Lawyers and Law Librarians, News Humor Etc.

March 3, 2008

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

[From “The History of an American Obsession: The Lie Detectors” by Ken Alder.]

“Despite this warning, the search for Momus’s window has continued down the centuries. The Greeks developed a science of physiognomy to assess people’s character from their facial features and gestures. On the assumption that anxious deceivers generated less saliva, uspected liars in ancient China were asked to chew a bowl of rice and spit it out. Judges in India scanned for curling toes. One pious Victorian physician suggested that God had endowed human beings with the capacity to blush so as to make their deceptions apparent. Today, you can pick up the basics of body language for a few bucks on almost any library resale

table – ‘Who’s Lying to You and Who’s Lusting for You!’ – along with guides for potting tricksters when you travel abroad. Popular manuals, updated with the latest findings of neuroscience, advise you how to track the eye movements and hand gestures of your spouse, boss, and stockbroker.

November 5, 2007

Yes, They Do Laugh Occasionally

by David Badertscher

The Supreme Court may have its own police force, its own museum curator, and even its own basketball court, but unlike the courts of yore it has no Jester. As a result, the responsibility of delivering humor within the hallowed halls of One First Street falls squarely on the backs of the nine Justices themselves.” So, which Justice is the best at it? Well, before last year we had no way of knowing because the court reporter did not indicate which Justice asked a question or was speaking. But in the 2004-2005 that ended; now the Court Reporter reveals the names of the speaking Justices. And you might have guessed who won: Justice Scalia. He instigated 77 laughing episodes during the term. In last place was Justice Thomas; he instigated 0 episodes.

Justice Breyer was right behind Scalia with 45, Kennedy was third with 21, Souter had 19, Rehnquist had 12, Stevens 8, O’Connor 7, and Ginsburg 4.

[From an article entitled Laugh Track by Jay D. Wexler in “The Green Bag,” Vol. 9, No. 1, p.59]

October 31, 2007

Lawtunes Live at Blackacre: A Humerous Lawyer created Law Related Album

by David Badertscher

I just received the following news item from Lawrence Savell which I am delighted to post. It adds a dimension to the blog which we can all appreciate. If any of you would like to send me either news items or longer articles I will be happy to consider them for posting.

…now to the featured item!

Dear Mr. Badertscher: First, thank you for your excellent law blog. Second, I thought your readers might enjoy a lighter news item, and I am therefore also writing to request that you please consider mentioning the release of my indie music label LawTunes’ (www.LawTunes.comhttp://www.lawtunes.com) latest humorous lawyer-created, law-related album, “The Lawtunes: Live At Blackacre.”