Eugenio's Blog!

Scar :: from Disney's The Lion King

I have returned safely from my Washington Equal Justice Works Job Fair.

We stayed in Dupont Circle which was beyond beautiful and trendy. The houses were gorgeous, large, and overwhelmingly Democratic. Our hotel room was just gorgeous and Democratic. The room goes for $250 a night for what can't have been more than six square feet of living space per person [probably an exaggeration]. I was having migrant farm worker flashbacks because of the space restraints.

Speaking of exaggerations, I was trying to make up a statistic about McDonald’s consumption. We headed to McDonald’s at 2 AM last night in Dupont Circle, and it was really packed. So after my usual, “Gosh, I think I am developing cancer by just smelling this food,” and “I pass on grass; I pass on McDonald’s” comments, I received a mixture of dirty looks and curiosity when I said, “Do you know one McDonald’s hamburger is equivalent to smoking 45 cartons of cigarettes?” I don’t really understand the comparison I made, but then on the car ride back from DC, we made the statistic more believable: “For every McDonald hamburger patty you eat, you can subtract 84 hours of your projected life expectancy.” Completely made up, but if you say it with a straight face, I bet you can get some believers.

We did some traditional sightseeing which was decent. I was in DC for an 8^th grade class trip for a week, and I remember it pretty well. I was also there for a couple of days two years ago visiting a friend, and we did some sightseeing there, too. I did manage to visit the new World War II Memorial, and it was really pretty. Each state or territory has its own tower in remembrance of its troops who died in service. I took a photo with both the Iowa tower and Illinois tower. In all honesty, though, I felt a much tighter bond with the Iowa tower. Weird, isn’t it? I’ll throw up a photo to the blog once I get it.

Friday night in Dupont Circle was a night to remember. A friend and I decided to hit up the alternative DC scene, so we first headed to this coffeehouse just to get a feel for the environment. While we were there, though, I got this telephone call from my little brother, and he told me that my grandfather had just been rushed to the hospital and that he wasn’t breathing. Nonno is 97-years old and the patriarch of the family. He served under the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and spent some time working in Argentina before heading back to Italy to retire in Chicago. A couple of months ago, his body health was great for a 97-year old – completely walking and everything. His mental health is another story – I have been called “Salvatore” and other miscellaneous names for a while now.

There was nothing I could do – I was in DC and my car was in Iowa. I told my brother I would plan to drive to Chicago as soon as would get back to Iowa City. After coffee, though, we went to this sushi restaurant, and I received another call from my little brother saying that Nonno regained breathing on 31^st Street, four blocks from my house . . . my grandparents live on the first floor; my family lives on the 2^nd floor – very immigrant, very Chicago.

Nonno plans to be released from the hospital on Sunday. God Bless him [in a completely atheist sense].

The DC scene was pretty hip; a bit older than I would have liked, but very good looking and trendy. We made it out to two clubs. The star moment of the night was when someone asked me if I was over 21. I was so depressed; I am not even kidding. Let us also not forget the dude who completely brushed me off as soon as he figured out I was just visiting DC.

Oh, so yeah . . . the job fair!

The job fair was amazing. It was held at the Washington Hilton, the same hotel where Reagan was shot.

I interviewed with some amazing organizations. All of the representatives seemed incredibly personable, real, and interested in the work they were doing. My main interests are labor and immigration issues, and I want to work closely with immigrant and Latino communities.

My oral Spanish was put to the test again randomly in the middle of a couple of interviews. They all went well, and I think a majority of them were very impressed with my qualities. A part of my wants to go to Texas or another part of the South for the summer, but another part wants me to be in DC, and another part in Chicago. I’ll figure it out one day.

I voted at Hy-vee today in case something happens to my grandfather in the early week for me to be in Chicago for Election Day. I would feel an inordinate amount of guilt if I didn’t vote.

I’m really looking forward to Tuesday night. My prediction for Tuesday: As much as I would love for Kerry to win, I think Bush will become reelected, er, elected, er, take over.

So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam

Meticulous planning
Tenacity spanning
Decades of denial
Is simply why I'll
Be king undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am

Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!

"Be Prepared" from Disney's The Lion King

As mentioned in M's posting earlier in the week, Iowa City has been experiencing an overhaul of cloudy days. I have not seen the sun all week. Every day has been incredibly gloomy and drizzly.

This can only mean one thing: The sun has exploded, and the government is providing artificial light from outer space. You don't believe me, do you? Visit this link: Learn the truth.

Then, click on the source of the news, the yahoo.com news story. Now ask yourself . . . is this mere coincidence, or is there a further message? Is it possible for the government to have destroyed all information about this occurrence to protect the sanity of its people? Hmmm . . .

You think not have a job lined up after graduation is scary? TRY NO SUN!

As if technological and scientific evidence were not enough to convince my readers that we are on the brink of disaster, this has been long predicted by the Holy Book.

"And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain," ~ Revelation 16:10

The FIFTH angel is correlated to today, the FIFTH weekday -- the FIFTH day without any evidence of solar existence. My recommendation is to go to Wal-Mart and consume, consume, consume.

And if you have time, pray.

Host, The 700 Club

I am proud to inform my readers that I am now a member of the exclusive 700 Club.

The 700 Club is a live television program that airs weekdays before a studio audience from The Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) broadcast facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. On the air continuously since 1966, it is one of the longest-running programs in broadcast history. Hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Lisa Ryan, Gordon Robertson, and Kristi Watts, with news anchor Lee Webb, The 700 Club is a mix of news and commentary, interviews, feature stories, and Christian ministry. Available on-line at http://www.cbn.com/700club/behindthescenes/. [I don’t want to risk getting stripped of my pending J.D.]

I have been caught watching The 700 Club on numerous occasions.

I don’t know what the worst: getting caught watching (1) The 700 Club, (2) paid advertisements [especially with Chef Tony], (3) pornography, or (4) that puppet show that airs on Public Channel Iowa City 4 on Thursday mornings with that cute little old woman and her sock puppets for land animals, but these huge stick puppets for tiny insects, and she talks about diversity and the need to use your words and not your fists. Sometimes she has super curly gray hair, but sometimes she wears her hair down, and then she curls the bottom of it as if she were still 24. Well, I just happened to catch a glimpse of the puppet show once. [whistle whistle].

Anyway, I am referring to the number of profile views on my blog – I have recently exceeded the 700-viewer mark!

Tell me seriously, who fell for this?

In all honesty, The 700 Club is one of the most entertaining programs on television. The fact that these people could lie to you with the straightest face in the world appalls me. Of course, I have been known to trick a few souls myself. I learn best from my heroes, Pat Robertson and Bill O’Reilly.

I will be in D.C. next week for the Equal Justice Works Job Fair.

Q: How much time have I spent researching the organizations?
A: A couple of hours.

Q: How much time have I spent researching shows and clubs in Dupont Circle?
A: I have
(a) spent endless hours on-line;
(b) contacted personal references;
(c) sent out mass mailings;
(d) e-mailed friends of friends;
(e) have left website comment postings.

As long as I get a job where I am able to help people while speaking Spanish (& get out of debt by age 30), I will be as happy as a fly.

Resumes available upon request.

"I'm in the Escalade, you in the Navigator." I have been singing this song all week. It is disgustingly addictive. Check it out -- it's the song of the the fall season.

God bless the Internet, America, and John Forbes Kerry (JFK) -- maybe that's why President Bush got confused.

Speaking of which, visit this website. Trust me, it exists:

http://www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/

It's amazing what people with no lives put on the Internet . . . hey wait a minute!

Dialogues postings are my favorite.

Professor: Mr. Doe . . . could you synthesize for me the cases on pages 987 through 1004, paying close attention to the use of intermediate scrutiny analysis while understanding the difference between heightened scrutiny and strict scrutiny?

[Mr. Doe successfully performs his duty.]

Professor: Ms. Day. . . what's the 7th argument that Scalia makes in the case on page 983, and how does he rationalize that argument with O'Connor's argument in a different case on page 1003?

[Ms. Day successfully performs her duty.]

[I think to myself: Wow, these are really hard questions -- I hope I don't get called on [shiver, shiver].]

Professor: Mr. M . . .

[Crap! . . . I knew I should have reread the cases for today.]

Professor: . . . could you read for us the first sentence on page 1042?

[I successfully perform my duty, waiting for the real question.]

Professor: Mr. X . . . why is it that the Court on page 943 comes up with one result but does not come up with the same result on page 994 even though the right to due process has been violated since it has been established people have a fundamental right to marry?

[What . . . are you kidding me? He skipped me? How did everyone get asked real analytical questions (a law school level quesion), and I get asked to read (a grade 1 level lesson)? Seriously, what's on the agenda for tomorrow . . . Mr. M . . . what's 9 times 8?

I mean, sure, I should be jumping for joy that I "got off the hook" easy, but I wonder if Professor thinks I am too dumb for an analytical question.]

I've never done anything in this class to make Professor think I'm an idiot . . . in other classes, now that's a different blog posting . . .

Incredibly beautiful 1L K.W. has joined the blogging family. She has proved her diligence, wit, and dedication to the blogging network. It is with great honour that I formally welcome K.W. to the wonderful world of blogging. May our social dominance through internet technology reach every corner of the Boyd Law Building, with or without wireless internet connection.

K.W. needs little introduction. She is from ME, which I always thought had the weirdest U.S. postal abbreviation. It totally got played out by Minnesota (MN) and Massachusetts (MA), and I guess Michigan to a lesser degree (MI). Wow, and you would think the high-end Maine metropolitan clusters such as Augusta & Portland would have some pull.

K.W.'s only downfall is that she is married. I hope her blogging world doesn't crumble because of her commitment status. Just remember, K.W., . . . bros before hoes . . . and blogs before dogs.

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but dust will be the serpent's food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,"
says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25

I have recruited a new member to the ever-growing blog phenomenon!

[Side note: Microsoft Word 2000 does not recognize the word blog. Does anyone have a newer version to Microsoft Word who can tell me if the word has been added [yes, I know, passive voice] to the Word dictionary?]

[Continuation on Side note: I just did a Merriam-Webster search on-line on http://www.m-w.com/ for the word blog & it, too, does not recognize blog or weblog. When is the English Language committee going to get off its bottom & do something about this? It’s almost 2005, people!]

I feel like one of those people handing out Christian literature that has gotten an ultra-positive response from a pedestrian. Yes, I feel like a Jew for Jesus, if you will.

A quick blurb about E.J.3 as he sets up his member profile:

E.J.3 is a 1L who hails from Utah, U.S.A. E.J.3's fun fact of the day: Did you know that E.J.3 spent two years in Paraguay as a Mormon missionary? Bienvenido, E.J.3! E.J.3 and I are trying to get K.W. to join, too, and I think she'll join over the weekend.

This blog rush thing is a lot like my how my undergraduate fraternity rush was organized. First, you feel a real sense of pride and excitement as soon as someone you really like joins. Second, you hear the same excuses from the people who you really want to join the blog / fraternity community:

(a) "Oh my gosh, I don't have time."
(b) "I don't know if the [blog / greek] community will accept me.
(c) "How much does it cost?"
(d) "Will I be hazed?"

Okay, so I haven't gotten response (d) yet, but I am sure the concern will come up.

Interviewer: Mister . . . uh hhh . . . Mo . . . . . . - . . . . . . yo? [I added an extra set of ellipses because the interviewer really talked that slowly.]

Me: Good Afternoon. It's pronounced Mol - lo.

Interviewer: Oh, so not Mo - yo?

Me: No.

Interviewer: Hmmm . . . my Spanish teacher taught me incorrectly.

Me: [Or, maybe it's not a Spanish name, you dong!] It's an Italian name, sir, thank you.

[Interviewer: Italian, you say? I had a slave from Southern Italy once.]