Judge Rakoff amended his rules today, effective in one week.  Judge Rakoff has long required parties to call chambers before any motion or application and, when an adversary is not availble in 24 hours, to write Judge Rakoff to set up a call and to briefly describe the application.  Judge Rakoff will now accept that correspondence by email.  Parties may also deliver an initial case management report by email.  A redline of the changes is here.