Email mistakes

There are many common mistakes that you can make in your emails that can aggravate your readers. And since you will probably all start spending much more time emailing school and work associates as time goes on this will become even more important. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with Email is a list of these common mistakes.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

CSI Effect

The April 25, 2005 U.S. News & World Report (on the Library's magazine rack) has an article on what is called the "CSI Effect", or in other words the effect that television shows are having on American juries and their decision making. It turns out that some of the forensic science on the show is not - how shall I say this - well, it's not real. This is a problem for you - the trial attorney - since the juries seem to expect that the science they see on television be used for their trial and are disappointed when it is not. For further discussion of what this means for the lawyer, see this on llrx.

The llrx article also discusses The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law. The Clearinghouse is a work in progress, but they already have a database for the current status of the science in several areas. Useful for the attorney, but also fun to discover if what you see on TV is really possible.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Curling up with a Good Book

As a Virtual Cat, comprised of bits and bytes, you might think I have little use for paper and ink. You would be most mistaken. Remember, I am first and foremost a LIBRARY feline and as such, have a vested interest in bricks, mortar, and most especially books! But, I am not the only one (well, maybe the only virtual cat) who still maintains that one chief pleasure in life is curling up with a good book. If you do not want to take my word for it, see yesterday's editorial from the New York Times - Yes, Obi Wan, There Still Are Books .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Nassau County Property Records

Public Information in Nassau County has gotten pretty high tech. Take a look at the Nassau County Department of Assessment's Land Records Viewer. Pick "property search" from the top of the page. You can search by section lot & block if you know it, by address, or even by map location. You will find photos of the property in question, assessed value, area maps, tax maps, comparable sale information, and much, much more. Enjoy the fruits of my (and maybe your) tax dollars. This site is a keeper!
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat