“RIM announces Blackberry 8800”

Yay! It's way past time to get a new Blackberry, isn't it? "Research in Motion (RIM) today announced a new Blackberry smartphone. The new 8800 merges the form factor of the traditional Blackberry with the piano-black design of the 8100. The new phone comes with integrated GPS and a n illuminated 'Pearl' trackball. "Other than the original 8100 Pearl, the 8800 tries to appeal to...

“Tell your boss: Naps are good for you”

Really, they are! "At last, science has come up with proof that naps are good for you. Tell your boss! Tell your spouse! "People who take at least three daytime naps a week lasting 30 minutes or longer cut their risk of dying from a heart attack by 37 percent, according to a new study by a team of American and Greek researchers. "Regular siestas apparently lower stress, which is...

New book about the Supremes

Jeffrey Rosen, author of "The Supreme Court: The Personalities and Rivalries That Defined America," made a funny appearance on The Daily Show tonight: His book also sounded very funny. Of course, that could have mostly been Jon Stewart.... "In this compelling work of character-driven history, Jeffrey Rosen recounts the history of the Court through the personal and philosophical...

Amnesty criticizes Guantanamo abuse investigation

I just hope the paralegal who blew the whistle doesn't have her career damaged: "A human rights group on Thursday accused the U.S. military of failing to adequately investigate the latest allegations of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay and urged officials to open the detention center to more independent monitors. "An investigation was launched in October by U.S. Southern Command, which...

“Complicated End of an Ex-Law Firm”

Yeah, law firm breakups spawn messy news. Almost as bad as a divorce: "At one time, the breakup of a big, prestigious law firm was rare. But since the technology boom and bust, implosions of once highflying firms like Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault have occurred with more frequency. "Yet the bankruptcy of Coudert Brothers still stands out. Eighteen...

“Why Do Lawyers Need Editors?”

Gosh, there are so many reasons. You can find editing help & more from a new blog (written by an experienced 'wordsmith for law firms'); this post, for example:"The firm of Vinson & Elkins has a scholarship program for high school students who are interested in 'pursuing a career in law.' "Great! But take a look at these excerpts from the firm’s overview of the program.The...

Can you search the Internet anonymously?

Well, no, not without some advance planning. But this article describes how it's done: "Tor — an acronym for The Onion Router — is a freely available, open-source program developed by the U.S. Navy about a decade ago. A browser plug-in, it thwarts online traffic analysis and related forms of Internet surveillance by sending your data packets through different routers around the world. As...

“Princeton paralegal charged with theft”

NOT the kind of news about paralegals I like to read: "A paralegal here with the Cooper Levenson law firm has been charged with theft by deception and forgery after allegedly ripping off a client’s account of $6,000, police said."Kara Swinney, 35, of Washington Street, Trenton, surrendered at police headquarters Tuesday and was arrested by Detective Sgt. Scott Porreca following an...

Mergers a Threat or Opportunity for Law Firm Nonlawyers?

The 'good, bad, & ugly' of law firm mergers is described quite well in this article: "For top lawyers at big-name firms, a prestigious megamerger can look like the beginning of happily ever after. "But for professional staff like paralegals, legal secretaries, administrators and law librarians, merger news may prompt a serious case of wedding-night jitters. Largely left out of the...

“Surveillance of Soldiers’ Blogs Sparks Lawsuit”

This sounds like a serious tug of war (so to speak), over free speech & security: "The FLAG Project at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed suit against the Department of Defense today, demanding expedited information on how the Army monitors soldiers' blogs. "According to news reports, an Army unit called the Army Web Risk Assessment Cell (AWRAC) reviews hundreds of...