Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The Sandy Hook Conspiracy


My two cents.  Since the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook, I have noticed an increase in people creating Facebook conspiracy pages. Dubbed "truthers", many people have called into question whether this horrific event even occurred.  Some of them are even posting private family photos of the children who died.  If you are one of these people, I would like to help you with your research.  Here is all you need to know about any of the children involved. 

The children who died were all around six years old. Like many children, they had a range of interests in sports, arts, animals, and music. Like most kids, they loved to learn and play. They giggled at silly jokes and cried over scraped knees. They had bright futures and loving families. They were murdered before their lives even started. 

As a result of the actions of a mad man, their parents will never see their children grow. They will never have the joy of watching them open presents on Christmas morning or blow out birthday candles again.  No more reminders to scrub their ears or brush their teeth. They will not see them off to proms or beam proudly as they graduate. They will never drop them off at college or walk them down the aisle at their weddings. Instead of preparing for the Holidays, their parents made funeral arrangements. Instead of opening presents, they closed child sized caskets. The children who died were real people. They existed. Their parents are not actors. They are real people too.  I am sure these poor parents would move heaven and earth for the opportunity to hear one more I love you from their child.  

You cannot imagine the grief that they will endure for the rest of their lives. Yet you continue to question whether these children even existed. You post photos of their children and question if they died. You torment the parents with questions of whether they are actors, did they cry enough or why did they smile when someone offered them a condolence or a hug. You berate them for a perceived nervous laugh or an uneasy smile. You litter their memorial pages dedicated to the memories of their children with conspiracy theories. You give a pass to their killer with claims he was never there. You harass a man who had the audacity to provide shelter to a group of terrified children escaping from a murderer. You question why people would donate money to help with the expense of a funeral or a scholarship. You accuse a grieving town of lying. 


I hope this adds to your "research" As you continue to post photos of these children with captions questioning their existence, I hope you reflect on the pain and torment you continue cause to the people who loved them and would do anything to just hold them close just one last time. I think the families have had shed quite enough tears. I ask that you show a little consideration and let these families grieve in peace.


Friday, January 25, 2013

New Britain Law Firm Celebrates 73rd Anniversary


I am pleased to announce that the Connecticut law firm of Podorowsky, Thompson & Baron is celebrating its 73rd anniversary this week. 

I was reminded of this fact when I ran into a local bank teller. (I may have shared this story here a few years ago). Seeing the name of the firm gracing my check she remarked "small world, Leon Podorowsky was my grandfather's attorney."  I asked the bank clerk how she possibly remembered the name of her grandfather's attorney over so many years. "He always talked about Attorney Podorowsky as the one attorney who returned his phone calls." she replied. "That's hard to find these days.  Now how would you like your $1.85."  Nickels, I replied.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Vernon Woman Punches Iron Jawed Baby

Connecticut's Channel 3 Eye Witness News reports that a Vernon woman involved in an altercation with another woman wound up punching a baby.  Yes, a baby.  

As one facebook poster put it, sounds like something out of a Will Ferrell movie. During the fight, 31 year old Jessica Diaz tried to punch another woman and missed.  She connected with the woman's infant instead.  Apparently when Vernon PD arrived, Ms. Diaz was pretty drunk and uncooperative. She was arrested and charged with assault, disorderly conduct, threatening, risk of injury to a minor and interfering with police.  It didn't end there.  When she was in her cell, she decided to destroy two blankets.  The action brought on an additional charge of criminal mischief.  
I know what you are going to say.  How can anyone punch a baby?  But to paraphrase the Will Ferrell film "the Candidate,"   did anyone even bother to ask Ms. Diaz how her hand was after punching that iron jawed baby?  Everyone knows babies can't be trusted.  Before we rush to judgment, let's wait for the facts to come out.  No one knows what this baby was up to.  
Diaz is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior court on Jan. 29.  Our thanks to Mary Scanlon for the find.

(Editor's note:  Thankfully the baby was not seriously injured and apparently required no medical attention)

Monday, January 21, 2013

Has the Practice of Law Aged You?

As I watched the presidential inauguration,  I couldn't help but notice that number 44 seems to have a few more wrinkles and grey hairs these days. Does it come at any surprise? Imagine if your job required you to deal with one of the largest economic disasters in American history, a couple of wars, the health care debate, oil disasters, hurricanes, hunting down terrorists and several mass shootings. To top it all off, you have kooks demanding to see your birth certificate every other day.  Some medical experts maintain that U.S. presidents age twice as fast while they hold office.  For normal folks, we often deal with stress by talking about worries with friends and family. Of course, the president isn't about to discuss national security concerns with his neighbor between lawn mowings.  While not quite at the level of the president,  it can be the same for many professionals with high stress occupations. In my opinion, the practice of law ranks high on that list.

Friday, January 18, 2013

I Have a JD. I Want to Be Called Doctor Too.

Dr. Tyson I Presume?
Some humor to end your work week: Every one seems to refer to themselves as a doctor these days.  You have Doctor Who, Dr Laura, Dr. Pepper, Dr. J., and Doc Gooden.  Preachers refer to themselves as doctors. Pugilist Muhammad Ali has an honorary doctorate.  So does Tim Allen, Bob Barker, Clint Eastwood, Patti LaBelle, Gloria Estefan, Dolly Parton and Englebert Humperdink.  Even highschool dropout Mike Tyson has one. So you're telling me that Humperdink and my chiropractor can refer to themselves as doctors, but I can't?  I see the word doctor after the word juris on my diploma. Why can't I call myself a doctor too?  At least I think it's on my diploma.  It's in Latin.  Latin is all Greek to me.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Does It Matter What Type of Car Your Lawyer Drives?



"What's a matter with the car I'm driving.  Can't you tell that it's out of style?  Should I get a set of white wall tires?   Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?" 
-William Joel


During a recent visit to the local haberdashery, I overheard two women talking about hiring a lawyer.  Naturally, my ears perked up as I prepared to sneak a business card into the US Weekly one of the women was perusing.  Her son was in an auto accident and she needed someone to represent him.  "You should hire attorney so and so" said the lady as she fished through her oversize bag for coupons.  "He drives a Jaguar. "

Monday, January 14, 2013

Do Lessons from Dr. King Remain Unlearned?


Tomorrow will mark what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 83rd birthday . As the nation reflects on the life of Dr. King, one cannot help but recall the way his young life ended. In his prophetic last speech, King seemed to have his own mortality on his mind. He stated "like anyone I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place.  But I'm not concerned about that now." He would fall to an assassin's bullet the following day. With the horrific tragedy in Newton, Connecticut still fresh in our national conscience, the memory of Dr. King reminds us of lives cut short before they could reach their full potential. Thoughts of Columbine, the Kennedy brothers, King and others cross our minds as we wonder what could have led a human being to such extreme measures.  How could the people responsible for these murders become so detached from normal societal norms?