OT: Jury Duty! Help!

[nostradamus]

pd I don’t know if it’s the best in the world but if it is, I think that’s a horrible statement about the world.

I was crossing the street downtown and my walk light was green. All the cars turning left in front of me kept turning, none of them stopped for me even though my light was green. One of those cars was a cop. He rolled down his window and said I better not j-walk. I pointed out that my light was green, it was a crosswalk, and that HE was turning on a red light and cutting me off. He told me if I’m going to mouth off like that he’ll arrest me next time he sees me. That’s my experience # 1.

Experience #2: I was scuba-diving, hunting for lobster. To hunt lobster you must follow these laws: they must be in season, you must have a fishing license, it must be an unprotected area, and the main lobster carapace must be 3 & 1/4″ or bigger. I caught a lobster and thought I met all of those. When I got out of the water, the department of fish and game swooped down on me (it was night) armed like a swat team. They measured my lobster, to them it was 1/2mm undersized. It is well known that when the water drains out of it, the lobster shrinks a bit but even then, come on, only half a millimeter off? I had a permit, it was a legal area, it was in season, and it was clearly a borderline offense. One thing was clear: I tried my best to follow all the laws. So they cited me and in the process threatened to “confiscate my gear” which is worth about $3000.

Then I had to go to court. First, the court lost my records so when I showed up, they said to go home and forget about it. I had taken the day off thus lost income. 6 months later I got a letter, they found my records and wanted me to come back to court. Another day away from income. I met with a prosecutor who gave me a “plea” bargain that she would only charge me with an “infraction” and I’d pay $300. I accepted but in the courtroom was disgusted to see that a man who had repeatedly been caught poaching all kinds of animals, and who was caught with a truckload of baby lobsters and other creatures, was given the exact same deal. Knowing that they treat people who try to follow all the laws the exact same way they treat flagrant violators, do you think I’m going to care enough to be such a good “law-biding” citizen any more? I think our justice system actually CREATES criminals.

Now, when someone does a background check on me, I have to explain that this “criminal” infraction is about a lobster. I usually get a laugh out of it.

[dharmagirl]

Nostradamus,

With regards to the lobster “shrinking” when out of the water…is that similar to George Constanza’s “shrinkage” issues many years ago in “Seinfeld”? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, never mind…

That story really bothers me – not that your lobster was .5 mm too small, but that the people who should be punished – e.g. the repeat offender with the truckload of stuff – gets off lightly. Ugh.

I spoke to my “almost felon” friend today. She’s mulling over a job prospect (has to let them know by Monday) and freaking out about the background check process. She said, “gawd, it just all sounds like an episode of ’24’ or something…I dont want to get into the details.”

Her misdemeanor ‘plea’ ended up being disorderly conduct. She is actually thinking of saying that she was at a rally protesting Bush and the war and that things got out of hand.

I told her this is a bad idea on a few levels, but mainly because I think if a potential employer found out that she wasnt truthful it would look a LOT worse. In my experience, I’ve found that things have a way of biting one in the arse…

I also pointed out that it wasnt grand larceny, prostitution, embezzlement, or assault.

What the other poster said about cops being taught to just “take control” makes sense. And, yes, that guy does sound scary. Armed power/control freaks…all they need is a lack of education, morals and/or soul and they can make life a real rodeo.

[dharmagirl]

Nostradamus,

With regards to the lobster “shrinking” when out of the water…is that similar to George Constanza’s “shrinkage” issues many years ago in “Seinfeld”? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, never mind…

That story really bothers me – not that your lobster was .5 mm too small, but that the people who should be punished – e.g. the repeat offender with the truckload of stuff – gets off lightly. Ugh.

I spoke to my “almost felon” friend today. She’s mulling over a job prospect (has to let them know by Monday) and freaking out about the background check process. She said, “gawd, it just all sounds like an episode of ’24’ or something…I dont want to get into the details.”

Her misdemeanor ‘plea’ ended up being disorderly conduct. She is actually thinking of saying that she was at a rally protesting Bush and the war and that things got out of hand.

I told her this is a bad idea on a few levels, but mainly because I think if a potential employer found out that she wasnt truthful it would look a LOT worse. In my experience, I’ve found that things have a way of biting one in the arse…

I also pointed out that it wasnt grand larceny, prostitution, embezzlement, or assault.

What the other poster said about cops being taught to just “take control” makes sense. And, yes, that guy does sound scary. Armed power/control freaks…all they need is a lack of education, morals and/or soul and they can make life a real rodeo.

[dharmagirl]

Nostradamus,

With regards to the lobster “shrinking” when out of the water…is that similar to George Constanza’s “shrinkage” issues many years ago in “Seinfeld”? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, never mind…

That story really bothers me – not that your lobster was .5 mm too small, but that the people who should be punished – e.g. the repeat offender with the truckload of stuff – gets off lightly. Ugh.

I spoke to my “almost felon” friend today. She’s mulling over a job prospect (has to let them know by Monday) and freaking out about the background check process. She said, “gawd, it just all sounds like an episode of ’24’ or something…I dont want to get into the details.”

Her misdemeanor ‘plea’ ended up being disorderly conduct. She is actually thinking of saying that she was at a rally protesting Bush and the war and that things got out of hand.

I told her this is a bad idea on a few levels, but mainly because I think if a potential employer found out that she wasnt truthful it would look a LOT worse. In my experience, I’ve found that things have a way of biting one in the arse…

I also pointed out that it wasnt grand larceny, prostitution, embezzlement, or assault.

What the other poster said about cops being taught to just “take control” makes sense. And, yes, that guy does sound scary. Armed power/control freaks…all they need is a lack of education, morals and/or soul and they can make life a real rodeo.

[dharmagirl]

Nostradamus,

With regards to the lobster “shrinking” when out of the water…is that similar to George Constanza’s “shrinkage” issues many years ago in “Seinfeld”? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, never mind…

That story really bothers me – not that your lobster was .5 mm too small, but that the people who should be punished – e.g. the repeat offender with the truckload of stuff – gets off lightly. Ugh.

I spoke to my “almost felon” friend today. She’s mulling over a job prospect (has to let them know by Monday) and freaking out about the background check process. She said, “gawd, it just all sounds like an episode of ’24’ or something…I dont want to get into the details.”

Her misdemeanor ‘plea’ ended up being disorderly conduct. She is actually thinking of saying that she was at a rally protesting Bush and the war and that things got out of hand.

I told her this is a bad idea on a few levels, but mainly because I think if a potential employer found out that she wasnt truthful it would look a LOT worse. In my experience, I’ve found that things have a way of biting one in the arse…

I also pointed out that it wasnt grand larceny, prostitution, embezzlement, or assault.

What the other poster said about cops being taught to just “take control” makes sense. And, yes, that guy does sound scary. Armed power/control freaks…all they need is a lack of education, morals and/or soul and they can make life a real rodeo.

[dharmagirl]

Nostradamus,

With regards to the lobster “shrinking” when out of the water…is that similar to George Constanza’s “shrinkage” issues many years ago in “Seinfeld”? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, never mind…

That story really bothers me – not that your lobster was .5 mm too small, but that the people who should be punished – e.g. the repeat offender with the truckload of stuff – gets off lightly. Ugh.

I spoke to my “almost felon” friend today. She’s mulling over a job prospect (has to let them know by Monday) and freaking out about the background check process. She said, “gawd, it just all sounds like an episode of ’24’ or something…I dont want to get into the details.”

Her misdemeanor ‘plea’ ended up being disorderly conduct. She is actually thinking of saying that she was at a rally protesting Bush and the war and that things got out of hand.

I told her this is a bad idea on a few levels, but mainly because I think if a potential employer found out that she wasnt truthful it would look a LOT worse. In my experience, I’ve found that things have a way of biting one in the arse…

I also pointed out that it wasnt grand larceny, prostitution, embezzlement, or assault.

What the other poster said about cops being taught to just “take control” makes sense. And, yes, that guy does sound scary. Armed power/control freaks…all they need is a lack of education, morals and/or soul and they can make life a real rodeo.

[DWCAP]

Dgirl, This guy is very well educated. education will not save us from those who desire power. I have no idea why people seem to think those that are power hungery are also uneducated. Infact, I think the educated ones scare me more. They are the ones who understand how to use the system to really hurt those who get in their way.

To give alittle more insight into this guy, he spent Y2K at home with a shotgun and a rifle, hoping for his chance to shoot someone when the world fell apart. BTW, he lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Crime there mostly consists of the domestic sort.

[DWCAP]

Dgirl, This guy is very well educated. education will not save us from those who desire power. I have no idea why people seem to think those that are power hungery are also uneducated. Infact, I think the educated ones scare me more. They are the ones who understand how to use the system to really hurt those who get in their way.

To give alittle more insight into this guy, he spent Y2K at home with a shotgun and a rifle, hoping for his chance to shoot someone when the world fell apart. BTW, he lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Crime there mostly consists of the domestic sort.

[DWCAP]

Dgirl, This guy is very well educated. education will not save us from those who desire power. I have no idea why people seem to think those that are power hungery are also uneducated. Infact, I think the educated ones scare me more. They are the ones who understand how to use the system to really hurt those who get in their way.

To give alittle more insight into this guy, he spent Y2K at home with a shotgun and a rifle, hoping for his chance to shoot someone when the world fell apart. BTW, he lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Crime there mostly consists of the domestic sort.

[DWCAP]

Dgirl, This guy is very well educated. education will not save us from those who desire power. I have no idea why people seem to think those that are power hungery are also uneducated. Infact, I think the educated ones scare me more. They are the ones who understand how to use the system to really hurt those who get in their way.

To give alittle more insight into this guy, he spent Y2K at home with a shotgun and a rifle, hoping for his chance to shoot someone when the world fell apart. BTW, he lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Crime there mostly consists of the domestic sort.

[DWCAP]

Dgirl, This guy is very well educated. education will not save us from those who desire power. I have no idea why people seem to think those that are power hungery are also uneducated. Infact, I think the educated ones scare me more. They are the ones who understand how to use the system to really hurt those who get in their way.

To give alittle more insight into this guy, he spent Y2K at home with a shotgun and a rifle, hoping for his chance to shoot someone when the world fell apart. BTW, he lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Crime there mostly consists of the domestic sort.

[nostradamus]

yes dharma, it’s the Costanza thing kind of. But I only measured the lobster and not any other shrinkage (the water was cold).

If any of my clients wishes to do a background check on me I always tell them about the lobster up front. Nobody has ever had a problem and in fact, I think they trust me for being so open about it!

[nostradamus]

yes dharma, it’s the Costanza thing kind of. But I only measured the lobster and not any other shrinkage (the water was cold).

If any of my clients wishes to do a background check on me I always tell them about the lobster up front. Nobody has ever had a problem and in fact, I think they trust me for being so open about it!

[nostradamus]

yes dharma, it’s the Costanza thing kind of. But I only measured the lobster and not any other shrinkage (the water was cold).

If any of my clients wishes to do a background check on me I always tell them about the lobster up front. Nobody has ever had a problem and in fact, I think they trust me for being so open about it!

[nostradamus]

yes dharma, it’s the Costanza thing kind of. But I only measured the lobster and not any other shrinkage (the water was cold).

If any of my clients wishes to do a background check on me I always tell them about the lobster up front. Nobody has ever had a problem and in fact, I think they trust me for being so open about it!

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