Sorry folks, but something is very, very wrong on my computer. All I can figure is that I downloaded the new divx codec and it, somehow, has screwed up my Premiere LE. Spent the morning fighting it, but finally gave up and am doing it now with Windows Movie Maker.
Uploading now, but will have to put it on blawg later today.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
No Apples in Greater Manchester
Drop an apple core in Greater Manchester and no less than 5 oficers will arrive to arrest you.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Yes, I'm CuSS'ing
I spent the day converting CrimLaw from html tables to CSS. The claim is that it will make the blawg download faster. I can't tell a difference, but maybe it will help one of ya'll.
As to CSS itself, I'm not impressed. It struck me as just being a highly stylized, longer-winded, more formal way to do everything I'd already been doing in plain jane html. The only thing which provided even a little more flexibility was "float" and even that was limited. Of and by itself, it wasn't worth it.
Of course, I wouldn't want to tell that to the author of the book I bought to teach myself CSS. Parts of the book read like a proselytizing religious tract. Thou shalt not use tables or these commands. Thou shalt use blocks and those commands. The only two rational reasons given were the aforementioned increased speed of page loading and improving the ability of programs for the blind to read the page. I'm not too moved by either. I'm not seeing much greater speed - maybe a little, but the page design had to be dumbed down to fit within CSS's parameters (smaller video, removal of bar with credits in it, only one block for cites), so it should be faster. As for the problems with programs to read for blind people, that's a flaw in that program, not in html tables.
I suspect it's like most things. What evolved was messy. There are always people who don't like things messy. These people will put together something that is more formal, trading 50% of their flexibility for 5% improvement. Thus, when I was in high school and everyone was using Basic all the computer wonks were pushing Pascal as a "better" language. I guess some things never change.
As you might suspect by now, I got frustrated doing this today. I'm not satisfied by the blawg as is. Part of this, I'm sure, is that the book I used limited itself to basics (telling me to go buy this or that book for more advanced CSS applications) and I'm frustrated that I don't know the tricks which will allow me to do the things I want to in CSS. I'll learn and hopefully the layout will improve.
As to CSS itself, I'm not impressed. It struck me as just being a highly stylized, longer-winded, more formal way to do everything I'd already been doing in plain jane html. The only thing which provided even a little more flexibility was "float" and even that was limited. Of and by itself, it wasn't worth it.
Of course, I wouldn't want to tell that to the author of the book I bought to teach myself CSS. Parts of the book read like a proselytizing religious tract. Thou shalt not use tables or these commands. Thou shalt use blocks and those commands. The only two rational reasons given were the aforementioned increased speed of page loading and improving the ability of programs for the blind to read the page. I'm not too moved by either. I'm not seeing much greater speed - maybe a little, but the page design had to be dumbed down to fit within CSS's parameters (smaller video, removal of bar with credits in it, only one block for cites), so it should be faster. As for the problems with programs to read for blind people, that's a flaw in that program, not in html tables.
I suspect it's like most things. What evolved was messy. There are always people who don't like things messy. These people will put together something that is more formal, trading 50% of their flexibility for 5% improvement. Thus, when I was in high school and everyone was using Basic all the computer wonks were pushing Pascal as a "better" language. I guess some things never change.
As you might suspect by now, I got frustrated doing this today. I'm not satisfied by the blawg as is. Part of this, I'm sure, is that the book I used limited itself to basics (telling me to go buy this or that book for more advanced CSS applications) and I'm frustrated that I don't know the tricks which will allow me to do the things I want to in CSS. I'll learn and hopefully the layout will improve.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Being Smart really does Pay off
For all of you applying to law schools, this may be of interest. Doing well on the LSATs and having a good GPA may not only help you get into a good law school, it may also also help you save on law school tuition. Check out this ABA Article, about how you can strategically apply to law schools where your numbers are above the median so that you are more likely offered scholarships to attend. Law school tuition is so expensive these days and the law job market is rather fickle, so it may be better to leave law school with less debt. Or maybe you can just try going to Columbia, their grads seem to get jobs according to this article!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Time Flies, Take Advantage of your Three Years.
Something I realized as a recent graduate and young lawyer is how fast the three years of law school fly by and how little time you have to really make the right start to your legal career. In that three years you must study hard, make good grades, establish good relationships with your friends and faculty, get involved in the legal community in some capacity, and get good legal experience in your summers or during the school year. If you live in or near the city where you want to practice, its a lot easier to get involved early and get your name out. If not you have to make more of an effort to get out there during your school breaks and maybe get out of your comfort zone and send out some emails or pick up the phone.
In law school, it goes by so fast, you really have to be strategic and think about what you want to accomplish and what it will take to accomplish it. Even if you don't plan to practice law, it still crucial to network and get good internship or externships. Do take advantage of your career services office, but also be proactive, use the Internet to research practice areas and lawyers to contact, ask your friends and family if they know anyone that you may contact. Contact your local bar association or the bar association of the city or state you want to practice in.
Right now the legal field is hit and miss as far as jobs go. If you are not early, proactive, present and persistent, you may find yourself on Graduation Day with no job. And even despite your most persistent efforts, you may still find yourself jobless, but at least if you put in the effort, you won't the one to blame.
The other thing I recommend for those who are applying to law school. Consider attending a lower ranked law school in the area you want to practice over a higher ranked law school in a city you don't plan to stay in. First of all, you may perform better at a lower ranked law school and law firms look at grades more than anything else. Secondly, you'll be able to start participating in that city a lot earlier and during the school year, rather than in just the summers. Most cities have many events and the fees are often waived for law students. Getting involved early shows your commitment to the city.
Also be broad in your thinking. You may be able to use your legal degree for a plethora of career paths. If you are interested in politics, try seeking a legislative internship during or before law school. If you hope to work for the government, contact city and state government agencies and ask if they have any internship opportunities.
Time flies in law school, think about where you want to be at the end of the three years and go after it. Enjoy law school, but focus on that bigger picture. You do have to pay back your loans, afterall!
Excellence in the Workplace: Legal and Life Skills in a Nutshell
In law school, it goes by so fast, you really have to be strategic and think about what you want to accomplish and what it will take to accomplish it. Even if you don't plan to practice law, it still crucial to network and get good internship or externships. Do take advantage of your career services office, but also be proactive, use the Internet to research practice areas and lawyers to contact, ask your friends and family if they know anyone that you may contact. Contact your local bar association or the bar association of the city or state you want to practice in.
Right now the legal field is hit and miss as far as jobs go. If you are not early, proactive, present and persistent, you may find yourself on Graduation Day with no job. And even despite your most persistent efforts, you may still find yourself jobless, but at least if you put in the effort, you won't the one to blame.
The other thing I recommend for those who are applying to law school. Consider attending a lower ranked law school in the area you want to practice over a higher ranked law school in a city you don't plan to stay in. First of all, you may perform better at a lower ranked law school and law firms look at grades more than anything else. Secondly, you'll be able to start participating in that city a lot earlier and during the school year, rather than in just the summers. Most cities have many events and the fees are often waived for law students. Getting involved early shows your commitment to the city.
Also be broad in your thinking. You may be able to use your legal degree for a plethora of career paths. If you are interested in politics, try seeking a legislative internship during or before law school. If you hope to work for the government, contact city and state government agencies and ask if they have any internship opportunities.
Time flies in law school, think about where you want to be at the end of the three years and go after it. Enjoy law school, but focus on that bigger picture. You do have to pay back your loans, afterall!
Excellence in the Workplace: Legal and Life Skills in a Nutshell
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