Frenchman With An Italian Accent

I swear this is my last post about the Court for a while, but I am rather obsessed. This is a FANTASTIC discussion between two very smart, very brilliant Supreme Court justices about the role of the Constitution. A phenomenal debate over Jurisprudence. Also, notice how civil they are to each other. Never a personal or angry comment, and they actually wait until the other is finished talking! I wish politicians could talk this way...



Chice

Justice Scalia on 60 Minutes

Part 1:


Part 2:


Chice

SOTW: 4/28-5/4

Song of the Week: "Wicked Wanda" by Stephen Malkmus


Chice

For What It's Worth

CRAZY!

I'm way into Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young right now, and I was goofing around online last night when I ran across the Buffalo Springfield (the band Stephen Stills and Neil Young were in pre-CSNY) song "For What It's Worth". I LOVE this song, and I totally didn't know it was a Stephen Stills song. Crazy.

Listen to it (via you tube) here:


Chice

The Mitchell & Webb Situation

Farming:


Detectives:


Getting Over Lucy:


Poison (my fav):


Holmes & Watson/Can People Levitate:


Chice

Wrapping up Baze

Plenty more has been written about last week's Supreme Court case that came down, a very important and memorable Baze v. Rees. I've updated my earlier post that included some great articles about the case (which now includes even more), so be a cool cat and check that out. Also, here's my original post on the case. Peace.

Chice

White Rabbit in Wonderland

Chice

Love Songs

This is a French movie that I originally thought looked dumb but now really want to see (I'm pretty sure), called Love Songs. I think I'm attracted to the whole liberal European thing, the music, and the obvious meditations on love, sex, and long-term relationships, a topic that fascinates me to no end.

Here's the Trailer:

Love Songs Trailer
Uploaded by ifcfilms

Chice

SOTW: 4/21-4/27

Song of the Week: "Mother Nature" by Kelley Stoltz


Chice

Sidenote:

I got those tables after all, so everything's cool!

Chice

Live A Life...

You know that saying, "live a life of disappointment rather than one of regret"? I've always kind of liked it, but recently I've experienced a couple of minor things that really have taught me how true that is.

Last night, for example, I was taking a midnight walk around my block to clear my head, when I came across a couple great pieces of furniture out on someone's lawn with a "free" sign on them. They were small, simple, and would have been perfect set pieces for my show this spring (and to just have in general). I was amazed, and I almost just picked them up right then and there, but I was tired, it was late, and if my parents woke up and saw me in the backyard with a big table in my arms (they didn't know I was out), I didn't want to have to explain myself. Now it sounds dumb, but I just shrugged and told myself I'd set an early alarm and get them tomorrow morning. So this morning, surprise surprise-they're gone.

I know that if I had gotten them last night and my parents had found me or something else awkward would have happened, it would have been just that-awkward, for a moment, and then we would have moved on. I would've to trade in one awkward moment at 3 in the morning for a glorious table and nightstand that I can have for the rest of my life if I want. And now that I waited for no good reason: I have no table, no nightstand, and some regret.

I know, I know. What a dorky example. It is a silly thing to worry about in this case, and I could give you more serious examples, but I'll save the drama. I really do believe that though: "live a life of disappointment, rather than one of regret." In other words, go for it.

Chice

Relationship People

I'm starting to believe more and more that everyone is either a Relationship Person, or not. (A singles person?) Everyone I know seems to be one or the other. Aka, they either are happiest when in an actual relationship, or they feel claustrophobic in a relationship and they're only happy when they're completely free.

I have a friend, for example, who's "dating" a girl who's very much the latter. Whenever she's been in something that even resembled a relationship before, she immediately would get scared and end things. She doesn't get around tons or anything, but she absolutely can't ever be in anything that would be deemed an actual "relationship", or she'd freak out. She knows this about herself though, and has told my friend all about it. My friend, therefore, is currently bending himself backwards over trying to give her enough space to not feel like this is a "relationship", even though they're exclusive and see each other all the time. She can't be seen in public with him (then people would talk and they would be on some kind of official status), and they can't hang out alone for too long.

Now, I'm not judging this, her, or my friend in any way. It's not my deal, and therefore not my place to judge, but permit me a chance to at least say that it's a bit peculiar to me, a relationship person for sure. I've always kind of thought about myself this way, but I've very recently realized how true it is.

A relationship of over two and a half years, most of my high school career, ended a few days ago, and the last few days have taught me a lot about how much of a relationship person I really am. This was a relationship that I wasn't getting tons out of towards the end of things, and it ended mutually and civilly because we both kind of felt this way. Aka, we weren't right for each other anymore, and we both just felt like things had run their course. I felt fine for a day or two, but now I feel strangely lonely and empty, and I'm thinking tons about her and all of it.

How bizarre: I wanted out of the relationship (at least at times) when I was in it, and I really was okay when things ended. I've thought a lot about it, and this is my theory: I don't miss the relationship itself (or her in particular), but I miss a relationship. I think that I'm such a relationship person in general, that when I'm not in one I do feel lonely or empty in a way.

Now, I'm not as much a relationship person as my friend's (...girlfriend?) is a singles person. I'm not by any means one of those people who absolutely can't be alone and needs constant validation that way, but I do get lonely when I'm without someone I think, maybe more than most people. It's also possible this is just me dealing with the break up, I don't know. It's a theory...

Chice

DS: Headlines - Gaffe-In

Chice

More Death Penalty

Yesterday was a huge day at the Court: there was a great oral argument, and two interesting cases came down (one of which I discussed yesterday). The great argument was for Kennedy v. Louisiana, which asks if using the death penalty for child rape violates the 8th amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. If at all interested, you can find the transcript of the oral argument for that on this page (the Oyez audio has yet to be uploaded).

Here are a few more links on the death penalty case that came down yesterday (crazy, that there's two in one day). They're posts off of ScotusBlog, the leading Supreme Court website run by constitutional lawyers.

Lethal Injection Allowed

Commentary: Praise for Baze

First Post-Baze Maneuvers

Baze Commentary: Going Forward

Baze Commentary: Protocol & Practice

Analysis: The Baze Sequels - A Single Pattern

Chice

Baze v. Rees

In Baze v. Rees, the Supreme Court, for the first time in history, heard constitutional challenges to the three-chemical formula that 36 states use to carry out the death penalty by lethal injection. The issue is raised by two Kentucky death row inmates, neither of whom faces an imminent execution date. Their appeal poses three questions dealing with their claim that the particular drug protocol causes unnecessary pain and suffering that could be avoided, and thus violates the Eighth Amendment ban on “cruel and unusual punishment.” The case does not raise the question of whether lethal injection is always unconstitutional; it is an attack only on a specific formula.

This case came down today-very interesting. Here are some links if you're interested:

Wiki

Post of SCOTUSBlog

Oral Argument

The opinion can be downloaded in this post.

Chice

Candor & Courtesy

Thomas Jefferson always regarded candor and courtesy as incompatible. Aka, one can usually choose between being honest and being nice, but not both.

Do you agree with him?

Jefferson had a tendency his entire life to simplify things into black and white, when naturally they are almost never that simple. This is probably an example of that: candor and courtesy are of course compatible in some situations, and when they aren't we all naturally go with on or the other depending on the situation. This begs the question though, how often do you go for candor, and how often for courtesy? How often are you honest with someone when you could have been a bit more polite or told them what they wanted to hear? And how often do you think one thing and say another?

I think a great deal of it depends on where you grew up. I've found that Midwesterners, for example, choose courtesy over candor much more than East Coasters do . In general actually, it's been my experience that the more urban you are, the more blunt you are, and the more small town/country you are, the more courteous and polite you are.

Neither way is inherently better or worse than the other; it's naturally just a cultural thing. But do you think one is superior to the other (most of the time). I know I'm inclined to favor candor over courtesy in most situations, having grown up in the Midwest (where people are very mannered, polite, and modest). These tendencies drive me crazy, and I have the time of my life any time I travel East and hear people talk the way I think they're meant to. So not all of it is completely related to your upbringing either. (Unless my dislike of all the courtesy is a subconscious rejection of my roots, a desire to grow up and be different than my parents. I do want this, but I don't think that's it. Think what you will.) It's also very possible then that we're all just wired too for one way or another. But look at me doing what I criticized Jefferson for doing: simplifying everything into black and white. It's of course a mix of your upbringing and your biology.

It's still an interesting question though, isn't it? What do you choose more often, candor or courtesy (when they are indeed incompatible)? Why?

Chice

SOTW: 4/14-4/20

Song Of The Week: "Stay Free" By Black Mountain




Chice

SNL: Daiquiri Girl

Chice

Come Back, "Almighty Physician"

Thomas Jefferson called the sun his "almighty physician". He said that pretty much no matter what was the matter, no matter what was bothering him, the sun would cheer him up and make things alright.

It's April, and it's still snowing here! I can't remember the last time it's been this crappy this late in the year. Everyone I know is pretty down, and I know I am. It really does go to show how powerful an impact the weather has on us, how at its mercy we all are.

Not really sure how I feel about that. It kinda sucks, because it means no matter what you do, in a lot of ways happiness is completely out of your control, but I guess that's always true to some degree, isn't it?

On the other hand, when the sun does finally come out, you'll also be much happier than you normally would have been. This brings up an interesting point I think. I have a friend who used to go to camp in the wilderness every single summer. Most people go to camp because they enjoy it in one way or another, but my friend did it for the exact opposite reason-it made him so miserable, that it made him appreciate the rest of the year so much more. This always made me really sad, and I still think it kind of is, but I do think there's something to the quality/quantity argument.

Still, the sun needs to come back. Now please? Sigh...

Chice

DS: The Meter Is Running

Part 1:


Part 2:


Chice

Stop & Smell The Roses

My Senior Speech...

I’m going to begin this speech the way every speech should begin: I’m going to read you a Calvin & Hobbes comic. Calvin and Hobbes are walking through the woods, and Calvin’s ranting to Hobbes, as he often is. He says, “You know how everyone says you should stop and smell the roses? Well, this morning I did. Big Deal! They smelled like a bunch of dumb flowers! It was the most mundane experience I’ve ever had! Who’s got time for this nonsense! I’m a busy guy! I’ve got things to do! The last thing I need is to stand around with my nose in some silly plant!” Hobbes replies, rolling his eyes, “I’m glad you somehow found the time for his edifying conversation.” Calvin then checks his watch and says, “Yeah well, I’m going to have to wrap it up. My TV show is about to start.”

Calvin has a bit of a point here, doesn’t he? After all, anyone expecting to get anything too extraordinary out of “standing around with your nose in some silly plant”, as Calvin puts it, will probably be disappointed. But really, Calvin of course missed the point by taking this expression literally. For most people however, even a non-literal reading of the phrase “Stop and Smell The Roses” won’t do much good, because this expression is one of the most feared things in the literary world-a cliché, something so repulsive and hideous that most people will run in the opposite direction the moment they realize what they’re dealing with.

There’s good reason for that. Who likes cliché? Why would anyone like something that’s repeated countless times, rendering it utterly meaningless? And yet, there’s something ever so slightly tragic about a cliché. After all, many if not most clichés at one time contained a relatively good piece of simple advice, before they were repeated over and over. Before they lost all meaning That is, before they were clichés. But now it’s too late: everyone’s so sick and tired of hearing these little fortune cookie philosophies that their ears close up the second they hear one. You have to wonder if there’s a way to disguise a cliché like this one so that won’t happen.

Ferris Bueller said, “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Good advice from a good man. Ferris Bueller certainly knows a thing or two about stopping to look around every once in a while. After all, he did miss nine days of school in just one semester, and life would be a terrible thing to miss. So how does one do this exactly?

You could take a page out of Ferris’s book and take a day off of school once in a while. I’m not suggesting you miss anywhere near the nine days Ferris did, but a mental health day every now and then can work wonders.

Or, you could try lounging at the bottom of a big tree with nothing but the bright sun and your thoughts. Can you remember the last time you spent some time outside, doing absolutely nothing at all? Just sit back, close your eyes, breathe in the sweet spring air, and enjoy the sun. It’s amazing to me how many problems a little sunshine really can solve. Thomas Jefferson always talked about the sun’s healing effect on him; he called it his “almighty physician.” Spend some time outside. Don’t do anything else. Just enjoy the solitude. One can accomplish quite a bit out of doing absolutely nothing at all.

You could also take a moment and think about the little quirky things in life. I know I love to think about the road not taken. History can be fascinating this way. Take the Beatles, for example. It’s hard to imagine a world without the Beatles, a world that they never touched with their music and wit. How could such a world exist? What if dream team John Lennon and Paul McCartney hadn’t become the creative duo that wrote the bulk of the Beatles songs? What if they’d never even met? On July 6, 1957, John Lennon’s band was playing at a church event, and Paul McCartney was brought along by a mutual friend, expecting to find girls there. During intermission, John caught Paul fiddling with his guitar, and the rest is history, as they say. But what if Paul hadn’t come at all on that fateful July day in 1957? What if he had to say home? What if his dad had a cough that day? What if, at the breakfast table, Jim McCartney, felt a big cough coming out but forgot to cover his mouth, accidentally coughing all over his poor son Paul, causing him to get sick and not be able to go to the church social? Imagine, one man raising his hand to cover his mouth when he coughs, and the entire world changes! Otto Von Bismarck said that “the hinges of history are held in place by tiny nails”. Jim McCartney’s cold is proof of that.

As I think more about Ferris Bueller’s advice to “stop and look around every once in a while”, I’m reminded of an assembly we had towards the beginning of the year where Ms. Franke and Ms. Sager invited us all to enjoy some cookies and punch in the Chapel gallery, so as long as we adhered to proper Gallery Etiquette and didn’t just take the cookies and run. I’m sure all of you remember Mr. Moos’ comments immediately following this: “I have a confession to make”, he said. “I’ve already sampled one of the cookies from the gallery. Oatmeal Raison.” This was an amazing moment for me. I remember walking down to assembly that day and coveting the golden brown sweets on the table to my right, but I never even dreamed of taking one, fearing the horrible consequences that would befall me if I were caught, cookie-in-hand. When Mr. Moos confessed that he had indulged and snatched up one of the cookies, I realized that although he probably shouldn’t have taken the cookie and violated Gallery Etiquette, he also did something amazing. By eating that Oatmeal Raison cookie, Mr. Moos was doing exactly what Ferris’s advice is getting at.

Now, I’m not saying that the only way to live a little is to skip school or violate Gallery Etiquette. But I know as well as anyone that Breck can be an intense place, and I also know all too well how to ease back when things get rough. Just ask anyone that’s tried to teach me Math. But I still think that it’s crucial to find a way to stop and look around every once in a while. Take a day off from school. Relax against the big tree. Think about the road not taken. Eat the Oatmeal Raison cookie. Stop and smell the roses.

Chice

If Ever You Are Sad...

Just think of this historical fact:

George Washington's nephew's name was Bushrod.


Bushrod Washington. My life is complete.

Chice

Down By The River

A recent discovery of mine (out of my lifelong affair with the 1960's) is Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. I've been a huge Neil Young fan for a while, but when these guys are together...man!

So...money:


Chice

Originality

I've been thinking a lot lately about originality-true originality. How do you know when something you say or write is genuinely original? I used to think achieving genuine originality was a simple thing: just don't borrow from other works of art or scholarship and what you've done is original. That sounds so childish now. (I guess it makes sense that it was though, doesn't it?)

Reality is naturally much more complex than that. How does one really know that their work is original when there's SO MUCH art and scholarship out in the world already? When you have a thought, how do you know if someone else has had it already? How do you know if someone else has published their idea? After all, just because something is original to you doesn't mean it's original to the world.

It's also possible to copy someone else's work without knowing it (as opposed to copying it consciously or copying it without ever having known it existed). Paul McCartney dreamt the tune to "Yesterday" in 1963 (then called "Scrambled Eggs") but didn't record it for years, worrying he was stealing the tune from someone else. He hummed it to everyone he knew for years, and no one had heard it before so finally he recorded it. Wise choice.

George Harrison (unfortunately) also woke up one day with a tune in his head-the tune to "My Sweet Lord". George sadly didn't bother to hum to the tune to anyone he knew though and was eventually sued for ripping off the tune-he'd stolen it verbatim from "She's So Fine". Oops.

W.B. Yeats had a theory about originality that I've really come to embrace. He said that the only way to become a truly original artist was by mastering all the classics that preceded you, imitating them (to get to know them and yourself), and then and only then can you branch out from that and become an original artist. You can see this in Yeats's own career as he got more and more abstract and strange (but creative and original) the older he got.

Still, it's never possible to know for sure. It's also silly to worry too much about it. Thomas Jefferson was accused of plagiarism throughout his entire career, and had a standard response to such an accusation: "Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing", he said he drew his ideas from "the harmonizing sentiments of the day, whether expressed in letters, printed essays or in the elementary books of public rights, as Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Sidney, etc." I dig that too.

Chice

SOTW: 4/7-4/13

Song Of The Week: "New York" by Cat Power



Chice

The Little Things

Sometimes my favorite thing about the study of history is something small and funny, something that really makes the history come alive or something that makes me laugh. Like knowing that David Souter eats the SAME THING for lunch everyday: an apple (the entire thing, core and all) and yogurt, or knowing that Ruth Bater Ginsburg hates having her chambers right above Clarence Thomas because the cigar smoke from his office blows up through the vents.

It's even funnier though when reading about historical figures that have been dead for hundreds of years (and even more important because the need to humanize them is much greater). An example: not much is known about Thomas Jefferson's mannerisms. He was exceedingly shy and timid in public situations and was once compared to an awkward stranger at a party who would silently hover from group to group without ever saying anything (that guy!). Also, whenever Jefferson was alone (or in the close company of his slaves or friends) he was always singing or humming to himself! He loved it.

Doesn't that make a previously unreachable historical figure a little more human? I love things like that-the little things. When studying history, it's important to keep in mind that less is more: never study too much history too fast or without much attention to detail. What's the point of that? Rather, study a more specific period of history, the people from that time, and what they did. And when you do this, don't be afraid of tightening the lens as tight as you can. Don't be afraid to learn about the little things-they'll make everything more human (and you'll laugh).

Chice

DS: William Safire Interview

Chice

We Are Stardust

Can I just take a moment to say how much I love Joni Mitchell (for writing) and Crosby, Stills & Nash (for performing the amazing version of) "Woodstock". What a song! That's what music should sound like! Fuck!

You can listen to it online here: CSNY Songs



Chice

Hey Jude (Small Asian Cut)

Chice

April? What The Fuck!

It's April already. April 2008! This is weird. Ever since I was little, 2008 has been this mystic, distant thing that would never really happen-like a mirage. Now not only is it actually 2008, but it's April. We graduate in June! What the fuck! (I'm not complaining though. June = can't come soon enough.)

Still, it's a bit strange. When I was an underclassman, my Senior friends would always say that they wanted to get the hell out of school until they were 2nd semester Seniors, and then all of a sudden they realized how much they'd miss everything. I always thought that was bullshit, or at least that it would never happen to me. Now though, I totally get where they were coming from. It's not like we're not excited for college, cause we absolutely are. I know for me though, if I could just snap my fingers and make things fast-forward to college, I wouldn't (despite my above comments about June). I don't think I'll mind living out these last couple of months...

Chice