Someone! Just give me a job! (please)

I'm a nice person. I work hard. I'm average intelligence, but I have a lot of motivation. Can someone just give me a job? Why does this have to be so hard?

I never knew looking for a job would be so much of a, well, job. It takes up most of my day and the added pressure comes from fellow students who are in the frenzy of interviewing and snatching up offers. Because I'm so geographically focused (damn you, American Bar Association and your stupid bar rules), things are a little slower for me. First, I'm trying to vet out all the possible job options here. Then, I'm trying to figure out if these businesses are offering jobs. And then I have to actually interview for the jobs. I'm still doing #1 and #2.

Let me tell you, the offer I do get better be good. It better be something I'm going to want to do for at least 30 years, because I ain't doing this job search again.

I Heart James Bond

I have seen the advertisements since May, and halfway around the world, at that. In Hong Kong, city buses roared by, covered in "Casino Royale" movie posters. There, blown up to 137 times his original size was Daniel Craig.

There wasn't a whole lot to him, then. In our own group, the guys talked about how this was the new James Bond and there were skeptical remarks about his ability in this role. Everyone said that they wanted to see the new movie, but weren't sure if this Daniel Craig would really be that good of a Bond character.

That was May. I had almost forgotten about Daniel and his Hong Kong advertisements. Now in November, I was dragged to the movies to see just another Bond movie.

But this was NOT just another Bond movie, and it was because of my dear, sweet Daniel. Those piercing blue eyes. Those perfectly formed biceps. That crooked smile. I am in love with the new Bond. He's rugged, he's human. And he's hot. I'm sure the movie studios knew what they were doing. For years and years, the guys had all the fun - their fantasy Bond with the cool gadgets, the cool car, and the easy women. What did we have? Nothing. But now, we have Daniel. The guys can take their cool car and their cool gadget. Heck, I'll even give them the beautiful, easy women. But just give me my Bond!

A Turkey of a Relief

It's been a few weeks since my last post, but so many things have been going on since then. Thankfully, one of the things taking the most time is finally over, for the most part. The Brand Challenge happened last Friday and I think it was a success! So one event down, so now all that's left is just school, exams, job search, Conservation Week....

The Southern traditions here continue to amaze me. This Thanksgiving, I was introduced to the deep-fat fried turkey. For those not familiar with the south, this consists of pouring about 4-5 gallons of oil (peanut, in this case) in a big pot, heating it to a toasty 400 degrees, and dunking an entire turkey into the oil. The amazing thing is that it only takes about an hour to cook an 18 pound turkey. At first, I had a physical aversion to this kind of cooked turkey - after all, 5 gallons of peanut oil is enough to make anyone yack a bit. But I have to admit that the turkey was pretty darn good. Juicy and tender. While I don't see deep-fat fried turkey again in my future (I hope), I will say that I enjoyed this little tradition.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed your turkey - no matter in what tradition it was prepared.

Globalization is cool

I'm all about globalization. I'm globalization's biggest fan. I say open the borders. Let's offshore and outsource. Let information flow freely. Globalization will be what fights poverty and terrorism and ultimately bring equality among the nations. Don't believe it? Read The World is Flat, and you'll be a believer.

One of the things I hate about Americans is that 99.8% of us only know one language - English. And sometimes even that is questionable. So I love globalization and I hate that we only know one language. So why do my feathers get ruffled when students come to a graduate program in this country and can't speak English?

If I was going to school in France (here I go on the French, again), you could bet your bottom dollar that not only would there be sunshine tomorrow, but I would learn French hard and fast before I set foot upon the tiled floors of their MBA school. And I would bet another dollar that those French bastards wouldn't admit me unless I could prove that I learned French hard and fast.

So why does Duke - and most other American b-schools, for that matter - proceed to admit students who can't speak English? Not only do they suffer, but so do we. And because we can't communicate, we regulate ourselves to our own ethnic enclaves and don't learn from each other. It's painful to hold a conversation with someone when they speak at 1/472 the speed that I do. I'm patient, I really am. But it's not only painful, it's frustrating because you can never get your idea truly across.

So b-schools of America, listen up. Do us all a favor and let's follow in the footsteps of our peers. Don't admit international students unless you can make damn sure that they are proficient in English. Then open the gates. Let globalization in. After all, you can't truly globalize unless you can communicate.

The Tabloids breed good journalists

Before today, I would pass by racks of tabloids at the grocery store check-out line and scan the headlines, understanding that most of the stories were exaggerations of the truth. Today, I now understand that they are NOT exaggerations, but stone-cold truths.

Over the past year, we read articles about how Britney took away K-Fed's credit card. How she gave him an allowance. How she regulated him to the basement. How she didn't trust him with his own baby and hired a manny. We started to believe these stories until Britney had her infamous interview with Matt Lauer, where she told us these stories were untruths and that her marriage to K-Fed was "awesome." Her mini-skirt and bra-strap showing tank top told me not to believe her, but I kind of did. Maybe she was just an innocent victim, whom the fashion police had not yet paid a visit.

But then today, the world shook. All LIES, LIES, LIES...by Britney! The esteemed journalists at the tabloid magazines were, in fact, telling us the truth. They had scooped out the scoop, telling us with unfettered honesty what Britney could not, would not.

I know, we shouldn't be surprised by the Britney-K-Fed divorce. But my faith in the institution of marriage may have been slightly shaken. And then her "surprise" appearance on David Letterman, looking svelte and stylish. All on the eve of her divorce announcement.

Hmmm...do I smell strategy?? We'll just have to wait for the tabloids.

Everyone's a pundit

In the October 14 issue of the WSJ, there was a great op-ed piece by Peggy Noonan. What I love about her piece is that she has so eloquently put into words what I have always thought: that there is a strange irony when it comes to Democrats - they can be so closed-minded when the liberal doctrince calls for an open-minded perspective.

I don't mean to hate on the Dems. Lord knows the Republicans have their problems, too. But I noticed it from the first time I humored my husband and debated politics. Out of one side of his mouth, he was talking about how we need to be open-minded and accepting of all people and all religions (I agree). And then, out of the other side of his mouth, he was lambasting the right-wing conservatives and cursing their view points. Wait a minute. What happened to wanting debate?

Noonan brought to light four examples of this same behavior: the first happened when students at Columbia stormed the stage where Minutemen were invited to speak, effectively shutting down that forum. Early in October, the father of a boy killed at Columbine shared his views on violence entering our schools, in light of the Amish shootings. He thought the reason was because God was taken out of the school system. CBS silenced him. At her concert, Barbara Streisand spouted politics between songs. When an audience member shouted "What is this, a fundraiser?" Streisand became enraged and cursed the man. And, finally, on "The View", Rosie went off on gun control. Elizabeth Hasselbeck brought up the other side of the argument, and Rosie went blank-faced and proceeded to "educate" Elizabeth.

Everyone is entitled to speak his or her mind, where ever they want to do it. However, I don't like it when people say they want to debate, but they don't - they want their vision imposed. And if they don't get it, they'll stoop to cursing, intimidating. Noonan says that what's missing from the left of America - and I'll go as far to say both sides of America - is grace. "The kind of grace that assumes disagreements are part of the fabric, but we can make the fabric hold together." I agree. Don't just say you want debate, when all you really want is an excuse to push an agenda.

And that's why I'm content to sit up high on my little fence and not get dirty in the muck down below.