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Your Laptop = Earthquake Sensor?

If you happen to own a Mac laptop, you can transform your computer into your own personal seismic station, according to Richard Monastersky in today's The Wired Campus.

He writes that "a free program from SeisMac takes advantage of the acceleration sensor inside you computer to register when it gets the shakes. The program was developed with support from the National Science Foundation and from the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, a consortium of nearly 100 universities."

Monastersky also says that a new project called the Quake-Catcher Network could allow you to be part of earthquake science.  "[S]everal California universities have created the network to use the distributed power of people’s laptops to provide quick data about the strength of shaking during earthquakes. The program works with many kinds of laptops. Because wireless networks send signals faster than vibrations can spread through the Earth, data from laptops in theory can speed ahead of the shaking and provide advance warning before harmful seismic waves strike regions that are more distant from a quake’s epicenter."

AT LEAST IT'S SUNNY: Report says LA has the worst legal climate for business

A recent survey of corporate attorneys found that, "Delaware has the nation's best legal climate, while courts in West Virginia ranked at the bottom," reports legalNewsline.com. Nebraska, Maine, Indiana and Utah were also in the top-five states with favorable legal climates. The courts' quality of judges, the predictability of judges and damage awards were given as reasons for their favorable ratings.

And what about us?  While the article doesn't mention San Diego, Los Angeles earned honors "as the city or county with the worst legal climate for business." In the nation! 

And California?  Well, it did fare better.  The report, "Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States," puts the Golden State at 6th from the bottom; only Illinois, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia are lower.  Apparently, there ain't gold in them thar hills, at least for corporate attorneys.  Or, should we say, corporate defense attorneys.

The report was commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and released by its Washington-based Institute for Legal Reform.  Is it corporate propaganda, as the trial lawyers' American Association for Justice sees it? Or is it something that must be addressed in order to "attract new business and grow jobs," as the Chamber sees it?

Take a look at the report and decide for yourself.

WI-FI OFF-ON-OFF-ON --STUDENTS RESTLESS

It was only a matter of time before people using the wi-fi at the law school and LRC began to rise up en masse to protest.  The Circulation desk is being over-run with requests for ethernet cables (still an alternative, but still...the wi-fi should work!).

And now, IT to the rescue!  At this writing, IT support reps will come to the LRC twice a week -- Wednesday and Thursday -- from 11:30 - 1:30, to assist you with any wi-fi problems.  No kidding!  They have come to you!

Look for the friendly tech rep at a table with the large blue Tech Support banner, near the reference desk.  You can't miss it.

FINALS BRING RECORD NOISE TO LRC

Usually we are pretty lax about the decibel levels in the first floor Information Services area of the LRC.  You know, the place where all the TA's hang out, groups like to gather, and couples discover love or break up, sometimes in the same week. It takes a lot for us to request a timeout, but it happens on occasion.  Now that it is time for serious review and studying, the noise level has begun to drift into the higher registers for acceptable library auditory experience.

But now read this from The Wired Campus in today’s Chronicle of Higher Education:

Flashing Lights Warn Library Visitors to Be Quiet

To tamp down the noise level in their libraries, some colleges are considering installing a warning system that looks like a traffic signal. Called the Deluxe Yacker Tracker, the device flashes a yellow light to indicate when the noise exceeds a certain level. When it exceeds the level by at least 15 decibels, the red light illuminates and a siren can go off, too.

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Now that sounds tempting to us, since we hate to be the Shush! Patrol.  But remember the study needs of your fellow students in the LRC -- wherever you may be -- and keep the noise down to a quiet roar. 

NOW PLAYING: National Library Week Displays

Before everything is removed for the next big thing in library display art, be sure to catch the following at the LRC: history of libraries display (near the microform reader-printers) and the changing image of librarians (outside the Reserve Room); Inna Muradyan and Melissa Fung did all the great work in finding text and graphics on designing these displays.   

The cabinets in the center of the 1st floor have some interesting insights into the people who work at your friendly neighborhood academic law library; LRC staff members wrote little vignettes about what made them want to work in libraries -- kind of fun for a bit of guessing about who wrote which one.

Spring Break Is Officially Over

It is now Friday after spring break.  At the beginning of the week we saw smiling, tan, sort-of relaxed students sauntering through the library.  But not now.  No, the glow from spring break is officially over now that all the early exams are coming up, papers are coming due, and the crush of life's responsibilities are being met.

But, hey, the weather's nice.

Think of your counterparts in the east or midwest.  They have the same stuff but in cold, snowy, rainy, and pretty much abominable conditions.

See, you feel better already.  If you are going through the torment of law school, it most definitely matters where you are.  Here is good.  Here is home.  Here is the good old LRC.

Calif Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Cases

Tomorrow, Tuesday March 4, is a big day for those following the Marriage Cases.  The Cal Supremes will be broadcast on live TV throughout the state for a longer-than-usual 3 hour oral argument.  This should be quite a show.  So tune in to California Channel, a public affairs cable network. An audio archive of the broadcast will be available on the Supreme Court Broadcasts page shortly after March 4

Midyear Muddle

So the very worst month of the school year has thankfully passed us by with little incident.  February -- usually bad weather and bad moods. Think hearts and flowers and chocolate.  Now think about all those who don't have anyone to give those to.  Also think of those who do have someone, but forgot or otherwise put on a poor show of it.  Now picture lots of crabby, unhappy people.  There!  That was February.

Now we are in the month of Spring Break - yeah!  That is the time everyone looks forward to.  Why? Because they think they are going to catch up on all their reading. What kind of joke is that?  No matter.  We will support you in that endeavor by staying open regular hours to accommodate all you late night studiers, and the reference folks will be here too.

So plan accordingly.  Beach...or books?  You decide.

It's a new year and a new beginning

January often brings us to our knees with humbling promises to be better at this or that, lose that holiday weight, to be kinder or more patient, to be more studious, or be better library patrons.

Oops, did I say that last one out loud?  Well, we know how it goes.  We all start off with good intentions to be courteous to our fellow studiers, to not eat noisy or stinky stuff in the next cubicle, to whisper (remember what that is? LOL) in the reading rooms -- you know, that library stuff.  And then what happens? We lose focus. We get caught up in our own very busy lives. Things get out of control and we NEED those six Rubio's fish tacos while calling our best friend to explain the entire experience of being called on in Property at the very worst possible time...all in the LRC atrium! 

Being aware of these traits may help you avoid them.  Be strong. Stay focused. We're here to help!

Finding Happiness in a Law Library

So, I know noisy things are not usually given to library types, and that is what makes this gift I got so cool: a musical tie! Those of you who have seen my library costume know that I am suited most of the time, and my tie selection is kind of skimpy.  So my good friend and colleague, Inna, gave me this tie for the holidays. It's fun, it brings a smile, and it's really funny when I wash my hands in the restroom and Joy to the World! starts up.

Life has its joys in so many little things.  We hope you find your share over the intersession break. Come back to school all fortified and renewed.  I kind of doubt you will be lucky enough to get a musical tie, but something else could do the trick!  Peace out.