Author: Joe White

I arrived at Newark at noon on New Year’s Eve. Eb Keshavarz was there to pick me up in his day-old Acura TL…a very nice car indeed, Bluetooth phone aware (will route calls through the car’s audio system!), and navigation package (whose breathy female voice his girlfriend Costanza can’t stand 😉 ). We went to the hospital where his father was in CCU and visited with him for a while, then had a late lunch at a chicken place in Spanish Harlem. He dropped me off at Columbus Circle, but it was such a nice day I decided to walk through Central Park to get to Eb’s place on 67th and 1st. I dropped off my stuff, read for a bit, then, counter to my nature, decided to get to the theater early.

That decision was, in a word, fortuitous.
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Had been trying to find a cheap fare to London or Vegas for New Years, but had given up hope. Then tried for a cheap fare to NYC, and also despaired. But while IMing with Patrick Durham this afternoon, he found a decent price on Priceline (which I hadn’t checked because of the whole not-knowing-your-flight-time-until-after-you’ve-bought-your-ticket thing, but apparently they do ‘real’ ticketing now, too) on American. On a lark, I checked out Continental, and not only did they have a direct flight, it was cheaper! I immediately snagged it, and then got a ticket for The Producers for tomorrow evening. I’ll be back Friday night. If you’re in NYC any of this time, gimme a shout…I’ll have my cell phone, of course.

So, kudos to Patrick!!!

And shame on you if you don’t know my middlemost name.

Today, I ordered a new satellite system from
Rapid Satellite after hemming and hawing and researching and procrastinating for the better part of this year. It should all get installed in about 10 days to 2 weeks. I’ll let you know more when it gets in.

And if you’d like to order from them as well, use Promo Code 4100…I signed up for their referral program (kinda like a legitimate kickback scheme 😉 ).

You can read more here, or in the extended entry.
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I believe that punitive damages are by definition simply fines, and so have nothing whatever to do with the plaintiff in a case, and so should not go to the plaintiff nor plaintiff’s attorneys, but to the state. I’m all for injured parties receiving compensation, but that’s what actual damages are for (including amounts for pain and suffering, lost wages, etc). A judgment ideally should restore the injured party to the status quo ante, or come as close as possible. Letting them receive the punitive damages makes them better off than before, and turns the the judicial system into a lottery system.