Jury Duty Completed

For the last couple of weeks I've been on standby - having been called as part of the jury pool for Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque.

My time of service came to an end on the same day I was chosen to be on a jury - only to learn upon return from lunch break that a mistrial had been declared.

I picked up my certificate of service from the friendly folks in the juror services office and was on my merry way out the building.

All in all, I have to tell you the court and its systems appear to run very well.

 

Chief Judge Judith Nakamura dropped in on the waiting "masses" - there must have been a hundred or so waiting to be called.

The amount of traffic handled by Metrocourt is astounding. The 19 judges handle upwards of a thousand cases a day. She's booking hearings right now for her November docket.

It is a beautiful building, the systems in place appear to be good - and everyone from the security officer at the front door to the clerks of the respective courts had a smile and a good attitude.

That's refreshing because most of the folks who have occasion to visit the courthouse aren't a very happy lot.

Good Job!

Oh, and there weren't any TV shows on in the jury waiting room.  Our Judge Judy said cable was cut off due to budgetary restraints a couple years ago.  However, she said things are looking better and she promised to check on the possibility of lighting up the screens once again.

Now, can you imagine - watching Judge Judy or any of those other shows while waiting to be chosen to be in a real trial?

Historic Hospital in Taos burns

It was 1936, Mable Dodge Luhan donated a house to the Town of Taos to be used as a community hospital.

For about 25 years, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth operated the 10 bed facility.

I was born there, as were most of the people at our high school reunion last weekend.

This is what it looked like when we grew up:

Photo from Holy Cross Hospital web page.

This is what it looks like now.

A few days before our high school reunion on August 11th, in the dark of night, somebody took a torch to the building.

I don't think any of us did it in commemoration of the 49th anniversary of our graduation from dear old Taos High!  (I know, 49 instead of 50  -  but this is Taos.)

The original hospital and convent had not been used for a number of years.  A new hospital was build just in front, then it was turned in to offices and a newer hospital  - in use today - was built about 4 miles away.

Another page turned.

HERE'S MORE ON THE STORY FROM THE TAOS NEWS

You're outta here!

At least 2 significant events in the world of sports have occurred in the last couple of days...

#1)   Badminton players who were trying to throw the game - almost by throwing the little birdies instead of hitting them over the net - were ejected from the Olympics.  

I guess to them, winning is everything.  And maybe that's true.  They came from South Korea, China, and Indonesia.  If they don't go home with a medal, maybe they don't get to go home!

#2)    The Public Address announcer at a Daytona Cubs minor-league baseball game was thrown out of the game by the umpire just after the announcer and his musicologist chose to play "3 Blind Mice" subsequent to a questionable call!  Here's the story from MLB.com (thru their minor league website):
After a questionable play at first base, Harper argued the call with infield umpire Ramon Hernandez. Daytona first baseman Taylor Davis appeared to pick a ball in the dirt thrown by shortstop Tim Saunders, but it came out of his glove when he turned to toss it around the infield. Hernandez ruled Davis had bobbled the ball rather than dropping it on the transfer and declared Fort Myers' Andy Leer safe.

Seneca wheeled, pointed to Dye in the press box and shouted, "You're done!" Ditto for the Cubs' public-address announcer.  "Turn the sound off for the rest of the night," Seneca could be heard yelling during the Cubs' broadcast.


To quote Warner Wolf...the famous sports announcer from New York,
  let's go to the video tape:


Summertime in the city!