OUT SAVING THE WORLD

You Know You're A Regular At The Trancas Canyon/P.C.H. Starbucks When...
You're there studying/internetting for five hours, the baristas know your name, and they just bring you a free mocha every once in a while.

"Home" Sickness
I was at a bar in Santa Monica last night, and they had Fox Sports Net St. Louis on. Schnucks ads! A promo with Cardinals/Rams/Blues/Zou Crew/Truman/Quin/Billikens! (And I don't even like the first two, and the Billiken is just a marshmallow with googly eyes and funny ears!) Sigh. Makes up for the expensive beer...

I also miss being a "regular" at the Waffle House, the Columbia Mall Car Wash and Albert Buick.

But free Starbucks? Malibu isn't all that bad.

Every True Son, So Happy Hearted
Went to the L.A. Alumni Chapter's watch party at Disneyland for the MU-Illinois game. Hogan and Jayna showed up, much to my surprise and delight. (Hogan, next time we play Illinois (or Pepperdine or Clemson or other similarly colored schools) DO NOT wear your orange-hoodie-with-blue MIZZOU. I know it says Mizzou. That doesn't make it right.) Otherwise, it was nice to chill with about 60 Mizzou folks, ranging in graduation year from 1949 to us 2003 young'uns.

I haven't seen rain for over a month. Eat your heart out, Midwest.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 10:23 PM |

Big Knock on Wood
The Milwaukee Brewers have won ten straight games.

To the casual baseball observer, this is simply just a freak occurrence. After all, it is the Brewers we're talkin about here.

But to Milwaukeeans...the smell of hamburgers is in the air.

You see, ever since the 1940s (when there was a minor-league team by the same name,) George Webb Restaurants (kind of a local Waffle House-esque chain of 24 hour diners) has printed the following prognostication on its placemats and in other advertisements:

"George Webb predicts the Brewers will win 12 consecutive games."

Makes Tiger John Cleek's weekly prediction of a Tiger football win over...well, everyone...seem reasonable. (Not that I'm saying it's not, this year!)

But Webb's isn't just all talk. If the Brew Crew pulls off the 12 straight feat, it's free burgers for everyone for a day. Free!

Now, we've just gotta get past the Cubbies, twice, minus Richie Sexson, who banged up his thumb this morning against the Reds. OSTW hereby requests Cubs fans to transfer their loyalty for a couple games so the Brewers can pull this thing off.

I Just Wanna See Some...Paaaaaaalm Trees
On the contrary, Prewitt, I enjoy the Everclear.

Law school....diggin' it.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 10:19 PM |

Lonely And Dreaming of The West Coast
Hello, readers loyal and fickle. One week of the $46,730 party down, 14 to go.

"How'd it go?" you may ask. (Or, not.)

You'll get the answer whether you want it or not. Really, quite well. I enjoy all of my professors immensely. My civil procedure professor is dry but clearly on top of his game, and always has a smile on his face. My legal research prof is known as "The Man" and lives up to the title. My small group mentor and Criminal Law prof has the youthful vibe and energy of Sandy D, but has a much brighter, livelier personality. The aforementioned property prof proves each day to be less like Batty Betty than I first surmised...and she has disavowed herself of any responsibility for the Power Point slides (they're apparently part of a research project.) My contracts prof seems to be the most laid back of the bunch...he's the only one I've seen come to class not wearing a tie. And, last but certainly not least is Torts...this guy's just plain ol' cool.

That's the starting lineup. As for my 90-some year-long classmates....well they're mostly good people. Those Pepperdinians (is that what we're called?) who stumble upon this rusted out corner of the WWW should know instantly about those among Section C who have fallen into the unloving eyes of the rest of the section.

I miss my Berg, and not just because it's (temporarily) gone
A bunch of us 1L kids went out to the law-student-government-sponsored "I Survived the First Week of Law School" party on Friday night at a trendy club in Hollywood. I had never been to Hollywood before, and driving past the Chinese Theater and walking down the star-studded sidewalk was kinda surreal. But the whole trendy-club thing really wasn't all that great. Mostly just expensive.

And I still haven't seen the Hollywood sign.

Gas Price Update
$2.26/gallon of regular unleaded. Quit yer whining.

Time to get my contracts on. Later, kids.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 10:36 PM |

Laundry List
1. No Disney movies in today's property class. Also no mentions of Lewis and Clark. Situation normal.
2. I doubt it has gotten above 80-85 degrees in the Bu since I've been here. Current temperature: around 73. Eat it, BoCo.
3. Scott Collins is not employed. OSTW regrets spreading information not grounded in fact (but we maintain our source was convincing and reliable!)
4. Only two classes tomorrow. Huzzah.

I Have Money, But...
My new bank account is, well, new, which means all deposits are held for eight business days for the first month of my account.

This means that, for all practical purposes, I have no real access to cash (or checks) until next Friday. Criminy.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 4:52 PM |

Things That Disturb Me
1. Price of regular unleaded at the gas station closest to my house: $2.199/gallon. Uf.
2. My property professor played "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas as an introduction to the basis of American property law--where some of the earliest cases dealt with the property rights of natives. The same professor also uses Power Point. I fear--but am currently not convinced of the existence of--similarities to Batty Betty. (I will advise if there is singing and dancing to Van Buren campaign songs.)
3. I have completed three days of law school and am ready for a break. Is it Friday yet?

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 10:54 PM |

Pictures
from the 'Berg Goodbye (now with added meaning) are available here.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 3:21 PM |

Sad. Just Sad.
j1055 momo-
nbx
AP-MO COLLEGE BAR FIRE
Fire destroys a Missouri college-town tradition: Heidelberg bar
By SCOTT CHARTON
Associated Press Writer


COLUMBIA, MO. (AP) - An early morning fire Monday destroyed the Heidelberg bar and restaurant, for 40 years a student hangout next door to the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The cause wasn't immediately known because the building was so unstable that investigators weren't able to get inside by midday Monday, said Steve Sapp, battalion chief for the Columbia Fire Department.

The Heidelberg had been closed for about half an hour when the fire was reported by a passing motorist, Sapp said. No injuries were reported.

But there was a sense of loss among college students, professors and bar patrons who gathered on the sidewalk across the street from the charred, collapsed structure. Some picked up chunks of debris as keepsakes.

"The Heidelberg was a landmark if you went to school in Columbia. I suppose some of the most serious conversations I had at some of those important times in my life _ or times that seemed so important _ happened right there," said Cal Johnson, 40, of Columbia.

"It's where we would come to blow off steam after class or celebrate passing a big test. I know for some it's just a bar, but for a lot of students and former students, it was someplace special," Johnson said.

Richard Walls Jr., whose family owns the Heidelberg, said his father started the business in 1963. It was named for the oldest university town, Heidelberg, Germany, and decor included cozy wood booths and antique beer steins _ along with autographed Missouri basketballs and assorted Tigers memorabilia. He said the only thing salvageable appeared to be a wooden sign that hung outside.

"I grew up there, washing dishes, tending bar, waiting tables," said Walls, 38. "It's still a great location, and I'd have to say we want to rebuild, but it'll take time."

The Heidelberg is across Ninth Street from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the chancellor's residence. A coffee house and a pizza delivery place on either side had smoke and water damage but will be able to reopen, Sapp said.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 2:35 PM |

Are The Rumors True?
Sources tell OSTW that Scotty-2-Hotty has landed a job in Seattle. Confirmation is pending. This is a reliable source, in which case we need to offer Scott hearty congrats.

Gubernatorial Goobers
1. I just don't like her staring at me like that. Though if there's any state that's going to elect a Natural Law candidate, it's this nutty one.
2. Listen, honey. This isn't the student council election. And, if you wanted to be a reporter, you shoulda gone to Mizzou. But you are kinda hot.
3. Quiz: Which state is this guy running for Governor of? From The Cheat's school of web design.
4. What a name! And just try to fight this logic: "We believe he has a chance to win because at this special election, any candidate who simply gets the highest number of votes will take the office." Well, shit, if we're not using the pick-the-black-pebble-get-stoned-to-death/pick-the-red-stone-become-Governor method, why didn't I sign up?
5. The head clown apparently likes to use MS Front Page.
--Side note: I would seriously consider voting for a candidate who used an old-school Geocities web address, like (sample only) www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3458/Governor.html. That would just be cool.
6. I'm crazy scowling man. Look at me scowl. Now gimme some candy!
7. Um, I don't even know what to say here. Other than men who look like Kenny Rogers should be ineligible. Or something.
8. Someone forgot to tell this guy this is a fake, joke election with porn stars running, not a "real" election with "issues." Lighten up, brah! Remember, whoever simply gets the highest number of votes will take the office! Chill!
9. I love this state.
10. The Cheat school of HTML, amplified. Remember mouse trails? Only the tag beats that...
11. Huh? Single for a while, eh. No joke. Go away. Just...leave.

Starbucks is closing which means no more Internet for now. Stay tuned for more from these assorted nutjobs. Oh, and school starts Monday.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 11:52 PM |

Job Interviewer, reading a resume: What does this say here? Yucca? Yuhkluh? Yuc? Yoocla? What?
Interviewee: Thats, um, that's UCLA.
Interviewer: UCLA? What's that, some kind of club?
Interviewee: No, it's a college. Um...I went there for four years.
Interviewer: I've never heard of it. I've heard of Pepperdine! Why didn't you go to Pepperdine?. --Steve Buscemi and Chris Kattan as interviewer and interviewee, Saturday Night Live, April 4, 1998
Orientation is two-thirds complete, and I'm a happy camper. Not giddy, jumping around happy, just contentedly happy. It seems to me at this early stage that the killer part of law school will be not that the work itself is intrinsically difficult--actually, Sandy D was really a pretty good primer in reading and briefing cases--but, rather, it will be the pure volume of work that will slowly turn me into a three-headed monster. Did I mention we have homework for the first day of class? That's kind of a "bummer." Duuude.

MUAA, Pepperdine Chapter
I know of two other MU alums in my entering class, one of whom was in my first semester Spanish 106 class. There's also another 1L whose hometown is CoMo, at least one 2L who's an older MU grad/former Rock Bridge teacher, and a professor who taught at Mizzou for ten years. Not a bad little group with connections to the 573. No signs of Milwaukee connections, as of yet.

Maybe I Can Be A Stylebook Nerd Too
One of my $800 worth of book purchases was a couple-hundred page stylebook detailing the proper method for citing all the different kinds of cases and what-not. Hopefully it doesn't contradict AP anywhere, or I may explode.

Start Picking
There is now a final, certified list of candidates for the gubernatorial recall election. Final count: 135 names on the ballot. Wheee! This weekend, I may spend some time trolling the websites of this offbeat little collection of wannabes and bring some of the highlights here to OSTW.

Please send turn signal fluid. This state seems to be out.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 10:19 PM |

Ambling and Rambling
Kyle G. has a blog. Cool.

Sophomoric Humor
Another skit from the BA Class of '99...actually, the one that started the empire. Fresh from October, 1996.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 12:46 PM |

Milestones
IRVINE, Calif., Sun. Aug. 10, 2:45 a.m. -- Earl, my 1998 Buick LeSabre, hit 100,000 miles while heading back to Malibu on the 405 North. Here's to the next hundred-thou.

Some Notes On L.A. Driving (Potentially Of Interest Only To Dan P.)
Actually, stylebook nerds (of which many seem to troll this neck of the blogging woods) may also find this interesting -- in southern California, freeways are proper nouns. Really. There is no I-10, I-405 or US-101. Rather, there is the 10, the 405 and the 101. Same goes for any other numbered road, regardless of size or importance or interstate/US/California designation. Just say "the" followed by the number and you've mastered the local lingo.

This actually bothers me much less than the Kansas City local style of saying "freeway" after the number, as in "40 Highway." I just don't get that.

However, when I come back to Mizzou for Homecoming weekend via St. Louis, if I say something along the lines of "Man, traffic was really bad on the 70 today," feel free to smack me upside the head and remind me I'm back in the central time zone.

I'd Use An Arnold Schwarzenegger Quote Here, But It'd Be Cliché
How can you not love the California recall election? Not only is Gary Coleman a legitimate, certified candidate, you've also got tens if not a hundred average folks who are running simply because they can. I'm pro-random, and running for governor on a whim is something I definitely approve of. Hell, I'd run, except it's $3,500 to file, and I haven't lived here for the requisite 3 months or whatever. At last count, there were going to be close to 195 candidates on the gubernatorial ballot. Oh! And I get to hear my favorite word, "gubernatorial," on a daily basis. I'm not sure I'm prepared for Ahnold to become "the gubernator." That would not be so great in my book.

Orientation starts tomorrow. Stand by for more.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 9:01 PM |

My IQ is now lower.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 8:25 PM |

Just Can't Escape
This made the CBS Radio News at 1:00 p.m. PST this afternoon. It's freaky hearing "Columbia, Missouri" and "Kevin Crane" while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Maybe It's A Tumor
I hauled across L.A. County today to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office and registered to vote this afternoon. Just three hours later, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's going to run in the Oct. 7 recall election of our Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. Argh.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 8:01 PM |

If You Think You Might Come To California...I Think You Should
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- I can't decide if the people here are "friendly" or "weird." Clearly beyond the social norms of the midwest, but at times just plain California-style flakes and nuts. Really, I have yet to disprove any of the L.A. area stereotypes we all have from movies and TV and whatnot. Driving, traffic, weirdos...it's all sort of the same la-la land you'd expect. But, at the same time, it's comfortable and beach-y and all that good stuff. What a time to become a Californian, though...I'm making the trek to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office tomorrow so I can register to vote and participate in this little debacle. God help us if Arnold Schwarzenegger decides to run...The simple fact that he's making his decision public on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is reason enough to oppose the guy. Also the fact he barely speaks English.

California Vanity Plate Of The Day
BSTRDZD

Random
Coming soon: video of KOMU's own Terp ass-drunk from the post-going-away party, and video/photos of 3500 Delmar Court's ex-brown recluse spider resident, Bob Thornton, facing his death. Also pictures of my new pad in tha' 3-1-0.

Roadway Journal
*Red Bull is the magic potion of road trips. Been driving for eight hours? The 'Bull gives you a couple extra hours' worth of boostage.
*Albuquerque highways are definitely pink. Definitely not news to Julie.
*I definitely don't get the mystique of Route 66. Now, having driven all of the modernized version of the old road (excepting Chicago to Bloomington, Ill. and St. Louis to Oklahoma City) I can safely say it's a whole lotta nothing, punctuated by mountains and truck stops.

You know you've moved when Erica moves your locale on her blog.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 4:52 PM |

End Of The Road
MALIBU, Calif. -- 26 hours of driving, seven states later, I'm here.

More to come later. Maybe...Wednesday? Thursday?

Hang on and keep sending those e-mails.

I'm J-Dub and I approve this message at 6:48 PM |