Manners - then and now

Have you ever been angry at someone and written a message to them? I don't mean just a little mad; I mean Angry! Like, almost fightin' mad?

Nowadays, people can pound out an e-mail or a text message, or even a message on Facebook, and hit the Send key. Once it's gone, it's gone.... delivered... There's no calling it back. It doesn't do any good to holler, "Ooops, I didn't mean it." (Sure, they are some programs that allow you to recall a message that hasn't been read yet. AOL offers that but, if the recipient has opened it, then the Sender cannot recall it.)

So people rant and rave, vent, blow off steam, and fire a missile down range without thinking of the ramifications of their actions. They really don't know where that message might end up.

Provocative language might just barely slide under the wire, and First Amendment rights give people a lot of leeway. If they cross the line, though, and threaten, then they need to begin worrying about the Illinois felony of Cyberstalking. Unless, that is, they think a family member or a pal, who has Esq. behind his name, might represent them in court...

In the past, people sometimes wrote angry notes and remembered the sage advice in time to "Write it out, go ahead and put it in an envelope; just don't mail it for three days." And before that was, "Count to ten before you say what you are thinking."

It's a different story these days. Kids have foul mouths and don't seem to give it a second thought. They dirty up their Facebook pages with obscenities and vulgarities. They go into the Attack Mode by email and Facebook. And I'm not just talking about young men (or older men). You would not want your kids to read a message I received recently from a woman who didn't like something I had written about the Beth Bentley case. I'll tell you, though; if she worked for me, I'd fire her and she'd never know why.

I occasionally get accused of not publishing all the comments I receive. It's true; I don't. I do publish about 99% of them. If the senders included their true names, I'd publish that other 1%. I'd be happy to let the world see their true colors.

2nd Don't Kick Penguins event - Oct. 22

The second Don't Kick Penguins event is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, at McHenry County College. This will be a day of workshops and seminars for middle school students, parents, counselor and teachers on bullying issues that students face. Nine different workshops, all related to bullying, will be presented.

Help is needed in getting the message out about this event to parents and teachers of McHenry County middle school students; and funds are needed to help cover some of the costs for the project. A small grant for this year's program has been awarded by the Porter Fund (part of McHenry County Community Foundation), but there will be additional expenses. 

Donations in any amount (larger are better (Gus's commentary)) can be sent to Principled Minds, 227 North Throop Street, Woodstock IL 60098. 

You can help to get the message out by going to their Facebook page (Don't Kick Penguins) and "liking" and sharing it.

Together we can work toward putting a stop to Bullying in McHenry County.

For more information, contact Harold Rail, Executive Director, Principled Minds, at principled.minds@gmail.com or at 815.337.0550 (w) or 815.236.2511 (c). The federal tax number for Don't Kick Penguins is 20-5015417.

Return Rep. Franks' survey today

In this morning's Northwest Herald is an insert from State Rep. Jack Franks of our 63rd District. The insert includes a survey. It won't take long to complete the survey, and it can be mailed back.

Find this survey, complete it today and mail it to Jack's Woodstock office, or drop it by if you don't want to affix a 44¢ stamp.

Your opinions are important to Jack.

If you'd like to give your opinions to Jack and to Sen. Pam Althoff (and hear theirs) in person, attend one or more of the following town hall meetings:
September 19 (Monday), 7:00PM, Woodstock City Hall
September 21 (Wednesday), 7:00PM, McHenry City Hall
September 26 (Monday), 7:00PM, Wonder Lake Village Hall

Jack, thanks again for becoming a supporter of concealed carry in Illinois. Your YES vote on HB 0148 last May was important. Please continue to support this legislation and persuade a dozen of the 53 Representatives who did not vote for the bill to support it the next time it comes up.

A small suggestion, Jack. Why not re-establish the website you had at www.jackfranks.org? Or provide a link from your legislative website, which can be found via www.ilga.gov. A web presence would keep your constituents informed.

Article about Delisi removed

My article about Robert Delisi was poorly timed, and I apologize to the family and friends.

It is my hope that the Woodstock Police will seriously investigate the circumstances of his death and how he came to be where his body was found.

ICE needs some heat

If you think ICE (that's Immigration and Customs Enforcement) doesn't march to its own drummer, think again.

They seem to operate with impunity and with no attention to customer service, and they get away with it. Common sense doesn't seem to exist, and certainly common courtesy does not.

Today a detainee in the McHenry County Jail was transported to an ICE office in Chicago for a meeting with an ICE agent about a court date scheduled for next week. To keep the appointment, of course, he had to be transported there. I don't know yet whether he was driven there in a van, or if one of the white "school buses" was used. It's 65-70 miles one-way, either to Broadview or to the ICE office in the Chicago Loop. It's an all-day outing; that's for sure. Figure the cost of two deputies at $300/day and 140 miles at $2-3/mile.

At 4:00PM he telephoned me to say that the ICE agent had refused to meet with him. Hellllooooooo? If he had requested a meeting and the request was approached, why didn't the meeting happen???

Within the past month I telephoned the ICE office and left two messages for Deportation Officer (sounded like) Lupiani (or was it Lou Piani?). Calls on August 23 and August 25 have not been returned. Then on August 31 I called and left a message at the Customer Service Desk. They don't bother to return calls, either. When you call ICE, it is impossible to reach a live person. You can't even reach supervisors or find the Director's office to complain.

Maybe there aren't any live people there. Maybe they count on callers just getting tired of trying. Think so?

Contrast that (lack of) service from ICE with contacts recently with the Cook County Public Defenders office, the Cook Court Criminal Court Evidence Room and the Chicago Police Department Evidence and Recovered Property Room. In every one of those contacts I encountered personnel willing to listen to my request and who provided information quickly and courteously. Thank you and thumbs-up for your service.

To ICE? Two judges and one court clerk were great within the past 18 months. The rest of them? Lousy! They get paid the same, whether they give good service or not. So they don't.

Parade marshal, spouse in harm's way

Cal Skinner covered the 9/11 parade in Johnsburg, and one of his photos that attracted my attention was of the vehicle hauling the Parade Marshal and spouse, Ron and Mary Ann Rich. (To enlarge the picture, click on it; then click on the Back button on your browser to come back here.) Be sure to reach the full article by clicking right here.

Wasn't there just an accident in McHenry County in which a kid fell off a tailgate of a pick-up truck and was seriously injured?

Do you think either person sitting on the deck behind the back seat would have had half a chance, if the vehicle had made a sudden movement and dumped them on the pavement?

There is a picture on Cal's blog of another convertible - that one containing Johnsburg Police Chief Keith Von Allmen and a McHenry Fire Protection District official. You'll notice that they are seated in the vehicle. Thanks to them for setting the correct example.

Maybe next year some tickets will be issued to drivers who operate cars in parades with passengers in dangerous positions.And, after January 1, of passengers like these who don't have their seat belts fastened. The law changes on January 1.

Little GTO ... go...

RARE FIND - GTO!

Rare, 2004 Pontiac GTO, only 16,000 original miles.

5.7 Litre engine, 6-speed MANUAL transmission, leather and loaded with all options!

Red, with brand new 20-inch custom chrome rims.(Craiger Reproductions).Brand new Z rated tires.

Car is in mint, "ShowRoom" condition.

"Cat Back" custom exhaust!

Comes complete with a 4-year, 48,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, extended warranty, same as when new.. (Started in May 2011 to May 2015.)

$23,000 FIRM.

Serious GTO Car Guys and Gals only, please!

This car is gorgeous and "Bad to the Bone!!"

Car is in Galena. Call 815-402-4044