This is just some text, no funny picture!
2008 has been an amazing year for us personally, with our wedding and honeymoon. We don't need presents -- this year's been full of them. We really just want to make sure all our friends and family know how much we love them.
We wish for you all the health and happiness 2009 can bring!
Merry Christmas,
Steve and Elise
ps. Good news! January 20th at noon, they take the nuclear button away from Bush.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
On the other hand...
This video shows a NYPD officer body-checking a cyclist during a "critical mass" ride:
Good thing this video exists. Why? Because the cops (a) dismissed his complaint against the officer, and (b) filed charges against the cyclist for obstructing traffic, and said he steered his bike into the officer.
To be as generous as possible, let's say the video doesn't support the claims of the cops. Well, good news. Officer Pogan has been indicted (though "of what" is not clear.)
But there's a broader point to be made here. Our dear Mr. Pogan body-checked that cyclist because he was certain he had the authority to get away with it. The authority to override the eyewitness accounts of everyone else on the scene. And were it not for this video, Mr. Pogan might have gotten away with it.
This is why authority must be challenged and checked at every step along the way.
Good thing this video exists. Why? Because the cops (a) dismissed his complaint against the officer, and (b) filed charges against the cyclist for obstructing traffic, and said he steered his bike into the officer.
To be as generous as possible, let's say the video doesn't support the claims of the cops. Well, good news. Officer Pogan has been indicted (though "of what" is not clear.)
But there's a broader point to be made here. Our dear Mr. Pogan body-checked that cyclist because he was certain he had the authority to get away with it. The authority to override the eyewitness accounts of everyone else on the scene. And were it not for this video, Mr. Pogan might have gotten away with it.
This is why authority must be challenged and checked at every step along the way.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Rock!
Last night I went to see Johnny Winter at Smith's Olde Bar with a coworker. Johnny's a hot player, but he's so old and frail that he played sitting down. So after three or four songs, I was done.
However, opening for him was a band, "BlackJack", that was comprised of four kids aged maybe twelve to fourteen. It was a little rough -- their chording of "Sweet Child o' Mine" was wrong, and the guitarist needs to get an amp that sounds better so he can turn it down. (Johnny's tone was sweet, sweet screaming at half the volume.) But the frontman, er, frontkid was great and the drummer was pretty solid. I imagine in a few years they'll get a better name, better gear, some of their own songs, and find some solid success.
They're on tour with Johnny Winter, they gotta make a contact or two out of that.
Anyway here's a bad iPhone picture of them from the back of the hall.
However, opening for him was a band, "BlackJack", that was comprised of four kids aged maybe twelve to fourteen. It was a little rough -- their chording of "Sweet Child o' Mine" was wrong, and the guitarist needs to get an amp that sounds better so he can turn it down. (Johnny's tone was sweet, sweet screaming at half the volume.) But the frontman, er, frontkid was great and the drummer was pretty solid. I imagine in a few years they'll get a better name, better gear, some of their own songs, and find some solid success.
They're on tour with Johnny Winter, they gotta make a contact or two out of that.
Anyway here's a bad iPhone picture of them from the back of the hall.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Beneficial
Johnny Rocker, a bartender at the Flatiron, fell off a ladder some weeks ago and cracked his skull and his cheekbone. Last night they held a benefit for him, and I bought $20 in raffle tickets (10 @ $2.) My friend Rebecca handed me her tickets as she left, so I had around twenty tickets for the raffle.
I won and won big. I walked away with:
- Two giveaway kits from Bath and Body Works
- A $50 gift certificate to 13 Roses Tattoo (I just don't know about getting a tat...)
- A $25 gift certificate to The Gravity Pub
- A gift certificate for one hour of massage
- A gift certificate for two tickets to a comedy show
There was still one round of raffle stuff remaining but I didn't stick around. I handed the rest of my tickets to a woman at the bar and took my loot home.
I won and won big. I walked away with:
- Two giveaway kits from Bath and Body Works
- A $50 gift certificate to 13 Roses Tattoo (I just don't know about getting a tat...)
- A $25 gift certificate to The Gravity Pub
- A gift certificate for one hour of massage
- A gift certificate for two tickets to a comedy show
There was still one round of raffle stuff remaining but I didn't stick around. I handed the rest of my tickets to a woman at the bar and took my loot home.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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