The Situation Room

Last night, I was in the Situation Room! Well, sort of. I was in Hart Auditorium here on the Georgetown Law campus, but Wolf Blitzer declared that we were all in the Situation Room, implying, for all intents and purposes, that the Situation Room is wherever Blitzer happens to be at the time. I attended a symposium called "Decision 2008: November 4th and Beyond," which was moderated by Blitzer. So cool! The panelists were E.J. Dionne (Washington Post columnist, Georgetown Public Policy Institute professor), Charles Krauthammer (Pulitzer Prize winner, conservative syndicated columnist), Celinda Lake (pollster, Democratic political strategist), Clarence Page (Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist), and Byron York (National Review White House correspondent). It was a pretty interesting panel discussion, because of the diversity of opinions on issues such as whether McCain still has a chance, whether the Bradley effect exists, the effect of Sarah Palin, how negative campaigning affects credibility, and the ways in which the economy has impacted campaign messages. This is one of those events that reminds me of the awesome opportunities I have by being in D.C., and specifically by being at Georgetown Law.

Unfortunately, the symposium was scheduled at the same time as my small group Bible study, which crushed our attendance (i.e., no one came). Mike and I waited for fifteen minutes, and then decided to attend the symposium ourselves. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Hopefully we'll have better attendance next week when we aren't competing with a popular head anchor of a major news network.

It's crazy to think that this election is finally coming to a close. I can remember when I first took notice of then-Senate-hopeful Obama during his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and got goosebumps from his vision for a unified America. I remember when I first considered Obama as a viable presidential candidate, upon reading a Time magazine cover story in 2006 on why he could be the next president. I wondered to myself whether the United States would even be willing to elect an African-American as president, yet I found within myself a burgeoning hope that America had reached that point. I have followed Obama's campaign for nearly 22 months with ever-increasing attentiveness since he declared his candidacy in February of 2007. I fell in love with Obama's rhetoric and charisma when I attended a huge rally for him in Oakland with Cindy on St. Patrick's Day last year, delighting in green t-shirts supporting "O'Bama." I have watched the debates, I have followed the controversies, I have read dozens upon dozens of articles about the campaign. Quite frankly, Obama has been an integral part of my fascination with politics for years, and I wonder how things will be on November 5. Hold onto your seats, folks.

I received in the mail today my District of Columbia Voter's Guide, which was exciting. I absolutely adore the graphic that the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics put on the front cover of the guide:


It is so delightfully saccharine. "You complete us." I love it.

Putting the "ick" in "sickness"

I've been sick all week. What started out as a terrible cold quickly progressed into a sinus infection. I have never experienced a sinus infection, so the fever, headache, nausea and difficulty sleeping bewildered me. I described my ailments to my mom, and she diagnosed me from 3,000 miles away, urging me to go to the doctor. Reluctantly, I made an appointment, and the doctor confirmed that I had a sinus infection. What is it about moms that gives them the ability to be right about stuff like this? Crazy.

Wednesday evening was when I could no longer stay in denial as to how sick I was. I came home from class around 3:30 pm, and had plans of taking care of a few things and baking some cookies for my Small Group Bible study, which was scheduled to meet at 7:30 pm. Well, I woke up at 7:50 pm, twenty minutes into my Bible study, as Mike tried to call me on my cell phone. Panicking, I grabbed my Bible and papers, attempted to sprint up two flights of stairs, and apologized profusely for my tardiness (and lack of cookies). Argh! Showing up late to things is one of my worst fears... I've seriously had nightmares about being late to important events. Regardless, the small group went very well. People came, we had a lively and honest conversation about several passages (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 19:1-10, and Luke 24:13-32), and I have hopes that even more people will be coming next week. I'm excited to see what this semester will bring for this group.

I've been living as an invalid for the past few days, albeit still attending class. In my Civil Procedure class, if you're unable to participate in class for an exceptional reason (such as illness), you are supposed to leave a note explaining your situation before class on the professor's desk at the front of the lecture hall. I did this on Thursday, and my professor had the greatest reaction. He arrived right as class is about to start, putting down his books and picking up my note. He read the note silently, and then a look of panic mixed with irritation fell across his face as he dropped the note quickly back onto the desk. He looked up at the class, announcing something to the effect of "If you think you are sick, do not leave a contaminated note for me to try to infect me, too! Write me an email before class!" He then proceeded to use the end of his pen to push the note as far away from himself as physically possible, a look of disgust on his face.

The class laughed, myself included, because it was pretty clear that he was just trying to lighten the atmosphere, as we had taken an intense practice exam last week. I spoke with the professor after class, assuring him that I had washed my hands before writing the note, and he confirmed that he was just kidding around. Actually, he was really nice to me, encouraging me to try to come to class even if I feel terrible, and wishing me a quick recovery. He also told me to sit in the back row the next day in class (as opposed to my assigned seat), so that my classmates would have a lessened chance of being infected. A bunch of my classmates were curious and concerned as to why I was sitting in the back, and a couple of people even walked to the back to "visit" me, which was really nice. (I also had some people thank me for trying to get the professor sick, somewhat to my chagrin.)

Outside of class, I have been spending all of my time confined to my room in pajamas. Being sick is so boring. I don't have enough energy or concentration to work, so I've been watching videos, reading articles, playing Tetris, and sleeping. I cannot believe how much I've been sleeping! I keep taking multiple lengthy naps during the day, and then sleeping for 10 hours at night. It is really strange, considering that I dislike taking naps, and usually subsist on 7 hours of sleep per night (if that).

Hopefully, my energy will come back soon, so that I can be productive. I want to get as much work done this weekend as possible, so that I have time to hang out with Erin while she's in D.C. this week!

Moonset

I've caught some good sunset views from my window here on the 8th floor of Gewirz, but this is the first decent moonset, if you will. A pleasant reminder that it is indeed October.

The weekend was balanced. On Saturday, I explored Eastern Market with Donna, which was essentially a flea market, a farmer's market, and an arts-and-crafts fair rolled into one. I did some successful negotiating (a.k.a., haggling) at the flea market. We also ventured into Georgetown proper--the area near the university itself (as opposed to the law school) is filled with shops and restaurants. Sunday and Monday were primarily devoted to homework, but at a less grueling pace than a two-day weekend would have allowed (thank you, Columbus Day).

On Sunday, Mike and I were able to chat with Fr. Kevin O'Brien, S.J., the Executive Director of Campus Ministry for Georgetown University, about our endeavors to start a small group Bible study at the law school. He happened to be presiding over the Mass at our little chapel because Fr. Alexei was out of town. Fr. Kevin was very encouraging and offered his support, which I appreciated. We're meeting on Wednesday--keep us in your prayers!

Menagerie

I've been dragging my feet with regards to posting this week, because writing feels a lot like work at the moment. I had a Civil Procedure practice exam this morning, which meant that I spend my week writing an extensive outline covering the cases and lectures from the past five weeks. Plus, I have a draft of my second memo for Legal Research and Writing due Tuesday, so I've been trying to work on that, and I have a practice essay question due next week for my Torts class. Just when you think you've got law school figured out, the pattern shifts.

Taking it from the top: last weekend was action-packed. I traveled to Virginia with Nadia to find an Olive Garden (Endless salad and bread sticks?! How do they do it?), went on a boat cruise (at left) on the Potomac with Donna , and went to church with the Supreme Court. Yes, you read that last item correctly. Have you ever heard of the Red Mass? It's an annual Catholic Mass held for people in the legal profession (e.g., lawyers, judges, professors, students, etc.). There's a world-famous one always held in D.C.--here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"One of the better-known Red Masses is the one celebrated each fall at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. on the Sunday before the first Monday in October (the Supreme Court convenes on the first Monday in October). It is sponsored by the John Carroll Society and attended by Justices of the Supreme Court, members of Congress, the diplomatic corps, the Cabinet and other government departments and sometimes the President of the United States."

St. Matthew's was very cool, in a cathedral sort of way. As you can see from the photo (at right), it's got a lot going on, aesthetically. I was particularly intrigued by a small squirrel hanging out at the feet of one of the angels in the arch... any thoughts as to the symbolism? I attended the Mass with some other Catholic students from Georgetown Law, and we definitely spotted Justices Roberts, Alito, and Thomas... and I think I saw Scalia, but it was from a distance. I'm something of a nerd, so I created Supreme Court Justice flashcards (with photos) for my iPhone so as to ensure that I could properly identify all of the justices. Don't judge me. (Ha ha... don't judge me... ahem. I'll stop, now.) There were tons of important church leaders there, as well, including several archbishops, Cardinal Foley (he gave the homily), tons of bishops, and the leaders of the John Carroll Society, which is, for all intents and purposes, the who's who of Catholic professionals in D.C. After the Mass, I used my sweet Georgetown connections to get a seat at the John Carroll Society brunch. I sat at a table with a recently retired Georgetown Law professor and his wife, and they were great. I hope I'm that sociable when I'm 79 years old.

This week was primarily consumed by academics, but there were some other things going on as well. I watched the debate on Tuesday, which wasn't nearly as entertaining as the vice presidential debate, obviously, but still had its moments. I was watching with other students in my dorm, which made for a delightful evening of tongue-in-cheek commentary.

A few weeks ago, I had mentioned the Catholic Forum, and the potential formation of a small group Bible study. What I neglected to mention was that, well, I am co-leading that Bible study with a fellow 1L, Mike. At first, I was sort of shocked that there wasn't a Bible study at Georgetown, but then I saw and felt the need for Bible study here, and, after prayerful consideration, I was compelled to answer that call. Mike and I have been meeting and discussing and planning, and last night we had our first small group gathering. To put it frankly: we were the only two people to show up. Drat! I think we need more publicity. I mean, I baked a cake! You'd think that luring people with dessert would be more effective. Regardless, we are not disheartened by this turnout; this is not about us, but about God. All we can do is serve, and see what happens. Please, keep the small group in your prayers.

Today, after my Civil Procedure practice exam, I went for a long walk. I had vague thoughts of going to the National Archives, but the lines were gargantuan (darn you, schoolchildren!), so I walked across the street to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. So cool! As the name suggests, it is a garden with a myriad of sculptures. I'm glad I discovered it, because it seems like a good place to get lost in thought for a little while. My favorite sculpture was a gigantic spider (at left) by Louise Bourgeois, who, according to the blurb in the garden's pamphlet, has many works featuring spiders that appear as "looming and powerful protectresses, yet are nurturing, delicate, and vulnerable." I found this seemingly contradictory imagery intriguing, since I often associate spiders with my own mother, who has an affinity for the macabre.

After the garden, I meandered up and down the Mall for a while. I probably walked a good five miles, all told. I really miss walking. I realize that sentence sounds absurd, but allow me to elaborate. After four years of walking several miles daily in Berkeley, I truly feel its absence in my life living on-campus at Georgetown Law. The time spent walking was an opportunity to think, to observe, and often to pray. It's a challenge to build that caliber of contemplation and quietude into my day here. I miss walking.

I have high hopes for this weekend. We get Columbus Day (a.k.a., Indigenous Peoples' Day) off, which is lovely. I have high aspirations for productivity, but I'm also a bit worn out from this week, so that extra day will afford me the opportunity to be constructive by recharging as well as working. Peace, guys.

Discovery

October? How is it already October? I moved back East six weeks ago? Wow… just, wow.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the start of undergrad, as it is my only analogous experience to starting law school. Did the first six weeks fly by this quickly during my first semester at Cal? How soon did this new form of education start to feel routine—that is, how soon did I grow accustomed to lecture styles, to the reading materials? When did the novelty of dorm life wear off? When did I know that certain student groups would be my passion for the duration of my time there? When did I meet the people that had the deepest impact upon my understanding of education, of God, of life, of myself?

And yet, this isn’t Berkeley; in so many ways, the analogy falls short. After this, I’ll be entering the “real world,” not more school. My peers are older, more mature (for the most part). I’m surrounded by people who are all studying the same field—as diverse as our interests might be, everything is ultimately within the legal realm. I’m 2,849 miles away from home instead of 47. The setting is the epitome of urban, rather than a casual college town. Can I really compare the two experiences?

It is challenging, because I grew accustomed to life being a certain way in Berkeley. Within the first week of school each semester, I could always fill in my plans for the next 4 months in my agenda. Life was habitual. I have yet to establish habits here. I have aspirations as to how I’d like to live, certainly, but very few things that I’ve tried have emerged as habits yet. A very basic example: I don’t have a “spot” at the library. At Cal, I had a couple of places that were my favorite spots to study in the library. I lack defaults here; I must consider each choice anew. Consequently, I’ve been trying different places, to figure out what I like best. I’ve studied on every floor in each of our libraries. I think the 5th floor of Williams is emerging as my favorite, but it depends on whether I want a comfortable chair, or an interesting window view, or a big table, or simply to people watch. And, that cuts to the essence of my inquiries here: what do I want? What do I need?

And so, the discovery process continues.

On the lighter side, my Civil Procedure professor continues to amaze me with his incredible “words of wisdom” (thanks, Molly):

Professor: “His arm was torn off. I just…”
Class: “…hate it when that happens!”

Seriously, we all responded in chorus. You know you’re going to have an interesting semester when there’s a running joke about plaintiffs who’ve had their arms ripped off.

By the way, I posted a D.C. to-do list; check it out beneath the Prayer to St. Thomas More in the side bar. Suggestions are welcome!

Realization

Today, in Civil Procedure, at the very end of class, our professor announced an assignment not listed on the syllabus due tomorrow (i.e., 22.5 hours later). He posted a page-long hypothetical situation on our course website, and told us that we should come to class with a two-page written response, which should take two to three hours. I was a bit surprised, to say the least, but thankfully CivPro is my only class on Thursdays, so I’ve been working on it most of the afternoon and evening: reading in the library for hours, diligently reviewing my notes, meeting up with classmates to discuss, and meticulously writing my response.

And yet… why? There is no way that this will be turned in—he doesn’t want to read 120 of these! That’s when it hit me: this assignment has no bearing on anything except my understanding of subject-matter jurisdiction. Argh, my professor tricked me into studying harder… again! He keeps doing that to me. I want to argue that it’s not necessary, but I have to agree that it’s far more effective than merely suggesting that I ought to review 28 U.S.C. § 1332. All the same, I feel duped.

Speaking of CivPro—and legal trickery, for that matter—I have an awesome quote from my casebook from last night’s reading:

“Here is one of the many instances where the law achieved results thought desirable through the use of transparent fictions.”

The quote is referring to—well, it’s kind of tedious to explain. Trust me… you don’t want to know. What? You do? Um, okay, you asked: The quote is referring to diversity of citizenship with respect to corporations for establishing the original jurisdiction of a civil case in the federal district courts involving a corporation. Given that the citizenship of stockholders determines the citizenship of a corporation, the section operates under the premise that courts will treat a corporation as though all of its stockholders are from the state of its incorporation for the purposes of original jurisdiction based on diversity. Talk about truthiness! Yet, it's a necessary fallacy: otherwise, the reality is that stockholders are probably from a large number of states, which would make it very difficult to have diversity of citizenship in a case to which a corporation is a party.

See? I told you that you didn’t want to know.

Anyhow, I have other things to share from this week, but I'll leave it until tomorrow, when I'll have more time to write.

9/26/08 EDIT: Well, I'll be darned if my Civ Pro professor didn't collect the assignment. Apparently he does want to read 120 papers this weekend...

Haiku

I haven't seen this meme in ages! It's an automatic haiku generator. Delightful.

Haiku2 for inthepursuitofhisjustice
unrelenting i can already see that there is still much to learn
@ aboutmylife.netadvogato.orgblogger.comblogs.gnome.orgblogspot.comdeadjournal.comgreatestjournal.cominsanejournal.comlivejournal.commyspace.comspaces.msn.com
Created by Grahame

A couple of my favorites generated:

sentiment that studies
must be done with a profound
and awesome respect

was delightfully
dorky in a middle school
dance sort of structure

some research in the
library today it felt
very official

this fall that we will
trust in god for our guidance
and our strength amen