Christmas With Saddam

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that U.S. interrogators are likely to subject Saddam Hussein to sleep deprivation and a diet of inedibile food in an effort to extract information. My initial thought was why not take this to its logical conclusion: insist that he breastfeed an infant. Then I was reminded the Geneva Conventions "outlaw the use of severe pain or suffering, either physical or mental." So that's out, I guess.

Soothie Christmas to all, and to all a good bite!

Fires Behind The Wall

Some blog shaped sparks at Bryan Cave [via Sabrina Pacifici]:

The blogs we are creating now are generally for current awareness, or for sharing information within a practice group or work teams.  The firm is beginning to use blogs in new ways though, for instance, there is currently a team who is studying how to use blogging software to develop an alumni program to network with former attorneys of the firm.  The firm is also investigating use of news-readers to help organize blog subscriptions and information, and hopes to have a news-reader up and running by early 2004.  This would allow users to subscribe to blogs, both internal and external, and have the information dumped directly into folders in our email system.  Users would no longer have to go to the blog, the blog will come to them.  The client technology team has found the blog interface to be user friendly, inexpensive, and intuitive, which is leading them to believe that further down the road, Bryan Cave will be looking at blogs as the interface for the firm intranet as a whole.

Along these lines, hell yes corporate blogging experiments deserve a break. [Via Jason Shellen]

Blinks

Things I've noticed through bleary eyes lately include:

• The latest in Biz Stone's helpful hints series, How To Get A Book Deal With Your Blog: "At Blogger, we prefer living users whenever possible."


• D2 will take place June 6-8, in Carlsbad, CA.


• Doc blogged the quake. Not far down the coast in Orange County we felt nada, though I understand my downtown L.A. office building rocked and rolled.


• Can't find the permalink, but on 12/17 Tom McMahon was wondering, "Are Hitler's Great Nephews Owed Royalties on the Sales of Hitler Wine?"


• Alex Wellen's mom made an oracle, and Frank Paynter interviewed one.


• David Giacalone gives the age-old ethical question of lawyer advertising a digital era/third party twist (re AdSense).


• Banc Robbery: some thoughtful posts, and Chris Geidner takes a writ.


• So glad I checked: Santa's blog is back!

Resident Weeble

Shh. Tyler finally is asleep in a spot that does not involve any portion of my anatomy. Here's something I didn't know until post-delivery. The first month with a newborn is like a particularly sadistic yet addictive video game (whether first person shooter or role playing, I haven't quite decided). The game's primary goal is to keep the Baby from Crying. Secondarily, game play also involves keeping the Baby Fed and Clean (see Goal 1), as well as free from Harm and Sickness. Tertiary goals include the occasional meal, restroom visit, and dose of vitamins for the Gamer. Bonus points are awarded for the Shower Maneuver, but don't plan on accomplishing it without some serious cheats. Oops, game on again, now where did that diaper-sabre go?

Today's New Blawg

Napsterization is a joint project of Mary Hodder and Eddan Katz, aimed at exploring digital media connections and providing "a repository of stories on positive uses of peer-to-peer file sharing as well as a resource of information supporting these principles." [Via Donna Wentworth] Two examples of cool and legal P2P: Hello (more) and Skype (more).