When someone you know goes....
Current mood: Reflective

It is easy to forget, as we stumble through this thing called life,
as we thrash and step around our values, desires
increasingly hoping to find meaning inside or out
that there are things in life so beautiful, fragile
one must simply stop to rest and take it all in.

Wendy Brantley was someone who I knew through school.  She was a person who always had a smile on her face.  Someone so upbeat, that it made you smirk after a moment of spending her time.  She had an outlook on life so realistic, yet so spiritual, not many people get to that point in their wisdom.
I knew Wendy had cancer in college.  I just never thought she would die.  It hits you, in moments like these, as you work to make a buck, that values in life are so different from what we think about everyday.  And it's sad, in a way, that we only ever think of such things in times like this.  But alas, that is life.
I liked Wendy.  She was a great person.  She had a fun personality.  She was something special.  I don't wish we had spent more time together, though it would be nice.  I don't regret we weren't closer, although I would surely benefit.  I am simply glad to have met her, and been in her life; she in mine.

If you have time today, take a moment and think about someone you love.  Do something nice for them.  In fact do it everyday.  Don't wait for someone to go before they know how you feel.  Take the time in this life, the here and now to make someone else's day.  I know that Wendy - in the brief encounters we had - did all of the above for me.  Wendy, here's to you.

If you have a buck, please consider donating here, or to your favorite cancer research charity.

Thanks.

5:52 PM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

2006 SBA Class Representatvive Hopeful
Current mood: Patriotic
Category: Patriotic News and Politics

Hello all,

I am currently running for 2006 Student Bar Association Class Representative at Santa Clara Law School.  I hope that all of you who are voting remember to vote for me!  Below, you will find my personal statement as it will be posted on the SBA bulletin board.  If you have any questions, please find me at school, email me, message me, or call me - 917-757-4932.  Thank you for taking the time out to read this.
If you are not a student of SCU, and do know me, please feel free to publish a comment below about why someone should vote for me.  Thanks!

Personal Statement:
Matthew Salmonsen is competent, intelligent, and committed to student rights.  He listens to his peers and respects the opinions of all students: whether you be 1L, 2L, 3L, part-time, full-time, tall, short or what have you.  Matthew Salmonsen does not discriminate.
Matthew Salmonsen believes in listening to every voice in this law school.  As students, we all have ideas to make this school better.  He believes that the school as a whole suffers if one voice for change goes unheard.  He would like to be the facilitator for your needs.  As such, he promises to make himself available to hear your suggestions.  No matter the time of day, no matter the day of the week, Matt Salmonsen is there for you.
Matthew Salmonsen is committed to making a difference.  He believes in equality.  He believes in the individual rights of all students.  He would like his Student Bar Association to respect these same endeavors.
If elected, Matthew Salmonsen promises to fight for your needs.  He promises to take every step necessary to help those students whom he has committed himself to work for.  Whether it means forgoing sleep, free time, or lunch, Matt Salmonsen will not stop working for the Student Bar Association.
We are all members of the Student Bar Association of this law school.  As your representative, Matthew Salmonsen will adhere to the laws set forth in the SBA constitution.  He will use those laws to implement your suggestions.  If the law of the SBA makes it difficult for the will of the student body to be implemented, he will work for you to change those laws.
Please vote Matt Salmonsen this week for your class representative.  You will be glad you did.

I'm Matthew Salmonsen and I approve this message.

2:10 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Laws of Magic
Category: News and Politics

Studying law is a lot like studying at Hogwarts.

Now.  In case you may or may not have noticed, I have read the Harry Potter books.  Up until the latest version that is (that's the one that has yet to make an appearance in the US).  If you have not read the books, or are completely not a fan, then this article is not for you.

If you have read my last blog, then you know I have undertaken the study of law.  One thing I have noticed, is that this study of law is much like the study that Harry Potter undertakes in The Philosopher's Stone (English version).

For one, we (when I speak of "we," I will speak of my fellow law students and I) are undertaking an education very much unlike the education we received in grammar, elementary and/or high school.

When we entered this school, we were not sure who would be our friends.  Just like Harry Potter was a little unsure of his friends on the train-ride to Hogwarts.  But, just like Harry Potter, we have found our friends sitting right next to us.

Second, we are all learning a skill that 'muggles' know only an inkling of.  If you were a muggle in Harry Potter's world, then you would believe you knew everything there is to know about wizardry.  Much is similar in the case of comparing law students to non-law students.  For example, a person not trained in law would say that their knowledge from "SVU" would be sufficient for a court of law.  For a law student, "SVU" would present only the basic examples of the law.

Thirdly, - in the case of why learning the law is much like learning magic in Harry Potter's world - we are isolated from the rest of society.  We learn our trade ("trade" in Harry Potter's world meaning wizardry.  In my world, it means "the learning of the law").in a place that is surrounded by itself.  That is, our law school is surrounded by the underground school, which is in turn surrounded by the original Santa Clara Mission.  As Harry Potter learned in a palace of solitude (the position of Hogwarts was not known by non-magic users), so are we learning in a situation where we are away from 'normal' civilization.

Fourth, we are learning something that is not taught in 'regular' school.  i.e., one must be invited to, or accepted to a certain school in order to learn the trade.  In Harry Potter's world, the trade is magic.  In my world, the trade is law.

The comparisons can go on.  For instance, today I took the BART transit for the first time.  I took the transit from San Jose to the Coliseum in Oakland.  One may compare this trip to Harry's trip to the magical town where he buys his books (granted, Oakland is not that magical, and there is not that much to do where the stadium is.  But still)

In my opinion, the facts are incontrovertible.  Harry's 7-year journey through magic school can be likened to a law student's own 3-year journey to higher education.  Both schools insist on professionally, intelligence, and skills in the trade one wants to learn.  In order for one to be successful in either world, one must study, be willing to take risks, and have a certain amount of skill.

Am I the only one who sees the similarities?

12:33 PM - 3 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

On Law School
Current mood: tired
Category: Life

As many of you may (or not) have noticed, this blog has been void of updates for some time now.  There is a good reason for this.  I have started that sacred bliss that many 1Ls are happy to call, "law school."
Of course, I jest (about the 'happily part, not about law school).  I spoke to quite a few people before this endeavour and read the good book One L by Scott Turow -which btw, I suggest.  Of all of these sources, not a one had anything pleasant to say about their first year of law school.  In fact, a common description is 'hell.'
Keep in mind that I have only just begun my journey on the road to a J.D.  That being said, I do not find law school overly hellish.  Granted, it is no picnic.  However, this learning thing is not my idea of "the worst year of my life."
Could have something to do with the fact that I am attending law school at one of the most beautiful campuses of the four tiers.  Perhaps it has something to do with the weather (300 sunny days a year. Ouch).  Or perhaps the extra time I took off from college put things into perspective.  All-in-all though, law school ain't so bad.
Most of my classes begin at 9am.  I live a mile off campus, so on any given weekday you will find me biking to school.  At 2PM, classes are usually done for the day and the next four to six hours I spend in the library.  But I've got to tell you a little secret.  I kind of like those four to six hours.
I have four big, hardcover books the size of moderate dictionaries sitting in my locker.  In these books you will find law cases.  Hundreds and hundreds of law cases from around the country.  Cases this week have included Hamdi v. Rumsfeld ( the US Supreme Court found that Hamdi had a right to due process and representation in court), a property case about 'intangible trespass,' a tortious case regarding, well, damages resulting from trespassing, and a criminal case regarding a man who was found innocent of manslaughter because he had no legal obligation to protect his mistress from a morphine-alcohol cocktail.  Pretty interesting stuff, right?
The work is not easy, the classes are long, and just today I found myself in the deep end of the proverbial pool, but I like that.  I need to know that I can rise to the challenge.  I want it to be tough so that I may become the best lawyer I can be.  And who knows?  Some day I may be defending you.  Don't you want me to be good, too?
In short, dear reader, this is where I have been these past some-odd weeks.  And for the next three years.  You will find me happily in or around the campus of Santa Clara University.  Where I go after that is still a great mystery.  Yet hopefully, it will be a mystery (much like the law) which will reveal itself to me over time.
Happy reading to all those out there in blogland.  And best of wishes.  I will check in again when in order.

11:00 AM - 7 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Leaving for the Weekend
Current mood: anxious
Category: Life

Just a short note to everyone that there will be no update in the next five days as I will be going to MA to do some wakeboarding.  If you are in the area and would like to come hang out with me, drop a line.  To the rest of you, enjoy the rest of your week and have a nice weekend.  Perhaps I will be dreaming of blogging while I'm there ;)

8:30 AM - 5 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Creationist Intelligent Design
Current mood: curious
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Can somebody explain this to me, please?  What do CID people say of evolution?  That it doesn't exist?  What do they say about the creatures that are still evolving?  And how old is the earth in their estimates?  5,000 years?  What are their thoughts on Carbon dating?  Do Creationist Intelligent Design people disbelieve in all science?  Or just science that contradicts the Bible?  Is the proof in a centuries old book?  Is there any corresponding evidence?  Could somebody fill me in on this?  And does anyone else see it as a really sneaky way to get religion to be taught in the schools?

You know what, another thing.  This country seems divided by North and South again.  I'm not sure if that division ever went away, but it seems more pronounced now.  Red vs. Blue is all over the place.  Are we really all that different in our thought processes?  Why are so many conservatives from the South and so many liberals from the big cities?  What does that tell us about the two sides?  Is each side an integral part in our country?  What would happen if there was no left?  No right?

Food for thought.

8:08 AM - 82 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

On blogs, cheating, comments and California
Category: MySpace

Good morning!  Just got back from MD and a great weekend, how 'bout you?

I start today with a little something that I suspected was going on, but never knew.  According to some sources, this guy has found a way to cheat the blogging system.  It is said that - among other things - he has set up an auto refresh program to constantly view his blog, thereby catapulting him to the top of the rankings.  Have you ever wondered why you sometimes see a person who has very little comments in the top ten of blogging?  Well, it is because of this system that is in place.
To be fair, the guy accused of doing this denies any wrongdoing.  So I leave it up to you to make your own judgement.  But I think it sucks.

It's funny, because I don't really know why I care about the blog rankings.  When I found the MySpace blogs, I posted something about the Red Sox I think.  Then I posted another blog.  And another.  I found myself looking for readers.  I would scour other blogs for hints on how to up my readership.  I would post comments on the most popular blogs to up my page views. 
Then I found the "Invite to My Blog" button.  I have been whoring myself around MySpace ever since.
I can't tell you why I want a popular blog.  I suppose the blogs - like everything else on MySpace - are addictive.  I get the same feeling when I see lots of blog views as I do when I open up MySpace and see "New Comments," or "New Message."  I swear, that's gotta be why we get so addicted to this damn website.  It's those big exciting fragments we see when we get to our page.  It's a hope that we'll get "New Comments!" "New Message!" "New Friend Request!" and "New Picture Comments!" 
We are officially now crack whores.

Anywho.  I wanted to take a minute and thank all of those who have ever stopped by this blog.  I hope you will keep reading and commenting.  For some strange reason, it means a lot to me.

Also.  I will be moving from New York City to California on August first.  I have lived in New York for six years now, and this will be a huge change.  I'm gonna miss this great city. 
I bring it up because I am still looking for an apartment to move into in Santa Clara.  If anyone knows of any or hears something, please let me know.  And thanks again for all of your support.

-Matt.

7:13 AM - 12 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

The Two Faces of Conservatives
Category: News and Politics

When thinking Conservatives as a political party, some values come to mind:

Fiscal Responsibility,
Security: sometimes call defense,
and Religion: sometimes used as a measure of morality.

These are the values that most come to mind when I think Conservative.  If you think about the Bush administration, these are probably the staples of their doctrine - not necessarily in that order.  But when you look at the politics-in-action of this Conservative White House, one is left to wonder: Where have these values gone?

Fiscal Responsibility:
The deficit and deficit spending are at an all-time high.  In lieu of the financial crises present after 9/11 and given to us due to an ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this administration pushed through an irresponsible tax cut.  They favor corporate giveaways to humanitarian programs.
Let me ask you, would a fiscally responsible government favor a loss of revenue (i.e. tax cuts) when they had already lost a surplus given to them from a prior administration?

Security: Sometimes Called Defense:
This has been a staple of the Bush administration.  They have put all of their eggs into the proverbial Iraq basket.  But they are losing the war.  What once was a relatively secure area in Baghdad has become a flash point for the East v. West/Christianity v. Islam War.  Where Afghanistan was once making strides in peace, it is now being subject to an insurgency like the one seen in Iraq.  With North Korea testing missiles, our army is spread too thin to respond with any military action other than precision bombings.  If Iran were to ally with N. Korea and pose a threat to the US, we would have to unilaterally withdraw from Iraq just to have enough manpower for defense.  Would a security-minded president commit our military forces so fully that we are unable to respond to threats from foreign nations?

Religion: Sometimes called morality:
This is the kicker.  The unofficial religion of the Republican party is Christianity.  Christianity is the worship of Jesus Christ.  JC was a man who preached love, unity and forgiveness for all.  Humility and generosity are the values of Christianity.  To boot, Jesus claims that it is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man get into heaven.
So what has this administration done?  Attacked foreign countries unprovoked.  Rewarded the rich.  Approved spying on their own people.
George Bush Sr. once questioned G Jr.'s motives about going to war.  GW said, "I answer to a higher father."  But would God - with Jesus seated at his right hand - say to go and invade a sovereign nation?  Would Jesus approve?  Where is the morality?
The thing about Conservatives - most Conservatives - is that they use their religion as a multipurpose tool.  Sometimes a crutch, others a hammer, and even a gun.  Imagine!  A religion of love used as an excuse to go to war!  Conservatives say their morals will not let them accept gay marriage, yet they ask for understanding and acceptance of their ways.  Conservatives say their morals will not allow them to support abortion, yet they support the death penalty.
Would a religious man attack a foreign nation unprovoked?  Would a religious man accept the killing of inmates, no matter the crime?

I sometimes wonder who this God is that GW speaks of.  The one who he asks before going to war.  In Church, we did not learn of a God who said, "Go to War."  We learned of a God who said "make peace with your brothers, and love thy neighbors."  We learned of a man named Jesus who said, "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9.  And yet, where are the peacemakers in this administration?

No wonder some people think all Muslims want to kill Americans.  Look at what Christians do.  And this is supposed to be the PEACEFUL religion!

GW, stop using God as a crutch.  Follow the teachings of JC if you truly wish to walk the path.  And please, oh please!, keep your religion out of politics!

9:15 AM - 22 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

On Mumbai, Karl Rove and Yahoo!

Hi all.  WTF is going on in the world today?  Huh?  Can't we live in a world where war is not a constant factor?  Think of how lucky we are that in the past one hundred years we have only had two attacks on our soil.  One of them was not even on the mainland.
Now imagine in a place like India where it seems that a big terrorist bomb goes off in a train once every few years.  Or worse, Israel.
I read an interesting blog yesterday which compared the nation of Islam to that of the plight of the Native Americans.  It was not too long ago that the nation's official stance on the "Indians" was to wipe 'em out.  That's right, simply kill the savages.  Nevermind that we were invading their space and they were only doing the best they could to defend it.  Nope, our official policy for the people whose land we stole was to kill them.
Ohhh, boy.  What a mess.  Will this "war on terror" end before our aim is to wipe out an entire peoples?  I already hear that the war in Iraq is a success because of all the terrorists we kill everyday.  Man.  I didn't think people thought like that anymore.  Aren't we supposed to be civilized?

Anyway, Yahoo! sucks and Karl Rove is a douchebag.  Leave a comment below.

7:14 AM - 11 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Just Sayin'
Current mood: optimistic

Wanted to get some words down today before I start working.  My blogs have been very political lately, and I think that I need a rest from that for a minute.  I mean, the description does say Politics and Sports, right?  If you check some of the older blogs, it is mostly about the Red Sox.

I wanna hear from the readers.  What's going on?  Political affiliations?  Why?
Does anyone have plans for this weekend?  Anyone wanna hang out in NYC area?

Also, for those of you who stop by, thanks for reading.  It means a lot just knowing that someone cares enough to look at silly words one writes.  I hope the best to all of you today.  Don't work hard, but make some good money.

-Matt

7:19 AM - 10 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment