Record Month – 12000 Visitors, $560
I’ve enjoyed doing these monthly reviews. It gives me an excuse to look through statistics, like I don’t do that enough. Plus, I set goals for the blog and myself.
Traffic and income
This month, we topped two great goals together. First, Legal Andrew saw 12,300 visitors in June. That’s about a 50% increase since April and May! Needless to say, I’m definitely excited. Although now it’s going to be tough to keep growing. But with your great participation, we’ll find a way.
Second, blog earnings reached a new high in June – $560. Here are the three main contributors:
- AdSense – $144.86
- Text Link Ads – $129.84
- PayPerPost – $195.47
If there was a secret behind these earnings, I’d love to share it with you. But I’m still trying to figure everything out myself. AdSense is really because of increased traffic. Text Link Ads went up due to some post links that sold. And PayPerPost is always a solid money-earner, especially if you snag some high-paying opportunities.
Posts to read
The most popular posts during June were all published this month. And two of them are actually about law!
- Lunch , Break , and Hour Laws You Should Know
- 11 Reasons to Fire Your Lawyer
- Head Shave 101 – My Head is Bald!
Here are some posts you might’ve missed this month. Check them out:
- Sidebar – Fun Google Easter Eggs
- My Killer GTD Setup, in Progress
- Lawyer Lies to be Juror, Blog Threatens Verdict
Subscribe for easy reading
To make sure you don’t miss a post, there are several easy ways to subscribe to Legal Andrew:
Contact me
If you need anything or just want to chat, feel free to contact me. You can post a comment to any post here on the blog, or you can drop me a line. Also, feel free to IM me. The About page shows which networks I’m on.
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
My Killer GTD Setup, in Progress
Bar review is stealing my life! Consequently, I’m really late in responding to GTD Marvelz’s killer GTD setup meme. He tagged me with this great project, so here’s my humble contribution. He’s keeping a running list of other killer GTD setups.
The main tool
Every GTD system needs a place to hold lists, actions, contexts, projects, etc. This is the main tool in any GTD setup.
I’ve used and abandoned a number of tools, both on and offline. Currently, I’m pretty darn happy with Vitalist.
Vitalist does everything I could want and more! It’s supports actions with multiple contexts, projects, and notes. It separates items into actions, someday, and waiting. And then you’ve got support for reference and ticklers. Beauteous!
 |
And for you mobilites, Vitalist has a great mobile version. It works perfectly on your phone’s browser, so you can access your lists on the go.
Oh, Vitalist is FREE. The company offers a premium version for a fee, which allows file attachments and a secure connection, among other things. I don’t have a need for the features it includes, and I love free software. 🙂
The backup players
To be effective with GTD, you need some things beyond just a list container. Well, maybe you don’t, but I do.
Capture – GTD requires an easy way to get things out of your head and into your system. I aim for the “mind like water,” but mine usually feels like mud. I use several tools for capture:
- Jott – Speed dial 4 on the cell phone, and I can email myself a quick message by speaking. It converts your message to text, with reasonable accuracy. Even cooler, I have Vitalist setup as a Jott contact, so I can send things straight to my Vitalist inbox.
- Post-Its – Take a standard pad of Super Sticky Post-It Notes. Cut it in half (with sticky on each half). Then stick a few on the inside of your wallet. Now you’ve always got a piece of paper handy!
- Scratch text file – I always have little bits of text that I need to jot somewhere at the computer. One of the few shortcuts on my desktop is to “ScratchPad.txt” This is a big, nasty, running list of junk. I get the important stuff out periodically and delete the obvious trash.
Do – I’m the final part of the setup. At some point, you’ve just got to do things. I harp on this because I’m bad about fiddling with things instead of getting work. I hope this problem doesn’t plague you.
Things always change
An important final point: this will all change with time. I try not to tweak my system too much, but I also try to continually improve it. I probably won’t go to pen & paper any time soon, but I might switch to another main tool. You just never know. 🙂
What’s your setup?
Since it’s late and I have a practice essay exam in the morning (whoopee!), I’m going to cop out on tagging people. If you’d like to run with the meme at your own blog, that would be great. Otherwise, let us know what you think down below. I’ll always make time to read and reply to comments!
[tags]gtd, gtd marvelz[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Facebook Applications Take Over the World
It’s 2025… We renew our driver’s licenses through Facebook… We vote for President through a Facebook application… And Elvis has come home!
Seriously, aren’t these Facebook applications taking over everyone’s favorite social network? I feel left in the dust. I was just getting the hang of adding friends, changing my status, and updating my profile picture. I haven’t a clue what many of these gidgets do.
Facebook applications blog
Have no fear. Brett McKay is here! That’s right, your favorite personal finance law student has started a shiny new blog all about facebook applications.
Aptly named, Best Facebook Applications will review and discuss different Facebook applications. Brett only introduced the project a few days ago, yet he’s already plowed through a load of different apps. From my discussions with him, it sounds like he’s off to a great start!
My first application
 |
Due to Brett’s blog, I decided to give an application a try. The Compass looked interesting, and I was curious if it would accurately portray my political viewpoint.
After answering the pithy 10 questions, my compass came out slightly to the right of “moderate.” I almost cried. I’d almost rather be liberal than moderate. I’m nothing, if not opinionated and polarized! The compass definitely doesn’t match with my self-selected Facebook political viewpoint of “Very Conservative.”
The problem (as I see it) is that you really can’t pin a person’s political ideology with 10 simple questions. The single most important issue to me in this world is abortion. Here’s the only question on the subject:
Except in rare instances, such as when a woman’s life is threatened, abortion should be illegal:
I had to pick whether I strongly agree, disagree, don’t care, etc. Well, I’m so conservative on the issue that I can’t even agree with that statement. Without getting into a debate here, I’m a no-exceptions guy. I ended up selecting “strongly agree,” but I hope this illustrates the point I’m making. Even on an issue where I have strong feelings, which should be easily categorized, I don’t think the compass succeeded. The softer issues are a mess waiting to happen.
Your thoughts?
I think I’ve ranted on too long. Mainly I wanted to direct you to Brett’s new blog. Go visit or subscribe to his feed. And provide any constructive feedback you might have as well.
If you have any thoughts on Facebook applications (love ’em, hate ’em, want more), drop a quick comment below. I love talking with you!
[tags]facebook, brett mckay, facebook applications, compass[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Head Shave 101 – My Head is Bald!
The shaved head is becoming quite stylish. Heck, even female head shaving has taken off among celebrities like Britney Spears and Natalie Portman.
If you’re looking to shave your own head, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll explain the best way to get a shaved head, and you won’t even need a trip to the barber shop.
I shaved my head
 (click to enlarge) |
I’m really into simple living, especially when it comes to personal hygiene. I’ve been sporting a buzz cut for a couple years, and I decided to try out the complete headshave.
Here’s a quick picture of my finished, bald head. Needless to say, I’m letting the hair grow back.
This article details my experience, so you can learn how to shave your head bald. Just be careful, and remember that razors are sharp. 🙂
Head shaving tools
Before you get bald, you’re going to need some basic equipment. I happened to have everything already, but it can also be purchased for a reasonable price.
- Hair clippers – Just get a basic at-home hair cutting set. This Wahl 11-piece kit is more than enough.
- Razor – You don’t need a fancy electric razor for this operation. I wouldn’t even seek out the best razor for shaving your head. Use what works for your face. I love this Merkur classic razor.
- Shaving cream – Don’t waste your money on special head shaving cream. But don’t skimp in this area. I’m a fan of old fashioned shaving soap and a nice badger shaving brush.
- Lotion – Your scalp will need a little protection from the elements. Any decent hand lotion should suffice.
Update – The HeadBlade seems to be a popular option, but I haven’t personally tried it (displayed at right). This company has a full line of products, including HeadSlick and HeadLube.
How to shave your head
Once you have everything gathered up, it’s time to shave. It’s an intimidating thing to do, but it’s really quite simple. Relax, and have fun!
- Buzz your hair off with the clippers. If you have long hair, you might need to make a couple passes. Get as much hair off as possible, and buzz it right up to your scalp (no guard).
- Warm your scalp with water. You want to open up the pores and soften the bristly hair. Run warm water all over your scalp and rub it in with your hands.
- Lather your head with shaving cream. Don’t miss any area, especially the back. Apply this stuff liberally; you’ll be glad you did.
- Shave one area at a time. Your scalp is a lot of surface area, so just focus on one spot at a time. I start with the sides, then the top, and save the back for last.
- Re-apply shaving cream as you shave. Before you shave each area, apply more shaving cream. This helps further soften your skin and guard against razor burn.
- Rinse your scalp and apply lotion. I put lotion on a few times a day, since it’s the hot summer. Just don’t neglect your scalp.
- Enjoy your new look!
Why would anyone shave his head?
That’s a darn good question. I shaved my head out of curiosity. Plus, I thought it might be a good, low-maintenance hair style. Some people do it for looks, since it can be a cool, sexy non-hair style for guys.
Other people shave their head for public reasons. There are charity head shaves to rally support and awareness of different causes. People even throw head shaving parties. I’ve even heard of people shaving their heads out of shear boredom.
Questions, tips, or comments?
This article just scratches the surface of shaved heads. I’m sure other people have tips and ideas on the subject. You’re all welcome to contribute in the comment form below!
In case you’re curious
 (click to enlarge) |
My head is shaped oddly because my anterior fontanelle (“soft spot”) closed too early. I underwent two surgeries as an infant, so my skull could grow. I’ve got a nice battle scar.
From what I’ve read, this happens in 1 out of 2,000-3,000 babies. I’m unique!
[tags]shave head, shaving, razor, bald, fashion, style[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Lawyer Lies to be Juror, Blog Threatens Verdict
Some lawyers deserve the despicable reputation that people assign to the profession. Please don’t hold that against all lawyers, though. 🙂
An attorney in California apparently lied during jury selection to obtain a seat on the jury. Instead of disclosing that he is a licensed attorney, he said he was a project manager for a technology company. He ended up becoming the jury’s foreman. (Associated Press article)
To showcase his intelligence, he blogged about the trial, including his falsified profession and detailed information about the jury’s deliberations. What a stinker!
Now the recidivist burglar might get a new trial. He was convicted in this case and sentenced to 38 years in prison, but he will be retried, if a hearing finds bias in his first trial.
Here’s the part I find most baffling:
The trial judge in the case threatened to report the juror to the state bar but accepted the verdict.
So the judge knew that the juror had lied in court. But instead of reporting the juror, he just ignored it.
Maybe I’m a jerk, but I think they BOTH should be disciplined. The attorney should be suspended and the judge should at least receive a fine. Talk about giving the profession a bad name. So much for “self-policing ethics.”
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
How Do You Connect – Cell, Blackberry, Treo?
Are you trying to simplify your life? Me too.
That’s the way I’m getting a cell phone. I need to be reachable and to make phone calls on the go. I also want better access to my email, and a few other online apps.
But after living without one for 3 years, jumping back into the connected world is intimidating. What carrier do I go with? What type of phone do I get? What services do I need?
Then I realized that most of you probably have cell phones. So now I’m asking you:
How do you connect?
The biggest debate I’m having is between a standard cell phone vs. a Blackberry. I had a Blackberry last summer at my law firms, and I liked the connectivity. But I don’t want to be addicted to one. A regular cell phone could still tap into web apps when needed, but definitely isn’t as convenient for a couple emails.
Then there’s the carrier question. I’ve only had Cingular phones in the past, but their Blackberry and data plans are expensive. However, T-Mobile has a family plan (need one for my wife too) and you can add unlimited Blackberry service for $19.99/month. That sounds pretty reasonable to me.
What do you think?
I’m really eager to have your thoughts on this subject. I don’t want to be one of “those people” who are glued to their phones. And I definitely don’t want to be using a Blackberry 24/7, especially during meetings. But I do want to be connected and reachable.
Do you have a favorite cellular carrier? Do you hate having a Blackberry? Should I fork over the dough for a Treo instead? Or should I go uber-simple and just get a basic phone?
[tags]cell phone, blackberry, treo, cingular, t-mobile[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Traffic Break – Google Hell and StumbleUpon
Everybody wants more traffic, right? Here’s a couple quick thoughts on that subject.
Bloggers definitely like StumbleUpon. I’ve had some decent luck with it in the past, but I finally found the perfect content for it: 11 Reasons to Fire Your Lawyer.
This little post was a quick thought I had a couple weeks back. I finally published it, and it got 415 visits from StumbleUpon in a single day. In my book, that’s awesome! It’s serious content, but it also has a humorous tone. I’ll definitely try to repeat that. 🙂
Second, I’ve just published a post on Google Hell: 11 Tips to Resurrect a Google Supplemental Page. This post is over at our internet marketing blog. If you’ve got some pages stuck in supplemental results, give it a quick read.
[tags]google, supplemental results, stumbleupon[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Looky Linkies – Time Wasters, Easy HTML Tags
I decided to take a break from bar review to share a couple of great links with you guys.
Interview: Biggest Time Waster (at Productivity501)
I am honored to participate in Mark’s cool interview series. He sent three questions to a group of productivity bloggers, and now he’s publishing all our answers. Because of the great response, he’s doing a post on each question. Today’s feature is “What is the single biggest way people waste time without even realizing it?” It’s a great read!
HTML Command Pack (for Direct Access)
I reviewed Direct Access a while back, and I’ve been using it ever since. Now there’s an easy way to insert HTML tags into any document. Simply download the “command pack” for Direct Access, and you can insert most of the commonly used HTML tags by just typing a few strokes. Want a heading tag? Type “,h2” Presto! Need to make something bold? Type “,strong” It’s really that simple. Definitely a handy feature.
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
11 Reasons to Fire Your Lawyer
How many professionals tell you when to fire them? Not many. I’m not a lawyer yet, but I’m happy to explain when lawyers should be fired.
I am a licensed Virginia attorney, but this isn’t legal advice. This post is educational only
Fire your lawyer if…
He’s a jerk.
Nobody wants to pay hard earned money to a jerk. As the client, it’s your right to fire your lawyer, even if he’s just being a jerk. You don’t need a special reason. I hope I would be fired for being a jerk.
He’s not really a lawyer.
It is against the law for someone to practice law without a license. It’s called the “unauthorized practice of law.” If somebody holds himself out to be an attorney or lawyer and isn’t actually a current member of the bar, that is illegal. I wouldn’t want to be represented by an impersonator, do you?
He didn’t properly care for your property.
Lawyers have an ethical obligation to properly care for your property. If you entrust something to your attorney, and he doesn’t take care of it, he can be disciplined by the state bar. To illustrate, a guy asked his lawyer to hang onto his gun collection for a little while. The attorney put the guns in the garage; they rusted. Disciplined! Fire that guy.
He sat there silently as you confessed.
Criminal Procedure 101 – shut up! If you’re being interrogated by the cops, your lawyer shouldn’t let you talk freely. What you say will be used against you. After talking with your lawyer, you might decide together to talk. But if he doesn’t even consult you first, get a new lawyer.
He doesn’t listen to your goals.
Attorneys plan the tactical strategy of your case. But he’s ethically bound to follow your goals, assuming they’re legal and ethical. If you want to plead “not guilty,” your lawyer must go along with you. He can try to dissuade you, but he can’t go against your overall goal.
He deposited an advance payment with his general funds.
Your lawyer must properly account for money that you pay to him. If you pay him a “retainer,” that is a payment to ensure his future availability. He earns that when he agrees to be available to you. But if you pay him an “advance,” that money must be deposited separately. Any fees you incur must be taken out of the advance, since the lawyer only earns that money as he does work for you. If your lawyer runs off with an “advance,” that’s stealing. Yep, fire him.
He sold you a one-size-fits-all form.
Very few legal matters can be solved by filling in the blanks. A simple house purchase might, but not much else. If your attorney doesn’t do proper research and spend the time to get your case right, he’s no good.
He didn’t notify you of a settlement offer.
Generally, lawyers are ethically bound to notify you of every settlement offer, even if it’s laughable. It is your decision whether or not to accept it. If you find out that your attorney turned down a settlement offer without telling you, show him the door!
His interests conflict with yours.
Conflicts of interests are complicated. But a simple version is that your lawyer can’t represent people on opposite sides of the same legal matter. There are lots more rules and plenty of exceptions, but be cautious. If you are asked to sign any kind of conflicts waiver, read it, ask questions, and understand it before you sign.
He waived your grounds for appeal.
Very few cases have an automatic right to an appeal. It’s important that the first run is done correctly to preserve the possibility of appeal. This typically means your attorney must object to errors and make sure they are noted on the record. If you lose and you have no appeal preserved, find a new lawyer for future matters.
He’s sleeping with your wife.
Not only is this lawyer a jerk (see #1), but he’s also un-ethical. Lawyers are ethically required not to enter into sexual relationships with clients. Your wife is probably close enough to constitute a violation. You guessed it; fire him!
Have you fired a lawyer?
Now’s where I get your feedback. Have you ever fired an attorney? If you feel comfortable sharing your story, we’d love to hear it. Post a comment below. 🙂
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Sidebar – Fun Google Easter Eggs
And now, for something completely different…
Courtesy of Google Maps, I show you the great State of Chair. It recently joined the Union to replace several of the old Western states. The capitol is located in the bustling city of Cushion.
(click to enlarge)
Seriously, my wife pulled up Google Maps the other day, and the default map of the U.S. showed this funky image. It’s not something from her computer cache (that she recognized anyway). She tried refreshing, and it stayed there for a couple times, but finally disappeared. Bizarre!
Because of that odd experience, I did a little searching for other Google easter eggs. Maybe you can help this rabbit catch his Google eggs. But you better watch out, since Google is the devil. Finally, you might just find Nessie in your personalized home page.
Update – June 9, 9:54 PM – Thanks to Jake’s comment, I have now been educated about the Google “devil” page I linked to above. It’s an official Google specialized search. Instead of that, how about Elmer Fudd Google?
And now, back to our regular programming.
(Yes, I’m going insane because of bar review.)
[tags]sidebar, easter egg, google[/tags]
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
-
Legal tips by email
Sign-up below to get email tips and exclusive discounts on videos, webinars, and future items.
All fields are required.
-
Receive updates
By email
By rss (full feed)
-
About Andrew Flusche
Lawyer, bicyclist, husband.
More about me...
Tumble Log
-
Popular Posts