The Dirt Lawyer's Blog Archive

First, let me apologize to any Hemingway fans out there. Anyone who has ever read this blog knows I am no Hemingway. I have been thinking about shutting down the blog for some months now, and given the dearth of posts lately, you can see I have been acting on that without more. So this is a formal farewell, at least to the DLB. What prompted it? I suppose the deathblow was this piece in Crain's - the source of so many posts these last few years -- about many bloggers packing it in.  Which type of retiring blogger am I? In descending order of importance (and most of which are in the story), to wit: Out of Material: I have always said that I am not going to write here unless I think I have something worthwhile to say. And by and large I am running out of those things, at least enough to post regularly. For a blog to be good it has to be refreshed regularly.  And if I can't do something well, I'd rather not do it.  Except golf. Different Outlets: A writing outlet for me s...

Again, I have taken some time away from writing, and I must venture back into politics again, my previous comments on Sarah Palin notwithstanding. I am sick and tired of the government playing political games for the benefit of no one but themselves. Every fight is a game of chicken and we are the cars. The most recent is the deficit and debt ceiling debate. You want to balance the budget or come reasonably close? Warren Buffett had a good idea. Inspired by Mr. Buffett, I propose the following constitutional amendment for your consideration. Please let me know your thoughts, and, if you like, please share it with your friends: Section 1.  Congress shall, on or before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on June 30 in any calendar year, adopt a budget for the government of the United States. No extension of time, continuing resolution or any procedure whatsoever shall substitute for the adoption of a budget, except as provided in this amendment.  If Congress fails to adopt such budget, then all ...

First, I can't believe it has been ten years since September 11, 2001. I'll be performing in a commemoration ceremony in Orland Park, Illinois on Sunday morning. The weather is supposed to be almost identical to what it was ten years ago. It was a picture perfect day in