First Looks category archive

One day about 30 years ago at the Bucks County Courthouse, a young public defender named Clyde W. Waite dropped in on a robbery trial, slipping quietly into the back row just as the victim was recounting the crime.

Yes, she told the jury, the robber was present.

Could she identify him for the courtroom? the prosecutor asked.

Without hesitation, the woman pointed, but not to the man at the defense table. Her finger was aimed at the rear seats, and a very surprised Clyde Waite.

He and the robber were indeed similar in one respect, if one alone: Both were black.

The story goes on to discuss efforts to reduce the incidence of such errors in eye witness identifications.

Bill Bauman ran the Saturday Night grainy black-and-white horror movie show for years. His standard lead in to the movie was invariably

. . . and now for another horrrrrrrrible movie.

H/T to my brother for the link.

Check out this picture from this Chicago Trib slideshow.

Off to drink liberally.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us.

When: Wednesday, October 26th, 6 p

Where:
The Jewish Mother
600 Nevan Road (Map)

More here.

Still over 400k:

Jobless claims dropped by 6,000 to 403,000 in the week ended Oct. 15, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey called for a drop to 400,000 applications. The four-week average fell to the lowest level since April.

Some companies are still paring their workforces at the same time demand has fallen short of the level that may spur businesses to expand staff. The lack of employment growth, which is limiting consumer spending and restraining the recovery, underscores the challenge for President Barack Obama, who is trying to push Congress to pass parts of his jobs initiative.

Firing more persons and further decreasing demand will no doubt remedy this situation.

Off to drink liberally.

When I lived in the Greater Philadelphia Co-Prosperity Sphere, I could never muster the energy to attend the Mummers Parade, though I sometimes watched bits and pieces of it on the telly vision. Mumming seems to be its own little weird Philly subculture.

The idea of spending all of New Years Day standing on Broad Street straining to see a parade of over-dressed men with banjos from behind a bunch of folks taller than me never dragged me away from a nice warm television showing bowl games.

But I think I now understand why men mum.

In Shawnee County, Kansas, you can’t have a same-sex spouse, but you can beat your other-sex spouse.

Such nice people.

A woman in northern New Jersey saved one of her llamas from a bear attack.

Lydia Chiappini was asleep in her Blairstown home when she awoke to the screams of her llama “Gus” being mauled.

She stood the bear down.

Mr. Feastingonroadkill is back.

Drinking Liberally is a support group for liberals, where you can realize you are not alone.

We are still looking for a (semi-)permanent home.

Our chapter host tried to call the scheduled location repeatedly today and no one answered the telly phone. That and the Madoff film triggered the next to next to next to last minute change in location.

When: 6 p., Wednesday, October 12.

Where:
The Green Onion
1603 Colley Ave.(map)
Followed by the 7:15 show
Chasing Madoff
Naro Expanded Cinema
1507 Colley (map)

Details here.

Since resurrecting my bicycle, I’ve have ridden it four of the last five days.

I can’t imagine trying to send a text while peddling:

Bicyclists soon will face the same restrictions against texting while riding in Chicago as motorists do while behind the wheel.

The City Council today passed an ordinance prohibiting bicyclists from texting while moving. They also cannot make cell phone calls unless using a hands-free device under an ordinance that passed the council without dissent. The ban will go into effect next month.

Via Attytood.

Off to drink liberally.

New location: We are still checking out locations to find a place with a good mix of menu, location, and layout.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us.

When: Wednesday, September 28th, 6 p

Where:
The Jewish Mother
600 Nevan Road (Map)

Seventy-three linear feet of shelving and an 8×4 pegboard installed to south side of garage.

Regular insanity resumes tomorrow.

Home improvements continue through the week.

A reporter from the local rag tells of trekking to Custis Tomb on the Eastern Shore and wonders about the implications of the epitaph on the tomb of John Custis IV:

Aged 71 years and
yet liv’d but seven years
which was the space of time
he kept a bachelors house
at Arlington on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Eastern Shore legend does not wonder, but unequivocally holds that Mr. Custis was most unhappily married.

The story told by my father states that, one day, accompanied by his wife, Mr. Custis steered his carriage into the Chesapeake Bay.

“Mr. Custis,” asked his wife, “where are you going?”

“To hell, Mrs. Custis.”

“Drive on, Mr. Custis, drive on.”