Where Miller’s time goes
Editor’s note: J. Scott Miller is a Spokane attorney and a partner in the firm Miller, Devlin & McLean.
Like many of us, I have assembled quite a collection of Web sites, and identifying the ones I use most is quite challenging. So instead of exploring a couple of sites in depth, I thought it might be interesting to scan several different Web sites that offer a variety of helpful, interesting, or just entertaining content.
Computer stuff
For information on computer software, hardware, and tips about avoiding dumb purchases, I usually check with Walter Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal at www.allthingsd.com.
Politics
Elections are coming far too fast these days. But still, it’s important to keep track of what’s going on, and it’s pretty difficult to cut through the chaff and find the wheat. Log onto the Federal Election Commission Web site to learn how much candidates are spending to get elected to federal office at www.fec.gov/finance/ disclosure/srssea.shtml. For state offices, check the Washington Public Disclosure Commission site at www.pdc.wa.gov/Public/ Campaign/Default.aspx. You can subscribe to e-mails sent from the White House at www.whitehouse.gov/email.
Register to vote at www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/ register.aspx.
Entertaining links
These sites get used more frequently than I probably ought to admit, for podcasts, music, and other entertainment. KEXP offers a free Song of the Day podcast at http://kexp.org/podcasting/ podcasting.asp, and my week is just not complete without hearing Click and Clack on Car Talk at www.cartalk.com/content/columns/i ndex.html.
That gives me an ideal chance to support Spokane Public Radio at www.KPBX.org. The station has local programming (including the incredibly popular Movies101 podcast kpbx.org/audio/podcasts.htm), so you can listen over the Internet anywhere in the world. And, in case you didn’t know, The Spokesman-Review offers free MP3s from Spokane7 at www.spokane7.com/music/mp3s/ (your kids will thank you).
Legal sites
As an attorney, I tend to visit these Web sites almost daily. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries provides information about workers compensation claims, minimum wage rules, wage and hour requirements, and other employment information at www.lni.wa.gov.
If you are about to hire someone to work on your house definitely click on www.lni.wa.gov/Trades Licensing/Contractors/HireCon to confirm you are dealing with a licensed contractor.
For Idaho laws and regulations, go to www.accessidaho.org/laws_rules or to find the name and address of an attorney in Idaho try www2.state.id.us/isb/mem/ attorney_roster.asp.
To find the contact information for an attorney in Washington go to pro.wsba.org.
General legal information is available from a number of sources, including the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov, and the American Bar Association at www.abanet.org, and even the Washington State Bar Association at www.wsba.org.
But when I’m ready to take a break, it is fun to see all the dumb laws that have been passed in various states at www.dumblaws.com.
Looking back on all these sites I begin to wonder just how much time I actually spend working!