Spell Check doesn't work - Old School Proofing needed

Sample student typos (the reason computer Spell Check doesn’t work)

A faulty (faculty) member – maybe s/he got this one right
File a mew (new) motion
Filed on the mourning (morning) of
Going to trail (trial)
Lead (led) to believe
Singing (Signing) an Agreement
The Compliant (Complaint)
Tired (Tried) to flee the scene
Breech (breach) of contract
Break (breach) of contract
Stature (statute) of limitations
Statue (statute) of limitations

And my favorite: The plaintiff assed (assessed) her need

II. Phrases they just got wrong

Tenant (tenet) of law
Woe (whim) of the court
Legal principals (principles)
The principle point (principal)
Recover principle (principal), court costs, and interest

III. I try to get students to economize on words:

Student version: The attorney briefly insinuated the relationship of two of the board members and made it seem like they had previously made a pact with each other.

My version: The attorney insinuated that two of the board members previously made a pact.

Best Movies & Books for my Classes

A lot of my classroom references come from the big screen. Here’s a list of movies which have had the most influence on my teaching style, for various reasons. These are not necessarily my all-time favorites, just those which affected me in some way or another.

MOVIES
(in no particular order)

The Verdict with Paul Newman – slow movie, but a killer closing argument. I play about 20 minutes of this movie in my Intro to Law class
Reservoir Dogs – directed by Quentin Taurentino. Great movie. To me, a good classroom prof needs to master the art of storytelling. This movie has several good scenes with the undercover cop learning how to tell a story, details and all.
Goodfellas – One of my all-time favorites from the early 1990’s. Martin Scorsese is a master storyteller, and knows how to mix music with theme better than any director.
My Cousin Vinny – I can’t resist playing the “Yutes” scene, largely because of my heavy New York accent.
The Insider – based on a true story, a tobacco executive (Russell Crowe) blows the whistle on unethical company practices to a 60 Minutes producer (Al Pacino). I e-mailed the real life executive, Jeffrey Wigand, who had some interesting things to say about legal ethics.
Napoleon Dynamite – Huh? This movie reminds me that a lot of my students are not too many years removed from the awkward high school years. I need to constantly remind myself that they are dealing with issues which are far different from those in my life. Oh yeah, and Vote for Pedro.
Rocky I – Rocky is a survivor. He is a reminder that hard work, determination, and a will to win, are attributes which serve as a good example for my students. Say what you will about Sly Stallone, but consider this: He was a struggling working actor with a baby on the way when he wrote the script. Hollywood loved it and offered him a ton of cash, with Ryan O’Neil in mind to play Rocky. Sly had the vision to know that this character was his dream role, so he wouldn’t sell the script unless he got the part. He accepted much less money and a piece of the movie’s profits to make his dream a reality. Good decision?
Capturing the Friedmans – This documentary is about my high school chemistry teacher, who is mentioned prominently in my book.
Forest Gump – Wow. It takes writing, directing, and acting talent to pull off a movie like this. Forest reminds me that each of us is special in some way, and that we need to appreciate and respect everyone.
The Rainmaker – A movie which exaggerates the lack of ethics in law firms, starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. After watching this movie, my mom called me and said she understood why I like teaching and don't practice law. I got a good laugh from that.
Dead Poet’s Society – An incredible portrayal of how passionate someone can be in the classroom. Also highlights that teachers sometimes have so much influence over the direction of young adults. A huge responsibility.
Mr. Holland’s Opus – A must-rent for every aspiring or stale teacher, starring Richard Dreyfuss
Lean on Me – An inspirational high school movie starring Morgan Freeman
Teachers – A wacky and inspirational high school movie starring Nick Nolte

* * *
Here is a collection of books which have had an influence over my teaching and writing styles:

BOOKS
(in no particular order)

The Pre-Historic History of the Far Side by Gary Larsen – funniest book I’ve ever read
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe- best written book I’ve ever read
People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn – historical perspective written about those who never get to write the history books
Buffalo Creek Disaster by Gerald Stern – best book on corporate negligence and a lawyer’s effort to hold a mining company accountable for the deaths of several miners and family members. I use this book in the Intro to Law class. Before A Civil Action, there was Buffalo Creek Disaster.
Ted Williams by Leigh Monteville & Rod Serling by Joel Engel – I love reading biographies of people who are no longer alive, so you get a perspective of their vibrancy in youth and the fragility of life toward the end.
Bright Lights Big City by Jay McInerney- a wild and dizzying book written from the hip
Fire in the Streets: America in the 1960’s – by Milton Viorst – This book discusses a lot of the volatile issues facing America in a turbulent decade.
The Fifties – by David Halberstam – This massive book offers political parallels to today, much like the movie, Good Night and Good Luck
The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne – A short story which reminds me to appreciate what you’ve got, and not obsess over trying to make a good thing perfect.
Heaven is a Playground by Rick Telander – The best sports book ever written. I had the opportunity to interview this writer about the book.
On Writing by Stephen King – The word master offers up an honest memoir and a lot of insight into his writing madness.
How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days by Vicky King & Four Screenplays by Syd Field – Any writer can learn a lot about structure from these studies on the screenwriting process.

Motorized La-Z-Boy? DUI, e-Bay, Lawyers

ACT I - Need for Speed

Maybe you saw the story last week about the guy taking his Reclining Chair out for a spin? Motorized by a lawn mower engine, equipped with a stereo and cup holder, the guy allegedly went from zero to twenty with beer in tow.


The Star Tribune described the chair:
The chair runs on a converted gasoline-powered lawnmower engine and has a steering wheel, headlights, rear roll bars, a power antenna, stereo and cup holders. It can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Stickers on the back include a National Hot Rod Association logo and one that reads, "Hell yeah it's fast."


ACT II - Need for Greed

La-Z-Boy Puts Brakes on DUI Chair Auction
Posted Nov 2nd 2009 7:00PM by TMZ Staff
Mere hours before bidding was scheduled to end on the infamous DUI La-Z-Boy-Mobile, the motorized recliner suddenly vanished from the auction -- and TMZ has learned it's all because of a battle over its name.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Yoeh8B


With the price at $43,100 and rising, eBay received a demand letter from the most unlikely of parties -- the La-Z-Boy corporation itself. We're told La-Z-Boy played the trademark card due to the title of the auction "La-Z-Boy DWI Chair" and eBay was forced to pull the auction.Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Z4B9LN


ACT III - "Braking" News: It's not a La-Z-Boy!

Correction: Lounge Chair-Drunk Driving story
(AP)
DULUTH, Minn. — In stories Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 about a motorized recliner in which a man was arrested in Proctor, Minn., for driving drunk, The Associated Press erroneously described the recliner as a La-Z-Boy. Police in Proctor, where the recliner will be auctioned, say the brand is not La-Z-Boy.


ACT IV - Ebay Auction of DUI Chair Reposted!

View the YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc67TWWBDf0



ACT V - Everyone's getting in on the act









Posted on ebay:




ARMCHAIR CRUISERS MOTORIZED RECLINER LAZYBOY NOT DUI

Time left:
4 days 17 hours (Nov 10, 200920:15:49 PST)
Bid history:
23 bids[Refresh]
Current bid:
US $700.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARMCHAIR-CRUISERS-MOTORIZED-RECLINER-LAZYBOY-NOT-DUI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c51817176QQitemZ190345998710QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

Also on ebay: Autographed Photo Famous DWI Chair, Motorized Chair

http://tinyurl.com/yer7r53



Also on ebay: DWICHAIR.COM domain name DWI CHAIR LIVES ON FOREVER

http://tinyurl.com/yb2dyqu

How is this not front page news?

NOV. 12 UPDATE: http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

Chair buyer will not honor bid
Proctor Journal
Payment on the $10,000 bid for a motorized chair made famous by being involved in a DWI accident did not materialize.
The winning bidder for the motorized lounge chair e-mailed the Proctor Police to say he was not going to buy it. Clayton Adler wrote: “I apologize, but there seems to be a mistake. I did not mean to bid this amount, as well as I cannot afford this. I am truly sorry for the mix up and the wasted time.”
His bid was $10,099.99.

.... the chair to the next highest bidder. That bid was for $9,999.99. http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

The Final Act - Would it be DUI in Georgia?

Riding mower a motor vehicle? Ga. Supreme Court says no
By Larry Hartstein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
12:19 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009
Toro might be the "next level of lawn care," as its Web site claims, but a riding mower does not rise to the level of a motor vehicle, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday.
At least when it comes to the motor vehicle theft law.
In a 4-3 opinion, the court reversed the conviction of a man sentenced to 10 years for stealing a lawnmower.
"To be sure, a riding lawnmower is capable of transporting people or property and of driving the street for short stretches, but that is not what the machine is designed for or how it is normally used -- there being little grass to mow on streets, and there being faster and less noisy ways of moving people and property around," Justice David Nahmias wrote for the majority.
In 2006, Franklin Lloyd Harris and two others stole a Toro riding mower worth more than $500 from a Home Depot in Dalton, drove it to Athens, Tenn., and sold it, court documents state.
As a repeat offender, Harris received 10 years in prison under the motor vehicle theft law and the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the sentence.
While that conviction was thrown out Monday, Harris also had been convicted of theft by taking. He will be resentenced in Whitfield County on that charge alone.
Dissenting Justice Harold Melton pointed out that in the state's "chop shop" law, the term motor vehicle includes any devices "which are self-propelled but which are not designed for use upon a highway, including, but not limited to, farm machinery and construction equipment."
"This definition of ‘motor vehicle' is obviously broad enough to encompass a riding lawnmower," he continued. "Thus, if a riding lawnmower were stolen and taken to a ‘chop shop,' it would be a ‘motor vehicle' for purposes of its theft and storage and dismantling at a chop shop."

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/riding-mower-a-motor-210291.html

Your Teaching Weaknesses versus Strengths

No matter how long you've been teaching and no matter the level (K-12 or college), we ALL have professional weaknesses to deal with. Here's one of my many flaws...

LESSON: Figure out how to compensate for your weaknesses

One of my glaring weaknesses as a professor is an inability to remember student names or recognize their faces outside of class. One time in class, a student walked up to me and said: “I saw you on campus yesterday, and you didn’t even say ‘hi’. That was rude!” I desperately tried to explain that names and faces are hard for me to recall on a huge campus.

So now, when I walk around a campus of 30,000 students, I’m compelled to wave hello to everyone I make contact with. “Hi, how goes it?!” or “Hope you’re doing well.” Four out of five of them are looking at me, like: “Do I know you?” or “Who the heck are you!?” But that fifth person, the one I should know, appreciates the hello. So I’m walking, smiling, waving, and babbling. All over campus. It’s either that, or stare at my feet as I plow towards the lecture hall.

Take Away: You know you’re imperfect - learn how to compensate.


LESSON: In stressful moments, lean on your strengths

I learned this lesson in the first class I ever taught, Introduction to American Government. I thought that we should begin at the very beginning of the text, with a discussion of the Founding Fathers and the Federalist Papers. As I started talking, I repeatedly said to myself: “You don’t know anything about this topic beyond what you read last night.” After forty five minutes of panic, sweat, and utter confusion, we took a 10 minute break. In that time, I decided to go straight to the Bill of Rights, a topic of strength. The rest of the session went very smoothly.

Take Away: Students crave value – give them your unique perspective on what you know best, not a mere recap of yesterday’s homework reading.


Excerpts from: Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life
© 2009 Perry Binder, LLC
http://www.YourRubberRoom.com

Are You a "Touch Wet Paint" Person?

What kind of child were you growing up? The kind that respected a wet paint sign, or one that found it so irresistible that you had to touch it? The decision to touch or not touch
highlights whether you are a curious person or someone who believes everything you read. Or someone who just acts on impulse.

I was showing a video in class and the students wanted me to turn out the lights in the front. Not knowing how to work the lights, I hit all of the switch buttons. Nothing worked. I
had no clue. Finally, I saw a switch which was covered over in white adhesive tape, with the obvious implied message that cried out: “Don’t touch this, you idiot!” I did. The overhead
projector and everything else electric in the room suddenly went dead.

Take Away: Curiosity will liven up the class and shut it down at the same time!

Lesson Excerpt from my book:
Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life
http://www.YourRubberRoom.com

The Writer Within You

I was on http://www.teacherlingo.com/ and read so many incredible postings today. It then dawned on me how many teachers must be in the process of publishing books or thinking of publishing books with real classroom stories or fiction.

The October 2009 issue of Writer's Digest http://www.writersdigest.com/ has a good feature (in its print edition only for now, posted online down the road) entitled "First Impressions," where writers discuss their breakthrough novel or non-fiction book. I particularly like Stephen Jay Schwartz's response to SECRET TO SUCCESS:

There's no secret to success. Success cannot be defined by one single event. The secret is in loving the process. Writers have no choice but to write, so when they are writing they are a success.

Write on, Mr. Schwartz.

Who Is The Best Teacher You Ever Had?

This post is a reminder of how many lives you touch every day, every year!

I found this link (under the topic "HEROES") with several posts on Daryn Kagan's blog - she is the former CNN anchor who set out to provide inspiring news stories.

http://darynkagan.ning.com/forum/topics/who-is-the-best-teacher-you

Sample posting:

I have had many fine teachers. I don't think I could pick just one. One thing I did findout in school was that when I liked the teacher I usually did very well. And when I didn't,I usually underperformed. I had one teacher at the University of Dayton that said I scoredthe highest out of anyone on his final. Then the next semester, in a related class, Istruggled just to pass. Good teachers have a way of inspiring us to want to learn.And I think they are one of the most underpaid professions.

Everyday Heroes

Make sure to check out New York Teacher, which features Everyday Teacher Heroes

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/heroes/

This week - Master of the universe
He’s the Captain Kirk of public education, running a tight ship from the control console so kids in the school system can take a virtual trip through the solar system.

Astronomy teacher creates Murrow planetarium to beam light on science education

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/heroes/master_of_the_universe/

Teachers - Exaggerate to Illustrate!

Learning and retaining dense information isn’t all about laughter, though it helps. For class, I comb the internet each day for wacky law cases. After a while, I can sense which stuff gets the best laughs. Like a comic working in a club testing out new material, I constantly work on delivery, timing, and audience engagement. However, the use of exaggeration in a classroom or boardroom is not about telling jokes. In fact, I can recall telling only one joke in class:

“What’s the only thing worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm?”
“Finding half a worm!”

And that’s why I stay away from joke telling.

Exaggeration is the secret to effective learning. It requires me to plant a picture so implausible and outlandish in the learners’ minds, that they can’t help but remembering the concept. For example, I use this hypothetical to discuss the legal concept of self defense:

You: Well hello there, Mr. Limping Crazy Man wielding a lumberman’s
axe. Your blade looks mighty sharp and shiny, even from 100 yards away.
Him: Why yes, better to slice you to ribbons.
You: Hang on a second as I record this scenario on my video cell phone.
Him: Did they give you a rebate on that phone? Hey, by the way, my name
is Johnny. Heeeeeeeere’s Johnny!
You: Great. Come a step closer. And by the way, say hello to my little semiautomatic
friend!

Take Away: I believe that storytelling is a learnable skill, as demonstrated in the movie, Reservoir Dogs. In a few scenes, an undercover detective tirelessly trains a colleague on the fine art of spinning a tale. The key, he explains, is in remembering and exploiting the story’s rich details.

© 2009 Perry Binder, J.D. This passage contains excerpts from the book:
Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life http://www.yourrubberroom.com/

Q&A on Teacher Participation in Social Media and Blogging

To Blog or not to Blog - Isn't that the question?

I sat down with Andy Payment, Director of New Media at William Mills Agency (and a superstar former student) and we discussed the following topic as it relates to companies - but there are clear analogies which may be drawn for Teacher/Employees:

Q&A on Employee Participation in Social Media and Blogging

http://www.fintechmarketing.com/?p=394