One Certainty in Life

The bad news is that yes, it is that time of year again, tax time. The good news is that getting the forms is easier than ever.

For Federal forms, go the IRS' tax forms website - where you can download forms and instructions in pdf format.

For New York tax forms, go to New York State Dept. of Taxation and Finance (which has a link for New York City forms, as well).

For other states' tax forms, go to the Federation of Tax Administrators site.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Quick Access To State Primary Legal Materials Online

Cornell's Legal Information Institute provides a useful Web page that brings together links to the primary legal materials (constitutions, statutes, cases) of the fifty states and the U.S. territories. Simply click the link provided here, then click the link to the state whose materials you seek. Within that state's listing, you will then find links to the state's primary legal materials helpfully gathered in one place.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Spring!

It is officially Spring! Actually, it was officially Spring yesterday, but I tend to think of Spring as starting on March 21st instead of March 20th. Spring begins with the vernal equinox. This is when the sun crosses over the equator and technically the length of the day and night are equal. Seasons are scientifically defined by the Earth's distance and tilt towards the Sun, but we notice through the change in weather. The severe weather occurs as warm air is moving north and encounters the cold air still being pushed down from the polar regions. It is why we say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Spring ends with the Summer Solstice where Earth's orbit is most tilted towards the Sun. Spring, a wonderful season with the promise of renewal and growth.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Finance

Today Google released a beta version of its new financial site~ Google Finance

While one could always enter a stock symbol into the Google search box for a quote, this new service is far more evolved. One interesting feature is an interactive chart correlating news and other events with stock price movement. Charts can be changed to show stock activity for different time periods by clicking and dragging, and they can be zoomed in on to get further information. News stories appearing on specific days are displayed on the side and are automatically adjusted to reflect the time period selected. Google Finance incorporates blog postings as an important feature on the results page. There are also a number of personalization and other options which are better seen then described.

There are presently many players providing financial information online. Please let me know if you think that Google Finance represents a true advance!


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New York statutes online

To find the print version of New York statutes in the Deane Law library you would go to the Reading Room and look at either McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York or New York Consolidated Laws Service. If you want to find them online you would go to the New York State Assembly's website. However, once here, it is not very clear how to get to the statutes. First click "Bill search & Legislative information" on the left. Then, on the new page, click "New York State Laws" on the right. This will bring you to the statutes or the Laws of New York. You can then either search or browse the laws.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Crime and Forensics Online

Even a nap-loving cat couldn’t miss the increased public interest in crime scene investigations, forensic evidence, and the use of DNA to catch the guilty and exonerate the innocent. TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY--along with relentless media coverage of tragic and unsolved crimes--keep more than future prosecutors and defenders focused on the legal and scientific challenges. For a general introduction to all categories of forensic evidence and new developments, check out Crime and Clues: The Art and Science of Criminal Investigation, created by an expert crime scene investigator. A virtual world of forensics resources with links are provided at Michigan State University’s Criminal Justice Resources: Forensic Science, and at Prentice Hall’s Cybrary: The World’s Criminal Justice Directory.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Day of the Green

Although I am neither Irish or green, I could not let March 17th go by without a nod to our Irish brethren - both feline and human. So, in the spirit of the day, here are some websites to visit to investigate Irish law.

Irish Government
Law Library of Ireland
Irish Law Site at UCC
Legal Information Institute - Ireland

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Mars

It is almost a surety that you are all familiar with Google. And many of you may have seen Google Moon. (For those of you who aren't, zoom in all the way.) Well Google has now come up with Google Mars. Links are provided if you want to learn about the geography of the planet, or some of the craft that have visited there.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Bridge the Gap: Practical Skills for Law Students

You can still register for the LLAGNY Bridge the Gap program scheduled for Friday, March 24th. The program sponsored by the Law Library Association of Greater New York discusses the concerns of the Summer or 1st year associates with the goal of easing the transition from law school to employment. The day consists of a general overview session as well as subject-specific break-out sessions and concludes with a panel discussion about life as a summer associate. The presentors are law firm librarians and the panel is comprised of leading members of the bar and judiciary. If you already have a job check with your firm about attending this program. Several send their Summer Associates to this program every year.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

CIA FILM LIST RELEASED

As reported by wonderful site THE MEMORY HOLE ("rescuing knowledge, freeing information")

"After a certain number of years, the CIA, like many other agencies, turns over its films and other documents to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
The lengthy list of CIA films at the Archives has never been publicly released, but researcher Michael Ravnitzky requested and received a copy from NARA. Many of the films were created by the CIA, and some - such as news reports and the occasional Hollywood movie - were not."

Hope you can take a look, as this is a really wild list of titles. The Link to The Memory Hole includes instructions on how you can access a copy of any of the films via the Freedom of Information Act.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat