February 13, 2017
How To Build An Autocracy
The Atlantic Magazine published an extraordinary essay on subtle and unsubtle undoings of democracy. The checks and balances of the United States' three branches of government and the Constitution are metaphor, not mechanisms. We, the People, exercise the necessary mechanisms. We must be broadly educated on whom we elect to…
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January 5, 2017
The Willing Suspension of ….
By Shelly Palmer The “willing suspension of disbelief” is the idea that we (the audience, readers, viewers, content consumers) are willing to suspend judgment about the implausibility of the narrative for the quality of our own enjoyment. We do it all the time. Two-dimensional video on our screens…
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December 30, 2016
KNEE-JERK REACTIONARIES DO NOT CONTRIBUTE MUCH
People are knee-jerk reactionary, not contemplative. TV especially promotes this cultural behavior. Most conversations anymore, at home, on the street, at school or work, are a series of comebacks, quips, repartee, each statement as conclusion, one-up, a straight line or the rejoinder. Few people have the intellectual patience to…
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November 18, 2016
Negligence And Software
NEGLIGENCE AND SOFTWARE Various authors describe the mix of law and software technology. Common belief is that the speed of technology is too fast for the law to keep up. Such postulate misstates the problem. The law of negligence is well established and well documented for 1000 years or…
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October 15, 2016
Different Democracies
Simple arguments about democracy get lost during election posturing by candidates. Politicians mostly make proclamations even the least educated can understand, and avoid delving into the academics of governance. News media likewise do not want to alienate readers and viewers by burdening them with deep thoughts. Jonathan Rauch’s What’s Ailing…
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September 24, 2016
More Tricky Liens – Solar
Solar Installations - Security Interest Perfection; Mortgage ?? The solar power boom is occurring across the United States and abroad, and domestically Congress’ extension of the solar tax credit will help to continue fueling the boom. Financing solar installations is an evolving process, with solar financiers typically offering three solutions: …
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August 22, 2016
Shareholder Buy/Sell Agreement Problem After A Death – Memo
Re: Closed Co., Ltd.; Shareholder Agreement; Sale of Shares Summary of Facts This matter arises from a dispute between two brothers concerning enforcement of a shareholder agreement for a closed, family-owned corporation, Closed Co., Ltd, (“the Company”). The two brothers, Tim and Tom, are the last remaining family owners of…
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July 27, 2016
Solar Power’s Unpredicted Side-Effects
The New York Times By EDUARDO PORTER Is the global effort to combat climate change, painstakingly agreed to in Paris seven months ago, already going off the rails? Germany, Europe’s champion for renewable energy, seems to be having second thoughts about its ambitious push to ramp…
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June 20, 2016
USA and China
China’s commitment to the economic success of the USA is parallel to the USA’s commitment to the economic success of China. The economic relationship likely eclipses military engagement for the next generations. Lots of details gain disproportionate attention from news’ sources, and the overall outlook, the big picture suffers. Yet…
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