Jury Duty

While most people were going about their daily lives, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sitting in the gallery of a court room in Glendale waiting to see if I would become a - tan tan tan - juror.

And as I waited in the hopes of full filling my civic duty, I was entertained by the plethora of irate potential jurors that went in and then out of the juror's box. Each of them thoroughly bothered by the mere thought that the city of Los Angeles would even consider them to serve on this particular civil case. They lectured the plaintiff and then the defendant and then their lawyers for even bringing their case this far and waisting tax payers money but mostly their time.

Some claimed they already knew who they were siding with, even before hearing any piece of evidence. Some claimed that they would not side with any one. Some decided that they wouldn't award any monetary compensation. Some did not trust lawyers or doctors or police officers or any of the witnesses much less the plaintiff and defendant. A couple people claimed that they did not believe in a "trial by your peers" which pissed of a retired lawyer (a potential juror) and the seemingly mild-mannered judge. One person claimed that they were biased against certain ethnic groups.

After many reprimands were doled out by the judge to the surly jury pool, people were sent home. And in the end, I'm am Alternative Juror #1 serving on a civil case for 8-10 days.

Side Bar: Unlike most people, I was actually looking forward to jury duty. I don't see it as a burden but more like a mini-vacation. Because for 8-10 days, I'll get to disappear into a court room and do something different from my daily routine.

This entry posted while listening to "I Fought the Law" by The Clash.

Celebrating May the Fouth (on May 14th)

So some of you may be wondering why May the Fourth (Star Wars Day) has come and gone without a peep from me. The truth is, I wanted to commemorate the glorious day but I was a tad busy at work and with my terrible time management skills, it kind of slipped away from me.

So to make amends, I'm posting my May the Fourth post today... on the fourteenth. And here is what I want to say. Well actually, no, not what I really want to say. Because what I really want to say is "What the FUDGE Lucas?" Have you seen his latest money-making scheme - Star Wars: The Clone Wars?!?! He is basically tagging Star Wars on anything that he can to make a buck (like he needs it?) And this led me to my deep-seated conspiracy theory that I had long ago but only until recently have I started to speak of it.

STAR WARS is probably one of the greatest films ever made, but why is it that in the end, when the Rebels are celebrating the destruction of the Death Star and heroes were being recognized - Chewbacca did not get a medal. What's up with that?!?! Luke got a medal. Han Solo got a medal. Even R2-D2 and C-3PO got hooked up with a fancy-shmancy detail job. And Chewbacca - nothing. He walked down the aisle with his tattered old bag and watched Luke and Han get their medals and him - nothing. What, a Wookie can't get a medal?

Anyway. Now I could continue on this rant and probably go even further (Don't get me started on the supposed Episode I, II and III) until I truly give into my Dark Side but I decided to take it down a bit. I took a breather listened to some Otis Redding and searched the web for something warm and fuzzy. And what can be more warm and fuzzy than an Ewok. So click here to see a video for another unsung hero.

Happy May the Fourth... on May Fourteenth.

Crazy Love

So the other day, I was driving to the office from LAX after doing a bit of work related travel when I heard for the first time on the radio since my wedding, my or our (as in my wife and I) "first dance" song. It was very exciting to hear the song after a little over seven months of marriage. I quickly forgot the reality of the moment and only remembered that first dance. Dancing so close to her, knowing that it was right and was I happy. I started to sing along passionately to the song as a crooked smile began to grow across my face. The moment was good...

Until I was interrupted by a pesky question from my co-worker who was sitting next to me. Basically ruining the moment. What a shame.

This post written while listening to "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison which happens to be our first dance song in question.