"Baylor to compete in Quidditch World Cup Competition"

Will this be the headline we'll read one day?


After another dismal football season, maybe we should consider a new sport. Apparently college quidditch is catching on, albeit without flying brooms, as described in this story. There's even an intercollegiate competition. Surely, we could take Middlebury College. Plus, maybe I could watch re-runs of the quidditch match on nights like tonight when because of the greed of the NFL and Time Warner, I CAN'T WATCH THE 'BOYS! But, I'm not mad or anything.


Back to quidditch. I see an opportunity for Baylor to take the lead within the Big 12 (or excuse me, the Big XII). So fresh off his success finding us a new football coach, maybe our AD could get us a quidditch coach.

What is the future of labor unions?

This is the question I’ve posed on the bulletin board for my labor law class. I’ve asked them to look into their crystal balls and predict the continuing relevance of labor unions.

The recent strikes by the New York stage hands and the TV writers in California have garnered publicity, but seemingly little strong feeling from the public in support of or in opposition to either side. I’d guess that many of my students have never belonged to a union, don’t expect to ever belong to a union, have no close relatives that belong to a union, and don’t know anyone who currently belongs to a union. That we’re in Texas is only part of the explanation.

So are unions on their way out? I look forward to reading what my students predict.

Life in my own reality show

The past two days, I feel like I've been competing in my own version of the Amazing Race, and not doing so well. Yesterday began with what should have been a mid-morning flight to New York, only to find that my flight had been cancelled because of weather along the East coast.

So, I took a detour to Raleigh-Durham, courtesy of a reservation agent who thought I might get to New York quicker by connecting there. Nice lady that she was, she did put me in first class--that's always fun. Two hours and one grilled salmon entree (a la airline chef) later, I arrived in Raleigh-Durham, to learn that my connection was delayed for several hours, once again for weather. Alas, I boarded the plane and buckled my seatbelt, settling in for a quick hop on a puddle-jumper only to find that I (and everyone else) had been U-turned! That's right, taken off the plane because at the last minute "dispatch canceled the flight."

Off to a hotel to spend the night and try again this morning, with time winding down. I had about as much success in canceling my NY hotel reservation for one night as the real Amazing Race contestants have in trying to communicate with locals who speak only Bantu. Well, of course I couldn't cancel my reservation. I hadn't met the 24 hour advance notice requirement. Too bad that I didn't predict a day ahead that my fight would be canceled.

So, another attempt to get to New York this morning. Once again, flight delays abounded. The crews all got in late last night and needed to complete their "crew rest" before flights could take off. Finally, the flight departed and I arrived at JFK Airport with just barely enough time to get to midtown Manhattan to make my CLE presentation.

But, concerned that I wouldn't make it at all, the program director went to plan B, and a good thing she did. I landed in the only taxi cab in New York City where the cabbie drove like he lived in, say, Mayberry. He actually drove the speed limit and stayed in his own lane the whole way! I finally arrived right about the time I should have been underway, so, the only thing missing from my own Amazing Race was Phil Keoghan greeting me with his pronouncement that I'd been eliminated from the race.

Oh well. Tomorrow's another day, or something like that. Another CLE presentation that should go off without a hitch. We'll see.

And the answer is . . .

All the King's Men, by Robert Penn Warren. In addition to the book, there are a couple of movie versions of the story. I wouldn't waste my time on the more recent one starring Sean Penn.


Meanwhile, while browsing the airport book store--I had lots of time after my flight was cancelled--I enjoyed paging through a book of quotes by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Ponder this one:

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Name that book

Can you name the book that starts out this way?

"To get there you follow Highway 58, going northeast out of the city, and it is a good highway and new. Or was new, that day we went up it. You look up the highway and it is straight for miles, coming at you, with the black line down the center coming at and at you, black and slick and tarry-shining against the white of the slab, and the heat dazzles up from the white slab so that only the black line is clear, coming at you with the whine of the tires, and if you don't quit staring at that line and don't take a few deep breaths and slap yourself hard on the back of the neck you'll hypnotize yourself and you'll come to just at the moment when the right front wheel hooks over into the black dirt shoulder off the slab, and you'll try to jerk her back on but you can't because the slab is high like a curb, and maybe you'll try to reach to turn off the ignition just as she starts the dive. But you won't make it, of course."

As usual, you're welcome to put your guess in the comments or keep it to yourself. I'll post the answer tomorrow. I'll go back to movies next week.

How to annoy your older siblings, tip no. 37

Sing the following song, in the car, non-stop, for at least 20 solid minutes:



Miss Lucy had a baby, she named him Tiny Tim
She put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap.
He tried to eat the bathtub; it wouldn't fit down his throat.

Miss Lucy called the doctor. Miss Lucy called the nurse.
Miss Lucy called lady with the alligator purse.
Out came the doctor. Out came the nurse.
Out came the lady with the alligator purse.

This tip brought to you by K4.

Seems to me Miss Lucy is a negligent mom, but it is only a song, and I've learned to block. But K2 hasn't. K4's incessant singing prompted the following interchange:

K2: "Stop singing!"
K4: I'm singing a song. You're not the mommy or the daddy. You're just the big brother.

Well okay! How do you argue with a 4 year old?

And these little exchanges between the Ks is just one of the things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend.

And the answer is . . .

Elmer Gantry, the movie that is almost always referenced whenever there is a church scandal. Having watched it agian this week, it's as relevant as it was when the movie was released in 1960 or when Sinclair Lewis wrote the book in 1927. Plus, it's got a great gospel song near the beginning.

The movie is available on Free Movies on Demand, if you have Time-Warner cable.

Name that movie

"You think religion is for suckers and easy marks and molly-coddlers, eh? You think Jesus was some kind of a sissy, hey? Well, let me tell you, Jesus wouldn't be afraid to walk into this joint or any other speakeasy to preach the gospel. Jesus had guts. "

Can you name it? As usual, you're welcome to include your answer in the comments or keep your answer to yourself. Either way, I'll post the answer tomorrow evening.

Random observations on my recent trip to NYC

1. A hotel that doesn't have Bravo in its cable line-up, forcing your's truly to miss Project Runway, should automatically lose at least one star in its hotel rating.

2. Running in Central Park, when there are still beautiful fall colors, is wonderful, even if you get caught in a downpour.

3. Tourists still seem to be having a great time in Times Square, notwithstanding the Broadway stage hands strike. I think the retailers are the beneficiaries of the money that might have been spent seeing a show. The striking stage hands looked kind of lonely walking the picket line.

4. Quality Meats, a trendy restaurant near Central Park, has good steaks--but not as good as Diamondback's. But the corn creme brulee was to die for (no, it didn't have the blow-torched sugar on top!).

5. If you buy two Screwdrivers on American Airlines, the third is free? That was the experience of the guy seated next to me, who started with two, tried to buy a third until the flight attended comped him one, which then allowed him to spend his $5 on a fourth Screwdriver when she came by another time. Then the same flight attendant gets annoyed with me for simply asking to have the whole $.25 can of cranapple juice rather than being happy with the cup she poured for me. Just call me pushy.

6. I like to visit New York, but I'm always glad to get back to Texas.

It’s a NYU Thing–You wouldn’t understand (I hope)

How much is your vote worth? How much would you take to give up your right to vote? For some 20% of the NYU students polled, it wouldn’t take much–just an iPod Touch,. Not even an I-Phone or a plasma tv! Others would hold out for a little more, like free tuition. Maybe these individuals don’t vote anyway, so it’s no big loss to them, and if they could get an iPod out of it, what a profitable deal. Read all about it here.

Do I smell a scandal?

I saw this story a few days ago and thought, "What an odd coincidence." A judge and a state representative both raise questions about the South Carolina bar exam, and bam! Their respective daughters who had flunked the bar exam are the beneficiaries of a grading change that dropped the trust and estates question. Consequently, both women pass.



There's nothing to suggest that there was improper influence by the state representative or the judge. The applicants were precluded from contacting bar examiners themselves, so it helps to have friends in high places that can make the call for you. Thanks, Dad.



Then this story appears today. Wonder if something's up.

And the answer is . . .

Fiddler on the Roof. Way to go, Craig.

Name that movie

"Arranging a match for yourself? Tell me, what are you? Everything--the bridegroom, the matchmaker, the guests all rolled into one? I suppose you'll even perform the ceremony yourself."

Can you name the movie in which these lines are uttered? You're welcome to include your answer in the comments or keep your answer to yourself. Either way, I'll post the answer tomorrow evening.

Eight days and counting . . .

I'm not obsessed or anything, but eight days until the new season of Project Runway starts. That explains my excitement about meeting Emanuel, who was that close to being a contestant on this season of PR. Here's the story.

When BoilerMom (also a Purdue alum) visits from the land of the Boilermakers (a place that seems to fascinate and confound the Adjunct), she always insists on making a pilgramage to Richard Brooks Couture Fabrics in Dallas. So, like a dutiful daughter, I drove her up last week.

We were there a long time, giving me plenty of time to chat with the young man who was helping BoilerMom. When he indicated that he was a designer, of course I asked if he was a PR fan. He told me he tried out for the show, and even made it to the final round. I might have been a little dubious about his claim until he admitted that he hopes he didn't make the audition tape because if he did, it will be because he embarrassed himself. He explained that he accidentally stood in the wrong place, which caused Tim Gunn to scowl at him, and then his clothes fell off the rack, and that was pretty much all for his tryout.

Now I have yet another reason to look forward to next Wednesday.

And the answer is . . .

Of course the line from yesterday is from the movie Tombstone. Prop. Prof. was on it!

I'm not a big fan of westerns, but I love that movie. And when MJ wants to assert his patriarchal authority, this is one way he does so!

Next time around, the challenge will be greater.

Name that movie

"You tell 'em I'm coming... and hell's coming with me, you hear?"

This is almost too easy, but here it is. Can you name the movie in which this line is uttered?

You're welcome to include your answer in the comments or keep your answer to yourself. Either way, I'll post the answer tomorrow evening.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations to all the Baylor Law students who passed the Texas Bar Exam! Special congrats to the members of my most recent client counseling team, Kristi, Ginger, and Kimberly. I knew you would pass!