Looking forward

Now that we have all reviewed 2006 with all of those top 10 lists, it is time to look forward. Some believe that markets are the best way to predict the future. Intrade is an exchange to trade (speculate on) events that directly affect your life, like politics, entertainment, financial indicators, weather, current events and legal affairs. These are known as "prediction markets." Traders buy and sell contracts based on what they predict for the future. Take a look to see what the predictions are for NYC snowfall or the 2008 Presidential candidates.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Elements of Style Online

Good legal writing begins with good ordinary writing, and few better or more time-tested guides to fine writing exist than William Strunk, Jr.'s concise masterwork, The Elements of Style. The freely available online version offers the pre-E.B White 1918 edition of the book. While a few fusty recommendations remain, this work offers timeless tips on concise, forcible writing, as well as a guide to usage, and lists of troublesome expressions and commonly misspelled words. Consult it often!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Supreme Court Annual Report

It’s time for year-end reports and for setting new--and renewed--goals for the future. The Supreme Court of the United States weighed in this week when Chief Justice John Roberts released his 2006 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary. As always, this annual report included a useful summary of the federal courts’ caseload during the past year. But its focus was the seriously lagging compensation of federal judges, a result of Congressional failure to enact a judicial salary increase over many years and a situation now at crisis level, according to the Chief Justice. The most recent Year-End Reports (2000 – 2006) are available on the Supreme Court web site. More information about the Chief Justice’s Year-End Report and about how to find earlier reports is provided by the Supreme Court Historical Society.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Happy New Year!

Did you make New Year's resolutions? Many of us have good intentions, but somehow never follow through on our resolutions. Here is a list of the 10 most popular New Year's Resolutions complete with tips on how to implement. Your resolutions not on the lists? Well, write down your plan for carrying out each resolution. Knowing how you're going to do something can help you get started and carry out your plans. Good luck and may 2007 be the best year ever!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat