The Adventures of Recalcitrant Toy

The pentacle has finally been approved as a symbol that our military may choose for their grave markers, should they pass on. The fight has been a long and dusty one, with proven bias on the part of several administrations, which finally caused the Veterans Administration to settle with a coalition of Pagan traditions and families including CNCI, ATC, and Circle Sanctuary.

The not so secret behind the scenes but not really publicized part is that the bias was proven by a Freedom of Information Act request that I filed in May of 2005 :-). By their own words did they hang themselves. It proved that they kept putting the pentacle on hold with the excuse that they were re-evaluating the rules, while at the very same time approving other requested symbols. Couldn't have proved that without the VA's own records. Thanks guys :-).

And so, at long last, Pagans who serve their country may choose at least the pentacle for their grave markers. Hopefully this will open the door to other groups who desire other symbols.

Blessed Be.

Sitting here at the Reagan building with 400 of my closest friends, in a class from 9 am until 3:30 pm. The good news is that we have wireless. The bad news is that I don't know how long my batteries will last :-). The worse news is that the closest bathroom has 3 stalls in the ladies room. Couple this with 15 minute breaks. How many women do YOU think can get through the bathroom line and back to their seats in 15 minutes? :-)

It's quite interesting to see how many people here aren't really paying too terribly much attention to what is going on in class. perhaps that's because legal ethics is really pretty damn boring because you have to look everything up that is even questionable unless you're a complete nincompoop. Then if you are still confused, you talk to Bar Counsel so you don't get in big trouble. I hate getting into trouble, so I just don't take any cases :-).

So, go figure, I am bored. Yes, bored. It is up to YOU, my live journal friends, to entertain me with fun and cool stuff between now and 3:30 when I finally get out of here.

May the entertainment begin :-)

In this world of lawyer jokes and sometimes deserved disdain of attorneys (have YOU been injured in an accident?), it is rare that something new and different appears to cause one to think about one's profession. However, badmagic managed to come up with an utterly unique comparison between lawyers and pillbugs (or hedgehogs). It got me to thinking....

I can't stand the constant barrage of ridiculous ads on TV for lawyers. Does your child have birth defects? Do you have [fill in disease here]. Were you in an accident? Did you stub your toe on your landlord's steps? Did a passer-by dis your dog? Are you a tax cheat? Are you a deadbeat who wants more disability? We can help! In this "something for nothing" society, responsibility seems to always lay elsewhere for anything that might possibly happen, and generally exists wherever someone has more money than you do. Ridiculous settlement reports that seem highly inflated for the type of injury fuel this "lust to litigate." And with law schools churning out thousands upon thousands of graduates, there isn't a shortage of people out to make a name for themselves by being the "next McDonalds burn victim lawyer."

The whole ideas of fairness and justice are quickly fading away, and people are just as quick to blame the lawyers. Of course some attorneys are dweebing little bottom feeding scum who don't deserve to have legs. That much is clear. But behind every bottom feeder there's a greedy client. And in front of every bottom feeder is a judge who refuses to sanction them for frivolous suits (yeah, there are state and federal rules that call for sanctioning the lawyer for bringing ridiculous claims. That would be money out of the lawyer or law firm's pocket, not the client's since the client isn't supposed to know better.) Most judges used to be lawyers. Perhaps that should change.

So, what do I think about people who ask me for free legal advice? (Since that was the gist of badmagic's posting). In general, I don't mind too much, unless it is someone who feels some type of entitlement to my brain. They also have to understand that many lawyers are specialists. I limit my practice to trademarks, copyrights, computer and Internet issues, licenses, contracts, corporate stuff, and a smattering of other stuff. Attorneys are actually prohibited from giving advice in areas they aren't up to speed in. If someone asks me about their divorce, their wills, their speeding tickets, their car accidents, their boat sunk in international waters, their lying politicians, or their daughter the drug dealer, I can only advise them to find a lawyer who covers those areas of the law. If they have all of those problems at once, I'd go to the Wills and Estates lawyer first. If you need brain surgery, would you go to the ob/gyn? Some of you might, but it is not generally recommended.

Anyway, there are times when I actually will kinda hide or curl up in a ball or scamper away from the free legal advice issue. Being as I wasn't dressed for a scamper, I actually did hide when I heard "the lawyer from Black Rose is doing yoga on my floor" because the mindset was just not quite right for serious questions at that particular moment. Of that, I refuse to provide more comment other than the fact that none of my then current thoughts were on legal issues.

So ask all you want...I might give you a useful answer if I'm not otherwise occupied. And keep throwing rotten vegetables at the tv when you see those stupid commercials. As for comparing me with insects....I will leave that to your discretion.