FeedReader

If you are a news junkie, a journalist, or just someone who likes to stay on top of news, FeedReader is a really cool piece of free software that lets you quickly and efficiently see and review news as it is published from hundreds of sources worldwide. No matter what subject interests you, you can find content related to it and keep on top of it. You can learn about it and download it here for free. (And no, this is not an advertisement. I'm just sharing what I think is a very useful free application.)

Winnie the Pooh

California Appellate court lets stand ruling that Disney is bad, bad, bad, and leaves open door for plaintiff family to potentially collect hundreds of millions of dollars in Pooh royalties. Oh, bother! (Nice move by Bert waiving the sanctions award, and thus limiting the issues on appeal . . . .) Read the unpublished decision of the court here. (PDF format)

Former Houston TV Reporter's Suit Promises To Get Nasty

Golly! Fired Fox 26 reporter Lloyd Gite alleges "on-air talent sleeping with management, reporters appearing drunk on camera, anchors loudly hating each other's guts, cameramen smoking dope or drinking at work, reporters stealing company money and lesser-qualified people being promoted ahead of him . . . ." And that's just from depositions. Can't wait for the trial. Read more here. (Thanks to poynter.org for the link.)

Interesting Cert Petition

A Kansas teenager performed consensual oral sex on another male teenager at his school. He drew a sentence of 17 years under Kansas law. Had his "partner" been female, he would have received probation. His cert petition raises three interesting constitutional issues. Read all about it here on SCOTUSblog.

Conspiracy Laws On Trial

I don't agree with this article, but found it interesting.

Copyrighted Legal Pleadings

Law firm Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach found that other plaintiffs' firms were copying its complaints verbatim. So it started putting copyright notices on its pleadings, and started registering them with the Copyright Office. Now it is sending out "cease and desist" letters, though it has yet to file any lawsuits, according to this article. Sounds like a stretch to me . . . .

Chief Justice Antonin Scalia?

This article at law.com seems to think it's a strong possibility. Plus, it discusses and links to two of my favorite blawgs.

"Waves of Anxiety"

Time Magazine reports about the new audiotape of Bin Laden and the reaction it has caused.

Oh, Those Pesky Federalists!

D.C. Circuit Justice Silberman spouts off in an unusually harsh manner about the recent behavior of our Supreme Court. (May require registration to view.)

Catholic Church in Coverage Dispute

This is going to get ugly.

Worrisome Outlook for New Lawyers

The AP reports that many newly minted lawyers have so much debt that they can't afford to work in public service or for the government. But private sector jobs may not be there, and the public sector isn't faring much better. Outlook: grim.

Bushisms

Uh oh. My politics is showing.

Not That Bill Wyman

Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer Bill Wyman got a letter from a lawyer for ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman ordering him to stop using his own name. The letter kindly offered to let him use his name if a) it actually is his real name, and b) he includes a disclaimer when he uses it. Bill Wyman, the writer, of course wrote about it. (Thanks to The Obscure Store for the link.)

Layoffs at Cooley

San Fransico based Cooley Godward laid off 27 "business department associates" and 19 other staff today. The layoffs apparently affect all their offices EXCEPT Palo Alto and Reston, VA. It also appears (if I am reading correctly) that they are dumping their Kirkland, WA office. Read the memo, which is posted on the Greedy SF/SV Associates Board on infirmation.com.

Big Brother Redux

Poindexter's plan (discussed below) is so scary even arch-conservative William Safire thinks it's a bad idea.