Halfway / Halflife

Well, I am almost half way done with this semester (not inlcuding reading week and two weeks of finals). I am doing a lot of writing for my two seminar classes, Adv. Legal Writing and Adv. Entertainment Law. I have my first major assingments due for both in two weeks, including a 20 - 30 page article for entertainment.

I am writing about the musician Tom Waits and his suits involving the right or Publicity. The right of publicity is a property right that protects an individual from unwanted use of her likeness, voice, name, identity and more depending on the jurisdiction and relevant state statute. Tom Waits doesn't do commercials, but lots of companies want his music to promote their product. So, Tom Waits sues them when they use his voice or an impersonator of his voice in a commercial. My argument is that he should not be able to do this, because he is not the only artist to sing with a gravelly voice. Wait's voice is a sound-a-like to many artists voices, including Howling Wolf, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, and Capt. Beefheart. Pop culture has a short memory, however. Tom Waits is the modern equivalent of an amalgamation of these artists, and so his voice is "unique". More on this as it develops.

Otherwise, I am doing well and just trying to keep up. The 1Ls are a constant reminder that I have it a lot better than I did; the feeling is like a glass of water in the desert.