So in typical Obiter Girl fashion, my ailing computer finally succumbed to death in the midst of exams. While I had most of my important documents backed up, there is no substitute for a working computer! As my laptop had been on it's last legs for some time, I had planned to upgrade to a new laptop at this point, although I was hoping it wouldn't be out of necessity. With four and a half years under it's belt, my poor laptop (known affectionately as Highway Unicorn) was well into old age and I had originally hoped that she would live until my eventual graduation. Apparently not.
Of course, in typical Obiter Girl fashion, my laptop died only 6 days after Apple's latest announcement, meaning there were long waiting lists for the gorgeous new Retina Macbook Pros. Of course!
In the end, I came up with a solution that means I will have the portability of a laptop (without having to wait a month or so!) and the power of a desktop! I've acquired an 11" Macbook Air and will be using it while away from home, while using an iMac at home... if I ever get around to getting one! Bonus: It works out cheaper than the new Retina Macbook Pros!
I'm ever so glad to be back in this century! At the same time that my computer was off-limits, my phone was being disobedient and failing to work. Of course. Luckily, I had my iPad so I wasn't entirely cut off from the world, but I was very close
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
the hand of facebook
Last year I took a few months off Facebook. It wasn't really intentional, at least not at first, but I later realised that avoiding the time-sucking site was amazing. I felt so clear in the head and I seemed to have much more time. In the end, I found existing in without the site was difficult, with many people only using the site as their only way to communicate with others. I gave up and returned to the site, but spend much less time on the site than I have previously.
So when I found myself looking for distractions while trying to study, I decided facebook had to go! Unlike the past, I now have an iPad and that has been my main mode of using the site. My password has been a long string of characters randomly generated online for some time and I haven't made an attempt to memorise the password. Instead I've been breaking the one rule of passwords - I've had it written down.
Unable to remember my password, I knew locking myself out would be relatively easy. I didn't need a friend to change my password and just needed to 'lose' the password. I sent a facebook message to a friend, asking them to hold onto the password and gave it on a piece of paper with a set of instructions to a housemate. I instructed both of them that I would argue that I needed facebook to check an answer with a friend but they were not to give me the password unless I articulated what I needed to ask. Simply stating I needed to check something for Trusts would be insufficient, but if I was to say I needed to ask about exceptions to perpetuity periods I would be able to get the password back. They both laughed, thinking I was going overboard. I just wanted to cover all bases.
Of course, my plan relied on one thing - logging out. I logged out on my phone and ipad immediately but, as I've realised now, never actually logged out on my computer. I also never threw out the piece of paper with the password on it and it remains in it's place on my wall. What I find fascinating is that I never tried to go to facebook. I haven't wanted to and I certainly don't miss it. I feel exactly like I did last year when I took my hiatus from the social networking site.
Even though I thought I was unable to get on the site for the majority of the past 3 weeks, I would like to think that my lack of attempts is evidence of my superior self-control. The fact that I attempted to lock myself out of the site is irrelevant in my mind, as I've glanced around the library, looking down on the many people who aren't studying but facebooking instead. Yeah, I know it's hypocritical of me, but I feel so much better than everyone else here. While I have found other ways to waste my time, facebok hasn't even crossed my mind and I've gotten more work done than I usually would.
While it is rather extreme, I definitely recommend you think about getting ride of facebook when you need to get work done! You don't have to change your password to avoid the site as there are many ways to block you from the site for shorter periods of time. The only downside is that you will have too much time to study!
So when I found myself looking for distractions while trying to study, I decided facebook had to go! Unlike the past, I now have an iPad and that has been my main mode of using the site. My password has been a long string of characters randomly generated online for some time and I haven't made an attempt to memorise the password. Instead I've been breaking the one rule of passwords - I've had it written down.
Unable to remember my password, I knew locking myself out would be relatively easy. I didn't need a friend to change my password and just needed to 'lose' the password. I sent a facebook message to a friend, asking them to hold onto the password and gave it on a piece of paper with a set of instructions to a housemate. I instructed both of them that I would argue that I needed facebook to check an answer with a friend but they were not to give me the password unless I articulated what I needed to ask. Simply stating I needed to check something for Trusts would be insufficient, but if I was to say I needed to ask about exceptions to perpetuity periods I would be able to get the password back. They both laughed, thinking I was going overboard. I just wanted to cover all bases.
Of course, my plan relied on one thing - logging out. I logged out on my phone and ipad immediately but, as I've realised now, never actually logged out on my computer. I also never threw out the piece of paper with the password on it and it remains in it's place on my wall. What I find fascinating is that I never tried to go to facebook. I haven't wanted to and I certainly don't miss it. I feel exactly like I did last year when I took my hiatus from the social networking site.
Even though I thought I was unable to get on the site for the majority of the past 3 weeks, I would like to think that my lack of attempts is evidence of my superior self-control. The fact that I attempted to lock myself out of the site is irrelevant in my mind, as I've glanced around the library, looking down on the many people who aren't studying but facebooking instead. Yeah, I know it's hypocritical of me, but I feel so much better than everyone else here. While I have found other ways to waste my time, facebok hasn't even crossed my mind and I've gotten more work done than I usually would.
While it is rather extreme, I definitely recommend you think about getting ride of facebook when you need to get work done! You don't have to change your password to avoid the site as there are many ways to block you from the site for shorter periods of time. The only downside is that you will have too much time to study!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
the perils of open book
After a fairly successful semester (or at least I think it has been fairly successful) I'm in the midst of exams. I have now decided that I hate open book exams. Why? There are a number of reasons for this hatred, but they are not because I think they are more difficult.
It is no secret to my friends that I regularly wage psychological warfare... on myself. Yes, I'm one of those people who manages to 'psych' myself out about almost every piece of assessment. Having failed subjects previously has definitely added to my fear of failure as I have lived through it. Open book exams seem great - you can use any source you want to answer the questions. Of course, what if you don't bring something and it turns out to be VITALLY important in the exam? What if you see someone using a particular book which you have but have no idea how they are using it? The topics covered in the book don't seem to be on the exam - what do they know that you don't know?
As a result, I have a tendency to go overboard. For my open exam last night I vigorously prepared. It was for Trusts and I had done fairly well on the assignment, needing roughly 20% to pass the subject. I spent much of the week preparing my notes into an easily digestible form, ending up with a hefty 80 pages. I went all out, even including extracts as I had no intention to print out the giant pieces of legislation that we had covered. I then prepared some answer guides that were around 100 pages, leaving my notes almost irrelevant. Of course, these guides were AMAZING and I'm glad I had them.
In the end, I decided that I would print the legislation. My upcoming Property exam is closed book but we are able to take unanotated legislation in, so I figured I needed a copy of the Property Law Act anyway. I have an amazing (by which I mean cheap) laser printer and figured binding isn't too expensive. I was feeling lazy, so I printed out the Trusts Act, Successions Act and Property Law Act in full - one page per page. I couldn't be bothered to work out how to print back to back (I forget every time I do it!) so my Property Law Act is a hefty 300 pages, plus the binding! Didn't think that through.
I also took my textbook and a Equity & Trusts Questions and Answer book. I had so much stuff I could barely carry it all into the exam and was surprised to see how little some people took with them. I have a tendency to go overboard, but I realised that I had reached a new level. I thought back to other exams where I took legislation and realised I very rarely, if ever, actually looked through them or used the tabs. Other people had a few pages of notes and others didn't even bother bringing the textbook! Admittedly, knowing the subject had an open book exam meant I didn't attempt to memorise through the semester, but rather focused on understanding, but still... I had so much in terms of notes!
As students entered the room I saw a number who also had the Q&A book with them. I have had very few open book exams, but have made an attempt to bring a Q&A book whenever I have. I have often found them useful, mainly for working out a good structure and approach, but moreso when I am fairly familiar with the content of the book. This time I spent very little time working on questions from the book. Regardless, when I saw the girl in front pull hers out from the start I was worried. I made an attempt to use the book later on in the exam, but I couldn't. I was worried - why was she using it when I couldn't find something it worked for? Luckily, this didn't bother me for too long as I remembered I had the answer guides with me. I worked through the problems I could using the guides where I could. One of the supervisors seemed fascinated by my bound notes and kept looking at them whenever he passed. Of course, law exams are never a straight forward time when question one addresses a discretionary trust, question two addresses a charitable trust and so on.
Although it has quite possibly happened before, I do not recall ever being told that we are unable to use materials during perusal. I had already had an open book exam earlier in the week for medical law and used my notes extensively in perusal for planning my responses... or at least I think I did! As I said earlier, my attempts in Trusts have been focused on understanding the content and even though I think I have a fairly solid idea of how a trust works, I still like to check where I can. For me this was also the case for Criminal Law, with no exam for the first semester of the subject last year and an open book for the second. I remembered a significant amount on Charitable trusts so tried to use what I knew to plan out one answer, but without my guide I knew I was forgetting valuable information. In hindsight, I should have used the 10 minutes to plan out and begin my answers for the smaller questions. Alas, that was not the case
I'm extremely glad that I'm finished with trusts... at least for a few weeks. I spent so much time working on my notes this week that I have neglected property, to an extent. Even though there are only a few days left, I'm still trying to work through my notes and I'm not sure how much I actually remember. I have been working on my flash cards for a few weeks now so I am fairly certain I have memorized a fair bit about the cases that are relevant, but I still need to remember the contexts! Ahh!
One thing I am glad of is the overlap between property and trusts. While I didn't memorise anything for my trusts exam, I think I can remember the overlapping areas. I think. I hope. I suppose I should probably get back to it!
Good luck to anyone else working through exams right now!
It is no secret to my friends that I regularly wage psychological warfare... on myself. Yes, I'm one of those people who manages to 'psych' myself out about almost every piece of assessment. Having failed subjects previously has definitely added to my fear of failure as I have lived through it. Open book exams seem great - you can use any source you want to answer the questions. Of course, what if you don't bring something and it turns out to be VITALLY important in the exam? What if you see someone using a particular book which you have but have no idea how they are using it? The topics covered in the book don't seem to be on the exam - what do they know that you don't know?
As a result, I have a tendency to go overboard. For my open exam last night I vigorously prepared. It was for Trusts and I had done fairly well on the assignment, needing roughly 20% to pass the subject. I spent much of the week preparing my notes into an easily digestible form, ending up with a hefty 80 pages. I went all out, even including extracts as I had no intention to print out the giant pieces of legislation that we had covered. I then prepared some answer guides that were around 100 pages, leaving my notes almost irrelevant. Of course, these guides were AMAZING and I'm glad I had them.
In the end, I decided that I would print the legislation. My upcoming Property exam is closed book but we are able to take unanotated legislation in, so I figured I needed a copy of the Property Law Act anyway. I have an amazing (by which I mean cheap) laser printer and figured binding isn't too expensive. I was feeling lazy, so I printed out the Trusts Act, Successions Act and Property Law Act in full - one page per page. I couldn't be bothered to work out how to print back to back (I forget every time I do it!) so my Property Law Act is a hefty 300 pages, plus the binding! Didn't think that through.
I also took my textbook and a Equity & Trusts Questions and Answer book. I had so much stuff I could barely carry it all into the exam and was surprised to see how little some people took with them. I have a tendency to go overboard, but I realised that I had reached a new level. I thought back to other exams where I took legislation and realised I very rarely, if ever, actually looked through them or used the tabs. Other people had a few pages of notes and others didn't even bother bringing the textbook! Admittedly, knowing the subject had an open book exam meant I didn't attempt to memorise through the semester, but rather focused on understanding, but still... I had so much in terms of notes!
As students entered the room I saw a number who also had the Q&A book with them. I have had very few open book exams, but have made an attempt to bring a Q&A book whenever I have. I have often found them useful, mainly for working out a good structure and approach, but moreso when I am fairly familiar with the content of the book. This time I spent very little time working on questions from the book. Regardless, when I saw the girl in front pull hers out from the start I was worried. I made an attempt to use the book later on in the exam, but I couldn't. I was worried - why was she using it when I couldn't find something it worked for? Luckily, this didn't bother me for too long as I remembered I had the answer guides with me. I worked through the problems I could using the guides where I could. One of the supervisors seemed fascinated by my bound notes and kept looking at them whenever he passed. Of course, law exams are never a straight forward time when question one addresses a discretionary trust, question two addresses a charitable trust and so on.
Although it has quite possibly happened before, I do not recall ever being told that we are unable to use materials during perusal. I had already had an open book exam earlier in the week for medical law and used my notes extensively in perusal for planning my responses... or at least I think I did! As I said earlier, my attempts in Trusts have been focused on understanding the content and even though I think I have a fairly solid idea of how a trust works, I still like to check where I can. For me this was also the case for Criminal Law, with no exam for the first semester of the subject last year and an open book for the second. I remembered a significant amount on Charitable trusts so tried to use what I knew to plan out one answer, but without my guide I knew I was forgetting valuable information. In hindsight, I should have used the 10 minutes to plan out and begin my answers for the smaller questions. Alas, that was not the case
I'm extremely glad that I'm finished with trusts... at least for a few weeks. I spent so much time working on my notes this week that I have neglected property, to an extent. Even though there are only a few days left, I'm still trying to work through my notes and I'm not sure how much I actually remember. I have been working on my flash cards for a few weeks now so I am fairly certain I have memorized a fair bit about the cases that are relevant, but I still need to remember the contexts! Ahh!
One thing I am glad of is the overlap between property and trusts. While I didn't memorise anything for my trusts exam, I think I can remember the overlapping areas. I think. I hope. I suppose I should probably get back to it!
Good luck to anyone else working through exams right now!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
no one likes revision
So it's SWOTVAC or, as my university 'officially' calls it, 'revision week'. All of a sudden the library, where I get the bulk of my work done, has filled and I struggle to get my usual desk.
My usual desk is perfect - it's not one of the tiny work-desks, all lined up and barely enough room to put my laptop and a textbook, but it's not a wide open section of bench that means everyone else can see what I'm doing. It's also close to a powerpoint, meaning I can actually use my laptop which has a life-span of a whopping 45 minutes. I hate being out in the open where everyone else can see what I'm doing, but I also like to be able to see what others are doing. From my desk I can see if the library is emptying, usually a sign that it is time to leave.
While tempted to work hardcore for the stretch of this week, I know it won't happen. I am still recovering from a large essay for one of my subjects, only now submitted, and am absolutely exhausted. While I know it's better for me to work really hard now, leaving me with more time to actually study in the next few weeks, it won't happen. I'll still be working on my summaries as the exam nears. It happens every time and, to be honest, I'm not sure that I mind.
I know I'm better off if I don't have to work hard on a summary in the days leading to an exam, or that the best way to use my time is to work through problems. The thing is that I have taken this approach before. I have studied all day and all night through SWOTVAC, only to get into the exam and not know anything. I've taken the approach of using problems to study, rather than working on a concise summary. These things don't seem to work for me.
Instead, I relax during SWOTVAC. When I told my mum this, she almost had a heart attack! 'Don't tell me things like that' she said, telling me how sick that thought made her. I tried to explain that by 'relax' I don't mean chilling by a pool (or fireplace) sipping margaritas, rather that I work hard, but use some time to relax. I continue to watch TV occasionally and get sleep if I am tired. I basically approach it like any other week, just minus the classes.
The fact of the matter is, I'm going to get stressed in exam period no matter how prepared I am. I get stressed in exams and once thought it was a healthy level of stress that really helped me. Through my time at university, it's become more than that, to the point where I completely blank on exams, unable to remember a single thing. Instead of doing the smart thing when this happens, I've continued, happy to just 'make it up' and hope it's right. Surprisingly (or not), that does not work.
While I've worked out a way to deal with my in-exam stress through pre-exam meditation, I have realised that my exam stress is high when I have been hard-core during SWOTVAC. I'm not 100% sure why as this is a new theory, plus I'm not a psychology student, but I believe that by working way too much and putting so much pressure on working hard before exams I am under too much pressure and, as a result, I need to reduce the pressure. It may not be the best way to do it, but I feel 'relaxing' is the perfect way to do it.
My plan for this week:
My usual desk is perfect - it's not one of the tiny work-desks, all lined up and barely enough room to put my laptop and a textbook, but it's not a wide open section of bench that means everyone else can see what I'm doing. It's also close to a powerpoint, meaning I can actually use my laptop which has a life-span of a whopping 45 minutes. I hate being out in the open where everyone else can see what I'm doing, but I also like to be able to see what others are doing. From my desk I can see if the library is emptying, usually a sign that it is time to leave.
While tempted to work hardcore for the stretch of this week, I know it won't happen. I am still recovering from a large essay for one of my subjects, only now submitted, and am absolutely exhausted. While I know it's better for me to work really hard now, leaving me with more time to actually study in the next few weeks, it won't happen. I'll still be working on my summaries as the exam nears. It happens every time and, to be honest, I'm not sure that I mind.
I know I'm better off if I don't have to work hard on a summary in the days leading to an exam, or that the best way to use my time is to work through problems. The thing is that I have taken this approach before. I have studied all day and all night through SWOTVAC, only to get into the exam and not know anything. I've taken the approach of using problems to study, rather than working on a concise summary. These things don't seem to work for me.
Instead, I relax during SWOTVAC. When I told my mum this, she almost had a heart attack! 'Don't tell me things like that' she said, telling me how sick that thought made her. I tried to explain that by 'relax' I don't mean chilling by a pool (or fireplace) sipping margaritas, rather that I work hard, but use some time to relax. I continue to watch TV occasionally and get sleep if I am tired. I basically approach it like any other week, just minus the classes.
The fact of the matter is, I'm going to get stressed in exam period no matter how prepared I am. I get stressed in exams and once thought it was a healthy level of stress that really helped me. Through my time at university, it's become more than that, to the point where I completely blank on exams, unable to remember a single thing. Instead of doing the smart thing when this happens, I've continued, happy to just 'make it up' and hope it's right. Surprisingly (or not), that does not work.
While I've worked out a way to deal with my in-exam stress through pre-exam meditation, I have realised that my exam stress is high when I have been hard-core during SWOTVAC. I'm not 100% sure why as this is a new theory, plus I'm not a psychology student, but I believe that by working way too much and putting so much pressure on working hard before exams I am under too much pressure and, as a result, I need to reduce the pressure. It may not be the best way to do it, but I feel 'relaxing' is the perfect way to do it.
My plan for this week:
- property law study --> make sure to work on flash cards now, even though it is last exam. Try to put some focus on this subject
- trusts law --> just try understanding. don't worry about how good the notes are now, just understand it. Will put more of a focus on the notes after medical law exam
- medical law --> notes needed. already familiar with most of the content and have all the knowledge from closed book mid-semester, so just look over some things in textbook this week. Start notes towards end of the week
- visit grandparents (friday maybe?)
- dinner with cousins (next sunday)
- go to gym a few times --> take ipad and drill flashcards on treadmill
- cooking - dad will be in town so won't need dinner a few nights this week. Must try to work out what to cook with the accidental veal purchase. Also try making chocolate banana oatmeal
- play guitar and start working on lyrics for friend's birthday parody
Monday, May 28, 2012
Things I've done in the library
My approach to pre-exam study is fairly different to many people. I'm going to write about that later on, but I put more pressure on myself before 'SWOTVAC' and try to spend the last few weeks before exams working really hard so I can 'relax' before exams. Of course, relax is a subjective term so it will hardly be a beach holiday. Anyway, with exams a few weeks away, I've been working really hard in the library. As such, I have realised that I am practically living in the library and there are numerous things I have done in the library that I usually would only do at home:
I have done a full face of makeup for a family dinner:
We were meant to be having dinner at 6pm, so I left the library at 3:30 so I could go home, have a shower and get ready. While driving home I got a message saying dinner was being changed to 7 so I had a shower and got changed and headed back to the library. I actually got a heap of work done that night!
I painted my nails:
I love painting my nails black but my desk at home is snow white. While I'm fairly neat with my nail-painting, I felt safer doing them at uni. No spills and I got work done at the same time!
I have done a workout
Much like drilling concepts on the treadmill, I did pushups while reciting case law. I must admit that it was rather early in the day as I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, otherwise I wouldn't be doing something to draw so much attention to myself!
I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner
I head into the library at night a few times a week at around 6-6:30pm. I don't stay too late, but I get as much work done as I can during that time. I have found if I sit down and eat my dinner at home I'm too full and don't feel like driving into uni. While I usually go, I don't leave for a while and get hardly any work done. Instead, I make my dinner as usual, putting it in a plastic container instead of on a plate and take it with me. I do the same with breakfast some days because it gets me out of the door faster!
Read a novel in a foreign language:
I made an effort to do this reading in study breaks and managed to read the whole thing in the library
Curled my hair
Before leaving home I put my hair in old-fashioned pin curls and wrapped it in a scarf. As I worked, my hair curled.
Planned my menu for the week, including pricing my groceries:
I ended up doing this while looking for something to avoid studying! It worked! This took forever, but was definitely worth it!
Developed unhealthy imaginary relationships with fictional characters, namely Donald Draper and Ezra Fitz
Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of this!
Anyone else done crazy things in the library?
I have done a full face of makeup for a family dinner:
We were meant to be having dinner at 6pm, so I left the library at 3:30 so I could go home, have a shower and get ready. While driving home I got a message saying dinner was being changed to 7 so I had a shower and got changed and headed back to the library. I actually got a heap of work done that night!
I painted my nails:
I love painting my nails black but my desk at home is snow white. While I'm fairly neat with my nail-painting, I felt safer doing them at uni. No spills and I got work done at the same time!
I have done a workout
Much like drilling concepts on the treadmill, I did pushups while reciting case law. I must admit that it was rather early in the day as I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, otherwise I wouldn't be doing something to draw so much attention to myself!
I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner
I head into the library at night a few times a week at around 6-6:30pm. I don't stay too late, but I get as much work done as I can during that time. I have found if I sit down and eat my dinner at home I'm too full and don't feel like driving into uni. While I usually go, I don't leave for a while and get hardly any work done. Instead, I make my dinner as usual, putting it in a plastic container instead of on a plate and take it with me. I do the same with breakfast some days because it gets me out of the door faster!
Read a novel in a foreign language:
I made an effort to do this reading in study breaks and managed to read the whole thing in the library
Curled my hair
Before leaving home I put my hair in old-fashioned pin curls and wrapped it in a scarf. As I worked, my hair curled.
Planned my menu for the week, including pricing my groceries:
I ended up doing this while looking for something to avoid studying! It worked! This took forever, but was definitely worth it!
Developed unhealthy imaginary relationships with fictional characters, namely Donald Draper and Ezra Fitz
Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of this!
Anyone else done crazy things in the library?
Monday, May 14, 2012
Law on the silver screen
So following on from my post about my favourite law-centric TV shows, I thought I'd post about my favourite movies that take place in the courtroom.
1. Legally Blonde
You may laugh, but Legally Blonde is a legal classic. I was 10 when the original was released and can't quite remember if I was able to see it in the theatre. I definitely saw the sequel with some friends at the movies. I loved Legally Blonde. Elle was everything a young girl wanted to be... she was a Barbie doll! As the story progressed we learn that Elle is also intelligent and it shatters the perception that pretty girly-girls are dumb. In addition, it encourages us to have a healthy interest in things outside of the law; Elle would not have been successful in court if she didn't have the interest in hair and beauty.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
Yes, no list of legal movies would be complete without this classic. I couldn't tell you exactly when I first read the book, but I believe I was 9 or 10. I loved it and seeing the movie made me love the story even more. In high school we studied the book (and movie) and I loved it a whole lot more. While I understood that book as a child, I had a better grasp of the finer points. I'm sure every law student has seen the movie and been inspired by the courtroom scene. While it wasn't the reason I chose to study law, the movie certainly inspires me and Atticus is the type of lawyer I want to be, if I can't be Elle Woods!
3. The Castle
I'm not sure whether this movie was released outside of Australia, but it is most definitely a classic. A man's home is his castle, and the Kerrigan family wanted to protect their castle. Not only is it a great Australian film, there are many references to fundamental Australian constitutional law cases throughout the movie as the family fought to save their home. In my first year when we had to watch some sort of movie or TV show that centered on the law, I picked The Castle. I didn't really pick up on many of the references, but on watching it last year I realised how it would have been a great study tool for constitutional law!
4. Kramer vs Kramer
I have a list of movies that I have always wanted to see, most of them 'classics'. Kramer vs Kramer is one of these. For those who haven't seen the film, the film shows the course of a couple's divorce and the impact on those in their lives, particularly their young son. The custody battle is central and actually inspired me to consider taking the family law elective which I had previously maintained I would never take. It is a great movie and extremely heartwarming.
5. Miracle on 34th Street
I was 5 years old when Mara Wilson starred in Matilda, the movie based on Roald Dahl's book. I loved it and I saw myself in her. We had a similar haircut and she was young, just like me. Her remake of the Natalie Wood classic was released two years earlier than Matilda, but I hadn't seen it until afterwards. It was undoubtedly the first time I had ever seen the law in a movie or TV show and was heartwarming. While the movie hints that Santa is a construct of modern society (something with which I disagree... he still leaves me presents under the tree), as a young child I did not see this and rather just enjoyed the idea that a young girl got to hang out with Santa Claus! In more recent years I saw the original and loved it so much. Definitely a legal classic!
1. Legally Blonde
You may laugh, but Legally Blonde is a legal classic. I was 10 when the original was released and can't quite remember if I was able to see it in the theatre. I definitely saw the sequel with some friends at the movies. I loved Legally Blonde. Elle was everything a young girl wanted to be... she was a Barbie doll! As the story progressed we learn that Elle is also intelligent and it shatters the perception that pretty girly-girls are dumb. In addition, it encourages us to have a healthy interest in things outside of the law; Elle would not have been successful in court if she didn't have the interest in hair and beauty.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
Yes, no list of legal movies would be complete without this classic. I couldn't tell you exactly when I first read the book, but I believe I was 9 or 10. I loved it and seeing the movie made me love the story even more. In high school we studied the book (and movie) and I loved it a whole lot more. While I understood that book as a child, I had a better grasp of the finer points. I'm sure every law student has seen the movie and been inspired by the courtroom scene. While it wasn't the reason I chose to study law, the movie certainly inspires me and Atticus is the type of lawyer I want to be, if I can't be Elle Woods!
3. The Castle
I'm not sure whether this movie was released outside of Australia, but it is most definitely a classic. A man's home is his castle, and the Kerrigan family wanted to protect their castle. Not only is it a great Australian film, there are many references to fundamental Australian constitutional law cases throughout the movie as the family fought to save their home. In my first year when we had to watch some sort of movie or TV show that centered on the law, I picked The Castle. I didn't really pick up on many of the references, but on watching it last year I realised how it would have been a great study tool for constitutional law!
4. Kramer vs Kramer
I have a list of movies that I have always wanted to see, most of them 'classics'. Kramer vs Kramer is one of these. For those who haven't seen the film, the film shows the course of a couple's divorce and the impact on those in their lives, particularly their young son. The custody battle is central and actually inspired me to consider taking the family law elective which I had previously maintained I would never take. It is a great movie and extremely heartwarming.
5. Miracle on 34th Street
I was 5 years old when Mara Wilson starred in Matilda, the movie based on Roald Dahl's book. I loved it and I saw myself in her. We had a similar haircut and she was young, just like me. Her remake of the Natalie Wood classic was released two years earlier than Matilda, but I hadn't seen it until afterwards. It was undoubtedly the first time I had ever seen the law in a movie or TV show and was heartwarming. While the movie hints that Santa is a construct of modern society (something with which I disagree... he still leaves me presents under the tree), as a young child I did not see this and rather just enjoyed the idea that a young girl got to hang out with Santa Claus! In more recent years I saw the original and loved it so much. Definitely a legal classic!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Quest for Distraction!
When I was in High School, I had a theory that if I were to watch, or even just listen to a movie or tv show, while doing an assignment I would avoid other forms of distraction. My theory was that doing so allowed a part of my brain to be distracted, but only minimally, allowing the rest of my brain to focus on my actual task.
Yeah, I worked out a way to justify watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. I knew deep down that it wasn't realistic but I liked the justification. The thing is, as I've gotten older, this habit has not subsided, but become more of an issue.
It was, at one point, almost impossible for me to study without something on in the background. In a way, my theory from high school rings true - if I have a TV show playing in the background, I'm not surfing the web instead of studying and I probably do get more work done. Most of the time I don't actually watch the show, rather listen in the background much like music, but I'm sure it's not the best way to study.
I like the background noise and find music much too distracting. As a music nerd from a prior life, back when I wanted to be a conductor and study music, the classical music people insist is perfect for studying distracts me. I often find myself tapping my feet, singing along or conducting. - not a great way to study either, especially in the library. My much loved punk-rock music doesn't work either as it is best listened to loudly and that never works well in earphones. Pop is too distracting and leads to thoughts of gossip and has me going straight to google to find out all about Carly Rae Jepson or whoever the latest diva is. Indie music is a little distracting too and often leads to google. There was a time where I could study to Jack Johnson, but that is now almost impossible, with the music forever associated with trying to sleep in fits of insomnia.
As I think about why music doesn't work for me, I wonder if watching a movie or TV show for background noise is such a bad thing?
After doing a little research, my suspected fears were confirmed - you shouldn't do anything but focus on study. While studying in front of the TV or while listening to music isn't a new thing, the computer is terrible for the ease of engaging in non-study related activities. However, studies have drawn a distinction between passive multi-tasking, like listening to music (or movies) and active multi-tasking, like surfing the web and facebook. Not surprisingly, active multi-tasking is worse for you.
From the LA Times, I learnt:
Poldrack also said that "The bottom line is that active distractions involved in multi-tasking are going to reduce one's ability to learn."
However, Poldrack and others have been unable to determine whether listening to something like music is such a bad thing, particularly if it is functioning as white noise to drown out other distractions.
Yeah, I worked out a way to justify watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. I knew deep down that it wasn't realistic but I liked the justification. The thing is, as I've gotten older, this habit has not subsided, but become more of an issue.
It was, at one point, almost impossible for me to study without something on in the background. In a way, my theory from high school rings true - if I have a TV show playing in the background, I'm not surfing the web instead of studying and I probably do get more work done. Most of the time I don't actually watch the show, rather listen in the background much like music, but I'm sure it's not the best way to study.
I like the background noise and find music much too distracting. As a music nerd from a prior life, back when I wanted to be a conductor and study music, the classical music people insist is perfect for studying distracts me. I often find myself tapping my feet, singing along or conducting. - not a great way to study either, especially in the library. My much loved punk-rock music doesn't work either as it is best listened to loudly and that never works well in earphones. Pop is too distracting and leads to thoughts of gossip and has me going straight to google to find out all about Carly Rae Jepson or whoever the latest diva is. Indie music is a little distracting too and often leads to google. There was a time where I could study to Jack Johnson, but that is now almost impossible, with the music forever associated with trying to sleep in fits of insomnia.
As I think about why music doesn't work for me, I wonder if watching a movie or TV show for background noise is such a bad thing?
After doing a little research, my suspected fears were confirmed - you shouldn't do anything but focus on study. While studying in front of the TV or while listening to music isn't a new thing, the computer is terrible for the ease of engaging in non-study related activities. However, studies have drawn a distinction between passive multi-tasking, like listening to music (or movies) and active multi-tasking, like surfing the web and facebook. Not surprisingly, active multi-tasking is worse for you.
From the LA Times, I learnt:
"What it might suggest is that if you learn these things while you're distracted, then your ability to generalize that knowledge might not be as good," said Russell Poldrack, an associate professor of psychology. "Even if you can learn under multi-tasking, it can change how you learn."
Poldrack also said that "The bottom line is that active distractions involved in multi-tasking are going to reduce one's ability to learn."
However, Poldrack and others have been unable to determine whether listening to something like music is such a bad thing, particularly if it is functioning as white noise to drown out other distractions.
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