A Little Bit of Law Humor

Humor

I'm a Pre-Law major, and I'm working at a District Attorney's office, so these cracked me up good.

Hope you enjoyed as much as I did! More to come soon.

-M

Graduating!

College Tips

Wow! It's been months since I've updated this blog. Dear readers: please ignore any and all advice I give, because apparently I'm terrible at taking it myself. A lot has happened since I last updated this blog. I've been interning at a District Attorney's office for the last 4 months, I'm now engaged and getting married in about 2 months, and I'm graduating in about 1 month. So my life has become pretty hectic in a matter of months.

I'm sure a lot of you readers out there who might be graduating as well are starting to feel the pressure. Don't act like you're not, you know what I'm talking about. That little three letter word that makes college graduates sweat.

Yep, you guessed it: J-O-B.

As tough as it may seem to get a job nowadays, job prospects are not as bleak as they were a few years ago. However, let's be real: the struggle to find a job is pretty daunting, and there are some majors that have high recent graduate unemployment rates. But don't let that discourage you. Let's look at some statistics that might clarify some things about this whole thing.

Ouch. Yeah, okay, so maybe this whole post is a terrible idea. Statistics suck at making people feel better about job prospects. Let's try looking at another one. Maybe this one will have happier data.

Nope, still terrible. So the data might not be in favor of college graduates, but what does all this mean? Let's take a step back an analyze what these graphs tell us.

1. Some majors have higher unemployment rates. The graph directly above tells us that some majors have better chances at getting a job. As bleak as that is, it's true, and while the people who are graduating with those degrees will be dismayed soon after graduation, this rate doesn't hold true over time, as you'll see from my next point.
2. Having a graduate degree makes a difference. For both men and women, having a graduate degree lowers the unemployment rate significantly. So while you may be unemployed and deep in debt now, the answer is to go even further into debt and get a grad degree.
3. The overall rate is going down. Notice the spike in the first graph that happened around 2009. Now notice 2010 and 2011. The rate went down. And it's still going down. The recession of 2008 hit hard in 2009, but we're almost 5 years out from that now, which is an average amount of time that recessions of that magnitude take to recover from. The economy may not be where it was, but it's getting better. 

So what now? Go get a job, that's what. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. Statistics about job prospects may really suck at the moment, but one piece of advice I can impart to those who still have time before they graduate: GET EXPERIENCE. Do an unpaid internship somewhere in your field, and work hard at it. Learn everything you can. Do it as long as you can. 

For instance, if you start an internship at say, a small business in your Sophomore year, and stay in that business until you graduate (hopefully) in two years, that's TWO YEARS of experience in that field. 

You know how almost every entry-level job asks for two years experience, in addition to the degree? That's no sweat for you now. So get chopping on those internships people. It'll set you apart.

I'll leave you with this: good luck, and may you find the job you're looking for.

-M

It's That Time Again- Back to School!

College Tips

Hello all,

Well it's just about that time, eh? All of us students are returning back to our respective alma maters to begin another year of study. For myself, this is the beginning of my last year in undergraduate school, so this year is my final chance to finish another year strong. Speaking of doing strong in school, I've got a quick little 3-point list for those of us who are returning to keep our focus this year and remind you what we've probably forgotten over the summer. So without further adieu, here is my best 3 tips for getting back into the swing of everything with school, studying, etc:

• Treat school like a job. Many of us who may not have held a job over the summer may have forgotten that our true job is school, so let's just go ahead and stick that back into our heads. Yes, school is just like your job. So, a few things: don't drink on the job, don't not pull your weight at the job, and don't expect other people to do your work for you or for things to be easy. Fall semester is always the hardest for me, so it's especially essential that we remember "school is our job" early.
• Do new things. If you're a returning student, it's very easy to simply fall back into how things were the previous year. Don't do this. College is about growing as a person, and a huge part of that is doing new things. Set a goal for yourself to do at least 1 major new things per semester, whether that be doing a new sport, joining a new club, taking a unique class, etc.
• Have fun. Yep, I know I just told you to treat school like your job, but you also have to remember to have fun. College without having fun is probably one of the worst experiences that anyone who has ever been to college can attest to. So remember to have fun, but be responsible with your fun. Don't do stupid things that might harm yourself or others and don't do things that might get you kicked out of school. If you did that, then all of this good advice that I'm sending your way is totally useless, and that would not be cool man.

So there you have it! School is back in session, and it's time to get down to business. Let's have a great school year everyone. College is one of the best times of our lives, so make the most of it.

Regards,

-M

More Ways to Make Money Online in College!

College Tips & Life Hacks


Hello everyone! I've been searching the Internet again, and I've found two great ways to make money online as a college student. If you're in college and you find yourself strapped for some pocket money, these two websites should meet your need in that area. All you need is some spare time, and a bit of work.

Jebbit

The first website you can earn money on is www.jebbit.com, a website that is tailored specifically for college students. The way this website works is that you sign up using your .edu email address, and once your are registered you do 'campaigns'. How campaigns work is that you click on the campaign, and you usually answer a few simple questions, the answers to which can be found right on the web page the campaign takes you to. The reward for answering the questions right is CASH! Each correct answer usually rewards about .10-.25 cents, but Jebbit is always putting up new campaigns, and these questions are super easy, so earning .50 cents can happen in a just a minute or two.

I highly recommend Jebbit because the money is easy and fun to make, and I've never had any problems withdrawing it. They have recently redesigned their website, so now making money look even better!

Postloop

The second website you can earn money on is www.postloop.com, a website that rewards users for making posts online. The way the site works is that you sign up, then you have to make 10 example posts in their 'test' forum, which are reviewed by the website. If they approve your grammar and post length, you can then begin subscribing to forums and blogs from the lists they provide. All you have to do is post on forums and blogs that you are interested in, and you get 'points' for each post, which translate into cash! I tend to make about 1.7 points per post, and 100 points = $5 cash that is paid out almost instantly to PayPal. These posts are not very difficult to do, and if you have skills in good English grammar and can make some good posts on forums, blogs, etc, then you can make a lot of money from this website. 

There you have it folks! I make all the pocket money I need in a week or two from using these websites, and I highly recommend that you give them a try. They are both 100% legitimate, and are actually fun to use. If you have any success stories you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them in the comments!

-M

5 Things to Take Advantage of at Your College

College Tips

So you're in college. Congratulations, you are now in the top 20% of Americans in terms of education. College is a wonderful time to find yourself, learn what you want to do in terms of your career, meet lifelong friends, learn to enjoy learning (it had to happen sometime people), and many other things. The many college and universities across America are some of the leading institutes of higher learning in the entire world; yet many of the people I know that are currently in college are probably only utilizing about 60% of what their school has to offer. College can be a great thing, but you have to make it a great thing. There are 5 main things that I have identified that the people in college I know either do not know exists at their school, or they just plain don't take advantage of it. Without further adieu, I present you with my list of those 5 things:

1.Fitness/athletic/gym facilities. The number one thing that is offered at most colleges that students consistently do not take advantage of are the gyms. Top excuses for not using the gym include: "I don't know how to", "I don't have enough time", "I'm not a gym person", etc. As you may have noticed, these all seemed to start with "I don't", and that is something that when I hear people say, I tend to think otherwise. As with most other things, the hardest part about going the gym is actually getting up out of your dorm room and going there. Once you've done that and you've seen what you can accomplish with a few hours a week at the gym, you'll want to go regularly. Most college students are in terrible health from the massive amounts of : either junk food or lack of food, poor hygiene, massive amounts of consistent sedentary activities, etc. What a gym will give you is a way to improve yourself physically, which in turn will do wonders for you mentally and emotionally.

2. Dining facilities. This one is one that I notice is either under utilized almost all the time, or not at all. Now, I know school cafeteria food can sometimes be atrocious, but that does not mean you can't do some simple things to make it better or try to hit it up on the days with good food. I won't go into detail here, but if your dining hall offers basic things like condiments, salt, pepper, lemons or limes, dressings, etc., then there is an entire world of things you can do to improve your meal. If you have most any kind of baked or grilled chicken served, take a bit of Caesar dressing, squeeze lemon into it, and then put a good amount of black pepper onto the chicken. This is an easy fix for plain chicken that needs some work. Do a few Google searches on ways that you can improve meals with basic condiments and other ingredients. Combine this with using the dining hall on days where they typically prepare good, fresh food and your college dining experience will take quantum leaps.

3. Academic help centers. This is the one that makes me cringe when I hear that people don't take advantage of on their campus. For those of you who have any kind of difficulty with academics at school, I guarantee that there is a resource for you somewhere on campus to help you out. Don't let your pride or stupidity get in the way of getting the grade you want. While we are on the subject, the phrase 'get the grade you deserve' is misleading to many of us. The grade we deserve is usually correlated to the amount of work we put into getting the grade that is assigned to us. If you put in C-level work, you will probably get a C. Now, this is not true in every instance. Hard work and studying forever don't always pay off. That's a hard truth, but its a truth nonetheless. However, the academic resources you have access to on campus are filled with people who want to help you get the grade you want. The thing that is stopping many of you from getting that grade is taking the first step. I don't mean that figuratively, I mean the first step as in walking to the help center.

4. Campus events. This is one that is not as important as some of the others, but it has it's own merits in and of itself. On your campus right now, there are probably fun, free, and fulfilling events that are going on at this moment. Take some time to scan the huge bulletin boards across you campus or talk to your friends about what is going on around campus. The events that many schools offer include: seminars, concerts, dramas, presentations, expos, job fairs, etc. These kinds of events will expose you to all kinds of cultures, people, lifestyles, occupations, and many other things that will help you be well-rounded as a person.

5. Recreation centers. This last one is just for fun. Somewhere on your campus, there is a place that probably has some if not all of the following: ping pong tables, Foosball tables, pools, televisions, gaming centers, couches, air hockey tables, etc. The library at your school also probably has a pretty good selection of DVDs, so there is a lot of relaxing activities that your campus has to offer. All of us college students are pretty much broke for the duration of our four year stay (unless you followed my tips in a previous post, of course), so taking advantage of the FREE entertainment around campus on the weekends or afternoons is a preferable alternative to going out and blowing all the cash we have...which is to say, none. So go ahead, head over to your campus rec center and enjoy some fun times with friends. You've earned it.

There you have it guys. I have found that these are 5 areas in college that most people don't know exist, or don't take advantage of properly. Doing these things will enrich your college experience so you don't look back on it with regret/disgust/disdain, and many that have passed/not passed usually do.

-M

Suits: Sharp, Slick, & Savvy

Media Reviews

This week I will be reviewing one of my personal favorite shows, Suits. Suits is a wonderful example of a show that makes you actually want to pay attention and invest yourself in the show. I myself am thinking about becoming a lawyer, and while I know that this show is probably not the most realistic indicator of how actual lawyers work, it is very accurate in it's use of legal terms and procedures.

The real meat & potatoes of the show is Mike and Harvey. From the genius way the unlikely duo met in the first episode (Mike is running from the cops and stumbles into a job interview , all the way down to the mid-season finale last summer, these two have played the buddy archetype to the letter and then some. The friendly and the sometimes not-so friendly banter that goes on between these two is some of the sharpest dialogue in television right now. Most shows that have the buddy archetype going on tend to get their good dialogue from the buddies interacting with others; with Suits, the best dialogue is between the two themselves. That is not to say that there isn't any good dialogue outside these two, but the best lines from the show are most definitely from Harvey and Mike.

Season One finds Mike Ross, a college dropout, taking the bar exam in exchange for cash. His drug dealer room-mate needs him to deliver some drugs, and will be in a bad situation if he does not help. This is where we first see how much of a people person Mike is. He agrees to deliver the drugs, and while en route to deliver them he notices that this delivery is a sting operation. He manages to get away by slipping into a room, which to his surprise is filled with job interviewees. He is called in, and immediately impresses Harvey with his intellect and memory skills. Harvey hires him on the spot, and thus the heart of the show is created.

The first season is mostly about Mike adjusting to life in a high-speed and high-powered law firm; the first few episodes manage to portray his nervousness well, seeing as he is someone masquerading as a lawyer, without a law degree. Though it does somewhat glaze over that process in a short amount of time, when we finally get to see Mike using his skills in a legal environment to get the win for the first time, it's a great moment. The ending to Season One was fairly stellar, with Mike and Harvey having to come together and fight for their metaphorical employment lives. The relationships developed in Season One made for a great foundation for the beginning of Season Two, my personal favorite of the two so far.

Season Two took the relationships, problems, and issues from Season One are built upon, and new problems in the form of Daniel Hardman and others, arise to add to the queue of things that Mike, Harvey, and their compatriots have to work together to overcome. The acting and emotion in the second season is something to be lauded, as the scenes between Mike, Harvey, Lewis, Jessica, and Hardman throughout the different points in the season is some of the best done for the show yet. The ending of the season was weak in the relationship area, a part of the show that doesn't usually make much sense with it's outcomes.

The new half of the second season began last Thursday, and I am looking forward to seeing more of the dynamic relationships, and some of the sharpest and wittiest dialogue on television. 

-M

Taking a Closer Look at Homeland

Media Reviews

Before the break, one of my friends and I decided that one show we really wanted to get into and catch up on was the show Homeland, starring Claire Dames and Damian Lewis (one of my favorite actors, totally coincidental that he happens to be a ginger), which comes on Showtime (another favorite of mine). I had almost forgotten about this decision, but when one becomes bored late at night, shows are the best cure. So I have worked my way through all 2 seasons of Homeland so far, and this is my review of the show.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!

One thing that I liked about Homeland was that the first episode got me hooked. There is nothing worse than being excited for a show only to have to sit through about 6 episodes of blah in order to get to the good stuff. Luckily, Homeland presented me with an intriguing story right off the bat, and I continued watching without that bad taste in my mouth with which some shows leave. The story goes that Sergeant Nicholas Brody, a prisoner of war over in the Middle East for over 8 years, has returned home to a lot of fanfare, and has earned the status of hero to most people. One of the people who are suspicious of him is CIA agent Carrie Mathison, who thinks he has been turned by Al Qaeda. The first season details the cat-and-mouse between Mathison and Brody, with their paths becoming more and more intertwined as the story deepens. With the ending of the first season with a failed suicide attack by Brody against upper echelon government agents and politicians, this is where the show got me on the hook. Not that the show is perfect by any means, but what I believe to be the biggest motivator for watching a show is: does it get your heart pounding? And the answer to that for Homeland is: yes.

The first season managed to keep my attention for each episode; an accomplishment of which few other shows have been able to do. My one issue with Homeland is this: it's intro. Showtime has always been a channel that has interesting and well-put together intros to their shows; but Homeland's intro makes me just think: meh. It's not bad, but it's really not outstanding either, which is surprising given the other shows on the channel have great intros. I know this may not seem like an important critique, but if you're going to be watching something episode after episode, week after week, it better be good.

Right now, the topics that this show delves into are hot topics in our nation. Politics, intelligence agencies, terrorism, religious radicalism, and a few others are some of those hot button issues that the show seems to reflect on. The way the show reflects on these issues is in and of itself a reflection of how our society is dealing with them I believe. The way the show depicts politics is pretty accurate in that it depicts it in a way that reflects how the majority of society sees politicians and the people in Washington. The topic of religion, however, is where I think the show really shines. That first moment when Brody is in his garage, washes his hands, pulls out his prayer mat and begins to say his morning prayers was nothing short of stunning. I found myself in awe, even though I knew he was the 'antagonist' of the show and must have some kind of marker to be so, I still was just in shock at seeing that. The show portrays Muslims as real people with actual feelings and issues of their own, which I think is refreshing from the stale view which most media takes on Islam.

Now, I have not begun the second season yet; however, I have seen reviews and they seem to point to it just simply adding on to the intrigue and plot with more great twists and more outstanding acting. Damian Lewis has always been one of my favorite actors since Band of Brothers, but I think this takes the cake. That first moment when you see him start praying in Arabic in his garage was a watershed moment for me in regards to this show. That kind of jaw-dropping moment doesn't come often in television, but this show managed to really pull off it's story in a sleek, psychological, and intrigue-filled way. I will revise this review when I have finished Season 2, but I'm hoping my opinion won't be much different than it is now; which is this: this show is just simply amazing. Go watch it if you can.

-M

3 Steps to Prepare for Spring Semester

College Tips

I hope all of you fellow college people are enjoying your Christmas break! Want to know the best way to really enjoy it? Start thinking about your spring semester, duh! I know, since it's cold most everywhere, the warm embrace of spring semester seems too far away to even think about, but time keeps going during Christmas break, whether it seems like it or not.

But really, it's coming faster than you think and its going to come whether you like it or not, so better to just suck it up, buckle down, and get ready for it. So here is my fool-proof 3-step plan to get ready for the semester that always seems to go by the quickest:

1. Plan a spring break trip. That's right. Number one thing is to plan a spring break. Now is the perfect time to start planning a fun trip so you don't get down to the wire and have nothing going on for spring break. Now, I'm not a fan of those crazy spring break parties that go on down in Panama City, so I'm recommending avoiding those so you don't catch something. I'm more advocating for something like a trip with friends to the beach, a favorite city, things like that. We've all started spring semester and told ourselves, "I'll get around to planning something later", or my favorite, "Let's just get in the car and go". Stop right there. That never works. Spring break comes faster than you think, and spring break trips cost money. Usually when everything is just thrown together someone ends up paying for everything and getting paid back in "I'll get you next time bro." Don't fall into that. Talk to your friends, sit down and pick a spot, call ahead and get rooms, and actually plan something. You'll have a lot more fun because you can just jump in the car and focus on having fun instead of figuring out food, rooms, money, or even where to go.
2. Do some class scouting. I know, I know, why on earth would anyone want to think about classes over a break? Well, breaks don't last forever, so get over it and do some class research. Pull up the list of class you're taking next semester, and start doing some research. Head over to www.ratemyprofessors.com, and take a look at who exactly you'll be listening to for the next few months. It'll pay dividends to know what they like, what they don't like, if they are easy, if they are tough. Next, look up the class you are taking, and see exactly what is going to be included in it. Knowing a little bit of the subject material beforehand can never hurt, so do a few google searches and look up what exactly applied trigo-metro-astro-cosmo-pysch-account-ology is. Finally, look at what textbooks you'll need. Make sure to print out a list of the books you need and do some scouting on Chegg, Amazon, and the rest of the internet because we all know, if you buy your books from the school bookstore, you are being duped and of substandard intelligence.
3. Do some schoolwork. Last but most certainly the worst, yes, doing some kind of studying or school-related activity over the break will be good for your spring semester. What is worse, taking 15 minutes a day to stay fresh with info from your major, or forgetting everything you learned this past semester? If you said the latter, well then there isn't much hope for you. One thing I've found helps keep me sharp and prevent the memory loss we all know happens over Christmas is to study. I know it sounds crazy and no one will believe me, but I know that just leisurely doing about 15 minutes worth of studying once in a while over the break is a cure-all for that inevitable loss of knowledge brought on by friends, family, ham, presents, and all the other miscellaneous items that accompany Christmas.  Maybe pull out some notes from last semester, do some Google searches on the things that your next classes are going to cover. Get familiar with the information that is going to be presented in detail, so that way you won't come into the spring semester feeling like you've had a lobotomy. 

That about wraps it up folks! Don't be like the rest of your classmates and waste your Christmas break away. Follow these 3 steps and your spring semester will be much less burdensome. 

Cheers,

-M

Clint Eastwood Reviews Breaking Bad

Media Reviews

Whats that? No, Mr. President, I can't review Breaking Bread for you. No, neither can he. I don't think anyone can do that. Unless he had a lot of butter. What did you say Mr. President? It's not called Bread Breaking? Ah, Jesus, fine, I'll watch your stupid show and type some gibberish for your dang website.

Right, so, Breaking Bad is it? Yeah, Breaking Bad. The show is about some guy named Walt. I played a guy named Walt once. I got shot. Anyway, this show reminds me of my time in Grenada. There was always so much blood...and meth. No, wait, that was '94. Grenada was in '83. Ah, jeez, I wasn't at Grenada. I only played a guy who was at Grenada. Anyways. Wait, I see some kids on my lawn...

Okay, so Clint Eastwood isn't actually going to review Breaking Bad. I think that would be hilarious though. His performance at the Republican National Committee was a personal favorite of mine. He's so gruff and irritable. I can only hope to be like him when I'm old and angry! Without further adieu, here is my review of the wonderful show that is Breaking Bad:

SPOILERS BELOW! DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALL SEASONS!

In the opening season, we find Walter White, a meek high school chemistry teacher at a crossroads of his life. A mid-life crisis consisting of one order of cancer is on the docket for Walter, along with a heavy dose of financial & marital troubles. After seeing a news segment on a methamphetamine lab bust where the money which was seized in the raid is displayed, Walt decides that in order to pay for his cancer treatments and ensure the financial future of his family, he will begin cooking and selling meth. After doing a ride-along with his brother in law Hank who is a DEA agent on another meth lab bust, he sees one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman, escaping the scene of the raid. After finding and convincing Jesse to cook with him, they both embark on a journey into the criminal world that takes them to places they would have never imagined. This is the premise of Breaking Bad.

From the first cook that Jesse and Walt create in their crappy camper, to the most recent cook with Walt and Todd using the pest company as cover, Breaking Bad has managed to keep the art and form of making drugs fresh and interesting. The development of the main story-line and the characters within that story-line is nothing short of awesome. The actors have managed to mature the characters they play in such a way that the development of the character seems natural and real. One problem other shows seem to have is developing the characters in a way that does not seem either rushed, or too slow; however, this is not a problem that BB seems to possess. The paragon of this assertion is none other than our own Walter White himself and his slow but steady metamorphosis into Heisenberg.

Bryan Cranston and the writers of the show have managed to develop a character that is not static or stagnant, but intense, dangerous, and believable. The situations in which the show moves the story along are not silly or inundating, but have actual weight to the end game of the show. The way that the elements are tied into one another throughout the show is more evidence of solid scripting. One of the things that I found endearing about the show is how each episode title was relevant to the content of the episode. Not only that, but some of the titles are actually related to each other: for example, in Season 2 four of the episode titles elude to the ending of the season, "747", "Down", "Over", "ABQ". 

The change that takes place in Walter is not unplanned, as the show's creator Vince Gilligan has stated that he wants the protagonist to become the antagonist, which is exactly what has taken place. In this past season, or half-season, I myself sometimes did not know who to pull for exactly because Walter committed deeds more heinous than ever before and has displayed an attitude so dark it could blot out the sun. This change is what separates Breaking Bad from other drama shows on television. Drama shows are at their core about drama, and BB does not disappoint when it comes to tension and drama. This show is one of the most refreshing additions to cable television in a long, long time. The cold opening of Season 5 that is set a year ahead from the current season was one of the most interesting and curiosity-inspiring openings of a show that I have ever seen. All that remains is to see if the show will end like it has developed.

-M

The Author Returns!

Update

Hello again everyone! 

I am terribly sorry that I haven't updated this blog since April, but as everyone knows, the summer tends to consume one's free time with its draw of beaches, sun, relaxation, pools, and general laziness. So I'm using that as my excuse.

I intend to resume posting to this blog as often as I can, though this semester I have a heavier workload than I believe ever before. This blog does provide me with a good place to provide what viewers I can with what advice I can provide. Everything in this blog is information that I have either garnered through the small amount of life experience I have, or through the education that I have been given, and I hope to impart whatever I can to the world if it can help someone.

Look for some more meaty posts coming very, very soon! 

Regards,

-Michael