Big East opponents announced

Tough schedule!!!!

http://guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/071406aab.html

Interview w/ JIII

This will make the IPB happy -- more PT for Tyler.

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/interviews/2006johnthompson.htm

Summer update on Hibbs

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2512328

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/seth_davis/07/07/hoop.thoughts/index.html

The IPB and I are going to catch some Kenner games this summer so hopefully we can give first-hand updates.

Professor Tucker's new job

She was one of my favorites as an undergrad.

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/DNI_Appoints_Ombudsman_To_Guard_Analysis_999.html

AI in Celtic green?

http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/view.bg?articleid=145960

Great gift idea!

http://www.cafepress.com/wizzstore.3800162

A Long Time Gone (or, Why Trial Sucks)

This post marks my triumphant return, or, at the very least, my hope for a triumphant return to the blogosphere. For those among our brethren who haven't seen or heard from me for a while, you should not feel slighted. No one has seen me in quite some time. Since about mid-April (when Diamond and IPB tried to organize a birthday happy hour for yours truly) until Wednesday of this week, I have been deeply embroiled in preparation for, and attendance at, trial.

For the last 3 weeks I lived in a hotel in Philadelphia, PA. I missed the closing on my first house; almost missed my move into the same; and undoubtedly missed a number of worthwhile life experiences that can never be duplicated. Trials are, to put it lightly, all consuming, exhausting events. For those who have only experienced this key part of American civil society through the rose colored glasses of L.A. Law, Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, or what have you, let me be the first to tell you it ain't nothing like you've seen on TV.

Trial is an exercise in taking the most simplistic, common-sense issues and turning them into days-long inquiries that take the listeners to the zenith of tedium, and subject young associates to an un-Godly amount of work. Even the most straight-forward issue can be turned into a three-ring circus. As an example I offer my own experience.

For two weeks the parties presented evidence (including a number of experts) so that the jury in our case could determine whether the time spent putting on light-weight cotton smocks, aprons, hairnets, etc. is compensable time. After all of that evidence, and four hours of deliberation, the jurors concluded that this time was not compensable because it is not "work." You're kidding, right? You're trying to tell me that the 0.5 to 1.5 seconds it takes to put on a hairnet that weighs as much as a sheet of notebook paper is not work? You don't say.

Of course, the U.S. Department of Labor disagrees with this jury. So this is not the last time that a company will have to spend hundreds of thousands of hours to convince another group of common citizens that workers should not be paid for the same activities each of them does without pay every morning when they step out of the shower.

If anything the whole process of the jury trial was an education in how difficult it is for any one to resolve any thing for a small amount of money in our modern legal system. In the rather simple case I have outlined above there were about 11 attorneys involved. My firm sent 2 partners, 1 counsel, and 2 associates. The other side had 6 attorneys representing 3 different law firms. This is not to mention the jury consultants, litigation tech specialists, paralegals, etc. that each side employed. If it takes all of that to determine whether you have to pay dear old dad for putting on his apron when he goes out to BBQ, I can hardly imagine what it will take to litigate something that is actually important.

Regardless, I hope to be in touch with you all soon. I should have a little more free time in the coming months...until the next trial rolls around.

DeGioia Interview with Chinese publication

http://english.people.com.cn/200606/17/eng20060617_275005.html

The Last of Us

Just wanted to use this forum to let y'all know that after much deliberation (& procrastination), I'll be attending law school in the fall. Come august, i'll be entering the first year evening class at Rutgers School of Law.

Not sure where the path of the law will take me, but I think individually I've spoken to each of you in the last year about how I've wanted to do this for some time. I'm keeping a very open mind about where the road takes me - whether internally at Marsh or some other direction.

God-wiling with a lot of hard work & little sleep, Mary & I will be the reverse Huxtables (not sure if I spelled that one right) in a few years.

I also wanted to say thanks to all of you for the help & guidance each of you tossed my way.

I'm aware it's going to be a tough process and will mean a few personal sacrificies, but anything worth doing usually is worth the work.

Jewish center at GU

Interesting stories in Israeli newspaper about a potential Jewish center at GU paid for by Las Vegas magnate.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=georgetown&itemNo=726515

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=georgetown&itemNo=726522

NBA Draft (JJ Redick in Celtic Green????)

Well no one has posted a thing in about a month so I figured I'd give it a shot.

The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away and speculation has been rampant that JJ Reddick's stock is rising. While many early projections had Redick projected to be taken in the mid-to-late first round, there are now several reports indicating that the Celtics may be prepared to select him with the 7th pick.

I wonder how and if today's arrest will impact where Redick is taken.

Putting this infration aside, I think he would be a great selection for the Celtics. We know the kid can do one thing--shoot--better than anyone in college basketball and probably 90% of the pros. Barring major injury, I just don't see how he would not average somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 points/game.

Given how weak this draft is, this seems like a pretty good return for the #7 selection.

The only thing that worries me a bit is that Duke does not have a history of churning out great NBA players, but I don't think you can look to make a splash at the 7 slot anyway w/such a weak draft.

On the upside, this kid played for four years, is a known quantity, and went up against some very solid comp during this time. I don't think there's any doubt he can play.

The Celtics learned how valuable it can be to select a player with 4 years experience last year when they snagged Ryan Gomes in the second round (an absolute steal--I knew it the minute Boston selected him after the way he single-handedly tore apart Georgetown).

Any thoughts on Redick to Boston?

Danny Ainge has actually drafted pretty well and I hope this trend continues.

College Boy

This dude is the real life Crawl (Pauly Shore) from Son-in-Law. Disturbing to think that this character is still roaming the freshman dorms looking for action.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/10/perpetual.student.ap/index.html

Geek of the Week Award

sorry, couldn't resist the urge to use an old Mike & the MadDog phrase. Sort of reminds me of the scene in the Breakfast Club when the tough guy falls through the library ceiling.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/10/escape.fails.ap/index.html

A new leader for the 21st century.

If not for the Body, this door would not be open for such fine candidates.

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=44445

Help out

Jester and IPB, in particular, make sure you contact the park service and add your support.

http://buildtheboathouse.org/

Quick Poll?

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts about the Blair government's major loss in City Council elections in Britain yesterday. Labour lost 298 seats. Though they still hold a majority, this was still considered a huge loss. Could the UK be swinging towards the Conservative Party at the same time the U.S. is swinging Democrat? This would be a truly interesting turn of events, especially given the role that the war in Iraq has on both ruling parties' fortunes.

Lost?

Do any of you guys watch Lost?

It is, by far, the best show on tv.

The amount of thought that goes into the smallest details of the show are amazing. For example, there was a fake commercial interspliced with the real commercials during the airing of last night's episode. The fake commercial was for a fake scientific foundation that relates to the show and origins of the mysterious island at its center. If you called the number at the end of the commercial you could listen to fake messages at the fake foundation's call center. One of those messages provided a password. That password, in turn, unlocked a secret area on the fake foundation's fake website. That website's secret area provides more phony documents that give more clues about what is going on on the show.

Just amazing!

DC Baseball

Congrats to all you Nats fans (Jester I think you're the only one). By all accounts, it seems that the Nats have replaced the O's as the Beltway's favorite team. Question for the DC folk, Is the Nats' overwhelming fan support & popularity simply due to people being in the newlywed phase of having a home town team or are they genuine fans?

Put another way, do you think fan support will dwindle in a year or two and / or once the Nats have a few losing seasons?

Amazin' Mets & Juicin' Bonds

In response to Jester, I feel the need to express my true joy at watching my beloved Mets play so far this year. While there is a lot of ball left to play this season, I think they've thrown down the gauntlet to the NL East (including the Nats) and have shouted "Catch us if you can!"

And now for good blogger fodder, I throw this out to the field - Should Bonds get a celebration for passing Ruth? I say hell no given that he juiced his way to the top. Personally, I'd love to be there to boo his ass when he does. His actions as well as those of others (in my opinion this includes Sosa and Big Mac) have done nothing but cheapen and ruin what was once arguably the most revered and respected record in sports.

For a second question, should everything Bonds has accomplished from 1999-current be stricken from the record books?
(of couse I'm assuming that he's being juicing since then; but given his unhuman like middle aged growth spurt, don't think this is too far off base).

Please Post Something

Will some one please post something? I come here everyday and stare at the same old posts. Surely one of us must have some thought that is interesting enough to share.