idealawg

Curl up with a funny book on copyright law -- never knew a comic book could be so smart

Bound by Law? (Tales from the Public Domain) is a fun adventure. You may read the comic book (well, read the words and look at the fine illustrations) online. Just click on the clever cover. Trapped in a struggle she didn't understand . . . by day a filmmaker . . . by night she fought for FAIR USE!

Tim Gebhart reviewed Bound by Law? and adds some of his own analysis of the current state of copyright law. His review opens:

It seems appropriate that the first image you see when you open this work is reminiscent of the Crypt Keeper. After all, the topic is something most people fear - law. In fact, the specific area, copyright law, even causes the knees of some lawyers to quake.

A smart review of a smart comic book.

If any of you are planning on writing a comic book featuring your area of the law, I can recommend a talented, and smart, illustrator. Some areas of the law are more suited for illustration by "graphic novels" than others, don't you think?

Lawyers with Renaissance Souls: if a polygon is a dead parrot, what's a polymath?

I am writing an article for the next edition of The Complete Lawyer on the Renaissance Soul in the legal profession. I have been surprised at the number of lawyers and ex-lawyers identifying themselves as RSers after taking a quick, unscientific quiz. A few told me they dropped everything after taking the quiz and rushed to the bookstore to buy the book The Renaissance Soul. (I first heard a person with a Renaissance Soul called a "RSer" in an e-mail from Margaret Lobenstine, author of that book.) Are any of you out there in the blog conurbation a RSer?

After reading the quiz, you might guess that RSers would leave the law eventually, and many do. Many stay, too. I received an e-mail today from a wonderful man, a federal judge, who identifies himself as a strong Renaissance Soul. He described several well-known partners in large firms around town who also are classic Renaissance Souls. I hope to write about some of them one of these days in my blog future. How to be a happy polymath in the practice of law.

Take a look at this list of polymaths. As you will see, several of them were lawyers. Copernicus was a lawyer and thought of astronomy as a hobby. A good lesson in the potential of an avocation. Wonder what would happen if he was at a networking event today? That would be some elevator speech: "I'm a mathematician, astronomer, jurist, physician, classical scholar, governor, administrator, diplomat, economist and soldier. Oh, yeah, and I dabble in astronomy."

I am going to stop now and figure out the mechanics of this process called blogging  (see, Kevin O'Keefe, I did not say "blawgging.") I figured since my blog was announced last month by Mark Beese, and I was urged, called out, and invited to blog last week by Gerry Riskin, I better jump in and learn while I go. I will be putting up the blogroll and those many other blog components -- after I learn how to make a link live. You are reading the first post of a true neo-blog-ophyte. Welcome to my adventure!

(This IS quite a week of taking techno-plunges. I am creating my first podcast on Friday.)

Note (added November 1, 2006, 6 PM Mountain): Here's an article in which being a Renaissance Soul is described as having sustained interest deficiency.

Note (added November 29, 2006, 12:40 PM Mountain): For those Renaissance Souls with a diverse and varied online presence, this free online identity management service might be helpful.