Futurelawyer

Google Pixel Buds - Great Sound And Easy To Use

I got a set of Pixel Earbuds yesterday, and they now work fine with any phone that has Google Assistant. No more waiting for tones to talk to the Assistant. Just press the button on the right ear bud, and ask your question. They are small, light, and unobtrusive, and come with a case that charges them when they are inside. This review hits all the features, and shows a demo of Google Translate that is pretty cool. Now, I just need to find someone who speaks a foreign language to communicate with. Oh, yes. Find me a millennial. 

Oh No! Snow White And Mickey Mouse Arrested!

Say it ain't so, Mickey! Arrested in a Disney Park? Do all of my heroes have clay feet?

The Best Song Of All Time

Ripping the CD of the Essential Dylan this morning. Reminded me that Rolling Stone is the best song ever written. Whether you look at it as as allegory of the hypocrisy of wealth, or the death of innocence in the Sixties, or a literal look at the foolish greed of many, it speaks to all of us.

 

A Robot In Every Home - What Could Go Wrong?

'Robots for everyone' in 5 years, says Japan's most valuable tech startup - CNET.In case you thought that we lawyers were an endangered species, you haven't been listening. In 5 years, this developer says there will be robots in every home, and they will take over the mundane house cleaning tasks that are the bane of our existence. However, what happens when they go rogue, and start throwing pots and pans around? No, I'm not talking about your spouse. Lawyers will be spending a lot of time litigating robot negligence and product liability. Was it the manufacturer's fault? Was there contributory negligence by the homeowner. Was the robot properly maintained and serviced? And, that doesn't even cover the army of lawyers required to write the warranty disclaimers and liability waivers required to purchase one of these domestic goddesses. I can't wait until I get my first robot product liability case. I will be using artificial intelligent research to quickly get to the relevant issues. At what point will I be litigating whether a robot has individual rights? And you thought you were going to live in a utopia without lawyers. Get over it. 

Shakespeare Was A Stoic?

Shakespeare's plays are replete with characters spouting Stoic principles and comments. Epictetus' famous dichotomy of control is a perfect example. The most basic understanding of Stoicism requires the student to realize that events aren't good or bad; it is our reaction to them that is important, and that we control those reactions and nothing else. Today, practice catching yourself thinking about the things and events that happen as a good thing or a bad thing. Every time you react this way, tell yourself you are on a fool's errand. Want your fate to change? Just wait a minute.

Would You Go To An Amusement Park With No Rides, No Food And No Fun?

Life is an amusement park, and you aren't there long. Balance is the key; not self denial.

#ParrotSunday - Saving Kuhl's Lorikeet In The Cook Islands

Life will find a way. With some human help, sometimes.

 

Verizon Hears Consumers - Stops Locking New Pixel3 Phones

Verizon Halts Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL SIM-Locking | Android News. Long term readers know that I used to be a fan of Big Red. Verizon, I believed, was worth the cost, and I gave them a lot of money over the years. But, I converted to T-Mobile a couple of years ago, and am happier than ever. As an example, Heather, a T-Mobile service rep, called me on the phone the other day, and spent 30 minutes analyzing my account to search for ways to "reduce" my bill. I didn't initiate the call. I was happily paying T-Mobile $345 a month for 8 phone lines, 2 Smartwatch lines, 1 WiFi Hotspot box, and a SyncOn Car device. For the same configuration at Verizon, I was paying over $700 a month. After crunching numbers, Heather figured out that I wasn't getting the Veteran's discount, which I verified online in about 3 minutes, by completing an online form that gave my dates of service, and discharge date. Starting today, I am getting the same configuration for $240 a month going forward. To the point, can you see a Verizon rep calling me to do that? A few days ago, we found out that Verizon would be the exclusive carrier for the new Google Pixel3 and Pixel 3XL phones, and that the phones would be locked. Even if you bought them at BestBuy, you had to connect them to Verizon. Verizon, as per usual, didn't change the policy until the truth went viral, and orders started getting cancelled. This, by the way, is a good reason you should never buy a smartphone directly from the carrier. You can buy an unlocked Pixel 3 or 3XL from the Google Store directly. If, of course, you want to spend $800 to $1,000 for a phone. Lesson for the day. Buy an unlocked phone online for less than $500. Then, get an account with T-Mobile. Jeez.

Products You Don't Need Anymore

Was it only 25 years ago that everyone needed one of these? Thanks to Larry Kim for the link.

KardiaMobile EKG Monitor - A Doctor In Your Pocket

KardiaMobile EKG Monitor - Instant EKG on Your Phone | AliveCor %u2013 AliveCor, Inc.. As we grow older, the need for medical monitoring of vital signs becomes more important. As technology advances, the ability to monitor our vitals is becoming portable, and always available. For heart patients, it is very helpful to measure heartrate on the sensors located on modern Smartwatches. Blood pressure is able to be checked with inexpensive cuffs. No Doctor required. Now, more complicated measurements are possible, and a medical grade EKG can now be taken with a $99 device connected wirelessly to a Smartphone. If you are, or know, anyone with a heart problem, buy this now. It could save a life.