While I'm impressed with the physical play, I'm also shocked. It certainly didn't resemble good sportsmanship, but it was gamesmanship. This was dirty play, some on the part of BYU (those crazy Mormons!), but mostly on the part of New Mexico Lobo, Elizabeth Lambert. I've been around sports as a player and a coach, and not once have I seen or known of a female athlete willing to play this aggressively, pushing the limits when the officials weren't looking...except in water polo, where multiple suits are a necessity.
Last Sunday, I got a call from one of my work friends. He had an extra ticket to go see Jimmy Fallon, and invited me to go with him on Tuesday. I jumped at it, as I really like the show, and expecially love the great stuff he does in place of a monologue (he still does one, but it's usually short, because he's not so great at it). Those segments are usually very creative, and may include funny games like Spin the Wheel of Carpet Samples or Cell Phone Battles, karaoke of recent news stories, slow jammin' the news, or Dance your Hat & Gloves Off. He's creative, and Jimmy doesn't mind laughing like a fan at his guests. Additionally, this is the man that is trying to pull together a Saved by the Bell reunion on his show, and having fun with the stars of the former Saturday morning tween hit. Plus, Jimmy has the greatest house band ever, the Roots (aka the legendary Roots crew).
Tuesday came, and as we waited for the train, we discussed that night's guests. We both agreed, with Sandler on Friday and Leslie Mann on Wednesday, that seeing Sean "Diddy" Combs on Tuesday was sort of a let down. But I did give the caveat, that Diddy could be a wildcard, and would still probably be very entertaining. My friend added that there was also "some fat chick from a weight loss show" and "Tom something" from a cooking show. It was hard to mask my excitement at the possibility to see Tom Colicchio, as I feel he is the most badass chef on TV, starring on Top Chef, and expressed my opinion to my friend & coworker. S loves the show, and I think he's pretty cool. The "fat chick" turned out to be the girl who played Tracy in HairSpray, so that was equally exciting, as we all know I'm a closet musical fan...HEY HEY HEY, not THAT kind of closet musical fan...I just like them, but don't let on to most friends, as it could diminish my machismo. Finally, there was Diddy...HILLARIOUS. See the clip below...
After the show, we hustled to the express train, and got to the car around 8ish. That gave us enough time to stop at one of the satellite shops of the GREATEST PIZZA PLACE IN THE WORLD. All in all, a great day...
"The case against Knox has so many holes in it, and is so tied to the career of a powerful Italian prosecutor who is under indictment for professional misconduct, that any fair-minded jury would have thrown it out months ago" — Pulitzer-Prize-winning New York Times columnist Timothy Egan
I just finished reading Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi's the Monster of Florence. The Monster is a person or group that terrorized the Florentine countryside, murdering young lovers from at least 1974 to the mid-1980s. However, the same gun and ammunition used in the Monster killings was also used in a multiple homicide in 1968, as well. Throughout the book on this Florentine serial killer is an underlying indictment of the Italian justice system. Not only does this book criticize the investigative techniques of the multi-armed Italian police system, but also the ways in which the judiciary branch of the government can fail to provide citizens (and visitors) basic civil rights.
The final few chapters bring the focus away from the Monster case, but on a more modern one. The case involves the 2007 murder of an English student, Meredith Kercher. Both Preston and Spezi were falsely accused by the current chief investigator of the Monster case, Giuliano Mignini. For his false accusations, his belief in conspiracy theories, and the false imprisonment of Mario Spezi, Mignini is under investigation for abuse of power. However, such an investigation does not disallow Mignini from heading the investigation and prosecution in the Kercher case. Within this case, one of the accused is an American student from Seattle, Amanda Knox. Amanda Knox was bullied in her interrogation by Mignini, who took advantage of a girl with limited Italian.
Furthermore, the investigation of the Kercher murder was a blunder of crime scene investigation. It is believed that Mignini leaked inflammatory and false information to the press, to shed poor light on this girl, Amanda Knox. Thus, in the court of public opinion in Italy, Amanda Knox was guilty.
To make matters worse, to begin with, her hometown newspapers merely retreaded the Italian press, rather than sending reporters to cover the case themselves. Unfortunately, even in her home, Amanda was viewed as guilty even before her trial. It took months, but eventually, the mainstream American press has caught on to such a high-profile case. From December 2007 to April of this year, CBS did some investigation of their own into the case. Here is what they uncovered.
Giuliano Mignini is a pompous individual, the likes of which should have no business working on such a high profile case. Especially since this fool has falsely imprisoned and tried members of the press, and has personally bullied and harassed another American through interrogations in that case. His biggest liability is his firm belief in a quack conspiracy theorist named Gabriella Carlizzi, who is obsessed with the occult. So, too, is Mignini. He NEEDS to find the murderer to save face after his previous (and very public) blunders.
In conclusion, while Meredith Kercher and her family deserve true justice, at the same time Amanda Knox deserves basic civil liberties that are clearly being denied her by the Perugian judiciary body. Mignini's conspiracy theories are nothing but bunk, but once he's on one track, the man refuses to take another course. Instead, the man calls evidence contrary to his own assertions to be part of a vast conspiracy to undermine the investigation. It is a sad state of affairs when justice is a game. In light of this man's past discretion as a prosecutor, I feel it is only necessary to FREE AMANDA, give her a fair trial, or acquit her of all charges.
Let it be known, that I always like a good dance routine. This, however, takes it to the next level. These are (seemingly) amateurs, looking to have a good time at a wedding. But, the party started right at the beginning of the ceremony. My personal favorite has to be the guy with the full beard. He let it all hang out.
I teach social studies and coach multiple sports. My spare time is spent running, managing several fantasy sports teams, watching the Red Sox or Notre Dame, and reading (usually sci-fi/fantasy novels).
Interests: history, football, running, fantasy sports, the Boston Red Sox, Notre Dame football
Random Question: You can punch a hole in an apple using a straw. How do you think that makes your milkshake feel? In a word? Afraid.
