The Misadventures of the Crimson Bear

At Work

2007-05-24T14:52:00.001-07:00

I should be working right now, I am at work, but I miss Jess too much. Though she is right downstairs. Perhaps I should go. I think I will.

I Just Like This Cartoon

2007-03-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

Head in a Weed-Whacker

2007-03-11T22:30:00.000-07:00

Went to the Salon today to get my hair cut. I brought in a rather nice picture the hair I wanted. The woman cutting my hair said she could do it...so I believed her, about 30 minutes later I emerge from the salon with a blow-dried montrosity.

Gifts

2007-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

For V-Day I received Paris:

Gifts

2007-02-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

Not that one this one (in CD form, of course):

Gifts

2007-02-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

For my birthday I want London:

Gifts

2007-02-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

Or St. Petersburg:

12 Days of Valentine's

2007-02-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

My wonderful girlfriend has decided to celebrate the 12 days of Valentines, so far, I've gotten a gift I've wanted since I was a kid, the Princess Bride DVD, a sensual cookbook, a big black bear, a small brown bear, half-a-dozen cute, lovely cards, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. I have 7 more days to look forward to, it's amazing. I love Jess so much.

On the Fast Track

2007-02-06T15:33:00.000-08:00

I'm on the FastTrack for my law review article, if all goes well, my comment will be published in the Spring.

In Honor of Law Review

2006-08-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

In honor of my solicitation, I have decided to post this cartoon from Clay Bennet of the Christian Science Monitor, Mr. Bennet is my favorite political cartoonist.

I little something for the ladies...

2006-08-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

One of my friend is a little bit depressed so I thought that this profile of two of my friends (actually one friend and one acquaintance) would raise her spirits a little. On the left is Paul. He's 25. He speaks three languages, French, German and English. He enjoys swimming, surfing, and skiing. He is the quintessential gentleman.

On the right is Stephen, who is 24 and currently attending U of Michigan as a grad student in some science thing that I forget right now. He plays soccer and golf. He also enjoys reading and lifting weights. Perhaps the most interesting thing about him is that he has never been on a date. Never not even once. He didn't even go to Prom in high school. He's super shy (despite what you may surmise from this picture).

This picture was taken in Providence in December of 2005. Up next: Joseph.

Eric

2006-08-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

So here's Eric. It's been a while since I profiled any of my friends, but I finally received a picture of Eric that I am able to post and here it is. Eric is 24. His hobbies include reading, running, working out, studying languages and cooking. He also enjoys sailing and soccer. Lastly he's a great dancer, perhaps the best I've ever seen.

This picture was taken in his dorm at Brown, a few years ago.

Kidnapped...Again

2006-08-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

I've been kidnapped yet again...this time by my girlfriend and law school. It's been a good kidnapping.

Kidnapped...

2006-08-04T23:52:00.000-07:00

I've been kidnapped for the day. I have no idea where I am going, but I should be back by 9PM tonight. Oh, and I've been told to wear sensible shoes and bring a sweatshirt.

"So, what are you doing after work?"

2006-08-03T15:25:00.001-07:00

I was interviewing a client of mine. She allegedly attacked her previous boyfriend with a knife by throwing it at him. She says she was throwing it to him...well after the interview she asks me
"So, what are you doing after work? Do you want to get some dinner?"

I let her down easy, explaining that I was seeing someone. She left me her cell phone number, in case, I change my mind. Yeah, that's going to happen.

Clients, Clients, Clients

2006-08-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

I started getting clients of my own today. I'm so excited, but somewhat worried that I'm not really prepared. If I screw up, real people get hurt. I'll have a supervising attorney who'll give me pointers, but when I'm speaking in court or making deals in chambers, I'm really on my own.

Goin Once...Goin Twice...SOLD

2006-07-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

So I went to the Bachelor Auction. It was for a very good cause, so I thought what the hell, I'll suck it up and put myself up for sale.

So here's the deal, my friends helped me come up with. The lucky bidder gets for spend eights hours with me. We would go horseback riding in the Sandhills of western Nebraska, arriving at a nice picnic dinner (dozens of miles from civilization). We will watch the sun set, then I'll take out my telescope (not a euphmism, I actually have a telescope) and we will stare up at the stars.

So how much did I go for? Well, there were two girls there that I had known from high school and they did start bidding against each other. It was kinda rigged because both of these girls are rather wealthy. The bidding got quite high, more than I had thought was possible. So how much did I go for? Well, I went for roughly $12 a pound which is roughly the same as lobster.

My price was eighth highest overall, not bad. Not bad at all.

Let's Get Physical, Physical...

2006-07-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I went to go get my physical for the military done. I've had plenty of physicals in my life, but this was, how should I put this...different. This physical included the words, "Turn around, drop your shorts, bend over and spread your cheeks." I kid you not.

Usually I get at least dinner before this happens.

Travelin'

2006-07-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

So, here's a run down of my schedule for the rest of the summer.

July 15-19 Nebraska, visiting friends and family and being sold in a Bachelor's Auction
July 20- Colorado Springs, visiting friends
July 21- Sacramento, an important court proceeding, I must be there
July 22-23 -Seattle, National Fraternity Conference, trying to get them to accept women
July 24-July 29- Sacramento? (though I have another trip in mind, if I can arrange it in time)
July 30-August 3- New Hampshire, lunch with an old friend and I get to meet Manky's Family
August 4-6- San Francisco, TOP SECRET
August 7- Stockton, classes start in MBA Program (I just found out today that this is when I must be there)

Where did the summer go?

2006-07-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

So, I've been thinking that I should probably spend some time "serving my country." I come from a long line of members of the military (all of the males on both sides of my family have been in the military, also my grandmother aided and even helped hide resistance fighters and partisans during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War).

I'm thinking of joining the reserves, probably in the Air Force (like my dad) or the Navy (like my paternal grandfather). Though the Marines and the Army are not out of the question. Hell, I may just join the Coast Guard Reserves or the National Guard.

I'm still in the planning stages, though, nothing firm, though I do have a meeting with a one-star general that my father knows, who wants to talk to me about signing up.

The Forgotten Work

2006-07-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

This is Picasso's forgotten work which was his artistic protest against the Korean War, called "Massacre in Korea." It is overshadowed by "Guernica," but it is just as haunting.

The reason I am posting this now, well, 56 year ago today, my materal grandmother's village was captured by the North Korean army. My maternal grandfather and all of my uncles were forced to flee into the mountains to avoid being summarily executed. My grandfather survived the war, but some of my uncles did not.

2,619,280,800 Seconds

2006-07-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

That's how much time one of our juvenile clients is facing, for those of you who can't do math in reverse, that's 83 years. There are privacy issues, but let us just say that the "crime" is total BS, but the DA refuses to even think about dismissing in the interests of justice. Working day and night on this, so if I've been less than attentive to my friends, this is why.

Verdict

2006-06-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting day at work today. The jury's verdict in the penalty phase of the "Halloween Murder Trial" came down today. And guess who was in the courtroom to hear the jury's verdict. You can read up on the trial at:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/06/14/18280742.php?show_comments=1#18280890

The murders occurred due to a drug deal gone bad between two rival gangs. The weird part is that the evidence against the defendants was quite convincing, but still the jury took FOUR weeks to come to a verdict in the guilt phase, which of course was guilty. So the defendants faced the death penalty. If took the jury almost three days to decide between death and life w/o parole, which is kind of a long time, since juries usually already know what they want to do, especially since they took FOUR weeks to find them guilty.

Now the bailiffs and the other lawyers at the PD's office have walked by the jury room and heard yelling and screaming through the door (the courthouse is kinda small and sound carries well because of all of the marble walls and floors). This, it seems, was a heated deliberation. By the way, the defendants retained private counsel, so I'm not crossing any ethical line by posting this.

Given all the hype surrounding the case and the age of the victims and the fact that fourteen year-old girls were shot as well (accidently, it seems), the courtroom buzz was that the defendants would receive the death penalty.

As the jury walked in, none of them looked at any of the defendants (which is a very bad sign). The judge received the jury's verdict and took a long time reading it (which is another very bad sign, because the jury has answer more questions in the affirmative in order to impose the death penalty). The judge then handed the verdict to the clerk, who read it. "We the jury...find that the defendant.... should be sentenced to (long pause) Life in Prison without the possibility of parole.

Life without parole for each defendant, on each count.

I looked at one of the defendants, who was smiling. Then the prosecutor, who was not. Then I looked at one of the defendant's mothers, who was crying. And lastly the family of the victims, who were sitting stoically. My heart went out to them all.

Bacchus Hates Me

2006-06-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, that's it, I've had it. I don't know what I did, but I seemed to have upset Bacchus (Dionysus, to all you Romans out there) for he is constantly sending out his minions to attack me. Bacchus is the Greek God of Wine, Parties and Orgies for those of you who do not know. But, before I tell you this story, please keep in mind that all the people involved are fine.

I was at work and because I had to go to the jail later and I was unable to find a parking spot, I parked in the two-hour parking. My trip to the jail was cancelled so I went to move my car to the long-term parking. As I drove down the street to turn around. I get hit my another car. Which pushes me off of the street over a curb and into a pole. Now I'm not going all that fast so my air bags don't go off or anything, but I do have some front-end damage (really on the driver's side front, where she hit me) and on the passenger side front where she knocked me into the pole).

So I get out of my car and as soon as I get out, my airbags go off (the technicians at the Toyota dealership think there was a problem with the sensors). Anyway, I get out and check on this woman, and she's fine as well. I call the cops, she freaks out, because despite the fact that it's only 9:32 am she's already been drinking. Not enough to be impaired, but still, it's kind of reminiscent of my prior drunk-driving accident that almost killed me.

Anyway, the police show up. Take the report, a copy of which I received today, which mentions that she is at fault, the fact that she admitted drinking earlier, and the fact that she didn't have her license (it was suspended) and that she had let her insurance "lapse." In fact, she hadn't had insurance for three years.

I have my car towed to the nearest Toyota dealership with a collision center (in Elk Grove), the technicians at which say that due to the way she hit me the frame is bent (pretty badly), which in combination with the high price of replacement airbags, makes my car a total loss. My insurance company concurs. My insurance company, however, is "looking into" whether they have to pay my claim given the fact that my parent's recently changed insurance companies at the insistence of our insurance broker, but the broker may have neglected to forward the payment on time. In which case the broker would pay.

Our broker, by the way, is my aunt (on my father's side).

So, to recap, I'm fine. She's fine. There's a pole in Woodland, CA that could be better. And my car is toast.

Piece of Meat

2006-06-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

So, as some of you know, I am planning to visit Nebraska sometime in July, my plans aren't set yet, but I will likely be there the first weekend.

Anyway, I received a call from James and he has informed me that if I am in Nebraska the third weekend in July, I have to take part in the his fraternity's Bachelors Auction, the proceeds to benefit Children's Hospital and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This would not be the first time I took part in a Bachelors Auction, last time I went for $1,497, I think I can do better this time.

Gay Marriage

2006-06-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Mr. Bush has decided that everything is going so well in the world he has decided to tackle the most important crisis facing America: two people who wish to be spend the rest of their lives together in wedded bliss, who happen to be of the same sex.

I'm not going to go on a rant because I have important news. Two of my friends who live in Oregon, Harris and Thad have decided to get married (they decided to tie the knot over the weekend). Luckily, they moved to Oregon from Boston just two months ago and have maintained their Massachusetts residence, they haven't set a date yet, but they want to have the wedding on the beach in Nantucket where they shared their first kiss.

It's Raining Men

2006-06-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

I had a sudden urge to DDR, so I went online and found the nearest machine. The place doesn't open until 10AM, but I'm leaving now.

I'm going to be sure to dance to "It's Raining Men," in honor of a certain someone. Do you think it works like some kind of Native American rain dance? If I dance to it like ten times in a row, will it really start to rain men?

I Have Returned

2006-06-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

I've been working very hard and trying to spend every minute I could with a certain someone before that certain someone left for the summer.

But, like Gen. MacArthur, I have returned.

My New Boss-- The Fish

2006-05-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

So, I have neglected to post for awhile, but I've been busy with the new job. So, you all probably know that I am working for the Yolo County Public Defender's Office. So who is the Yolo County Public Defender--well--he's Barry "The Fish" Melton.

Who is "The Fish?" He's the guitarist from Country Joe and the Fish, the very popular 60's and 70's band. They played at the Monterey Music Festival, Woodstock and elsewhere.

"The Fish" still plays, this summer, he has a tour in England, France and Russia. He also plays throughout the US.

This picture is from 1974.

Naked Guy

2006-05-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

The famous Berkeley "Naked Guy," Andrew Martinez, has passed away. He became famous for attending classes and walking around Berkeley in the buff as a statement in support of the First Amendment. He was eventually kicked out of Berkeley (after several semesters) for his actions and was subsequently arrested on a series of public indecency charges. Each time he was arrested, he managed to defeat the charges. That is, until the town of Berkeley amended their laws specifically outlawing his conduct.

He was a civil rights activist (gay rights specifically). He also made public appearances to raise money for various charities. I met him when he went to Cambridge to speak about the importance of subverting the power structure by not conforming to societal expectations. Whether or not you approve of his methods, at least, he stood up for what he believed in.

Scott

2006-05-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is Scott. He was a military brat. He was born in Turkey and lived in Venice until he finished high school. He placed fifth in the Nebraska Rodeo and loves nothing more than taking his dates out riding out on the windswept plains of western Nebraska.

He speaks Italian and loves to cook Italian food. His perfect woman knows how to line-dance and ride a horse.

Oh, and he has a Ph.D. from Yale.

He's currently single, but he's kind of busy until November of 2006, when he plans to move to D.C.

This picture was taken in 2003 at his family's ranch near Kearny, Nebraska.

Starry Night

2006-05-18T00:25:00.000-07:00

I had the most wonderful night. I went to the supermarket with a friend and instead of heading straight back home, we took a drive into the countryside to see the stars. It's amazing how easily you forget that they are even up there when you live in a city.

Shocked and Appalled

2006-05-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

As I posted early I have received many of pictures in my email box which to be included on my blog, I am happy to make a short post about all of my friends, but please remember that this is a family-friendly blog and try to send me pictures that I can actually post. So here are a few ground rules. No pictures of you, or anyone else for that matter, naked (Eric, Joe, Ben, Jenny and Mila, I'm talking to you). No highly suggestive photos (Heather and Jon, I'm talking to you). But, of course, artisitic photos without nudity are fine.

As a good rule of thumb, if the picture depicts you breaking three or more of the Ten Commandments its probably not okay. I realize that for some of you, this will drastically cut down on the number of pictures you can send me, but this rule had to be instituted.

Svetlana

2006-05-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

In response to my Chris post many of my friends have flooded my email with pictures (I also sent out a mass-email asking for pictures). For your consideration is my ex-girlfriend Svetlana. She's currently living in Russia, in the town of Murmansk. She's a graduate of Brown University, with a major in chemical engineering. She enjoys art, plays the piano and the harp, and rules the tennis courts. She is also currently single, but not really looking. She is starting her pursuit of a doctoral degree at Moscow State University in August.

Chris

2006-05-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have decided to profile a few of my friends on my blog. This is Chris. He's a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska, with a major in PoliSci/Russian. He's signed up for the Marines and wants to go to the Defense Language Institute. He hopes to one day become an embassy marine.

He's a really nice guy. A tad bit conservative (who am I kidding, he's actually a little to the right of the Kaiser), but he's got a good heart.

This picture was taken on the coast of the Baltic Sea while on our trip to St. Petersburg.

Immigration

2006-05-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

Mr. Bush ruined my day by pre-empting my daily dose of local news in order to put forth his ideas about immigration. In honor of Mr. Bush, I have decided to put forth my viewpoint visually. Enjoy this editoral cartoon by J. Keppler, published the last time we decided to try to keep the "illegals" out.

DDR Rules My Life

2006-05-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

I have let DDR start to rule my life. I have been doing it roughly 3-4 hours each day since I bought it. I think I need some help. Perhaps there are support groups for DDR. "Hi, my name is Brian and I'm addicted to DDR.

Knock, Knock

2006-05-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

So I had just finished taking a shower, when I realized that I had negligently left my DDR on. So I decided to do a little dancing. After about twenty minutes, I heard a knock on the door. I was expecting a friend of mine (who had seen me in compromising positions before) so I hurried over to the door and whipped it open, fully expecting to see my friend (I had a towel in one hand and I was going to cover myself up after opening the door).

After opening the door, I looked out, totally expecting to see my friend, instead I saw the rather shocked face of the UPS guy. The edge of the door barely covered my package. He just handed me my box and mumbled something like "Just get out of the shower, huh?" I signed the tablet and closed the door.

First Post--Ever

2006-05-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

It took less than three minutes of peer pressure to force me to start a blog of my own. So here it is.