Existence Is Coming!

David Brin has a new book out ...



...this guy's books are always interesting. "Earth" and his "Uplift" series in particular. It is therefore with great confidence that I suggest you look into this work when it comes to your bookstore!

Think about these reviews:

• "Existence is a book that makes you think deeply about both the future and life's most important issues. I found it fascinating and I could not put it down."
  --Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures.
  
• "In Existence, David Brin takes on one of the fundamental themes in science fiction--and what is also one of the fundamental questions humanity faces in this century. Since Brin is both a great storyteller and one of the most imaginative writers around, Existence is not to be missed."
  --Vernor Vinge, bestselling author of A Fire Upon The Deep.
• "Take a world soaked in near-future strangeness and complexity... Add a beautiful alien artifact that turns out to be the spearpoint of a very dangerous, very ancient invasion... Hotwire with wisdom and wonder... Existence is as urgent and as relevant as anything by Stross or Doctorow, but with the cosmic vision of Bear or Benford. Brin is back."
  --Stephen Baxter, bestselling author of The Time Ships.
  

These are authors whose opinion I trust, because their work is very good.Here's what Brin says on his blog:

BRIN: "...The book won't be in stores for 3 weeks (June 19). You can sample free chapters on my newly redesigned website! And/or pre-order from Mysterious Galaxy or Amazon.

Another cool featurette: see my Q&A about Existence - also about human destiny and the transformative power of science fiction - at the Orbit Books site. And check out the 3-D cover (a new technology debuts with this book) that will only run with the U.K. first printing.Tell your friends ..."

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 In a few short weeks I'll get my copy and then post a review. If Existence is anything close to as good as Earth, we are in for a big treat!

4freeCLE May 20, 2012: a Bumper Crop of Webinars And More!

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! May 20, 2012

In This Issue Webinar CLEs On-Demand CLEs In-Person CLEs Past Issues West LegalEdcenter Mobile App   Offers 1 Credit Free!   The internet CLE provider West LegalEdcenter announces: "West LegalEdcenter has recreated its online experience with the free CLE Mobile app. All of the regulatory safeguards that states require have been incorporated in the Mobile environment. This allows you to earn credits as you would with an on demand program at West LegalEdcenter... Download the CLE Mobile app and you'll find one FREE COURSE in your My Programs." Try It Now! *** If This Newsletter Helps You, It'll Help Your Colleagues - Pass It On!

Webinar CLE Join in live CLE webinars anywhere you have internet access! May 22: Airports and Compatible Land Use Planning.  Airspace and Aircraft Noise Legislation, Regulation, and much more. By The TASA Group. May 22: Best Practices for Complying with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Regulations. The Federal Corrupt Practices Act, the United Kingdom's Anti-Bribery Act and their increased attention to financial institutions as well as international governments and third-parties. By LexisNexis. May 22: Best Practices: Prior Art Search. Make your patent prosecutions more effective and efficient. By LegalAdvantage.  May 23: Writing to the Court: Briefs, Letter Briefs, and Proposed Findings of Fact. Free to MHBA members. By Minnesota Hispanic Bar Ass'n.   May 24: Preparing for Mediation: Anticipating and Avoiding Communication Challenges Surrounding Culture and Diversity. Featuring The Honorable Eric B. Watness (Ret.); by King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Also presented in-person (Seattle). May 28: Boolean (Keyword) Search for Lawyers. How to formulate effective Boolean keyword searches in Fastcase. By Fastcase. May 31: Identification, Evaluation, and Transfer of Assets & Debts in Dissolution. Training for Attorneys serving the Moderate Means Program. Also provided in-person (Seattle).   May 31: Privacy and Social Media in the Workplace - Employment Law Update. A hot topic in labor and employment law. By Miller Law Group.   On-Demand CLE Fill in an empty space in your schedule with learning, anywhere you may be! Prenuptial Agreements. What to consider when drafting a prenup; issues, pitfalls and tips. By Lexvid. Senior Legal Issues: Medi-Cal Changes for Seniors. Issues affecting seniors under the California 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver. By Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC).   Trial Lawyers Facing the New Decade: Panel Discussion. Top trial lawyers discuss adapting to the future. By Trial.com.  4freeCLE's list of On-Demand CLE. Several dozen CLE you can take now - free! In-Person CLEs Live, in-person programs typically earn credit in the state in which they occur. Often you can earn credit in other states via application or reciprocity. May 22/Seattle: Transnational Perspectives on the Civil Right to Counsel. By WSBA World Peace Through Law Section. May 23/St Paul: Working with the Mentally Ill Defendant. By  Ramsey County Mental Health Court. Although the registration deadline has passed, you may wish to inquire about late seating. May 23/Stillwater, MN : Entrapment and the Use of Informants Post-9/11. By Washington County Law Library.  May 24/Chicago: Electronic Discovery 2012 In-House Update. By Project Leadership Associates. May 24/Denver: Transact With Confidence: Measures To Account For And Minimize Risk Of Environmental Liabilities. By Circuit Media. May 24/Seattle: Preparing for Mediation: Anticipating and Avoiding Communication Challenges Surrounding Culture and Diversity. By the King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Also presented as webinar. May 30/Minneapolis: New Volunteer Orientation.  By Volunteer Lawyers Network. May 30/San Francisco: Homeowners & Tenants Affected by Foreclosure. By ALRP. May 31/Cleveland: Crisis in the Courts: The New White House Push on Judicial Confirmations and the Vacancy Rate's Impact on Justice. By Cleveland-Marshall School of Law.  May 31/Seattle: Identification, Evaluation, and Transfer of Assets & Debts in Dissolution. Training for Attorneys in the Moderate Means Program. Also provided as webinar.   June 4/San Francisco: Legal Services for Clients with Disabilities. By ALRP.    June 4-5/Austin, TX: Forensic Science CLE Conference. By Texas Criminal Justice Integrity Unit and Texas Forensic Science Commission.  June 6/Boston: Family Law 101 - VLP Training. By Volunteer Lawyer Project. June 8/Seattle: Animal Law Social and Wildlife Conservation. Free to members of the WSBA Animal Law Section. Recommended Reading           The Best of Rumpole: Chosen By the Author by John Mortimer If you haven't read Rumpole, you're missing out on a lot of fun! This cranky, idiosyncratic barrister doesn't always win his case (it's fiction, not fantasy) but is always worth your time as he defends the right to have a fair trial and to skewer the pompous. This selection is a good introduction to the long-running series. Paperback Get It Now About 4freeCLE Your comments, especially leads to more free CLE, are very welcome; please email the editor.  Feel free to forward this to your colleagues. If this was forwarded to you, you can get your own subscription for free by signing up now! 4freeCLE is delivered weekly and will always be free!