Jury Duty

Yes, again. For a few years there while I wasn't registered to vote, I quit having to go to jury duty. I was getting called every year, and sometimes more than once a year. I have lost count of how many times I've been called. Anyway, I got called again. Today was the day. I have been assigned to a jury panel to be convened on Thursday in a County Court at Law. Those courts are kinda like Triple-A baseball. It's still the minor leagues, but it's just short of the majors. Last time, I got called to a Justice of the Peace Court which isn't even a court of record, for God's sake! Talk about minor league!

A court of record means that when you appeal there is a record of all the evidence presented, and it's put under review. But, when a case is appealed from a court that is not a court of record, everything starts over, as if the first trial never happened. So, I was on a jury in a JP court and we found the guy guilty. But, he appealed, and all we did was irrelevant. At least on Thursday, our efforts won't just be for naught.

Hey, He Wanted to Die!

A medical team in Colorado has been charged with homicide for removing the organs of a transplant "donor" before he was actually dead. He had tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head, but the medical examiner says he wasn't dead yet. Well, I guess he is now!

New Name for Dumpster Diving

Here it is: Freegan! Are they serious? Hmmm...I'm gonna have to think about this.

There's No Fool Like an Old Fool

Billy Joel got married to a 23 year old. She's just 32 years younger.

Florida: Still the Banana Republic

According to Jimmy Carter, election observer extraordinaire, Florida still doesn't have what it takes to ensure a clean election.

It's Raining Crucifixes!

A 72 year old Italian woman was killed in San Onofrio while walking down the street. A crucifix fell from above and killed her. It had been loosened by restorations to the monument it stood on.

But, But, What If the Prostitute Is a Man?

The US Military has adopted a new policy making it an offense to use the services of a prostitute. The change is an effort to stop trafficking in women forced into prostitution near US military bases overseas. I suppose it would be okay to traffic in men.

Let This Be a Sign Unto You

Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan are God's message to Florida and the South. He did not vote for Bush. Would you call it karma?

Cell Phone on a Motorcycle?

Yes, at least in Italy. Now you can get a helmet with a wireless cell phone built in.

Oh, The Life of a Revolutionary!

The leaders of two rival guerrilla groups in Peru are in the same prison with life sentences. One of them proposed peace talks with the government. Due to that he got special privileges. He gets to have his girlfriend come "visit" him each night. The other one gets to listen. Well...he's heard enough! Now he's complaining that they only let his mother and sister come to visit him. Poor guy...but what did he expect?

SHGb02+14a

Not the most exciting or descriptive of names, but that's the name for the place that scientists have received radio signals from. Maybe it's them!

What Does Don Henley Know?

One of Don Henley's songs is titled They're Not Here, They're Not Coming, but what does he know? They done been here! I was put onto this story by one one those crazy Europeans who thinks that women dressed in the chador are sexy. There's just no accounting for taste.

Seventeen Million Dollars Says Otherwise

Michael Jackson says he's innocent of the charges of child sexual abuse, but his payouts say otherwise.

Barcelona: Nudist Paradise

Oh, I'll be that El Generalisimo Francisco Franco is turning in his grave. The City of Barcelona has approved nudity in public in their fair city. Are they sure they want to go through with this? If the Barcelonans look anything like the folks I've seen in the locker room, I don't want to go there.

Cocaina a la Modificacion Genetica

Researchers funded by Colombian cocaine traffickers have developed a genetically modified coca plant. It's bigger, better, more resistant to pesticides, and gives a better high. What more could we want? Besides, with the cost of research nowadays, who else can afford it?

De Knie Is Fini

Last Monday my wife, the Goddess, went to the hospital to have knee replacement surgery. The surgery went well and the doctor said, "She's just going to love her new knee." I hope she's right (yes, it was a female orthopedic surgeon). The only problem is that little thing called recovery. The Goddess has had hell with it. In fact, she told me that if she had known it would be this bad, she's not sure she would have done it. I don't know what she would have done instead, because she was in constant pain before the surgery. Anyway, she's coming along quite well, in my opinion. But, the Goddess wants it to be over already. She moved from the hospital room to a rehab unit (in the same building) on Friday. She's probably going to stay there thru Wednesday. At least, that's what the insurance has approved.

A question has come to my mind: What do they do with the old knee? Do they "reuse" parts of it? Do they like cremate it? I'll have to try to find that one out.

Does It Improve on Silence?

Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?

-Sai Baba

Gunner

Gunner, originally uploaded by Marcos Arroyos.

The American Military threatens Muqtadha al Sadr outside the Imam Ali mosque.

Marktadha al Sadr

Marktadha al Sadr, originally uploaded by Marcos Arroyos.

Really, I had no idea! Wow, this is kind of embarrassing. Oh well.

Lith..Who?

The US Olympic basketball team has lost to the Lithuanians. Who? What's that some kind of medicine for bipolar disorder? The creator and all time king of basketball is dead? Le roi est mort, vive le roi!