Futurelawyer

Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Almost 20 years ago, SWMBO bought tickets to a Lightning game as a birthday present. I had been a casual hockey fan before that, having grown up around beach sand and chlorinated swimming pools. But, I have always been a sports fan, and Tampa Bay had a hockey team since 1992. Who ever thought Florida could support hockey? Because a large portion of our population came from somewhere cold, and brought their fandom with them, it turned out to be a perfect fit. So, we went, and it took awhile to learn the rules, and figure out what blue lines, and red lines, and icing, and other things meant. The graceful movement of athletes gliding across ice was fascinating, and we became fans. Then, in a magical year, the Lightning won it all, and we experienced the thrill of a championship team. We got to spend 15 minutes alone with the Cup, and this photo is a prized possession. When Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman hoisted the Cup last night, it brought me back, and gave me chills again. Whatever tragedy or upheaval occurs in the world, there are some things that bring joy. The communal joy of sports and hard work and accomplishment under stress are the human things that should be celebrated.

Everyone Remembers The Day They Stopped Playing Golf

The pain! The frustration! And, then, the relief!

 

Phantom Covert Ops - Paddling Down The River With An M-16

I just lost 45 minutes of my life, and I can't wait to do it again. I have enjoyed touring the world in VR, and playing fast action shooting games, along with some tamer titles. But, VR with the Oculus Quest is mind blowing. The realism of paddling a kayak down a dark river filled with bad guys, and shooting targets with an M-16, makes you forget time. I was amazed when I took off the glasses and realized that what I thought was 5 minutes was actually 45 minutes in real time. You can lose yourself in the game, which is what Oculus VR should be about. Most fun I have had in a while. If you haven't invested $300 bucks in a Quest, you might want to wait for Quest 2, which supposedly will have 50% more pixels, and thus a much sharper image. But, if you don't want to wait, you can't go wrong with Covert Ops on the Quest. Get in some quality relaxation time before dealing with the next client. You'll be glad you did.

Guilty Pleasure Wednesday - Killing Monsters With Your Smartphone.

Razer Kishi Game Controller. I don't have a lot of time to play video games. I am a grown up. I have put away childish things. Oh, who am I kidding? There is a ton of satisfaction in running around killing monsters and blowing stuff up. There. I said it. Occasionally, I like to channel my 16 year old self and immerse myself in a classic video game. Doom is still my favorite. But, dedicating a big screen and computer with a high end graphics card isn't practical. My Smartphone is my traveling law office, and I can do just about anything with it. Connected to my Smartwatch, I literally can stay in touch with everything I need to ply my trade. But, alas, even a huge 6.2 inch phone screen and high powered processor can't handle the ergonomic difficulties of playing Doom. Using the thumbs and fingers on a tiny screen is not optimal when the monsters are coming to get you. Enter Razer, the company that became famous for gaming keyboards with satisfying deep throw mechanical keys that are a typist's dream. I use them for work, because I am a very fast touch typist, and I learned on mechanical keyboards. Now, the company has created a pullout game controller that connects to any candy bar smartphone. You stretch it and hook up to the MicroUSB connector. Presto, you have a handheld gaming setup that will keep you occupied. Now, excuse me, there are some monsters that I have to go kill. Hoorah.

Phantom - Covert Ops For Galaxy Quest VR. Lose Yourself In A Video Game

The release of Phantom - Covert Ops brings a new level of fun to the Galaxy Quest. You are immersed in a world that resembles the river in Apocalypse Now, and you paddle your canoe through some really scary situations. I haven't spent $30 on a video game in a long time. This one is worth it. Check out the review:

 

Sometimes It Doesn't Suck To Be A Bucs Fan

brady and gronk come to the bucs. If we ever can get NFL football again, it will be very interesting in Tampa Bay. I have been a Bucs season ticket holder since 1976, and I think 44 years is long enough to wait for an exciting team. Okay, the Bucs won it all in 2002; but, that was still 18 years ago. Over its history, the Bucs have been the Yuks for a lot more than they have been good. Welcome to Tampa Bay, Tom and Rob. Enjoy the sunshine. 

All Work And No Play Makes Rick A Dull Boy

ProPutt Goes Lefty. As many of you know, I am a fan of the Oculus Quest VR headset, and love testing new stuff. I have posted about the beta I am running from TopGolf, ProPutt VR, which brings golf to the VR genre. ProPutt is the first foray into VR golf, and it is a hit. The new update I installed yesterday allows me to play from my natural left handed side, and it is amazing. Imagine yourself in an immersive VR cartoon world, with mountains and streams and deserts and you are standing on, and walking around on a virtual putting green. I can't wait until TopGolf creates a complete golf course. I am driving Diane crazy by making her move the living room furniture so I have more room. Who needs to leave the house? And, now, on the first tee, it is the FutureLawyer. The crowd is in a hushed silence as he approaches the ball. He steadies himself over the putt, swings and taps the ball towards the waiting hole. The crowd cheers as the ball falls into the cup. On to the next hole.

Pro Putt VR - Location, Location, Location

Here are some shots of the great places you will be able to go when you play Pro Putt VR. It's like going on vacation in your head. Keep in mind that, in VR, you are actually standing in these places and walking around, with a 360 degree view. It's really like being there. And your mind suspends your disbelief and it feels like you are in a cartoon.

Golf In The Middle Of A Pandemic

ProPuttVR. After I got home from work today, I needed to zone out from news coverage and law practice. I have signed up for the beta version of a new VR game, Pro Putt, by TopGolf. Before that, however, I watched a VR version of a Chernobyl documentary, in which you are guided by a tour guide who was 9 years old when the 1986 accident happened. It is eerie to be in the middle of the town where it happened. In VR you really get a feel for the place, 35 years later. But, that is as depressing as watching news coverage of the Pandemic. So, VR golf is a flight into a fantasy world, in which you stand over a golf ball with a putter (the Right controller), and strike it while you are standing in the middle of a VR landscape. Very cool. Robert Holzhauer, the Director of Operations, is very proud of the progress they have made. The game beta, Version 5, is feature filled:

Overview of Beta V5:

- 3 Courses, with 2 Difficulty Modes per Course

- 4 Gameplay Modes per Course (Campaign, Stroke Play, Play a Bot, and Multiplayer)

- Topgolf Putting Lounge

- Practice Green

- Leaderboards

 

I can't wait for a VR version of a full golf course. I may never have to fight the Florida heat again. (I'm kidding). But, for now, this is as close as I am going to get to a golf course, since, as a high risk old person, it isn't smart for me to be outside a lot. Thanks, Robert. Keep up the good work. The rest of you, if you haven't sprung for an Oculus Quest headset yet, you are missing out on the next computer revolution. Now, where is my putter?

ProPutt - How To Spend Your Time In A World Gone Mad

ProPutt. Locked up in your house? Avoiding traffic and people? Trapped with your family, most of whom you have had no contact with for years? Well, now is the perfect time to dust off your VR headset, and and head to the virtual links for a round of virtual golf. What, you don't have a VR headset? Sorry, but I have been preparing for this moment for several years. With the Oculus VR headset out for a year now, and collecting virtual games and entertainment for a lot of that time, I am ready to lose myself in a virtual world where nobody dies; at least, not permanently. Enjoy your life. You only get one in the real. And, it will end. Today, I go home early, and VR golf.