V for Victor

Well, it's over.  All over.  The past few months have been filled with soap opera-like drama.  Picking a law school.  I've gone on a few whirlwind tours -- Chicago and Miami.  I had basically settled on the University of Miami for law school with the intention of studying Latin American Corporate Law.  I had visited Miami about a month ago.  While I wasn't particularly thrilled with the campus or the area itself, I was willing to sacrifice these things for the potential job prospects.  It made sense to me.  In fact, I was even willing to turn down some substantial scholarships from schools like Santa Clara and USD in order to go to Miami with no money at all.  It was certainly a risk, but I felt I had thought it through.  Ultimately, I was deciding between Miami and Loyola-Chicago.  I really loved Chicago.  In the words of Old Blue Eyes, it was "my kind of town."  I guess mainly because I just wasnt used to a true big city.  Don't get me wrong, San Francisco is nice and all, but it just doesnt compare.  Not even close.  Chicago was vast.  I had friends there -- admittedly more than in San Francisco -- and I'm from the Bay!  Most of my friends in Chicago were from my days at Michigan.  But I was determined to do some sort of international law with Latin America...but Chicago just wasnt really good for that.  Miami, on the other hand, was.  I was never comfortable with my decision though.  A large part of me regretted not picking Loyola-Chicago.  I just liked the freedom of setting foot outside of my house or school and having something to do -- a cafe, a museum, a bar, etc.  Miami just didnt have that.  The only pleasant place to walk around was the Lincoln Road Mall and that was about 30 minutes from the school -- and the only time when it's pleasant in Miami is in the evenings. So yes, I was struggling with my decision -- and I couldnt look back.

But life.  Life is funny.  It's full of twists.  Some good and some bad, as I have experienced only recently with a close friend's suicide.  I had long forgotten about New York.  I had applied to Fordham part-time, to which I was waitlisted at.  I never heard back from Cardozo.  And Brooklyn Law School?  Well, I never completed my application there.  So I had long disregarded that application.  So out of the blue, I ended up getting a phone call from their admissions office about 2 weeks ago saying I was admitted!  I was freaking out because I thought I had decided on Miami...and then this opportunity falls right on my lap.  In fact, I was pretty much cursing my luck.  I was even bitter.  I didnt want or need anymore choices.

So, I booked a flight and left a few days later for New York City.  I stayed at my friend Peter's place in Midtown.  He lives on the 33rd floor, literally right outside of Madison Square Garden...and has an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline.  But I just fell in love with New York.  Love at first sight really.  It's exactly what i wanted.  An international city where I can set foot outside of my house or school and be in the middle of it all.  I honestly didnt believe such a city existed in the US.  haha.  New York City just didnt feel like the US.  The Brooklyn Law School campus itself was really pleasant.   It's right on the border betweent Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights, one of the best neighborhoods in NYC.  All the dorms are in the Heights too!  Some are only feet away from the Promenade.  I just knew this was the school...at last.   Of course, I had my doubts too --- mainly that NYC is so competitive and filled with top schools and graduates.  But I guess you have to work hard no matter what.  And they even gave me a partial scholarship!  Yeah.  So it worked out great.

Oh.  It also doesnt hurt to move to a new and unfamiliar city and already have a social life.  Haha.  Peter knows tons of people there...so we went to a couple of nice restaurant bars and had rather large tabs comped!  I love it!  And he also was able to expense half of our huge tab at this awesome club called The Box.  This was seriously one of the best clubs I've ever been to.  It was like a dinner theater club so there were tons of performances on stage ranging from beatboxing to tastefully nude women (seriously!) to fire breathing to puppet shows.  The place got packed and the DJ was awesome.  We also had drinks on my friend's rooftop on the 36th floor.  A few bottles of vodka and food.  It was awesome.  I had such a good time in NYC and perhaps, just perhaps I had too much to drink -- we got back from the bar last Saturday at like 4am..  Perhaps i also might have missed my flight because it was at 8am. we returned at like 5am and perhaps i rested my eyes on the couch and didnt wake up in time. perhaps too much booze was the reason. too much. perhaps. i got to the airport at like 10am and was stuck there for like 8 hours. i seriously felt like tom hanks in the terminal. haha. the flight was horrible. i was ill the whole time. perhaps it was my liver working too hard. perhaps.  

But overall, I'm really glad I went on this trip.  I didnt want to go and was really skeptical, but yeah.  Things worked out in the end...and I'm really excited to move to NYC in the fall.  I will have a lot of distractions--can't lose my focus. first year of law school will be brutal. but if i can work hard enough, i think i can pull it off. just have to be driven and look to my friend as someone to emulate and work my ass off.

I am just so ecstatic right now. I just havent felt this way in so long. Truly happy. Truly. It's seriously been like almost 2 years that I've felt this way. Just relieved and excited for the future. I'm just giddy. haha. Life is good. Really good.

NYC scenery pictures are here.  Nightlife pics are here.

I haven't really used this place too much.  I thought I would use Vox more...use it as more of a blogging tool--something to separate my personal life from my public one.  But yeah, that didnt happen.  And so, this spot here has been collecting dust for a few months.

I'm at a crossroads in my life.  It's overwhelming.  I'm going through a once-in-a-lifetime metamorphosis.  My life will never be the same.  Well, first, I didn't do so well on my LSAT, and that score will obviously determine where I end up.  To a certain extent, it will limit where I will be for the next 5 to 7 years.  It's a bit frightening really.  I just have so many choices.  It's almost like closing my eyes and just picking a random spot on the map.  Acceptances and rejections have been steadily flowing to my home.  I'm in at 3 schools so far and I have to hear from another 5.  I will likely end up at Miami actually. It's funny but 4 years ago, I never envisioned that I would likely end up there.  But I guess things change.  I love the Bay Area to death.  It's an amazing place.  But, I just need to grow as a person.  I need to go somewhere else.  That's what I got out of attending Michigan for my undergraduate education. 

One of my desires is to live in a big city.  Throughout my whole life, I've lived in a suburban environment--first in Palo Alto and then in Ann Arbor.  Well, it's time for a change.  NYC, DC, Chicago.  They were options.  And actually, I wouldnt mind being there...but maybe later.  Miami is appealing because of my Latin blood--I want to be there and get into Latin American corporate law, or something to that effect.  But yeah, the University of Miami offers that.  In addition, Miami is a top law market and it isnt saturated with lawyers, like NYC, DC, Chicago, LA, and SF. At least, that's the impression that I get.

But yes, it's overwhelming--I'll be out of here in July--Brazil, and then in August, I'll be moving near my law school.  Things could still change.  I have some other enticing schools--but for now, UM is number one.  Hah.  Well, that's all for now.  I've even changed my layout here.  haha.

What's one of your favorite quotes? 
Submitted by Georgie-boy. 

So many quotes, so I'll include 2 of them.

First, I've always been fascinated with memory and its impact in our lives.  It's amazing how much we remember...and forget.  One of my favorite things is remembering something that I hadnt thought of in years.  It's truly a special thing, especially when it brings a smile to your face.

This quote is from Embers, a Hungarian novel about betrayal and love.  I've been meaning to read it again.

 

Time preserves everything, but as it does so, it fades things to the colorlessness of ancient photographs fixed on metal plates. Light and time erase the contours and distinctive shading of the faces. One has to angle the image this way and that until it catches the light in a particular way and one can make out the person whose features have been absorbed into the blank surface of the plate. It is the same with memories. But then one day light strikes again from a certain angle and one recaptures a face again.

I like it because it compares two things...the faces of a faded photograph, ravaged by time...and our own faded memories, ravaged by our aging minds.  The descriptions and analogy are the work of a great author, one who was forgotten for decades.  A book that's definitely worth checking out.

 

And, what discussion of favorite quotes would be complete without one from my favorite book of all time, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come.

 

This quote has a lot of importance to me because of its theme.  Decisions in our lives and their impact.  We only have one life and thus, one path.  Each decision we make has the potential to lead us down an entirely different path.  Taking that job in New York...or going to school in Texas...or chasing after that girl in Paris or something.  It could lead to success or it could lead to failure.  But what is certain is that we will never be able to compare our decisions because like the quote says, we only have one life to live.  Powerful stuff, and something I'm thinking about daily as I mull where I ultimately want to end up in law school.

Just got a new cell phone from tmobile. its pretty nifty. using the windows mobile program on my phone.

I wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.  I'm still enjoying the single life.  It's all good.  But I hope that one day, I'll finally find that one special person...

Last week, I was forced out of the house because the city was doing some maintenance on the transformers in my neighborhood. So, we were without power for 8 hours. Anyways, I stumbled upon something that I never would have seen if it werent for the lack of power. So I thank Fate and the City of Palo Alto for getting me out of the house because I never would have seen this otherwise. I was walking to get some lunch and maybe a block from my house, some tortured soul or star-crossed lover wrote half of the lyrics to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars on the sidewalk. Each word took up an entire sidewalk square and it ended with a flourish of hearts...maybe 10 chalk hearts which ended with a more ornate heart at some driveway. 

At first, I thought it was some sort of poem, but after some thinking and the Chasing Cars lyric in particular, I realized it was Snow Patrol. haha. I just thought it was such a touching thing...filled with emotion. It's one of the smaller things that makes life so much better. It really lifted my mood. I walked back and forth soaking it all up. It's kinda bugging me now because I want to know who did it. haha. But alas, it's yet another one of life's mysteries. Just something so gushy, so mushy, so Hollywood...and yes, I liked it. Here are the rest of the pictures that I took. Yes, I had to go back and take them for posterity. haha.  I guess that's how I get, especially with Valentine's Day coming up.  A hopeless romantic indeed.  Sadly, with this past weekend's rain, Mother Nature  washed away  this act of romance. But it's memory will live on I guess.

So, I'm in the midst of the long and arduous process of applying to law school.  My oh my.  It's stressful.  Frustrating.  And it is making me more lethargic than ever.  I'm a bit disappointed at my LSAT score because I thought I could've done slightly better, and when applying to law school, that really makes all the difference. And I guess that's what's so frustrating about the whole process.  For the most part, it is numbers based.  A somewhat mediocre showing on the LSAT can just about nullify a good four-year academic performance.  At the same time though, there is little sense in dwelling on the past.  It is what it is.

This is sure looking like a regular emo journal post (I usually reserve those for LiveJournal), and I promise there will be few here.  But I just feel like having a public catharsis.

I'd like to finish about 4 applications this week, which is certainly doable, especially since the meat of my personal statement is complete.  The bulk of my applications are due in early or mid-March but the earlier the better.  Ideally, I would finish ALL my applications towards the end of January, which I think is possible.  And this is especially the case since I have so much free time on my hands. 

I think too much free time can be overrated.  In fact, I know it is.  Why?  Because if you have too much of it, you don't value it, and thus, fail to use the time effectively.  I think that if I had a job, well, I would be much more efficient in my application endeavors.  A return to Stanford for employment is not out of the question.  In fact, I might look into it in a few more weeks.  We shall see.  In the meantime, I have to keep my eyes on the prize.  I really do.

Show us the best picture you took in 2006.
Submitted by Captured Moments.

Probably one of my best shots ever.  Taken on New Years Eve in 2006 in Las Vegas from the amazing Balcony of the Pure nightclub at Caesars.

This is a test from my windows mobile smartphone. I didnt even know there was a program. Nice.

It's that time again.  I listen to a lot of music.  A LOT.  My tastes tend to be pretty varied too...hip-hop, gangsta, hyphy, rock, indie, singer/songwriter, jazz...you name it.  This has been a pretty good year for music.  Some hip-hop classics.  The birth of a new movement--hyphy too.  Some amazing releases by dependable artists.  3 CDs stick out in my mind as far and away the best.  Then, there are 12 others which I really liked.  Actually, one more, because like I said, this was a great year.  haha.

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Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury: Quite possibly the most anticipated Rap album of the year.  After years of hiccups, the sophomore album from the Virginia duo does not disappoint.  Thankfully, we were never deprived of their work with their two We Got it 4 Cheap mixtapes last year.  They stayed on top of their game.  The Neptunes did the beats for all the songs.  And these are some money beats.  You would think that Pharrell would get first choice on the beats, but hah.  I mean, you've got some heavy drums, synthesizers, angelic voices, accordions, steel drums.  I mean, wow.  This is rap at it's crudest.  At it's rawest.  Drugs and brutal honesty.  I can't even pick one song... Highlights: Keys Open Doors, Mr Me Too, Trill, and Momma I'm so Sorry.

CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange:  A nice pun...cunning linguists.  This is beautiful hip-hop.  It really is.  It's probably the first time I've ever been able to describe a hip-hop CD as beautiful.  I dunno.  I was just blown away when I heard it.  So much so, that it's made it into my top 4.  It's a concept album that is based on Biblical themes.  Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Southern hip-hop (outside of Little Brother), but man...these guys are amazing.  Haunting beats.  Intelligent lyrics.  The definition of hip-hop.  Some great guests, like Cee-Lo and Immortal Technique.  Highlights: Hourglass,  Never Know Why, What'll You Do?

Guillemots - Through the Window:  I've had about a 2 months to listen to this CD and I still think it's the best rock album this decade.  A fleeting masterpiece of a concept album.  A cross between Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire, Pink Floyd, Keane, Coldplay, you name it.  The songs are all different.  At first I thought this was a flaw, but I don't mind it now.  Just relaxing, avant-garde stuff.  Maybe I'm biased because one of the bandmembers is from Brazil.  hah.  And some of the songs are even about Brazil, but I'm still blown away.  Highlights: Sao Paulo, Trains to Brazil, If the World Ends.

Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor:  Kanye's protege.  I saw him live a few months ago and he was a bit disappointing.  Not exactly the stage presence I had envisioned.  But whatever.  He's just a different person and because of this, his hip-hop is different from most.  His lyrics talk about skateboarding (we've all heard), love, politics...and it's just a breath of fresh air.  The only real annoying thing about this album is the damn Outro, which is like 12 minutes long.  Does he really need to do all those shout-outs on the actual CD?  I don't really Kanye too much and to be honest, I think I like Lupe better.  Highlights: American Terrorist, The Instrumental, I Gotcha, Kick Push, Sunshine.

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These 12 CDs are in no particular order, but they're in my Top 15 (or 16 really).

Aceyalone & RJD2 - Magnificent City:  One of the most famous underground rappers...a true veteran and professional from SoCal, Aceyalone has been around for ages...since the early 90s when he was with Freestyle Fellowship.  He teams up here with one of the more respected DJs around, RJD2.  I really like his flow, and yeah, he still has it.  RJD2 makes some great old-school beats...samples 70s funk and soul.  Highlighs: Fire, Disconnected, Solomon Jones.

Amos Lee - Supply and Demand:  I don't like this album as much as Lee's debut album, which came out last year.  But, I still think he has an amazing singing voice.  Definitely one of the best singer/songwriters we have around.  He's more of a bluesy/country guy, which is surprising, because I usually hate this type of music.  I kinda wish there was some more solo work with him.  Just him and a guitar.  Whatever.  It's still nice.  Highlighs: Supply and Demand, Freedom, Skipping Stone.

Camera Obscura - Let's Get out of this Country: This CD just has such a unique sound.  I love it.  It's haunting...almost like Guillemots.  The lead singer has an amazing and pure voice.  Lyrics are top-notch, and, I dunno, they're just so melodic.  I really havent heard anything like them before.  Highlights: I Need All the Friends I Can Get, Let's Get out of this Country, Dory Previn.

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife:  Like Clipse for rap, The Decemberists also had the most anticipated album in their genre, and they too did not disappoint.  They're probably one of the most consistent indie acts around with amazing lyrics--often with seafaring motifs, nice arrangements, and well, a great voice.  Highlights: O Valencia, Summersong, The Perfect Crime 2.

Gotan Project - Lunatico:  Yes, as a Brazilian, I will actually include something from Argentina.  But this CD is just so chill.  Probably one of the chillest CDs I've ever heard.  It's basically a neo-tango CD.  Very sexy.  Perfect for those late nights.  haha.  It's almost a lounge CD.  I don't really know how to describe it.  There's even some rap on it too.  Yup.  Highlights: Mi Confession, Arrabal, Celos.

James Morrison - Undiscovered: There are a ton of singer/songwriters from the British Isles and Ireland-- James Blunt and Damien Rice perhaps being the most famous.  Morrison has a very soulful voice and I think he has a lot of potential.  This album could've been much better if it wasn't so pop-sounding.  I dunno, I still like it, but it isn't exactly a flawless album.  With that being said, for a guy who is only 19, he has a lot to tell, and I think he's pretty effective at getting his story told.  Highlights: How Come, If the Rain Must Fall, Better Man.

Murs - Murry's Revenge:This album was produced by 9th Wonder, one of the up and coming producers hailing from North Carolina.  He produced the top album on my list from last year, Little Brother's The Minstrel Show.  Here, he teams up with Oakland-based Living Legends MC, Murs.  This album is too short.  But it's real, and that's why it's so great.  Like some of the other albums on my list, the CD is heavy on soulful beats, and well, I think it just works with modern-day underground hip-hop.  Murs is on fire too.  Highlights: Love & Appreciate, L.A., Barbershop, Yesterday & Today.

Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black:  Another artist from last year's list.  Ray was just getting started last year with his sultry voice.  He got even bigger when Taylor Hicks decided to play his most famous song, Trouble, on American Idol.  I feel a bit embarrassed that I'm still including him, hah, but whatever.  At first I didn't like this album because it was too loud.  Like Amos Lee, he has such a great voice, and I think it's a shame when his voice gets drowned out by his bandmembers.  There is still some amazing songwriting going on, and yeah.  Highlights: Three More Days, Empty.

The Roots - Game Theory:  They've been around forever, and it seems as if every album they release is a classic.  Their latest CD falls short of their classics like Illadelph Halflife, Things Fall Apart and Do You Want More? but that's alright.  The Roots have evolved into more of a band, and for hip-hop, it's really unique.  They have drummers and guitarists.  Lyrics are still there.  And again, I didn't like this album at first, but it took me a few listens to truly appreciate it.  Highlights: Long Time, Game Theory, Clock With No Hands.

Sergio Mendes - Timeless:  I had to include a Brazilian CD on here.  I really think Brazilian hip-hop has the potential to make it big here in the US.  The beats.  The drums.  The party atmosphere.  Those are things that work with hip-hop and it's great to see a guy I really don't like in will.I.am explore the world to find music to use.  I'm glad he teamed up with Sergio Mendes, a Brazilian legend.  This is really an amazing collaboration featuring artists like John Legend, India Arie, Justin Timberlake, Q-Tip, Black Eyed Peas, and Chali 2na.  There's also one of the more famous Brazilian hip-hop artists on this CD, Marcelo D2.  Some purists don't like it, and I actually know of some Brazilians who bought this CD thinking it would be more Sergio Mendes and less hip-hop, but that's OK.  It still works.  Highlights: Mas Que Nada, Samba do Benco, Loose End, Yes Yes Y'all.

Too $hort - Blow the Whistle:  This CD is on here as an endorsement to the Bay Area hyphy movement.  I guess I could have put E-40's CD on here, but I dunno, outside of like 4 songs on that album, I wasn't too blown away.  Too $hort is still around and he's still churning out a CD a year.  The beats are infectious.  It has one classic West Coast song.  Great for dancing, like all hyphy music.  Perfect a for a night in San Jose or Oakland.  Highlights: Money Maker, Blow the Whistle, Keep Bouncin.

Zero 7 - The Garden: Last but not least.  This downtempo supergroup from England.  Garden State fans are probably familiar with them and the song "Waiting Line."  This CD is good, although some critics didnt particularly like it.  I dunno, I found no real problems with it myself.  Lots of artists great musicians, including one of my favorite, Swedish singer/songwriter Jose Gonzalez.  There is a remix of his most famous song, Crosses, which is not as good as the original, but still a nice interpretation.  The CD has also been used several times on The OC, although I'm not sure if that's a good thing.  It's still an amazing, chill CD.  Highlights: You're My Flame, The Pageant of the Bizarre, Futures.