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« April 2006 | Main | June 2006 »

Flawed Judgment By Jim De Fee (Grover Alexander)

Flawed Judgment

By Jim De Fee

Xlibris Corporation

$24.99 soft cover, 443 pages; ISBN 1-4134-3552-1 (2004).

 

Using the pen name of Jim De Fee, Grover Alexander has written an entertaining legal thriller about a Maine lawyer who defends Arthur Langford, a wealthy client, charged with murdering his wife, Jennifer and her lover, District Attorney Jay Waldron.   This book has all the ingredients of a thriller: murder, sex, dirty politics, sex, mob hit men, sex, corrupt judges – oh, did I mention sex?

I’m all for legal thrillers getting a little steamy – but there is a limit to how much sex can be used to drive the plot of a book.  Don’t get me wrong — there are many things to like about this novel – but one glaring weakness is that nearly all the women (and most of the men) are driven almost exclusively by their more than ample libido. 

To many older lawyers in Maine, Grover Alexander is a familiar name – he practiced law for fifty years (mostly in Maine) before retiring.  Clearly not content to give up on law entirely, Alexander turned to writing fiction and his first novel – despite its faults – is quite satisfying.

Carl Anderson is the highly regarded lawyer who defends Arthur Langford. Pitted against him is Chief Deputy District Attorney Brad Nelson, who hopes that a conviction in this trial will propel him to be the next District Attorney.  But Anderson must also battle against the presiding judge, Clarke A. Conley, whose primary ambition is to become the next Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

During the course of the murder investigation, Anderson comes to believe that judge Conley is the real killer. It becomes a battle of wits between the virtuous Anderson and the corrupt and scheming judge Conley.  Somehow, Anderson must devise a way to trap and expose judge Conley during the trial – if he fails, his client will be found guilty of a murder he didn’t commit and Anderson will probably be disbarred.  The courtroom battle between Anderson and the judge is well written and the highlight of this enjoyable novel.

 

 

 

Posted by on May 28, 2020 at 04:11 PM in Book Reviews, Books, Legal | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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The Democrats Have Nothing

President Bush is taking a hammering from Americans dissatisfied with his handling of the war in Iraq, the economy, the environment, gas prices — you name it.  He’s experiencing the worst poll numbers in decades.  Republicans in general are being rejected by a majority of voters.

Yet in the last six years, who have the Democrats come up with for the 2008 elections? 

Nothing.  Nada.  Squat.

Are you telling me that the best the Democrats can muster is Al Gore, John Kerry or Hillary Clinton?

Al Gore and John Kerry couldn’t get the American people excited enough to elect them in the past, and they won’t be able to do it again.  And I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be sexist or anything, but I don’t believe the country is ready to elect a woman as President.  Not yet anyway — and certainly not Hillary Clinton.

The Republicans in general are reeling from the President’s horrible job performance.  In local elections around here, it’s common knowledge that the Republican candidates would prefer that the President not come and campaign for them. 

Democrats should be rejoicing — and they would be if they had a viable candidate.

Unfortunately, so far, they don’t.

Other than perhaps the candidates themselves, no one can really claim to be excited about seeing Al Gore, John Kerry or Hillary Clinton run for President.  When will the Democrats understand that the same old tired candidates aren’t going to cut it. 

Unless some new faces are thrown into the mix, I dread the next Presidential election.

What about you?

Posted by on May 22, 2020 at 09:50 AM in Current Affairs, Politics, War | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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The Rules of Business By Fast Company’s Editors & Writers

The Rules of Business

55 Essential Ideas to Help Smart People (and Organizations) Perform at Their Best

By Fast Company’s Editors & Writers

Doubleday (A Division of Random House, Inc.)

$19.95; hardcover; 246 pages; (2005).

 

 

 

            This slim volume is filled with business ideas that you probably already know – but it never hurts to be reminded of them.  Most rules are accompanied by a short explanation and quotes from business leaders.

 

Take #1 Rule, for instance:  The first rule of business is the same as the first rule of life: Adapt or die.

 

            Nothing surprising here – but just think how often most people strive to resist change.  When we find something that works, we want to do it again and again – often oblivious to the fact that our original way of solving a problem or dealing with an issue is no longer effective.

 

            Rule #2 reads:  Innovation is difficult and often painful.  But there is no alternative.  (See Rule 1.)   

 

“The minute you get good at something, you get comfortable.  And that leads to stagnation.  People on my team have learned to embrace change.”

– Tamar Elkeles, Vice Preside of Learning,

                        Qualcomm

 

            The book lists rules to follow in over 20 different areas of business, including: communication, customer service, technology, marketing, leadership, risk, speed, and the future. 

 

My favorite?  Rule #55:  If you haven’t had one spectacular failure in your life, you haven’t tried hard enough.  My favorite quote:

                       

                        “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”

                                    Dame Anita Roddick, founder,

                                                The Body Shop

 

 

If you enjoy pithy reminders of everyday business principles, this book’s for you.

Posted by on May 16, 2020 at 09:41 AM in Book Reviews, Books, Business | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (1)

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The Immigration Problem — Solved

So President Bush wants to solve the immigration problem by using the National Guard to patrol the borders.  Yeah — like that’s going to do anything.  Sure, it might slow things down a bit — but little more.

Clearly Bush doesn’t really want to solve the immigration problem — he just wants to appear to be doing something.

Solving the immigration problem is pretty simple really — just don’t make it economical for businesses to hire illegal aliens. 

I mean really, the only reason that illegals cross the border is that they know businesses will hire them — even if it is “under the table” and at a lower rate of pay than other Americans prefer to work.

How do you make it so businesses don’t want to hire illegal immigrants?  Fine them. 

For each illegal immigrant caught working at a business, it gets fined $10,000.  Get caught again with an illegal alien on your payroll, $20,000.  Then $30,000 each.  And so on.

Pretty soon, no business will want to hire illegal aliens.  Those here illegally will soon see that to stay in the U.S. and work, they’ll need to become citizens — not just sprint across the border.

Of course President Bush will never do something like this … many businesses would be up in arms over such a policy.  But if you really want to stop the flood of illegals streaming over our borders, take away their incentive for coming here in the first place. 

Posted by on May 16, 2020 at 09:30 AM in Business, Current Affairs, Legal, Politics, Travel | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Senate Approves Bush Tax Cuts For Another 2 Years

Voting mostly along party lines, the Senate approved President Bush’s tax cuts for another 2 years so that they will be good until 2010.

As reported by the New York Times:

“The overwhelming share of the tax cuts the Senate voted to extend will flow to the wealthiest taxpayers. People earning $1 million a year would save about $42,700, and reap about 22 percent of the total tax cut, according to the Tax Policy Center, a research group in Washington. People earning $40,000 to $50,000 a year would save about $47 and receive less than 1 percent of the benefits.”

Good job Senators — that extra $47 for most Americans will almost be enough for them to buy their next tank of gas.   

Posted by on May 12, 2020 at 12:59 PM in Business, Legal, Politics | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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Yankees/Red Sox latest marchup

She Said:  Ouch. Poor Hideki. Ouch. Ouch. But what an exhilarating, brilliant gem of a game on both sides. Congrats, Sox.




He Said:  Mark Loretta goes 4-for-6 with three RBI.  Sox go 3-4 games against Yankees.  Sweet.

Posted by on May 12, 2020 at 11:02 AM in Current Affairs, Games, Sports | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Latest Yankees/Red Sox She Said – He Said

She Said:  That’s more like it. Moooooooooose!!!
Mon, wearing my “Shut up Schilling” T-shirt and watching the weather reports all day before I head to the Bronx. 

He Said:  Like Johnson the day before, Schilling couldn’t hold it together.  Nine times out of ten, baseball comes down to good pitching.

Posted by on May 11, 2020 at 01:22 PM in Current Affairs, Games, Sports | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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YouTube Hilarious Video – Evolution of Dance

Laugh, laugh and laugh some more.  Take a look at this video on You Tube called the evolution of dance.

Unbelievably funny.

Posted by on May 11, 2020 at 09:31 AM in Film, Music, Web/Tech | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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She said, he said for yesterday’s Sox-Yankee Game

She Said — He Said



Monica Bay and I are doing our very short takes on the Red Sox/Yankee matchups again this year.  So far, the Sox lead the series 2–0.  But as we all know, the season is just beginning.


She Said:  “As A-Rod said, sometimes it’s less stressful to lose 14-3 than 2-1.
And it’s just one L no matter how horribly we played.”


He Said:  Nothing like a 14-3 rout to start it out.  Beckett shines — 1 down and 2 to go. 

Posted by on May 10, 2020 at 02:34 PM in Games, Sports | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Bush Numbers Still Sinking

The New York Times reports that President Bush’s approval rating is lower than ever.  How’s this:

  • 13% approve of his handling of rising gas prices
  • 2/3rds have little or no confidence he’ll end the war in Iraq
  • Overall job rating: 31%

Many more sobering statistics are in the article.

Is there anything he can do to reverse those numbers?  Those running for office would like to know ….

Posted by on May 10, 2020 at 10:45 AM in Current Affairs, Politics, War | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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