“Everything before the word “but” is horseshit”.

—Everyone, in Game of Thrones

A conjunction simply begging to be complicated — even slightly. Bonus points are on offer for “notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing”.

In George R. R. Martin’s glorious words, “everything before the word but is horseshit”.

Or, as a lawyer might say, All or any part of the text preceding the expression “notwithstanding anything to the contrary aforesaid, shall be deemed to have no meaning or any type, kind or variety, howsoever described.”

See also