"In vacant or in pensive mood..." I am: Bekah; 24; Law Student / Favorite Things: Carbs (so there!), Johnny Damon, Smiling at babies, Grilled cheese, Comfortable silence / Favorite Supreme Court Justice: Brennan / Favorite Wilson: Owen by an inch / Today's Special: Song: Elliott Smith, "Bled White"; Quote: "You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff." Please love me: mmbekah@yahoo.com

 
For the Law Students Out There

Do you ever feel bad when you accidentally print out a 400 page document on a Westlaw printer? I don't.

I don't, at least, as far as Westlaw is concerned. They're dumb enough to allow free printing for one and all, and it gives everyone an excuse to print a bunch of crap they'll never use just because it's easier than picking through everything. The Westlaw printer is the one place where law students can exploit the powers that be and get a little bit of a return on their tuition investment. Maybe I should feel bad for the Westlaw assistants who have to pile all the papers that come out of the printer. But you know what? That's their job. And if they want to ridicule me about my "oversized" print job, then so be it. I have a right to do it. I was watching the news the other day and there was an "obese people's rights" lawyer who referred to obese people as "people of size." A throwback to the antiquated "people of color" nomenclature? Or just plain RIDICULOUS? (Um, isn't everyone "of size"?). In any event, my Westlaw printouts are "of size," big and beautiful, and large and in charge, and the Westlaw people can just deal with it.

P.S. The Blogger spellchecker tried to change Westlaw to "Estella." I am not sure what that might mean.

posted by Bekah at 12:04 PM :: |

 
Happy Nerds!

As middle America sat on their couches, TV dinners in hand, saying, "Honey, look--there's some kind of robot thing on Mars...it really is more orange than red over there, isn't it?," a huge room full of nerds over at NASA began celebrating the greatest moment of their cute little pocket protecting lives. I just loved the footage of the scientists as they celebrated the rover's successful pictures. It was a beautiful scene. They gave each other high fives, and yes, they missed about half of the time and sometimes knocked off each others' glasses, but the point was still made. They tried to jump for joy and stumbled awkwardly into each other, but after the initial shock of such extensive human contact wore off, the cheers continued. According to CNN, one of the team members was filled with "shock and awe" when he saw the pictures, but I think he was also quoted as saying, "If this is what sex is like, I can honestly say I finally understand what the fuss is all about!" Aw, I'm kidding. Yay NASA, y'all are really smart and stuff and I do appreciate your good work.

Quote of the Day

"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a duck playing the saxophone. Especially an animated duck. But just don't do it in front of me."
-- Some comedian on VH1

Here's an interesting side note about that quote: When I heard it, I thought it was so funny that I almost peed myself. (Keep in mind that I'm home alone right now with no one to talk to but my dog). I didn't want to forget it, so I wrote it down on a piece of paper and put it on the table in front of me. I forgot about it until I heard my mom murmuring confusedly, "I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a duck playing the sax--" I tried to explain myself, but she just said, "Yeah. Ok...I thought law school had finally taken you around the bend..." She does have a point.

posted by Bekah at 8:50 PM :: |

 
I drove home today for a quick visit with the parents and my Dad greeted me, brow furrowed, with the following stern admonition: "Bekah, you have to update the Marathon. If you're not careful, you're going to lose your readership." I suspect that Dad really just wants me to write more about how cool he is, but I also realize that my posts have been lacking for a long time. There are reasons, I promise: I don't have internet at my apartment and I'm not in school right now, so the coffeehouse is my only option and I would rather not go there all the time when I don't have to. Besides, this alleged "readership" is mostly made up of students, and they're not on their computers over the break anyway. And the funnest (poetic license) stuff to write about usually happens when school is in session. Excuses aside, I know that I'm slacking, but rest assured, faithful reader(s?)--posts will resume regularly with the Spring semester.

So on my drive home I was lucky enough to pass through an area with an actual, authentic 80's station and I got some seriously good (and long overdue) alone-in-the-car rockage under my belt. Athough it was an exciting few hours, I couldn't help but be disturbed by the impeccable accuracy with which I was able to sing Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted." Not only did I know every word of the song (including the truly stellar rap sequence), but I also knew every precise intonation of the harmonies, as well as where every "oooh" and "uh-oh" belonged. If you have not listened to the song since, say, 1988, you may not have a sufficient understanding of its brilliantly atmospheric quality. It's almost symphonic, the way the music surrounds you as the synthesizer bends you to its will. I was mesmerized. The only thing that jolted me out of my Paula Abdul reverie was the billboard picturing a blurry streetscape and exclaiming YOU'RE KILLING US! Don't Drink and Drive. They really know how to play that subtlety card around here, a skill also evidenced by the neon orange and yellow "We Bare All!" signs dappling the countryside. Right. I have a terrible cold, complete with full congestion, pounding headache, and raging sore throat, and I think that combination is making me unpleasantly sarcastic. I'm going to stop writing and go play with my dog.

posted by Bekah at 9:16 PM :: |