I. A Gamer's Perspective

Most of you know that I am an avid gamer. I play all sorts of games - first person shooters, real-time strategy games, role-playing games, etc. I've been gaming since I was young - the first game I remember playing was Ski-Free on Windows 95.  My first console was the N64, complete with Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. Curiously, my Dad [who bought us the game] decided we were too "young" to play and instead played the entire game by himself. Coincidence? I think not!

In my experience, (1) games are beneficial and (2) not a waste of time.

Some of you might think that this is sad: I have played games since I was a kid and continue to do so now, even through law school. On the contrary, I think that growing up gaming has been a great experience for me. Gaming has been an integral part of my life - I love games for many reasons [aside from the fact that they're ridiculously awesome!].

More after the jump!  Warning: very long - I apologize in advance.

Introduction

This is my first blog, and I admit I'm kind of excited! I would never have gotten the idea to even begin a blog but for a conversation I just had with an attorney. He asked me to send him a writing sample, but not a legal one. Here's how the conversation went (I took some liberties with the specific words but the basic idea is still there):

Him: So, I'd like you to send me a writing sample. Send me something you like, something that shows me your voice.
Me: Oh sure, I can get that to you a little later.
Him: I don't want a brief or a law review article, because those aren't written in your voice. Those are written for judges and your journal.
Me: [Umm.. the only things I've written are briefs, memos, and law review articles..] So, you mean.. you want a non-legal writing sample?
Him: Yeah, something like a blog or something that you're really proud of! I want to read your voice because that's the voice you'll be using when, for example, entering into negotiations, and that is the most powerful voice you have.
Me: Oh. Okay. I can do that [No I can't, what am I saying? I don't have a blog, I haven't written anything for fun in the last four years]
Him: If you're having trouble thinking of something, just let me know.
Me: Okay, to be honest, I haven't really written anything aside from academic work in the last few years. When I'm not writing papers for school, I'm playing video games.
Him: Oh. Well, in that case... I guess you can send me an academic sample. Just make sure it's not more than 5 pages because I really don't want to have to read through more legal papers, and make sure it expresses you!
Me: Great, I can do that!

And now, after hanging up the phone, I'm looking through folders of academic papers and I've realized that not one of them really expresses me. Great.

So I figure that the purpose of this blog will be to express myself, for myself. I suppose I'll just write whenever I think of something interesting, or if I come across something interesting. In any case, I'm off to find my voice