Mostly Plants

Incorrigible Dicta: the New CPCS Public Defender Blog

Borealis — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:01:17 +0000

Announcing the new Unofficial CPCS Public Defender Blog, Incorrigible Dicta! Dicta was conceived during New Lawyer training this year and carried to term by new lawyers Alejandro Ramos (Springfield DCU) and Andy Cowan (Lowell DCU). The blog will be serving sentences (as well as paragraphs, phrases, and even articles) at http://www.dictablog.net. Dicta is intended to have a [...]

Overheard at the Crag

Borealis — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:23:22 +0000

On a particularly sharp climb at Peter’s Kill Climber:”What’s this red stuff coming out of my knuckles?” Belayer: “That’s personal weakness! You’re forcing it out by climbing!”

Marijuana Policy: MA Residents vote YES on 2!

Borealis — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:15:27 +0000

This November, Massachusetts voters will have the opportunity to vote for a referendum to decriminalize possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana. Voting YES will keep casual users out of jail, save the state millions of dollars, and free up space in the jails. Please allow me to address some common arguments from opponents of [...]

Pro Bono is Antisocial, US Judge Says

Borealis — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:29:23 +0000

From Second Circuit Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs: Pro bono work primarily is an “antisocial” and self-serving activity lawyers use to develop their skills, firms use to recruit and “give solace” to associates, and nonprofits use to further a political agenda, Judge Jacobs argued. In particular, litigation against the government and government officials and impact litigation are attempts [...]

Climbing the Trap Dike

Borealis — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:46:46 +0000

The “Trap Dike” is a lovely little route up Mount Colden, in the Adirondacks, that ranges in quality from dry, blocky scramble to raging waterfall. This is the story of how four intrepid adventurers from the Free Outing Club of Cornell/Ithaca ascended the dike in “slightly runny” conditions. All photos are courtesy of my coadventurer Elaine [...]

Wyoming Part 2: Arrival at Grand Teton

Borealis — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:52:49 +0000

August 6, 2008 Around 7 AM Gros Ventre Camp August 5: Morning at Brooks Lake is gorgeous! We filled up our H20 at the lake, and I shot the panorama shown in the previous post. After some trouble with the stove, we had Quinoa cereal that Adrienne made for breakfast. The last time I had quinoa for breakfast [...]

FL: Freedom of Press Still Works

Borealis — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:18:19 +0000

In case you were wondering: the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal announced yesterday that a newspaper cannot be barred from covering its own trial. The Orange County Register is being sued by 6,000 current and former newspaper carriers on some labor law issues that are not all that interesting. What is interesting is the two [...]

Garden: Not a Total Loss

Borealis — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:32:45 +0000

Some of you, my dear readers, may have wondered what ever happened to my garden. The short answer is I stopped paying it much attention after the first week of July, when I started caring about the bar. I had assumed it was a total loss. When I moved to Massachusetts I showed the plot to [...]

I file false reports!

Borealis — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:25:56 +0000

Overheard in court today: ["Victim" testifies that she was out riding her bike during an ice storm in December when she suddenly saw headlights, heading straight for her. She blacked out, and the next thing she remembers, she's on the ground with her bicycle on top of her. She has trouble getting up, due to "all [...]

Pumpkin Ale

Borealis — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:15:39 +0000

Last night, with the aid of my friend Stephanie, I started a pumpkin ale. This entry is mostly for my reference, but published in hopes that somebody else may find it useful. For a 5-gallon batch: 2 cans light Light Malt Extract 1/2 lb German Crystal dark malt 1/4 lb Chocolate Malt 1 lb flaked barley (looks like oatmeal) 1 [...]