My wife and I are "playing Batteship" this morning; laptops back to back: Facebook, Huffington Post (yikes!), and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Thirty-two days till baby-girl "to be named" is due. Life is beautiful :)
12.04.2007
12.01.2007
Now that that's over...
I took the LSAT this morning at Howard University. (Not in Ernest E. Just Hall, as advertised, but in the Dental Building, as re-located). I chose a seat in the front row, right corner, figuring it would offer me less distractions.
In a bold violation of test center rules, I stowed my jacket, gloves, scarf and (black brushed wool) Kangol on top of the piano in the corner rather than under the desk with the gallon-sized Ziploc holding my pb&j, carrots, nuts-n-berries, and Penland water bottle. Unlike other, bolder violators, I left the cell phone at home. I have yet to ascertain whether Marta is at High Tea with the ladies (as scheduled) or at Virginia Hospital Center (as re-located). Now that I've both called and texted, I hope to find out soon.
The test itself came off as well as I could expect. My front row-right seat kept me from fixating on everyone else. Hewing close to the LSAT prep book strategies, I prioritized the questions that made sense to me in order to increase my score. I hit my targets
The reading comprehension at the end of the day was harder than at the beginning. Still, I finished three of the passages and "bubbled in" answers for the fourth. Not bad.
I am thankful for all the love, support and advice that prepared me to sit in the re-located test center this morning with an open heart and mind. I feel good.
Marta - I love you. We're gettin' there, baby!
In a bold violation of test center rules, I stowed my jacket, gloves, scarf and (black brushed wool) Kangol on top of the piano in the corner rather than under the desk with the gallon-sized Ziploc holding my pb&j, carrots, nuts-n-berries, and Penland water bottle. Unlike other, bolder violators, I left the cell phone at home. I have yet to ascertain whether Marta is at High Tea with the ladies (as scheduled) or at Virginia Hospital Center (as re-located). Now that I've both called and texted, I hope to find out soon.
The test itself came off as well as I could expect. My front row-right seat kept me from fixating on everyone else. Hewing close to the LSAT prep book strategies, I prioritized the questions that made sense to me in order to increase my score. I hit my targets
- 20 questions on each logical reasoning section
- 3 passages in reading comprehension
- 2 of 4 games
The reading comprehension at the end of the day was harder than at the beginning. Still, I finished three of the passages and "bubbled in" answers for the fourth. Not bad.
I am thankful for all the love, support and advice that prepared me to sit in the re-located test center this morning with an open heart and mind. I feel good.
Marta - I love you. We're gettin' there, baby!
11.27.2007
11.14.2007
11.13.2007
Downward Mobility
Depressing realities statistically confirmed. Thanks, Pew!
/lede/
Nearly half of African Americans born to middle-income parents in the late 1960s plunged into poverty or near-poverty as adults, according to a new study -- a perplexing finding that analysts say highlights the fragile nature of middle-class life for many African Americans.
/snip/
"That's a stunner," said Orlando Patterson, a Harvard University sociologist, when told about the Pew finding. "These kids were middle class, but apparently their parents did not have the cultural capital and connections to pass along to them."
/lede/
Nearly half of African Americans born to middle-income parents in the late 1960s plunged into poverty or near-poverty as adults, according to a new study -- a perplexing finding that analysts say highlights the fragile nature of middle-class life for many African Americans.
/snip/
"That's a stunner," said Orlando Patterson, a Harvard University sociologist, when told about the Pew finding. "These kids were middle class, but apparently their parents did not have the cultural capital and connections to pass along to them."
Another reason so many middle-class blacks appear to be downwardly mobile is likely the huge wealth gap separating white and black families of similar incomes. For every $10 of wealth a white person has, blacks have $1, studies have found.
"We already knew that downward mobility was much more likely for blacks," said Mary Pattillo, a Northwestern University sociologist who studies the black middle class. "But this is an even bigger percentage drop than I have seen elsewhere. That's very steep."
11.12.2007
Foreign Corporations, si! Foreigners, not so much...
Northern Virginia welcomes foreign-owned companies while Prince William County is up in arms about the foreigners in their midst.
11.07.2007
Put up or shut up!
Benazir Bhutto has an excellent op-ed in today's New York Times, challenging the world - particularly, Western democracies - to act against Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's Martial Plan.
Much can be - has been - said about Bhutto's own bona fides, but she is correct to call the question: do promoters of freedom and democracy actually believe what they are saying?
Aaaah... now I'm thinking of Sweet Honey in the Rock:
"Ella's Song"
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
I believe.
Last night I spent a few hours driving to and from Prince William County, VA. My wife and I went and had a celebratory meal with Aracely Panameno, her brother and his two daughters. Aracely mounted a write-in campaign for County Supervisor against a 26-year incumbent and really shook some people up.
Election workers had to rediscover the laws and poll duties they have taken for granted. The larger electorate had to face the truth that "a change go'n come."
Big up to Aracely for Upsetting the Setup!
Much can be - has been - said about Bhutto's own bona fides, but she is correct to call the question: do promoters of freedom and democracy actually believe what they are saying?
Aaaah... now I'm thinking of Sweet Honey in the Rock:
"Ella's Song"
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
I believe.
Last night I spent a few hours driving to and from Prince William County, VA. My wife and I went and had a celebratory meal with Aracely Panameno, her brother and his two daughters. Aracely mounted a write-in campaign for County Supervisor against a 26-year incumbent and really shook some people up.
Election workers had to rediscover the laws and poll duties they have taken for granted. The larger electorate had to face the truth that "a change go'n come."
Big up to Aracely for Upsetting the Setup!
11.01.2007
10.29.2007
10.26.2007
Genarlow Wilson - Free at Last
Genarlow Wilson - freed from jail. The Georgia Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that his sentence violated the Fourth Amendment.
10.24.2007
Home Fires are Burning
My family isn't evacuated yet, but the bags and cars are packed just in case.
My alma mater, Mira Mesa High School, has been converted into an evacuation shelter.
Worried. Very worried.
My alma mater, Mira Mesa High School, has been converted into an evacuation shelter.
Worried. Very worried.
Do you like saving online articles?
Check out Times Files - a service of NYT online that lets you save articles to their server.
The cooler trick is putting the Times File button on your toolbar. Presto! You can archive all the stories you like and empty out that 'Articles' folder you've set up in your e-mail account.
The cooler trick is putting the Times File button on your toolbar. Presto! You can archive all the stories you like and empty out that 'Articles' folder you've set up in your e-mail account.
10.16.2007
Constitution? Not so much...
Quaintly, the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution asserts:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Yet, and still...
/snip/
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Yet, and still...
/snip/
Verizon Says It Turned Over Data Without Court Orders
Yesterday's 13-page Verizon letter indicated that the requests went further than previously known. Verizon said it had received FBI administrative subpoenas, called national security letters, requesting data that would "identify a calling circle" for subscribers' telephone numbers, including people contacted by the people contacted by the subscriber. Verizon said it does not keep such information.
10.12.2007
10.11.2007
10.07.2007
Another 10-miler done!
Over 26,000 people entered the 23rd Army Ten Miler.
I had a good race. Although the official results haven't been posted (actually, the race site is down as of this posting), I clocked my Self at 01:41:41:48.
This time around, I ran two miles, then walked, then ran two miles... It was different than last April's Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which I ran in one long stretch. The more I run, the better I am at gauging what my body and mind and spirit need to get from start to finish.
Much love to Marta for getting me to the starting area this morning, and for making me an egg-and-cheese bagel sandwich this afternoon!
Much respect to the veterans and Missing Parts in Action racers. Seeing double-amputees out there brought up plenty of emotions and some anger. But I put that aside and just clapped and said, "Thanks..." as I passed by. After all, most of those kids were kids. I mean baby-faced 18-21 year olds.
Whatever I think about why they were in a position to lose their limbs is ancillary. Today they were out there among the 26,000 completing a longer 10-miler than I ever will. I hope they had a good race. I'll look for them again next year.
I had a good race. Although the official results haven't been posted (actually, the race site is down as of this posting), I clocked my Self at 01:41:41:48.
This time around, I ran two miles, then walked, then ran two miles... It was different than last April's Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which I ran in one long stretch. The more I run, the better I am at gauging what my body and mind and spirit need to get from start to finish.
Much love to Marta for getting me to the starting area this morning, and for making me an egg-and-cheese bagel sandwich this afternoon!
Much respect to the veterans and Missing Parts in Action racers. Seeing double-amputees out there brought up plenty of emotions and some anger. But I put that aside and just clapped and said, "Thanks..." as I passed by. After all, most of those kids were kids. I mean baby-faced 18-21 year olds.
Whatever I think about why they were in a position to lose their limbs is ancillary. Today they were out there among the 26,000 completing a longer 10-miler than I ever will. I hope they had a good race. I'll look for them again next year.
10.02.2007
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