Direct from the home office in Knoxville, Tennessee -
The Top 10 signs its exam time:
10. The lights in the law school have switched to "reserve power" meaning that I am at the law school after 1:30am;
9. I have not slept in more hours than I can count;
8. My diet consists mostly of sugar free red bull, diet coke and pharmaceuticals (as properly prescribed, don't get the wrong idea);
7. Aaron needs a haircut;
6. I am buying CDs on iTunes just to avoid listening to The Darjeeling Limited soundtrack for the 40th time today;
5. I can feel my heart beating in my throat;
4. I am wasting time desperately trying to come up with ten items for this list instead of finishing my take-home Disability Law exam;
3. I've taken to watching season 2 of Prison Break as a means of rewarding myself for solid stretches of diligent work;
2. I'm going to waste even more time by taking this away message and posting it on the blog; and
The #1 sign that it is exam time again:
I just had to go back and reverse the numbering on this list because I'm so tired that I screwed it up. Yet, I was so concerned about this away message that I was willing to waste the time to fix it instead of doing my work!
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Roadtrip Anyone?
What better way to cleanse the body of the Tennessee Bar Exam than a 11461 mile, 4 week road trip?
Knoxville, TN to Fairbanks AK (by way of Lake Nebagamon, WI and the BWCAW)
to Vancouver, BC
to Seattle, WA
to Los Angelas, CA
to Las Vegas, NV
to Salt Lake City, UT
to Denver, CO
to Santa Fe, NM
to Jaurez Mexico
to San Antonio, TX
to Austin, TX
to Dallas, TX
to Houston, TX
to Memphis, TN
to Knoxville, TN.
11461 miles.
183 hours of driving - according to Yahoo! Maps.
A visit to Camp Nebagamon.
A night or two in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
A week in Denali National Park.
A day or two in British Columbia.
A drive down the Pacific Coast.
A day or two in L.A.
Three nights in Vegas.
The Great Salt Lake.
The Grand Canyon.
A voyage of literary proportions. The kind of trip that will wash our lives of all the mundane and clear our souls for the begining of the rest of our lives.
Done on the cheap, with no firm plans, reservations or accommodations - just a starting date, an ending date and a list of things to do.
The things we dream of during exams.
Stay Tuned...
The Procrastination Flowchart
This was found at the My Million Dollar January blog.
Very accurate, and probably made while someone was procrastinating.
Stay Tuned...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Let me save us all the trouble...
Let me save you the trouble.
I hate Auburn.
I hate Tennessee.
I hate LSU.
I hate going 6-6.
I hate losing to Auburn.
I hate losing to LSU.
I love beating Tennessee.
I am embarrassed to lose to La. Monroe.
I'm not embarrassed to lose to Miss St.
I'm embarrassed to have lost to Auburn tonight.
You want to talk shit about my coach being paid $4 Million dollars and going 6-6?
I'll be happy to point you in the direction of Mike Shula and the talent that he left on this roster.
I'll be happy to make excuses.
I'll tell you all about injuries, and the poor play of John Parker Wilson.
I've got all that if you want to hear it.
What I really want to tell you is that 6-6 doesn't matter.
That the calendar year of 2007 will be judged by the recruiting class - the 22 commits, two 5-star and twelve 4-star kids - and what they mean to the program when the are two years into their college career.
You want to talk shit about Nick Saban?
That is jealousy, because the god's honest truth is that every school in the country would take him at the helm of their program.
Every Auburn fan would take Nick Saban.
Every UT fan would take Nick Saban.
Every LSU fan would take Nick Saban.
Well he is the Alabama Coach, and as long as Coach Nick Mother Fucking Saban coaches in Tuscaloosa the future is bright.
Yeah, we went 6-6.
Yeah, that sucks.
Yeah, Auburn has won 6 straight against us.
Yeah, that sucks too.
But watch out...and enjoy it while you can.
Roll Tide Roll!
Stay Tuned...
I hate Auburn.
I hate Tennessee.
I hate LSU.
I hate going 6-6.
I hate losing to Auburn.
I hate losing to LSU.
I love beating Tennessee.
I am embarrassed to lose to La. Monroe.
I'm not embarrassed to lose to Miss St.
I'm embarrassed to have lost to Auburn tonight.
You want to talk shit about my coach being paid $4 Million dollars and going 6-6?
I'll be happy to point you in the direction of Mike Shula and the talent that he left on this roster.
I'll be happy to make excuses.
I'll tell you all about injuries, and the poor play of John Parker Wilson.
I've got all that if you want to hear it.
What I really want to tell you is that 6-6 doesn't matter.
That the calendar year of 2007 will be judged by the recruiting class - the 22 commits, two 5-star and twelve 4-star kids - and what they mean to the program when the are two years into their college career.
You want to talk shit about Nick Saban?
That is jealousy, because the god's honest truth is that every school in the country would take him at the helm of their program.
Every Auburn fan would take Nick Saban.
Every UT fan would take Nick Saban.
Every LSU fan would take Nick Saban.
Well he is the Alabama Coach, and as long as Coach Nick Mother Fucking Saban coaches in Tuscaloosa the future is bright.
Yeah, we went 6-6.
Yeah, that sucks.
Yeah, Auburn has won 6 straight against us.
Yeah, that sucks too.
But watch out...and enjoy it while you can.
Roll Tide Roll!
Stay Tuned...
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Law School: The Musical
For those of you in need of a break from the realities of law school (or practicing law) - feast your eyes on this classic video:
Click here to watch "Law School Musical"
I hope this has helped stem the stress of the "early exam prep" period and given you the burst of energy you need to keep mindlessly typing up those hand-written notes you took. That was a bright idea, in retrospect...
Props to Jhasta Moore for the find - I can't take credit for this diamond.
Stay Tuned...
Click here to watch "Law School Musical"
I hope this has helped stem the stress of the "early exam prep" period and given you the burst of energy you need to keep mindlessly typing up those hand-written notes you took. That was a bright idea, in retrospect...
Props to Jhasta Moore for the find - I can't take credit for this diamond.
Stay Tuned...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Radiohead Fights Piracy - Gives Away New CD Online!
So called "Music Piracy" has dominated the intellectual property headlines ever since Lars Ulrich (of Metallica) decided to punish his fans and take on Napster. Well the times they are a changing. For those of you who are not aware, Radiohead has found a new way to fight music piracy - Give the music away to your fans and allow them to pay as much or as little (£0.00) as they feel like paying! You heard me right! The new album In Rainbows is available at Radiohead.com for any amount.
A recent survey of U.K. listeners indicated that as much as 2/3 of all downloaders paid some amount to the band, and some paid as much as £20 (almost $40). One Radiohead fan even paid £100 for the album! The early reports are that Radiohead will ultimately make the same profit that they traditionally make. This will set an interesting precedent in the music world. Clearly there are only a handful of bands that could afford to take such a gamble. In the last 15 years (since piracy became an issue) bands have relied heavily on concert ticket sales to balance out their bottom line. With that being the trend (and ticket prices going up as much as 40% over that span), will more artist take a gamble on the "good faith" of their consumer and put their work out for public consumption? Perhaps the larger issue is the quality of the music that many of the artist are putting out today.
I can personally say that I did not pay anything to download the album. That being said, if I like it I will go back to the site and pay them something (though I am not sure how much) for the music. I am a firm believer in rewarding artists that put out quality music, not just 15 tracks of crap and 1 radio-play single.
Legally Radiohead, unlike many artist who sign with big labels without equal bargining power, was in full control of thier music and could make this release if they choose to. There are a lot of other artist who do similar things, but you tend to see that from small artist trying to get their name out there and are thus willing to spread their music far & wide in the hopes of landing a record deal. Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails, has recently taken the music industry head-on in an attempt to put out the second half of the Year Zero album in much the same way. Reznor released this statement October 8th on the Nine Inch Nails Website:
The long story short is that artist are starting to stand up for their fans and challenge the record executives. The RCAs and Sonys of the world are nothing without their talent and their fans, and when the two join forces freedom might be obtainable. For now, we will settle for a free album.
Kudos to Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails for taking a chance on their fans - I hope it works out, and I hope other artists learn from it. Thats right Metallica - I'm looking at you.
Stay Tuned...
A recent survey of U.K. listeners indicated that as much as 2/3 of all downloaders paid some amount to the band, and some paid as much as £20 (almost $40). One Radiohead fan even paid £100 for the album! The early reports are that Radiohead will ultimately make the same profit that they traditionally make. This will set an interesting precedent in the music world. Clearly there are only a handful of bands that could afford to take such a gamble. In the last 15 years (since piracy became an issue) bands have relied heavily on concert ticket sales to balance out their bottom line. With that being the trend (and ticket prices going up as much as 40% over that span), will more artist take a gamble on the "good faith" of their consumer and put their work out for public consumption? Perhaps the larger issue is the quality of the music that many of the artist are putting out today.
I can personally say that I did not pay anything to download the album. That being said, if I like it I will go back to the site and pay them something (though I am not sure how much) for the music. I am a firm believer in rewarding artists that put out quality music, not just 15 tracks of crap and 1 radio-play single.
Legally Radiohead, unlike many artist who sign with big labels without equal bargining power, was in full control of thier music and could make this release if they choose to. There are a lot of other artist who do similar things, but you tend to see that from small artist trying to get their name out there and are thus willing to spread their music far & wide in the hopes of landing a record deal. Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails, has recently taken the music industry head-on in an attempt to put out the second half of the Year Zero album in much the same way. Reznor released this statement October 8th on the Nine Inch Nails Website:
"...as of right now nine inch nails is a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label. I have been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different and it gives me great pleasure to finally be able to have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate."
The long story short is that artist are starting to stand up for their fans and challenge the record executives. The RCAs and Sonys of the world are nothing without their talent and their fans, and when the two join forces freedom might be obtainable. For now, we will settle for a free album.
Kudos to Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails for taking a chance on their fans - I hope it works out, and I hope other artists learn from it. Thats right Metallica - I'm looking at you.
Stay Tuned...
LSU Writer Defends Alabama -
The Black Coaches & Administrators put out an annual report card grading the "coaching searches" conducted by college athletic programs. In an absolutely shameful act, the BCA gave the UNiversity of Alabama an "F" for the coaching search that ultimately led to the hiring of Nick "CNMFS" Saban.
The BCA disregarded the fact that Rich Rodrigquez (a latino) was not only a candidate, but he was offered the job of Head Coach, before balking to remain at WVU.
If the BCA wants to stand for equality and diverse hiring practices, then maybe they should recognize minorities other than African American. It is so hypocritical that its almost laughable. If it wasn't true, you'd never believe it.
As Mr. Scott (of tigerbait.com) writes below, the BCA not only owes the Crimson Tide an appology, but they should take a full page ad out in the USA Today and correct their mistake. It hurts UA across the board - recruiting, retention, ticket sales, image and national impressions. Further it hurts the entire state of Alabama.
I will point out, as does Mr. Scott, that its hilarious that he has now had to defend the University of Alabama (and more specifically its coaching search that ultimately yielded CNMFS).
Will we ever get tired of seeing groups advocate for an ideal that they don't themselves
Stay Tuned...
The BCA disregarded the fact that Rich Rodrigquez (a latino) was not only a candidate, but he was offered the job of Head Coach, before balking to remain at WVU.
If the BCA wants to stand for equality and diverse hiring practices, then maybe they should recognize minorities other than African American. It is so hypocritical that its almost laughable. If it wasn't true, you'd never believe it.
As Mr. Scott (of tigerbait.com) writes below, the BCA not only owes the Crimson Tide an appology, but they should take a full page ad out in the USA Today and correct their mistake. It hurts UA across the board - recruiting, retention, ticket sales, image and national impressions. Further it hurts the entire state of Alabama.
I will point out, as does Mr. Scott, that its hilarious that he has now had to defend the University of Alabama (and more specifically its coaching search that ultimately yielded CNMFS).
NO Fs IN ALABAMA
By Chadd Scott
The Black Coaches and Administrators, an organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports (that's taken straight from its web page), has come out with its annual report card for college football on its hiring practices and the news is not good for some.
For Alabama, the news is downright ugly. The BCA slapped the Tide with a big, fat, red, "F" for the way it conducted its search that ultimately ended with the hiring of Nick Saban.
There are three things about this I don't like. One, I don't appreciate the competition when it comes to ripping the Alabama football program; I staked my claim to that fertile turf long ago and I don't need any company. Two, these claims are total b.s. and the BCA owes Alabama a public apology for them. Three, because of number two, I'm forced to defend Alabama which puts me in a bad spot because of number one.
From the USA Today story Wednesday about this "report card:" "Alabama got F's for the makeup of its search committee and for minority candidates considered."
An "F" for minority candidates considered, huh?
Funny, I thought Rich Rodriguez, who was offered the Alabama job and turned it down, was Hispanic?
Is he not?
I just checked his biography, he is.
Do Hispanics not count to the BCA?
Is Rich Rodriguez not "minority" enough?
Are some minorities more important than others in the eyes of the BCA?
Is this just an attempt to smear the reputation of Alabama – again, bordering real close to infringement on my territory – regardless of the truth?
Is the BCA just plain stupid?
Is the BCA lazy?
Is the BCA playing off Southern stereotypes by trying to portray Alabama in a negative racial light despite the school's best effort to hire a minority?
All these are questions that have to be asked and deserved to be answered by the BCA, because the BCA loves to dish it out and call people names and threaten lawsuits, but it has libeled Alabama in my opinion with the gross misrepresentation – no, downright total and blatant fallacy – that Alabama did not pursue a minority football coach when it had a vacancy.
Alabama didn't just pursue a minority candidate, it hired one. Or so the school thought before Rodriguez wriggled away at the last moment.
Alabama doesn't deserve an "F" for its hiring practices, it deserves an "A."
But just correcting the Tide's "F" to an "A" by this irrelevant pressure group doesn't go nearly far enough in correcting the damage done to the reputation of the University and its athletic department because of this completely false and inflammatory accusation.
The BCA should immediately, and I mean today, run a public apology to the University of Alabama in the form of a full page advertisement taken out in the USA Today.
The BCA, in a highly public and visible manner so that no one can be left with the incorrect impression it has created, needs to take total blame for its lack of accuracy in researching the Alabama football coaching hire and applaud the University for the job it did in trying to promote minority coaches within its football program.
This story was mentioned on the cover of the most widely read newspaper in the country. It was fodder for talk shows all over America. The buzz words were "race," "Alabama," "denied opportunity," "F," "Black," "Saban."
Those buzz words and the utter mistruths promoted by the BCA through its shocking ignorance in researching this report only foster the misconception, a still widely held misconception in many parts of the county, that Southerners and people from Alabama are a bunch of racists who view someone by skin color first and promote a good old boy network that excludes outsiders.
I spent the last four years of my life living in Connecticut. I know that presumption exists.
I lived 10 years in Alabama and know that reality does not.
It is erroneous and agenda driven reports like this that continue to feed the prejudices of people outside the South that we Southerners are all bigoted hillbillies clinging to Jim Crow.
That's incendiary, it's malicious, and the BCA owes the University of Alabama an apology for casting those aspersions on it.
The intimation from the BCA with this "F" grade on minority hiring is that the University of Alabama is racist.
How do you think that effects recruiting?
How do you think that effects perception?
Not just of the University, but of the state of Alabama.
How do you think that affects the lives of the people at the University of Alabama who've tried to do everything they know how to break from the racial injustices of the past?
The BCA, through this poisonous "report card," has slurred an entire state in general, and a proud university in specific, and it has slurred them over something they did not do!
Where is the apology?
Where is the correction?
Where is the recognition that Alabama not only considered a minority candidate for its vacant head football coaching position, but interviewed one and offered its job to one?
Or does the BCA not offer corrections and apologies when it damages somebody? Does the BCA just chalk that up to breaking a few eggs to make an omelet? Does the BCA not consider facts important when it wants to promote a stereotype?
This is the cold, hard, truth as I see it: the Black Coaches and Administrators is not a fair minded organization seeking to raise awareness about the problem of too few minority coaches in college football, a problem which is real and deserves attention.
The BCA is a hostile pressure group well read in the Jackson/Sharpton race-baiting handbook and it's using a sympathetic media and totally biased research to try and force colleges and universities into hiring black – not minority, black – coaches whether those coaches are qualified or not.
No one else has the guts to say it, I will.
Prejudice and stereotypes have two sides, I've already been suspended and demoted from jobs for attempting to shed light on both of those sides so if I go down over what I've just written, so be it.
I have no allegiance to the University of Alabama, thousands of people think I hate the University of Alabama, but the University of Alabama was wronged in a deeply sinister way by the BCA and someone has to stand up and expose the lies and the jackals who tell them.
The perception that we're racist is something Southern people need to get serious about.
It's something we need to fight.
It's a sick fallacy perpetuated by insulting reports like the one issued by the BCA.
It's something I take personally because I know it's not true and I know it negatively influences the way Southern people and Southern institutions are thought of in ways you can't even imagine.
The BCA is calling the University of Alabama racist; I've researched the claims, they are untrue.
Who's going to hold the BCA accountable for this outrage?
One last thing –
My report card on organizations who claim to promote equality gives the BCA an "F."
Will we ever get tired of seeing groups advocate for an ideal that they don't themselves
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Sold!
Ran into a guy today at the Apple store who was buying 5 iPhones!
Told him my situation...
Yada, Yada, Yada...
He bought my phone.
It no longer sits on my desk taunting me.
My bank account and pride, however, are not yet healed.
Stay Tuned...
Told him my situation...
Yada, Yada, Yada...
He bought my phone.
It no longer sits on my desk taunting me.
My bank account and pride, however, are not yet healed.
Stay Tuned...
Failed the Bar & Grill, Monday at 8/7c
Coming to NBC next fall, the story of recent law graduates without a real job...
Follow the gang as they deal with the misadventures of failed law aspirations and overcooked filets at your favorite local pub, Failed the Bar & Grill.
Simultaneous to the launch of the show will be the opening of the very first Failed the Bar & Grill in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Enjoy such delicious items as:
Opening Statements: All your favorite Bar food!
Case-in-Cheif: Tasty dishes to meet that burden!
Closing Arguments: Finish your deliberations with one of our famous desserts!
Also join us for our Hypothetical Happy Hour where we never discriminate on the basis of age. Find your way to voluntary intoxication with our famous punitive punch, and the full array of culpable cocktails like the knowing kamakazis, intentional irish carbombs, reckless rum & coke, and negligent sex on the beach!
So come on down to Failed the Bar & Grill and judge for yourself!
Note: We are taking applications. We are an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of GPA.
Stay Tuned...
("Failed the Bar & Grill" is copyright of Jonathan Louis May and not to be used without the expressed written permission of this blog - October 2, 2007.)
Follow the gang as they deal with the misadventures of failed law aspirations and overcooked filets at your favorite local pub, Failed the Bar & Grill.
Simultaneous to the launch of the show will be the opening of the very first Failed the Bar & Grill in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Enjoy such delicious items as:
Opening Statements: All your favorite Bar food!
The Jury Sampler - all 12 of our delicious appetizers on one plate! A word of warning, the choice of sauce must be unanimous at your table! Title VII Nacho's - with multicolored tortilla chips and a non-discriminatory array of toppings! The PMBR & Jelly Sandwich - Only $800 if you order before October 11th! California Crab Cakes - Unlike crab cakes in any other jursidiction!
Case-in-Cheif: Tasty dishes to meet that burden!
The Chief Justice Warren Earl Burger - a 1/2lb of fresh angus beef, garnished with Lemon and Roe! Bifurcated Fajitas - perfect for sharing! Res Ipsa Lasagna - So good, the thing speaks for itself. Strict Scrutiny Spagetti - This dish is narrowly tailored to serve the compelling interest of your hunger. Trade Secret Tartar - What's in this dish? We'll never tell! Chapter 7 Curry - It will liquify your assets! The Wrongful Termination T-Bone - 22 ounces, available at-will! Don't worry if you can't finish it, we can always wrap it up in one of our severance packages.
Closing Arguments: Finish your deliberations with one of our famous desserts!
Raspberry Tort, a common law favorite! Decadence per se - A cake so rich that it violates the T.C.A. Joint & Several Pie - It doesn't matter how you divide it up, as long as the whole thing gets eaten! Stare Decisis Sundae - It hasn't changed in years. Cake of First Impression - We promise you've never seen cake like this before!
Also join us for our Hypothetical Happy Hour where we never discriminate on the basis of age. Find your way to voluntary intoxication with our famous punitive punch, and the full array of culpable cocktails like the knowing kamakazis, intentional irish carbombs, reckless rum & coke, and negligent sex on the beach!
So come on down to Failed the Bar & Grill and judge for yourself!
Note: We are taking applications. We are an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of GPA.
Stay Tuned...
("Failed the Bar & Grill" is copyright of Jonathan Louis May and not to be used without the expressed written permission of this blog - October 2, 2007.)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
If you are going to buy an iPhone...
Talk to me first! I know the price dropped, but I had two international buyers on ebay SCREW me and I still have 1 iPhone that I paid almost $660 for.
If you are thinking about buying an iPhone, consider buying it from me.
I will sell it to you at the current cost ($400 + tax) and you still get the same warranty from apple either way.
The other perk of buying it from me? You will get a $100 IN STORE CREDIT for the phone, since the receipt (which I will provide as well) says it was purchased at the original price. That is WAY better than buying in the store.
It is new, in the original sealed package - never opened or used.
Someone please help me out? I can't just eat the cost of this phone entirely, and I'm already going to have to eat a huge portion.
Stay Tuned...
If you are thinking about buying an iPhone, consider buying it from me.
I will sell it to you at the current cost ($400 + tax) and you still get the same warranty from apple either way.
The other perk of buying it from me? You will get a $100 IN STORE CREDIT for the phone, since the receipt (which I will provide as well) says it was purchased at the original price. That is WAY better than buying in the store.
It is new, in the original sealed package - never opened or used.
Someone please help me out? I can't just eat the cost of this phone entirely, and I'm already going to have to eat a huge portion.
Stay Tuned...
"Don't Tase Me, Bro!"
Andrew Meyer, of video infamy and for being the man to coin the phrase "Don't tase me, bro!" has helped to highlight a growing concern about the legality of tasers being used by police officers to incapacitate suspects.
Mr. Meyer was attending a speech at the University of Florida last month when he asked Senator Kerry a question about his affiliation with "Skull and Bones" a legendary and revered secret society at Yale University. He was arrested, and tased multiple times for reasons that are still unclear to this day.
I will note that some humor has come from this, and you should watch the "Can't Tase This" remix of M.C. Hammer's classic 90's rap and Mr. Meyer's plea in this video.
A Taser works like this:
(from Science Direct)
The Taser X26 (Taser, Scottsdale, AZ) is an electrical conducted energy weapon that incapacitates subjects by causing pain and muscular contractions. It is widely used by police agencies throughout the United States and other countries. It delivers a series of 19 electrical shocks per second; each pulse delivers 0.36 J at up to 50,000 V. The discharge is delivered by 2 barbed metal darts that are propelled toward a suspect and remain connected to the device by insulated wires. The standard discharge time is 5 seconds, though this can be shortened or lengthened by the operator.
Among the potential concerns with tasing are:
People who are tased when upright tend to fall over. Any resulting injuries are usually minor but at least one person has died from a head injury. The barbed tips of the Taser darts, which are around 1 centimetre long, can cause serious injuries if they strike sensitive areas such as the eye, though there have been few reports of such injuries. The intense muscle contractions can also be damaging.
A number of weeks ago an autistic child was also subjected to severe tasing when the child, unbeknownst to her, was "resisting arrest".
Recently a paraplelgic, mentally handicapped woman was tased TEN TIMES and died as a result of her injuries.
Serious questions need to be asked about the use of excessive force by police officers, and the use of tasers in general. According to Amnesty Iternational, over 40 people have been killed in the U.S. alone as a result of police instigated tasing.
At a UN committee meeting in Geneva Switzerland, a member of the U.S. Delegation was asked about the use of tasers. This is the response:
[The question] concerns the use of Tasers. The U.S. government and others are conducting extensive research into the safety and effectiveness of electro-muscular disruption devices, including Tasers. In addition, the Department of Justice works with local police agencies to assist them in their development of policies regarding the use of these devices. This policy guidance includes consideration of community acceptance, use-of-force protocols, continuous monitoring of all uses of these devices, medical response, and training.
The use of Tasers to control arrestees and inmates is consistent with the law. Courts have reviewed the application of such devices for consistency with the Eighth Amendment’s "prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment," and have upheld their legality.
Furthermore, use of Tasers often obviates the need to use other forms of more severe, or even deadly, force. Nevertheless, the Department of Justice remains committed to investigating and, where appropriate, prosecuting use of Tasers where the circumstances indicate a willful use of excessive force in violation of Constitutional standards. In addition, the Departments of Justice and Defense continue to develop less-lethal options, including novel electro-muscular devices that may provide improved safety and effectiveness to law enforcement and military personnel.
While the courts have thus far upheld the use of tasers as an effective tool of law enforcement, we are about to see a series of suits brought against state and local officials that will test that theory. The police departments of this country have through guidelines for the use of force, and it would appear that the standards currently in place concerning the use of tasers is due to be revised.
There will be a lot of issues to look at as this moves forward. What of state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment? Certainly if you sue a local police department that will not be an issue, but a state trooper may bring about questions of abrogating that immunity. Further, will the officer be individually liable for the decision to use force? Often there is a (justifiable) tendency to yield to the decision making process of an officer in the line-of-fire, so to speak, because they have the best ability to evaluate the circumstances and make a decision based on the safety of themselves, the suspect, and the bystanders.
There is a lot of material out there on this, and for your reference, I will include a series of links and articles for more information:
State Department Q/A referenced above;
Amnesty International;
Concerns Raised over Taser Saftey at NewScientist.com;
Why Police Should Show Restraint With the Taser at NewScientist.com:
Thoracic Compression Fractures as a Result of Shock From a Conducted Energy Weapon: A Case Report from Science Direct.
Stay Tuned...
Friday, September 7, 2007
Evidence, Innocence, and Baseball
Thats right...hang your head in shame...
The "breaking news" of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel's "HGH" use is dominating todays sports headlines. There is one problem with that. The story is that Ankiel was receiving shipments of HGH to his Florida home from January to December 2004. Major League Baseball (for better or for worse) did not outlaw HGH use by its players until the 2005 season. In fact, there is no evidence thus far that Ankiel has used HGH since the league banned it. So why is this such a story?
This story, while different in many respects, represents a serious problem with our nations media outlets. It applies to your "traditional outlets" (i.e. CNN, ABC, etc.) as much as it does to your "specialized outlets" (i.e. ESPN, Fox Sports, etc.) or even your "alternative outlets" (i.e. the internet). Even in the absence of hard evidence, the media was prepared to crucify the entire Duke Lacrosse team. Hell, if the ratings were there, they'd have probably put Coach K up there too. The result of the media frenzy? A prosecutor feeds off the blood, fame, and attention and presses a case that had no business being brought.
While there is not legal action being mentioned in regards to Rick Anikel, this entire story is linked to the investigation of a Florida pharmacy that is rumored to have been supplying these steroids to baseball players. The relevance? Every single fact in this story falls with in the bounds of "well, it wasn't banned at the time...but shame on you anyways!" The media is violating one of the cardinal principles (no pun intended, of course) of the Constitution. The prohibition on ex post facto laws. The government cannot charge Ankiel in court. The league cannot suspend him from playing. The press should focus on real stories and stop feeding the frenzy. We just end up with irresponsible prosecutors seeking glory.
Ankiel has been one of the best stories of the 2007 season. I say that while fully acknowledging the carnal pleasure I took in his meltdown, being a Braves fan and all. The Cardinals have overcome so much this season to find themselves only 1 game-back of the division leading Brewers and Cubs. Why do we have to drag that team through the mud now? Like Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty said, "If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year." Is that true? Would it be tragic to find out that before it was banned and over three years ago a minor league pitcher/outfielder was using a supplement? What effect would that really have on the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals. What effect would that have on the record of the 2004 Class A "fill-in-the-blank's"? The answer should be "zero, zip, zilch, none, nada" because it is irrelevant. Ankiel has still overcome so much. He has still hit .358 with 9 HRs and 29 RBIs and almost single-handedly changed the fortunes of that baseball team. And that is in 2007.
Stay Tuned...
Monday, August 27, 2007
Delaware Student Fights for 1st Amendment Rights
The case is Murakowski v. University of Delaware and the complaint (filed 07/30/2007)can be found here. Murakowski was a student at UD who operated a "humor blog" that handled some racy subjects and relied upon a very specific type of off-color humor. He joked about killing people, degrading women, and more.
In the wake of the Va. Tech shootings, the University of Delaware decided it was time to take action and Suspended the plaintiff. Murakowski is suing in District Court for re-instatement.
This case is just getting started, but it will be an interesting test case for freedom of speech. Parody has often been a protected form of speech, however we are entering into an area in this case which puts a lot of pressure on the administration to make highly individualized determinations about what is parody, and what is a sign of potential danger.
Is it reasonable for the court to ask College Administrators to be the gate-keeper for what is humorous and what is a threat? Is it reasonable for the courts to be the body responsible for setting these standards? How much freedom is too much? How graphic and disturbing can "tongue-in-cheek" humor be before it is indistinct from hate-speech and fodder for ignorant masses of hateful people? I don't envy the trial judge in this matter.
Lets get some feedback here - your comments are welcome and encouraged!
A link to the full story can be found here.
Stay Tuned...
In the wake of the Va. Tech shootings, the University of Delaware decided it was time to take action and Suspended the plaintiff. Murakowski is suing in District Court for re-instatement.
This case is just getting started, but it will be an interesting test case for freedom of speech. Parody has often been a protected form of speech, however we are entering into an area in this case which puts a lot of pressure on the administration to make highly individualized determinations about what is parody, and what is a sign of potential danger.
Is it reasonable for the court to ask College Administrators to be the gate-keeper for what is humorous and what is a threat? Is it reasonable for the courts to be the body responsible for setting these standards? How much freedom is too much? How graphic and disturbing can "tongue-in-cheek" humor be before it is indistinct from hate-speech and fodder for ignorant masses of hateful people? I don't envy the trial judge in this matter.
Lets get some feedback here - your comments are welcome and encouraged!
A link to the full story can be found here.
Stay Tuned...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Aw, is that the biggest blade you've got?
Now keep in mind this preface as you read my story: Random people tend to want to fight me without obvious provocation. Dedicated readers will remember an incident at Bailey's last year involving a cripple and a football player. I digress. I don't know what it is about me. Maybe people can tell I'm a smartass just by looking at me. Who knows.
Anyhow the preface is this "I know that I have a way of getting myself into these situations, but I don't believe this is one of them."
So, this evening Matt and I are driving back to my place from Sequoia Hills. Its around 12:15. We were gonna smoke some cigars and watch a movie, play some pool/ping-pong (thats right, the new house is loaded with bar games, so come-one-come-all to West Knoxville) and just generally chill.
We're pulling up to the light at Kingston Pike and Northshore, heading West. There is a car stopped at the red light ahead of me about 30 yards, and I'm getting cash out of my wallet so that Lamberth can grab me some cigarettes. I wasn't wearing a shirt for no particular reason. Showing off I guess.
Well, I'm slowly rolling towards the light and I hear someone honk behind me. They are RIGHT on my ass. I can't see much, but I can see its a piece-of-shit car, and a guy in the front seat with his hat cocked to the right (like the kids are doing these days) and I obviously don't know this person. He continues to roll right up on my ass and honk, and I throw my hands up with a "Whats the deal dude" gesture.
He was not amused.
He pulled into the left turn lane and pulled up next to me. Unfortunatly for him (and lending him even less credibility as a threat) he pulled up to far, so he had to roll down the passenger side rear window to yell at me. Mind you his seat was far enough back he was almost sitting in the back seat anyways (you know, like the kids are doing these days). Well, he starts yelling and I again give a friendly "What the fuck is your problem" gesture hoping perhaps this young man will explain his eratic behavior. I thought maybe he'd say "Listen Chap! Nobody, and I mean nobody, puts an Alabama sticker on their car in MY city!" or perhaps "Hey Friend, your gas tank is open, perhaps you ought to place your automobile in the parked position and step out of the car to close it. If you'd prefer, I could get that for you since you look like a nice enough fella."
Alas, I don't think that was what he was trying to say to me. Honestly, I still have no idea what he was pissed about, but I figured that the situation was tense, and I was honestly worried that he might have a gun. I looked up to see if I had "an out" i.e. a place to go if things got crazy. I didn't. I was boxed in. All I could think was "lets keep this guy calm."
Then I look over to see Lamberth demonstrating the length of his middle finger to the guy, as if to say "fuck you!" (which is actually exactly what he was saying). This made Eminem (as we will call him) very angry and in a showing of brute "badass-ness" he pulled a 3.5 inch blade and flashed it to us. At this point Lamberth and I look at each other and can't help but laugh. I mean hell, we're in a car! What's he going to do?
Well, he was in the turn lane and I, in a friendly manner mind you, indicated that perhaps he best be getting on his way. Surprisingly he did. He made the left and I thought we were done. When we drove through the interesection though, we saw him pull a U-Turn and head back towards us. He caught us two blocks later and I waited for him to get right up on us before slamming on my breaks sending him a few hundered yards past me and I turned onto my favorite back road route.
The moral of the story? There are a few I guess. First, people are fucking crazy. Second, always know some alternative routes to your house, cause hey - you never know. Third, do not pull a three inch blade on two dudes in a car. I mean seriously, even if we got out of our car (which I did a block after we had turned - to get my aluminum baseball bat) what could he really do? With my bat he couldn't have gotten close enough to cut me, and even if he got lucky and threw the PERFECT THROW and took one of us out, he was then unarmed and one of us was going to be insanely angry and dangerous - and holding a bat. Finally, people suck, don't expect anything more out of them and you won't be so heartbroken as you travel through the dangerous roads of life.
What a punk. Yo Slim Shady - if you read this (which would impress me, because nothing about my brief interaction with you indicated you can read) - come get some bitch. 8527 Carl Valentine Cir. I'll be here with my bat, and my cats, and a beating for your ass. What a joke.
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Job Search
For those of you who, like your favorite bloggers, are entering their final year of law school, the prospects of finding a job after school can seem particularly...nauseating.
For those of you who, like some of your favorite bloggers, attend schools with less-than-stellar career services centers, the prospects can deteriorate to downright frightening.
Fear not fellow law students, your fate and future is in your hands.
Here are some steps you can take to get your own job search rolling:
Now you wait. All you need is an interview. You have to have the belief that if you can get yourself into an interview room, you can convince anyone that you're the right man/woman for the job.
Good Luck.
Stay Tuned...
For those of you who, like some of your favorite bloggers, attend schools with less-than-stellar career services centers, the prospects can deteriorate to downright frightening.
Fear not fellow law students, your fate and future is in your hands.
Here are some steps you can take to get your own job search rolling:
- You need a "packet" - think of it like promoting a movie...you've got to have "a preview" with the right balance of materials that will cause a law firm recruiter to say "I'd like to see more of this."
- You have to figure out for yourself what to include, but my packet includes: a resume, unofficial transcript, cover letter, list of professional references (and in my cover letter I tell them that "a writing sample is available upon request" because I don't send them too much material at once).
- Make a list of all the cities in which you are interested in practicing law.
- Decide what "types" of firms you want to target.
- Google or Martindale-Hubble your way to a list of firms in your cities that meet your criteria.
- Most firms will have a "career" section on their website, they will provide you with most of the information you need through this frame.
- Start contacting the "recruiter" at these firms, and prepare your "packet" to be sent. Personalize each cover letter and for god's sake make sure you send the right cover letter to the right firm!
- Send your packets early in your third year, the earlier the better. Pre-Thanksgiving is a must.
- Set up meetings for lunch, or drinks, with any attorney that you've had a chance to work with during law school. Keep in mind that there are two ways to approach this meeting:
- (1) The Right Way - You are not coming to this attorney expecting that they will give you a job, rather you are coming to this attorney because you have such respect for their career and practice, that you think they might be able to help you compile a list of people to contact around the area. You want to have their expertise in telling you which firms are worth contacting, and which firms are an embarrassment to the practice of law. You want their guidance, and maybe if you're lucky they will be willing to write you a letter. Don't ask them for a job, but rather show them how desirable you are as a candidate by talking to them about your hire-ability with other firms. If you're such a good candidate that they are willing to write a letter to another firm in support of, they will surly stop and ask themselves if it would be a mistake to send you off into the world when they could bring you in to their offices instead. Is it deceitful? Absolutely not, you are genuine in what you are asking them for, but there is nothing wrong with hoping they won't turn around and make you an offer themselves.
- (2) The Wrong Way - Setting up the lunch to ask them for a job. You will only hurt your rapport with the attorney if they get the feeling that you're objective is to take advantage of your relationship with them by pressuring them into getting you work at their firm. Don't do it. If they think you'd be a good candidate, then they will make you an offer or suggest that you speak to a particular person in their firm. Stick to "The Right Way", supra.
Now you wait. All you need is an interview. You have to have the belief that if you can get yourself into an interview room, you can convince anyone that you're the right man/woman for the job.
Good Luck.
Stay Tuned...
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Automobile X Prize
Finally someone has put up the money to get developers working on a new engine.
The only problem is that their goal is 100 miles/gallon.
Thats a remarkable achievment, don't get me wrong, but its still fossil fuel based energy, and still leaves us dependent on the stability (or instability) of foreign providers.
The target date for a completed automobile is 2009, with peer reviews starting in 2008.
Its a step in the right directon, but not the "leap" I was hoping for.
Here's more information: Click Here
Stay Tuned...
The only problem is that their goal is 100 miles/gallon.
Thats a remarkable achievment, don't get me wrong, but its still fossil fuel based energy, and still leaves us dependent on the stability (or instability) of foreign providers.
The target date for a completed automobile is 2009, with peer reviews starting in 2008.
Its a step in the right directon, but not the "leap" I was hoping for.
Here's more information: Click Here
Stay Tuned...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Love Sports? Feel like Law School gets in the way of being a Fan?
Thanks to your friends at the National Basketball Association ("NBA"), the National Football League ("NFL"), and Major League Baseball ("MLB") you can study for law school and keep up with the latest news on ESPN.com all at the same time!!!
Need to work on Criminal Law? Why don't you try to think of a defense for Michael Vick! If that's too easy, and you want to move onto something more complex, "Sports Defense" (a new field, not to be confused with actually playing defense, and a term coined and owned by yours truly) has a more challenging case study for you: Pac-man Jones! Don't know how to handle multiple charges all over the country at the same time? Watch ESPN's SPORTSCENTER to find out how you can shuffle court dates in Nashville, Las Vegas, and North Georgia so that you're client can be where he needs to be, when he needs to be there [note, this is not true if "where he needs to be" is suiting up for his team's game and "when he needs to be there" is every Sunday].
Those of you fortunate enough to attend one of the higher-class State Schools may have a chance to get in on the ground floor with an up-and-coming deviant. Just look at U.T., a football roster just over flowing with potential clients. Successfully defend one of these rising-stars and you're sure to get an A+ in Criminal Law. Its like they say about the weather: "Run out of people to defend? Wait a few minutes, football practice is about to get out."
Find even that to be too boring? Test your hand with R.I.C.O. law. That's right, the NBA has offered you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a crash course in Racketeering. Want to know how people fix sporting events? Curious how an NBA Referee could become the squeeze point of a New England Mob Family? Want to know how to protect your client from the shame and humiliation that will accompany being outed as the "devastator of our most trusted profession." Wait . . . Don't we usually yell at the Ref for getting it wrong? Hey, NBA Officials have always made Lawyers look trustworthy!
Want to get some real "pre-trial litigation" experience? Follow the ever-present B.A.L.C.O Grand-Jury testimony, and accompanying Congressional Hearings. Its a unique look at the interplay between our Federal Government and Professional Sports. We are lucky that the good people on Capital Hill could make time for our lesson all while cleaning up the nation's past-time.
Yes, you may think that being a Law Student means that you won't have time for sports anymore. You may think that you'll just have to catch a box-score or two when you can. Maybe you'll get to watch the playoffs (Tough chance, it's ALWAYS exam time when Football and Basketball count). Well think again, thanks to today's modern role-models and the 24-hour news cycle, you can keep up with Sports and study for those midterms all at once.
Remember, SPORTSCENTER is conveniently aired for 8 straight hours overnight, just to accommodate your study schedule.
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Roger Clemens, 2057
Roger Clemens shows up at Brian Cashman, Jr.'s office demanding to pitch this year. 2057.
It's a funny video.
If you have a sense of humor.
And like baseball.
And hate the Yankees.
And are in the mood to laugh at silly things.
And such.
Stay Tuned...
It's a funny video.
If you have a sense of humor.
And like baseball.
And hate the Yankees.
And are in the mood to laugh at silly things.
And such.
Stay Tuned...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
LOST:
(**no spoilers here**)
You did it again.
Just when I thought I might be done with you, you did it again.
Last nights season finale might have been the best two-hours of television this season.
What a welcome return to what the show used to (and is supposed to) be about.
If you're not a LOST watcher, you've got about 8 months to rent/watch Season 1 and Season 2.
I'm sure season 3 will be out just in time for christmas.
But be ready in January.
LOST is (and will be) back.
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Being a Grizzlies Fan...
It hurts.
I know, Boston Celtics, they've sure had it rough, blah blah blah.
I'm sorry, they won like 16 titles in 30 years at one point.
So its been a rough decade or two.
I feel ya, really.
But we've got it worse.
And on top of that the top 2 picks are going to the Western Conference.
This might have been it. This draft lottery, the bounce of these balls, the 25%. The 46.5%. The 35.7%.
It hurts.
What's the future of the team in Memphis now? Who's gonna coach us? Who's gonna be the GM?
Yi? Al? Corey? Mike?
They could be good basketball players. They could be great basketball players. You never know. But they won't fix things tomorrow. Or June 28. Or November 1. Or next April.
Greg, Kevin, totally could have gotten that done.
Its a tough time for Grizzles Fans. Its a tough time for the Grizzlies Organization. Now the Grizzlies, and the Fans have to ask for patience from the city. See, its one thing to get upset with the team when they make a mistake. Its easy to quit on a team when the coach is slowing things down and making the games boring. Its easy to quit on a team when they trade the wrong parts of their team for something they didn't really need.
This is not the teams fault. This one just went the other way. Karma. Fortune. Fate. Luck. Chance. It is what it is, but its not the teams fault.
We've still got a lot of good things going on here. Gasol has started to get the respect he deserves around the league, and from the press. Now he just needs to get it from the people of Memphis.
Rudy Gay showed great promise throughout the season. He started to put it together down the stretch, and he has every ounce of the potential he had a year ago.
Mike Miller has just started to come into his own the last two seasons, and he's ready to go places.
We've got the most cap room of any team in the NBA this summer (or close to it) and can go out and pick up the free agent point guard or center we need.
Did you forget how exciting it was to watch Kyle Lowry play the first 10 games?
And we still have a number 4 pick.
Yi is a seven-footer who has drawn comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki. He already speaks english, and he's got a huge following in China. You want to turn the City of Memphis around? Add 1.5 billion grizzlies fans to the tourism bottom line. That'd be nice.
Al Horford, not as exciting, but he is NBA ready. He's a good defensive player, but raw offensively. And he's a six-foot-nine power forward/center. We've got about 4 of those on our team don't we? (see also, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, Alexander Johnson, Stromile Swift).
Mike Conley, Jr. could be a star, but 4 seems a bit high to take him.
There are other options. You think that Pau Gasol couldn't bring a talented PG and a first round pick or two? If you're going to draft a Yi, he easily replaces Pau Gasol at the power forward position.
If you do draft Yi, the question is do you play Pau at the 5 where he seems uninterested in rebounding, shot blocking, or defending the post. You'd like to think that a starting five of Free Agent PG (Billups?), Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Yi Jianlain, and Pau Gasol could be productive.
I don't know.
I don't know what will happen to this team. Its a mess. We're going to need some luck, and we're going to need some faith from the locals, and we're going to need some more time.
But there are still a lot of good things going on here, and we'll get it together.
But its still the 4th pick.
Not the 1st.
Not the 2nd.
Not even the 3rd.
Also not the 9th.
Here are some links for your reading pleasure:
The Current Memphis Grizzlies Roster
NBADraft.net Mock Draft
NBA Draft Machine - Do It Yourself Draft
HoopsHype.com Mock Draft
Coverage by The Commercial Appeal
Stay Tuned...
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Onion
The Onion's Aaron Kaplan produces a monologue of how not to pick up women at the bar. A pretty impressive butchering of all things pick-up-line.
Full credit to our beautiful Russian "angel" for the find.
That guy is going home alone.
But god bless his effort huh?
SHAD-ED!!!
Stay Tuned...
Full credit to our beautiful Russian "angel" for the find.
Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel Or Something To That Effect
May 2, 2007 | Issue 43•18
Excuse me, beautiful, mind if I stand next to you and do some talking? I don't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help but notice that you were sitting all alone and enjoying yourself. There's just one problem: If you're here right now, then that means heaven must be missing an angel or something to that effect. Though I doubt anyone's noticed since there are so many angels up there anyway.
I'm trying to say that you're hot.
You look pretty tired, though. Maybe it's because you've been running through my mind for a while. I think about hot women a lot, so for the purposes of this argument let's just say you were one of the ones that I'd previously been thinking about, even though we just met. Are you considering having sex with me yet? Because if not, I could ask you if it hurt when you hit the ground after falling from heaven. I know I already said the thing about you being an angel, but maybe you didn't catch it the first time. Or if you did, maybe it will seem like I'm building off that. I'm trying to tell you that you're pretty like an angel I want to sleep with, is the point.
What else is there? Oh, are you from Tennessee? Because I think you're a seven. I might have gotten that wrong, but you get the jist of it. I'm using the name of a state to express how much I'd like to see you naked, but I don't really care where you're from.
Can we just go now? All right, well then why don't you tell me your sign. I don't really believe in astrology, but maybe you do and will go home with me because I come across as open-minded for mentioning it. I think I'm a Virgo. Pisces? One of those. I'm sure we'd be good together, because you're very attractive, as I've said before, which I think is really the most important thing anyway. Speaking of which, do you have a license? Because you're driving me somewhere that's complimentary to you.
Your eyes are blue like the sky or water, whichever you prefer. And your lips are really red like—I don't know—that girl's lips over there. Also, I'd look great cumming on your shirt. Or your shirt's becoming, I mean. I want to be cumming on your shirt or in your general vicinity is what I'm getting at. I didn't quite say it right, but the sentiment is there.
So do you have a boyfriend or what? Because I don't have all night to waste on talking to you if you're dating someone.
Do you have a mirror in your pocket so I can see myself in your pants? How about a quarter, so I can call my mother and tell her I found the girl of my dreams? I'm not actually going to call her, because she's been dead for two years and it's actually up to 35 cents now anyway and I'd probably just use my cell phone, but I'll take the quarter from you if it will get you in the sack.
We should go back to my place and do some math. We'll add a bed, subtract our clothes, and do other math stuff related to fucking.
Look, it's obvious where this is leading. I'm saying all the right things and you haven't walked away yet, so let's just cut to the chase: Do you come here often? If so, would you like to go back with me to my apartment and have sex with me? What if I told you I would rearrange the alphabet for some reason? I'm thinking of asking you what you'd like for breakfast tomorrow, in the hopes that you might sleep with me because I implied that it's inevitable.
Can you see where I'm going here?
I guess I should say I think I've seen you someplace before. And I don't mean earlier, when I was staring at you. I'm pretty sure we've met in a past life or in my dreams or something, so you should feel comfortable lowering your standards around me. Also, your shoes are nice, so I'm sensitive and observant. If you really need me to, I could buy you a drink to show you I have some money and then we could do it in the bathroom.
Wait, don't go. Just one more thing. I lost my phone number. Can I have yours so I can call you later about having sex?
That guy is going home alone.
But god bless his effort huh?
SHAD-ED!!!
Stay Tuned...
Friday, April 27, 2007
Not News
Wow...breaking news - this old man is NOT BRAD PITT.
This is also, coincidentally, NOT NEWS.
Damnit CNN, you have a duty to keep the public informed and you're letting us down.
Stay Tuned...
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Confederation for the Articles of said Federation v. U.S., 857 U.S. 1 (2007).
(Washington, D.C.) - In a shocking turn of events, the Supreme Court (in an opinion written by Clarence Thomas - widely believed to be the first majority opinion of his tenure) has overruled McCullough v. Maryland.
Thomas is quoted as saying "Man! Fuck stare decisis! It's all about states rights. You better let Washington D.C. know, Missouri is on its way, and it is pissed off."
Interestingly, Justice Thomas also did not take part in the decision - thats just how he rolls.
In other news, the Federal Government has been reduced to 535 bored legislators, a "confused-looking" executive, and 9 throughly amused Supreme Court Justices.
President Bush spoke with reports this afternoon. He had these remarks to share with the country at this pivotal moment:
"MCCullogh? I'm white. Are you blind?"
Dick Cheney quickly stepped in:
"This is a difficult time for us here at the White House. We were throughly prepared to eliminate states rights all together, but our unquestioned, absolute omnipotence has been interupted by the activists over at the Supreme Court."
"Once States rights were out of the way, we were prepared to take away the rest of the individual rights. I guess it is finally time to bring the troops home."
When questioned about why the troops would be brought home now, Cheney added:
"Someone's got to take this country by force, and you know damned well Dubya and I aren't the fighting type."
More to come on this breaking story.
Stay Tuned...
Thomas is quoted as saying "Man! Fuck stare decisis! It's all about states rights. You better let Washington D.C. know, Missouri is on its way, and it is pissed off."
Interestingly, Justice Thomas also did not take part in the decision - thats just how he rolls.
In other news, the Federal Government has been reduced to 535 bored legislators, a "confused-looking" executive, and 9 throughly amused Supreme Court Justices.
President Bush spoke with reports this afternoon. He had these remarks to share with the country at this pivotal moment:
"MCCullogh? I'm white. Are you blind?"
Dick Cheney quickly stepped in:
"This is a difficult time for us here at the White House. We were throughly prepared to eliminate states rights all together, but our unquestioned, absolute omnipotence has been interupted by the activists over at the Supreme Court."
"Once States rights were out of the way, we were prepared to take away the rest of the individual rights. I guess it is finally time to bring the troops home."
When questioned about why the troops would be brought home now, Cheney added:
"Someone's got to take this country by force, and you know damned well Dubya and I aren't the fighting type."
More to come on this breaking story.
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Cited!
Not a big deal, but exciting just the same.
My article from last week, How I "Do" Law School Exams, was cited on Connie Crosby's Blawg Review.
The second review says:
Hooray!
Stay Tuned...
My article from last week, How I "Do" Law School Exams, was cited on Connie Crosby's Blawg Review.
The second review says:
K100 - Legal education
J. Louis May discusses his method of preparing for exams in his post How I "Do" Law School Exams: at The Legal Scoop. Preparation and organization are key!
Hooray!
Stay Tuned...
Sunday, April 22, 2007
May v. Apple (follow-up)
Apple was great about responding. I heard from them within 2 hours.
There was no error.
They wait until a few purchases had been made before they send an invoice, thus reflecting a number of purchases on a single invoice.
The problem is just that PayPal does not provide an itemized receipt, so that was not clear.
Kudos to Apple, again showing that they are a dominant corporation with superb customer service.
Stay Tuned...
There was no error.
They wait until a few purchases had been made before they send an invoice, thus reflecting a number of purchases on a single invoice.
The problem is just that PayPal does not provide an itemized receipt, so that was not clear.
Kudos to Apple, again showing that they are a dominant corporation with superb customer service.
Stay Tuned...
May v. Apple, 58 U.S. 845 (2011).
Today I fired the first shots in what may be my first "plaintiff experience".
I sent the following letter to PayPal and iTunes (Apple):
I won't stand for this kind of abuse!
Okay, thats a touch dramatic...
But still, I wanted to make sure they understand that I will do whatever is necessary to get a refund for the more than $47 they owe me.
Its in their best interest to settle out of court though - the last thing they want is a chance for me to get up and cry in front of a jury.
Hello Punitives!
Stay Tuned...
I sent the following letter to PayPal and iTunes (Apple):
Dear Apple and PayPal:
There was not category for my question that said "I'm being screwed by PayPal and iTunes every time I buy music", so I just picked one. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Every-time I make a purchase, Paypal double charges me!
I don't understand.
I just purchased Weeds Season 2 for $23.95 and was charged $33.95.
Every $.99 song I purchase has cost me $1.99
I'd request at this time a refund of all double charges incurred since my account became active. I would also request a prompt reply and explanation for this occurrence.
A copy of this email has been saved for my records, should further action become necessary.
I will be awaiting your response.
Sincerely,
Jonathan May
jmay11@gmail.com
I won't stand for this kind of abuse!
Okay, thats a touch dramatic...
But still, I wanted to make sure they understand that I will do whatever is necessary to get a refund for the more than $47 they owe me.
Its in their best interest to settle out of court though - the last thing they want is a chance for me to get up and cry in front of a jury.
Hello Punitives!
Stay Tuned...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
How I "Do" Law School Exams:
This is a post I wrote for "The Legal Scoop" - where I have been a contributor all semester. It's not really that interesting, but I thought I'd post it here anyways. Enjoy
So, in the spirit of Law School Exams, I thought I'd share my approach to exam preparation.
Remember, everyone works differently, so don't think that my method will necessarily work for you, but here it is.
The first thing I do is make my semesterly STAPLES run (this is not an endorsement of STAPLES, by the way). My key to exams is being organized. I buy a 1.5 inch binder (with the clear fronts so I can put the syllabus or something in front) for each course, as well as one for miscellaneous materials. I also buy 2 packages of .05 Pilot G2 (the pack that has 4 colors - you have NO idea how helpful a red pen is). I also buy dividers. Somewhere between 5 and 10 per class, depending on how much I think I need to organize. I also buy a large pack of legal pads. A few packs of Tabs (the larger ones are ideal) and I'm set.
After creating the "skeleton" of each notebook (aka putting the dividers in each notebook, and the blank legal pad in the back) I separate all the papers I've accumulated over the semester into courses. I also stop by the law school to take advantage of that print quota I never touch and I print a .pdf of all my class notes from each class. I gather all the outlines I've collected (some my own, others from friends and former students) I hole punch everything and I begin to assemble the "exam notebooks".
Now these notebooks are the key to preparing for exams for me. Its especially helpful if you can use notes on the exam, as you have gathered everything together.
The next thing I do is take the syllabus from each class and I make a list on the legal pads of everything I need to read.
Here is where my method might seem extreme, or not something you're interested in.
I stop reading for daily classes about 3 weeks before exams start. I figure the material we cover at the end - I'll get to it at the end. I don't have time to read for class and study. I'll get to this material, just not for another few weeks.
How do I prepare? I re-read the entire syllabus. Yeah, I know. Its a lot of reading. As I do this, I tab the book to let me know where each section begins, where each case is, and where supplemental materials are in the back (i.e. U.S. Constitution, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, whatever).
I use the legal pad in the back of the textbook to note things as I read. For example:
Of course there are other things you will want to add too. Sometimes a brief recitation of the facts will help you remember what the case was about. Some professors want you to talk about "which justice wrote the opinion" so maybe you want to include that.
I try to use my reading of the case as a platform to "create my own document". I don't want to call it an "outline" per se because it isn't really an outline. Its more of an expanded syllabus that includes substance and tells me where to go for more information.
Next, I work out my calendar.
I look at how many days I have between now and my first exam, how many I have between each exam, and what order the exams are in. I then review my materials in reverse order. Let me illustrate:
Lets say the order of my exams is thus:
Lets additionally say I have 3.5 weeks (25 days) before my torts exam. I would study like so:
That way I've spent 5 days on each subject and also gotten a running start for my Torts Exam. Then, after each exam I have 3 days to prepare for the next test.
After torts, I can spend 3 days working on Civ Pro before that exam.
After Civ Pro, I can spend 4 days working on Contracts before that exam.
After Contracts, I can spend 3 days working on Crim before that exam.
After Crim, I go out and party really hard.
Now - how do I use those days? I tend to have a very weird schedule. I work from 5pm until 8am every day. That's right. I work overnight. I sleep during the day. Less distractions for me = more productive hours. At 4am, there is only so much you can do other than study. It seems crazy, but it works.
Additionally, my exams tend to be in the morning, so the night before the exam, I'll wake up at 5pm, and review until the 8am exam. I find I test better "at the end of the day" than when I first wake up, therefore having my body feel like 8am is actually the afternoon/evening is better for me.
It won't work for everyone.
I'll tell you this much - there is no more peaceful, mellow place than the law school at 4am.
There you have it. How to organize, how to read, how to schedule your way to exam success. I hope you've found this helpful, and if not - sorry, I tried.
Stay Tuned...
So, in the spirit of Law School Exams, I thought I'd share my approach to exam preparation.
Remember, everyone works differently, so don't think that my method will necessarily work for you, but here it is.
The first thing I do is make my semesterly STAPLES run (this is not an endorsement of STAPLES, by the way). My key to exams is being organized. I buy a 1.5 inch binder (with the clear fronts so I can put the syllabus or something in front) for each course, as well as one for miscellaneous materials. I also buy 2 packages of .05 Pilot G2 (the pack that has 4 colors - you have NO idea how helpful a red pen is). I also buy dividers. Somewhere between 5 and 10 per class, depending on how much I think I need to organize. I also buy a large pack of legal pads. A few packs of Tabs (the larger ones are ideal) and I'm set.
After creating the "skeleton" of each notebook (aka putting the dividers in each notebook, and the blank legal pad in the back) I separate all the papers I've accumulated over the semester into courses. I also stop by the law school to take advantage of that print quota I never touch and I print a .pdf of all my class notes from each class. I gather all the outlines I've collected (some my own, others from friends and former students) I hole punch everything and I begin to assemble the "exam notebooks".
Now these notebooks are the key to preparing for exams for me. Its especially helpful if you can use notes on the exam, as you have gathered everything together.
The next thing I do is take the syllabus from each class and I make a list on the legal pads of everything I need to read.
Here is where my method might seem extreme, or not something you're interested in.
I stop reading for daily classes about 3 weeks before exams start. I figure the material we cover at the end - I'll get to it at the end. I don't have time to read for class and study. I'll get to this material, just not for another few weeks.
How do I prepare? I re-read the entire syllabus. Yeah, I know. Its a lot of reading. As I do this, I tab the book to let me know where each section begins, where each case is, and where supplemental materials are in the back (i.e. U.S. Constitution, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, whatever).
I use the legal pad in the back of the textbook to note things as I read. For example:
1. What page the case begin on...
2. What year the case was decided...
3. If it is still controlling...
4. Does this represent a minority rule? (especially in Property)
5. What cases need to be considered in conjunction with this case.
Of course there are other things you will want to add too. Sometimes a brief recitation of the facts will help you remember what the case was about. Some professors want you to talk about "which justice wrote the opinion" so maybe you want to include that.
I try to use my reading of the case as a platform to "create my own document". I don't want to call it an "outline" per se because it isn't really an outline. Its more of an expanded syllabus that includes substance and tells me where to go for more information.
Next, I work out my calendar.
I look at how many days I have between now and my first exam, how many I have between each exam, and what order the exams are in. I then review my materials in reverse order. Let me illustrate:
Lets say the order of my exams is thus:
Week 1:
Mon - Torts
Thurs - Civ Pro
Week 2:
Mon - Contracts
Thurs - Crim
Lets additionally say I have 3.5 weeks (25 days) before my torts exam. I would study like so:
Day 1-5:Torts
Day 6-10: Crim
Day 11-15: Contracts
Day 16-20: Civ Pro
Day 21-25: Torts
That way I've spent 5 days on each subject and also gotten a running start for my Torts Exam. Then, after each exam I have 3 days to prepare for the next test.
After torts, I can spend 3 days working on Civ Pro before that exam.
After Civ Pro, I can spend 4 days working on Contracts before that exam.
After Contracts, I can spend 3 days working on Crim before that exam.
After Crim, I go out and party really hard.
Now - how do I use those days? I tend to have a very weird schedule. I work from 5pm until 8am every day. That's right. I work overnight. I sleep during the day. Less distractions for me = more productive hours. At 4am, there is only so much you can do other than study. It seems crazy, but it works.
Additionally, my exams tend to be in the morning, so the night before the exam, I'll wake up at 5pm, and review until the 8am exam. I find I test better "at the end of the day" than when I first wake up, therefore having my body feel like 8am is actually the afternoon/evening is better for me.
It won't work for everyone.
I'll tell you this much - there is no more peaceful, mellow place than the law school at 4am.
There you have it. How to organize, how to read, how to schedule your way to exam success. I hope you've found this helpful, and if not - sorry, I tried.
Stay Tuned...
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Eisenhower said it all:
As Ike said in his Farewell Address to the Nation on January 17, 1961:
"A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction...
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defence with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together."
We ought have listened.
Notice he was in military dress...
Stay Tuned...
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Texas Justice
A Texas man has been cleared of any wrong-doing for the shooting death of his wife's lover.
Don't get me wrong, he pulled the trigger. Everyone knew that.
When he caught his wife with another man, his wife (ever the witty one) told him that the man was raping her, and he promptly shot him 4 times.
The wife is facing manslaughter charges for inciting the killing.
The story is classic, and here is a link.
Here is another take on the shooting.
What's your take?
Now that's a hypo that your Crim Pro I professor never threw your way huh?
Stay Tuned...
Don't get me wrong, he pulled the trigger. Everyone knew that.
When he caught his wife with another man, his wife (ever the witty one) told him that the man was raping her, and he promptly shot him 4 times.
The wife is facing manslaughter charges for inciting the killing.
The story is classic, and here is a link.
Here is another take on the shooting.
What's your take?
Now that's a hypo that your Crim Pro I professor never threw your way huh?
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Law School Confidence -
This is an article from Law School Academic Support Blog:
Its that time of year again. Gather everything you've managed to collect this semester. Those sporatic notes taken between IM's and news articles. The three briefs you put together for the cases you read in January before classes started. Every commercial outline you can get your hands on.
Time to lock ourselvs away for a month and see if we can't survive to do it all again in the fall.
Good Luck!
Stay Tuned...
Law school can be a place where confidence goes to die. A student comes into law school believing she can excel and finds herself struggling near the bottom of the class, not entirely certain what went wrong. The effort was there; the time and energy were there; but the good grades were inexplicably out of reach. After a couple of semesters, all she knows to do is to tough it out. So she slogs on towards graduation, reminded every January and June that she is not what thought she was.
Ask her how she's doing, and she may pretend not to care about the disappointments. Get her to be honest, and she'll just shrug because she is discouraged and has lost faith in herself.
Even so, like most law students, she will hang in and graduate; and, like most law students, she'll maintain through it all a genuine desire to be a good lawyer, whatever her grades and whatever her rank.
And here's the great thing: she will indeed be a good lawyer, even an excellent lawyer. But she doesn't know that now. She knows about GPA's and class ranks and lucrative offers to the top ten percent.
Eventually, she will learn that preparation wins the day in the real world of practice, not GPA's. She will find that not all great lawyers were great law students. It will dawn on her one day that, as a matter of simple mathematics, 90% of the lawyers out there did not graduate in the top 10% of the class.
Of course, she can't see any of that now. All she sees is the closed-in world of law school, the immediacy of another set of exams. That isn't all bad, I suppose; she needs to focus on the task at hand. But it couldn't hurt if we took a minute to help her see down the road a little, just so she knows that she still has every reason to be confident.
Its that time of year again. Gather everything you've managed to collect this semester. Those sporatic notes taken between IM's and news articles. The three briefs you put together for the cases you read in January before classes started. Every commercial outline you can get your hands on.
Time to lock ourselvs away for a month and see if we can't survive to do it all again in the fall.
Good Luck!
Stay Tuned...
Friday, March 23, 2007
March Memphis Madness
Its exciting to see the Tigers run to the Elite 8 again this year.
The game with Texas A&M was epic. I mean, from tip to buzzer it was one of the quickest, most athletic, and exciting games I've seen in years.
Who'd have thought that Acie Law IV - media darling - would miss a layup in the final minute.
Who'd have thought the Tigers could go to Texas and win a game against a team that essentially had its home court advantage.
30,000 fans, and 24,000 of them seemed to be A&M fans.
It is only 2.5 hours from College Station to San Antonio.
Its a shame UT lost.
I know you're thinking that seems like an absurd thing for me to say.
I was rooting or Ohio St.
For two very valid reasons. Plus one that isn't.
(1) My bracket has Ohio St. losing to Memphis Saturday.
(2) Ohio St. is a better matchup for Memphis.
(3) I hate UT.
But, it would have been something special to see UT/Memphis with the winner advancing to the Final 4.
I can't even imagine what the next two days would have been like in Memphis if that had happened.
UT shouldn't feel too bad, though.
Sure, they blew a 20-point lead. There is a reason that Ohio St. was a #1 seed, and #1 in the polls. They don't roll over and die.
The run UT made was an historic one for a program that lacks much in the way of basketball history. Pearl showed he is the guy to take this program forward, and probably earned himself an extension.
And Memphis gets to play basketball at least one more time.
Lets Go Blue!
Stay Tuned...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Global Warming - 50 Ways to Help
Global warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to solve this problem: each one of us can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.
Here is a list of 50 simple things that everyone can do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon: some of them are at no cost, some other require a little investment but can help you save a lot of money, in the middle-long term!
This is not my original work, but the author would certainly like me to reproduce it and spread the word.
Here is a link to my source.
Please re-produce this list yourself if you find it important too.
Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will
save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air
conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can
save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and
cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year
with this simple adjustment. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has more tips for saving energy on heating and cooling.
Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star
label on new appliances to choose the most efficient models available.
Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.
Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple
action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the
thermostat no higher than 50°C.
Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers.Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Don't let heat escape from your house over a long period
When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions.
Replace your old single-glazed windows with double-glazing
This requires a bit of upfront investment, but will halve the energy lost through windows and pay off in the long term. If you go for the best the market has to offer (wooden-framed double-glazed units with low-emission glass and filled with argon gas), you can even save more than 70% of the energy lost.
Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is
poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your
energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.
Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!
Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures.
Take a shower instead of a bath
A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximise the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.
Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by
installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved
per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds
saved per year) instead of hot.
Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.
Insulate and weatherize your home
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home
heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and
weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. Energy Efficient has more information on how to better insulate your home.
Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area.
Recycle your organic waste
Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.
Buy intelligently
One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use!Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.
Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by
10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.
Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. The Green Power Network is a good place to start to figure out what’s available in your area.
Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm
to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your
community.
Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the
food to you by one fifth. You can find a farmer’s market in your area
at the USDA website.
Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels
than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and
soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere!
Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one
of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple
stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every
breath.
Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area.
Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free national service connecting commuters and travelers.
Don't leave an empty roof rack on your car
This can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10% due to wind resistance and the extra weight - removing it is a better idea.
Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces
emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars,
nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the
atmosphere.
Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose
proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead
of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your
vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your
driving style you can save money on both fuel and car mantainance.
Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
Proper inflation
can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline
saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every
increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!
When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car
gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up
to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel
efficiency on FuelEconomy and on GreenCars websites.
Try car sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing
organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers
gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as Flexcar - offer low emission or hybrid cars too! Also, see ZipCar.
Try telecommuting from home
Telecommuting can help you drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more information, check out the Telework Coalition.
Fly less
Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you
fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions
significantly. You can also offset your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects.
Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond
your home by actively encouraging other to take action.
Join the virtual march
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to
bring people concerned about global warming together in one
place. Add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of other people urging action on this issue.
Encourage the switch to renewable energy
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These
technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are
regulatory barriers impeding them. Take action to break down those
barriers with Vote Solar.
Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critial role in global warming: they store carbon. When
forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the
atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide
emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on forests and global warming.
Consider the impact of your investments
If you invest your money, you should consider the impact that your
investments and savings will have on global warming. Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more
about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products
and projects that address issues related to climate change.
Make your city cool
Cities and states around the country have taken action to stop global
warming by passing innovative transportation and energy saving
legislation. 194 cities nationwide representing over 40 million people
have made this pledge as part of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Find out how to make your city a cool city.
Tell Congress to act
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a
firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market
incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it.
Make sure your voice is heard!
Americans must have a stronger commitment from their government in order to stop
global warming and implement solutions and such a commitment won’t come
without a dramatic increase in citizen lobbying for new laws with
teeth. Get the facts about U.S. politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and The League of Conservation Voters. Make sure your voice is heard by voting!
Share this list!
There are a lot of little things we can all do.
Stay Tuned...
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Alright Thaddeus...you want to go to war with me?
So, I admit I was harsh on Thaddeus Matthews last night.
I admit I was even rude.
I am not going to say I was wrong, because I wasn't.
I will say this - He's a bitch for deleting my comments from his post.
Thats right. I posted something very benign (just a note with a link to my blog, telling him that I had some feedback for him) and it got turned into a big cluster-fuck of his self-proclaimed "black sheep" taking shots at me.
HEY DIPSHIT...we don't need your stinking help. Who the fuck are you trying to be?
And we don't care when you get back. As a matter of fact, stay gone. Idiot.Your fucking Blog sucks. You're probably just jealous because the traffic on your site hardly reaches double digits on a good day.
People, don't even waste your time there.
P.S. Crimson Tide sucks.Put him in his place. He did not realize you have created a Memphis family here- a highly dysfunctional one with plenty of black sheeps but will defend against all outsiders. LOL (referring to the post above) Give it up dude. You might want to just go back ova to yo blog and stay there. sucka
Then the big dog came out to take a bite:
Thaddeus Augustus Matthews said...
So you just want to promote yourself on my blog. No one knows of you yet you want to be promoted here.
You're correct Mr. Matthews. "No one knows of you yet. . ."
See, I wouldn't have been able to flip that around and make it seem as though it is only a matter of time before people do know who I am, if you'd only taken the time to put a god damned comma in your response.
Thats the little symbol located between the "m" and "." on your keyboard.
Wait, I've read your blog, you don't know where the "." key is either.
Also the spacebar seems to have eluded you.
So, what did I do?
I responded.
I backed off my original "bile" and re-affirmed my support for what he was doing. I stated that I was happy that he was so involved and taking an interest by putting his thoughts out there.
Despite the inaccuracies and poor english.
I also cleared up a few things:
When I said I would be the "#1 source for news from around the Mid-South" I was being sarcastic. Anyone who has read any of my writing knows that I never stick to any one subject for more than a week. Beyond that, I was making light of how Mr. Matthews has "proclaimed" himself the most controversial blogger in Memphis.
When I said I was going to come back to help the city, I was being sincere. I have a strong sense of civic duty and a belief that Memphis can be a better place than it is now.
I believe that the city has to find a way to get past its racial hatred, and that starts with both sides dropping the issue. Both sides. Both.
So, if my desire to serve Memphis was in some way patronizing, or repulsive to the readers of Thaddeus Matthews Dot Com, I hope it wasn't because I'm white, and Jewish.
The bottom line is this, they don't have to like my opinion, but if they are going to let everyone spew the unfounded venom that they do on that site, and then complain about the condition of our city, then let every side speak.
Sometimes our harshest critics are the ones we must listen to the closest.
It may have hurt Mr. Matthews to learn that an educated person had tried to read his blog, and found the lack of spacing, punctuation, proper verb tense, or facts to be a hinderance, but good lord, its the truth.
Take the time to spell check your document.
Proof read.
I do, and I still make mistakes.
Everyone does, its okay.
It is NOT okay to care so little for your work that you don't even bother to check.
And if you did proof that work, and this is the product, then you better just stick to your radio program where no-one will be able to read your ignorant words.
You said on your comments that I posted my blog address so that I could get some publicity. That I was shamelessly trying to bump my readership.
Those are hollow words coming from a master of bullshit like yourself. When you start posting credible information, with some sources, then you can point fingers at other people for "shameless attempts to boost readership".
Asshole.
You're right though. No body knows who I am...yet.
Stay Tuned...
By the way, here is what I could salvage of my comments...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
