Month: May 2008

A good walk (and presidency) spoiled

You know, even by Sean Penn standards, this is pretty cryptic. On Barrack Obama:

”I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn’t become a greater man than he will ever be…”

Via Gerry Canavan

You know, at this point, I’d happily trade the potential disillusionment of an Obama presidency — if, let’s say, he was unable to effect all the changes that he’s promised — for the constant barrage of disillusionment that’s been George W. Bush’s game plan from day one. Hell, I’d almost be happy just to elect a president who doesn’t think giving up his golf game represents some kind of ultimate display of solidarity. (Unlike, let’s say, ending the war, or even attending a few military funerals.)

Speaking of which:

Sunny days are here again

I just discovered how to adjust the brightness on my notebook computer. I may never go inside again.

Well, unless it starts raining again or something. Or my battery runs out of juice. Which it will, in about two hours.

Still, it’s so much nicer to be outside than in today.

Rainy Friday songs

Here it is, then, the Dismissed-from-Jury-Duty-Early-on-Friday Random Guess 10:

  1. “Throwing Stones” by the Grateful Dead, guessed by Eric B.
    The darkness never goes from some men’s eyes
  2. “Down With Disease” by Phish
    So I try to hear the music but I’m always losing time
  3. “If You Never Say Goodbye” by Pm Dawn
    Eyes on the camera shaking everyone’s hand
  4. “Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse” by Warlock Pinchers, guessed by Eric B.
    Making lots of money off boring songs like “Suedehead”
  5. “Milk and Cereal” by G Love and Special Sauce, guessed by Kim
    No Grapenuts for Grandma
  6. “Forgiven” by Alanis Morissette
    My brothers, they never went blind for what they did
  7. “Lonesome Town” by Ricky Nelson, guessed by Eric B.
    The streets are filled with regret
  8. “Po Lazarus” by James Carter & the Prisoners, guessed by Victor
    Well, he shot him with a mighty big number
  9. “Disgustipated” by Tool
    These are the cries of the carrots
  10. “Click Click Click” by Bishop Allen
    I’m carrying your suitcase outside of Alphabet City

Here are last week’s answers. Better luck guessing this weeks’ lyrics!

Justice is blind

Well, jury duty was uneventful. I handed in my summons, watched a short film on the process1, read my book for a couple of hours, (almost) finished a crossword puzzle, and then was sent home when all the remaining cases for the day apparently fell through. In a way I was lucky — hey, a slightly longer weekend! — but it was also a little disappointing, to be honest. By law, they won’t call me to serve again for another six years. While I didn’t want to be out from work for too long — and I definitely understand why people who won’t get reimbursed by their employers don’t want to serve at all2 — I was genuinely interested in the chance to serve on a jury. It would have been an interesting experience. Instead, I had to settle for the first few chapters of Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and a PopTart from the courthouse vending machine.

Oh well.

1 Featuring the late Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes, so I’m guessing it’s a little out-of-date.

2Seriously? Only $40 a day? That works out to significantly less than minimum wage, which is already uncomfortably low.