Saturday, July 06, 2024
Friday, July 05, 2024
A hell of a lot easier than Omaha Beach
The GOP hugs Trump as their man,
He's got quite the record, like no one else can:
A liar, a felon, a conman and more,
He cheats on his taxes, his wife, and golf score.
He dreamt of dictatorship "just for a while",
When he loses a vote, a coup is his style.
The Dems, on the other hand, fret and they stew,
About ol' Joe Biden and what they should do.
Their leadership fears that their prospects are grim,
In a tizzy, they scramble, in worry, they swim.
But on every street and in every city,
The Trump Supreme Court is not looking pretty:
No rights for women? Bribes are okay?
A President can commit any crime every day?
No patriot will take this, not for a minute,
We don't like politics, but now we are in it.
So turn off your programs of dragons and elves,
No one will save us except for ourselves.
Remember our praise for the Greatest Generation?
Now it's our turn to act to save our great nation.
Take time every day a new voter to reach—
It's a hell of a lot easier than Omaha Beach.
He's got quite the record, like no one else can:
A liar, a felon, a conman and more,
He cheats on his taxes, his wife, and golf score.
He dreamt of dictatorship "just for a while",
When he loses a vote, a coup is his style.
The Dems, on the other hand, fret and they stew,
About ol' Joe Biden and what they should do.
Their leadership fears that their prospects are grim,
In a tizzy, they scramble, in worry, they swim.
But on every street and in every city,
The Trump Supreme Court is not looking pretty:
No rights for women? Bribes are okay?
A President can commit any crime every day?
No patriot will take this, not for a minute,
We don't like politics, but now we are in it.
So turn off your programs of dragons and elves,
No one will save us except for ourselves.
Remember our praise for the Greatest Generation?
Now it's our turn to act to save our great nation.
Take time every day a new voter to reach—
It's a hell of a lot easier than Omaha Beach.
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Free CLE Webinars July 2024+
Dear friends and colleagues -
Hello and Happy July 4th - formerly Independence Day, but the name may be retired now that we have resumed rulership by an Executive immune from criminal prosecution. Apparently, not everyone thinks George III was all that bad. Boo Tories!
This is your free calendar of free CLE webinars, free for you to share freely. If I appear to overuse the word “free”, it’s just that I need to use up the stock while it still has meaning.
No programs were found for the 1st week of July, likely due to the holiday.
Congratulations to the Minnesota State Law Library on being the first to schedule a program on “Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo”. We may expect other programs to emerge in reaction to the rapid disassembly of formerly settled law (didn’t “stare decisis” always make you suspicious? It’s from a bloody foreign language, mate!). If you spot any new webinars, pass them on for me to add to http://4freeCLE.blogspot.
If you intend to continue practicing what was called “law” but is now more the “whim of the current top bench”, I suggest that you invest time in defending the rule of law at the ballot box - it is the only way and I feel we are still a majority who disapprove of kings.
In the meantime, may this calendar serve you, your colleagues, and your clients.
In the meantime, may this calendar serve you, your colleagues, and your clients.
---
July Free CLE
**July 8:**
* Legal Practice Technology for Transactional Attorneys. By Dechert. https://4freecle.
**July 9:**
* Legal Tech Tips, Gadgets and Services That Actually Save You Time. By Clio. https://4freecle.
* Early Case Assessment. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* PERM 101: When, Why, and How to Sponsor an Employee for the Labor Certification Process. By Cozen O'Connor. https://4freecle.
* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**July 10:**
* From Paper to Pixels: The Evolution of Digital Technologies. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
**July 11:**
* Buyer Broker Agreements and Mortgage Lending; What Everyone Needs To Know. By CES. https://4freecle.
* Cybersecurity and Data Breaches. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Navigating Compliance: Understanding the EPA TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule and its Impact on Businesses. By Perrin. https://4freecle.
**July 12:**
* Immigrant Children & SIJ Relief: Accessing Benefits & Resources. By WSBA. https://4freecle.
**July 16:**
* Renewable Energy Developments in the U.S. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* New Day, New Tools: Risk Management Considerations When Using AI-Enabled Tools in Law Practice. By WSBA. https://4freecle.
**July 17:**
* Improving Outcomes for Families with Structured Co-Parenting Communication. By Washington County Law Library. https://4freecle.
* Navigating The Startup Ecosystem: A Comprehensive Guide To Launching And Growing Your Business. By Alameda County Law Library. https://4freecle.
* How to Build a Modern, Streamlined Law Practice. By LEAP. https://4freecle.
* Conflicts, Contracts & Costs: Tuning Up Your Office Systems, Client Relationships & Operating Documents. By LawPay. https://4freecle.
**July 18:**
* HIPAA - Understanding Enforcement, Penalties & Research Strategies. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* The Ethics of Law Firm Communication: How to Avoid a Grievance. By Smokeball. https://4freecle.
* Collecting Difficult Stuff: Considerations for Social Media and Third-party Application Collection & Emerging Applications to Consider for Collection. By Cozen O'Connor. https://4freecle.
* Courts and Researchers are Increasingly Focused on Genomics in Mass Tort Cancer Cases. By Perrin. https://4freecle.
**July 19:**
* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**July 23:**
* Trends to Watch in Antitrust Law. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**July 24:**
* Screening for Crimmigration Issues: Navigating the Intersection of Criminal and Immigration Defense. By Washington County Law Library. https://4freecle.
**July 25:**
* Practical Issues in Subrogation Claims: Efficiently Advancing Claims & Quantifying Your Damages. By Cozen O'Connor. https://4freecle.
* A Handy Primer on Drafting and Updating Employee Handbooks. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Litigating Third-Party Funded Construction Disputes: Recent Trends, Defense Strategies, and Managing Negotiations. By Perrin. https://4freecle.
* Estimating Large Losses: When Does Xactimate Become the Wrong Tool. By Pete Fowler Construction Services. https://4freecle.
**July 30:**
* Medicare Updates And The Inflation Reduction Act Of 2022. By Alameda County Law Library. https://4freecle.
* Technology and the Legal Practitioner: Ethical Concerns & Best Practices. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Defective Notices to Appear. By ABA Children's Immigration Law Academy (CILA). https://4freecle.
* Legal Issues Affecting Farm Workers & Agricultural Employers. By WSBA. https://4freecle.
**July 31:**
* Leveraging Technology to Prepare Briefs with Greater Efficiency and Accuracy. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
---
August Free CLE
**August 1:**
* The Corporate Transparency Act. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Civil Rights/Fair Housing. By CES. https://4freecle.
**August 6:**
* Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. By Minnesota State Law Library. https://4freecle.
* Researching Experts and Judges. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Developments for Web3, Blockchain, AI, and Beyond. By WSBA. https://4freecle.
**August 7:**
* Legal Accounting 101: Essential Financial Tips for Long-term Success. By Clio. https://4freecle.
**August 8:**
* Mastering Microsoft Excel and Outlook: Tips and Tricks for Legal Professionals. By Smokeball. https://4freecle.
* Patent Prosecution: Practice, Strategy & Analytics. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 13:**
* Finance Law Fundamentals. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 14:**
* Balancing Artificial Intelligence Innovations, Best Practices, and Ethics in Legal Proceedings. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
**August 20:**
* Healthcare Liens in Personal Injury Cases: Strategies for Negotiating and Reducing Liens. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 21:**
* Tech-Enhanced Discovery: The Role of AI and Predictive Coding in Modern Litigation. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
* Innovations in Family Law Practice: Leveraging Technology to Better Serve Clients. By Smokeball. https://4freecle.
**August 22:**
* Navigating Employment Disputes in a Remote Work Era: Legal Challenges and Solutions. By Cozen O'Connor. https://4freecle.
* Environmental Law Update: Key Regulatory Changes and Compliance Tips. By Perrin. https://4freecle.
**August 23:**
* Cybersecurity for Law Firms: Protecting Client Data in a Digital Age. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 27:**
* Ethics in Legal Marketing: Ensuring Compliance with Advertising Rules. By WSBA. https://4freecle.
* Cross-Border Legal Issues: Managing International Transactions and Disputes. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 28:**
* Advanced Legal Writing: Techniques for Persuasive and Clear Briefs. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**August 29:**
* The Impact of Recent Supreme Court Decisions on Corporate Law. By Perrin. https://4freecle.
* Legal Project Management: Best Practices for Efficient Case Handling. By LawPay. https://4freecle.
**August 30:**
* Data Privacy and Protection: Navigating Compliance in an Era of Increasing Regulation. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
September Free CLE
**September 5:**
* Credit Scoring, Fixing Credit and Mortgages. By CES. https://4freecle.
**September 10:**
* Rule 20 and the Minnesota State Competency Attainment Board. By Minnesota State Law Library. https://4freecle.
**September 12:**
* AI for Law Firms: Abuses and Uses (with Examples!). By Smokeball. https://4freecle.
**September 18:**
* Let’s Get Technical: Data Security Ethics for Law Firms. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
* Research Skills for Litigators. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**September 20:**
* Supercharge Labor & Employment Legal Research & Writing. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**September 25:**
* Leveraging Technology to Prepare Briefs with Greater Efficiency and Accuracy. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
* Research Skills for IP Litigation. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
**September 26:**
* The Basics of Insurance for Construction and Legal Professionals. By Pete Fowler Construction Services. https://4freecle.
**September 27:**
* Research & Drafting Techniques for Corporate Law. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
October Free CLE
**October 3:**
* 13 Spooky Mortgage Issues That Can Cause Halloween Nightmares on a Purchase. By CES. https://4freecle.
**October 9:**
* Social Media – Discovery, Ethics, Evidence & Sanctions. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
**October 17:**
* Improving Law Firm Operations with Streamlined Policies and Practices. By Smokeball. https://4freecle.
**October 24:**
* Evaluating & Estimating Water Damage Restoration and Mold Claims Webinar. By Pete Fowler Construction Services. https://4freecle.
**October 30:**
* Leveraging Technology to Prepare Briefs with Greater Efficiency and Accuracy. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
November Free CLE
**November 13:**
* Complex Cases Simplified: Gaining Logistical Control from Calendaring to Courtroom. By Veritext. https://4freecle.
**November 27:**
* Leveraging Technology to Prepare Briefs with Greater Efficiency and Accuracy. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
December Free CLE
**December 11:**
* Leveraging Technology to Prepare Briefs with Greater Efficiency and Accuracy. By LexisNexis. https://4freecle.
---
We’re in this together.
Warmly,
Randy Winn
Postcards for Democracy - West Seattle:
https://www.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
More General Puzzle Solution
I like these puzzles, but they all seem to be solvable with a simple algorithm:
To solve the puzzle of finding the number of squares (or other figures) in an incomplete grid:
1. DEFINITIONS:
GRID: a set of equal-length line segments that connect at right angles.
CORNER: a point at which the line segments connect
SIDE OF LENGTH X: a set of line segments that connect in a straight line. Example: a side of length 3 is 3 line segments connecting in a straight line.
COLUMN: a vertical (as seen by the viewer) set of corners. These need not all be connected by line segments. (Missing line segments complicate the problem to be solved).
ROW: a horizontal row of corners. As with columns, these need not all be connected by line segments. LEFT, RIGHT, TOP, BOTTOM: all have the commonly accepted meaning.
COUNT-OF-SQUARES: initialize as 0, because there might not be any.
I, J, K = counters; don't worry about them yet
Let NR = number of rows of corners
NC = number of columns of corners
2. COUNT PROCEDUREFor I=1 through (NC minus 1):
For J=1 through (NR minus 1):
For K=1 through (NC minus 1):
If the 4 corners (I, J), (I, J+K), (I+K, J), (I+K, J=K) are all connected by an unbroken set of line segments, add 1 to COUNT-OF-SQUARES.
ENDIF
ENDFOR
ENDFOR
ENDFOR.
The value of COUNT-OF-SQUARES is now the value sought.
2. RECTANGLES:
A similar method works except that you have to allow for different numbers of rows and columns. This is not a difficult change.
3. OTHER SHAPES:
The same general methods works for triangles, hexagons, mickey-mouse ears, etc. Basically, find a feature such as one or more corners that uniquely defines the thing to be tallied, and scan each feature for each other feature that defines a unique instance of the shape.
--
I had previously blogged a simpler solution for a smaller set of problems, but when this one started circulating in my Facebook feed, I felt impelled to write up the more general solution I had been thinking of for a while. Maybe I won't lose this one among all the blog posts!
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Saturday, June 08, 2024
What do these 4 famous cases have in common?
**The Enron Scandal**: In this case, several executives from Enron Corporation were involved in a massive accounting fraud. One of the key witnesses, Andrew Fastow, the former CFO of Enron, struck a deal with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and agreed to testify against other Enron executives, including CEO Jeffrey Skilling and Chairman Kenneth Lay.
**The Mafia Commission Trial**: This trial in the 1980s targeted the leaders of New York City's Five Families. Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, an underboss of the Gambino crime family, made a deal with prosecutors. He testified against John Gotti, the boss of the Gambino family, leading to Gotti's conviction on multiple charges, including murder and racketeering.
**The Watergate Scandal**: In this case, several members of President Richard Nixon's administration were involved in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex. John Dean, who served as White House Counsel, made a deal with prosecutors. He testified against several key figures, including former Attorney General John Mitchell and other top Nixon aides, which ultimately led to the unraveling of the conspiracy and Nixon's resignation.
**The Trump Hush Money/Election Interference Trial**: In this recent case, Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for Donald Trump, testified against Trump in a trial related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Cohen struck a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to several charges and providing key testimony in the trial.
I would not ordinarily write about these things, but some fools are saying it's unusual for prosecutors to call a witness who made a deal.
That's just silly.
Saturday, June 01, 2024
June 2024+ Free CLE Webinars
Here’s this month’s Free CLE Webinar calendar for you to use and share with your colleagues. As always, every listing is free but not every one is approved for credit everywhere; you may be able to self-apply for credit in your jurisdiction.Let me know if you find a problem or - even better! - new programs to list. I add webinars throughout the month at http://4freeCLE.blogspot.com, so stop by to see what’s new!
JUNE FREE CLE
JULY FREE CLE
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
June 18: DEI Pulse Check: Where Are (n't) We
From: National Conflict Resolution Center
Over the past few years, organizations of all sizes have invested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to address imbalances and promote racial equality.
Now, companies are paring back those efforts or considering dropping them altogether, so what’s next for DEI?
Join us on June 18 to explore the DEI landscape and its future.
Join us on June 18 to explore the DEI landscape and its future.
Title:
DEI Pulse Check: Where Are (n't) We
Date/Time:
June 18, 2024
12 PM PST / 3 PM EST
More Information And Registration:
Once More Into The Data Breach
Today I got Yet Another Letter offering an apology for my data being compromised in a data breach. They offered a free year of Experian data protection - just sign in at the web address provided and enter my unique code.
When I typed in the web address provided, I suspected that I had made a typo because the website offered me a way to raise my credit score instantly by clicking on a link. It wasn't a very convincing website; no Experian logo or anything. I don't think they were really trying very hard - I certainly can be fooled, but I demand a little effort!
When I did get onto the real website and logged in, I saw that - as I remembered - I already had an Experian data protection membership from a different data breach. I was unable to use the current offer to get that extended by a year. The help line was prompt and polite, but apparently, the apology from the latest data loser doesn't add to the apology of a previous data loser.
This is a pity. There have been so many data breaches, I was hoping to have lifetime Experian data protection and after a long, happy, and data compromised life, leave legacy protection in my will.
When I typed in the web address provided, I suspected that I had made a typo because the website offered me a way to raise my credit score instantly by clicking on a link. It wasn't a very convincing website; no Experian logo or anything. I don't think they were really trying very hard - I certainly can be fooled, but I demand a little effort!
When I did get onto the real website and logged in, I saw that - as I remembered - I already had an Experian data protection membership from a different data breach. I was unable to use the current offer to get that extended by a year. The help line was prompt and polite, but apparently, the apology from the latest data loser doesn't add to the apology of a previous data loser.
This is a pity. There have been so many data breaches, I was hoping to have lifetime Experian data protection and after a long, happy, and data compromised life, leave legacy protection in my will.
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