Futurelawyer

Best Baseball WalkUp Song Ever... No Contest.

Wild Thing is my entry. Anybody think they can beat it?

 

The Future Is Now - The Time Machine's Librarian Is Here.

When I saw the Time Machine movie adaptation of the Wells' novel, I was intrigued by the future librarian scene, in which a holographic librarian was the repository of all human knowledge, and conversed with the protagonist. That future had destroyed itself; but, the librarian remained. We are on the cusp of making that 2002 movie a reality. Generative AI is now conversing with us in real time, and is pretty much indistinguishable from a super smart human. It is easy to put an Internet connected A.I. into a robot, and get a similar experience. You can bet that there will be A.I. equipped robots walking around in our near future. I love having generative A.I. as my legal assistant, answering complex questions. I have to remember that the answers come from language libraries developed by humans, and can contain errors and hallucinations. But, as a starting point for legal research, and checking results for accuracy, these things are becoming essential. Here is a clip from the movie, in case you didn't see it:

 

Remaking Disney's Politically Incorrect History.

I have a modest proposal for Disney. It is really offensive to me that so much of Disney history is filled with politically incorrect stories and images. As an example, when Snow White is awakened from her coma by a kiss from the Prince, it is a perfect example of non consensual action on his part. Shocking. So, here is an alternative way to end the story. You're welcome. While I am at it, I applaud Disney's recent remake of the Country Bear Jamboree, by removing the offensive Liver Lips McGrowl. What an offensive character he was. 

 

Star Wars Review.

Star Wars Review. I was scrolling through Facebook and this 1977 review of Star Wars by Siskel and Ebert popped up. As soon as I heard Siskel's prescient, almost throwaway comment at the end, I realized that his fear had come to pass. Hollywood certainly has tended to reduce serious filmmaking over the past several decades, hasn't it? We all like explosions, special effects, and spectacle; but, let's not forget the quiet, serious movies.

"People Will Come, Ray". Why We Love Baseball.

I get a lot of resistance from friends who can't understand why I attend baseball games. How can you sit for hours watching grass grow, they say. Too little action, they say. Football and hockey are more exciting, they say. The world has passed the game by, they say. Baseball executives hear it too. They have instituted pitch count timers, and cut back on novel player placement, and other things to speed up the games. But, at its core, the magic of baseball is its continuity. It is the magic of remembering our youth. It is the magic I feel when I remember the time I threw a player out at home plate from right field. Or, the time I had an unassisted double play at first base when I made an impossible catch of a line drive. Or, the time I walked 8 batters in a row in an All Star game. Every time I sit in the stands, and score a game on the computer, I remember hot summer evenings as the official scorekeeper for the municipal baseball league. But, Terence Mann, the fictional sportswriter in Field of Dreams, said it best. 

It's Monday - Time To Play The Greatest Movie Ever Made.

I fluctuate between Casablanca and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. I think maybe it's a tie. But, you may disagree.

 

If Clint Eastwood Is Your Neighbor...

He did tell you to get off his lawn.

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band Of Brothers.

Kenneth Branagh, as Henry V, is my favorite movie adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Its themes are human, universal, and the St. Crispin's Day scene still gives me goosebumps when I watch it. Going into a trial as an underdog? Have your trial team watch this. Facing a fight in your everyday life? Watch this. While the pursuit of glory and legacy is largely illusory in our short human lives, there are fights worth fighting, and the courageous can be rewarded. There are many scenes in Branagh's performance that should be required viewing, such as the discovery of the traitors in his midst; but, this one is the most inspiring. Branagh is our greatest living actor; although, Paul Scofield's "Man for All Seasons" is a close second. Need some fire to fact the day today? Spend five minutes with Shakespeare and Branagh. 

 

Lies, Damned Lies, And Movie Reviews.

Cable TV Is Dead. Join The Samsung Galaxy.

Samsung TV Plus. Why are you paying a fortune for Cable TV? If you own a Samsung TV or other device ( I have several), Samsung offers a completely free TV service, with over 190 channels. Yes, that is right. Whatever your interest ( I am currently watching Taming of The Shrew with Taylor and Burton on Channel 1478 Cinevault Classics), Samsung has a channel for you. We are all watching more video on our phones and tablets, and with a USB to HDMI cable, we can plug into our big screens. Another great source for free TV is Pluto, which has dedicated channels for some of my guiltiest guilty pleasures, like the James Bond channel, and the Perry Mason channel. We forget the power of the young Richard Burton, and the Shrew is great fun. Watch out, Diane, I am taking notes.