Why We Laugh At Lawyers Until We Need Them

As a cartoonist, I find myself in the precarious position of writing about law. Though I do take the law seriously, I find humor in it as well. And I believe I have carte blanche to do so.

I come from a family of attorneys. One of my direct maternal ancestors was Supreme Court Judge Benjamin Cardozo. That name might not mean much to many, but it does within the legal community. His word, still, a century or so later, remains the final word on Constitutional Law.

I have dated attorneys. Some are very astute, and some not so good. I have watched them in the courtroom. Sometimes it is dramatic, sometimes a bit drab. But I continue to have an affinity for the law, given that it is in my blood, I guess. Of course my mother insisted upon either law or medical school for me, so like the good rebellious baby-boomer of the 60's, I became a cartoonist. At least I could make people laugh purposely. People laugh at lawyers, and often the attorney in question does not appreciate it. But how can we help it? I know, I know. They are just doing their job, and we laugh at them, until we need them. Then they are our confidants.

To be fair, most lawyers of whom I have met and/or associated, truly take their jobs and cases seriously. Sure, like everyone else in business, money is a motivator, but not always the primary motivator. Many, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus, (or clause in this case), many have a very altruistic side, and take the law and their clients very seriously and want to help.

As the old joke goes, "It is the 98% of dishonest lawyers who give the other 2% a bad name". It's a great joke, but really far from reality. Many lawyers are just doing their job, just like you and me.

Sometimes hiring a lawyer can be expensive, and several Internet-savvy lawyers have launched websites in which the common layman can read, study, and learn about law and legal forms, and actually pay and download template forms from the sites at a fraction of the cost of hiring a law firm.
Some of these sites include Findlaw.com, Legalzoom.com, and the up-and-coming Lawkipedia.org, which has not yet been launched but is in the plans for this year. It will probably be the most exciting and different of all the other legal websites, just from what I understand regarding the planning.

Still, the saying goes, "The person who represents himself legally has hired a fool for a lawyer. And that is true. Especially regarding courtrooms and criminal law.

But many business conflicts do not have to turn into courtroom law. Mediation has become very popular and there are ways to work out such conflicts, often, and bring the parties even closer, once they realize they have similar goals, simply different ideas as to how to reach those goals. That is okay. It is often done by more professional persons, who is not out to "trash" a partner or remove him/her from the scene. I have seen it work many times.

Because law is of interest to me, I make sure to do a great many law related cartoons, and produce funny lawyer gifts. Even though many of them poke fun at lawyers, I find the majority have a great sense of humor, and more often than not, when the orders come in for our gifts and collectibles featuring lawyer cartoons, the names have a "comma and Esquire" at the end, in other words, our biggest customers who love to make fun of themselves, are, indeed attorneys.

Cat Care & IT

Suffer From Depression: A Dog Can Help Heal

Though it is not something of which I am particularly proud, I struggled with major depression since age thirteen. It may be even further back than that, that is my first memory of "feeling different". I am now fifty three.

Of course I did not even know it was depression, and even if I had discovered it was, it would have been hidden, as, in the polite society of rural Mississippi, at the time, one did not see a therapist or psychiatrist and remain in society. He or she was hidden in the closet. Today things have changed and there are many modern- day state-of-the-art recovery programs and mental health clinics in the region. Alas, mum is still the word. I now live in southern California, where, at social functions, therapy and recovery are often a common them at social functions and events.

It was not until late in life, when I discovered a stray dog named "Thor" that I learned about alternative therapy. I had often heard that owning an animal can relieve depression and even lower blood pressure, but the dramatic changes were yet to be seen for the first few months of owning Thor. I noticed I wanted to get out more and walk him, as he loved that activity. This in itself lifted my depression. A long walk can, in fact, increase endorphins in the system.

Thor introduced me to people. People will open up to a cute dog faster than they will a human, hence they open up to the human as well. Thor loved people. I had owned dogs in the past, but Thor was my first rescue dog. The jury is out whether he rescued me or I rescued him. I did not adopt him from a shelter, but surely would have had I found him at one. He showed up in the rural Mississippi woods with a pack of two other dogs. He was the sickest of them, obviously abused and/or hit by a vehicle as he limped, and was a matted ball of fur. A vet friend took him home and put him on drips, shaved him, and gave him to me.

I researched and put him on the b.a.r.f diet. (bones and raw food). I put him on the same herbal tinctures I was taking. He never had another vet bill for a decade and lived to be nearly twenty two. He had ten very happy years as did I; mostly depression-free. Both of us were quite depressed when we found each other. He passed away nearly a month ago today. I continue to grieve over Thor but feel soon I will be ready for another rescue dog. I will visit the shelter. It is not completely selfless; I understand fully now the meaning of "they do much more for us than we do for them). A rescued dog remembers. He/she gives unconditional love and we get that gift to pass on to other people. I can't begin to tell you the difference in the way I am treated now by other people, and, the way I treat them. I do my best to do what Thor taught me; that is, love them unconditionally. He saw me as one of God's creatures; to him I was a god, and now I see all living creatures as part of God's creation. I never was that religious and am not now. But how can I not be spiritual. Thor helped cure my incurable depression.

Rick London is an e-entrepreneur and cartoonist. Many of his cartoon products are dog-related and a percentage of each sale goes to benefit various animal causes. He is also the founder of the Internet's top cartoon site, Londons Times Comics.

Rick London is a cartoonist and lover of animals, particularly dogs and cats. He founded the Internet's top cartoon Londons Times Cartoons and a number of E-stores featuring his dog cartoons. A percentage of sales benefit animal causes. Some direct pages of dog-related products can be found at http://www.cafepress.com/9500/4383555 at his Rick London Collection store. Another at RickLondonwear http://www.printfection.com/londonstimestees/DOGS-CARTOON-GIFTS-and-TEES/_s_81517 and his main cartoon site, Londons Times Cartoons http://www.londonstimes.us lures over 4000 vistors per day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_London

The Mutual Benefits Of Giving Humorous Corporate Gifts

Think back in your career lifetime. How many calendars, day planners,
wine gift baskets, and you name it do you have from various people with
whom you've done business or want to do business with you.

How many have you sent as gifts? Probably more than was in the budget.

Though corporate giftgiving is not the same as massive ppc or other major
media advertising, it creates an impact and loyalty that no other type of
advertising or marketing can give, that is, if it is done correctly.

Study after study has found that the them or nature of the gift itself is
not just important but pertinent. If it is something that does not give
the receiver a good feeling about you, the cost or how elaborate the gift is
is a moot point. In fact it is a negative point.

This is why so many major corporations are hiring humor consultants to teach
coping skills and handling stressful situations with humor.

Humor is a staple, not a luxury, in one's personal life as well as the
corporate world. It is a must.

Giving a humorous corporate gift that that is a theme gift will pack a punch
that goes a long way, creating loyalty, word of mouth, and even a community,
generally of people who want to know you and where you got the gift.

If you don't believe me, just try it.

For instance, let's say you own or are partner or employee of a law firm. For years you have given the same staid gifts to your clients. Why not try a professionally-drawn law-related cartoon on a coffee gift basket. Yes believe it or not there are legal-related themed gourmet coffee gift baskets. We know because we invented them and they are only around $40. We know of others, selling the same gourmet beans as non-cartoon gift baskets for $60-$80 with no personalization. We even personalize the basket for only $2 giving the law firm's name and web address. It includes an oversize coffee mug and four coasters, all with an award-winning law cartoon, five distinct blends and flavors of gourmet coffee beans from around the world, and of course the gratutious biscotti.

Don't think coffee is a good idea? Why not a cartoon wall or desk clock. I prefer the desk clock, it is less expensive, and your name and URL appears in front of them every time they look at the clock. You can do this with coffee mugs, aprons, hoodies, framed tiles, Christmas ornaments, and so many other gift ideas, all at the LT Superstore. www.LTSuperstore.com

Our manufacturer, 3drose, is one of the oldest and largest powersellers on Ebay, with a 99.4% positive feedback rating and over 11,000 transactions. This is almost unheard of in this day and time at any auction site.

He purveys our products at Amazon.com, Shop.com and many of the other shopping channels. Or you can order from Londons Times Superstore www.LTSuperstore.com. The price is the same, great quality and customer service, and lightening fast worldwide shipping.

There is a special psychology behind giving a gift of laughter that portrays your name and URL. The client or potential client cannot help but feel good every time he/she sees your name.

It is common sense. It is hard to feel bad about someone who has made you laugh, or makes you laugh on a daily basis.

The cartoons are not "out of line". They are professional art with a serious them, with a funny slant. They appeal to many, in fact so many that Amazon.com's Alexa has named us in their top sites since 2005. We launched in 1997.

We are proud of our work, and we thank you kindly for making us what we are today, the most popular offbeat cartoon site and cartoon gifts for sell on the Internet.

The next time you are thinking of giving a corporate gift, think funny. The returns are monumental.

And we guarantee it, 100%.

Sincerely,

Rick London
Londons Times Cartoons
www.LTSuperstore.com (this is where you can personalize for $2 on over 85,000 funny gifts)
www.londonstimes.us (our main cartoon site and it is free. Over 8500 cartoons)
www.ricklondonwear.com Our casual wear clothing line
www.ricklondoncollection.com A very wide variety of cartoon gifts from beer steins to day planners but not personalized.