Futurelawyer

Happy Thanksgiving - Who Knew? Giraffes Like To Play Chess!

Elly has a new temporary home in the living room; at least, until my full sized bust of Julius Caesar arrives. I am thankful for another day to play chess, to love my family and friends, and to look for joy in all things. Eat, pray, love.

 

Playing Chess At The End Of The World

My Xmas present to myself arrived yesterday, a SquareOne all wood chessboard, with classic wood Staunton weighted pieces, that has an AI bluetooth phone connection and chess engine, and moves its own pieces. It is magical to move and then watch the opponent pieces move without human intervention. I have wanted something like this ever since "The Omega Man". Now, all I need is a bust of Caesar to sit across the table. Anyone for a game? Wait, I don't need you anymore. 

The Game Of Kings - AI Version

Amazon.com: Square Off Chess Set - an Electronic Chessboard, which Moves The Opponent's Wooden Chess Pieces on its Own. Kids or Adults can Play Against The AI or Any Online Chess Player Across The Globe.: Toys & Games. Well, as is the way, the best gifts are those you buy yourself. This year, I purchased an Artificial Intelligence powered chess set that uses classic Staunton wood pieces, and moves them by itself. You might remember Charlton Heston in "Soylent Green" playing chess with a bust of Napoleon. I might use a bust of Marcus Aurelius; and, my chess set will move its own pieces. AI finally does something worth doing. Pawn to King Four. Your move.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Yes, children, it's that time of year again. The smell of the cool Fall air is just around the corner. The voice of the NFL, recorded for posterity, booms from the TV and arm-chair quarterbacks plot playoff strategy. But, first, we need to prioritize our sports TV watching. 

Golf - Key To A Good Life

Golf is all you need. You don't need no stinkin' purpose or legacy.

Omar Sharif Bridge - Spend Time In Play

Buy Omar Sharif Bridge - Microsoft Store. One of my favorite memories of my mom was her weekly bridge club. Looking back, it was the first social media for women of the Fifties. While I wasn't too keen on having so many moms around, my mom taught me the game, and its intricacies were a close second to Chess in my youth. I can still spend a pleasant hour with the game on the computer. Getting a bunch of people together for a game that takes four isn't easy in the modern environment. If you play contract bridge, try this version. Now, if I can just remember my conventions.

Totally Useless Ways To Pass The Time With A Galaxy Smartwatch

I am always being asked about whether a Smartwatch is useful to practicing lawyers. Well, if getting vibrating reminders on your wrist of texts, emails, phone calls, the weather, sports updates, news updates, your heart rate, and a dozen other useful things would make your day more productive and enjoyable, then get a Smartwatch. But, the real reason to get a Smartwatch is to play useless shooter games in which you shoot down alien ships coming to invade our planet. Save the world. Get a Smartwatch. UFO Killer. Don't bother to click link unless you have a Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch. It won't work, Apple lover. 

My First Computer - The Atari 800XL

In the mid Eighties, I was already into technology, and personal computing was in its infancy. However, my first computer, the Atari 800 XL was a revelation. With a cartridge and a TV and typewriter printer attached, I could create documents, print them, and distribute them, without a secretary. I started with home correspondence; but, it soon became apparent that computers for work, and law practice, were going to be big. It is hard to believe that I learned about computers on a machine designed to play early video games. I remember driving an hour to a store that was selling the first chess Atari cartridge. Anybody have a PC before 1984?

Are Video Games Harmful To Kids?

A recent story about the new hit video game, Fortnite, that is consuming a lot of kid playtime these days got me thinking about my own kids. An early poem I wrote was begun as I wondered about the in games violence that kids were being exposed to. But, we live in a violent world. Should we be more concerned about the real violence outside? I don't pretend to have the answers; but, video game violence may not create violent adults; but, does it desensitize them to real world problems? Here is the poem, followed by a sample from Fortnite, now being played by millions of our children:

VIDEO GAME

But, papa, I don’t want to go outside,
he said in a small voice
as he navigated a three dimensional wonderland,
populated with fairies and demons
and monks and warriors.
Real people playing virtual lives
on a virtual landscape
doing virtual things.

I understood his reluctance.
Nobody ever really dies in there.
Magic potions and spells
renewed the body and spirit,
and the only casualties
were monsters and ogres
roaming the virtual meadows
and lurking in dark corners
of virtual castles.

He wanted to avoid the harsh realities
of the physical world,
where accidents happen
and people die
and insects bite
and sun burns.

How could I tell him
that the truth of life
is about the striving
and the risk?
How could I tell him
that virtual happiness
was no match for the real thing?

Or was that true after all?

Maybe he would tell me
that reality was the real illusion,
and that maybe wars should be fought
on virtual battlefields
where nobody dies.

 

#FridayFun - Virtual Reality Movies - What's Not To Like?

Bigscreen is preparing a Gear VR launch soon | Android Central. I don't spend enough time playing with my Gear VR Headset. I still use my Note 5 exclusively for Virtual Reality paired with the Gear VR. This new beta of a VR movie watching app has piqued my curiosity about spending more time with it, however. In fact, my recent purchase of a high end gaming headset might pair well with the experience. The only problem is that the headset sits on top of the head, just like the Gear VR. I will enjoy spending some weekend time trying to make it work. What's on your head?