Author Archives: C.J. Pipins, JD, MA in IRLS

Climate Change Findings and Figures

No matter where you fall on the hot-button topic of climate change there is no denying it’s an important issue.  The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a summary of its most recent set of findings and figures in March.  The WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a membership of 191 Member States and Territories (as of January 1, 2013). It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951 for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.

As weather, climate and the water cycles know no national boundaries, international cooperation at a global scale is essential for the development of meteorology and operational hydrology as well as to reap the benefits from their application. WMO provides the framework for such international cooperation.

This summary and website can lead you to a ton of other international sources on climate and environmental law.  Use the list of topics at the top of WMO’s home page or the facets on the left to find relevant information that may be more difficult to get to simply by using the web site search box.  Evaluating and making use of all access points (also known as finding aids) are important research processes.

Finals Season is Approaching

Finals are coming faster than you know it.  Check out the newest additions to the library’s collection and see if there is anything that might help you study for exams or finish up that ALWR. 

TITLE CALL # LOCATION
Civil procedure in a nutshell / by Mary Kay Kane. KF8841 .K36 2013 fca,fcb
Climate change and Indigenous peoples : the search for legal remedies / edited by Randall S. Abate, Elizabeth Ann Kronk. K3247 .C55 2013 fcg  
Evidence / Christopher B. Mueller, Laird C. Kirkpatrick. KF8935 .M836 2012 fcg  
Fighting for their lives : inside the experience of capital defense attorneys / Susannah Sheffer. KF9227.C2 S54 2013 fcg  
Global environmental governance : law and regulation for the 21st century / Louis J. Kotzé. K3585 .K68 2012 fcg  
Injustice on appeal : the United States Courts of Appeals in crisis / William M. Richman, William L. Reynolds. KF8750 .R53 2013 fcg  
Inside civil procedure : what matters and why / Howard M. Erichson. KF8841 .E75 2012 fca,fcb
International logistics : the management of international trade operations / Pierre A. David, Richard D. Stewart. HF5415.7 .D38 2010 fcg  
The lawyer bubble : a profession in crisis / Steven J. Harper. KF300 .H3687 2013 fcg  
Logistics and supply chain management : creating value-added networks / Martin Christopher. HD38.5 .C46 2005 fcg  
A manual of style for contract drafting / Kenneth A. Adams. KF807 .A33 2013 fcg  
Multistate bar exam (MBE) review. KF303 .M847 2010 fcb  
Multistate performance test (MPT) review. KF303 .M855 fcb  
A practical guide to software licensing for licensees and licensors / H. Ward Classen. KF3024.C6 C56 2013 fcg  
Principles of international environmental law / Philippe Sands, Jacqueline Peel with Adriana Fabra, Ruth MacKenzie. K3585 .S265 2012 fcg  
Property / Steven L. Emanuel. KF570.Z9 E43 2012 fca,fcb
Settlement negotiation techniques in family law : a guide to improved tactics and resolution / Gregg Herman. KF535 .H47 2013 fcg  
Siegel’s criminal procedure : essay and multiple-choice questions and answers / Brian N. Siegel, Lazar Emanuel   revised by Christian M. Halliburton. KF9619.5 .S543 2012 fca,fcb
Supply chain management : a logistics perspective / John J. Coyle … [et al.]. HD38.5 .C69 2009 fcg  
The terror courts : rough justice at Guantanamo Bay / Jess Bravin. KF7661 .B73 2013 fcg  
Transportation : a supply chain perspective / John J. Coyle … [et al.]. HE151 .C88 2011 fcg  
Understanding student rights in schools : speech, religion, and privacy in educational settings / Bryan R. Warnick. KF4150 .W37 2013 fcg  
Wills, trusts, and estates : examples and explanations / Gerry W. Beyer. KF755.Z9 B49 2012 fcb  

Are YOU Ready to Celebrate Sunshine Week?

If your response is, “What is sunshine week?” you are probably not alone.  Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.  This is an important topic because access to the law is really important to lawyers, law students, and law librarians.  Check out all the great FREE legal information available on FDSys.  The Library of Congress makes finding legislative and congressional information a breeze with Thomas.  Here is an example of how an open government can force a public figure to answer for their use of public funds.  The list of reasons supporting open government and freedom of information is huge.  What reasons can you think of?

Legislative History in Real Time!!

Have you seen the recent development in Florida concerning funeral protests?  There was an article in the Jacksonville Times Union describing a bill that has been passed in the Florida Senate that would affect those protests.  If you notice they give you a citation to that bill: SB 118.  If you want to keep track of how that bill makes its way through our legislature you can head over to the Florida Senate’s website at http://www.flsenate.gov/. Once you are there just put the bill number (118) in the search box at the top of the screen and you can see all the exciting things that have happened as the bill makes its way through the senate.  One of the options allows you to view the staff analyses of the bill which can often give you some insight into the legislative intent.  This is a great way to get comfortable with Florida legislative history research. (This can be very tough)  If you want to be notified any time there is activity concerning this or any other bill just sign up for Senate Tracker account. With a Senate Tracker account you can track items throughout the website, view the latest updates on the Tracker tab, and receive email notifications when those items are updated.  You can create an account here.  All you need is an email address.  Did I mention this is all free?  It is!

 

Trick or Treat or Where is Your Permit?

Are you planning to wear a mask with your Halloween costume?  Be sure you don’t need a permit!  At the Stupid Laws & Dumb Laws blog they have a list of Halloween specific laws that might affect you depending on where you plan to celebrate.  Click the link and see if they found a law that might affect you.

Note the disclaimer at the bottom of their page.  “The laws listed here are for entertainment purposes only. We have tried to cite specific references when available but, we make no guarantees on the validity of these laws and as such: the laws and regulations including the interpretation and commentary we have provided are for entertainment only.”  If you really want to see if your town or city has a law that might restrict your candy-collecting fun you should check out Municode.  A helpful tip: Start with the index if you can.  Happy Halloween! 

New Library Resources – What’s New – August 2012 Edition

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting edition of “New Library Resources” – it’s chock full of What’s New!

To view a table listing the new print resources that the library received in August 2012, click Continue reading below. All of the items listed there can be found in the General Collection and checked out for up to three weeks by members of the Coastal Community.

Guess what? Hein has added some new Legislative Histories to their U.S. Federal Legislative History Library Collection including Congress and the Tobacco Industry: A Legislative History of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009,Expanding SCHIP: A Legislative History of the Child Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009,Semiconductor Chip and the Law: A Legislative History of the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984!  Check out HeinOnline’s August Content Release  and remember, you can access HeinOnline through the Library & Technology Center’s Subscription Databases page.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to stop by the Reference Desk on the third floor of the Library & Technology Center or contact the Reference Librarians via email, telephone (904.680.7612), or the Ask a Librarian form.

Check back here for monthly updates on what is being added to the Library & Technology Center collection. Updates will be published on the second Tuesday of every month.

If you think we should consider adding something to the collection, please feel free to recommend it here (Coastal ID login required).

Continue reading →

School Starts Soon! You Better Have Fun While You Can.

If you have any tips on things to do in Jacksonville and surrounding areas, feel free to let us know on our Facebook page!

If you want to know the weather report this weekend, take a look  here and plan accordingly. There is lots to do this weekend and here are just a few ideas:

Friday, August 3rd, Saturday, August 4th, & Sunday August 5th

  • LEND ME A TENOR The Limelight Theatre stages Ken Ludwig’s musical farce about two rival opera singers at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 5, 12 and 19 at 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine. Tickets are $25; $22 for seniors; $20 for military and students. 825-1164. http://limelight-theatre.org/
Friday, August 3rd, Saturday, August 4th
  • GOD’S FAVORITE Amelia Community Theatre stages the Neil Simon comedy at 8 p.m. on Aug. 2, 3 and 4, 9-11 and 16-18, and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 at 207 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach. Tickets are $20; $10 for students. 261-6749.
  • Pot Goes the Musical!  Players by the Sea sets the dangers of marijuana to music.“Reefer Madness The Musical” is staged at 8 p.m. on July 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and Aug. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at Players by the Sea, 106 N. Sixth St., Jax Beach. General admission is $25. 249-0289. http://www.playersbythesea.org/performances/reefer-madness
Friday, August 3rd
  • Like comedy? Go check out Mad Cowford Improv Comedy! Show starts at 8:15 and the cost is only $5.  Get there easrly since this is their six year anniversary show and it is always popular!

Saturday, August 4th

Sunday August 5th

  • LOUDERPALOOZA 2012: AMMO, FFN, BOOGER, POOR RICHARDS, TOE IN THE TRIGGER, POWERBALL, XGEEZER, THE PINZ, SICKSICKSICKS and SHATTERMAT The noise starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Jacksonville. 353-4686.

Saturday, August 4th, 2012 Markets

Beaches Green Market
Beaches: Jarboe Park, Neptune Beach
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Website, ExperienceJax

Farmers Market of San Marco
San Marco/Southbank: Parking Lot – Elizabeth Swaim United Memorial Methodist Church
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Facebook, ExperienceJax

Fernandina Farmers Market
Fernandina/Amelia: Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Website, ExperienceJax

Mandarin Farmers Market
Mandarin: San Jose / Old St. Augustine Rd
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
ExperienceJax

Riverside Art Market (RAM)
Downtown Jacksonville: Under Fuller Warren Bridge
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website

Old City Farmers Market
St. Augustine: St. Augustine Amphitheater
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Website, ExperienceJax

Sunday, August 5th, 2012 Markets

Avondale Farmers Market
Riverside/Avondale: Historic Avondale at the corner of St. Johns and Talbot
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Facebook, ExperienceJax

Jacksonville Farmers Market
Downtown: Jacksonville Farmers Market
All Day
Website, ExperienceJax

Facebook Safely this Fourth of July

Facebook has become a way of life.  No more is it merely a tool for wasting time and keeping in touch with friends.  The world is addicted to Farmville, Words with Friends, Likes, Shares, and George Takei’s witty library of pictures.  The ever evolving nature of facebook means a constant state of change in privacy and permission settings.  Check out some tips and tricks to enhance your facebook experience in ths blog post called the 5 Best Hidden Facebook Tricks You Should Make Use Of and be sure to open the PDF at the end to read the Very Unofficial Facebook Privacy Manual.

Now that your facebook is nice and secure you don’t have to worry about getting screamed at by a judge for your social networking activities.  However, it seems that is not the only reason you may catch the ire of a judge.  Check out this blog post about a judge who could not contain his disdain for a party before him in a divorce case.  There is also a video that captures the whole tirade.

One of the best things about The Fourth of July is all the fireworks.  Disappointed with this year’s display?  Well…There’s an app for that.

Have a SAFE and Happy Fourth of July.

Format Things Correctly and Mind Your Manners, Even on the Web.

Do you ever get sick and tired of the countless formatting rules your professor requires for an assignment?  Have you ever “just turned it in” without checking to make sure you followed or read the directions?  That’s probably not the smartest move.  In fact, it could turn out that you just wasted a lot of your own time.  Here is an example of why it is ALWAYS a good idea to check the formatting requirements for anything you turn in, whether it is to a professor, a journal, or a judge.

Ever notice how people who run websites sometimes engage in cyber fights with the owners of other web sites?  If you said no then you are missing a huge piece of World Wide Web hilarity.  Get started with the recent developments from over at the oatmeal.com.  There is even a legal twist that involves defamation and intellectual property. There is something for everyone!

Things to Do this Weekend

Need something to take your mind off bar studying?  Summer classes got you down?  Check out some of the cool things to do around Jacksonville this weekend.

All Weekend

  • Go to the theatre and enjoy Hot Mikado at 8pm on Friday and Saturday night, or catch the matinee performance on Sunday at 2pm.  It’s an update of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta at Theatre Jacksonville.

Friday June 17th

  • It’s opening night for the new movie-musical Rock of Ages!  Go see it in all its big-haired glory at the IMAX  or on a smaller screen.  Either way I’m sure you all can’t wait to hear Tom Cruise rock a power ballad.

Saturday June 16th

Sunday June 17th