Lately I find that some of my very best stress relief comes from the simple act of engaging with my dog. Science has long shown that spending time with a pet can benefit a person’s mood and have positive health effects, such as lowering blood pressure and raising endorphin levels. Best of all, playing with a pet is a drug-free (albeit very addictive) way to relieve stress. As a self-declared animal lover I can personally vouch that after a long day filled with the woes of casebooks, Westlaw, and cold calling, there is no greater feeling than coming home to my pup’s never-ending love, energy and furry cuddles. Sometimes we really just need a hug or a laugh to shake off the weight of the world and animals are a fantastic source of uncomplicated, unyielding support.

Ok, so I know its extremely difficult to balance the responsibilities that come with pet ownership and the already daunting to do list that accompanies law school, but no worries because New York City happens to be crawling with furry friends, and pet owners are almost always happy to let you gush over their companion and share the love. Even just engaging in pet watching (as opposed to people watching) can induce stress-melting effects. I have frequently found myself altering my route to and from school to include a five-minute detour at the nearest doggy day cares in order to watch as they romp around. There is just something about a floppy, furry, bouncy pup that elicits an immediate smile from a human. You can also watch or engage with pets at the dog parks in Union Square and Washington Square Parks, both located a short walk from school. Extra brownie and stress relief points to anyone who chooses to engage himself with animals in our city in one of the greatest ways possible, which is to volunteer a little of your time at one of our city’s countless shelters. Many times they need people to simply take some of the animals for a walk or to just play with them so they gain socialization skills. Giving back and gaining happiness, that’s what I call a win-win.

Either way, I hope that next time you feel like crying or chucking your casebook out of the library window, you instead opt for a little fresh air with a cuddly companion; I promise the results are guaranteed.

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Considering that most first year students are unable to get for-profit summer jobs, most turn to the non-profit arena to gain their first legal experience. For Cardozo students, New York University’s Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair is seen as the focal point of the summer employment search. To meet the challenge, every prospective job seeker needs to dress to impress. Some guys depend on the red power tie. Others seek to convey their workaholism with a dark blue tie. Girls can rely on the skirt suit. I count on the strength of my cologne.

Once at the PILC Fair, I realized that smelling good just isn’t enough. In the world of legal recruiting, I’m just a suit in a room full of suits. Succeeding at the PILC Fair requires a massive hustle to sell oneself to as many recruiters as possible. New York District Attorney’s Office: “I want to cleanup the streets. The current crime rate cannot stand!” Federal Defender of New York: “The legal system is messed up! The system just keeps pushing the little guy down.” Disaster Accountability Project: “I used to be a train wreck. I used to fall apart all the time. Then I bought a planner and kicked my caffeine addiction.” Drug Policy Center: “I’m perfect for this internship. I have extensive experience with drugs.” The Children’s Law Center: “I absolutely love children. I babysit all the time. I haven’t shaken a baby yet.”

In response to the flood of nervous wrecks, internship recruiters speak in code. “Where do you go to law school?” I wonder where your student debt is going. “What is your favorite law school subject?” Trick question! The whole first year is terrible. “What is your best skill?” Can you be trusted to do anything beyond highlighting? “Do you have other interviews?” Are other people interested in you? “Are you getting fellowship money?” You shouldn’t be worried about being paid because we’re not paying you!

In the end, I joined the exodus of suited law student exiting the PILC Fair with slouched shoulders weighed down by over expectation. I realized the internship search isn’t always successful. You can’t nail every interview. Nevertheless, it remains important to keep perspective. Get a job or don’t get a job, it doesn’t matter all that much. It wasn’t as if you were going to get paid anyway. Disappointment during the job search serves a reminder of the bigger picture. One of my high school teachers once said, “Why work hard in life? Don’t marry for love. Marry for money!” I should follow his advice.

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It isn’t really men’s fault that they have no idea what the hell they’re doing. Perhaps feminism has in fact made things too complicated for them. After all, what can be gleaned from women’s contradictory messages of the demand for equal pay in the workplace, followed by the breast-solicit of free drinks at the bar? Ultimately, men must wonder, “Can we still open doors for women without causing a glass ceiling to crash down on us?” Modern men have erred on the side of, “no,” because they were born after a generation that learned the hard way, separate but equal is inherently unequal. And so non-separated equality for women in the workplace has extended to non-differentiating equality in dating as well.

Practically, this means that modern women—pursuing the makings of success—should no longer expect to be pursued romantically. For if we are indeed just as capable of proactively achieving our goals, why should men sweat to make the first move? And if we work just as hard for our paychecks, how can we in turn expect to be taken care of financially? After all, when it comes down to it, isn’t chivalry—nonchalantly covering large dinner bills, holding open heavy and solid doors, placing warm coats upon cold shoulders—simply the vestiges of a condescension toward women, the weaker, frailer, and unable-to-earn sex?

This, of course, is all rhetoric of femi-nazi malarkey. Men and women can, and should, be equals in the workplace. Along identical lines, they can, and should, be equals within personal relationships. But what all that has to do with being the same as one another, I will never know. For, just as racial equality has never meant an eradication of racial diversity and differences, neither has gender equality ever meant gender sameness. In the end, most (if not all) men still want to feel like men, and most (if not all) women still want to feel like women.

Comprehending the distinction between equality and sameness is certainly demanding, but it is far from an impossible feat. Central to this balance is mutual respect. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what chivalry is all about. Gentlemen, holding out a chair for your lady friend or occasionally buying her a drink can mean that you both respect her as an equal and that you appreciate that she is a woman. And ladies, constantly complaining that men are pigs, stupid, or lazy really doesn’t help the situation. In fact, it makes us seem pretty insecure about our positions in society as women, and makes our equality feel precarious.

The way to realize mutual respect is through careful and nuanced listening. Some women don’t like to be doted on, and others do; some women bask in the glow of a free-drinks-high, and others recoil in disgust. By listening to one another with open ears and open minds, and by carefully unpacking gendered needs and nuanced desires, we can accomplish an equality that retains differentiation without treading into separation.

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Strawberries are sweet in flavor, and firm in texture, and therefore typically best in their pure form; think strawberries on top of salads, pies, and cakes. However, strawberries also have the distinction of being very absorptive, which can allow you to play with different flavor combinations. One flavor combination to consider is to mix some cut-up strawberries with some sugar and balsamic vinegar for a half-an-hour. The strawberries along with a little bit of fresh basil can be served over grilled bread, chicken, or even fish.

Of course, the advantage of eating any fruit, over chips, pretzels, chocolate, etc. is its health benefits. Blueberries in particular are known for being high in antioxidants, which makes them great for improving memory (and therefore closed-book exams) and keeping the heart healthy (and therefore dealing with the stress of being cold-called). Blueberries are also very versatile, and as such can easily be added to most baked goods just before being thrown in the oven; think muffins, cobblers, and cakes. They can also be turned into a quick breakfast smoothie to get your brain working just in time for that 8:30 a.m. ALR class. Throw some blueberries, yogurt, orange juice, and honey in a blender and you are ready to go.

If you are looking for a more savory way to use berries, look no further than the blackberry. Blackberries, because of their rich flavor, are often used in sauces to top meats; think duck with blackberry sauce, steak marinated with blackberries, or roasted chicken glazed with blackberry jam. But, savory does not always require using meat. Instead, you can grill up some asparagus and mix it with some sliced oranges and blackberries. Or, try mixing some fresh blackberries with jalape�os, garlic, red onion, vinegar, cilantro, salt, and pepper to make a salsa that you can serve with vegetables or chips.

It is appropriate that the raspberry should end our discussion of berries, since they are very sweet like strawberries, have many of the same health benefits like blueberries, and can be used in a myriad of savory dishes like blackberries. Given all of this, my favorite way to use raspberries is in a simple jam, which can then be used as a layer in cakes or cookies, used to glaze meats, or for your everyday peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Best of all, raspberry jam is very simple to make. Just bring some mashed berries to a boil, add some sugar, return to a boil, and cook for a couple of minutes longer. Then let cool.

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I will warn you that the place is all about the meat, and meat is what Wildwood does best. Wildwood�s Pit-master is a former NYPD cop, who creates some pretty impressive dishes. For starters, they serve a variety of themed dishes such as Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wings rubbed and smoked; Loaded Nachos that you can build up with brisket or pulled pork; and Three Meat BBQ enchiladas. If you have a hefty appetite, or someone to share with, prepare for some large plates when you order one of their signature meals.

My favorite dish was the Kansas City Baby Back Ribs served wet and slathered with the Chipotle sauce adding a kick of flavor. The hand carved Texas Smoked Brisket and Spicy Southern Fried Chicken are sure to please as well. If you crave something light and a little less Paula Deen-esq, then I suggest you vacate the restaurant�I kid, I kid. Just go for the slightly healthier Mahi Mahi Tacos, Grilled Chicken, or the Wildwood Caesar salad. However, I�ve got to be honest with you: if you are not making a mess and eating with your hands like an ancient barbarian, you are missing the real fun.

Wildwood also provides a selection of eighteen southern-themed sides to complete the meal. The mac-n-cheese is a crowd favorite, and the collard greens with smoke turkey bacon is my personal favorite. For those seeking a more down-home southern experience, Wildwood proudly boasts a large selection of Bourbon and Whiskey. And to make sure everyone can get in on the fun, Wildwood is happy to make substitutions�so those keeping kosher or anyone with a dietary restriction need not fret.

I�m not in love with the touristy western themed decor, but overall it�s a nice, clean, modern space. It is also hard to notice the decor with the immense number of televisions all over the restaurant, including a massive projector screen. I had the pleasure of first visiting Wildwood when the Giants easily sailed to victory over the Packers and definitely plan to return during March Madness. Many of the patrons are enthusiastic sports fans, so you can bet the atmosphere is guaranteed to be fun and filled with energy. On game day, no one has a bad seat at the bar, but getting a table can be troublesome, so arrive early or call ahead.

Overall, Wildwood BBQ is a decent effort for themed barbecue restaurants. The menu is well thought out and offers a new spin on some commonly known dishes. If you are looking to alleviate your law school stress with large helpings barbecue, a variety of Bourbon, and sports, then, my friend, Wildwood BBQ is calling your name.

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Jeremy Lin, a second-year player out of Harvard, became a literal overnight sensation after leading the Knicks over the soon-to-be-cross-city-rival Nets. A substantial winning streak led to an epidemic that many classified as �Linsanity,� and the Knicks were suddenly back in the playoff race.

The most amazing part of the Lin story is that he was relatively unknown by even Knicks fans before that breakout game. He was an undrafted rookie last year with Golden State, and after being cut by both Golden State and Houston, he signed with the Knicks this past offseason and was originally sent to the Knicks� Development League affiliate. In fact, the only reason Lin got his shot in the first place was because of injuries to players like Toney Douglas and offseason acquisition of Baron Davis.

Within just two weeks of his breakout performance, Lin landed an endorsement deal with Nike, and his merchandise sales shot through the roof (mostly because there was virtually no Lin apparel before then). His jersey has been the top seller since February 4, and Knicks jersey sales went up 200 percent within a week. In fact, Lin has made the Knicks the top selling team overall in jersey sales.

Much of Lin�s commercial success has been attributed to his Taiwanese heritage, even though the point guard was born in Palo Alto, California. Lin is a devout Christian, which has earned him comparisons to Denver Broncos� quarterback Tim Tebow. In that regard, his heritage has opened up a huge market for his brand overseas, a market that has been searching for a new basketball star ever since Yao Ming recently retired. One concern about his overseas marketability, however, is that the Chinese government may consider censoring Lin�s promotion because of his Christianity.

Lin has given Knicks fans something to cheer about that has not been present since the days of Starks, Johnson, Ewing, and company. Where the team will end up at the end of the season is obviously clouded in mystery, as health problems continue to be a serious concern. However, if the Knicks can keep Lin after this season when he becomes a restricted free agent, they may become a legitimate force for at least the next few years. Get excited New York!

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Don Cheadle has come a long way from Hotel Rwanda. Now the cutthroat, backstabbing Marty Kaan, the lead in a squad of damage control consultants at Galweather & Stern, has lost his moral compass completely. His crew, Jeannie (Kristen Bell), Clyde (Ben Schwartz) and Doug (Josh Lawson) are no better, adding sleaze and greed to the mix.

When the characters aren’t bleeding the clients dry, making them think they need the help of Marty and his team, they are having sex and if they aren’t, they are trying to have it, or talking about it or alluding to it. By the middle of each half-hour episode, the business titans (ranging from the stupid to the stupid and entertaining to the downright boring) have already been successfully seduced by the team, leaving enough time for entertainment—strip clubs, drinking, encounters with a foot fetish, a naughty Mormon and well, some things that just can’t be printed. At times the raunchiness is a bit much, but it goes with the sphere of the show. This is not a show for prudes.

“Always be closing” is taken to a whole new level that we once saw in Glengarry Glen Ross. As Marty, in one of his several voice overs says, “You have to be willing to violate. Violate personal space, violate manners, violate the law. Hell, violate every molecule, so all that’s left is the yes.” And Marty will do anything necessary, motivated by ambition, sex and revenge. Marty could be detestable, but isn’t. The creator, Matthew Carnahan (Dirt) has brought some subtlety to the character, slightly redeeming the moral-less universe of House of Lies. Marty takes on the issue of racism head on, knowing he will be held to a different standard. At one point he even takes the back seat on a project, allowing Jeannie to take over.

At work Marty is the ace, the consultant of all consultants at the company led by The West Wing’s Richard Schiff (a character that we don’t nearly see enough of). But at home, Marty is a complete wreck. He hits on Jeannie, has hate-sex with his ex-wife, also a consultant and pill popper (was that part really necessary), and battles for custody of their 12-year-old cross-dressing son Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.). Despite believing that Roscoe’s flamboyance is a phase meant to provoke, the one genuine thing we see in this show is Marty’s love for his son.

House of Lies throws everything at you—sex, greed, manipulation, strippers, drug addicts, and sexual identity issues—while blasting the targets of our present day crisis. Each episode on its own is entertaining, but week after week, the show can begin to feel a bit lazy, the same story lines just in a different city. The cast works well together and each character’s line leads straight into another’s. The show is stylistically interesting in that every episode has a freeze out scene where Marty walks outside of the scene to say something hilarious or cynical. But how long can Corporate America be the punching bag?

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The plaintiffs, two California same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses by their county clerks, sued then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other state officials on May 22, 2009. Because no compelling state interest justifies denying same-sex couples the fundamental right to marry and no rational basis exists for limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, the plaintiffs argued that Prop 8 denied them of substantive due process and equal protection guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

Proponents of the law argued that marriage has been historically limited to a man and a woman because it promotes a family structure of two biological parents that is optimal for child rearing. Governments thus have a strong interest in limiting the recognition of marriage to opposite-sex couples because only they could have children.

The District Court found for the plaintiffs and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the decision on equal protection grounds, holding that Prop 8 “serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

Perry has raised questions about the Supreme Court’s role in overturning laws that voters have passed in several states, to which Cardozo professor David Rudenstine responds. “In interpreting the Constitution, the Court is fulfilling its responsibilities as have been defined for over 220 years. When a law such as Proposition 8 violates the Constitution, it is the Court’s responsibility to overturn it.” Citing similar controversial cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Rudenstine points out that a majority of voters favored mandatory segregation based on race at the time. “If the Court was to spout majoritarian preferences, it would have been catastrophic for this country.” Professor Alexander Reinert expresses a similar sentiment. “If there’s a constitutional right at stake, the point is to protect those rights against the majority. It is irrelevant that protecting those rights would be against the majoritarian will.”

Proponents of Prop 8 have vowed to appeal the ruling but face the decision of whether to request a rehearing en banc or take the case directly to the United States Supreme Court. While both options are on the table, a rehearing en banc is more likely, because the larger panel of judges may decide the case on both equal protection and due process grounds.  “There’s less of a chance that the Supreme Court would take it now than if the due process issues were solved first,” says Professor Reinert. “It benefits the Court to hear another set of arguments because the Ninth Circuit has decided the case on a very narrow version of the Equal Protection Clause and as a result, there are fewer ramifications outside of California.  On the other hand, given that this is a Ninth Circuit case with high visibility, the Court may decide to take it without having gone en banc.” Proponents have twenty-one days from the Ninth Circuit’s ruling to request a rehearing en banc and ninety days to petition the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari.

On February 21, 2012, proponents of Proposition 8 requested a rehearing en banc of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling.  Lawyers expect the Court to make a decision on whether to grant the petition in the coming weeks.

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An Iowa man is seeking class action certification for a federal claim against Brett and his company, Brett Bros., stating that these necklaces and bracelets falsely advertise increased performance and medical benefits. Though advertised on the packaging to “help relieve stiffness in the shoulders and neck, eventually stabilizing your whole body, as well as help recovery from sports fatigue, restore important ion balance, and improve concentration and focus,” he claims to have received none of these benefits. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief as well as damages in accordance with the Iowa Private Right to Action for Consumer Frauds Act.

While known to true baseball enthusiasts as a Hall of Famer—one of only four who has accumulated 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average, Brett is most infamous for the 1983 “Pine Tar Incident.” Down 4-3 to the New York Yankees, and with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, George Brett hit a two-run homerun that would have given the Kansas City Royals the lead. The umpires ruled that his baseball bat was in violation of league rules by containing too much pine tar and in all the wrong places. He was called out and the Yankees were awarded a victory. The Kansas City Star later wrote, “So, Brett had the ignominious distinction of hitting a game-losing home run and [Rich ‘Goose’] Gossage got a save by giving up a hit into the seats.” Upon being called out, Brett burst out from the dugout to maniacally shout his objections at the home-plate umpire. It is undoubtedly one of the most volcanic tirades ever witnessed in sports.

Brett was correct in arguing the call. Upon post-game review by the league, the call was reversed and the remainder of the game was rescheduled for a later date. The Royals ended up winning the game. So, might Mr. Brett’s good fortune extend to this looming lawsuit?

Unless they truly have science on their side, probably not—the case is being likened to Packer v. Power Balance, LLC (2011) in which the defendants were sued over their Mylar hologram bracelets that pronounced increased balance, flexibility, and strength. The company was forced to admit that, “there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims and therefore we engaged in misleading conduct.” Since settling out of court for somewhere between $1 and $30 million dollars, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The good news for all of those Power Balance bracelet fans out there is that they are not shutting down production, though. In fact, they are even planning on introducing a new Performance Mouth Gear product in the very near future.

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Even in today’s economy, producing a quality runway show may cost close to a million dollars with fashion contracts up to $65,000 to rent the main runway at Lincoln Center. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that many designers have opted to showcase their collections exclusively online via their Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts.

However, while the increased digitization of fashion week has made the catwalk more accessible, it has also raised legal concerns. Designers are quick to take advantage and require pereptual use of a model’s likeness, and their contracts lack royalty provisions to compensate models for the continued use of their likeness. Meanwhile, within minutes of hitting the runway, models are photographed and their pictures disseminated via the World Wide Web, and third-party retailers are taking advantage.

Additionally, live-streaming seems to have paved the way for copyright infringement of music rights. When designers showcase their collections at Lincoln Center, IMG pays for any and all music rights on their behalf. However, if designers opt to showcase their collection elsewhere, they must buy licenses, either through ASCAP or otherwise. Even when all the accompanying music licenses have been paid for, the fashion show and its soundtrack are accessible via www.YouTube.com/livefromtherunway.

The ability to follow Fashion Week from anywhere on your iPad or iPhone will continue to have some negative repercussions for the fashion industry as this acessiblity contributes to widespread IP issues as well as contractual issues; of course, without such legal protections, the show cannot go on.

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