Qualifications

[aggienaut]

   My cell phone turned up Monday morning, but this morning Kristy lost her cell phone, throwing us into an even worse communication problem, as Kristy had no way of reaching anyone.
   Fortunately her phone turned up later this evening.


Locally: "The Unqualified Candidates Scandal"
   The story behind the first of our current pending cases broke today, via Daviswiki, followed an hour later by the Aggie. I think its a bit ironic that after the persistent arguments over whether these candidates were unqualified in a subjective sense, this quarters' major controversy would be over whether they were unqualified in an objective sense.

   Allegedly another case was filed, but if so things are taking forever to work their way through student government, because its been more than a day since I was told it was filed, and I have yet to receive formal confirmation of anything. Days count in court business. Also there are rumours of two more cases on the horizon.


Nationally
   Four+ years of this place has systematically crushed my self esteem and left me convinced my writing is terrible. I am loathe to reread my writings, and when I cringe in anticipation of my jejune skills. Coming from such low expectations, when I read my creations and find it not a miserable offense to lexography, I often feel like I surely must be reading something written by someone else.
   I recently read the opinion of the Supreme Court of the Student Government (SGA) of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) on their case of UTEP Students v SGA Senate, and was amazed to find it interspersed with quotes from me. When UTEP's Chief Justice Moreno was canvassing the opinions of "over 200" student government justices over the summer for her case, I wrote an amicus curae brief for her. Its been long enough since then however that when I reread what I'm quoted as saying it feels like someone else wrote it. And man, it doesn't suck. I don't know why teachers hate my writing, but I like the way I write.
   Also, I think 95% of the improvement in my writing over the past few years can be more accurately credited to this livejournal than to any academic involvement. While I do not guarantee this livejournal will be free of typoes, I've always endeavoured to write every sentence in the clearest manner possible.
   I wish I was introduced in other schools' opinions like "former Chief Justice Vest of the Indiana University Southeast, also known as the 'Hammer of Justice.'"

   Incidently, as per the quorum issue discussed in the case, I think at this point I'd go with the suggestion of the majority of the justices, rather than my own original recommendation, and least of all the suggestion of Hammer of Justice. It hadn't occured to me at the time that UTEP SGA bylaws allow the Supreme Court to write its own rules, including those for quorum, and that therefore quorum requirements can be altered. Its a wee bit dodgy but its better than having implicated justices on the case. I think the recommendation of the Hammer of Justice --that they count on the case for quorum but refrain from voting as a moral issue-- is silly and manipulative of the system.


Internationally
   Anyway, in other news, Saddam Hussein's trial is currently proceeding. Here's a quote about the latest developments:

Saddam, dressed again in a dark suit and white shirt and clutching a Quran, complained that he and the seven other defendants were tired and had been deprived of opportunities to shower, have a change of clothes, exercise or go for a smoke.

"This is terrorism," he declared.

   (From this article) At the moment he has stumped the trial by refusing to enter the Courtroom. Who would have guessed that billions of dollars of US efforts could be thwarted by such a simple act of passive aggression.


Picture of the Day

I uploaded some more pictures.
Also put some new ones on Kristy's flickr account.


Previously on Emosnail - photos bumped off flickr
   206 Pictures Ago: Cinniebuns - Kristy showcases her trademark hairstyle
   205 Pictures Ago: Courtbutt as a Sea Urchin - We used cherry jello to spike Courtbutt's hair on Halloween 2003 such that it looked like a sea urchin.
   204 Pictures Ago: Kristy Protects Sashie - Compare to this picture.
   203 Pictures Ago: Carbombs - Sashie and Kristy get their bomb on.
   202 Pictures Ago: Craziness - Kristy and Olivia act really silly.
   201 Pictures Ago: Champagne Attack! - Kristy prepares to assault Joe with a bottle of champagne.


   One week remaining until I have to shave off my mohawk, likely forever. )=