Yay, it’s Friday. Unfortunately, between the new job and winding up the practice, I’ll be working all weekend. At least the old dress code (or lack thereof) applies to the weekend work. This whole thing about wearing pants every day is getting old, but the concept and promise of stable income is still winning out. Pongo is being very understanding about all the work, but I think he’s got his eye on some little gourmet treats once the direct deposit kicks in. He deserves it. Six days until I celebrate my 39th birthday for the second time. Feel free to use the wishlist (link on the left) if you don’t know what else to get me. That’s all the typing I can handle right now. Hope y’all have good weekend plans.

Office-type stuff is slowing migrating from the former dining room to the new cubicle. I’m getting used to the drive, and Pongo seems to be adapting well to getting his privacy back. I think he’s wanted me out of the house more all along. Sleeping in front of the TV all day is cool when you’re the only one allowed to do it, but once everyone can it just looks pathetic.

I’m already missing the chlorine and exploring options for getting in some laps near the new digs. Gotta start getting some regular exercise before I get in the habit of eating fast food every day for lunch. Even if I need the stability of working in a cube, I don’t want to look like I work in a cube.

Tentative title: True Vows, or maybe Spouses For Death.

Scenario: A self-made man with a trophy wife is under stress from dealing with intransigent politicians that he can’t just shoot. Suddenly, after a brief montage involving flexing and gratuitous PG-13 nudity, robots/aliens/terrorists/gay lovers start coming out the woodwork to destroy the American way of life and end civilization as we know it. Our hero is the only one to recognize the threat posed by the robots/aliens/terrorists/gay lovers so he takes it upon himself to warn the population and lead the righteous to victory over the infidels and into a weekend box office record.

Casting: I think the hero role is probably locked up. Allthough I’ll say that playing gay lovers would be a long stretch to keep the Lucas lawyers off my back, I suppose R2D2 and C3PO could do the robots/aliens/terrorists roles as a cameo. They WERE members of a rebel alliance, or at least owned by members of a rebel alliance, and are pretty clearly robots and not from Earth.

Please send royalties via PayPal to Chuck at this domain.

As far-fetched as that sounds, confusion between that brilliant proposal for a feature film and reality is the only reason I can think of for the Governor of California, a man for whom I voted, stating this today:

On national TV nonetheless. The Governor of California says the basis for not providing same-sex couples equal rights and benefits under the law is that someone’s going to start a riot? Fears about sanctity of marriage (despite that pesky First Amendment and the rest of the Constitution) I can understand, but c’mon. This one doesn’t even pass the laugh test and according to the same article, isn’t even supported by the state’s Attorney General.

Admittedly I’m single and have never been married. Additionally I have the social handicap of being a bit jaded from working on too many divorces as an attorney, not to mention a few investigations I did when I was still with State. That said, aside from a few bachelor parties I vaguely recall, I like to think that marriages start out being about love and sharing lives, not mayhem and torching small businesses.

Some of the legal readers have probably already figured out all the recent references to winding things up, but now that things are official it’s time to let the little toys go and watch Pongo go wild.

The little law practice, the one with the mandatory poolside siestas and the easy surf access is being wound up. Yep, cancer kills, or at least opens the eyes and makes the almost-40-year-old realize that he needs some stability in his life right now. Employment has been offered and accepted, and there is ample consideration. Financial stability, administrative support, predictable schedules and a benefits package that includes shiny electronic gizmos are all part of the package. The move also slides me over into that category of the non-practicing attorneys.

The deal came up suddenly, so essentially I’ll have two jobs as the caseload and other matters get wound up, and I have permission to moonlight so there will probably still be a little transactional work from time-to-time. Additionally the gradual expansion of beachlaw dot info into a multinational MCLE-providing reference source, blog and discussion forum will continue with all due speed.

The waters still need to be tested as to how or if the new employer will be mentioned here. For now, suffice it to say they’re worldwide players in the financial services industry, and no, I am not working for Uncle again – I remain firmly in the private sector.

Wimper.

Civil…
…Disobedience
…Litigation
…Rights

Well, it sure looks like Scalia’s little culture war has flared up now, doesn’t it. Sure, there have been a few skirmishes; blood’s been spilt in the civil courts in Hawaii and Massachusetts and the criminal courts of Texas, but nothing serious. A battle is looming in San Francisco and the media vultures will bring it to us live and gavel-to-gavel.

I still laugh when I read of the narrow-minded bigots who sixty years ago (and more recently elsewhere) defended laws that said a white person couldn’t marry a Negro, mulatto, Mongolian or member of the Malay race. See Perez v. Sharp, (1948) 32 Cal.2d 711. Some people thought these laws were necessary; others thought they were constitutional, and today all are merely relics of a embarrassing time past. If one of those defenders from the 1940s spoke his opinion aloud on the street today he’d mostly be ignored with the other crazies, but maybe the cops would sooner or later tell him to move along.

The new crazies, well represented by counsel, will make a valiant stand in San Francisco. At the end of the day the judge might even humor them and tell them they’ve won, just like I nod my head and say ‘yep’ to the disadvantaged gents near the downtown courthouse when they tell me the bus driver is from Mars or the CIA transmitter in their tooth is on the fritz again. But most people know these clowns are just speed bumps that will soon be curious anachronisms like segregated drinking fountains. Their leaders will be the 21st century versions of 20th century notables such as Montgomery’s Sheriff “Bull” Connor and Alabama Governor George Wallace.

But that is the future. Until then, pity the ignorant, reward those like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson who actually show leadership and vision for the future (unlike any of the current candidates for President), and congratulate David and Mark, because they survived the rain, the wait and the crazies and are now spouses.

Lots going on, but nothing for the Howling Point. Sorry. Busy trying to keep the toys all wound up without actually letting them loose on the world until the world can be properly prepared. Go read cool sites until then, but beware that the time may never come. Don’t know any cool sites? May I suggest this one, this one, or this one. Or even the blawg (gawd I hate that phrase) where I have been posting, though I certainly wouldn’t put it in the cool site category, more like a personal fetish site.

I know the reimagined Battlestar Galactice didn’t suit everyone’s taste, but the announcement yesterday that SciFi has green-lighted thirteen additional episodes has made me very, very happy.

Why are the days so beautiful and so sunny when I have so much work to do? Yes, I know it’s winter, but after experiencing the DC Metro area and the Idaho panhandle variations on winter, I moved to the land-where-winters-are-livable-even-if-cost-of-living-isn’t. Law library research, a meeting at the office, and a nice swim during the lunch hour have carried me this far today, and the deadline isn’t until Friday. Maybe I should go back to the pool. Why not?

If the old bit about ‘May You Live In Interesting Times” being an ancient Chinese curse is true, then the Wise and Ancient Mystical Busboy Prognostication Association decided to zap me bad at lunch today.

A Thrilling Time Is In Your Immediate Future

I must remember to tip better.