bob loblaw's law blog

G’mornin’ law library. You’re looking rather sterile today.

ilovemyjean — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:45:36 +0000

(Photo courtesy of www.law.ucdavis.edu)

This room leaves little scope for the imagination. But hey! It’s home. Photo of my library carrel to come!

We’re not perfect, but it’s nice to know we come from good stock. Cont’d.

ilovemyjean — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:30:56 +0000

(My grandmother)

I thought I’d share this gem.

We’re not perfect, but it’s nice to know we come from good stock.

ilovemyjean — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:28:08 +0000

(My great great grandfather)

Recently my mother’s side of the family has been researching our family history– uncovering old photographs, immigration papers, etc. After receiving a message from my cousin, Zachary, I decided to take a look at what’s been found (which entailed browsing through one of Zach’s Facebook albums of all places). I found this story particularly interesting (which was shamelessly copy and pasted from said album save the last paragraph of this entry):

My great, great grandfather came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, the first in my family to do so. Family lore says he had connections at City Hall with a Caucasian lawyer that the Chinese referred to as “Ah Hoong.” He acted as a translator for the lawyer and worked to help many other Chinese enter the country.

Just days before I begin law school, I wonder if he ever dreamed that his great great grand daughter would have the opportunity to be a lawyer in this new country.. that his legacy of advocacy would continue in me, my siblings and my cousins.

Poetry

ilovemyjean — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:17:43 +0000

she says it better

lovingly borrowed from LaCerta

58-12 Design Lab Part III: Shanghai Research

ilovemyjean — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:48:28 +0000

Tammy and I are in the process of editing interviews we conducted in Shanghai about migrant workers. They’re akin to NPR news stories and This American Life (at least.. I’d like to think so). We just wrapped up our first episode! You can listen to it using the link below. It is accompanied by photos.

Episode 1: High Hopes (Names have been changed to protect those involved)

For some background on the topic of migrant workers in Shanghai, please read this entry.

Sources:

Lim, Louisa. MS. National Public Radio. 08 Feb. 201. Web. 22 July 2010.

“Migrant Workers That Built Shanghai World Expo.” What’s On Xiamen. 21 June 2010. Web. 22 July 2010. www.whatsonxiamen.com/news12907.html>.

“Shanghai Offers Free Education For Migrant Children – ChinaCSR.com – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability News for China.” 企业社会责任 – ChinaCSR.com. 16 May 2006. Web. 01 July 2010. .

58-12 Design Lab Part II: What Should Be Known

ilovemyjean — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:21:38 +0000

58-12 Design Lab’s Mission Statement:

To develop and practice the various disciplines of design in order meet social needs.

Objectives: We wish (1) to ensure a sustainable livelihood and high quality of life for individuals living in informal settlements through good design practices, (2) to increase agency for marginalized groups through alternative media, to (3) empower designers to be agents of social change, and (4) to practice design to meet relevant social needs.

(The following was written by 58-12 co-founder Jonathan Crisman):

Why Design?

You are probably asking “Why Design?” It’s a good question. It is difficult to see how just doing things like making a poster look good, drawing an imaginary house, or taking photos of people can make the world a better place. We at 58-12 Design Lab, however, see these things as so much more: it is about providing the world with clear channels of communication, about figuring out optimal solutions for housing crises, and about telling stories for those who don’t have a voice.

We realize that in a world with people who cannot feed themselves and where disease runs rampant, more urgent needs include disaster relief and health care. Many excellent organizations whose missions are to meet such needs already exist — organizations like Oxfam or the Red Cross. Organizations who can do long-term planning and develop sustainable solutions — in other words, design — are few and far between.

Design takes time and so humanitarian efforts, in their urgency, are often quick, ineffective in the long term, and missing the fine details that a robust solution requires. We want to work in advance and in a variety of venues so that those solutions are ready when they are needed. Design takes money and cash-strapped non-profits and impoverished communities cannot afford services that we see as a basic necessity for lasting change. We want to fill those gaps.

58-12 Design Lab Part 1: We’ve Only Just Begun

ilovemyjean — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:24:11 +0000

In honor of 58-12 Design Lab’s first event, I thought I’d start a series of posts about our non-profit. This information was on display at the dinner, but for those of you who couldn’t join us– here you go! …And I promise more serious posts will be included in the series.

Our Story

It all began when an 18-year-old Jonathan Crisman left Fresno for greener pastures in Los Angeles. During his first year at UCLA, out of a shared love for BBC’s “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” and mere convenience (they lived in the same dormitory) Jonathan befriended Melanie Young. Despite their earnest efforts and winning personalities, Thomas Yung, Jonathan’s friend from his high school Key Club days, was the only soul willing to join them in their hang outs—which normally consisted of eating ice cream and watching reruns of “Arrested Development.” Four years passed, and all three friends graduated from UCLA.

On November 10, 2009, Thomas and Melanie received a cryptically long e-mail from their friend Jonathan. In his letter, Jonathan asked Thomas and Melanie if they would be willing to start a non-profit design firm with him. And they said…….YESSS!!!!!!!!

As Jonathan, Thomas and Melanie began producing work under 58-12 Design Lab, they soon saw the need to add some depth to their ensemble. On May 7, 2010, the team sent Tammy Hu a cryptically long e-mail inviting her to join them in their efforts. Tammy finally agreed to join 58-12 Design Lab and left her life of self-neglect and playing solo blue grass gigs in Chinese bath houses and KTV lobbies, in Shanghai. It’s good to have her back.

Our first meeting

The first official 58-12 Design Lab meeting took place on November 29, 2009. Jonathan, Thomas and Melanie communicated via conference call as Jonathan was stuck in the freezer that is Boston, Thomas was working in Los Angeles and Melanie was in San Jose. Much of the conversation consisted of a heated debate over semantics—what is the difference between a “vision” and a “mission statement”, “goals” vs. “objectives”, etc. Voices were raised and words that shall not be repeated were exchanged. Thomas, a hater of violence, fell into a downward spiral of binge drinking and avid “Glee” watching while the epic debate carried on.

As a blessing in disguise, the conference call was dropped, and the battle was brought to a screeching halt. Thus, they were forced to continue the meeting over Gchat. Everyone’s a touch more amiable on Gchat.

Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Shanghai: Part II

ilovemyjean — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:39:00 +0000

And then we all took a step back and realized…

that it’s the World Expo Convention Center.

Disappointed? Me too.

Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Shanghai: Part I

ilovemyjean — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:59:44 +0000

Two unsuspecting gardeners go about their daily duties.

Until an impact so strong ripples the very foundation on which they stand.

The braver of the two cautiously approaches the massive, foreign object– still hot from its unfathomably long descent.

CONTACT…

Post dedicated to: I’m An X-File

Sleepless Long Nights

ilovemyjean — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:52:27 +0000

I seemed to have underestimated the emotional toll our research would take on me. We’ve met mothers who work in the city, send money home to their families, and only get to see their children in their home provinces once a year. We’ve met children who are not allowed to attend school in the city because of rural discrimination (thus continuing the cycle of poverty). And the list goes on…

These systematic injustices run deep and the people in power who are benefiting from society as it is aren’t willing to budge (though this is probably true in every country, but with such an overbearing government, China is a more severe case than say, the U.S.). Government press releases state that new policies have been implemented that benefit migrant workers in Shanghai, but the language is vague, and when it comes down to it, no real change takes place. It’s all about face. And it’s all very frustrating.

But, seriously, things in this city are changing every day. We’ve met so many great people here who are doing exciting things (wow.. NOW who’s being vague?) I truly believe that, in Shanghai’s state of flux, there’s room for a lot of good to happen.

…for now, I’m just a little mopey– not gonna lie.