Futurelawyer

The Kindle Is Dead, Long Live The Kindle Scribe.

Amazon Kindle Scribe Review. I love my beautiful color Samsung Galaxy Tablet and my beautiful Samsung Galaxy Smartphone. I can access anything on the Internet on them, and run dozens of Android apps that can keep me occupied for hours. When I don't want to be interrupted or go off on an Internet tangent that keeps me in a Google trance, I read on my tiny little Kindle PaperWhite. But, I hate the tiny screen, and I am soon drawn back to the color screens. But, during the day, I need to keep notes about my client conferences, and have to keep a daily calendar that I write on to keep track of the day, with its twists and turns, and cancelled meetings and hearings, etc. etc. So, I got an EInk tablet that has all sorts of bells and whistles, and I can write on all day, and is an Android tablet; albeit with a monochrome screen. But, I only need a basic note taking screen, and a basic screen for my daily calendar. So, when I discovered Amazon's new 10.1 inch Kindle Scribe, that combined Kindle's beautiful reading screen with note taking ability, I jumped at it. Yes, the note taking is basic; but, hey, my needs for that are basic. Now, if I don't want to be distracted by the Internet, and I want to read the Stoic philosophers,  or the great literature of history, or lose myself in a Sherlock Holmes mystery, I have them all in my hand. And, if I have to take notes during a client conference, I just click a button, and I can always go back to Sherlock if I want. The tiny Kindle and the Boox Note Air are now relegated to Rick's land of misfit gadgets, to be taken out and played with occasionally. Life is short. He who has the most gadgets wins.

What If They Made A Kindle You Could Write Notes On?

Amazon Scribe. I love my Boox Note Air. It is a full WiFi tablet that can download Android apps. But, it is monochromatic, and I can do all the apps on my color Samsung Galaxy tablet. I also love that I can write all my client notes and daily calendar on the Note; but, reading with the Android Kindle app isn't ideal. The Boox Note screen is very fussy. It occurred to me that I had been doing most of my book, news, and magazine reading on my tiny Amazon Kindle Paper White, which, while water resistant, doesn't have an Eink function. No note taking. Well, Amazon must have been listening, because the new Amazon Scribe, which I just received, does just that. Think huge 10 inch format, with Kindle reading quality, and a stylus that can be used to write notes on books and documents, and can even be used to take notes. It is perfect for client conferences and meetings. Just click a ne Note, and start writing. There are even templates to choose from. Now, if I can figure out how to do a custom template of my daily Google calendar, I can set the Note aside. Are you still using paper and pen? Don't do that anymore. Join the digital revolution.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Will Never Be Unemployed.

Brian H. Potts Book. Law graduates who don't find a job right away can get some tips from this book. The author says: "Here’s the truth: the vast majority of recent graduates who pass the bar and want to work end up employed. If you read my book while sober, and actually plan to do some of the things I recommend, it’s highly likely you’ll land a legal job of some sort within 6 to 12 months of being sworn in as a lawyer of the bar. How else do you think I can guarantee that you’ll get a job after reading my book, or I’ll give you your money back? It’s a numbers game." However, I still think it is possible to do what I and a friend did right out of law school in 1973. Hang a shingle and go. 50 years later, I am still doing it. I don't have, and haven't made, a lot of money. But, I often feel like I have never worked a day in my life. I get scared about a lot of things; but, I have never been scared of being unemployed.

Obsolete Room Needs A New Purpose.

It occurred to me that my law library is obsolete. I am semi-retired and don't do litigation anymore that is contested enough to require a room for depositions, and I do contract and will signings at the front of the office. The room is essentially the same as when I moved in here 37 years ago. Even if I were to do depositions these days, many of them are done online, in front of a camera, and use Zoom. The law books that I purchased 50 years ago, and diligently updated over the years became obsolete when the Compact Disk was invented, and later made redundant when legal research went to the Internet. These books contain a paper record of every appellate decision in Florida since Statehood in 1845. Again, they stopped when law opinions went digital. The room used to be a garage when the house was originally built in the Fifties. Perhaps I could convert it back. There is a feeling of nostalgia, however, when I go out there occasionally, and sit at the conference table. If anyone has an idea about what I can do with it, please let me know. I will probably not do it; but, it is nice to think that it might have a future. 

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Have To Buy Wally Bock's New Book.

Become A Better Boss One Tip At A Time. Sorry, Wally; but, I don't need to become a better boss. I am the boss, and I don't have any employees. I know that your book will be very helpful to the bosses out there who want to be better. I know that is is chock full of good tips that will help bosses everywhere get more out of their employees. I am certain that it will make many bosses better human beings if they follow its principles. But, I don't need it.

Jay Glazer Is Unbreakable.

Unbreakable by Jay Glazer.  My recent favorite read is this funny, profane, honest, and entertaining book by Jay Glazer on depression and anxiety. It is difficult to admit that you have anxiety that turns into depression, whether mild or severe. Old age has softened the effects of it on me; but, I have found times in my life when events have engulfed me in a pitch black darkness that can last for days. So, when I see that one of my favorite football commentors has the stones to write an honest book about the subject, I am interested. Thank the powers that be that my own anxiety faded over time; and that my attacks were pretty mild; but, if you have ever suffered from even a mild depression, you should read this book. Read it even if you aren't a football fan. Stress, a complicated society, chaos in the streets, pandemic worry, and a host of other modern stressors can hit anyone. Like Glazer, my anxiety always lessened once I summoned up the courage to face the courtroom or client or other difficult situation. I learned an important lesson: most of us feel the same fear, and most of us are supportive of each other. It really is about just showing up. Things, as the Stoics say, are never as bad as we imagine they will be. 

The Complete Harvard Classics - You Can Pay $1,000 Or Get Them For Free. Your Call.

Complete Harvard Classics. You can get the entire 51 Volume, Leather Bound edition of the complete Harvard Classics, for around $1,000. Or, you can download the entire set on a tiny Kindle device for free. If I had another 50 years to live, I would like to get through all of the over 100 works; but, alas, I will have to settle for making a dent. In any event, I downloaded the entire set to my Kindle PaperWhite in around 60 seconds. I just give you options. You decide.

Project Gutenberg - A Lifetime's Worth Of Free Reading.

Project Gutenberg. So many books. So little time. I don't remember when this old saying morphed from "So many women. So little time." But, it did, and when I finally realized how little time I had left, my reading days got shorter, and the number of books I wanted to read got longer. You really don't need any other reading site than Project Gutenberg, which has over 60,000 free Ebooks, and many in Kindle format. But, you can get them with or without images, in most cases, and in every EReader format. In my younger years, a trip to the wonderful library at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, where my step-father was stationed, was a real treat. I could settle into a big leather chair, and read for whole days. I discovered Bruce Catton there, and learned about the Civil War and tales of bravery and tragedy. I thank my mom for inspiring, in me, a love of books and reading, and some of my best days have been spent with books. Michael Wade, of Execupundit, loves books also, and has an extensive paper library. While I love the tactile sensations provided by books on paper, there is great power in having the collected knowledge of the planet in a small device that fits in your hands or pockets. Check out Project Gutenberg. There is not a moment to be wasted.

Four Years With The Best EReader On The Planet. The Kindle PaperWhite.

Kindle PaperWhite Review. I have owned a tiny EReader, the Kindle PaperWhite, for four years, and I carry it everywhere. It is IPF 8 water resistant, so reading by the beach or pool is easy. It has a bright screen that is easily viewable in any lighting conditions, and I got rid of the cloth case, since I like the feel of a light, tiny device in my hand that holds thousands of books. It syncs with my tablets and computers, so that I am in the same place on every device. This little thing only cost $130, and you can find them cheaper. The newer versions cost $140, and have a bigger screen; but, you can get my version for around $110. I have an Ebook version of my last poetry book on it, along with many of my favorites, ranging from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, classical literature, and current stuff as well. Currently, I am reading Jay Glazer's great new book on his lifelong battle with anxiety, "Unbreakable". Having suffered with mild anxiety myself, the raw power of his book speaks to me. But, you have your own favorite stuff, I know. The Amazon world is filled with stuff you can put in your pocket, and carry with you everywhere. One of my favorite pastimes is to spend time searching the 60,000 book library of Project Gutenberg, which has free ebooks spanning hundreds of years. The complete Shakespeare is another favorite. Reading is fundamental. It is enjoyable. We have a limited time to do it. Get started.

Why I Write Poetry.

I never have to worry about so many people buying my books that I have to do a reading in a book store, and be spat upon for the wisdom I gained from my life mistakes.