Now this is an interesting bit of business. The Federal Bankruptcy Code defines debtors' attorneys' practices as "debt relief agencies." Thus, bankruptcy attorneys must publicly disclose the obvious: that their business is debt relief. You'll find such a disclosure on my Web site, right there on the first page. This turn of phrase establishes that bankruptcy is necessary, not gratuitous: it is relief, not reward. It's a break, not a guilt trip.

But "debt relief agency" certainly sounds goofy. I'm no agent, man. And the slippery slope of Congressional coinages gives reason to pause.

* * *

I went into a dream during the crash between morning coffee and early-afternoon coffee. For some reason, Yul Brynner stands behind a congressional podium and declares:

So let it be said, so let it be written, the House shall decree that offices of

1) Divorce attorneys disclose they are "fidelity relief agencies;"

2) Angeleno lawyers-to-the-stars disclose they are "tabloid relief agencies;"

3) Criminal law attorneys disclose they are "prison relief agencies;"

4) Unlawful-detainer attorneys disclose they are "tenant relief agencies;"

5) Attorneys who incorporate companies disclose they are "liability relief agencies;"

6) Immigration attorneys disclose they are "deportation relief agencies;"

etcetera, etcetera.

We could go on, but it's getting tiresome, the horse is dead, and it wasn't that clever to begin with.

Postscript:

So, I finished my draft, then moseyed down to the park with Robin avec les enfants. I mentioned this premise, but she asserted the language "debt relief agency" has a good ring; a positive impression. Oh well. It's been written, so let it be said: I'm sending it to cyberspace.

Click "Publish."

Post-postscript:

Don't worry, I don't really go into those kinds of dreams. Unless I run out of coffee.