Law And More

Shift from Public Relations to Legal - Darkness Fell Fast Post-BBC Interview of Prince Andrew

The fallout from Prince Andrew's BBC interview doesn't only negatively impact the brand - and future - of the British royals. 

In addition, as the Daily Mail reports, the situation has rapidly transformed into a legal one. Public relations expert Jason Stein had warned Andrew not to do the interview. But Andrew did. Now this. Darkness has fallen fast.

The this is that players in the legal sandbox are discussing the vulnerability of Andrew to be extradited to the United States to "cooperate" with officials.

The alleged sexual misconduct occurred in the U.S., not the UK.

Being a royal doesn't confer immunity to Andrew.

And currently prosecutors and plaintiff lawyers have what is being labeled "ammunition" to use in questioning Andrew. That could be under oath. And the content of the BBC interview could be part of cross-examination.

From the get-go in the BBC interview, those of us in the communications industry picked right up on Andrew's absolutely wrong tone and no evidence of sincere regret about whom he chose to be on his international network.

Regarding the latter, more and more of us are aware of the dynamics of mirror neurons. The research about them proved out that we human beings affect each other, cell by cell. Years ago, in the pre-scientific age, mothers and religious organizations warned about "bad companions." The Roman Catholic Church even classified those as "near occasions of sin."

Remorse for behavior is required by most social norms. Also, as lawyers know, they are expected in most courts of law. It is contended that AdmissionsGate miscreant Felicity Huffman got off relatively easy because she was contrite. Former law partner Gordon Caplan also adopted that persona.

Andrew did not.

Singlehandedly, Andrew could bring down the institution of the royals. Those in the UK who pony up the funding for much of that may decide to pull the plug.

Bring in top marketing and public relations firms to create a fresh approach to UK tourism. A former English major, I could advise on beefing up drama performances of the dramas of William Shakespeare. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Antisemitism in City Television Made Cool

From the balcony of the law firm in "Boston Legal," the city seems just the right setting for that bunch of flawed but likable geniuses. 

It's easy to feel right at the Bruins game with Jon's friends on "A Million Little Things."

You bet, popular television programming has made Boston seem totally cool. 

So, it can come as a surprise that the quarter of a million Jews in Boston have become potential targets for hate crimes. As Michael Damiano reports in Boston Magazine, in 2018, there had been 144 of those kinds of incidents. In recent years, the number of them has increased more than 130%. 

Among the victims might have been Rabbi Avi Bukiet and his family. Twice his home, which also provides space for the congregation to worship, had been set on fire. Both times his three children were inside. Of course, the Bukiets have their guard up for future antisemitic activities.

This is occurring at a period in the history of Boston when institutional barriers against Jews essentially have disappeared. No longer do they need their own designated facilities, ranging from hospitals to country clubs. 

The uptick in antisemitism could be resulting from a confluence of factors.

Those include:

•  The divided politics of America
•  Social network's ability to build mass support for an ideology which then can be motivated to take action.
•  Copycatting. The attack on Pittsburgh Jews was fatal and high profile. So, why not go for even bigger kinds of hate-filled drama. Or, at least get in on the action in a more minor way. For instance, leave Nazi graffiti in the Jewish neighborhood.

With my heavy New York accent, Eastern European body type (my mother's maiden name was "Miksza"), and dark skin, I often have been taken for Jewish. Mostly folks were curious about my background.

But, in southwestern Arizona in 2014, the interest turned hostile. Call it antisemitism lite. Neighbors interrogated me about bizarre topics such as how my family reared me, why do I and all Jews work all the time, and since I was smart why wasn't I a medical doctor. Weary of the undertow of abuse, I left within 27 months. 

My experience only involved disrespect. 

That was then.

Currently, I wonder if there would be property damage and more.

Full Disclosure: Dark-skinned, I was bullied by the light-skilled Irish kids in the New York Metro area in the 1950s. As with my hair, aging has lightened my skin. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Much of Pursuit of Justice Is Play-Out of Sophisticated Strategies for Revenge

The current meme is forgiveness. Do that, goes that line of spiritual thinking, and you are liberated from the preoccupation with a wrong done you.

But, the reality, as usual, is very different from what has become a platitude.

As lawyers know, revenge is the common response to what the spiritually evolved instruct you to forgive. That might range from infidelity to a being terminated for a job.

Of course, enacting revenge might be positioned and packaged as the pursuit of justice. For those with the resources that could take the form of a long legal battle. For example, X who has been axed from employment might have a brandname lawyer file a lawsuit for retaliation for ABC. In addition, a major public relations firm is hired to create a persuasive narrative in the court of public opinion. 

However, a recent study published in the Journal of Social Psychology found that there is frequently a delay in enacting revenge. Yes, that plays out the adage that revenge is most sweet when served cold.

In the research co-headed by Maartye Elshout at Tilburg University, it was found that only one in 10 took revenge immediately. Those might include the spouses who stumble upon evidence of infidelity and immediately murder the alleged miscreant and/or the lover.

More typical is waiting. That can take the form of damaging a car, revealing secrets, scheming to get someone fired, spreading gossip (true or false), or being married and having a fling. 

The motivation for revenge, the research also turned up, is not only to punish the perceived bad guys and girls.

Equally important is restoring a sense of self esteem and one's personal power. Those are strong motivators to, yes, take revenge. Since revenge brings such profound psychic benefits perhaps that's why many human beings decide to wait it out and plan it carefully. Here are more details from the media.

Full Disclosure: Essentially, I held off half a century before sharing my experience as a freshman at a then all-women's Roman Catholic College. Here is that article "Pedophile Nuns and the Fat Girl from Jersey City." Only after publishing that have I been able to take the leap into self-love. Forgiveness can be a self-defeating ideology.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Lawyers: What You Need to Know about "Secular Humanism"

Meeting halls for rent. 

That sign is popping up on churches of many denominations across America. The additional revenue is needed because not enough is coming from members. They’re floating away.

For 2019, Gallup found that the confidence in organized religion has plummeted to 36%. Yes, in this “nation under God.”

Meanwhile, there’s an uptick in those exploring what’s called “secular humanism.” The question is: Will that school of thought wind up replacing traditional religious beliefs?

Lawyers, of course, need to be current with this possible shift. For example, if their clients are traditional religious organizations they may have to fight to retain the special treatment by the IRS. 

To brief lawyers on secular humanism, here’s  Douglas Berger, President of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie.

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JG: What is “secular humanism?

DB: Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance that affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. Humanism stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. Humanism is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

JG: What triggered your interest?

DB: Organized religion hadn’t fit in with my world view for quite some time. I knew I was an atheist, but I also believed that human problems needed to be solved by humans and not thoughts and prayers. I was also concerned with the effort to reduce the separation of church and state. A friend of mine said I should check out Humanism and I found a local group and liked what they believed.

JG: Why are more people looking into this philosophy – or maybe “philosophy” is not the right word.

DB: Philosophy is fine. Life stance is good too. World view in a pinch.

I think more and more people are put off by the heavy hand of organized religion. Many believe that we all are due some basic dignity and worth as a human and too many religious believers are bigots. There are people who are struggling who need help and some who need our support and not judgment. We are also concerned when our elected officials introduce and pass laws that are based on their own religious biases rather than an actual public need or based on rational science.

JG: Do you foresee secular humanism providing human beings with what religion once had?

DB: I think we see some form of secular humanism even in some more liberal churches where they focus less on scripture and more on helping people. I don’t think secular humanism should be exactly like religion (meet on Sunday, sing hymns etc…) but we can and have adopted the fellowship part where we help people, get together socially, and work on social justice issues. Religion is a social construct so it can be modified and adopted in different ways.

JG: How can people find out more about secular humanism?

DB: Check out a local group if there is one in your area. You can visit the American Humanist Association website https://americanhumanist.org/ to find a local group and get some information on secular humanism.

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Douglas Berger of The Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie can be reached at https://humanistswle.org or contact_us@humanistswle.org

 

Lawyers, Law Students, Law Firm Staff - Has Halloween Got You Thinking about Career Shift to Paranormal?

The ghostly holiday of Halloween has evolved into the social event in America.

It's family-free, theatrical, and encourages excess consumption of no-nos like candy and booze.

In the U.S. it generates about $9 billion annually, documents the National Retail Federation Annual Survey.

So, no slouches when it comes to a good story, media outlets, such as the New York Post, look for the unique angle on Halloween.

One is spiritualism. 

The narrow definition of "spiritualism" is the one the Post focuses on. That's essentially about communication with dead people, that is, reaching those who have passed over. Usually that time travel is facilitated by a medium. 

Yes, that goes on. The Post cites the spiritualist community of Lily Dale, in upstate New York, near Fred0nia and an hour from Buffalo.

There are other groups in other locations with special expertise in spiritualism. They range from Angelica of the Angels in Salem, Massachusetts to Tamara in Tucson, Arizona. 

Most spiritualism organizations currently broadly define their mission as including reaching out to live human beings with insight, comfort, and guidance. The particular expertise ranges from telepathy to clairvoyance. The methods are all over the place, be they tarot cards, crystals, or intuition.

Spiritualism centers also conduct training sessions. In them, spiritualists learn to enhance their skills. Non-spiritualists can unleash their inner gifts to transition to this career path. Many spiritualists believe this capability is inherent in every human being. Conventional society tends to push to keep it dormant there. 

The craft can be done full-time, part-time, or as a side hustle. The flexibility makes it ideal to try out for lawyers, law students, and law firm staff.

That shift can be lucrative for the experienced spiritualist who has branding down cold.

For example, at high-profile Angelica of the Angels, here is the price menu:

•  Walk-in or phone reading - 15 minutes for $30, 20 minutes for $40
•  Walk-in or phone reading with founder Rev. Barbara - 15 for $40 (yes, she is also a medium)
•  House parties - check for pricing.

More usual is a dollar a minute which late spiritualist Marianne Kremer at the Jersey Shore billed at. Psychic Interactive charges $19 for 15 minutes (there is no tipping).

Given that spiritualism deals with non-empirical phenomena, it's expected that it's misunderstood.

To begin with, it's not spirituality.

Centers for spirituality, such as various schools of Buddhism, essentially have as their mission a kind of cognitive therapy. That is, there is a taming of the mental processes or "monkey mind." The regular practice can result in peace of mind. Without intrusive thoughts, it's easier to concentrate. Therefore, there could be more success in professional and personal life.

In addition, evangelical religious groups such as the Baptists hold as a tenet the existence of God. That entity is an absolute. Yes, that resembles the ideology of the Roman Catholic Church which positions and packages the pope as infallible and directly in touch with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Spiritualism doesn't require a belief in God. In that way, it resembles Secular Humanism. A branch of that movement in the U.S. is Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie. (Those in the Midwest can reach it at contact_us@humanistswle.org.)

Also, 12-step program Alcoholics Anonymous, often mislabeled as a religion, has embedded a higher power. That can be interpreted loosely. However, getting sober and remaining that way is thought to be correlated with surrender of the will to that higher power.

As confidence is shaken in the algorithms of artificial intelligence, more seeking insight might turn to spiritualism.

Of course, as in all fields, there are frauds.

It is necessary to receive a referral from those who are "regulars" in spiritualism. They can be reached through trusted brandname psychics, neighborhood digital networks, yoga studios, and even some spirituality centers. Most offer phone services and take credit cards. Tips are usually appreciated.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Gordon Caplan - Will He Walk the Path of Nixon Administration "Evil Genius" Lawyer Chuck Colson?

In Law.com, Ropes & Grey attorney Joshua Levy, who represented Gordon Caplan, says this: It's too soon for him to consider what could be The Next. 

The primary reason for that is it wasn't until last Thursday that Caplan found out his sentence for ponying up $75k to modify his daughter's responses on ACT. It was only then that he found out that he would only have to serve a month in jail.

Given the number of professionals who went to bat for him for a light sentence, he will probably have plenty of help in putting together his future. Also, many are rooting for his having a strong comeback.

After all, Caplan didn't come across as a bad man.

Essentially, to the court he portrayed himself as a family man under a lot of pressure. Who cannot identify with that?

Overall there was tension at home.

He was being hounded by those services claiming to catapult youth into elite universities.

And, of course, he wanted to help his child receive a good start in a highly competitive world.

And, those of us who attend some version of the Baptist Church have empathy for his misguided decision to turn to fraud.

A major belief of that religion is mankind's universal sinfulness.

Yes, that mindset is quite Shakespearean. According to that iconic dramatist, human beings are "cankered in the grain."

Last night at a bible service at Heritage Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio, the pastor Daniel L. Ellis, Sr. debunked the notion that any person can reach a spiritual state of non-sinfulness. He also questioned the practice in the Roman Catholic Church of "canonizing" human beings as having been "saints" while they lived on planet earth.

Bluntly put, sinners can never be saints, at least not before they do the time travel to eternity. 

That doctrine of inherent sinfulness, derived from the King James Bible, frees the congregation from having to chase after perfectionism.

Unlike in some other religious and spiritual approaches, members can relax in their humanity. As I experienced the service last evening, no one was, as the saying goes, "tightly wound."

Of course, there are the embittered and the envious who have no compassion for Caplan. They fail to get it that he is Everyman. For Everyman (and Everywoman), there is always the danger of tumbling into the darkness.

It was when "evil genius" lawyer in the Nixon Administration Chuck Colson was stumbling in the darkness that he found his Next. It was to minister to the spiritual needs of convicts and their families. That began when he was in prison. When he died, the media didn't hail him as a saint. Instead, they praised his ability to transform his disgrace into a platform for doing good. 

Adversity can be a gift for Caplan. Of course, he can waste that gift.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Randy Halprin's Stay of Execution - Alleged Anti-Semitic Bias by Trial Judge

In Texas, Randy Halprin was scheduled to be executed on October 10th.

He received the death penalty not because he murdered a police officer in a prison escape. Instead, he was convicted according to TX "law of parties," that is, he was a co-conspirator who should have anticipated that members of the conspiracy would have used deadly force.

However, as Law and Crime reports, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has given Halprin a stay of execution.

His lawyer Tivon Schardl successfully argued that in the trial there might have had been anti-semitism. The source of that allegedly had been judge Vickers Cunningham.

The Halprin issue has received plenty of media attention. Bias against Jews has been escalating both in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Sometimes, as in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that has turned deadly. Members of the Tree of Life temple in the Squirrel Hill section were murdered. 

During the two years I was living in Tucson, Arizona, I had been the victim of what I label "anti-semitism lite." Continually I had been "interrogated"  by neighbors and casual acquaintances about why "Jews do this or that."

When I replied I wasn't Jewish, there were smirks. No, I am not Jewish. I had been socialized as a Roman Catholic. 

Never before had that - the hostility - happened. That was even though I have a deep New York accent and Eastern European facial features and body type. So, I was totally unhinged. Yes, I left Tucson and relocated back East. There has been no further play-out of anti-semitisim in my life. But the memory of the bias remains vivid. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

The Hug - Was Dallas County Judge Tammy Kemp Wrong to Embrace/Console Convicted Murderer Amber Guyger?

Call it a tale of two hugs.

The world, including media outlets, cheered the forgiveness gesture of Brandt Jean.

That brother of murder victim Botham Jean asked Dallas County Judge Tammy Kemp if he could hug convicted murderer Amber Guyger. Permission was granted. The healing process might have begun, at least for Brandt. Maybe also for Guyger.

However, the cheering stopped in many circles when Judge Kemp did her own hugging.

First she handed Guyger a bible and quoted a verse from John 3:16. Some wondered about the introduction of religion into the physical courtroom. Yes, there are courtrooms which have mounted the saying "In God We Trust." But that is generic. And, there could be a time when that will be removed.

After delivering a few more words of hope, Judge Kemp then enveloped Guyger in a long embrace. As the New York Post reports, The Hug is raising questions. 

The main issue is that the judge is supposed to be impartial. 

Another issue is the seriousness of the crime. A man who was in his apartment eating ice cream gets gunned down by an intruder.

There is also the matter of the relatively light sentence. That intruder could get out of prison in five years.

This is a story the media should follow.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Botham Jean's Murder - His Brother Brandt Jean Begins the Healing Process

Forgiveness is the first step in healing.

And the brother of murder victim Botham Jean - Brandt Jean - began that process. Here are all the details from the New York Post. 

Essentially, it was all about the symbolism of a hug.

In court today at the sentencing of convicted murderer Amber Guyger (10 years, w chance of parole after 5), Brandt asked the judge's permission to hug his brother's killer.

Unthinkable? Not in the heart and soul of Brandt.

Permission had been granted.

The embrace between the two suffering human beings could become as iconic as some of the optics from the gospels of Jesus Christ. It was that prophet who sought to end the revenge ethos of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Instead, there was the message of the unifying power of forgiveness.

This healing could be set in play both for the man who lost a brother and the woman who, as the prosecutor hammered, made "unreasonable decisions." Guyger has at least 5 years to acquire wisdom. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Crisis Czar kglobal's Gene Grabowski Predicts Darkness Over Sackler Family Won't Brighten for At Least a Generation

Brand equity is money. 

So, what the members of the Sackler family of Purdue Pharma could lose in the proposed settlement of the opioid lawsuits is not just a major chunk of their $13 billion fortune. 

In addition, as kglobal public affairs' crisis czar Gene Grabowski observes in SFGate, they could also lose their reputation as philanthropists.

That's pricey brand equity. It could take more than a generation to restore that aura of being do-gooders, notes Grabowski.

Grabowski's prediction of long-term damage may shock some.

After all, didn't "evil genius" lawyer in the Nixon Administration Chuck Colson manage to rebrand rather quickly? By time he emerged from prison he already had become a respected and inspirational spiritual healer.

However, Colson's "sin," - to leverage that old-fashioned concept - was different from the transgressions of the Sacklers. Not only have too many human beings died. Myriad others can't shake the addiction, costing society plenty while they do serial rehabs. Also, the epidemic has created orphans through states such as Ohio. 

Communities will have a long memory of their opioid-related suffering.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.