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Archives: Jan. 01 - 15, 2008 |
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On Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, I began living my 48th year on this planet. Sometimes, life is what you make of it. At other times, life is what happens to you. Generally speaking, I stand in awe of the experience . . . every day.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year: Ready or not, ’08 is here. I’ve made several New Year’s Resolutions. So far, so good.
Running: Although due to the weather I didn’t do the run originally planned for this morning, I did put in a 60-minute continuous jog at mid-morning . . . followed by a 60-minute elliptical workout this afternoon. I felt really good about the effort.
Running Song Of The Day (w / YouTube video link): “I Told You So” by Keith Urban (Capitol Records Nashville).
Every Rose Has Its Thorn: Final score at the Rose Bowl: U.S.C. 49, Illinois 17. Consequently, I owe my cousin Jerry Ferguson the sum of $ 5.00-dollars. A commentator opines on ESPN’s web site this evening that “[t]he No. 7 Trojans are better than both No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 LSU, which will play for the BCS championship Monday night in the Louisiana Superdome.” Illinois was ranked No. 13 nationally.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Well, we’re off to an inauspicious start in 2008. That’s for sure. The time-and-temperature signs in downtown Effingham displayed a whopping five - yes, that’s right, (5)-degrees above zero, with wind chills certainly well below zero . . . at about 2 a.m. My daughter and I journeyed to my office building at that wee hour after encountering a malfunctioning home heating system and . . . a mouse (currently in hiding), among other circumstances.
I learned recently of a good friend’s dismissal from his long time employment situation in our area. Very surprising and disappointing. I’m not too impressed with the employer at this point in time. Generally speaking, Illinois is an “at will” employment state. Which means that, in most circumstances, heartless employers can dump somebody at any time “for [nearly] any reason . . . or for no reason at all.”
Scott Ealy, A Private Practice Attorney: Why am I emphasizing the fact of my private law practice? See the last sentence in paragraph 17 of this goofy story about a purported correlation between “good looks” and success . . . from The Economist.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
It Could Happen To You: One of my relatives became a victim of crime today in Winona, Mississippi. Her unattended purse was stolen at a McDonald’s restaurant. The culprit was captured on film by a surveillance system.
Three lessons: 3. In this society, purses should not be left unattended. It’s something seen all too often . . . by all of the wrong people. 2. Everything you do in public these days . . . is in public. Everything. 1. Better to be the victim of theft, than to be a thief. Always.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Iowa: It’s still way too early to tell, but here’s my prediction on the eventual 2008 presidential team tickets: Obama-Edwards vs. Giuliani-Huckabee. Hopefully, the Obama-Edwards team will proceed to victory in November. Then, the USA re-emerges as a respected and progressive nation. Hope I’m not just dreaming.
Louisiana: I am visiting with relatives in New Orleans right now, trying to enjoy a quick vacation. Also, it has been nice to get a little bit of exercise . . . in mild temperatures.
Meanwhile . . . how about our state? Here’s an update on the Smoke-Free Illinois Act?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Shocking Family History: They say that every family has its secrets - some families more than others. Today at my mother’s house in Poplarville, Miss., our family played a fun game that she created called “Shocking Events In Our Family History.”
Out of 40+ questions, here are seven “highlights.”
Who won a spouse at a bingo game? Who got torpedoed during World War II? Who operated an elevator at the (Chicago) Tribune and pretended to be a journalist? Who got in trouble with the mob and wound up unconscious and tied to the railroad tracks? Who married the boss - her third marriage - and is still together with him today after 50+ years? Who overdosed and died in a Chicago motel room with a woman other than his German war bride? Who got in trouble for fighting on his first day of school, then jumped out of a window at the principal’s office and ran home?
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Some of 2007’s Top Songs / Videos: As usual at the end of a year - or shortly thereafter as the case may be - I enjoyed listening to some of the Year-In-Review countdown programs in recent days, when I could find them. Rather than longing for the supposed “good old days” - as some burned out “hipsters” are prone to do - please consider the fact that several meaningful songs hit the airwaves in 2007. Among them were these significant offerings - in alphabetical (but otherwise no particular) order:
“How To Save A Life” by The Fray “If Everyone Cared” by Nickelback. “Runaway Love” by Ludacris with Mary J. Blige
(Listing Not Exhaustive) (With Links To YouTube Videos)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Keep Them In Your Thoughts: “Top Runners Are Caught In Kenya’s Rising Violence” - N.Y. Times.
As I “blog,” I’m sweating profusely. I jogged a 5K this morning, for which activity I was significantly overdressed . . . considering the 60-degree temperature readings today in Effingham. It’s really pretty nice, actually.
I got up very, very early this morning in order to continue jury trial preparations via the drafting of a several motions. Jury selection begins this morning in Robinson (Illinois). [The court’s trial schedule substantially screwed up my recent family “vacation,” which now serves only to additionally motivate me in this matter].
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Still involved in jury trial. So, I’m kind of busy to say the very least, . . . and my New Year’s resolutions aren’t going very well. Day number three of the trial is tomorrow. My client’s case likely will wrap up on Wednesday with closing arguments by mid to late morning. I’m tired, but still at it . . . as of 07:59 p.m.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Guilty: Following our closing arguments, the jury deliberated for a little more than two hours before finding my client, G. L., “guilty” of DUI. I was disappointed. The emotion was probably evident in my eyes. But my client responded with a lot of class. As we packed up, he not only thanked me for my work in the case but he also shook hands with the attorneys for the government who had presented the case against him.
Another somewhat pleasant event occurred a short time later. As I was getting ready to step into my automobile, the government’s chief witness (a deputy whom I had aggressively grilled on the stand) stepped forward and approached me with his hand extended. We exchanged the sincerest of pleasantries. The deputy’s actions, too, demonstrated a great deal of class.
As I journeyed back to Effingham, I once again considered myself fortunate to be a part of the legal process . . . in spite of my personal disappointment.
Thursday, January 10, 2008:
But It Doesn’t SOUND Like Her: Over the past week or so, I have frequently heard a relatively new pop ballad titled “Taking Chances.” At first, I didn’t recognizing the song’s performer . . . although she sounded familiar, somehow. And I didn’t really care for the song . . . at first, but now it has kind of grown on me. Earlier this week, I learned the performer’s identity, and I was startled.
I’m not going to ruin it here by revealing the artist’s identity, if you don’t know her. There’s nothing really WRONG with her. It’s a fact, however, that she had significantly oversaturated the market over 15-years . . . prior to taking a “break” from the recording studio a few years ago. Now, it’s as if this artist has reinvented herself with an edgier presentation. Even her linguistics present themselves differently. Try listening to “Taking Chances” on the radio (where it’s offered) before you view the video.
Tough Workout: I got back “on track” in my training this evening, literally, with a 90-minute endurance workout on my home elliptical machine. The time passed quickly - as I watched several music videos.
Friday, January 11, 2008:
Advantage - Prosecution: A common, but questionable practice of prosecutors throughout the nation may receive greater scrutiny now, thanks to a pending court case in Champaign County, Illinois. Many prosecutors screen potential jurors prior to trial by scrutinizing personal information that often is uniquely (or at least more immediately) available to the government. It’s quite an advantage - and possibly a very improper one. Here’s more on this important issue from the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette newspaper.
“The Paul Whitehair Experience” - Part Two: We have enjoyed having Paul “Bubba” Whitehair with us in the office for the past couple of days. Bubba is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Illinois who is headed toward the law school experience. He’s also a family friend and a great guy who will be successful along whatever path he chooses to travel.
Excellence In Writing: I am now making my way through Rich King’s book “My Maggie.” So far, the book does an wonderful job of evoking emotion and familiarity with its (non-fiction) subjects.
Saturday, January 12, 2008:
Feeling The Effects: As I write this entry, I am still feeling the effects of a very difficult late morning workout. It was limited to 60-minutes of running, but it was real work. So much so that immediately afterward I began to hyperventilate a bit while speaking with a friend.
Divorce: My feelings on the subject of dissolution of marriage have changed considerably over the years. Sometimes, divorce is necessary. Other times, even when it’s not necessary, it may be inevitable. Bottom-line: It’s way too easy to judge others when you don’t walk in their shoes and don’t know the circumstances. Which leads us directly into our next subject: Corri Fetman, an Illinois-licensed divorce attorney, whose billboards - and now nude photographs - have become quite a “hot” topic recently in legal circles. Certainly, Fetman has succeeded in drawing a huge amount of attention to herself. However, her advertising tactics - which, in my opinion, “mass encourage” divorce actions - appear to be of dubious human value.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Terrible Image Now: The breaking news story about the guy who threw his four young children from a bridge in Alabama is so terribly sad. Watching the news coverage, I realized that I’ve passed over this very same bridge, which is located off of the Alabama Gulf Coast, many, many times - especially during my law school years in the South. [Dauphin Island, Ala., is a relatively unspoiled relaxation spot . . . if you know specifically where to look].
New Drivers License Suspensions To Discourage Teen Alcohol Consumption: Teenagers who get “illegal consumption” tickets may be in for an unpleasant surprise, even if they wind up with Court Supervision (or non-conviction) sentences in matters not involving an automobile. [The new law does not apply to any arrest occurring prior to January 01st - even if the conviction occurs in 2008, according to a Secretary of State attorney with whom I spoke last month].
Workout: I put in a 60-minute run for a second consecutive day and am sore and tired. But nonetheless I feel good about being “back in training.” If all goes well, I’m hoping to continue my streak of consecutive improvements at the Lake Sara Dam Run (Effingham) on April 05th and perhaps even compete later in that month at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nobody makes it alone: From the day that we are born, we somehow “get by” only with the help of others. This fact remains true even later in life, if we assess our situations honestly. Then again, sometimes people go the extra mile for their family and friends. With that reality in mind, this paragraph is intended as a huge “shout out” to Mike Donsbach down in Louisiana, without whom this day would have been a disaster. Thanks Mike! You may never know just exactly how much . . . !
Workout: I put in 60-minutes of continuous running early this morning with all kind of thoughts racing through my head as another new work week loomed on the horizon. I finished up with another 60-minutes later on my home elliptical machine.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
And Time Stood Still: It can sometimes be an unpleasant experience - that feeling of time standing still. So . . . I cut short a treadmill workout this morning after only 45-minutes. Occasionally, I would look down at the machine’s timing device, and the clock just wasn’t moving much at all. I was scheduled for 90-minutes. Oh well, I have a lot on my plate today . . . in area courtrooms and elsewhere.
A Note In Passing (And About Hustling): In my preparations as “house announcer” for the Beecher City vs. Altamont boys high school basketball game this evening, I looked up and noticed a young man absolutely playing his heart out in the preliminary (or junior varsity) contest, despite the fact that the game was out of reach for his team. At the contest’s conclusion, I handed the player a short note from the official scorer’s table, congratulating him on his effort. Sometimes it’s just an honor to be in the same building with someone who’s giving it his all, and this was one of those occasions. Not to be missed.
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