But what is the writ of habeas corpus? A writ of habeas corpus is issued on behalf of an imprisoned person to the party doing the imprisoning. It says to the jailer “show me this person and give me a good reason why you’ve imprisoned them, or why they should stand trial.” It’s a citizen’s fundamental protection against unlawful imprisonment.

This 800 year old fundamental law made its way into the U.S. Constitution. Article 1, section 9 says: “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.” To reiterate how fundamental this principle is, it should be noticed that the framers of the Constitution saw no need to define habeas corpus. Also, this section doesn’t actually give anybody habeas corpus. The people already have “the privilege of the writ,” the Constitution here only denies the government the power to suspend writ, except in special circumstances.

It’s a basic, fundamental protection for all people, from the government. That’s why it’s important.

Sometimes we watch TV together after work. While Heroes was on last season, my favorite thing to do was to push my chair away from my desk, throw my hands in the air, and say “Flying Man!” My co-workers would respond, sometimes almost-unison and always with mock-enthusiasm, with the same chant.

Today I saw an article about Yves Rossy, “Fusion Man.” He’s build a jet fuel-powered flying suit, and today he flew it over the Alps. That my friends, is a hell of a thing. CNN has the pictures here.

To steal a line from SportsNight: “Look what we can do.”

I should go to the doctor. I asked a few coworkers what doctor to go to. One, who’s dad is a doctor, had no idea. Neither did the others. I think they’re all out to get me. It’s like they enjoy seeing me in pain, and they don’t want me to go to the doctor. No, he might fix me. That’s what they’re doing.

I’m in the least amount of pain right now, and I could get on my insurance provider’s website and look someone up. But I’m afraid. I’ll make an appointment, have some expensive tests done, and the doctor will give me a pill for the pain. He’ll treat the symptom, but have no idea why I’m in pain.

And that’s the thing: neither do I. “Neck hurts,” is too vague. I woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago, feeling fine. I had breakfast. Somewhere in the midst of all that not sleeping and eating breakfast, my neck hurt. I didn’t fall down stairs, battle a vicious lion, or carry any felled trees. I ate breakfast. I lifted the damn spoon and opened my mouth.

I’m out of shape. I see this. It is clear. Crystal. Physical activity is called for.

Too bad I can’t exercise. Why?

See, I’ve got this neck injury…

After visiting the local mexican restaurant this evening, Rachel decided she would sew some curtains. Me, I sat on the front porch with the first cigar of the year. I smoked a Punch Petit Coronation, made in Havana, Cuba! It’s been sitting around since last August’s trip to Scotland. It was a bit crispy, but since it came it its own tube, it wasn’t unsmokable… just a few flecks of wrapper in my mouth.

A nice, quiet night in the city. A good start to the week.

For anyone who doesn’t know, I’m trying to be a writer. The most difficult thing for me is seeing where I want to be and knowing I have all the tools to get there, but not being sure exactly why I’m not using those tools passionately. Part of it is knowing what a long road it is from blank page to finished product. Another part of it is not feeling like a writer. I ask myself how, other than just calling myself a writer, can I get from being a guy who works with computers to a guy who is an actual, paid writer?

Tonight’s Oscars inspired me. Better yet, seeing Diablo Cody win the Oscar for Best Writing this evening inspired me. See, she worked in an ad agency, then quit to become a stripper. That’s what she was doing when she wrote Juno. I don’t feel an if-the-stripper-can-do-it-so-can-I-type feeling. It’s more an if-this-regular-person-can-do-it-so-can-I-type feeling.

So that’s it. There’s no time to waste. Nothing but a blank page stands between me and where I want to be.

Here I go.

I’ve been reading about the Church of Scientology and their now-sworn enemy, Anonymous. Anon has pledged to destroy the Church of Scientology because, as they see it, it needs to be done. Anon’s last message is a call to action. “Be very wary of the tenth of February.” They ask for protesters outside local Scientology buildings.

I think they’re crazy, the Scientologists. I also think lots of other religions are crazy, but Scientology seems to have its own special brand of nutty. So after hearing the call to action, I wished I had a Scientology building I could protest.

As it turns out, we really do have everything in Nashville.

Church of Scientology of Celebrity Centre Nashville
1204 16th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212

Fantastic! Now all I have to do is decide how to protest. Should I stand across the street and stare at them? Should I hold a sign? Maybe I should wear a Guy Fawkes mask! “Remember the Fifth of November,” sounds an awful lot like “Be wary of the tenth of February.”

I get excited thinking about it, but I know I’ll get there and my heart just won’t be in it. I’ll be holding a sign that says something like: “You seem crazy and I don’t trust you.”

I’ve been going through the online training, and it’s nice to see on paper lots of what I’ve already learned through my on the job training. I find myself becoming someone of whom questions are asked, and I like that.

I expect to be ready for the hardware exam by the end of next week (let’s call it Friday), and after that I’ll start studying for the software test. I’m a little annoyed that the only test offered is still on Tiger, I guess I’ll study whatever needs to be studied in order to pass. I’m looking forward to adding a couple more lines to my work signature line! Right now it says something like:

APP | Apple Product Professional

Soon there will be more.

• What Storytellers Can Teach You About How to Learn Faster
  From lifehack.org, a short article on the use of fantastical metaphors in learning and remembering.
• Characters who are not yet important
  From Screenwriter John August, at johnaugust.com. This is another of John’s direct, practical answers to a reader’s question about scripts.
• BusySync Release
  Via Daring Fireball, a significant update to a program I wish I used more.
• How to Convert a MacOS X 10.5 Leopard Upgrade DVD into a Retail MacOS X 10.5 Leopard
  From uneasysilence.com, an appropriately named article I thought might be useful for those who bought Macintosh computers manufactured before October 26th after the Leopard release.
• FBI’s Hoover planned mass U.S. jailings: report
  From Reuters, my senior history project over civil liberties (especially Habeas Corpus) during wartime could have used the declassification of these documents to bolster its thesis.

Around 167,000 people in Utah are living below the poverty line.¹ It’s estimated that 8,000 people are homeless.² I appreciate history, really. I have a degree in it! But keeping poverty and homelessness in mind, couldn’t Utah have thought of something better to do with $227 million than put flat screen televisions, wireless internet, and dead mormons in their capital building?