What I am doing at work: Well, I just started, so the answer is, not much. The first day or so was a lot of paperwork and setting my computer and whatnot. My first case is an immigration case that looks pretty easy. I have a feeling that the toughest part, at least initially, is going to be losing all the habits I picked up at my old job. There are a lot of similarities, of course, but plenty of little things are different. For example, here we have a Big Mac, but we call it a Le Big Mac, and we call a Quarter Pounder a Royale with Cheese. Actually, it's things like whether to italicize or underline, stylistic stuff like that, or different conventions within the office. Nothing major. But I really don't want to be that guy who's always saying, "Well, in my old circuit...."

But I think it's going to be a good experience. The judge is nice, and seems to be approachable and personable. But he's also going to let us do our work without constantly checking in. For example, the other day I only saw him when he passed in the hall. The other clerks are nice, and I think we're all going to get along well, which is important. Anyway, very little to report on that front, so I'll keep you updated as I can.

What I am doing at home: I've already mentioned the internet hassle. Other than that, I'm still unpacking and figuring out where I want everything. I'm still living out of boxes and unpacking things like pots and pans as I need them. Plus, I'm trying to find my way around the city. In a perfect world, I'd be going out and having fun and meeting people, but, well, you know me. I wish I could say that I was catching up on about three weeks' worth of blog-reading, but computer issues prevent that. So, goodbye productivity at work and hello more tv-watching!

What I am reading: I started reading The 9/11 Report, and found it very interesting, both in its description of what happened that day and also what led to it. I haven't gotten to the "what's next" part yet, and I've gotten distracted by other things. (One minor complaint: To save a few bucks, I bought the smaller paperback version, only to find out later it doesn't include the footnotes, which is a bummer.) Also, a few days ago, Fitz said in passing that he's glad he's not in Darfur. I responded, "What's Darfur?" He thought I was kidding, but I was really that out of it. The next day, I turned the page in a recent New Yorker I had been thumbing through, and saw this article about the situation there. (If you're as clueless as I was, the basic deal is that Darfur is a region in Sudan where the government is pursuing a program of ethnic cleansing.) I also read an interesting law review article last week that I might try to make a post out of.

What I am listening to: As you might notice from the new masthead quote, a little Weezer. As you might notice from the title of this post, a little Warren Zevon. Also, I'm trying to figure out which local radio station I want to be my usual station here. It's a pretty good radio town. There are two classic rock stations, an '80s station, an oldies station, plus two public stations (one NPR/classical and one independent with a more eclectic mix). They all have their pluses and minuses, but I've noticed a couple of things. First, the classic rock stations apparently hate each other. I've heard competing radio stations advertise with stuff like "Springfield's REAL country radio" or the like. But here, they call each other out: "None of that wimpy [other station] music, this is [city's] real classic rock." Hard core. The other funny thing is the playlists these places have. For example, in my old city, the big classic rock station played Bruce Springsteen about ten times a day. Here, I don't hear him at all. I'm not the world's biggest Bruce fan, but it's hard to call youself a classic rock station if you never play his songs.

What I am watching: Way too much tv. I finally got cable after a week here without it, and I'm making up for lost time. Plus, I have DVR now, so I can record whatever I want and I have picture-in-picture and oh my it's a television orgasm. As for specific items, I watched Gerry, an odd Gus Van Sant move with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. The story: two guys go hiking in Death Valley and get lost. That's it. I also watched two old favorites: Grosse Pointe Blank ("Ten years!!") and Groundhog Day, a modern classic. Oh, and for my money, last night's season finale of Six Feet Under was the one of the series's best episodes ever.

What I am thinking about: The bar examination. One of my co-clerks is waiting to hear any day about the bar, and another will hear soon. In the back of my mind, I have little mini-panic attacks when I think I might have to take another, depending on my future employment. Sherry has had a few (more) words to say about the bar lately, and I saw Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson add a few thoughts in her "20 Questions" interview on How Appealing. Justice Abrahamson discusses (question #9) Wisconsin's "diploma privilege," of which I was unfamiliar. Graduates of the state's two accredited law schools don't have to take the bar. I hereby go on record in support of this idea. It wouldn't work in a big state with lots of lawyers and law schools, but it sounds like it works fine in a state like Wisconsin, and would probably work just as well in other smallish states. To take Sherry for example, she graduated at the top of her class at the Maine law school; if that's not good enough for the state bar, why have a law school at all?

What I am not thinking about: My next job. I need to be looking, and I do indeed have a few ideas of places to apply. But I haven't done the serious thinking about this job search that I ought to be undertaking. Also, in case you're looking for more political thoughts here, keep looking. I should probably try to be less overtly partisan anyway (although I think I've been pretty critical of both candidates). But thinking about the way one of the candidates has run his campaign makes me too sick and angry to form coherent responses, so it wouldn't do any of us much good.

Peeve of the Week: See my immediately prior post about Verizon. That's sort of swamping all other minor hassles right now.

Shout-Out: I have been so behind in my reading that I don't really have anything to add here. But I do want to mention that in less than a week, guest-blogger and frequent commenter Sebastian will be a married man. I'll be attending (and participating in to some degree) the wedding this weekend, and I'll report anything fit for blogging. (And if Seb wants to post about any pre-wedding issues, I'm sure we'd all welcome his thoughts on the noble institution.) So congrats to my man for finding the love of his life. It's truly a Lyle Lovett/Julia Roberts pairing, although I'm certain Seb's union will last much longer. The best to both of them, from all of us here at BTQ.