DDO (Hate) Renewed and I'm Your Juror

Some time last week I popped DDO back into the DVD drive, installed and patched it. I then re-subscribed (which had problems - I think I should have taken that as a sign and backed away slowly) and started it up.

It dropped to desktop.

I tried again.

It dropped to desktop again.

I went looking for help on the issue and apparently there were issues with it and dual monitors (by the way, I've played A TON of games while running dual monitors and they've all at least - AT LEAST - started up. The only issues I've had with dual monitors is alt-tabbing out, though to be fair, those games had issues with alt-tabbing when I was using one monitor.

This wasn't all that easy to find, their support knowledge base is poor at best. Exactly the half-assedness (trademark pending) I'd expect from Turbine. I tried about the two different suggested fixes there (including disabling the dual-monitor set up - which I absolutely love having) - yes, the two, that is all they had posted - and neither of them worked.

Frustrated that they can't get something simple like that sorted out, my hatred for Turbine's solid product (yes, that's sarcasm) is renewed. I unsubscribed and uninstalled. I was going to rant at that moment, but I figured I'd take a bit of time to cool off.


In other news, I managed to avoid random selection for the first day of jury selection.

Can you imagine having me as a juror? I pity the fool..

Anyway, about half a year ago I got a form that had to be filled with regards to my value as a juror so I submitted it (it's illegal not to). I thought I was safe, but not too long ago I got a Summons to Juror notification which said I had to show up at the courthouse this past Monday (yesterday).

Now I've already been a juror once and it was a brief experience because the case was put back into the system because the Defendant was unable to continue the case and kept delaying the whole court. Her brother died - I can't really blame her for being upset.

I'm at the courthouse early, reading a bit. We head into the room where we get 'processed' - basically had over our summons to a lady, who sounded like one of Marge Simpson's sisters, she asked for more specifics about the occupation and noted it then gave your Summons back. When that was done, we were herded into a courtroom.

Now, I found this kind of funny, but it is also pretty sad. The Judge gave a little speech about how awesome a life experience it is to be a juror and how it pales in comparison to all other life experiences. I bit my lip and avoided standing up and stating that becoming a Dad was a bigger deal. I'd also rank having sex as being far better than being a juror. And, well, I'll stop there. Needless to say, there are a ton of things more awesome a life experience than being a juror.

In the previous room, the lady sorting our cards into a pile of 'present' or 'not present' said we were lucky, there would be only six Jurors selected because it was a for a civil case. Looking around the room, I saw about 50 people and thought, "Wow, I'm not going to get picked." She crushed my thoughts by mentioning that those not picked would have to show up next Monday for another selection.

The first out the Judge gave people was if they knew the Plaintiff, Defendant, Lawyers, Judge or any of the witnesses being called. One guy actually knew the Defendant while a couple of others actually knew some of the witnesses. Not a good start, I can remember last time, no one knew anyone.

The next bit the Judge continued with was asking if anyone had issues hearing the happenings of the court, if so, they would be dismissed. Now this is irony, the people that claimed to have a problem hearing the court put their hands up. They sure heard that clearly enough. Out went a bunch of older people with hearing aids in both their ears. One guy stood up and said he had two hearing aids but could hear the court just fine - the Judge said he could stay then. The people that left were dismissed and didn't have to come back on the following Monday.

The Judge added another comment about how awesome being a Juror is but the court case would be held in English, if anyone had issue understanding English they were free to go. No one stood up for this one.

Next up was 'medical issues'. He wanted to know if anyone had any medical issues that kept them from performing their duty as a Juror. He didn't want details, just to know. Tons of people piped up here.

Suddenly the 50 people were down to about 30, if that many. I started getting a sinking feeling.

Next he cited, again with more "Yay Jury duty" speak, that the case would take up to two weeks of time where Jurors would be required to be present from 10:00am to 4:30pm. If anyone had a reason why they could not do this, let it be known. Out came the excuses of travel, vacations, kids graduating, surgery appointments and two people cited dates in July which were well outside the range of the court case.

You could tell the Judge was getting annoyed. He was getting slower at acknowledging people's excuses, it seemed to increase at about half a second each person. The next and final way out for people was if the case would cause undue financial or personal strains on the Juror's life. One guy got off because he was a student with exams coming, he was dismissed and left (his girlfriend trailed along behind him - she was smoking hot by the way - who brings their girlfriend to one of these things?).

With all that out of the way, the room was starting to look pretty empty. The lottery began. It really was like a lottery too. All the cards they sorted previously (for people that were there) were dumped into a box, the box turned several times and cards were picked out randomly.

I cringed with each drawing, however was quickly relieved when the Juror number didn't start with mine. In short order there were 6 Jurors picked.

The Judge then announced the Lawyers would now be allowed to 'challenge' a Juror. If you were challenged, you would be allowed to go and another would be picked to replace you. This should not be taken as a slight against you.

Personally, I think most people were relieved.

There were four challenges so four more draws.

Fortunately, my number didn't come up so I happily left and went off to work. It seems I have to repeat the song and dance again next Monday though. I hope it's another short case or I might just have to be one of those people who have a vacation coming up.

In truth, I do have a vacation coming up. I've got the first three weeks of July off and I'm supposed to take the kids to Montreal to visit various zoos. With my luck the case won't be estimated to be that long, but they'll go over...