Fail The Texas Bar

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials

July 23

The Daily Record, Canon City, Colo., on the oil spill in Montana's Yellowstone River:

The bursting of a pipe carrying oil below Montana's Yellowstone River is a reminder of the pipelines that crisscross the country and of the particular environmental dangers that these pipelines present.

Americans are more aware of spills near the country's coasts, which can damage coastal ecosystems and devastate regional economies. Fortunately, technology has evolved to meet the needs in deep water with slow currents. Rivers, on the other hand, are shallow, move quickly and are prone to seasonal flooding — all of which presented problems in Montana. And cleanup crews with deep-water technology are not equipped to solve the problems that rivers present.

That was the topic of a recent Popular Mechanics article, which explained that traditional oil booms would fail in the Yellowstone's swift current. Further, the dispersants that break down oil on the ocean's surface and carry it to microbes beneath the surface would instead create problems in a river, settling oil droplets into the riverbed. ...

The ability to respond to underground spills is critical, considering that pipelines cut beneath much of the country. The massive Keystone pipeline system, for instance, cuts a line from Alberta to Texas, beneath the Great Plains and above the Ogallala aquifer.

America has an appetite for oil, and companies such as Exxon (the operator of the Montana line) are responding to that need. But since spills will happen, it is paramount that technologies be developed to protect the freshwater systems from their effects. ...

Online:

http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com

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July 24

The Lima (Ohio) News on journalism ethics:

The shocking and disappointing news that the News of the World, one of Britain's leading tabloids, violated nearly every journalism ethical standard possible should not mean that people should paint all media with a broad brush.

What has occurred at the News of World is wrong and not something that is practiced by all in the media. ...

In the News of the World debacle, members of that paper reportedly hacked into cell phones and bribed police to get information on politicians and celebrities. The allegations have led to resignations at the paper and Scotland Yard.

While maybe such actions by the tabloid media in Britain is not so shocking, the News of the World is part of the Rupert Murdoch media empire that includes The Wall Street Journal and Fox News here in the U.S. Those have been well-respected and often-cited sources of news for the American public. ...

Going through the (post-bar exam) motions - Texas Lawyers

For those of you who took the Maryland bar exam this past Tuesday and Wednesday, today is a bittersweet day. Here are some of the emotions you may encounter over the next couple of months.

Some may feel a huge weight has been lifted from their shoulders. For those, a night (or nights) of celebration will follow. For others, today’s dawn may or may not have been a welcomed escape from the constant nightmares of incorrect answers and spotty issue finding:  Did I notice the easement in the property question? Did I mention best interest of the child sufficiently? I should’ve underlined all my key points!

(NOTE: These were my thoughts when I took the bar exam. In no way are they a reflection of the issues tested during this years exam.)

Youll hardly sleep, and if you do sleep, you may be haunted by dreams of improperly filled bubble sheets and unanswered questions. For weeks this vicious cycle will continue until one day it stops.

I dont know the cause for the lull, but for a moment, all will seem well. Perhaps its a defense mechanism crafted by our subconscious to prevent a mental breakdown. Consider this your eye of the storm moment. Eventually, nightmares will begin to flare once again, obliterating any sense of normalcy and tranquility.

One week prior to the results, paranoia will take hold: What happens if I don’t pass? What will I tell my family if I fail? Although you loathe the possibility of re-taking the exam, your main fear may be the possibility of having to wait another six months to become admitted.

Studying all over again isnt too bad; instead, the true horror of failing would come in having to wait and wait and WAIT for the results. Even worse is thinking, “if I failed once, what will prevent me from failing again?”

In many ways we are our own worst enemies. Regardless of the time you invest worrying over your performance, what’s done is done. If I may be a hypocrite, move on and enjoy life. To spend countless hours fretting over possible answers will not benefit you, and will likely cause you months of unbridled torment.

Proceedings of the ... annual session of the Texas bar association ..

Texas bar journal

Proceedings of the ... annual sessions of the Texas Bar Association

Texas bar examination review, questions and answers

ABA Journal