On Stupidity.

I try not to be too cynical. I generally fail miserably at that, but I am at least trying. But a discussion yesterday on the jury selection process of my *former* home state (you will see why the *former* becomes important in a moment) helped me revert back to asshole-cynic mode.

So while I was "home" for the holidays (note "home" refers to the place in which I grew up but do not officially reside, okay???), I received a jury duty selection notice. I dutifully checked the "ineligible" box and informed them of my new address and driver's license and voter registration in a whole other state. Then, 3 days after I was to have served, I got a letter declining my excuse and telling me to travel back in time to show up for my previously assigned time.

Huh??? On so many levels this makes NO SENSE. Okay, so my friendly and helpful father calls to clarify as I slave over law school homework (read: play dodgeball and drink Guinness). This is how the conversation goes:

Dad: I am calling about my daughter's missed jury duty (explains story and my very valid excuse for not showing up).
Stupid Jury Duty Worker: Yes well, does she receive mail at your house?
Dad: Well sometimes she has important documents sent here for safekeeping, but she lives in another state.
SJDW: How long has she lived there?
Dad: 4 years. Her car is registered there. Her driver's license is there. She goes to school full time there. She pays tuition to a school there.
SJDW: I see. But she gets mail at your house? Where does she spend vacations?
Dad (getting frustrated): Sometimes she comes here for vacation. But she doesn't live here. Hence the term "vacation".
SJDW: Hmm, I dunno. Where does she pay taxes?
Dad: She is a student. She doesn't have a job. When she used to make money, she paid them in the state where she earned the money, like everyone does.
SJDW: I don't know. I mean, how can I be sure she really lives there? She will have to come in for jury duty. That's what the notice says.
Dad (now angry): So I should spend hundreds of dollars for her to fly here, show up for a jury cattle call, then go back to where she actually lives, drives, pays taxes, and votes, which isn't here???
SJDW: Yep.

Sigh. I mean, really, what else is there to say???

Oh, on another stupid note, my school won't let you walk in and request a transcript. You have to do it online so they can mail it to you. Because it takes "too much time" for them to print it out and hand it to you versus printing it out, putting it in an envelope, addressing the envelope, and putting it in the mail. What if you want it quickly so that you can turn in a job application that needs an official transcript? You should have thought of that earlier, obvs.

*Fumes in her little cold apartment*