We all live, and we all will die some day.
For most of our lives, our deaths seem like they will happen at some unknown time far in the future.
Not so for Australian writer Cory Taylor when she died of cancer at age 61. In the last few weeks of her life, she produced a beautifully written book, Dying: A Memoir. I recommend the audio version, which is narrated by an Australian with a lovely accent.
This is the latest installment in my What I’m Reading series.
Mr. Taylor described her sometimes frustrating experiences with health care providers
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Can Defaulting on Private Student Loans Affect My Job Prospects?
Student loans plague the minds of millions of Americans, but people often have more financial obligations than student loan debt to worry about. Your budget may already be stretched thin between other debts, bills, and necessities. If you are experiencing financial hardship on top of everything, it may feel impossible to honor every financial obligation, […]
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Hot Temperatures = Hot Tempers: How Extreme Summer Heat Affects Drivers in Arizona
Phoenix summers are notorious for being extremely brutal. As we speed towards the summer months, temperatures rise, as do people’s tempers. Ongoing research as to why hot weather fuels crashes, in general, seems to point to the same factors. Specifically, researchers observe a correlation between warm weather and an increase in violent behavior.
When temperatures are at their highest, aggressive driving behavior, such as horn honking and general road rage also spike. This correlation between high temperatures and aggressive behavior is referred to as the heat hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that high temperatures can affect a variety of actions, and…
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ASU cannot sue Covid Parties Instagram Posts’ Owner for Trademark Infringement
Arizona State University (ASU) and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) cannot sue the owner of an Instagram account over trademark infringement claims. The Ninth Circuit upheld the lower court decision in May 2022, throwing out ABOR-ASU’s lawsuit. The University’s ire was directed at an Instagram content creator. He used the ASU logo and other marks to promote “COVID parties” and other misinformation postings, which risk public health. The reason for the dismissal was implausibility.…
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Writing like Justice Kagan, part II
Continuing last week’s post analyzing Justice Kagan’s writing techniques from Gundy v. United States that make her such an effective communicator. 7. Signal attention to prevent skipping: “Given that standard, a nondelegation inquiry always begins (and often almost ends) with…
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Do you have fun at work?
I know some of you are thinking “What is he talking about? Fun at work?” But it’s that simple and that’s exactly what I mean. If you can’t have fun at work, then why are you there? Fun and good work do go together. A joke can reduce tension during stressful times at work. The saying “Laughter is the best medicine” exists because it’s true.
This doesn’t mean you will joke around with co-workers every day. Of course, even if you do, it’s unlikely a minute or two will derail you from the tasks at hand. Fun doesn’t need to…
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Attorney Heather Kane Promoted to Legal Content Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing
Indiana attorney Heather Kane has been promoted to the position of Legal Content Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC. A 25-year attorney with experience in the publishing industry, Heather’s skill set is perfectly tailored to the position, and TOPDOG is emphatically pleased to have her in the role.
Heather received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She has bachelor’s degrees from Purdue University in Organizational Communication and German. To her work at TOPDOG, she brings skills from her time in private practice, as a judicial clerk, and as a court staff attorney.
As a Visiting Clinical…
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15th Annual WIP Conference
This October, the University of Oregon School of Law will be hosting the 15th annual AALS ADR Section Works in Progress Conference. This is one of the best ADR conferences of the year, and we are thrilled to be hosting it again in Eugene! Please check out the conference website for more information and to register.
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Suit against NY law making FFLs liable dismissed
Ruling here. It’s a long one, I haven’t had time to read and outline it yet. But some courts can be inventive in getting around a law they don’t like, and a skim sounds like that’s the case here.
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New to Arizona? Our community property laws may conflict with your estate plan
Community property:
To help ensure that your intentions are honored regarding the ownership of your pre-move assets and any assets you acquired after moving to Arizona, you would be wise to schedule a review of your will, trust and ownership documents.
The reason: If you moved here from any of the
41 states not mentioned above,
you should assume that your will, trust, ownership documents, etc., will not provide in Arizona the relative certainty that you enjoyed in your previous state.
(The property laws of the eight other “community property” states are similar to Arizona’s, and the estate planning impacts…
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Primary Election Results … and Murder
Primary Election Results … and Murder Y’all don’t here from me very often. I learned “if you don’t have something nice to say, be quiet” early on … but, in 2022 and for the past several years, “nothing new to say” has guided me. If writers who get paid to offer their opinions share what […]
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HBO Documentary on Social Critic George Carlin

HBO recently presented a great two-part documentary, George Carlin’s American Dream. He started as a conventional, clean-cut comic in the 1960s, and evolved into a counterculture icon in the 1970s. He continued performing until shortly before his death in 2008.
This post is another in my What I’m Reading series.
Mr. Carlin really came to fame for his routine, “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” which he first performed in 1972. (FYI, the offending words are “shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.”) He was arrested seven times for performing it, but the big…
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Who Is Liable in a Left-Turn Accident?
Making a left turn is a dangerous maneuver under any circumstance. A driver must use the utmost care when cutting across traffic traveling in the opposite direction to turn left. Choosing to turn at the wrong moment can cause a devastating car accident, such as a T-bone collision.
The post Who Is Liable in a Left-Turn Accident? appeared first on The Law Offices of John Phebus.
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What Is the Penalty for a First-Offense DUI in Arizona?
If a driver gets pulled over by law enforcement and shows signs of intoxication – either physical signs or the results of a breathalyzer test – he or she will be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). The penalties for a DUI in Arizona are serious and include mandatory jail time.
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What Happens When a Car Accident Case Goes to Trial?
Although car accident trials are rare, they are sometimes necessary. If a car insurance company denies a claim or is refusing to offer a fair and reasonable settlement to a crash victim, the victim may have no choice but to file a lawsuit.
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Should You Call a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle accidents can be devastating for the rider and passengers, inflicting life-changing injuries in the blink of an eye. Whether or not you need to call a lawyer after getting into a motorcycle accident depends on your case. In general, you could benefit from speaking to an attorney if you sustained serious injuries, a loved one passed away in a motorcycle accident or if you simply have questions about your legal rights.
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