Internet Shopping

I went to Staples yesterday to buy CD jewel case inserts. We're burning our own copies of "Just Pretending" and this is the cheapest way to do it.

But Staples did not have the 50-pack Memorex brand I bought the last time. The very polite sales associate said it was likely because they don't stock the item anymore.

So I bought the Avery 20-pack, but it doesn't work with the Memorex exPressit software I used to design the inserts. I can use the Avery inserts for other things so it's no big deal, but for a number of reasons Avery just isn't as good as the Memorex product.

We need some CDs made because we have some shows coming up and it's a pain. Not sure where else in town I can find them.

So this morning I turned to the Internet again to order the Memorex inserts. This is why retailers are deathly afraid of the Internet — it's super easy, it's cheap (except for the shiping), and while I was at it, I bought 50 slim cases. They'll be by my mailbox within a week, which isn't nearly as good as bringing them home.

At least they'll be here.

New Blogger

I switched to the new Blogger format sometime ago and have had no problems.

Not happy about the way Police tickets are being handled. You have to join an Internet club to have access to the better tickets, and prices are astronomical. Will you pay $225 to see a band? If you can afford it, well, more power to you.

Several other bands touring this summer, including the original Asia lineup and Genesis. Van Halen too, but without Michael Anthony and his great harmony vocals, forget it.

Judge This

Just read in the Kirksville Daily Express online that a Northeast Missouri judge, Richard Steele, is letting a Kirksville man out of serving probation terms while he appeals his recent sodomy conviction.

According to the paper, Jay Schilling would not have to abide by the sentence during the appeals process, though the Kirksville businessman will have to register as a sex offender. Convicted in October 2006 for inappropriately touching a 15-year-old girl during the 2004 NEMO fair, Schilling was sentenced this month to serve four years in jail, but Steele suspended his sentence in favor of a 5-year probation with the conditions he complete a sexual offender treatment program and serve 30 days of shock time in jail. The sentence further states the 30 days in jail did not have to be served concurrently and Schilling could choose which days to serve.

Schilling notified the Court he was appealing his case Jan. 11, and asked the Court 11 days later to exempt him from probation conditions, including registering as a sex offender, until his appeal is decided.

The paper says this move came at the prompting of Steele, who had written to Schilling's attorney Jan. 17 he believed Schilling could avoid probation requirements during the appeals process if he submitted a written request to do so, and Steele stated in the letter he would approve such a request.

WHAT?

The judge writes to the defense lawyer, tells him to submit a written request so his client can avoid probation terms, and then says he'll approve the request BEFORE IT'S FILED?

Maybe that's how they do it over in Missouri.

By the way, this is the same judge who oversaw the Lewis County bench trial for the LaBelle man who shot several people a couple of years ago. Jeremy Goodson's attorney used some hocus pocus psychobabble for his defense to excuse the shootings.

The trial was several months ago. We are still waiting for a verdict from Judge Steele.

Juries don't take months to reach a verdict. Neither should judges.