Futurelawyer

CD Wallet Toolkit - You Can't Take That On A Plane

Make Your Own CD Wallet Toolkit for On the Go Tinkering. (Apologies to Bruce Carton, whose "You Can't Do That On A Plane:" series is always entertaining). I like DIY projects, and this little toolkit, which stuffs pliers, a portable screwdriver, a utility knife, and more into an old repurposed CD Wallet is very cool. However, you can't take this everywhere; although, you could probably put it in checked luggage at the airport. That is, if you are willing to pay the price to check luggage at the airport. If you fly at all. This guy spent around $30 on his kit; I probably have this stuff already, but it would take a while to find it. 

E-Discovery For Small Cases

Ride The Lightning: New Book: Electronic Discovery for Small Cases. This book review highlights a great new resource for attorneys who try routine cases, and need economical tools for ediscovery. Most of us don't spend our time on huge litigation projects with huge ediscovery budgets. And, the ediscovery firms are way too expensive for small projects. This great new book highlights many of the ways that you can do a competent job of ediscovery without breaking the bank. If you try cases, you need to read this book.

And This Time, We Really Mean It!

Verizon, Google get ready to post Galaxy Nexus' Android 4.0.4 update, really really this time -- Engadget.
Verizon has finally approved the ICS update for the Galaxy Nexus phone, to IMM76K. Of course they have. After a couple of months of waiting, I finally bit the bullet last weekend, unlocked and rooted my phone, and flashed the new build from the Google website. If any of you need rain, I will fly there, and go out without an umbrella. Well, at least I now have a rooted phone that I can play around with. I don't recommend the rooting and flashing process, unless you have some experience. I have some not so fond memories of bricking my old GTablet a few times before I got it right. Anyway, if you have a Nexus, check for an update in the next few days. It does increase speed and stability.

Sorry, But Facebook Already Is Just An App On Other Smartphones

Facebook hires former Apple employees, still working on a %u2018Facebook phone%u2019 | GadgeTell. An unnamed Facebook employee (smart move) has allegedly said that "Mark is worried that if he doesn't create a mobile phone in the near future that Facebook will simply become an app on other mobile platforms." Duh. Hate to tell you, your Markness, but Facebook already is just an app on other people's platforms. Unless you have a new mobile OS up your sleeve, Facebook is going to be used on all sorts of phones. Be happy with the fact that you are being used on just about every mobile device on the planet. Not that you need the money; but, if world domination is your game, figure out a way to keep the shareholders rolling in money first. Look at me, presuming to give advice to the richest man in the world. Sorry, I take it all back. Create a Facebook phone. I am sure there are a lot of people who will buy it, just because of the logo. Or, just call RIM and offer them a billion dollars for the company. They will probably be glad to get out of the business.

Text Messaging A Driver Found Not Grounds For Liability

No Liability Found for Sending Texts to Driver Just Before Crash. If you thought that the texting while driving controversy was over, you are wrong. Just because a New Jersey trial court has found that a third party texter is not liable for the distraction caused to a driver who then caused an accident, you may be assured that the foreseeability test will be tested again, both on appeal, and in other cases. Of course, negligence must be the "proximate cause" of injury to be actionable, and that cause depends upon the vague notion of what is reasonably foreseeable. But, it will take a lot of trials, and a lot of appeals, to flesh out a doctrine of foreseeability in texting cases. Would direct evidence that the texter in this case had "actual knowledge" that the driver was operating a motor vehicle change the result? Who knows? However, this certainly will give impetus to voice texting software in phones. Drivers can be distracted by all sorts of things. It is the voluntary act that causes the distraction that creates liability problems. 

This Isn't Your Daddy's Nintendo

GameStop to sell Android tablets in over 1600 stores | Android Central. If you have kids, or have had kids in the last 20 years, you have spent some of your time in GameStop or similar store, looking at kids holding tiny video game machines. My kids ran the gamut, and I spent enough money on small game cartridges to bring Greece out of bankruptcy. These handheld game machines were pricey, and I remember spending $149 on one ill fated GameBoy, that mysteriously disappeared from my son's room a few weeks later. Now, it appears that the high end Android tablets are becoming kids' game systems of choice; at least the ones they carry around. With 7 to 10 inch screens, dual core, or better, processors, and dozens of game companies selling games in the the Google Play Store, they are an ideal product for GameStop in this new century. The great graphics, and modern gaming techniques, make the tablets ideal for this stuff. And, the benefit is that you can teach your kid all the productive things they can also do with an Android tablet, like spend hours talking to their friends on Facebook. Some things never change. Only the methods do.

The Last Full Measure Of Devotion

Execupundit.com: Quote of the Day - Memorial Day. The Gettysburg Address is perhaps the most brilliant piece of writing about the horror of war, and the men who die fighting them, ever written. Thanks to Execupundit for reminding us what we memorialize today:

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

History of Memorial Day

History of Memorial Day %u2014 History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts.  As we face another Memorial Day with soldiers at war, we should try to understand the history of what used to be called "Decoration Day", and to think about the unspeakable sacrifice made by young men or women who put themselves in harm's way to protect us. As I watch the televised tributes, the marches and TV ads, I can't help but be struck by how feeble it is to stand for a few seconds at a baseball game and say "Thank You". It seems like so little, and so inadequate. However, in the final analysis, what else can you do or say? How about spending some of the billions in dollars we are using to bail out large banks and corporations to provide benefits for veterans? Let's tell our legislators to say thanks with the wallet. 

Note: I posted this on Memorial Day in 2010 and 2011. I am posting it again to remind our Legislators that every day should be Memorial Day. And to remind each of us that this is a proud day; but, it isn't a happy day. 

Large And In Charge - It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's Viewsonic's 22 Inch Tablet!

ViewSonic%u2019s 22-inch Android 4.0 ICS Tablet Coming Next Month: Is It Real? :: Tablet / Laptop / PC :: Mobile & Apps. It is safe to say you won't be carrying the new Viewsonic 22 Inch Tablet, running Ice Cream Sandwich, in your pocket. Unless, of course you are the Jolly Green Monster. Hey, tablet manufacturers have tried every other size. But, the upcoming Viewsonic version of a giant, over $1,000, tablet, is monstrous indeed. Seriously, there will be some business and industrial uses for this thing. You could put it on the wall of the library or conference room, and you and your clients could play Angry Birds. However, how about watching movies, or doing legal research as a group, or doing demos if you are an Android developer? Of course, the smart users will buy a $200 32 inch TV and connect it to their existing Android phone. But, nobody ever said computer manufacturers were in tune with their users. 

Planning To Die At Your Desk - Depends On Where The Desk Is!

A Plan to Die at Your Desk Isn%u2019t the Best of Plans - Risk 411 | ALPS 411. I discovered this article from a link provided by Dan Pinnington. It postulates that planning to die at your desk is a likely result for  lawyers who don't have a retirement plan. I agree that failing to plan for the future can have bad consequences. However, in a technical and Internet age, there is no reason why a lawyer can't continue to practice law part time (when he or she feels like it) and why the desk location has become irrelevant. My personal example is a case in point. My law practice is a big part of who I am. However, it does not control me. I control my time and location with a smart phone, a Windows computer, an Android tablet, and I can be a lawyer wherever I am. I go home early in the day, and I can fool around if I want, or take calls from clients if I want, or work on documents if I want, in the comfort of my den. I can drive to the movies in the afternoon, and control when I return calls, because I have the tech. So, planning is important. However, having the technology to work as little or as much or wherever you want is just as important. Now, I want to go shopping at the computer store. If you are a client, you can reach me on my smartphone, where all my calls go with Google Voice. I will call you back after I spend a relaxing hour playing with the gadgets.