Year: 2008
LEGAL DEPT.
Legal Blogs that Aren’t
Blogs, that is. A couple of months ago I published a review of Your Witness: Lessons on Cross-Examination and Life From Great Chicago Trial Lawyers, a fascinating collection of stories and advice about cross-examining witnesses, edited by Steven F. Molo and James R. Figliulo. At the beginning of last month, I received an email from Molo’s… Read more
TELEVISION DEPT.
Raising the Bar – Review
Raising the Bar is the latest legal drama from Stephen Bochco. I gave up on television legal dramas years ago, and I probably would have skipped this one entirely if it hadn’t been for the involvement of David Feige, whose Indefensible blog is on my daily reading list. The long review will have spoilers, so… Read more
ECONOMICS DEPT.
Mad Cow Madness Continues
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the meatpacking industry agree: The American beef supply is safe from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a.k.a. “mad cow” disease. They know this because the USDA has been spot-testing slaughtered cattle for years. That works for me, but maybe it’s not good enough for you. Maybe you don’t trust the… Read more
CREEPING TOTALITARIANISM DEPT.
Richland County Kill Zone
Just when I think police militarization couldn’t possibly get more disturbing, Radley Balko and Pete Guither find this: The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team. Sheriff Leon Lott told the Columbia State newspaper that he hoped the… Read more
POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPT.
Obama’s Speech
I know I’m late, but everyone else has said something about it, so I might as well. I’m just going to quote a few small bits from the speech and drop some comments. I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone… Read more