Monday, September 29, 2008
the Bailout Bill
I know many of you out there are politically aware and at least IMO all Americans should care about the bailout situation that is now being discussed by Congress. Here is a link to the bill pdf from Y'all Politics.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Ronnie Musgrove / Roger Wicker Debate
Mississippi College School of Law is proud to be the home of the only debate between the incumbent U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and challenger and former Governor Ronnie Musgrove on Friday, October 3rd. The debate will be held in the Auditorium in the Student Center at 7:00 and will be televised on WLBT in the Jackson Metro area.
Not necessarily a library related plug but important in the life of the law school.
Not necessarily a library related plug but important in the life of the law school.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Austin Powers Defense
When someone walks up to you at that random cocktail party and asks you about the Austin Powers defense you should really know what they are talking about. In the Case U.S. v. Kevin Martin, 438 F.3d 621, in Footnote 1 of the opinion Judge Gilman makes the following statement:
See also Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line Cinema 1997).DR. EVIL: Scott, I want you to meet Daddy's nemesis, Austin Powers.SCOTT EVIL: Why are you feeding him? Why don't you just kill him?DR. EVIL: In due time.SCOTT EVIL: But what if he escapes? Why don't you just shoot him? What are you waiting for?DR. EVIL: I have a better idea. I'm going to put him in an easily-escapable situation involving an overly-elaborate and exotic death.SCOTT EVIL: Why don't you just shoot him now? Here, I'll get a gun. We'll just shoot him. Bang! Dead. Done.DR. EVIL: One more peep out of you and you're grounded. Let's begin.Prior to this exchange and then again following it, Dr. Evil describes in great detail the separate crimes necessary to achieve his plan for world domination. Thus, if our Government ever does find Dr. Evil (or chooses to prosecute him despite his recent decision to be “less evil,” see Austin Powers in Goldmember (New Line Cinema 2002)), he will be one of the few, if any, criminal defendants, able to argue, consistent with this Circuit's precedent, that all of his various crimes were “related” for purposes of the Guidelines.
Now you won't be clueless when this nice little oddity comes up at those swanky bars and parties you attend.
See also Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line Cinema 1997).DR. EVIL: Scott, I want you to meet Daddy's nemesis, Austin Powers.SCOTT EVIL: Why are you feeding him? Why don't you just kill him?DR. EVIL: In due time.SCOTT EVIL: But what if he escapes? Why don't you just shoot him? What are you waiting for?DR. EVIL: I have a better idea. I'm going to put him in an easily-escapable situation involving an overly-elaborate and exotic death.SCOTT EVIL: Why don't you just shoot him now? Here, I'll get a gun. We'll just shoot him. Bang! Dead. Done.DR. EVIL: One more peep out of you and you're grounded. Let's begin.Prior to this exchange and then again following it, Dr. Evil describes in great detail the separate crimes necessary to achieve his plan for world domination. Thus, if our Government ever does find Dr. Evil (or chooses to prosecute him despite his recent decision to be “less evil,” see Austin Powers in Goldmember (New Line Cinema 2002)), he will be one of the few, if any, criminal defendants, able to argue, consistent with this Circuit's precedent, that all of his various crimes were “related” for purposes of the Guidelines.
Now you won't be clueless when this nice little oddity comes up at those swanky bars and parties you attend.
Friday, September 19, 2008
ARRGGGHHHH
Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, enjoy it.
And if you read this and come up to the Circ Desk and talk like a Pirate to Brian any fines under $10 will be waived. Today only.
And if you read this and come up to the Circ Desk and talk like a Pirate to Brian any fines under $10 will be waived. Today only.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Don't be this lawyer when you grow up
In a case out of bankruptcy court in Texas the following Order was issued by the judge
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR INCOMPREHENSIBILITY
Before the court is a motion entitled “Defendant’s Motion to Discharge Response to Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Response Opposing Objection to Discharge.” Doc. #7. As background, this adversary was commenced on December 14, 2005 with the filing of the plaintiff’s complaint objecting to the debtor’s discharge. (Doc. #1). Defendant answered the complaint on January 12, 2006. Doc. #3. Plaintiff responded to the Defendant’s answer on January 26, 2006. Doc. #6. On February 3, 2006, Defendant filed the above entitled motion. The court cannot determine the substance, if any, of the Defendant’s legal argument, nor can the court even ascertain the relief that the Defendant is requesting. The Defendant’s motion is accordingly denied for being incomprehensible.*
* Or, in the words of the competition judge to Adam Sandler’s title character in the movie, “Billy Madison,” after Billy Madison had responded to a question with an answer that sounded superficially reasonable but lacked any substance,
Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Deciphering motions like the one presented here wastes valuable chamber staff time, and invites this sort of footnote.
SO ORDERED.
While many of us would agree this judge takes a bit far please be sure not to submit a brief that can be viewed like this to a judge.
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR INCOMPREHENSIBILITY
Before the court is a motion entitled “Defendant’s Motion to Discharge Response to Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Response Opposing Objection to Discharge.” Doc. #7. As background, this adversary was commenced on December 14, 2005 with the filing of the plaintiff’s complaint objecting to the debtor’s discharge. (Doc. #1). Defendant answered the complaint on January 12, 2006. Doc. #3. Plaintiff responded to the Defendant’s answer on January 26, 2006. Doc. #6. On February 3, 2006, Defendant filed the above entitled motion. The court cannot determine the substance, if any, of the Defendant’s legal argument, nor can the court even ascertain the relief that the Defendant is requesting. The Defendant’s motion is accordingly denied for being incomprehensible.*
* Or, in the words of the competition judge to Adam Sandler’s title character in the movie, “Billy Madison,” after Billy Madison had responded to a question with an answer that sounded superficially reasonable but lacked any substance,
Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Deciphering motions like the one presented here wastes valuable chamber staff time, and invites this sort of footnote.
SO ORDERED.
While many of us would agree this judge takes a bit far please be sure not to submit a brief that can be viewed like this to a judge.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Computer Lab Closure
the computer lab will be closed tomorrow, September 12th from 7:30-4:30 for a CLE. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Job Interviewing Article
We wanted to pass along a good but short article from the ABA Journal of some thing to watch out for / prepare for with job interviews. I also recommend the internal link to the Legal Times which is a lot choppier but has actually quotes from some people in "the know".
Friday, September 5, 2008
1L Legal Research Fellow Schedule
I realize not everyone out there reading this is a 1L in legal research but for those of you who are below is the Legal Research Fellow Schedule for Fall 2008.
- Monday
9:30-12:00
11:30-1:00
2:00-4:30 - Tuesday
11:30-12:30
12:00-2:00
2:30-4:00 - Wednesday
9:30-12:00
10:00-1:00
2:00-4:30 - Thursday
11:30-12:30
2:30-4:00 - Friday
11:30-1:00
2:00-3:30
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tips for being more environmental friendly
Top 10 Easiest Ways to Green Your Office
1. Kick the Bottled Water Habit
Every year 1.5 mil barrels of oil go to making plastic water bottles in the United States, and less than a quarter of those bottles are recycled, so choose a reusable bottle instead.
2. Compute This.
Set computers to enter sleep mode after 5 minutes of idle time & you’ll be saving energy during lunchtime & other outings.
3. Zap Your Phantom Energy Loads.
Plug your office electronics into a power strip so that you can easily turn them all off when you’re not using them-you’ll keep your devices from sapping “phantom” electricity loads when they’re off but plugged in.
4. Purify Your Plants.
It doesn’t take a forest to clean the air in your office, only about one plant for every 10 square yards. Plants like philodendrons and peace lilies absorb airborne pollutants, keeping the air you breathe clean and clear.
5. Forgo Bad Chems.
Just one 10 oz can of chem. Duster has the same greenhouse gas-creating effect as burning 100 gallons of gas. Take CTRL: Just turn your keyboard upside down, give it a little shake, and slide a piece of 2 sided adhesive tape between the keys.
6. Dodge the Drafts.
Unless you’re printing something superimportant, save ink and paper by tracking your changes in electronic document. If you absolutely need to print something, print it double-sided.
7. Pay the Piper Online.
Lessen your paper clutter at the office too by banking and paying bills online.
8. Get Inked.
Ink cartridges can take up to 450 years to decompose. Recycle your old ones, and next time you buy, go with refilled cartridges, which work just like conventional ones and cost up to 75% less than new ones.
9.Safeguard Your Lunch.
Reduce waste by taking your lunch in reusable, safe containers.
10. Climb Your Way to Green.
Take the stairs instead. Climbing stairs burns up to 10 times more calories. And keep in mind an elevator’s yearly energy usage can equal the energy used to power seven homes annually.
1. Kick the Bottled Water Habit
Every year 1.5 mil barrels of oil go to making plastic water bottles in the United States, and less than a quarter of those bottles are recycled, so choose a reusable bottle instead.
2. Compute This.
Set computers to enter sleep mode after 5 minutes of idle time & you’ll be saving energy during lunchtime & other outings.
3. Zap Your Phantom Energy Loads.
Plug your office electronics into a power strip so that you can easily turn them all off when you’re not using them-you’ll keep your devices from sapping “phantom” electricity loads when they’re off but plugged in.
4. Purify Your Plants.
It doesn’t take a forest to clean the air in your office, only about one plant for every 10 square yards. Plants like philodendrons and peace lilies absorb airborne pollutants, keeping the air you breathe clean and clear.
5. Forgo Bad Chems.
Just one 10 oz can of chem. Duster has the same greenhouse gas-creating effect as burning 100 gallons of gas. Take CTRL: Just turn your keyboard upside down, give it a little shake, and slide a piece of 2 sided adhesive tape between the keys.
6. Dodge the Drafts.
Unless you’re printing something superimportant, save ink and paper by tracking your changes in electronic document. If you absolutely need to print something, print it double-sided.
7. Pay the Piper Online.
Lessen your paper clutter at the office too by banking and paying bills online.
8. Get Inked.
Ink cartridges can take up to 450 years to decompose. Recycle your old ones, and next time you buy, go with refilled cartridges, which work just like conventional ones and cost up to 75% less than new ones.
9.Safeguard Your Lunch.
Reduce waste by taking your lunch in reusable, safe containers.
10. Climb Your Way to Green.
Take the stairs instead. Climbing stairs burns up to 10 times more calories. And keep in mind an elevator’s yearly energy usage can equal the energy used to power seven homes annually.
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