What a Week!

My ranting this week was at the weather and the plumbing configuration [looked like tinker toys] that created frozen pipes, burst pipes and a temporary fix that leaves me with running water only in the bathroom.. But that's better than the day of no water at all.

I have learned that the person who remodeled this house years ago - and is a pretty nice guy - remodels with whatever materials he has on hand...it's cheaper. Unfortunately plastic pipes that are too small with too many T's and L's and various connectors freeze when hit by an arctic blast.

When warmer weather rolls around, a major fix using one piece larger diameter pipes, well insulated and all that is on the schedule. It's no fun for anyone to play plumber when hands and fingers are working inches above a cold river :D

Thankfully the day the temporary fix got done was the one warmish day this week. Hate to think of trekking to a neighbor for a hot shower when we have 6 or more inches of snow on the decks - although I did that for a laundry chore this AM when the snow was only a dusting.

I am thankful I have great neighbors and that river living produces good friendships - when the possibility of serious weather related issues is high, like this week, everyone helps out everyone else and though I was stressed as were some others - no one got bent out of shape about anyone's stress levels...I am so glad I live here.....

George W. Bush's Nightmare Before Christmas

From Brave New Films

FYI: to non-profit public interest groups seeking interns at no cost

The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL) continues its successful program to fund law students who work full-time at public interest law jobs during the summer. Every year, our students are hard at work, providing thousands of hours of service through such groups as the ACLU, the DC and Maryland Public Defender Service, Neighborhood Legal Services, the DC Office of the Attorney General, and many others. Last summer, a record 50 students took part!

If you work for a non-profit public interest organization, government agency, or in the judicial system, and would like a UDC-DCSL student to work for you full-time this summer, AT NO COST TO YOU,

Please join us for the:

Equal Justice Works Summer Public Interest Job Fair Tuesday, February 10, 2009: 12:15 pm – 1:45 pm UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Room 205, Building 39, (Second Floor) 4200 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20008 Red Line: Van Ness/UDC; Parking under campus off Van Ness St.)

Facts About the Summer Fellowship Program

1) Qualifying organizations include non-profit groups that serve public interest purposes, local and federal government agencies and judges and judicial organizations. The organizations can be in the District of Columbia or elsewhere in the United States. International placements may qualify. Individuals or others seeking legal assistance, private law firms and for-profit organizations do not qualify. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please check with Ms. Bauman, the career services director.

2) If your organization has not previously participated, you will need to provide additional information for consideration. Contact Ms. Bauman.

3) Positions must be legal in nature and the student must be directly supervised by an attorney.

4) All first-year law students are eligible for the stipend. If funds are available, upper class students may be eligible.

5) Students must provide a minimum of 400 hours work, to be completed by the end of the summer. They are paid a stipend of up to $3000 by the DC School of Law Foundation. Supervising attorneys provide a mid-term and final evaluation of the student, as well as certify student time records.

4) There is no cost to participating host organizations, but if it chooses, the host organization may supplement the stipend with its own funds.

The Fellowship Fair

Group representatives set up tables, meet with law students, and have lunch! There is no cost to attend.

TO RESERVE A TABLE

Please send your Tiffany Hagwood, at, thagwood@udc.edu. Please be SURE to include the name of the person attending, your organization, street/mailing address, phone, fax and email, and your organization's web site. Please also attach your written internship description. If you would like to be placed on the guest parking pass list for the school garage, at a cost to you of $3.50 rather than $8.00, please let Ms. Hagwood know by COB February 3.

And - whether or not you can attend, we have a brand new way to post jobs! Please use our new job/internship site at

http://www.law.udc.edu/networking/submit.asp

Please feel free to forward this announcement to your colleagues!

All the best for a happy and healthy New Year,

Dena R. Bauman

Director, Career Services

University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

4200 Connecticut Ave. NW

Building 38, Room 237

Washington DC 20008

Ph. 202-274-5722

Fx: 202-274-5583

dbauman@udc.edu

http://www.law.udc.edu/

To post a job, internship and other employment opportunities for our students and graduates, please go to http://www.law.udc.edu/networking/submit.asp

Beware Big Pharmas and Ghost Writers

From the New York Times

Wyeth’s Use of Medical Ghostwriters Questioned
By DUFF WILSON

Wyeth, the pharmaceutical company, paid ghostwriters to produce medical journal articles favorable to its hormone replacement therapy Prempro, according to Congressional letters seeking more information about the company’s involvement in medical ghostwriting. At least one article was published even after a federal study found the drug raised the risk of breast cancer.

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13wyeth.html?ref=business&pagewanted=print

I won't belabor my anti-big pharma feelings but let's say I am not the least surprised by this. Pay someone to write nice stuff - hmmm...good idea - except this is not some Hollywood star using a ghost writer but a company whose products can [and do] KILL you...and in fact they used a ghost writer after knowing that an HRT drug increased the risk of breast cancer.

Nice people these suits at Wyeth - "profits above all" is the motto for most corporations..

Message to users of the products? "We don't care about you at all - except for - buy buy buy our stuff - we only like your wallet."

Shrub- the artful dodger

Mr. Shrub - the most disliked pResident in our history - is a good dodger.

He dodged "real" service while in the Texas Guard.

He dodged many losses in school and business [too many to list] by using family ties and bullying.

He dodged a loss in a presidential election by having his cadre go to the Supreme court to anoint him.

He dodged another election by having his Ohio gang rig that state's election.

And the other day he dodged a shoe :D

What is your favorite shrub dodge? Comment below...