Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

On Monday, I rediscovered the Norwottuck Bike Trail, which passes through Amherst College and stretches all the way to Northampton. I went on it early in the fall, but since then, had pretty much forgotten about it.

It is awesome for running. Flat, shady, and perfectly straight.

Apparently, it is not awesome for biking. A kid on my floor said he no longer bikes on the trail since it gave him flat tires.

I think I might know why.

On the paved path, you can clearly see tiny pieces of glass embedded in the pavement. Today, on my run, I noticed a sign saying that Amherst residents had donated glass bottles which were subsequently put into the pavement.

Why? What is the sense in this?

Amherst being the town it is, I thought it might be some super environmentally friendly, recycling campaign. But I don't understand. Why not reuse the glass, rather than sticking it into the ground and messing up kids' bikes?

This doesn't affect me as a runner, and I'm going to keep going on the great trail. I was just hoping someone could explain this strange move to place glass into the path.

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

I don't like too many of the Asian dishes served at Valentine Dinning Hall, be it the ubiquitous Orange Ginger Chicken, tonight's Sweet and Sour Chicken, or several others. They're a bit too heavy for my taste.

However, each time one is served, I can count on one thing--there will be a bin fortune cookies at the end of the buffet line.

Fortune cookies are great. They're fun to eat. They illuminate the world. And they are an instant conversation starter.

For example, today's fortune: "Courage is grace under pressure."

Huh?

This led to a conversation of what is grace. And then to how we (Miller and I) act under pressure.

Eventually, the conversation led to this week's important question--are fortune cookies an purely American/Western dish or are they actually served in China?

I learned this summer that California Rolls are not served in Japan (I guess I should have realized this given the name), and it'd be interesting to know if the same is true for fortune cookies in China.

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

I think of myself as a pretty avid sports fan, yet there are a number of rules/strategies that I just don't understand. Most I can push aside as too intricate or rare to bother myself with.

However, there is one unknown rule that I really want to uncover--the checked swing. I have absolutely no idea what makes a checked swing a strike. What's it have to do with the writsts? Does it have something to do with the first/third base line? What does the first/third base ump know that the homeplate one doesn't?

I hate how I can't ever yell at the TV over a checked swing, since I never know what's the right call. Checked swings can have a very large impact on a game baseball, and I am oblivious to what a checked swing is. I get the sense sometimes that no one knows what makes a checked swing.

Please help me. What is an umpire looking out when deciding whether a checked swing should be a strike?

Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

Two nights ago, I went to the track for a run. It was a disgustingly hot day, and I planned it out so that I'd get to the track with just enough sunlight to do what I had to do. I wanted my run to be as cool as possible.

But then I started sweating, and sweating, and sweating. I couldn't go on. I was too darn dehydrated and wet. I was like a 65 year-old on a treadmill.

And then the question hit me--why was I sweating so much?

It was an incredibly humid night, and every time it's humid, I sweat like John Daly on the back nine.

Thinking back to high school biology, I thought that due something similar to osmosis, humidity should preclude sweating. If there's more moisture in the air, wouldn't my body be more likely to retain water rather than sweat it off?

As the humidity continues to rise, and sweat marks begin to appear on office workers across America, I ask the question--why do we sweat more when it's humid?

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

It's been a while since I did a question of the week, and it's a very good cop-out when I don't know what to write about.

This week's question ventures into the shameless promotional gimmicks of ESPN. Currently, on espn.com, the daily polls asks "Who should win the Hummer like nothing else award?" It then lists: Lebron James, Michael Phelps, Kendric Smith, Diana Taurasi, Ladainian Tomlinson.

If someone can tell me what the heck this award is for, then you get a prize. Typically, an award is called something like "The Coke-Zero Courage Award" or the "Wrigley's Jaw Dropping Performance Award," so that the advertising doesn't completely overshadow the award's purpose. However, in this case, I have absolutely no idea what the "Hummer like nothing else award" is for. Also, extra bonus points for whoever can tell me who the heck is Kendric Smith?

On the topic of shameless promotions, Lebron James and Jimmy Kimmel, the hosts of this year's ESPYS, are on the cover of the current ESPN magazine . Is this the first time that a sports magazine has had an advertisement on the cover?

I used to actually look forward to the ESPYS, when there were commercials during Sportscenter revealing the nominees for the different awards. By showcasing the great plays and games of the year, it was a fun way to review and take in the endruing moments of the year in sports.

Now, lets just say, I no longer look forward to the ESPYS. Like everything else on ESPN, fluff has gotten in the way of the substance.

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

First off, congratulations to Esteban, the winner of last week's question of the week. He came up huge in the clutch, when it seemed like no one would respond.

Today's question of the week is a simple question gone awry: Paper or Plastic?

When I was little, the answer seemed very clear--choose plastic in almost every situation because it's easier to carry and it doesn't kill trees. Back then, debates surrounding the environment were so clear--something was environmentally friendly if it didn't kill tree and something was environmentally unfriendly if it did kill trees.

Now there's global warming along with energy Independence to worry about, and the question of paper v. plastic has gotten much more complicated.

Plastic apparently uses oil to be produced and also somehow contributes to global warming in the production process. I just came across an article that says Ikea is now charging a nickel for a plastic bag in all their American stores.

Please, help me. What do you do--Paper or Plastic--and why?

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

First off, congratulations to last week's winner: "g." He knew the story behind whole, 2%, and skim milk. Here is his answer:

"In two percent milk, two percent of the total contents of the milk is fat. It does not mean that the milk contains only two percent of the fat that it normally contains. Whole cow's milk is around four percent fat. So two percent has about fifty percent of the fat that normal milk does.

As you can see, I've asked myself the same question before. Where's the 50% milk?

By the way, did you hear about the cow that produces low fat milk, straight from the udder? Pretty wild. "

As for today's question, it is a bit more abstract:

It is illegal to speed. On some highways, this means it is illegal to drive over 55 miles/hour. On others, it is illegal to drive over 65 miles/hour. Maybe some, it is illegal to drive over 80 miles/hour. I just went out to my car, and the speedometer goes up to 120 miles/hour.

Why?

It is certainly not legal anywhere in the United States to drive this fast. Why are there not regulations to limit how fast cars can go?

I'm sure Porsches, Ferraris, and many other cars can go significantly faster than my faithful Oldsmobile. To me, this doesn't make sense. The reason speeders are ticketed in the first place is that speeding is dangerous. It leads to accidents, injuries, and sometimes death. Rather than relying on police officers to catch speeders, why not just regulate cars so that they cannot speed? Set a cap of 80 miles/hour or something around there. I'm sure this will upset loads of high schoolers, weavers, and car aficionados, but to me, it is a matter of common sense.

Please give me your thoughts on this tangent. There is no correct answer, though the best commenter, as always, will be rewarded with a nice, warm handshake.

Thank you in advance for participating.

The Vegan Dessert Question of the Week!

No Vegan Dessert is complete without a full glass of milk. I personally go with the skim, others 2%, a brave few whole.

Yet, what's up with the 98% jump from 2% to whole? Can someone please explain this in the comments section. What the heck do the percentages mean?

If you provide an ample explanation, I will award you with a nice, firm handshake along with a glass of 0% milk. Cyber-handshakes will not be awarded this time around.

Thanks.