The LA Times reveals problems with Do-It-Yourself divorces: you might still be married! Jessica Garrison writes (excerpt): Many of them are not quite as divorced as they think they are. Some of them, like Chan, are even accidental bigamists, carrying…
Your money or your life?
CNN/AP reports on the ‘scorched earth’ divorce case between H. Beatty Chadwick and Barbara Jean Crowther Chadwick, now Bobbie Applegate. Mr. Chadwick has spent 11 years in jail on a charge of civil contempt. Ms. Applegate says–and the courts believe–he…
Hugging epidemic
Andrei Codrescu is worth listening to as he traces the history of public hugging on NPR’s All Things Considered (6/23/06).
Judge Gregory A. Presnell’s opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT–MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA–ORLANDO DIVISION AVISTA MANAGEMENT, INC., d/b/a Avista Plex, Inc., Plaintiff, -vs- WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant. Case No. 6:05-cv-1430-Orl-31JGG (Consolidated) ______________________________________ ORDER This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to designate location…
At the end of suffering, of mystery
The Grand Rapids Press shows how a moment of kindness can affect profound changes in another person. Ted Roelofs writes (excerpt): Sitting in a court hearing in January 2002, Cheryl Orean abruptly crumpled to the floor, her body twitching in…
The Roberts Court
USA Today focuses on five members of the United Supreme Court and their evolving roles on the bench.
I think I can do better
Hugh Thompson died this week. He was a key witness in the My Lai court martial trial and, many years later, a recipient of the Soldier’s Award. In the face of a massacre, he put himself between officials in his…
And the lady said has my plane landed yet
The New York Times examines the relative “funniness” of Supreme Court Justices. Adam Liptak writes (excerpt): Justice Scalia was the funniest justice, at 77 “laughing episodes.” On average, he was good for slightly more than one laugh – 1.027, to…
The unwriting’s on the wall
USAToday interviews William Swanson from Raytheon who wrote Swanson’s UnWritten Rules of Management. His rules include (excerpt): 1: Learn to say, “I don’t know.” If used when appropriate, it will be used often. 14: Strive for brevity and clarity in…
12 Steps of Christmas Lightsaholics Anonymous
There are Christmas Lightsaholics in this world. We need to have a 12-step approach for helping these folks out. Here are 12 steps adapted from the wisdom of Alcoholics Anonymous. Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over Christmas Lights…
Glass houses
The Detroit Free Press said it best in the words of Dawson Bell and L.L. Braisier (excerpt): In one of the most bizarre events in recent Michigan political history, Attorney General Mike Cox announced Wednesday he had an extramarital affair…
Computer chimps
Forbes has a special report on communication. Topics include lying, story-telling, getting confessions, technology, science, commerce and culture.
Doing what she knows is right
The Family Law Section held its awards banquet at the Country Club of Lansing on Wednesday, September 21, 2005. Karen S. Sendelbach of Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach & Buiteweg, P.C. in Ann Arbor provided one of the highlights of the…
Weally wicked Wiccan witings?
The AP reports on a divorce court’s attempt to prevent parents from exposing their 9-year old son to their religious beliefs. Ken Kusmer writes (excerpt): A court commissioner wrote the unusual order after a routine report by the court’s Domestic…
Beyond the headlines
USA Today shows that even in Hollywood, real trials don’t follow scripts. Martin Kasindorf reports on some of the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moments from the Michael Jackson’s child-molestation trial.
“Why is everybody always picking on me?”
The ABA e-Journal discusses the plight of a former judge, now practicing law in Hawaii, facing disbarment for trying to impose penalties on clients who complain about him. Richard Y. S. Lee is “perturbed at the system.” Terry Carter writes…
My, flashing really does work
Lycos published its Top 100 search terms of 2004 (with last year’s rank in parentheses). Included in the top 10 are items related to marriage, divorce, annulment, custudy disputes and other relationship matters: 1. Janet Jackson (-) 2. Paris Hilton…
Examining the human condition
The New York Times celebrates Garrison Keillor’s anniversary with Prairie Home Companion with a glimpse of the man behind the microphone. David Carr writes (excerpt): Mr. Keillor is a version of the American personality who ends up stapled to something…
Things you wish you knew before the ceremony
Reuters reports on a woman who fainted at her wedding: An Israeli man who refused to provide child support to his ex-wife for nearly eight years finally had to start paying up when he remarried and police raided the reception…
In search of definition
The BBC shows what a dictionary publisher can do with its online search data: The term “blog” has been chosen as the top word of 2004 by a US dictionary publisher. Merriam-Webster said “blog” headed the list of most looked-up…