Free Legal Research Tool For iOS

Fastcase, whom I had not heard of before, has a free legal research app available if you use an iOS device.  The download is free, and you can do whatever research you'd like it.  It would be handy for doing research on the fly, if, like me, you do not have access to Westlaw/LexisNexis.

See:
http://bit.ly/eTh5VH

On Whipping Out the Mobile Phone When Someone Else Is Talking To You

I was talking with someone the other day about how people tend to whip out their mobile phones in the middle of meetings and start texting/checking email/doing something other than paying attention to the meeting.  I think this is pretty rude, but it seems to be a way of life for some people.
This article in the Times discusses it.
http://nyti.ms/f47V3K

iPods/iPads/iPhones Not Good About Playing Nicely on Wireless Networks

Princeton University has a nice article on their Network Systems website that, in plain language, explains why an iPod does not play nicely on their network (or other networks too).  I'm disappointed that Apple has not fixed this, because it really is not good behavior.
In the process, they also explain how a typical wireless network (and often a wired network) works.  It's good reading, and helps to explain why one sometimes encounters wireless networks that just don't seem to work properly.  Often, I'm suspicious it is because the wireless network has run out of "leases" (connections) for new users.
Besides explaining this, it is useful for anyone with a wireless network to understand the principles of how it works for troubleshooting.
See:
http://bit.ly/ejy0hw

Hiking with a Random Dog

Random dog that followed us hiking.

Right now I am TDY* to Huntsville and have been for about a month.  Sunday, after the torrential rains we had Saturday, I decided to go on a hike with a colleague at Monte Sano State Park.  The park was really nice, it has a lot of buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back before World War II.  The neatest thing was how a dog decided that my colleague and I made for more interesting hiking companions than its owners, and took off with us for about three quarters of a mile as we started to hike around the mile.  Eventually, its owner came over and retrieved it, but I was beginning to wonder what would happen if the owner was not there when we got back to the car, and whether I was going to have to figure out how to smuggle a dog into the University of Alabama in Huntsville's housing.   It was a nice hike, though, even if it was a bit muddy and cut short because of time.
* TDY, for non-Army readers of this blog, means temporary duty (or, in normal English, a business trip).  It is sometimes used like a verb.

Danu (Irish Music Group) to Perform at GMU

One of my favorite Irish music groups, Danu, is going to be performing at George Mason University on 18 March.  I'm not sure if I'm going to go, but the video that they have up is really good.  Right about 1:16 is where they get awesome.
See the link below:
http://bit.ly/hhSDwb

A Female Recipient of the Silver Star

This morning, while running around UAH's campus, I heard a pretty powerful story on Leigh Ann Hester, who earned a Silver Star for her actions in Iraq.

See:

http://n.pr/gw8tL7

Senior Citizens Checking up On College Student Athlete Attendance

Thomas sent me an article on senior citizens that check up on student athlete attendance at the University of Kansas.  See:

http://on.wsj.com/hQLx8d

Judge Posner and the Bluebook (and How He Does Not Use It)

Judge Posner recently published an article in the Yale Law Journal on the Bluebook (a legal citation manual) and how he does not use use it for his citation.  He explains why he does not and makes some valid points about it.  For those of you who had to deal with this in law school (or still deal with it), you might appreciate this article.
See:
http://bit.ly/fbXqaO

A Hawk Inside the Library of Congress

As of yesterday, there was a hawk inside the Library of Congress' Main Reading Room.
See:
http://bit.ly/gUYidX
The post is pretty funny; the author obviously has a sense of humor.  Thanks to Jesse for finding this.

For in the Inner Geographer or Geologist in Us All

Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Observatory has come out with a really neat app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad called EarthObserver.  It's currently free.  It can display rock formation information, USGS (United States Geologic Survey) maps, and tons of other information which I have not even scratched the surface of.
See:
http://www.earth-observer.org/ for more on this excellent app.

Powerful Story on Flooding in Australia

Weekend Edition Saturday had a very powerful story on the flooding in Australia.

See:

http://n.pr/dJKRTt

 There is a transcript as well.

 I'll add that Scott Simon and the interviewee, Richard Glover, a reporter for ABC need to stop meeting like they do (the last time they spoke was about the wildfires in Australia).  (And ABC is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, not the United States' network)

Very Depressing Article in the Times on the Legal Job Market

There was an article in the Times yesterday on law schools, debt, and the awful state of the legal job market. It's something anyone considering attending law school should read. Very carefully.
See:
http://bit.ly/g3taZO

Good A Capella Arrangement of Let It Snow

I was listening to the radio recently and heard an a capella arrangement of Let It Snow by Ricochet.  They have a music video here.  Ricochet is a country music group, but you shouldn't write them off because of that.  The arrangement is a capella and is quite good (and there really isn't much country in it).  I'm surprised it hasn't attracted my attention before, since it's a relatively old song (from 1996).

Article About Hanukkah

There was a good article that talks about Hanukkah in the Times recently.

Items You Mark as "Private" on Facebook Could be Discoverable if Someone Sues You

The Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board discussed Facebook/MySpace and how two trial courts -- in New York and Pennsylvania -- have issued orders compelling parties to turn over their Facebook/MySpace passwords.
Here are links to the New York and Pennsylvania cases.
In these cases, I'll concede that the parties foolishly posted information relevant to their cases on the social networking site.  Nonetheless, I am not sure I agree with the two judge's decisions.  Just because the privacy policies of both these sites say that the information can be disclosed pursuant to a court order does not give a court carte blanche to grant someone access to someone's Facebook or MySpace profile.   While people can choose to make information public on social network sites, they also might store personal information as well.  In some ways, these sites are similar to any email provider.  Gmail's privacy policy says something quite similar about disclosure.
The moral of this story, though, is that people should be very careful with what they post on MySpace or Facebook.

Scrabble-esque Game

If you're bored over Thanksgiving, there's a Scrabble-esque game to keep you busy.
See:
http://wordsquared.com/
Mozilla (the company that runs Firefox) runs the website, I think.

On Men in the Army

The New York Times had an article about what men in the Army (no women mentioned in the article) do in their spare time.  It sounds slightly cliche, but I admire what they do.  See: http://nyti.ms/gQmbiX.

Neat Song by Sara Bareilles

Thomas pointed me to this song (King of Anything) by Sara Bareilles.
The tune is catchy, the lyrics are creative, and the video is well done.
See:
http://bit.ly/cvRxBo

Vampire Killing Under Federal Contract

I wonder if this company (which I saw through Ryan's Facebook) is listed in the Central Contractor Registry.  And if it is, could I do a sole source justification under Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1?  There can't be that many companies that do vampire killing

A Unique Motion for a Continuance

My brother passed me this motion for a continuance, which, in part, states:

Since 1972, when Darrell was but a lad of thirteen, he has been a fan of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club (hereinafter referred to as "Rangers").

You should read the whole thing as well as the footnotes, which are also very funny.

Here's a link.

http://scr.bi/bknjDF