Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food
Law & Business
Smith v Van Gorkom
I’ve posted to SSRN a paper entitled simply Smith v. Van Gorkom. Abstract: Smith v. Van Gorkom arguably was the most important corporate law decision of the 20th century. The supreme court of a state widely criticized for allegedly leading the …Continue Reading...
Investor Activism
Today it was my turn at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference. I presented my paper Investor Activism: Reshaping the Playing Field?: Abstract: Shareholders of U.S. corporations historically tended towards rational apathy. Holding small blocks that were …Continue Reading...
Laptops in the classroom
The debate makes Newsweek: The tech revolution at the nation’s top law and business schools, where students now routinely use laptops and wireless connections in class, has created an insurgent population: professors, who believe they’re losing the fight against wandering minds. …Continue Reading...
SOX at 5 Years
At at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference, we’ve moved on to a panel on “SOX at 5.” (Shouldn’t that be “6”?) The keynote speaker is economist Ken Lehn. SOX co-author Michael Oxley is one of …Continue Reading...
Blogging Bernanke
FED Chairman Ben Bernanke is the keynote speaker at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference. He’s speaking on the FED’s recent liquidity actions. Central banks can help alleviate a crisis by lending secured by borrowers’ illiquid assets, …Continue Reading...
Romano’s “Institutional Investors and Proxy Voting”
I’m at the the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference, where Yale law professor Roberta Romano is presenting her paper Institutional Investors and Proxy Voting: The Impact of the 2003 Mutual Fund Voting Disclosure Regulation. Very statistical. Regressions …Continue Reading...
Greetings from the 2008 Financial Markets Conference
I’m in Sea Island, Georgia, for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference, which this year is devoted to “taking stock” of the post-Enron financial market reforms. On Wednesday, I’ll be presenting a paper on shareholder activism. Today, …Continue Reading...
Rutter Award
UCLA School of Law press release: Stephen Bainbridge, the William D. Warren Professor of Law, was honored with the 2008 Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching, which is presented annually to a professor who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to teaching. …Continue Reading...
Wine & Food
Sanford Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Santa Rita Hills) 2001
A couple of years ago, I wrote that this wine was: ...a very fine Pinot, but its firm acidity and potent - albeit well-integrated - tannic backbone mandate some additional cellar time for it to fully develop. With two additional years …Continue Reading...
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 2004
A brilliant success. The huge bouquet sends perfume cascading around the room. The flavors are intense and deep, but when paired with a rich sauce (buffalo sirloin steak au poivre) it has enough acidity to be refreshing. The tannins are present …Continue Reading...
Who wears stiletto heeled peep toe pumps to a vineyard?
Somebody who hangs out with David Beckham. Not too forget Posh herself.
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Napa Valley) 1990
At age 18, inspection of the bottle offered worrisome signs, as there was evidence of minor seepage under the foil. Plus, the cork was deeply stained. As it turned out, however, the wine was truly exceptional. It’s thrown an immense amount …Continue Reading...
Ridge Geyserville (Sonoma County) 2001
When last noted in 5/2006, I opined that this wine was “Drinkable now, but unusually firm tannins still need some time to resolve.” With two more years of bottle age, the 2001 Geyserville now stands as a brilliant example of what …Continue Reading...
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) 2006
A splendid white wine. Honeydew melon and freshly mown grass. Crisp but not aggressive. Grade: B+
Buying Older California Cabernets
There’s an interesting article in today’s LA Times on buying older, pre-cult California Cabernet Sauvignons: In this overheated atmosphere with collectors from all over the world vying for the big names in old wine, one corner of the wine market—California Cabernet …Continue Reading...
Thought for the day
BBQ unfortunately is bad for you, but nobody wants to live forever, especially if it means not getting to eat steaks that are slightly charred on the outside and red and bloody inside.
Punditry
Talk is not Appeasement
George Bush’s Knesset speech included this widely criticized gem: Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century. Some seem …Continue Reading...
California Same-Sex Marriage Decision
The LA Times reports: The California Supreme Court decided today that same-sex couples should be permitted to wed, ruling that gay unions must be given the “respect and dignity” of marriage. In a 4-3 vote, the court became the first in …Continue Reading...
Bush on Israel at 60
George Bush’s speech to the Knesset is getting a great deal of well-deserved criticism for its none too subtle slap at Barack Obama. Yet, what’s also quite striking about the speech is the utter absence of any hint of criticism for …Continue Reading...
Rubicon S*cks
Lawrence Alexander recently wrote a Huffington Post post explaing ”Why I Wrote Rubicon and What It Means.” Now he needs to explain why it sucks so badly.
Democrats and Economic Policy
A commentator at the conference I’m attending pulled up a 2006 op-ed by Lawrence Summers opining that: Not so long ago, we were all Keynesians. (“I am a Keynesian,” Richard Nixon famously said in 1971.) Equally, any honest Democrat will admit …Continue Reading...
Another Photograph of Saint Steven’s
Another amazing shot from Cathedrals of California. For a person of my predilections, this site has it all: Catholic and other high church religious themes, architecture, history, and great photography. Go visit them to see the full size shot and …Continue Reading...
Greetings from Sea Island
I’m in Sea Island, Georgia, for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2008 Financial Markets Conference. We arrived late last night and apparently missed some serious weather excitement. In fact, the weather was so exciting yesterday that it made the WSJ’s …Continue Reading...
The Apse of St. Steven’s Cathedral and the Brushfire
A truly astonishing picture over at Cathedrals of California. Go over there to see it full size and check out their other wonderful photos.