Arson and the Death Penalty

A friend sent me this article from the New Yorker. It follows the case of Todd Willingham, who was put to death in Texas, and there is now some suggestion that he could have been an innocent man. Take what you wish from that portion of the article. The reason I post it here is that I find the facts interesting due to my intimate knowledge of what makes arson. Thank you Law Skills III. I think that based on this article, the Flinders v. Mismo materials may need to be updated.

To law school or not to law school?

Stolen from a friend's Facebook page:

"Should I get my JD? What is your advice for someone thinking about going into law school?"

Do you want to waste three years of your life debating stupid and utterly irrelevant minutia? Then yes, get your JD. Do you want to get a degree that allows you work the rest of your life in a tedious, shitty, unrewarding job? Then yes, get your JD. Are you a boring, facile, socially retarded whore, desperate for the illusion of money and success, regardless of the cost to your life and the lives of those you love? Then yes, get your JD. Do you want to squander your existence sitting in a lifeless office, churning out ultimately meaningless paperwork? Then yes, get your JD. Listen to me people: There is a reason that lawyers have the LOWEST job satisfaction of any profession in America. THE JOB SUCKS. It is horrible. If you know any lawyers, ask yourself: Are they happy with their job or their life? 90% of the time, the answer will be no. If the answer to that question is yes, then ask yourself, "Do I like that person." The answer will be almost always be no. The only lawyers who like their jobs are the sketchy ones that are the reason lawyers jokes are so prevalent and popular. Do you want to be that person? If so, then yes, get your fucking JD."
-Tucker Max

I swear I am doing work...

Studying tax law is fun. Not only do you get to read about people who think they understand the law but really don't and have judges issuing injunctions just to tell them to shut up, but you also get to look at current events. Today's example? The tea parties. Despite my general loathing of tax evaders, I am quite fine with paying lower taxes, so I'm okay with these events as a form of protest and publicity. However, the name "teabagging" was unfortunate, right? We can all agree to that fact? With that in mind, I submit to you this photo, which might be the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time. It combines my love of taxes, law, grassroots organizing, and Crystal Pepsi!

Being in grad school is a blessing and a curse right now.

This article about business students who are looking outside the traditional venues for employment in this market has applications for law students, too. As in business school, law school has too often been about the brass ring.

My favorite line: “All of a sudden, I saw that a lot of Wharton people were interesting.”