Lessons from a Punk Rock Lawyer: Intro

In a previous life, before law school I was a musician. I toured a bit, worked in studios, taught lessons and played every gig imaginable from festivals and concert venues to house parties and potluck suppers. It was a great time but I got interested in the practice of law, had kids and the idea of living on a bus for months at a time seemed unreasonable.
However, about two years ago I felt a tug back into the life of a musician. I began performing, locally at first, with Houston based celtic rock band Murder the Stout. I say, at first, because we soon got opportunities to tour. We recently toured the west coast for a week with Street Dogs, Matt Freeman of Rancid's Devil's Brigade, and Old Man Markley.
So for a week a middle aged husband and father used to a comfortable suburban existance, traded the minivan suburban life for the punk life. I've been writing up ideas about lessons learned from my experience. What works, what doesn't. I have always handled some entertainment law and it is great to be able to directly relate to what life is like for my clients. At the same time, the stress of touring essentializes and distills the human experience. Touring creates a state of liminality which breaks down existing structures and allows insight that would be hard to get to in the comfort of a suburban office. (All of this academia to say that tour is tough and you have to dig deep at times to keep together. This process is enlightening.) These insights are of course relevant to my clients outside the Punk rock world. People are people. And People on tour are much more intense people. Over the next few postings I'll be adding my insights about life from my time on the tour bus and the insight that it gave me on my law practice. The one phrase that I repeated again and again as a mantra and theme, despite it being a bit "self-helpy" for me was "Surrender to the Tour." That will be the subject of my next post and a fairly consistent theme for me. In the spirit of my mantra, I'm asking you, even thought this series idea of mine may seem silly, to "surrender to the silly idea" and keep reading.

Scam Email Claiming It’s From BBB of Metro New York - BBB News Center

I got an email from the BBB claiming that a customer had a complaint. I take complaints seriously so I did some looking into this. It seemed odd because it was the Metropolitan New York Better Business Bureau office and I practice in the Houston/Pearland Texas area. A quick trip to the website turned up this article:
Scam Email Claiming It’s From BBB of Metro New York - BBB News Center:

'via Blog this'

I'm glad I did not click on the link. Phishing scams get better all the time. The email looked just like a Better Business email. Stay safe.

Billie Ray Anspach: Mugshot Hall of Famer Jailed After Allegedly Threatening Six People With Knife - Houston News - Hair Balls

If you are not reading John Nova Lomax's crime writing in the Houston Press you are missing out. This mug shot is a case in point.
Billie Ray Anspach: Mugshot Hall of Famer Jailed After Allegedly Threatening Six People With Knife - Houston News - Hair Balls:

'via Blog this'

Best letter ever written to a Lawyer | Edible Apple

I wish I could be this witty in my writing. Thanks to Edible Apple for posting the letter!
Best letter ever written to a Lawyer | Edible Apple:

'via Blog this'

They Did Not Give Up

A good list of folks who failed horribly and kept trying. Ford, Freud, Edison, Einstein, Fred Smith etc. Seems like a good lesson for us lawyers.
Never give up up, Never give in.
They Did Not Give Up:

'via Blog this'

Motion for Removal From Naughty List

While I am sure that none of you have any need for such a motion as a public service I am providing this Motion For Removal from the Naughty List. Watch those filing deadlines.

No. ____________
IN RE __________________________ , A PERSON ON THE NAUGHTY LIST
IN THE SANTA COURT
TEXAS DIVISION




MOTION FOR REMOVAL FROM THE NAUGHTY LIST
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
Now comes _________________________, A Person on the Naughty List in the above entitled and numbered cause, and makes this Motion for Removal from the Naughty List maintained by the clerk of this court, and for good cause shows the following:
1. ______________ has engaged in numerous Good Deeds in the past year detailed in attached Exhibit “A.”
2. ______________ has made consistent use of Good Manners in the past year.
3. ______________ has been respectful of others.
4. ______________ has remembered to flush and wash his/her hands.
5. ______________ has turned over a new leaf and engaged in a consistent pattern of NICE behavior in the past year.
6. The price of coal and the negative effects of coal on the environment both weigh against its inclusion in ____________ ‘s stocking.
7. Local Rule 3.000 states, “There’s room for everyone on the Nice List.”
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, _________________prays that this Court grants the Motion for Removal from the Naughty List maintained by the clerk of this court and place the name of __________________________ on the NICE list.


Respectfully submitted,


x________________________

EXHIBIT “A”


INVENTORY OF GOOD DEEDS FOR 2012
Deed Recipient Date

Pearland Transportation/Traffic Open House

One of the top complaints I hear about life in Pearland is transportation. The city has grown incredibly fast in a short period of time and the infrastructure is still catching up. The city is holding a meeting next month to address some of these concerns and tell you what is being done. I hope to see you there.

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 26, 2011
Contact: Mattie Culver Phone: (281) 652-1625
Public Affairs Manager Email: Mculver@ci.pearland.tx.us



ALL INVITED TO TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC OPEN HOUSE NOV. 9

The City of Pearland is hosting an 'Open House' Wednesday, November 9, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 2555 Cullen Parkway, Pearland, Texas 77581 to discuss the City's current transportation plan and the public's traffic concerns.

Exhibits of recently completed traffic and transportation improvements will be available for viewing, and City representatives will be on hand to answer any questions.

Please contact Deputy City Engineer Andrea Broughton at 281-652-1641 or abroughton@ci.pearland.tx.us for questions or comments.