Rambling Without Cause

Passed!

2008-11-14T14:05:00.001-05:00

*****

NAME: [REDACTED]

Date of Birth: [REDACTED]

The New York State Board of Law Examiners congratulates you on passing the New York State bar examination held on July 29-30, 2008. An official certification notice has been mailed and will contain your Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) scaled score. The notification which has been mailed is a required part of your application for admission to the Bar. In order to allow a reasonable time for the exam results to arrive by mail, requests for duplicate notices will not be accepted until after November 28, 2008. Although there is normally a $10 charge for a duplicate, due to the possibility of loss or damage in a bulk mailing, there will be a grace period with no charge for those requests received prior to December 10, 2008.

*****

Engaged!

2008-07-12T22:43:00.004-04:00

I'd say this counts as news worthy of a return from the blogging dead : )

Taken on the Fourth of July in Wolfeboro, NH about 3 minutes after she said "yes."

So Long, Farewell

2008-06-07T16:56:00.009-04:00

Now that I'm done with law school, I guess I really am a lawyer. It is, indeed, a hard thought to wrap my head around. Rarely have three years gone so fast.

Graduation, which fell on Memorial Day, was just beautiful. It was, at the same time, the most difficult day since I've become motherless. She wanted to live long enough to see me graduate so desperately that we almost went up for commencement a year early, in case she didn't live to attend my own. I regret I didn't push for that trip.

Her absence from this picture weighs on me. But I really did feel like she was there the whole time. I could hear her cheering (and crying). I could see her clapping (and standing in the shade). And, when they called my name to walk across the stage and receive my degree, I could feel her warmth and love. So much of what I've accomplished in life is due to her support and affection. That goes for you too, Dad.

But life, it seems, goes on.

I learned a lot in law school. But I learned even more from my mother. One of her lessons was to "think of the good times." So, I think of her a lot.

With this one by my side now, I know there are still plenty of good times to come.

Much of this blog has been devoted to my experiences as a law student and a son coping with the loss of a mother. Both of which have run, for the most part, their natural course. With that in mind, I now sign off. I'm not saying that I'll never post here again. I am saying that I rarely will.

Thanks for caring enough to check in on me from time to time.

Where's Waldo?

2008-05-24T19:41:00.003-04:00

Yale Law School Class of 2008

That Was Three Years Already?

2008-05-21T15:18:00.000-04:00

I used to be a law student.

The Final Countdown!

2008-05-16T10:36:00.002-04:00

10 days 'til commencement. 1 final to go.

You're all heart, Rock.

I'll Take What I Can Get

2008-05-12T14:05:00.005-04:00

 Women's College Lacrosse. Great sport or greatest sport?

1 Penn                   14- 1- 0    390
1 Northwestern                  17- 1- 0       390       
3 Maryland                      17- 2- 0       348       
3 Virginia                      14- 3- 0       348        
5 Syracuse                      16- 2- 0       321        
6 Georgetown                    12- 6- 0       286        
7 Boston University             17- 2- 0       276       
8 Princeton                     12- 4- 0       268        
9 Vanderbilt                    13- 5- 0       242        
10 Notre Dame                   12- 6- 0       197       

Rankings courtesy of laxpower.com

What Tom Friedman Said

2008-05-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

"So on this Mother’s Day, if you take one thing away from this column, take this: Call your mother. I sure wish I could call mine."

Fiesta Time

2008-05-05T17:23:00.003-04:00

Supervised Analytic Writing
October 17, 2007 - May 5, 2008

It began with this simple statement. It began again with this dejected statement. And it ends here. Today is the first day of my post-law school thesis life.

Home Sweet Home?

2008-05-04T23:04:00.007-04:00

If the coop board passes Girlfriend and me this week, my childhood home will cease serving as my permanent mailing address. Cornwallis Road had a nice run, but its in with the new. After growing up in the city's shadow, we finally drop the 'bridge and tunnel' label.

Anyway, this place comes totally furnished, the rent includes utilities, and the building is steps away from Gramercy Park.

It was kind of depressing, of course, to see NYC real estate prices for ourselves; but we're thrilled with our find. Plus, we managed to avoid going through a broker.

Moving on up, hopefully, the first of June.

That's A First

2008-04-30T21:30:00.002-04:00

You're having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day when you drop your only set of car keys through the one inch opening between the elevator and the floor, down the shaft.

Not Quite Waterboarding, But...

2008-04-23T11:23:00.004-04:00

We just spent over an HOUR talking about a sample MULTIPLE CHOICE exam question. Yale students never cease to amaze me in their ability to take simple exercises and confound them into a philosophical exegesis about the metameaning of life, law, the universe, and everything.

Four Random Observations

2008-04-20T00:18:00.005-04:00

1) Ladder 49 is among the worst movies I've ever seen.

2) No AIM chat name selected during the internet's dial-up days has withstood the test of time more than mine has. I still think 'Lubester' is cool.

3) I have the greatest girlfriend in the world, even if she did pick out Ladder 49 from Blockbuster tonight.

4) The new Yankee Stadium may come bearing gifts, but it won't have Section 39 of the Right Field bleachers.

Red Sox Fan at Yankee Stadium, courtesy of College Humor.

Tilting At Windmills?

2008-04-18T09:40:00.004-04:00

Dear Broker Guy,

My girlfriend and I are looking for a 1 bedroom (or convertible 2) in an elevator, pet friendly building. We're happy to consider doorman and non-doorman buildings alike, but we would prefer that you don't waste our time with anything sketchy and easily accessed. We will not pay more than $X,000 per month and we want at least X00 square feet. We want to live in or near Gramercy Park. Not "Gramercy." We don't want to live East of 3rd Ave, North of 23rd, West of Madison/Broadway, or South of 16th.

If you've anything available, we can be in the city next Friday and Saturday to look.

Thanks for your help.

Pretentious Prestige

2008-04-16T14:45:00.002-04:00

I think people that wear law review clothing, like sweatshirts and zip-ups, are compensating for not getting to wear varsity team clothing in high school. I don't remember people doing this at Stanford. But, I wasn't so jaded a law student two years ago. Maybe I just didn't notice this phenomenon as a 1L. In any case, I think that wearing a resume on your sleeve is too pretentious a behavior to go unmentioned here.

I Award You No Points. And May God Have Mercy On Your Soul.

2008-04-14T08:52:00.002-04:00

To appreciate the humor in this e-mail, assume that (1) I have not done a single page of class reading all semester, (2) I have a Harry Potter IQ of 0, and (3) there are about 100 people in this course. Enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Class:

Attached please find the papers filed with the U.S. District Court in the case of Warner Bros. & Rowling. v. RDR Books (S.D.N.Y.). The case has been fast tracked to combine a hearing on the preliminary injunction motion filed by Rowling and Warner Brothers with a trial on the merits. The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 14, at 9:30 am. in New York City.

We will debate the issues presented herein that same morning during class...

Panelists Lipari, Lopez, and Lubin (F&#*# *@#!!!) will be asked to present arguments for Rowling; Panelists Magaram, Maki, Manohar and Mendozo will argue for RDR Books.

MS

Department of Redundancy Department

2008-04-13T10:08:00.003-04:00

"Americans who believe in the Second Amendment believe it’s a constitutional right." - Hillary Rodham Clinton, First Lady of the United States, Senator of New York.

And this whole time I thought we were arguing about how we should interpret the constitutional right! I wasn't aware that the Second Amendment debate actually turned on whether it was, in fact, a constitutional right. In that case, call me a staunch Second Amendment supporter.

When I Was Your Age

2008-04-12T10:11:00.003-04:00

On my way to this NoHo coffee shop (where I am STILL trying to put this thesis to rest), I overheard a man explain to his daughter how people once used a machine called a "typewriter," before computers existed, to write things on paper by slamming metal keys that left ink.

It wasn't all that shocking, I guess. But, um, I remember learning to type on a typewriter.

When Locals Attack

2008-04-03T18:02:00.001-04:00

To the Members of the Yale Community:

Consistent with federal reporting requirements and in order to increase awareness of personal safety, I write to let you know that today at approximately 1:30 pm, New Haven and Yale Police responded to a report of a man being shot at with a bb gun on Elm Street near High Street. Two teenaged males, 13-16 years of age, shot in the direction of the man walking on Elm Street. They are 5'8" tall; one was wearing a black backpack, and the other, a dark zippered hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Fortunately, the man, who is not affiliated with the University, was not seriously injured.

Anyone having information about this incident should call the Yale Police immediately. If you should witness suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the Yale Police at 432-4400.

Sincerely,

Chief James A. Perrotti

Why Am I Back In New Haven?

2008-03-31T19:22:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I think it would be great to live out the rest of my life in a small, sun soaked, Spanish speaking beach town. And I don't mean after I retire.

Taken last week at sunset near Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Cash, Money, Papers

2008-03-12T13:02:00.006-04:00

Ever get the feeling in college that your Teaching Assistant didn't really "teach" or "assist" much of anything? I was hired this week, to the tune of $4200, to read and grade 27 papers written by undergrads in a seminar; a seminar that I didn't even know the title of or what law was relevant until well after signing on. True story.

In case you're actually curious, the undergrad course is on "Intellectual Property in the Digital Age." Incidentally, I'm enrolled right now in a class at the law school titled "Intro to Intellectual Property." This should be good.

My Way

2008-03-06T11:29:00.001-05:00

Finally on YouTube.

Pay no attention to the harsh studio lighting.

A Call To Action

2008-02-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

Two days before my Mom, Barbara Lubin, passed on, I shared a private moment with her. I could tell that we wouldn't get much more time together. She was so uncomfortable and in so much pain that it was impossible for me to stay very composed. But, I did ante up and manage to ask her something; I wanted to hear if there was any advice or any thing, with her deathbed perspective, that she would wish or ask of me.

"Mom," I said with a cracking voice. "Is there anything you'd want from me or like me to do in life?"

"Yeah," Mom replied with a smile. "Get a colonoscopy."

Even then, she kept her sense of humor. But, it surfaced in a message that she repeated again and again. And it's a message that I now pass on you.

Colon cancer is eminently treatable when CAUGHT EARLY (if caught in Stage 1, the five year survival rate is greater than 90%). Mom never forgave herself for waiting until she was 56 years old to get tested. By then, she was already in Stage 4 (where the five year survival rate is less than 5%). To help raise awareness for this disease, I have set a fundraising goal to support Partners in Prevention; I'd encourage you to set up your personal donation page too. Once you do that you can start sending emails to your friends, family and colleagues and invite them to make a donation to help us reach our goal.

Or, in the alternative, just come out and join us for the Remembrance Walk on March 9th! I am joining the Partners in Prevention on March 9, 2008 in Central Park for their 5th Annual New York Colon Cancer Challenge to help bring the message of prevention and hope to the New York community. I'd love to see you there.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts.

The Wisdom of Markets

2008-02-10T23:17:00.000-05:00

*courtesy of www.intrade.com*

1 Nov 2007 - Obama's chance of winning the Democratic Nomination = 12%

1 Dec 2007 - Obama's chance of winning the Democratic Nomination = 20%

1 Jan 2008 - Obama' s chance of winning the Democratic Nomination = 22%

1 Feb 2008 - Obama's chance of winning the Democratic Nomination = 68%

Just A Day, Just An Ordinary Day

2008-02-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

Given that I scrapped thirty pages of thesis written over the last two months, I think I'm holding up surprisingly well.