| Lock, Taking Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.... |
[30 Jul 2009|09:39pm] |
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There are moments in life when you pause and reflect on where you are, where you've come from and where you're going.
You hope you're growing as a person and that your younger self would be proud to meet the man you've become.
I can honestly say that I'm not yet the Man I want to be. Maybe I'll get there some day.
For now, I have to settle on striving harder to be what I need to be for those that depend on me.
I hope that's enough.
The man who stops growing has stopped living.
Maybe I'll get it right some day.
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| Nostalgia is just life's way of telling you that you've become boring... |
[25 Jul 2009|11:48pm] |
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I've found my Live Journal after about 4 years of inactivity. Some of you True Believers are still out there plugging away.
Reading some of my old entries, I realize that I used to be rather amusing.
What happened?
I'm going to try and post again, try to flex some mental muscles that have atrophied.
Let me know if you're still out there.
Peace, Love and Puppies.
D.
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| Dave Edwards, Esq. |
[11 Nov 2005|05:15pm] |
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It's official! I've been sworn in and I have the certificate that cost me almost $200K!
Now I'm cool like Harvey Birdman.
Yay for me!
Time for a drink!
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| What I believe is wrong... |
[31 Oct 2005|10:16am] |
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Josh recently had a post in his journal about the misplaced concerns of his relatives concerning his spiritual well-being. As one of the few true heathens of the group, I thought I'd take a moment to chime in.
Whatever an individual's beliefs may be, it's always easiest to wield them like a shield when their concept of "Truth" is called into question. It's never difficult to attack someone else's beliefs or lifestyle when they differ from our own. Anyone can be self-righteous, but that doesn't mean they're right.
I don't believe in God; in fact, most of my friends don't know what I believe. That's unimportant. The thing that matters, in my opinion, is that no two people will ever agree on what is "true." This tells me two things about the nature of the world: 1) My beliefs are wrong; and 2) So are everyone else's.
Discussions about religion, politics, ethnicity, class structure and simple human decency are useless if all we do is question others.
Josh, you make your extended family uncomfortable because you don't fit into their clear definitions. That's good. Be yourself, and continue writing as you do. Eventually, some of them may see what you do.
Our beliefs are dangerous unless we question them. They make us alienate our loved ones. They make us hate those who are different. They allow us to justify atrocities. They deny us our freedom to think for ourselves. They defy reason.
We should ask ourselves, Am I willing to change my beliefs? And the answer must always be yes. If not, then we deny reason and experience a chance to make us grow as human beings. We become static-minded. We become dangerous.
What I believe is wrong, but I'm open to suggestions. Are you?
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| Fo Rizzle. |
[03 Oct 2005|01:09pm] |
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It's official. I passed the Bar Exam.
Kneel before Zod!
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| The Bar Exam is My Bitch. |
[26 Jul 2005|10:23pm] |
Essays are done, and they were a breeze. Who fails this test?
Thanks for all the good luck wishes. It's great to have friends.
One day left, then we're goin' drinkin'.
Then an interview on Thursday, and then lots more drinkin'.
By the way, I'm still poor 'till I get a job, so pity me and buy me alcohol this week. I will return the favor once I get a job. =)
And buy Adrienne drinks too, cuz while she gets money from work, I make her poor cuz I'm indigent. So, get us booze, and we will give you hugs.
Peace, Love and Negotiable Instruments.
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| FUCK YEAH!!!!! |
[04 Apr 2005|02:19pm] |
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mood |
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FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC |
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My Bar Study Loan is approved!!!! Drinks are on me!!!
D.
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| It's coming..... |
[24 Mar 2005|02:15pm] |
PAJAMA JAMMY JAM IV
Saturday, April 23: From Dusk Till Dawn.
Naperville, IL.
Be There, Or Be Stupid.
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| An Evening on the Pont Neuf. |
[21 Mar 2005|02:08pm] |
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Paris was wonderful.
Adrienne and I had so much fun and took a bunch of pictures of us. Look forward to seeing them on my pictures page and on her website (in color) once we get them scanned in. Some should be up on Tuesday. Got to go to Versailles this time, which was just incredible. Also did some shopping, went to the markets of St. Ouen, saw Constantine on the Champs Elyses with French Subtitles, consumed bottles of wonderful french bordeaux, and got to read The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After in the downtime.
One of my favorite moments was sitting at Trocadero, eating baguettes with this beautiful blonde sitting next to me, and staring at the Seine and the Eifel Tower. It was in the 50s, didn't need a jacket, and it was a gorgeous day. It was one of those moments of such total happiness that you smile about for the rest of your life. The other such moment of the trip was spent standing on the Pont Neuf, at night, staring out over the black waters of the Seine and doing so with the most amazing woman in the world.
Memories like that are what make life extraordinary.
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| A little bit of edumacation for y'all. |
[03 Mar 2005|09:28am] |
Ok, normally I rant and rave but don't actually do anything useful. Well, here is something to take an interest in.
Bush and his cronies have unleashed a PR campaign that is a nightmare for environmentalists and average people. The New school of bureaucrats at EPA have been gutting programs left and right and decreasing the gains that have been made by citizen suits filed in the late 90s. If you are interested to know more, I will post some useful informational links later, but for the time being, here is something everyone can do that will only take a minute. Click on the following link, enter your info and a letter will be sent to Sen. Barack Obama thanking him and urging him to continue to reform the Clear Skies Act. You can read the text and if you're not interested, then fine. But please go check it out and consider making your voice heard.
Representative government only works if you tell your legislators what you want. I guarantee the power industry has told the senate what they want. Do you want them to speak for you?
Slap this in your window and take a look. Not sure if this page takes java commands, so I will just let you do the work.
D.
http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=13094
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| EMERGENCY!!! |
[28 Feb 2005|02:47pm] |
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DOES ANYONE KNOW NICK/JOSH DOETSCH'S HOME ADDRESS IN ISLAND LAKE????
I NEED IT FOR MY BAR APPLICATION. PLEASE CALL, EMAIL OR USE A DOG SLED TEAM TO GET ME THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE HELP!!!!!
DAVE.
ALSO, NICK'S CELL PHONE NUMBER WOULD HELP, I COULD CALL AND ASK HIM.
JOSH, ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!!!!
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| For my thesis. |
[23 Feb 2005|02:58pm] |
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So, for my Seminar on Current Issues in Environmental Law, I have to write a 25-page Thesis of "Law Review Caliber". Tonight, my outline is due.
Here is what I'm turning in:
An Essay Upon The Flawed Proposals For Combatting Changes In The Global Climate: In Which The Author Forms The Global Climate Fellowship And Defends Its Superiority.
I. Section The First: In Which The Author Makes Some Introductory Remarks.
II. Section The Second: In Which The Author Discusses The State Of Current Scholarship Regarding Global Climate Change.
III. Section The Third: In Which The Author Lauds The Successes And Laments The Failures Of The Kyoto Protocol.
IV. Section The Fourth: In Which The Clear Skies Act Is Vivisected And, Inevitably, The Bush Administration Is Mocked.
V. Section The Fifth: In Which A Nominal Length Of Pagination Is Dedicated To The Proposed Climate Stewardship Act.
VI. Section The Sixth: In Which The Requirements Of A Domestic Solution Are Presented.
VII. Section The Seventh: In Which The Necessity Of A Global Fellowship Is Discussed.
VIII. Section The Eighth: In Which, After Much Deliberation And Circumlocution, The Author Presents His Recommendations For The War On Global Climate Change, Including The Need For US Leadership Rather Than US Subversion.
IX. Section The Ninth: In Which The Author Humbly Recognizes The Limits Of His Political Clout And Submits To The Likely Results Of Efforts By Smarter Minds Than His Own.
X. Section The Tenth: In Which The Author Offers Some Closing Remarks And Bids His Audience Farewell.
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| Because you crave it. |
[16 Feb 2005|02:59pm] |
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Occasionally, I have things to say. Many times, I don't.
Well, that's not entirely true.
I always have something to say. It's only occasionally that I overcome my lethargy long enough to type it out for you fine people to read.
This causes a problem.
One for you, and one for me.
You, the reader, cannot get enough of what I have to say. Do not deny it. You're constantly checking for updates and begging me to post.
I, the author, if one who writes an online journal can raise oneself to such a rank, which, to be fair, I have just done, cannot find the energy to feed you what I have to say.
Thus, I find myself in a quandry.
Do I deny you, my loyal fans, your only desire of me? Or, do I, as I have been doing, lay about in my free time and play video games, rather than string together a couple of coherent, or somewhat coherent, or nominally incoherent, sentences?
It appears you have won this round, if such a smattering of drivel can constitute a victory, even for my most addicted of devotees.
Perhaps, I shall take up telepathy. Less typing.
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| Happy New Year!!! |
[06 Jan 2005|02:03pm] |
Hope Santa was good to all of you. He got Adrienne and I a new computer, bindings for our snowboards and tons of dvds. Best of all, he brought us a Ms. Pac-Man controller that we've been playing like mad. I highly recommend running to Best-Buy and picking one of these up. Word to the wise though. Beware Blinky. That bastard is FAST!
So, hope the New Year brings you wonderifical things. I for one get to look forward to finishing my last semester of law school, taking the bar, and looking for a job.
Peace, love and puppies.
Dave
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| A Shameless Plug. |
[07 Nov 2004|06:05pm] |
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So, I have finally been able to steal my old entries from the ruins of UJournal and transfer them to this page. If you're a newcomer to my journal, or if you're terribly bored and just want something to do, go back and look at all the posts from 2003. My journal hasn't always revolved around political rants. At times, I was even quite amusing, or so I'm told. Go take a gander.
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| Sweet Land of Liberty, Of Thee I Sing.... |
[04 Nov 2004|02:05pm] |
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Most of you may notice that I haven't said much since my post in Adrienne's journal the other day. I can't be silent forever. And I can't sit around fuming forever either. I just need to get some things out.
I've had a feeling, for years now really, but especially in the days leading up to the election, and now in its wake, that I am no longer an American.
Americans are morally bankrupt. They have convinced themselves that their gods and their flags have given them the authority to bend the rest of the world to their will. There is nothing rational about the American Agenda. This nation is filled with zealots and cowards. They will continue to force their extremist puritanical/dogmatic views on the now-minority of the population. Monogamous couples are ostracized legally. Women will soon be stripped of the control of their own bodies. Science will be whipped into obedience by Christ and his dad. The Earth will be pillaged to save a few bucks. And our soldiers will die to prolong the fear and paranoia that supports a morally bankrupt regime.
There is no longer a Marketplace of Ideas in America. There is simply the majority view, and the enemy view. Enemies of God. Enemies of Freedom. Enemies of Democracy. Enemies of Corporate Wealth.
My views are not accepted. My voice is silenced. For 2 years, at least, I have no recourse.
So today, I am your enemy, America. Because you have proven you are mine.
Today, I have no hope for this country. Reason has failed to sway the new majority. There is no doubt that it must get worse before it gets better. Appealing to fear and hatred has won the day.
My only hope is for the rest of the world. I hope that they can stand firm in their ideals. I hope that they will not be coerced by American hatred. I hope that reason still lives somewhere. And most of all, I hope that I am not judged for the sins of America, and the sins of those vile men and women who kept this man in office. The wretched, corrupt fools who passed the referenda banning love.
To America, I say, you have made it clear that I am no longer welcome.
To the rest of the world, I beg, please grant me asylum.
Justice no longer lives in America.
Soon, hopefully, neither will I.
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| Rail Rage.... |
[28 Oct 2004|08:52am] |
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Now that I live in the lovely suburb of Naperville, I find myself commuting to Chicago every morning via train. Now, first off, I am a huge advocate of mass transit systems and I am very grateful that I have the ability to make it into the city in 45 minutes instead of spending two hours and $20 to drive and park. That having been said, there are things about the morning and evening commute that I can do without. At times, gross violations of etiquette (editor's note: this is one of those words that never looks right, no matter how you try to spell it) have nearly caused me to strangle someone. But calmer heads have prevailed. Rather than take out my agression physically, I think I am going to write a Commuter's Guide to Riding the Train. If it turns out well, I'm gonna try to submit it to Metra and see if they will add it to all the little schedules and stuff that they hand out. I'm totally serious about this too. I think it would make a fun letter, sending it in, and I would be really curious about what kind of response they would send back. So, here are some thoughts, as I think them. Please reply with any other revisions, you might think are useful.
Commuter's Guide to Riding the Train:
Things To Do.
1) Turn your cell phones off or place them in silent mode before entering the train.
2) Place luggage on the designated racks above you.
3) Move to the window, so the aisle seat is available for others.
4) When leaving the train, leave behind newspapers, neatly folded, for later passengers.
5) When exiting, allow people seated before you or above you to exit before forcing your way to the door.
Things Not To Do.
1) DO NOT talk on the phone. This pisses off other passengers, immensely. They do not want to hear about your nephew's math test or your granddaughter's dance recital. Doing so may result in a cellular enema.
2) DO NOT eat on the train. This intensifies the hunger of everyone else who is going to work without breakfast or who is coming home from work without having had a chance to eat. Don't be an asshole!
3) DO NOT hit people with your luggage as you traverse aisles. This may irritate fellow passengers. Do not be surprised if this gets you stabbed with a Bic Pen. You have it coming.
4) If you are an able-bodied, healthy individual less than 50 years old, with no heart or back conditions, DO NOT use your wheelie bag when travelling on the Platform. You look like a Middle Linebacker, you are strong enough to carry your shit. Pick your fucking bag up, jackass!
5) DO NOT make travel friends! Passengers do not want to talk to you. Nobody wants to talk to you. Nobody likes you. More importantly, nobody wants to hear you speak. Shut the fuck up!
Thank you for being considerate. Enjoy your travels on Metra.
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| Two can play this game. |
[26 Oct 2004|09:41am] |
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I have decided to wage war. I have HAD ENOUGH of these right wing assholes displaying bumper stickers, wearing T-Shirts and parroting Fox News. I am a staunch advocate of Free Speech. Most liberals, like myself, are. However, unlike most liberals I know, I favor capital punishment, hate gun control (it's a fallacy to believe that the problem is an over-availability of guns rather than underfunding of law enforcement and the complete failure of our criminal justice system to deter armed crime). So, rest-assured, I am a somewhat educated voter and I don't settle for the shit that major parties jam down your throat. So if I see any stupid posts about how I'm brainwashed by the "liberal media," I am gonna come to your home and pistol-whip you, cuz pacifism is for whiners.
Now then, back to my original point. While I will fight with everything I have to defend your right to spew toxic phrases, like: "Homosexuality is a Sin" or "White Power" or "We need to cap non-economic damages because health care is rising due to massive jury awards allowed by activist judges" or "God Bless America" or "Abortion is Murder" or "Bush/Cheney '04"; I realize it's about damn time to fight back. Say whatever the Hell you want, you inbred, redneck hater. I'll even congratulate you for getting off your ass and taking part in the political process, by voicing your political agenda, rather than boozing yourself into oblivion with your Coors beer while watching Nascar. But dammit, you're gonna read MY agenda, too! No longer will etiquette, civility, and compassion for my fellow citizen's right to disagree keep me in check. Now, I'm gonna shove MY HATRED down your throat, too!
So get ready. It's on. From now on, whenever I see some asshole wearing a shirt that espouses hatred, ignorance, or politics, I am gonna call them on that. If they fail to respect what constitutes a valid public forum for such thoughts, then I'm gonna make them defend it. I'm talking to that asshole who was wearing such an unforgivable shirt at the aquarium, with children trying to enjoy the fishes having to stare at this ignorant man. I will not allow you to poison the minds of this nation's children any longer. Not without a fight of my own.
The First prong of my new war is a verbal assault on any such assholes. If you choose to broadcast the thoughts of someone else on your body or vehicle, wherever you go, then I am going to bring the public forum to you. I am going to be loud and critical of your views. I am going to do my best to embarrass and shame you. Damn, I hope i can even get you to take a swing at me. Because sometimes, might DOES make right, and I would love to prove it to you.
The Second prong of my offensive is to combat the right-wing propaganda machine with my own, offensive, violative T-Shirts. I am going to print up T-Shirts to offend the right wing to their core, as they so frequently choose to offend me. "I Kill Racists." "Fuck the Pope." "Christians = Killers." "Fuck You, Nazi." "Save the World, Kill a Racist." "My Gun Won't Kill You, I Will." "Capitalism Keeps You Poor." "Rich People Hate You." "Gays are God's Children, Too. Bigots are Damned." "Judge Not, Lest I Judge You First."
I'm looking for comments on some of these. They are the first go at coming up with some catchy new slogans. Yes, they are supposed to be offensive. But they are also supposed to be all the more shocking because you've never seen them expressed in public. Most liberals are pussies. I'm not. It's time to grab the others like me and fight these right-wing haters with everything we've got. Post a comment, let me know if there are any slogans you like or hate. I'm thinking about having the slogan on the front, and either a blank back, or some logo or mission statement on the back. Maybe even a quote from the bible to really piss off the conservatives. Nothing better than using a fanatics WMD's against him. Let me know if any of you are with me. Welcome to the Revolution.
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