This Week on The Web 2009-08-30

The things that happened around the web this week – maybe you already read about them, maybe you need to again.

I also realized that many of you might have no idea what you’re seeing below.  Sorry.  These are “tweets”, 140 maximum character messages sent via Twitter.  Within the Twitterverse individual users follow others and have followers (think of it like overlapping Venn diagram circles).  To read a tweet, you have to wade through a bit of jargon used to make the most of the 140 character limitation.  “RT” for example, is shorthand for “Re-tweet” and the @____ is the username of some other individual on Twitter.  Combined together, then, “RT @_____” means that someone else wrote a tweet that I found important and I now want to forward along to my followers.  The URL’s are then also shortened by shortening services like bit.ly to make the most of the character limitation, too.  Lastly, you might see “hash” identifiers “#______” which are ways to tag tweets of a particular flavor for easy searching later.

• RT @ferrusi: RT @procurement: 10+2 Strategies for Managing Suppliers http://bit.ly/wIbFn #sourcinginnovation
• @gtiadvisors Even better is the ToS: http://bit.ly/12Pupt <They’ll narc on you if they believe you’re attempting to commit fraud. 🙂
• Lego “rejects” Spinal Tap’s request to use minifig stopmotion video: http://bit.ly/j4AnX < I think Lego is outside the lines on this one.
• NC passed a recent law banning texting while driving. NC DOT started Tweeting traffic updates this week. Where’s Alanis now?
• New blog post: My Lego Love is Fast Fading http://bit.ly/wncA9
• Stephen Guth on whether RFI’s are Ethical: http://bit.ly/iKzP9
• RT @DreamSimplicity: RT @SIIA_Software:#SIIA Announces Appointment of New VP of Comm http://bit.ly/4oCzQJ <could explain new pirate video
• Madisonian on the Ninth Circuit’s decision on computer searches and the plain view doctrine. http://bit.ly/wFpic
• RT @nikiblack @DougCornelius @brucecarton @complianceweek: Oops. Important: Remove “Fudge This” from Financials. http://tinyurl.com/m9t9w6
• Ongoing discussion on FOSS license types: http://bit.ly/30u595 < Really good commentary from Shlomi.
• RT @LeighMonette: RT @AdamsDrafting: Blog Update: When to Provide for Indemnification http://bit.ly/gno5Q
• RT @russellbesq: RT @LawProf: “Second Degree Murder and Six Other Crimes Cheaper than Pirating Music” http://tinyurl.com/ns8y78
• RT @russellbesq: RT @PrivacyLaw: “Alaska Data Protection Law” http://tinyurl.com/kvfudu
• 3rd of Five Fundamental Skills for Effective Negotiation – Time Management: http://bit.ly/q7Z2b
• RT @glambert: Unpredictable Playlist Dooms Sound Recording Copyright Holders’ Infringement Claim – http://bit.ly/OcufG (Mintz Levin)
• RT @nikiblack: “You didn’t learn that in law school either?” Legal Antics http://bit.ly/Ps1EF (via feedly)
• New blog post: Jeff Gordon on Supply Excellence http://bit.ly/2GnCAi
• 2nd of Five Fundamental Skills for Effective Negotiation – Strategic Thinking: http://bit.ly/11Nyof
• RT @gtiadvisors @idexperts: Feds Issue New HIPAA Data Breach Rules: http://tinyurl.com/n5sx3g < Important for your contract lang on confid.
• Layaway is back… I didn’t realize for school supplies. Anyone wanna’ see if together “we” can pay some off? http://bit.ly/3fXxPK
• RT @nikiblack: Great comments from @LeighMonette: “Should lawyers be wary of cloud computing and SaaS?” http://bit.ly/WbS6m < Agreed!!
• RT @nikiblack: Very interesting discussion re: lawyers use of cloud computing in the comments to this post: http://bit.ly/iyYyV Join in!
• RT @nikiblack: “Should lawyers be wary of cloud computing and SaaS?”: http://bit.ly/WbS6m < Note my concerns in the comments.
• RT @hitchandplow: New blog entry: Google Book “Settlement” is Bad for Law, Copyright owners and Users http://bit.ly/3IFdZv
• New blog post: More on Trust http://bit.ly/1D8f9Y
• 1st of Five Fundamental Skills for Effective Negotiation – Information Gathering: http://bit.ly/15a3Hn
• . @ontechcontracts “In praise of short, simple contract clauses” : http://bit.ly/fikJn < Perfectly succinct. 🙂
• Speed limit raised b/c “radar speed checks show … already “safely traveling” at that speed: http://bit.ly/um1k5 < chicken & egg problem
• RT @stephenodonnell: New blog post: Vendor Consolidation http://bit.ly/1s38Br < Here, here!
• RT @TheAntiGuru Playing games during negotiations can be costly… http://bit.ly/6tpK #negotiation < great story, demos all 5 Fund Skills!
• RT @francois_ A Decision-Making Perspective to Negotiation: A Review of the Past and a Look into the Future http://bit.ly/ODRX6
• @benpobjoy If you need help with contract negotiations… some of us out here are willing to do so. 🙂
• RT @glambert: New on 3 Geeks: Are Blogging and “Thought Leadership” Compatible? – http://bit.ly/WoKFa
• RT @mental_floss: Students at Occidental College can take a course in stupidity (CTSJ180) offered by the Critical Theory/Social Justice dpt.
• Baby lawyer just risked $475K on Millionaire and lost it. I wouldn’t use him as my attorney – in his own words, he wasn’t risk adverse.
• Fatal negotiation mistakes made by copyrighters (or any other service professional): http://bit.ly/gxgJv (from zeriously.com)
• Interview w/ managing partners @ Raleigh firms: 70% don’t use ANY social networking sites. Wow.

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Law School Advice

I mention it from time to time, but I don’t usually dwell on the fact that I went to law school.  It was a fine education, and I had a good experience (no “hiding the book” type stuff – besides, doesn’t everyone realize if you’re the only one with the answer, everyone’s going to know it was you who hid the book?).  But I am not licensed to practice, I don’t/can’t advertise myself as an attorney… and I’m extremely satisfied both with the education received and with my career choice.

Apparently, people are going to law schools in droves these days (even when there aren’t the jobs to support them once they come out).  So when folks ask for my advice about applying and/or attending law school, I usually give some sort of pithy comment about making sure you really want to go – intended not to discourage, but to make sure you’re in the right frame of mind to spend up to $150,000 and mostly cloister yourself for 3 years.

I was kinda’ amused to see a CBS Sports columnist commenting on going to law school.  But Clay’s got it right (except for #14 – Go Valpo!)… even if he comes across a little bitter.

So, if you’re thinking about law school… give the column a read.  Your ultimate decision to apply and/or attend is obviously up to you.  But I will say this.  If you’re a contracts person like I am… and you love it, there’s no must-have exclusive knowledge waiting for you in law school.  Having the degree is an advantage in certain cases – but many of the best contract negotiators, reviewers and drafters have music, English and philosophy degrees, if that.

What they do all have in common is a thirst for understanding what they do and a desire to constantly improve.  Law school won’t give you that – you have to come that way.  😉