Robin

@robinsloth

Labor lawyer (not your lawyer), not providing legal advice (or any advice). SF by way of Chicago. She/her

890 Siguiendo978 Seguidores1560 Publicaciones

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Robin@robinsloth· 15d

Wait, triple digits? Oh wow, congrats on the hundred more people that clicked on your editorials this year I guess

During my first six months, Opinions users more than doubled their time spent on the site; editorial pageviews grew by triple-digits year over year; and both subscription starts and entrances from search ticked up.

Robin@robinsloth· 20d

Two and a half months into the 90s!

Sinéad O'Connor
I do not want what I haven't got.

Robin@robinsloth· 20d

All 108 of the Berkeley Public Library fiber mascot entries are utterly perfect Gnome on a snail! The Collective of Eyeballs Who Just Want to Read aka COLE! Charlie the Kangaroo Rat who loves astronomy!

Knitted gnome riding on a snail, wearing a red pointed hat and long white beard, holding a colorful sign that reads Read More, with button son the snail reading Read More Diverse Books, I Read Banned Books, be a literary omnivore, and reading is sexy.

Cluster of eyeballs wearing a red beanie with an orange pom-pom, a pair of eyeglasses, and red yarn tendril arms, holding a small blue journal.

Journal, paraphrased for length:
The journal is written as a series of dated log entries documenting attempts to make friends.

Felted kangaroo rat wearing tiny wire glasses, standing on a hand-painted planet dome, on top of a stack of two books wrapped in blue and mustard yarn styled like a swirling universe with pearl stars.

Handwritten note reading:
(This note is not part of the mascot.)
This is Charlie. They are a kangaroo rat. Kangaroo rats are only native in the bay area. Charlie really likes reading about astronomy.

The note is signed with a heart and has a drawing of Charlie at the bottom

Robin@robinsloth· 22d

Coming soon: Tom Goldstein's Supreme Court Betting Website sponsored by Kalshi

Goldstein has been spending his time productively while on release, “working to better himself,” Singh said.

Singh also said Goldstein was working on “a pretty amazing website” that might once again revolutionize how the Supreme Court is covered.

“I know he has much, much more to give,” Singh said.

Robin@robinsloth· 27d

Starmer walked out of Downing Street and directly into multiple classic meme formats

Meme from Sailor Moon in three panels:
My job here is done.
But you didn't do anything.
[Leaves, swirling cape]

Robin@robinsloth· 27d

This article is a truly delightful read about an extremely cursed object

To add injury to insult, Furnari recently broke his foot working on the statue, after tripping over a roll of tape in his studio.

“Is it cursed? Maybe. I don’t know,” he told the Guardian.

Regardless of his broken foot and light wallet, Furnari said he did not really believe the Kirk statue was cursed. “The statue is not cursed. The statue is blessed,” he said, in spite of all available evidence – but he has certainly been left angry.

Furnari’s latest plan is to place the statue in Times Square on 10 September – the anniversary of Kirk’s death. He hopes that will drum up interest, and maybe allow him to recoup some of his costs.

Until then, Furnari is left with a 6ft 4in statue of a renowned racist, which he has spent $100,000 making, and which no one wants to buy. Maybe it is cursed after all.

Robin@robinsloth· Jul 17

I had just moved to SF (during covid, for work), and it really felt like the end of the world

Robin@robinsloth· Jul 8

And Grim's response to Racicot herself explaining Platner misinterpreted a text, so she specifically told him not to come over? "What did you say?" Pure rape apologia

Grim at a desk, saying "The follow-up from a normal person, at that point, is what did you say."

"Like what was the thing that you said to him that he misunderstood?"

Robin@robinsloth· Jul 8

It's not just a post. Ryan Grim did a whole video about this so-called shocking breach of ethics, which is in the tweet he quoted. I *do not* recommend watching, it's appalling stuff. He goes so far as to imply that the assault itself might have been (begun as?) Platner just starting a massage.

Grim at a desk with another man, saying "And then it gives, but and then he, she says he's grabbing her on the couch."

Grim at a desk with another man, saying "Where's he grabbing her?"

Grim at a desk with another man, saying "Like, is he, like, immediately starting like the glute massage or whatever?"

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 30

Haha, NPR has now officially retracted the Alito retirement story. (Gotta wait for Steve Vladeck to confirm/disconfirm Supreme Court news these days, apparently)

Editor's note: NPR retracts story
June 30, 202610:51 AM ET
Nina Totenberg at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 21, 2019. (photo by Allison Shelley)
Nina Totenberg

NPR
Editors Note: This story has been taken down. It was published in error.
June 30, 2026

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 20

Advertise your BlueSky account with a Simpsons GIF

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 20

At the Reflecting Pool, and guys, this doesn't look right.

Buttercup and Westley entering the Fire Swamp in the Princess Bride

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 12

Ahh, but see her job was meaningfully different than being "simply out for a big payday" because she had a modest upbringing But more seriously, there's a real psychological benefit for lawyers who sell out to believe everyone is doing the same, and that work outside biglaw isn't morally better

But her principal responsibility was business development. She had been brought on to generate new work — to burnish the profits that have become standard at the largest law firms — and that required her to stay in regular contact with current and prospective clients.

She was “getting paid what seemed like an extraordinary amount of money” to do this, she told me, after a modest upbringing in a small town in southeastern Washington, a public-school education through college and a career spent working mostly in the public sector in Washington, D.C.

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 8

Even without that important info, NYAYAM is ready to tell me to file NLRB charges and a state labor complaint before getting a lawyer. In fact, it can help me draft those! And, sure it warns me to consult a professional "when necessary," but why do that when I have a strong case it can handle?

5. RECOMMENDED BEST ACTIONS - PRIORITIZED IMMEDIATE (Do Today): 1. Write a detailed memo to yourself ocumenting every fact - what salary information you shared, with whom, when, where, and the exact words used during your termination. Date and sign it. 2. Preserve any company policy documents, employee handbooks, or written communica- tions you lawfully received during employment. 3. Note the names of any witnesses to either the salary discussion or your termination. WITHIN 7 DAYS: 4. File an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB - you can do this online at nirb.gov. There is NO filing fee. The NLRB has a 6-month statute of limitations from the date of the unfair labor practice, so do not delay. 5. File a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) at oregon.gov/boli- Oregon law provides a 1-year statute of limitations for wage-related retal- iation claims under ORS 652.220, but earlier is always better. WITHIN 30 DAYS: 6. Consult with an Oregon employment attorney about filing a wrongful termination lawsuit in Oregon state court for the common law claim - this can run parallel to your NLRB and
BOLI complaints. 7. Apply for Oregon unemployment benefits immediately if you have not already - your ter- mination for exercising a federally protected right should not disqualify you from benefits.

NYAYAM
The Al Legal Platform Democratizing Justice
DOCUMENT GENERATION AVAILABLE:
I can draft an NLRB unfair labor practice charge, a BOLI complaint letter, a demand letter to your employer, or a formal legal notice - just say the word.
Bottom line: Your employer handed you a strong case by firing you for something federal law explicitly protects. The policy itself was illegal, the termination was illegal, and you have two independent enforcement agencies ready to investigate at no cost to you. Let's put that illegal policy to good use - in your favor.
What would you like to tackle first?
A Important Disclaimer: Al analysis may be prone to errors despite our best efforts to miti- gate them. Please do your own research based on the analysis provided and consult a profes- sional when necessary.

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 8

In fact, after just five follow-ups, it can tell me my termination "is almost certainly unlawful." But it didn't check if I was a manager, or even if I shared *my own salary info*! In fact, if asked, I was the only HR employee at my little company, and I emailed everyone's salaries to my friend

1. PRIMARY LEGAL POSITION
Your termination is almost certainly unlawful on TWO independent legal grounds:
FEDERAL Under explicit,
GROUND - NLRA Section 7 Protection: Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 157, employees have an federally protected right to engage in "concerted activities" - which courts and the NLRB have consistently interpreted to include discussing wages and salary information coworkers. This is not a gray area. It is settled law.
with
Under Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA, 29 U.S.C. Section 158(a)(1), it is an unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their Section 7 rights.
Critically:
. A company POLICY that prohibits salary discussions is itself an unfair labor practice ◦ Firing an employee FOR salary discussions is a separate, additional unfair labor practice • Your employer committed BOTH violations simultaneously
Your company's 20-employee size is within NLRA coverage - the Act covers virtually all pri- vate sector employers engaged in interstate commerce, which applies to nearly every busi- ness operating today.
STATE GROUND - Oregon Pay Equity Act: Oregon Revised Statutes Section 652.220 explicitly prohibits employers from:
Requiring employees to refrain from disclosing their own wages Retaliating against employees who discuss wages with coworkers ‣ Maintaining policies that prohibit wage discussions

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 8

As I told the bot, I just got fired from my job in Oregon for "breaking company policy against sharing salary information" NYAYAM is immediately excited! There's statutory law about this! It asks, appropriately, about the type of company and state. BUT it doesn't ask me anything about *my job*

NYAYAM The Al Legal Platform Democratizing Justice Hello there, Iam Nyayam. Welcome to my virtual chambers. What's the legal issue or concern you'd like to discuss? Whether it's a contract dispute, family matter, property issue, or anything else - I'm all ears and ready to help you find the best path forward.

I got fired for breaking company policy against sharing salary information

That's a frustrating situation and ironically, the policy you allegedly violated may it- self be illegal under federal law. To make sure I give you the most accurate advice, are you a private sector employee or do you work for a government/public agency?

private sector employee

Good -federal law has strong protections for private sector employees in exactly this situation. Which state are you in? Some states have additional protections on top of federal law that could significantly strengthen your case.

Oregon

Excellent - Oregon is actually one of the stronger states for employee rights on this is- sue. You've got both federal AND state law working in your favor here. One key question: did your employer give you any written reason for the termination, or Was it communlcated verbally?
My boss told me verbally
Got it. One more important question - how many employees does your company have? This affects which specific legal protections apply and the remedies available to you.
we have about 20 employees
Perfect - that number keeps you within the coverage of the key laws that protect you here. Last question before I put together your full analysis: what outcome are you looking for ⁃ reinstatement to your job, financial compensation, or both?
Both

Robin@robinsloth· Jun 3

Worth a read of the whole thing, it's remarkable how much went wrong here (and many chances these lawyers had to stop digging that they totally ignored).

After further questioning on the source of the errors, Rounds finally conceded that it was “possible” that AI might have been used by the individual who drafted the briefs. Id. at 10:59–11:11. He clarified that although Sethi’s name was on the briefs, Sethi did not draft the briefs, but only “reviewed” them. Id. at 12:28–12:40. Rounds later revealed that the brief writer was not yet licensed to practice law, id. at 13:01, and that no licensed attorney read the cases cited by the unlicensed brief writer, id. at 25:11–25:38.

Robin@robinsloth· May 30

Oh no, everyone, we've made Google AI so insecure that it told me to wait and corrected itself twice in a single response And then still got the wrong answer!

Question to Google: how many days have letter e in them

AI response:
Of the 7 days of the week, 4 contain the letter "e":
TuEsday
WEdnEsday
Friday (Wait, this is fri-d-a-y, so it does not have an e)
Saturday
Sunday
Wait, let's look at the correct list:
Monday
TuEsday
WEdnEsday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

There are exactly 3 days of the week that contain the letter "e": Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Robin@robinsloth· May 30

Google is not even consistent about which days have fish!

Google question reading "how many days have the word fish in them"

AI answer: Only one day of the week has the word "fish" in it: Friday. Etymologically, Friday gets its name from Old English Frīgedæg, meaning "Day of Frigg" (the Norse goddess of love and beauty), but as a standalone English word, "fish" is only found inside Fri-day.

Robin@robinsloth· May 28

Yeah, I'm glad he found his way out of BigLaw. But I graduated a year before he did, also experienced the recruiting schedule, and never thought BigLaw was a "logical place to begin a meaningful career." And I'm laughing at both "some measure" ($$$$) and "accepts" (at best, "recognizes")

Big Law is the term used to describe the 100 or so largest firms in the United States and the huge ecosystem of money, jobs and power that orbits around them. It is a force that I found myself pushed toward both because of its early recruiting schedule, which happens far in advance of most other employers, and because it seemed like the logical place to begin a meaningful career while also having some measure of financial security.

Virtually every lawyer in the United States accepts the centrality of Big Law in our society. For instance, big firms litigate the vast majority of Supreme Court cases, and former Big Law lawyers overwhelmingly populate the ranks of federal judges, the offices of the administrative state and corporate leadership.

Robin@robinsloth· May 22

The Chicago Tribune posted this one, credited to the Chicago Defender

Fuzzy image from an old newspaper, with the caption reading
NOW THE PARIS DARLING — Li'l Esther Jones, 12-year-old Chicago girl, who is not receiving the plaudits of Paris theatergoers at the Moulin Rouge, famous Paris comedy house, where Josephine Baker formerly starred.

Robin@robinsloth· May 20

Any idea what's going on with the provisional votes on the Secretary of State website (is this a known glitch)? I don't think each candidate has exactly 27 counted provisional votes at this point of the night...

Screenshot of GA Supreme Court results broken out by vote method showing five candidates in three races with 27 provisional votes each

Robin@robinsloth· May 17

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 29

That's the roll call for the rule allowing debate on S 1318. The actual vote on the bill is roll call 142, but it hasn't been posted yet by the House. You can scroll back on cspan to see the numbers, but still waiting to ID the members (and see the text)

C-SPAN screenshot showing 191 Republicans and 42 Democrats voting yea on S 1318

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 29

We're getting closer and closer to needing the ultimate Illinois map!

Map of Illinois with 17 Democratic districts each radiating out of Chicago

Analysis of the same map, showing minimal population variance (under .03% between districts) and more than 10-point Democratic advantages in each proposed district

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 28

Without downloading anything new, where are you, mentally?

Four panel comic
(1) a crudely drawn man looking at a brain, saying "hey brain hows it going"
(2) the brain covered in scratched out lines
(3) the man
(4) the man saying "yea"

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 17

Legal ethics version of this

2023 tweet from InternetHippo reading:

New right wing thing is describing crimes as genetically as possible to pretend like they're not crimes. Someone gets convicted of conspiracy and they start yelling "Wow so it's illegal to make plans with friends now"

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 8

Eduardo Galeano's magnificent Soccer in Sun and Shadow describes the Referee and "The only universal sentiment in soccer: everybody hates him." True regardless of the sport, really. Galeano also a includes a story of that hate that springs to my mind remarkably often when I'm at a sports game.

148
My Poor Beloved Mother
At the end of the 1960s, poet Jorge Enrique Adoum returned to Ecuador after a long absence. As soon as he arrived, he performed an obligatory ritual in the city of Quito: he went to the stadium to see the Aucas play. It was an important match and the stands were packed.
Before the kickoff there was a minute of silence for the referee's mother, who had died that morning. Everyone stood, everyone was silent. Then someone made a speech praising the dedication of this exemplary sportsman who was going to officiate, performing his duty even in the most difficult of circumstances. At the center of the field, his head bowed, the man in black acknowledged the sustained applause of the crowd. Adoum blinked, he pinched himself: he couldn't believe it. What country was he in? So much had changed. Before, people's only concern for the referee was to call him a son of a bitch.
And the match began. At fifteen minutes Aucas scored and the stadium exploded. But the referee disallowed the goal due to an offside, and the thoughts of the crowd turned immediately to his deceased mater: "Orphan of a bitch!" roared the stands.

Robin@robinsloth· Apr 6

Oh, that explains a lot

Clippy meme reading: It looks like I made a social media site that doesn't load. Sorry about that.

Robin@robinsloth· Mar 30

No, it didn't. A person used an AI agent to generate angry blog posts. The article has a bunch of really interesting info about the ways in which Wikipedia is identifying and responding to bots, but the headline is unfortunately misleading and clickbaity.