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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.

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1 Featuring the late Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes, so I’m guessing it’s a little out-of-date.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