Things Not Bob reads while on a conference call, episode 728.
 

From a list of one-star Amazon reviews about Time Magazine's list of the one hundred best novels (from The Morning News, via www.consumerist.com).

• The Sound and the Fury (1929)
  
  Author: William Faulkner
  
  “This book is like an ungrateful girlfriend. You do your best to understand her and get nothing back in return.”

Amen. With apologies to our own occasional poster Wm. Faulkner, of course.

link to the whole list: http://www.themorningnews.org/archiv...statements.php

Hi 2006
 

Anything interesting happen while I was gone?

As of New Years Eve, I have confirmed my suspicion that I have a girl-crush on Neko Case.

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

I don't get a defense lawyer disliking plaintiff's lawyers, or vice versa. Why?

I also don't understand the idiotic need to identify with one group. I used to do both types of cases at the same time. I'd work for a bank in one case, a debtor in another. I've sued an insurer while working for an insurer. It's all just business. I can't imagine getting emotionally involved in this silliness. This idea of exclusively "being on the side of the common man" or "being on the side of business" is so gay. On the criminal side, US Attys and DAs jump over to the defense side to make more money all the time.

I don't see how anyone can be really good at either defense or plaintiff's work wwithout having worked on the other side of the table. It helps you understand your adversary.

If I had my druthers were I forced to remain a lawyer, I'd probably be a crim defense lawyer again (if only it paid what I need...). The idea of prosecuting people and ferreting out corporate malfeasance just doesn't do it for me. I'm too soft. I think everybody deserves a few scandals, arrests, etc... I don't like the moralizing and zero tolerance attitude that goes along with suing people. We all make mistakes. I feel bad holding people accountable.

But, I do have bills, so I do what pays, whatever side of the table it might place me on...

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

If you did thart kind of law, and a collectible client didn't pay you, would you sue?

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

Blah, blah blah. You'd never be a good plaintiff's lawyer.

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

I'm fine with debt collection.

Christmas Day Night
 

These guys are from Houston. I'm so proud...

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

Why would you think that?

Things Not Bob reads while on a conference call, episode 728.
 

No offense taken, NotBob. In related news, I had no idea that our own Mr. Chinaski was a one-star Amazon reviewer. To him I say, don't lose heart, dear sir. Dedication to one's art, even in the face of withering reviews, is essential.

Wm. Faulkner

Leave of Absence
 

Dunno about Europe, but my sister has been putting together a bunch of parties for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in conjunction with the Basquiat show. If you go to any, I'd recommend the one on February 11, with Grand Master Flash, which happens to be during NBA All Star weekend. My sister is kinda worried that she's going to have to come up with a VIP wing instead of just a room. The first two parties had about 3000 attendees at each, and aside from long lines at the first party (due to a greater than expected turnout) at the bars, there haven't been many compliants.

Things Not Bob reads while on a conference call, episode 728.
 

About Gravity's Rainbow, someone says:

• “When one contrasts Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five with this book, it’s like comparing an Olympic sprinter with an obese man running for the bus with a hot dog in one hand and a soda in the other.”

Is that really a complaint?

And that's not greasy kid's stuff.
 

Exaggeration. Some of my best friends (no, really) sue actual or potential clients of mine.

I was just grousing about the particular plaintiff's lawyer in my case (who is a nice enough guy, personally, and we haven't had any discovery spats) because his theory of the case is so different from the way my client is looking at it.

"So what?" you say. "Who cares if he looks at it differently? Can't we all just get along?" Well, I care. It meant that I worked this weekend instead of going to the Vitalis Bowl.

Got on board a west-bound seven, forty seven.
 

Too ambivalent such that I know you haven't had a sip of the kool aid.

And that's not greasy kid's stuff.
 

Get an extension... they hand them out like candy this time of year.

And that's not greasy kid's stuff.
 

View from the plaintiff's bar:

Similar to hockey, if you're having [discovery] fights then you are probably losing [the case]. Mostly we focus on putting the puck in the net. If you won't give us discovery, it's OK, we'll get the dirt we need on our own.