Futurelawyer

Are You A Tigger Or An Eeyore?

Today I offer a short note on optimism. In these recessionary times, the stress and aggravation of law practice seems amplified. It appears that we are in a perfect storm of financial and legal problems, and lawyers are, this time, having trouble with everyone else. In large law firms, layoffs are becoming commonplace. In solo practices, many of us are missing paychecks. We are becoming frugal out of necessity, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Struggling to make ends meet, like a terminal illness, requires us to focus on what is really valuable. Randy Pausch, facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, knew that, and, in the Last Lecture and his book, eloquently explained it to us. One of Randy's bits of wisdom was to advise us that it is better to be Tigger than Eeyore. After all, what real choice do we have? We can be happy and optimistic, even in the face of financial or medical disaster, or we can be depressed and sad. Happy and optimistic is more fun, and, in the final analysis, reality is reality, whichever we choose. Why not choose to have fun, and enjoy what life we have left? So, if you are a solo missing paychecks, cut back on things that cost money, and look for enjoyable things that don't. If you are laid off from a large firm, start a small one. Look for a new career that you enjoy. A law degree is always going to be helpful in any job. I have always tried to smile and say "If you aren't having fun, don't do it". Be a Tigger, not an Eeyore.

Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire

Catch Phrases That May Tip You Off to a Lie - Culture - Lifehacker.  Most lawyers, over time, get pretty good at spotting deception. It is a natural prgression; but, the techniques can be learned. This post points out some of the more obvious indicators that indicate a probability of a lie; however, tread carefully. Sometimes, all is not what it seems. On the other hand, most of us, by living, develop a keen sense of what to look for in a lying liar. When we miss it, it is usually the product of our own prejudices, and not a matter of missing signs. Generally, we subconsciously ignore the red flags, for other reasons. My favorite rule? When somebody feels the need to tell you they are honest, or truthful, they almost always betray a deceptive personality, and are lying liars.

For Word Challenged Lawyers - Use Wolfram Alpha as a Writing Tool -

Use Wolfram Alpha as a Writing Tool - Wolfram Alpha - Lifehacker. Words are the tools of the trade for lawyers. If you don't have a dictionary in your brain, or you could use some help, the new computational engine in Wolfram-Alpha can be your savior. While scientific and math data is the most common use of the engine, few people know that you can use it for an intelligent dictionary. Just ask what all of the words with a particular suffix, and Wolfram-Alpha will answer you right away. If you want to combine Google with Wolfram, try Goofram, a hack of the two engines.

Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene

Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene. Well, that didn't take long. Days after Apple unceremoniously blocked Google Voice from the iPhone and iPod Touch, a version of Google Voice has been made available for the Palm Pre. Do you want Google Voice on your mobile phone? You can't do that with Apple. But, you can with the new Palm Pre. And, given the open architecture of the Pre, you will be seeing many more applications for the Web OS. There is something rotten at Apple, and protectionism is at the top of the list.

Sprint's customer losses continue in 2nd quarter - What A Surprise!

Sprint's customer losses continue in 2nd quarter | Wireless - CNET News. Okay, by way of disclosure, in case you haven't been paying attention, I have been involved in a billing and cancellation dispute with Sprint for a while now. I don't like the company, I don't like the way I was, or am, being treated, and I will never voluntarily pay them another dime. That said, does it surprise anyone that they are losing customers in droves? When Verizon Wireless gets the Palm Pre early next year, I will be at the front of the line. However, don't blame me if you can't wait til Verizon gets it, and you sign up with Sprint. Some of you have emailed me that you are with Sprint, and have no problems. I was too; that can change in a heartbeat. So, Sprint, keep up the poor customer service, and keep treating customers like deadbeats. What a way to run a corporation.

Verizon Offers Free Wi-Fi To FIOS Broadband Customers

Verizon Offers Free Wi-Fi To Broadband Customers -- Wi-Fi -- InformationWeek. If you have the most expensive Verizon broadband service, the relatively new FIOS service, you will now have access to free WiFi at thousands of Boingo mobile hotspots at restaurants, airports, and bookstores around the country. Verizon has been proactive of late on the WiFi front, with its mobile broadband router, the MiFi, which creates a mobile hotspot wherever it goes. Will the combination of WiFi with paid Internet services create the everywhere cloud that WiFi promised when introduced? Too soon to tell; but, the expansion to airplanes is a good sign.

Installing Pre homebrew apps: now even easier

Installing Pre homebrew apps: now even easier. If you needed a reason to prefer the Palm Pre over the iPhone and iPod Touch, the recent proliferation of homebrew software for the Pre should help. Aside from a removable battery and a keyboard, both of which the Apple products lack, the Pre will accept any software written using its OS, no matter where it comes from, even if it is the user's home office. Free and easy innovation and access. What a concept. I have a modest proposal for Apple and Palm. Apple should adjust its ads to say "There's An App for that, but only if we allow you to create it", and Palm should be saying: "If there is a need for an app, anyone in the world can buy an SDK and create it".

Apple Says No To Google Voice On The iPhone | Techdirt

Apple Says No To Google Voice On The iPhone | Techdirt. I love the iPod Touch. However, I hate the arbitrary control that Apple exerts over applications for it. Apple has a big headstart on the Palm Pre for applications for its devices; however, I predict that, over time, as the open Pre OS attracts more developers, that advantage will disappear entirely. I will use the Touch until I can get the same, and more, applications on the Pre. However, Apple had better take a long, hard look at the marketplace.

Palm Pre And Verizon Wireless - Heaven Sent

Palm Pre finally gets a second home at Verizon | Technology | Los Angeles Times. Verizon has confirmed, as of yesterday, that the Palm Pre will be coming to Verizon early next year. The Web OS upgrade last week is just the first tweaking of the early adopter bugs, and Verizon, as is its preference, is not the first to offer the phone, but the bugs will be out of it by the time it does. So, in a show of patience, I shall wait a few more months until my carrier of choice offers it; however, I am waiting with a touch of anticipation. Until then, the Palm Centro serves quite well as a phone and email machine. Most of my mobile entertainment is coming from the iTouch these days. Is it January yet?

Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online

Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online. You didn't need a study to figure this out. I knew it already. She Who Must Be Obeyed gets more beautiful every day she deigns to stay with me, while I am beginning to look like the portrait of me that I have hanging in my secret closet, covered with a blanket. When I finally look like Dorian Gray, she will look like Marilyn Monroe. Of course, women aren't as impressed by good looks as men are. They are much smarter than that.