I don’t even know what to call this post

Posted on July 2, 2009 by mpomy

I guess it’s another catch-all. The holiday weekend is pretty much here, so everything is starting to slow down, and that is perfectly fine with me. I’ve been enjoying (NOT!) some bowel distress over the past 24 hours, so I’m glad that there’s no work tomorrow. I prep’d my butt off for an Arbitration on Wednesday and it went south on me because the panel didn’t like my client – they actually said that to me after. Hours and hours of prep down the tubes.

I’m just about done with Greg van Eekhout’s (like Vonnegut?) first novel – Norse Code. Despite the title, it’s actually been quite a good piece of fantasy fiction. If I were in another line of work, perhaps I could have read this book over a weekend, but with distractions and trials, it has taken a bit longer. Great action, well written, and sexy cover. What more could you ask for? As a rumination on Ragnarok, it’s a bit more fluid and entertaining than Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. The retelling of myth is a bit more fluid in Gaiman’s work, but the van Eekhout has been a more cohesive read. I certainly liked them both, but in being a bit less ambitious, Norse Code is actually more fun. Although, I don’t think Gaiman was going for fun.

Company’s coming to mpomy HQ to help celebrate the holiday. We’re looking forward to Oscar and his mom and dad. Pictures will undoubtedly be posted. Also, we’ve arranged a trip to Morris Arboretum to hang out in nature’s beauty with my mom and our guests. It should be just the ticket after my beleaguered week.

Over at Fretbuzz.net, the insanity continues. we’ve got Mr. Delaruss now actively blogging, which is great news. I’ll also try to do little more micro-music because it’s so damn fun. Maybe Oscar can help with the next composition.

We have also found out that a cousin has breast cancer – which absolutely sucks. She’s got a bunch of little kids and she’s almost definitely going to have to go through some of the most heinous shit. But she’s got a great husband (Em’s 1st cousin) and they’re within shouting distance of top notch healthcare. It’s still going to be a bumpy ride for that family, so we’ll be sending the good vibes that way as the situation and treatment regimen become clearer.

And lastly, I’ll be trying to get Em to watch Virtuality tonight. It seems like good, low-impact fun before our guests arrive, and I need to take another look before I write up my thoughts.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

Short stuff…

Posted on June 28, 2009 by mpomy

I’m very pleased to have wrapped up the Squarepuser / Artist of the Week project. It was great to go through all of that stuff, especially the ’97 show from Shinjuku Liquid Lounge. I’ve never seen that one posted, except for the torrent i got a year or two ago. The torrent is long gone (off the Dime tracker, anyway) and I’ve never seen the show posted elsewhere. The best part is that it came with no track listing. That forced me to listen to these jams over and over again to get the song titles right. Hopefully this whole exercise will tide me over until August.

The Fretbuzz.net project is coming along nicely. FBDN himself has proven a capable and attentive webmaster and the resource is really stimulating our collective creative juices. The best part is that the sight is active, even if not terribly well visited. We’re not exactly counting hits, but a quick google search this morning revealed that if you just put in the ‘fretbuzz’ we come up tenth – first page, baby! That’s pretty strong, considering the (most likely) scanty readership. This means that our updating (sometimes a few times per day!) is paying off.

I recently found an Aimee Mann bootleg from the Bachelor No. 2 / Magnolia era. It’s a superb recording and there is a sense of commitment and passion in her performance. So, that will get posted this week, along with my comments on this troubling artist.

The work week ended with an aggrieved father who attempted to strangle his daughters killer during sentencing. I was waiting for me cases to be called when, on this other case, the Judge consented to hearing from the victim’s family prior to sentencing. Big mistake. Now, that’s what I call Courtroom Drama. Everything was put under control quickly by the highly skilled (and much appreciated) Camden Sheriffs. Nice work, people.

The next work week begins with the deposition of an officer that killed a 15-year-old boy who allegedly threatened him with a clothes iron. Cop shot that boy dead. I’ve go the kid’s mom as a client in a wrongful death / Civil Rights / Excessive Force (yuh think?) case. So, I’ve got a lot of work to do today to get ready for this clown. He’ll be well prepared.

Sci-Fi stuff of note includes Ronald D. Moore’s Virtuality which was on Friday night. I haven’t checked it out yet, but maybe tonight if the work goes well. I’m excited about sci-fi that is strongly connected to this world and this planet. It’s a nice break from faraway planets and alien races. Another project that appears to work along similar lines is Moon, which is getting a UK release next month. I’m not sure if we’ll be getting this one in the U.S.

And, speaking of movies, we went with my mom to see The Proposal yesterday afternoon. Betty White was HUGE!

Even Rocky couldn’t catch me today

Posted on June 26, 2009 by mpomy

Three courthouses, two states, four hearings, two prosecutors, three defense counsel, two judges, a tank of gas, some strange flatbread sandwhich from Wawa, and now, at 3pm, I can start trying to do some work. It reminds me of this great scene from Rocky II.

Blogerantz is being neglected!

Posted on June 16, 2009 by mpomy

In light of my result at trial, I’m thinkin’ a little blues would be appropriate.

The fun continues…

Posted on June 15, 2009 by mpomy

Judge Perskie is treating the parties (and their attorneys!) quite well and we’re trying to return the favor. So far, no objections, no arguments, no acting out. The plaintiff provided decent testimony, but I don’t know if that’s enough to carry the day. Our physician expert came across pretty well on video (they’re all on video nowadays), but the VHS (!) of the defendant’s doctor is clearer. Still, in that proceeding, which took place a few weeks ago, I did score some cross-examination points. The only thing left to do now is prep my closing. Unlike in some cases, the closing here could also make that hair’s breadth of difference.

Oh, one other thing. I’ve got a response to a very important motion in a differenc case due tomorrow. That means I’m finishing a brief right now, when I should be working on my trial. Oh well, it’s almost done. whew!

Trial Season

Posted on June 14, 2009 by mpomy

So, I just finished that little trial in Camden last week. It was a one day affair. Tomorrow I’m on Judge Perskie’s list for another trial, this time with a jury. It’s a simple enough case, and it will probably take longer to picke the jury than it will to try the case, but hey, this is what we do. I’m ready and prep’d and, if we can’t settle, we’ll get the show on the road and shoot for the best verdict we can get.

In the meantime, it’s a lot of prep and a lot of work. I’m done for tonight, but it will be an early morning tomorrow as I have about a 90 minute drive for this one.

A win is a win

Posted on June 10, 2009 by mpomy

Trial today resulted in a modest win for us This was a strange one because I was representing the office against a former client. We did all this work for the guy and then he dropped off the face of the earth and never paid the office. Fortunately, he appeared for trial and attempted to defend the case. The downside is that he could have convinced Judge Schuck that we didn’t do any of the work and that it didn’t add any value to his life, but reason prevailed. It was pretty close to taking candy from a baby, except that now we will have to enforce the judgment. That could be difficult (despite its modest size), but then again, a win is a win.

Charlie Mingus – powerful romantic

Posted on June 2, 2009 by mpomy

I’ve got plenty of writing to do this morning, writing, proofreading, citating, etc. Nothing like a deadline to make sure the work gets done. But just as important is the music. Mingus is an artist with whom I need to become more conversant. I’ve heard a little bit here, a little bit there, and it’s all good. The other magnetising factor drawing me in is the huge influence he had on Zappa. I can hear it plainy (plus I’ve read about it), but there also that touchy issue of band politics that has fascinated me since I was first in a band in college. Mingus ran some tight bands.

So that’s what’s on the speakers today, mostly from the 60’s output. I hear his bands jam with ferocity and then switch back to a romantic swagger. Picture a late night in New York City circa 1962. The big black Cadillacs reflect all the glittering lights of the city as they make their way through the Village. Beatniks mix with couples who are dressed in formal evening attire. Martinis flow like water and, unlike today, you have to go outside to get away from the cigarette smoke.

On stage, the band sweats through another arrangment and everyone is in a trance as the big man behind the bass conducts the proceedings into the early morning hours.

‘Real Fast’ meets ‘Overdoing It’

Posted on May 28, 2009 by mpomy

Thursday was everything it was cracked up to be. Arrive at work for conference call on pasta case at 8:15. 8:30 board PATCO and ride to Camden for 9AM hearing in DiOrio case. Defendant’s motion denied: YES! I’m one for one. Back on PATCO to get ready for video dep in Bensalem, PA. Get car from Em at 10:45 and scoot up I-95 to Bensalem. Dr. Stempler delivers the goods in summary fashion (now I’m two for two!) and I’m out the door and on my way back down to Philly.

Sal is waiting in the lobby so I can switch files and walk five blocks to City Hall to handle the Miller hearing at 1:30. Client and adversary are both there and we wrap up the negotiations without incident. Papers get signed and I’m out the door (three for three, but who’s counting).

Back to office for about 45 minutes and then back to City Hall for the Abrantes Case Management Conference. We get a nice short case management schedule (four for four!) and I make chit chat with my adversary about an old case we worked on together.

And now, with tired feet, and desk piled high, I will prep a play list to go with my evening run and then I’m collecting Em and we’re out of here!

Fun day! Nothing on the schedule tomorrow. Maybe I’ll actually get something done.

Concept Album

Posted on May 25, 2009 by mpomy

OK – the big holiday weekend is winding down. After entertaining family for a few days of fun, I left myself in a spot where I basically hd to crank out all sorts of legal nonsense over the past six hours. What a way to spend the holiday! But it was all worth it. I’ll have more on the visit later.

Now, in honor of being done my work for the night, I’m planning the big concept album. Ive come up with a few song titles:

I Like Cold Beer
Tell Someone Who Cares
You Lose
Stay The Fuck Away From Me
The Mike Piazza
Poison Claw
Blown Save
Peed In The House

Can you think of any others?

MPomy.com

Celebrate Life With Music

Category Archives: Law