Legal | Techno | Babble

December 14, 2024 marks the 18th anniversary of the passing of my dear friend, Jamin Wilson. For those who knew him, Jamin wasn't just another classmate; he was a bright spark who ignited curiosity in everyone around him. Looking back on our high school and college days, a vibrant image comes to mind: Jamin and I, hunched over our computers, fingers flying across the keyboards. We were both fascinated by the nascent world of technology and eager to explore its potential. Whether it was building the fastest gaming rig, delving into the intricacies of coding, or preaching the Book of (Steve) Jobs, Jamin possessed an infectious enthusiasm that made learning an adventure. But Jamin's brilliance extended far beyond the digital realm. He had a profound interest in philosophy, constantly questioning the world around him. Our lunchtime and evening discussions, fueled by cafeteria burritos (and later, pub pot pies) and existential ponderings, were some of the most stimulating conversati...

I am interested in the crossroads of law, government, and sociology, and as Thanksgiving quickly approaches, I am reminded of the well-meaning but ill-received attempt to both celebrate the most American of holidays while generating economic growth (also a favorite American pastime). So with that, I take you back to a simpler time, when the most controversial part of Thanksgiving was when to celebrate it.  Thanksgiving was defined as the fourth day of every November. The day was officially set as the last Thursday in November by noted attorney-turned-president Abraham Lincoln back in 1863. This established the holiday as within the purview of the presidency, a fact Franklin Delano Roosevelt would use almost four score later to stimulate a depressed economy.  In 1939, when Thanksgiving would fall on the last day of the month, President Roosevelt tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to give more shopping time between the holiday and Christmas. Political opponents deemed the ...

I am a solid month into my career pivot and am getting the hang of rejection. Failing to land a job still hurts, but it teaches me how others perceive me. If I must feel the sting of rejection, at least I can learn something valuable from it.   At first, all rejections were brutal. I felt like a failure and perceived the dismissal as a personal affront. One rejection basically ended my job search for the day. However, this trajectory was unsustainable, and I quickly became numb to the process.   I then had an interview where I was asked about my ideal workplace, and my extemporaneous response was that I appreciated feedback so that I knew what I needed to work on. At that moment, I realized that an interview rejection was just one question away from valuable feedback. So, when the following rejection message came through on LinkedIn, I replied: "There is no need to respond, but if you are comfortable with it, would you mind letting me know if anything stood out as a barrier to...

The marketers won (mostly). In place of valuable and sustainable innovation, we have more features, new designs, and costlier means to achieve the same goals we have always had. My primary business tools are more or less the same as twenty-five years ago when I first started college: a word processor, email client, web browser, calendar, printer, and mobile phone.  Microsoft Windows has, more or less, reverted to its Windows 95 user interface, though it crashes less. Word is more focused on collaboration (which most people do not rely upon), and the crucial components like spell check, track changes, document comparison, and footnotes are virtually the same. Email clients still use IMAP and Exchange protocols and the same UI design. Web browsers are more standards-based, so sites function more consistently, but their ability to run cloud-based applications is vastly underutilized. Calendars and printers are virtually identical to their historical counterparts. Phones changed drasti...