Category Archives: eye

My son has an imagination. At 20 months, he spent an hour playing a game in which his stuffed boxer (as in the dog) played with his plastic spider. The spider would ride the dog. The dog would sniff the spider. And all the time my son was split with laughter. Read more below. Continue reading →

I flew my 1,000,000th mile on United. They didn’t even notice. Continue reading →

Lots of speculation and fantastic praise about the West Wing gig. It was a hoot to watch. But in two seconds (I’m late for a meeting) let me put this in perspective.
The story is based (loosely) upon a true story. I was involved in the drafting of one early version of the Georgian constitution. But the story ended up in the West Wing because I told the story to my students in Constitutional Law at Harvard, and a current writer for the West Wing was in that class.
And so is “fame” made: My story is on the West Wing because I was at Harvard — not because the brilliance of my intervention had been noted and reviewed, but because I was teaching talented kids who would prove to be important. Indeed, so has the most important of my “fame” been made: Did Justice Jackson pick me to be his special master because he had determined I was the perfect mix of Holmes and Ed Felten? No, I was picked because I was a Harvard Law Professor teaching the law of cyberspace. Remember: So is “fame” made.
Two things about the episode did, however, make me very happy. First, that it showed that at least some law students escape the trap that the top law schools have created — the path to a tedious and unrewarding practice that few seem capable of avoiding. And second, that it captured beautifully the single most important thing that I learned from my years working on “constitutionalism” in Eastern Europe: That 90% of the challenge is to build a culture that respects the rule of law, and that practices it. A document doesn’t build that culture. And no one has a formula — either for building it, or preserving it.
Certainly not a law professor. Continue reading →

Fond memories of another life. Continue reading →

Thanks to Congressman Boucher, Judge Posner and Professor Wu for keeping the blog alive in August. We’re putting together a page to make it easy to link to guest blogger threads. I was not surprised to see how great all three as bloggers are — perhaps this will inspire them into blogspace. I’ll follow up in the next weeks with some comments on each. Continue reading →

This is the end of my stewardship of the Lessig Blog. It has been a pleasure to meet many of you and I thank you for reading the web-log in Larry’s absence. For the rest of the year you can find me either on the 7th floor of Columbia Law School, where I am a visiting professor, or back in Charlottesville/Washington DC. My email address can easily be found using a google search, which is probably why I get so much junk mail. I also have a lousy web site which stores much of my written work and other information…. Continue reading →

“A lot of people would like to think of whales as philosopher-poets swimming around the oceans thinking deep thoughts, and that is not true,” said Dr. Roger Payne. “But for some reason, people are deeply, deeply impressed by these animals. It may be their size, and grace has something to do with it. But there really is an air of mystery about them.”… Continue reading →

My wife, my kid and I are disappearing in August to a place that has no Internet, and only a satellite phone. In my absence, Professor Tim Wu from Virginia will be running Lessig Blog. Tim and I have worked together on “net neutrality” issues, and if we can steal him from Virginia, much more in the future.

In addition to Tim, August will also feature two special guests. During the week of August 9, Congressman Rick Boucher will guest blog. And then during the week of August 23, Judge Richard Posner will guest blog.

As when John Edwards (1, 2, 3, 4), Howard Dean (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and Dennis Kucinich (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) were guest bloggers, I’ve advised Congressman Boucher and Judge Posner that my practice is not to block trolls, but that the practice of bloggers everywhere is not to feed trolls. I’d be grateful if members of this community could help keep the conversation constructive.

Thanks to Congressman Boucher and Judge Posner, and to Tim Wu. Continue reading →

Sorry about the ambiguity. Willem Dakota Neuefeind Lessig was born yesterday. Continue reading →

My wife is T+7. I’m going radio silent while we see this amazing process through. Argue well. Continue reading →