UPDATE, UPDATE!

Man, it's been too long since I last blogged. Where to start?

How about Jury duty. We deliberated this past Monday and eventually, after much discussion, decided on a unanimous guilty verdict for all 5 charges (3 counts of Robbery, Assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an illegal firearm). I feel very secure with our verdict but when you stand in front of an accused man, with his family standing behind him, and have to say "guilty" five times, it is disheartening and sad. A man's life just changed and I played a role. I'm glad I have fulfilled my duty for at least another six years.

Last Saturday I attended the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island. It's the most bizarre parade on earth...I'm sure of it. I've posted some pics above. Now, I don't want anyone to misunderstand what I'm about to say because I LOVE Coney Island for everything it is and everything it isn't BUT the Mermaid Parade is the trashiest thing I've ever seen. And thousands of parents bring their children to the parade to take pictures and watch. It's extremely surreal. I love it.

I've also been set up on a blind date scheduled for next Tuesday. I called the girl tonight and we spoke for an hour...I should say SHE spoke for an hour. I basically said things like, "uh huh", "right", and "definitely." At the end of our conversation she described herself as "having a wide face." Now, I'm not a snob and I don't need a girl to be "hot" but I'm a little scared. A wide face? Doesn't that pretty much imply a wide ass? A wide everything? People constantly refer to me as a "lucky" person and I can't really disagree but when it comes to women, I'm not the luckiest at all. I'm hoping Tuesday turns out better than I'm expecting. Stay tuned...

MY 200th POST!!!

This is my 200th post! When I started this blog I wondered if I would keep it going. At the time I think I really just needed a release from some issues in my life. So far this blog has evolved from a place where I was vague with my emotionally-disconnected self, to a place where I may have been too emotionally-open for my own comfort, to a place where I feel a balance in my posts. And along the way I made my first bloggy friend (Hi Lachramae) and kept an old friend (Hi Polly) along for the ride. I'm pretty sure you are the only two reading this blog, but that's okay to me. I'll forgive you if you happen across some cool guys blog that has more commenter's than mine and decide to ditch poor ol' Pagoda. I'll live...but I can't promise I won't write disparaging posts about you daily...which of course you will never know about because you will have ditched me. I'm just saying.

Today was the first day of testimony in the trial I am a jury member for. It was really quite sad. I can't really talk about the details but the two men involved in this shooting were friends for over 6 years. They knew each others families, children and attended social events together. Then a real estate deal gone bad ruined their friendship and ended in a shooting between the two. Money can be (and usually is) evil.

TO CONTROL A LIFE

I have been chosen for jury duty. At first, I was hoping not to be picked because I was afraid it would conflict with the film editing class I want to take in July. However, after the judge said he expected the trial to end within four days, I started to get excited about it. The court system here really amazes and intrigues me. I'm actually quite proud of it.

The man on trial is being accused of robbing a house, shooting a man (but not killing him) and carrying an illegal weapon. I'm one of twelve people who will listen to the witnesses and evidence for and against this man and, in the end, have to decide if he is guilty or innocent. The one thing the judge continuously told us as he was questioning the potential jurors is that this man is presumed innocent. He is only presumed guilty once the prosecutor has provided enough evidence to end the presumption of innocence. I like that.

It won't affect my judgement in the case BUT I kept looking over at the accused man and couldn't help but wonder what must be going through his head. What was his life like before being arrested? If he is found guilty, what is he most afraid of losing? This man's life will most likely change either way but a guilty verdict could devastate it. How scared he must be.

And the State of New York has asked me to help determine his fate. I will be elated if I get to cast a not guilty vote with a clear conscience after this case. I will, I think, feel deeply saddened if I need to cast a guilty vote to keep a clear conscience. Stay tuned...the trial starts tomorrow.