Comments for Michael Sheetz

Comment on “The Great Leventhal” and his courtroom conjuring by Fred Como

Fred Como — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:14:08 +0000

Hi Mike,
I finally had time to respond to this blog. I found it an interesting subject and felt compelled to respond for a simple reason; I believe the issue goes way beyond the courtroom.
I don’t think the line that needs being drawn should be confined to the courtroom. I feel whole heartedly that the public needs to wake up to the fact that they are being manipulated on a daily basis by the very same theatrics of the above mentioned attorney.
We are a nation of consumers. Marketing companies have spent millions trying to figure out how to manipulate and get us to take action in spending our cash. In time, others have found the same tactics applicabple to their profession. Law and politics to draw attention to our current state of affairs in not only the US but throughout the world economy.
Let’s use the last election as an example. I’ve seen a number of video interviews (post polling on election day) in which people who voted for Obama thought they were voting for platforms that the Republican party (traditionally) ran on. Actual politics aside, we have a current president that has been marketed, packaged and elected based solely on speeches – not experience and planning for the future. When you mentioned facts in your blog, I am remembering a governor, of what state I forget, who said when regarding a certain policy remarked, “The facts don’t matter.” Interestingly enough, the current administration is required to read “Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism”, by George A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller.
The observation you make in this courtroom is a part of a greater concern. The majority of people have become numb to their own ability to reason, and to recognize when they are being manipulated. I feel that it is a result of laziness. I don’t hink many read or venture much further than network television. Through the years many have become programmed, or desensitized to their own manipulation by politics, law, the media, corporations, religions, and the various distributors of consumer goods and services.
In a sense, these “people” have gotten so good at making their case, we not only want to follow their lead, we have to. Otherwise, we would be labeled as “whatever label goes here”, filled with regeret for not buying, voting, their way, or unhappy for not following their lead. We are (the majorative) – sheeple. What is frightening to me is to watch and hear the remarks of people who (aside from not understanding their Constituional and Civil Rights) have no problem giving up their rights in order for the government to make decisions for them. The same need is present in the courtroom. Having served on a capital muder case, it was frustrating to have to explain “reason” to over half the jury, while writing out the facts of the trial. Their was no majority vote until the facts, and a reasonable conclusion were written down on a chalk board!
Putting aside the desire to win, even a trial, the issue is ethics. And we must all grasp hold of some kind of return pathway to common sense, Natural Law and ethical behavior. I remember a quote but forget who said it; “The mark of a man’s character is not who he is when someone is watching. It is who he is when nobody is watching.”
I love to compete, but I won’t sacrifice who I am, my integrity or my character for a win. I often say to people when talking about our world today. Politics will not bring us to where we should be as a human race. Legislation and force will only take us further from this goal of becoming more than we are. Our problems are simple, we have moved from being God centered to self centered. We have replaced God with our own images to worship; money, mansions, sex, drugs, violence, greed etc. And as humans – we’ve never been more empty, or even more dead spiritually. In my ideal world I try to serve an order; God – family – business. I struggle some days with fears of not having enough, then climb down out of the limb and remember that God has always provided. Always.
I’ve wondered off track a bit but maybe not. The courtroom observation is but a microcosm of the world right now. Most are waiting to be told what to do, feel, buy or react to. And the ones selling know it to be true.

Comment on An Ode to Underwear by Colin Cline

Colin Cline — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:35:43 +0000

Agreed, foundation garments are extremely important. You must also add a clean, relatively new, well-fitting white undershirt. I swear I would rather go commando and have my meat & veg swinging freely than put on a dress shirt or nice casual shirt without a fresh, clean white t-shirt underneath. The undershirt is the final barrier between skin and the outside world. Not only does it keep the outside out, it also protects dress shirts and jackets from perspiration. More importantly, though, as you noted, underwear and undershirts set the tone for the rest of the outfit and, thus, for the attitude with which we face the day.

Comment on With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility by Adam Sheetz

Adam Sheetz — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:17:28 +0000

absolutely brilliant Mr. Sheetz. As i type this i am on the outside patio at my local starbucks, sipping my iced caramel machiato, chain smoking these god-awful cancer sticks that have ingrained themselves into my daily routine of other bad habits. my time here is spent finishing all the work that i have put off from the weekend, and the environment only gives valid conirmation to the need for the aforementioned rules. my concentration has been broken countless times by the abnoxious drone of our “civilized” culture chatting away on their various communication devices about trivial things that can certainly wait until they are in a more appropriate area to carry on a conversation. perhaps this lends itself to an 11th rule: if your conversation regarding what he/she said about you on facebook and/or myspace and how ugly he/she looks in that drunken picture at a frat party absolutely cannot wait, then please, i beg of you, have the common decency to step out of the store or off of the patio so i, and fellow coffee house patrons, do not have to listen to your mindless dribble. and another thing… there are often children around, so have a little discretion with your choice for conversation. parents don’t need to be explaining to their fragile minded children the content of your half of the conversation about your drunken encounter with the swamp thing that you swore was hot when you took her home the night before. parents deal with enough of that harmlessly flipping through the television during family hour, they don’t need any help from an inconsiderate pompous ass like you. and remember, we can only hear one half of the conversation, so whether or not what you are saying is in context or relevant to the party on the other end of the line, more often than not, you just sound like an idiot, and by now, you’ve proven beyond all doubt that you do not need any help in that department.