{"id":4183,"date":"2005-10-28T19:51:16","date_gmt":"2005-10-28T23:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2005\/10\/28\/agita-attention-deficit-disor"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:27","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:27","slug":"agita-attention-deficit-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2005\/10\/28\/agita-attention-deficit-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"agita & attention deficit disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The bad news<\/EM>: Today, I seem to have the attention-span of most <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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of <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>my <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>former (alleged) juvenile delinquent clients.  As a result, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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I’ve labored long — way too long — and am posting late<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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The good news<\/EM>: You<\/EM> get a variety of (almost) one-breath <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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punditry.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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\"boxer  Throughout my life, some of the nastiest words I’ve ever heard <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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were <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>prefaced with “don’t take this personal” or “it’s only business, not <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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personal.”   Nonetheless, I guess I do take Prof. Bainbridge<\/A> at <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>his <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>word <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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when he says, regarding the fight against the Miers’ nomination:  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>“For my <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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part, it was always business, not personal. It was a matter <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>of principle.”  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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Steve seems worried about offending his usual allies <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>and says, “Here’s <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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hoping we’ll be on the same side of the next round.”   <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>For whatever my two <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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cents is worth, I say: <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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When you get mean and <\/FONT><\/FONT>nasty, <\/FONT><\/FONT>or gleefully link to   \"penny \"penny <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the poison pixels of others on the Net, you <\/FONT><\/FONT>are getting <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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personal<\/EM> — especially when it comes to the collateral <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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damage <\/FONT>done <\/FONT>to individuals such as Harriet Miers.  A good <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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rule of thumb:  Mean<\/FONT><\/A> is<\/EM> personal  — even if the topic is <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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business (and since neo-cons hate anything in the middle,<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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it should be easy to avoid mean). Another good guideline:  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Would you want your <\/FONT>ten-year-old to read what you just wrote <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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about <\/FONT>another <\/FONT>human being?<\/FONT>                                                                               <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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“spiltwine”   My NYS Attorney re-registration papers arrived in the mail <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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today. <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Inside was an insert about the NY Lawyer Assistance Trust<\/A>. <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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It’s a <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>good reminder to all lawyers and law students that there is plenty <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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of help<\/A> out there for those who are struggling with alcohol or substance <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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abuse.  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>The insert contains this helpful Questionnaire<\/FONT><\/A> to help one <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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determine <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>if she or he has a substance abuse problem.  It being ADD <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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Friday, however, I want to make a much less lofty point.  Hey, LAT, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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reword the very first question, please.  It asks:<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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1. Are my peers, friends or family alleging<\/STRONG><\/EM> that my drinking <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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or drug use is interfering with my work?  [emphasis added]<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Is somebody trying to sound like a lawyer?  “Allege?” <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Most of my “peers, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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friends or family” eschew that “a”-word  when <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>discussing my actual <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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or probable flaws.  When not “asking about” them, they tend to <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>assert <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>or assault — they don’t worry about reasonable doubt and constitutional<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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rights.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny Lying under oath<\/EM>:  I don’t know if Lewis “Scooter” Libby is guilty <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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as <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>charged<\/A> (although every indication seems to be that he is).  But, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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I do believe that lying under oath is a very serious <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>crime, no matter <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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the subject.  We can usually assume politicians <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>will distort the truth <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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when it is advantageous to do so.  But, they <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>have no leeway to do so <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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under oath.  Which is why I supported <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>impeaching Bill Clinton, despite <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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my party and political leanings.  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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\"alkas\"  The Ag-nonymous Editor of Blawg Review<\/EM><\/A>, wrote to me overnight, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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concerned that I might not know the origin of one of my favorite words, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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agita<\/A>.  Ed<\/EM> sent me this link<\/A> to a medical website which explains:<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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Agita<\/STRONG>: Heartburn, acid indigestion, an upset stomach or, by <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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extension, a general feeling of upset. The word is Italian-American <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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slang derived from the Italian “agitare” meaning “to agitate.”<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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That launched me on a lengthy tangent, in which I discovered a fuller <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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and fun discussion of agita<\/EM> at The Word Detective<\/A>, which includes:<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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You won’t find “agita” in most dictionaries, although it is a <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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quintessential Italian-American slang word. Strictly speaking, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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“agita” is a stomach upset or heartburn. But “agita” can also <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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mean that special kind of existential dyspepsia of the soul you <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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get when absolutely everything goes wrong. Comedian Jackie <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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Mason has explained “agita” as “when you have been aggravated <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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to the point where it feels like you have a serious migraine headache <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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throughout your whole body.” “Agita” is thus more or less the Italian-<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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American equivalent of the Yiddish “tsuris” (“misery”), an equation <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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not lost on Woody Allen, who made a song about “agita” the center-<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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piece of his 1984 film “Broadway Danny Rose.” <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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From The Word Detective, I careened around the Web, until I found<\/A> lyrics to <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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one of <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>the many ditties within Broadway Danny Rose<\/EM><\/A> about agita.  I believe <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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they will help elucidate the concept:<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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“Agita<\/STRONG>“<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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               (by <\/FONT>Nick Apollo Forte<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/FONT>
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Una two!
Agita<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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My gumba in the banzone
When I eat, he gets a treat
Like a canzone
He enjoys every meal
Every bite that I steal
Agita<\/DIV>
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My gumba in the banzone
Za da da da da|boom cha boom cha
Za da da dum|cha boom cha boom
Some people like their pizza,|some people like-a suffrite
And others like hot pepper|on everything they eat
You’ll hunger with a vuole|to taste that baccala
Then all at once you think,|”Will I answer to gumba?”
Ba ba ba ba bum|cha cha dum
Ba ba ba ba bum|cha cha dum<\/DIV>
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My lovely, lovely woman,|I hate to see her cry
But when I start to mangia,|I get the evil eye
My vuole’s getting stronger
Ah, the hell with my gumba
Then I get it from my woman,|che da botts a na sciatta
Agita<\/DIV>
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My gumba in the banzone
When I eat, he gets a treat
Like a canzone
He enjoys every meal
Every bite that I steal
Agita<\/DIV>
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My gumba in the banzone
Za da da dum|cha boom cha boom<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Capeesh<\/EM><\/A>?<\/EM> <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P>
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\"aspirin\"   The folks at Sick of Lawsuits<\/EM><\/A> (linked by <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>RiskProf<\/EM><\/A> to Sen. John <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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Cornyn) <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>say:<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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“Personal injury lawyer advertisements often use misleading, <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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inflammatory, and baseless claims to recruit plaintiffs to join <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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lawsuits. These deceptive claims can confuse and scare <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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consumers into thinking they have been harmed. This is <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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particularly a problem when irresponsible ads targeting <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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healthcare services and providers scare patients, causing <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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them to stop necessary treatments before consulting with <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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their physicians.”<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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“We urge the FTC to create stricter guidelines for disclosures <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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on personal injury lawyer advertisements.”<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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We’re not impressed.  Beyond the fact that it is mostly a matter for <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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State enforcement, the f\/k\/a gang is pretty sure the FTC Act already <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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is more than strong enough to combat actual misleading, deceptive <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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and baseless claims.   Like SoL<\/EM>, however, we do urge consumers <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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to talk to their doctors before stopping a medication featured in a <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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lawyer’s advertisement.<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/FONT>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV><\/FONT>
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\"alkas\"  Speaking of agita, I just lost the text to two lengthy blurbs. <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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One of which invited you to enjoy a sneak preview of the Nov. 2005<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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edition of <\/FONT>roadrunner haiku journal<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> V:4.   For now, I’ll just say it has <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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haiku from well over a dozen excellent haiku poets (and even from  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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that <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>guy who keeps taking credit for dagosan<\/FONT><\/A>‘s workproduct).  <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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Here are two one-liners from Roadrunner<\/EM><\/A>  V: 4 by jim kacian<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A>: <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
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 <\/P>
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 <\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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       after the ambulance sirens still there<\/FONT><\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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                                                   \"roadrunnerAA\" orig<\/A>.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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                                    different again tonight the same stars’ wobble<\/FONT><\/P><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/EM><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT><\/P>
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