The Clairvoyant 66

by gbruin on Jul 5, 2008 1:35 AM PDT

The Professor is on a roll.

First he said we should do something to be sure we keep CBH.

Two weeks ago, he said Phil Jackson needs LMR.

Now LMR gets a shot with the Lakers' summer squad.

So now, CBH and LMR have both been 66'd. Who's next?

I wouldn't normally write a fanpost about a fellow BN member, but this is uncanny. I said '66 was a genius, but clearly I've underestimated him. Either way, I'm just glad Nostradamus is a Bruin. It may come in handy.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Now come on, you people

There’s nothing special about sjh. He even admitted his secret – lunch with three wealthy and influential alumni. Heck, anyone can do that. Unfortunately, I don’t know three wealthy alumni or three influential alumnia, let alone both. But if I did, I would be predicting up a storm.

by Fox 71 on Jul 5, 2008 7:55 AM PDT 0 recs

But isn't there a possibility

That 66 tells the three wealthy and influential alumni what they need to make happen? Perhaps the flow of information goes the opposite way that we think it does.

by Tydides on Jul 5, 2008 8:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

Glad you wrote this

I was thinking about writing something similar. There is a reason why we all have so much respect for 66. He has an uncanny ability to assess the big picture in the world of UCLA sports.

by Nestor on Jul 5, 2008 9:11 AM PDT 0 recs

Dear 66

Hope you can find time to write about my need for winning the lottery. Thanks.

by Bruinut on Jul 5, 2008 10:37 AM PDT 0 recs

Dear 66,

Can you find some time to write about how me and the rest of the BN folks taking the Cal. Bar this summer are going to pass with flying colors?

That’d be awesome. Haha.

by norcald503 on Jul 5, 2008 12:57 PM PDT 0 recs

Dear 66,

If you have the time, would you mind writing about my to be-relationship with Natalie Portman. That would be great.

If not that, maybe something about how all of the UVa law graduates sitting will pass the Virginia Bar this summer.

Thanks.

by bruinhoo on Jul 5, 2008 1:27 PM PDT 0 recs

hoo

What the heck (taking the VA bar)? You are staying in East Coast?

And you know you have to wear a tie while taking your exam! lol

by Nestor on Jul 6, 2008 9:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

yup, at least for a few years

I debated the east coast/CA question for quite a while. Really had no desire to go back to NorCal, and LA is very much a love/hate relationship with me, though I may end up back there. DC/NoVa just feels like a better fit at this point.

Gotta love that VA Bar dress code: Suit and tie, and sneakers.

by bruinhoo on Jul 8, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

hope you enjoy DC/No VA

I lived there when I was in high school for a bit…I swear to you, they have worse drivers out there than in LA. I wasn’t a big fan of the weather either. It’s either freezing/overcast or hot and humid. They also have what they call the “Virginia wave” (miming waving bugs out of my face). Either way, good luck!

Go Bruins.

by hicalliber on Jul 9, 2008 7:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks

The weather is a tricky thing; I have experienced a milder form of those swings in weather (seasons, gasp!) living in central Virginia the past 3 years, and have gotten to enjoy the variety. But not the humidity. Not the humidity.

We’ll see how I hold up. Since making the final concrete step of sending in my Bar application + C&F forms to the VA board, I have seen the local weather go crazy, transit and transportation funding to NoVa go crazy, and my PermaCrush (TM pending) now single and returning to LA for grad school (as misguided as the institution may be). Whether those are signs of my mistake in not choosing the Southland, we shall see.

by bruinhoo on Jul 9, 2008 7:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

The Secret

I’ve really not wanted to tell anyone this, but in light of all the kind remarks and requests for support, I’ll tell my story IF you all promise not to tell anyone else.

A few weeks ago, I went to a demonstration at the Houston Museum of Science. It was on the cutting edge use of radiation for many practical applications—sort of a science fair on steroids. Anyway, unbeknownst to me, apparently a spider got zapped by the radiation. Stunned and confused, it started up my leg. Fearful because the “boys” were sort of hanging out, unsheltered, because it was so hot in Houston, I swatted at the spider trying to keep it from going where it had no right to go. Anyway, it bit me, right above the knee and took off. OK, a little pain to save myself from greater pain. A fair trade.

Almost immediately, I knew that something was “different”. I felt stronger, smarter, more intuitive.

It’s then that I wrote the post on Jackson and LMR. And, a bit later, the post on Holding Howland.

OK, follow me here—Howland gets a new contract. Hmm. And, then I learn that LMR was getting to play for the Laker summer team.

How could that be? The answer seemed obvious to me—but I was afraid to say anything.

The answer seemed obvious to you, too.

I had super powers.

The spider bite had given me super powers.

I promise, I will only use them for good.

My special sense tells me that all who come here will pass their bar exams. Not a hard thing to sense—anyone who hangs out here and contributes has the kind of writing ability necessary to pass a bar exam. Go forth and prosper.

Lotteries, you want to win lotteries—OK, I’ll put my special powers to the task.

Natalie Portman? An interesting choice. You want it, you’ve got it.

After all, I have super powers.

Tomorrow, the war will end. Hunger will disappear, and in a showing of great, if not very odd respect, the Miss America Pageant will cross gender lines and name me Miss America—an honor for making all of those lame “Here’s what I wish for” speeches over the past 20 years have meaning.

As I write, I’m really feeling my powers. Reggie Bush will cooperate with the NCAA. Cheety Peety will resign. The pedophiles who perverted OJ Mayo’s life from the time he was in the sixth grade - by protecting this kid from a poor family by giving him fancy clothes and stuff- will be convicted of crimes and put in a cell, for a few years, with Big Marvin who will dress his new cellmates in fancy pink and let him know what it’s like to be exploited for “protection”.

Wow! The more I use my powers, the more I feel like doing. I’ll be back later. I’ve got work to do.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 5, 2008 5:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Never Mind. Never Mind. Mayday!!!

I tried to prove my theory. Climbed to the top of a tree. Planned to use my web slinger to get me to the next tree.

Jumped from tree one toward tree two.

Midway I realized I didn’t have a web slinger. I don’t have super powers.

I was just lucky to write about things that I cared about at a time when they were relevant.

As they say, “Even a blind pig sometimes finds a truffle.”

Anyway, Bruin brothers and sisters, even though I can’t deliver with super powers, I will send whatever positive vibes I can to help you get what you want, so long as you honor the wisdom of the Rolling Stones and realize that:

You can’t always get what you want. But, if you try, sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

Now, if I can find my keys …

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 5, 2008 5:19 PM PDT 0 recs

So, what your are saying is ...

... that Natalie is not about to knock on my door (what can I say, I like smart + attractive women)? Oh well.

Welcome to the fold eubruin. Please keep on posting.

by bruinhoo on Jul 5, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Want v. Need

Hoo,

It’s really up to Mick Jagger.

At my old age, I think you “need” to pass the Bar and, therefore, if you try, you will.

As to Ms. Portman, only you and Mick know whether that is a “want” or a “need”.

BTW—A while back, (maybe last summer) I wrote a post on how to answer law school or bar exam questions. You might find it helpful.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 6, 2008 6:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

As always, sjh (and Mick) provide the proper point of analysis

At this point, passing the bar should be a ‘slightly’ higher need than would be a hot date with Ms. Portman. (Whether Mick would concur, I do not know).

I do recall that post, and will try finding it again so to refresh my recollection of your advice.

by bruinhoo on Jul 6, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

I tried to hunt it down, to no avail...

...so Hoo, if you do find it, post the link for the interwebs-incapable. :)

by norcald503 on Jul 6, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

I Found It -- Here's a part of the post

“Having read 1000’s of law school exams in my teaching career, I’d like to give you a few more.

But, first I want to reinforce something Fox said: Above all, be literate. Be clear. Be concise. Write legibly. The readers will not give you the benefit of the doubt if they cannot read or understand what you are saying. Neatness counts. If you can, type.

Think before you write. When I took the Cal Bar, many, many years ago, we had 8 one hour essay questions a day for 3 days. I did the same thing on every question. I outlined for 40 minutes and typed for 20. I wanted my answers to be clear, well organized and concise. I wanted them to flow and be persuasive. I was a very fast typist—so I could take that time to outline before writing. You should find your own pace. But, do not start writing in hopes that along the way you will see all the issues and deal with them. It won’t happen.

Look at the facts very carefully. If the question is well written, every fact will be related to an issue.

These questions are multi-issue questions - the better to spread out the people taking the test. (This also applies to law school tests.) You must spot the issues and write about them. If there are 10 issues, each worth 10 points, writing about one issue for an hour and killing it will also kill you. How do you find all the issues? READ THE FACTS CAREFULLY - they trigger the issues. A well written exam does not have extraneous facts. They are there for a reason.

Don’t fall into the trap of spending too much time on an issue because you know it well—and because you are a little afraid of the issues you don’t know.

When in doubt, write “policy”. State the arguments on both sides and figure that somewhere there is law that supports each. If in doubt, stay with policy and avoid direct statements of black letter law.

Fox is also very right—take a deep breath when they pass the test out. Take a minute to look around you. Watch the people panic. Take another deep breath and tell yourself that this will not be all that hard. And, then, calmly, with a sense of purpose, go for it. If it helps, realize that there are a good number of people thre who have not had the education necessary to pass the test; that accounts for the low pass rates. You are not one of them.

Long story why - but I never read the BAR outlines. All I read, over and over, were the tables of contents - even for the courses I never took in law school. If you’ve really studied hard, try reading the tables as a review technique. You’ll be surprised at how much you really know.

I graduated from law school during the Vietnam War. I didn’t know it, but there was an induction notice waiting at my folks home for me to report 2 days after the exam. My folks wisely didn’t tell me. The wife of one of my classmates told him the night before the exam started that she was leaving him. Both of us passed.

I think I have the lowest (oldest Cal Bar number in this community.) I know all of us wish you the very best luck on the test and can’t wait to welcome you to the profession.

sjh”

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 6, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Your bar number is so low it's almost negative

I looked you up on the attorney finder, Steve – 46xxx? Holy smoke. Did you work on Marbury v. Madison? Between you in 1970 and me in 1974 there were 15000 lawyers added. Now, bar numbers are over 255000. Imagine four sell out crowds at Dodger Stadium. That’s basically the number of lawyers who have been admitted since us two geezers.

The actual point of this is that of the 200,000 lawyers who have been admitted since sjh and I were admitted, there are lots of people who are, in a word, stupid. I have met lots of those lawyers, both as adversaries and as colleagues. I always figured that if some of those guys could pass the bar, then any sentient creature could do so.

Those of you taking the bar – think about Joe D. He was smooth. Everything he did looked effortless. Then think about Willie Mays. Everything he did was excitement, with his hat flying off. You want to look like Joe when you write. Everything is smooth. Outline things like sjh said. Then write in complete sentences.

If you catch yourself starting a sentence iwith the word “because,” stop. Re-write it because if you don’t you’ll have inverted sentence structure, and that’s awkward. (Example – I’ll re-write that last sentence—“Because it’s awkward, rewrite any sentece that starts with because.” That forces the reader to bump his or her thought process rather than see it smoothly and effortless. Joe D wouldn’t write in inverted sentences.

Don’t use the passive voice. Example – The passive voice was used by people who flunked the bar. Don’t do it.

Those two examples will go a long way toward separating the passers from the non—passers. I worked with a guy who read those exams. He said they were looking to pass people. If you are a good writer, then you will ease your way into the good stack in the reader’s mind.

And take heart – just about everyone who contributes here has good analytical and writing skills.

Joe D expected to do well, and did it smoothly. You people do the same. You’re Bruins, for crying out loud! You’ve been prepared. You’re ready. Just let it come out.

Last tidbit. If you know that a particular case stands for a particular proposition, but for some reason you can’t think of the name of the case, cite it anyway, and describe it as best you can. E.g., “The view expressed by Justice Andrews in the famous case involving the scale which fell on the lady in the train station in New York ….”

Now go and kick some legal butt.

by Fox 71 on Jul 6, 2008 2:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Though the only bar exam

that I might be involved with would concern pinot noir and syrah, I too found/find your and Fox’s advice helpful and useful.

The advice is exceptional, because it applies to many endeavors (endeavours, eubruin) having nothing to do with bar exams. It involves calming down, gathering one’s thoughts, and deciding what you want to say before you start saying it. If you start saying it without forethought of exactly where you’re going with your thoughts, you’re just babbling.

This applies to taking bar exams, but it applies to any sort of writing. Students, answering essay questions. Scientists and technologists, writing technical papers and manuals. Educators, writing instructional material. Even businesspersons, writing promotional material, would benefit greatly from you guys’ advice.

The explanation for the multiple applications of your collective wisdom is simple: You both advocate a common thread of thinking clearly, BEFORE you start writing. I wish that practitioners of this wisdom were more common. Most of the noise that we have to put up with in everyday life, whether written or spoken, are the regurgitations of those who have not been taught to think clearly before they write/speak.

Personally, I’ve filed both of these posts under “great advice”: this one, and the earlier one.

by Bruinut on Jul 6, 2008 7:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Just writing..

..in general (about anything) helps one’s writing skills.

In the movie, “Finding Forrester”, Sean Connery takes the young hero - an inner-city, basketball phenom - hands him a typewriter and tells him “to write”. When asked what to write, Forrrster says, “nothing, just write.” Later, the kid gets his tit in a wringer because he allegedly plagiarized one of Forrester’s essays only to have it revealed that he was encouraged to use the essay as a starting point for his own work.

Not to dispute that organization and clear thinking are important. But, irrespective of how much outlining one does in advance, if one does not have the desire or basic ability to glue words together, then it comes off awkwardly. No matter how confident Joe D or Willie Mays was, if they could not come around on a curve ball or get under Vic Wertz’ towering drive, then they’d have only made it to the San Francisco Seals or the Mobile triple-A franchise.

Like Steve and Fox point out, contributing to venues like BN are great practice and writing about something you enjoy makes the task of writing abut something you don’t much less onerous.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by WHP '68 on Jul 7, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

You make

some interesting and valid points. And, I agree.

When I wrote my comment above, I deliberately omitted creative writing from the list of applications. I think CW is a different animal. With CW, as opposed to technical writing or bar exams or …, I think you’re absolutely right. Just write. And write. And write. Too much outlining and preplanning are not just counter-productive to CW, in my opinion, they rob the writing of the “creative” part.

I can attest to your notions about requisite writing skills. Having worked as a technical writer and manager, I was repeatedly amazed at the mismatch between impressive-sounding résumés and their authors’ inability to express themselves clearly in an ad hoc writing exercise. For technical writing, Fox+66’s advice is right on the money.

In any event, I love the advice of Fox and 66 regarding calming down and sounding notes that make music, instead of just noise.

BTW, I enjoyed the movie FF, too. I went out the next day and bought Israel K’s CD with that gorgeous rendition of Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World.

by Bruinut on Jul 7, 2008 4:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

..like the last line in the movie says..

..”Be sure to write.”

To be sure, Mr Fox and Ol’ Number 66 are the masters of this art and their advice is wise and worthy (as is yours).

When I was very young, Mrs. Weber, my eighth grade teacher had us write stories and read them to the class. She was spare with her praise but I was fortunate to be taken aside by her and encouraged. I date my love of writing the English language from that class and have always gotten around to writing something with my outside activities (column in my high shcool paper, columns in all of the newsletters of all the amateur radio clubs I belonged to, columns, interviews, stories for the bicycle team I belonged to, various blogs and sites, etc.)

The sheer joy of beign able to express one’s thoughts in writing has always appealed to me; it’s too bad that it is forced on limited attention-span students nowadays.

..it’s just so-o-o-o damn fun!

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by WHP '68 on Jul 8, 2008 12:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

'68...

In a eerily similar history, I had an eighth grade English teacher, Mrs. Gonzales, who introduced me to creative writing and storytelling. I loved her class, and I will never forget her…”Always write,” she would say. I already loved to read, but Mrs. Gonzales truly opened another door for me. (Not surprisingly, FF is one of my favorite movies.)

I wholeheartedly agree with Bruinut, creative writing is nothing like writing for the bar exam. Fox and ‘66 have nailed that. It is deliberately without nuance. (Fortunately, I passed the two I’ve taken, and I’ve vowed never to take another. If we move again, it has to be to a State with reciprocity!)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jul 8, 2008 1:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

..good for you, Ms. '83..

You and BruinNut and ‘66 and Fox far outstrip me when it comes to accomplishments. I cannot ever conceive of passing a bar exam (just as I cannot ever conceive of passing a bar, period) and I am in awe of those that do.

In your case, I am doubly awed.

Would that there were many more Mrs. Weber’s and Mrs Gonzaleses and far fewer people eager to text message their way through life.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by WHP '68 on Jul 9, 2008 5:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

u shudnt nok

us txt msgrs. we r gud peepul 2. sum of us no how 2 rite, even.

I’d also like to go on record as grateful for Mrs. Dodge and Mr. Xxxx (sorry, fading memory…) from high school. Mrs. D. actually got us, well me, at least, to enjoy diagramming sentences. Mr. X made us sit still long enough, while he read, to appreciate Shakespeare. Both of them brought exuberance and inspiration to the idea of expressing oneself in English.

I, too, bow to BG. See you in the bar, WHP.

by Bruinut on Jul 10, 2008 9:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

As the wise Spidermeister counsels him,

66 is confused. “But, I thought my superpowers had come from the spider.”

“No, my son,” SM replies. “Your superpowers come from within. They have been with you all along. It is up to you to recognize their presence, and when the opportunities arise, to exercise them. You used them wisely at first, but you shouldn’t have tried to jump between oaks like that.”

“Do you mean…?”

“Yes, my son. Your superpowers come, not from being bitten by an arachnid…, but from being a Bruin.”

(Music swells) Realization sweeps across 66’s face, an inner light glows, and he yields gracefully to an overwhelming sense of peace.

From this point on, he realizes, his powers are to be used only for truly worthwhile purposes, such as acquiring and retaining excellent UCLA athletic coaches, and not for trivial purposes, such as lotteries, hot dates, and tree jumping.

by Bruinut on Jul 6, 2008 9:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

Nut -- You've made my day!

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 6, 2008 9:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

Sir 66

Super powers or not, my needs are small compared to the other requests. It’s 103 here in the Fresno area. I just want a six pack of ice cold beer…..........wait a minute, there’s a knock at the door.

(A brief moment later)

Damn, you are good, some friends just popped by out of the blue with a cooler of iced down beer.

I stand in awe.

by artybruin on Jul 5, 2008 5:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Its hard not to chime in,

so I’m going to finally give it a crack. I think that this thread represents all that I have come to love as a passive reader of Bruinsnation. The quick wit, well considered posts, and more importantly, the sincere sense of community that contributors such as nestor, sjh, fox, et al. (a BN favourite :) reflect in their postings. I have a hard time believing you aren’t all friends and meet late night to discuss future BN posts…

I suppose I’m really just saying thank you, and taking this opportunity to crack the egg and hopefully start posting in the future.

Cheers!

by eubruin on Jul 5, 2008 5:47 PM PDT 0 recs

Good to Hear From You

EU,

It’s funny, I do feel that Nestor, Fox, BB2000, and many of the posters here are my friends—not just acquaintances but friends.

Although I would not recognize them were they to sit down at my breakfast table, I do care about them, enjoy their company, look foward to “talking with them” and take interest in the things they do. For example, as mentioned above, for our law student or bar taking BN citizens, I’ve written a post on how the exams are graded and what that tells us about the strategy of writing answers. When my father passed away last year, I wrote an off topic post about the loss and how much Bruin sports had played a role in creating the strong bond I shared with my Dad; the responses warmed my heart and gave comfort to my family.

As a Bruin in Exile, I live in Houston, the game day threads mean a lot to me. Before moving to Texas, I had season tickets to both the FB and BB games. I sat in the same section for about a dozen years; the people sitting around me were my “neighborhood”. I’d see them for a season, and re-connect when the next started.

Now, the game day threads give me that same sense of community. Instead of babbling to my neighbors in the stands, I chat with the people here. It adds depth to the game day experience.

EU, I’m glad you posted. My first was the hardest—especially when I got some push back on what I had written. But, I kept posting, and learned that this is a place that values diversity but demands rigor.

I truly hope you start to participate and get from BN what many of us get. A fulfilling experience and a great group of friends.

Best,

sjh

PS. “Favourite” =s UK?

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jul 6, 2008 7:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well noted,

I received the first few years of my formal education in London and as a consequence, the (mis) spelling of some words have stuck with me. Now they sort of stand out in my writing as a reminder of my heritage (was born in Copenhagen). A few favourites – here we go again:) – to be expected in the future include: programme, analyse, and the all-star… colour. If only I had a penny for every time my high school teachers, and later college professors, would berate me for apparently mis-spelling such simple words. Perhaps that is why I majored in Modern-European history while at UCLA – ensuring that the source documents would correspond with my own spelling and then all I had to do was include the much loved and hated [sic] notation.

You brought forth an excellent point in that BN serves as a melting pot of ideas that then over time turns into a melting pot of shared interests. Had it not been for ryebreadz fantastic coverage of the Men’s Baseball team, I surely would not have paid as much attention to their charge toward a title as I did (even in the middle of finals, thank you very much!) As long as this community remains a meeting place for primarily Bruin-lovers and individuals who reserve a high level of mutual respect for each other, BN will remain an intellectually stimulating and truth-seeking place, a rarity indeed in the blogosphere.
I am delighted to be an albeit small part of this community.

...and yes, I look forward to the day I write my first sports related post. Ok, I’ll say it now, JK is going to have a break-out year – do I get brownie points for stating the obvious? Let’s go at it!

by eubruin on Jul 6, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up 0 recs