By: Laura Patrick

The time is finally here for us 3Ls – the end of a long, grueling, stressful, anxiety-ridden three years of law school. No longer will we have to endure the lectures, the tedious readings or the stress of finals. I should be jumping for joy, walking on air, patting myself on the back, thanking my lucky stars and sighing with relief…but it isn’t that simple. The conclusion of law school has so far been a bittersweet experience.

Yes, that’s right future 3Ls, one day you will actually look back on your law school experience with nostalgia and see the end as, well, somewhat depressing.  Graduation is a sad day for a few obvious reasons. For one, only moments after you graduate you’re immediately thrust into the insanity of studying for the Bar. For most of us, bar review classes start only two days after graduation (two days – seriously!?).  But the disheartening prospect of the bar isn’t the only thing putting a damper on the end; there are the slim odds of getting a job in the current legal market or the fact that despite our best efforts to avoid it, we will have to face the real world in a few months.

But all of these things aren’t really what make graduation bittersweet. Yes, facing the bar (and adulthood) is a pretty scary prospect, but the hardest part for me is leaving behind all the people I’ve built relationships with and the city I have grown to call home. Law school has been a wild, wild ride, but when I look back, the times I remember the most are the ones spent making new friends, celebrating with old ones, and bonding with my fellow law students through all of its trials and tribulations

Almost three years ago I made the long trek from Charleston, South Carolina, with my three dogs and a packed SUV. Of course I came out here knowing I would meet new people and soak up the California sunshine, but I also knew law school would be demanding and at times I would long for my hometown.  (We Charleston folk are infamous for our obsession with our own city – not much different from your typical San Diegan, I suppose.)  The plan was to move out west, learn the law, experience everything Southern California had to offer and promptly return to where I belonged – Charleston.

But like most carefully laid out plans, there have been many forces at work trying to derail it. For one, I didn’t expect to grow so attached to Southern California. I can’t say I wasn’t warned. Every person I encountered in San Diego said the same thing:  “You’ll never want to leave.”  But little did they know that I was from Charleston, one of the other few cities in the world that seduces you, sucks you in and clings on for dear life. Despite the allure of San Diego, I had no intention of staying out west. I can’t say that my resolve to return home hasn’t been tested, because it has, with every sunset on the beach, every fish taco and every sunny, humidity-free day.  But California itself isn’t enough to make me question my decision to return to my hometown, it’s the people. For every crazy, type-A, argumentative person you can’t stand in law school, there is an equally crazy, type-A, argumentative person you want to be a part of your life forever. I have made life-long friends at USD and the idea of leaving them seems equally as painful as a summer of bar studying.

Yes, when I look back on my three years here, there are some purely school-related memories, but most of them aren’t very pretty.  I remember the full-on mental breakdown I experienced the day before our first memo was due 1L year. I also remember later that day, calling my parents (on my dad’s birthday, no less) to inform them I would be dropping out.  (I’m lucky my dad was able to talk me down and that USD hasn’t developed a “drop out” button on their website.)  I recall the lovely Friday evening I delivered my oral argument, while a few friends enjoyed the tickets I was forced to give away to a Tosh.0 standup comedy show taking place only a few buildings away.  And of course I will never forget having elbow surgery days before the start of my 3L fall semester and the trauma of balancing a full course load with six months of physical therapy. I guess there are some good memories, too.  Like that feeling of total and utter freedom the day after my last final exam 1L year, or the satisfaction of getting my first A (or even B+… or just the joy of not failing Tax).  Not to mention, writing for this fine newspaper.

But overall, the school memories aren’t what I’ll hold onto. Of course, the initial fear and continued stress of it will forever be seared into my brain, but what I will always cherish are the people and experiences that have made it all worthwhile.  I prefer to look back and think about all the fun and crazy times I’ve had with the amazing people I’ve met at USD.  I’ll treasure the trips to Vegas, the Thursday night softball games (go Fist Pumps!  We had a good run…), trivia nights, Taco Tuesdays, trips to Sushi Diner, sunsets at Lahainas, OB Oktoberfests, St. Patrick’s day shenanigans and every other moment I’ve spent laughing, crying, venting, and dancing with my law school colleagues.

When I set out to write a “reflection” on my three years here, I thought I would offer up all kinds of words of wisdom or lessons learned. I never intended for this to be a sappy love-letter to my friends. But in the end, it is the people that got me through the tough times here. The most important lesson I learned in law school was that no matter how bad it gets, the best cure for anything is a sympathetic ear and a beer (or five) at Peabody’s.

So to those of you going into your first, second or third years, I say this: yes, you will want to pull your hair out at times. Yes, career services’ incessant e-mails will make you anxious that you haven’t gotten a job lined up two years in advance. And yes, we all wish the time turner necklace from Harry Potter was real.  But law school is what you make of it.  Learn what you can, find your niche and go for the gold, but also appreciate your time here.  Believe it or not, you might not be as anxious to leave it behind as you think.

By: Camille Edwards 

The job search in law school can be stressful.  We all know that employers want to see that we had internships during our summers.  If you haven’t found a job yet, don’t worry, because a lot of people can find jobs last minute.  You just have to be persistent and put in a little work.  I found my job for last summer at the end of the spring semester, and I had a great experience.

First, apply for a legal clinic here at USD right now.  If you get into a clinic, you can have that as a fall back if you do not find an internship.  The clinics give you the kind of practical work experience that you would get as an intern, including researching, writing, and client interviewing skills.  USD has a number of clinics, including Civil Clinic, Entrepreneurship Clinic, and State Income Tax Clinic.  I worked at the State Income Tax Clinic in the fall, representing clients before the California Franchise Tax Board and the Board of Equalization.  I performed a lot of work that an attorney would normally do, and even filed a few briefs before the Board of Equalization.  It was an excellent and enjoyable experience, and I would highly recommend working at a clinic, either during the summer or during the school year.  Be aware, however, that some of the clinics have prerequisites, and some of them fill up quickly.

To apply, fill out the clinic application and submit your transcript and resume.  You can learn more about the clinics on the MySandiego website:

http://www.sandiego.edu/law/academics/clinical_education/application_procedure.php

Next, go onto Symplicity’s job board to apply for summer and fall jobs.  There are still a lot of employers posting on Symplicity, as many employers’ legal work is not tied to the semester calendar and they are looking for summer help.

Also, be willing to look outside of San Diego, if possible.  There are many wonderful jobs to be had outside of this city.  I moved to Sacramento last summer for an internship.  I loved my job, had a great experience, and made some great friends.  Also, everyone wants to be in San Diego for summer, so the competition is heightened.  Consider looking in your hometown or in markets like Washington D.C. or Los Angeles.  Bigger cities like D.C. and L.A. have a lot more internship opportunities than San Diego.

Don’t limit yourself to just applying to law firms.  Look at government agencies, non-profit organizations, and companies with legal departments, as they all can provide high quality legal training.

If you have not done so already, reach out to Career Services.  Bring them your resume and tell them what you are interested in and where you will be this summer.  They can give you a list of attorneys to contact and maybe some leads.

Next, look up City Attorneys’ offices, both locally and in other cities in which you would consider working.  Just Google: “City Attorney [city name].”  This is not a well-known resource, but there are often openings in smaller cities like El Cajon and Escondido, and they provide great experience for interns.

Let family, friends, and professors know that you are looking for work!  Many jobs are found through referrals, so make use of any contacts you have in the legal field and otherwise.  Additionally, start developing more contacts.  After finals, go to networking events and use Symplicity or Martindale to look up USD alumni in the field of your choice.  If you do not know the attorney yet, you can start by asking him or her to meet you for coffee or lunch so you can get some advice about a legal career.  Attorneys love to mentor and help law students.

Also, think outside the box.  What are you interested in?  Where would you like to work?  Go online and start looking.  Find firms and organizations that you are interested in, and send them an email with your resume.  Passion and enthusiasm can go a long way, and many organizations would welcome the free help.

If you had an interview recently that went well and you have not heard back, consider following up.  Send the interviewer a polite email asking whether the position is filled.  Sometimes attorneys get busy and do not make a decision right away, or things fall through and a position can open up.  It always helps to keep in touch and show that you are interested and motivated.  If the position is local, tell them that you would also be interested in working during the school year.

If all else fails, take a class or two over the summer, and focus on finding jobs for the school year.  Remember that not everyone works during the school year, and you do not have law students coming from outside of San Diego to work, so there is less competition.  You may be able to get a job at your ideal job for the fall or spring.

Last, but not least, remember to STUDY FOR FINALS.  Take off the next few weeks and focus exclusively on your exams.  Once you are done, take a few days off and then camp out at career services.  Talk to the advisors there and have them help you look for jobs, look over your resume, and practice interviewing.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

By: Chris Dibbern

1L: Why are you reading this?  You have no time to read Motions articles; you need to study or else you won’t get any OCI’s!  This is your future!  Well, if you’re going to throw your life away by reading one measly news article, I’ll go ahead and give you some tips:

• Ask the professor for past exams.  Cry if you don’t get what you want.
• Get Law in a Flash cards from the library.  Painstakingly copy them onto your own index cards for your future reference.  You haven’t taken copyright yet, so there shouldn’t be an ethical problem.
• There must be someone out there with an outline for you.  Ask the closest person in the Writs not wearing a janitorial uniform.  On second thought, ask the people in the janitorial uniforms.
• Post a question to the class on TWEN.  After no one responds, facebook chat your classmates at 2am.  If people ask, refuse to discuss where you got those cute jeans you’re wearing in your default picture.

2L: After the school stopped picking my classes for me last semester, I was in a pickle.  Should I take classes that I need, or classes that I might like?  After getting laughed at in every interview involving questions about my current class load, I decided to buckle down and take some required courses this semester.  Here are my tips:

• Unlike last semester, you’re basically screwed.  Bring your toothbrush from home and plan to fall asleep on top of your books in the Writs.
• Make your own flash cards.  Memorize them and throw them away.  Rinse and repeat.
• Trade outlines with classmates.  By this, I mean give outlines to people in your class.  They must be paper copies.  Don’t forget to attach exploding dye packs like the ones they have at the bank.  Congratulations, you just helped the curve.

3L: After 3 years of this, I think I have mastered the art of the final exam.  Regardless, I simply haven’t mustered the energy to open any of my casebooks in my last semester.  Yes, I procrastinate, but you, the reader, are like me and that’s why you need these tips.  Here they are:

• Break the cellophane on your casebook.  Seriously, it’s time.
• Everyone who’s anyone has an outline for the courses you’re taking.  Try to ask everyone, even if they’re the girl whose name you couldn’t remember even though she pined for you all 1L year.
• When younger law kids ask you for outlines, make like a Heisman Trophy and give them a nice stiff arm.  You have no time for their silly problems.
• Apologize to that one 2L you stiff-armed because he took one of your classes last semester and has a great outline.
• You must have some leftover highlighters in your backpack beneath the stale Cheetos and crumpled up syllabi.  Use them!

 4L: First of all, yes, I exist.  I have been attending night classes here for the past four years.  Sure, I missed a lot of Must See TV, but getting a law degree is well worth all the sacrifices (loads of money, a happy wife, etc.).  Here are my study tips:

• Ignore wife, kid, and dogs and spend every night at the library.  Let your wife think that you have a mistress.  Trust me, it’s for the best.
• You probably have a day job, so shirk all your responsibilities and catch up on your readings.
• Buy Depends, they really work!

By: Christina Phan

 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), widely known as Obamacare was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. From the outset, the Act was widely unpopular and received much criticism. The Act has remained steadily unpopular. As recent as Monday, April 16, 2012, Rasmussen Reports noted that 56% of likely U.S. voters favored repeal of the legislation, while 37% are opposed to the repeal . 

A majority of the states, twenty-eight, have filed actions against the federal government to overturn portions of the law. Twenty-six of the states are filing under a joint action. The National Federation of Independent Business has also filed an action against the law. Twenty-nine states have worked to amend their constitution to nullify different components of Obamacare; thirteen states have worked to prohibit portions of the law from being implemented in their states. Statutory bans have already been enacted in two states. The core dispute is focused on the individual mandate portion of the law; these entities argue that the federal government does not have the constitutional authority to dictate such a mandate and that the mandate undermines the ideals of federalism.

 Every individual who does not have healthcare coverage, through an employer or government-sponsored insurance plan, is required to maintain minimal essential health insurance coverage. If the individual does not pay the base fee they face a penalty. There is an exemption due to religious beliefs and financial hardship. This provision is known as the ‘individual mandate.’. Congress argues that it has the authority to regulate the purchase of health insurance under the commerce clause–which enables them to regulate commerce . . .among the several states.”

However, as noted by Florida District Judge C. Roger Vinson, in his ruling that the individual mandate component of Obamacare was unconstitutional:

“Never before has Congress required that everyone buy a product from a private company (essentially for life) just for being alive and residing in the United States. If [the government] has the power to compel an otherwise passive individual into a transaction… it is not hyperbolic to suggest that Congress could do almost anything it wanted.”

Under Congress’ view, anything can fall under the guise of affecting commerce and therefore subject to regulation. Allowing Congress to dip their hand into every sector and component of society. If that were the case then the idea of federalism and state sovereignty would be worthless and moot issues because our national government would be able to argue interstate commerce in most every issue. The United States of America was not formed to have a large, wide-sweeping central government. The nation was built with the ideas of federalism—shared governing of both a central government and political units (e.g., states)—similar to our Federal Government with three branches of equal power.  Federalism allows the strengths of each entity to shine. One should not be able to bully another and force their hand or risk losing core support (e.g., federally funded Medicaid).

The ability of the states to govern themselves and make decisions for the citizens of their own community is a core idea within our society. Every state and community is different with different needs and expectations. Also, every state has different financial capabilities. Some states would be able to handle some sort of universal healthcare program (e.g., Massachusetts), while other states would not be able to financially bear a wide-sweeping healthcare program. Some state’s citizens may not even want it because they want the right to make decisions on their own lives, decide how to pay for healthcare themselves, and decide on the specific services and medication and surgeries that they want. The Government does not and should not have a right to make such a sweeping declaration on how all citizens should live their lives. The needs, desires and capabilities of each individual and each state is extremely different and should not fall under one umbrella and within a single formula. This is because it does not work. Even multinational conglomerates like Wal-Mart sell items customized to each region and regional needs and desires. Everyone is different and should not be placed into one general formula. When this occurs, no one is truly helped because their specific needs are not met.

Some individuals try to compare the Healthcare Individual Mandate with car insurance. However, these two types of insurances have very different basis. Most importantly driving is a privilege, living is a right. An individual can choose not to drive and simply take public transit or have another individual drive them. Here, anything related to healthcare is about an individual’s life and their right to dictate their body and their life and that of their own family. The individual mandate takes rights away from individuals to care and make decisions for themselves. Here, for example, individuals are no longer able to determine if they want to self-fund their healthcare. Car insurance is intended to help other drivers on the road and protect third parties. This healthcare program forces individuals to make specific decisions on their lives that they may not want. Individuals are more intelligent than the government gives them credit for, and they can and should be allowed to make decisions on how to spend their money, and decide on issues related to their health and life. Even if individuals are not intelligent, they still have a right to make their own decision.

Further, the market for healthcare insurers under Obamacare is limited; they reduced the number of carriers–providers must meet specific requirements and be a part of the buddy system or face high fees. Obamacare mandates all have coverage, but there are limited plans and options for people to pick from. So, it basically mandates a specific price that cannot truly be negotiated or changed. Also, there will be government run healthcare and the government retains the ability to make requirements on how other providers can act. This causes many issues on private company’s choices on how to run and expand their business. This is counter to freedom of choice and a free market with open competition. Of course, Obamacare allows subsidies for various reasons, which may seem acceptable, but will cost an astronomical amount of money for an already crippled and dying economy. The estimated cost of this Act is approximately $1.2 trillion, over ten years, in net spending, as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office.

Obamacare limits the profits of companies to approximately 15-20% revenue. The idea of hard work and development is thrown out the door. If individuals have limited growth capability they have no motivation to excel and meet their fullest potential. The benefits that these companies might be willing to give and the different competitive rates and desire for growth and expansion, will be hindered. Businesses will only work to meet the revenue maximum. This is also completely counter to the idea of hard work and compensation. Government jumping in and regulating the actions of individuals and private corporations is against the core foundation of our nation. Why work hard if everyone is generally capped and will end up being the same?

Obamacare requires insurance companies to give the same premiums to individuals in the same region and age, regardless of pre-existing conditions, including smoking. On the surface this sounds nice, however if insurance companies are forced to pay higher costs across the board for current issues they will be forced to increase costs for all of their customers to be able to offset the bills they must pay. This will cause many issues for the insured. As there will be limited carriers and limited options there will be no chance for individuals to move companies or truly negotiate lower prices. All of this will likely have a negative effect on the standard of living of individuals because of higher costs and less spending money on other aspects of life.

The individual mandate is an expansion of the federal government’s power that is improper. The federal government is bullying the states to accept specific conditions with threats of withholding federal funding in other important aspects that the states need. This is counter to the idea of federalism. The core of the United States of America was the idea of limited government, not expansion.

These are but a few of the issues to be considered related to Obamacare. There are many other different components and negative repercussions of this Act. Though the Supreme Court will focus more specifically on the Constitutional authority of Congress to pass such an Act, particularly the individual mandate, there are otherissues that the nation faces. Even if this is thrown down and invalidated as unconstitutional, as it should be, it seems pretty evident that the nation has some important questions to answer about the future of the country. For a President and Legislature to pass such a bill brings many questions on where we want our country to go. Do we want to allow these elected individuals to move our nation away from its foundation of limited government or allow movement into a more centralized government with limited states rights and the ability for the government to make widespread mandates and rules without true consideration of regional differences and individual desires. Beyond Obamacare, there are bigger issues at stake and that is: What is the vision for the future of our nation?

By: Camille Edwards

“What a long, strange trip it has been”—written in every high school yearbook ever printed.

Last night, I finished my last class as a 2L. It was just another night of Corporations with talk of fiduciary duty and corporate responsibility. When I walked out of the LRC, I was happy but also scared. Finals are coming, and then I will be a 3L, after which I will have to pass the bar. These last years have flown by.

My second year, in many ways, has been better than my first year, but in other ways, it has been harder.

The second year was great because I could work and choose the professors and classes that I liked. I like internships because I learn best by doing, and I get to learn and try things I would never get to in a classroom. I have met some amazing people and done work I am very proud. I also have a much better living situation. In the first year, I came to San Diego a few days before classes started, and I had to find a roommate right away on Craigslist. I lived with two non-law students, and they did not always understand that I would need to have quiet time to study. Now, I live with a fellow law student, and she is a great and respectful roommate. We are both boring and go to bed at a reasonable hour, and she never fights with her boyfriend at 2:00 a.m. before I have a final in the morning, so everything is just great.

The second year was even more stressful in many ways. Trying to balance work with class has been a challenge made only more challenging by the added stress and time drain from extracurricular activities. I also had an unfortunate accident and had to spend half of fall semester with my right wrist in a cast—no, it was not a softball injury; although, that appears to be the leading cause of injury in law school. The injury made writing papers and outlining much harder. However, I persevered, still finished a successful semester, and landed my dream job for the summer, while in the cast.

I now have an excellent internship for the summer in San Jose. Hopefully, this internship turns into a job offer, so I can get paid to do what I love long-term.

Although I love living in San Diego, I have already accepted that I may not end up here long-term. But, I plan to make the most of the rest of my time here and have a kick-ass third year. I am also applying for the joint JD/LLM program, to complete an LLM in one extra semester. So, I am very excited about my prospects.

I look forward to a productive and exciting future!

By: Sam Laughlin

Once a year, the sound of marching boots echoes across the Gaslamp District of San Diego as the uproar of over 100,000 pilgrims cross Market Street.  At the peak of every summer, in the midst of July, the downtown hotels and hostels swell, the trolleys overload, and the sight of stormtroopers, superheroes, robots, and people so bizarre they fail description becomes commonplace.  This is the sight of downtown San Diego during the event known as Comic-Con International.

On July 11, the San Diego Convention Center will open its doors for the 42nd annual event that showcases the latest in pop-culture entertainment from around the world.  Attendance has ballooned over the years to over 130,000 costumed fans and curious on-lookers.

The crowds invading the convention center have become such an issue for San Diego that, several times in the last decade, Comic-Con threatened to relocate to Los Angeles or Anaheim.  Several planned expansions to the convention center (and a proposed $520 million dollar expansion to the seafront district), however, have ensured a deal for the convention to remain in San Diego until at least 2015.

A mistake many hold concerning Comic-Con is that the convention is all about comics.  While Comic-Con, originally held in the US Grant Hotel, was created in 1970 to bring together comic fans and comic artists, the convention has grown into a more varied form of trade-show for the entire entertainment industry appealing to a wide variety of guests from the nerdiest Star Wars fan to the most casual television viewer.  In fact, the convention has considered changing the name several times over the years, but due to the brand recognition of “Comic-Con,” the name has stuck.

The actual “comic” section of Comic-Con is quite small, dominated mostly by large booths for the major comic companies, Marvel and DC.  Most true comic fans head to the small corner of the convention floor known as “artist ally,” where a small number of tables house the few comic artists that faithfully appear every year to sign autographs and sketch drawings for fans.

The rest of the 615,701-square-foot convention building (and spilling over into the neighboring hotel lobbies) houses video game demonstrations, glass cases holding movie props, celebrities signing autographs, band performances, and panels for upcoming major feature films and television shows, these being the most popular and crowded areas of the convention. 

This summer features exhibits and panels for upcoming comic film releases such as The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man while also featuring panels for the new Twilight movie, the new Pixar film Brave, and literally any sitcom currently on television from The Big Bang Theory to Two and a Half Men.

Walking the floors of the convention center is an exhilarating but also frighteningly frustrating endeavor.  Comic-Con’s most fascinating experience is the truly surreal walk from one end of the convention to the other, passing thousands of fans in costumes ranging from cheap Halloween costume quality to the professionally crafted, mechanically functioning, and frighteningly real.  You can spot dozens of Batmen, Darth Vaders, Wolverines, and characters from media so obscure and so random, you would never know what the person is (and since many fans remain “in character,” you may never find out).

But the experience is also a taxing one, as the number of people all crowded into a single enclosed space, all dressed in layers of leather and rubber, and all during the peak of summer creates an environment of exhaustion, frustration, and…smell.  Finding the right room for the right panel for the right movie or show can become a detective mystery in itself.  The amount of confusion and chaos concerning ticket procedures, VIP areas, and even the right door to enter can vex even the most hardcore Comic-Con veteran. 

In fact, this Motions reporter has found the best way to enjoy the convention can also be the easiest: plopping down at a Gaslamp District bar and gazing at the weird and the bizarre as it passes by the front door.  This way, one can enjoy a beer in the process.  And air conditioning.

By: Christina Phan

I was born and raised in southern California. This has been my home for my entire life. This is the world that I love and will always be a part of my heart. However, I have decided that after I graduate from law school I will be moving out of state. I will be leaving everything I know and trying something else with my life. I do not know if I will ever be back home to southern California or if I will return after just a few months.

However, I do know that I will miss home immensely. San Diego has been my home for the past three years and I truly love this place. If I ever return to California, San Diego will definitely be at the top of my list of places to live.

I will miss many different aspects of San Diego.

 Something for Everyone: I will miss the fact that San Diego is the perfect place for any personality. There is just enough of everything to make everyone happy and to meet the desires of a multifaceted individual. There many communities within San Diego, it has a city vibe, suburban communities, beach-goers, hipsters, preppy people, mountain-lovers, desert people, and others. Whether you want to watch a Tony Award winning musical, watch some Football or go dirt-biking, go to a wine lounge, go to the Farmer’s market, or just sit at home to relax and watch fireworks at SeaWorld, there is something for everyone. I will miss being able to experience everything that makes me happy.

 Coronado Island: I love this little place with its patriotic inhabitants and many U.S. flags waving in the air. I used to love coming out to the island and getting lost in the different neighborhoods and taking pictures of the cute little houses and the incredible landscape with beautiful flowers and trees. I also loved the little pubs and burger joints around the island, especially the pubs that are heavily inhabited by Navy Seals.

 Beach: I will miss randomly going to the beach at 1:00 in the morning and just walking around enjoying the sea breeze or dancing around and playing. I will miss the different types of beaches with different vibes and bars, clubs and shops to fit the needs of any beach-loving spirit.

 Driving: I will miss the fact that you can get to just about anywhere in San Diego in about 15 minutes. I used to love just driving around with buddies and getting lost. Many times we would end up at the beach. I loved getting lost and driving out to Sunset Cliffs or going out to dark back roads. Of course, the back roads were scary and I was sure I would be murdered and killed, but really it was truly funny and the likelihood of getting killed was extremely limited.

 Clothing Attire: My favorite aspect about San Diego was being able to wear dresses, skirts and shorts in January. While so much of the nation was suffering from winter and epic coldness, I was enjoying life and able to go out to the beach. I used to love being cruel and sending pretty pictures of me hiking or at the beach or walking along the harbor in summer-wear while many of my friends were whining and crying about horribly cold weather.

 Harbor: I will miss the San Diego harbor and randomly walking along and enjoying the serenity of life in San Diego. I loved going out to the harbor for lunch while I worked in downtown San Diego. I would grab a sandwich or burrito walk out to the harbor and just sit by the ships and just look out to the ocean and enjoy.

 Sunsets: Sunsets over the California oceans is one of the most incredible things in the world. These sunsets almost rival west Texas sunsets in beauty and scope. I love watched the sun hitting the ocean and just seeing the different colors dancing across the sky. Sunset Cliffs is one of the most incredible places in the world.

 Adventureland: I love that fact that San Diego is such an outdoor community. Anything I would like to experience here is within easy distance. I have always wanted to go skydiving and could never find anyone to go with. One day, I had a day off from work and was able to randomly go skydiving. San Diego is so beautiful and as I was slowly parachuting down I could see the vast expanse of this community: ocean, mountains, desert, open-land. It was beautiful. I love being able to randomly go kayaking or paragliding or going out to the desert and go biking (even though I do not bike) or hiking trails or jogging paths. It is also close distance to the mountains to go skiing. This is the perfect place for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Concerts: I love that San Diego is a big enough hub to have some of the biggest and best musicians come and perform. Crickets Wireless Amphitheater is a fantastic outdoor venue and the best place to have tailgating parties, meet cool random people, and enjoy live music at reasonable prices. During my time here in San Diego, Crickets has been like a second home to me. I find myself always down there enjoying some of the world’s best musicians.

 Rooftop Lounges: There is no better experience than the year-round San Diego rooftop lounges. No additional comments needed, this speaks for itself. Big Love.

 La Jolla:  I love this place. It is beautiful and picturesque. The houses are gorgeous, the ocean is stunning. There are seals. You can kayak with the sharks. Go paragliding. You can sit out at a park, barbeque and look out at the ocean. I love walking around and checking out the cute boutiques. Salsa dancing! Marriott Hotel has free salsa dancing lessons and a great opportunity to use your skill sets and meet new people. This is one of the best cities out there.

 Military Community: I love the Military. I love all the military related events and being able to support our troops. I love the military air shows and flyovers. There are so many opportunities to be actively involved with and interact with members of the United States military and their families. San Diego is such an incredible and supportive community. This is probably one of my favorite aspects about San Diego and something I will truly miss.

 I love southern California with all my heart and I will miss so many things about this place. I will truly miss San Diego and this world. No matter where I go, I will always be a southern California girl at heart and San Diego will always have my love.

 By: Laura Patrick

 After weeks of hearing the taunting and competitive jabs going back and forth between my law school friends who attended weekly trivia nights down at Guava Beach, I finally decided to check out this mysterious trivia madness. Going in I didn’t feel intimidated because I had a team ready to go and a group of other friends to keep me company until my teammates got there. While I waited at an empty table for my missing teammates, I flagged down the waitress and asked for the strongest, cheapest drink she had. She brought over a long island ice tea and I felt like the night was off to a nice start. I scanned the bar, taking in the atmosphere and the other teams. Guava boasts a kind of beachy, local bar feel and says they are known for their food, which features “an eclectic mix of American Classics with a South of the Border flare.” Since I hadn’t eaten all day I decided to order some carne asada quesadillas. While they were delicious, I only ate one little sliver so that I could fit more alcohol into my body. I tend to become more knowledgeable when I’m drunk (isn’t there some kind of theory about drunk recall??), so I didn’t want to ruin the chances of my inevitable victory with too much food.

As I sat at the table sipping my Long Island, I was both starting to worry about my missing teammates and getting slightly tipsy. With only minutes to spare before the game was to begin, I started to panic. I didn’t even know the rules of the game, or how to make sure our name was in the pool of those playing. I didn’t want to get up and ask the guy with the mic, because people were circling my table with eyes of a hawk. To handle the situation I began drinking my Long Island faster and faster, and then ordered another. I may not have a team, but like the life saving long island I was drinking, I could go this alone. A one-woman island of facts. I would beat them all single-handedly. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t forced to go it alone, because an angel was sent from heaven in the form of my friend Shelby. She wasn’t part of the original team but her bright blond locks and batting eyelashes made her a beautiful beacon of hope. I forced her to sit at my table and dubbed us team “the hot blondes.” As I wrote our names on the piece of paper, I was using the old one eye squint to make the letters I wrote stay still. As we struggled through the first couple of questions, three fine gentlemen behind us asked us to be part of their team.  I looked at Shelby, who gave me an inquisitive stare, and said to the young gentlemen, “Yeah… sure, why the hell not.” Once we were in the safe arms of these random trivia strangers, there was full license to drink as much as possible. So I ordered another Long Island.

After a few more questions, I caught the gaze of a stranger on a different team. He was smiling at me, but it was hard to be sure through the fuzzy lens of booze. At second glance however, he looked mad. Maybe it was the liquor or maybe it was the tense atmosphere, but I gave him an equally mad seeming stare. He promptly stood up and screamed CHEATER in my face. Cheater??? EXCCUSE MOI?? Confused and wobbly I yelled back at him “NO!” He then pointed to a random patron sitting several seats behind us who was on his cell phone and said “They have six people on their team and he’s on his cell phone!” To which I screamed “no… we don’t know that person….that cell phone person!!! NO not him!” Luckily the bouncer settled the situation, but as I struggled to stay on top of my poorly designed stool (poorly designed for anyone who likes a stiff drink) all I could think was that that guy WAS GOING DOWN. It was about this time that our team won a bonus question and we got a free shot. And it was delicious. It tasted like what Christmas morning and happy would taste like. The next round we won another bonus question. We got another shot, which tasted like snake juice mixed with a sunny day. Shelby and I were riding high with a great team and a wonderful flow of Guava’s finest shots and Long Islands. According to one of our teammates, we were winning too. Life was good. Except for that guy at the other table. Oh how I hated that guy.

Then it came time for the face recognition part of the game. Shelby and I knew we would rise to the occasion for our team. We would make it happen, because they deserved it… those wonderful knights in shining armor. I don’t read thousands of People magazines a year for nothing. We blew it out of the water and got yet another bonus shot. This one tasted like fulfilled dreams and Scope. We were on the road to victory. I threw my stool aside, as it was obviously trying to kill me. For the final round, I leaned into Shelby, because my legs no longer worked as support. The three guys who asked us to join them looked to us for answers, but considering my chair was a murderer and the guy on the other team was still at the bar, we had bigger fish to fry.

After another Long Island, I stared down the “cheater” screaming a-hole from the other team. Shelby had also made a new friend and had apparently checked out of the whole situation. Our teammates turned in the final answers. I didn’t know what was on that peace of paper, but I knew it was magical… and apparently it was, because we WON. VICTORY!! Since our team name was “F%&$ Your Couch,” I screamed it in the face of whoever was closest. I made sure to scream it extra loud in the a-hole’s face for super emphasis.

Overall, Guava cheap is fun. They have BOOZE. If you find nice strangers they will win trivia games for you. I love Guava.

By: Jean Wakefield

Fun’s sugary-sweet sophomore release, Some Nights, lacks the indie-rock charm of their first release, Aim and Ignite.  Some Nights capitalizes on the quirky, imaginative elements of Aim and Ignite, but takes them to their irritating extreme in this over-produced, highly theatrical follow-up.  Lead singer, Nate Ruess, (formerly of The Format) sounds like a caricature of his old self, oozing with an enthusiasm and exuberance that contributes to the over-the-top impression Some Nights leaves. 

In 2008, Ruess blogged about an attack on the music industry, accusing his former record label of forcing The Format to tweak their music in order to sell more singles.  With this manifesto under his belt, he left The Format (and his label) to form Fun., a project he hoped would allow him more creativity and flexibility in his music.  Rounding up the lineup are Andrew Dost (formerly of Anathallo) and Jack Antonoff (formerly of Steel Train), both indie-rock veterans.  Ironically, the band signed with another major label and teamed up with producer Jeff Bhasker, who has previously worked with sellouts like Kanye West, Beyonce and Bruno Mars.

There is a lot of auto-tuning on this album, but it works for two reasons.  First, anyone who has ever listened to The Format can attest to the fact that Nate Ruess has remarkable vocal talent, and doesn’t need any help reaching high notes.  Second, auto-tune isn’t being used here to keep some talentless teenager’s voice on key, but rather it’s used in a way that adds more layers and texture to the music.  The technique is particularly effective in “Stars,” where the digitized vocals are contrasted with a simple string section to create a dark, twisted fantastical end to the album.  Indeed, Fun. managed to turn the dreaded auto-tuner into an instrument itself.

Some Nights opens with an applause and an intro fit for a Broadway musical, setting the tone for the rest of the album.  Ruess’ quiet vocals and a lone piano crescendo as opera singers and choruses join in the background, climaxing with thundering tympanis and a full orchestra, and then softly fading away.

The title track is an explosive call to arms: “This is it boys, this is war / What are we waiting for?”  It touches on one of the main themes of the album: finding yourself.  Throughout the song, Ruess repeatedly asks: “What do I stand for?” although I’m not sure he’s found the answer yet. 

While not the strongest track on the album, “We are Young” is maddeningly catchy, making it the perfect choice for the first single.  (If you haven’t heard it yet, just turn on the radio.)  The track has already made digital sales history as the first, and only song to date, to gain over 300,000 downloads a week for six straight weeks.  As if that’s not enough, “We are Young” has also been featured on Glee and a Chevrolet commercial. 

“Carry On” is a surprisingly uplifting ballad with some Celtic undertones in which Ruess urges listeners to overcome hopelessness: “If you’re lost and alone / Or you’re sinking like a stone / Carry on.”  There’s also a great acoustic performance of this song online.

The second half of the album alternates between jarring and boring, and nowhere is Bhasker’s influence more apparent (and more out of place) than in “One Foot” and “All Alone,” with their quasi-hip hop beats and poppy hooks.  In true hip hop fashion, these beats are simple and static, and lack Fun.’s dynamic originality.

Some Nights unsuccessfully toes the line between indie-pop and Radio Disney.  Although the band is ripe with talent and creativity, the album focuses more on production and catchy hooks than on the music itself.  Regardless, the band still manages to achieve what it promises: Fun.

Europe, Former USSR

Arrest and unlawful detainment of three members of a female Russian punk group called Pussy Riot has raised concerns about freedom of speech and the growing influence of the Orthodox Church over the Russian political scene. The group formed in October 2011 to promote women’s rights and political freedoms in Russia. Its 30 members all maintain strict anonymity due to fear of prosecution. On February 21, 2012, Pussy Riot performed a punk-prayer asking Virgin Mary to chase Putin—soon to be elected for his third presidential term—away while standing on the altar of one of Moscow’s largest cathedrals. The Russian Orthodox Church pressed the court to charge the women with “hooliganism,” a crime under the Russian Criminal Code with a penalty of up to seven years in prison. On April 19, 2012, the court refused to release Pussy Riot members from jail until preliminary investigations finish in mid-June.   By Nika Antonikova

Africa, Angola

In Angola, on March 10, 2012 police officers armed with pistols and water cannons were deployed with dog squads around Benguela to quell a mere 60 protesters. In the recent days leading up to the elections, there was another series of violent crackdowns on protestors. Since early December 2011, the anti-incumbent protesters have faced increasing levels of violence and arrests followed by prison sentences for participating in peaceful rallies and civil demonstrations. From dispersing crowds while armed with assault rifles to threatening reporters and activists, police tactics continue to jeopardize free speech and civic involvement in Angola.   By Laurel Holmes

North America, United States

The Latino Policy Coalition has filed an official complaint with the United Nations alleging human rights violations by the U.S. government. The complaint highlights the fact that in 2011, 46,000 parents of U.S. citizen children were deported, leaving the children to be put into foster care custody or up for adoption. The complaint states that the actions of the U.S. have shattered families and separated children from their parents. The complaint asks the United Nations to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus requiring President Obama to compile a list of children separated from their parents and to issue an executive order to end the practice.

By Andrew Hamilton

Oceania, Fiji

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a body made up of nine countries that deals with violations of the Harare Declaration, met to discuss Fiji’s interim government led by Frank Bainimarama. Fiji remains suspended from CMAG because the group concluded that the country does not have adequate elections and has not addressed pressing human rights issues. Although the Fijian government announced a plan to implement an inclusive, transparent, and honest election by September 2014, the group expressed concern that Fijians do not have adequate access to justice and are refused basic freedoms.   By Katherine Pruitt

Middle East, Syria

In the past year, the President of Syria and the King of Bahrain dealt with major political uprisings in their respective States using brutal force. Both regimes systematically tortured, killed, and detained members of the opposition and banned journalists from entering the country to report. Due to the geo-political nature of the uprisings, one has garnished western support including Security Council Resolutions to address the matter, while the other has been silently suppressed, with almost no support by U.S. politicians or foreign media. In Syria, the ruling party is of the Shiite sect of Islam, which makes up only 13% of the population, while the rest of the population is of the Sunni sect. Conversely, in Bahrain, 75% of the population is Shiite and 25% is Sunni, including the ruling Monarchy. The U.S. is currently in dire straits with Iran over its nuclear program. As the dominant majority Shiite nation in the region, Iran is seen as an ally of Syria’s ruling party and a supporter of Bahrain’s Shiite uprising. With Bahrain being of strategic military importance to the U.S., one is left to wonder whether U.S. government support of human rights in the region is secondary to its geo-political interests.   By Kian Meshkat

Asia, North Korea

April 15th marked the “Day of the Sun,” the 100th birthday of Kim Il-sung—late founder of North Korea and grandfather of current Supreme Leader Kim Jung-Un—and the day North Korea was to become a “strong and prosperous nation.” Human rights organizations took advantage of the press associated with the militaristic holiday to illuminate the state’s egregious human rights record by petitioning to the U.N. to investigate the Kwan-li-so, the North Korean gulag system. Approximately 200,000 alleged political dissenters along with three generations of their relatives are detained and face rape, torture, and extra-judicial killings. Prisoners are forced to work under dangerous conditions on rations reportedly as low as 20 grains of corn per day with no medical care. The prisons caused an estimated 400,000 prisoners to die over the past few decades.   By Evan Hearnsberger

North America, Mexico

Human Rights Watch released a 212-page report detailing “widespread human rights violations” in Mexico by the military and police through their participation in the Mexican “war on drugs.” After being elected in 2006, President Felipe Calderon declared “war” on organized crime. The report claims Calderon’s “war” is perpetuating violence and criminal activity. According to Human Rights Watch America’s director Jose Miguel Vivanco, “Mexico’s ‘war on drugs’ has resulted in a dramatic increase in killings, torture, and other appalling abuses by security forces.” The report claims to have evidence linking security forces to over 170 cases of torture, 24 extrajudicial killings, and 39 “disappearances.” The human rights violations have largely been overlooked, primarily due to a lack of civilian prosecution. “These abuses are almost never adequately investigated, yet government officials routinely dismiss the victims as criminal and discount their allegations as false,” says Vivanco. The report was presented earlier this month to Calderon, members of Mexico’s Congress, and the Supreme Court in an effort to end the egregious human rights violations.   By Laura Patrick