Archive for August 2008
At a Loss
At dinner tonight, I tried to explain Contract Law to Sam. I began by extolling the millions of interpretations of whether a hypothetical sign across the street could actually form a contract with the consumer who views it, and if the store that the sign is in is contractually bound to sell those Maine lobsters for 4 dollars to the consumer.
She stops me after 3 different interpretations or so:
Sam: “I guess that’s the thing that I hate about law. There are so many different interpretations.”
Bill: “That’s what makes it awesome! You just have to argue your viewpoint best.”
Sam: “Yeah, but it’s hard to argue with stupid people.”
My only relevant response was “Well, I think this will make a good blog post.”
Contracts and P. Diddy
Most ridiculous mnemonic I’ve run into so far in law school:
DSQQWPP – “ducks say quack quack when passing people.”
I believe that this stands for “duration, subject matter, quality, quantity, work to be done, price and payment.”
I also believe that these are supposed to be requisite in order to have mutual assent between parties in a contractual agreement. But then again class is such a haze that I might imagined all of that, including the part about the ducks. Honestly, that almost seems more likely.
From the Blum “Examples and Explanations”, page 78. I think this was an attempt at humor.
“Instead of authorizing acceptance in the form of words, the offeror could demand a nonverbal signification of acceptance. The offer could state, for example ‘I offer to sell you Bleakacre for $2 Million. If you wish to accept this offer, you must stand in your underwear at the corner of Main and Broadway at 2 P.M. today. This is the only way that you may accept this offer.’ By performing the act, the offeree signifies assent and impliedly promises to perform the consideration (payment of $2 Million) demanded in the offer.”
In other news, P. Diddy is complaining about gas prices on his Youtube blog. Apparently, he is beginning to find it cost ineffective to fly his private jet everywhere, and is now reverting back to commercial airlines. And I quote:
“I want to give a shout out to all my Saudi Arabian brothers and sisters and all my brothers and sisters from all the countries that have oil, if you could all please send me some oil for my jet I would truly appreciate it.”
Wrong on the Internet
People who have avoided slashdot.org, top-law-schools.com, abovethelaw.com and other various opinionated internet communities probably haven’t had the same problems as me…
I’m not proud of it, but it’s true.
Excerpts from Google Chat
Adding to the Divorce Rate
Shamelessly ganked from ATL.
And another
Heh. Heh. Heh.
Class Notes:
A lot of times we have individuals in the class who like to flex their mental muscles out loud by proposing outrageous hypotheticals using the principles that we’re learning. This is a highly annoying action that holds up the class and causes a significant amounts of eye rolling from offended classmates. However, occasionally someone will rise to the challenge and end a hypo with a succinct statement that causes clear finality.
EXAMPLE:
Gunner: But why did they only sue Pittston? Clearly both entities were at fault. Buffalo Creek Mining Co had some of the fault, and so did the parent company Pittston.
Student 1: Because Pittston has all the money
Gunner: But why didn’t they sue Buffalo Creek Mining Co too? It’s a matter of…. (about to launch on long hypothetical argument that has nothing to do with where we’re going in the class)
Veto (girl who sits behind me): Because PITTSTON, has all the MONEY. *glare*
Gunner: Oh.
Well done Veto!
As of right now, Veto is really the only one who’s stepped up (though mostly through Tourette Syndrome apparently) and put these offending individuals in their place.
I, for one, recommit myself to do my part in stopping this epidemic.
Law School Day 3
Notes:
1. “Predictability is the hallmark of progress.” LRW Prof
I’m not sure if I really agree with that, or even if that makes sense. After she said it, she gave us a little smirk. Maybe she was kidding.
2. My civil procedure professor has 11 cats, the names of which include “Spirit”, “Equality”, and um, others I don’t remember. My colleagues and I feel that she should have one named Due and one named Process. The supreme overlord cat should be Constitution of the United States (was that it?) and the bitch should be Common Law.
EDIT: The anonymous internet star/classmate has written me with a list of the names we decided on for the cats:
1) liberty
2) justice
3) equality
4) spirit (Top 4 named by Prof. From here on, names are ours).
5) Due Process
6) supreme law of the land (whichever the pimp cat is)
7) common law (the bitch runt one) – she always seemed to scoff at common law in class
8.) unnamed
9) liberal
10)Un-named
11)Un-named
My sincerest apologies for having a horrible memory!
Fellow law student quote of the week:
“law school is just killing time between happy hours….”
the follow up
“yea and international law and tax law are just ways to figure out how to import the stuff cheaper. ”
Silly thought of the day:
If I enter into a contract with you where I pay you 50 dollars for you to enter into a separate contract with me where you pay me 50 dollars and I in turn sing a song, and I reneg on the initial contract, does the second contract stand?
Wait, what?
Favorite Quote from Jonathan Augustus Black while rereading what I have:
“I awoke the next morning to the blaring of “Stars and Boulevards” by Augustana, my emo/angsty ring tone that tells everyone that I’m in touch with my emotions.”
Legal Excerpts
Taken from “Legal Research and Writing”, Foundation Press, 2006 p. x
Why would anyone want to write like a lawyer!?
My text states : By now, you may be asking yourself, “Why would I want to write like a lawyer? Lawyers are terrible writers!”
It continues to talk about how the common perception is that language is used by lawyers to hide the meaning of things in legal documents and to generally confuse everyone.
My textbook begins it’s response by stating: “The root causes of the basic complaints of prolixity, excessive complexity, and dishonesty or obfuscation are many and varied, but the problems can be targeted and eliminated.”
Heh.
It takes all kinds
So, I work at the Pentagon. Here’s an example of what the average civilian worker at the Pentagon looks like.
However, I also happen to be currently working on the night shift. Now while most people still look like the above, I ran into someone who looked like this a couple days ago:
Here’s how the conversation on the elevator went:
I notice he’s wearing a black t-shirt saying “Procrastinators of the world unite… tomorrow”
Bill: Hey dude, cool t-shirt.
Him: Heh yeah, I think it’s awesome.
Bill: Have you seen the one “Dyslexics of the World Untie!”
Him: Yeah, I wear that one on Thursdays.
Silence for about 5 or 6 seconds. We get out of elevator and start walking down the hall. I assume conversations over and begin to walk away because I innately walk fast. He scurries and catches up with me.
Him: So… do you believe in the paranormal?
I stop, turn around and look at him. No joke, this is what I said.
Bill: Well, I used to watch the X-Files.
Him: No I’m talking about real stuff. You know, ghosts, poltergeist, demons. That kind of thing.
Bill: Um, well…
Him: You should totally check out http://www.starparanormal.com
Bill: Um, what?
Him: Yeah, it’s this awesome website that my friends and I are starting. We investigate all sorts of paranormal phenomenon all over the country. The AE network has shown some interest in it and stuff.
Bill: Right… well, um, I’ll have to check that out.
I stupidly add – damn me for being nice and personable –
Bill: Well, I see you around a bit, so next time I see you I’ll let you know what I think. Seeya!
I scurry away at top speed.
:)
Click on the comic for a bigger image.
I know for a fact there are a few math/science geeks who read this blog – how long did you work on the problem? Hehehehe. It’s such a fun sport.
Legal Muse 