February 5, 2010
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of February 5, 2010. I love Walmart. I bought my glasses there after getting checked out by their ophthalmologist. While “instant messaging” on Facebook with my Dear Lady Friend Susan R last night, chatting about issues that impact Solo and Small Firm lawyers, the “Dissolution Kits” available on-line, and the “Modification Kits” available on-line, this June … I was struck by a thought: Walmart setting up “legal clinics”, to help folks fill out the forms supplied by our Supreme Court and Secretary of State. They have to be accepted by our judges since they are Supreme Court approved forms. Manned by Walmart trained “paralegals”. Wills, trusts and other estate planning forms. Incorporation and business forms, (available for download from the Secretary of State’s Website.) And perhaps, although forms are not available YET, forms on how to deal with PI claims. Not the unauthorized practice of law is it? Just providing a service, helping folks fill out forms. And if anybody complains … who would listen? Who would care? Oh! Wait!! “Legalzoom” already does that!! “Save time and money on common legal matters! Created by top attorneys, LegalZoom helps you make reliable legal documents from your home or office. Simply answer a few questions online and your documents will be created within 48 hours. We even review your answers and guarantee your satisfaction.” So they ask you questions, and based on the answers, prepare the document you need. Only a question of time before you see a Kiosk in Walmart … isn’t it? Share with me again, why lawyers need to be licensed? Why I paid my Bar dues?
So, there is a renewed debate about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy adopted by President Clinton in 1993, to deal with gay service members in our military, (10 U.S.C. � 654). As a society, we have come a long way since 1993. But we still have a ways to go: NEW YORK — Gay dating site’s Super Bowl ad rejected by CBS. “Super Bowl network CBS rejected an ad Friday from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating Web site. “After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot,” said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. “We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions.” CBS said it turned down the ad partly for financial reasons, but ManCrunch believes that there’s more to it than that. “It’s straight-up discrimination,” said Elissa Buchter, spokeswoman for the Toronto-based dating site.” Interesting study to read: “Is Homophobia Associated With Homosexual Arousal?” , Henry E. Adams, Lester W. Wright, Jr., and Bethany A. Lohr, Journal of Abnormal Psychology Copyright 1996, Vol. 105, No. 3,440–445. The study’s conclusion? “Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression. Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies. As for the denied ad? I didn’t care for it. The ad has been viewed on “YouTube” 23,162 times … kind of wonder if 23,000 of those views, weren’t by the Fred Phelps family.
And in the “Does anybody really care?” news – (PEOPLE.com) — ‘N.J. Housewife’: ‘I’m a born-again virgin’. “Danielle Staub, the polarizing star of “The Real Housewives Of New Jersey,” is turning over a new leaf: She’s abstaining from all sexual activity until she’s married. “I’m abstinent now,” she told PEOPLE. “I realized that with abstinence, if you really, really believe in yourself like I do, you discover your own self-worth. Abstinence means you refrain from any sex — thinking about it, doing it — even to yourself! I’m a born-again virgin.” In fact, Staub said it’s been “over a year-and-a-half” since she’s had sex.” My, oh my. A “celebrity” that might actually become a role model for our children. What a novel idea. So I wonder … will Mr. Edwards re-virginate as well? (CNN) — Judge orders ex-Edwards aide to turn over sex tape. “A judge ordered an ex-aide to former Sen. John Edwards on Friday to turn over a sex tape said to depict Edwards and his former mistress, an official in a North Carolina court said. Judge Abraham Penn Jones found former Edwards aide Andrew Young and his wife, Cheri, in civil contempt of court, said Tammy Keshler, a judicial assistant in Chatham County Superior Court. He ordered them to give the court the tape and other materials they may have by 2 p.m. Wednesday, she said. The judge said he could jail the Youngs if they do not comply, she said.” I seem to vaguely remember something called … “fornication“. Used to be something called a “sin”. Used to be against the law, a crime once, as well. I suppose criminalizing smoking in bars, or texting while driving is more of a societal priority now.
So, you wonder why there is a “Tea Party” movement/convention? Why there are a bunch of folks willing to pay $549.00 to attend? They are angry, afraid and sick of our elected representatives in Washington. Why? BBC NEWS – US economy bail-out goals ‘not met’. “The US economic bail-out programme has done little to ensure that financial crises do not occur in the future, a key watchdog report has said. While conceding that “some aspects of the financial system are more stable”, it said that a number of the bail-out’s key goals “have simply not been met”. Most notably, banks are still too big and lending has not increased … “Even if Tarp saved our financial system from driving off a cliff back in 2008,” he warned, in the absence of “meaningful reform, we are still driving on the same winding mountain road, but this time in a faster car”. Mr Barofsky said some US banks remained “too big to fail”, while investors were more convinced than ever that the government would step in to save them in the event of another crisis. There was little incentive, therefore, for banks to curtail risky trading activities, he argued.” And of course, he is correct. How else could you explain this? WASHINGTON � A.I.G. Planning Huge Bonuses After $170 Billion Bailout. “The American International Group, which has received more than $170 billion in taxpayer bailout money from the Treasury and Federal Reserve, plans to pay about $165 million in bonuses by Sunday to executives in the same business unit that brought the company to the brink of collapse last year.” Some of my Republican and Democrat friends describe “Tea Party” folks as “wingnuts”. No doubt, some are … even if all are, there appears to be a bunch of “wingnuts” willing to lay down $549.00 to learn how to organize politically at the local level. Something I have not seen since Ross Perot’s Presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996.
Topeka, Kansas — Alcohol laws debated. “Liquor stores that hold the monopoly on strong beers are fighting for the exclusive right to keep the tap flowing. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would push open the door to allow convenience stores and grocery stores to sell stronger beer. Currently, those cereal malt beverage vendors are capped at selling 3.2 beer, but the bill would allow the sale of beer with 4 percent alcohol by weight. The bill also would put Alcoholic Beverage Control in charge of cereal malt beverage vendors.” Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah limit beer sales to 3.2 % in convenience stores, (Click “HERE” for the liquor laws in all States). I have never understood the distinction nor rational for limiting the alcohol content at such levels … I am told it is a public welfare issue. 3.2% vs. 4% - 6%? So you can’t drink two cans to get the same buzz? I’m sure my very Dear Friend Dan Ryan would have a rational explanation, since he is a home brewer and beer aficionado! No doubt, history teaches beer is the most efficient storage mechanism for grain and the reason we stopped living in trees, (hard to hold on to a branch, while holding a bottle of beer.) And the most efficient mechanism for storing beer, (short term)? A bladder. The only explanation for 3.2% beer, in my mind? An unusually strong latrine lobby in those states have such laws.
And in the news from “Down Under”, (CNN) — Judge says Men at Work’s ‘Down Under‘ mimics nursery rhyme. “A judge has ruled that the famous flute riff in Men at Work’s Australian rock anthem “Down Under” plagiarized a popular nursery rhyme about a Kookaburra written in 1932. Thursday’s ruling marks the end of a three-year legal battle that started with a trivia question on Australian quiz show “Spicks & Specks … “There’s a lot more to ‘Down Under’ than that flute melody. It’s not the main melody and not the main hook and I suppose that in the end will mean that it will be a minor share of the royalties that this publisher can claim now,”" So what is a Kookaburra? “Kookaburras (genus Dacelo) are large to very large (total length 28�42 cm/11-17 in) terrestrial kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea … Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call, which is uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter � good-natured, but rather hysterical, merriment in the case of the well-known Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae); and maniacal cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (D. leachii).” These should not be confused with “Kaakaburra”, the little piles left by Koala Bears.
Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the “Editorial Staff” running around playing, (except my L’il Buddy — he’s laying snuggled up behind me.). On the local evening news, Kansas City didn’t get hit that badly – the snow storm swung southeast. Here in Holden, we got about 5 inches. The office is normally closed on Fridays for case management, billing, and 3 day weekends. We have a centralized number, so clients can get ahold of me 24/7. Ft Timmerman has about 7,000 square feet, with 1/3 of that being the office. We have 3 furnaces, one for the office, one for the living area and the third for the living room/bedroom area. We turn the office furnace down to 50 degrees and keep the other two furnaces set at 60 degrees, with most of the heat coming from the pellet stove insert. Quite toasty at Ft Timmerman. On the national news, Toyota’s CEO, bowed several times and apologized. Toyota hired a new PR firm in Washington today as well, (with heavy ties to both the Democrat and Republican leadership in the house.) Business as usual, isn’t it? Reminds me of the old McDonalds Commercial, cause Ford and GM are “Lovin It“. Also the Tea Party Convention … “Obama’s a Socialist!“ … folks that voted for him, “illiterate“. The good news, I suppose … No one violated “Godwin’s Law (also known as Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies) is an adage formulated by Mike Godwin in 1990. The law states: “As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.” And finally the “Directors Guild of America” named a woman it’s director of the year, (the first in 91 years). Kathyn Bigalow, for “The Hurt Locker“. The weather here? Freezing fog and continued snow flurries. The folks on the east coast? Up to 30 inches of snow. Time to post these Ramblings. We are not going anywhere, just a quiet evening at home, hunkered down, with me doing a Photoshop Tutorial and Susan making some “Stamping Up“, cards, (she is a dealer). We are all, safe and warm. Later, as I drift off the sleep, I will say a prayer of thanks for the many blessings Susan and I enjoy, and for Susan to share my life with. As I do every night, I will also say a pray for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, you will also sleep safe and warm this evening, while too many those who ensure you can, won’t. If my post offends, I apologize – that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri and the “Editorial Staff”, Willie, Karly, Dinker, my L’il Buddy … and Floyd, the copy boy.)