RE: Am I About to Do Something Stupid?

First and foremost, I hope that your health problems will resolve 
themselves favorably.    You've been a great resource for the MSBA 
and the legal community generally and we can't afford to lose you.

Second, and perhaps in some related fashion, I am beginning to 
reflect on my post concerning IM and technology "connectiveness" 
in a broader sense. It is, of course, important to be as productive as 
possible.  I think that it is safe to say that those on this list see 
technology as a tool to enhance productivity.  But at some point we 
have to reflect on what it is that we do and why we do it.  How close 
are we to becoming like the Charlie Chaplin character in the film 
Modern Times who constantly races to keep up with the assembly 
line.  Of course, our assembly line is a white collar assembly line 
and we're tethered to a computer, but ultimately there's no 
difference.

Let there be no question about it:  I enjoy the practice of law beyond 
belief.  However, more frequently these days I find myself 
attempting to break the technological shackles that tie me to the 
oar.  By way of example,  I will often turn off the cell phone ringer 
and put the phone beyond my physical reach.  After all, the phone 
logs the calls, thus I can always return calls at a time of my choice.

I suppose the issue with IM is this:  Do I really want to add yet 
another way to communicate with everyone else?  Is there anything 
that can be so urgent that it can't be communicated to me via the 
pathways (email, cell phone, fax) currently in place?

On 13 Jan 2005 at 20:58, James Keane wrote:

> 
> SMS allows you to type a message on your phone and send the text to
> the phone number of another SMS enabled cell phone.  I prefer that to
> IM while driving. That can be disconcerting with the expectation you
> will respond right away. Can it be done with VoIP desk phones?
> 
> 
> 
> We once had a good discussion and experiment on this list about IM and
> being too connected. When I was Chief Legal Officer at JusticeLink I
> would have been delighted to be 7x24 with the CEO and some of the
> other “Chiefs.” There were a few fractious folks who would have abused
> it.  Netiquette is very important still. 
> 
> 
> 
> For those of you who haven’t heard about it, I’m having some health
> problems. I’ve included a longish  Solstice Missive below, which sent
> out to my Xmas list and have included below with an update but still a
> hopeful message. I’m do enjoy following this list, so please excuse me
> If I appear (or not appear) to lurking.
> 
> 
> 
> I’d be delighted to get an SMS from folks who would like to
> experiment. You should be able to use my cell number below or
> [email protected]
> 
> 
> 
> /s/ Jim Keane
> 
> James I. Keane, Esq.
> 
> JKeane.Law.Pro
> 
> 20 Esworthy Terrace
> 
> North Potomac MD
> 
> 301.948.4062 Cell: 240.793-7425
> 
> www.jkeane.com
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: Stuart Levine [mailto:[email protected]] 
> Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 9:49 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [NetLawyers] Am I About to Do Something Stupid?
> 
> 
> 
> I can receive text messages on my cellphone.  One can send them 
> out via email and the message pops up on my cell phone.
> 
> I have given some thought to letting clients, etc., know about this. 
> Is this something stupid?  Will I be "too connected"?  
> 
> Comments.
> 
> http://Network-Lawyers.org/PDFLinks
> 
> -/-/-/-/-/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   _____  
> 
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> 
> [JK:] 
> 
> Winter Solstice, 2004 A. D. – Near a warm, blazing fireplace at home
> in North Potomac, Maryland
> 
> 
> 
> This has been a challenging year for us, but dealing with a major
> health crisis (and making it through a bad patch) has brought us even
> closer as a family and with our friends.  As autumn approached all was
> going well for the Keane Clan. My consulting business was back in full
> swing after the Internet glory (gory?) days.  My current work involves
> two very challenging projects calling on my favorite subject:
> strategic systems planning for litigation support and case management.
> One project is for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission; the
> other is for the new Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
> (PCAOB), created after the Enron scandal by Sarbanes Oxley Act.  
> 
> 
> 
> On the home front all was well. Meghan has now become a fully
> blossoming 15 year old young woman. She secured roles in several plays
> including “Ms. Sunshine”, the sappy reporter in the musical Chicago! 
> We got a second rascal of a female cockapoo, whom Meghan promptly
> named “Roxie.” Meghan then got a role at a school play as “Mickey the
> Cop” in Neil Simon’s all-female version of The Odd Couple.  While
> these roles have moved Meghan past fluffy ingénue roles, Cynthia still
> remains my leading lady.   She keeps us all organized (a most
> challenging task for me at least) and very happy
> 
> 
> 
> She is also enjoying volunteering at a local rehab hospital
> (re-connecting with her skills in rehab and dealing with the medical
> bureaucracy.) In September, Cynthia and I attended my induction into
> the College of Law Practice Management. We added an extra day and
> caught perfect weather for a delightful boat ride and architectural
> tour along the Chicago River.  We were even planning a spectacular
> catered party at the end of October for a houseful of close friends
> for my Sixtieth Birthday!  
> 
> 
> 
> Just before and during the Chicago trip, there was a nagging pain on
> my right side, just below the armpit. Our family doctor was suspicious
> that it was not just a pulled muscle. He ordered tests the next day
> and over the next two weeks (an X-Ray, CT scan, broncoscopy, and a PT
> scan with a radioisotope (Flourine 19) all revealed two inflamed lymph
> nodes and a “teeny” but malignant mass big enough to block a bronchial
> tube. In addition to partially collapsing my lung, there were also
> some downstream specks or wisps further down the bronchial branches in
> the middle lobe of my right lung.  Sorry for the build up, but yeah, I
> had advanced cancer that had even spread to the bony edge of two
> vertebrae.   By then everything had turned upside down…
> 
> 
> 
> After several sessions of chemotherapy and a missing hair or two, I
> now look like a combo of Bruce Willis, Mr. Clean and a Cone Head. More
> importantly and happily, the treatment dramatically reduced the size
> of the lesions. All the wisps have gone; one of the affected lymph
> nodes are back to normal, and the primary tumor is even a little
> small.  My oncologist and my lung doctor viewed this turnaround as
> “remarkable” progress.  [update as of 1/03/2005. The primary tumor has
> shrunk some more but there are now skeletal hot spots in  my lower
> spine and hips bones. This is not uncommon but allegedly treatable and
> disconcerting.)
> 
> 
> 
> My relatives and friends have rallied round us. We were bombarded with
> get well wishes and prayers.  At one point, I counted support and
> prayers from Hindu and Jewish temples, a Friend’s Meeting house, a
> Unitarian retreat center, a Mosque,  an Evangelical Congregation and
> at least two entire branches of the Catholic Church, the Italian (my
> wife’s relatives) and the Irish (my own Clan). 
> 
> 
> 
>  While I’ve been very preoccupied with all the ghastly treatments,
> side-effects and treatment for the side effects for chemo each three
> weeks, I just couldn’t contact everyone or thank each of you for your
> love, support and well wishes.  All of these communications touched
> me, Cynthia and Meghan and buoyed us along.  If I missed talking to
> you or sending you an eMail, it was only because of dealing with a
> major medical crisis for me and my family, who hovered around me with
> their care and love.  In the coming year, we hope we can make contact
> with you soon to renew and preserve the bonds between us – for now and
> for a long time to come.
> 
> 
> 
> Today is the winter Solstice. That is one of very few days all us
> celebrate. It marks the time for religions and cultures to begin a
> spiritual rebirth round the whole world.  In these bleak days of the
> cold and darkness the human race respond, no -- fights back, by
> starting the home fires burning brightly.  
> 
> 
> 
> As a the Celtic descendant of the men and woman who built the circles
> of standing stones across all of Europe, take it from me: The sun will
> come back and the days will get longer after the passing of another
> Winter Solstice.  We wish all of you have a similar bright and joyous
> holiday – without all the drama we have experienced. 
> 
> 
> 
> May your holidays be merry, healthy, warm and bright! 
> 
> 
> 
> Jim, Cynthia and Meghan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
> -/-/-/-/-/
> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


********************************************
Stuart Levine
Fisher & Winner, LLP
315 North Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Telephone:             410.385.2000
Telecopier:              443.927.7075
Cellphone:               410.802.5817
Weblog:  http://taxbiz.blogspot.com
http://www.taxation-business.com
[email protected]
*********************************************




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