It's not just a blog carnival; it's the law! ~ a fool in the forest
Someone you trust is one of us. Kevin Thompson, at Cyberlaw Central, is hosting Blawg Review #93, an imaginative presentation based on Steve Jackson Games, Inc. v. United States Secret Service.
The nominees for the 7th annual Weblog Awards, the 2007 Bloggies, have been announced, finally.
The Web Celeb 25 are recognized by Forbes."The Face of fame is changing. The ranks of the world's celebrities used to be dominated by millionaire actors, athletes and musicians, but the Internet has leveled the playing field. A kid with a video camera has access to as large an audience as the biggest Hollywood star. A mom with a blog can attract more readers than a best-selling author. And an opinionated entrepreneur can become a guru to millions."David Maister, who hosted Blawg Review #76 a while back, is hosting the Carnival of the Capitalists for January 22, 2007.
Since I am not a lawyer, and this blog site is meant to appeal to a broad international audience working in a wide variety of professions and industries, I have (as previously announced) restricted my choices to the themes of work and professional life, firm management, marketing, strategy and careers (rather than legal topics per se).In David Maister's Carnival of the Capitalists this week, we find the Dilanchian Lawyers who provide a link to a story about YouTube’s Licensing arrangements. It's always good when business-minded lawyers contribute to the best of the Carnival of the Capitalists.
Tom "Bald Dog" Varjan has the blog post of the week in my view.
Of Sailors and Mountaineers: The Inherent Dangers of Internal Competition is a compelling piece of analysis, which nevertheless still leaves us wrestling with the mysteries of why our organizations run as they do. Are we all too competitive for our own good? If so, how has civilization thrived? Don't miss it.
Much as my colleagues and I wholeheartedly deplore the vulgar exploitation of the worst instincts of human nature for the purchases of commercial profits by both you and your company, we must reluctantly find you not guilty of each of the four charges.So what's this British court case about a legendary punk band's album name got to do with Blawg Review?
The Blawg Review, perhaps the most widely read of all legal blog compilations on the web, has now included me in two issues, the first of which was #89 regarding my note on a federal judge preventing the use of a pseudonym in a sex assault case. In issue #91, two different posts on emotional injuries were noted: The first on the tax exempt status of emotional injury compensation, and the one on zone of danger emotional injuries.And Blawg Review gets recognition from veteran bloggers, too, like Carolyn Elefant, who takes note at Law.com's Legal Blog Watch:
After all, the past 90 editions of Blawg Review have drawn hundreds of new readers to new blogs, many of which would have otherwise gone unnoticed but for serving as hosts. And Blawg Review shares another theme with blogs -- its democratic element. Any blog, large or small, well read or scarcely trafficked, can sign up to host and gain even more exposure. You don't find many publications like that anymore -- except, of course, in the blogosphere.It's really nice to see that Blawg Review is appreciated, whether in a brief note on a well-read blog or in a personal email to the anonymous editor of Blawg Review, like these kind words from Diane Levin of the Online Guide to Mediation:
For what it's worth, by the way, I'm glad you didn't reveal your identity. Whoever you are, you've performed an admirable service to law bloggers everywhere. You've created a very public and vibrant town square for legal bloggers where all voices can be heard. Who you are doesn't matter. It's what you do that counts.Thank you, Diane, and Carolyn, and Eric, and Glenn, and all the other pajama bloggers who link to the weekly issues of Blawg Review. It's very much appreciated.
Thanks, Ed.,
Diane
So welcome to the Who’s that GAL contest where readers are invited to guess who the Greatest American Lawyer author really is. We have contacted a couple of companies about potential sponsorships for our contest. In the meantime, you should know that prizes will include a week long stay at a condominium located at the Homestead Freshwater Resort in Glen Arbor Michigan ($1,000 value), an iPod nano and miscellaneous other prizes. More prizes will be added as we go.So, let me see, what do we know about this anonymous blogger?
In the meantime, here are the contest rules:
1. Do a little internet research and see if you can figure who the author of The Greatest American Lawyer Blog really is.
Send submissions to greatest.american@gmail.com.
2. Contest applicants must be 18 years or older to participate.
3. Yes, if you in fact know who The Greatest American Lawyer is, you can still enter the contest.
4. The contest will close at midnight on February 9, 2007. Contest winners will be drawn at random on February 10, 2007.
5. The more contest applicants we have, the greater chance for sponsorships and great prizes so feel free to post on your blog a link to these contest rules.
Graduated first in class. Federal clerkship. First real job at the largest specialty law firm of its kind in the world. Uninspired working for huge corporations. Quit.On the last leg of a memorable journey across the legal blogosphere, in Blawg Review #89, we visited The Greatest American Lawyer.
Worked for mass tort asbestos. Retired at age 32. Divorced. Felt catholic guilt. Gave wife everything and took all debt. Moved into fancy car. Drifted around the country in fancy car. Slept in the woods at rest stops and under bushes in fancy neighborhoods in big cities. Got married to wonderful blonde girl who used to date rich guy, but got distracted by nice car. Lived off wife's job as school teacher. Made lunches and hand delivered them to wife's school.
Tried case in Boston out of car trunk of nice car to 2$ million dollar verdict. Defendant goes bankrupt after verdict. Back living in nice car. Help friends start internet company, building TCPIP-based collaberation tools for hospital systems. Company folds when investors turn into idiots.
Have first son. Live in 18 places in the next year. Drift with wife and son. Eat every breakfast, lunch and dinner with family. Best years of my life. Have number two son. Friend of wife says"'he [that be me] can get a job in the city." End up getting job in city as a lawyer wearing shoes. Shave goatee.
Move to medium sized city from small tourist town on beach. Make partner in two years. Get tired of hourly billing model. Impossible to change the practice of law from within. Change strategies. Launch this blog site.
His interests?
- Going trekking in hundreds of acres of woods, trails and hills out the front door of my new office.
- Being able to shower at my office after I am done jogging.
- Being an innovator in the things I do professionally, socially and philosophically.
- Being located at largest historical redevelopment zone/restoration project in the country, which it just so happens is a tax free zone.
- Making people think and challenging norms by wreaking my own small form of anarchy on the world.
- Blogging. I always knew that I had a lot to say. Somehow writing "it" in my paper journal and sticking it in my backpack seemed to miss the mark.
- Hacky Sac. I used to be just short of amazing but am still pretty good at age 41.
- Boomerangs. Go to coloradoboomerang.com and buy one (or eight). You will be the coolest one around. Kids love to watch them fly. Adults are fascinated by them as well for some reason. I have been throwing rang for over 12 years, having bought my first boomerang from the 5 time world boomerang champion, Gel in the Golden Gate Bridge park.
- Favorite Motto: "You never know when it is time to throw."
- Favorite Place: Lake Michigan beaches at sunset on a warm summer night, drinking Oberon beer and throwing rang.
Believe it or not,
I'm walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free eee eee.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it's NOT me.
39. If a blog doesn’t allow comments, then yes, it’s still a blog. People who say otherwise are just getting in touch with their "Inner Idealistic Wanker".What I find so interesting about Hugh MacLeod's cartoons on the back of business cards and his thoughtful blog posts is that there's always something you can personally relate to. Thanks, Hugh.
Between Blawg Review #91 at Public Defender Stuff on MLK Day and the Memorial Day special issue at the Biker Law Blog, there's only one date now available to schedule hosting Blawg Review.
With the latest blogging technologies, free hosting services can keep a blog alive for years, even if the blogger is no longer functioning or the person in charge is permanently incapacitated and unable to blog.
A lone mummer was so unlikely and threatening that it was always referred to as a 'Spirit' and was a certain sign of impending death in the New Year.Not being superstitious, but to be on the safe side as any good lawyer would advise, your prudent editor has made arrangements, while still of sound mind and body, to ensure that this collaborative project for the community of law bloggers can survive and prosper, even if this editor succumbs to excessive blogging or other horrific demise.
Illinois Compiled Statutes § 11-54.1-1 tells us:
"Carnival" means and includes an aggregation of attractions, whether shows, acts, games, vending devices or amusement devices, whether conducted under one or more managements or independently, which are temporarily set up or conducted in a public place or upon any private premises accessible to the public, with or without admission fee, and which, from the nature of the aggregation, attracts attendance and causes promiscuous intermingling of persons in the spirit of merrymaking and revelry.
"Promiscuous intermingling of persons in the spirit of merrymaking and revelry -- I couldn't have said it better myself." -- Eugene Volokh
purple (representing justice), green (representing faith), and gold (representing power — and of course, gold). Justice, power, and gold should dovetail nicely with lawyers' blog writings, I thought. (Faith I'll work in somehow.) So that's the theme, folks: purple, green, and gold; or justice, faith, and power.The prescient Dan Hull anticipated a wonderful Blawg Review this week, calling Minor Wisdom by the Big Easy's Ray Ward, "my personal all-time favorite blog by a human," adding:
What a start to 2007! The mysterious Mr. Ed. and Ray Ward back to back: like James Brown at the Apollo followed by Wilson Pickett--or maybe Dr. John the Night Tripper--the next week. We start 2007 on the good foot and the gris gris.If you're new to Blawg Review, check out what Ray Ward has put together this week and come back here every Monday to see where the blog carnival has moved on to. It's not always a carnival theme, but it's always a good time.
It's an honor just to be nominated.
From now until 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) on Thursday, January 11, 2007, anyone can nominate their favorite weblogs.Who are you going to vote for?
If you enjoy the creative presentations of Blawg Review (and who doesn't) you won't want to miss this explosive New Year's edition of Grand Rounds, the blog carnival of medical practitioners and healthcare professionals, at Musings of a Distractible Mind.
The origin of the Christmas tradition of 'Mummering' can be traced back to celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas in the Middle Ages, and these traditions were probably derived from much earlier Druidic rituals surrounding the winter solstice. Mummering began on the night of Boxing Day and continued until January 6. Groups of mummers would wander from village to village at night, playing the fool and calling on a house with a measured, ceremonial knock and the invocation "Any mummers allowed in?" The mummers would be admitted to the kitchen and questioned to guess their identity. Once their true identity was guessed they were required to throwback the veil or mask and expose or 'unveil'. They would then be offered a drink or their 'Christmas' a plate of cakes and a glass of cordial. In repayment the mummers were expected to entertain before they headed out for the next house.This is one of those years.
Very rarely you would hear reports of a 'Lone Mummer' appearing in a remote community as it was hard to imagine anyone undertaking such a visit alone in the dead of winter. In fact, this kind of sighting was a dreaded event, which stirred ancient and instinctive superstitions against outsiders, the archetype of the 'Stranger'. A lone mummer was so unlikely and threatening that it was always referred to as a 'Spirit' and was a certain sign of impending death in the New Year. Actual encounters with lone mummers did happen once or twice every ten years.
David Blackwood's depictions of the life, the landscape, and the people of Newfoundland have produced, over the past four decades, a body of work which holds a special place in the Canadian imagination. His strangely beautiful images have come to represent to many of us the essence of Newfoundland's landscape and traditional culture. Part personal biography, part cultural document, part mythic narrative, his work forms an ongoing chronicle of the distinctive stories, both epic and personal, which have shaped his life and the life of his native province. He is widely regarded as Canada's most accomplished printmaker.It would have been perfect to start in Newfoundland, the birthplace of artist David Blackwood and the inspiration for his wonderful art exhibition, The Mummer's Veil, which is the theme of this special issue of Blawg Review, but I can't find any newfie lawyer blogs at Google.ca. So, the lone mummer begins his journey at the Wise Law Blog, because Toronto lawyer Garry Wise vacationed in Newfoundland this summer and that's close enough for me. Garry asks, Has the "War on Christmas" come north? While in Toronto, I stop by and say hello to business lawyer Rob Hyndman, who tells me about Life in a Northern Country. And before leaving the city, I drop in to say Happy Chrismukkah to Law Librarian and Info Diva Connie Crosby, who's all excited about a burgeoning law intranet co-ordinators' interest group in Toronto that met for the first time last month. Any mummers allowed in?
The first official Mummers Parade was on January 1, 1901. Prior to that, local lore holds that many traditions — the dressing ("mumming") from England, Sweden and other countries — came on New Year's Day when at midnight, the citizens shot off guns to welcome the new year, a dangerous tradition that the law frowns upon. The next day, residents usually went door-to-door shouting out the following rhyme:In the UK, it's also traditional for the Queen to announce so-called New Year's "honours," including knighthoods, dameships, OBEs — membership in the "Order of the British Empire" (yes, it's still called that for the honor, but nowhere else). This year, as you may have seen, Bono (of U2) received a knighthood. Without trying to be regal about it, here's expat David Maister's honors list for 2007, acknowledging the contributions of everyone who participated on his blog during the past year. I know the lawyers on this list appreciate the link love.
Here we stand at your door,
As we did the year before.
Give us whiskey, give us gin,
Open the door and let us in!
Or give us something nice and hot
Like a steaming hot bowl of pepper pot!*
*(A Philadelphia soup)
The parade is related to the Mummers Play tradition from the UK.
Ann Althouse offers some personal reminiscences about Ford and his presidency, including the Chevy Chase parodies, the "Whip Inflation Now" buttons, and her decision not to vote for Carter because he was "a small man".Continuing on my journey, I stop by Douglas Sorocco's firm in Oklahoma and find a spiffy, shinier PHOSITA. Doug mentions he's on a panel at the 2007 Corporate Patent Congress Conference later this month.
Roger Alford remembers Ford as an internationalist who was instrumental in producing the Helsinki Accords.
Dan Filler thinks the instant obituaries published immediately after Ford's death were creepy.
Ian Ayres talks about Ford's noncommittal response to a confirmation hearing question about a possible Nixon pardon.
Gordon Smith takes a look back at some of Ford's sporting accomplishments.
Lyle Denniston looks at Ford's impact on the Supreme Court -- as a president rather than as a litigant like his predecessor.
Michael Dorf discusses Gerald Ford's Greatest Legacy: John Paul Stevens.
J. Craig Williams writes, "There will be many tributes to Gerald Ford, and ones by people more important than me, to be sure. Let me add a personal note, however, to honor the people's President."
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