Finals approach, but of course, my brain is focused on everything but finals. There’s news galore, the future, new and interesting ideas to consider, and movies to watch! Since I’m so distracted, and because you might need some distraction to, here are some random thoughts, because why not?

1. Net Neutrality

Like I said, news galore...or not. Little news surrounds this issue, but… perhaps not enough. Either way, this issue is popping up again and again, and for good reason. Don’t forget to contact your representatives and send comments to the FCC! If they don’t listen, at least we’ll all go down together.

2. Donald Trump

It’s important to know what the president is up to, but it’s almost exhausting reading article after article about some small negative gesture. Many already know he’s not the best human being. We don’t need to be told that, nor do we need to know about every single tweet (then again, maybe we do, he seems to announce policy and foreign affairs there).

I want to know what he’s actually DOING. What is he saying to public officials of other countries? What policies is he pursuing? How is he actually treating military operations? What effect has he had on the economy? What is his administration doing?

3. What is anti-natalism?

A fellow content creator recently informed fellow creators and me about an intriguing concept: anti-natalism. You might think, “Anti-what now?” I thought this too.

The general idea: We shouldn’t, and it may even be wrong to, bring new people into the world.

Why? The answer is fairly pessimistic. The author of this concept believes that by bringing new people into the world, we are increasing the amount of suffering in the world. The argument is that the pains and sufferings of the world substantially outweigh the pleasures. Who are we to force another person to exist and thus suffer in this cruel world?

4. What does it mean to be a lawyer?

As the last of classes come to an end and we approach the time by which law students are expected to obtain jobs, we are left now to ponder finals and our futures. One professor ended class with a short speech, reminding us that, as lawyers, we have the privilege followed by the responsibility of helping people in times of need, perhaps the worst moment of their lives.

Lawyers receive barrages of flak in media. There are terrible lawyers out there, of course (we read of one lawyer who tossed back some Barbie dolls). But many good or “regular” lawyers exist too- advocating for their clients and serving as agents of the law. That this is a role we serve is both a daunting and empowering thought.

5. Monuments

Apparently, Oregon State University is considering renaming some of its buildings. Some anger stews over this, including accusations of erasing history. Officials say the current naming honors certain people for doing terrible things.

As I’ve considered before during the flurry of Confederate monument debate, there is a test we could use when determining whether or not remove a monument/honoring item:

If a public object stands or was constructed for the primary purpose of honoring an individual or group for actions they took which are objectively unethical, that object should not continue to stand so as to be in the context of honor.

6. How do we make education better?

This is something I often ponder. I’ve always believed in the value of education, even more so now because my partner is a teacher herself. The children of the nation and the world deserve the best, that they may live better lives than us. Education is imperative in recognition of that.

7. All the movies

‘Tis the season to geek out!

Over the course of this and next month, a number of movies either came out or are coming that make my geek meter go crazy. Justice League is here, in live action glory (I’m avoiding the various reviews, because I’m going to see it no matter what)! Thor Ragnarok, of which I have heard less, also came out.

Stepping away from the superheroes, there’s also the latest Disney-Pixar movie, Coco. From what I hear and from what I’ve seen, it seems like a heartwarming breath of fresh air, especially for its accurate portrayals of Mexican culture.

Finally, there’s a return to some of my deepest roots: Star Wars VIII and The Greatest Showman. I’ve always loved Star Wars, and I’m ready to geek out with The Last Jedi! Meanwhile, the band geek in me is PSYCHED for Showman! The music! The acrobatics! The Showmanship!

8. I get to go home soon.

Just a little while longer, and I get to see some of the people I love the most, and I can’t wait. It may also mean having some heated and uncomfortable conversations, but I shall endure.