CHEATING AT WORK? BLAME YOUR BODY CLOCK
A fascinating new study suggests that when we’re tired, we’re more likely to cut corners. Someone who’s an early riser will do more poorly – and even cheat – later in the day. The opposite holds for those who prefer late hours. All of which adds fodder to the notion that the 9-5 workday is on its way out.
Read MoreWHY DOES TV HATE MEDIATORS? PART 2
In a previous post I discussed why TV just can’t seem to accurately portray the mediation process. I mentioned the new reality program “Untying the Knot,” which follows an attorney as she works with couples in the throes of divorce. Although the show refers to her as “mediator,” the pilot showed her determining how assets would be split – precisely what does not happen in mediation. I checked back in for episode 3. The producers have abandoned all pretense that the couple might have a say in the outcome. Gone were words like “recommend.” This time,...
Read MoreWHY DOES TV HATE MEDIATORS?
Years ago, attorney Ken Cloke was cast as the judge on a new TV series: The People’s Court. Rather than dictate a result, Ken helped the feuding parties reach agreement. He was fired after one episode. More recently, TV gave us Fairly Legal, a scripted show about a woman who ran around San Francisco convening mediations on an hour’s notice. She listened to the parties a good thirty to sixty seconds before telling them what to do and dashing off again. The newest entry is Untying the Knot, which follows a real-life mediator who works with divorcing couples. I watched the pilot,...
Read MoreYET ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID GOING TO COURT
A Florida lawyer and a judge got into a physical altercation over the attorney’s refusal to waive a speedy trial for his client. The judge, captured on video, wished for a rock to throw at the lawyer, then suggested they take it into the rear hallway. Sadly, the video didn’t show what happened next, but scuffling and thuds could be heard. The courtroom erupted in applause when the noises stopped. The judge has been placed on leave, for anger management counseling. Would you want to appear before him when he returns? ...
Read MoreOH YEAH, THERE WAS THAT OTHER ONE . . . .
From the Los Angeles Times, regarding the man who will face Governor Jerry Brown in a runoff: FOR THE RECORD An earlier version of this post referred to Neel Kashkari as the first California Republican gubernatorial nominee in modern times who is not a white, Christian male. In 2010, the Republican nominee was Meg Whitman.
Read MoreHOW THE LEGAL SYSTEM FAILED SERGE ALEYNIKOV
In the latest issue of Vanity Fair financial writer Michael Lewis tells the fascinating story of Serge Aleynikov, a programmer who copied a small bit of computer code when changing jobs. For this he was convicted in federal court and sentenced to eight years in prison. Serge had left Goldman Sachs, which frowned upon having its “propriety material” taken. (Whether or not the code was proprietary is itself somewhat questionable, since Goldman claims all open source code as its own once its programmers have modified it, even if the improvements aren’t specific to the...
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