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Tabin Mann

Tabin Mann
Photograph by John Stephens/Iris & Light

I am a Los Angeles-based attorney and self-described nerd.

My nerdiness about law is what drives most of this “blawg” (law blog, get it? I didn’t come up with it). I can talk for hours about Constitutional law and the latest Supreme Court opinions. This can likely be traced back to my desire to be President of the United States (still a thing) and interpreting the meaning of “natural born citizen.” Though ConLaw was my first love, the topic that motivated me to start writing about law is how it relates to the Internet.

While so many people are so connected to the Internet throughout their daily lives, the “law” of the Internet is still catching up, expanding, and changing, sometimes slower than it needs to, and it’s fascinating to me. Like I said – nerd. As found around this blog, Internet law is a mish-mash of old-school principles and some new age twists.

Nerd Owl with Glasses

My other nerd credentials: I’ve been known to binge-watch Firefly, Supernatural, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Lord of the Rings (the extended versions), and Harry Potter, as well as NCIS and The West Wing. I have a TARDIS cut-out and I know the answer is 42. I used an ATARI computer until 10th grade. I like getting new gadgets and technology, though I have way too many tablets now. I graduated high school with five years of math credits and studied computer programming in college. I make bad jokes and collect pens.

I grew up an Army brat, so we moved every four years. I have lived in South Korea, Washington (state). My experience has given me a unique perspective and a very long answer to “Where did you grow up?” I have been in Southern California since 2001, so it is practically home.

Currently, I am licensed to practice law in both California and Washington (state, again). Before my current stint, I’ve worked as a food court manager, personal assistant, and a webmaster/designer. I also volunteered (and was on the board of directors) for a non-profit group, California Browncoats, Inc., helping to raise over $100,000 for charity and to run CABC’s annual booth at Comic-Con and Wondercon, promoting Firefly and Serenity in the process.

tabin[dot]net

It all began one day when I really wanted to make a website. My dad sat me down in front of the computer and said, “Go ahead.” My first website was exactly what you’d expect for something created by a 14 year old in 1997. It had a patterned background, a waving hand gif, and no real thought-out theme. Don’t get me started on the name.Admittedly, I used FrontPage for my first few sites. I eventually learned HTML and, hopefully, picked up some skills.

Firedream's Playground - Website Screenshot
This is for humility purposes only.

Most of my World Wide Web efforts during high school was devoted to movies, TV, and music. I started a site for Dawson’s Creek, which got a shout-out in a national magazine, and my favorite band Neve. There was also some designing sites and layouts for other people, which got me thinking of maybe trying to make a career out of webdesign. Obviously, I went in another direction.

In 1999, my Christmas present was this domain – tabin[dot]net. Since then, it has been a place to share my thoughts on whatever was happening around me, including school, politics, and real life. Some of that will still be peppered in here and there, but the law nerd in me will win out.