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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
To heat or not - that is the question
So... Capitol Swell says that it is bad to keep pastries and croissants under a heat lamp but that muffins are ok.
I disagree. I think we need to break this down even more.
There is a fundamental difference between pastries with filling (fruit or dairy based) and pastries without filling. (Also please note - bagels and donuts are not included in this discussion.)
Pastries with filling can really hurt you if they are hot. I have burnt my tounge more than once on a poptart.
Pastries without filling such as muffins AND croissants are better when warm. This is a fundamental truth.
I'm not sure what else I need to say about this.
I disagree. I think we need to break this down even more.
There is a fundamental difference between pastries with filling (fruit or dairy based) and pastries without filling. (Also please note - bagels and donuts are not included in this discussion.)
Pastries with filling can really hurt you if they are hot. I have burnt my tounge more than once on a poptart.
Pastries without filling such as muffins AND croissants are better when warm. This is a fundamental truth.
I'm not sure what else I need to say about this.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My turn at the helm...
Well... it has been a while since it was my job to hold down the fort until last votes. I guess it could be worse. It looks like i will get out of here by 8 and hopefully be on the 8:40 train. I was hoping the boss would tell me to just go home - but no dice. Honestly - if we worked until midnight today and tomorrow just so we don't have to work on Saturday I totally would. Working on the weekends is BS. There should be no need for it. Of course, now that we are going to vote on a CR that will take us to 12/21 then maybe there isn't a need to work on Saturday. I hope so.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
My Birthday
I turned the big 31 the other day. Woo Hoo. No one cares when you turn 31. Last year was cool b/c we had a huge party and everyone was there and I had a great time. This year was still nice (got a great present from S.O. - going to see Ave. Q @ the Hipprodrome) but a lot less exciting. I guess every birthday can't be a huge party... S.O. and I had a lovely dinner at Pazza Luna and then went out for drinks with N & C at Captain Larry's. I can't wait for the smoke ban to go into effect. My clothes smelled like ASS. I had to leave them in the hallway b/c i didn't want them stinking up my bedroom. 50 days to go. Ban goes into effect on February 1, 2008. Gosh i can't wait!
Vick Sentenced
So, Michael Vick was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 23 months and 29 days in jail for his crimes. I don't have much to say about this other than I understand b/c of sentencing guidlines that it was unlikely he would get less time than his "co-defendents" but it still makes you think about what is wrong with our judicial system when someone convicted of RAPE and MANSLAUGHTER against a HUMAN BEING gets less time in jail than someone who committed crimes against ANIMALS. I love animals. I think Vick got what he deserved - But i also think that we need to seriously think about increasing the penalities for crimes committed against humans - rather than lowering them for crimes against animals.
I pretty much agree with everything in the following article.
The Sentence Reflects the Lies
By Michael Wilbon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; E01
ATLANTA -- It caught most of us by surprise, the length of the sentence handed down Monday, when perhaps it shouldn't have. When two of his co-conspirators were sentenced a few weeks back to 18 and 21 months respectively, we should have known Michael Vick wasn't going to get a year or 15 months. He wasn't going to get less jail time than the people who delivered him to the feds. He wasn't going to get less jail time when it was his money that financed the dogfighting enterprise that was his undoing.
Maybe we were caught by surprise because we thought there was still a little bit of influence left in Vick's name, because he reported to jail before it was time, because he's a celebrity athlete and we're accustomed to most people in the culture being lenient when it comes to the rich and famous, or perhaps because the St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little got only 90 days in the city workhouse and four years probation for killing a motorist when driving while drunk, which turned into an involuntary manslaughter plea.
The talk turned, very prematurely we can see now, to whether Vick could be back for the 2009 season, maybe even by minicamp that spring. Clearly, none of this mattered to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal prison. It was a stunner to digest, from the time assessed to the fact that Vick was dressed in black-and-white prison garb instead of one of his own suits, which a whole lot of hardened criminals are allowed to wear to sentencing. Immediately, it seemed downright excessive and meant to embarrass. More serious crimes yield smaller sentences all the time, every day really. In fact, the entire reaction to Vick's heinous behavior at times has seemed excessive in the context of crimes like rape and manslaughter.
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, yet he and his crime didn't generate anything close to the outrage of the Vick case. I have no tolerance for what Vick did, from financing the enterprise to actually killing dogs. Jail is where he deserves to be. But have we really come to the point, agitated by the frighteningly influential animal rights lobbyists, where an animal's well-being is more important than a woman's? It's sad if our priorities are that twisted. The reaction to Vick's crime reached a feeding frenzy that seems to ignore all context.
I was reminded by multiple lawyers Monday night, one in my own family, that it needs to be restated that Vick's crime was a federal offense, carrying mandatory sentencing guidelines. There was virtually no chance he'd receive less jail time than his co-conspirators. And it's a near-certainty that Vick, once again, made his own situation worse by lying.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, drained by the day's ordeal before the start of the Falcons-Saints game, told me just before kickoff that, from all the information he solicited, Hudson "is incredibly thoughtful, bright and fair. And there's information we weren't privy to that drove him to his decision on this." It was impossible to not see the disappointment on Blank's face, like a parent who is angry with his child but in despair nonetheless. On the topic of whether the sentence was excessive, Blank lamented that "Michael had been something less than forthcoming since his plea agreement."
In other words, Vick simply lied too many times. He lied about whether he actually killed any dogs, then admitted to hanging two. Testing positive for marijuana certainly hurt. Vick failed an FBI polygraph and lied about a positive marijuana test in September. In fact, Hudson told Vick in court Monday afternoon, "I'm not convinced you've fully accepted responsibility."
In other words, the early surrender, the public apology, the participation in an animal sensitivity training course might have impressed PETA to some degree, but it was not enough for the judge to outweigh Vick's constant lying, going all the way back to the spring of 2007 when he lied to Blank and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the depth of his involvement. Vick was denied an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. Reportedly, federal prosecutors opposed giving him the credit.
In other words, every time Vick could have done himself some good, he lied or failed to take responsibility for his actions. Seeing that, Hudson nailed him.
It's fair to wonder now at what point Vick will take responsibility -- and not in some phony public relations way. This doesn't have anything to do with the NFL and what the commissioner's office thinks. It doesn't matter to me at the moment whether Michael Vick comes back as a quarterback or a running back, to the Falcons or Raiders, or whether he comes back at all.
For essentially the next two years Michael Vick will be incarcerated, not free to come and go as he pleases. At some point you have to hope Vick comes to realize the key to his future isn't what Hudson thinks, or what Blank or Goodell or those who will excuse him any act feel, but whether Vick understands that it's going to be difficult to build any kind of tolerable future without coming to grips with his recent past.
I pretty much agree with everything in the following article.
The Sentence Reflects the Lies
By Michael Wilbon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; E01
ATLANTA -- It caught most of us by surprise, the length of the sentence handed down Monday, when perhaps it shouldn't have. When two of his co-conspirators were sentenced a few weeks back to 18 and 21 months respectively, we should have known Michael Vick wasn't going to get a year or 15 months. He wasn't going to get less jail time than the people who delivered him to the feds. He wasn't going to get less jail time when it was his money that financed the dogfighting enterprise that was his undoing.
Maybe we were caught by surprise because we thought there was still a little bit of influence left in Vick's name, because he reported to jail before it was time, because he's a celebrity athlete and we're accustomed to most people in the culture being lenient when it comes to the rich and famous, or perhaps because the St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little got only 90 days in the city workhouse and four years probation for killing a motorist when driving while drunk, which turned into an involuntary manslaughter plea.
The talk turned, very prematurely we can see now, to whether Vick could be back for the 2009 season, maybe even by minicamp that spring. Clearly, none of this mattered to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal prison. It was a stunner to digest, from the time assessed to the fact that Vick was dressed in black-and-white prison garb instead of one of his own suits, which a whole lot of hardened criminals are allowed to wear to sentencing. Immediately, it seemed downright excessive and meant to embarrass. More serious crimes yield smaller sentences all the time, every day really. In fact, the entire reaction to Vick's heinous behavior at times has seemed excessive in the context of crimes like rape and manslaughter.
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, yet he and his crime didn't generate anything close to the outrage of the Vick case. I have no tolerance for what Vick did, from financing the enterprise to actually killing dogs. Jail is where he deserves to be. But have we really come to the point, agitated by the frighteningly influential animal rights lobbyists, where an animal's well-being is more important than a woman's? It's sad if our priorities are that twisted. The reaction to Vick's crime reached a feeding frenzy that seems to ignore all context.
I was reminded by multiple lawyers Monday night, one in my own family, that it needs to be restated that Vick's crime was a federal offense, carrying mandatory sentencing guidelines. There was virtually no chance he'd receive less jail time than his co-conspirators. And it's a near-certainty that Vick, once again, made his own situation worse by lying.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, drained by the day's ordeal before the start of the Falcons-Saints game, told me just before kickoff that, from all the information he solicited, Hudson "is incredibly thoughtful, bright and fair. And there's information we weren't privy to that drove him to his decision on this." It was impossible to not see the disappointment on Blank's face, like a parent who is angry with his child but in despair nonetheless. On the topic of whether the sentence was excessive, Blank lamented that "Michael had been something less than forthcoming since his plea agreement."
In other words, Vick simply lied too many times. He lied about whether he actually killed any dogs, then admitted to hanging two. Testing positive for marijuana certainly hurt. Vick failed an FBI polygraph and lied about a positive marijuana test in September. In fact, Hudson told Vick in court Monday afternoon, "I'm not convinced you've fully accepted responsibility."
In other words, the early surrender, the public apology, the participation in an animal sensitivity training course might have impressed PETA to some degree, but it was not enough for the judge to outweigh Vick's constant lying, going all the way back to the spring of 2007 when he lied to Blank and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the depth of his involvement. Vick was denied an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. Reportedly, federal prosecutors opposed giving him the credit.
In other words, every time Vick could have done himself some good, he lied or failed to take responsibility for his actions. Seeing that, Hudson nailed him.
It's fair to wonder now at what point Vick will take responsibility -- and not in some phony public relations way. This doesn't have anything to do with the NFL and what the commissioner's office thinks. It doesn't matter to me at the moment whether Michael Vick comes back as a quarterback or a running back, to the Falcons or Raiders, or whether he comes back at all.
For essentially the next two years Michael Vick will be incarcerated, not free to come and go as he pleases. At some point you have to hope Vick comes to realize the key to his future isn't what Hudson thinks, or what Blank or Goodell or those who will excuse him any act feel, but whether Vick understands that it's going to be difficult to build any kind of tolerable future without coming to grips with his recent past.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Pooped On - AGAIN
look, i'm not crazy. They really are after me. We had a fire alarm pulled in my building this morning and so i went across the street to another building and just hung outside under the awning for the "all clear." As i'm waiting i get pooped on. AAAHHH!!! At least I was wearing a hat - but still - how gross.
I am not imagining this. They really are after me. It's happened before....
I am not imagining this. They really are after me. It's happened before....
Trying to get back into it....
I've been starting to run again. It is taking a really long time for me to recover from the half-marathon. It's been almost 2 months and i an only now starting to get myself back together.
My knees and ankles are killing me.
On Sunday I ran to the Fort and 2 times around before I had to head home (it was freezing cold!) This morning at the gym I ran 4.4 miles in 50 minutes (starting with a 2 minute walk, ran 20 min, walked 2 min, ran 25 min, walked 1 min). I really wanted to go further but my legs were killing me. I'm going to try again Friday morning and see how i do.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is coming up in April. Sign-up is next week. I really want to do it.
We'll see.
My knees and ankles are killing me.
On Sunday I ran to the Fort and 2 times around before I had to head home (it was freezing cold!) This morning at the gym I ran 4.4 miles in 50 minutes (starting with a 2 minute walk, ran 20 min, walked 2 min, ran 25 min, walked 1 min). I really wanted to go further but my legs were killing me. I'm going to try again Friday morning and see how i do.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is coming up in April. Sign-up is next week. I really want to do it.
We'll see.
Monday, December 03, 2007
YEA VT!
We beat Boston College in the ACC Championship Game and we will be playing Kansas in the Orange Bowl on January 3rd. I was attending a baby shower at the same time the game was on so I didn't see much of it. It was on the TV but the sound was low and with so much going on during the party that it was difficult to focus on the game. I did hear the last 5 minutes or so on the radio on my way home. YEA! We are going into our bowl game ranked # 3 in the country!! How awesome is that!
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