Memorial Day

I never cared to think about what is Memorial Day, besides the fact that it is a long-due public holiday bestowed upon us on the last Monday of May. But I turned on the TV and was convinced otherwise.

On a CNN report, some Vietnam veterans were handing out little flags to pedestrians outside of Meijer. He turned to the TV and said, 'I really appreciate a little 'thank you' from a random stranger.' The smile on his face looked a little distant and disappointed. It made me wonder if, decades after the war he had risked his life for, does he still need to seek solace from strangers that walk by and give a blank, formal 'thank you' to the paper flag that he gives them?

I made a mental note to myself that whatever I do in the future, I'd do it for myself, for my own conviction and beliefs.

Now there's a report on big Bush and his near-death experience in WWII. Hmm, very interesting. Definitely war movie material. This Jap that works in a radio station which Bush was trying to bomb showed up and now speaks perfect English, and was remembering his brief contact with Big Bush. Funny part is, big Bush wrote a letter to his family saying that he will never want his children to fight in a war again. We all know what happened. But anyway, big Bush is so damn lucky! He was floating on a banana boat off of a Jap island on the Pacific, and was being chased by a couple of Jap boats, when all of a sudden, an American submarine appeard near his boat! The other 8 people that he escaped with didn't make it and drowned.

Anyway, I'm also talkng to my cousin. He's only 30+ and has been long complaining that he doesn't enjoy his job.I asked him why he hasn't changed a job yet - and he replied that he had to support his parents and wife, whom have many expectations of him as son and husband, and that he can't take anyh risks right now. Thankfully he doesn't have any children yet. So tragically, he'll have to stick with his job until everyone is happy with him, which, I suppose, will be never.

I think I'm beginning to appreciate individualism now.

deleterious social groups

I am in a headache now, after making small talk on the phone for almost an hour. Seems like this lonely Saturday night, everyone is trying to find something to do. And as much as I need to get out of this depressing place, I feel glued to my bed. If it isn't for my near PMS date, I'd think I'm depressed. It's great to be sociable, and to 'hang out' and to 'catch up'. But what if I feel that I can't relate to anyone that 'hangs out' or 'catches up' with me? I mean, if the things we have to say to each other are really that important, do we really need to be doing a dozen other things as an excuse? One of the most boring things to do is to meet up with an acquaintance that you can't care less about and spend your precious time with them. Geez I sound like a pompous ass. But I just wish that people were more genuine, and be more honest with one another, so that talking to them doesn't feel like talking to a brick wall.

I realized, in this midst of stress and loneliness, the best things in life are very simple: tennis, yoga, and cheesecake. Actually scratch tennis and cheesecake.When I want something so badly, and can't have it, I feel like yoga is the only place where I can seek solace. There must be more depth and spirituality to what I am learning right now, and I doubt I will ever learn that, unless I have a whole lot of vacation time to travel to India. But knowing that there is a historical and spiritual depth to yoga gives me a sense of peace, and an impulse to seek purpose.

Marc is gone for the weekend. Strangely enough, I sort of miss his wry sense of humor, and just his mere lazy presence in the house. Hmmm, maybe I'll just go steal some of his coffee instead :P I learnt how to make fantastic Vietnamese coffee with Cafe Du Monde ground coffee and Carnation Condensed milk ;)

Tomorrow, tomorrow is the big day that I will find out from Nayana whether her dad has said yes to my internship opportunity with him. The basis for him to say yes is very weak: he barely knows me - an undergrad that is going to travel to India for a short two months, and that is also going to live, eat and sleep at his house! If I were a bigshot in the high court, I'd be selling internships like hot cakes. Still, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Other than that, I've written something less personal, but it didn't get posted. Was something about cultural exchange, US soldiers, and caning. RIght now I can't care less about those things.

LSAT!!!!!!! *vroooom vroooom.

btw - I don't know if I like Hemingway's style of writing. He tries so hard to write these 'tough' and 'terse' sentences, that I can only imagine his bottocks are also very 'terse'. Tight-assed. In any case, he wrote something about how he hated to be interrupted while he was writing, as much as he hated interruption during 'fornication.' I thought that was kind of funny. Imagine if he fornicates the way he writes. Quickies or quickies.

Hehe.

Behind the bench

Today I sat with the clerk, right in front of the judge and facing the defendants. While I was reading the case files, I lifted my head at the sounds of someone sobbing... The defendant, who was a 30+, chubby lady, was crying. She is an opiate addict with 6 children from the ages of 9 mo to 16 years, with another 'in the oven'. She was caught with a counterfeit doctor's prescription, and was caught by the police immediately after she left the shop.

It was disgusting.

She was sentenced to some jail time plus a drug treatment program, which probably won't prevent her from future relapses. If she's had 6 children and has gone on rehabs before, would a 7th child and another rehab help? What a waste. And where's her hubby? Can't he stop making drug babies with her?

Looking at defendants right in their face while they say "guilty" made my cynical mind think that not many of them actually are "guilty". In fact, they will probably commit those crimes again, either out of habbit or as a desperate means for survival. Whichever case it is, the criminal justice system does little to help them. The only people that seems to benefit from these criminal cases on a daily basis are the attorneys, judges, and prosecutors.

Peacocks and such

I was just wondering how come the people living in the slums at the back of the house wouldn't come to the front of the house and chop up the peacock for dinner.

Anyway.

After another tiring and not so productive day at the court, I asked the judge again if I woulding be doing any work, and although he keeps saying that he'd give me the case files 'tomorrow', he never does! So now I'm just chummying up with the various personnel that go in and out of the court. The judge's clerk asked me to sit behind the desk with her - she has a mountain of paperwork around her. Hmmm, paperwork fun.

I realized that when you dress pretty, benefits abound. I.e. in the crowded parking lot that I park everyday, the ownder of the lot reserved a spot next to the entrance for me so that I don't have to trot towards the gate everyday in those silly stillettos. Judges and lawyers would be v. nice and smile at you and try to crack or joke or two (all law-related, ewww.)

Plan for today - sleeeeeeeeeep. feels so good, and gives me bigger eyes in the morning. I'm also hoping that it'll help with my LSATs. teehee. yeah.

Wanna get my hands on some good books at last.

Contrary to good books, of coz, is American TV! I decided to turn on the box when I was cooking just now, and these are on: 1. I am Obese! A show that details triumphant acts achieved by obese youths. and 2. All major news channels were reporting the intrusion of a VERY small helicopter into the 25 mile protected radius of the White House. All the personnel were evacuated by the secret service staff, and the White House spokesperson has been dominating the major news channels with his very unenchanting press conference.

Peacocks and such

I was just wondering how come the people living in the slums at the back of the house wouldn't come to the front of the house and chop up the peacock for dinner.

Anyway.

After another tiring and not so productive day at the court, I asked the judge again if I woulding be doing any work, and although he keeps saying that he'd give me the case files 'tomorrow', he never does! So now I'm just chummying up with the various personnel that go in and out of the court. The judge's clerk asked me to sit behind the desk with her - she has a mountain of paperwork around her. Hmmm, paperwork fun.

I realized that when you dress pretty, benefits abound. I.e. in the crowded parking lot that I park everyday, the ownder of the lot reserved a spot next to the entrance for me so that I don't have to trot towards the gate everyday in those silly stillettos. Judges and lawyers would be v. nice and smile at you and try to crack or joke or two (all law-related, ewww.)

Plan for today - sleeeeeeeeeep. feels so good, and gives me bigger eyes in the morning. I'm also hoping that it'll help with my LSATs. teehee. yeah.

Wanna get my hands on some good books at last. Maybe should skip sleep and do that instead. ?

Pink Clouds in the Sky

Dinner at Kim's place is always a fancy affair: French cheese, Spanish wine, grilled salmon, fried rice, and dumplings (last two by yours truly). At the conclusion of the dinner, we had watermelon and chocolate swirl cake. v. good food. but it was so bland and boring, I'd rather have spent those 5 hours at home reading the Economist. Between work and friends and AIESEC, I really don't have time like that for myself. It sucks.

ommmm

Michigan has finally decided that that it's summer, and raised the temp from 40F to 80F in two days. I found myself on the verge of catching another cold.

Wait, wheres Spring???

After dinner today, I sat in my room and did a series of LSAT reading comprehension exercises. At the end of which, I felt slightly cheated - some of the answers on the exam contradict themselves. I suspiciously flipped to the front cover of the Baron's LSAT book, and found a very small note saying *not endorsed by LSAT, Inc. If it weren't written in a size 10 format on a huge, colorful cover cerpage, I wouldn't be so easily conned into buying it. So anyway, I'm going online to search for another book, while keeping myself entertained with this book.

I also lit a candle, made coffee, and had Phish food while doing the exams. It was fun :)

As a reward for myself, I decided to read America, the Book. Found a page taken up by a picture of "Third Parites Cemetary". I cracked up when I found the tombstone of the Democratic party, with a simple inscription: Democratic party - 1828 -... And a laborer digging the grave right next to it. The guy should also have a pair of blind glasses over him, and ear plugs.

India

This morning, I woke up to the sounds of a tow truck. The familiar beeping made my heart race even in my sleep. I jumped out of my bed and ran downstairs in my pj - the tow truck was towing away another car next to mine. Phew. After parking my Chrysler baby three blocks down on Linden, I realized I am becoming a slave to this $5000 piece of crap. Besides moving it to the safest 'home', I also have to get an oil change, and a new belt (literally) for the car. No idea where those things are situated, so will go to a car mechanic for help. I must tell myself that I own the car, not the other way round. Oh wait, actually, my parents own the car really, and the car owns me, sort of.

The David Polk & Wardwell lawyer wrote me back. I'm even more determined to go to Columbia now.

I am entertaining the thought of getting a 2 mo traineeship in India. In fact, I'll go online to search for one now. URREA and Brian Smith are still waiting for trainees. Maybe it's time to look someone up for them. One day, I'll own an international law firm and hire AIESEC lawyer wanna-be's and fly them around the world in first class cabins, and give them to-die-for internships, or traineeships, as we say.

Adrenaline rush

Ah, someone to look up to :)

http://www.sullcrom.com/lawyer.asp?WEB_ID=2

Court journal

Entries in my journal (part of assignment.) Might as well post them here :)

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May 4, 2005

9:15 AM First day at work. I was ‘escorted’ by a suspicious security guard the court, which was already seated and ready for the first trial of the day to begin. Judge McCree jumped off his chair and introduced me to everyone that works in the court.

9:30AM Observed the first sentencing trial on a youth caught with possession of less than 25g cocaine and the intent to deliver. The judge considered his education, the lack of prior criminal record, and decided to considerably reduce the recommended sentencing.

11:00AM Still sitting in the court as an observer. Wondering what I am going to do for the rest of the morning. Two attorneys broke into a catfight over a client. Judge shouted at them to no avail. Finally, client picked the less temperamental attorney. Trial continues.

11:15 AM For the third time, Judge McCree says “I want your money, not your time!” and reminded the defendant to “pay him, not thank him”. Laughs from a very entertained audience.

11:30 AM I was shocked by a blatant liar in court. The conversation went like this:
Judge: So where do you work?
Defendant: Er, Bob Evans.
J: Oh, where?
D: Hmm, emm, ahh, I can’t remember the street name.
J: How do you get there?
D: I drive.
J: Oh really, but your record says you have no driver’s license.
D: Oh, my wife takes me to court
J: (ignores the lies) OK… (and grant him a shorter probation period and a smaller fine.

12:00PM Judge finished his docket for the morning. Took Nick and me out for lunch. To my surprise, he has very with weed, coke, dope houses. Little wonder – he was a U of M frat boy in the late 70’s. His experience clearly helps him with his docket. Explains what is SOS: Stuck On Stupid.









May 5, 2005

9:10 AM Judge gives me the schedule for the morning. 20 cases in the docket, half sentencing and half pre-examinations (have to find out the procedural differences between the two.) He also gave me the file of a defendant to be trialed. File contains the probation court’s recommended sentencing, along with Sharon’s (the county prosecutor) recommended sentencing. File was big and filled with alien acronyms. Reminds myself that this is just common paperwork. Nothing complicated.

10:00AM Still an observer today, but understood a lot more than yesterday. Learnt about goodies that will grant defendants a lighter sentence from the judge: 1. HYTA – Home Youth Training Act: HYTA is a Michigan program that provides judges with a means of ordering rehabilitative treatment and/or confinement for up to three years for youthful offenders without proceeding to an adjudication of guilt and a criminal conviction (eWashtenaw ).
2. GED exam – Education obviously is supreme in Judge’s eyes. If you have to take an exam, or if you are in school, you will most definitely get a lighter sentence.
3. Possession of less than 25g of weed. Defendant is in good shape, because Judge has a lot of sympathy for such offenders.

11:30AM A group of dope-house appeared. These are probably what Judge calls SOS (i.e. why can’t you just smoke weed at home?) Lighter sentencing was given to everyone. I hear Christmas carols singing. Judge confesses to the entire court that he was a U of M graduate in the 70’s, so will understand that a small possession of weed is an understandable crime. Court laughs.

12:00AM Finished docket on time again! I was given the Judge’s father’s bio. Dad McCree was apparently a luminary in the legal history of America. He was the second black solicitor general in America, and personally argued cases involving Nixon’s tapes and reverse discrimination in Bakke. Found the following quote by the Judge:

“ Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.”

Son McCree clearly presides his court with his dad’s credo in mind.