Online Research Resources: Broker/Dealer Compliance Report (BNA)

If you are interested in a broker/dealer source that provides coverage of changes in federal and state securities laws, regulations, industry rules, and legal proceedings at federal/state levels, then take a look at BNA's Broker/Dealer Compliance Report. The Report also provides news of the latest SEC, NASD Regulation, NYSE actions as well as various self-regulatory organization policies.  Coverage dates to September 22, 1999.

To access the Broker/Dealer Compliance Report (BNA):

• Click the "Online Resources Subject List" link
• Then, click "Commercial and Corporate Law" link
• Scroll down to "Broker/Dealer Compliance Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

How to Identify That Light in the Sky

Are you planning to do some star-gazing this Summer, and wondering how to identify the different lights in the sky (such as last week’s fireball that we mentioned)?

If so, then see this humorous but handy flow chart to help you to distinguish the stars from other nocturnal heavenly objects.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Top 10 Mid-Year Ernster Posts

It is hard to believe that I have been prowling around for over six months in 2014!  During that time, I purred on about interesting tidbits in over 150 posts. Well, as I was getting the best of a ball of yarn, I wondered what posts you found most interesting. So, here are the top 10 posts viewed in the first half of 2014:

10. Bankruptcy Blog 

9.   Research Strategy:Research Life-Line Workshop Series

8.    A Neo-Feudal Model ofOnline Security? 

7.   Online Resources: SocialMedia Law & Policy Report (BNA)

6.   Snow Law Update: Drivingwith Accumulated Snow  

5 . Online ResearchResources: Medical Research Law & Policy Report (BNA)

4.  Countdown to input andiPad mini

3.  Digital Collections:National Library of Medicine's Free Online Archive

2.  Research Resources: Accounting Policy andPractice Report (BNA)

1. Googlerific Workshop

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Habits you should think about stopping

"9 Habits you need to stop now" was posted by Shane Parrish on Farnham Street.  An interesting list but should be considered in the context of your needs and situations.  Email is mentioned twice as a distraction.  This is true but insufficient as some jobs require been aware and of and promptly responding to selected emails even if it is just to say "message received".  It is suggested not to read email in the morning but again it depends on your needs.  Sometimes it is necessary to reschedule a day according to the message.  A RUSH request email from a superior probably should be read in the morning.

Or, "don't answer the phone from people you don't know, let it go to voicemail."  Along with this point, let the caller know you are busy and get down to business without rambling.  It is suggested that one "get to the point".  This comes easily to New Yorkers and may already be your default.

"Do not agree to a meeting without a clear agenda or end point."  Yes, one does need to know why a meeting is called and when in will end.  Also remember that if an hour is scheduled but the meeting only takes a 1/2 hour, the meeting can end early.  The 1/2 hour not used becomes found time for everyone attending.

Read the list, think about the implications and/or corollaries and apply to suit yourself. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Talk About Fireworks!

It’s Summer, astronomically as well as unofficially, and we never know what we might happen to see when we cast our gazes upward. A giant fireball, perhaps?

(Click after following the link to view the video).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Mobile app: Stitcher

The mobile app Stitcher lets you stream radio shows and sync and download podcasts for offline listening. The Front Page lets you quickly find breaking news and the latest episodes of favorite shows. If you are at a loss as to what to listen to next, Stitcher makes recommendations based upon your listening habits.

Read more about Stitcher here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

SCOTUS decides Hobby Lobby / Conestoga Wood this morning

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell presented the question:  Whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq., which provides that the government “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” unless that burden is the least restrictive means to further a compelling governmental interest, allows a for-profit corporation to deny its employees the health coverage of contraceptives to which the employees are otherwise entitled by federal law, based on the religious objections of the corporation’s owners.

In a 5 - 4 decision the court held that as applied to closely held corporations, the HHS regulations imposing the contraceptive mandate violate RFRA. 

SCOTUSblog has an overview and analysis of the issues and links to many documents including amicus briefs.

The opinion of the court is here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Virtual Exhibit: The History of Case Reporting

It's not easy to cover the development of case reporting from the beginnings in England to the first West regional reporters, clearly and enjoyably, in one digital page. But "A Brief History of Anglo-American Case Reporting, 1272-1885," a virtual exhibit of the Boston College Law Library, has done it. Created by Karen Beck, Curator of Rare Books, the exhibit is both brief and clear in describing how today's case reporting came to be--from the Year Books hand written in the back of court rooms by medieval law students to the modern reporters we now use online. The story is illustrated with wonderful examples from the Boston College Law rare book collection. Take a break from your books and outlines to check it out. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Looking toward the 4th

I will be celebrating July 4th next Friday by finding a nice quiet place hiding from fireworks.

The Library will also be closed.

In my nice quiet spot, I will observe the 4th as I always do by reading the Declaration of Independence .  Sometimes, I also  like to visit the Library of Congress for more information on the Declaration.  For those of you more auditory historian/patriots try this YouTube video of actors reading the declaration (or for  NPR geeks).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual Government Documents: A Reprise

Last Summer, we offered a weekly series that featured some government documents that are unusual, to say the least.

In a brief reprise of that theme, here is a link to illustrations (scroll down) of a few interesting, perhaps even slightly peculiar, government documents titles held at the libraries of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat