BCA

I was talking with my wife the other day about the various hats I wear and the groups I belong to these days.  She joking brought up a designation I had developed when we were in our senior year at U of M-The BCA.  The acronym refers to the "Brahmin Class of America." If you are interested, the Wikipedia article about the Hindu caste Brahmin is here, but basically the Brahmin class was composed of the teachers, scholars and priests of Hindu society.  I was an arrogant young punk in college, I admit, even for a student at Michigan (I never really was insulted by Darryl Rogers "arrogant asses in Ann Arbor" comments, especially since he backed up his words).  But, I did and do believe that most college/university students do belong to the BCA, at least until graduation and stepping into the work-a-day world.  The time you lucky fortunate students spend studying, debating, philosophizing and enjoying yourselves should be one of the best of your lives, so enjoy your status while you can.  If anyone tries to tell you that being a scholar is a meaningless, trivial enterprise, just remember, membership in the BCA is a privilege and an honor to be savored.
I may write about this further, but at this point, I simply wanted to get it posted so I would not forget about one the groups I value my membership in, even if I was its founding member.

Oh, the humanity

I just posted this on one of my Facebook friend's pages in response to this posting:

“As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it is not. 

These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions but also with our irresponsible words. 

We are better than this. We must do better,”
-CMD Scott Kelly

I agree we can do better, but a glance at human history depicts a different tale.  Man's inhumanity to man has been manifest in our cultures for untold generations.  It really is up to each of us to make the world a better place, a safer place, a place we can live in peace.  I may be a cynic, since I don't expect that to happen in my lifetime, but I will do my best to make it happen around me.

Now, I will admit I am cynical, possibly the biggest cynic among my friends.  But I also live by the Attorney Code (adopted from the Repo Code as related my Harry Dean Stanton in Repo Man, an excellent cult classic and probably Emilio Estevez's best work).
The Attorney Code:
I will not, through action or inaction, allow any harm to come to my client, nor through action or inaction, allow harm to come to my client's property. 
The corollary to the Code is that to the best of my ability, I will strive to make any situation better for all involved, if at all in my power to do so or if it is within my ability.
There is justice, there is fairness, and rarely do the two dovetail, but I have considered it my duty to make any and all attempts to make the world a fairer, more just place for the poor suffering bastards (that would be a good name for a band, I think it is already a name for a drink in the singular tense) that inhabit it, me included.

Enough pontificating.  Back to your regularly scheduled nonsense.

The Greatest Letter Ever Printed on NFL Team Letterhead via Deadspin

I usually only post Drew Magary's work from Deadspin here, but this is far too exceptionally wonderful to pass up the opportunity to make more widely known.  Yeah, I know, from this blog, more widely known is a misnomer, but grant me my delusions.
The Greatest Letter Ever Printed on NFL Team Letterhead

As an attorney, I wish I had been practicing back in the 70's.  If I wrote a letter like that today, I'd prolly lose my license.

The Other 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time

No need for explanations, just watch and enjoy.  Oh, and make sure you check out the original 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time in my post from December 30th of last year.