If you deal with wine, you have to develop your sense of smell which consists of much of the wine connesour's ability to distinguish wine. I heard on NPR when I was in DC that such a kit exists that demonstrates the isolated scent of distinguishable wine scents. This kit sells for $400, which, to me these days, is a king's ransom. However, the news segment also mentioned the kit containing the twelve scents that wine lovers should know that SHOULD NOT be in their wines. The wine industry would rather us not have THIS information, but if you want to be serious about knowing when you've got a bad bottle, perhaps $109 plus tax and shipping is a good buy.

If you agree, then you should buy this: Make Scents of Wine 12 Aroma Faults Kit

The Make Scents of Wine Faults Kit is a perfect compliment to the Master Kit!

Questions Addressed:
- What are the major faults in the aromas of wine?
- How to recognize them?
- How did these faults occur?
- How and when can they be avoided?
- Can we eradicate them or lessen their effects?

FEATURES:
- 12 Aroma Vials
- A Booklet
- Presented in a cloth-bound book

12 Aroma Vials:
1) Vegetal, 2) Rotten Apple, 3) Vinegar, 4) Glue, 5) Soap, 6) Sulphur, 7) Rotten Egg, 8) Onion, 9) Cauliflower, 10) Horse, 11) Mouldy-Earth, 12) Cork

These 12 reference molecules are directly linked to the moecular composition of thes wines affected enabling the 12 faults most commonly found in wines to be memorized and identified.

Producers and consumers can now consult this guide at the slightest hint of problem. This kit is often used by wineries to test wines for faults! You will immediately know when the waiter has brought you a bad bottle!!

Feb 21, 2008 :: First client helped

For one of my clients with a jury trial, I spent at least 15-20 actual hours of preparation, not counting all the off hours, rolling through the voir dire, opening statement, closing statement, all the facts, all the direct testimony, and cross-examination.

We all showed up at 8am as court set it on the docket for the jury trial. My witnesses were there and were going to do slendidly, they were prepped and ready. My defendant was clearly in the right. I will probably never know what actually happened, but my suspicion is that all the preparation showed. I would expect that law students spend exponentially more time preparing for these "smaller charges" than a government prosecutor ever could or would spend. The fact is that the prosecutor, who spoke with the complaining witness, decided just before the case was assigned to a court with a jury, to dismiss the charges.

All dressed up with no place to go, and the client's goal was certainly fulfilled, without spending the day to do it. And then I got to go to a class I was certain I was going to miss.

Maybe it all does work out in the end.

Public defender staff paid lower than others -- dailypress.com

Public defender staff paid lower than others -- dailypress.com

Public defender staff paid lower than others
Some say those who defend poor clients should receive pay comparable to that of prosecutors they face in the courtroom."

...

Newport News Mayor Joe Frank said the City Council has supported boosting pay for prosecutors in the Commonwealth's Attorney's office "because crime is such a serious problem, and we should leave no stone unturned."

But Frank said he doesn't "have a lot of personal interest in supporting" supplements for public defender attorneys.

"Given all the needs we have in the city and the budget, it might not be a good time to be looking at new programs," he said.

Good article in the daily press on atty wages for newport news and hampton public defenders. Starting salary of $48k, up 28% from $38 only 18 months ago.

The city, through mayor joe frank, says that they'll support supplemental pay for the prosecutors, because "crime is such a problem." But will not support supplements to defenders for the same reason. Then the article quotes the newport news chief prosecutor saying that low pay in the defenders office makes it hard to keep good representation, and that bad representation from defenders causes many cases to be remanded to trial for such issues, either costing more money to prosecute or making prosecution impossible due to much time between trials, thereby forcing prosecutors to move that retrials be dismissed for lack of testimoney. Mayor's a strange man, huh?

Feb 10, 2008 :: Marines, asthma, and the VA (Man with asthma battling to get back into the Marines)

Here is a perfect govt beauracracy case: medically discharged for asthma, and suffering both the direct and indirect liabiities of a medical discharge from the marines, the VA won't give benefits because they medically evaluated him as not having asthma.

The twist is that all he wants is to serve the rest of his 20 years and retire, not the medical benefits from the VA.

I figured he's five years older than me: 42. and wants to be a sergeant again. wow. that's motivated.

Man with asthma battling to get back into the Marines -- dailypress.com

When Glenn Butorac enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983, he intended to make the military his career.

After 10 years of honorable service, he was given a severance check and told to hang up his uniform.

In 1993, after Butorac felt tightness in his chest while running with his unit, the Corps medically discharged him.

He had asthma, military doctors wrote in his medical file.

Now 42 and living in Newport News, Butorac is fighting to get back into the service, to be reinstated at least as a sergeant — his rank when he left the service — and to finish his military career.

Feb 6, 2008 :: class

February 2, 2008 :: Decisions, Decisions...

"Figuring things out for yourself is the only freedom any one really has. Use that freedom. Make up your own mind"

Michael Ironside
Starship Troopers

So true...

Dinner at dub's