Obeservations that alarm the senses and boggle the mind

Proof that eyewitness testimony is unreliable

2008-07-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Time and time again in my criminal justice classes, it has been said that eyewitness testimony is highly unreliable. I unwittingly contributed to that notion this evening.

My husband, two kids, and I were driving on the expressway at approximately 70 MPH, when I saw, on the side of the road, a dog that was obviously alive and looking around. We could not stop in time, so I insisted that my husband exit, turn around, and circle back. He asked me if I was kidding, found out that indeed I was not, and proceeded to begrudgingly do what I had asked. All the while my youngest son was insisting that there was a bird on top of the dog, pecking at it. I indignantly announced that he had not seen a bird, but the dog looking around.

As we got back on the expressway and proceeded several miles before being able to turn around, we passed the poor animal. My husband was able to see it for a split second and verified that there was most definitely a bird on top of it. At that point I was nearly hysterical. All I could think about was thr poor dog that was being eaten alive by a malicious bird of prey.

Ten minutes seemed like an hour as we made circled back to save the helpless dog. Finally, it was in sight. As my husband began to pull over, the enormous bird took flight, and I caught sight of the DECEASED DEER that the bird had been relishing. Of course I felt like a complete ass for not seeing what I thought I had seen, but at least I can rest well knowing that I had no chance of saving that dog. :-)

My dad often says, "Believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear." I think he's onto something.

Things that make you go hmm . . .

Compulsive Beard Stroker

2008-07-15T16:53:00.001-07:00

I'm running a day behind right now, so be patient. :-)

Yesterday was a long day at school. I had one class at 8:30 A.M. and another one at 6:00 P.M. I spent many hours in between studying in the library with a classmate.

After growing tired of rules of law concerning peremptory challenges, entrapment, and grand jury testimony, I turned my gaze to other library inhabitants. A bunch of eggheads studying for finals is less than interesting.

But wait! What's this? Golly Jeepers! It's a compulsive beard stroker! Sitting almost directly across from me is a gentleman who somehow managed to escape my radar. In his right hand is a book that he is intently perusing. His left hand is busy stroking his beard, which is quite short in length, at an alarming rate. Keeping up with his left hand stroke is his thumping right foot. The only time he stops stroking that beard and thumping that foot is when he had to take a break to turn a page. He carries on like this for quite some time before closing the text, looking up and catching my eye, and smiling as if he has been caught being admired.

Things that make you go hmm . . .

Amy's Rank Pizza Delivery Guy

2008-07-13T05:27:00.001-07:00

I could not come up with anything yesterday (I know, shocking!), so Amy in Ohio was kind enough to consent to having her pizza delivery guy story shared:

Well I ordered pizza for my kids and I tonight.......

long story short I ate 2 1/2 pieces and put it back in the box, called them because it wasn't right. I didn't realize it didn't have the banana peppers on it right away...lol

So....I call them......and they tell me ok, well keep the pizza for the driver when he brings you the new one. Ok fine......another 40 min go by........here comes the driver with my new pizza. So we swap pizzas........and he puts my pizza in the back, gets in his car, and I see him open the box up....I thought he was just checking how much we ate of it......HE TAKES A BITE!!! Then, he grabbed the piece and stuck it in his mouth while he was turning on the car and going......he was chowing down on my pizza!!!!! I ws like OOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

Things that make you go hmm. . .

Geez, Lady, It's FRIDAY!

2008-07-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today a 30-something year-old man nearly plowed into me after blowing through a stop sign in a local supermarket parking lot. As if that was not bad enough, he had the audacity to express his anger WITH ME as both of us parked and exited our our respective cars.

I will refrain from sharing the swear words that were exchanged and get to the best part--his response when I asked if he commonly fails to obey stop signs:

"Geez, lady, it's FRIDAY!"

I'm fairly certain that the statutes in the Commonwealth do not suggest that it is legal to run stop signs on Friday's, but I wish I would have had a copy of the code book so I could have smacked him with it.

Things that make you go hmm . . .

Bricks In Broad Daylight

2008-07-08T16:51:00.001-07:00

Upon leaving the university today, one of my classmates and I observed a young man and an middle aged man sauntering down the street at such a slow pace that they appeared to be walking in slow motion. As they strolled along, they looked into the windows of each parked car that they passed. If that was not odd enough, we noticed that they each had a brick in his right hand.

Mysterious gait + suspicious gazes + 2 bricks = call 911 (my friend did just that).

All of this in broad daylight on a relatively busy street--things that make you go hmm. . .

Pupose of this blog

2008-07-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Not a day passes in which I fail to observe something that makes me think, "What the heck?" Oftentimes I take a quick glance around as I wonder, "Am I the ONLY one who noticed that?" Surely, there must be others who are tuned into their surroundings!

This blog is dedicated to two groups:

1) Those who are actively aware of the sights and sounds that make every single day a circus of sorts

2) Those who provide ongoing entertainment for the abovementioned group

Enjoy!