<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Latest Comments from obsidianpotency.blog-city.com</title><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/</link><description>(Latest Comments) </description><copyright>Copyright 2008 obsidianpotency.blog-city.com</copyright><generator></generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:48:00 GMT</lastBuildDate><image><title>Latest Comments from obsidianpotency.blog-city.com</title><url>http://server1.blog-city.com/images/bc_v5_logo_small.gif</url><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/</link></image><ttl>360</ttl><docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss</docs><item><title>The Party</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_party.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_party.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:42:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Too bad it was somewhat of a long drive for me to go, I loved your last party!<br/>left by: Heloisa]]></description></item><item><title>Ozomatli Show [edit]</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/ozomatli_show.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/ozomatli_show.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 22:18:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[You said it! Ozo is one fun band & a bunch of great guys!<br/>left by: fokey_hotay]]></description></item><item><title>Some of the wines I tried this time around in Napa</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/some_of_the_wines_i_tried_this_time_around_in_napa.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/some_of_the_wines_i_tried_this_time_around_in_napa.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:39:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[that's funny, because as i was reading this post, i thought to myself, "that's so uncharacteristic of j___ to say 'zin' instead of 'zinfandel.'  that sounds so affected."  then i read your last line.  you're safe.<br/>left by: Thomas Kim]]></description></item><item><title>Pulled Over Twice</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/pulled_over_twice.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/pulled_over_twice.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:47:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Some guys can just be pricks about anything. I was pulled over twice on a single 45 minute commute in CA for being a month late on my registration. The first guy, Mr. White, was very cordial and even kind enough to be understanding when he gave me the fixit ticket. The second, Mr. Black, was petty and despite me showing him the fixit ticket and readily giving him the already-out license and registration, he double checked with headquarters just to be a super prick.

In most cases, the officers are more concerned about their safety than anything. It is possible your Mr. White was in the middle of psychologically amping himself for a chase and the possibility of danger and was acting out of misplaced energy when he scolded you. Not a good excuse, but one none-the-less. 

I've been told the safest way to deal with these prick guys is to make an effort to show you are harmless. When pulled over, don't pre-emptively get your license and registration. Don't make any movements to go to the back of the car, simply put your hands up on the wheel or where he (and his bright headlights) can see them. Wait patiently, and address the officer politely, but carefully to avoid any possibility of perceived sarcasm (ie, call him/her "officer," not maam or sir). When they ask how fast you think they were going, it is meant to be a trap to admit guilt. Saying either "I don't know" or the speed limit gives you ground to stand on if you are ticketed unfairly.

I forgot where I read all that, but it was from some traffic patrolman somewhere. Good luck and avoid the police.<br/>left by: Scott]]></description></item><item><title>Valid Whole Foods Bashing</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:19:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[I'll have to see.  It's all so case specific, since we don't have a Trader Joes in Cville (would go there weekly if we did!).  I haven't revisited the organic butcher I mentioned since I found cartilage pellets in my ground beef.  I haven't got lamb at WF since I bought a really whiffy pair of legs during the summer.  Either could have been a fluke occurrence.  Harris Teeter is my default store, so it would be my first place to check.

And hey, maybe the local organic lamb isn't flown in from New Zealand as is WF's?  When you live in VA it would be hard to find a place further off than Kiwiland.<br/>left by: the_rob]]></description></item><item><title>Valid Whole Foods Bashing</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:09:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[About the meat: why get meat at Whole Foods when you can now get an increasingly wide variety of organic meat from normal grocery stores?  You can even get organic meat at Costco.  I feel as though your comparison should not be whether or not Whole Foods Meat is the same as Kroger's meat -- it should be whether Whole Foods' organic meat is substantively more humane than Kroger's or Giant's organic meat.  I'm not sure that it is. 

Your other points are well taken.  but I will say that frozen quick-serve stuff is often pretty comparable coming from a place like Trader Joe's.<br/>left by: jcabana]]></description></item><item><title>Valid Whole Foods Bashing</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/valid_whole_foods_bashing.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 2007 12:19:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Why I shop at Whole Foods:

1.) The hot bar.  When I'm on the go, they do provide a decent range of healthy, tasty food.

2.) The meat.  I generally get my meat either from them or from a local organic butcher.  At this point in life, I think I can afford to select for meat that has been farmed in a more humane fashion (assuredly the cow or lamb did not die of old age).  If I get data that tells me that animals destined for Whole Foods are treated as badly as animals destined for Kroger, I'll reconsider.  I wouldn't qualify this as a purely environmental rationale; if it was, I should have gone vegetarian by now.  It's more of an ethical thing.

3.) The selection.  Any time I need a hard-to-find ingredient WF is a good bet (though we also have a great market called Foods of All Nations).  It helps that WF offers spices by weight.

4.) The store brand food is pretty good.  I still need a lot of quickie meals, and they do a decent job with frozen stuff (and I'd prefer my frozen food to be things like chicken biryani, which I wouldn't find at Giant, Kroger or Teeter)

At the end of the day I would suspect a lot of people go there for particular things, like I do, without falling entirely in love with the place.  $3 for a pound of onions is a bit much, no matter what your station in life.  Grocery shopping is an inherently pragmatic enterprise, both in the pursuit of value and the ethical side of it.  I think folks will settle for something that seems relatively better when a set of goals - environmental and otherwise - are assessed.<br/>left by: the_rob]]></description></item><item><title>Pulled Over Twice</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/pulled_over_twice.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/pulled_over_twice.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:47:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Actually, you are allowed to pull over wherever you feel most comfortable.  In the future, if you get pulled over in a location you are uncomfortable, you are supposed to call 911 on your cell phone and tell the dispatcher where you are and that you will pull over, but to a location where you feel more comfortable. 
Either way, shitty attitude, fuckers.<br/>left by: faux-eonix]]></description></item><item><title>The List: Best Rappers of All-Time - Part 2 (#6 - #1)</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_list_best_rappers_of_alltime__part_2.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_list_best_rappers_of_alltime__part_2.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:29:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[pretty impressive not having Big L on the list....<br/>left by: Glenn R]]></description></item><item><title>The witch-hunt nears its climax.</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_witchhunt_nears_its_climax.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_witchhunt_nears_its_climax.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:27:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Hey, you nailed it.  You brought in all the nuances involved.  Barry Bonds, Michael Vick (as though he's the commander and chief of dog fighting.  This has been going on for over 100 years), and O.J. (even though I believe he did it) - they love this guy!

You mentioned Gonzales.  These folks can out a CIA operative and THAT'S not enough to get them locked up.  Hell, this President is running around lawlessly getting innocent people killed and there is no scream for his butt to be locked up.  Yet, we can go after athlete's and lock them up for putting something in THEIR body.  He's Black and the Home Run King.  Too many don't like that.  Look at what they put Hank Aaron through when he threatened to take the title from Babe Ruth (who had an unsavory background) and Hank led an impeccable life.  

Osama Bin Laden has to be proud of what Bush has done to this country and the world.  WHY AREN'T WE LOCKING HIM AND CHENEY UP FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS?<br/>left by: The Capt.]]></description></item><item><title>Why Food Donations Fail.</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/why_food_donations_fail.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/why_food_donations_fail.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:38:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Thanks for your comment.  I took a look, and I think the organization you referenced has created what seems to be a very good model for tackling this issue.  

At the same time, I'd have to say that when it comes to food donation, the idea that 'something is better than nothing' has done more harm that good...and has been a major contributor to the harmful cycle referenced in the article above.  The organization you volunteer time to seems to have done an excellent job of separating themselves from the 'soup kitchens' that dot the American landscape -- and given their own description, it seems they'd agree there are very good reasons for doing so.  

For another organization that actually makes lasting interventions in people's lives (albeit not directed towards helping people in the United States), please check out http://www.papashome.org .<br/>left by: jcabana]]></description></item><item><title>Why Food Donations Fail.</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/why_food_donations_fail.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/why_food_donations_fail.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:28:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Nikki told me you had a blog... interesting post... but I have, on a more positive note, two points to make:

A) Something is always better then nothing; even in a situation a seemingly bottomless as hunger and poverty within the United States.

B) This is why I (and hopefully other people!) choose to volunteer my time and donate my money to places like DC Central Kitchen (http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/whoweare.php)... they address both the issue of hunger AND helping the homeless who they serve break the cycle of poverty they're in. It's a fantastic organization and one of my favorite places in the city. 

Have a great Thanksgiving!<br/>left by: Liz]]></description></item><item><title>The Real Cobra Kai: Patriots - Code Red</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:30:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[I am actually hoping the Patriots make it to the Superbowl with a perfect record and face Favre and the Packers.  If that happened, I think all of America would be chanting, "Ich bin ein Cheeseheader."<br/>left by: Thomas Kim]]></description></item><item><title>The Real Cobra Kai: Patriots - Code Red</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:23:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Points well taken about baseball v. football.

About not being able to erase all the knowledge gained, that's very interesting.  When Shula commented that a perfect season would be tainted, almost everybody said, "That's ridiculous, since they were caught at halftime of the first game and have won clean since then.  And they would have beaten the Jets regardless of cheating."  But if their cheating, even from years past, can still be used, then Shula is completely right.  Do you agree?

I think this is all moot now, since the Patriots definitely didn't run up the score against the Bills.  That was a tight game!!!<br/>left by: Thomas Kim]]></description></item><item><title>The Real Cobra Kai: Patriots - Code Red</title><guid isPermaLink="true">http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</guid><link>http://obsidianpotency.blog-city.com/the_real_cobra_kai_code_red.htm#comments</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:14:00 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Comparing a field sport like baseball to a sport like football is like comparing apples and oranges.  There are a couple of reasons the comparison is false: for one, in baseball there is no clock.  So no matter how many runs you score, there is a chance the other team could come back if they have another opportunity to bat (no matter how remote that chance is).  Same with kickball, or any other 'bases' sport.  

Second, most baseball teams cannot make substitutions en masse.   You can't bench all your frontline players - there just aren't enough active players on a roster, and you have to go through your batting order no matter what.   But with a big lead, you can bet that bunting and stealing bases wouldn't be high on the priority list of the winning team.  In the end, for most teams in any sport it's about minimizing risk and avoiding humiliating your opponent.  

Regarding your point about the Patriots trying to "show everyone what they can do without cheating": it's too late.  By many accounts, the team had been videotaping opposing teams' signals for years - and keeping the tapes in a library.  That kind of information could potentially provide a lasting advantage, and the information gleaned from it could be used over and over again wherever those opposing coaches ended up taking jobs.  As Tony Kornheiser put it, "Tom Brady is in receipt of stolen goods." Just because the team signed a letter stating all the tapes had been destroyed doesn't mean all the illicit knowledge gained from them just disappears into a black hole.  Even assuming the Patriots are telling the truth, you can't erase all the knowledge gained from it from their heads...or from their prior record of victories.

That means no matter what they do from here on out, the cheating episode will follow them.  No perfect season or number of points scored will change that.  As an intelligent person, Bill Belichick must know this at some level - which is why pouting and being a bully makes him a dick as well as a man on a (ultimately futile) mission.<br/>left by: jcabana]]></description></item></channel></rss>