Wednesday, June 29, 2005


New York, New York, Las Vegas, Nevada Posted by Hello

The Luxor, and a little bit of my thumb Posted by Hello

Vegas

What a place!

I tell you guys, this is my fourth trip to Vegas and it is always a blast. I'm not a huge gambler, but I do enjoy the scenery, the interaction with all types of people, and the level of service that you get when large quantities of money are involved.

I took the above pic in front of the Luxor. The egyptian themed joint. It's a kick and probably my fav place next to The Mirage. Anyway. Sounds like Sergei is having a good time. I'll write more later and I'll put the finishing touches on my countdown and try and post them tomorrow.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Russell

On Wednesday I adopted Russell (Russell is his middle name, Kurt is his first), a 21-pound, 4 1/2-month-old puppy. I believe that he's part Jack Russell or Fox Terrier, and the humane society had him down as a lab mix (he's all black and has long legs) although I'm not sure about that. Anyway, he has kept me quite busy and I haven't been able to write updates for the top 100 list. Please forgive me. Next week Laura will be living in Lincoln and she will do most of the care for the little guy, so I should have time to catch up on the list.

A little about Russell:
I believe that I potty-trained him within two days, although there is always the chance for another accident. He was kennel-trained within an hour. In other words, he is very smart and extremely eager to please. I've yet to see him angry and I've only heard him bark a couple times, all very quietly. He loves to play fetch (although he's getting a habit of not bringing the ball back) and tug-of-war, but his favorite thing to do is make his sheep toy squeak. He has knocked over my friend's two-year-old twice while playing, but he's learning to be nice to her (she needs a little more work to be nice to him).

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Jackson Trial

Sorry, guys, that I didn't pipe in my two cents on this. I guess I didn't keep up with your respective comments. Been busy with summer projects, rearing children and keeping wifey happy.

An uncle/attorney of mine commented that "convicting celebrities is tough" without going any further. I don't know what he meant. I wonder, though, if I were a weak-livered juror on that case, and knew that after a conviction I was going to have to return to work or home and face the guy who held up the sign outside the courthouse which read "On behalf of all humanity, please forgive us, Michael," I might be loathe to find Jackson guilty of anything but some very odd sleeping and social habits.

In CivPro Kelly and I read a case wherein a jury had to find for a 5-star hotel defendant in a case where some 150 hotel patrons burned to death in a horrible fire. One member of the jury felt so badly about the way things turned out for the literally hundreds of grieving survivors, some of whom presumably were friends and neighbors of the jurors, that he sent an anonymous letter to the local newspaper explaining and defending why they found the way they did. In other words, Kirst explained, there is often times tremendous psychological pressure on the jurors to find a certain way. In Jackson's case, maybe the pressure was to find for the defendant even in the face of strong (or even stronger) evidence to the contrary. I hope that those juror's instincts were right, and that leads me what was almost brought up by both you guys; do pedophiles ever progress from furtively molesting children to doing it in the clear light of day? I believe the answer to that is a decided "you better believe they do".

Pedophiles operate on a compulsion to get their hands on children in order to gratify a warped sexual impulse. That compulsion can and will and must grow until he or she gets caught and thrown in jail or dies or gets help, the best help for the offender typically being either being thrown in jail or death. The reason the compulsion grows is due to the immemorial law of diminishing returns. I gets more, I needs more, I must have more.

Allow me to paint a picture of a pederast who is so driven to molest, that he cannot help but put his hands on every single child in his presence, even if he is in a room chock-full of reasonable adults while he is doing it in broad daylight.

Two years ago my mother invited a friend of hers from years back to my folks's house here in Nebraska. The woman and her husband, both of them in their early sixties, came up for a weekend visit. It happened that during the weekend of their stay two of my brother's kids were also staying with my folks. Additionally, my own children were spending a lot of time at grandma and grandpa's, playing with their cousins in the big basement, outside in the woods, etc.. Only hours after this couple's arrival, my wife or my mother, I forget now who said it to me first, commented to me quietly that "Bill" had said to my nine-year old niece (upon laying eyes on her for the first time ever) that he "just loves little girls and would love to take a walk with [you]." My mom's friend confirmed, "Oh, yes, Bill just loooves little girls!" Now my mom has always been a little, just a little, on the overprotective side, but I have to admit when I heard that it did strike me as a bit odd. But, the guy was, after all, a grandad himself and old-timers can say things like that to little girls and it may be, I say may be O.K.. Right? We can laugh when an old man smiles and flirts with a little girl when we can clearly see that the old guy could scarcely climb out of his chair , much less force himself on a kicking, biting nine-year old girl. Old people do like kids, but usually for the right reason, because kids are so alive. But this guy wasn't that kind of grandad just yet, and, apparently, though I didn't see it myself two years ago, he made comments like that all weekend whenever my niece or my daughter were around. "Would you like to take a walk?" he would ask, with my mom always at the ready, interjecting, "Time for lunch, kids!" or "You guys need to pick up your toys in the basement, let's go!"

But the weekend came and went without anything positively gross and we all put it down to bad manners while reserving the right to believe if we must one day that the guy was, in fact, a pervert.

That day did come. Two weeks ago.

My mother (a longsuffering soul) asked my brother to invite this couple to a 40th anniversary bash we were doing for my folks. They came. After the party ended and some of us were hanging around the hall cleaning up, folding chairs, tables, etc.. this guy was at the piano sitting next to my niece. I was told later that he had asked her if he could sit next to her as she was at the piano first. "Sure," she said. When she rose to leave, he took her arm and asked, "Hey, where ya goin?" "I have to go," she answered. "Well, we can play together later at your grandma's, O.K.?" I was also told later that "Bill" had also asked my wife if he could take our oldest daughter (who is disabled) for a walk. My wife answered curtly, "I'd rather she not," and then turned and walked away from him. While we were tidying up the hall, I had noticed that an aunt of mine (who was molested on a regular basis by an in-law when she was still in grade-school and whose predator was jailed some thirty years later for molesting his step-daughter) was playing with ALL of our kids, that is, all my nieces and nephews as well as all my cousins kids, in the vestibule. "Why is she watching ALL those kids?" I thought to myself, but I was busy working and didn't pay much attention.

Then later, back at my folks house, things got worse. By now, word is out to keep the kids AWAY from "Bill". I am thinking, like my dad who later changed his tune, "c'mon" nobody can be that obvious about it, right?" Wrong. My brother says that "Bill" picked up one of my brother's boys in the living room (the child is four) by the lad's feet and began to slowly lower him to the floor, clearly rubbing the kid on his crotch as he is going down! "I can see your underwear!" the man says, then grabs at them. "Hey," my nephew yells, "that's my butt!" And here is when everyone who was in the room at that moment (I wasn't there) decided that the guy is a pervert. "Bill's" wife, who so far during the trip is a soft-spoken, smiling, "Oh, he just looves little girls," suddenly blurts out sharply, "Knock it off, Bill!" Silence.

That is the scene as it was described to me by my mom, my brother and his wife (who saw it all) and, most importantly to me, my dad who also saw it all and is the last one who would believe, but who did finally believe that the guy is CLEARLY A THREAT TO CHILDREN. Additionally, my aunt, who knows a pederast when she sees one, knows how they act, they touch, they "play" and my wife (who's instincts have never, never been wrong on people) each stated that the guy is definitely a sicko.

That night we adults were all sitting around and finding it almost, but not quite, funny that every adult there that day who knew what was going on was dancing around this guy, making sure that NO kid was out of sight. There we were, wanting not to believe it, but at the same time protecting our brood. We determined that "Bill" had touched (not inappropriately, but touched, nonetheless) every single kid who was under five feet tall, had asked if he could take a walk with the most vulnerable of them (he NEVER got to) and finally engaged in inappropriate "playful" touching in the presence of three adults. We all agreed that "Bill" and his wife would NOT be invited back to the place, and, furthermore, my mother has subsequently confronted the wife on the subject of her husband's obvious sickness. And if she hadn't, one of us would have.

Depending on the strength of the compulsion, a pedophile very well may molest a child right in front of your eyes if you let him. He'll do it. He can't NOT do it.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Beer and/or Jack n' Coke

A motion has been made for a meeting of the minds and bodies at a tavern in the immediate future.

I second the motion. Let's hash out the details in the comment section.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Student Loan Interest Rates...

If ya'll are anything like me you took out some loans to help support your legal education. I been hearing all over that they are going to raise the interest rates on these by as much as 2% unless we consolidate them before July 1st. If you do it though, I hear you loose the six month grace period. Just thought I would share in case you hadn't heard of anything...


The "top 100" is coming along, but it is more difficult than I suspected it would be. I have the songs, but writing stuff about each takes some time. How's corporations going Kelly? Todd, any remodeling issues?

Friday, June 10, 2005

...And It Was All That I Needed

First things first...

If you've got 40 minutes to burn NPR did a really good interview with both stripes recently here.

Second. An effort to save you from the sarcasm syndrome.

I am not sure as to what specifically you are referring to, but I assume you mean the song, "Take, Take, Take" from the new album. In that song Jack speaks of a fictional meeting with Rita Heyworth. At first, he is contented with simply getting an autograph, but then it progresses into a photograph and then he wants some of her air (her words perhaps?) and then she leaves to go to bed. The narrator of the verse says that if only he were to receive a kiss on the cheek, he wouldn't wash it for a week; it was all that he needed.

However, the escalation of wants/needs that the singer sings of are either a. An indictment of his demanding fans or b. An exploration of what it means to be vicariously famous. That is, the fame that is associated with telling your friends that you have met such and such celebrity in order to receive their accolades.

I think that song specifically is type b. an exploration of what is really taking place when one asks a celebrity for an autograph. As we learned in Contracts, a signature is sometimes a very important thing, but in these types of situations the autograph is nothing but a memorial, a testament to the meeting actually taking place. For what reason? So it may sit in a book or on a shelf and the owner of the signature may be proud of the fact that they have been in the presence of someone who a large number of people know about. Isn't that silly? I think that is what the song is about. Not so much his bemoaning of celebrity as a exploration of the other side of the photograph/autograph. Similar to the wonderful song "Stan" by Eminem.

Aside from this, if you are speaking of an actual article or quote than it might help for you to post it. I have never heard anything but gratitude from Mr. White towards his fans. However, I have heard him gripe about the record industry. Their music was on a compilation entitled, "Sympathy for the record industry". The fans are an intricate part of that industry and a quote may have been taken out of context in order to inflame some "fans".

Now, as to all celebrities who don't like to be celebrities, or, that they act like they think it is too "cool" to be cool with celebrity that does get on my nerves. When a Britney Spears type is complaining about how she is unable to have a private life I don't have much sympathy. But when an artist is honestly complaining about not wanting to be approached in a restaurant or a bathroom I kind of understand. Not to be crass, but you must admit it would suck not to be able to take a piss in public without being bothered.

Other songs about how the road sucks, or "is sucky" to revive the term, would be something like "Turn the page" which I believe Metallica covered. I'm curious as to why you would feel "silly for simply enjoying the music". I don't think that's what these types of songs are condemning. I don't think any artist (back me up Kelly) would say that you could love their art too much. (Not to get into the moral realm of loving something created more than the creator or the Creator of the creator).

I wouldn't say I know Meg enough to comment about her future or even her stake in this whole thing, but to me, it seems as though she is the most grounded, most sane, least likely celebrity to go "Courtney love". When the Whitestripes are done it is my belief that she will settle down, have twelve kids, and gain 80 "happiness" pounds.

Your comment seems to make her out to be superfluous to the band, but I truly believe (as Jack has commented) that she is the cog that makes this band what it is. Had she been a male. Had she been less shy. Had she been more “drumatically” (to invent a word) inclined the Whitestripes simply would not work. They are in a word, winsome. Without her childlike creativity behind a kit, Jack becomes another run of the mill blues bar musician. Songs about elementary school, candy canes, ghosts or little rooms simply don't make sense anymore. She is the baby face that makes his scruff scruffier. She is the innocence behind his Rickenbocker. Her absence of blues makes his blues visible. Either way, I like their music, and I think their new album is great. I'm glad they returned to their roots. I'll end with a song quote from them.

Little Room
"When you're in your little room,
and you're working on something good
but if it's really goodyou're gonna need a bigger room
and when you're in the bigger room
you might not know what to do
you might have to think ofhow you got started
sittin in your little room"

And that's all I have to say about that. How's that for an incomprehensable rant?

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Lightning

Jon, I took some lightning pictures two nights ago:


I'm not sure if they're up to your challenge, but progress has been made.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

My problem with Lennon's "Imagine"

Remember what I was telling you guys about that damn song? Well, someone else said it better before me:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873)

Friday, June 03, 2005

Michael Jackson...Wager...

Ok...

I'll bet a dollar bill

Verdict: Not Guilty
Deliberation: 10 Days (June 17 = Verdict)
Tie Breaker: Unanimous

Anyone want in on this action?

"There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there." GKC

Greetings!
I've recently returned from sunny southern California, only to be bombarded by this constant rain. Almost makes me want to close up shop and get a U-haul. I had so many experiences and I'd like to share some of them with you.

1. I drove, for the first time, on a proper (crazy) freeway. The 5 and the 15. Not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, but sucky non-the-less. The hardest part for me was when I was in a far left lane and I was parallel with someone in a middle lane - I would use my right turn signal to display that I wanted to get into the lane between us and they wouldn't signal and would just go! Kinda freaky. I had a couple situations like that, but I think they're probably pretty unavoidable.

2. Salad and Fruit which do not have their genesis in a hydroponic vat of goo actually have a flavor and texture unlike most anything you can receive in this part of the states. California is an odd land where the tomatoes taste like tomatoes and and the snausberries taste like snausberries.

3. The trolley system in San Diego is great! If you do ever go save a couple bucks and take the rental car back early because you can use the trolley system to get you anywhere you want. We stayed in a place called little Italy and were about a block from a station. Each night (after the wedding that we went down there for was over) we would take the train either downtown or uptown. We even rode the train to Tijuana (more on that later)!

4. Do not, I repeat, do NOT piss off anyone from the Transportation Security Administration! (TSA). I guess I must have done something wrong and this one woman not only caused my flight to be delayed for more than 45 minutes, but also caused the connecting flight to be delayed. Needless to say I was also "randomly" chosen to be searched and my bags were also oddly enough "randomly" chosen to be displayed in front of everyone three minutes before my flight was due to take off. If only this randomness struck me in vegas, then I could afford to live in San Diego. All because, I guess, she didn't like the way I looked and marked a special letter on my ticket and baggage. Or it could have been because I had a ticket agent (who bumped us earlier) explain that we'd already been through security and that we needed to cut in line in order to catch apparently the only flight to Omaha that day. So, a very special thank you to Marta from the TSA. You are truly a credit to your institution and should be proud of the power you can yield with your highlighter.

5. Finally, I was able to visit, what they call, Mt. Soledad, which is the highest point down there, and it's up in the richest part by the town of La Jolla. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to in my life. You could see for miles around you and actually carve out the different suburbs. There was a huge veterans memorial that was on top of the mountain. The memorial was a huge beautiful white cross. A couple friends I was with who happened to live out there said that a court decision was recently held that would require them to take down the cross. The people I was with seemed to think that this was wrong. I don't think it was wrong at all. I'm not going to get into the Con Law part of things (Lemon test and all that) mostly because I haven't taken a proper Con Law course yet, but this one seemed easy. So easy, in fact, that I was surprised that this cross lasted as long as it did in California of all places. People of all faiths served and died for this country and we shouldn't honor them through a Christian symbol.

Further, this movement was being pushed by a modern non-vetran athiest. Why? Persons of the Jewish, Muslim and other faiths have bought my earthly freedom by shedding their blood, but I honestly doubt any atheists did. What is honor or freedom or righteousness to an atheist? What would they be fighting for?

Oh well, another post perhaps. It's good to be back. Todd, I hope your Grandmother is better. Kelly, stop reading this and get back to your novel! The deadline is June 20th and if I don't have a copy by the fourth of July it's your hide!