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ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
Helping Lawyers Solve the Technology Puzzle
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Gadget Lovers
Hot Spot
Getting Rid of that Old Computer
ABA Law Practice Today
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Paging All Gadget Lovers
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Gizmodo
If you are a true gadget lover, the concept of a pager may seem downright luddite. It is much more likely that anyone wanting to get in touch with you would have to hit your SPV C500 to tell you about the PIMP watch out of Japan. But what happens when you discover that your snazzy watch is all timed out? Yes, it is easy to get cut off from the cutting edge, but thanks to Gizmodo, any gadget lover can track the last developments in one place, be it an impossibly thin monitor or a wall-climbing camera. While the tone can be somewhat irreverent, it is never irrelevant. This gadget blog posts new daily content encompassing software (such as new medial portal to connect to your Xbox) and hardware (the latest in digital cameras, watches and PDAs, to name a few). It also features a convenient list of categories so if there is a specific product you are looking for, you can check under cell phones, wireless, audio, etc. All of the entries also include links to external reviews and articles, in case the 3-sentence blurb leaves you pining for more details.
It is very easy to spend a lot of time jumping from one category to the next since there are so many innovative products on the market these days, but at least now there is one place to look.
Nadine C. Warner
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Hot Spot
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Star Spot Network
It's easy to find yourself in a web induced funk. Finding relevant information on the Internet often requires users to peruse page after page of nonresponsive information. Technology should make our lives easier, but Internet searching can be more trouble than it's worth. I have to write a thank you letter to the good people at Start Spot Network. Start Spot produces a variety of web tools (Library Spot, Museum Spot, Headline Spot) that attempts to "simplify your search for the best of the web". Their web sites certainly benefit from a human touch. Editors and research specialists tackle topic after topic and organize pages around the best online resources available. The free service is supported by advertising. My faith in the Internet as a quality research tool has been restored.
Library Spot is a research wonderland. It is so packed with resources it is difficult to decide where to start. Library Spot was the first spot in the Start Spot family and the other sites mimic its overall design and features. General reference sites like InfoPlease and the Library of Congress are given top billing. A list and ranking directory (college rankings, popular children's books) are also prominently displayed on the front page. Reference questions are answered and archived in the "You Asked For". Librarians and other information professionals will appreciate the section devoted to news and trends about the profession.
Job seekers should certainly bookmark Employment Spot. A job search powered by the Tribune Company's Careerbuilder.com is featured. After seeing what opportunities are out there, check out Employment Spot's helpful tips on writing resumes and cover letters. Links to business information web sites allow for easy company research. Site-specific articles range in topics from advice to Moms re-entering the work force to successful salary negotiation.
Just in time for summer vacation, Trip Stop is another excellent research for potential travelers. The familiar Start Spot format provides links to popular travel sites like Fodor's and Expedia. Stumped on a possible vacation destination? Check out the list directory. You can play it safe by visiting one of "America's Safest Towns" or satisfy your inner hipster by consulting the "Conde Nast Hot List". Every major American and Canadian city has its own city guide. Links to local alternative newspapers, citywide entertainment guides, and transportation providers helps travelers look smart and avoid tourist traps.
Molly Kilmer Flood
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Getting Rid of that Old Computer
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EIA Environment Consumer Education Initiative
Although the scene in the movie “Office Space” depicting disgruntled programmers smashing recalcitrant office equipment to atoms may be appealing, the EIA Environment Consumer Education Initiative would like to suggest some alternative solutions to getting rid of electronic equipment. The EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance) has created a website that provides information about state and national reuse and recycling programs for electronics.
To search for programs choose a state on the map. Choosing the state of Illinois, the link takes you to a list of programs listed by title, county and city. The link to the “Solid Waste Agency of Cook County” provides contact details, as well as a brief synopsis of what types of recyclables the program accepts. Back in the main Illinois list, there is a link to “find reuse and recycle options in Illinois”. This takes you directly to the state listing in the ElectronicsRecycling.com database, which provides a longer list of recycling programs, but without the synopsis of services. Another link takes you to national programs, and the site gives users an opportunity to report on any programs not listed.
Other useful information on the site includes an FAQ, participating member companies, chemicals information, and a wealth of relevant links. The site is clean and easy to navigate. So the next time you get ready to smash and trash computer equipment, remember the environment and check out your local recycling and donation centers. It will be just as therapeutic.
Catherine Sanders Reach
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ABA Law Practice Today
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Law Practice Today
The ABA Law Practice Management Section makes their electronic publication, Law Practice Today, available to members and non-members alike. This ezine offers a monthly chance to read the latest in news and views on the business of practicing law. Authors weigh in on everything from the six things that drive clients crazy (and how to avoid them) to the state of wireless technology. Announcement of the new issue is available via email or direct to your news reader via an RSS feed.
Law Practice Today has been published since February 2003. Archives for the magazine are available by topic, rather than date. The topics are: Marketing, Management, Technology, and Finance. The tone of the articles is casual and informative. Many of the article titles use a number – “ten tips…” “five mistakes…” – indicating the practicality of the advise offered. As a free monthly publication, who wouldn’t want to take advantage of this useful site?
Catherine Sanders Reach
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Mention of a company, product, or service does not indicate endorsement or support by the American Bar Association, the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center or the authors.
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