Writer's Block: Jury Duty
Aug. 12th, 2009 09:20 pm(Writer's Block widgets can't cross-post, so I'm doing it manually. The question was, "Have you ever served on a jury? If yes, then what was the case and what was the verdict?")
Yep. I mentioned it last May, but didn't talk much about it. This was a guy who was accused of stealing a pickup truck belonging to a college professor, who, unfortunately for him, seemed to be a little absent-minded. The truck hadn't been broken into; it seemed the prof may have left the key inside it. The cops caught the defendant a few miles away in a Home Depot parking lot.
What was most interesting about the process was how different it is from the "Law & Order"-type shows. They kept stressing that it was the job of the District Attorney to establish the case and the job of the defense to call into doubt the state's case, not to present any alternative theories.
In the end, we the jury didn't buy it and found him guilty. It wouldn't seem to make any sense that they guy they arrested wasn't actually the one who had stolen the car. It also may have had something to do with the fact that it was 4 or 5 in the afternoon and we just wanted to get out of there. We didn't have to sentence him; the judge dismissed us before then. I checked one of the Baltimore City Justice Department pages a few weeks later to see what happened. I think he got 15 years or something.
Yep. I mentioned it last May, but didn't talk much about it. This was a guy who was accused of stealing a pickup truck belonging to a college professor, who, unfortunately for him, seemed to be a little absent-minded. The truck hadn't been broken into; it seemed the prof may have left the key inside it. The cops caught the defendant a few miles away in a Home Depot parking lot.
What was most interesting about the process was how different it is from the "Law & Order"-type shows. They kept stressing that it was the job of the District Attorney to establish the case and the job of the defense to call into doubt the state's case, not to present any alternative theories.
In the end, we the jury didn't buy it and found him guilty. It wouldn't seem to make any sense that they guy they arrested wasn't actually the one who had stolen the car. It also may have had something to do with the fact that it was 4 or 5 in the afternoon and we just wanted to get out of there. We didn't have to sentence him; the judge dismissed us before then. I checked one of the Baltimore City Justice Department pages a few weeks later to see what happened. I think he got 15 years or something.
Writer's Block: AKA
Feb. 27th, 2009 06:53 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I kept the same username from when I used to post on the Straight Dope Message Board. At the time, I was actively trying to get my pilot's license and was generally interested in all things aviation. I got my license in 2002, and still am interested in aviation stuff, but it's taken more of a back seat to music and everything else (like not spending lots of money on plane rentals). This is how people know me now, and I like how you automatically know my name without having to ask. If I ever wanted to change, I have no idea what I would pick.
I kept the same username from when I used to post on the Straight Dope Message Board. At the time, I was actively trying to get my pilot's license and was generally interested in all things aviation. I got my license in 2002, and still am interested in aviation stuff, but it's taken more of a back seat to music and everything else (like not spending lots of money on plane rentals). This is how people know me now, and I like how you automatically know my name without having to ask. If I ever wanted to change, I have no idea what I would pick.
Writer's Block: Doctor Who?
Jan. 7th, 2009 12:20 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
This is kind of a timely question... Jamie and I were just watching The West Wing and commenting that Roger Rees might make a good Doctor. He certainly had the eccentric thing down when playing Lord John Marbury on The West Wing, and he's even Welsh! (Most of Doctor Who is filmed in Wales.)
Look at these pictures and tell me he wouldn't make a good Doctor!
This is kind of a timely question... Jamie and I were just watching The West Wing and commenting that Roger Rees might make a good Doctor. He certainly had the eccentric thing down when playing Lord John Marbury on The West Wing, and he's even Welsh! (Most of Doctor Who is filmed in Wales.)
Look at these pictures and tell me he wouldn't make a good Doctor!
Writer's Block: Lederhosen
Oct. 9th, 2008 02:43 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I have a pair of mostly canvas/cloth running shoes from about 6 years ago, which I now only wear on Yom Kippur. Not only because they're still comfortable and you have to do a lot of standing on the holiday, but also because wearing leather is one of the things prohibited today.
Regrettably, I don't own any lederhosen.
I have a pair of mostly canvas/cloth running shoes from about 6 years ago, which I now only wear on Yom Kippur. Not only because they're still comfortable and you have to do a lot of standing on the holiday, but also because wearing leather is one of the things prohibited today.
Regrettably, I don't own any lederhosen.