Kickboxing - sport or crime?

The Northwest Herald has been giving a lot of publicity recently to a 13-year-old Lake in the Hills girl who has been training at her father's Huntley gym in the "sport" of kickboxing. This morning's paper reports that she gained a national title last Saturday by kicking her opponent in the face in the first round that knocked her competitor out of the fight.

The opponent suffered a sprained neck in the fight.

To me, this is not sport. Why does society tolerate, even encourage, such fighting, and why isn't it penalized under the criminal code? Is it because it is pre-arranged? Because there are spectators? Because there is a "national title" at stake?

Baloney!

I agree that kids and adults should learn self-defense tactics and strategies, but this is not "self-defense." This is fighting for the "sport" of it.

What it escalates to, of course, is the major "event", such as was held a while back just east of McHenry, where some organizer put together an evening of fights and sold tickets for admission.

Do I want to worry whether some kid is going to come up and give me a swift kick - no, not in the backside - right in the face? As he approaches, should I ask, "Did you train at Z's Martial Arts Academy or at any of the myriad of other so-called "training" businesses that have sprung up all over McHenry County?"

When I see a gang of punks roaming the halls of a mall and dancing around, kicking in the air and making karate-chop gestures, do I need to worry about whether they are going to get in my "space"?

Responsible martial arts studios train their students in the art of self-defense and provide extensive practice. They also stress the importance of self-discipline and the avoidance of a fight. They train students to have the confidence to walk away from the fight. And to know that, if an aggressor goes after them, they have the skills with which to defend themselves.

And then there are these other places - the ones that glorify the attack and the win.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

What's the Solution? Anyone?

Recently I wrote to thank Angelo's for being considerate of visitor and traffic on the Square on a week-end. After all, who wants to walk by open trash containers on the day you come to Woodstock to spend your money?

Often, it's the subtle thing that causes a person to make a decision to leave or to cut short a visit or not to spend money or as much money.
Even if a passerby doesn't smell a foul odor from the trash bins, he might imagine that he does. And that foul stench, whether real or imagined, will make a strong impression on the tourist or visitor - even on the Woodstock resident.
It is inconceivable to me that the City of Woodstock cannot address and successfully resolve this issue with Angelo's Restaurant and find a permanent solution to the problem. It's my understanding that this problem has existed for 20 years. Just imagine - 20 years!
I suspect that Angelo's Restaurant wants to be a good member of the business community. This means cooperating with other businesses and not doing something that harms the downtown business area and economy. Need I add that two of the gems of Woodstock (the Opera House and the Square Park) are only a stone's throw from this trash?
Just what is lacking here? Whose job is it to clear sidewalks of unsightly and malodorous trash bins? It seems to me that the City of Woodstock, the Chamber of Commerce leadership, the leadership of Woodstock Downtown Business Association, Marengo Disposal and Angelo's Restaurant could, in a 30-minute brain-storming session, come to an agreement about the trash cans.
If it can't, then the City must assert its authority and take whatever action will result these trash cans being kept off the public sidewalk until shortly before Marengo Disposal shows up to empty them. If that means a $75 ticket for each trash can every day, then that's what gets done.
Hopefully, reasonable officials would find a reasonable solution short of enforcement. But they haven't in 20 years. Will it take another 20 years?
© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

Another Speeder on U.S. 14

This driver from Texas just couldn't wait to pass me this morning on U.S. 14. You know the high accident rate stretch between Crystal Lake and Woodstock?

Coming out of Crystal Lake the speed limit is 35MPH to Ridgefield Road South. Just west of the traffic light at Ridgefield Road South, the speed limit changes to 40MPH (although you wouldn't know it, because the 40MPH sign was knocked down and hasn't been put back up, in spite of calls to IDOT). Then it becomes 50MPH well before you get to MCC.

This idiot was following me closely in the 40MPH zone and then in the 50MPH zone. When there was a break in oncoming traffic, he zoomed around me and took off. Saved a lot of time, too, because he didn't take him long to catch up with the next westbound car, and there he stayed 'til we got to Culver's.

And then he got a red light by Farm & Fleet, which gave me the opportunity to get this picture of his Texas license plate: JRC 771.

Is the speed limit ever enforced on U.S. 14? In 12 years I don't think I've ever seen a patrol car from any jurisdiction stopped with what could be a traffic violator. I have read the police reports in the Northwest Herald and a few of the Woodstock officers do write tickets on U.S. 14. Thank you!

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

Children's Health Fair - This Wednesday

There's nothing like plenty of advance notice; right?

This Wednesday, August 6th, from 9:00AM-4:00PM, the 18th Annual Children's Health and Safety Fair will be held at MCC. So gather up all those little rug rats and troop on over to MCC.

There will be door prizes and entertainment. School physicals are available by appointment; call first to 815.334.8987

There will also be reduced-cost immunizations. Be sure to bring your child's updated shot record.

And just tell your child how much fun a dental exam will be... : )

For more information, call the McHenry County Health Department at 815.334.4500

Thanks to Dr. Rich Gorski for the alert about this Health Fair! Be sure to read www.mchenrycountyadvocate.com

Mexifornia

Today I received yet another copy of former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm's speech on how to destroy America. Isn't this exactly what is happening in the U.S.A. now?

Depending on the webpage you view, Lamm made this speech in 2003, 2004 or 2005, and not "recently" as the message starts out. Snopes.com indicates the speech might have been near the end of 2003.

His last recommendation? Censor Victor Davis Hanson's book "Mexifornia." Lamm's speech is worth reading. Search on Google for "Mexifornia."

I was recently asked if I am anti-immigration. I am not. I am anti-ILLEGAL immigration.

When I was in Mexico in 1992, it was very, very clear to me that my tourist papers needed to be in order. I did not want to find out what the inside of a Mexican jail looked like.

I suspect it wasn't anywhere as good as Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Maricopa County jail, and it definitely wasn't as good as "Trump Towers" right here in McHenry County. What does Sheriff Joe say about his own jail? "If you don't like it here, don't come back!"

What will happen to majority rule, when all the U.S.-born, citizenship-granted children of illegal immigrants reach voting age?

The time to stop this destruction of America is now!

2008 GUS PHILPOTT

Keeping Woodstock Nice

All residents can help keep Woodstock looking nice by reporting property Code violations right away to the Code Enforcement Officer at City Hall. Send your email to CodeEnforcement@woodstockil.gov

Or you can call 815.338.4305

Woodstock's Code Enforcement Officer, Donovan Day, is doing a great job. He'll go by first and have a polite visit with the resident or owner whose property is not in compliance with the City Code. Donovan will document it with a Notice of Violation. If the problem is promptly cleared up, that's the end of it.

However, if the property is not cleared up, Donovan will stay on top of it until the property is back in compliance with City Code.

You can contact Donovan and expect that your contact will be treated confidentially. Your name and address will not be given to the person whom Donovan contacts.

Several readers have been sending complaints to me. I am happy to forward these to Donovan without your identification. If the problem doesn't get cleared up, let me know. Hey, when the problem does get cleared up, let me know, too.

I can understand the reluctance of some residents to contact City Hall directly, because it was not always the case that a contact was treated confidentially. If you have a problem in your neighborhood and don't wish to contact City Hall yourself, just send complete information [address and type of violation (truck/boat in front yard, vehicles parked in the parkway, junk cars stored in front, side or back yards, etc.), other details] to me, and I'll be sure Donovan gets it - without your name or email address.

Help keep Woodstock property values up!

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

Thanks, but to whom?

I know that I owe thanks to someone for the thought to always have a camera handy, but to whom to do I owe the thanks? Do I owe it to Cal Skinner, who writes http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ or to the McHenry County Board, which raised such a stink about Cal's picture-taking at the Board meetings?

It's really a tough call. Without Cal's good example, I might be driving around Woodstock, wishing I had had a camera with me, instead of always having it with me. But, if it hadn't been for the Board, Cal's ever-present camera might not have made the news so often.

If I were to vote right now, Cal gets the nod. Thanks, Cal!