Freebies: Finding Fun, Free Things To Do

Free events and free admissions don't get the advertising dollars that for-profit events might, so you may have to put some effort into finding free things to do for you and your family in your community - but it can be done!

• Google (or Yahoo or AOL or MSN) the name of your city along with the word "attractions"
• as a second search, substitute the word "events" for attractions (attractions are always around (like the Alamo) but events are always changing (like the Trinity University lecture series) ...).

Here in San Antonio, I've found the following list of free things to do that are family-friendly - no money other than the gas to get there:

Brackenridge Park (feed the ducks, wander the paved paths or bike the trails, picnic, fish)

Japanese Tea Gardens (recently renovated, goldfish ponds, lush gardens, winding paths)

The Alamo (learn some history, see the artifacts)

Fort Sam Houston (discover where they kept Geronimo)

Hangar 9 - Museum of Flight Medicine (the only remaining World War I hanger - remember the Red Baron?)

La Villita (artisans at work, lots of peaceful oak and cypress trees, close to the River)

Monarch Collectibles (huge, huge collection of dolls from all over the world)

Riverwalk (sure, the restaurants aren't free but the people-watching is)

San Antonio Museum of Art (free on Tuesdays)

Witte Museum (free on Tuesdays from 3-8) (they've got the great Treehouse here)

McNay Museum of Art (free on Thursdays from 4 - 9, and free on the 1st Sunday of the month)

Barnes & Noble Storytimes (check the stores for times, usually Saturday mornings)

Borders' Storytimes (check the stores for times, usually Saturday mornings)

Blue Mondays - Blues sung at Main Plaza 11-1 through end of August

FirstFridays - ArtWalk from Blue Star Art Complex down the length of South Alamo (King William area)

SecondSaturdays - ArtWalk in Southtown - roam through six galleries, see artisans at work -- like the glassblowing demonstration today at Garcia Air Glass.

Mariachi Mass at Mission San Jose - noon on Sundays, standing room only

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show - Riverwalk

Lecture - August 28 - Greg Mortenson, co-author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, on the New York Times best sellers' list for 60+ weeks, will speak and then sign books as part of Trinity University's Lecture Series. Free, Laurie Auditorium.


Sources:
FreeAttractions.com
SanAntonioTourist.com
SAEvents.org

Should You Use LegalZoom or RocketLawyer for Low Cost Legal Services?

Robert Shapiro may have gained national fame for representing OJ Simpson, but he's becoming a household fixture with LegalZoom, the online legal document services company he co-founded.

In fact, legal document services look to be a growing business: just last month, lawyers.com announced it was going into direct competition with LegalZoom with its new venture, RocketLawyer.Com.

Everyone knows that lawyers are expensive. Cost is one of the main reasons that people procrastinate about finalizing a will, or changing it ... and for better or worse, legal fees are a big factor in divorce and separation decisions.

At LegalZoom and RocketLawyer, you avoid the expense of a private attorney as long as your legal needs are not too complicated or individualized. Need a basic will, power of attorney, or name change? LegalZoom and RocketLawyer can help you. Same goes for incorporation documentation, basic real estate leases or deed transfers, and copyright filings. RocketLawyer even offers lots of forms -- and letters -- for free at its site.

But Should You Trust LegalZoom or RocketLawyer?

Maybe. First of all, LegalZoom and RocketLawyer are skirting the periphery of a new trend in the legal marketplace, called elawyering. Recognized by the American Bar Association and other professional organizations, some attorneys are practicing online and reaching their clients via the internet. These lawyers practice akin to "virtual law offices," and both endeavors are still somewhat new to practitioner and public alike, with lots of kinks still being worked out, jurisdictionally and otherwise.

It's important to remember, however, that LegalZoom and RocketLawyer aren't acting as legal counsel. LegalZoom has a disclaimer that it is not providing legal advice (RocketLawyer does, too, but it's not as impressive), and any lawyer worth his or her salt is going to explain that every situation is unique, and in need of an expert's review. Still, that may or may not be totally true for some situations.

Some county courthouses allow do-it-yourself divorces and deed transfers. There are legal transactions that are cookie-cutter for the most part -- and these legal document service companies focus upon these areas.

If you have a simple legal transaction, then LegalZoom (or RocketLawyer) is a bargain. The key question is: as a layman, how do you know for sure?

Legal documents are tested when they are needed. You won't know the quality of your legal deed, will, or incorporation documentation until they are put to the test. If you feel secure that you're not dealing with any special issues, then LegalZoom or RocketLawyer should hopefully pass that test for you.

How Cheap is It?

Very, very cheap. Will packages at LegalZoom range from standard ($69.00) to vault ($119.00) (these were "special prices" when I checked the site). No lawyer I know (and I'm still a practicing attorney, although I limit my practice to the local Children's Court) would give you even one hour's time for these prices -- and it takes more than an hour to complete even a basic will. A divorce package (property but no children) is offered for $299 ... again, a lawyer's hourly rate will far exceed this in even the cleanest divorce.

Along with several freebies, RocketLawyer even offers a free basic will --you can't get a better deal than that, right?

The Real Risk Is a Big One

The real risk for any of these documents is their validity under your jurisdiction. The laws of Texas are not the same as Louisiana, Washington, or Vermont. Additionally, state laws are constantly changing as society progresses, etc. LegalZoom and RocketLawyer cannot -- and do not -- claim to meet these variations in legal standards. They're not offering legal advice.

Bottom Line

These prices are great, and these products may serve your situation well. However, you're taking a risk by using these document services - and it could be with a big downside.

• What if the will isn't deemed valid after you're gone?
• What if the incorporation documents aren't respected in your future civil suit, are your personal assets at risk?
• God forbid, what if the divorce documents aren't valid?

With LegalZoom or RocketLawyer, you have to hope that you get far more than you pay for.

Reviews:

LegalSpring.Com
Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

For More Information:

Free Legal Help

MagicJack - Unlimited Phone Service for $20/Yr

Perhaps you've seen the television commercial, promising a 30-day 100% free trial of MagicJack if you call within the next thirty minutes? (The same offer is available at their website.) Is it too good to be true?

First, what is MagicJack?

MagicJack is a gizmo that plugs into your computer's USB port. After you install the hardware, its software automatically loads onto your PC (Mac-friendly versions available, too). Then, you plug your landline phone jack into the gizmo, and voila! You can telephone nationally or internationally at the rate MagicJack charges, not your local phone service.

And the MagicJack rate is very low.

What's the cost?

First year, $39.95; after that, subscription is $19.95/year for caller id; voice mail; call waiting; conference calling; unlimited domestic and international use. These are ANNUAL fees, not monthly ones.

What are the biggest pros and cons? There's lots of negatives to MagicJack.

1. First of all, your computer has to be up and running to use MagicJack. Turn off your computer, and your MagicJack phone shuts off, too. (Compare this to Vonage, which connects into your modem, allowing you to have phone service as long as your internet service provider is active.)
2. Another negative for some is the MagicJack requirement to dial the area code for every call - although this is only true for some parts of the country.
3. A third problem with MagicJack is quality of transmission - in my surfing of the web, I found bloggers and pro reviewers reporting periodic fuzzy calls, low volume, and voice mail issues. Everyone weighed these against the cost of the service, and found the quality issues tolerable given the cost benefits MagicJack offers.
4. Finally, there's a privacy issue. Selling this service this cheap has many wondering how MagicJack can make a profit. Well, the company plans on getting revenue through advertising, and that's going to happen through ads that MagicJack will sell, and which will be displayed on your computer as part of the MagicJack operational software. The gimmick to draw advertisers? MagicJack reserves the right to monitor the numbers you dial so it can coordinate ads with advertisers. Yep -- they'll be monitoring your phone calls for commercial purposes and you're giving up some privacy in order to get cheap phone service.

What are the Pros?

1. It's easy to install.
2. It's cheap.
3. You can call domestic or international for the flat fee.
4. It seems to have the best use as a landline used for families whose main phone use is at work, or on cell phones. Lots of the complaints I read were from folk who were trying to use MagicJack for business, or for their sole phone line.

Who are its competitors?

MagicJack is one of several voice-over-internet-protocols (VoIP) services being marketed today for cheap phone service. Others include Vonage (which is the big dog in the pack here), Optimum Voice, At&T CallVantage, TimeWarnerCable, Comcast, Average, and Skype. All these services compete with MagicJack for VoIP customers.

Who's winning? In a recent PCMag survey, Optimum Voice came in first as the VoIP customer favorite, followed by Vonage.

Reviews:

US News & World Report (June 6, 2008)

Laptop Mag

VOIPReview.Org

BroadbandDSL.com

FierceVOIP.com

For more information:

Skype - Is It For U?

VoIP -What About Those $25 Vonage Ads?