(no subject)

Referring to 'just one more' beer:
You know we just refer to that as carb loading...
"Well in Ohio that's just called good manners."

Easiest case I've ever seen, and it was still an 11 hour hearing (ok maybe 10 hours and change). Have to get up at 5:30 to find the airport, gas the rental car, check in and plunk my fatass in a seat for a few boring hours.

Shit this is a hard job but it's so fun at the same time...

(no subject)

So...I wanna post about my hearing but nobody will care but me, and the energy is fading fast. I will say it was about 10 hours long (though I was there for 12 hours, 8 until 8) and I'm proud of how I did. I was very prepared, it showed. The other guy got blown about by stuff he had never heard of before - he either dropped the ball or (and/or) listened to his lying client too much. I had a problem where this judge, despite having us tab our exhibits for the hearing and accepting them - at the hearing insisted we pull apart our folders/binders and only enter individual pages (or very small groups) with stickers as: A-1, C-1, A-2, A-3... which was downright painful. Luckily I was organized enough to pull that off, but it was distracting as hell to completely re-number all our evidence during the hearing (both sides has this problem).

This was my second hearing on my own.

The officers out there love me - and now I remember why, I had beat an old troublemaker of theirs when they fired him - getting the removal action affirmed in court and then defeating another 3-4 related claims without a hearing at all. What caught me off guard is they have a very high opinion of me for the wrong reason - I gave a terrible, awful, pathetic closing - my first, in that hearing (it was my first hearing, but with someon there coaching me). I said mean things about the complainant and they loved it - and misunderstood to think that my "strong argument" is what won the case. This time I explained to them, honestly, that the opening and closing really don't mean much (in my opinion). But, if nothing else they see me out there defending their actions and defending them against claims that they discriminated - as I do this work I'm building up a fan club in the field. Of 15 districts I have 4 "fans."

Funny that a lot of what I love about this job is being liked. Odd I found a way to satisfy that NEED in a job where I fight people for a living.

After it was over (including debriefing my witnesses) I had missed both dinner and happy hour, so I settled in to redo my flight and pack to leave early. I got a msg on my bb that 2 of my witnesses were in the room upstairs having drinks and pizza, and I was welcome to join them. Well, I didn't have time, but while I was brain dead I couldn't really think about much else and I would love to talk shop - so I joined them. Unfortunately, they had busch light and miller lite beer - and there was no way to politely decline. I have to say, it's been a long time since I've had regular/cheap beer - and it won't kill you, but it really is watery compared to my usual color-of-used-motor-oil beer.

Yeah that's right - I talked with some country folk, watching a baseball game (ok it was on and I was in front of it so I must be part of the audience, right?), and drinking USian beer. I even crushed the aluminum cans with my hands oop oop.

I swear there is an interesting obsrevation or story in here somewhere, but I thnk I just need a nap.

(no subject)

Forgot to mention tidbids:
Social castes in India - I know they exist but not much about them - I understand they remain but are fading, a major politician is from the lowest (untouchables?) class. I just had a case where there was a comparison made between two guys from India
- one is a modest guy, easy to work with, appreciated by his subordinates and bosses alike.
- the other was the complainant in an EEO case who had previously been demoted because he was so difficult with both the plants he worked in and with his (unhappy) subordinates. He argued constantly that he shouldn't have to take orders from people who had less education then him (i.e. his supervisors).
Seems obvious who is in the higher caste and stuck-up about it, right? Or is the more likely scenario that the lower caste member will be insecure and an ass while the higher caste person is secure in his position and more modest?
Turns out the 2nd one, but since both theories exist without knowing the % of assholes in various social castes it's hard to say whether the probability of caste to asshole ratios yields any predictability

Also from India to USia - a Hindu who doesn't allow his staff to kill flies. His staff makes fun of him by asking him to look at his windshield. Note - he works in a plant that slaughters animals for food.

Stereotypes would be more useful if life wasn't so complex.