...And never the twain shall meet.

It's been said time and time again -- and we all know it from our own experiences -- but everytime it happens, it still shocks me like cold water splashed in my face: men and women just DO NOT think alike. And by that, I don't mean that our opinions are different; I mean that our thought processes are not the same. We can start at exactly the same place and end up at wildly divergent destinations. And since most of us neglect to remember this chasm of a difference, we usually believe that we are communicating to each other in plain language with crystal-clear meanings. Oh no, my friend... this is a trap for the naive!

For example, a recent conversation...
She: I have a pounding headache.
He: Take an aspirin.
(now she's annoyed, and he is a sitting duck for the next time she gets annoyed and lets him have her pent-up frustrations)

Had the conversation been between two women...

She: I have a pounding headache.
Her friend: Oh, you poor thing! Is there anything I can do to help you feel better? Maybe some aspirin?
(despite the pounding headache, she feels good)

Had the conversation been between two men... Well, let's face it, one guy would never bother to mention a headache to another guy. He'd just go take the aspirin.

Now let's look at that exchange again and delve for the meaning behind the words...

She: I have a pounding headache. (meaning: "I don't feel good and am looking for some sympathy; knowing you care will help me feel better.")
He: Take an aspirin. (meaning: "Okay, I understand that you have a problem, so here's a solution." I take your words to present a problem, not to communicate a feeling or emotional need -- this is why I will be completely blindsided when you get annoyed at me.)

And this is why a kiss is never just a kiss, nor a sigh just a sigh.

Fight for the Right of the party

What party didn't involved a little brawl?

Vox Day takes down Michelle Malkin.

(Okay, I know... I know... they aren't the same party; Vox Day is a Libertarian, and Michelle Malkin is a prominent member of the BS party -- "blatant self-promoting" party)

Speed dating for law students?

I feel like I've just been through a round of speed dating, even though I have never actually done it. Ya' see, in law school, there's this thing called "early interview week" which provides students and prospective employers the opportunity to size each other up. It's just like speed dating in a weird way.

Each player in the game starts out with the other's profile. In the case of law students, we read the firm's website and profile in various law resources. The firms get our resumes, whittled down to one and only one page. The whole game commands and commandeers most of a downtown DC hotel, so you see these very young, wobbly, well-heeled (that's why they're wobbly) and well-suited (although not necessarily suitable) young folks rushing around, sitting around and generally loitering during the whole lottery process.

Each interview is slated for about 20 minutes. Each "interview" takes place in a hotel room. So, like the soul-sellers that we aspire to be, the students go 'round and 'round and 'round. It's definitely speed dating with the ultimate goal of getting asked on a second date...

"Did he like me? Will he ask me back?"

The creepy thing is that this all takes place in a hotel room with the bed right there. The context is surreal and very unprofessional IMHO even though it is the process which launches most professional legal careers. I couldn't help but think it bizarre so I even told several of my interviewers that it seemed like speed dating to me. Some lawyers don't have a sense of humor.

Fortunately, some do. And yes, I got several second dates.