Saturday, October 10, 2015

Friday, October 9, 2015

"It’s true, God DOES protect drunks and idiots"

From Knuckledraggin My Life Away:

"Posted on 10/08/2015 by Wirecutter

"This entry was posted in WTF?. Bookmark the permalink."

"Health: Help On National Depression Screening Day"

By Stephanie Stahl

"PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A checkup from the neck up: Mental health advocates are raising awareness today with the 25th annual National Depression Screening Day. Health reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on how it was marked in our area.

"Instead of suffering alone in sadness, Todd Hopkins is now trying to reach out to others struggling with mental health issues.

"'It feels sad every day,' said Todd. He battled depression for 18 months before he finally got help.

"Now he’s a recovery advocate for the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health, which set up at LOVE Park for National Depression Screening Day."

Read more: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/10/08/health-help-on-national-depression-screening-day/

Years ago, before I had seen a psychiatrist, I went to St. Luke's where they were offering free depression screenings.

After I took the test, the woman asked if I had a psychiatrist. I said no. She also asked if I own a gun. No, again.

She said my screening results were the worst she had ever seen and she was going to get a psychiatrist to see me right away. After she left, I did. I was afraid that they were going to commit me.

Fall Colors!

Well after what happened the other day I was able to get some pictures to share with everyone. It is hard to get good pictures with the sun coming in and out when you want to get really good ones. I will be going out more to get pictures to share with everyone. Here are some of what I have gotten so far.

This picture was taken on Lighthouse Dr. in Racine Wi. Yes this was the picture that I had the police at my house for.

This picture was taken on 3 Mile Rd in Racine Wi.

This picture was taken at Cliffside Park in Racine Wi.

This picture was taken at Shoop Park Racine Wi.

This picture was taken on Industrial Dr. in Caledonia Wi.

I hope everyone is enjoying the pictures and I do have more to share with everyone. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

Four for Fridays!

Hello to everyone this morning I hope everyone had a good week with some nice weather. I was out taking pictures of the Fall Colors this week and will be posting some of the pictures later. Here are your questions for today.

1) Would you rather have a vegetable garden or a flower garden?

2) When you live in a security building should you be afraid to leave your door unlocked while you are at home?

3) Can you pronounce Indian or Spanish words better?

4) How fast should you go in the left lane on the highway?

I hope you have a nice day today.

Open Blog - Friday

I'll bet you were thinking of Saturday and Sunday, too.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

"How NOT to be persuasive with your dog..."

From LiveLeak:

"So, it was time to clean our 145 pound American Bulldog's ears and he let me know he wasn't having any of it .....

"[video credit: works4aliving / licensing@viralhog.com]"

Top 10 Media Thursdays

Open Blog - Thursday

What are you thankful for?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

"City-bar settlement about mitigating risks, city says"

From The Journal Times.com:

Read: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/city-bar-settlement-about-mitigating-risks-city-says/article_5dac40e5-b8fe-5080-a919-f33e3e4d8db1.htl m

What a Crock-O-Shit. Lying John is becoming Teflon John. Confidentiality agreements tell taxpayers that someone has something to hide. It's our money, but we have no right to know how it's spent. What a den of thieves

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my warming trend friends! How are you? 74 degrees tomorrow, 58 on Friday. Ah, the schizophrenia of autumn. Hot/cold, sunny/overcast, rain/snow, windy/still – it kind of reminds me of me, always changing my mind. I’ll gladly take whatever warmth and sunshine we can squeeze out of this fall. I’ve noticed some trees beginning to turn color, but not much yet. Anyway, I rely upon Ms. Tender Heart Bear to post pictures of the most beautiful trees and shrubs. When I was younger, I loved fall. I still like it, but the foreshadowing of winter clouds every day. Ha! Here we haven’t even had a flake of the s-word, and I’m already complaining.

There’s no complaints about the Green Bay Packer’s win over the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday past. Our magnificent and valorous Packers continue to stomp their opponents. This Sunday, October 11, it’s the St. Louis Rams’ turn to be shredded by the dreaded Pack, at noon, at Lambeau Field. Go, Pack, go!

Below are the current standings in the Irregular Fantasy Football League: (Click to embiggen.)

My Screaming Psychics are in third place. What happened to Mr. hale-bopp’s Half-Astrophysicists? Last year, he took first place. Today, his team is at the bottom. Such are the fortunes of war, and football is war.

I see where the city's insurer is paying out $1.3 million to settle the "bar lawsuit." That's it. I'm suing the city for something or the other and getting some "free money." Now, I just have to figure out what I'm going to sue them for. Too bad you can't sue elected and appointed officials for being idiot assholes. Then we'd all be rich. I wonder what Mr. Mayor's lawsuits are going to do to our city's insurance premiums and/or bond rating?

Sometimes I have to fight the depression that fall triggers in me, and the best way of doing that is writing for you, my dears.

I found this online and had to share it with other cat lovers:

Isn't it the truth? Here we are again with schizophrenic behavior. Everything is yes or no, 0 or1. But I must admit that it nails the behavior of both of our cats, Fuck and Dickert. I've heard that female cats are less changeable in temperament. Both of our cats are (fixed) boys, so I wouldn't know.

Thank you my dear, dear readers for stopping by to check out my blog this week and to share your knowledge in the comments below. I love every one of you. You're my online family.

Want to join Madame Zoltar's Class Action Lawsuit against the city? Contact: MadameZoltar@jtirregulars.com

Enjoy the waning temperate days of 2015. Now the sun starts to hang low in the southern sky, momentarily blinding many a driver, Be careful. Kids going to and from school are a special concern. The next time someone yells at you in traffic, yell back, "I love you!" I really do.

Open Blog - Wednesday

Have a great day.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

"$1.3 million deal reached in bars lawsuit"

From The Journal Times.com:

8 minutes ago • CARA SPOTO cara.spoto@journaltimes.com

"RACINE — Seven former minority tavern owners will share a $1.3 million payout with their attorneys in a settlement agreement in the city bars lawsuit approved Tuesday night by the City Council.

"The agreement calls for the city’s liability insurer, the Cities and Villages Municipal Insurance Company or CIVMIC, to pay each plaintiff in the suit $15,000, giving the remaining $1,275,000 to their attorneys: the firms of Kohler & Hart, S.C. and Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, LTD.

"The settlement agreement marks the end of the high-profile 18-month legal battle between the city and former bar owners, requiring the plaintiffs to release and dismiss all claims and allowing the city and other defendants to continue to deny wrongdoing.

"The plaintiffs in the lawsuit first sued the city in February 2014 in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, accusing Mayor John Dickert and more than 15 other defendants of engaging in an elaborate plot to drive minority bar owners out of the city.

"Aldermen — bound by an agreement not to discuss the details of the settlement until after the council took action — did not make any comments before voting 10-2 to approve the deal.

"Alderman Sandy Weidner and former defendant in the suit, Alderman Jeff Coe, voted against approving the deal. Most of the aldermen present for the vote Tuesday, including Weidner and Coe, had attended a closed-door Executive Committee meeting on Monday in which they were informed of the details of the agreement.

"Aldermen Q.A. Shakoor, II and Steve Smetana were excused from the meeting and not present for the vote. Alderman Dennis Wiser served as the chairman of the meeting and did not vote.

"Details of the agreement were released to the media following the vote, but the actual agreement was not made available.

"Dickert was not present during the meeting, but said in a statement issued just after the vote that he was pleased that the matter was resolved despite his belief that the city would prevail at trial.

"'This case was a nuisance to the city and it is good to have it concluded,' the statement read. 'Now it is time get back to growing our city and continuing to build unity among all of our citizens.'

"When asked where Dickert was, City Administrator Tom Friedel said they mayor was attending a conference in Wausau.

"Attempts to reach attorneys for the plaintiffs in the case were unsuccessful Tuesday.

"According to the city press release detailing aspects of the settlement agreement, the plaintiffs’ attorneys incurred approximately $7.2 million in fees and costs."

Read more: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/million-deal-reached-in-bars-lawsuit/article_0f1ea720-3c41-5f35-bf86-12d22709044d.html

Party on, lying John!

"Police: Men Stuffed 23 Lobster Tails Down Pants Admit Stupidity"

From Racine County Eye:

By Heather Asiyanbi in Police and fire · October 6, 2015 · No comments

"Mount Pleasant police say two Racine men attempted to steal 23 lobster tails from Aldi’s by stuffing them down their pants and are now facing theft charges.

"Anemencio Delacruz, 38, and David Starks, 46, were charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court. Delacruz was charged with one misdemeanor count each of obstruction and theft. If convicted he faces up to 18 months in prison and/or up to $20,000 in fines. Starks was charged with one misdemeanor count each of obstruction, theft, and bail jumping. If he is convicted, he faces up to 2-1/3 years in prison and/or up to $30,000 in fines.

"According to the criminal complaint, officers were called at 1:47 p.m. Friday to Aldi’s, 6925 Durand Avenue, for a report of shoplifting in progress. While police were en route, dispatch advised that the suspects – later identified as Delacruz and Starks – were leaving the store and headed through the parking lot toward Walmart. Witness provided descriptions of both men.

"Officers say store employees told them Delacruz and Starks were seen stuffing lobster tails down their pants and into their coat sleeves. This is not an uncommon occurrence, workers said,"

Read more: http://racinecountyeye.com/police-men-stuffed-23-lobster-tails-down-pants-admit-stupidity/

Lobster tails? I would have gone after some steaks.

"I’ve had a few sleepovers arrive like this"

From Knuckledraggin My Life Away:

"Posted on 10/05/2015 by Wirecutter

"-fishdawg"

Brings back memories.

Open Blog - Tuesday

Smart thinking.

Monday, October 5, 2015

"Settlement deal reached in bars lawsuit"

From The Journal Times.com:

3 hours ago • CARA SPOTO cara.spoto@journaltimes.com

"RACINE — A settlement agreement has been reached in the city bars lawsuit.

"News of the deal was revealed Monday night after a closed-session meeting of the City Council’s Executive Committee which, according to a posted agenda, had gathered to confer with its legal counsel in the case.

"The committee did not make any vote before coming into open session, but after the meeting City Attorney Scott Letteney confirmed that a settlement deal had been reached.

"Letteney declined to provide further detail, but said the details of the agreement were expected to be presented during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, where aldermen would be asked to approve the deal.

"The City Council must approve the deal before it can be carried out, Letteney said.

"'The parties have agreed that the terms of the proposed settlement agreement will not be publicly discussed by either side until after the (City) Council takes action,' Letteney said. 'There will be an agenda item recommending approval of the proposed settlement on (Tuesday) night’s council agenda.'

"The seven plaintiffs in the lawsuit first sued the city in February 2014, accusing Mayor John Dickert and more than 15 other defendants of engaging in an elaborate plot to drive minority bar owners out of the city.

"Since that date, the plaintiffs’ case has shrunk dramatically, both in the number of defendants being sued and the violations being claimed.

"The revelation of a deal in the lawsuit comes a week after attorneys for the plaintiffs filed a 126-page motion opposing a motion for summary judgment filed by the city in August. In its motion, the city argued the case should not go to trial, stating there is no proof the city and other defendants racially discriminated against the plaintiffs or their businesses.

"In its brief opposing the city’s motion, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that ample evidence of discrimination exists.

"The City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at City Hall, 730 Washington Ave."

Open Blog - Monday

Stop the madness!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

"Facebook Arrest Lawsuit Settled"

Aquino Law LLC:

September 23, 2015

Facebook Arrest Lawsuit Settled

Tom Aquino

"The Village of Arena [Wisconsin] and three of its police officers agreed to pay $35,000 to settle the federal civil rights lawsuit brought against them for arresting our client, Thomas G. Smith, for using profanity on the Village police department’s Facebook page.

"In July 2012, Officer Nicholas Stroik of the Village of Arena Police Department posted on the Department’s Facebook page a note to the community thanking them for their help in apprehending several suspects. While some Facebook users posted comments applauding the Department’s efforts, two others suggested that race had played a role in the Department’s recent actions. One user claimed that an officer had made a racist comment to her. Smith then posted two profane comments criticizing the Police Department and racists in general.

"Upon seeing the comments, Officer Stroik deleted Smith’s profane comments as well as the other comments accusing the department of racism. Stroik did not delete the Facebook comments praising the police for its handling of the situation. Stroik then decided that Smith should be arrested and charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, two counts of unlawful use of a telephone, and two counts of unlawful use of a computerized communication system. Officer Steven Hufton arrested Smith the following evening. Chief Lonnie Drinkall, later signed a criminal complaint charging Smith with one count of disorderly conduct and one count of unlawful use of a computer system.

"I filed motions to dismiss the complaint on the ground that even strident and profane criticism of police is protected against criminal prosecution by the First Amendment. Iowa County Circuit Court Judge William Dyke denied the motions, but the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed that decision in July 2014. The Court of Appeals rejected the prosecution’s claim that Smith’s Facebook comments fit within the so-called “fighting words” exception to the First Amendment’s free speech protections, observing that there were no state or federal cases recognizing 'fighting words' -- speech with a propensity to precipitate immediate physical violence-- in the absence of a face-to-face confrontation.

"I filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Smith's behalf in November 2014. Attorney Jeff Scott Olson joined the team in February 2015. While the defendants initially claimed that they were not liable because the Facebook page was not 'an officially sanctioned Facebook page,' they abandoned that claim in subsequent pleadings. The defendants also admitted that Smith was the first person they had arrested under the identified statutes for posting profane comments on the internet.

"We have always believed that the defendants’ liability was clear. Federal and state courts have routinely held that the right to free speech is not limited to polite speech alone. In our country, we are entitled to criticize our government with passion. The use of some four-letter words in the course of doing so is never a crime. We hope that the Arena Police Department, and other police departments across the state, have now learned this lesson. As for Mr. Smith, it has been more than three years since he was wrongfully arrested, and he is happy to finally have this entire episode behind him."

Tagged: Federal, Civil Rights, Civil litigation

"Famous Last Words"

From Knuckledraggin My Life Away:

"Posted on 10/04/2015 by Wirecutter

"Posted in funny pics | Leave a comment"

JT IRREGULARS