Best Hubris

So, it’s the first week of May, and I have jury duty. Yeah! Actually, other than having to make changes in my usual Wednesday, it isn’t that big of deal. Sitting in a quiet room with a hundred plus strangers is a little odd, but otherwise, nothing too exciting.

The “orientation” is an 18 minute video with a local news anchor providing the narration. After spending way too much time studying and analyzing various training techniques, I can’t help but notice them in the video. Although there are no explicit directions as to what you have to do as a jury or juror (there can’t be, by law), the “examples” from former jurors are carefully structured to “suggest” some rules. No less than four people come on the screen to metion how they “were impressed with their fellow jurors” and came to realize that each of them “deserved their respect.” Translation: You are getting sleepy…You should respect the other jurors even if they look like scumbags or seem stupid.

Then, there are the seemingly unrelated yet repeated by each person on the screen topics of “everyone has their say”, “we made sure everyone said something”, and “we went around the table by juror number and everyone said at least one thing about each point,” and my personal favorite: “I think it is important to speak up and at least say something even if you are introverted like I am.” Translation: You are getting sleepy…You will go around the room and make sure everyone says something. You will say something even if you are shy.

I can’t decide whether to mess with the system by pointing out in the juror room that none of those ideas are things we actually have to do, and maybe we would be better off by only listening to the people who feel strongly enough about something to speak up themselves without being called on.

I would post live from here, but I can’t get Internet access despite having connect to a strong signal from wireless network named: “Free Internet Access”. I’m not getting a default gateway and I think that is the problem, so I don’t get name resolution and can’t seem to ping or tracert to anything. I don’t see any signs or handouts regarding access and the people working the window don’t strike me as the kind who’s forte is wireless hotspots. When we get a break I’ll pop down to the cafe. I bet the access is from there and they may have instructions. For now, I’ll type into Blog Desk and mass post when I get access.

I’ve started to come across more and more people on the Internet who also have their own sites. A lot of times they will ask me to check out their site and tell them what I think. Then, before I say (type) anything, they throw in, “I’m still building it though, so I haven’t put up all of my best stuff.” As fast as the things move these days, you can’t ever know when your time will come. It might be now, it might be next year. The point is, when the time comes, don’t you want people reading your “best stuff”? So, whether you are starting a new web site, opening a new business, starting a new ad campaign, or just continuing on with your current successes, don’t hold anything back. If you’ve got good stuff in your head, get it out there, because otherwise all of us without access to your head won’t see it. And, frankly, if we don’t see any good stuff when we come by, why would we come back?

Like many people who find themselves driven toward a goal, I find myself short of sleep.  My problem is a late bed time and an early alarm.  The question I keep asking myself is how much is too little?  There are varying answers depending upon whether you are asking how much do you need to not feel tired or how much do you need to not end up hiding behind your couch because “they” are coming to get you.  The answer to the first question rests solidly in the 7 to 8 hour range.  The answer to the second question is much less than you think.

The human body is a remarkable creation and as it turns out very adaptable to a wide range of circumstances.  I read somewhere that NASA has the astronauts on the Space Station sleep just 20 minutes at a time due to the round the clock needs of various experiments and operational issues of the station itself.  Apparently after a completely nightmarish three to four days, the 20 minute thing ends up working just fine as the astronauts fall asleep almost instantly and go quickly into REM sleep.  Of course, nobody’s talking about 20 minutes every 24 hours, more like 20 minutes every hour or two.  Obviously this is not something I’m looking at implementing.

Still, if you are squeezing in 7-ish hours, you are probably good.  However, I just finished reading the book You: The Owner’s Manual which is a collection of medical wisdom from a couple of doctors focused primarily on how your habits and choices affect the length of your lifespan.  For maximum lifespan, you need at least 7 hours a night.  I’m not sure it’s wise to try and run your body on “at least” so I figure 7+ is the way to go.

Tonight?  No chance it’s already too late even if I fell asleep instantly.  Tomorrow?  You bet; in bed when the wife goes.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZ