The Victorious Opposition

I think I’ve mentioned before that I started having problems with my shoulder again last summer - pain, range-of-motion limitations and weakness. After a couple months of ibuprofin and getting back into my home PT program didn’t help, I went back to the orthopod. Went back on the high-dose anti-inflammatories, and did a month of physical therapy. Which got the pain under control and resolved the range of motion problems, but my shoulder is still crazy weak - I basically can’t lift more than 10 lbs or so if my arm is away from my body (i.e. no deficit if I lift something straight up at my side, but insanely weak if I have to lift or carry anything with my arm outstretched). We did another month of PT, with modest improvement of strength.

The big concern was that I had a rotator cuff tear. When I had my surgery in 2008, there was a tiny hole in one of the rotator cuff tendons, but they decided not to repair it, since repairing a tendon requires immobilization, and the problem we were in there to fix (the impingement) required that I get moving as quickly as possible after surgery. So there was concern that rather this hole had progressed into a significant tear, which would require another surgery and horrible long recovery. With school coming up, and the end of COBRA coverage expiring at about the same time, we decided we needed to figure this out quick, and if I absolutely had to have the surgery, to get it done ASAP.

So at the end of December I had an arthro-MRI done on my shoulder (a combination of an arthrogram with an MRI). This was a two-part procedure, done by two doctors in adjacent suites in one of the office buildings at the local hospital. For the first part, using a flouroscope, they injected a contrast dye into the shoulder joint (cool to watch, not a lot of fun to experience). Then over to the other suite for an hour-long series of MRI scans of the shoulder joint. The arthrogram is used for this because if there were a tear, the dye would flow into the gap between the tendon and the bone, and be highly visible.

Fortunately, there’s no issue that requires surgery. Unfortunately, my arm is still crazy weak. It’s improving - very, very, very slowly. So we’re sticking with anti-inflammatories, routine stretching, and weights three times a week to try to get it better. For the time being.

Anyhow, back on point. Let’s look at the billing, insurance payments and out-of-pocket payments for this. Since I’ve still got my old employer-sponsored insurance, via COBRA, it’s a good plan - an Aetna PPO with a modest deductible and co-insurance post-deductible.

With neither of us having had a paycheck since the end of 2008, other than brief severance packages and one short-term contract for my wife, she finally got a job offer today.

Whew.

It’s not a big payday; she’s taking a significant cut as part of changing careers, getting out of the lab and into medical writing/editing. But it’s a decent wage, and it moves her into her new career path, with a decent company, with decent benefits.

And it means I’ll be going to Law School in the fall.

Things are going to be tight - this will cover the basics and not much else. We’ll be taking on a lot of student loans and other debt to pay for school. But we have enough resources to sort that out. Discretionary spending will be low for the next 3-4 years at least, though.

Still waiting for word from William & Mary. Current tally: accepted at American and University of Maryland; waitlisted at UVA (surprising because I expected to be declined outright) and George Mason (surprising because I expected to be accepted); declined at Georgetown and George Washington (unsurprising; GWU was a stretch at best and Georgetown was never really in the cards). Still waiting on answers from Penn and Washington University as well as W&M.

This is certainly a relief, let me tell you. Of course, Law School is now real, which is scary as sin…

I was busy yesterday but I wanted to post something about Dr. King, and how important he was as a role model to the black community (and to all of us) as not only a man of peace, but a man of equality (color blind society) and a man of God.

Not to turn this into a religious screed, but there is a line is a Christian hymn ,” Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his site, Jesus loves the little children of the world”. This not only gives us a glimpse of what “Heaven” will be like (if you believe such things) but it gives us a blueprint for the order and society that which is described by Dr. King in his description of “the promised land”, that time and place here on earth where a man is judged, not by the color of his skin, but by the quality of his character. And it should come as no surprise that we are not there, yet.

Even the ushering in of our supposedly post racial president as brought no closer to Dr. King’s vision, hence we have a hasty rushing to judgment ,“The police acted stupidly”, and the existence of a racial czar Charles Ogletree who uses race as an ATM.

Even if you vote for Obama, you’re still probably a racist

It is also striking to pose a figure like Dr. King against that of say a Rev. Wright, which do you think furthers the cause of The Promised Land?

Today we still have the race hustlers that pretend to be spiritual leaders but have abandoned “the will of God” in pursuit of their 30 pieces of silver.

It is encouraging to see how far these King apostles (apostates more like it) have fallen, not only in the eyes of the black community but even with guilty white liberals. They have been exposed in their failings, from doing God’s work, to only doing their own, and what will enhance their image and wealth.

Only God knows what truly is in a man’s heart, but these spiritual pretenders (and some white evangelists should pay attention as well) should not forget that no man bypasses judgment day, where you get the chance to filibuster before The Big Guy, where a true accounting will result.

I wonder if Dr. King looks down and is pleased by how far we have come from the days of fire hoses and police dogs, or whether he is saddened that there are still people that don’t get the concept, we are all God’s children, and special in his eyes.

Although this year has ended on a high note with the birth of Thrill Jr, the previous 12 months have been an utter rat-fuck.

This has been a horrible year for my me, my family, and the United States of America.  The death of my brother-in-law’s infant daughter (I don’t think I mentioned that on the VO but it was extremely brutal), unemployment, underemployment, illness, and all other manner of chaos.

However, it is over and I’m still standing.  This is not a weepy post but a defiant one.  I think it’s the tough times and the hardships that really define generations and even our individual identities.  Struggling and suffering test you and remind you of what matters most in life.  For that reason, I thank 2009.  At the end of 2008, I was worried because I knew I was losing my job.  2009 taught me not to fear and it made me tough and vicious. 

I eagerly await 2010 and will step forward without fear.  It’s time to bury last year’s failed expectations and stagnation and look ahead to better days.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year and ask you to go forward with one word in mind: Charge!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get completely fucking hammered in the comfort of my own home.

I meant to tell everyone sooner, but Mrs Thrill gave birth to our son and second child, Thrill Jr, on Monday afternoon!  Both she and the baby are doing very well and they’re coming home this evening.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support.  Here’s the picture I’m planning to put on the Christmas cards:

No doubting the paternal lineage of that one, what can I say…

Merry Christmas!

It use to be that Santa’s only needed to be plumb, somewhat jolly, and not be listed on any sex registry, but in today’s environment having some motivational or family therapy training can go a long way.

As a longtime Santa Claus at a suburban Chicago mall, Rod Riemersma used to jokingly tell children they would get socks for Christmas if they were naughty.

This year, he stopped telling the joke. Too many children were asking for socks. “They’ve probably heard their parents say, ‘Geez, I wish I had some money to get them clothes,’ ” says Mr. Riemersma, 56 years old.
The Santa Index

A wintry measure of hard times can be found this holiday season on the knee of white-bearded, red-suited men around the country. A couple of years ago, children were shooting for the moon, asking St. Nick for Xboxes, iPods and laptops. But with the economy still fragile, many children are requesting basics such as shoes, library cards and even eyeglasses, say dozens of Santas who work at malls or on the party circuit.

“Kids will hear the E-word, but it’s not Elmo,” says Tim Connaghan, who runs a Los Angeles Santa-training school. “It’s the economy.”

How sad is that?

And the stress level is compounded, first by kids worrying about the basic essentials of life and then by bread winners feeling ashamed because the bread is not being won and and their jobs of providing for their families has gone wanting. In this land of plenty it seems that what is bountiful is worry, grief, and uncertainty.  Kids have enough to worry about today (and they have it much harder than when we were growing up).

Sometimes even the best training can’t keep Santa from being caught off guard. Mike Smith, who works as Santa at the Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio, says a 5-year-old girl wearing a Dora the Explorer sweat shirt last month hopped in his lap and asked, “Can you turn my daddy into an elf?” “Why?” he asked.

“Because my daddy’s out of work, and we’re about to lose our house,” she said.

A candy cane or some Christmas cookies is not going to solve that problem.

Some would argue that in our disposable society, kids have been basically spoiled, asking for ridiculous outlandish items that would seem unthinkable 20 years ago, and if a cold slap of reality removes the pathos of instant gratification and gets them into focusing on what’s important in life, then they will turn out more well rounded and better equipped to deal with real life.

“While visions of sugar-plums socks danced in their heads”..............no thanks.

Although the death of opulence in anything may not be bad, some of my most cherished memories of family has always revolved around Christmas, and not just the loot, but it was the time spent with family.

This year, although we will be spending less, the traditions established in our house will not be wanting. The decorations have all gone up. The stockings have all been hung including one for the dog and the cat ,this year we made personalized stockings for our two chickens (pets for the kid but I like the fresh eggs) and our two squirrels that live in our willow tree in the back. I figure if we feed them, then they are part of the family. I did have to draw the line at the two deer that have invoked eminent domain in our open space in back, the fact that I haven’t called Ted Nugent on them should be merry enough.

So what say the rest of you guys? Has there been any deviation from the usual holiday festivities this year and how are you all coping with any changes?

I would also encourage those that can to not forget those truly in need and maybe give something to the toys for tots drive at the local firehouse, or feed the Salvation Army kettle at the stores. This morning outside of Safeway I was chatting with a Salvation Army volunteer and asked her about donations this year. She told me they were still good, people will dig a little deeper over Christmas. Reading stories like this about kids asking for shoes or socks, these Tiny Tim’s need some hope.

I just received acceptance to American University’s Washington College of Law, which is my second-choice school. They have very good programs in both Intellectual Property/Technology Law and in Constitutional/Public Interest Law, including the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. They’re also within reasonable commuting distance from home - a couple miles off the DC Beltway, just across the border between Maryland and NW DC.

They also have dual JD/Master of Public Policy and JD/Master of Public Administration degree programs to which I can apply during my 1L year, using my JD application (i.e. I don’t have to take the GRE and do another separate applications process). If I decide to go that route (it would add another year to my program).

The fiscal realities of all of this are starting to sink in. OMG…

You can look around and find a lot of words of wisdom and sometimes whole codes for guiding your conduct in day-to-day situations.  I like Chuck Norris’s “Chun Kuk Do” Code of Honor:

I will develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways.

I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements.

I will always be in a positive frame of mind and convey this feeling to every person that I meet.

I will continually work at developing love, happiness and loyalty in my family and acknowledge that no other success can compensate for failure in the home.

I will look for the good in all people and make them feel worthwhile.

If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say nothing.

I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I will have no time to criticize others.

I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness toward another person’s viewpoint while still holding fast to that which I know to be true and honest.

I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.

I will always remain loyal to God, my country, family and my friends.

I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because that positive attitude helps my family, my country, and myself.

Professionally, I hold to the ASIS International Code of Ethics:

ARTICLE I
A member shall perform professional duties in accordance with the law and the highest moral principles.

ARTICLE II
A member shall observe the precepts of truthfulness, honesty, and integrity.

ARTICLE III
A member shall be faithful and diligent in discharging professional responsibilities.

ARTICLE IV
A member shall be competent in discharging professional responsibilities.

ARTICLE V
A member shall safeguard confidential information and exercise due care to prevent its improper disclosure.

ARTICLE VI
A member shall not maliciously injure the professional reputation or practice of colleagues, clients, or employers.

In addition, I have any number of sayings, quotes, and passages that I can apply to decision-making in difficult situations or viewpoint on events.  One of my favorites:

“‘Luck’ is the ability to exploit accidents”  —Napoleon

What are some of your own guidelines, codes, principles, quotes, and all that?

In today’s mail was a letter from University of Maryland Law, with “Congratulations” in big bold letters on it. I’ve been accepted to UMD Law for Fall 2010. Since William & Mary is my top choice, and doesn’t do rolling admissions, I won’t know for certain where I’m going for several more months. But it’s now definite that, pending our financial situation, I’m going to law school next fall.

I’m excited and terrified at the same time.

This current cycle of disagreements has me worried that we’re going to blow up The VO. I don’t want to let that happen.

I’m calling a truce.

Thrill believes my Glenn Beck/WIPO post was inappropriate; I believe it’s completely in keeping with the kind of stories we do at The VO.
I believe that giving a pixel’s worth of credence to anything to do with the “Birther” conspiracy is inappropriate; Thrill believes there’s a valid issue that the President needs to respond to.

I don’t see any way that either of us is going to change the other’s opinion. The more likely outcome, given our personalities, is devolution into Thunderdome[TM].

So I’m done. I haven’t looked at anything written since I went out a few hours ago, and I won’t. I won’t post anything else on these topics.

I won’t back off from my coverage of what I think is worth writing about. But I won’t continue these threads just for the sake of trying to prove my point. It’s not worth it.

I hope my co-authors feel the same.

I spent Monday at William & Mary Law. It was a great trip. William & Mary is literally right next door to Colonial Williamburg in the southeastern part of Virginia. It’s about 150 miles from where I am now - a couple of hours down I-95 to Richmond and then east on I-64 to Williamsburg. Depending on the traffic around DC and Richmond, about 2.5-3 hours of driving. I drove down Sunday afternoon and stayed overnight, since I needed to be at the law school at 9AM on Monday. I left early so I could get there when it was still light out and do the drive over to the law school so I’d know where I needed to go. The upside was that I didn’t have to watch the Washington Suckskins embarrass themselves again.

There were four of us for the tour on Monday. Two were clearly undergrads there with their parents. One was an active duty Army Special Forces guy on a break between deployments and doing law-school investigations for when he gets out in 2 years; he’s been in 8 years, so he’s probably early 30s. I was clearly the oldest. And the only one who wore a suit & tie. I felt overdressed. But it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed for stuff like this, in my opinion.

The tour was done by a 3rd year student. It was interesting to get a student’s perspective on the school. She was fairly candid. One thing I’ve noticed is the extent to which all the applications require you to disclose information about past academic & legal “indiscretions”, and the amount of space dedicated to school’s honor codes. She made a point about it on the tour. When I did my undergrad, cheating was incredibly rare, and while people got put on academic probation for crappy grades, there was very little that one could have considered an “honor code” issue. Seems like it’s become quite prevalent in the last couple of decades. Any of you who’ve been in school more recently than me have any thoughts on this? Is it the ease of access through the InterWebs? A cultural thing?

Sorry I haven’t been keeping up my normal volume. As I mentioned in my DJ thread last week, I’ve been under the weather for a while (better now, thankfully). And I’m working on my Law School applications. Across the 9 schools I’m currently planning to apply to, I have more than a dozen essays I’m working on, so I’m a little burned out on writing/editing. Not to mention spending time trying to find a job, and physical therapy twice a week.

I have a couple of news items I saw yesterday that I’ll try to write short posts about later today, and a couple of deeper-research posts that I’m working on that will get wrapped up sometime soon. I’m going down to William & Mary Law for a day of touring & interviews on Monday (well, leaving on Sunday afternoon; it’s a 3hr drive away so I’m staying overnight). I’ll write something up about that.

Once I get through all my essays my volume should pick back up.

Since most of the reasons I want to go to law school are centered on things we debate here, I figure this is as good as place as any to solicit input - better than co-workers from my “other” life. I will, of course, be having this conversation with my wife and family, but I want to hear what you all think.

I had my first conversation today with a Law School admissions consultant from Kaplan. I decided to pony up the money for this service because I’m sufficiently outside the standard demographics of law school applicants that I really want insights on how to structure my personal statement/essays, resume, etc to capture the admissions folks and make it clear why they want to look at my stuff.

In the process, we discussed a hard-core truth. The admissions process is overly heavily weighted towards basic statistics of undergraduate GPA and LSAT score (generally accounting for 2/3 of the admissions decision), with the “other stuff” being considered only once someone has made the cut of the quantitative data. The bottom line is that my scores won’t even likely get me past the first cut at some of the schools I’ve picked out (something I knew going in), and only one of the schools on my list shows a better than 50/50 chance, based on 2008 admissions statistics. Harsh, but true.

I find this incredibly aggravating. I mean, I understand it - these folk get tons and tons of applications, and they have to apply some sort of quantitative filter to have any hope of doing their jobs. But it’s really going to screw me.

I did a 5-year joint BS/MS program as an undergrad (i.e. I got both degrees on the same day, at the end of my 5th year, taking a mix of undergrad and grad courses for my 4th & 5th years). The LSAC paperwork only counts the first four years of GPA. And doesn’t count my MBA from a few years ago at all, except to note it on the paperwork and tack on a copy of the transcript. I had a 3.65 GPA through 5 year of my BS/MS, but the 4-year total was 3.60. Even more aggravating, they won’t even likely look at the fact that I did my MBA at a top 20 business school and maintained a 4.0 GPA while working full time.

My LSAT score was good - 163 (on a 120-180 scale, 89th percentile). Not stellar, but pretty damned good. And given my scores from practice tests (which were LSATs from earlier years), it’s representative - I could maybe get another point or two if I took it again, but I’m not going to break 170 (which would get me in almost anywhere). With a GPA that took all of my academics into account, it would get me into all but the really top-end schools (e.g. Georgetown). As I said - aggravating as hell.

My consultant’s advice is to pick a couple more “safe” schools to apply to, in case I don’t get into the schools I really want to get into. I’ve spent some time this afternoon looking around for other schools to put on the list, and not finding anything (I could get into Catholic University pretty easily by these metrics, but their views on Church/State separation and mine are, well, “not in sync” is the most polite way to say it).

Right now my thought process is leaning towards “screw it”. If I can’t get into a law school with a program that fits me, then I’ll look for some other way to advance my career. I’m not doing this because I want to be a lawyer, per se. I’m becoming a lawyer because there are certain things I want to do.

Please give me your thoughts.

P.S. I’m going to William & Mary Law on the 19th, spending a full day with a tour, a class visit, a meeting with the Dean of Admissions, and meetings with the directors of the two clinics they have that so appeal to me (the Bill of Rights clinic and the Technology and the Courts clinic). They are head and shoulders my top choice right now, because of how their program seems to fit both where I’m coming from and where I’m going, so this should be a real reality check.

In my time on Facebook, I have been un-friended twice:

• The first time was in January, when I objected to the universal condemnation of Israel for their attacks in Gaza, and wondered why people weren’t condemning Hamas for the indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians and using civilians as human shields.
• The second time was yesterday, when I objected to the characterization of anyone who objects to Obama’s “progressive” policies as racist - we just don’t know we’re racist - rather than acknowledging that some of us have fundamental differences of opinion about the appropriate role of government.

In both instances, the “friend” who un-friended me was a liberal.

At the same time, I have a large number of quite conservative friends, who consider me quite the liberal for my positions on same-sex marriage, church/state separation, the failure that was the presidency of George W. Bush, the disaster that is the war in Iraq, the incredible over-reaches/power-grabs of the GWoT and PATRIOT act, etc. I write about these on my blog and link there here, debate them, etc.

None of my conservative friends have un-friended me, as far as I am aware. Certainly not in the middle of an active debate.

People who know me - who are my friends - know that I am neither a “liberal” nor a “conservative”. There are areas where I am quite liberal (e.g. many social justice issues), and those where I am quite conservative (e.g. fiscal policy). I consider myself a libertarian, but with more of a “trust but verify” view of government than many libertarians.

Basically, I can find something to debate with pretty much anybody.

I finally got hired after seven months of unemployment!  It is the “stepping stone” job.

Thanks are due to everyone for who provided moral support.  The adjustment period will be tough, what with having to shower every day again, but I’m sure I can manage!