Believe it or not, my constant companion, and something that is in my briefcase all the time, and my favorite and most useful tool, isn't computer or tech related. It is a pocket knife that I purchased many years ago at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, in Cherokee, North Carolina. This wonderful museum has, as its purpose,
“To preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee people.”
The native Indian culture of our country needs to be preserved, and its lessons are similar to Stoic philosophical belief systems.
The knife has many uses, from saw to bottle opener, and, while I have a large knife collection, I love this little pocket knife the most. What's in your brief case?
It will be a cold day in Hell when I get close to a bottle of The Macallan 30. At around $7,000 a bottle, it is reserved for rich people. But, whoever mixed this bottle with diet Coke should be tarred and feathered and escorted, by Rip, to the train station.
I loved the Remarkable Eink tablet. I loved ditching yellow legal pads and paper that tended to get lost in the flotsam and jetsam of my law office. I spent a lot of time searching in my files for that page of notes I took with someone's email or phone number or address on it. But, the Remarkable was difficult to navigate, and was more interested in complicated note taking. It was pricey, at $600; but, it found a home with Diane, who tends to get all of the gadgets I stop using. She is a list maker, and it suits her fine. I was then enamored by the Boox Note Air, which combined a really great note taking and writing experience with a full functioning wifi tablet that could download and run countless Android apps. But, I found that the screen was really squirrely, and difficult to control, and I found that video and android apps in a monochromatic screen was not optimal. I tended to use my color tablet from Samsung for that stuff. I still use my Samsung tablet for android apps, including my newspapers and magazines from PressReader. So, when I heard that Amazon was making a Kindle with ewriting capabilities, I was excited to see it. I like my Kindle Paperwhite. But, its screen is tiny, and, while easy to carry around and use, I was usually carrying something else. So, my huge collection of books wasn't at my hand all the time. Now, it is. I have a big, beautiful 10.3 inch screen to read, which is designed for reading text, and on which I can make all of my daily notes, either separately or on a pdf of my daily calendar. If I need to make notes or read a document, pleading, correspondence, or large file; most of which are in docx, pdf or other standard format, I just email the document to my Scribe with the Send to Kindle app on the Amazon site. It is then instantly on any Kindle device. I can mark it up, take separate notes, or whatever. Then, I send the notes or marked up copy to my computer with a click of the send to email button on the Kindle. Look, ma, no more paper? But, I can always print the notes or pdfs if I like. Call it overkill with a purpose. On top of all this, the battery lasts for a week or more, and the pen never needs charging. This video review outlines what the experts are calling the Scribe's failings. I call them features. The Scribe is perfect for the reading and note taking professional.
It's that time of year again. How will you celebrate Christmas this week? Or will you not celebrate it? The tinsel, and tree, and lights, and other trappings of the commercial Xmas are not the real reason. It isn't even necessarily a religious thing. For me and mine, the theme is peace on earth, and sharing good will to all. I know it isn't realistic; but, as Helen Keller famously put it:
“I am only one, but still I am one.I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
While everyone keeps posting about the lack of note taking features of the Scribe, I keep finding things I love about it. Having a 10 inch ereader is great. Some liked the tiny screens of the previous Kindles; but, I love having a full sized page reading experience. In my law practice, I live in a world of 8 1/2 by 11 inch pages. Pleadings, books, contracts, and just about every document is in that format. Now, I have hundreds of books big enough to read, and, unlike others, I think it is thin and light and has a bezel I can hold with my right hand. I am left handed, so I flip it over and the bezel is on the right side. I also, however, appreciate the renowned Kindle battery, which keeps going and going for days at a time, without the need to recharge. Most of my devices have to be on a charger at night; but, batteries are getting better, and I have had my Kindle going for two days now with the battery at 84%. I love not having to worry about the battery running out; but, if it does, pop in a USB charger, and it is ready to go again.
Taking Notes On The New Kindle Scribe. Actually, since I discovered Eink several years ago, I haven't purchased, or used, a single yellow legal pad. For many years, I had a ready supply of legal pads, and I scribbled notes every day. Keeping the notes organized was a huge problem. The pages got lost in legal files, stuffed in file cabinets, and forever lost to history. The latest in legal pad obsolescence is my new Kindle Scribe, and I love it. Amazon promises that there will bs software upgrades to make organizing and using the notes better in the coming months. But, the ability to click the Notes icon, and start writing on any template I want, and then sending the notes via email to a client's digital file on the computer, is great. And, all of my Kindle books and magazines are synced across my devices, so I can read anything at any time. I also am able to make notes on pdf files, as well as organize them. I will be carrying the Scribe everywhere from now on.
Great Circle US - Super Handy Mobile Scooter. While I can't imagine going to Florida's theme parks without our new mobility scooters, it is tough to move around the parks sometimes. We get so many people that stop us and have questions about these wonderful scooters. My heart condition, and age related arthritis make walking long distances agonizing, and I anticipated having to curtail my visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and Zoo Tampa; not to mention Sunken Gardens, where we were married. Now, we throw the scooters in the trunk, and pull them out when we get to the parks. Being able to move around the parks without pain is life changing. The people at Great Circle US make a lot of tools and other products; but, the scooters have become a favorite of mobility challenged people who aren't at the stage where a power chair or more expensive medical mobility device is necessary. If you need some assistance getting around, check these out. FutureLawyer recommended.
Honus Wagner At 59. Every kid and baseball fan knows about the Honus Wagner baseball card. If you don't, look it up. Now, there is color video of Mr. Wagner, at 59 years of age, talking about baseball, and the changes in the game over the years, and actually hitting and fielding in batting practice. For any baseball fan, this is magic. Enjoy.
P.S. There are only 50 to 60 copies of the card in existence, and one just sold for 7.25 million dollars. "One of the world's rarest baseball cards was sold for an extraordinary price last week. The famous T206 Honus Wagner sold for a record $7.25 million in a private sale facilitated by Goldin Auctions, the company said Thursday.Aug 9, 2022"
Those of us who immersed themselves in computers from the beginning, and who became tech literati, sometimes regret our choices. We are pummeled on all sides of the tech life, from family members and friends who constantly expect us to fix their computer problems, to the tech support from hell manufacturers who delight in devising ways to block our efforts to fix their mistakes. If you are a friend or family member who refuses to do the simple things, like update your systems, or set up two factor authentication, please understand that we are not magicians. I have always advised clients who want instant solutions to legal problems they have brought themselves that I am a lawyer, not a magician. Being a tech savvy lawyer also means that I have to tell my friends and family that I am a tech nerd, not a magician. But, it is nice to feel needed, so press on computer users. We live to serve.
This story about a cab driver who made the choice to be the best cab driver in the world spoke to me. It is an affirmation of the Stoic idea that we choose how to react to life and fate's events. We can choose to moan and complain, and keep a bad attitude and a dirty cab, or we can choose to be happy, and positive, and have the cleanest cab in the world. We can treat our clients like strangers, and strive to make their lives better; or, we can treat them like family and friends, and provide the best service it is within our power to give. We can live happy, joyful lives, regardless of our daily struggles, or we can lie down in agony and be miserable. Choose.
Lawyer,Poet, author, educator. Practices real property, corporation, wills, trusts and estates law in Pinellas County, Florida. Writes the FutureLawyer column. Gives seminars on technology and the law. Author of "Life is Simple, Really", Poems about Life, Loving, Family and Fun, and "Poems For Lovers".
