Futurelawyer

DisneyWorld - When Is A Discount Not A Discount?

Disneyworld. I keep getting amusing emails from Disney. I have moved on to RV travel, and Universal Studios; but, Disney keeps sending me "Florida resident" deals that are just too good to believe. NOT. I got this one this morning, telling me I could get a 30% discount on a room at the Contemporary Hotel, one of the first hotels in DisneyWorld, and the first I stayed at back in the Seventies. I can save a huge 30% off of the normal room rate of $590 a night. I can't wait. After dissing the Annual Passholders during 2020, with the COVID 19 excuse, Disney quite generously will give me a big discount on already overpriced rooms. No thanks, Disney. I will park the RV at Ft. Wilderness occasionally (even that is overpriced at $229 a night); but, my days of opening my wallet to you are over.

Easter Sunday

Bok Tower Gardens. For Christians, this holiday commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Regardless of whether you are a believer, the history and the human connections is worth studying and remembering. For the non believer, this is still a happy holiday, filled with rabbits, Easter eggs and the celebration of Spring. We are on the earth such a short time. We honor all beliefs, recognizing that no human really knows anything; especially about the future. I will spend the day with my bride having a picnic in one of the most beautiful spots I know.

Easter Sunrise Service At Bok Tower Gardens.

95th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The Bok Tower sunrise service tomorrow morning will be virtual, which means everyone can celebrate with the Bok Tower organization. We are going for the day in person, and will spend the day walking, contemplating, and photographing the birds. Bok is a bird sanctuary as well as a beautiful garden environment. Happy Easter.

A Relaxing Saturday RVing.

I spent a relaxing day at Universal Studios today, and enjoying getting familiar with RVing. It is fun having a home like environment available on the road, and tomorrow we will celebrate Easter with a Carillon concert at one of the most peaceful places in Florida, Bok Tower. Easter is a time of renewal, and lawyers and others can take advantage of new beginnings. It is a good time to remember to celebrate each day as if there would be no more.

A Relaxing Saturday RVing.

I spent a relaxing day at Universal Studios today, and enjoying getting familiar with RVing. It is fun having a home like environment available on the road, and tomorrow we will celebrate Easter with a Carillon concert at one of the most peaceful places in Florida, Bok Tower. Easter is a time of renewal, and lawyers and others can take advantage of new beginnings. It is a good time to remember to celebrate each day as if there would be no more.

Goodbye Disney...Hello, Universal Studios Orlando.

Universal Studios Florida. Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, the Georges family bought Annual Passes to Disney World in Orlando. For many years, the family paid exorbitant amounts of money for the privilege of making Disney Corporation rich. Then, after the Pandemic, the corporation used it as an excuse to stop selling Annual Passes, or at least to restrict access to them. For a long time, Disney got a lot more money out of tourists who spent a few days and bought expensive singe and multiple day passes. After the Pandemic, only those who had cancelled passes could by them, and only after jumping through hoops, and spending a lot of time on the phone, and filling out a form to be reviewed by Guest Services. Then, the Patriarch of the family remembered that, for several years  the family had enjoyed the Universal Studios park, which was less expensive, and which treated Annual Pass members like family. So, the Patriarch purchased Annual Passes and planned to spend a Saturday getting reacquainted with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, E.T., Spider Man, the Simpsons, the Transformers, Kong - Skull Island, Jurassic Park, and many rides and experiences. And he saw that Annual Passes at Universal cost the same as a couple of days at Disney, and he was happy. Every story should have a happy ending, don't you think?

You Can't Be Too Rich, Too Thin, Or Have Too Much WiFi.

TMobile Sync UP Okay, I may not be rich or thin; but, I have more WiFi to travel with than God needs. I have 3 TMobile phones with 10 Gigabytes a month each of high speed WiFi HotSpot capability. One of them is enough for most weekend trips anywhere, and includes streaming TV, movies, daily browsing and email, etc. Diane also has her phone, which is another 10 GB a month of HotSpot bandwidth. But, it occurred to me that I had a Sync Up device from TMobile in my SUV, which is my daily driver. It has the ability to have a secure WiFi Hotspot running from the car's OBD port. On Board Diagnostics have been around for many years, and is good for keeping track of vehicle location, gas tank, safety warnings, and specific problems with the car's engine. But, I decided that I would move it to Herbie, the VW we tow behind the RV, and, for an additional $25 a month, I now have a permanent HotSpot within 50 feet of the VW, with 30 Gigabytes a month of bandwidth. That is up to 70 Gigabytes of data when I am on the road, and you can now text or email me anywhere, and I can watch the NFL Network anytime. I could watch the SuperBowl 100 times. If you have taken my advice and switched to TMobile, and gotten a Sync Up device.

Oculus Quest 2 Charging Station - Sometimes Simple Solutions Are The Best.

Anker Oculus Quest 2 Charging Station. I don't use the Quest 2 VR headset enough. It stays in a hard case, and I can go for days without realizing it is there among the other gadgets and toys. I still work for a living, so recreational time is at a premium. So, when I saw this innovative charging stand from Anker, I got one. Now, my Quest 2 is always charged up and ready to go next to my chair, and I can take a few minutes to fly a Fokker Biplane, or visit the Louvre, or paddle down a dark river trying to avoid Russian snipers. The VR Experience is great for traveling to far away places. It is hard to describe; but, you really can get a feel for a place when you are walking around it in VR. Wanna get away? Don't spend thousands on airfare, hotels and aggravation. Visit virtually. It's the next best thing to being there.

If You Have To Work From Home, Bring Your Home With You.

For the past year, most of us who are able have been working from home a lot. Lawyers who already knew how to work remotely had a technical advantage, but many others got up to speed quickly. Zoom and other videoconferencing apps became common for us all. But, still, the lack of personal contact and the ability to travel in comfort and safety, was trying for everyone. I always had adopted the Stoic attitude that travel for escape was a fool's errand. You are still the same person, after all. And, the rigors of travel went beyond safety concerns. I hated the waiting in airport security lines, sitting in cramped seats for hours, waiting for connecting flights, and lugging clothing, toiletries and computers around in suitcases with wheels, before collapsing in hotel rooms that were not always comfortable. Sure, it was nice to see new places; but, in the end, I preferred traveling locally in a car; or, at most, driving for a day or two. But, then, I recalled the Eighties, when I discovered RVs, and found I enjoyed having my living room, bathroom, shower, and bedroom come along for the ride. The best part was that I could avoid human contact until I got to my destination. See America first was my motto. Now, it is See Florida First. There are dozens of State Parks and other attractions that allow travel enjoyment and nature and even crass, expensive, theme parks if you insist. Where is your office?

Where Does Virtual Lawyering Actually Occur?

ABA Ethics Opinion 495...Lawyers Working Remotely. I have been, on occasion, practicing law remotely for many years. When technology gave me the freedom to be a lawyer anywhere, I took advantage of the opportunity. This ethics opinion makes clear that it isn't the lawyer's physical location that is important, it is whether he holds himself out, and practices, from a jurisdiction where he is not licensed. So, my clients who engage my services to practice law in Florida, in matters relating to Florida law, can be anywhere, and so can I. I often recall using a telephone modem to send files back and forth to my law office in the Eighties from a payphone in Yosemite National Park in California. It gave me a sense of control that is difficult to describe. I was no longer tethered to a desk in Florida, and felt free to move around and travel. This past year, learning how to practice remotely has become essential to lawyers. Welcome to the party.