Erin Albert's Blog

Finally!  I’m having a eureka moment!  I now understand why my grades since college have been marginal! (Or at least I now have a legitimate excuse for why they’ve not been the best)…

According to this study, those who are intrinsically motivated have crappier GPAs than those who are extrinsically motivated!  I’m no psychologist, this is only one study, (and I didn’t grow up in China) but I find it absolutely fascinating that those who are motivated by their own internal forces–to do something not just for the financial reward or the carrot at the end, but for their own love of it–do not get the best grades, yet can succeed.

Think about it – there are plenty of Bill Gates stories out there – college drop outs who I’m certain had an inferno of intrinsic motivation, yet, didn’t do well in school, because they just weren’t that into the carrot at the end.  They created their OWN carrot.

So the only question that remains for those of us with marginal GPAs and a lot of intrinsic motivation – what would your personal carrot be?

So, tomorrow is Veterans’ Day.  First off, to those who are Veterans, THANK YOU for serving.  You have made the ultimate sacrifice for your country, and many (including me) are thankful for your service.  

A really cool story was on CBS Sunday Morning this past weekend about the owner of the Venetian Hotel in Vegas flying in wounded Veterans to thank them for their service and give them some R&R.  That ROCKS! And if I have it in my power to stay at any hotel of my choice next time I go to Vegas – guess where I’m staying?  Damn straight, I’m going to the Venetian.  In these tough economic times, it is awesome to see others who are generous to others, especially for the right reasons.

Happy Veterans’ Day, and thank you again for your time talent and service to our country.

Ok, not to go all Madonna-material-girl on the world this evening, but here is a small list of 5 things I personally believe every girl needs in her life:

5.  A library card!
4.  Awesome friends that pop in every once in awhile, just to check on you…and a pet.
3.  A walk-in-the-room, kick-*ss-and-take-names-red dress.  You know what I mean, ladies and gentlemen…(The best revenge, in my opinion, is to be sure to look like a billion $ next time you see him…)
2.  A fireplace, AND the ability to manage it (be it gas or the real deal)…on these frosty winter nights! And…last but not least:
1.  A fantastic, I-can-take-on-the-world attitude!  (And fabulous shoes during these moments usually help…) 

Go forth, ladies and gentlemen, and kick a little *ss this week – be it in that red dress, fabulous shoes, or not!

All day, I have been diligently studying my law stuff, and thus far, the closest I can come to describing law as it relates to art this week is like listening to a record stuck on the 3rd note of Felix Mendelssohn’s overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream (hint:  that note ain’t exactly dreamy, but instead screams for relief)….but I just read one view of the common law by Alfred Knight that says lawyers and judges are a “breed of artists painting on living canvases.” Hmm…that’s a little deep…and WAY too deep for someone who has been studying jurisdiction and venue all day…

I’m finding it astounding that the press/media in the current haze of the US is focused on two things:

1. hypo-allergenic puppies for the oval office
2. what dress the President-elect’s wife wears

Some states are nearing 9% unemployment, GM is burning cash at astounding rates, the stock market is still as volatile as Midwest weather in December, and there are millions of people in this country with no healthcare.  Dear President-elect:  You own change.gov; why not open up a contest for Americans to comment and bring ideas on healthcare, the economy, alternative energy (to name a few?)  And dear media: can we focus on figuring out how to SOLVE our country’s problems rather than just restating the problems and stuff that means absolutely nothing to the majority in this country?

I promise to stop ranting about politics, but main stream media just isn’t giving me (and many other common-sense Americans) a choice.

Here’s one example: alt. energy.  Why the heck can’t figure out how to build an engine that burns on trash? Here’s another: why don’t we reward people for getting off their chairs and exercising and not smoking? Why can’t we offer a tax credit or refund for people who are trying to educate themselves on starting and owning a small business?

The American people have spoken, and we now have a new president for January.  However, I started thinking about the ‘write-in’ category.  Who got votes beyond the obvious?  (And we are talking about 2% of the overall popular vote here), but there is something to be said for those who had enough moxy to use their vote on someone else.

Some people wrote in the obvious, like Ron Paul, and (what I’m assuming perhaps is Michael) Moore, but some of the others on this list I have never heard of…but why?  In a Democracy, shouldn’t we entitled to hear all the candidates, rather than those who are in the two majority parties in this country, or who can raise the most money to buy TV commercials?

I promise I’m done with political rants….at least for now.  Besides, there’s always 2012….

Ok, just back from voting…and after waiting an hour in line to do my part in ‘one of the most important elections in our lifetime’, all I would like the world to ponder is this:

If we can put a man on the moon, vote online or from our cell phones for the American Idol, split atoms, and eradicate/cure many former plagues on this planet, WHY can’t our voting system be faster?

That is all I have to say in regard to voting day.

Whenever anyone thinks I’m totally insane for trying a lot of different stuff simultaneously, I always think of Leonardo DaVinci.  After watching Thomas Friedman on OpenCourse at MIT tonight, he said something that made me mashup and solidify in my mind a couple of thoughts – that DaVinci really was a walking Mashup himself back in the day.  His creativity stemmed from the variety of stuff he did – inventions, art, engineering, writing, etc.  He literally was one of the world’s most famous walking Mashups! Also, Friedman reminded me what Daniel Pink also reminded us all here live in Indianapolis this past week – that a good, solid liberal arts education is key to remaining competitive, creative, and a force in the global economy. Actually, sometimes what I miss most about high school was the variety of classes I had the chance to take – everything from choir, to band, to participating in debate, problem solving, quiz bowl, and drama, on top of all the various coursework.  The variety alone rocked!  So if you are already an adult, or on your way to becoming one…try not to lose this passion for variety…it can help you better mashup super cool, neato ideas of the future!

Here is one of the most important and complicated Civil Procedure cases on personal jurisdiction succinctly analyzed by some future attorneys:

As I’ve blogged before, I am a fan of Choose Your Own Adventure books.  Here’s yet another way to choose your own destiny: by creating your own universe, or several.  If Schrodinger had it right, everything is pretty much a choice, or at least dual before you officially check.  For $20, you too can create your own universe, with multiple outcomes, or multiple endings….at least until you check.

Wow.  Beats fruitcake…!