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Published on: June 24, 2011

Civil Liberties Debate: John Yoo – Steve Wax, Alaska Debate Transcript on DVD

By Laura Orr

My law library now has a copy of the DVD (2 disks):

Alaska Bar Association: “Excerpt from 2011 Convention, Fairbanks, AK: The Balance Between Security & Civil Liberties in War Times,”

featuring UC-Berkely Law Professor John Yoo (former White House attorney under George W. Bush) and Steve Wax (Oregon Federal Public Defender)

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Published on: June 14, 2011

Roses & Ice: Oregon History with a Twist (or a Beer)

By Laura Orr

Everyone needs a break from the law – don’t they? How about a history break?

The Oregon Encyclopedia (The OE), an online resource for Oregon history and culture, continues its History Night series:

“The rich fruits of human effort”: Portland’s 1905 World’s Fair and its Rose Festival Legacy

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Published on: June 10, 2011

Why Legal Outsourcing Doesn’t Always Work: Justice Bedsworth Explores a Culture Clash

By Laura Orr

The O(range) C(ounty) Bar Association monthly OC Lawyer Magazine, June 2011 issue, brings us another wise and wacky article from our favorite appellate court judge:

A New Kind of Custody Battle, by Justice William W. Bedsworth:

Excerpt: “… And the adults you see in divorce court are usually going out of their way to be unlikable. I’m afraid with my background, I would have found myself sentencing most of those people instead of divorcing them.(3)

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Published on: May 16, 2011

Oregon Used Books, Charitable Activities Law, and “Those Blue Bins”

By Laura Orr

About those Reading Tree and Thrift Recycling Management “Blue Bins” (not to be confused with the Blue Screen of Death):

Just as when something labeled “natural” isn’t always natural or naturally good for you, something labeled “local” or “charitable” isn’t always local or charitable. (E.g. “natural” melatonin brownies may not be all that natural – just sayin’ – and so is the NYT.) Sometimes local and charitable really is local and charitable or a little bit of either or both.

Anyway! — For anyone reading about the Reading Tree “Blue Bins,” and wanting to take a position, keep in mind that there are many facts to consider, including the one that books need to be recycled (or otherwise disposed of). There are many other issues to consider, too, such as: free speech, marketing, and competition law, interstate commerce, small business, nonprofit, and tax exempt organizations law, and the law of charities.

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Published on: May 16, 2011

Oregon Cell Phone Records and Warrants Law: on OPB’s Think Out Loud

By Laura Orr

Read and listen to a discussion about Oregon’s cell phone records and warrants law at:

OPB’s Think Out Loud May 3, 2011, program: Think Out Loud: Cell phone search warrant?

Program guests:

1) Bronson James: Defense attorney with JDL Attorneys, representing James Tyler Nix in State of Oregon v. James Tyler Nix

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Published on: May 5, 2011

How does a government entity get a dot gov domain?

By Laura Orr

Wikipedia has a very helpful dot gov page that explains the process for the U.S., for other countries, and for lesser-included (so to speak) government entities such as cities and counties.

For U.S. dot gov and those lesser-included government entity dot gov naming and URL claiming instructions, where else would you go, but to dot gov.gov?

Published on: May 3, 2011

Justice Bedsworth Broods about Roosters Packing Heat

By Laura Orr

The O(range) C(ounty) Bar Association monthly OC Lawyer Magazine, once again brings us Justice Bedsworth who has a hard time getting his head around homicidal roosters, foxes, and other animals who are starting to fight back:

“Dog Bites Man Bites Broadcasting Career,” by Justice William W. Bedsworth (yes, he’s a real judge!)

Published on: April 26, 2011

Resumes (CVs) of the Artistically (and Digitally) Gifted

By Laura Orr

Edward Tufte might enjoy these amazing resumes, though Tufte and his students would probably also have a field day with them: CVs from Visual Loop

I’m not sure how lawyers would run with these ideas, although there are some possibilities if you think in terms of citations, TOCs, footnotes, and briefs. And then again, maybe we should let well enough alone.

Published on: April 18, 2011

A Beer for a Cigarette: When is a Bargain Good Value?

By Laura Orr

I witnessed a humorous contract negotiation while waiting at a bus stop the other day:

Three men with a case of beer walked past the bus stop. A couple (of people) who were waiting at the bus stop called out to them, asking for a beer. The 3 men turned and counter-offered, “we’ll give you a beer if you carry this case for the next couple of blocks.” No go. The couple then offered a cigarette for a beer. Offer accepted. They all met in the median strip, the deal was done, and everyone was happy, especially since the bus finally arrived.

Aside from the fact that this was a cheap beer and cancer-stick exchange, and we see much less humorous transactions on the street, I’m not sure I could say who got the better deal, but both parties were perfectly happy so who am I to say there was a winner or a loser?

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