fin

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Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

this blog has grown from a personal ranting outlet to a political and philosophical soapbox -- and everything in between -- over the past 2 years i've maintained it... i've rambled about things both mundane and sublime and chronicled many significant events of my life during this period for the random visitors -- however many or few there have been -- who have stumbled on this site... alas, in recent months, i've had less time to compose original thoughts and relied too heavily on other people's commentary to fill its content, without really engaging the referenced material critically... it's a product both of my laziness and the sense (resignation?) that there's been little to distinguish my voice from the cacophony of the blogosphere... perhaps it's also because the premise on which this blog was built is no longer relevant to my current perspective and life situation...

all this is to say that sliced bread is officially toast...



however, i've laid the foundation for a new home for my online ramblings... as i enter my final year of law school and, soon thereafter, the next phase of my personal and professional life, this new forum is being designed as a different creative outlet with a broader perspective... the intent is to have it house some of my better articulated and/or more developed ideas and more relevant commentary on issues that "matter"... while i still intend to tackle a wide range of subjects, i'm also hoping that i'll be better focused and organized with my content... how successful this project will be remains to be seen...


in any case, i've had the time of my life, with this phase of my life...

if you care to follow my journey, update your link accordingly...

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quote of the day

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We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

— Robert Wilensky

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required reading

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to "celebrate" Call Day...

FROM: Anonymous Lawyer
TO: All partners, associates, e-mail correspondents, support slaves
RE: Required reading

Announcing a temporary change to the firm's long-standing policy that employees are not allowed to read anything besides lease agreements. Anonymous Lawyer: A Novel hit stores this week and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's, or your favorite on-line retailer. No, not that one. I mean the one that sells books.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pf283
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/pmbvs
Powell's: http://tinyurl.com/pqxao

In the novel, Anonymous Lawyer sets out on a quest to eliminate his biggest rival, The Jerk, and become chairman of the firm -- while dealing with incompetent associates, his spendthrift wife, and the inner torment deep in his soul. Very deep. It's not a compilation of blog posts. That would be like double-billing a client. And we never double-bill clients. Okay, we do, but not this time. New material.

USA Today calls the book "wickedly amusing," Publishers Weekly calls it "side-achingly funny," the New York Post gives it 4 stars out of 4, and my grandmother really loves it too.

We'll also be needing you to work this weekend on a memo for a case we've already settled, and there's a typo somewhere in the tax code that we need you to find. Thanks.

Back to work!


Anonymous Lawyer

http://anonymouslawfirm.com

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Anonymous Law Firm LLP

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Our firm was founded in 1908 by 13 lawyers who believed that the practice of law did not have to be merely one aspect of an attorney’s life but that it offered enough rewards – mentally, spiritually and financially – that it was all a person needed to live a complete existence. Our commitment to this ideal has driven us throughout our 98-year history, and continues to guide us as we approach the century mark.

With lawyers in offices around the world, Anonymous Law Firm offers clients comprehensive legal services, no matter their needs, and no matter the expertise of our staff. We are distinguished by our pledge to offer advice on whatever matters concern our clients, regardless of the skills and knowledge we bring to the table. This philosophy has enabled us to grow, shrink, and then grow once again as the market has opened up new opportunities with corporations who are unfamiliar with our work. Our unsurpassed record of involvement with our clients in all areas of their business has given us a dossier of experiences other firms simply cannot match. We have one compelling mission with regard to our clients: We can do the work, or at least we will spend the hours trying.

finally... an honest recruiting pitch...

good luck to everyone this Friday on Call Day!

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letter of the day

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I am sure that all the Canadians who have managed to get out of Lebanon must be heaving sighs of relief that they are on their way back home to safety. But the media have been full of reports showing angry and tired people who feel that our government has not done enough to get them out of Lebanon.

Unfortunately, their comments irritate and anger many of us, so I would like to voice a few questions that I have heard many times over the past several days. First, did the Canadian government force you to go to Lebanon? Second, has our government ever had to arrange such a huge evacuation? Third, of course you were tired and frightened when you arrived in a safer place, but did you have to show such vehemence and animosity toward those who were trying to get you out of that dangerous war-torn country? Fourth, do you really believe that this is a simple exercise for our government and armed forces?

My husband was fortunate enough to escape from Hungary during the 1956 Revolution. He was sent to England for several months, and then was given passage to Canada. Without much understanding of the English language, he had to sit on the floor for three days in an English airport before boarding a plane that took 24 hours to bring him, along with many other Hungarian refugees, to Canada. They were not given food, water, or anything else, but they did not complain because they were grateful that our nation was willing to help them.

Of course, gratitude is a feeling that appears to be missing in most of the scenarios we see playing out before us today. Co-ordinating this huge exodus would not be easy at the best of times, but it is a huge undertaking when bombs might be dropped on any of the ships that have been sent to help with the rescue.

So instead of complaining, be grateful that you, at least, made it out, and if you have other family members who are still waiting to be rescued, thank God for the fact that they are still alive. Many people are not. On behalf of many ordinary citizens, I would like to commend our federal government for its efforts to rescue stranded Canadians in Lebanon.

— Claudine Goller, Toronto Star (2006/07/21)

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on a less serious note...

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the "crisis" in the Mid-East

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I'm afraid I can't really offer an opinion either way. Being born in 1982, I'm simply one of the many who have been dropped in the middle of this long and bloody political story. Moreover, being an outsider to the narrative, it seems one couldn't escape charges of anti-Semitism or anti-Muslimism (is that a word?) should one offer an opinion one way or the other.

So I sit idly by and listen to the talking heads go back and forth. It's like tennis... with words and bombs. While I would like to think my interest in the issue has more of a philosophical and humanitarian underpinning, I can't help but think I'm just one of those effete "intellectuals".

Maybe I'm no better than "Ed".

At one level, I feel ashamed of myself. There's a war going on. People are getting killed. Missiles are falling on Haifa and Beirut and all I can think about is what time I'm getting off work and what I'm doing this weekend.

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