The P-Town Snarker

Back From Travels

2006-12-05T12:55:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm still alive. Yes, I know no one cares.

I've been traveling a LOT lately. And I hate it. Which is why this story struck me as interesting. I always wondered what it would take to get upgraded to first class...and now that I know, I think I'll stick with business class seat, thanks.

Time For Gibson To Admit Truth

2006-08-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

Rob Reiner wants Mel Gibson to "come clean" about how his anti-semetic views were reflected in Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ." I say, why stop there?

If you've seen the movie, you know Gibson also portrayed Roman's as vicious killers, as torturers of innocents...basically as bastards with whips and swords and nails.

Obviously, Gibson is anti-Italian as well as antisemitic.

And let's face it, Gibson's work in "Braveheart" clearly portrayed the English in less than pleasant ways. The man is evidentally ant-anglo, as well.

Jerk.

Back Crack

2006-08-04T12:12:00.000-05:00

I knew Chiropractors are into holistic and alternative healthcare, but I think this local Peoria doc took it a step too far.

The guys was on crack -- and I don't mean the sounds your neck makes when he gets his hands on you.

Says the PJStar article (written by Elain Hopkins):

An employee in McCarthy's office stated he told her that he was using crack cocaine and threatened to kill her and her family if she reported him.
A patient stated McCarthy left acupuncture needles in his back for hours and admitted to using drugs. Another patient stated a back treatment injured him and left him with pain for a month.
An agency investigator, Steve Wagy, stated that in a July 6 interview, McCarthy was thin, "dirty and unshaven," and said he was living in a hotel to get away from "gangsters."

I would think having hypos stuck in your back and calling it acupuncture might have been the first clue.

Anybody want to admit it going to this guy?

According to Methodist Medical Center's Web site, he's still taking new patients. Now that's good news. I've been needing a fix.

Polly's Crushed Me

2006-07-31T17:48:00.000-05:00

Oh, the humanity.

Our dearest Polly seems to have self-expression issues.

Not only is she projecting herself to be a mud-wrestling puta (see previous post), but her infamous bubblebath shot is stolen, too. I found it here. Here's her shot. Again, you be the judge.

(Sigh)

It gets worse campers. The shot that she swore again and again that was her...is itself a rip-off.

That's right, the image to your right comes from here.

So here's the truth as I see it: Polly could be a guy for all we know.

Put up or shut-up Paulina. There's no one by the name you gave on the Peoria Pundit in the phone book. Your pics are a fraud. Stay anon and be proud of it. Or come out, already. Just quit pretending to come out of the proverbial blogging closet if you're really not going to.

(I say she's Sandberg.)

Polly's Telling Dirty Lies

2006-07-31T17:13:00.000-05:00

Polly Peoria, once one of my favorite bloggers, is telling a whopper.

She's says this pic is of her trying to bury her ex-boss in the mud at a charity fundraiser. The problem is, as one anonymous poster pointed out, this picture is easily found on other sites. All you have to do is look at the name of the photo (barro.jpg, by the way) and search for it on Google Images. Turns out this is really a shot of a couple of nasty looking Spanish putas. (Incidentally, I wonder how many hits I'll get for the words "mud wrestling" and "putas".)

The problem is Polly called anon a liar. She stuck by her guns.

Frankly, she's full of crap. Here's the actual shots (nsf). You be the judge. This very shot she used is the one captioned 250 veces vista.

Polly, what happened? You disappeared for ages and then you start ripping photos and passing them off as yourself. First you're anon. Then you're not. Now, you're trying for anon again? Come on already. Are you really some guy named Larry or what?

UPDATE: As of this morning (8/2), Polly has removed the mud wrestling post from her Blog. Hmmm.

Public Salute To The Morning Tent Pole

2006-07-25T09:14:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, you gotta love the view of Peoria as you crest the hill on I-74 West in East Peoria. What an impression. Well, at least it would have been last night if I hadn't been laughing so hard at an idiotic billboard.

Right before the crest, some mattress company put up a billboard showing a very attractive, nude female form (from behind...and without a behind) lying on a mattress. The headline?

"Still Waking Up Stiff?"

Is this an ad for a mattress or for Viagra?

Where's Bob Dole?

Obviously, this one was not written by a man.

And speaking of that part of town...how desperate is the developer of the big glass monstrosity of a building that's now parked on the hill on the way up Fondulac Drive? They are advertising everywhere! Ugly ads, I might ad.

Still, I hope like heck the guy succeeds. What a horrible spot for a near-empty building.

The School of Hard Knocks

2006-07-24T14:00:00.000-05:00

While reading about the controversy surrounding the Israeli kids that wrote pen pal notes on bombs meant for Lebanon (brings new meaning to a graffiti tag, doesn't it?), I ran across this ad:

I'm guessing the coursework would include popular Israeli-English vernacular...which would include learning valuable phrases like:

Excuse me, where could I find a bomb shelter?
Is that an AK-47 in your robe or are you just happy to see me?
Please take my bus seat. Those bombs look heavy.
It's a bird...it's a plane...no, it's another friggin Leb rocket!
Say, baby, you're lookin' might fine in those cammos.
Does my policy have a suicide bomber clause?
Are your legs tired, cuz you been running through my Kibbutz all day?
Your mamma wears combat boots.

Any others?

Incidentally, I'm totally behind Israel in this one...my esteemed Congressman (this guy) notwithstanding.

Fun with the Fellowship

2006-07-12T17:01:00.000-05:00

I know, I know...don't post other people's stuff.

But I loved this!

Just click on the image...

Where Governors Holiday

2006-07-01T18:03:00.000-05:00

Note to former New Jersey Governor, Jim McGreevey:

When the truck stops get old (and I can't imagine that taking very long), try a road trip to Kentucky...home to one of my favorite place names, Big Bone Lick State Park.

Think of it as a bath house, au naturale. Where you can stretch your legs, smell the fresh air and squeel like an unrepenatent pig to your little lungs give out. It's Blue Grass meets Blue Boy, Deliverance meets Delivery Driver, Porta John meets Elton John, Coal Miner's Daughter meets...well, coal miner.

Hee Haw, Governor! Be careful, though...that blue grass'll stain your knees fur shure.

Alive & Clicking

2006-07-01T17:49:00.000-05:00

I'm still around.

I've just been too busy to blog.

And speaking of too busy...where 'o where is Polly?

Sigh. If only we all had time to sit around and blog all day...

(Incidentally, I don't think I have it in me to call him Billy.)

Sometimes God Says Yes & No

2006-06-01T07:53:00.000-05:00

This from AP...

Clara Jean Brown was worried. She was at home on Memorial Day, but she knew her family was still at the beach when a bad storm kicked up in their small Alabama town. From the dry safety of her kitchen, Clara began to pray. She prayed for the safety of her family. And she prayed that her grandkids (and could anyone named Clara be anything but a grandma?) would be able to get back home without incident.

Just a she said, "Amen," Clara was pounded to the floor by a tremendous blast of pressure and flame. It was a lightening strike -- from across the street! -- that traveled through the water pipes and blasted through Clara's home.

The good news? Clara's family was safe and sound, after all.

(Clara came through fine, too.)

Sick

2006-05-26T10:51:00.000-05:00

Peoria Housing Authority: The Real Issue

2006-05-25T09:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not proud to admit it. But there have been times in my adult life when my wife and I chose to visit a cash advance store. Not to gamble or buy drugs or pay for new anythings. Usually, just to make ends meet during a cash-flow crisis.

Why do I feel a stigma? Because I was stupid enough to chose a lender that charged me 50 or 60 cents on the dollar for a quick financial fix. Truth is, I could have sold something. Or I could have borrowed the cash from someone who cares about our family. (Believe it or not, they are out there.) They would have lent us the money in a second -- and probably without asking us to pay it back. Alas, pride was involved. So we sucked it up, signed the papers...and paid for it for some time out of our newly married wazoos. You see, cash advances are like bad credit card deals -- they're deep financial holes that only get deeper the more you try to dig yourself out.

Which brings me to the so-called Peoria Housing Authority (PHA) lending scandal Bill Dennis is raving about.

Says this article by PJStar reporter, Elaine Hopkins:

"Being a first-time buyer, I did not know a whole lot. I trusted them," Alexander said of the PHA.
Alexander said he did not even know he signed documents for two mortgage loans instead of one on his $65,000 home.
He now pays a total of $638 monthly on the two mortgages, an amount that includes taxes and insurance, he said. PHA pays a $63 monthly subsidy toward his mortgages, he said.
At the real estate closing, he was handed many documents and signed them, he said. A PHA employee at the closing never spoke up, he said.

This smells, alright. But what's stinking up the place is the acrid stench of entitlements. (As well as Hopkins overuse of the phrase "he said". But I'll save that for another time.)

To summarize: this guy relied on the government to help him get his home. He then depended on them to read and understand his paperwork for him, and he didn't even take the time to figure out he was getting TWO freaking loans in the process! All of that, and PHA is still paying 10% of the guys monthly payment.

Methinks nobody held a gun to any of these people's heads. They wanted homes badly enough to take on not-so-favorable lending terms -- probably the only kind of loans they could get with poor credit, low incomes, etc. But why didn't they even bother to look through their own paperwork. WHY? Because we've been trained by our society that we do not have to take care of our own affairs. We have the government to do it for us! They feed us, clothe us, insure us, treat our wounds and sicknesses and especially protect us from the big bad corporations that are always trying to exploit us. And when the government doesn't do any of those things? It's Katie bar the door.

Truth is, if you want something badly enough, you pay more for it. I've seen little old ladies cash in their state checks at the river boat. The just HAD to have their nickel slots. These people just HAD to have homes. I just HAD to have instant cash -- and we all damned the consequences. Our choice. Our consequences. But to claim ignorance?

You have to sign an inch-high stack of documents to buy a home, telling you exactly how much you have to pay, when, and what it's really going to cost you in the end.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not advocating the behavior of these businesses. These loans feel like a slimy way to make a buck to me...just like the slots and the cash stores. But making these buyers seem like naifs and victims is ridiculous.

If there is one rule of life in this country, it's Buyer Beware.

But maybe there's a greater problem in this case. The buyer didn't actually realize he was a buyer. Maybe he thought this was another hand-out; that he was receiving another gift (that was his RIGHT!) from yet another social service agency. Maybe he is a victim. Not of predatory lending, though. But rather he is a victim of a government struggling to find itself through the haze of Multiple Personality Disorder -- trying to decide if it is, in fact, based on the tenets of democracy and the free market...or based only on the tenets of a watered-down socialism...as if France is such a success.

I say we keep the system we've got, thanks. But with me ultimately responsible for my own financial decisions..and Mr. Alexander responsible for his.

What's Wrong With Peoria?

2006-05-25T00:33:00.000-05:00

Two things.

It's not the political or business leadership. This town has a lot of smart, dedicated people who are (mostly) working together to make the area better for all. In fact, I'd say things are running pretty smoothly. At least more than in past years.

It's not Dunlap or Morton, either. White flight to the burbs (and I'll say brown-flight, as well) is never a problem for urban areas. But it is a symptom of a problem. And while treating symptoms might feel good in the short term (think scratching poison ivy), in the long term it does nothing to improve the situation, and it usually worsens your overall condition.

Which leads me to problem number one:

District 150 In the last week alone, I've learned of two more families that are leaving our older neighborhoods for the refuges that are (supposedly) Dunlap and Morton -- all because of fears about the state of District 150. Not only is the situation in our schools unfavorable...their very efforts to improve are perceived as horrible for the city because of the district inability to properly and effectively communicate what in the crap is going on inside their heads. They need to work harder and smarter to communicate with their neighbors, with councilpeople, with teachers, students and their families, with the unions, with the press...with everyone! Surely good things are happening, right? Who knows? Not us. Therefore, the families will keep fleeing, the schools will keep emptying, and the bloggers will keep typing.
Crime, Crime, Crime. Maybe it's because I watched American Idol tonight, but I can clearly hear Randy saying, "Yo, dog! It's getting hot out there!" And he would be right...if he's talking about the streets of central and south Peoria. Scary even.

We have so many wonderful and amazing things going for us as a community. It's a freaking shame these are the issues on our hearts and minds, though. Or at least on mine.

I'm depressed now.

I'm going to bed.

By the way...where are you, Polly?

Search Engine Success!!!

2006-05-22T13:34:00.000-05:00

Wow. I'm humbled.

I just discovered this blog is #1 on Google when searching for the phrase: "wet willy with cume."

I'm guessing the person that performed that search earlier today did NOT, in fact, find what they were hoping to find on this site.

My hope, dear reader, is you will have better luck.

I'll Hold The Nails...

2006-05-22T13:19:00.000-05:00

I guess Madonna feels her conversion to Kabbalah isn't working as hard as she would like to keep her face in the news.

So she's on tour now, posing her ridiculous self on a cross made of glass.

Says this article:

"...she donned a crown of thorns and suspended herself from a giant mirrored cross to deliver the ballad 'Live to Tell.' Video screens showed images of third-world poverty and reeled off grim statistics.

"...another video montage juxtaposed images of Bush, members of his administration and British Prime Minister Tony Blair with footage of Adolf Hitler, Osama bin Laden, and Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Midway through the new song 'I Love New York,' she deviated from the script and made a crude reference to Bush and oral sex."

That Madonna. She's once, twice, three times a lady, alright.

Clever use of the cross, too. Way to capitalize on someone else's believe system. Methinks it's a shame it's not the real thing. Nothing says shut up and mind your own religion like a couple of nine-inch spikes through the wrists.

If only Kabbalah had a few universally recognizable symbols to exploit.

Tri-County Planning Commission

2006-05-19T15:58:00.000-05:00

Have you ever looked at these yahoo's website?

They have three miss-spelled words in their navigation alone.

In fact, I didn't find many pages without at least one error.

Now, I'm no stickler for such things. Honest, I'm not. But if you're a governmental organization (even a quasi-governmental organization), shouldn't your website -- your most important communications vehicle -- at least be good enough to earn a "C" in any eighth-grade English class?

I'm all for what you guys are doing. Just hoping you might make us all look a little more...well, literate in the process.

The Saga of Little Howie

2006-05-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

My legs are crossed. I'm grimacing. I may never be the same again.

Bobbitt and Buttafuoco, it would seem, had it easy compared to this guy.

Remember

2006-05-19T07:04:00.000-05:00

Remember the bumper stickers after 9/11.

"We won't forget."

In spite of all those promises, I think maybe we have. The emotions. The anger, fear and sorrow, all mingled together in a of national cocktail of rage.

I'll be honest, I forgot those feelings. It's just part of life...the moving on...the healing. But the memories of that day are memories we should keep fresh and alive. We have to remember.

The link below helps. And I sincerely hope it's been done as well as the preview appears.

Please take a moment and remember.

Delusions Are A Beautiful Thing

2006-05-15T11:05:00.000-05:00

When I was in college, I took a philosophy class that was, by and large, absolutely worthless. One of the concepts we discussed, though, sticks with me today: would you rather be a pig (read: ignorant) and be satisfied in the muck of your life -- or would you rather be a Socrates (read: informed and cognizant) and be dissatisfied because you know all that is possible in life...yet most of which you will never achieve (read: 60 gig iPOD).

Well, it's a complicated premise and I certainly have no intention of addressing it in this post...except to say this article from Reuters brought the concept to my mind. Here's the headline:
"Laura Bush doesn't believe bad polls"
Me thinks Mrs. Bush possibly has her head in one.

People ARE dissatisfied with the state of the nation -- and they don't have to be a Socrates or a pig to feel that way.

I can't tell you how disappointed I personally am in the way the administration has been handling things. I was a big supporter. And I still want to like the guy. Honest, I do. It just seems he and his advisors have their heads in a hole, as well...but this one ain't in the sand.

Good move on appointing Snow, though. First good move I've seen in a long, long time. Most of the problems seem to stem from lousy communications. People don't understand what in the crud they're thinking on Pennsylvania Avenue these days.

So best of luck to Snow. And best of luck to Laura. She's going to need it to get the sand out of her hair.

Seperated @ Birth: Episode IX

2006-05-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

Peoria EDC Logo

Google Earth Icon

Race Relations In Canada

2006-05-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

All together, now:

"Ebony and Ivory, live together in perfect harmony..."

An Idol Appearance

2006-05-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

Talk about infommercials.

According to Variety magazine,

Shakira's appearance on [American Idol] in late March boosted sales of her latest album "Oral Fixation, Vol. 2" from about 5,000 copies a week to 81,000 copies the week of her performance. The disc's cume is now beyond 834,000 units.

When Queen recently performed, sales of the band's new album "Cold Stone Classics," leapt from 14,000 units the week before the show to 62,000 units a week later.

Think wizened industry pros like Manilow and Stevie Wonder are appearing on the show to offer an encouraging word - or maybe to be a source of inspiration to struggling singers who are trying to make a go of their careers.

Heck no.

They're only there because they're clinging to the music industry's latest lifeline -- TV. The so-called struggling kids of American Idol are helping the veterans sell more than they have in years (decades for some of them).

It's become a very weird media world.

Chuck Norris Facts . com

2006-04-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

This is different site. Weird. Yet oddly funny.

Here are a few examples:

When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.
They were going to release a Chuck Norris edition of Clue, but the answer always turns out to be "Chuck Norris. In The Library. With a Roundhouse Kick."
In ancient China there is a legend that one day a child will be born from a dragon, grow to be a man, and vanquish evil from the land. That man is not Chuck Norris, because Chuck Norris killed that man.
Chuck Norris did not "lose" his virginity, he stalked it and then destroyed it with extreme prejudice.
There are no such things as tornados. Chuck Norris just hates trailer parks.
One time, at band camp, Chuck Norris ate a percussionist.
Chuck Norris doesn't say "who's your daddy", because he knows the answer.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but only if the pen is held by Chuck Norris.

Another Football Moment

2006-04-28T08:18:00.000-05:00

Here's another wonderful moment in the world of college football -- specifically a shot of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Anyone want to take a stab at a caption?

Equality Of The Sexes

2006-04-12T17:07:00.000-05:00

Truly, one of the last great barriers between the sexes has been vanquished.

Now -- to the unrequited delight of millions -- women can at last write their names in the snow.

You read it right: ladies everywhere can now pee on the move -- just like their Y-chromosomed brethren. All thanks to the incredibly resourceful folks at WHIZAWAY.com. These limie masterminds created a simple, yet affordable prosthetic (The Whiz...image right) that a woman can attach to...er, I mean hold against...uh, well, you get the idea. The undesirable liquid fruits of her labors then flow quickly and neatly away from her body or clothing and into the ditch (or filthy truck stop toilet) of her choosing.

God, but I love science.

Incidentally, below is an image from their brochure. It appears -- and I did not know this -- that there's not much women can't bond over. Another advantage, as I see it. And who knew peeing was more about freedom than anything else. Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Upright Urination -- now that's democracy. Viva la pee!

Great Day For Blogging

2006-04-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm begining to slowly come back up for air. Schedule's been nuts, lately.

Checking headlines today made me realize I'm in dire need of posting. Here's a few current gems:

What they say happened: This guy -- a Florida State Senator -- got busted for putting state employees (his staff) to work on a re-election campaign. It's a felony, though a minor one. To avoid a TV crew, he bails out da back door and is videoed jumping a fence. Love it.

What really happened: The good senator galloped out of Dodge when representatives of the Illinois GOP showed up in his office on a recruiting trip. Evidentally, they mistook him for Alan Keyes whom they want to lure into the race as Topinka's Lt. Govenor. While I can't speak for the good senator, I can say with some degree of confidence that they don't make fences tall enough to keep me from getting away from that particular offer.
Women Beat BINGO Winner To Death
When you're playing a game -- let's say Monopoly -- there's that one guy you learn to hate. The one that wins and wins and wins and then smirks that gleefully haughty smirk of the ass as you loose and loose and loose. That jerk. That proposterously overblown, obnoxious, tiny-penised little twit. You just want to rip out his eyes, put 'em on a fork, stick 'em in the flames and watch 'em burn and bubble till they pop!!!

Er...at least I've heard some people would like to do that. The kicker in this story, though, is the winner was a guy named Yousif Youkhana -- obviously a good catholic, supporting his church, paying for missions, etc. And the perps are four dark-hearted grannies of death (I kid you not). It seems, after the game, the ladies approach him, demand his $1,000 winnings, and then beat the Allah-worshiping crap out of him when he fails to produce the green.

I'm thinking death's a tall step up from admitting you got your butt whooped by four blue-hairs at the parlor. But then, that's just me. Regardless, he can chalk this one up to "I-8...The Big One."

So if you're one of those smirking, grinning, giggling little asses of a winner -- and you know...oh, yesssss, you know -- it's time to wake up, pardner. You're on notice. The Reaper is rolling the ball...and yours might be the lucky number he calls.
Yaweh, Mahn.
Speaking of people I hate. The psuedo-pretentious, neuvo-hip music-is-my-life prigs (PPNHMIMLPs). They disdain anyone who has sold more than a million records. They charish the undiscovered, the unknown, the "I-found-them-and-you-didn't" bands that they trump over one another like they're trading a Matisse or something.

Having said (written) that, I'm now gonna tell you about one of those artists not a lot of people know about -- but only because I genuinely enjoy this guy's work and would like to see him make more of it (Translation: buy his songs.) I am not, repeat NOT, becoming a PPNHMIMLP.

The guy's name is Matisyahu and he's (again, I kid you not) and orthodox jew reggae artist. So check him out. And ignore the fan reviews. They seem to be from a group of NY-area weenies that "saw him lay live" and "first discovered him" and "feel he's selling out to the studios" and a load of other crap spewed from their tight little PPNHMIMLPs butts.

Just remember, though. I found him first.

Separated @ Birth: Episode VIII

2006-03-22T13:24:00.000-06:00

I've been wowed recently by this guy's lack of smarts. He makes nada sense, anymore. Anyone else notice? Has he been sniffing too many fumes from the ADM plant in his district or what?

Peoria Councilman,
Clyde Gulley, Jr.

Forrest Gump's Buddy,
Pvt. B. Buford 'Bubba' Blue

Dreaming Big @ Caterpillar

2006-03-21T15:39:00.000-06:00

No wonder they keep winning awards for innovative thinking at Caterpillar. It's the day-dreaming that makes the difference.

Here's an example:

About an hour ago, someone from Caterpillar linked to this site by searching on MSN for, and I'm not making this up,

"women looking for sex in peoria illinois"

My advice? Ask one of these guys. They know just where to look.

(Incidentally, mine the last link of the second page of the search results. On MSN, that is...not the Police site.)

RenPark Attracts Typical Peorian Response

2006-03-21T09:24:00.000-06:00

Take a look at the city's website. One word: crap. It makes me embarrassed to live here. They're even using the "it plays in Peoria" cliche we all despise as their headline.

Now take a look at this website. See a difference?

For the first time, maybe ever, Peoria is being marketed well. This is a nice town. There are wonderful resources available. I mean, finally, the city is actually telling our story in a way that isn't embarrassing to everyone who calls Peoria home.

Now here comes the typical response from the typical West Bluff resident: they puke all over it.

It seems to me, as a non-resident of these neighborhoods, that the people in these older areas of the city are vicious to one another. They have fist fights at neighborhood association meetings, they vandalize one another's property (I even heard a rumor of a certain someone setting RenPark commissioner's garage on fire recently. Anyone know the facts?), they pass around ridiculous lies...basically, they scare the heck out of me a lot more than the big bad bogeyman institutions they so readily demonize.

Note: I'm not saying PeoriaIllinoisan is guilty of any of those things. He seems to be a pretty balanced guy compared to a lot of the loons that surround him. But his comments suggest the elitism that's so common among the "cleaned up" neighborhoods of Moss-Bradley, Arbor District and the Uplands.

First they absolutely refuse to have anything to do with med-tech (aka, Renaissance Park, RenPark, Rpark, and -- I actually heard someone say this one -- Rennie Park), they sneer down their noses at the University East-type of neighborhoods, and then they bitch and moan when they're not mentioned in RenPark's marketing materials along with these other, more cooperative neighborhoods.

Again, one word: Waaaah.

Renaissance Park was created to 1) Attract and grow technology companies, and 2) revitalize the neighborhoods of Central Peoria. Does anyone in their right mind qualify The Uplands as an area in need of help from anybody? How about Moss-Bradley? The truth is, these people want nothing to do with RenPark.

PeoriaIllinoisan's attitude is just like Bill Dennis' re: Bradley's NCAA victories. Again, GREAT NEWS for Peoria. So what do these glass-half-empties do? Again, bitch and moan.

Honestly, I love the idea of Renaissance Park. I just wouldn't want to move next to any of these people. They have nightmare neighbor written all over them. "Your grass clippings are on my sidewalk," or "Your tree is blocking the light on my porch," or "Tell your kids to be quite and stay out of my side of your yard." You get the idea.

These people can deride Morton and Dunlap all they want, but you never read about stuff like this happening in either of those areas.

"All You Need Is Leb"

2006-03-20T12:29:00.000-06:00

I misquoted Lennon. But so what. John or Vladimir, they both had the same message.

What I'm talking about in this post, however, is the dominance of Peoria's Lebanese community -- some 10,000 strong. And hats off to them, by the way.

Think about the movers and shakers in this town: the Maloofs, LaHoods, Alwans, Kouris (and Couris), Shadids, Demanes, etc. This is a big part of our town. They have lots of sway and lots of say. But they're also a pretty insider-only community.

Have you seen signs or references to the ITOO Society? Here's a nice article about them. But the point is, these folks are more exclusive in their relationships than the Augusta Country Club. Take this quote from longtime member, Maureen Couri :

"We're still a tightly knit group because of family ties, but we now have a diversity of members," Couri said. "Spouses of members are warmly welcomed."

Wow. Even their wives can come? Welcome to the 1960s, guys.

So, basically some of our city's most powerful leaders and business people are members of a quasi-secret society into which outsiders are not welcome. Do they have grand plans? Are they the masonic order of our day, Peoria's own ethnic Illuminati? Will we all be eating spiced lamb in 10-20 years? (Actually, I'd be okay with that last part. Haddad's rocks.).

Inquiring minds and all that.

Best/Worse Name Ever

2006-03-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

No kidding.

The dazzling, stringy-haired beauty you see above, Mr. Pusey, is a linebacker for Eastern Illinois University...the fighting Panthers (another cat name, incidentally).

Since the release of this media guide, he has changed his name (I assume under duress) to Lucious Seymore...making him a Pusey poser, if you will.

Shame he isn't a tight end.

A Note From The Mayor

2006-03-15T17:01:00.000-06:00

Just received an e-mail from the mayor (along with half of Peoria). Here are a couple of key points:

"We'll be conducting the annual City Manager Evaluation after our regular meeting on March 14. This is a very important function of the council to evaluate the Manager and give him feedback on his performance and policy direction for the year.

"The Council will host a strategic planning session, open to the public, on Saturday April 8th from 9am-1pm in the conference room at Workforce Development. (will the average citizen know what/where "Workforce Development"?) [sic] This planning will set the early framework for our '07 budget discussions which will be re-tooled and set in motion much earlier this year."

I particularly love the typo. Notice the 2nd paragraph. At least they proofread it once.

And how would you like to be Randy Oliver. Nothing like the whole world knowing your employee review is coming up, heh? And his review is capitalized like it's The Festival of Lights...or the Thanksgiving Parade. Wonder if there will be cotton candy.

And good news on starting the budgeting process earlier. Stretch a painful process out as long as possible, I say. Scheduled a root canal? Ask the doc to use a butter knife. Same concept.

C'mon, Show Your Civic Pride!

2006-03-14T16:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Bill Dennis at The Peoria Pundit for the linkage.

Which got me thinking...

Not only could posting the pics of wet t-shirt offenders (I know, I know...it's not a law) be helpful to the community in terms of curbing such offensive behavior, but it might also serve as an excellent revenue stream for the city with a little, how shall we say, appropriately placed commercial messaging.

Think about it, Mr. Mayor. Have your people call mine. We'll do lunch.

Willie York...A Blogger?

2006-03-09T17:04:00.000-06:00

Well, not quite.

But the homeless Peoria landmark does have a website of his own...and a fan club!

Who knew.

The only question that remains: is Willie a basic services kind of guy or is he an economic progressive? He hangs out in Clyde Gulley's district, so maybe Clyde knows...

Wet T-Shirts Rub Peoria Wrong

2006-03-09T13:30:00.000-06:00

File this under the Biggest Tip In History:

Tuesday night, the Peoria City Council voted to slip a cool $163,000 into a local bar owner's g-string -- all because the city took a stance against them having wet t-shirt contests.

For close to $200 Gs, you'd think the mayor would at least get a happy ending.

Personally, I think the police department should post pictures of these brazen offenders (see right) on their website. I know I would not be able to resist visiting on a frequent basis just to take part in publically shaming such evil doers.

We're Not So Smart

2006-03-09T13:00:00.000-06:00

We don't know as much as we think we do.

For instance, when someone tells you they KNOW Peoria's toxic dump is well maintained...I think, Great! But for how long? The stuff they're putting in that hole keeps it's ickiness for a whole lot years. Lots and lots and lots of years. I'm guessing PDC will not be the only company managing that site in the decades to come.

Someone might also tell you the liners and technology they use will last forever. Again, I say Great! And to think, I didn't know we were able to test products that long. It's like pharmaceutical testing. Sure, side effects are limited...but what's it do to you over the course of fifty years? Who knows? They only tested it for 24 months. Same thing here. There is ZERO long-term assurance.

And speaking of ZEROs...we have a zero margin for error with that dump. We're just one human mistake...one system or technology fault...one liner failure away from a catastrophic problem within our city limits. And the worse part is, we wouldn't even know about it. At least until the leukemia count starts to rise.

Sure. That may be a bit sensationalistic on my part. But then again, maybe it's not. We just don't know absolutely, positively for sure either way...and those are odds I don't feel like playing. My kids and grandkids and great-grandkids are worth more to me than an educated guess.

Sexual predators aren't allowed near large populations of children. Toxic dumps shouldn't be allowed near large populations of anything. Allowing either to happen is little less than a crime.

Separated @ Birth: Episode VII

2006-03-06T16:57:00.000-06:00

First of all, I've got nothing against the guy. He seems to be well respected around town, and that counts a lot with me. But if you read Bill Dennis or Willy Nilly, the guy's the Antichrist. Soooo, in the "everyone's fair game" category, I bring you:

Congressman
Ray LaHood

Muppet Patriot
Sam The Eagle

My take on...

2006-02-28T09:41:00.000-06:00

Civic Center
Baaaaaaad PR, fellas. Personally, I couldn't be happier the mayor has NOT named me to that commission. What a boondoggle. Look, we need the thing. No doubt about it. But let's be realistic. The people running this thing act like they're the most important story in town, like their open hands deserve more green than all the other open hands around town. Just feels more and more like the Toledo riverfront to me. Visited it about 15 years ago. Huge local dollars. Beautiful convention center. And it was vacant. Well, that's not exactly true. It was occupied by the city's homeless. Pretty successful now, thanks to a lot of redevelopment, but boy-o, was it ever bad then.
Parking Tickets
Interesting topic from Ms. Bilbo. Evidentally, our fine city is hemoragging green by booking people for ridiculously minor offenses. No wonder the county's pissed about the $25. According to the article, there were 4,860 parking and noise ordinance violations from 2001-2005. The city then issued arrest warrants for 3,647 of them. As Bilbo points out, that's 75 percent! So drive carefully, Peoria. Your name might be on a list. And if it is, I hope you're not allergical to latex, cause you're going to get searched in your...well...most sensitive areas. Or you can handle the situation like this Des Moines lady, who faked her death to avoid paying parking tickets. Dramatic, yes. But I give her points for style.

Here's my recommendation to the city: set up a freaking e-commerce site already. Join the nineties, at least. Mail a notification to people that, to avoid being issued a warrant, they must either show up and pay in person -- or visit a website and pay by credit card. That's easy money, kiddos.

Unpaid fines are almost always an issue of inconvenience. As in...drive to the courthouse during lunch, try to find a parking spot, go through the metal detector, find the right line, wait in said line, have cash or a checkbook on hand, and then kiss the ass of an unfriendly clerk who makes less money than a school bus driver. Just give me a freaking web address, already. I'll pay! I'll pay!

Do the math: 3,647 fines at, let's say, $75 each...that's $273,525. Not bad money, that. Add in what we save in unecessary bookings, lawsuits, etc., and we might just have enough for Bill's precious fire engine.
Covergirl
Nice cleavage shot from today's Journal Star (though someone needs to teach 'em how to make their photos web ready). Anyway, I'm sure there are worse ways to come home from the war. Welcome back, soldier.
UAE
This is such a non-issue. People, we live and work in a global economy. There is no such thing as national anything, anymore. Hell, we have soldiers fighting in our own army who aren't even citizens, yet (and hats off to 'em, by the way). British companies are managing our ports right now, and Britain is home to some of the most radical muslims in the world. To me, this is political gamemanship.

However, W was pretty naive to step into the trap. Should have smelled the stink coming a mile away. Yet, he and his merry team of advisors walked right into it. Again. You would have thought the wisedom (snort) of all the king's men/women would have saved him from this fiasco. It's just a good thing for America that everything else is going so well...
Best New Blogger
Sure, I love Polly and Bill and CJ and the gang. But my new fav is peoriaillinoisan. Fun info, great links, and even the occassional scoop. Keep it up, man-o.

(Incidentally, I just noticed the bastard beat me to the picture above. Jerk.)
Loyalty
Many thanks to the people who keep visiting this site -- even though I haven't been posting to it, lately. I'll try harder.

Separated @ Birth: Episode VI

2006-02-12T19:13:00.000-06:00

Polly Peoria
As A Child

Willy Nilly
As A Child

Next Up...

2006-02-10T17:09:00.000-06:00

I've been busy. Sorry.

I'll try to launch the next few additions of Separated at Birth, Peoria-style, tonight. You just might see a local congressman...a prominent business leader...a minor TV celeb...and a surprise appearance from a local blogger or two.

Stay tuned!

Quote of the Day

2006-02-10T14:57:00.000-06:00

Quote:

"In times of change, learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

- Eric Hoffer

Translation:

"Learn to speak Chinese."

WORLD WAR III

2006-02-09T21:06:00.000-06:00

Let's take a look at a few highlights from the last two years, shall we? See if you notice any commonalities among the following incidents. (Warning, it's a long list.)

RUSSIA: February 6, 2004 - Bomb on Moscow Metro kills 41.

PHILIPPINES: February 27, 2004 - Superferry 14 is bombed in the Philippines by Abu Sayyaf, killing 116.

IRAQ: March 2, 2004 - Suicide bombings at Shia holy sites kill 181 and wound more than 500.

PAKISTAN: March 2, 2004 - Attack on procession of Shia Muslims kills 43 and wounds 160.

TURKEY: March 9, 2004 - Attack on an Istanbul restaurant.

SPAIN: March 11, 2004 - Coordinated bombing of commuter trains in Madrid kills 191 people and injures more than 1,500.

SAUDI ARABIA: April 21, 2004 - Bombing of a security building in Riyadh kills five.

SAUDI ARABIA: May 1, 2004 - Yanbu attack kills seven.

SAUDI ARABIA: May 29, 2004 - Islamic militants kill 22 people at an oil compound.

RUSSIA: August 31, 2004 - A blast near a subway station entrance in northern Moscow, caused by a suicide bomber, kills 10 people and injures 33.

RUSSIA: September 1 – 3, 2004 - Beslan school hostage crisis in North Ossetia, Russia, results in 344 dead. MOST ARE CHILDREN.

INDONESIA: September 9, 2004 - Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia is bombed, killing eight people.

ISRAEL: October 7, 2004 - Three car bombs explode, killing at least 34 and wounding 171.

SAUDI ARABIA: December 6, 2004 - U.S. consulate attacked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, killing five LOCAL employees.

PHILIPPINES: December 12, 2004 - A bombing at the Christmas market in General Santos kills 15.

LEBANON: February 14, 2005 - A car bomb kills former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 20 others in Beirut.

QATAR: March 19, 2005 - A car bomb attack on theatre in Doha kills one Briton and wounds 12 others.

EGYPT: April 7, 2005 - A suicide bomber blows himself up in Cairo's Khan al Khalili market, killing three foreign tourists and wounding 17 others.

IRAN: June 12, 2005 - Bombs explode in the Iranian cities of Ahvaz and Tehran, leaving 10 dead.

ENGLAND: July 7, 2005 – Bombs explode on one double-decker bus and three London Underground trains, killing 56 people and injuring over 700. The attacks are believed by many to be the first suicide bombings in Western Europe.

ENGLAND: July 21, 2005 - Small explosions in three London Underground stations and one double-decker bus.

EGYPT: July 23, 2005 - Car bombs explode at tourist sites in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, killing at least 88 and wounding more than 100.

BANGLADESH: August 17, 2005 - Around 100 homemade bombs explode in 58 different locations, killing two and wounding 100, many of whom are children.

INDONESIA: October 1, 2005 - A series of explosions occurs in resort areas of Jimabaran Beach and Kuta in Bali.

RUSSIA: October 13, 2005 - A large group of Chechen rebels (all Muslims) launched coordinated attacks on Russian federal buildings, local police stations, and the airport in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. At least 137 people were killed.

IRAN: October 15, 2005 - Two bombs exploded at a shopping mall in Ahvaz, Khuzestan. Six people died and over 100 were injured.

IRAQ: October 24, 2005 - Multiple car bombs explode outside the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 11. It is thought that the attacks were targeting journalists inside the Palestine Hotel and the Sheraton Ishtar.

ISRAEL: October 26, 2005 - A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a bomb near a falafel stand in Hadera, Israel that kills himself and six others. Twenty-six people were wounded.

INDIA: October 29, 2005 - Multiple bomb blasts hit markets in New Delhi, leaving at least 61 dead and more than 200 injured.

JORDAN: November 9, 2005 - Three explosions at hotels in Amman leave at least 60 dead and 120 wounded.

ISRAEL: December 5, 2005 - A suicide bomb attack kills at least five people in Netanya.

So what did you notice? One of the first things I picked up on is that you have more to fear from islamic terrorists if you're a muslim.

The second point is that none of these occured on US soil. And we're arguably the biggest targets these groups have. Say what you want about W., but I say the boy's getting the job done on the terror front.

The third point is that this IS world war iii. It's going on in every country that has a major islamic presence. Now that's not something you'll see on an islamic recruiting brochure.

The fourth point is that in each of these situations, there was little to no public outcry from the Islamic world. Not in their media. Not by the leaders of their faith. And certainly not by demonstrations in the streets (with the exception of the Lebonese assasination). Is this behavior now par for the course with this people? Now fast-forward to their reaction to a cartoon.

Me thinks they might have a priorities problem.

The fact is, we're in a cultural war that's just not going to go away anytime soon.

Separated @ Birth: Episode V

2006-02-08T17:45:00.000-06:00

Come on folks... A lot of you browsing, and that's great, but let me know what you think, will ya? Anyone in mind for Episode VI?

State Representative
Aaron Schock

aka "Doogie Howser, M.D.",
Neil Patrick Harris

Separated @ Birth: Episode IV

2006-02-08T10:38:00.000-06:00

Peoria Media Gadfly,
Phil Luciano

Galactic Freedom Fighter,
Graak the Ewok

Separated @ Birth: Episode III

2006-02-07T23:09:00.000-06:00

Peoria Councilman,
Gary Sandberg

Actor & Musician,
Jack Black

Separated @ Birth: Episode II

2006-02-07T11:31:00.000-06:00

Here's the next installment. As always, I'm open to new ideas from the peanut galleries. Who's next?

Peoria Councilman,
John Morris

The Late Great
John Belushi

Separated @ Birth: Episode I

2006-02-07T10:57:00.000-06:00

This is the first post in a new series, focusing on local popular and political celebrities. Can't say why I've chosen the folks I have, but it's not out of spite. I really do like most of them. Just having a little fun. You'll be seeing local celebs of every persuasion.

So without further ado, the first Peoria Separated at Birth:

Peoria Councilwoman,
Barbara Van Auken

TV's Maude,
Actress Bea Arthur

Another, "Oh Crap," Parent Moment

2006-02-06T07:35:00.000-06:00

Hat tip to BJ over at OneProblem for this little gem. It's an article from New York Magazine about the whole girl on girl movement among high school (and younger) girls.

Crap. Remember when parents only had to worry about guys hitting on their daughters?

I went to big high school a couple of decades or so ago. There were almost 700 kids in my class. But for the life of me, I can't picture a scene like this one going on the hallways. (Fantasized about the chick part of it, yes. Hell, I was sixteen once. But actually see and experience it? No way.)

Just another example of the liberalization of our culture. I'm not talking politics as much as the "if it makes you feel good, do it" mentality. What a load of crap.

I think the whole pseudo-lesbo thing is less about loving other girls as it is about girls feeling the need to go above and beyond to turn on boys. It's about very low self-esteems. One girl in the article said it best:

"It's either to please a man, or to try it out, or just to be fun, or 'cause you're bored, or just 'cause you like it . Whatever."

To please a man, she says. That's the one out of her list that rings most true.

Super Bowl Observations

2006-02-05T19:53:00.000-06:00

Is it just me or does Steeler's coach, Bill Cower, look like the bad guy from Dick Tracy? You know, the one with the huge chin?
The Stones need no special effects, fancy camera angles or exposed nipples. They owned the stage. Three hundred years old and they flat out rock. Loved it.
The ads mostly suck this year. The guys throwing his Sprint cell phone into the face of another guy as a "crime deterrent" made me cackle out loud. Didn't see it coming. Loved it. My other favorite ad (on target, on message) is one I've seen before: the two city-killing monsters fall in love and have a baby...the new Hummer H3. Fun ad. Third on the list was the lady on the airplane who falls on top of a guy just as the lights come on.
The refs ruined this game. Way too many calls. Way too many bad calls.

Joining The Mile-High Club

2006-02-03T14:17:00.000-06:00

While I don't know what you mean by mile-high club, but I was talking about PeoriaIllinoisan's new blog that shows shots of Peoria from the air.

The shots have the look of GoogleEarth to me...which is one of the coolest e-toys ever.

Go check out his new blog here.

What's wrong with City Council

2006-02-03T09:01:00.000-06:00

Bill Dennis said: "We have new city council members because of this outrage (crime)."

Funny, I thought it was because of fire station 11. Oh, no, that's right, it was because of the garbage tax. Or was it the flower baskets? No, it was the private meetings, right?

The new council came in with huge expectations because they made a lot of huge promises. Mostly, though, our city's financial conditions will not allow those promises to be met for some time.

(Incidentally, thank God for the new mall that so many of you "damn the northside" crowd opposed. That sucker accounted for more than $2 million in much-needed new revenues. Imagine what the budget would have looked like without it!)

I like a lot of the progress the new council is making. And I think Ardis is doing a bang-up job. The one thing I don't like about this council, though, is that they seem to micromanage everything the city staff or the commissions are doing.

It reminds me of working at UPS while in college. I was a sorter, which means I had a constant flow of packages that I had to place in an appropriate bin based on their address. While I and my colleagues were doing this, there was a guy who's sole job was to watch us and time us with a stop watch. All night long, he recorded our times.

Now isn't that the picture of efficiency? Isn't that ridiculous? Well, so is examining in the tiniest detail every move that the staff makes and commenting on it publicly. Why do we hire these people if we don't trust them? If we don't trust them, hire someone you do. God knows I wouldn't want to work for the city. It's just not worth the hassle of dealing with this council.

So I say, relax guys. Stay focused on the big picture and keep the ship of state (or city in this case) moving forward. Make us all proud. Cut out the chicken shit stuff, already, and be leaders.
Nobody likes a micromanager.

(Or a dorkwad, Polly.)

Another kid problem...

2006-02-03T08:08:00.000-06:00

While we're on the subject of issues facing our kids, I'll relate a problem that drives me absolutely freaking nuts as a parent. It's the sexualization of pre- and early-teen girls.

Have you had to shop recently for girls in this age bracket?

While I'm far from a prude (though my daughter might disagree with that assertion), I am astounded at the clothes that are being foisted on young girls, today. They make thongs for kids!!!

Maybe it has something to do with this progression:

Young female pop star makes a splash in the industry. Her image: virginal. Her audience: pre-pubescent girls.
Within one or two years, her image changes to one of the sexually aware. Her image: tease.

Another year or two down the road and her image becomes: skank. She's sexually explicit in her actions, lyrics and dancing (and lifestyle), and is now publicly exploring bisexuality. Basically, she's become the kid you knew in school that was popular with the guys in junior high because she put out, but by 11th or 12th grade, she's used up and hard looking.
Then she becomes this (see picture). Don't you want this for your little girl?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming the pop music industry, though they certainly play a part. But I am pointing out that our popular culture today is promoting sexuality at younger and younger ages. And trust me, if a kid isn't mature enough to get a driver's license, then they're not mature enough to handle the mental, emotional and (I'll say it) even spiritual baggage that accompanies becoming sexually active.

So where does that leave us as parents? Certainly, for me, it means not shopping at thong-pushing places like Abercrombie & Fitch at the very least. Mostly, I think it means we need to be painfully honest, open and up-front with our kids. Telling all about the ins and outs of sex (so to speak) and why it's vitally important for them to wait until they're old enough to handle it. (And, in my opinion, married. But that's just me.)

It also means teaching our daughters to value themselves, to reject the pop culture lie that they need to adopt a sexy image in order to be liked or appreciated or even loved.

It means saying and showing them a better goal for life than becoming another Britney.

Who knew parenting would get so complicated?

D150 Blame Game II

2006-02-02T11:10:00.000-06:00

Tried to post a reponse to a post on The Peoria Pundit. It disappeared. Tried another one. It disappeared. So...

Here's my reply to Bill's post...which is reply to my post:

Of course kids need to feel safe in school. Of course D150 needs to address issues of violence and do whatever they can to make our children feel safe. Duh! No brainers on both counts.

My point, though, is that there is a greater problem out there -- and it exists on the streets and in the homes of big percentage of our city. It's the stuff LaVetta is screaming about each week. The stuff you (Bill) praised her for addressing. It's the stuff the "rest" of Peoria can safely choose to ignore. Why? Because it's not in our neighborhoods, is it? It's in someone else's. And it's not our kids that are threatened as they walk down the street. Indeed, our kids are driven around in cars and minivans and SUVs, aren't they?

The reason we make such a big deal out of the schools is because that is the one place "our kids" come in contact with the problem. Sure, kids from the Southside and other areas live in constant contact with the drugs and the crime and the violence. But the rest of us can ignore the their issues and pretend it's not there. After all, our kids are safe at home and on their well-kept blocks.

But God forbid the infection of violence and poverty leak into our schools where our children come in contact with it. Keep that garbage on the Southside where it belongs, right?

Let me ask you this? Where's the outrage over the people getting shot and robbed and stabbed and beaten in these neighborhoods? Don't children have a "right to feel safe" in their neighborhoods, too? Or is it simply an issue that kids from the nice neighborhoods are exposed to this stuff from time to time at school -- and that's the real source of the outrage.

Again, I say the problem is in our culture -- in our neighborhoods and homes -- and not our schools. We must choose to face up to the real cancer and stop spending all of our resources (and time) on band-aids.

Frankly, I wouldn't want D150's job for anything. And I applaud them for trying so hard to do what they do. Sure, they screw up from time to time. And yes, they could do a much better job of communicating (internally and externally). But they're doing more of a job than any educator should have to do.

Um...Sorry.

2006-02-02T09:23:00.000-06:00

I had a setting set wrong and all of your comments were stuck in a virtual purgatory, patiently awaiting their time.

Well, they've been released. And so have you! So comment like the wind, my friends. Your words will be both seen and heard.

(If someone reads them out loud, that is.)

Don't Blame D150 For Guns

2006-01-31T11:25:00.000-06:00

I'm sick of the District 150 blame game.

It's the STREETS of the Southside, East Bluff, and other urban areas of Peoria that are jam-packed with guns and knives and clubs and shivs. Why are we surprised this stuff enters our schools? What are we expecting?

What we have is a cultural and sociological problem, people. It's well beyond a school problem. It's like someone on the Titanic getting pissed because the waiter won't seat them when the ship is going down. There's a bigger problem to be addressed! And until the culture issues are adequately dealt with, the problem will never leave our schools. Ever. Period. Finito.

You can put in metal detectors, sniffing dogs and psychics in our schools, for all I care, and you're still only addressing the symptoms.

So where's that leave 150? In the crapper, unfortunately -- at least as it pertains to violence in our schools. And now their new truancy program (laudable as it might be) is nearly guaranteeing that the troubled gun-toting gang-banging thugs will continue to share the same classrooms, restrooms, lunchrooms and hallways as your kids and mine.

Screw race. That's not what I'm talking about. The vast majority of the black, white, yellow and brown kids in 150 are working their butts off and being...well...kids. But the element that believes they should be playing an active role in the war-zones that are our neighborhoods? Those kids...well...are still just kids, too. But they're kids that are loaded guns carrying loaded guns that are willing to fire loaded guns.

I sure don't have any answers. But I do know that finding that answer must first begin with addressing the real issues. And the leadership and policies of District 150 are not the issue. They're just the waiters, fighting like the rest of us to do some good while struggling to remain afloat.

Maybe we all are.

And Speaking of Masochists...

2006-01-30T11:14:00.000-06:00

Funny thing about sado-masochism:

If a masochist asks to be beaten, wouldn't a true sadist refuse?

Just more hypocrisy, I say.

Beat em, don't beat em, I don't care. Just call it what it is.

I'd Like To Thanks The Academy...

2006-01-30T11:08:00.000-06:00

Actually, thanks to two of my favorite bloggers for pointing to my new site.

Bill Dennis @ The Peoria Pundit, and
Polly @ Polly Peoria

It's nice to be welcomed to the neighborhood. Bill went so far as to label me competition. Don't see that happening. I don't care enough to even try!

(Besides, who wants to sit through every council meeting...and not even get paid to do it!?!? Methinks Bill's a bit of a masochist.)

Forrest Hell Road

2006-01-27T17:34:00.000-06:00

How can the State of Illinois (i.e., bloated bureaucracy) complete a new freeway faster than the city of Peoria can patch a single frickin road?

I'm talking about Forrest Hill between Gale and Sterling. It's been a mess now for two years, and I can't begin to count the times I've almost driven headlong into on-coming traffic. Warning! One out of five drivers miss the cue that their lovely four lane road suddenly turns into two. Silly me. I would have imagined the orange barrels would have given the secret away.

Get off your ass, Public Works. Gimme a road!

A Blogging We Will Go

2006-01-27T16:15:00.000-06:00

When it comes to blogging, I'm what talk radio would call a "first-timer, long-timer". In other words, I've been reading the local blogs for awhile, now, but this is the first time I've ever dipped my toe into the ion-infested cyber waters, so to speak.

I figure Polly, Willy, Vonster and, of course, the Pundit shouldn't get to have all the fun.