Word For The Day, Friday, July 25, 2003

The Verbivores | 7/25/03 | Teacher

[RikaStrom]

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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potation \Po*ta"tion\, noun:
potator; noun

1. The act of drinking.
2. A drink, especially an alcoholic beverage
3. A drinker
4 A draught. "Potations pottle deep.'' --Shak.
5. Drink; beverage. "Thin potations.'' --Shak.

Etymology: [Middle English potacion, from Old French, from Latin p t ti , p t ti n-, a drinking party, from p t tus, past participle of p t re, to drink, from p tus, a drink. See p (i)- in Indo-European Roots.]

[Conspiracy Guy]

Hush you crazy potator.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Now you scared everyone off.

[NordP]

What a great idea!

I have something to share with the class:

While on Jury Duty, I met and pronounced sentencing, on a "potator."

The rest of my post will describe what I had to go through because of her "potation."

A lady was charged with a DUI. Her breath test score was .11 & .12. Her blood test score was .12. Both the prosecution and defense stipulated to those facts, and that she had been "potating", and that she was driving.

Shouldn't that be enough to say she was guilty???

No, not with touchy, feely Democrats on the jury. Arrrrh!

Instead, in the jury room, we were discussing such IRRELEVANT facts as:

* that she'd never been in any trouble before this

* that she worked taking care of mentally disabled people, and one delirious man accidentally shot her while she was on duty, which put her on State disability because of the injury, for a year

* that she had three sons in the military

* that her relationship with her husband was somewhat rocky, and why they went out that night

* what she had to go through just to get the car out of the parking structure

* what the men of the jury pool would want their wives to do in a similar situation

* that an officer she said she flagged down that evening had told her she looked okay to drive to him, and gave her directions - we never met him, only the one that saw her weaving and gave her SIX field tests

* whether they, as jurors had ever been in a similar situation

* that if her sentencing would be light, perhaps these men would feel better about pronouncing her guilty

I couldn't believe my ears.

THIS Republican (although politics were never discussed - and didn't need to be) stated to all, that:

This is a wonderful country to live in BECAUSE we have laws and rules, and if you break the rules, it shouldn't matter why you did it, or if you didn't "mean" to do it - you did it!

We do not have the power to re-write the law, only enforce it.

I felt like telling them they were acting just like the Florida Supreme Court, during the 2000 elections!!! I held back, though.

I DID tell them that I felt with California in such a budget crunch - even though I don't have children, I would rather spend this money on more teachers, more school books or SOMETHING else, other than this woman and her attempts at "working the system."

I couldn't believe it took us one hour and fifteen minutes of deliberation to reach a decision of guilty. I came home and said..."I just have one word to describe my anger....DEMOCRATS!"

She ALMOST drove me to "potate."

NordP

[Laura Earl]

If I have offended anyone with my sappho-ish comment, I am truly sorry. I will be more mindful of the sensitivities of others from this point forward.

[Argh]

I'd play with you and her, but not with Flurry.

[Laura Earl]

Well you naughty, naughty boy!

[Conspiracy Guy]

A DUI went before a jury? She probably could have got it reduced with just a lawyer/prosecutor/judge and arresting officer consultation. But she obviously wanted to get off scott free. Good job of upholding the law. I personally think the DUI laws need a lot of work (thanks MADD) but they are for now, the law.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thank goodness.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Is everyone taking a nap?

[Conspiracy Guy]

John is a victim of incest. His mom is his sister and he is the genetic mutation everyone was so worried about when such laws against these relationships were made.

[Argh]

You don't know the half of it!

[Argh]

I don't think you offended anyone, everybody's out to lunch or trying to get some actual work done with just the few hours left in the week. I'm going over to the House of Ptomaine (the only restaurant in the industrial park I work in) to get something one hopes is less poisonous than a Borgia concoction.

[Argh]

Well you naughty, naughty boy!

I should probably be spanked. Hard.

[Conspiracy Guy]

WOrk. That has whupped me all week long. But I have it undercontrol now and refuse to let it grt in the way of my freeping. I guess I'll pop over and see how guilty Kobe is now.

[Laura Earl]

I just threw that out because Flurry suggested that I had run everyone off.

[Conspiracy Guy]

You and your flashing.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I am in 100% in agreement. Couldn't ask for much more in a person.

[xsmommy]

i had lapsed into a coma but i am better now. : )

[Conspiracy Guy]

Laura Earl got hot for some soap babe and scared everyboby off, cept me and Argh. Missed you Birthday girl. Hubby taking you out to dine this evening?

[Laura Earl]

I've been up to my eyeballs in work this afternoon. Getting ready to head for home. Again, have a wonderful birthday, and bring your leftover cake to class on Monday.