Leases of commercial space–such as offices and retail stores–are highly complex and are always drafted to benefit the landlord. Because they tend to be “printed form” documents, you may be tempted to think they are not negotiable. Not so. Your attorney should have a standard “tenant’s addendum,” containing provisions that benefit you, that can be added to the printed form lease document. He will also be able to advise you on what the owner’s responsibilities to you should be.
OK. I’m just sick and tired of listening to various pundits, medicos and general apologists for Maj. Hasan Nidal and hs so-called PRE-traumatic stress disorder. WTF? Sorry about the language but to argue that this guy suffered before anything ever happened to him makes fools of the psychiatry profession, demeans our soldiers who actually have PTSD and gives hopes to every malingering SOB out there. Would you people get a grip?
I don’t know what motivated him to do what he did. Rumors are flying. But if he actually did cry out to God before pulling his pistols and firing, HE injected his religion into this issue. Not me, not the Army, and not some weird wack-job bigot. So for Pete’s sake, use some common sense–not that you even have it.
It’s Veteran’s Day, 2009. A day precious to me. A day to remember lost friends and absent companions. So I like to go to synagogue & say a prayer for the dead. I’m Jewish. It takes a minyan (10 adults over the age of 13). Now my synagogue for some reason doesn’t regularly schedule this on Veteran’s Day. But every year I ask them to. You’d think they’d learn. NOPE.
I could call them in September & ask them to schedule it and they would be happy to accommodate me. Note that this doesn’t mean I could get 10 adults there. Just that they’d schedule it. But that’s another rant for another day.
Anyway, sort of a consolation prize I was asked to talk to the Religious School kids for 2-3 minutes tonight. I can’t decide. What can I possibly say in 2-3 minutes max that will explain to these kids, ages 10-13, why this is important, why they should be respectful and grateful. Keep in mind that their parents care so little that there is no organized Veterans’ Day activity. I have absolutely no idea what I could possibly say that would mean something to them. Worse, if I do go, doesn’t that make me complicit in saying that the synagogue is doing enough?
OK. I’ve been in trial and haven’t had time to post lately. But between the shooting in the office in Orlando and the massacre at Ft. Hood, I have to post some more.
First off, hats off to all the soldiers at Ft. Hood. Brave under fire, helped each other, helped and evacuated the wounded. and went after the shooter. Well done all!
Drop & Roll into a corner. keep rolling. Don’t stay still. Modern handguns are powerful enough to plow through wooden desks, chairs, sofas, etc. Get concealed, roll (or crawl) into a protected area like a corner. But be aware: drywall can be punched through. A bullet will go through drywall like tissue paper.
After you get concealed or against a wall, search for a way out. Then get out if it is safe. According to what I just read about Ft. Hood, several people saw the shooter stop to reload and *then* ran out the door to get away. That’s best. Nice thinking people. No panic, just careful planning on no notice.
OK. Now let’s get back to business: designing your office for safety. In the reception area, consider having the receptionist’s desk behind a 4 foot wall. People can look over it easily and she can duck under her desk easily for concealment and safety. If you cannot bring yourself to build a wall, at least get the receptionist’s desk a “privacy shield” so there’s a small space under the desk where s/he can huddle in an emergency. Don’t forget to put a panic button there too.
Every permanent employee you have should be trained in basic first aid. I recommend having them take a CPR course too. You never know–the life they save might be your own.
You will need a lawyer who can help you decide whether a corporation or limited liability company (LLC) is the better way to organize your business, and prepare the necessary paperwork. He will also advise you on the best way to prepare to expand your business when the time comes, where to incorporate (each state has different advantages and disadvantages) and how the different stakeholders should relate to each other. A good specialist in Business Organizations can also advise you on what structure you should use to maximize your personal protection and what steps you and the business must do to ensure that protection holds under stressful times.
You will need a lawyer who can understand your business quickly; prepare the standard form contracts you will need with customers, clients and suppliers; and help you respond to contracts that other people will want you to sign. He will try to advise you on what risks you are taking by signing the contracts and will, hopefully, advise you on when you are vulnerable and how to escape from the contract unscathed if things don’t work out.
Actaully saw a good tip at a bank yesterday. They had a sign up which said (more or less) “So we can all have a safe Holloween, masks are not allowed in the bank. Please take your mask off before you enter.”
Brilliant! What dingdong wears a mask into a bank? Apparently a lot of people and not just kids either. So …
You should not allow masks in your office either. Costumes? No problem. I love Holloween. Face paint? Great! But absolutely NO masks.
