A new website February 23, 2008
Posted by dr. gonzo in BlogNotes, Crime, DeKalb.1 comment so far
I haven’t made any architecture posts of late because I have been busy working and doing other things. Also, I haven’t been able to locate the photos I need but I have to point out a new website that everyone must visit. It’s niuneedsanswers.com, a project I am, admittedly, involved in. Citizen journalists from around the DeKalb-NIU community will attempt to filter through reams of information and search for some answers. Check it out if you get a chance.
Architecture posts will resume on Monday.
2-19-08: Westboro Baptist Church a no show in DeKalb February 19, 2008
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, DeKalb.2 comments
The Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps’ evil minions, did not show and the group removed the picket notice from their website, but a couple hundred Huskie faithful did show. We braved the cold while the Lutheran Campus Ministry prepared for its candlelight vigil. No cowards were present, only the strong, only Huskies. THIS IS HUSKIE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE NIU! Photos follow.
2-15-08: NIU the morning after February 19, 2008
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, DeKalb.2 comments
I promised some photos. And a few words, so you know what you are looking at. Architecture posts will resume tomorrow, cutting short our Oak Park tour for now. I have many more to write. For now, I went to the February 15, 2008, 9 am press conference in Altgeld Hall regarding the shooting on the campus of Northern Illinois University one day before. It was during this conference that the university released the name of the killer.
Shooting in DeKalb February 14, 2008
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, DeKalb.3 comments
There has been a shooting at DeKalb’s (where I live) Northern Illinois University (where I went to school). Details are sketchy but more than a dozen have been shot, some may be dead. My sympathies are with everyone affected. How horrible.
UPDATE: Six people, seven including the gunman, were killed in cold blood. Looks like five were killed and 16 injured. What a terrible day.
Building collapse suicide? July 10, 2006
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The building collapse in New York City earlier today is intially being blamed on a distraught doctor’s suicide attempt. (more…)
Psycho blogger April 17, 2006
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On the topic of morbid fascinations. This guy, Kevin Underwood (sicko), was arrested for the brutal murder of a 10 year old girl in Purcell, OK. Apparently he planned to eat her corpse. (more…)
More glass pipe nonsense April 7, 2006
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If you read the Swan’s Star article you know that TJs and the police have come to an agreement. In fact, the “drug parephrenalia” was returned.
That doesn’t even make sense. How wrong do the police think this activity is anyway? What is the motivation here? How giving back items that they see as dangerous makes the world a safer place I will never know. (more…)
Adios, pipas de cristal April 5, 2006
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And here’s the word on TJs from Northern Star DeKalb Government Reporter Michael Swiontek in some online only Star content.
If you read my blog you already know my opinion, so I’ll spare you, if not, see it here and here.
TJ’s and glass pipes March 30, 2006
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, DeKalb.2 comments
Alright. I have decided to follow up the Hits From the Bong post. TJ's Accessories was shut down as a public nusiance. The DeKalb County State's Attorney has some decision making ahead of him tomorrow. UPDATE: I hear they’re real busy due to a recent murder in DeKalb, decision delayed. (more…)
Hits from the bong March 21, 2006
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, DeKalb.2 comments
Perusing the Northern Star today I came across, Tobacco shops, police at odds with sale of pipes.
Well, I didn’t just come across it, I knew it was coming for a couple weeks, but didn’t really want to usurp the Star, so I waited until they said something.
Essentially, the DeKalb Police Department is trying to eliminate the sale of glass pipes that they traditionally identify as drug paraphernalia using the Illinois Drug Parephenalia Control Act. (more…)
Look up March 1, 2006
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This all really happened, except for the bit from American Gods.
——-
Sometimes you just gotta be slick.
A man walks into the gas station, he doesn’t have any purchases but he approaches the register anyway.
He needs change and he asks the attendant politely, if he could exchange a $50 dollar bill for a couple twenties and a ten. It’s an off-ramp gas station, a big truck stop, the attendant obliges, why not help him out, he thinks. (more…)
Mosques and incursions February 22, 2006
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Remember the bombing at the Clifton Mosque in Cincinnati?
The bomber still has not been caught.
——
The infamous Mexican border incursion continue to pop up here and there. Now it looks like the U.S. and Mexico will work together to curb the problem.
The U.S. House’s Committee on Homeland Security has been investigating the incursion question through hearings, the first of which was held Feb. 7.
Pertinent Links for Mexican incursions:
Video footage of Jan. 23 border encounter.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul’s (R-TX) opening statement.
Violating invisible lines February 1, 2006
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The story about the Mexican military violating U.S. borders rampantly, which I first referenced here, (more information here) has gotten some pretty hefty coverage by the Associated Press in the last week.
This story from Jan. 28 is interesting because it looks like our government is trying to relay the message that, “yes, this was a Mexican military incursion.” I suppose there are a number of reasons why they might want it to look this way. (more…)
More Mexican incursions January 24, 2006
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The Mexican incursions I posted a Washington Times story about are still making news. Details were released regarding a stand off between Texas Department of Public Safety officers and men dressed in camoflauge, possibly Mexican military. The article above was quoted in a similar story which appeared in the Kansas City Star.
This comes on the heals of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff downplaying the reports from the Washington Times. (more…)
War of words and Mexican incursions January 18, 2006
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime, Politics.2 comments
I really have a lot to say but I’m not going to say it. But I did want to point everyone in the direction of two stories. If you watched the Daily Show last night you probably witnessed Hillary Clinton continue the ongoing war of partisan words. I never lived on a plantation but I doubt it was much like the House of Representatives.
Secondly there is this. U.S. Border Patrol agents have been warned about possible Mexican military incursions onto U.S. soil. That begs the question, if our government can’t keep out another country’s military (or possibly para-military gangs) how can we expect them to keep us safe from the other threats we face.
Dangerous dogs January 9, 2006
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime.3 comments
McHenry County is considering a number of options following the serious dog attacks late last year which left several people grievously injured.
After setting up a task force (worst buzz words ever) in November some ideas became more than just ethereal and intangible. The county is seriously considering maintaining a web based dangerous dogs database.
These databases are nothing new, at least in some areas. At least two counties in Florida maintain similar web sites. Seminole and Hillsborough counties (think Tampa) maintain these web sites already, but they seem highly useless. (more…)
Cincinnati mosque update December 27, 2005
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My original post on the bombing at a Cincinnati mosque can be found here.
The latest news stories on Google stem from the FBI offering a $15,000 reward for help in the investigation, the most recent one is dated Dec. 22. The reward is for information leading to the “arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the bombing of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati facilities at 3668 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati on Tuesday December 20, 2005.” (more…)
Free speech update December 27, 2005
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Took a little break for the holiday, so updates have been non existent. I won’t post this til I get back to DeKalb.
If you saw this about the UMass Dartmouth student who said he was questioned for checking out Chairman Mao’s “Little Red Book” through the interlibrary loan program, then you will be pleased to know that it was all a hoax.
Thanks to Glock 21 for the update.
Explosion outside Cincinnati mosque December 21, 2005
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UPDATE #2: Dec. 22–
The FBI has offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to arrest in the Cincinnati mosque bombing on Tuesday. This is in addition to the $5,000 reward already pledged by the Council on Islamic American Relations.
CAIR-Ohio announced a prayer vigil for 8 p.m. this evening at the Islamic Association for Cincinnati mosque, better known as the Clifton mosque (because it’s on Clifton Ave.). This is the same mosque that was bombed on Tuesday night. (more…)
Forget free speech, you are being watched. December 20, 2005
Posted by dr. gonzo in Crime.3 comments
I am scared now. The federal government should have a Ridiculous Library Investigations Agency.
Check this out. Liberty and justice for what?
UPDATE: Fellow blogger Glock 21 posted this in the comments but I thought I would post it here. This, of course, is hilarious (in an Orwellian way) in light of the NSA domestic spying scandal all over the headlines lately.
A quote from the President:
“Secondly, there are such things as roving wiretaps. Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires — a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we’re talking about chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do so. It’s important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution.”
Sweet land of liberty, it is of thee downfall I sing.
From the Gonzo 