The Weakest Link

I went into today feeling good, not great about Computer Crime. As the day progressed, I felt better and better. Remember the curve. In the morning, I was studying with a friend when three other people in the class came over and started asking us questions. That was fine for a little, but after a while it gets annoying. I'm your classmate, not your tutor. I'm happy to help, but not teach you the things you totally missed. Studying with more than three people is almost always a waste of time, so I declined the invitation to go "talk about possible policy questions" in the afternoon. My best guess is that was code for "reassure ourselves that we'll be fine despite not paying much attention during the semester." I didn't really need to do that. I find it a better use of time to study rather than to wallow.

The review session was also confidence-inspiring. A kid spent five minutes asking our professor about mens rea requirements. And not some nuance in the law. He didn't understand the role of the jury in determining whether a defendant did something "knowingly" and how you would go about proving that. The concept really baffled him. Dude, you introduce evidence and elicit testimony. That's how trials work. Always. You should have learned that in 1L Criminal Law. Actually, you should have learned that watching "Law and Order." You are the weakest link, goodbye.

That awful feeling when all the sports teams you care about lose in the same night.

Felonious Escape

It was another long study day. But a very rewarding one. I went into it having a shaky notion of the material on my exam, and I end the day having at least a decent grasp on the material. A noticeable improvement. I may yet get out of this class with a decent grade. The problem with Crim is there are so many damn rules to remember which vary between common law and the Model Penal Code (sounds funny, i know), and they vary jurisdictionally, and there are tons of minority approaches for the rules. Basically for each rule I want to know, there are at least two ways to do it, both of which I have to know. Huge pain. Also, the only crimes we really seemed to cover were larceny, burglary, rape, and homicide. I guess conspiracy, solicitation, and attempt also. But that's a pretty limited range of crimes, isn't it. Like if you get arrested for drug possession, I can't help you; I've got nothing. I thought this was supposed to be practical training here. Most helpful would be learning about drunk in public charges, for all you lushes. Also, for a while there I was working to get some guy out of jail who didn't commit the crime he's in there for. If I could learn something that might help in that regard, that could be good too. It's only his life on the line here, no big deal. And, to say the least, my old boss ain't getting the job done by herself. She needs all the help she can get (on this and in her life generally). That means me, Shaked, and Schutzer have to get ourselves some book-learning 'bout this. (Citation for the phrase "book-learning" goes to Mr. Ryan Fanning, as per his request.)

The nice thing about finals, particularly today, is that we are kind of all in it together (read: all completely screwed). It is completely different in law school than it was in college. Exhibit 1: I spent a crapload of time studying today. Exhibit 2: I'm not terribly confident about my grasp on it. Exhibit C: I am graded against my classmates rather than on my own merits. I don't mind the hard work, but it's Exhibit C that really gets me. I wish we could just be graded based on how we do, but alas it is not to be. So I've just gotta be better than other people. It can happen. Step up. "Step Up 2: The Streets." Brush some dirt off my shoulder. This will be resolved whenever I get my grades back, probably in February. Great. Lots of anticipa...........tion.

I wish more happened to me today, but really I spent the day moving from study group to study group, absorbing knowledge and losing my sanity. At least everyone is losing their sanity as well. Law school jokes are seeming funny. Like the irony involved if someone got hit on the head with a Torts casebook. NOT FUNNY. I know, I know. I'm done.

We musn't dwell

Today in Crim Law my professor offered someone immunity from cold calls for the rest of the semester if they got up in front of the class and sung the "Different Strokes" theme song. No one did it, but it would have been amazing if they had. My professor then proceeded to use hypotheticals from the show, mostly involving Gary Coleman getting stabbed.

Irregardless is not a real word. I don't care what you or your spellchecker think. It means the same thing as regardless, and is not one of those flammable/inflammable things (which is also dumb).

In law there is a causality test called the "but-for" test. It asks would x have happened but for y. For example: but for the car's reckless driving, it would not have hit the cow. It's called the but for test! I laugh every time! And it wasn't very appropriate in Torts class.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day yesterday. The 404th anniversary of the Gunpowder Treason Plot. It still hasn't been forgot. Also, Guy Fawkes Day is where we derive the word 'guy' from, as in 'that guy.' In England they burn small effigies of Guy Fawkes - little Guys. That's where we get it. Fun fact. Or, if you don't like history, but do like movies/graphic novels, happy V for Vendetta Day, you devoid intellectual, you.

In light of Guy Fawkes Day, it may have been inappropriate for the "Tea Partiers" (hereafter referred to as tea baggers) to be protesting at the Capitol. After all, Guy Fawkes was protesting the government by trying to blow it up. Maybe not the best message to be sending. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's anti-democratic. And you know those tea baggers, they love democracy. Can't get enough of it. They love it so much that their idea of the democratic process is trying to intimidate legislators into voting against expanding health care. What could be more American than that? What a generous and kind-hearted thing to do. Also, this protest took place on a Thursday morning/afternoon. And people got bussed in for this. Don't you have jobs to do and families to attend to? Neglecting your family and occupation, once again, what could be more American. Also, I'd like to know what percentage of the tea baggers were non-white. My guess is approaching 0% What percentage of the tea baggers had an IQ that didn't put them in a range dangerously close to being retarded? My guess is approaching 10% These aren't people I'd want to be follwing around.