Bad faith
An intent to deceive. A tactic often used by lawyers when dealing with their clients.

Bail
The sum of money a lawyer’s client must pay in order to get released from jail after pummeling his or her rat skunk of a lawyer.

Bankruptcy
The formal condition of a person being deemed insolvent under law, a situation a goodly number of people end up in after paying their lawyer’s bill. By declaring bankruptcy, the person agrees to divert his or her remaining assets to the lawyer handling the bankruptcy.

Bar exam
Formal ceremony held by second year law school students, typically during Spring Break, to determine who in their class can chug down the most tequila in a one hour time frame. Winner is said to have passed the “Bar.”

Barrister
English derivation of the French term for bastard. See “Bastard”.

Bastard
French term for lawyer. As in, “That lawyer’s a bastard - pardon my French.”

Bench
The comfy throne in which the judge plops his or her considerable posterior during courtroom proceedings.

Beyond a reasonable doubt
A novel concept in jurisprudence wherein the lawyers on both sides of the case attempt to establish that the other side is lying more than they are.

Bill-able hours
Hours billed to the client, however; should not be confused with time actually spent working on the case. A complex algebraic algorithm is utilized by lawyers to determine the time they bill to each case. The formula is as follows: time actually spent working on case plus time spent thinking about case while at lunch plus amount of the lawyer’s car payment multiplied by a factor of 4.

Breach of trust
Whenever clients attempt to surreptitiously keep the lawyer from knowing that they still have a little money left in their bank accounts.

Bribe
A standard operating procedure in the legal profession whereby under the table payola is given by one shady character to another equally questionable character in exchange for preferential treatment; typically lawyer to judge, lawyer to jury member, etc. Also “Quid pro quo.” (will post that later)

Burden of proof
The requirement demanded by lawyers that their clients prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they have absolutely no more money left in their bank accounts. Once the stringent burden of proof requirement is met, confirming that you’re flat broke, the lawyer feels ethically compelled to withdraw from your case.

A northern California basket maker named Mrs. Matt was hired to teach basket making at a local university. After three weeks, her students complained that all they had done was sing songs. When, they asked, were they going to learn to make baskets? Mrs. Matt, somewhat taken aback, replied that they were learning to make baskets. She explained that the process starts with songs that are sung so as not to insult the plants when the materials for the baskets are picked. So her students learned the songs and went to pick the grasses and plants to make their baskets.

Upon their return to the classroom, however, the students again were dismayed when Mrs. Matt began to teach them yet more songs. This time she wanted them to learn the songs that must be sung as you soften the materials in your mouth before you start to weave. Exasperated, the students protested having to learn songs instead of learning to make baskets. Mrs. Matt, perhaps a bit exasperated herself at this point, thereupon patiently explained the obvious to them: “You’re missing the point,” she said, “a basket is a song made visible.”

In a single word two hearts kiss
in a single kiss two worlds meet
within a double feeling, the sheer bliss
inside love with you to greet
we as one like the sun
shining together, reflections own denizen

Rising with your ray of energising care
a beaming glow of devoted halo
surrounding all we are and share
guided by an ocean star in beauty's flow
the emersion of souls dueting in resonant diapason
like palms in a sea breeze frisson

A bond of nature within us
love lives at night, restless by day
below shade and shelter of cypress truss
our lunar oscular holding sway
from mirthful play to entwined repose
all in a single word we compose.

written by wensum24

Ad infinitum
Latin for forever, without limit, indefinitely - as in how long the lawyer intends to keep billing you.

Affidavit
A written pack of lies and untruths, when made under oath by an individual and then notarized, becomes a written pack of notarized lies and untruths.

Ambulance chasing
A high stakes, high speed competitive sport engaged in by personal injury lawyers looking to cause an accident and make a quick score.

Amicus curiae
Latin for “friend of the court,” as in a lawyer who slips the judge a couple hundred bucks under the table.

Appeal
Something a person slips on in a grocery store and results in a lawsuit being filed against said store.

Arbitration
An alternative method of resolving disputes wherein both parties agree to abide by the decision of an arbitrator, who is generally an out of work judge who has lost most of his marbles.

Assault
Touching another with the intent to harm, especially common in instances where the lawyer manages to lose a client’s case.

Attorney
Fancy term used by lawyers to describe themselves in the telephone yellow page advertisements.

Attorney - client privilege
The so-called privilege bestowed upon the client wherein he or she receives the contrived benefit of paying the lawyer $100, $200 or more per hour to screw up his or her case.

You sounded more than once
in the layered movements of this song
token notes, each and all
-your call in emollient sing-a-long
within the cuddle of sounded ambient
and kissed by you in the music
fingers playing our tracks entwined
the fusion of heartlands so herrlich
an augenblick of you
from the sound bass entering me
our musical landscape coloured by love
sharing sound rhythms below cypress tree.

written by wensum24

Tea is popular in many countries and each country has own traditions and preferences in drinking of tea. Russia is the country where tea-drinking formed into individual tradition. History of Russian tea-drinking ceremony has began in 1638 when Russian Tsar Michael Fedorovich got special diplomatic gift from Altyun-Khan, ruler of Mongolia. Till that time Russians did not know anything about tea and used to soft drinks based on honey.

In Russia tea is served after meals and during mid-afternoon breaks, a kind of English "five-o'clock-tea" with difference that this Russian "five-o'clock-tea" may occur in any part of day and in any place - in office, in a car, in a park. When friends visit somebody hosts invite them to have a cup of tea. This "cup of tea" is not just a tea but a lots of cookies, sandwiches, other meal. Each feast ends with tea-drinking with candies and cakes. Having come to Russia from Ukraine when tea drinking traditions are not so strong and widely spread, especially in the country area, as in Russia, I was very surprised at the party of occasion of somebody's birthday when after many shots of vodka when all guests were well drunk the mistress of the house served tea with a huge pie. I would prefer a glass of cold mineral water...

Till present time when bagged tea got popular in the world Russians still prefer tea prepared in old classical way when tea is put into a teapot and then poured with boiling water - nothing special but only this way can provide good taste of tea. Every family has several porcelain teapots of different sizes and different decoration. Teapots with plain decoration are used for everyday tea-drinking, more festive teapots are use for more ceremonial feasts. The most valued porcelain items are those made at Lomonosov Porcelain Factory because of high quality of porcelain and decoration.

There are some rules to prepare good tea. They say that water should be boiled till "sparkling boiling" when first air bubbles appeared. Water should be soft, hard water with much salts is not good for tea. A teapot is heated a little bit with some hot water. Then tea is put into the teapot - 1 teaspoon for each person plus 1 for teapot - classical recipe. After 3-4 minutes tea is ready. Some concentrated tea is pored into cup in accordance with preferences of a person, the rest of cup is filled with hot water. Russian seldom serve tea with milk or cream, they consider that milk change taste of the tea. Often, especially in past, tea is served in glass which are put into special glass holders which are made of metal - silver, bronze, so called German silver (special Cu-Ni-Zn alloy) and decorated with engraved pictures and enamel elements. Till this time tradition of serving of tea in such glasses with glass-holders in long-distance trains. Often tea is served with slices of lemon.

In past Russian tea party was quite pictures and colourful, that is why it became an often subject of painting on lacquer boxes, trays, porcelain pieces. Many different snacks were served during tea party. In past water was boiled in special devices - samovar. The samovar was the central symbol of the Russian tea ceremony. This is a unique invention that combines a kettle with heating chamber inside. Samovar became an essential element of each housekeeping. There were many different types of samovars - large for public restaurants, small and compact for travels, normal size for everyday use, brass for regular income families, silver and well decorated for rich families.

Besides different cakes and cookies all sorts of jams and confiture are served. Honey is most delicious addition to tea. Jam and honey are not put into cup or glass with tea but are served in a kind of bowl or special vase and then each participant of tea party put portion into personal little plate or bowl and then eats by a tea spoon. Often white bread or roll is offered, in this case loaves of bread are spread with jam or honey. Of course fresh butter is served - just in case to spread onto bread.

Many times I received questions like: "I have a friend who come from Russia. I want to make a special "Russian gift". What would you advise?" The most universal "very Russian gift" is a gift related to tea ceremony - tea set, just a fine tea cup, good porcelain teapot, maybe collection of different teas. Such gift will be appropriate for any person with Russian roots.

Link

I'm awake early as I need a blood pressure check soon, due to last night's higher than normal BP and accompanied dizziness, however, that is small-fry compared to what has been the 'norm' this week.

I awoke with Depeche Mode on my mind, namely this song, "Walking in My Shoes" which I'd like to play to my doctor...

I would tell you about the things
They put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes

Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

In music's grasp, behind the wheel
at long last
switching lanes like clouds
a sunny interval just passed
like a beaming smile
bedazzling a shadow uncast
on an open road
towards sunset a mood steadfast
A surprise journey
laid forth like an unmade bed
of warm and cold fronts
with rising images to tread
the wheels of dreams
and images of travel
sleep's illusions rain down in sheets
awakening on a platform to commence...

written by wensum24
21st October