Victory via Victorians

I've said it before and I'll say it again: when faced with a choice in law school between exam and a paper, always take the paper. That said, I hate writing papers. No matter how many times I latch on to inspiration and wrestle a conclusion out of a paper, the same creative struggle resumes with each new assignment. (The obvious upside, of course, is that this struggle doesn't have to play out in only three hours.)

If there's one trick I might suggest, it's a change of perspective. This can be taken literally - I often find leaving my apartment and relocating to the local Starbucks makes for a healthier more conducive environment. (Note, under no circumstances would I recommend the Curtis Building's library.) But more importantly, it's necessary to understand the overall perspective: you're writing a 25 page paper which, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that much. For instance, this site has 322 posts, averaging 250 words per, and double-spaced essay page has roughly 350 words... so essentially I've written a 230-page essay with no discernible thesis and scattershot citation.

Of course, like any writer, I ignore my own advice quite frequently. This Entertainment Law paper (about my struggles as a screenwriter) has proved no easier after a Grande dark, a Long Americano, and, to shake things up and because I like it - an Orangina.

No easier, that is, until I got a new book: Ben Wilson's The Making of Victorian Values. (It's the book with the boring-sounding title but hilarious cover that currently occupies the equal opportunity music/book java-powered showcase in this blog's sidebar.) The fact that I love the subject matter isn't the point here (though, as an aside, I find Victorians, as an historical segment of society, endlessly amusing and my favourite Shins lyric has always been "Just a glimpse of an ankle and I / react like it's 1805.")

The point is that Ben Wilson, with his immense vocabulary and amazing essay skills - is only 25. He's my age, and he's written an essay twice the length of this entire thing with a far more reliable system of citation. So, I read the prologue of this book last night and I instantly went back to my essay. Not surprisingly, I found it much easier to write: my advice, read what you like, then write what you want.

Man, I really should have been charging for this advice over the last three years.

I lack the Dharma Initiative

I'm trying to finish this Entertainment Law essay (yes, the one I swore would be done one month ago) so I'll post these pictures in lieu of writing more. I hadn't taken a drive through the decimated Stanley Park since the storm in December, and with a break in the endless rain last night, it seemed like a good time. My favourite trees on the east side of the island are thankfully intact, but I can't say the same for the west - this view didn't use to exist.



Then there's this Lost-inspired purple sky.



Somewhere, a hatch just imploded.

Wishing "Reading Week" wasn't so literal

There's really no excuse for me not to have this Entertainment Law essay done by week's end, so at least I'm off to a good start. Maybe it was a combination of the double digit warm weather, my apartment patio and the London Fog from Starbucks, but I sat down and read one of the larger books I have for my research from start to finish.

I've only ever read one novel in one sitting, Graham Greene's Ministry of Fear, (to this day one of my favorite books) when I was living in England. Actually, the circumstances were much the same - an abundance of time from having only 3 days of classes a week - except I suppose the London fog was real.

This new book is The Screenwriter's Legal Guide, a book my moot partner introduced me to back in first year when he heard I was writing a script. Like most amateur writers, I ignored all external advice, so it wasn't until this essay that I got the book out from the library. Basically the book is gold for research purposes - ironic because the point that's driven home again and again throughout the book is how unprofitable the television sector of the entertainment industry is, and in particular how little money I could expect to make from selling a spec pilot script.

Howie Mandel must be estopped

In a few hours I'll begin reading week, likely the last time in my life someone will give me time off work to catch up on Hellboy comics. I won't be able to top last year's experience of visiting New York during the break, but I'm lucky enough to live in a city that has plenty of wonders of its own.

And who knows, I might do some work too. I've got the green light to write my Entertainment Law essay on how I would, hypothetically of course, sell my TV pilot to either Canadian or American broadcasters. I suppose I'm looking for legal obligations and creative considerations that would maybe make one route more attractive for Canadian screenwriters and possibly explain the dearth of original programming in this country. I refuse to count Deal or No Deal Canada on so many levels.

I'm not exactly sure where a lot of the research will come from on this one, but I've been told there are quite a few Entertainment Law journals out there - plus I've always got the "How To" screenwriting books I bought years ago, which up until now have only been of aid in the fraudulent advertising and misrepresentation sections of Contract Law.

Up, Up and Advocate!

Something struck me tonight (aside from the feeling I should be studying) as I was watching Superman Returns, one of my favourite movies of this last year, and reflecting on my trip to campus today.

Is it me, or does the Curtis Building have something in common with the Kryptonite-laced supercontinent borne of Lex Luthor's greed?



I have noticed a decrease in power and will as I enter the building sometimes...

Thaw-water order also in effect

Here I am writing an essay that involves a European dispute about garbage, the treatment of television within the European Union as garbage, and then I go out to pick up dinner and I see this garbage:



Snow! I'm all for seasonal weather that reminds you of Christmas, but that's for when I go back home to Calgary where the stuff is available 9 months a year, not in Vancouver. I can't imagine this helps end the boil-water order we're still under.



This totally takes the fun out of a Thai food run.

Do as the bloggers do

I'm finally making progress on this European Union law paper, meaning this post is terribly ill-advised. In any case, I think I've got a good topic: the current trend in EU television regulation to ban "unhealthy" programs and advertisements, and the inherent conflict with the principle of free movement of goods.

The highlight of my research so far has been reading about the worst fear of European regulators: America and it's "culturally inferior programming." One writer describes a particular horror during the late 1980's, when the Cosby Show was the top rated sitcom in France and Germany.

I've seen this firsthand. When in Rome during my grade 12 class trip, I made a stop at a tiny cafe. (Unremarkable so far, except that I did legitimately work the phrase "when in Rome" into my blog). Anyway, in the corner of this cafe was a television playing the Cosby Show. It was all translated, including the title graphics, but I was surprised to see the name of the show had also been changed. It's new name confused me: I Robinson.

Now at the time, I thought this was strange: were Italian broadcasters channeling Asimov with that name? Was the Cosby show somehow existential in a way I hadn't noticed before?

Mystery solved. It hasn't been until right now, doing this essay that I recalled this memory and put my years of learning Italian in the intervening years to use. The word "I" is actually the Italian plural for "The." So in effect, the show wasn't the Huxtables' take on I, Robot after all, but simply, "The Robinsons."

Finding that out is actually kinda disappointing.

Prochaine: Jacques Bauer en Vingt-Quatre!

We've now moved on from the seismic deathtraps of Western North America to the lush vineyards and ancient castles of Europe. That's right: I've finished one essay and now am into my European Union law paper.

I've settled on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, TV. Specifically, I know it's always a big headache up here in Canada to have a certain quota of Canadian content on TV (made harder by the fact that original programming is so awful it needs to be replaced annually.) So I wanted to look into how the EU deals with protecting member states' cultural qualities, while respecting the free movement of goods and services, i.e. TV. Bien, n'est-ce pas?

I'm also hoping to answer several pressing questions: does 24 operate on the 24 hour clock over there? What region is the European equivalent of The OC? (My money's on Le Aix). And does the prevalence of civil law deny Sam Waterston the stardom he so richly deserves?

Since doing several of these papers I've become better at the research side of things, but the benefit of doing this for European Union law is that the Union's website, Europa, is amazing. It is, hands down, the best governmental website around, cataloguing every case, directive, piece of legistlation and all in countless languages to boot - and most importantly, all easily found.

Really the only site that matches its depth is Ryan Adams' repository of eight new albums available for streaming.

Karma Barristers

I was going to write a post about how, while putting the finishing touches on my factum for my big moot appeals trial tomorrow (wish me luck!) I caught a particularly legal lyric through my headphones:

"deny all knowlege / paragraph 5 / subsection B / the committee is content / to live in a rat's nest"

This comes from "A Rat's Nest" a new b-side from one of the best albums of this year, Thom Yorke's The Eraser. It is, of course, typical Yorke - see his "Bedtime Stories."

I wasn't sure what the legislative citation was in reference to, but since I was momentarily amused at the idea that maybe rock legends consult LexisNexis as well, I was curious...

...then I read a Radiohead message board, and suddenly became worried that these rabid fans, in efforts to satisfy their own curiousity, had done way more legal research than I had in preparation for my appeal.

So back to work.

You shall not pass dammit!

I remember that it took about one month in Evidence class before the subject of My Cousin Vinny was academically discussed. So I'm a little surprised it took nearly two months of Securities Regulation before Martha Stewart's name came up. I wonder if these celebrities really understand that though their indiscretion's gleam may eventually fade in the tabloids, it shines ever brightly for law student reading. Just imagine how Family law will forever be shaped.

Sadly, no such stargazing is to be found in European Union law, the subject for which I still have to come up with a paper topic. Any ideas?

It probably doesn't help that I've been spending my time watching this new promo for 24 and pondering the question: Jack Bauer, Gandalf, same person?



Seriously, I need help with this EU paper.

Arnold Schwarzeblogger

Ever since I saw this comic on BoingBoing a while back, I think about it when I sit down to write a paper. As you know, it's painfully true:



However, you also know that certain websites become an important tool during research - legal or otherwise, and you have no choice but to log on and do your best to avoid YouTube. I consider government websites part of the "serious internet," and I recently had to consult one for my Land Use paper. I was looking for how California lawmakers have incorporated earthquake damage prevention regulations into their building codes.

Naturally, the California Building Commission's website seemed like a good place to begin this "serious" research. But then I notice this little graphic...



Yup, Governor Schwarzenegger. I know it's not news, but it is a major distraction. How can I possibly take this research seriously now? Before you know it you're reading his blog and then you've fired up YouTube for those hilarious Arnold prank calls.

Shift + F7

Essay break.

Here is a short list of some of the five-dollar words employed in my essay on the undue jurisprudential contextualization of a reasonable expectation of privacy (my Charter paper):

• magnanimous
• impugned
• Hobbes-ian
  
• antiquated
• feudalistic
• constitutionality
• law

Alright, back to work.

Es bueno, muchacho?

This post will be more random than most. Not that others have any sort of consistency, but I used up my unifying odyssey theme for the year.

I'm pressing ahead with this Law & Economics paper, on the topic of "illegal" file sharing and its underlying economic principles. I like to think I'm well versed in both subjects. I read over the leading Canadian case on the subject, which, last March, held that downloading is legal in the country, and suggested a successful case against sharing downloaded files would be nearly impossible. The ruling continues Canada's legal streak as pretty damn forward thinking and mindful of our founding constitutional values (Ahem U.S.A.) The case also marks the only time that someone named von Finckenstein (the judge in the case) would be considered cool by adolescents.

I'm also trying to finish off this massive tome that is Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I happened upon this passage today, which I thought was quotable:

"To young men of a studious mind, who did not desire to go into the Church or the Law, magic was very appealing, particularly since Strange had triumphed on the battlefields of Europe. It is, after all, many centuries since clergymen distinguished themselves on the field of war, and lawyers never have."

I laughed. Anywho, you can get sense from this passage the style that Clarke was aiming for in her book, the late 19th century parlance where the word "queer" could be used without fear of subsequent giggling, Nouns were capitalized, and they spelled words like connexion and surprize with reckless abandon.

Pitchfork Magazine also posted a great article on the macrocosmic impact of R.E.M. over the last 15 years. As the band is one of my all-time favorites, a lot of it struck home. I'm sure most people like certain albums for no other reason than they represented a critical point in their life. Stipe & Co. have made a career out of doing that for people as this article evidences. Kudos to Pitchfork for identifying New Adventures in Hi-Fi as the band's best work. That album is criminally underrated. (I'm looking for the relevant section in the Criminal Code for that one... there it is again, murder in space!).

As wonderful as the warm, salty air is here in Vancouver, I would encourage anyone to check out this. Golden Palace should be contacting you any time now B.

This Friday sees me and three of my fellow law chums participate in the annual UBC Law Trike race. We need some sort of team name. It can either incorporate Bane, our small group name, or something about the law - or if we were really cool, it can incorporate neither. Submissions welcome. (Please note Team Awesome has been awarded hall of fame status and cannot be reused.)

Y finalmente, yo dije mi amigo Oscar que yo escibiria algo en Espanol para el, asi aqui esto es, muchacho.

Something tells me it's NSFW

The reviews have come pouring in... Alright, just one... And from a publication whose readership undoubtedly ranks far below that of even Guns & Ammo Weekly, or Horse & Hound. Nevertheless, last month's Law Revue gets a write-up in the latest issue of UBC Law's The Legal Eye, a paper with a mission statement of "keeping tabs on UBC Law and beyond." (As always, "beyond" neither bleeds nor leads, so it's cut.)

We turn to page 2 for an excerpt:

"Apparently the directors were told that it would be futile to even try and put on a show this year; however, I think that the new creative talent at school this year more than made up for that which was lost ... the cast and crew of this year's Law Revue put on a great performance. I'm already waiting for next year's show."

Good praise, and proof for the naysayers (see me, below) that didn't think it would turn out well. I would have preferred some juiciers adjectives, like "incandescent!" or "electrifying!" but hey, what can you do?

Tonight sees another wine and cheese function for the law school, where we get to hob-knob with Vancouver's elite law firms. The title is somewhat of a misnomer however, as the wine is not free, but made up for with the appearance of sushi. I have been told I've been developing something of an addiction to sushi as of late. I prefer to think of me as more akin to Jared of Subway fame, only as spokesman for the Japanese delicacy. Hmm, then again, I may develop a cultural backlash and subsequently languish in obscurity. Scratch that. I just likes my sushi!

The countdown to end of classes continues. Just one essay to finish before the end, a Law & Economics paper. I feel I owe to myself to do somewhat well, as I have a degree in one of the subjects. That's right, I already have a law degree, I'm just doing this the second time for kicks. The paper's topic needs to stem for a current legal issue, and incorporate economic theories. Any ideas?

Lastly, I thought I'd put up another in the continuing series of tabbing music that no one else cares to. This time 'round, the song is Eels' "I'm Going to Stop Pretending I Didn't Break Your Heart," (which is most definitely a nod to Wilco's fantastic song and film "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.")

With capo on 1, it's verse: Emin, G, F#min, C x 3, then Emin, G, F#min, C, D, Emin. This little instrumental mystery was solved by none other than Thomas, fellow UBC Lawyer and constant purveyor of interesting websites and blogs. But try as you might, Thom, I still won't click on www.sailorsonline.com when you send it to me in class.