North Coast Connections

Goodbye

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:47:02 -0800

After 2 1/2 years and 96 postings, I bid you farewell as a contributer to the TS Blogs. It has been fun and a great learning experience for me.

The greatest tech tool ever - digital ink

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:42:30 -0800

In this, my next-to-the-last blog entry, I have a story about the greatest tech tool ever. It's something called Digital Ink, by Rover Tech Fusions in Tampa, Florida. Here's the deal ... you write notes using a digital pen, dock it to your computer and it translates the text that can be exported into whatever program you want. Wow !!!

Delta is OK by me

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:59:59 -0800

I had my first trip on Delta Airlines last week and I have to say that the overall experience was positive. Kudos to the many local people who worked so hard to get this added air travel option for the North Coast. Chief among them was Gregg Foster, previous executive director for the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission. The others who helped include the Eureka Chamber of Commerce and the many businesses and individuals that purchased $2,000 "travel bank" advance airfare cards to prime the pump and convince Delta Airlines that we were serious and committed.

Blogging for profit

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:25:20 -0800

OK, I admit to being an unabashed Capitalist. I got into blogging for fun, but after 2.5 years I think it's time to blog for profit. Accordingly, I'll bid the TSblog a fond farewell on June 30 and shortly thereafter begin a business-related blog on my Justice Served website.

Will paper maps disappear?

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:02:48 -0800

While it's true that technology has and will continue to change just about everything around us, a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle made it sound like paper maps were coming to an end as a result of GPS devices that seem to have become so ubiquitous these days. I think the rumors of the death of paper in this instance are overstated.

Don't go all a Twitter

Sat, 31 May 2008 13:09:21 -0800

Everyone in the tech world keeps looking for the biggest development of the year. Some of these phenomena don't emerge right away but build up a groundswell over time. I consider instant messaging, text messaging, Facebook and MySpace in this category. The latest buzz is about Twitter, a sort of a cross between a blog and an instant message.

Shopping for antivirus software

Sat, 24 May 2008 15:16:39 -0800

It is still shocking to me that a lot of people do not use virus protection software on their computers. Some, like Mac and Linux users, believe that their operating system choices preclude them from attack in the first place. Others , like Microsoft co-president Jim Allchin, believe that built-in security features in Microsoft Vista operating system and advances in Internet Explorer render anti-virus software unnecessary. The rest of us purchase virus protection software and services out of an abundance of caution or because we've been bit too many times to go without it.

Death by Powerpoint

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:13:34 -0800

By now, we have all been subjected to Powerpoint presentations, and a hapless few of us have actually had to put these presentations together and deliver them in front of an audience. Neither of these are particularly pleasant experiences and I suspect that all of us have some Powerpoint horror stories to relate. Our posting today covers poor use of Powerpoint, as illustrated by an entertaining YouTube video by comedian Don McMillan entitled How NOT to use Powerpoint.

Hurry up and wait

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:07:59 -0800

This week I found myself cooling my heels at the Eureka/Arcata Airport while air traffic problems in San Francisco delayed yet another flight. The choices were to fume, fuss, get into Zen mode and hope all worked out, or ... go into manager mode and correct the problem. I chose the latter.

When good jurors go bad

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:53:17 -0800

Working in courts can be amusing at times, and one source for anecdotes is jury duty. Most people take jury duty very seriously, and I try my best to ensure that courts make jury service efficient and worthwhile for those who do. Occasionally, jurors display human weaknesses that make for head shaking bemusement. OK, this isn't technology, but it's entertaining.

Blog-grrr

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:21:46 -0800

What the *&%#@ !! I look to add a new post and see that my last one didn't publish. GRRRR. I admit to being overly cautious at times, but it is only because I've been burned enough by tech hiccups that safe is better than sorry. Accordingly, I usually write my posts in an email to myself FIRST before I actually post them online. That way, in case something untoward happens, I have a back-up version (and I keep an archive version for my files).

Decidely low tech

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:42:04 -0800

This is not a tech posting. I am surrounded by technology, yet I am constantly reminded that most of the keys to success have little or nothing to do with tech.

Leave it to the jury

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:47:13 -0800

I'm on my way to Austin, Texas (a GREAT town) to attend a court technology conference and had a chance to browse my jury management e-newsletter while I'm awaiting connections here at SFO. Like so many aspects of life and work, everything seems to have become so complicated. Managing juries is no different. Here are a few of the emerging trends that affect your ability go be judged by a jury of your peers ...

Vista gets goosed

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:52:26 -0800

Microsoft Vista, the oft-maligned operating system from the evil empire, reached its first milestone ... Service Pack 1 is the first major tweaking that Vista has had since its erstwhile launch. It doesn't do anything to correct what most users agree are fundamental flaws with the operating system, but it does make Vista more stable and fleet of foot.

Permission to spam, sir

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:41:41 -0800

I received a rather odd request from the Government of Hong Kong today. As a contractor who has worked extensively in their court system, I am still signed up to receive email notification when the government sends out requests for contract bids. One never knows when a juicy project may pop up, and I have a fair-to-good chance of being selected for it if it involves judiciary work.