family-niece and great-niece

update

The Supreme Court will hear argument in March on the Marriage Equality business. And if they come out in disagreement with the Pope will that silence the critics? Will there be more castigating the sodomites in the Judiciary? Scalia will surely vote down any marriage equality legislation-he all but said as much. Roberts did some pro bono work for a gay organization as he testified in his confirmation hearings. Doesn't mean he sympathizes with them but that he could be an independent advocate. Leviticus makes gayness evil. It also makes eating mussels, shrimp, and oysters evil. It also makes mandatory that a woman who assists her husband in fighting off an attacker by grabbing the guy by the cahoonas has to have her hand cut off. If gay is unmariageable, what about someone who defrauded their customers or subcontractors- no marriage for them too? What other evil people (so called) can't be married? What's the difference between one class of sinning folks and another. How about haters- hate is the opposite of God, thus really in a state of sin-the opposite of a state of grace. All haters - no marriage for you. Will the Supreme Court be like Seinfeld's 'soup nazi' on the "No Marriage For You" meme or will they say- hey, we all fall short of the glory of God, so why deny the tax breaks to other sinners? Anyone's guess. You got me there. No clue what they will do. There is one argument that distinguishes it perhaps. Not to get theological, but Gay Marriage is something that would be affirming gay sex which is a behavior and not an immutable character trait like race or gender for equal protection purposes- and clearly not all behaviors are permitted on equality grounds just because someone wants to commit said behaviors. Inquiring Constitutional scholars want to know. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/supreme-court-gay-marriage_n_2426035.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing9%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D253785

Sore Losers and Other Biblical Error

The Anti-Gay Marriage rant has ignited an unbelievable fury of self righteous indignation, especially in Maryland. "Welcome to Sodom" was how one Pastor titled his "Pastoral Letter." I wonder how Pastoral any gay person visiting his church would have felt he was picking up that bulletin. Biblically we all know that Sodom was where Lot lived with his wife and daughters until Abraham called him out. The wife turned to stone because she looked back when told not to- they fled debauchery, where gay men tried to rape forcibly angels at Lot's door. Rape. Gay Marriage is the opposite of Rape. It is by definition an act of consent-and one gay people apparently want badly enough to try to change the law about it. It is also the opposite of wild screwing about in orgiastic licentiousness which is what Sodom was all about. That is not gay marriage legislation either. It is a statement against it in fact when any two people make a lifetime monogamous commitment of intimate care to each other- something the "Welcome to Sodom" priest knows nothing about. Millions of Republican dollars were wasted on this fight to give people who already are gay, already living together in most cases certain legal adjustments other straight people have. Millions of dollars, collected that no one pays taxes on, because it's 'charitable.' And it was done with such an obnoxious self righteousness as if the opposers had no greater sin on their shoulders or rail road tye plank in their own eye that they could sit there spewing all kinds of hate to a community they know nothing about. "Satan's little helpers" is how the "Welcome to Sodom" Pastor called people like the Maryland Governor,(in writing no less, now all over the web by clicking on the bulletin feature of his parish website) who wants to make sure that if there is a loving stable gay family who is willing to house, feed, clothe, educate, nurture, love and support a child that this is preferable to them rotting in an orphanage with no parental figure. And people wonder why the Catholic Church as it makes a hard right turn to exclusionism, and driving out disagreement, is losing lots of fans and members who think 85 year old guys who persecuted anyone in their higher employ who wished to marry in dresses should not be dictating sexual policy to anyone. Maryland has a better cause- the Death Penalty. Now that is a real "LIFE" issue - or didn't you notice? The Death Penalty elimination legislation is a hot topic now in Annapolis. Why don't you mobilize your little posse of Annapolis 'lobbyists' to take that one on. It's actually a worthy fight.

The Letter

Every Lawyer Wishes They Could Write Once in Their Life Dear Client------------ While Your matter is intriguing and you certainly have a profound sense of the injustice done to you after thorough and thoughtful investigation we conclude that you are Crazy. While we would love to take your money and delude you otherwise until a Court confirms our suspicion that your next residence should be the Altzheimers Unit of Saint Es, that feels like stealing candy from a baby. Your file will be available for pick up at the front desk as soon as we have copied everything we need to in the event you decide to do something ridiculous like walk it next door for another opinion and that guy asks for the money back for all the time it took to conclude that you are indeed Crazy to pay him-because naturally you are broke. That is why you came to us thinking lawyers are ATM machines activated by insane griping. Plumb Bonkers. Bat out of Hades zooier than an arse -scratching ape-Crazy. If any of these terms confuses you feel free to call for clarification at the usual hourly rate. If you start obsessively emailing us demanding to know why we are dropping you on your head please be advised there is such a thing as cyber-stalking. p.s. this is a privileged and confidential attorney client communication so we only forwarded it to our spouses to get a chuckle. Happy Blessed Prosperous New Year. juuuust kiiiiiidding!

FLIM FLAM VICTIMHOOD

Have you ever met someone who is insistent that they, and they alone have the 'canary in the minefield' sensitivity to anything and everyone else is a brute because they can't smell it? Mold-heads, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity people, and others who are sure that their environment is killing them. It might be, but it also might be that they caused their sensitivity with the recreational cheap laced weed that they insist on using (because its medicinal) with about 400 known chemicals in it-and if it is the bad stuff from the wrong places it can even contain embalming fluids and chemicals. Tell me that doesn't fry your synapses. There is something called Contributory Negligence in the Tort world. That means, you are not a victim if you shot yourself in the head. If you forgot to tell me about the three abortions that you got and want to blame mold for your emotional distress I am not going to take on that case. If you are a mold-head you are not doing yourself any favors by smoking recreational weed. If you are a Multiple chemical sensitive personality, experimenting in illicit drugs isn't making life easier for you. If you get caught you go to jail for one thing. I imagine the smells in there are worse than the laundry detergent you can't stand the smell of. Do not come looking for a lawyer if you want to sue someone for using generic laundry detergent in your building basement while you are smoking weed in your apartment because you say the laundry detergent makes you sick. That isn't to say that mold isn't dangerous or some chemicals aren't dangerous. Some canaries however are really vultures. Also, it is not a defense to assault and battery that you can't stand the smell of dry cleaning and the clorox bleach made you crazy. Can't wait till that chemical sensitivity insanity defense gets briefed. I'm sorry you honor, she smelled bleach and it drove her in a frenzy to a point where she assaulted her roomate demanding cash. This growing field of 'environmental' ailments brings with it a spectrum of funny quack pretend experts- like pediatricians who call themselves environmental medicine practitioners diagnosing neurological disorders. After the massive flooding from Sandy and other disasters around the country, mold is something to pay attention to- but it can be treated and eliminated quickly. Remediation isn't hard. It isn't brain surgery. Its on you to go get it out quickly- by finding a good remediator. If you sit around and watch it grow so you can sue someone you should have your head examined. And not by a pediatrician. I can't believe I am a lawyer some days watching this nonsense.

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The Supreme Court

Will Hear the Marriage Equality related cases soon. Wonder if anyone saw this: THE STORY OF TURING. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/alan-turing-pardon-stephen-hawking-gay-computer-icon_n_2301097.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008#slide=1627298

MARIE PIERRE

Once upon a time there was a beautiful fun loving french woman who captured the heart of a Washington Lawyer named Stephen Spitz. She was an artist-in hair. She also was a saavy business woman who owned Sweeney Todd Hair Salon and Lafayette Salon in Arlington, Virginia. After a long fought battle with chemo and radiation for lung cancer she died this week. Many hearts are broken, most especially her loving husband Stephen Spitz. The last time I saw her it was at Nan Arons Foundation for Justice where Stephen brought her to the reception wherein the plaintiffs and their attorneys on the WallMart class action talked about certifying a class action. Stephen had been a long time civil rights attorney doing lots of discrimination cases. She was then warm, vibrant, beautiful as usual and for me, like a big sister of sorts. Anyone wishing to get in touch with Stephen should email him at kcnspitz@aol.com He's also on Facebook. She will be cremated with her ashes spread off the Coast of the South of France in the Mediterranean. God Receive You Marie Pierre in his arms- I hope to see you in Paradise.

Not Me Either

Evils of the Internet The internet has turned everyone into a sleuth. Some more like the fumbling Inspector Cleuseau. The internet doesn't fact check- for that they depend on you, and there are various fact checking sites. Some urban myths are hilarious and Scopes will give you the real scoop. Hint- I don't really think Ann Coulter has an Adams Apple and having met her once at Cornell I can say she has been female since at least college. Anyone doing 'research' on someone thinks all they have to do is a google search now. This can be deceptive- I for one, have a really common name and in greater DC alone there are at least 12 of us. One of us is a realtor (mostly in Northern Virginia) one is a cop, one is a cop with now a petty criminal record over something having to do with her not paying a renewal fee on some license, one is a pastor nationally, and who knows what the other 10 or so are doing. There are even a few with my same middle initial. I don't know if they all have my same middle name of Louise. This can be all problematic. Websites have facebook facts about many Cynthia L. Butlers - none of whom are me. Some look decidedly more dark-skinned than my freckles, one even is another attorney with a small firm and another God Bless her, looks like a MegaPastor with a litany of spirited books to her credit. Her, I want to meet! My face is intentionally not on the internet. I have had a few demented clients and more demented ones I refused representation- I don't want them putting a hit on my facebook page. My favorite same name internet confusion culprit is a woman who must be a grandmother who signed up as Cynthia L. Butler.blogspot.com (drat! I wanted that URL!) to display grandkiddies photos, and her photo slot is filled with a horse head. Nice. Send that one to the background check guy on a new job:-) But all this is to say kiddies, when doing research- you need to fact check. You can't believe everything you read just because the name looks the same. That might have convinced you in the past but it doesn't always work. It's the other guy who you totally missed reading about because you were sure it was the wild one you found. Finally, remember there is such a thing as PhotoShop. A good Vogue photographer can make Hillary look electronically like twiggy and me like the Queen of England. If they are an Italian Vogue photoshopper, my thighs are skinnier than my arms and my leg bone isn't mysteriously connected to my hipbone. Saddam Hussein's weapons of Mass Destruction were destroyed--or maybe buried in the sands. Not on the back of a flatbed in a photoshop taken to the UN to justify taking out a tyrant. Could have been a beastly tyrant, but do the means justify the ends. I don't like lying photographs any more than I like lying people. Photographs don't lie, people do. Guns don't kill, people do. And then there was Connecticut.

One Day