God Bless America

[Sizzle]

I am currently in a similar situation. Last Spring I went to part time at work to focus on finishing up my thesis. I got married this summer, moved to Vegas, and continued to work part time as I finished the thesis and looked for a "career" job. Then my wife was laid off. Because I had been working part time I didn't qualify for any assistance. Luckily, my wife was able to. Although we couldn't justify going on a cruise, I'll agree with others on here that sometimes you need a break from the overwhelming stress, frustration and guilt from the situation. Going out to eat or catching a movie is about the only escape we can justify. Sometimes we feel guilty, but I figure that we have put enough money into the system over the years, the system should be able to take us out occasionally.

But that is what it is there for. I see a huge difference between spending $45 for dinner and a movie date occasionally and making a $700 iPod and $1,500 cruise purchase.

[Donuthole]

Lexis gave out cars???

When I was in law school we only received t shirts.

When Toyota launched the Lexus line of luxury vehicles in 1987, Mead Data Central sued for trademark infringement on the grounds that consumers of upscale products (such as lawyers) would confuse "Lexus" with "Lexis". A market research survey asked consumers to identify the spoken word "Lexis". Survey results showed that a nominal number of people thought of the computerized legal search system, a similarly small number thought of Toyota's luxury car division. A judge ruled against Toyota, and the company appealed the decision.[10] Mead lost on appeal in 1989 when the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit held that there was little chance of consumer confusion. Today, the two companies have an amicable business relationship, and in 2002 implemented a joint promotion called "Win A Lexus On Lexis!"

It could happen!

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LexisNexis"]LexisNexis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:LexisNexis_logo.png" class="image" title="LexisNexis"><img alt="LexisNexis" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/aa/LexisNexis_logo.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/a/aa/LexisNexis_logo.png[/ame]

[Babs]

And this point of view make obvious cents but we cannot forget about the other side of the coin.

The imprudent side?

[Babs]

Lexis gave out cars???

When I was in law school we only received t shirts.

heh. chump.

[USUC]

But that is what it is there for. I see a huge difference between spending $45 for dinner and a movie date occasionally and making a $700 iPod and $1,500 cruise purchase.

I agree. The thought of spending that much money on an iPod or cruise gives me vicarious anxiety. Maybe family members are helping them out. I agree its not entirely prudent from the outside looking in. A staycation, perhaps a trip to Utah's Dixie, might be a better option.

[Donuthole]

heh. chump.

During my 2L year, LexisNexis lured me into one of their presentations with free pizza from Papa Johns. There were about 50 of us in the room, some semi-pretending to care (and many not even pretending) to "learn" about Lexis's newest search offerings, all in the name of free pizza and garlic dipping sauce. At one point, the peppy presenter really started hammering the possibility of winning a free Lexus through the latest promotion. She then exclaimed "Wouldn't it be cool to start your legal career with a luxury car, free of charge!" as if the line had been rehearsed in front of a mirror no fewer than a thousand times.

It was at this point, amidst the dearth of a response from the audience, when the the preppiest and self-proclaimed snobbiest kid in the entire law school, without even bringing his eyes away from his game of laptop solitaire, and just before taking an enormous bite from two folded-over slices of pizza, cut through the awkward silence and deadpanned: "Be sure to let us know when they change their name to MercedisNexis, will ya?"

[KillerDog]

During my 2L year, LexisNexis lured me into one of their presentations with free pizza from Papa Johns. There were about 50 of us in the room, some semi-pretending to care (and many not even pretending) to "learn" about Lexis's newest search offerings, all in the name of free pizza and garlic dipping sauce. At one point, the peppy presenter really started hammering the possibility of winning a free Lexus through the latest promotion. She then exclaimed "Wouldn't it be cool to start your legal career with a luxury car, free of charge!" as if the line had been rehearsed in front of a mirror no fewer than a thousand times.

It was at this point, amidst the dearth of a response from the audience, when the the preppiest and self-proclaimed snobbiest kid in the entire law school, without even bringing his eyes away from his game of laptop solitaire, and just before taking an enormous bite from two folded-over slices of pizza, cut through the awkward silence and deadpanned: "Be sure to let us know when they change their name to MercedisNexis, will ya?"

Just became my favorite story of the day.

[TripletDaddy]

I just remembered that Lexis also gave everyone a free highlighter. So did Bar-Bri.

I walked away from law school with several free highlighters. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

[FN Phat]

The imprudent side?

The sometimes you have to treat yourself, especially when you need a break from the dim existence that is your life coin

[Babs]

The sometimes you have to treat yourself, especially when you need a break from the dim existence that is your life coin

Maybe so. Granted, I've never been on unemployment. Then again, I've never been on a cruise, either.

[cougjunkie]

Maybe so. Granted, I've never been on unemployment. Then again, I've never been on a cruise, either.

I am with you on both of those. Lets go together!

[Babs]

I am with you on both of those. Lets go together!

on a cruise or unemployment?

[cougjunkie]

on a cruise or unemployment?

Both. We can quit our jobs so we can actually afford the cruise.

[Babs]

Both. We can quit our jobs so we can actually afford the cruise.

Sweet! Welfare and a cruise ticket...that makes two free rides!

[cougjunkie]

Sweet! Welfare and a cruise ticket...that makes two free rides!

Do you mind having a baby so we can get free milk and bread from WIC?