Futurelawyer

New Year's Eve On The Serengeti

Award Winning Serengeti Safari | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. You don't have to go to Africa to spend a day on the Serengeti Plain. We are spending New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens and taking the food truck out to the animals. Diane has a thing for Giraffes, and she will get to hand feed them on this tour. We will be ringing in a New Year, and being thankful we get another one. I hope all my readers have a happy, healthy, and enjoyable New Year. Remember, don't make resolutions. Just do it.

Walmart, You Robot Bee Pollinator You!

Walmart has patented autonomous robot bees | World Economic Forum. I, for one, welcome our new Robot Bee Pollinators. At least they won't sting us. But, the fact that WalMart, the largest retailer around, is patenting these guys does not make me calmer. Perhaps we should be more concerned about WalMart owning the food, the means of production, the retail stores, and everything else, than about patents on robotic bees. Hmmm....

The Essential Phone Has Left The Building

It Looks Like the End has Finally Come to the Essential Phone (Updated: Yep) %u2013 Droid Life. I suppose it was too good to be true. No consumer ever was accused of being intelligent about buying decisions. At less than $500, the Essential phone was as good as any other phone on the market, and got updates faster. It is my principal backup phone; but, it is now an orphan. However, the FutureLawyer always has a Plan B. By marrying to my Pictar photo grip, I have a small, light dedicated camera to carry around while my Note 8 remains comfortably in my pocket or belt case. The camera you have in your hand is the best one, and this package is a great one to have all the time.

Bring Out Your Dead - Monty Python Is A Stoic. Who Knew?

#ParrotSunday - The Beauty And Risk Of Free Flight

It takes a lot of training and trust for a parrot to be taught to fly free and return. In this video from Singapore, the Blue and Gold Macaw responds and returns; but, the Sun Conure ignores the whistle, and doesn't. From the comments, it appears he came back later; but, it is very difficult to allow a parrot its freedom and expect it to return every time. While I have bonded with my Scarlet Macaw, Savannah, I wouldn't risk it. She is not in her native habitat, and is not acclimated to living in the wild. 

Stoicism Is Hilarious

Who knew? The philosophy that asks us to contemplate death every day, and asks us to accept and love whatever fate throws our way, and is indifferent to the tragedies that befall us in life, is laughing all the way to the morgue. What if Marcus Aurelius were a stand up comedian? Hilarious.

 

How To Do The Holidays Like A Stoic

Some Stoic End of the Year Thoughts %u2013 Ryan Holiday %u2013 Medium. When Marcus Aurelius suggested looking at a feast as dead fish, dead bird, and dead pig, he wasn't trying to ruin the meal. In fact, he was redirecting focus to what matters...the people and the interaction between them. This post by Ryan Holiday highlights the dissonance between our societal norms of over-doing it at Xmas, and then, like sinners asking for forgiveness, making resolutions at the beginning of the New Year to reverse the process. Another Stoic suggested that, if you want to be a good man, or to do a good thing, why wait? Do it now. Try beginning the New Year's diet on Xmas. There is never a better time than now.

Google Messages - Do One Thing. Do It Well.

Google%u2019s Messages app now getting spam protection | Android and Me. In our short attention span, always busy, society, text messaging is ideal for communication. No long telephone calls that always require minutes of small talk. No wasted space. Short, simple, to the point. Of course, all software tends to turn into bloatware as features are added. Choosing from GIFs, Emojis, and other attachments can make texting bloated. However, Google has always kept it simple and straightforward, while adding efficiency features along with the bells and whistles. Now, in a nod to our world of annoying sales pitches and admen, Messages is getting spam protection. Can't happen too soon for me.

Google Chrome - New UI - Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Google Chrome's new UI is ugly, and people are very angry | ZDNet. Seriously, people. Are you really getting angry over the look of the new Google Chrome UI? (User Interface, for the uninitiated). Does the interface give you the option of opening the apps and sites you want to use? End of discussion. If you darling little snowflakes are this upset about a computer interface, you might perhaps need a swift kick in the A**. Jeez.

Google Duo - A Billion Devices And Growing

Google Duo now on at least 1 billion Android devices | Pocketnow. If you want to do a video or phone call with the Futurelawyer, load Duo on your phone, tablet, computer or other device. Then, call me, maybe. Just don't call me late for dinner.