4703) is the Year of the Dog.


China goes to the dogs.

For more on the Chinese New Year, click here, and for pictures of the big celebration check this out.

So to everyone out there, Kung hei fat choi! (Congratulations and be prosperous!)

UPDATE: Firework videos from Shanghai!

South Korean Olympic team prepares for Torino

Okay, so not really. :) But these pictures are pretty funny. Check out all of them here.

A rose by any other name...

Apparently the NDLS administration believes that the terms "Socials" and "Happy Hour" carry negative connotations of heavy drinking and drink specials. To combat this very serious problem, the administration has decided that such events shall be renamed "Hours of Fellowship."

Because clearly this name change is going to solve the underlying problem.

ICBMs

Introducing this year's bowling team, the ICBMs. That stands for Intercontinental Ballistic Manatees. (It's a reference to a certain manatee that was inadvertently launched through the air in Professor Tidmarsh's torts exam from last year.)


Not our bowling team.

With our first strike capability we hope to rocket to the top of the standings, so long as our general lack of talent doesn't blow up in our faces. (Okay, I'll knock it off with the puns, I promise. Bet you're wishing I hadn't returned to blogging now, huh?) Tonight was just practice, so no real scores or highlights. But stay tuned, things are bound to get interesting in the upcoming weeks.


The secret weapon.

Back with 15 on 26

Yes, yes, I know. Long time no post. Apparently people still read this thing. Or they would, if I would only post something for them to read. My recent lack of posts has even alarmed some, as emails and some blog posts have questioned my continued well-being.

Why haven't I been posting, you may well ask. I'm afraid that I cannot offer any really good or satisfactory explanation beyond a certain lack of creative vision. I won't go so far back as to recount the holidays, as nothing particularly eventful transpired anyway. But I will (hopefully soon) post some tidbits from Honor's recent visit to South Bend, as well as a few other odds and ends. It's spring semester, which means law school bowling is about to start up again (tonight, in fact). I plan to reprise my role as bowling blog correspondent for my team. Also, the Winter Olympics kick off next month, so there will be some skating-related posts to come.

And now, without further ado, I present my late entry for this month's list o' 15:

Top 15 Books

15. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, Joshua Priven and David Borgenicht
I suppose you could consider this my (tongue in cheek) response to Derek's entry of the Boy Scout Handbook. While this is technically a series of books with advice for a wide range of situations, I'm most familiar with the original book. I'm not much of an adventurer myself, but it's good to know that if I ever find myself needing to land an airplane, escape from quicksand, fend off a shark, or perform an emergency tracheotomy, I can at least say I once read a book that told me how to do it.

14. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne
Jules Verne's authored a number of visionary classics which were the forerunners of science fiction. I read many of his books as I was growing up. In 2KLUTS as I call it (okay, I really don't, but just didn't feel like typing out the title again, which is funny because I have now typed even more words just explaining the crazy acronym), Verne imagines life under the sea in the Nautilus, captained by the mysterious Captain Nemo. These ideas were later used by Disney and Pixar to create (a now defunct) amusement ride, a song title for an animated movie about a mermaid, and an animated film about a clownfish with asymmetric fins.

13. I, Robot, Isaac Asimov
Another fine entry under the genre of sci-fi. Asimov's creativity is astounding, and as with all science fiction, his stories speak as much to the human condition as the possibilities of future technology. I, Robot is a collection of short stories (cleverly tied together to a larger narrative) that considers the three laws of robotics and the philosophical problems they create. It's a wonderful and thought-provoking read.

12. Angels and Demons, Dan Brown
Although Dan Brown is better known for The DaVinci Code, I think this is the better work (of the two -- I'm not familiar with his other titles). It features the same main character and a very similar formula, but I found it more exciting. The book features Rome and Vatican City, some clever riddles, and an interesting take on the relationship between science and religion.

11. Harry Potter (series), J. K. Rowling
I was skeptical when I first heard of Harry Potter, but after reading the first few pages of the first book a few years ago, I admit I'm hooked. Maybe they're kids books, but I find them very entertaining. Part of this is because Rowling's books have successfully balanced fun kid-oriented material with a deeper meaning and subtext that adults (and assuredly, precocious children) can pick up. In that way, the Harry Potter series lies somewhere between popular recent movies like Shrek and Finding Nemo and sophisticated classic comic strips like The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes.

10. The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
I'm all for great swashbuckling tales, and this is one of the greatest. Engaging characters, political intrigue, swordfights, this book has it all.

9. The Odyssey, Homer
My father was a big fan of classical mythology, and some of that love for the subject rubbed off on me. It's understandable how the tales from Greek mythology could appeal to a kid -- the stories are full of heroes, monsters, and very human-like gods and goddesses. The Odyssey is full of such great mythical characters.

8. Macbeth, William Shakespeare
Macbeth has a special place in my heart as the first Shakespearean play I ever read. In fact, for a school talent show I once acted out part of the play. Macbeth captures a very mysterious, almost creepy mood. It's full of murder, mayhem, and the supernatural. The Bard does fine work, and this tale has only gotten better as I've aged and re-read it.

7. The Brethren, Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong
As a general rule I prefer fiction to nonfiction, but The Brethren is an excellent book. It offers an inside look at the Supreme Court, a behind-the-scenes glance at the workings of the Court under Warren Burger. It covers many prominent cases and explains how things really work -- how opinions are assigned (and the headaches of "writing by committee"), how much the law clerks do, how deliberations go on -- it's a fascinating read. I highly recommend this book to anyone in/contemplating the legal profession or anyone curious as to how our country's highest court operates.

6. Contact, Carl Sagan
Sagan's Contact is probably my favorite science fiction work. It's a very thoughtful piece on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and how first contact might occur. But at its core, Contact is about how humans relate to each other both individually and as groups of people (nations, science and religion).

5. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
There are some pieces of literature that are (virtually) incontestably classics. This is one of them. It is sometimes funny, sometimes inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking. Large themes like race and justice are showcased alongside the pains of growing up. Future lawyers who have read this book almost can't help wanting to be Atticus Finch. Saying that it's a very good book would be an understatement.

4. Hamlet, William Shakespeare
My favorite piece by Shakespeare -- the Best of the Bard. Great characters, great speeches, great plot. Eminently quotable. And as with all good Shakespearean tragedies, almost everybody dies.

3. The Real Thing, Tom Stoppard
Ahh, most people may expect a Tom Stoppard entry following Hamlet to be Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Fooled you! But seriously, this is a fine play which holds a special place in my heart because I performed it on stage. Many thanks to my friend Monica who introduced me to this play and directed the performance. It's very witty, chock full of interesting takes on relationships and romance, and has some very quotable lines. Honor and I frequently quote bits and pieces back to each other. If you haven't read The Real Thing, you should at the next available opportunity.

2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series), Douglas Adams
A trilogy in five parts. The HHGG is quite possibly one of the funniest things ever committed to paper in the written word. At any given time I could probably pick up one of the books, flip open to a random section, and just read for a while. This is one collection of books that may be dangerous to read in public if you're self-conscious about laughing out loud. The characters are lovingly crafted and the dialogue is very funny. But the occasional random musing on the nature of life and the universe is outright hysterical.

1. Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
Maybe it's not the best book of all time, but it is certainly my favorite. I'm pretty much a fan of all of Michael Crichton's books, but this one stands apart from the rest. If you were to glance at my bookshelf, you'd notice that Jurassic Park is the most worn book there. It works well as a thriller, as a science fiction piece, and a cautionary tale on technology gone amok. The characters are lively and engaging (particularly "chaotician" Ian Malcolm). And don't forget the star attraction: the dinosaurs.


Honorable Mentions:
Pride and Prejudice, Julius Caesar, King Lear, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Around the World in Eighty Days, Treasure Island, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Sphere, Fahrenheit 451, The Illiad, The Aeneid, many works my Poe, any number of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and some random children's books

Note: There are probably any number of books that I have not yet read that may make the list (or at least warrant an honorable mention) once I've finished it. This list is current as of 1/26/06.

The 15 on 15 -- Top 15 Movies

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. The idea comes from Derek, who along with Ruvym and Ariel (and now Brooke) have posted their top 15 movies of all time. What follows is is a list of my favorite fifteen movies, not what I consider to be the "best" movies of all time (aka, I did not evaluate exclusively on quality of acting, cinematography, script, etc.). These are movies that I personally enjoy, and to me have a high "rewatchability" factor. Repeat viewing was an important factor in making this list, which adversely affected two groups of movies: recent releases and suspense/thriller/plot twist movies. A few movies that I enjoy that belong to those categories are included in the honorable mentions after the list. Now without further ado, my top 15:

15. Monty Python & The Holy Grail -- Wacky British humor, and eminently quotable. Absurd? Undoubtably. Hillarious? You bet.

14. Aladdin -- My vote for best Disney animated film. Casting Robin Williams as the voice of the geenie was a stroke of brilliance.

13. Hamlet -- Yes, the four-hour epic Kenneth Branagh version. Marquee cast, beautiful sets, and accurate down to the Bard's last line.

12. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (extended edition) -- Okay, so there are three movies here but I justify it as one entry because a) J.R.R. Tolkien intended it to be one story not three and Peter Jackson filmed all three at the same time.

11. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- A breathtaking piece of work visually - the martial arts scenes seem more poetic than belligerent. I recommend watching it with the original Mandarin dialogue and English subtitles. Dubbing would detract from the movie.

10. Pride and Prejudice (BBC miniseries) -- Another long piece but only because it does right by Jane Austen and remains faithful to the book. Often imitated, never duplicated. Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy.

9. The Shawshank Redemption -- A movie about hope and the triumph of the human spirit. First and foremost, this is a great story. It's well paced and very thought-provoking. There's a reason that so many people list Shawshank as one of their favorite movies.

8. Jurassic Park -- What can I say, I like dinosaurs. The T-rex scene is still one of my all-time movie favorites.

7. The Cutting Edge -- Practically obligatory for any ice skater. Sure it's a cheesy romantic comedy (and incredibly unrealistic on several levels), but anyone who's been in the world of competitive skating will appreciate the in-jokes and portayals.

6. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade -- Best of the series. Sean Connery makes the film, and he and Harrison Ford have an excellent rapport.

5. Amadeus -- An interesting take on the life of Mozart as seen from rival composer Antonio Salieri. Great music and a great movie.

4. A Few Good Men -- Come for the law drama, stay for the snappy (and quotable) Sorkin dialogue. For me, this movie has become practically synonymous with undergrad mock trial (mostly thanks to Derek). But much like Law & Order and almost any other lawyer movie, don't try this at home (er, at work?).

3. The Mask of Zorro -- A fun, fun movie perfectly complemented by popcorn. This is a great example of the Hollywood summer blockbuster. Swashbuckling s-word action? Check. Explosions? Check. Dashing rogue hero seeking revenge? Check. Compelling villians? Check and check. Sultry spanish dance scene? Check. And CZJ is easy on the eyes too.

2. Star Wars: Episode V --The Empire Strikes Back -- It was hard to pick one Star Wars movie for the list, and it's a close call between Empire and A New Hope (or just plain ol' Star Wars to most people). I like many elements from both movies, but Empire seems to age like a fine wine - I appreciate this movie much more now than I did when I was younger. I feel like I get a slightly different twist every time I watch it, and not just because of the prequels or the fact that George keeps changing things. I prefer the original or the '97 special edition.

1. Casablanca -- A timeless classic with engaging characters, a touching love story, and a wonderful non-stereotypical Hollywood ending. Also very quotable.



Honorable mentions (in random order):
Sabrina, Serenity, Pirates of the Caribbean, When Harry Met Sally, Contact, True Lies, Goldeneye, Gremlins, The Matrix, 12 Monkeys, The Usual Suspects, Sneakers, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Chicago, Roman Holiday, Some Like it Hot, High Fidelity, Ronin

A few harmless flakes

That's right, we're talking snow.

We've had a few snowfalls this year in South Bend, but yesterday was the first significant snowstorm of the season. Up until then we've had maybe an inch or so of accumulation and lots of flurries (some have remarked that the flurries seemed like "movie set snow"* -- the kind that just seems to hang in the air). Yesterday's storm dumped several inches (maybe 9"?). Brooke told me this morning that it took her 45 minutes just to dig her car out of the snow. What a great kickoff for finals season here at NDLS.

As the storm headed east, Derek had to spend the night in a hotel rather than head home. His car was covered in snow, though that's nothing compared to the cars here in the Bend. Things got even more interesting further east -- Honor experienced an interesting phenomenon known as "thundersnow." This is the first I've ever heard of such a storm, but then again I'm not much of a weather nerd.

It's been more or less clear all day today, and when I don't have to be out trudging around in it, the snow is pretty to look at. With a little imagination, I can picture myself in a cozy little ski village rather than here in Indiana. A day of skiing (and perhaps some après-ski) sure beats studying for/taking finals. And by skiing, I mean downhill skiing, not cross-country. I'll let gravity do most of the work, thanks. There's also a part of me -- call it my "inner child" -- that would rather be fashioning snowman works of art. After all, that too would far beat the whole finals rigamarole. But at least this time next week I'll have another semester of law school behind me. We're supposed to get a few more inches of snow tomorrow, but hopefully things will be clear for the drive back to Ohio.



* Take the movie snow challenge! Name each of the following movies (by leaving a comment or emailing me), based on these snowfall images:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

First person with the most correct wins a prize of my choosing.

Get those Tostitos ready...

It's official: Ohio State and Notre dame will head to Tempe, Arizona to duke it out in the Fiesta Bowl. It's a can't-miss game for an "Irish Buckeye." It'll be an interesting matchup, and one I didn't expect to see for a while.

In anticipation of the occasion, here are links to each school's fight song:

First, Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame...
Then hear the Buckeye Battle Cry!

For more news on the BCS bowls and the impending OSU-ND Fiesta matchup, check out Brendan's blog.

Sopranos in the Stacks

The ND Law Library staff has apparently become so fed up with the behavior (specifically, not adhering to the law library rules) of some law students that they've resorted to threats and beatings. A recent email sent to law students explains:

Turns out [Day Access Services Supervisor Mary] Cowsert told [the law student] she always “gets upset” when students don’t observe the rule about cell phone use in the library. She then followed up her statement with a right cross and a left hook. As [the student] hit the floor, she finished him off with a swift kick to the mid-section.

The email concludes with the following thinly veiled threat:

Students who enjoy maintaining possession of their teeth or who prefer their brown/green/hazel eyes to “black and blue” ones should follow the library cell phone rule.

Is it just me, or does this sound more like South Jersey* than South Bend?



*I apologize in advance to the fine people of the state of New Jersey.

Psych LOTD

I think I may have read this article before...

Irish-Buckeye Fiesta?

Ohio State and Notre Dame both had good seasons this year, and both ended with 9-2 records. Both are BCS eligible, and could end up facing each other in a bowl game this year -- the Fiesta Bowl. That would be quite the matchup for an "Irish Buckeye."

Should OSU and ND duke it out in the Fiesta Bowl, my loyalties would be divided between my alma mater (OSU) and my current school (ND). I didn't expect such a situation to arise, since the two schools weren't scheduled to play each other (during the regular season, which schools have some control over) for any of the three years I'm here in South Bend. But the general rule is that your alma mater trumps all. [Of course, I feel that there should be some exceptions to this; if OSU and ND were scheduled to play during the regular season, and ND was on a possible national championship run whereas OSU wasn't, I think I'd have to root for ND.] So if Ohio State and Notre Dame are selected to play in the Fiesta Bowl, I'll be sporting scarlet and gray. Although I may wear some Notre Dame apparel as well. Fortunately for my ND friends, I'll be at home during the Fiesta Bowl and not around to harrass them when OSU wins. :) Although I'll have to make a note to avoid wearing my OSU shirts and sweatshirts for a while at the beginning of next semester if the two teams do play over break.

Despite the divided loyalties thing, I'd actually look forward to such a pairing. It's sure to be an interesting and exciting game between two very good teams with different playing styles. But perhaps the biggest benefit of an OSU-ND matchup is not having to switch channels during the game to check up on both teams.

For those interested in sports stat stuff: The Fiesta Bowl has been kind to OSU in recent years; they've been to Tempe twice in the past five years (2003, vs. Miami; 2004, vs. Kansas St.), winning both times. One of those wins was for the 2002 National Championship, where the Buckeyes bested Miami in double overtime. Notre Dame's last two trips to the Fiesta Bowl (1995, vs. Colorado; 2001, vs. Oregon St.) were considerably less successful: both were losses for the Irish.

Munch and crunch time

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. As usual, I didn't get as much work done as I would have (ideally) liked, but I did get some stuff done. I also got to catch up with parents and sister, relax a bit, eat plenty of food (two Turkey Days, actually), and most importantly, spend time with Honor. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and she's definitely at the top of my list.

But unfortunately, it's now back to work. And it's a bit more than the daily grind, as finals are fast approaching. But at least it's good to know that in three weeks time I'll have another semester of law school behind me -- it'll be the halfway mark of my legal eduacation.

Pillaging, plundering, and litigating

As I've posted a few times before, I really think a career in pirate law would be incredibly exciting. Think of it: sailing, sunny and exotic tropical locales, payment in rum and Spanish doubloons... what's not to like? Adding to the allure of this swashbuckling vocation is the opportunity to make commercials like this. Yarrrr... so who want's to join me floatin' law offices?

Feeding the Blog Monster

"Bloggy"

To all of you out there racked with disappointment because of the lack of recent posts, rest assured that new posts will be coming soon. Until then, I leave you with this portrait of Bloggy the blog monster, an internet dwelling creature that draws sustenance from the ramblings of the world's bloggers. In order to better acquaint you with this character, Bloggy recently agreed to sit for an interview. An excerpt of that interview follows.

Mr. Bloggy, is it true that your very existence depends on the posting activity of the blogging community?
Bloggy starve with no food. Bloggy want eat.
Do you bear any relation to Pac-Man or The cheat?
Me Bloggy. Me hungry. Feed Bloggy.
Your torso looks like a Pollock painting gone terribly awry. Is it true that you are actually a malevolent piece of fuzz and/or lint?
FEED BLOGGY! (unintelligible) Bloggy eat now... Bloggy eat interview! (unintelligible crunching and munching sounds)


Okaaaaaaaaaay, yes I am insane. Anyway, I hope this little piece of utter randomness tides you over until my next *real* post.

Boston Saga, Part 4: From Asia to Italy

Honor and I spent Friday afternoon exploring Cambridge and poking around some of the shops. We had lunch at a nice little Chinese restaurant called Hong Kong (aka "The Kong"). The food was really good, and there was plenty of it. Later that night we had Indian food at a place called The Bombay Club. Again we were served a large quantity of excellent food.

After sleeping in on Saturday (a pleasure in which we law students don't get to indulge too often), we set off to explore some of Boston. First we visited Chinatown, where we had dim sum at Chau Chow City (why is it that practically every other Chinese restaurant feels obligated to make a bad pun with its name?). I've had dim sum on several occasions, but never had I been responsible for ordering the food. For anyone's who's not done dim sum before, you have to understand that this is not your typical dining experience. You don't get menus; instead, waiters/waitresses come by with carts of different small dishes, and you pick out what you want. I recognized a few things from prior dim sum outings, but I was mostly flying blind. Still, Honor and I did pretty well. Notable highlights: the sticky rice and meat cooked in lotus leafs, steamed pork dumplings, and red bean buns. Disappointment: shrimp still in their shells, with all legs still attached.

Saturday started out as cold and drizzly. The weather only got worse as the day progressed. We spent most of the afternoon ducking in and out of shops. In Chinatown, Honor and I visited a Chinese grocery store (she'd never been in one before) and a kitschy little store that sold the cheesy knick knacks that you usually only see in Chinese restaurants. When we got downtown, we went to a few clothing stores where Honor looked for a new coat. Alas, we weren't able to find anything to her liking.

Then it was off to the North End and Little Italy. Along the way, we experienced the wind tunnel known as Congress Street. The combination of wind, rain, and cold was absolutely brutal. We stopped at a gift shop along the Freedom Trail to get our bearings and thaw out a bit. Unlike the micro mini umbrella Honor had purchased* (generally ineffective against the typhoon conditions of Congress Street), the laminated (and thus, rain-proof) map of Boston proved to be an excellent investment.

We continued our trek to the North End and after braving more of the wind, rain, and all-around lousy weather, we found ourselves in Little Italy. We decided to warm up and dry out a bit in an Italian coffee shop. We sipped our coffee, chatted, and had a good time. Eventually the coffee shop began filling up, and we decided to free up a table and leave. We weren't quite ready to have dinner yet, so we perused a CVS for a little while.

Our original plan was to have dinner at Pomodoro, but it was really crowded and there were people waiting outside in the rain for a table. So we went down the street a bit and had dinner at Piccola Venezia instead. We were told it would be a half hour wait, but at least there were some open seats indoors where we could wait. We only had to wait for fifteen minutes before a table opened up. The food was very good, but the portions were large (and we were still a bit full from the dim sum), so we took a good portion of our dinners home in boxes.

Our trek home was, if anything, colder, wetter, and windier than anything we had experienced all day. By the time we got home, we felt a glass of wine would really hit the spot. But in opening a bottle of Spanish wine, the corkscrew broke off in the wine cork. I've never seen anything like it. After about half an hour (maybe longer) of chipping away, we finally got to the wine. Thankfully, the wine was very good and worth the effort.

Sunday morning was fairly uneventful. I retrieved my wallet, and Honor and I had a light breakfast in Harvard Square. We said our goodbyes, and I boarded to subway back to South Station to catch the train back to South Bend.

*I confess that I more or less recommended buying the small umbrella. I figured it would fit in her law school bag better (her last umbrella had fallen out of one of the side pockets). Plus it was kind of cute. Anyway, I must admit that it was not one of my better suggestions.