Lucky

Congratulation to Tampa Yankee on reaching 5000 posts. You get to wear this badge until your next post! Beware of Totally Oz, right on your tail, so to speak, with 4,055 posts. Well, I guess that is not "right on your tail!"

My neighbor is a probation officer and assures me that the traffic court judges are fair. I plan to wear a coat and tie, unlike anyone else I saw today! All I can do is give my side of the story and hope for the best. But it does irk me that the cop is so willing to lie.

Last October I got pulled over by a cop in an unmarked car. He wrote me up for a bad turn and an unsafe lane change. I had had the nerve to go around him when he appeared to be waiting to go straight even though he was in a right turn only lane. When he came up to my car he said "I'll bet you were surprised to see a cop get out of that car!" And, in fact, he had been driving an old beat up car. So, after you get a ticket here, if you want to fight it, you first have to pay the fines. Then you write out a statement and file it with the court, telling your side of the story. It's called a "Trial by Declaration." The officer also writes out a statement, and some unknown person reads them and makes a finding. In my case, I was found guilty of an unsafe lane change and not guilty of an unsafe turn. If the ticketed person, alright, the "defendant" is unsatisfied with the findings, he can ask for a trial de novo, which is what is basically a trial in front of a judge and both sides have to testify. Of course, the "defendant" does not have to, but he ain't gonna win if he doesn't. The courts typically rule in favor of the police officer, but often they don't show up. In that event you win, or, if the court wants to be mean, they continue the case and make you come back. Good thing I don't have to take off of work. Anyway, my trial de novo is tomorrow. So today I went to the courthouse and got a copy of the officer's statement, and boy, was I surprised. He has himself slamming on his brakes to avoid me, has me turning when he did instead of before he did, says I didn't signal when it was him that did not signal. and then he actually quotes me as saying that I didn't stop for him because I didn't know he was a cop. I never said anything to him, just gave him my license and registration. So, I find myself facing a cop willing to lie to win his case. Does anyone think I am going to win? I do. I refuse to believe that justice will not prevail. Stay tuned!

At first I thought the OP was complaining about rates. He thought that the rates sucked. But now I am clear that it is just his handle!

Well, yes, I did. But, in many other respects I join you in learning new things, or at least things that are new to me. Then I am surprised to find myself behind the curve when I learn that others had discovered my new found item long before I had.

The Daddy from Daddys Reviews is not the person posting here. We only get a fake daddy.

Don't all websites have their ups and downs? Anyway, the site is up now.

Scene II? For a second there I was afraid that I had missed Scene I. I guess I had best get my email in to Oliver as soon as I know if I will be attending!

I will look forward to meeting you in Palm Springs.

A voice of peace and reconciliation- that's out hitoall. If we are not careful, he could be snapped up by the UN or as a peace negotiator in the Balkans.

Have I met you? Your screen name does not ring a bell.

Oh. Then I have contributed nothing! Sigh. But then, I don't flirt either.

I currently have an addiction to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. They have so many variations. The little foil-wrapped ones are not the best, (and who wants to spend their time unwrapping the little buggers?) but the basic cup is still good. The Big Cup does not have the right balance of chocolate to peanut butter. What has me addicted are the mini-cups, which are unwrapped and have a great taste and texture. I always freeze my peanut cupper butts for best flavor. (I really did start to make that mistake, and then decided that I liked it anyway.)

Is Darren Criss not in the Warblers anymore? Perhaps his 3 weeks on Broadway took him away from the show, which I have quit watching as it continually got worse.

Well, if it is a nickel a click, I've contributed a dime!

This NY Times article covers both why Lin is fascinating the world, and why the media may be in overdrive. Link To Lin

Jeremy Lin had 28 points and a career-high 14 assists as the Knicks registered their most significant win of the season, against the defending N.B.A. champions.

"I won't be attending, so you guys have fun?" Hmmm, how could it possible be fun without you there? Well, we will try our best. Oz, glad to hear that you like Palm Springs more the more that you visit. I have been up the tram and did think it is an interesting experience. A friend had a summer pass and went frequently, but avoided the weekend crowds. You can do that when you live here!

What irked me was the us of the word "yet." Are we tired of Linsanity yet? That implies that we will necessarily tire of it. It may flame out, he may flame out, but that is as of yet unknown. I still admire A-Rod long after his command of the media waned. I can agree with a different question, and that is media over drive. Are we tired of 24 hour cable repeating news over and over? They tend to grab onto one thing and not let go. So, to the extent that the media is over-hyping Lin, sure, we can tire of that. But not the individual.

And they got it, rightfully so. The headline editor was fired and the anchor suspended for 30 days. And to answer your rather rude question, absolutely not! Why do you think we would be tired of an amazing athlete who is stirring up the sports world and making Asian-Americans across the country proud? Is it his Harvard education we should be tired of hearing about? Is it that he is in the news, or is it that he is Asian and in the news that should have us tired? He's accomplished a lot for a young man, and rather than begrudge him his current popularity, I am joining in and celebrating his success. And I am not even a basket ball fan.

I think you are well-covered with Purple Dragon taking care of you.

Changes all that mother nature gave them in some cases. The pic is enticing, the reality not at all.

God forbid I should miss the party!

Good to see you signed in zipperzone. I hope this means that you are well and also, hopefully ready to return to the land of peace and friendship, MER!

Nice pic above of Ethan G. Click on it and see what he really looks like. Life is like that.