It's not the same, I'm afraid.  It's a different time, different industry.  I know far too many unemployed (yes, completely fuckin unemployed) lawyers with much better grades than the OP to recommend jumping in that pool.  I also know a lot of completely fuckin miserable lawyers.

I know far less happy, successful lawyers.  One of those two, sure... but both together?  Not so much.

If he was asking about another career, I'd have different advice. 

No, it's not the same industry or time but the comparison is still valid: good grades help the new engineering grad, going to a highly regarded school doesn't hurt, and there are too many unemployed engineers as well as plenty of every combination of happy/unhappy successful/unsuccessful working engineers.

That doesn't mean I'd tell the would-be engineering student with mediocre grades to give it up. I would tell him that it will be more difficult for him - but likely he knows that anyway. If he doesn't, if he thinks that he's guaranteed happiness/success/employment, he's got bigger problems than grades anyway.

Ultimately though, he wouldn't be the first person to find happiness/success/employment in some different field or through persistence: my sister never graduated from college, was divorced with 2 small kids, and had to take any job to pay the bills. She worked as a police dispatcher, moved into the traffic dept., transferred into the IT unit and is now happily virtually running their information systems/ computer section. No, she doesn't make the six figure mega salary that is the true measure of success, but she doesn't appear to be too miserable either.

He's not doomed; but his road is definitely clouded with uncertainty. As are all of ours. If we've learned anything it's that we're all at a crossroads: one path leads to extinction and the other to utter hopelessness. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.

A miserable existence? Paying off a debt over time? Done all the time. Then again, one person's "miserable existence" is not having immediately a virtually perfect job, with a virtually perfect income, etc. It's extremely possible - again assuming he is only momentarily discouraged with becoming a lawyer and practicing law - for him in a reasonable time to have a good income and enjoy his job.

I'm coming at this from my own lower middle class background. If my brother had listened to the "You can't go to medical school 'cause you have neither the grades nor the money" he wouldn't be a doctor today. True, his grades were barely adequate to get in and he admits he struggled to finish and after had to pay back the US Army with his time, but he did it. Again, it's true that he doesn't make the huge salary that an elite Ivy League doctor does but again, it's also true that his 4000 sq. ft. home in Santa Fe (with a panoramic view of the Sandias') does ease the pain.

I'm just against the whole idea that you either "get it all or get out". I got mediocre grades in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - frankly I barely graduated - got into UC Berkeley's MBA program by luck and diversity - barely got hired at Intel and now I'm doing far better economically than I'd ever imagined. But realistically, I shouldn't have had the nerve to attempt anything like college or grad school because I didn't finish high school. G.E.D. me; I should be working at Home Depot picking up trash in the parking lot, moaning that the "elite SF firms" won't hire me.

Well, let me add to the confusion: if you really and truly do not desire to be a lawyer any longer and are certain of this; certain that this is not just a panicky phase from having goofed off a bit, then maybe you shouldn't remain.

BUT I'm not though going to say something like "if you don't want to be one now, then you sure as hell won't want to be one later" because that's not necessarily the case by a long shot. People change their mind all the time about their career; I've lawyer friends who at various times hated and loved being a lawyer. Saying that what you feel now is the way you're always going to feel is just wrong.

And the idea that someone has to work at a so-called decent law firm and that it's pointless otherwise to be a lawyer unless you've got stellar grades and great contacts to get that job? I think that's wrong. Obviously it's better to have the top grades - it gives one more options and flexibility - but I believe that if you think you've got the right stuff regardless of GPA, then stick with the program and finish.

I've lawyer friends (also grads of UC Hastings School of Law) who've done alright in city governments, state, and federal jobs - I don't know you, maybe that sounds like failure to not be making beaucoup dinero right off like a John Grisham character - but they're making a decent life, with good friends, family, and the whole career thing. It's been said more than once that often top graduates think that because they have the grades that they no longer have to prove themselves anymore, while the "C student" works harder to justify his hire: in the long run, I think success goes to the more persistent.  (I'm reminded of an article I read about the writer Elizabeth Wurtzel, who having gone to Yale Law and then failed the bar, seemed to imply that graduating from Yale should have been enough to establish her credentials and that it's for the non-elite law school grads to have to pass the bar 'cause who are they anyway?)

My neighbor graduated from a Texas law school with C grades, started in state government, made contacts in the building industry and now owns a beautiful two-story house overlooking acres of farmland that he owns. He dresses like a cowboy and talks like one too.

He'd never get hired by a fancy-pants San Francisco law firm and never live in the only place worth living (San Francisco) and probably not get invited to a sophisticated cocktail party, but somehow he manages to conceal his sorrow by racing his Porsche at breakneck speeds. Poor guy.

Canuck, I am envious.

My experience with Japanese students at Berkeley's MBA program and working together afterward is eerily similar: the one's I met (about two dozen) were all mostly shy (and not because their of limited English; they spoke quite well), polite, friendly (not in a boisterous too familiar way although once they got to know you they would loosen up) and generally liked to avoid conflict. They'd rather not say "No" but if they didn't want to do something, they wouldn't.

I think I would have loved to do what you're doing in Japan. For some reason - now, I know this is going to sound weird or presumptuous, but I wouldn't say it if I didn't feel it largely true - most of the Japanese people I met liked me. At least half my graduate school friends were Japanese; and it's not like I sought them out. They seemed to like my friendliness and casualness - one told me it was just right: not too friendly and boisterous like most Americans, not too overly intimate. It was always my impression that culturally they were a bit shy and actually liked someone else breaking the ice. I'm not sure why we got along but I was invited to many of their parties, study groups and outings.

Actually, at grad school, most American students were the usual mix of friendly, unfriendly, indifferent people I meet every day. Most of the white students weren't particularly friendly; probably because they thought I was a foreign student and couldn't help them in their study groups. However, most of the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Indians were very friendly to me; but the Japanese students in particular included me in many of their activities.

Probably I too would be a novelty in Japan given my height and race (Mexican/White) and tendency to strike up conversations with anyone who doesn't look like they'll stab me. Here in the US, I mostly get suspicious or wary looks from strangers if I ask directions or questions. In Japan, I suspect, they'd treat me as a simple minded big hulk (I'm 6'3", 200lbs) but I think they wouldn't automatically mistrust me. Right?

I think she may be doing well since you've not mentioned anything outrageous. Her email photos from the ship and Japan seemed to show a very happy swabbie. Swabbie? Is that correct? Anyhow, she seemed to have friends and some fun time so it's not all duty duty duty.

I've some family and friends whose BMI is within "acceptable" (let's say non-obese, non-overweight is "acceptable") range and yet they have considerable stomachs or are extremely weak looking. My own BMI is in the overweight category and yet I look far more fit than they do.

It seems to me from my reading that BMI is a useful statistical concept to try to get to a universal useful definition but I think an overreliance on it - say, by a Dr. to tell a fit person to lose 20 pounds without regard to the patient's physical appearance and lean body mass to fat composition - is just wrong.

The sister of an acquaintance of mine graduated from high school last year - well, sort of, she went to iirc the Great Lakes naval training facility where I believe she earned her diploma and went into the navy. I don't know the exact sequence or details, but anyways, now she's on the USS George Washington.

She was, in my impression, an unlikely candidate for military service because she's rather shy, only 5'4", and not particularly motivated (which may be a mistaken impression but she was always sleeping on the couch watching TV whenever I went to visit my friend, whether at 2 PM or 7 PM.

I'm wondering is life on a carrier like life in a small town with some military trappings or is she really regimented and busy 24/7?

She seems to be thriving and happy but my friend doesn't know what her day to day life is like. Like a job or like a rigorous Aye Aye Cap'n, he doesn't know.

I'm curious (I've seen the TV documentaries but personal experiences unedited are better sometimes).

I call bullshit on those who say they'd go back to the store and pay for it.  I simply don't believe you.  I'm sure you have some oceanfront property to sell me in Kansas, too.

Eh. If you knew me and still said that, I'd take offense. But you don't, and I understand your perspective because I have just as little faith in humanity as a whole as you do.

Amen to that, Farscry. I value my own opinion of myself too much to be taking advantage of an honest mistake like having a purchase not scanned. I'm no saint by any means, I just don't think of myself as the guy who doesn't pay for his coke/sandwich at the office lounge, takes office supplies, helps himself to a lost wallet's contents or keeps an unbought item. Would I be tempted to keep it? No, not really. I've lots of flaws and weaknesses but they mostly center around women. You can trust me to not steal your cellphone if you drop it - I've returned several - and I won't go through your jacket looking for cash if you give me it to hang up for you. Not worth it.

had i gone back with the item as-is, what manager would have believed me, even with a receipt? 

Um, most?  Especially with a receipt. I find it extremely hard to believe a store would refuse you and if you would have as a clerk then I'll say that I'm happy that I never shopped there. 

Had that happen a few years ago with a DVD and we didn't have any trouble taking it back to the store with a gift receipt and returning it.  They even let us swap it out for a different movie because the gift wasn't one my wife had a particular desire to have in our collection. 

Most? As he described it, it could very easily appear to be a situation where someone walked in with a receipt, picked up the same item again in an attempt to get 2 items for the price of one. Unless I was sure that I'd called ahead and explained OR knew that I could be seen entering the store with the item in question by the person who could authorize the removal of the anti-theft device without repurchase, I would be very wary of going back. 

Frankly, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but most clerks are very good within the limited scope of their authority and experience, but step outside that very narrow range, and they stop functioning. They've got to check with the guy who's worked there a week longer than they have, he's got to check with his floor supervisor, he's to got check with the store manager, and he's got to call Corporate... There's paperwork and codes to be punched in, sku's to be scanned, vouchers to be signed, receipts to be checked, items to be inspected, etc. 

Take a Circuit City or Best Buy clerk out of their usual indifferent bored routine and all bets are off.

I've worked very little retail - except in high school and part-time jobs in college, but I've seen situations where people with receipts attempt to get refunds for items by walking in and picking said item off a shelf, then taking them to a register or customer service. And stores are aware of this, so I'd not assume anyone would know I was an honest man.

This happened to me many years ago at a Circuit City or Uncle Ralph's or Egghead Software - I can't recall which, doesn't really matter - I wasn't charged for a game (about $50) and didn't notice (truly I didn't: I was talking to a very pretty girl and more concerned with her than the amount of my purchase which was small enough not to make me stop my conversation with her.)

But when I did discover it, I returned to the store and paid for it.

Funny thing is the clerks looked at me oddly as if I were trying to "get away with some trick" and they called the store manager. I spoke with him while three clerks eyed me suspiciously as if I was going to run away with the game (and they'd need to tackle me) or get them fired. The manager was also suspicious, asking me if I'd opened the game, checking the shrink-wrap, and finally agreeing to let me pay for the game.

I'd didn't expect a thank you or a discount but I was surprised at the hostility from the clerks and the manager's ultimate indifferent "Ehh, let him pay for it."

I left feeling I'd done the right thing but also felt that their store security cameras had taken a still photo of me to post as a potential troublemaking shoplifter.

I never went back.

gellar, I think that's a healthy attitude; especially in times when our work can go POOF! I can respect that. Having seen so many talented and hardworking engineers get let let go regardless of their performance because the budget had to be trimmed, I think I've learned too to not invest too much of my identity in what I do. It's too dangerous.

That sort of warning would make me uneasy to continue using VUZE; not worth the anxiety.

I think you really have to have a special personality or outlook to handle a job with so much travel - at least to do it happily.

It's such an alien concept to me to travel so often mostly because I like feeling rooted to a community; feeling like I'm a member of a place and knowing that others recognize me as "one of them". And given my somewhat reserved personality, I have to really work at making that happen. If I were traveling too much, even when I was at home, I wouldn't be "at home." I'd just be where my bed was at.

When I was a kid, we moved alot. Alot. I never fit in, told myself I didn't want to (and given some of the rundown areas we moved in to, not wanting to fit in made sense), and rarely made close friends although I became quite good at superficial friendships. Well, I've enough of traveling and glib emphemeral relationships. I'll settle for a few good  old friends; it's hard work to make new ones.

I respect your ability to it and I hope you continue to find it fulfilling.

God bless you again.

Very fortunate indeed. I think I remember his voice; it's been awhile and I believe he's done other work for videogames.  I can't be sure but his voice, iirc, is quite distinctive - if its the voice actor I'm thinking of,

ps. thanks for all the work in posting this Ken.  I did notice they do have all the links to the different store ads on the left side of the page though, so you might be able to save yourself some work next year and devote the extra time to moderating SL 

Thanks for the posting Ken. Great for quick scanning for deals!

I am Legend for me; a Simpson's season or two for my brothers.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/the-tuna-tragedy-of-the-commons/?hp

It seems to me that when I was a kid, I could open an inexpensive can of tuna and it'd be delicious (well, for tuna, if you like it in the first place) and the tuna would be solid, with a good texture.

Now the less expensive tunas are basically mush, mush, mush. If you want real tasty tuna (again, if you like tuna) then you now have to buy the much more expensive solid white albacore tuna and even then, if you accidentally buy the wrong brand or if the label description is slightly different, you end up with a somewhat inferior tuna  (although not as bad as the cheap tuna).

Maybe we are overfishing 'em? The mature tuna doesn't survive too maturity? Or maybe their farming tuna? I don't know anymore.

Thanks to all for being the irreverent, ticking time bomb of insanity that I will always appreciate.

I'm starting a pool... how many miles will it take, total, before gellar bumps into his soul?

If the infinity slot has already been taken, put a Franklin on 300,000,000,000 miles for me, will you?

gellar flies first class, his soul rides in coach

When a thread goes awry, only puns can save it.

Go Starwolves!

I'm very happy that some good - and I hope much much more will follow - is coming your way. I was moved by your son's condition and I admire your strength. You've had a lot to deal with and yet you continue to deal with the struggles. Your son is fortunate to have you as a father. God bless your family.

[decade's worth]

Ron had it rough all along. I don't know if you all have been watching every episode from Season 1 until now, but Ronnie had virtually NO lines for episodes. I'd started to think he was mute. Then the last season or so, Ron finally gets some speaking scenes and then BAM!

The whole series took place over a period of three years? Somehow that seems both right and wrong. I know that it feels like we've seen a decade's worth of murders, assaults, intrigue, betrayal and character development - and yet, when I start to think about this last season (which, btw, I didn't enjoy nearly as much as earlier seasons, though it's still good), three rollercoaster years also seems right too.

Most shows that I like don't really matter much to me later, but The Shield felt REAL. I wonder about where Dutch is going, grieve for Claudette, doubt that Julian can continue being the "family man" and worry about Vic's family. The show's characters came to life for me. It's only a show but I can't help thinking about Vic destroying everything he wanted to protect: his family, his friends, his job. Other series end and I don't care.  The Shield though at least had an ACTUAL ENDING. Not a cancellation or disappearance as if it had never existed. So that' something.

Shane's actions were just too horrible to comment on.

Vic? Man, letting him getting away - if anyone could REALLY escape the thing's Vic's done, his tiny shrivelled conscience, I think, would gnaw at him and at least spoil his second helping at Denny's - might feel wrong now, but at least it's unambiguous. A dead Vic - he suffers no more and can cause none. A deskbound still working Vic: no no no. Our tale is told. The actors should die or go free. I'm not saying I hated the ending but more like admitting I don't know what I wanted. But it's better than the Sopranos' ending.

We recently read of a woman who'd spent hundreds of thousands (allegedly) on, iirc, a Nigerian scam.  I really wonder if it's hope or desperation or cluelessness that motivates people to do such things.

In any case, I'd think thieves are probably making more money stealing identities than conning the occasional big money victim. I don't have any statistics but it seems likely that would be the "easier" way to steal because you don't need the vic's active cooperation.

A colleague of mine used to do a lot of work-related travel also. I said - when he told me he'd been to Australia, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Argentina, throughout Europe - that it sounded like an awesome experience.

He said the first year or so was exciting; he's an extrovert who makes friends quickly. We'll go to lunch at some diner/cheap restaurant and I'll step outside to make a phonecall and when I'm come back he'll introduce me to "Cindy, she's just moved here from Washington state..." so he'd made friends/acquaintances worldwide. Many of who still send postcards, emails, and phonecalls.

But after three dozen trips, he just felt rootless and unamused by the differences in countries/cities and positively depressed by the similarities. It made him feel like a ping pong ball. He last four more years though because he liked the job although he no longer made much effort to know and investigate his destinations. Paris, London - he mostly remembers traffic, coffeeshops, airports, and office meetings which were virtually the same everywhere - the cities made less impression in his conciousness.

I don't know. At one time I would have liked a lot of traveling for work; I've always been the sort to look for variety. However, I suspect I wouldn't have the leisure to absorb a place's atmosphere and culture. The pace would probably not allow it.

That's a good point; no one likes to feel that go-getter is after their job so it's likely best that you not appear to be going over someone's head; chain of command and all that. It's usually best to let people know you're interested in management or promotions; usually. Not always, as I've found out.

Ringing in with my own highly positive experiences with GoGamer - which I thought was a California company (based on some invoices and other info I can't recall) - fast service, quick response to questions. I made at least seven or eight separate orders from them over the years.

At one time, three or so years ago, Gogamer was virtually always praised for low prices and quick delivery. However, I've long stopped finding great early deals on recent games and I haven't ordered from them in a year or so.

Maybe their efficiency has declined; I don't know. I just know that the early sales on recent games and the quick delivery wasn't so consistent anymore and I've found better bargains at CircuitCity, Target, Big Lots, Wal-Mart, and even BestBuy.

Anyone play Starlancer? Any good?

gellar, for those of us without a scorecard: what is it you do? that requires so much travel?


I've noticed that about hotel clerks too: I've met more than a few who seemed totally grim as if they've been condemned to Hot L Hell forever or really super-perky.

[The best way to be one of them is to start being one of them.]

I was recently faced with that fork in the road - go manager, or go higher-order technical.  How I got there was actually pretty easy - start gathering power.  I took over as project lead on every project I could reach and then made sure those projects were completed on time or early, all the while updating management when I hit major milestones that I invented in my head.  I started offering my help on any low-hanging management tasks such as proofreading internal documents and the like. 

The best way to be one of them is to start being one of them.

That, and the mad wrestling skills video.  That's a must.

So true: OFTEN the best way to be one of them is to act like one of them. My sister, with no college degree, 15 years ago started working for the Police Dept. in an entry level computer tech position, very low level. But she was reliable, smart, showed initiative - and frankly, I think a lot of the Police officers/administrators were/are very technophobic and were dazzled by her knowledge as well as her ability to explain things and gets things done - and she's now virtually in charge (there's a political appointee for appearance sake "in charge").

There's got to be a catch somewhere - as CeeKay warned us the last time.

QUESTION: If you guys won the lottery, say $20,000,000 up front after taxes, would you randomly give away any of it? I'd probably donate a thousand to the top ten posters here or hit the "tip jar" of half a dozen bloggers whose work I've enjoyed over the years and I'd probably tip waitresses $50 regardless of the price of my sandwich and beer. But that's me: a modern day John Strange Rockefeller.

At least Chuck lives, and that Yvonne Strahovski? Wow!!

I'd never heard of Looking For Group and I'm happy I clicked on this thread. Thanks.

I'd have recommended the first Homeworld but Freespace is a good choice. I never gave it the time it deserved. Wouldn't mind reading some impressions from your current gameplay, for old time's sake,

Worth looking out for definitely and I agree that the old Homeworld's graphics still look gooood.

I voted a day or two ago. I'll vote again -  I forgot you could vote more than once.

I think the more I see of the movie, the more I'm intrigued to actually see it in the theater rather than waiting for the DVD.

And I'm not a particular fan of Star Trek, although I once helped a friend who was scuffling with some other geek over the eternal Capt. Kirk vs. Capt Picard "Best Enterprise Captain EVAR" dispute. No lie. Two 20-something guys fighting over Star Trek; you had to be there.

I met my ex-girlfriend while reporting for jury duty. That's all I remember about that day. So many memories...

I played over the weekend with some friends from work - who knew they gamed? - and it was amazing fun, amazing. I'm not one for co-op games or multiplayer games in general - but this was intense and amusing.

Really for anyone who thinks who likes the genre but really doesn't care for multiplayer/co op - PLEASE don't be like I was: quickly dismissing it. You may be surprised. I already got more enjoyment from this one game than I have with dozens of others and I don't even own it yet (I bought it as a gift! for an old friends' b-day, but he lives out of state); I played at a friend's house. Awesome fun.

(Actually I may persuade my brother to buy it and then I'll just tell him "I'll watch your house while your out of town AND protect it from zombies.")