Almost a Juror

...of one of the most talked-about cases on the SF Peninsula, at least back in early 2006. On January 7, 2006, East Palo Alto cop Richard May was fatally shot while responding to a restaurant brawl. Within days, Alberto Alvarez was charged with murder. Almost 4 years later, my guy gets called in for Jury Duty on the rainiest and windiest day so far this season, and faced the possibility of serving an estimated 2 1/2 months on this case. A potential capital punishment case.

He described how, to his surprise, he and his 74 fellow juror candidates were ushered into a courtroom upon arrival and introduced to the defense and prosecution teams, including the accused himself; how the defendant seemed rather harmless sitting in his chair, cleancut and neatly dressed; but then how the same man, when dismissed, swaggered out of the room with a distinctive gangsta gait that promised a trial drama straight from the pages of a John Grisham novel or Law & Order episode.

When the bailiff announced the judge's verdict to grant my guy an exemption, based on various "hardship" claims, there was a flood of mixed emotions: relief that he wouldn't have to commit a couple of months to $15/day deliberations and possible sequestration from society; but also slight disappointment to have missed the opportunity for a role in a rather intriguing case....

CTA Musings

As I scan my surroundings on the inbound Blue Line train from O'Hare Airport, I'm delighted by how -- regardless of where I am in the world -- mass transit has yet to disappoint as a source of inspiration (see previous musings on BART and MUNI).

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train car 3061 is packed during the evening commute, the cosmopolitan crowd donning more layers of clothing than we'd see in SF even on the coldest summer day -- dark pea coats, some adorned with faux fur collars; and matching wool hats and scarves.

Every few minutes, the smooth voice of "CTA guy" rings out clearly over the din of the rumbling locomotive...

*Ding Dong* "Doors closing. Irving Park is next. Doors open on the left at Irving Park."

Posters along the curved ceiling advertise "Fraken Plaza at Washington & Dearborn (www.chicagoween.us)"; the Chicago History Museum, with beckoning portraits of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Benito Juárez of U.S. and Mexico; and the Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Homes Expo '09.

"Please be considerate when talking on the phone or listening to electronic devices, so as not to disturb other customers."

Above each train door hangs a map of either the Blue Line route or the entire multicolored "L" system.

"This...is Irving Park."

Ears plugged with headphones are just as commonplace in this crowd, but there are noticeably fewer white ear buds distinctive of Apple's i-products that pervade the SF Bay Area.

"Please keep your belongings off the seat next to you so that others may sit down."

Throughout our journey, we're beating the rush hour traffic on the freeway next to us. We descend briefly into a tunnel where stationary fluorescent tubes pulse like strobe lights as we roar past. Then the volume drops suddenly as we emerge into the dim evening.

*Ding Dong* "Doors closing. Damen is next. Doors open on the right at Damen."

"Standing passengers, please do not lean against the doors."

We soon pull up next to a platform that is identified not only with the station name, but also the location's grid number.

"This...is Damen."

Life's Simple Pleasures

Too long for a Facebook status update...

Squeaks just enjoyed a quick and easy home-made lunch of fried egg and kim chee over rice, with a splash of soy sauce and a dash of pepper for extra flavoring. Takes me back to similar meals from my childhood in Singapore,... except instead of kim chee -- whose tangy flavors were still a mystery to me then -- ikan bilis (dried anchovies) and sliced cucumber accompanied the egg. Cook the rice in coconut milk, and you get nasi lemak, purported to be the national dish of Malaysia.

Sure, I'm wrestling with my fair share of stress factors today. But thanks to something as uncomplicated as comfort food, I'm able to pause... breathe... and appreciate life's simple pleasures.