KinsellaLaw.com http://www.kinsellalaw.com/index.php N. Stephan Kinsella is a patent attorney in Houston, Texas. 2004-11-10T21:46:55Z en-US !!SWITCHING TO ATOM FEED!! http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/11/switching-to-atom-feed.php After this post, the old RSS feed will be deleted. THE NEW FEED IS AN ATOM FEED: <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/atom.xml">http://www.kinsellalaw.com/atom.xml</a>. Please subscribe to this instead the old RSS feed. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-11-10T21:35:55Z http://www.kinsellalaw.com/atom.xml. Please subscribe to this instead the old RSS feed.
]]> Causation, Aggression, the Law, and Reinach http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/11/causation-aggression-law-and-reinach.php Latest article: <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/publications/kinsella-tinsley_causality-aggression_qjae-2004.pdf">Causation and Aggression</a>) (co-authored with Patrick Tinsley), in <i><a href="http://www.mises.org/qjaedisplay.asp">The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics</a>,</i> vol. 7, no. 4 (winter 2004): 97-112, a special Reinach symposium issue (based on the <a href="http://www.mises.org/upcomingstory.asp?control=27&amp;title=The+Contributions+of++Reinach+and+Rothbard%3A+%3Ci%3EProceedings%3C%2Fi%3E">Reinach and Rothbard: An International Symposium</a>, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, Alabama, March 29-30, 2001). Stephan Kinsella 2004-11-10T19:04:41Z Causation and Aggression) (co-authored with Patrick Tinsley), in The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, vol. 7, no. 4 (winter 2004): 97-112, a special Reinach symposium issue (based on the Reinach and Rothbard: An International Symposium, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, Alabama, March 29-30, 2001).]]> Free Things I Can't Do Without http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/11/free-things-i-cant-do-without.php <ul> <li><a href="http://www.getfirefox.com/">FireFox browser</a>. Much better than Internet Explorer. Rarely crashes; faster; has tabbed browsing.</li><li>The Google <a href="http://toolbar.google.com/">Toolbar</a> (or, for FireFox, the <a href="http://googlebar.mozdev.org/">GoogleBar</a>).</li><li><a href="http://desktop.google.com/">Google Desktop</a> search. This is just fantastic: google indexes emails, Word files and other documents on your computer and instantly shows results when you do a google search.</li><li><a href="http://www.sharpreader.net/">SharpReader</a>: a great RSS feed aggregator. How did I live without it?</li> </ul> <br /> And most of these, the indefatigable <a href="http://www.mises.org/articles.aspx?author=Tucker">Jeff Tucker</a> told me about! Also increasingly useful: <a href="http://www.skype.com/">Skype</a>, with its free Internet telephony; and <a href="http://www.aol.com/aol_downloads.adp">AIM</a>, which also now has Internet telephony and even video (which I have not tried yet). <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-11-04T15:32:51Z
  • FireFox browser. Much better than Internet Explorer. Rarely crashes; faster; has tabbed browsing.
  • The Google Toolbar (or, for FireFox, the GoogleBar).
  • Google Desktop search. This is just fantastic: google indexes emails, Word files and other documents on your computer and instantly shows results when you do a google search.
  • SharpReader: a great RSS feed aggregator. How did I live without it?

    • And most of these, the indefatigable Jeff Tucker told me about! Also increasingly useful: Skype, with its free Internet telephony; and AIM, which also now has Internet telephony and even video (which I have not tried yet).
    ]]>         McDermott Review of Political Risk http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/10/mcdermott-review-of-political-risk.php Recently found a copy of a <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/polrisk/polrisk-files/polrisk-mcdermott-review.pdf">review</a> by Peter McDermott of my 1997 book <a href="http://www.oceanalaw.com/asp/Prod_Display.asp?ID=24"><i>Protecting Foreign Investment Under International Law: Legal Aspects of Political Risk</i></a>. Other reviews <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/publications/reviews.php#polrisk">here</a>. <br /> <br />A revised version forthcoming in early 2005 is <a href="http://www.oceanalaw.com/main_product_details.asp?ID=351">International Investment Political Risk and Dispute Resolution: A Practitioner’s Guide</a>. Stephan Kinsella 2004-10-22T04:07:35Z review by Peter McDermott of my 1997 book Protecting Foreign Investment Under International Law: Legal Aspects of Political Risk. Other reviews here.

    A revised version forthcoming in early 2005 is International Investment Political Risk and Dispute Resolution: A Practitioner’s Guide.]]>         Online Contract Formation--Amazon Reviews Needed! http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/10/online-contract-formation-amazon.php I mentioned previously my latest book, <a href="http://www.oceanalaw.com/main_product_details.asp?ID=370">Online Contract Formation</a>, published a couple months ago. It provides practical advice about legal issues related to formation of contracts through online means, from a multi-jurisdictional perspective. <br /> <br />Amazon is now <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0379215195/">carrying it</a>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I need some reviews.</span> A few readers should post some short reviews. I suggested on smart-ass one to a friend, "If I were interested in the law of online contract formation from a multi-jurisdictional perspective, this is the book I would get." <br /> <br />*** <br /> <br />While you're at it--do a favor for 3 buddies, and plug their books also on Amazon: <br /><ul> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/097268221X">Bay of One Hundred Fires</a> (thriller novel by my first boss, conservative attorney Lanier Yeates--I discuss it <a href="http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/006252.html">here</a>)</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893062678">Ready, Aim, Right!</a> (collected columns by libertarian journalist Jack Criss--I discuss it <a href="http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/006252.html">here</a>); and</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595318169/lewrockwell/"><i>There's a Government in Your Soup: Why There's Too Much Government in Your Kitchen, and What You Can Do About It</i></a> (by libertarian/LewRockweller chef Brad Edmonds--I reviewed it <a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/kinsella/kinsella16.html">here</a>)</li> </ul> Stephan Kinsella 2004-10-19T21:32:24Z Online Contract Formation, published a couple months ago. It provides practical advice about legal issues related to formation of contracts through online means, from a multi-jurisdictional perspective.

    Amazon is now carrying it. I need some reviews. A few readers should post some short reviews. I suggested on smart-ass one to a friend, "If I were interested in the law of online contract formation from a multi-jurisdictional perspective, this is the book I would get."

    ***

    While you're at it--do a favor for 3 buddies, and plug their books also on Amazon:
    ]]>         Gmail http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/10/gmail.php Daddy needs a gmail invite. Please send to: stephan -at- kinsellalaw dot com. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-10-15T22:22:31Z ]]> Acrobat Sucks http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/09/acrobat-sucks.php It is mind-boggling that there is not an easy way to convert a huge, memory-sucking color-scanned PDF file into a black and white file. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-09-25T01:32:07Z ]]> Jurisdiction Stripping Discussion http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/09/jurisdiction-stripping-discussion.php More to come later. For now--see <a href="http://sandefur.typepad.com/freespace/2004/09/some_thoughts_o.html">Sandefur's post</a>. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-09-21T15:29:39Z Sandefur's post.
    ]]>         Scan to PDF http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/09/scan-to-pdf.php I need some help/advice from any tech/geeks out there. I am going paperless and scanning lots of paper documents into PDF files. <br /> <br />I have a Visioneer scanner. It sucks, but still. I use it with Adobe Acrobat 6.0 (which also sucks, like all things hardware and software) to scan lots of documents into PDF. This is very slow. The worst thing is it invokes the PaperPort 8.0 Scan Manager, which is slow, and also, it pops up a damned scan manager screen every time it scans the next page. I can get nothing done on my PC when it's scanning, it ties up the whole GD screen. <br /> <br />I want a better way to simply scan documents into PDF. Faster, and does it in background. And works with my stupid Visioneer scanner. I think I only need better software/driver. I was thinking of buying <a href="http://www.scansoft.com/paperport/deluxe/sysreqs.asp">PaperPort 9.0 Deluxe</a>. I don't care about its ability to do document management but I want a simple, easy, fast way to use my scanner to create PDF files, in the background. Is that too much to ask? <br /> <br /> Any advice or recos from geeks out there would be appreciated. Please don't tell me to get a new scanner or mail the docs to Thailand to do it on the cheap. Don't fight the hypo, people. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-09-14T23:12:56Z
    I have a Visioneer scanner. It sucks, but still. I use it with Adobe Acrobat 6.0 (which also sucks, like all things hardware and software) to scan lots of documents into PDF. This is very slow. The worst thing is it invokes the PaperPort 8.0 Scan Manager, which is slow, and also, it pops up a damned scan manager screen every time it scans the next page. I can get nothing done on my PC when it's scanning, it ties up the whole GD screen.

    I want a better way to simply scan documents into PDF. Faster, and does it in background. And works with my stupid Visioneer scanner. I think I only need better software/driver. I was thinking of buying PaperPort 9.0 Deluxe. I don't care about its ability to do document management but I want a simple, easy, fast way to use my scanner to create PDF files, in the background. Is that too much to ask?

    Any advice or recos from geeks out there would be appreciated. Please don't tell me to get a new scanner or mail the docs to Thailand to do it on the cheap. Don't fight the hypo, people.
    ]]>         BugMeNot! http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/bugmenot.php <a href="http://www.bugmenot.com/">BugMeNot.com</a>--Bypass Compulsory Web Registration. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-29T03:29:07Z BugMeNot.com--Bypass Compulsory Web Registration.
    ]]>         How to Write Contracts http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/how-to-write-contracts.php <p>A few useful works:</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.pli.edu/product/book_detail.asp?ptid=501&stid=59&amp;id=EN00000000000646">Working with Contracts: What Law School Doesn't Teach You</a>, by Charles M. Fox (PLI) </li><li><a href="http://www.abanet.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10251&productId=-18870&amp;categoryId=-3584">A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting</a>, by Kenneth Adams (ABA)</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195141628/lewrockwell">The Elements of Legal Style</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0314258590/lewrockwell">The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style</a> by <a href="http://www.lawprose.com">Bryan Garner</a></li></ul> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-27T15:22:34Z A few useful works:

    ]]>         More on humorous voicemails http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/more-on-humorous-voicemails.php Following up on recent posts about <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/archive/2004_08_01_archive.php#109343876429477681">humorous voicemails</a> and <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/archive/2004_08_01_archive.php#109347834948749600">emails</a>, here's another <a href="http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/demotivators/closeencounter.wav">humorous voicemail</a>. The story behind the voicemail is explained <a href="http://www.despair.com/frownies.html">here</a>, and in the letter below. <br /> <br /><blockquote><p>Mr. Kinsella: <br />I stumbled over this website courtesy of an article about the <br />recent humorous voicemail and couldn't resist writing you to share something amusing that happened to our company.</p><p>Our Austin-based company, Despair Inc., produces cynical humor products- including parodies of motivational posters <br />called Demotivators. </p><p>Anyway, our logo features the :-( emoticon--which we <br />obviously did not invent but nevertheless submitted a trademark request for to the USPTO.</p><p>To our surprise (and our IP lawyer's amazement), we received a <br />trademark for the symbol in printed matter class of goods. <br />As a joke, we wrote a fake press release about how--in light of our trademark on the :-( symbol--we planned to sue several million individuals who had used the symbol in email of late. <br />It was mostly meant as a rip on frivolous IP lawsuits. But <br />because of some clumsy reporting and overzealous netizens, it ended up becoming a gigantic outrage to many thousands of people who missed the joke.</p><p>The most amusing contact we received came in the form of a late-night voicemail from someone who sounded very drunk. <br /><a href="http://www.despair.com/frownies.html">http://www.despair.com/frownies.html</a> The voicemail is linked in the page above. It is expletive-laden and frequently incoherent--but provoked gales of laughter and ultimately, the desire to share the joke with others.</p><p>We bleeped out the expletives--as we're a pretty family-friendly <br />website--but even without them, it's a very amusing and <br />confusing listen, though admittedly, for a somewhat select audience.</p><p>Hope you enjoy it. <br />Cheers, <br />Justin Sewell <br />Despair, Inc.</p></blockquote> <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-27T14:15:30Z humorous voicemails and emails, here's another humorous voicemail. The story behind the voicemail is explained here, and in the letter below.

    Mr. Kinsella:
    I stumbled over this website courtesy of an article about the
    recent humorous voicemail and couldn't resist writing you to share something amusing that happened to our company.

    Our Austin-based company, Despair Inc., produces cynical humor products- including parodies of motivational posters
    called Demotivators.

    Anyway, our logo features the :-( emoticon--which we
    obviously did not invent but nevertheless submitted a trademark request for to the USPTO.

    To our surprise (and our IP lawyer's amazement), we received a
    trademark for the symbol in printed matter class of goods.
    As a joke, we wrote a fake press release about how--in light of our trademark on the :-( symbol--we planned to sue several million individuals who had used the symbol in email of late.
    It was mostly meant as a rip on frivolous IP lawsuits. But
    because of some clumsy reporting and overzealous netizens, it ended up becoming a gigantic outrage to many thousands of people who missed the joke.

    The most amusing contact we received came in the form of a late-night voicemail from someone who sounded very drunk.
    http://www.despair.com/frownies.html The voicemail is linked in the page above. It is expletive-laden and frequently incoherent--but provoked gales of laughter and ultimately, the desire to share the joke with others.

    We bleeped out the expletives--as we're a pretty family-friendly
    website--but even without them, it's a very amusing and
    confusing listen, though admittedly, for a somewhat select audience.

    Hope you enjoy it.
    Cheers,
    Justin Sewell
    Despair, Inc.


    ]]>         Bay of One Hundred Fires http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/bay-of-one-hundred-fires.php <em><a href="http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/01243.htm">Bay of One Hundred Fires</a></em>, the new novel by retired Houston attorney (and my former mentor) J. Lanier Yeates, is "a frighteningly realistic geopolitical thriller that cannot be put down." Or so says one distinguished commentator--namely yours truly, who was lucky enough to read it in manuscript form. <br /> <br />In addition to being an attorney, "On active duty in the United States Navy during the Vietnam years, J. Lanier Yeates served aboard the guided-missile destroyer, USS Mitscher before joining the pre-commissioning unit of the nuclear-powered cruiser, USS California, where he supervised the installation of the ship's hightech, long-range, air-search radar system." Order your copy today--! <br /><blockquote><p>In <em>Bay of One Hundred Fires</em>, author J. Lanier Yeates weaves a chilling tale of what Saddam Hussein might have done with the deadly weapons many believed he had. [A] poor Cuban family from Cienfuegos is swept into a battle between the Navy and a global terror network. To complement its firepower and 21st century technology, the Navy calls on a young lieutenant commander and maverick CIA analysts. </p><p>The Navy has one more weapon to leverage its powerful assets: Hoss Mueller, the skipper of the re-born USS California.</p></blockquote> <br /> <br /><p>Coda: More info in this <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040902/nyfnsk01_1.html">press release</a>.</p> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-26T19:31:19Z Bay of One Hundred Fires, the new novel by retired Houston attorney (and my former mentor) J. Lanier Yeates, is "a frighteningly realistic geopolitical thriller that cannot be put down." Or so says one distinguished commentator--namely yours truly, who was lucky enough to read it in manuscript form.

    In addition to being an attorney, "On active duty in the United States Navy during the Vietnam years, J. Lanier Yeates served aboard the guided-missile destroyer, USS Mitscher before joining the pre-commissioning unit of the nuclear-powered cruiser, USS California, where he supervised the installation of the ship's hightech, long-range, air-search radar system." Order your copy today--!

    In Bay of One Hundred Fires, author J. Lanier Yeates weaves a chilling tale of what Saddam Hussein might have done with the deadly weapons many believed he had. [A] poor Cuban family from Cienfuegos is swept into a battle between the Navy and a global terror network. To complement its firepower and 21st century technology, the Navy calls on a young lieutenant commander and maverick CIA analysts.

    The Navy has one more weapon to leverage its powerful assets: Hoss Mueller, the skipper of the re-born USS California.



    Coda: More info in this press release.

    ]]>         Best Website in the World http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/best-website-in-world.php <em><a href="http://www.LewRockwell.com"><strong>LewRockwell.com</strong></a>!</em> <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-26T15:27:04Z LewRockwell.com!
    ]]>         Lawyers and Summer Associates http://www.kinsellalaw.com/2004/08/lawyers-and-summer-associates.php Re <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/archive/2004_08_01_archive.php#109336440461041688">recent</a> <a href="http://www.kinsellalaw.com/archive/2004_08_01_archive.php#109343876429477681">posts</a> about humorous lawyer voicemails, I was reminded of this story: <a href="http://www.nylawyer.com/news/03/06/062003b.html">Elite Firm Summer Associate Sends E-Mail Boasting Of Laziness to Partners</a>. <br /> Stephan Kinsella 2004-08-25T23:57:09Z recent posts about humorous lawyer voicemails, I was reminded of this story: Elite Firm Summer Associate Sends E-Mail Boasting Of Laziness to Partners.
    ]]>