Separating State from Church: A Research Guide to the Law of the Vatican City State

If you think here in the United States we have trouble with the separation of Church and State, well, just imagine the legal complications surrouding this issue in the Vatican City State! This new research guide provides an "overview of the founding documents and the constitutional structure of the world's smallest sovereign nation."

From Law Librarian Blog

What ONE TRILLION dollars looks like in dollar bills...

Every day, Congress debates about a budget and national debt in terms of billions and trillions of dollars, but what does 1 trillion dollars really look like? Well, DailyCognition.com has the answer in an illustration designed to put this enormous amount of money into perspective.

From beSpacific

Vision of High-Speed Rail in America

The face of public transportation in America may be changing, with the Federal Railroad Administration's announcement of plans for a High-Speed Rail (HSR). This new project would "address longer-distance passenger transport needs in heavily populated corridors." The map (pdf) even appears to include a stop right here in Columbus!

From beSpacific

Crash Test Status Report

If you're thinking about purchasing a new car, you may want to check out this status report first. The report, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, looks at how car size and weight impact safety ratings.

From beSpacific

Ohio Court Rules Database

Planning to practice law in Ohio after graduation? If so, you may want to familiarize yourself with the rules of Ohio Courts. This new database is an easy place to get all the information you'll need.

From CM Law Library Blog

'U.S. News & World Report' Releases Latest Law School Rankings

The latest law school rankings by the US News and World Report were released today!

From Law.com

Do We Need a More Gender-Balanced SCOTUS?

Just a few weeks after Justice Ginsburg visited Moritz as part of the Ohio State Law Journal's Annual Symposium, this article discussed the reasons why it may be a good idea to have a few more ladies on the bench. For Justice Ginsburg's thoughts on the subject, check out this article from USA Today.

From Law Librarian Blog

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 by 20 million people across America. Today, Earth Day is celebrated across the globe and the EPA has a new website that provides interesting information about the history of Earth Day as well as some things you can do to help the environment!

From beSpacific

Online Social Networking Tied to Lower GPA, Ohio Study Says

According to a study done right here at Ohio State, "College students who use Facebook spend less time studying and have lower grade point averages than students who have not signed up for the social networking website." As exams approach, it may be a good idea to cut down on Facebook time!

From Legal Blog Watch

Attorneys -- the Biggest Desk Potatoes Around -- Start Eyeing Treadmill, Standing Desks

According to this article, some firms, like Quarles & Brady, have started investing in "sit-to-stand" desks, so attorneys aren't stuck just sitting around all day at work. Some firms are even installing treadmills, so lawyers can walk while working!

From Law.com

The First Puppy Has Arrived

Bo, a Portuguese water dog, made headlines this week when he joined the Obama family at the White House as the latest in a long line of Presidential pets. But dogs and cats aren't the only species to have called 1600 Pennsylvania Ave home: sheep, cows, guinea pigs, and even a few alligators are all included on the roster of former First Pets.

From Librarians' Internet Index: New This Week

MySpace a Bulletin Board, Not Private Room, Says California Court

Be careful what you post: a judge in California ruled that a student's MySpace musings were not protected under privacy law, rather, they were public material "available to anyone with internet access."

The intersection of privacy and networking is also the subject of a new book, Lessons from the Identity Trail: Anonymity, Privacy and Identity in a Networked Society, which features chapters written by privacy experts.

From WSJ Law Blog; beSpacific

A Little Humor for Tax Day

Well, April 15 is here again, and the folks over at the Librarians' Internet Index have complied a great list of amusing websites for Tax Day. Enjoy!

From Librarians' Internet Index

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea?

Ambassador Stephen W. Bosworth, Special Representative for North Korea Policy, recently addressed the issue of U.S. policy on North Korea at the Washington Foreign Press Center. The Congressional Research Service has also issued two reports regarding the recent North Korean missile launch: the first analyzes the ballistic missile threat to the United States and the other "summarizes what is known from open sources about the North Korean nuclear weapons program."

If you're looking for a more humorous approach, check out this video by The Capitol Steps, entitled "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea?"

From beSpacific

Who is the most important thinker in American law of the 20th-Century?

Check out this site to cast your vote and see who is ahead in this poll, which ranks the most important thinkers in American law in the 20th Century.

From Law Librarian Blog

Something New to Twitter About - TweetLaw

In the latest news on social networking, there is a new Twitter application out specifically for lawyers! TweetLaw offers yet another online networking tool for practicing attorneys and law students alike...provided you can keep your communication within the 140 character limit, of course!

From CM Law Library Blog

From Shell to Symbol: Art of the Ethnic Easter Egg

Many people will be celebrating Easter this weekend, so if you're curious to learn more about the tradition of the Easter egg, the Wisconsin Historical Society has an interesting website just for you! This website traces the origins of decorating eggs throughout history and how the tradition was later incorporated into Easter celebrations.

From Librarians' Internet Index: New This Week

Bernie’s Prison Number Comes up Big for Queens Man

Well, at least one person was able to come out ahead in the wake of the Bernie Madoff scandal. A man in Queens played the last three digits of Madoff's prison number in the New York Lottery and ended up winning $1,500!

From WSJ.com Law Blog

Getting Control of Exam Studying

Starting to feel overwhelmed with finals quickly approaching? Here are some helpful tips for getting control of your studying and successfully preparing for your exams!

From Law School Academic Support Blog

Khmer Rouge Trials Begin

For those interested in International Law, trials have begun at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for persons accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes during the former Khmer Rouge regime. You can track developments in these cases at the Cambodia Trial Monitor and through Yale's Cambodian Genocide Program.

From CM Law Library Blog

In Annual Shakespeare Mock Trial, Supreme Court Justices Play On

The hypotheticals never end...even when you are a Supreme Court Justice! This evening, Justices Ginsburg, Alito, and Breyer will all participate in the Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual mock trial, entitled "Malvolio's Revenge". The case is based on "Twelfth Night," and the Justices are called upon to determine whether a $10 million punitive damages verdict for false imprisonment is constitutional.*


*Update: The final verdict has been released.

From Law.com

President Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan (AFPAK) Strategy

Last Friday, the President announced his new policy plans for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The plan includes a commitment to dialogue between the three nations, but also states a firm committment "to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan" and to meet the Taliban "with force."

From beSpacific

Facebook Demographics

Many of us probably remember the beginning days of Facebook: when just a few schools were included on the social networking site and users were almost exclusively college-age. Well, those days are gone. Inside Facebook, a site dedicated to tracking the developments of Facebook, reports that over the last 60 days, the number of users age 35 and over has nearly doubled and the fastest growing demographic on the site is women over 55.

From Law Librarian Blog

Proper Citation Form for Jurisdiction with Cite Genie

Frustrated with how long it takes you to put footnotes into proper Bluebook format? Well, Cite Genie may help solve this problem! This program creates a correct citation for you each time you copy/paste text from Westlaw and Lexis. But watch out, the program isn't perfect, so you'll want to double check all the citations before you turn in your paper!

From CM Law Library Blog

Bar Admissions Requirements

If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to the bar admissions process, you're in luck! The National Conference of Bar Examiners and the American Bar Association recently published a book with all the information you'll need on the rules and proceedures for taking the bar exam in any state or territory. Even better, a pdf version of the publication can be downloaded for free!

From Due Process: The Georgetown Law Library Blog