#also while job hunting between undergrad and law school

[kaurwreck]

scrolling down your blog is like,,, enrichment. i’ve been too exhausted to read anything for months (idk why, i just sit at home and do chores and wait for application results) but DANG are you motivating me. also dostoyevskys brand of psychoanalysis in his novels is weird at face value, but if you read one of his novels MY GOD does it come together like lightning in a storm. have you ever read tolstoy?

This is going to reflect so badly on me, but my aversion to Dostoevsky is less that I thought it might be weird, and more that I grew up around addicts and convicts and those who lived when they should've died thrice over and the philosophies born thereof, so I dismissed that there could be any further insight left for me in the valleys. But in reading Dostoevsky in the Face of Death and Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics, I was reminded that my own rabidity can't be divorced from addicts and convicts and those who lived when they should've died thrice over and the philosophies born thereof, and that there's wisdom in viscera.

I have not read Tolstoy, but from what I've heard, he's polished and layered and intentional, so I would probably enjoy him immensely.

Also, I'm not sure what application results you're waiting for, but waiting where there's any tension is taxing. It will wring you dry; it's impressive enough that you're maintaining chores. I'm glad I can help provide enrichment and motivation in the meantime, but while it may not feel like you're doing much, neither was Atlas by that same logic— all he had to do, after all, was stand around and carry the weight of the world.

[nyullm2020]

How to Crush Law School Exams as an LL.M.

Hello again!

It’s been a minute. I’ve just had a well-deserved break after finishing my finals, where I managed to get a bit of sun in Florida and Puerto Rico.

It’s been a running start into my final semester of the LL.M. - and I can’t quite believe how fast this has all gone. I have a lot of content ideas coming up about everything I will be doing this semester, including juggling my internship at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, a Research Assistantship with an NYU Law Professor, the March Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) for the Bar, a full load of classes, and job hunting/networking - but first things first. I wanted to reflect on last semester’s exams, final papers and overall grades, and think about what I did well, and what I would change!

What are American law school exams like?

I’ll start by giving you an idea of the format of exams to give you an idea of the general approach, and hopefully take away some of the anxieties you as a future LL.M. might have.

There is no uniform exam or grading type for each and every course. American law school professors have a lot of discretion about how they will structure and assess their courses - including what mode of exam you will take (multiple choice, short answers, long problem question responses, policy-based essays, etc), or a final paper, and whether and to what extent class participation counts toward the grade. My assessments ran the gamut. In one class, I had a group assignment worth 30%, a 5,000 word final paper worth 60%, and 10% class participation, and in two others my final exam was worth 100%, with the professor’s discretion to slightly boost your grade based on your overall participation and contribution to the class. My Constitutional Interpretation seminar was 50% class participation, and 50% based on regular pieces of written work we handed in, including a final paper of 2,000 words.

Exams typically last between 2-4 hours, while take-homes take 3-8 hours (I haven’t had a take-home yet, but I will have a 12 hour take-home this semester). We all took our exams from home with a special software (Exam4 or the law school’s own exam software, THESS). Both my exams this semester allowed students to use any notes they wanted, and you could access the internet as well. The main problem with doing that is running out of time! So creating an organized outline of your notes and brainstorming essay ideas ahead of time is pretty crucial.

How do Professors grade? And what is a good grade?

Professors seem to have pretty broad discretion when it comes to grading - and definitely so when I think about Australian law school professors, who grade ‘blindly’ and never know who is behind the student number unless they look it up later, or are awarding prizes for the top students. The possible grades at NYU range from an F to an A+, as follows:

A+, 4.333; A, 4.000; A-, 3.667; B+, 3.333; B, 3.000; B-, 2.667; C, 2.000; D, 1.000 and F, 0.000.

No more than 2% of students can get an A+ in a given class, with a target of 1%. I am proud to say I was the only A+ student in one of my classes - yay! A huge personal achievement for me, and so I will brag a little here because I don’t want to be lame and brag in real life!

About 10% of people get As, and another 20% get A-s, and about 26% of people get B grades (B+, B, or B-). B- and C grades are actually pretty rare, so in all likelihood you will likely end up with an A or B grade of some sort!

It’s kind of hard to work out what ‘good’ grades/a strong GPA are for job applications, but from what I’ve gleaned, in an ideal world you would have all A level grades, or maybe one B+. Personally, my grades were an A+, 2 A- grades and a B+. This gave me a GPA of around 3.8, which is definitely decent for job applications. 

Your chances to get the high grades will depend a big deal on your competition - in the core doctrinal courses (like Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Evidence, Corporations Law, and so on) and in classes of the really famous professors, JD competition is intense. I definitely didn’t make it easy for myself with my classes, and I was usually the only, or one of two, LLMs, along with pretty ambitious JDs (often from elite undergrad schools) aiming for judicial clerkships or other prestigious jobs. Many LLMs have usually been working hard enough back home, and work hard enough to get decent grades, but leave enough time to relax and enjoy themselves. I would say my approach was mixed - I knew I needed to work hard enough to get good grades to make me a strong candidate for job applications in the US, but I also had plenty of fun. 😄 Just less fun around exam time!

On reflection, my top tips for doing well in your classes and exams would be:

1) Play to your strengths

At the time you select your classes, you’ll be able to see what the format of the assessment is - long paper, exam, practical assessments (like in a clinic or simulation course), etc. My top advice would be to think about your strengths when picking classes. 

I have always been much better at hand-in assignments, and my one A+ grade was from handing in a long paper. My lowest grade (a B+) was from a very time-pressured exam that I wasn’t happy with how I handled the timing. So - if you know you are much better at one type of assessment, make sure you are considering this when picking classes to pave the way for great grades, especially if you are relying on your grades for finding a new job or for a JSD application.

2) Understand your professor’s idiosyncratic preferences

When it comes to law school exams, the key to succeeding is really knowing who’s grading them. Some professors prefer you to be ‘quick and dirty’ and to really jump into the key issues and answers, while others prefer a more formalistic recitation of the rules and then a close application of the rules to the facts. Pay attention to how they explain what they want, pore over any model answers and exam keys they give you, be familiar with the way they write problems, and ideally hunt down past students’ papers with comments or overall feedback from the professor (if you know anyone that took the class before).

3) Make study enjoyable and social

Even in these COVID times, I really benefited from spending time at the library studying with LL.M. friends, and broke up study sessions with coffee hangs, lunches, and going to see the Christmas lights. Your friends will keep you sane and motivated, so don’t hide yourself away for the whole month or more!

Friends! A well-deserved dinner break in December a week or two before finals.

4) Argue both sides of legal issues you spot

This is something that is really emphasized by NYU professors. A good lawyer can, when identifying a legal issue, show how it is a weak point in a plaintiff’s claim or in a defendant’s defense, and then demonstrate how both sides could argue their case. The best answers don’t ‘fence sit’, but come to a reasoned judgment/prediction about which side of the argument is stronger.

5) Be precise and concise

You should try not to include unrelated material in your answer as this could backfire if your professor believes you struggle to separate relevant material from irrelevant material. One of my professors was clear ahead of time and said he did not appreciate an ‘info dump’ and graded accordingly, but I think this is true of all professors.

6) Be *really* aware of your timing

I can’t stress this enough. Effective time management is imperative on law school exams. My Evidence exam was so unbelievably time-pressured (27 short-answer questions in 3 hours = less than 7 minutes per question to read a few sentences-long question and answer it), and I did not handle this as well as I could have, affecting my grade. Make sure to be really aware of this and try to be strict with yourself so you don’t leave any questions untouched.

7) Remember public policy concerns

After applying the legal rules to the issues presented in your fact pattern, if time allows, include a sentence or two about the policy implications of your conclusions, or how your chosen approach fits best with the policy rationale underpinning the legal rule. This is something that is valued more in US law schools than my law school back home. Not critical, but definitely something that could boost your grade a little!

8) Just try your best, and don’t be too hard on yourself

We have all worked hard to be here, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. English might not be your first language, you might struggle with exams, or it might just not be the best day you’ve ever had. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of either not understanding the issues presented in a question, or not remembering the rules related to such issues, just do your best to write the best possible answer in the time limit. 

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!

[princess-of-the-worlds]

The Beginning

Looking for a stucky lawyers!au with no actual plot in mind? You’ve found it. Based on a conversation with my beloved friend @marleymortis.

ao3 link: here

word count: 1461

warnings: none

summary: Fresh outta law school, Steve is having a tough time finding work. Then Natasha makes a crazy suggestion that may not actually be that crazy at all. She thinks that Steve should talk to his self-declared nemesis James Barnes, and Steve decides that he might as well. Not like his luck could get any better, right?

It’s the end of a long, hard week full of disappointments and rejections, and Steve’s never felt so low since the first time he took the LSAT – he passed, but you never know with those things. Three months after he graduated from law school, he’s working in an art store a few blocks from the apartment he shares with his best friends Sam and Sharon while his classmates and friends from Columbia have found jobs at fancy Manhattan law firms.

Case in point: Natasha, who sits before him in a Starbucks, listening to him ramble about his week. Red Room Law grabbed her right after graduation, and judging by the shiny new Louboutins that shift as she crosses her legs, she’s doing pretty well there.

“So,” Natasha says, leaning forward to pick at the straw of her mocha frappuccino, “you’re telling me that not a single law firm that you applied to accepted. Didn’t even give you an interview?” She raises a skeptical eyebrow. “You, with your 3.8 GPA and resume longer than my arm?”

Steve, squeezing his own empty Starbucks cup, flushes. “It’s not that,” he states, fumbling for the words to explain his predicament. “Look. Out of the fifty or so firms I applied to, only a few called me back for an interview. I don’t want to work for the ones who did.” When Natasha opens her mouth to interject, he stubbornly bulldozes on. “Come on, Natasha. Landman and Zack is run by two corrupt partners who clearly don’t care about their clients. Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz had that sex scandal that forced Jeri Hogarth out. I don’t want to work for firms like that.”

Natasha hums thoughtfully as she taps her fingers on the table, her painted nails clacking against the wooden surface. “Oddly or not, you aren’t the only one I’ve spoken to today who’s having similar problems.” She reaches for her cup and takes a long sip.

“Really?” Steve asks, intrigued, wondering who else of their classmates could be having a similar experience finding a job.

“You might be pleased to hear this,” she begins, pushing her now-empty cup away from her, “but it’s James.”

Immediately, Steve’s brain plays a montage reel of all the times that James Barnes has tormented him, starting from freshman year of undergrad and running up to just a few months ago. “Hey,” he says, slightly insulted, “just because Barnes and I have had a few disagreements-”

“A few?” she says with a faintly amused expression. “Try a long-running rivalry.”

“Okay, fine. Just because Barnes and I can’t agree on anything ever, that still doesn’t mean that I would wish my rejection rate on anyone.” He frowns. “Besides, Barnes’ GPA was near flawless. Why is he getting rejected?”

She doesn’t reply, and it takes a moment for the answer to dawn on him.

“It’s not the thing with Pierce, right?” Steve asks with mounting horror, his suspicion confirmed by the tightening of Natasha’s smile. “Nat, that’s fucked up!”

Natasha shrugs helplessly. “He’s damaged goods,” she says with an attitude that most would perceive as nonchalance. Only someone who knows Natasha as well as Steve does would be able to see the wrinkling of her nose and gritted teeth as hints of what she really thinks of the treatment of her best friend.

“It was nearly half a decade ago,” Steve protests.

Instead of replying, Natasha checks the Rolex at her wrist and whistles. “That’s the end of my lunch break. I’ll see you soon?”

Steve sighs as they both rise to their feet; he reaches to grab her in a quick hug as she stretches to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll text you.”

“Great!” Her lips curve into a slight but genuine smile that fades quickly. “Now,” she says, briefly fixing Steve with an intense stare. “I know you still have James’ email. Send him a message. You boys can both wallow in misery together.”

It’s phrased like a suggestion, but Steve knows that Natasha will hunt him down if he doesn’t.

*

Steve’s been sitting at the bar for twenty minutes, checking his watch, when Barnes finally comes barreling through the door, wisps of hair slipping out of his man bun. He glances around for a moment, eyes lighting up when they land on Steve, and heads straight to him.

“Sorry I’m late,” Barnes huffs as he slides onto a stool besides Steve. “There was a delay on the subway, and it didn’t help that I accidentally got on the wrong train.”

Suddenly struck dumb by his somewhat nemesis’s exposed cheekbones and shadowed stubble, Steve does what he does best in moments like this. “Glad to see that graduating law school didn’t change your tardiness,” he replies snidely.

Used to their dynamic, Barnes rolls his eyes. “Real mature, Rogers,” he says. “You’re the one who asked to meet me.”

Steve sighs. “At Natasha’s suggestion.”

“Oh.” Barnes’ expression floods with understanding, and he raises his right arm to flag the bartender.

Steve notices that Barnes’ left arm remains tightly at his side, as it has been since the accident in senior year of undergrad where he lost most of its function. When the bartender arrives before Barnes, he asks for a pint of beer, and Steve can’t help himself, blurting out, “I thought you stopped drinking?”

A shadow flashes across Barnes’ eyes. “It’s been five years, Steve,” he says darkly, and the use of Steve’s first name reminds him that they’re treading a deeply personal line for two men who claim to dislike each other.

“Right,” Steve says and hastily changes the topic. “So Natasha told me that you weren’t having any better luck with law firms than I was, which fucking sucks.” He tries for a sympathetic smile, hoping the other man doesn’t read it as smarmy or smug. He’s never been good with being direct or realistic when it comes to communicating with James Barnes.

The bartender returns with Barnes’ beer and slides one to Steve, who had actually forgotten that he’d asked for a drink just before Barnes entered the bar. Barnes brings the glass to his lips and takes a long, long drink while Steve unenthusiastically sips at his own. Finally, Barnes sets the glass down with a clunk and wipes the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand. “That’s an understatement,” he scoffs. “I’m sure you at least got a few interviews, but it’s been total radio silence for me.”

Steve, as he mentioned to Natasha, actually has gotten a few unfruitful interviews, which is why he flushes; he also doesn’t dare to voice the reason they both know is why Barnes has been blacklisted from the best law firms in New York City. “Only like three,” Steve finally says, eyes cast to the wooden bartop.

“But they’re all either corrupt or problematic,” Barnes guesses correctly. “I guess that does fucking suck.” He drains his glass and then rolls it between his hands.

“How did two Brooklyn boys who both made it to Columbia luck out so hard?” Steve groans, throwing back the last of his beer. He swallows and flips the glass upside down, placing it back on the bartop.

“To be fair,” Barnes begins as he slips a stray lock of hair behind his ear, drawing Steve’s eyes to the movement, “I’m from Indiana. I only moved here in high school, so it doesn’t count.”

Ignoring Barnes’ last statement, Steve purses his lips. “Hell, even Clint joined DA Fury’s office. At this point, we might as well create our own law firm.”

A light sparks in Barnes’ eyes, and he reaches for an abandoned napkin on the bartop, pulling a pen from his jacket pocket. “You might be onto something, buddy,” he announces, uncapping the pen and furiously drawing on the napkin. He works on it for a solid minute while Steve strains his neck, struggling to make out what Barnes is sketching.

“What are you even doing?” Steve complains, but Barnes doesn’t reply.

Finally, several moments later, Barnes turns the napkin around and slides it over to Steve, who holds it up to the light.

“Barnes and Rogers Law,” reads a bewildered Steve, turning to gaze at Barnes in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“No, I’m James,” Barnes says, cracking a rare smile that illuminates the rest of his handsome features and makes Steve’s heart stutter. “Besides, you said it yourself. We have shit luck with law firms, so we may as well create our own.” He locks eyes with Steve. “What do you say, partner?”

Steve must be losing his mind when he says, “Fine. But my name’s coming first; it was my idea.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Rogers and Barnes Law was born.

[deniscollins]

For the Class of 2020, a Job-Eating Virus Recalls the Great Recession

Last week, according to the Labor Department, nearly 3.3 million people filed for unemployment benefits, more than quadruple the previous record. A number of major companies, including Yelp and Disney, have suspended their internship programs and job fairs cancelled. The number of new job listings posted between mid-February and mid-March dropped 29 percent compared with the same period last year. Postings for retail stores fell 14 percent, events jobs went down 20 percent and casino and hotel jobs dropped 23 percent. What advice would you give to someone graduating from college in May to obtain a desired job given this job market?

They hoped to secure jobs on political campaigns, at fashion brands and law offices, and in sales and finance. Instead, they’ve had internships canceled and interviews postponed, wandered through empty job fairs and seen recruiters ignore their anxious emails.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced college students across the country to leave campus in early March, the abrupt departure was especially painful for seniors. It meant rushed goodbyes, canceled graduation ceremonies — an overwhelming sense of loss.

Now, many of those seniors are home with their families, contemplating an even worse prospect: a job market more grim than any in recent history. Last week, according to the Labor Department, nearly 3.3 million people filed for unemployment benefits, more than quadruple the previous record.

As the economy barrels toward a recession, college seniors fear they could become the next class of 2009, which entered the work force at the peak of the Great Recession as companies conducted mass layoffs and froze hiring.

“That is definitely on everyone’s minds,” said Tarek Ziad, a senior at Yale studying ecology and evolutionary biology. “We have to hike up our boots.”

A number of major companies, including Yelp and Disney, have suspended their internship programs, a common route to a first job for many graduating seniors. At some job fairs in early March, major companies simply didn’t show up; now all those career events have been canceled.

The number of new job listings posted between mid-February and mid-March dropped 29 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data from the job marketplace ZipRecruiter. Postings for retail stores fell 14 percent, events jobs went down 20 percent and casino and hotel jobs dropped 23 percent.

The hiring situation will probably get worse over the next few months, as closures and cancellations ripple across the economy. “These are still early effects. The first wave of industries hit will not be the last,” said Julia Pollak, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter. “There will be a large human cost.”

‘Looking into the void’

Andres Salerno, a senior at Butler University in Indianapolis, stayed in his off-campus house after classes went online, one of only a few remaining undergrads in what feels like a ghost town. Practically everyone he knows is anxious about the job market. Some of his roommates are Peace Corps recruits who don’t know whether they’ll be able to leave the country. His girlfriend is a dancer whose professional auditions have been canceled.

For his part, Mr. Salerno had hoped to get a job on a political campaign in his home state of Texas — an option that no longer seems viable as canvassing has ground to a halt.

“Everyone has a different job or career and all of it’s upended,” he said. “I had a loose idea of what I was doing in a few months. And now I’m just looking into the void.”

For three years in a row, Isabel Serrano applied for an internship at the same New York lobbying firm, starting when she was a sophomore at New York University. She finally got it last year and started working in January as she finished her last semester at N.Y.U. She hoped it would turn into a job after graduation in May.

But a couple of weeks ago, as she took a walk in her parents’ neighborhood in Union County, N.J., Ms. Serrano got an upsetting phone call: the internship was canceled because of the coronavirus.

“It’s just a sad thing to hear,” she said. “I had two more months left to really advocate for myself and that is gone now.”

A decade or more of ‘scarring’

Historically, college students who graduate into a recession have settled for lower-paying jobs at less prestigious companies than people who finished college even a year earlier. Economists have found that the impact of that bad luck can linger for as long as 10 or 15 years, leading to higher unemployment rates and lower salaries — a phenomenon known as “scarring.”

Whether the class of 2020 will face long-term consequences depends on a range of factors, including the length of the pandemic and the severity of the recession that seems certain to follow. But it doesn’t look good.

“I’m worried for them,” said Lisa Kahn, an economist who has studied how recessions affect college graduates. “If they’re graduating into a large recession, they’re going to suffer some pretty severe short-term consequences. And that’s probably going to stay with them for almost the next decade.”

At her home near Houston, Caroline Carlson, an agricultural economics major at Texas A&M University, has grown increasingly concerned about her chances of landing a job working on sustainability issues at a food company. Her mother has tried to spin news footage of people panic-shopping at grocery stores as a positive — a reminder that there will always be a market for food. Ms. Carlson remains pessimistic.

“I don’t think companies are really going to be looking to bring on more corporate positions or go through the steps of training someone,” she said.

“I get emails from Glassdoor daily — like, ‘You’d be a great fit for Walmart cashier,’” she continued. “Thank you so much, that’s really what I want my bachelor’s degree to go toward.”

A severe downturn could also jeopardize the career prospects of students who graduate later this year or in 2021.

Martin Lang, Jr., who is set to finish business school at the University of Detroit Mercy in December, got an email last week saying his internship at Urban Outfitters’ corporate office in Philadelphia was canceled. An aspiring stylist, Mr. Lang had hoped to stay at the company long term. “It would have given me fashion experience and credibility in an industry I want to be in,” he said. “Now I’ll go a year without working in a corporate environment.”

Career counselors at some major universities are trying to stay upbeat. Kerin Borland, the director of the University of Michigan Career Center, said recruiters have continued to interview students over video chat. The school also turned an in-person job fair into a digital one through a partnership with CareerEco, a virtual recruiting platform. And Ms. Borland said she has encouraged undergraduates to keep in touch with recruiters so they are in the pipeline for future jobs.

“The hope is we will get through this unusual circumstance and move forward,” Ms. Borland said. “Employers don’t want to have to start from scratch in terms of building relationships with students.”

Some industries, like nursing, have even seen an increase in job listings, according to ZipRecruiter. The number of e-commerce listings rose 228 percent over the past four weeks compared to last year. Personal consulting jobs went up 26 percent.

Maya Punjwani, a college senior from Miami, said she originally wanted to go into business communications. But given the pandemic, she has decided to pursue jobs in public health — her minor at the University of Florida. “Now more than ever I can use that part of my college degree to hop on something that’s so prevalent right now,” she said.

All the standard moves are useless

Over the last few weeks, many job-hunting seniors have engaged in an awkward dance with recruiters in industries like law, journalism and technology, asking for updates while trying not to seem insensitive or selfish. All the traditional rules of engagement in a job hunt suddenly feel irrelevant. A meet-up for coffee is out of the question. A request for a networking call might seem invasive.

Kaylie Ramirez, a senior at Boston College, said she spoke with several recruiters in recent days to discuss job opportunities in financial and strategic communications. One said he empathized with Ms. Ramirez, noting that he graduated in 2009 and also faced a bleak job market. He promised to be as helpful as he could. But others advised her to hold off on sending her résumé given the uncertainty.

“It was a reality check,” Ms. Ramirez said. “I’ve gradually been lowering my expectations, and I think that confirmed what I knew deep down, anyway.”

For some seniors, uncertainty about the economy has created outrage. Most of them were in fifth grade in 2008. But they remember the damage wrought by the Great Recession.

“It’s hard to be motivated or excited about the systems we have in place because we’ve seen the mess they’ve created over and over again,” said Ms. Serrano, the senior at N.Y.U.

But memories of 2008 — and the economy’s eventual recovery — have also been a source of comfort.

“This is the first pandemic that I have lived through, that my parents have lived through, but this isn’t the first time the economy has not been great,” said Amy Germano, a senior at James Madison University. “If we can get through the recession in 2008, I think we can get through this.”

[wetrumpfeed]

Election update: Trump Rally Tonight Edition! A quick election update for Kentucky and Pennsylvania!

Hello! I'm V_M and here are the upcoming elections this week! Tuesday May 21, 2019!

All polls for Kentucky open 5:00 A.M. Central Time and Close 5:00 P.M. Central Time! So get there early, bring family and friends, and VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Remember Complacency is Sin!

Great websites to use vote smart elections, us elections, and ourcampaign!

Important Information Regarding 2020!

Register

Volunteer

Guide

Engage the Right

Election Countdown

OBLIGATORY SIDE NOTES!

IMPERATIVE: BECOME A POLL WATCHER(check your state for more information!)

YOU MUST REGISTER AT LEAST ONE NEW PERSON A WEEK TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2020!

Kentucky, Governor and Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary!

The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!

The candidates are Incumbent Matt Bevin & Ralph Alvarado

“Matt Bevin was elected the 62nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2015. He is a husband, father of nine children, veteran and successful small business owner."

“Bevin Designated more than 1.2 billion to shore up shortfalls in Kentucky Employees Retirement System and the Kentucky Teacher's Retirement."

"Governor Bevin successfully launched the Red Tape Reduction Initiative, designed to cut through the “red tape” of excessive and complex regulatory burdens.”

"Alvarado already had built a career as a physician. He did his residency at the University of Kentucky. As a public official, his work has included a focus on issues that affect the medical industry and public health. For example, he has been pushing for legislation that bans the use of tobacco products on the grounds of public schools."

and Robert Goforth with his LG Mike Hogan

"Robert grew up in poverty, enlisted in the U.S. Army when he became of age, and served as a combat engineer. Robert put himself through college at the University of Kentucky, and graduated from pharmacy school, becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). "As a pharmacist and business owner, Robert knows all about self-reliance, hard work, and what it takes to accomplish goals. He’s a proven job creator." "Robert built his businesses from the ground up, building his pharmacies in Southeast Kentucky up from zero to multimillion dollars in annual revenues. Robert created over 30 jobs in his businesses for people in our region." "Robert is committed to a people-first agenda that values working families, small business owners, and seniors."

"Mike Hogan is a native son of Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky. Mike and his brother were raised by a single mother in humble circumstances. Mike learned discipline and leadership after he joined the U.S. Army. Thanks to the Good Lord, a great mom, and the G.I. Bill, Mike became the first generation in his family to graduate college and later law school.

Summary from users on the Kentucky race! Thanks for your valuables inputs on the elections! Full Credit goes to these users!

u/cl1ft >I'm afraid the teachers union in Kentucky has convinced many Kentuckians that Bevin is awful even though he is the only governor in ages with enough balls to get something done in this state and attempt to fund the pension and right some budgetary wrongs (no matter how painful). A lot of Kentuckians are registered Democrat but vote conservative, but very easily swayed by the state media. Most people don't understand that Dems have run this state into the ground for 100 years. It doesn't help that this state deems him an outsider... even a carpetbagger. He really isn't the smoothest politician. I look at this as a good thing, but most people aren't pragmatic enough to understand the difference between politicians (liars) and regular folks who speak what they think. u/UnitedSaltMineWorker >I’ve been telling people that on here for the last year and get labeled a shill. Robert Goforth is the only hope of maintaining a Republican governorship in 2020. The dems don’t have any ammo to use against him, their entire scheme goes belly up if Goforth wins the primary. It’s also time to oust Beshears and Grimes. They have been destroying our state for long enough, and Grimes is a key player in the dems election fixing schemes. I really wish someone could get word to President Trump to stop blindly backing Bevin via Pence. If Beashears or Edalin become governor our open carry is gone, hunting will be over regulated, and coal mining and manufacturing is doomed. I work closely with local offices, and the dem establishment want eastern KY bankrupt. Their goal after 2020 is to put a planned parenthood in the Hazard area, and remove gun rights. Any McGrath was a test to see what they could pull off, and it nearly worked.

Bevin does not stand a chance! People are done with him. Rob seems like a genuine good guy, give him a shot of upset!

Additional Sources:

KY News KY News

Kentucky, Attorney General Republican Primary!

The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!

The candidates are Daniel Cameron and Will Schroder

Daniel grew up in Hardin County, Kentucky. He graduated from John Hardin High School in 2004. He attended undergrad at the University of Louisville. While there, he was a member of the football team and a McConnell Scholar..

Daniel Cameron's professional career has consisted of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Gregory Van Tatenhove, a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky; private practice at Stites & Harbison in Louisville, Kentucky; service as Mitch McConnell’s legal counsel in Washington, D.C.; and a return to private practice at Frost Brown Todd in Louisville, where he’s been since June 2017.

"Will Schroder Prior to his time in the State Senate, Wil served as a felony prosecutor in the Campbell County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. In that role, Wil represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the people of Campbell County in hundreds of felony cases and worked closely with law enforcement and crime victims."

"Wil resides in Campbell County and is a lifelong Kentucky resident. He is the son of the late Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder and Nancy Schroder, both victims of cancer. Wil is married to his high school sweetheart, Marci. "

The two are members of the Next Chapter Church in Wilder where they served in various leadership capacities and where Wil occasionally plays guitar in the worship band. Wil and Marci are the proud parents of two children, Grace and Trey, who serve as constant reminders of what is at stake for Kentucky’s future."

Additional Sources:

KY AG

Kentucky Secretary of State!

The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!

The candidates are Michael Adams

Since 2007, Michael has represented the Republican Governors Association, one of the nation’s foremost political organizations, ensuring compliance with campaign-finance, ethics and pay-to-play laws, and guiding the RGA’s efforts to elect Republican governors nationwide. "

"He has represented numerous congressional and gubernatorial campaigns and outside groups in races across the country, and currently is legal counsel to Great America Committee, Vice President Mike Pence’s Leadership PAC."

Andrew English

"Prior to his appointment, Andrew served in the United States Navy JAG Corps, deploying to the Persian Gulf with Amphibious Squadron 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard the USS Iwo Jima and eventually becoming lead prosecutor at the Washington Navy Yard."

"Andrew English most recently served as General Counsel of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the State of Kentucky, appointed to the position by Governor Bevin and Secretary Tilley."

Steve Knipper

"Front runner candidate for 2019 Secretary of State. ~ Former Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton ~ Republican Nominee for Secretary of State: 2015"

Additional Sources:

Kentucky Politics

Pennsylvania State House 33 Special Election!

The surrounding areas are Hanover, Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Lurgan, Latimore, Arendtsville, Biglerville, Latimore, East Berlin, York Springs, and Shippensburg.

Context

vacancy

The candidates is Douglas Vincent Mastriano

"Doug was the lead planner for the invasion of Iraq by way of Turkey in 2003. He was Chief of Intelligence over the Afghanistan region,"

"An America First Policy means America is first priority. Our leaders must focus, first and foremost, on the issues that directly affect our lives. Your Second Amendment right must remain intact. It's time Americans have a voice that can be heard by our country's leadership. Doug can be that voice!"

"Over-regulation must be ended. Many working class citizens hold vocations in mining, farming and industry. They must be able to receive adequate wages that are not diminished due to government regulatory fees incurred by their employers or business owners. Obama Care must go."

Additional Sources:

(http://archive.is/nsYGT) (http://archive.is/10ikj)

Pennsylvania State House 11 Special Election!

The surrounding areas includes Butler, East Butler, Prospect, Chicora, Connoquenessing, and Karns City Saxonburg.

Context

Rep Brian Ellis from Butler resigned in the midst of an ongoing sexual assault investigation

The candidates is Marci Mustello

“I am pro-life and I fully support the 2nd Amendment,” she said in a statement. “I will work to lower taxes and fight to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to our district for infrastructure projects and to foster economic development. We need to work together to create more well-paying job opportunities here in Butler County and to ensure that our workforce gets the training they need for family-sustaining jobs.”

“I will work to lower taxes and fight to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to our district for infrastructure projects and to foster economic development.”

Additional Sources:

(http://archive.is/HRezG)

(http://archive.is/BBgvw)

Pennsylvania State House 12 Special Election!

The surrounding areas includes Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Clinton, Lycoming, Wyoming, Sullivan, Centre, Synder, Union, Juanita, Northumberland, Mifflin, and Perry.

Context

Keller was selected at his party's convention from a field of 14 candidates,

The candidates is Fred Keller

"Serving in his fifth consecutive term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Fred Keller has a proven record of working hard to grow Pennsylvania's economy and attract jobs, standing up for taxpayers, promoting agriculture and tirelessly supporting local families and businesses.,"

"Keller’s service in the state legislature has been recognized by the American Conservative Union, Americans for Prosperity, the National Federation of Independent Business, the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, the PA Farm Bureau, fellow public officials (both Republicans and Democrats), educators, first responders, health care professionals, taxpayer advocates and many more.!"

Additional Sources:

*side note click on the link EU ban and 451 error!

(http://archive.is/2IsNy)

(http://archive.is/QWsBz)

Pennsylvania State House 41 Special Election!

The surrounding areas includes Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.

Context

Incumbent resigned for health reasons.

The candidates is Joe Pittman

" is a candidate seeking election to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 41. Pittman is running in the general special election on May 21, 201."

PAST ELECTION RESULTS!

Jacksonville Republicans barely won, Inc. Tommy won his by 16%

Dan Bishop won with 47%, election in fall. Get out and vote against Mcready

FLASH ELECTION UPDATE!

I want to reiterate over and over again, Roy Moore is running again, don't let him win! Pick Bradley Byrne in the Alabama Primary Senate. The primary will be March 3rd, 2020!

November 5th, 2019 multiple statewide elections will be held in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia!

FUTURE ELECTIONS!

Election Date! Election Candidate! Election District! Election Area! Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Jack Guerrero CA State Senate 33 - Special Election The surrounding areas includes Long Beach, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell Gardens Lynwood, Signal Hill, Sullivan, and Paramount Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Kevin Hughes Maine St. House 045 - Special Election The surrounding areas includes Gray and Cumberland. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Jason Shoaf Florida State House 007 The surrounding areas includes St. Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, Bristol, Blountstown, Mayo, Wewahitchka, Monticello, Greenville, Altha, Crawfordville, Perry, Carrabelle, and Madison Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Randy Maggard Florida State House 038 The surrounding areas includes St. Leo, Dade City, and areas near Zephyr-Hills.

Remember to start registering yourself and at least three new people every ten days for the 2020 election! Thanks! MAGA 🔜KAG!

Please use these websites to keep up to date with election candidates, issues, ballot initiatives, election dates, and campaigns.

http://archive.is/0gwWA

Keep the faith, work hard, and go to rallies (important to protect your identity though because of crazy NeverTrumpers) (NT)

Thanks once again to the beautiful people of the MAGA Movement! We love and cherish each and every one of you Deplorables'! 🐸🐸🐸

President Trump Accomplishments!

President Trump Donation Page

REMINDER COMPLACENCY IS SIN! EXUDE CONFIDENCE, NOT COCKINESS! WE MUST FIGHT FOR EVERY VOTE, IT'S NOT OVER TILL ITS OVER!

~ KEEP UP THE ENTHUSIASM! BE CONSISTENT! ~

~ LESS THAN 530 DAYS TILL THE ELECTION!~

May you have a blessed rest of your day! God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America!💖🇺🇸😍💖😍🇺🇸💖

submitted by /u/Vernon_Mansae [link] [comments]

[robgrayofficial]

Hello! I'm V_M and here are the upcoming elections this week! Tuesday May 21, 2019!All polls for Kentucky open 5:00 A.M. Central Time and Close 5:00 P.M. Central Time! So get there early, bring family and friends, and VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!Remember Complacency is Sin!Great websites to use vote smart elections, us elections, and ourcampaign!Important Information Regarding 2020!RegisterVolunteerGuideEngage the RightElection CountdownOBLIGATORY SIDE NOTES!IMPERATIVE: BECOME A POLL WATCHER(check your state for more information!)YOU MUST REGISTER AT LEAST ONE NEW PERSON A WEEK TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2020!Kentucky, Governor and Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary!The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!The candidates are Incumbent Matt Bevin & Ralph Alvarado“Matt Bevin was elected the 62nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2015. He is a husband, father of nine children, veteran and successful small business owner."“Bevin Designated more than 1.2 billion to shore up shortfalls in Kentucky Employees Retirement System and the Kentucky Teacher's Retirement.""Governor Bevin successfully launched the Red Tape Reduction Initiative, designed to cut through the “red tape” of excessive and complex regulatory burdens.”"Alvarado already had built a career as a physician. He did his residency at the University of Kentucky. As a public official, his work has included a focus on issues that affect the medical industry and public health. For example, he has been pushing for legislation that bans the use of tobacco products on the grounds of public schools."and Robert Goforth with his LG Mike Hogan"Robert grew up in poverty, enlisted in the U.S. Army when he became of age, and served as a combat engineer. Robert put himself through college at the University of Kentucky, and graduated from pharmacy school, becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). "As a pharmacist and business owner, Robert knows all about self-reliance, hard work, and what it takes to accomplish goals. He’s a proven job creator." "Robert built his businesses from the ground up, building his pharmacies in Southeast Kentucky up from zero to multimillion dollars in annual revenues. Robert created over 30 jobs in his businesses for people in our region." "Robert is committed to a people-first agenda that values working families, small business owners, and seniors.""Mike Hogan is a native son of Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky. Mike and his brother were raised by a single mother in humble circumstances. Mike learned discipline and leadership after he joined the U.S. Army. Thanks to the Good Lord, a great mom, and the G.I. Bill, Mike became the first generation in his family to graduate college and later law school.Summary from users on the Kentucky race! Thanks for your valuables inputs on the elections! Full Credit goes to these users!u/cl1ft >I'm afraid the teachers union in Kentucky has convinced many Kentuckians that Bevin is awful even though he is the only governor in ages with enough balls to get something done in this state and attempt to fund the pension and right some budgetary wrongs (no matter how painful). A lot of Kentuckians are registered Democrat but vote conservative, but very easily swayed by the state media. Most people don't understand that Dems have run this state into the ground for 100 years. It doesn't help that this state deems him an outsider... even a carpetbagger. He really isn't the smoothest politician. I look at this as a good thing, but most people aren't pragmatic enough to understand the difference between politicians (liars) and regular folks who speak what they think. u/UnitedSaltMineWorker >I’ve been telling people that on here for the last year and get labeled a shill. Robert Goforth is the only hope of maintaining a Republican governorship in 2020. The dems don’t have any ammo to use against him, their entire scheme goes belly up if Goforth wins the primary. It’s also time to oust Beshears and Grimes. They have been destroying our state for long enough, and Grimes is a key player in the dems election fixing schemes. I really wish someone could get word to President Trump to stop blindly backing Bevin via Pence. If Beashears or Edalin become governor our open carry is gone, hunting will be over regulated, and coal mining and manufacturing is doomed. I work closely with local offices, and the dem establishment want eastern KY bankrupt. Their goal after 2020 is to put a planned parenthood in the Hazard area, and remove gun rights. Any McGrath was a test to see what they could pull off, and it nearly worked. Bevin does not stand a chance! People are done with him. Rob seems like a genuine good guy, give him a shot of upset!Additional Sources:KY News KY NewsKentucky, Attorney General Republican Primary!The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!The candidates are Daniel Cameron and Will SchroderDaniel grew up in Hardin County, Kentucky. He graduated from John Hardin High School in 2004. He attended undergrad at the University of Louisville. While there, he was a member of the football team and a McConnell Scholar..Daniel Cameron's professional career has consisted of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Gregory Van Tatenhove, a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky; private practice at Stites & Harbison in Louisville, Kentucky; service as Mitch McConnell’s legal counsel in Washington, D.C.; and a return to private practice at Frost Brown Todd in Louisville, where he’s been since June 2017."Will Schroder Prior to his time in the State Senate, Wil served as a felony prosecutor in the Campbell County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. In that role, Wil represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the people of Campbell County in hundreds of felony cases and worked closely with law enforcement and crime victims.""Wil resides in Campbell County and is a lifelong Kentucky resident. He is the son of the late Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder and Nancy Schroder, both victims of cancer. Wil is married to his high school sweetheart, Marci. "The two are members of the Next Chapter Church in Wilder where they served in various leadership capacities and where Wil occasionally plays guitar in the worship band. Wil and Marci are the proud parents of two children, Grace and Trey, who serve as constant reminders of what is at stake for Kentucky’s future."Additional Sources:KY AGKentucky Secretary of State!The surrounding areas includes Kentucky!The candidates are Michael AdamsSince 2007, Michael has represented the Republican Governors Association, one of the nation’s foremost political organizations, ensuring compliance with campaign-finance, ethics and pay-to-play laws, and guiding the RGA’s efforts to elect Republican governors nationwide. ""He has represented numerous congressional and gubernatorial campaigns and outside groups in races across the country, and currently is legal counsel to Great America Committee, Vice President Mike Pence’s Leadership PAC."Andrew English"Prior to his appointment, Andrew served in the United States Navy JAG Corps, deploying to the Persian Gulf with Amphibious Squadron 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard the USS Iwo Jima and eventually becoming lead prosecutor at the Washington Navy Yard.""Andrew English most recently served as General Counsel of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the State of Kentucky, appointed to the position by Governor Bevin and Secretary Tilley."Steve Knipper"Front runner candidate for 2019 Secretary of State. ~ Former Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton ~ Republican Nominee for Secretary of State: 2015"Additional Sources:Kentucky PoliticsPennsylvania State House 33 Special Election!The surrounding areas are Hanover, Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Lurgan, Latimore, Arendtsville, Biglerville, Latimore, East Berlin, York Springs, and Shippensburg.ContextvacancyThe candidates is Douglas Vincent Mastriano"Doug was the lead planner for the invasion of Iraq by way of Turkey in 2003. He was Chief of Intelligence over the Afghanistan region,""An America First Policy means America is first priority. Our leaders must focus, first and foremost, on the issues that directly affect our lives. Your Second Amendment right must remain intact. It's time Americans have a voice that can be heard by our country's leadership. Doug can be that voice!""Over-regulation must be ended. Many working class citizens hold vocations in mining, farming and industry. They must be able to receive adequate wages that are not diminished due to government regulatory fees incurred by their employers or business owners. Obama Care must go."Additional Sources:(http://bit.ly/2QmmYkV) (http://bit.ly/2w9EwaD State House 11 Special Election!The surrounding areas includes Butler, East Butler, Prospect, Chicora, Connoquenessing, and Karns City Saxonburg.ContextRep Brian Ellis from Butler resigned in the midst of an ongoing sexual assault investigationThe candidates is Marci Mustello“I am pro-life and I fully support the 2nd Amendment,” she said in a statement. “I will work to lower taxes and fight to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to our district for infrastructure projects and to foster economic development. We need to work together to create more well-paying job opportunities here in Butler County and to ensure that our workforce gets the training they need for family-sustaining jobs.”“I will work to lower taxes and fight to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to our district for infrastructure projects and to foster economic development.”Additional Sources:(http://bit.ly/2Qg4ja1 State House 12 Special Election!The surrounding areas includes Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Clinton, Lycoming, Wyoming, Sullivan, Centre, Synder, Union, Juanita, Northumberland, Mifflin, and Perry.ContextKeller was selected at his party's convention from a field of 14 candidates,The candidates is Fred Keller"Serving in his fifth consecutive term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Fred Keller has a proven record of working hard to grow Pennsylvania's economy and attract jobs, standing up for taxpayers, promoting agriculture and tirelessly supporting local families and businesses.,""Keller’s service in the state legislature has been recognized by the American Conservative Union, Americans for Prosperity, the National Federation of Independent Business, the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, the PA Farm Bureau, fellow public officials (both Republicans and Democrats), educators, first responders, health care professionals, taxpayer advocates and many more.!"Additional Sources:*side note click on the link EU ban and 451 error!(http://bit.ly/2wbNSlY State House 41 Special Election!The surrounding areas includes Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.ContextIncumbent resigned for health reasons.The candidates is Joe Pittman" is a candidate seeking election to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 41. Pittman is running in the general special election on May 21, 201."PAST ELECTION RESULTS!Jacksonville Republicans barely won, Inc. Tommy won his by 16%Dan Bishop won with 47%, election in fall. Get out and vote against McreadyFLASH ELECTION UPDATE!I want to reiterate over and over again, Roy Moore is running again, don't let him win! Pick Bradley Byrne in the Alabama Primary Senate. The primary will be March 3rd, 2020!November 5th, 2019 multiple statewide elections will be held in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia!FUTURE ELECTIONS!Election Date!Election Candidate!Election District!Election Area!Tuesday, June 4, 2019Jack GuerreroCA State Senate 33 - Special ElectionThe surrounding areas includes Long Beach, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell Gardens Lynwood, Signal Hill, Sullivan, and ParamountTuesday, June 11, 2019Kevin HughesMaine St. House 045 - Special ElectionThe surrounding areas includes Gray and Cumberland.Tuesday, June 18, 2019Jason ShoafFlorida State House 007The surrounding areas includes St. Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, Bristol, Blountstown, Mayo, Wewahitchka, Monticello, Greenville, Altha, Crawfordville, Perry, Carrabelle, and MadisonTuesday, June 18, 2019Randy MaggardFlorida State House 038The surrounding areas includes St. Leo, Dade City, and areas near Zephyr-Hills.Remember to start registering yourself and at least three new people every ten days for the 2020 election! Thanks! MAGA 🔜KAG!Please use these websites to keep up to date with election candidates, issues, ballot initiatives, election dates, and campaigns.http://bit.ly/2IPuJi7 the faith, work hard, and go to rallies (important to protect your identity though because of crazy NeverTrumpers) (NT)Thanks once again to the beautiful people of the MAGA Movement! We love and cherish each and every one of you Deplorables'! 🐸🐸🐸President Trump Accomplishments!President Trump Donation PageREMINDER COMPLACENCY IS SIN! EXUDE CONFIDENCE, NOT COCKINESS! WE MUST FIGHT FOR EVERY VOTE, IT'S NOT OVER TILL ITS OVER!~ KEEP UP THE ENTHUSIASM! BE CONSISTENT! ~~ LESS THAN 530 DAYS TILL THE ELECTION!~May you have a blessed rest of your day! God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America!💖🇺🇸😍💖😍🇺🇸💖 #robgray

[nandanajames-blog]

The Abyss of Nothingness

Fear of being rendered inarticulate is something that has always cowered disconcertingly in the back of mind for as long as I can remember. It is a fear that gnaws incessantly every time I open my laptop and place my fingers gingerly upon the keyboard, or open my journal with a pen held in between my fingers and cautiously attempt to wring magic from my fingertips. Sometimes, it’s almost non-existent, obscured and brushed aside in a fit of passion or an unprecedented surge of confidence that sweeps over me now and them. It would be quivering perilously thought, about to surge into life the moment I feel that it may not lead anywhere. Right now, it’s mostly fear that if I keep prolonging my eschewal from writing, especially because of its underpinning in my excruciatingly embarrassing farrago of fear and hesitance, the more fatal its repercussions are going to be. More than all of that, right now, I am gripped by this uncannily frustrating sense of incoherence and meaninglessness, which is not altogether foreign though. Occasionally, I find myself inundated and thrown off guard by bouts of existential malaise and fear of it proliferating to something perennial and rampant have left me wallowing in this abyss of nothingness. For instance, I have an entrance tomorrow that is almost like my last shot at making it to grad school and salvaging myself from a rather irksome, nebulous and uncertain process of job hunting or worse, a year of abject joblessness in its acute sense. Even then, not only am I perturbed or anxious in the least, I also find myself absolutely insouciant about how things are going to turn out albeit with an incongruous sense of reckoning that if I let myself be entrenched in this phase of existential angst, I might have to bear the brunt of it.

Though I am no way close to becoming an existentialist or a nihilist, sometimes I really do lapse and ensconce into a rather pensive, inexplicable and conflicting rumination about what exactly is the purpose of life. From childhood till now, I have been doing things without even pausing to stop and ponder why in the world I should be doing it to begin with. I studied and worked hard because once you happen to be a meritorious student, it’s a rather painstaking task to emancipate yourself from all the expectations and concomitant possibilities tied to once having performed exceptionally. After school, it was time for undergrad college, interspersed with intermittent attempts at ensuring a secure future like internships and generally just keeping my eyes open for just about anything that might enable me to make sense of post college life; basically, anything that would ensure my survival in a dark, hazy, dreary world enshrouded in stark uncertainty. Everything in life feels like this seemingly interminable process of resorting to impetuous, perfunctory and desperate attempts to just keep going, keep thriving against all odds to achieve a semblance of normalcy and ensure things unravel in the conventional and hence, safe and secure way. Just about a month back, while I was interning at this company that manages bloggers and influencers, I was emboldened and inspired to work on my blog and make sure that whatever capabilities and talent I have shouldn’t just be allowed to succumb to the vagaries and ravages of my rankling sense of laziness and inertia and of course, the afore mentioned fear of the outcome inadvertently thwarting me from taking that darn pen and writing something. Or to put it simply, fear of failure. And fear that this would rattle my already tenuous, malleable and questionable sense of confidence. I find myself dreamily and absentmindedly whiling away time doing just about nothing, probably only ever feeling rejuvenated and refreshed thinking about the upcoming episodes of the on-going K-drama I am watching, feeling that rather guilty frisson of excitement jolt to life inside my head, only to be accompanied by loud, reprimanding voices in my head chiding my propensity to stray away from my purposes, my goals and my life that I “ should”  be painstakingly and diligently bettering and moulding. Supposed to, rather.

The only ever sense of conviction and certainty that has never been subjected to the introspective, sceptical and overtly thoughtful conundrums and debates that unleash rather inevitably in my mind, is my belief that I should stay true to myself and do unto others as I would have them do unto me. Every time I find myself faced with the prospect of doing something that would be rather disheartening or bothersome for me, I tell myself that it’s not myself that I should be thinking of and if I were to be on the other side of the equation, I would be grateful and happy to have someone else do what I have an option of doing or not doing. I don’t know how to actually put it into words, but I believe in karma too. There is this inexplicable and enigmatic sense of ethereal, numinous and unworldly presence or power in the world that ensures that your good deeds won’t go unaccounted and be trampled over by the selfishness and indifference of the world. I am not saying that whatever good I have done has been driven by this conviction that it would bring me the same in the future; most of the time it so hasn’t. That ineffable feeling of knowing that you have done something good that you rather wouldn’t have, if you had allowed yourself to be succumbed to the inveigles and lures of selfishness, is a rather insurmountable feeling. Really. Accompanied by that beautiful feeling that even if I don’t rub it in and make it known or even bring it to notice that I had given up something for someone else’s sake or had done something good despite the odds and even despite how the other person or people in question wouldn’t have done the same for me, it won’t go unacknowledged, obscured and stifled. God would be paying heed or at least, it would be subsumed and embraced by the ethereal, inconceivable forces of nature- what I consider to be nature’s enigmatic, wordless, indefinable laws. Now, this and maybe only this, is the only ever sense of conviction and purpose that I wouldn’t ever want to be trampled and treaded over by the gnawing forces of existentialism and this abyss of nothingness that I otherwise find myself flittering and wallowing in, occasionally.