March 9, 2008 :: Chipotle's fun facts

Wikipedia's Chipotle's Mexican Grill page which says things I didn't know.

First, Chipotle is a Denver, CO based company.  The place started here!  Wow.

Second, McDonald's doesn't own any part of them anymore.  in 2005, it controlled 92% of the stocks, but for undisclosed reasons, divested totally in 2006.  Maybe because they started their own burrito interest in McD's, there's no more Chipotle McBurrito.

Third, Their meat is mostly organic or at least very "natural" and with so many stores, so much demand, they have remarkable clout.

Fourth, all locations are corporately owned, not franchised.

Lastly, the original location of Chipotle is the one I enjoy the least, near Denver University on Evans Ave.  It's a micro Chipotle with, like three tables and a line that usually goes out the door.  Blew my mind when I read it was the original location.  I found a site with photos of it here: Picures of the original DU Chipotle

Ok, that's it.

Mar 5, 2008 :: more snow

March 2, 2008 :: Making breadsticks

Bread dough
300 g flour
pinch of salt
herbs (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary)
liquid: warm water, yeast, honey (about a cup)

Mix, knead, flour, place in covered bowl, and put in warm place to proof...it should double in size.

Preheat oven to 450

Sauce
5-6 tomatoes (vine ripened or roma)
half a red onion (small to medium diced)
4 cloves garlic (roughly diced)
basil, thyme
olive oil
bake for 35 minutes partially covered

turn out dough
sheet pan w/parchment paper - sprinkle with masa
portion the dough into 3/4 inch knobs
roll into breadsticks
top with eggwash or olive oil
sprinkle with salt
bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown

Mar 1, 2008 :: Holly's a cutie!

Couldn't be happier with my gal!

Mar 1, 2008 :: Virginia Court ruling may be fatal for HRTA -- dailypress.com

This article from my old hometown is a good article on a classic con law/admin law hypo of in-state federalism and the issue of protecting one municipality from another's elected officials, separation of powers (delegating taxing authority), and an administrative agency (a general-assembly created transportation authority) trying to overreach.

Seems like the whole problem could have been avoided by having the authority submit its "proposed taxing plan" to the general assembly to ratify instead of having a direct taxing authority.

Court ruling may be fatal for HRTA -- dailypress.com

"The Virginia Supreme Court stripped taxing power away from the controversial Hampton Roads Transportation Authority on Friday, unanimously ruling that the regional body and a similar panel in Northern Virginia are unconstitutional.

In a 23-page opinion written by Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, the court said the General Assembly attempted to sidestep the constitutional protections against tax increases by passing that power down to local officials."

Hmmm.

Feb 29, 2008 :: Recording classes with my compuer :: Mac podcast/audio tips 1: Microphones

Enterprise Mac | Tom Yager | InfoWorld | Mac podcast/audio tips 1: Microphones | March 28, 2006 01:09 PM | By Tom Yager: "Mac podcast/audio tips 1: Microphones
Filed under: Creative Pro

The podcasting craze gives me an opportunity to dust off my professional audio producer's cap. I'm having a blast, and as I climb back in, it strikes me that some of the knowledge I take for granted isn't that common for folks who are just taking up podcasting, streaming, soundtracks and other do-it-yourself digital audio."

Feb 26, 2008 :: More snow

It's 2:30am and it's snowed less than an inch since 11pm.

What a weak showing of snow since the average per occurrance over the past month has been 2-10 inches.

Sunday on Mt. Evans, it was snowing quite nicely, good wind blowing, and my beautiful bride and I did a good 1500 feet of ascent up the snow trail in waist deep powder on either side of the lofted several inch thick trail pack.  Fun.