LongFellow Bridge Conundrum
Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 18:35
Posted by Giovanni Diviacchi
Massachusetts is repairing and upgrading the LongFellow Bridge over the Charles River. Built in 1907 with decorative stone and lined with cast iron trim, the design is a lost art and way too expensive to replicate. The government decided to remove the iron trim at each stage of the construction and store it in a public works yard.
When translated into the language of certain public servants, this means, “Take the opportunity to load the cast iron trim onto a government truck and take it to a scrap metal yard where it can be sold for personal profit.” The market value for the metallic art was $500,000. They sold it for $12,000. The stuff is now razor blades. They have been arrested.
Now the real conundrum: Should they be charged with the theft of $500,000 worth of goods or only $12,000 worth? Or, irregardless of the worth, should they be put away for risking a government pension for a lousy $12,000?
Submitted by the cast of "Law(yers) Can Be Funny, too: Tipping the scales of justice, one joke at a time" Saturday, November 8th, 8:00pm, at the DC Improv Comedy Lounge, 1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington DC 20036 From the center of the free world, where the rule of law reigns supreme, a group of lawyers will band together and lead the way towards helping the citizens of this great country in their pursuit of life, liberty, and a sense of humor. A standup comedy show featuring several lawyers and the author of a joke book for lawyers. Performers include: Martin Dennis, James Dechard, Rishi Nangia, Giovanni Diviacchi, Phillip J. Mause, and Frank Schuchat.
When translated into the language of certain public servants, this means, “Take the opportunity to load the cast iron trim onto a government truck and take it to a scrap metal yard where it can be sold for personal profit.” The market value for the metallic art was $500,000. They sold it for $12,000. The stuff is now razor blades. They have been arrested.
Now the real conundrum: Should they be charged with the theft of $500,000 worth of goods or only $12,000 worth? Or, irregardless of the worth, should they be put away for risking a government pension for a lousy $12,000?
Submitted by the cast of "Law(yers) Can Be Funny, too: Tipping the scales of justice, one joke at a time" Saturday, November 8th, 8:00pm, at the DC Improv Comedy Lounge, 1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington DC 20036 From the center of the free world, where the rule of law reigns supreme, a group of lawyers will band together and lead the way towards helping the citizens of this great country in their pursuit of life, liberty, and a sense of humor. A standup comedy show featuring several lawyers and the author of a joke book for lawyers. Performers include: Martin Dennis, James Dechard, Rishi Nangia, Giovanni Diviacchi, Phillip J. Mause, and Frank Schuchat.
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