Aggie87

A couple of rehearsal pics... I'd love to see this show, but also fear it won't live up to the hype.

Vick sentenced to 23 months for dogfighting RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) -- Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively. Vick's stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia. Vick, 27, faced a maximum of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months. Animal rights protesters lined up outside the courthouse. Some carried signs with photographs of dogs, while others read "Dogs deserve justice," and "Report dog fighters." Vick and three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia. They are accused of torturing and killing dogs and promoting dogfights -- all felonies that carry five-year maximum sentences. In his August plea agreement, Vick admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation on his 15-acre property in rural Surry County in southeastern Virginia. Vick also admitted providing money for bets on the fights but said he never shared in any winnings. According to court documents, dogs that failed to show enough fighting spirit or lost matches were executed. Some dogs died by electrocution and others by hanging or drowning. Co-defendants told prosecutors that Vick assisted in executing the dogs, and that they "executed approximately eight dogs." After initially denying any involvement, Vick acknowledged participating in killing to dogs in his plea agreement with prosecutors. The suspended Atlanta Falcons star quarterback publicly apologized for his role in the dogfighting operation and unexpectedly turned himself in on November 19 to begin serving his prison term early. He has been held in a state jail in Warsaw, Virginia. Last month, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Purnell Peace, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to 18 months in prison. Quanis Phillips, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months. A third co-defendant, Tony Taylor of Hampton, Virginia will be sentenced Friday. He was the first to plead guilty. Peace, Phillips and Taylor entered plea agreements last summer under which they agreed to testify against Vick, prompting the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback to enter his own plea agreement a few days later. Vick agreed to pay more than $928,000 for the care of some 54 pit bulls seized from his property. Prosecutors also have disclosed the extent of Vick's financial ruin. According to court documents, the Atlanta Falcons are attempting to recoup bonus money from his 10-year, $130 million football contract, Vick is in default on a $1.3 million bank loan for a wine store, and two other banks have filed suits seeking repayment of a $4.5 million in loans and lines of credit. Vick's home in the Atlanta area is on the market for $4.5 million, prosecutors said in court papers. The Virginia home where the dogfighting operation was based, assessed at nearly $750,000, is on the auction block, according to reports published over the weekend. Vick's attorneys last month requested a jury trial on the state charges. It is set to begin in April.

I think they could be the stumbling block for a lot of playoff teams this year, including the Cowboys if they don't address those defensive lapses pronto. Folks around here know what it's like to have a team win a franchise record number of games, only to lose it all in the first round because obvious deficiencies were never addressed/corrected. Coughmaverickscough. Aggie, you OK? Sounds like you're choking on something....

I think they could be the stumbling block for a lot of playoff teams this year, including the Cowboys if they don't address those defensive lapses pronto. Folks around here know what it's like to have a team win a franchise record number of games, only to lose it all in the first round because obvious deficiencies were never addressed/corrected. Coughmaverickscough.

They're Classic(al) Rock!

Agg=dick! Belichick=dick! Jerry Jones=dick! On that we can certainly agree! Cheers!

Tomorrow's the big show! I'd love to hear your brother's view of the show, Ro-beer (if he's still going!)

Agg=dick! Belichick=dick!

Colts took Manning out midway through the third with a 44-7 lead over the Ravens. Maybe Belichick will learn a lesson in class and sportsmanship if he's watching tonight.

Cowboys were lucky to escape with a 28-27 win over Detroit today. The Lions outplayed the Cowboys in terms of effort for sure. The Cowboys seemed to have reverted to a very conservative gameplan on both offense and defense for some reason, instead of being typically aggressive. Kitna certainly "won" the battle of words between him and the Cowboys' Bradie James and Terence Newman though. I don't think he got sacked at all today, which has to be a first for the Lions this season. Eagles, Panthers, and Redskins remain on the schedule. The Boys could easily be 14-1 going into the finale against the Skins, and depending on whether they choose to rest their starters in that game, 15-1. Still a damn impressive season so far, despite being in the shadows of the Patriots' success. Though everyone else in the league is in that same shadow.

Happy Birthday, David!

Wise guys! Next time I ask BF's opinion, I'll be sure and give him more than 12 hours to think about answering!

Conn = thread killer

Too late now! LOL I'll have a beer and live chat instead! But thanks for the opinions - maybe next time they're in town.

Thx Lon - will have to pick that one up.

Who's on the Hutch date?

I think it's different from couple to couple - depends on the individuals, their comfort & trust levels, personalities and so forth.

I know what you mean. I installed a rain gutter over the back steps during a powerful buzz yesterday. Unfortunately, it was the wrong house. The owner was appreciative though, despite the 40 degree slant on the gutter.

Bump... If anyone's thinking about picking up the recent "Best of Quartet West" release, Newbury Comics is offering an autographed version for the normal retail price.

Has anyone seen these guys? They are in town here tonight, and I was wondering if they're worth checking out.

Man sentenced in bizarre diagnosing scam MONROE, La. -- A man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for bilking friends and family out of more than $800,000 by convincing them that his wife was a government agent who could arrange to have their medical problems diagnosed by satellite imaging. Brent Eric Finley, 38, of Rayville, was sentenced in federal court in Monroe to serve 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His wife, Stacey Finley, was sentenced in August to spend 63 months in prison and both are ordered to jointly pay restitution in the amount of $873,786.94. The Finleys pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud, according to court records. U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington said in a news release following Monday's sentencing of Brent Finley that the couple convinced numerous people that Stacey Finley was a CIA agent and with her contacts she could schedule a medical scan of the victims' bodies by satellite imaging that would detect any hidden medical problems. The Finley's convinced their victims that, if any medical problems were found, secret agents would administer medicine to them as they slept in exchange for payment, according to a bill of information filed when the Finleys were charged in May. "These audacious criminals should remind all of us that scam artists will go to great lengths to take our life's savings," Washington said.

Would love to see these guys!

I'm going to apologize for the stereotype in advance, but I think in general, the hobby of (and addiction to) music is something that's male-centric. There are women who are every bit as into music, but I think they are more the exception than the rule. I don't think you'll ever get a large dose of women posting about RVGs versus McMasters, or who's done the best Monk tribute album.

There were also the Madhouse albums, which were sorta jazz/funk things, but essentially all Prince, if I remember correctly.

The clock is corrected, but neither button work for me, still.