Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Steve Jobs' passing - Goodbye to a great man

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away today at the age of 56. He had a rare form of pancreatic cancer called pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, which produces islet cell of neuroendocrine tumors. This form is usually less agressive than pancreatic exocrine cancer and patients can usually live longer, with an average survival rate of more than 3 years.

While Jobs' legendary perfectionism and insistence on simplicity and elegance for Apple's products were the qualities of an aesthete, and led to his becoming something of a guru to all Apple employees (Fortune remarked that Apple employees' primary question was always "WWSD - What Would Steve Do?"). But his goal was to create products that could command premium prices and ensure rich profits.

The Apple CEO's unique combination of showmanship, eye for detail and instinct for business strategy may make it hard to identify his rightful place in business history. (He is the young man at left in this picture.)

Everyone knows Steve Jobs pulled off one of the outstanding corporate turnarounds in U.S. history, and he did it on the strength of cool products. Cool products like the Mac my kids use, the iPhone we all depend on, and iTunes, a dependable source of good music for our iPods. Clearly in Steve's case, the "i's" had it.

But coolness aside, Jobs was a master of bare-knuckled business strategies from the old school. Apple's reputation for nearly flawless manufacturing quality, not merely its svelte engineering, is what enables the company to make premium pricing look like a value proposition. Apple devices may cost more, but they always seem to work. In its most recent fiscal year, Apple's profit margin was more than 21%; at Hewlett-Packard, the world's biggest PC manufacturer, it was 7%.

Jobs' well-known control-freak ethos accounts for the closed approach binding Apple's mobile devices and their content — songs purchased from the iTunes store can't be played on competing companies' devices, for example. Although in the iPod's early days, many thought this would doom it to irrelevance, Jobs' strategy paid off. There was a method to his madness: He believed simplicity and consistency would draw customers to legal digital music downloads. And he was right. I used to have other music services on my computer, like Bear Share and another I can't remember. All that remains, is the iTunes store.

And the App Store, through which Apple kept a stranglehold on outside software written for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, is the ultimate expression of Jobs' desire for order. Programs can be distributed through the App Store only after they're approved by Apple, which takes a 30% cut of their revenue — another Jobsian exploitation of a very un-Zen business strategy.

Steve Jobs was a Buddhist. According to the press (much of which is quoted here), his business strategies were very much not in the Buddhist tradition. But all of that is nothing but nay-saying now. Instead, I would simply like to offer Mr. Jobs' family and friends my condolences, and express my gratitude for the miraculous contribution Steve Jobs' brilliance made in my life, and the life of everyone I know. He was truly a genius, a man whose work will continue to bless us for years to come.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Walk On

We all get discouraged sometimes. Tonight I was cleaning out some personal file cabinets and came across this poem. It's a good one to read when the chips are down:

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late, the one who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Things that make you go hmmmm



There are self-proclaimed "Family Law Firms for Women" in Michigan that go by women's first names, and offer seminars and songs, claiming to have a true understanding of a woman's unique perspective. Why are they are owned, and managed, by men?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Making Sense of the Senseless


Problems are opportunities in workclothes.
Thomas Edison

When suffering through a divorce, it is easy to wish that someone else (like a new mate) would come along and "save" us. Going through trying times can be painful, and no one (least of all me!) enjoys them. Yet struggle is the opportunity God gives us to find our greatness, and this is amply demonstrated by this lesson from Nature:

A man is out walking one day and discovers a caterpillar tucked inside its cocoon. Intrigued, he takes it home with him so that he can watch the caterpillar become a beautiful butterfly. A few days later, he sees a small opening in the cocoon and watches, fascinated, as the caterpillar struggles to emerge. Try as it might, however, the caterpillar just can't seem to force its body out of the tiny hole.

Thinking there must be something wrong and wanting to help, the man takes his scissors and snips the cocoon open. The butterfly is freed immediately, its body large and swollen. Its wings, on the other hand, are tiny and shriveled. The man assumes that after a few hours, the wings will spread out into their natural beauty. But they never do. Instead of becoming the captivating creature that delights us all and symbolizes happiness, the butterfly is doomed to go through its short life dragging a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The struggle the butterfly goes through is Nature's way of forcing the fluid from the caterpillar's body into the butterfly's wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly will never fly. The man's act of "kindness" was in fact a death sentence.

It is the same throughout nature. For example, a diamond is simply elemental carbon, or coal. What makes a diamond the coveted, precious gem that it is, and coal a useful but homely rock we disdain? The same thing that makes a “man or a mouse” out of each of us; the ability to withstand heat and pressure.

Coal can withstand temperatures of 200-300 degrees Celsius. If the pressure or the temperature gets much higher, the host rock melts. Diamonds, on the other hand, are formed only under extreme geological conditions - when temperatures are greater than 800 degrees Celsius and pressure is 50,000 times atmospheric pressure. Such conditions exist only deep below the surface of the earth.

And so it is with us. No matter how difficult or painful the situation we are in, it is a necessary part of helping us grow into the unique person we are meant to be. The same is true for our children. In fact, when we continually bail our children out of their difficulties, we teach them to believe they cannot solve problems for themselves.

So embrace your struggles. Don't look for the easy way out. No matter how far afield life seems to take you, this trip is necessary. Be kind and gentle and patient with yourself as you bravely face the lessons you need to learn.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Do Michigan divorce laws need better clarification on assets?

Many have questioned the relevancy of MI divorce laws in relation to stay at home spouses. Do they take into consideration that spouses who opt to stay home and raise children are at a much higher disadvantage than their executive level soon-to-be-ex spouse? An article from the Free Press analyzes this dilemma thoughtfully. Click here to read more.

Friday, June 10, 2011

New YouTube channel!

Check out the L4J YouTube channel, showcasing what packages we offer, tailored to your specific needs!

Monday, May 2, 2011

American Psychiatric Association Reviews the Science, Recognition of Parental Alienation Disorder

Parental alienation is very real, and it's important for parents to recognize signs of the alienation, and it's effect on children. Read more about what the APA is doing here.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Is social media partially responsible for infidelity?

According to one report on The Tech Journal, more than 20 percent of an online divorce lawyers case list was because of an affair that started on Facebook. Do you think that social media makes it easier to begin an affair? Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? Read more about the story here

Monday, April 18, 2011

Divorce App for your IPhone?

Would you consider this a good source of information? A group of family lawyers have released a divorce app for the Iphone and other app friendly phones. Read more about the story here

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"We R so over!" Divorce by text banned

It seems unbelievable that divorce via text message would ever be an option, but in certain countries, it is alive and well. This controversial technique has been outlawed by many countries, including the newest country to join that list, Tajikistan. Read more about this here.


Do you think divorcing my text message should be allowed? Have you ever had it happen to you or someone you know?

Monday, April 11, 2011

Getting a divorce? Watch out for hidden assests

Dishonesty about financial matters is not uncommon when it comes to divorce. Read this article here to learn about ways to be prepared and proactive in that situation.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Mediation plan "could add to divorce stress"

Mediation is utilized in divorce proceedings as an attempt to be cost effective and avoid stress, however this article discusses the level of stress it can place upon people to cooperate when they aren't usually on the best terms. Do you think mediation is the way to go or no? Click here to read the article.

Friday, April 1, 2011

When people are faced with divorce, it can be a very distraught and stressful time. Sometimes the divorce can be a horrific experience for people. In fact, some people would rather commit murder than face it. These stories are a tragic example of that. That's why, at Lady4Justice, we strive to reach the peaceful, respectful solution, because we understand how painful divorce can be.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Vote for me!


I believe in Detroit, I always have. I like living here and I plan to stay. Now, I'd like a chance to share my enthusiasm with my fellow Detroiters. That's why I'm asking you to vote for me to be one of the presenters in the 2nd Ignite Detroit. Vote here

Valentine's Ball "Dancing with the Judges"


I had such a fun time at this past Valentine's day event "Dancing with the Judges"! Here is a great article about the event, and a little blurb about how great I think Oakland County is: http://bit.ly/fbpQKM

Monday, March 21, 2011

House votes to change rules in child custody case

In custody cases, some fathers feel that the Court is too quick to award sole custody to the mother. In my experience, the best custody is the most amount of custody for both parents (except in extreme situations).http://bit.ly/hSSzBB

Our primary focus is always the best interest of the children. If you or anyone you know is facing a custody case in Michigan, please contact our office today.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Divorce and special needs children

Going through a divorce can be complicated enough with or without children. Having a child with special needs adds a different dimension and an extended level of understanding to the mix: http://huff.to/eqFjcU

Monday, March 14, 2011

Divorce can complicate Social Security Claims

Very informative link on filing for Social Security Claims with a divorce http://bit.ly/dKmYxT

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Take time to laugh, even during divorce



Last night I performed at Go Comedy in Ferndale with my improv group.
It was so great to laugh and make others laugh too. The power of humor has a lot of beneficial qualities, emotionally and health wise. Take the time to find humor in every situation, even if it is a dark day. If we saw our lives as a Mel Brooks movie, we'd laugh ourselves out of our chairs! Divorce can seem like your life is over, but it's just starting a new chapter. I found this great list of the top 26 funniest break up and divorce movies for you at http://bit.ly/gBSW8N. Enjoy!

Monday, February 28, 2011

WedLock: Insurance for your marriage?

Safeguard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) recently started selling what it is calling the world's first divorce insurance product -- WedLock. Of course there are pros and cons, but would you consider this? Do you think it would help or hurt a marriage? http://bit.ly/hWINJq

Friday, February 25, 2011

Father of slain Tampa teens files for divorce

Even in a tragic and devastating situation such as this, Parker Schenecker acts empathetic and heroic by not making a huge legal battle. My heart and thoughts go out to this man and his family. http://bit.ly/icKtOx

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Do you believe in the 'Oscar Curse'?

A Canadian study finds that best actresses more likely to divorce. What do you think? Is that becoming a trend? http://bit.ly/fhNMws

Monday, February 14, 2011

Cupid signed my divorce papers

Valentine's day is quickly becoming a holiday that is highly associated with divorce. The reasons stem from those who lag on their New Years Resolutions, to unmet expectations of how the holiday should be celebrated (or worse, who the holiday was celebrated with!). Check out this article for more information. http://bit.ly/eyhRTu

Our office is always available for complementary consultations. Please call us for any questions you may have! (248)355-5688

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Divorce and Children

A lot of new clients ask me about how their divorce will affect their children. While each situation will have different results (depending on the relationship between the two parents, and their desire to gain resolution), I found that this article provides a lot of great insight in that situation. http://bit.ly/dUynnE

Monday, February 7, 2011

Collaborative Law

It's definitely the way to go. It conserves cost, emotional distraught, and keeps the kids out of it. Contact our office for more information. http://huff.to/hP2eBC

Friday, February 4, 2011

How to prevent divorce from entering the conversation

This is a great resource for married couples who want to be proactive and prevent divorce: http://huff.to/fOTaCz

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Divorce education class for children

Children of divorce (much like parents) are not fully educated on how to express their feelings and emotions in a healthy way. This class provides great benefit to all parties: http://bit.ly/eNegOQ

Friday, January 21, 2011

Tax Issues during Divorce

A question I'm frequently asked from clients regards filing taxes during a divorce. This article offers some good insight. For further information, please contact our office. http://bit.ly/enTVx4

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Michigan Law bans spouse e-mail surveillance

When two people join a union of matrimony, many aspects of their lives are intertwined. Something as seemingly harmless as sharing a laptop can have it's repercussions: http://bit.ly/i0Mln2

Monday, January 10, 2011

Looking for something to do this weekend? Stop by the Troy Michigan Woman's Spa and Wellness Expo! I will be speaking and have a booth available to answer all questions and concerns. Check out the website for other activities, hope to see you there!
With the start of the new year, it is always important to think ahead and be proactive. Protect your loved ones and contact us today for a free review of your will. Offer extended to the first 50 people, due to high volume.


For more information, contact our office: www.lady4justice.com or (248)355-5688

Resource on why a will is important: http://bit.ly/eOnDHB

Friday, January 7, 2011

Is Gay Divorce coming soon to New Mexico? http://huff.to/homDvg

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Years Post Divorce Resolutions: http://huff.to/id5u3C
Marriage on the decline in Middle America: http://bit.ly/f9QNeQ