Futurelawyer

Google Tasks - Get Things Done

Hands-on with Google Tasks: Another beautiful but disjointed way to get things done with Google. Organized people are always making lists. Lawyers use checklists to avoid missing essential tasks in their practice and in litigation. Most of us even make grocery lists and errand lists to make sure we get everything done. One of Google's best kept secrets is Google Tasks, which is an integrated list system for Google products. If you don't want or need a full strength case management system, this little list system sits in a column on your Gmail tab in your browser. You can add to it by voice with your smartphone or Google Home device. You can create different lists, for different groups of tasks. It is fast, simple and meets the FutureLawyer test for utility. It does ONE thing, and does it well. Now, go get something done today.

#ParrotSunday - Every Buccaneer Needs A Parrot

Polly want a sacker: Bucs%u2019 4th-round draft pick to be delivered by parrot | tbo.com. When the Bucs go to the podium to deliver their fourth round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, it will be delivered by a Catalina Macaw. I will stay up to see that, as it combines my two favorite things: parrots and football. Zsa Zsa will steal the show as she delivers the pick from the Pirate Ship at Raymond James Stadium. While the parrot will not be involved in choosing the pick, it isn't likely that would make any difference, would it?

Travel Everywhere If You Must - It Won't Solve Anything

Seneca and the other Stoics had a counter-intuitive insight about the escape of travel. The allure of new places, and seeing new things has captivated mankind since the beginning. However, the Stoics figured out why travel didn't help solve problems. It is as simple as understanding that our problems are within us; and, only within our control.

1 Do you suppose that you alone have had this experience? Are you surprised, as if it were a novelty, that after such long travel and so many changes of scene you have not been able to shake off the gloom and heaviness of your mind? You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.[1] Though you may cross vast spaces of sea, and though, as our Vergil[2] remarks,

Lands and cities are left astern,

your faults will follow you whithersoever you travel. 2. Socrates made the same remark to one who complained; he said: "Why do you wonder that globe-trotting does not help you, seeing that you always take yourself with you? The reason which set you wandering is ever at your heels." What pleasure is there in seeing new lands? Or in surveying cities and spots of interest? All your bustle is useless. Do you ask why such flight does not help you? It is because you flee along with yourself. You must lay aside the burdens of the mind; until you do this, no place will satisfy you. 

Seneca

Millennial Madness

Samsung Versus Apple - The Case That Won't Die

Witness List Filed As Samsung & Apple Case Continues Again | Androidheadlines.com.  The patent litigation that won't die is finally headed to trial, after six years of hearings, discovery, appeals, and more. This time, Apple has a tougher proof problem, given the requirement to prove the definition of "article of manufacture" includes the whole Smartphone. The battle of experts, regardless of result, will then head back to the appeals courts. On the one hand, I am happy these two companies are making work for lawyers. On the other hand, am I the only one saying "Can't these companies just get along?" 

Fingerprint Access To Smartphone After Death?

Florida police try to use dead man's finger to unlock his phone; was a warrant needed?. I have written before about the different legal standards applicable to the search and seizure of Smartphones secured by fingerprint or numeric code. The fingerprint is a physical characteristic, and doesn't share the same testimonial privilege of a code that the user knows. However, what happens after the death of the phone owner? This case occurred here in my home county of Pinellas on the west coast of Florida. Police officers investigating the shooting death of a suspect went to a funeral home and used the fingerprint of the deceased to try to unlock his phone. Were they required to get a warrant? The deceased no longer has any Fourth Amendment protections, that is certain. However, his estate has ownership of his property. Must consent from the Personal Representative of the Estate be obtained? What happens until a P.R. is appointed? Interesting questions. 

Google - Spam Yourself

People's Gmail accounts appear to be sending out spam. Some GMail accounts have been apparently sending spam emails to their own accounts. Emails touting male growth hormones, diet aids, and other typical spam content have been showing up in the Sent folders of Gmail users, even those using two factor authentication. Google is looking at the problem. This is, of course, a good reason to remember that, even if you are using two factor authentication on your account, you still need to be vigilant. Google says it is taking active steps to stop the campaign, which is apparently forging email headers to make it look like users are receiving email from themselves. In any event, so far the problem is limited to Telus users in Canada. Be careful out there.

Perspective - Change Your Point Of View

Space Images | Solar System Portrait - Earth as 'Pale Blue Dot'. Sometimes, a change in perspective can be enlightening. We spend our lives chasing money, chasing dreams, chasing fame, chasing fortune, and chasing legacy. But, what legacy is there? What have we achieved if we gain the whole world? This image shows our world from Voyager four billion miles from us. See the tiny dot in the vast blackness of space? That's us. There were billions of planets before us, and there will be billions more after our Earth is gone. Spend a little time viewing your life from this perspective. See if it changes your priorities. Enjoy your Monday.

Digital Evidence - The Legal System Is Playing Catch-up

From Fitbit to PlayStation, the justice system is drowning in digital evidence | WIRED UK. There is no question that the amount of digital data, and thus potential digital evidence in civil and criminal litigation, is increasing exponentially. As the Internet of Things becomes a reality, there is a digital chip in just about everything in our lives, from our clothing to our refrigerators. CCTV is no longer a commercial reality; it is in our homes, our cars, and our bedrooms. What's a lawyer to do? It can be the most expensive part of litigation just to conduct discovery, when we must postulate, locate and mine data from Smartwatches, Smartphones, video doorbells, cloud data storage, computer drives, tiny MicroSD cards, and who knows what else. Collecting the devices, and mining the data is just the beginning. Authenticating the devices, proving relevance, evidentiary hearings, and use at trial makes every lawyer a computer expert. The rules of evidence, as many laws and regulations, lag behind the technology, creating another layer of complexity for trial lawyers. Sometimes, it is good to be conservative in updating laws. However, now is not that time. 

#ParrotSunday - Red Necked Amazons From Dominica

The Red Necked Amazons, indigenous to Dominica, are an endangered species. While several were rescued from Hurricane Maria, which destroyed much of their habitat, they are now in Germany, where efforts are being mounted to return them to Dominica. In addition, no notice of the evacuation was given to Dominican and International authorities.