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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams
@sawilliams.bsky.social
590 followers 420 following 370 posts
Reference and Instruction Librarian, assistant professor of law, Pokemon master, games enthusiast, certified film buff, and guinea pig wrangler.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Nov 21
Since this place does seem to be building up a real, mostly academic community, and my reasons for being both here and the other place were always unapologetically mercenary, I should make the pin tweet with my scholarship so you know what I'm about. Main hub here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/...
Author Page for Sam Williams :: SSRN
Total downloads of all papers by Sam Williams
papers.ssrn.com
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · 10d
We stan a legend
A Magic card depicting a weird Goblin-Human hybrid with a dopey grin seemingly flying above an arena of some sort.
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · 10d
Underrated distraction: the Magic simulacrum that is the digital-only version of the expansion, which has the same cards mechanically but they've been de-Marveled to avoid competition with Marvel Snap. The inexplicable not-Spider-Man symbiote-spider-human world really is something else.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Sep 9
Actually, wait, have you found your way to Drake Agricultural Law Review yet? Feels like the perfect opportunity tbh.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Sep 9
I've often said your interests aren't eclectic enough. Why delve into such pedestrian topics as fish shooting when you can commit a philosophical suey with me and shamelessly plug AI while folks are throwing money at it?
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Sep 3
Alright, new professional photo, shame to break the seven year streak but the Cosmic Gardener comes for all of us. Now for the important question: Does it make me look more or less like a hobbit's evil twin?
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 27
For those who I have teased with She-Hulk, that article is 100% a follow-up to this one, and my biggest question is if I just write free-standing She-Hulk or if I integrate it into a much longer project. It's a rich text, I swear! And I guess I can talk about nerd shit like Better Call Saul, too.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 27
Not sure I'm using the meme right, but this one holds a special place in my heart: digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/faculty/577/

It has it all: Marxist theory! A thesis that I both find compelling and think is due for reappraisal due to changes in multiple art forms! Visceral hatred of Ally McBeal!
Screening the Law: Ideology and Law in American Popular Culture
This paper reevaluates Frankfurt School theory, and other cultural critiques, in an effort to bring a more sophisticated analysis to bear on popular culture depictions of law. It invokes the cultural ...
digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 27
You know, I can't really tell you why, but I've never seriously explored evidence scholarship. This is good enough to make me consider a deeper dive into it! Good luck on the hunt!
aseesbhasin.bsky.social
Asees @aseesbhasin.bsky.social · Aug 26
I am delighted to share that my job talk paper, Bias and the "Low Bar" of Relevance, will be published in Volume 114 of the California Law Review (forthcoming 2026). Feedback and comments on this draft (available on SSRN) are welcome and deeply appreciated!

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Bias and the “Low Bar” of Relevance
<p><i><span>Relevance, commonly understood as the cornerstone of evidence law, determines what the legal system acknowledges as a fact and which facts matter, t
papers.ssrn.com
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 14
I do need to get a sabbatical proposal together pretty quickly...
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 14
I know I overuse the lyrics to shake it off as a joke response but like, it's pretty solid advice.
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 14
Is what the guy threw at an agent a sandwich? It doesn't matter in a legal sense, but I may need to follow up on this essay to reflect the growing role of an expansive definition of a sandwich in the fight against fascism. hedgehogsandfoxes.org/index.php/20...
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 13
Ugh, I really need to get back on the nemesis market post-tenure. I think my current beefs are too abstract and/or asymmetrical. If anyone wants to be the Seto Kaiba to my Yugi Mutoh (don't worry, the Pharoah isn't involved), I am taking applications!
anthonymkreis.bsky.social
Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · Aug 13
They’re all academics.
yougov.co.uk
YouGov @yougov.co.uk · Aug 13
6% of Britons say they have a nemesis

yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 12
Like all great legal scholarship, this article got me spiraling out about auteur theory and the criticism of it as applied to law journals (I'm going to say piece forthcoming?). Can't think of a more glowing endorsement than that!
msmith750.bsky.social
Michael Smith @msmith750.bsky.social · Aug 12
My article, "Editing Legal Scholarship" is forthcoming in the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review.

I identify several tendencies that make the law review editing process irritating, and argue for A Better Way.

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 10
That's definitely part of it, and it doesn't hurt that even the stuff that hasn't aged super well slaps hard.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 10
Figured I'd celebrate the end of summer with a Weird Al concert. What a strange cultural figure- did we ever figure it out? He's not the opposite of a problematic fave- that's Kevin Smith- but i feel like everyone has a Weird Al phase they outgrew but never got embarrassed by?
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 8
Naruto-run, don't walk, to your local theater to watch Weapons today!

(Movie good, nowhere near as rich of a text as Sinners but probably more effective qua horror film or, weirdly, comedy, a worthy follow up to Barbarian, easily second-best movie of the year so far)
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 6
Might be time to consider an exploratory committee...
gaudynight78.bsky.social
Grace Pritchard Burson @gaudynight78.bsky.social · Aug 6
Dude, "insane angry librarian energy" is exactly what I want from my politicians in the year of our lord 2025
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 6
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you joy and happiness.

I know I'm cheating with the extra context but this meme has kept me going for almost a year at this point and I think it's fun/aspirational.
A screenshot of an X/Twitter post from @biconicwomann saying "I love Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter" above an image of Willow Rosenberg, dressed as a knight for Halloween, and Buffy Summers, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween, standing next to one another and smiling.
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Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 5
The disrespect for the Devastator is unreal, but good pull on Tantive IV.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 4
Dare to dream! Who is the case for? I'd only cut it if you liked some of your other weird projects more tbh. It's fun, placement is irrelevant, and I honestly don't hate it as an example of a type of article that I think students could write. I've recommended it to new librarian writers before!
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
For those who doubt my bona fides and/or want a Friday foray into the adventures of li'l Sam, this has been my Facebook profile picture (no I don't use it anymore) since it was taken in 2015. Guy on the right is Mark Rosewater, head MTG designer: Guy on the left is me before law aged me terribly.
Youthful curly haired dingus of a man with glasses smiling next to Magic designer Mark Rosewater.
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
Anyway I can't reveal all the details yet and I do just want to keep talking Magic with law people (the skills are similar!) but I should take the opportunity to note that my essay, Making Magic: How Lessons From 20 Years of Creating Magic Cards Can Improve Legal Instruction, is coming soon!
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
You're asking the right questions. I like graveyard synergy and lean monocolor too much to not go Glissa here, but there is a compelling counterpoint in the fact that Yarok will allow you to play Blue cards (clearly the best color).
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
Yeah, it seems spicy but maybe a little magical Christmas land-y to me. How much etb card draw are you getting from your "core" colors? It seems like running out of stuff to do wouldn't be a problem but maybe I'm out of Pod practice.
sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
For an android/a reputable law review, that is nearly an eternity.
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sawilliams.bsky.social
Sam Williams @sawilliams.bsky.social · Aug 1
Have you considered adopting an additional deckbuilding restriction for no reason? I don't see how you thematically get this one to Pauper but that's my standby.
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