Surrounded By Great Tits

  • Law
  • Judge Erika Ballou faces a complaint from the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline alleging some of her social media posts violate the judicial code of conduct. [RJ]
  • She seemingly responded on Facebook with Cardi B lyrics. [8NewsNow]
  • Who is Wayne Nix? How a bookie, former baseball player took down former MGM exec. [RJ]
  • Wronged by a licensed contractor? Nevada has a fund for that. [Nevada Current]
  • Here’s a more detailed look at the major Nevada Supreme Court water ruling with implications for state groundwater management. [TNI]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 7:48 am

The social media post is super cringe and trashy. And to quote Cardi B lyrics in defense? Ick. So much so that it makes it a bit of a challenge to look at this objectively, but here’s a stab at that.

Judges don’t stop being friends with their colleagues when they take the bench. After working with attorneys for years and becoming friends are they really supposed to just cut off those people entirely? Would the reaction be the same if an LDS judge posted a picture of himself/herself walking out of the temple with two attorneys who regularly appear in front of him/her and a caption that read, “Just finished a wonderful session with these two great colleagues.” Purely in terms of legal ethics, is that any different?

Judge Ballou is drawing fire for two reasons. (1) The post, and subsequent defense, are trashy and cringe; and (2) because she dared criticize police. The police union went full-snowflake on the latter and received quite a bit of support in doing so.

As to (1), being trashy and cringe isn’t a violation of judicial ethics.

As to (2), sometime after 9/11, this country went from appreciating police to worshipping them. I shouldn’t have to explain why that’s bad, but for some it may be necessary. Do we want judges that worship police? That give them the benefit of the doubt every time on constitutional issues? I am a white male, and I say hell no. I would rather have a judge who makes trashy/cringe social media posts who is skeptical of the police than a judge who is a bootlicker.

Leave Judge Ballou alone!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 7:55 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Thanks Erika, for weighing in once again.

And comparing religious worship to a crude and distasteful post in a hot tub.

The former example does not make me question the competency of the judge. She should have been smart enough to know not to post such a thing.

Do I care that she hangs out with PD’s in her “middle class” hot tub? Not in the slightest. Do I care that she isnt smart enough to refrain from posting about tits on Instagram? More than a little.

She needs to go the way of Halverson.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 7:59 am
Reply to  Anonymous

7:48 AM here. That’s such a lame, tired response. “Thanks, X.” Can we retire it now? I am the fattest, most middle aged, green jello eating Mormon in this valley.

I’m LDS and that’s why I made the comparison. Don’t lecture me about when it’s appropriate to draw a comparison using my own faith. Tell me how that hypothetical is different. Tell me you think the reaction would be the same because we both know that it wouldn’t be. You draw feigned outrage because the comparison is dead on.

She should use better judgment with social media. That’s a question for voters, not the judicial ethics commission.

And do we really need to break down how this is dramatically different from Halverson? I didn’t see any Marshals, on the clock, in uniform, giving foot massages in that hot tub.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:14 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Sad that you can be right on the stereotypes but fail miserably on the actual analogy.

I’ll say it again. Its not about the hot tub and its not about the hot tub-ees. Its about being so dumb as to post all about it.

While posting after a temple session is somewhat cringey (I don’t ever do that), it hardly provokes the vomit in the back of the throat that a sitting (and likely intoxicated) judge bragging about her own tits in a hot tub does.

Remove her. Period. . . .for being without class and lacking the brains to self restrain.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:17 am
Reply to  Anonymous

7:48 here. Now we’re getting somewhere. So point me to the judicial canon that talking about “tits” and “being without class and lacking the brains to self restrain” violates. This is a question for voters, not the judicial ethics commission.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:31 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Those are my words. Please feel free to set forth an argument how these actions AND POSTING about them do not demonstrates act[ing] in a way that
(1) promotes public trust
(2) her position take precedence over her “personal and extrajudicial activities”;
(3) conveys an impression that there’s somebody or an entity in a position of influence.

Get off your fkg soapbox and admit that she acted unbecoming of a judicial officer. Anything less is intellectually dishonest.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:40 am
Reply to  Anonymous

7:48 AM here. First, counselor, the burden is with the judicial commission, not Judge Ballou. If you are taking the commission’s position here, the burden is yours.

(1) Sitting in a hot tub with attorneys that appear in front of you doesn’t undermine public trust. Judges socialize with attorneys all the time. To my knowledge, no judge has ever been disciplined for socializing with attorneys.

(2) You can’t really be arguing this, right? She’s not missing work because she’s hottubbing.

(3) See analysis for 1. There’s no influence here, just socializing, albeit in an embarrassing and trashy way.

Now, you know that there isn’t anything here so you actually added a fourth, that she “acted unbecoming.” You won’t get any argument from me on that one. Any adult, much less a judge, who quotes Card B is absolutely “unbecoming.” The hot tub photo and “tits” reference is unbecoming. Unfortunately for your position, that’s not a violation of judicial ethics.

Voters can decide whether they want to remove her for this, but the judicial ethics commission can’t/shouldn’t.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:02 am
Reply to  Anonymous

God help her if she hires you at the Commission. Or . . maybe you are her and you will lose anyway.

In truth, I am devil’s advocating here. I don’t really believe that she should be removed for these antics. But, she should sure as hell be sanctioned now and voted the F out in 2026, for these and many other reasons.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:44 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Exactly. The Judicial Discipline Commission should be involved when someone is acting in such a way as to pose an immediate risk to our system of justice, e.g. taking bribes, drunk on the bench, locking attorneys up for no reason (Hafen), insanity (Goldman), egregious ex parte communications (Fine) other forms of criminal nonsense(Jones). They are not the good-taste police. The voters can handle that if they disapprove.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:05 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I don’t know about you, but these actions do not instill confidence on the judiciary and should be publicized ad nauseum.

Also, we are not addressing the real violation the Hashtag about dismissing all out of custody cases.

Where exactly the line?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:06 am
Reply to  Anonymous

#VacatetheFuckOuttaOutofCustodyCases

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:20 am
Reply to  Anonymous

That is very interesting because of course she did not say “dismiss.” She was talking about her 8:30 calendar being a chore after a concert at LiB and said “vacate” which I took to mean vacate those hearings because those hearings were coming early. How the R/J (and now posters) conflate dismissal and vacating of hearings is a mystery.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:33 am
Reply to  Anonymous

None of your point are invalid. But, also non of them do anything to dispel the notion that Judge B (by virtue of these social media posts)isn’t eroding the public confidence in the judiciary.

She is and she needs to go. . . . .in 2026 or sooner if she keeps this shit up.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes. Correct.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:48 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Long time Vegas lawyer here. I’ve always wanted to respect the judges I before whom I appear. But it becomes so difficult to respect some of them when they behave poorly in public. Call me a prude if you must, but I want my judges to have enough sense to not publicly discuss their tits. Whatever it does, it doesn’t instill respect.

During Miley’s long stretch of zany public antics it was tough to take her seriously.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 11:28 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Speaking of, um, …… tits

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 4:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Comparing Ballou to Miley. That’s like comparing bad apples to bad oranges.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:50 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I am a white LDS Republican who could not be more contrary to Ballou’s politics and you are exactly right. This is a ridiculous case.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 7:59 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I fully agree. I would give one piece of advice if she happens to be reading this: Speak only through your lawyer. Don’t turn the equivalent of a questionable and rotten-smelling DWB traffic citation into something much worse by expressing your frustration publicly. Don’t give these SOBs or their police union cronies the satisfaction. Do you want Joe effing Lombardo filling your seat?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:02 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Let me know when this conversation pivots to real judicial ethical lapses, like shooting your friend in the face, or lying to Congress to get your seat, or failing to properly file financial disclosure forms showing you’re bought and paid for by a billionaire patron, or failing to disclose who paid off your mortgage, country club membership, and credit card debt while ascending to the highest court in the land. Then we can talk about poor judgment on social media.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:09 am
Reply to  Anonymous

You sound vaccinated.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:26 am
Reply to  Anonymous

You sound uneducated.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:54 am
Reply to  Anonymous

This, my friend is a compliment coming from you. But, its all good, because we all know who you voted for in the last presidential election. So that is our grain of salt when reading you posts.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:58 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Stop measuring your life that way, its way, way too sad.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 12:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Its not my life that’s being measured or sad. Its deciding for myself how I think about another person’s comment. If a knucklehead like 10:02/10:26 thinks that I sound uneducated, then I certainly welcome that opinion because I know better.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:51 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Don’t forget forgiving the loan for your $250,000 RV!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 12:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Judge Baillou’s reckless conduct on social media is grounds for removal. In most other jurisdictions this would be sanctionable conduct by a judicial officer. Judges are educated and instructed to be careful on social media and to avoid appearances of impropriety. Clearly, this Judge did not learn anything at the judicial college. Mark my words, she is toast one way or the other. She is the gift that keeps on giving.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 2:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Removal? Are you kidding me? That’s like saying someone should get the death penalty for a speeding ticket. They shouldn’t even be involved at all, but if they are, then one of those “we trust you will be more cautious in the future” type of letters would be more than sufficient. That fact that someone thought it was necessary to pour over hashtags from posts made a year or two ago in order to find one or two very minor indiscretions tells me something.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 2:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yeah, that she is a shit judge that needs to be removed.

Your analogy is ridiculous. Even if removal is not warranted, a censure of some kind surely is. Then the voters can take her out in 2026.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 3:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

No, it tells me that someone, probably the cop union, has it in for her and is putting everything she does under a microscope. I tried a civil case in front of her a year or so ago, and she did a perfectly fine job. No issues whatsoever. We don’t send someone to the death chamber or hard time for doing 55 in a 45, and these posts are the moral and ethical equivalent of that. But, as you say, this is a matter for the voters to sort out in 2026.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 3:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

My analogy is perfectly apt. We don’t impose the most draconian of punishments on someone who gets ticketed for doing 55 in a 45, and this is the moral and ethical equivalent of that. I have no doubt that the police unions are going through everything she has ever said or done with a fine-tooth comb, because she won’t bend the knee. Digging up some hashtag from two years ago. As for whether she is a “shit” judge or not, that’s a matter of perspective. I tried a civil case in front of her about a year ago and she did an absolutely fine job. But as you say, that is a matter for the public to decide in 2026, not for some unelected and unaccountable commission.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Shocked at all these pearl-clutching prudes on here. Why is a judge, who is enjoying a party with friends and doing nothing apparently illegal, in such hot water for posting something about her “tits” cause for such alarm? Eroding public trust? Give me a break. What, she might have had a few drinks and posted something “crass” to her social-media friends/colleagues while probably enjoying a weekend. One might consider that poor judgment, I suppose. But now you can’t trust this judge to do the job because you can’t trust them to exercise good judgment in a political setting. And yada yada yada…maybe she’s just not a good judge. Idk, my only knowledge of her is from this blog.

But if that’s your basis for thinking she shouldn’t be a judge, you are must do a good job of handling cognitive dissonance. Bill Clinton, the POTUS, used a cigar as a tool and received a BJ from an intern/staffer in the Oval Office. Kavanaugh defended his love for beer in a more-than-passionate demeanor, and in the context of facing non-frivolous sexual assault accusations including pulling his junk out to show to unsuspecting women. The former, and likely the next, President has a nearly $100M in jury-verdict judgments against him for defamation and sexual abuse. He grabs ’em by their parts because that’s okay when you’re famous. And that’s not to mention the financially corrupt examples of current judges across the political spectrum.

Might have been an unwise move, okay, but if that’s the standard, a whole lot of folk need to go down as well.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 4:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

There is this thing called judicial decorum. It is what gives the public and bar some sense of the seriousness of the judge’s role and the ability of the judge to be impartial.
Judicial decorum is an intangible, hard to quantify. But Judge Ballou’s antics are the polar opposite.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 6:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Reminds me of baseball’s “unwritten rules.” Some people revere the old ways while others stick a middle finger up at the idea that any undefined set of rules imposed to control behavior. I tend to favor the middle finger people far more than the boot lickers.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:37 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes. When I started practicing here, the bench was almost exclusively composed of old White senile men who sat up there and barked nonsense at you. We did not have social media, so who knows what they were up to. Most of them either retired, or died in office, although I’m pretty certain some of them were dead for a year or two before anyone noticed. I have no desire to go back to those days.

anononymous
Guest
anononymous
January 30, 2024 11:22 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Why are we wasting time on this topic. Look at her complexion — zip zero nada chance there’s any discipline even they found white lines and an envelope full of cash. Move on.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:15 am

https://worldtimetodays.com/las-vegas-man-beats-child-abuse-suspect-in-court/

More violence at the RJC. Fortunately, there was a marshal in the hall, but that is not usually the case. Over the years, I’ve had two situations in civil cases where the parties spilled out into the hallways and it nearly became violent. Unfortunately, one of those days was “take your daughter to work day” and my 7 year old saw it. Even now, years later, she thinks that is normal behavior at the court house.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:52 am
Reply to  Anonymous

This happened a few months ago and was discussed in the local media and on this Blog. Not saying it cannot be discussed again. Just providing context.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:53 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Its trending on Twitter / X and Instagram as we speak (again, perhaps)

Anon Please
Guest
Anon Please
January 29, 2024 8:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This is a new incident that happened 1-23-24. The date stamp is on the video. This is in the hallway at Justice court, the earlier incident was in front of Tierra Jones in District Court.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:15 am

Who all remembers a boyd party where a girl was topless in the pool? Anyone know what that girl is up to now?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:03 am

Robson is the real victim in all this, word is that he is starting a trial today in front of his hot-tub pal.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:35 am
Reply to  Anonymous

While the “tits” in question were at best, nothing special. Robson being surrounded by ANY tits is a feat worthy of the notoriety he now possesses.

All profiles exposed are private.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 3:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Always fascinating to me where lines get drawn on here. A poster a few weeks ago proposed to discuss judicial performance of multiple judges and got thwacked as not being productive. Today we have posts that started topical with a news story and then devolved into simply name calling a judge “a shit judge.” We have comments demeaning the physical appearance of certain attorneys; those are OK.

Henry
Guest
Henry
January 29, 2024 3:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Couldn’t agree more. Every single one of us has pictures taken with friends, friends of friends, and acquaintances. Imagine that picture being put on the internet, then dragged across the news. Your name now tarnished for something you didn’t even post, potentially from someone that wasn’t even your friend.

Robson is the real victim in this a deserves a lot more than an apology.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:22 am

One of the mysteries discussed on this blog was answered this morning which is what is going on with Thorndal after the building was up for a foreclosure auction a few months ago. Got a message that Thorndal is moving to Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 9:35 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Did they stovepipe the building to the bank like Alverson Taylor did in 2018?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:23 am
Reply to  Anonymous

No it was bought by “The Vice Series”. More interesting is that the Seller on the Deed was Gene Backus and Brian Terry. (Cue” “We are getting the band back together.”)

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:48 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Not to talk out of school here, but the building and real estate was owned by Thorndal, Backus, Maupin and Armstrong. All have either retired or gone elsewhere since the 1980’s when it was purchased from the federal government. Originallly it was the FBI headquarters, which is why there is a vault upstairs if you have ever been there. Current firm ownership and La slots could not come to an agreement re lease renewal, so the building was sold, and they are moving to the former Bible building on LVB and Bonneville.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 10:49 am
Reply to  Anonymous

*”landlord” damn autocorrect.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 11:32 am
Reply to  Anonymous

The Bible building? Wow. Not sure how reliable the reports were, but I was always told that building had major foundation and structural problems, which is one reason why the feds got out of it and sold it.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 11:43 am
Reply to  Anonymous

A construction company owns it and occupies about half as I understand. It did have problems and there was substantial litigation around the late 90’s or so. Supposedly those issues were all corrected and the place was completely redone by the current owner after the Feds vacated.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 3:44 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Grant Sawyer about to have lots of openings

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 6:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

No attorneys in AG’s office?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 4:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I always hated the Bible Building. Low ceilings tight hallways. So Gene Backus is going back to his enormous conference room which was once high tech but who knows what it is now.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 11:07 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Not a foreclosure. Was sold at auction by the owners, Thorndal, Backus, Maupin, and Armstrong. Not even sure there was a mortgage on it.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 12:56 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

$3.5M for the building and surrounding properties.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 29, 2024 3:48 pm

Do not threaten your fellow Phish fans.

“In the letter, Schielke used demeaning and unprofessional language to refer to the lawyer, calling him a ‘violent psychopath’; ‘a violent asshole’; “an idiot”; ‘obnoxious’; ‘stupid’; ‘a shameless, ridiculous boasting shit’; ‘a terrible fucking attorney’; and ‘a disgrace to the Colorado Bar, the Phish community, and [his] family.’”

https://coloradosupremecourt.com/PDJ/Decisions/Schielke,%20Stipulation%20to%20Discipline,%2023PDJ073,%201-26-24.pdf

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 7:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Her Facebook profile states “I fight governmental oppression and overreaching. Then I go to Phish shows. Rinse and repeat.”

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 29, 2024 8:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I have no issues with this.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 30, 2024 8:11 am

BTW, this may be the best BLAWG post Title in the history of Blawgs.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 30, 2024 9:25 am

Judge Ballou is just the latest in Las Vegas’ hot tub history. From Spring Fever in the 70s-80s, to the photo of 3 UNLV players in a hot tub with felon Richie “The Fixer” Perry in 1989. Word to the wise – hot tubs are a no-photo zone! #HotTubTimeMachine

anononymous
Guest
anononymous
January 30, 2024 11:20 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Hot tubs are to get high and get laid, not create fodder for ethics hounds.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
January 30, 2024 11:57 am
Reply to  anononymous

They are for all three.