The Last Samurai

Everyone must see this movie. It's so AWESOME!!! Samurais, ninjas, great battle scenes, it's got it all!

update

Well, I haven't updated in a while, so i thought I'd put up a post-Christmas update. Santa was kind to me this year (I got yet another distraction, a Nintendo Gamecube and the new Mario Kart and Smash Brothers games, plus a bunch of other cool stuff), so that'll be a lot of fun. Break has been great, I feel very recharged and will be able to face next semester with some sanity. Things have been really busy around the house recently. My older bro. is getting married in a couple of weeks, so things are getting busier and busier as preperations are being made.

As for the quality of this blog...I'm gradually working on providing a better experience. I haven't really felt in the mood to use humor on the blog recently, but hopefully that'll change.

movie

Lord of the Rings!


What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla


good times.....

Office Space

I just finished watching office space on TV and it made me think...they make a good point. People were not meant to live behind a desk in front of a computer screen punching out a living writing reports so that someone can have yet another motion done or a client letter written. Men should be free...we should be out stalking the wild beast or out growing food...not this artificial flourescent light existence that we live today.... maybe I should just give it all up and move out to the woods somewhere....

an interesting quote

"Socrates dies with honor, surrounded by his disciples listening to the most tender words -the easiest death that one could wish to die. Jesus dies in pain, dishonor, mockery, the object of universal cursing – the most horrible death that one could fear. At the receipt of the cup of poison, Socrates blesses him who could not give it to him without tears; Jesus, while suffering the sharpest pains, prays for His most bitter enemies. If Socrates lived and died like a philosopher, Jesus lived and died like a god."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosopher (1712-78)

New Format

I redesigned the template to one I believe better fits my personality. I am now taking a poll: New format, So Good or No Good?? Leave your comments

Poast

well...it's pretty late, but I can't sleep, so I thought I'd post something on the blog. Exams are over and I'm now on christmas break and stayin w/da folks in Va Beach. Haven't done much today, just sat around, did a bit of Christmas shopping, and that's about it. I hope everyone out there is doing ok and is having a good break. Posting may be sporatic over the next few days due to the holiday festivities and all, but I hope to put up at least a few posts, and maybe some holiday related post on Christmas. Everyone have a safe trip wherever the winds may take you. For now, I bid you all a goodnight and farewell.....

ruling

An interesting ruling on medical marijuana out of the 9th circuit. They ruled that essentially there cannot be prosecution for violation of federal drug laws if it is grown/sold for medical purposes within states having medical marijuana laws if said marijuana is grown within the state (I assume that it's because if it is marijuana that goes between states it falls within the commerce clause). It'll be interesting if this is overturned on appeal....especially seeing as how this is the crazy, oft overturned, 9th circuit...but the reasoning kind of makes sense.

Tired

I must say....I'm way too drained today to post anything funny tonight. I've been studying way too long today, but I just have a few more days. I can't wait until it's over.

rut

I feel kinda stuck in a rut today.....same thing, day in and day out. Get up, study, etc.... I need excitement! I need adventure! I don't think life was meant to be lived this way (at least not if movies have taught me anything) If anyone has a good adventure, let me know. I'm always up for a little hunting for buried treasure or slaying some dragons.

Finally

Amazing! Saddam Hussein has been captured alive by US forces (this is NO JOKE) http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/14/sprj.irq.main/index.html finally, good news from Iraq.

This is interesting news....apparently Strom Thurmond had a mixed race daughter a few years back (she's 78 now) which he kept silent all these years..
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105695,00.html

2

magazine recently ran a "Dilbert quotes" contest. They were looking for people to submit quotes from their real life Dilbert-type managers. Here are some of the submittals.


As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday and employees will receive their cards in two weeks. (This was the winning quote from Fred Dales at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington.)

What I need is a list of specific unknown problems we will encounter. (Lykes Lines Shipping)

E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business. (Accounting manager, Electric Boat Company)

This project is so important, we can't let things that are more important interfere with it. (Advertising/Marketing manager, United Parcel Service)

Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule. No one will believe you solved this problem in one day! We've been working on it for months. Now, go act busy for a few weeks and I'll let you know when it's time to tell them. (R&D supervisor, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing/3M Corp.)

My Boss spent the entire weekend retyping a 25-page proposal that needed only corrections. She claims the disk I gave her was damaged and she couldn't edit it. The disk I gave her was write-protected. (CIO of Dell Computers)

Quote from the Boss: "Teamwork is a lot of people doing what 'I' say." (Marketing executive, Citrix Corporation)

"How About Friday?" My sister passed away and her funeral was scheduled for Monday. When I told my Boss, he said she died so that I would have to miss work on the busiest day of the year. He then asked if we could change her burial to Friday. He said, "That would be better for me." (Shipping executive, FTD Florists)

"We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees." (Switching supervisor, AT&T Long Lines Division)

We recently received a memo from senior management saying: "This is to inform you that a memo will be issued today regarding the subject mentioned above." (Microsoft, Legal Affairs Division)

One day my Boss asked me to submit a status report to him concerning a project I was working on. I asked him if tomorrow would be soon enough. He said, "If I wanted it tomorrow, I would have waited until tomorrow to ask for it!" (New business manager, Hallmark Greeting Cards.)

Speaking the Same Language: As director of communications I was asked to prepare a memo reviewing our company's training programs and materials. In the body of the memo one of the sentences mentioned the "pedagogical approach" used by one of the training manuals. The day after I routed the memo to the executive committee, I was called into the HR director's office, and told that the executive vice president wanted me out of the building by lunch. When I asked why, I was told that she wouldn't stand for "perverts" working in her company. Finally he showed me her copy of the memo, with her demand that I be fired -- and the word "pedagogical" circled in red. The HR manager was fairly reasonable, and once he looked the word up in his dictionary, and made a copy of the definition to send back to her, he told me not to worry. He would take care of it. Two days later a memo to the entire staff came out - directing us that no words which could not be found in the local Sunday newspaper could be used in company memos. A month later, I resigned. In accordance with company policy, I created my resignation memo by pasting words together from the Sunday paper. (Taco Bell Corporation)

This gem is the closing paragraph of a nationally-circulated memo from a large communications company: "(Company name) is endeavorily determined to promote constant attention on current procedures of transacting business focusing emphasis on innovative ways to better, if not supersede, the expectations of quality!" (Lucent Technologies)

Laws

I found some interesting supposed VA laws while surfing on the web, I make no representations as to their authenticity nor do I make any statements as to their validity and no I don't have the code citations.....but I assure you the ones under Va Beach are real, so I assume the other ones are....man...I've been in law school too long if I feel the need to even put up a disclaimer like this....


Virginia Crazy Law
Children are not to go trick-or-treating on Halloween.


It is illegal to tickle women.


Driving while not wearing shoes is prohibited. (Repealed)


You may not work on Sunday. (Repealed)


Citizens must honk their horn while passing other cars.


It is illegal to spit on sidewalk.


There is a state law prohibiting "corrupt practices of bribery by any person other than candidates."


Police radar detectors are illegal.


It is illegal to sell peanut brittle on Sundays. (Repealed)


You cannot sell lettuce on Sunday, but you can sell beer, wine etc. (Repealed)


You cannot buy hardware of any kind on Sunday. (Passed in 1975, repealed in 1977)


Culpeper
No one may wash a mule on the sidewalk.


Dayton
A person of color may not be oustide or within the city limits after 7 pm.


Lebanon
It is illegal to kick your wife out of bed.


Norfolk
Women must wear a corsette after sundown and be in the company of male chaperone.


A man may face 60 days in jail for patting a woman's derriere.


Spitting on a sea gull is not tolerated.


Richmond
It is illegal to flip a coin in a restaurant to see who pays for a coffee.


Stafford County
It is legal for a man to beat his wife on the courthouse steps so long as it is before 8:00 pm.


Victoria
It is illegal to skate down the sidewalk of Main Street.


Virginia Beach
It is also unlawful to drive by the same place within 30 minutes on Atlantic Avenue.


If you are drunk and not driving your car, and the person who is driving the car is drunk as well, you may both receive DUI's.


It is illegal to use profanity on Atlantic Avenue or the boardwalk.


It is illegal for a person to ride on the handlebars of a bike.


Waynesboro
It is illegal for a woman to drive a car up Main Street unless her husband is walking in front of the car waving a red flag

Came from this site

china

Apparently China is all about understanding people from other cultures and creating dialogue....that is of course unless you're in Tibet, a Muslim from Xinxiang, or other non-Han Chinese types in China.....

repost

I posted this a few months ago, but seeing as how my readership base has grown substantially since then, I thought that I'd repost it because it's so good. Ladies and getlemen, may I present the the greatest music video of all time: Tunak Tunak Tun by Daler Mehndi

earthquake

So I heard that today on the radio that there was a little earthquake 30 mi. or so west of Richmond (4.2 or so on Richter scale) How weird is that? I didn't even know there was a fault line in VA.

bush

Although this blog is generally a Bush supporter, it still finds this site incredibly funny. Bush or Chimp? Everyone must see this...

everything

A great place to get ideas for Christmas gifts for that person on your list who seems to have everything: Dave Barry's 2003 Holiday Gift Guide..it has ideas for such great gifts as presidential action figures or caffinated soap.

Monkeys

You may ask "Josh... I'm an Orangutan looking for a spa but I can't find one that caters to my needs, where can I go?" Well...you're in luck. Just go on over to the Denver Zoo and they'll fix you right up........

Another happy client.....

ponder

Something to ponder this holiday season.....
Eventide of the Feast

Night has fallen and obscurity engulfed the city while the lights glittered in the palaces and the huts and the shops. The multitudes, wearing their festive raiment, crowded the streets and upon their faces appeared the signs of celebration and contentment.

I avoided the clamor of the throngs and walked alone, contemplating the Man Whose greatness they were honouring, and meditating the Genius of the Ages Who was born in poverty, and lived virtuously, and died on the Cross.

I was pondering the burning torch, which was lighted in this humble village in Syria by the Holy Spirit....The Holy Spirit Who hovers over all the ages, and penetrates one civilization and then another through His truth.

As I reached the public garden, I seated myself on a rustic bench and commenced looking between the naked trees toward the crowded streets; I listened to the hymns and songs of the celebrants.

After an hour of deep thinking, I looked sidewise and was surprised to find a man sitting by me, holding a short branch with which he engraved vague figures on the ground. I was startled, for I had not seen nor heard his approach, but I said within myself, "He is solitary, as I am." And after looking thoroughly at him, I saw that inspite of his old-fashioned raiment and long hair, he was a dignified man, worthy of attention. It seemed that he detected the thoughts within me, for in a deep and quiet voice he said, "Good evening, my son."

"Good evening to you." I responded with respect.

And he resumed his drawing while the strangely soothing sound of his voice was still echoing in my ears. And I spoke to him again, saying, "Are you a stranger in this city?"

"Yes, I am a stranger in this city and every city," he replied. I consoled him, adding, "A stranger should forget that he is an outsider in these holidays, for there is kindness and generosity in the people." He replied wearily, "I am more a stranger in these days than in any other." Having thus spoken, he looked at the clear skies; his eyes probed the stars and his lips quivered as if he had found in the firmament an image of a distant country. His queer statement aroused m interest, and I said, "This is the time of the year when the people are kind to all other people. The rich remember the poor and the strong have compassion for the weak."

He returned, "Yes, the momentary mercy of the rich upon the poor is bitter, and the sympathy of the strong toward the weak is naught but a reminder of superiority."

I affirmed, "your words have merit, but the weak poor do not care to know what transpires in the heart of the rich, and the hungry never think of the method by which eh bread he is craving is kneaded and baked,"

And he responded, "The one who receives is not mindful, but the one who gives bears the burden of cautioning himself that it is with a view to brotherly love, and toward friendly aid, and not to self-esteem."

I was amazed at his wisdom, and again commenced to meditate upon his ancient appearance and strange garments. Then I returned mentally and said, "It appears that you are in need of help; will you accept a few coins from me?" And with a sad smile he answered me, saying, "Yes, I am in desperate need, but not of gold or silver."

Puzzled, I asked, "What is it that you require?"

Sorrowfully he answered, "I have tried every inn, and knocked at every door, but in vain. I have entered every food shop, but none cared to help me. I am hurt, not hungry; I am disappointed, not tired; I seek not a roof, but human shelter."

I said within myself, "What a strange person he is! Once he talks like a philosopher and again like a madman!" As I whispered these thoughts into the ears of my inner self, he stared at me, lowered his voice to a sad level, and said, "Yes, I am a madman, but even a madman will find himself a stranger without shelter and hungry without food, for the heart of man is empty."

I apologized to him, saying, "I regret my unwitting thought. Would you accept my hospitality and take shelter in my quarters?"

"I knocked at your door and all the doors one thousand times, and received no answer, " he answered severely.

Now I was convinced that he was truly a madman, and I suggested, "Let us go now, and proceed to my home."

He lifted his head slowly and said, "If you were aware of my identity you would not invite me to you home."

"Who are you?" I inquired, fearfully, slowly.

With a voice that sounded like the roar of the ocean, he thundered, bitterly, "I am the revolution who builds what the nations destroy....I am the tempest who uproots the plants, grown by the ages....I am the one who came to spread war on earth and not peace, for man is content only in misery!"

And, with tears coursing down his cheeks, he stood up high, and a mist of light grew about him, and he stretched forth his arms, and I saw the marks of the nails in the palms of his hands; I prostrated myself before him convulsively and cried out, saying, "Oh Jesus, the Nazarene!"

And He continued, in anguish, "The people are celebrating in My honour, pursuing the tradition woven by the ages around My name, but as to Myself, I am a stranger wandering from East to West upon this earth, and no one knows of Me. The foxes have their holes, and the birds of the skies their nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest His head."

At that moment, I opened my eyes, lifted my head, and looked around, but found naught except a column of smoke before me and I heard on the shivering voice of the silence of the night, coming from the depths of Eternity. I collected myself and looked again to the singing throngs in the distance, and a voice within me said, "The very strength that protects the heart from injury is the strength that prevents the heart from enlarging to its intended greatness within. The song of the voice is sweet, but the song of the heart is the pure voice of heaven."

~Kahlil Gibran~

post

Ok people, I'm gonna try something different here.......a real blog type post instead of posting a joke or whatever........

Anyways.....exams are fun....well not really but I've been studying a lot recently, but not nearly as much as the first year students. They're all stressed out like crazy, it's kinda interesting to watch......everyone likes seeing a trainwreck. It's not too bad on this end, although it'd be nice to have a little time to do some Christmas shopping or go to Christmas parties, etc.....but oh well, that's how it goes. Looks like i'm just gonna be fightin the rush on the weekend before the holiday. That's how it goes I guess, I've gotten a little used to it. I'll tell you what though, I can't wait till exams are over, I plan on going nuts that day....I can't wait.

On another note, it's been snowing a little bit here recently, which is weird because I would think that it's a little too warm for that (it hasn't been sticking or anything), but it's kinda nice. A lot of people have been complaining about the weather, but I think you can find something beautiful about most things, and people should just really look around them more to appreciate it, it def. helps ease the stress and get some perspective....

Peace out


P.S. I'm curious as to who reads this blog.....I'd like a little feedback from people in the comments just to say hi or watever....

ct

supposedly all of the following were said in court, where or when I dunno, I pulled it off the web somewhere while procrastiating
People Really Said These Things In Court

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: This myasthenia gravis - does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: All your responses must be oral, okay? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.

Q: How old is your son - the one living with you.
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: Sir, what is your IQ?
A: Well, I can see pretty well, I think.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in the voodoo occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?

Q: Did he kill you?

Q: How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision?

Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?

Q: How many times have you committed suicide?

Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?

Q: You say the stairs went down to the basement?
A: Yes.
Q: And these stairs, did they go up also?

Q: Mr. Slattery, you went on a rather elaborate honeymoon, didn't you?
A: I went to Europe, sir.
Q: And you took your new wife?

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

student

Found this somewhere on the web:
You might be a law student if:

If you average 3 hours of sleep a night
If your trash is overflowing and your bank account isn't
If you go to Wal-Mart more than 3 times a week
If you are personally keeping the local pizza place from bankruptcy
If you wake up 10 minutes before class
If you wear the same jeans 13 days in a row -- without washing them
If your breakfast consists of a coke on the way to class
If your social life consists of a date with the library
If it takes a shovel to find the floor of your room
If you carry less than a dollar on your person
If you haven't done laundry in so long you are wearing your swim suit to class
If you celebrate when you find a quarter
If your room is so cold that your toilet freezes over
If you wear a sweat suit for so long that it stands up by itself
If your backpack is giving you Scoliosis
If you get more sleep in class than in your room
If your idea of feeding the poor is buying yourself some Ramen Noodles
If you can sleep through your roommate's blaring stereo
If you live in an area that is smaller than most mobile homes
If you get more e-mail than mail...........
.......and if you get e-mails about them trimming the shrubs, then you're a W&M student.......

read this

I heartily encourage everyone to read this opion Noble v. Bradford Marine, Inc., 789 F. Supp. 395 (S.D. Fla. 1992). Anyone who enjoyed the movie Wayne's world will love this one.....unfortunately I don't have a link to the case, but everyone with westlaw/lexis lawschool access, punch it up....

post

Whoever was post 500 didn't leave a comment like I requested....whoever it was, be warned...when I become emperor you shall be banished to North Dakota.......

Deutschland

Only in germany could this happen. Question for all you Torts students out there.....can you consent to being eaten?

P0AsT

We're comin up on a huge milestone, visitor #500. Whoever that visitor is, put a post up as a comment to this poast, or as a message on the tagboard for posterity

stud

Presidential candidate/ Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, mack daddy: who'd of thunk it,

take that

Take THAT W&M...oh wait......hm.......loyalties torn.......don't know how to respond.....