Inspiration

If you click on one link this week for a slideshow of inspiration, click here: www.greatquotesmovie.com/ Be sure to turn on your speakers.

It's about three minutes of inspirational quotes from world leaders - terrific reminders of ways to live your life. If you like it, there is a webtool for sharing it with others.

Trooper Heroics

Did you know that you can listen to Y103.9 online? Just go to http://www.y1039.com/ and click on "Listen Live!" It's right under the photo of the DJ who is on the air.

And, while you are there, scroll down a little further and read the tributes to the Illinois State Police troopers.

Next time you see a trooper, remember how dangerous his or her job really is.

And slow down in those Work Zones. It'll save you $375.00.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

This morning I was in Judge Prather's courtroom to hear the verdict of a trial held about a month ago. It turns out that I know both the defendant and the victim. I was interested enough to show up for the verdict that was scheduled today.

What's the beef? Visitors to courtrooms in McHenry County cannot hear what is going on between the judge and the attorneys, witness, victims, defendants or anyone else at the bench. Why can't they hear?

Number 1. The judges do not speak up! I have visited traffic court and other criminal court proceedings. In only one courtroom did the judge speak up so that he could be heard.

Courtrooms and trials in America (I think McHenry County is still in America) are open to the public. The public is allowed to attend almost any trial. This is a privilege (and a right, I say) that does not exist worldwide. But it's not enough to just be in the courtroom. It is important to be able to HEAR what is said in the courtroom.

Now, why can't visitors (and others) hear?

Attorneys at the bench are permitted to speak in low voice. In hushed voices. Now they are probably not whispering. But they are facing away from the visitors and speaking to the judge. When the judge permits them to speak in a hushed voice or so low that they cannot be heard in the front row of the courtroom, something is wrong!

The next problem with hearing what is said between the judge and the person (victim or defendant or witness) is the amount of noise and disruption caused by the other attorneys in the courtroom. They move around in front of their tables and impede the view of the proceedings at the bench. They talk to one another, and not always briefly or quietly. They come to the visitor seating to speak to a person seated there, which interferes with the ability of the others to hear what is being said at the bench.

If a "regular" person seated in the courtroom talks aloud, he gets a visit from the courtroom security officer (formerly known as the bailiff).

This morning the victim in one trial was seated in the first row and could not hear what was being said between the judge and the defendant as the judge's basis for her verdict was being announced and the verdict pronounced. When the victim attempted to get the attorneys to quiet down, the security officer approached and motioned him to be quiet.

Did the security officer speak to the attorneys? Absolutely not! And he didn't see one of the attorneys glare at the victim. It's a good thing that looks don't kill; if they did, that attorney would have been guilty of killing the man in the first row.

I too motioned to the attorneys, trying to get their attention. Perhaps they are all near-sighted, or maybe there is a class in law school that trains them to ignore anyone disturbed by their conversations and movements.

How should it be?

The judge is in charge of the courtroom. S/he should direct the courtroom security officer to maintain order, including hushing up the attorneys. If they want to talk during official business, then they quietly leave the courtroom and wait for the doors to close before talking aloud.

Actually, the attorneys shouldn't even need to be told this. The decorum of the courtroom and their respect for the Court and the judge should be enough. After four-five years of visiting courtrooms in McHenry County, it's clear that the attorneys do not respect courtroom decorum. So it's time for the judges to refresh them!

I stopped over at Judge Sullivan's office (again) about this and left a message with his executive assistant. Whether there is any action will remain to be seen.

OK, here's the question. When you are in court, do you think you have a right to hear what is going on between the judge and the attorneys and their clients and witnesses?

Online Personality Test

It's easy. It's fast. It's not complicated. (It's clean.) Check out this personality "test." Follow the instructions. Have paper and pencil ready. Do write down the answers as you go along. If you don't, you might wish you had.

http://memoriter.net/flash/test.html

What's in Your Wallet?

Do you know what is in your wallet or purse? Can you list each credit card and each piece of identification? Know how much cash? Know what Gift Certificates or Gift Cards you are carrying around?

Recently, a friend had her purse and wallet stolen from her desk in a nice office building in Hoffman Estates. Her desk is just inside the door on a floor where all other office doors require a key card for access. Her purse and wallet were in the bottom drawer of her desk.

While she was in the restroom, some unknown person entered the office and took her wallet and purse.

Make a list of the contents of your wallet - be fair now; do it without looking. Then compare your list with a list you make by itemizing each credit card, debit card, form of identification and all those Gift Cards you have tucked away in there for a special day of shopping.

Put your list in a safe place - maybe even in a secure online location. If your purse and/or wallet "grows legs", having immediate access to the list without driving home might save you some real headaches.

And make the police report immediately.

If you have trouble remembering just how many credit cards you really have, you can get a free credit report online. The full account numbers used to be shown on the report. It could be that the numbers are shortened now. You won't even have to know the full number; just call your bank or the credit card issuer (Good luck finding their number!). Maybe that's the information that you ought to store in an information file on Yahoo!, even if you don't store the full number. The credit card issuer will find your account through your name, Social Security number and other identifying information you can give them.

Be a Blood Donor

Are you a blood donor?

You are? When is the last time you donated? More than eight weeks ago? Okay, it's time to pick up the phone and call to make an appointment for your next donation. Or just go to the donation center and give.

For me, I prefer to drop in. It's easier in my schedule than setting a specific time and day. If I get there and they are very busy, I just go back another time.

My donation center of choice is Heartland Blood Center in Crystal Lake. It's located right off U.S. 14 and just a few doors west of Hobby Lobby. Everyone knows where Hobby Lobby is; right?

Donating blood is easy, fast and painless (well, most of the time...). If you prefer an appointment, call the center scheduling office at 800.786.4483

If you ever need blood, you'll be glad that your hospital finds a ready supply. To keep that supply, it's important to give. It's something that you can do that takes only your time - no other cost. Do it. Do it right now.

Thanks!

C'ville PD: "It's Like a Parking Ticket"

You have probably heard about the woman who called her neighbor's kids "monkeys", when they were climbing in a tree in their front yard. Her position as a Carpentersville's Trustee should never have made it into the news, but it did - and big-time.

When I telephoned the Carpentersville P.D. to ask when her court date would be, the operator (dispatcher?) told me that she had been fined $75.00.

First of all, that's absolutely incorrect. She was issued a Village citation that has a $75.00 fine associated with it. By all reports, she has not paid the ticket. She certainly has not been (already) fined $75.00, unless the officer had his hand out for the fine when he issued the ticket. Not likely.

The operator/dispatcher explained that the ticket was just "like a parking ticket" (her words). As if a parking ticket (and, therefore, this Disorderly Conduct ticket) really was of little consequence.

Now, some people might be inclined to thumb their noses at a parking ticket. Big deal; right? How much is the fine for a parking ticket? $5.00? $10.00? And what happens if you don't pay it? Probably not much.

But is a Disorder Conduct ticket more important? In almost anyone's eyes, it is. The operator explained that the woman was not charged under a State statute, "just" under the City Code.

Will she fight it? Probably. Should she fight it? Absolutely!

Did she commit an act that was "alarming and disturbing"? If all she did was say something, "Hey, stop climbing in that tree like monkeys", what is "alarming and disturbing" about that? That was Hillary Clinton's "it takes a village to raise a child" theme, wasn't it? You know - when Mom isn't minding her kids and the kids are climbing a small tree and risking broken bones if they fall, shouldn't someone step forward and intervene?

Perhaps she should turn the tables on the Mom and file a Disorder Conduct charge against her! Certainly, she has become "alarmed and disturbed" by the actions of the mother of the kids and of the police officer!

She should fight this ticket. Yes, it will cost her more than $75.00. Is it worth it? Yes. Will she win? Well, in court you take your chances. You can mount an excellent defense, and it will still be up to the judge. A local judge will worry that he is showing favors to a Village Trustee, if he finds her not guilty. Will the court have to go outside for a different judge to come in?

With the information being given out by the police department, it's no wonder that newspapers are reporting that she "was fined." The police department needs to educate its employees that the ticket was issued and there is a fine if the recipient pays it or is convicted.

Why is this important? Because it can happen anywhere. It can happen to anyone.

There will be a hearing. When will the hearing be? Stay tuned.