71% of people in Chicago are idiots!

Yes, they re-elected the big Dick. It's truly amazing how stupid people in Chicago really are!

Wait... that's wrong... I said 71% of people in Chicago are idiots!, while that may be true, I really should say 71% of voters in Chicago are idiots. That's more accurate in this case because there's a decent population of felons in Chicago that CAN'T vote and the voters are too stupid to vote for politicians who believe that they have the right to defend themselves against the lowest of the low.

Chicago... I've got 2 words for ya.... TERM LIMITS!!!

What the hell ever happened to Michael Dudikoff?

So I just got finished watching American Ninja in HD. This is a movie I haven't seen in a VERY long time... I didn't remember it being so bad either. Not Supercross bad but this by no means is a "Lethal Weapon" or "Above the Law". It did look pretty good on HD though.

After a quick look on IMDB, it looks like until about 5 years ago Dudikoff was doing some straight to video shit. I haven't heard of a thing he's done since the American Ninja films. Also, I'm sad to report (albiet 13 years late) that Steve James passed away from pancreatic cancer in late 1993. I really liked him and his Curtis Jackson character and frankly... he's done more stuff that I've seen than Dudikoff has.

So anyway... just a bit of random (and worthless) information for today.

What happens when you put glowsticks in the blender?

Weather channel going mostly HD...

EngadgetHD is reporting that the Weather Channel will go mostly HD in the second half of 2007. It looks like it will just be in studio stuff for now. We'll have to wait till 2008 before their shows and their field cameras are upgraded to HD.

A response from the Embassy....

About an hour ago I received my first response from the Hilton Rant letter I sent out....

I received your letter and I can empathize with you. I too would be very disappointed in the fashion this all took place. Too soften the trouble that we have caused you, our hotel has prepaid for 2 nights at the Hampton Inn that you are booked at. Your only responsibility will be for the 3rd night you have booked. I have spoken with Deb Benhoff, the Hampton Inn GM, and she is going to make the billing arrangements.

I again apologize and if I can further assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me at the numbers listed below.

Frank Phair
General Manager
Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown

Wow... My rant saved me $300! I think I'm going to re-extend the stay to 4 nights now... so we don't have to leave Friday morning at 3am. It will be easier to leave mid-morning on Thursday and take our sweet time!

EDIT: I booked that Thursday night... not only is it less expensive than the Fri/Sat/Sun rates, but with their "St. Louis Gateway Arch Family Getaway" package, we'll four tickets to the tram at the Gateway Arch & four tickets to the "Great American West" IMAX movie. (That would cost us over $50)

Gates vs. Jobs Video... Funny Stuff!!

Screw you Mike!

Check out this New York Daily News Article. I put the best parts in bold...

Feds shoot down Mike's gun suit
BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

The federal government will not file criminal charges against any of the 15 out-of-state gun dealers accused by Mayor Bloomberg in a federal lawsuit of selling guns illegally, the Daily News has learned.

In a stern rebuke to the city's high-profile crusade against illegal guns, the feds warned the Bloomberg administration that it could face "potential legal liabilities" if it continues to conduct sting operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents.

Bloomberg announced the filing of a federal lawsuit last May against 15 gun dealers, who he lambasted as the "worst of the worst." The city later filed a similar lawsuit against another 12 dealers.

In both cases, the city sent private investigators to gun dealers and secretly videotaped them making what Bloomberg called illegal "straw purchases."

A "straw purchase" refers to when an individual talks with a store clerk about purchasing a gun, but then gets another person to fill out the required federal forms and undergo the mandatory background check.

According to a letter sent to City Hall, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and various U.S. attorneys' offices have determined the city's findings against the 15 dealers "do not rise to a level that would support a criminal prosecution."

The letter - sent Tuesday by Michael Battle, director of the executive office for United States Attorneys at the Department of Justice - also scolded City Hall for engaging in sting operations involving persons "without proper law enforcement authority," saying that could put the city in legal jeopardy. Battle added that City Hall could "unintentionally interrupt or jeopardize" criminal probes.

Asked if the Bloomberg administration plans to stop conducting the sting operations, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said, "Not necessarily."

"The city hasn't violated any laws," Skyler said defiantly, adding that the city will continue to pursue its civil lawsuits against the gun dealers.

Yes, please continue your 'stings' Mikey because I'd really like to see the Feds come down hard on you!

No better place than National TV!

This clip I found of a morning news show gave me a chuckle...

GiveThemBack.com

A Shocking Story of Gun Confiscation In America

The video you will see on this web site is horrifying. The crimes committed against law-abiding gun owners are beyond comprehension. The arrogance of anti-gun politicians and government officials and their hate of freedom will churn your stomach.

The law is the law, the Constitution is the Constitution. If ONE local mayor or police chief can decide what the Second Amendment means, it opens the door to tyranny—where ANY mayor or police chief can say what the Second Amendment means.

I strongly urge you to visit the site and watch the videos. Maybe next time it will get you out to vote! Our collective voices can stop this from ever happening again!

Pretty scary stuff...

So I was catching up on the last couple episodes of 24 and I kept hearing sirens outside. At first I thought it was from the show. That new home theater in-a-box can throw sound around pretty well. Anyway... I decided to look outside. There were firetruck, ambulances and police cars as far as the eye could see (from by obstructed bedroom window view anyway)

I headed to the living room to see what my view would be from my bay window. Upon looking out I saw what was a massive emergency response and smoke coming out of a house.

Here's a short article...

Neighbors save man from burning house

OAKWOOD HILLS - Two neighbors rushed into a burning house at 13 Hickory Road near Cary and pulled 58-year-old Timothy Shafer from the blaze Thursday night, Oakwood Hills police said Friday.

The Oakwood Hills Police Department and the Cary Fire Protection District responded to the fire at 8:03 p.m.

Shafer was the only person in the house and was rescued before police officers and firefighters made it to the scene, officials said. Shafer’s two cats died in the fire.

Officials said that Shafer was in critical condition and was flown to Loyola Hospital in Maywood. The house was severely damaged and is uninhabitable, police said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Cary Fire Protection District, the Oakwood Hills Police Department and the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office.

The kids wanted to drive over there. An "adventure" Nick called it. So we bundled up, (absolutely freezing outside) hopped in the car and drove to the next block. The road was blocked by police so we turned around and went back to the house. We then decided to walk over. After talking to a neighbor for a minute we walked up the street to see what we could see.

It was a massive response for a house fire. I saw trucks from Cary, Crystal Lake, Wauconda, McHenry, Nunda Township. There was a helicopter circling the scene (Lifeflight?)

It's good to know that if my house is ever on fire, an army of firefighters can get to the scene pretty quickly (especially with the Crystal Lake Road station reopened).

I want my new Wal-Mart dammit!

With all the hoopla surrounding the recent opening of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Woodstock, Cary residents felt left out. The last several times I've driven by, the 'Wal-Mart coming soon' sign has been down. Perhaps the project died. Which would suck because I really hate the current Crystal Lake Wal-Mart. Sure it's not as bad as the Harvard Wal-Mart but it's still small & crappy compared to the newer ones.

I e-mailed a reporter at the Northwest Herald to find out an update on the project. A couple of days later, there was an update in the paper...

Cold weather doesn’t stop work on Wal-Mart Supercenter project

CRYSTAL LAKE – Work is underway and continuing through winter’s chill on a 120-acre project geared at placing a massive Wal-Mart Supercenter, two car dealerships, and two business centers on Route 31 near Rakow Road.

The grading is done, walls have been built and signs announce that businesses including Pauly Toyota soon will be calling the development home. The Lutter Center site is on the east side of Route 31.

Crystal Lake Building Director Victor Ramirez said construction on the 200,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter was expected to be completed this fall.

“It appears that they will continue to work through the winter, then, I imagine, ramp up to higher forces out there once the weather gets better,” he said. “Apparently, it’s tented and heated, so they’re trying to work diligently through the weather.”

City Council members are expected to vote on a proposed Murphy’s Oil gas station at the center tonight.

The center also will lead to the extension of Rakow Road east of Route 31 and the expansion of Lutter Drive north to Three Oaks Road, Ramirez said.

“It’s coming,” Ramirez said. “It’s [coming] together pretty well.”

Coincidence? I like to think not.

Stupid fucking people...

Commissioner Roberto Maldonado wants to slap a 10-cent-a-bullet tax on those buying ammunition in the county. It's one of dozens of plans offered to close the county's $500 million budget deficit.

There are some REALLY stupid people in Governmental positions in Illinois but this takes the cake!

So a box of 9mm WWB that's like $15 at Wal-Mart for 100 rounds would cost $25! If you think that's bad... get this.... a box of Remington Golden Bullets 550 Value Pack in .22 LR which costs around $10.25 now would now cost over $65!!!!!

Good thing I don't live in Cook county anymore and rarely buy anything in the county. Fuckin' idiots!

I think a poster on the ar15.com forum put it best.... "fucking SHITCAGO AND CROOK COUNTY...fuck them"

Article here.

Hilton Rant

TO: Frank Phear, General Manager
Embassy Suites Hotel St. Louis-Downtown
901 North 1st Street
Saint Louis, MO 63102

Deb Benhoff, General Manager
Hampton Inn St. Louis Downtown (Gateway Arch)
333 Washington Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63102

Stephen F. Bollenbach, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Hilton Hotels Corporation
755 Crossover Lane
AW-A2
Memphis, TN 38117

CC: Michelle Koch, Assistant General Manager, Hampton Inn St. Louis Downtown

Thomas L. Keltner, Executive Vice President
Hilton Hotels Corporation
9336 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission
701 Convention Plaza
Suite 300
Saint Louis, MO 63101


Ladies and Gentlemen:


I’m writing to inform you how greatly disappointed I was in how a recent situation was mishandled. Let me start at the beginning…

On 4/18/2006, almost an entire year in advance, I made a reservation for the above mentioned Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Louis for a 2 night stay in April of 2007. That confirmation number is xxxxxxx. Since my family decided to accompany me, on 6/4/2006 I extended the stay to 4 nights. Let’s fast forward 7 months…

On 1/30/2007 I received a voice mail from Jennifer at the Embassy asking me to return the call. Shortly afterwards I returned her call and she informed me that the Embassy will be closing down for renovation at the beginning of April and that my reservation would be cancelled. I asked her what my options were. I was told that I would have to make a reservation somewhere else. I was greatly disappointed that the Embassy didn’t already have a list of possible options and great rates for my trouble. The Embassy Suites wasn’t willing to do the work to find me and apparently every other displaced traveler an acceptable alternate hotel. That is unacceptable!

After looking at a map of St. Louis and finding that the Hampton Inn would be an adequate alternate hotel location wise, I looked on their website to see how much the rates were. VERY much to my surprise, their rates were actually MORE than the Embassy, which I found very strange because the Embassy traditionally has many more amenities than a Hampton Inn. I specifically picked the Embassy because I’d be getting a 2 room Suite, the Manager’s Reception in the evening & a full cooked to order breakfast in the morning.

I called the Hampton Inn and spoke with Michelle, the Assistant GM. I explained to her my situation with the Embassy closing, the fact that I’d be getting a standard hotel room, no manager’s reception, and a breakfast that’s not as elaborate and hoped that she would be able to help me. Fully expecting her to say something like “Yes, we heard about the closure of the Embassy, Thanks for picking our hotel as your alternate, here’s a great rate for your trouble.”

Sadly, that’s not what was said…. Though she did say she would contact her boss Deb and they would speak to Frank at the Embassy and see what could be worked out. I had hope that this would be worked out fairly and to my satisfaction.

I called the Embassy back and spoke with Frank the GM to give him the details and to let him know to expect a call from the Hampton Inn. I clearly explained to him that I was disappointed that the Embassy didn’t already have a list of possible alternate stay options and great rates for my trouble. He said he’d get back to me after talking with the Hampton Inn.

The next day I received a call from Frank informing me that Hampton Inn was not willing to budge on their room rate. I then called Michelle at the Hampton and she confirmed that they were not willing to budge on the rate. They only had 7 rooms left that weekend and the only way they would drop the rate is for the Embassy to pay the rate difference and the Embassy apparently chose not to.

Wow, certainly not the outcome I would have predicted as a loyal Hilton customer for the past several years.

Irritated, I decided to cut my trip short by a day and I bit the bullet by making a 3 night reservation at the Hampton Inn at the higher than Embassy rate. Confirmation Number: xxxxxxx.

I don’t travel as much as I used to but when I do it’s almost always a Hilton Family property. It’s disappointing when Hilton doesn’t try to make things right.


Thank you,

Craig

What the hell was I thinking?

Once again... the theme of It's amazing what I'll watch only because it's in HD! pops up...

I found a movie I've never heard of with Willow (Alyson Hannigan) as the star. It's called Date Movie It's amazing that 15 minutes into the movie, I actually kept it on! Okay... there were a few parts I found amusing but this movie is BAD!

As always, with the bad there's also the good... I watched Beetlejuice, The Empire Strikes Back & King Kong.

Valerie won a Magnum!

So this morning Valerie tells me that she won a wine contest at work. The prize is a magnum. Great, I thought... .357? .44? The new 500 Magnum?

No... apparently it's a large bottle of wine... according to wikipedia, a Magnum is a 1.5 Liter bottle. Twice the size of a normal 750ml bottle.

Great for her... bummer for me... since I could always use a new magnum!

Time for more Borat...

"Mary, Mary" by James Patterson

Audible.com Summary:

FBI agent Alex Cross is on vacation with his family at Disneyland when he gets a call from the Director. A well-known actress was shot outside her home in Beverly Hills. Shortly afterward, an editor for the Los Angeles Times receives an e-mail describing the murder in vivid detail. Alex quickly learns that this is not an isolated incident. The killer, known as Mary Smith, has done this before and plans to kill again. Right from the beginning, this case is like nothing Alex has ever confronted. Is this the plan of an obsessed fan or a spurned actor, or is it part of something much more frightening? And particularly baffling, how could a woman be capable of these vicious crimes? Members of Hollywood's A-list fear they're next on Mary's list, and the case grows by blockbuster proportions as the LAPD and FBI scramble to find a pattern before Mary can send one more chilling update. Filled with the ruthless and shocking twists that make his fans hunger for more, Mary, Mary is James Patterson's most sophisticated thriller yet.

Alex in the FBI... cool!

Author: James Patterson
Narrator: Peter Jay Fernandez, Michael Louis Wells and Melissa Leo
Running Time: 8 hours 27 min.
Book Rating: ****
Production: ****
(out of 5 stars)

Audiobook
Hard Cover

Harry Potter 7 Release Date Announced!!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, the seventh and final book in the best-selling series, has been scheduled for release at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2007, it was announced today by Scholastic

Read the press release here.

This is fabulous news! I can't wait to get my hands on it! Now that we have a date that means I've got to work out a schedule to begin all 6 books again so I finish near the 7/21 date and be all fresh for book 7.

You can pre-order it at Amazon.com here.

"London Bridges" by James Patterson

Audible.com Summary:

In broad desert daylight, a mysterious platoon of soldiers evacuates the entire population of Sunrise Valley, Nevada. Minutes later, a huge bomb detonates a hundred feet above the ground and lays waste to homes, cars, and playgrounds: a town annihilated in an instant.

Alex Cross is on vacation in San Francisco with his girlfriend, Jamilla Hughes, when he gets the call. The Russian supercriminal known as the Wolf claims responsibility for the blast.

Major cities around the globe are threatened with total destruction. The Wolf has proven he can do it; the only question is, can anyone stop him in time? Surveillance film of the blast reveals the presence of another of Alex Cross' most dangerous enemies, the ruthless assassin known as the Weasel.

World leaders have just four days to prevent an unimaginable cataclysm. Joining forces with Scotland Yard and Interpol, Alex fights his way through a torrent of false leads, impersonators, and foreign agents before he gets close to the heart of the crimes. Racing down the hairpin turns of the Riviera in the most unforgettable finale James Patterson has ever written, Alex Cross confronts the truth of the Wolf's identity, a revelation that even Cross himself may be unable to survive.

This novel was more like an episode of 24 than an Alex Cross book but since I'm a big fan of 24, it worked well for me. London Bridges takes Alex Cross to a whole new level. He's no longer limited to working in the States... he travels to London, to Paris... he's working to find a ruthless killer that doesn't kill one or two at a time... more like thousands!

The production contained more audio effects, gun shots, explosions, mood music, & chapter announcements that reminded me of Resident Evil for some reason.

Over all, a big thumbs up!

Author: James Patterson
Narrator: Peter J. Fernandez and Denis O'Hare
Running Time: 8 hours 19 min.
Book Rating: **** 1/2
Production: ****
(out of 5 stars)

Audiobook
Hard Cover