Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Iraq Abuse Recap

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Whiskey Bar: Chapter and Verse provides a compact summary of what we suspect we know about the Iraq abuse story, and the far far murkier coverup.

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Excellent Advice for 1Ls (&2Ls & 3Ls)

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Heidi Bond, the law student we all wish we had in our classes, has excellent advice for law students about What to get from your classes. I also liked her advice for summer associates.

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Open Park – A Great Idea

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Open Park is a great idea, and Kevin Werbach is part of it:

WERBLOG: The Open Park Project is a non-profit working to establish free public WiFi connectivity on the National mall in Washington, DC. I'm one of the co-founders, along with Washington telecom lawyer Greg Staple and two others. On [April 28], Open Park launched its Website and its first location, on Capitol Hill.

Hard to believe, but this is the first public outdoor WiFi hotspot in Washington, DC. The area around Supreme Court, the Capitol Visitor Center, and the Library of Congress is now “lit.” Next stop: a wireless mesh from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.

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Not Safe For Work

Posted on May 31, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

The Guardian reports that in Ireland they have their own approach to keeping financial markets clean—Irish bank boss quits over adult sites:

The Irish banking sector was dealt another blow this weekend with the resignation of the chief executive of the Bank of Ireland, Michael Soden.

Mr Soden resigned on Saturday after he admitted breaking company guidelines by accessing internet sites containing adult content. He is also expected to step down from the board of the Post Office, a role he took up after the Bank of Ireland signed a deal with the Royal Mail's retail arm.

A spokesman for the bank said directors would meet this week to discuss Mr Soden's replacement and payoff.

The experienced banking executive said he deeply regretted the embarrassment he had caused the bank by breaching its policies on internet use.

“I have made it a central part of my tenure to set the highest standards of integrity and behaviour and to do so in an environment of accountability, transparency and openness,” he said. “I now accept that accessing this material was inappropriate and would cause embarrassment to Bank of Ireland and people who work there.”

Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern yesterday said Mr Soden's resignation and a growing scandal at Allied Irish Bank had jeopardised the credibility of the Irish financial industry. “It can't get much worse.”

Perhaps Mr. Soden should look for a job in Denmark?

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Annals of Software Obsolescence: Intuit is Even More Evil than I Though

Posted on May 31, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

In an earlier post I explained how Intuit was trying to force customers happily using earlier versions of their Quicken software to buy new updated copies by destroying the ability of users of older Quicken versions to download financial statements from banks and credit cards in the most useful format, web connect (which I've since learned Intuit refers to as OFX). I also noted that a much less-useful format, QIF files, remained available.

Well, looks like Intuit is closing even that loophole: starting with Quicken 2005, users will no longer have the option of importing QIF files for Checking, Savings, Brokerage and 401(k) accounts — the kind that have the most activity and thus most need online updating.

As a result, when Intuit decides to obsolete customers' ability to download their bank statements, as it just did to me, the entire user base will either have to go to manual entry or buy a new copy of the Quicken program.

That's forced obsolescence with a vengeance.

Continue reading →

Posted in Software | 8 Comments

Allow Me to Fan the Flames of Your Burning Bridge

Posted on May 30, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Gawker has this email purportedly from a departing lawyer at Paul, Hastings, a firm with a reputation for great intellectual brilliance exceeded by arrogance.

From: [REDACTED] Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 1:11 PM Subject: FW: Goodbye…

As many of you are aware, today is my last day at the firm. It is time for me to move on and I want you to know that I have accepted a position as “Trophy Husband”. This decision was quite easy and took little consideration. However, I am confident this new role represents a welcome change in my life and a step up from my current situation. While I have a high degree of personal respect for PHJW as a law firm, and I have made wonderful friendships during my time here, I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities. In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a pinata and beaten than remain with this group any longer. I wish you continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.

May the smoke from any bridges I burn today be seen far and wide.

Respectfully submitted,

[SIGNED]

ps. Achilles absent, was Achilles still. (Homer)

(spotted via Brian Leiter)

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