A bit outside the city limits - but a very meaningful, worthwhile cause. Go, visit, help.
http://www.fortheloveofmckenna.org/
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Homecoming Scandal 2008
First things first -
LT 32 - York 8
Now, for the real story.
Seems as though a few senior football players have been suspended for varying lengths by the school (from one game to the whole season, depending on the person involved). The suspensions are due to a violation of the code of conduct that all York athletes read, sign, and promise to follow when they agree to participate in sports at the school. One of the conditions of playing - one of the biggies - is no drinking. Period. You get caught drinking, you're suspended.
So the players were caught drinking, right? Well, kinda.
Seems as though numerous photos of players surfaced, photos that had the students in various states of "party participation." Drinking? Not sure - haven't seen the pictures. But it is certain that many of the players were seen in the pictures drinking from red Solo cups, playing beer pong ("Beer Pong: the official game of York Class of 2008"). Quite simple: fill red solo cups with beer, arrange them on both ends of a table (a ping pong table, preferably), and then two teams try to toss a ping pong ball into the cups at the opposite end of the table. You get one in, the other team has to drink the cup.
Pretty simple. And pretty basic. You can't play with cans or bottles - you have to use cups. Hence, red solo cups are ubiquitous in beer pong. In fact, Google "beer pong" and you'll find pictures of the game, complete with Solo cups. The game and the cups go hand-in-hand.
So, does that make the players guilty of playing beer pong and drinking? Well, how do we know? How can we be absolutely certain that there was beer in the cups? You see the cups, but not what's inside. Sounds like a leap of no-faith that the school administration took.
And the other hand . . . . .
How stupid are these seniors, anyway? I mean, the photos were posted to a website (doesn't matter which website: once they're on the web, they're free to go anywhere, and often do). Why would any person with a functioning brain cell take a picture of someone doing something a) against school policy, and b) hello - illegal!?!?! - - and then post them to a place where the entire world can see them, copy them, share them - in short, take photos and hand them out to anyone in the world? What were they thinking?
Sure, they want to take photos as remembrances of their years together, their parties, their events, I can understand that. Families take photos at weddings, holidays, parties - it's been done for centuries. It'll be done for years to come.
But when did people - students and teens, in particular - start thinking it was a good idea to make the pictures public? To place them in an arena where they can no longer monitor them, monitor who sees them or who copies them or where they might get posted next?
The only rule of the Internet that will never change is this: anything that's posted on the Internet can never be taken back, and cannot be controlled. It's basically a great electronic bathroom wall, where anyone can write what they want, and anyone can co-opt the images and messages for their own use, no strings attached.
So again, let's re-cap:
Photos taken - possibly incriminating (in a strictly legal sense).
Photos placed in a public forum.
Photos seen by people in a position of responsibility.
Students get pissed off. Huh?
The "lifting of the cups in protest" at the game was surely a sight to behold - a thousand teens holding up red solo cups in unison, then throwing them on the ground.
Oooooohhhhh.
They know what the solo cups are for. The school administration knows what the cups are for. Parents should know what the cups are for (if you don't please come on out of your cave and join us in the 21st century).
The students were pissed off that the administration suspended the students based on visual heresay knowledge. And that's fair. But to flaunt it, knowing full well that everyone knows what the cups are for, and all the students know (wink wink) what was really going on in those pictures . . . well, really now.
Grow up.
You fucked up. You got caught. Take it like the adults you always tell us you are.
And, oh yea - STOP POSTING PICTURE OF YOURSELVES DOING ILLEGAL THINGS ON THE INTERNET!!! Stop making it easy to get caught. You don't want to get caught? Stop assisting the school in catching you.
Duh.
LT 32 - York 8
Now, for the real story.
Seems as though a few senior football players have been suspended for varying lengths by the school (from one game to the whole season, depending on the person involved). The suspensions are due to a violation of the code of conduct that all York athletes read, sign, and promise to follow when they agree to participate in sports at the school. One of the conditions of playing - one of the biggies - is no drinking. Period. You get caught drinking, you're suspended.
So the players were caught drinking, right? Well, kinda.
Seems as though numerous photos of players surfaced, photos that had the students in various states of "party participation." Drinking? Not sure - haven't seen the pictures. But it is certain that many of the players were seen in the pictures drinking from red Solo cups, playing beer pong ("Beer Pong: the official game of York Class of 2008"). Quite simple: fill red solo cups with beer, arrange them on both ends of a table (a ping pong table, preferably), and then two teams try to toss a ping pong ball into the cups at the opposite end of the table. You get one in, the other team has to drink the cup.
Pretty simple. And pretty basic. You can't play with cans or bottles - you have to use cups. Hence, red solo cups are ubiquitous in beer pong. In fact, Google "beer pong" and you'll find pictures of the game, complete with Solo cups. The game and the cups go hand-in-hand.
So, does that make the players guilty of playing beer pong and drinking? Well, how do we know? How can we be absolutely certain that there was beer in the cups? You see the cups, but not what's inside. Sounds like a leap of no-faith that the school administration took.
And the other hand . . . . .
How stupid are these seniors, anyway? I mean, the photos were posted to a website (doesn't matter which website: once they're on the web, they're free to go anywhere, and often do). Why would any person with a functioning brain cell take a picture of someone doing something a) against school policy, and b) hello - illegal!?!?! - - and then post them to a place where the entire world can see them, copy them, share them - in short, take photos and hand them out to anyone in the world? What were they thinking?
Sure, they want to take photos as remembrances of their years together, their parties, their events, I can understand that. Families take photos at weddings, holidays, parties - it's been done for centuries. It'll be done for years to come.
But when did people - students and teens, in particular - start thinking it was a good idea to make the pictures public? To place them in an arena where they can no longer monitor them, monitor who sees them or who copies them or where they might get posted next?
The only rule of the Internet that will never change is this: anything that's posted on the Internet can never be taken back, and cannot be controlled. It's basically a great electronic bathroom wall, where anyone can write what they want, and anyone can co-opt the images and messages for their own use, no strings attached.
So again, let's re-cap:
Photos taken - possibly incriminating (in a strictly legal sense).
Photos placed in a public forum.
Photos seen by people in a position of responsibility.
Students get pissed off. Huh?
The "lifting of the cups in protest" at the game was surely a sight to behold - a thousand teens holding up red solo cups in unison, then throwing them on the ground.
Oooooohhhhh.
They know what the solo cups are for. The school administration knows what the cups are for. Parents should know what the cups are for (if you don't please come on out of your cave and join us in the 21st century).
The students were pissed off that the administration suspended the students based on visual heresay knowledge. And that's fair. But to flaunt it, knowing full well that everyone knows what the cups are for, and all the students know (wink wink) what was really going on in those pictures . . . well, really now.
Grow up.
You fucked up. You got caught. Take it like the adults you always tell us you are.
And, oh yea - STOP POSTING PICTURE OF YOURSELVES DOING ILLEGAL THINGS ON THE INTERNET!!! Stop making it easy to get caught. You don't want to get caught? Stop assisting the school in catching you.
Duh.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Block Party
Tomorrow is the annual Elmhurst Uptown Downtown Block Party. Eleven hours of food, music, vendors, sales - - and it conflicts directly with York's homecoming. I guess that's one way of making sure York Road isn't overrun with teens. I mean, that must be why they scheduled it for that day, right? Make it family friendly, non-threatening, more room to roam - - and to do that, make sure you have it on a day when you're certain that a significant portion of the population will not attend, that portion being those who a) hang around all day long, b) spend money, and c) make anyone over the age of 50 or under the age of 10 feel uncomfortable.
Will anyone spend more than 45 minutes there? I mean, it's a noble idea, and these festivals are always good for bringing dollars into the city. But this seems like a feeble grasp.
When a typical Wednesday night "Cars Under the Stars" covers more real estate than a city festival, do we really need the festival? Or do we need to re-think it, make it larger, make it something worth attending?!
Really want to make it a "block party?" Start it at 6:00pm. Have food and music. Let some of the business remain open if they want to. Throw a bonfire in the middle of the road. Cut the live music at 10:00 (city rules), but let the people/food remain until midnight.
Hey! That's kinda what the teens do each Friday and Saturday night downtown! Well, ain't that a funny coincidence . . .
Will anyone spend more than 45 minutes there? I mean, it's a noble idea, and these festivals are always good for bringing dollars into the city. But this seems like a feeble grasp.
When a typical Wednesday night "Cars Under the Stars" covers more real estate than a city festival, do we really need the festival? Or do we need to re-think it, make it larger, make it something worth attending?!
Really want to make it a "block party?" Start it at 6:00pm. Have food and music. Let some of the business remain open if they want to. Throw a bonfire in the middle of the road. Cut the live music at 10:00 (city rules), but let the people/food remain until midnight.
Hey! That's kinda what the teens do each Friday and Saturday night downtown! Well, ain't that a funny coincidence . . .
Football!
Friday night - -
York Homecoming - York vs Lyons Township @ 7:30.
Saturday Afternoon - -
Driscoll at IC - 1:00
Elmhurst College vs. Olivet College - Noon
This is their home opener, and it's Community Day.
York Homecoming - York vs Lyons Township @ 7:30.
Saturday Afternoon - -
Driscoll at IC - 1:00
Elmhurst College vs. Olivet College - Noon
This is their home opener, and it's Community Day.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
They Took What?
Two items of note in the Doings today:
1) "A $250 section of pipe and a $350 section of pipe were reported taken from a construction site at 1:32 p.m. Sept. 13 on the 1000 Block of North County Line Road. "
And nobody noticed this? How does someone waltz away with sections of pipe? Thinking it may not fit into the trunk of your average car. That's some serious balls, along with some serious lack of security and awareness.
2) "A $5 black girls bicycle was reported taken at 9:06 a.m. Sept. 12 at Fremont and West Avenue. "
A $5 bike? $5? I can't get decent beer for $5 - how does anyone find a bike valued at $5? What, it was missing both tires, the seat, the chain, one pedal and half a handlebar?
1) "A $250 section of pipe and a $350 section of pipe were reported taken from a construction site at 1:32 p.m. Sept. 13 on the 1000 Block of North County Line Road. "
And nobody noticed this? How does someone waltz away with sections of pipe? Thinking it may not fit into the trunk of your average car. That's some serious balls, along with some serious lack of security and awareness.
2) "A $5 black girls bicycle was reported taken at 9:06 a.m. Sept. 12 at Fremont and West Avenue. "
A $5 bike? $5? I can't get decent beer for $5 - how does anyone find a bike valued at $5? What, it was missing both tires, the seat, the chain, one pedal and half a handlebar?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
York Homecoming
I remember homecoming. Okay, it was a long time ago, but I haven't killed that many brain cells. Anyway, I do remember it. It was the best part of the new school year.
Spirit week. TP-ing houses, trees - everything that stood still was fair game. Bonfires. loat-building for the parade.
Huh - what's that? You have no idea what float-building is? Well, hell - - you're missing a great thing.
Back in the "old days" we actually had a Homecoming Parade (full disclosure: I didn't go to York, I attended a different HS in DuPage County). The idea was that each class was given "X" amount of funds to plan and construct a float for the parade. Best float won a prize. Of course, the parade also featured the band, cheerleaders, local items, etc., but the main thing - the primary focus - was the class floats.
And the best thing about them wasn't even the parade. It was the weeks leading up to the parade, planning, buying crepe paper or other supplies, building under secret cover - and the James Bond-like attempts of each class to see what the others classes were up to, what they were building. Was it bigger than ours? Lame? Cool? What were the Juniors doing? Why so the Sophomores need three cases of gold spray paint? And so on.
It was driving around town at night with the windows open and the radio cranked, looking for any signs of activity that might be float-related. It was silently acknowledging those you passed from other classes, keeping a mistrustful eye on them to make sure they weren't sent to steal your ideas.
It was silly, fun, and for a couple of weeks each fall it meant the world.
How many friendships were struck while glueing paper to a wire head? How many times did love blossom, or fizzle, during the course of a dark, cool night under the bright moon, brown leaves, and dad's super-bright work light hanging from the garage rafters (you couldn't work in the dark)?
So what do the kids do now?
Kinda sad - they really don't know what they're missing. It's a set of memories they'll never have.
And I guess now, they'll lose the memories of TP-ing the school, too.
At least they stillplay the game, right? Right??
Spirit week. TP-ing houses, trees - everything that stood still was fair game. Bonfires. loat-building for the parade.
Huh - what's that? You have no idea what float-building is? Well, hell - - you're missing a great thing.
Back in the "old days" we actually had a Homecoming Parade (full disclosure: I didn't go to York, I attended a different HS in DuPage County). The idea was that each class was given "X" amount of funds to plan and construct a float for the parade. Best float won a prize. Of course, the parade also featured the band, cheerleaders, local items, etc., but the main thing - the primary focus - was the class floats.
And the best thing about them wasn't even the parade. It was the weeks leading up to the parade, planning, buying crepe paper or other supplies, building under secret cover - and the James Bond-like attempts of each class to see what the others classes were up to, what they were building. Was it bigger than ours? Lame? Cool? What were the Juniors doing? Why so the Sophomores need three cases of gold spray paint? And so on.
It was driving around town at night with the windows open and the radio cranked, looking for any signs of activity that might be float-related. It was silently acknowledging those you passed from other classes, keeping a mistrustful eye on them to make sure they weren't sent to steal your ideas.
It was silly, fun, and for a couple of weeks each fall it meant the world.
How many friendships were struck while glueing paper to a wire head? How many times did love blossom, or fizzle, during the course of a dark, cool night under the bright moon, brown leaves, and dad's super-bright work light hanging from the garage rafters (you couldn't work in the dark)?
So what do the kids do now?
Kinda sad - they really don't know what they're missing. It's a set of memories they'll never have.
And I guess now, they'll lose the memories of TP-ing the school, too.
At least they stillplay the game, right? Right??
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Late Night Fun?
Is there really a curfew in town for kids? Really?
I ask because this past Saturday night, the teen-daughter was supposed to be home at her regular midnight "witching hour," but didn't roll in until about 1:25AM. So how does a teenage female manage to be out and about at that time without being seen or noticed? Driving through town, dropping friends off - it's not like she's exactly stealth about what she's doing.
And we find it difficult to tell her, "No, you have to be home by midnight since there's a town curfew for teenagers," when the curfew is neither followed nor enforced.
Why get worked up about it? Because parents worry. Parents are concerned that the kids are making bad, spur-of-the-moment choices (mostly due to peer pressure and influence of others at the moment).
And hell, she had our car!
I ask because this past Saturday night, the teen-daughter was supposed to be home at her regular midnight "witching hour," but didn't roll in until about 1:25AM. So how does a teenage female manage to be out and about at that time without being seen or noticed? Driving through town, dropping friends off - it's not like she's exactly stealth about what she's doing.
And we find it difficult to tell her, "No, you have to be home by midnight since there's a town curfew for teenagers," when the curfew is neither followed nor enforced.
Why get worked up about it? Because parents worry. Parents are concerned that the kids are making bad, spur-of-the-moment choices (mostly due to peer pressure and influence of others at the moment).
And hell, she had our car!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Football!
Games this weekend:
Friday night -
York at Downers Grove North
IC at St. Edward
Satruday afternoon -
Elmhurst College at University of Chicago
Friday night -
York at Downers Grove North
IC at St. Edward
Satruday afternoon -
Elmhurst College at University of Chicago
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Biggins
Dear Rep. Biggins:
How nice of you to care deeply about increasing the participation of our citizens in the democratic process. I'm sure in some places, restricting candidates does indeed result in more people participating. However, I'm not sure I can follow the reasoning you're relying upon for your rationale.
To increase participation in any undertaking, the key is to remove obstacles that would prohibit involvement. When the southern states stopped requiring "tests" of the African-American populace to vote, the participation in voting increased. When the country stopped restricting females from voting, again, more participation! And, not just more people participating as voters, but more people running for office. More people = more choices = better choices.
Kinda like in college: what gets you excited, a choice between 5 classes in your major, or 15 classes in your major? Kinda a no-brainer, huh?
Perhaps the best way to increase participation - both of people running for office, and people voting in elections - would be to remove any obstacles. No obstacles to running = more people running. More choices = more people voting (yes, that does follow - Stephen Lipscomb researches this effect in the August 2007 Economics of Educational Review and finds that increased choices lead to increased participation and increased learning).
So I'm certain that to increase citizen participation, as you say you want to do, you'll do all you can to remove any barriers to those wanting to run for office or vote - barriers such as Senate Bill 662.
Unless you're just putting one over on us. You wouldn't do that, would you?
Sincerely,
Glos
How nice of you to care deeply about increasing the participation of our citizens in the democratic process. I'm sure in some places, restricting candidates does indeed result in more people participating. However, I'm not sure I can follow the reasoning you're relying upon for your rationale.
To increase participation in any undertaking, the key is to remove obstacles that would prohibit involvement. When the southern states stopped requiring "tests" of the African-American populace to vote, the participation in voting increased. When the country stopped restricting females from voting, again, more participation! And, not just more people participating as voters, but more people running for office. More people = more choices = better choices.
Kinda like in college: what gets you excited, a choice between 5 classes in your major, or 15 classes in your major? Kinda a no-brainer, huh?
Perhaps the best way to increase participation - both of people running for office, and people voting in elections - would be to remove any obstacles. No obstacles to running = more people running. More choices = more people voting (yes, that does follow - Stephen Lipscomb researches this effect in the August 2007 Economics of Educational Review and finds that increased choices lead to increased participation and increased learning).
So I'm certain that to increase citizen participation, as you say you want to do, you'll do all you can to remove any barriers to those wanting to run for office or vote - barriers such as Senate Bill 662.
Unless you're just putting one over on us. You wouldn't do that, would you?
Sincerely,
Glos
Autumn
Okay, so not technically Autumn for another eight days . . . . but boy, the temperatures the last few days says "I'm Autumn, and I'm here."
Windows are open again, and the AC has finally stopped running. I no longer sweat while sitting still. Red wine is GOOD again. Even the dog is more lively.
And I haven't had an itch mite bite in four days - whoo-hoo!
It's still nice enough out that last night I was able to walk through downtown and still see solid activity - people were out walking, easting, drinking, shopping, just enjoying the cool weather.
Over-and-under on days until the leaves start to change: 12.
Windows are open again, and the AC has finally stopped running. I no longer sweat while sitting still. Red wine is GOOD again. Even the dog is more lively.
And I haven't had an itch mite bite in four days - whoo-hoo!
It's still nice enough out that last night I was able to walk through downtown and still see solid activity - people were out walking, easting, drinking, shopping, just enjoying the cool weather.
Over-and-under on days until the leaves start to change: 12.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Lettin' 'Em Out
Let me see if I have this straight:
Last week was the first week of school for the Disctrict 205 schools (i.e. public schools). And it was a short week at that. So, this is the first full week of school this year.
The kids were out of York early yesterday - 1:15, from what I was told by teen-daughter - and they were out early again today.
So, two of the first seven days of the school year, and they have early dismissal.
WTF?
Last week was the first week of school for the Disctrict 205 schools (i.e. public schools). And it was a short week at that. So, this is the first full week of school this year.
The kids were out of York early yesterday - 1:15, from what I was told by teen-daughter - and they were out early again today.
So, two of the first seven days of the school year, and they have early dismissal.
WTF?
Local News?
Elmhurst has three local papers: the Press, the Doings, and the Independent. So why is it so hard to find out what's going on in town? If you want stories about house walks and new administrators at Elmhurst College, then fine, these papers are great. But what about news?
As much as I hate to admit it, one of the first things I like to look for are the police reports. I kinda like to know if houses in my neighborhood have been hit by a rash of burglaries - or if my teenagers friends have been busted drinking at a party - or if I need to again steer people clear of the Holiday Inn due to hookers and bar fights.
But where is this information?
Not in the Press. Not in the Doings.
Oh, wait, you're still reading the printed paper? Silly me. The print editions have some info - not much, but some.
In fact, buy all three and compare the police reports. It's amazing - almost like they're covering different towns, or sections of town, of weeks. Perhaps 30% of the blurbs cross into each paper.
The on-line editions - well, forget that.
Today is September 12. The most recent police blotter in the Press is dated August 24. The Doings? August 23. (And hey, Doings? You're owned by the Sun-Times News Group - SHAPE UP!!) The Independent? Hell, they're not even on-line.
Elmhurst, the news vacuum. Unless you like housewalks.
As much as I hate to admit it, one of the first things I like to look for are the police reports. I kinda like to know if houses in my neighborhood have been hit by a rash of burglaries - or if my teenagers friends have been busted drinking at a party - or if I need to again steer people clear of the Holiday Inn due to hookers and bar fights.
But where is this information?
Not in the Press. Not in the Doings.
Oh, wait, you're still reading the printed paper? Silly me. The print editions have some info - not much, but some.
In fact, buy all three and compare the police reports. It's amazing - almost like they're covering different towns, or sections of town, of weeks. Perhaps 30% of the blurbs cross into each paper.
The on-line editions - well, forget that.
Today is September 12. The most recent police blotter in the Press is dated August 24. The Doings? August 23. (And hey, Doings? You're owned by the Sun-Times News Group - SHAPE UP!!) The Independent? Hell, they're not even on-line.
Elmhurst, the news vacuum. Unless you like housewalks.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
First Things First
Why a blog about Elmhurst?
Hell, why not?
Almost 43,000 of us call Elmhurst home. We live there, love there, fight there, and die there. The town seeps into every inch of many of us - good or bad, whether we want it to or not. Spend enough time there, and it becomes a part of you.
But it's not all chanpagne and roses. Elmhurst has its thorns as well.
Too many of us read the paper, shop in town, wander around the streets on "Cool Cars" nights, and just accept what the town is, and what the town has become. We're along for the ride. We're watching the parade.
Ain't it more fun to be in the parade?
So why not write about the town - the good and bad, the things we love and the things that make us shake our heads in anger or furstration. Highlight things that deserve to be highlighted - from the good (volunteer efforts, great restaurants, spots of culture) to the not so good (how many of our teens are drinking, how many McMansions are being built on postage stamp-sized lots).
Elmhurst is home, warts and all. Let's explore it, have fun with it, celebrate it, and subject it to a harsh glare and intense cross-examination when necessary.
Hell, why not?
Almost 43,000 of us call Elmhurst home. We live there, love there, fight there, and die there. The town seeps into every inch of many of us - good or bad, whether we want it to or not. Spend enough time there, and it becomes a part of you.
But it's not all chanpagne and roses. Elmhurst has its thorns as well.
Too many of us read the paper, shop in town, wander around the streets on "Cool Cars" nights, and just accept what the town is, and what the town has become. We're along for the ride. We're watching the parade.
Ain't it more fun to be in the parade?
So why not write about the town - the good and bad, the things we love and the things that make us shake our heads in anger or furstration. Highlight things that deserve to be highlighted - from the good (volunteer efforts, great restaurants, spots of culture) to the not so good (how many of our teens are drinking, how many McMansions are being built on postage stamp-sized lots).
Elmhurst is home, warts and all. Let's explore it, have fun with it, celebrate it, and subject it to a harsh glare and intense cross-examination when necessary.
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