whatever

June 8th-
7: 00-11: 00 pm-- Senior Night party at Ben’s Restaurant and Bar
10: 00- 10: 20 pm-- Rocket leaves and returns to Ben’s in order to drop of Dana.
11: 15 pm-- party breaks up at Ben’s
11: 20 pm-- Rocket arrives at the LaSalle Park with buddies and heavy liquor One bottle of vodka is drank. (Three miles between park and bar)
11: 45 pm-- Knowalls leave the home of their niece

11:50 pm- Grimm arrives at police station, soon after she is hearing about park rangers breaking up a party in LaSalle Park.

11: 55 pm-- Fran and Kerry Knowall fix a flat tire on Colvin Street extention

June 9th –
12: 00 am- Grimm’s shift begins, Grimm arrives at 1500 Colvin street extension to break up a separate party,

12:05 am- Rocket leaves LaSalle park (see 11: 50, there is a discrepancy)

12: 10 am- Grimm leaves 1500 Colvin Street extension northbound (Rocket would then have been going north too)

12: 10 am -- Fran Knowall sees two cars on the road. One s/he says was speeding and recalled it to be a yellow Pontiac Sunbird, like his neighbor Chris.

Somewhere before 12: 15 am, Strongarm is injured while jogging and knocked unconscious

12: 15 am – Grimm finds one very-hit-by-a-car Mr. Strongarm (driving at 35mph, 10 less than necessary), Mother Rocket claims she heard son actually arrive (but this is hearsay and a bit argumentative)

12: 20 am-- Rocket arrives home, ambulance and more police arrive where Strongarm was hit

12: 30 am-- Knowalls can drive once more and continue down Colvin street extension, shortly after they run into Lindsey Grimm and describe the speeding car, Fran says s/he saw it “less than half an hour ago”

2:00 am- Grimm obtains Yellow “T” Sunbird registrations in New York that lead to Rocket’s arrest
8: 00 am- Grimm’s shift ends, she continues to work

9: 00 am-- Police obtain a warrant to search the Rocket home

9: 30 am- Grimm arrives at Rocket home

9: 40 am- Rocket speaks with Grimm and describes route- Stahl rd (35mph)(four miles), right on to Colvin Street extension, turns into Paradise Acres subdivision. Colvin Street (45mph) and distance in Paradise Acres (30 mph) equals eight miles. A total of 12 miles.



Roman, black = case summary
Courier, black, Bold = Grimm’s affidavit
Arial,black, italics=Rocket’s Affidavit




My Findings

Ø Rocket may have had 15 more minutes to leave LaSalle Park than he described. This gives him an average speed of 12/30 or 24 miles per hour. While this is unlikely as s/he says himself that s/he was moving fast, this casts doubt on his overall speed. The average of the two speeds is 36 mph, which is not unreasonably fast in a dire situation on a foggy road.
Ø Grimm too is a possible suspect in hitting Strongarm, his/her trip to 1500 Colvin road extension puts her in the right time and place. She found the lack of state charges against Rocket “unfortunate” and worked overtime in order to work on this case after 8: 00.
Ø The Knowalls see two cars going in Rocky’s direction, one may have been Grimm’s vehicle.
Ø These points are however not concrete. If one were to guess some or any of the times were off by a minute, one can alter how incriminating these times sound regarding speeds on the road and gaps in the timeline where actions are not explained.

Some Movie Homework (don't bother reading it)

Writ and Oral Orange Tom Answeeney
Million Dollar Baby Criticism January 10, 2008
~
Million Dollar Baby carries many significant messages to the viewer like the portrayed opinion on euthanasia, but some are more implicit than others. Clearly portrayed in the film, although never directly confronted by the characters, is the subject of race and how blacks and whites interact. Rifts between whites and blacks are portrayed through out the film, although color itself is never the actual source of the conflict. Maggie usually fights black women in the ring and Dunn is often fighting with Eddie Dupree, whether it be training Maggie or taking his previous fighter to the championship. Lanre also is dragged into boxing an unfair match with some of the local boxers who happen to be black and the poor guy gets pummeled. Eddie denies this stereotype however as he is still Dunn’s friend and steps in to save Lanre in the earlier mentioned fight.
Much like Confucius, the film has much to tell us about how we should relate to people. Individuality is highly important to life, we must be both the judges and the rulers of ourselves, be it to decide death, or how to deal with others. Maggie, despite the rudeness of her greedy family, tells Dunn to stay of family matters. Boxing is also an individual, one on one, sport. Maggie has to fight the fight herself, having only Dunn’s training and no more than that in a fight. Family and blood are important too. While Dunn and Maggie are not really daughter and father they are still family, just a separate one from the one Maggie was born in. “Mo Cuishle” means “my darling, my blood” as Dunn finally tells Maggie the meaning of her pet name. Gender also carries some meaning in the way family does. The matters of men stay with men and likewise, the matters of women are for women. Dunn is not allowed to interfere with Maggie’s issues with her mother, Maggie never fight a man in the ring, and never pulls herself into Dunn and Dupree’s multiple conflicts, despite knowing both men.
Always protect yourself is a huge rule to life and boxing carried throughout the film. When you put your guard down, you lose. Maggie doesn’t know this when she gives her mother a house to live in. Her mother insults Maggie’s generosity by making fun of her profession, complaining about the cost of taxes and possible loss of welfare due to the new house. Maggie makes the same mistake again when she turns her make to the water weight female champion Billy the Blue Bear and takes a cheap shot that results in her being paralyzed from the neck down. Finally, she learns her lesson when her family attempts to take all her assets under the guise of visiting her in concern over her paralysis. Maggie turns them down after talking with them and tells her family to leave. Society overall is considered a very unnatural thing, like boxing in Dunn’s point of view. Humans are perhaps supposed to be recluse and casual in relationships so that one may avoid fighting. In economics, Dunn tells Maggie to avoid frivolities like TV and to next buy anything on a mortgage. It makes sense to own everything you have. You become less reliant on others and it is unfair to pay more because you can’t afford something. Political ideals, draw back to societal ideas, like always protecting yourself. Politics is the arena in which all of society’s problems are dealt with, therefore one should be prepared to face them. Also boxing is much like politics in that all conflict eventually boils down to a fight to see which side is stronger. Religion is portrayed as a means of repenting one’s sins and that is why the minister suspects Dunn of some sin he can’t forgive himself for because he comes to church so faithfully. It is always on his mind and he can’t stop thinking about it. Naturally it is assumed by both the audience and the priest that this sin is the source of conflict between him and his daughter. God is also assumed to be real through Dunn’s earlier prayer.
Euthanasia is a controversial subject encountered by the movie and the viewer sees it in the conflict between Dunn and Maggie when Dunn must decide whether or not to kill the paralyzed and willing Maggie, who had already tried to end her pathetic state. In the end Dunn gives Maggie her wish, as it is her choice, with an over dose of adrenaline. Many people are against euthanasia as it is a common opinion that some decisions are too big for any man and that the only alternative is to let nature take its course and do anything to improve that person’s life. Dunn’s choice is a difficult one as he too is challenged by this impossible decision. The other, more immediately obvious challenge to the common public opinion is whether or not a woman should fight in what is assumed to be a men only sport. The answer here is obvious as Maggie is clearly empowered by her success in boxing and happy with her new life.

Current Events 3/9/07 If you ever see a flyer to "Stop the War Machine"...

I happened to see an alarming flyer on a wall, in a building, filled with people, that suggested that no one ought to go to school, work, or attempt shopping in order to stop a “war machine”. Now I did do some quick research , but at the time all I could guess at was that the makers of this flyer were; referring to a certain war overseas in which my respective country must be involved; under the impression that not going to school, work or even a store would some how rid the lot of us of this “war machine”; and that what they meant by “war machine” is the thing that keeps a war going or really any thing going any country, that is, the economy.

Before I continue, I shall let the reader know that what ever respective opinions s/he may hold, that I am NOT telling you to support the current U.S. occupation in Iraq. This article is not about the occupation there, it is about the consequences of protest beyond pickets and signs. I urge readers of all views and perspectives on government to hear me out and spread the bit of wisdom I have for those one might know who may consider such a protest.

To try and render a complete and utter halt in our economy may be compared to stopping one’s heart, that is if the nation may be compared to the whole body, the government to the mind and the military to the arm; does it honestly make sense to stop the heart, even if only shortly, in order to disable the arm and send an alarming message to the brain? It doesn’t when such an act would hurt the rest of the body along with the arm, brain and the entirety of the body itself. In fact, if such an act were successful it could repeated and imitated by other groups intent on halting the military or any other government act that requires money in general. Such stress on the heart doesn’t go away when the day is over. It sticks and the heart must heal itself over time. Repeated protests would be comparable to a say, repeated cardiac arrests or heart attacks.

I am aware that this is not a civil war or a violent protest; however this is a dangerous move all the same. Admittedly, this nation was built on a dangerous move, a revolution led by a great and famous man with false teeth and a true tongue to be more exact. However, such a move as the one he and his fellow revolutionaries made was justified by the fact that he and other Americans had no peaceful say in their government. I am personally under the belief that everyone does have a say any government, it just is not always peaceful, legal, or relatively unlikely to bring about some threat to your safety, in some less fortunate nations. As Americans we enjoy the right to vote, and are quite fortunate to be in such a state.

There is simply no logical reason to attempt a halt of the economy of one’s government unless it refuses to provide a peaceful and equal say in government. On the side note however there is one other logical reason to do something like this, that is, if somebody lacked the usual ethics of an even modestly unethical person. By that I mean, if one really could care less about equal say in government in favor of the importance of achieving whatever reform or change of action one might desire from one’s government, than may his/her conscience may rest easy over forcibly threatening the economy of the land he/she may reside in. That is a rather cruel and heartless way to coerce the government that may appeal to a rather cruel and heartless person.

That is all I have to offer my readers, small in population they may be. I ask those who agree with my arguments to please spread the word to those who could use such knowledge to prevent a regrettable mistake. All I ask of the people is to do what they would normally do on a lovely, however ordinary Saturday this March 17th. One need not shop like someone much wealthier than oneself, work like a workaholic, or study like someone who may enjoy school (not that there could possibly ever be anything wrong with that) any more than you normally would. In the same token, if one should simply not be in a shopping mood, ill, or as it happens off of work or school for that day, then he/she should feel free to act accordingly with the conditions previously stated without guilt. Anyone who should like to present their views may feel free to voice their opinions of the subject or my presentation of it via the comments link. In fact I encourage it as I am not an experienced writer and will listen to and consider the advice of others. Just whatever one might decide to do; I feverishly hope it will not evoke cardiac arrest or any other form of metaphorical suicide on the behalf of the nation.

(I should thank the wise person who was wise enough to wisely remove the unwise posters from the wall, in the building, filled with people, as it was not properly equipped with any sort of warning. Should the person(s) so vigilant in their views and so enraged by the utter absence of the posters that he/she/they worked so hard to put up as to be driven to post more on the walls of some building filled people, all I ask is that he/she/they be so kind as to include a warning for the audiences, similar to one that could be found on cigarettes and other such a dangerous objects, so that they (the audiences) may feel free to hear you out with out ignorance of the whole story. May I suggest one like “Please know that such actions may be illegal for children under sixteen and that following the instructions on this paper will not only affect the U.S. occupation of Iraq, but also the rest of U.S. in its health and existence.” Thank you again most sincerely from Tom with Onions)

Nineteen Centuries and Nineteen Hours of Labour

This is from Steamboy, a movie that takes place in a fictional, 19th century London. Also a personal favorite of mine. Know that this is a work of fiction so not all the content in the story is accurate to the time of its invention or even real at anytime. (Such as light bulbs or that bizarre ,steam-powered unicycle the hero James rides)

What is going on in the nineteenth century?

When one thinks of the nineteenth century, anything can come to mind. The Industrial Revolution comes to my mind. Others might think of their ancestors escaping a potato famine. Maybe Victorian England comes to mind with the pomp and wealth of the most powerful nation in the world. The major political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and artistic affairs always make up the core of all happenings of any time and they dictate the legacy historians portray the times in. A mere thought could never begin to scratch the surface, or rather, peel off the first layer. So one is left wondering, what was going on during the nineteenth century?

In the political world of the nineteenth century we see many “–isms” come into the interpretation of history. The political ones include but are most unfortunately not limited to: communism, imperialism, liberalism, conservatism, and nationalism. Karl Marx, a radical theologian, proposed a Communist revolution of the working class. This would give rise to the Soviet Union during the next century. Imperialism was a means to fuel an industrial society via precious raw material. Liberalism is a movement towards improving society via new methods, policies and laws. Conservatism, liberalism’s exact opposite is the improvement of society via a transition to the methods, policies and laws of the past. In the Treaty of Vienna, The conservative powers of the Old Regime suppressed Napoleon’s attempts to spread the liberal ideas of the revolution. Nationalism is the willingness to fight for one’s nation. Many nations maintained a state of warfare by convincing their peoples that what they were fighting for would glorify their nation and themselves. In the Opium War, some British generals thought fighting China to engage in selling opium was a more than a little extreme of an option. However an opportunity for glory and a certain duty as a general prevented any real controversy over the issue. All these "-isms" define the trends of government policy that shaped nineteenth century.

The economic state of affairs in Europe was based around the Industrial Revolution and how it was utilized by Europeans. In order to allow factories to spit out finished goods, European nations had to fill them with raw materials acquired cheaply from other lands. Europe possessed few natural resources to feed its own factories and would build colonies in foreign lands, like the Balkins, rich in ore and lumber. Agriculture was also influenced by Imperialism, which could be said was more a reason to imperialize before the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Foreign goods were in high demand, such as tea from China or potatoes and corn from the Americas. Ireland, at the time an English colony growing potatoes, suffered an economic depression and famine, which forced many in to a massive migration out of the area to elsewhere. Such places included the grave for the unlucky ones or America for the luckier ones. It has been crippled by the Potato Famine and has never really caught up to the rest of the world. The Industrial Revolution produced many incredible products, and some could say it's still happening. During this century the world saw the creation of the telegraph which allowed for near instant communication between thousands of miles of land. The Bessmer process allowed iron ore to be converted to steel in about twenty minutes, which is much less than several hours. The economic golden age of Europe could be the most important one as it was one of wealth and prosper.

The nineteenth century is a more secularized world than the last. However, religion is still an important factor in the development of the century. In the Dreyfus Affair, a Jewish military officer in France was accused of selling military secrets to Germany. In an effort to prove they didn't hand out special treatment, not even to Jews for the sake of East European appeal. When evidence was found pointing to Dreyfus he was immediately arrested and convicted of treason. Later, more evidence was found after more through investigation on the matter that pointed away from Dreyfus's guilt and a spur of controversy came up over whether or not the French government was Anti-Semitic and prejudice against Jews. This was also a time of missionary activity. Many devout Catholics, devout Protestants, and devout con artists, traveled to every corner of the New World to spread the Faith.

As Europe set about creating empires to span the globe, they underwent great social change as the ideas of the world came closer in reach. European powers didn't make many close friends as they conquered. The result was general hostility and Europeans developed wide-spread xenophobia, a fear of foreigners and foreign objects. Literature like "The Monkey's Paw" and tales of barbarian cannibals pushed Europeans away from their conquered enemies. Events like the Boxer Rebellion (November 1899) only succeeded in scarring Europeans into treating foreigners with ignorance and chauvinism. Social Darwinism was an idea that came about in the nineteenth century to explain social evolution. The idea, "survival of the fittest" creates social advancements as old societies inspire newer, better ones, such as Greece to Rome to Europe in general.

Thinking was changed (as things tend to do any century) during the nineteenth century. Father of modern psychology, Sigmund Freud explored the ways of the human mind, including tendencies of repressing memories as a defense mechanism and the existence of the unconscious mind. The Enlightenment of the previous century continued to influence thinking as actions were based on common sense and reason. That came to affect the intellectual status of the time. One such idea was, during the industrial Revolution women could work along side their fellow man for less money doing the same thing as him. Not only that but despite their equivalent abilities in the subject of all things not requiring muscle, they lacked suffrage and the right to sue, testify in court, or hold office. This defied the reasoning of the day, and a movement for women's right would continue through the next century.

Art during the nineteenth century was for most of the time, Romantic Art. Romanticism was and is a movement in art to counter the Enlightenment. The cold rationale of the Enlightenment was seen as stifling to one's emotions. The art of the time focused on nature, strong emotion and smooth, curvy, natural lines. It includes famous artists and writers and musicians like Victor Hugo, Joseph Mallord William Turner and Frederic Chopin. While Romanticism started to counter the Enlightenment, it became more of a counter to the fading of nature in society as more advanced technology drew mankind away from the woods. Post-Romantic Art, which began towards the end of the nineteenth century, is more of a fusion of both the natural and the synthetic in harmony. It was lead by artists like Leonardo Pereznieto and writers such as Claudia Moscovici.

The times do change and the world was changing faster than the centuries that preceded it in the eighteen hundreds. Monarchy for the most part was over. An Industrial Revolution morphed society into a smaller world, be it the steam engine or the telegraph. Religion is questioned ever more and it has come down to the limit of Christianity's superiority in the Dreyfus affair as the world grows torn between conservatism and liberalism. Karl Marx picks up the pen and Communism is born, Freud picks up a notepad (and other questionable things) and modern psychology comes to light. Man is built his own house sometime in B.C., now he's built his own environment and writers like Victor Hugo are homesick while Leonardo Pereznieto and post-Romantic company, try to commute back home from that environment. And that readers, is what was going in the nineteenth century.

Current Events 10/11

In the October edition of Consumer Reports, I found an article that brings some sad news about the possibility of using ethanol as an alternative fuel source. To clarify, in the recent past people have been talking about hauling in our fuel from the breadbasket of America so we don’t need to rely on Middle Eastern oil. The original diesel engine was supposed to run on corn anyway so why not try it again? Those pink fluffy clouds of optimism which I’ll admit I floated my hopes on too, vanished as news of their efficiency came to light.

This article I’m afraid has no clear author to speak of; however whoever it is has a wide variety of sources ranging from ethanol plant owners to professors of ecology to 50 experts. Mr. Whoeveritis also throws a heaping scoopful of numbers. It leaves the reader confused and this reader was reminded of math class. The basic argument is ethanol 85 gets ten miles to the gallon, is just as pricey as gas per gallon, and the country lacks the number of farmers to grow it. However it does promote ethanol 10, a 1/9 mix of ethanol and gasoline, and ethanol is still good for the environment, however hard to get.
In the end I’m forced to face the truth that ethanol may be only in our distant future. For all the numbers Mr. Whoeveritis makes a good point. I’ll give him points for being informal, none for clarity or brevity, and points for good points. This onion I’m afraid is difficult to cut...

Weber Theses

· What is the main idea of Max Weber's Thesis on Protestantism and the Spirit of Capitalism?
· In your studies of the Reformation, what examples can you find, that would support the Weber Theses?
· Can you identify the main parts of the Weber Theses? Can you identify possible criticisms of these theses


Mr. Weber seems to be saying that religion is an important factor in economics surprisingly. One might never consider his/her paycheck as they sit in the pews, but Weber makes quite a point. That being said, his point is how the various churches encourage you to live your life, spend your money on what you need or desire, and how forgiving they are when it comes to a superfluous waste of money. Capitalism is what he claims was encouraged in Protestant churches. Capitalism is nothing scary that only an accountant would know, just a fancy way of saying what everybody’s favorite Philosopher teaches, “A penny saved is a penny earned; now where did I put the paper…” said the wise and forgetful Grandpa. Saving your money to spend on more profitable venture, that being a gift that keeps giving, rather than something that one may desire right now is all Capitalism is.

As far as why he might be right think about some churches you’ve seen. Catholic churches in their hay day, that also being the time of the reformation, are just few things, big, stony, pretty gargoyley, maybe some stained glassiness and expensive. Most protestant churches didn’t have some mutated bat-thing staring at you. Some may have been big and huge and huge and big but it was more about functionality than how pretty it was. After all, when the bills come in the mail, the ugly bat-thing just sits there and threatens to cave in the ceiling. Also most rich people of the time were Catholic to because if they were naughty and anything but humble, your wallet could bring you salvation.

In short the Weber theses are all about why Capitalism works and why mainly Protestant nations had few economic problems compared to mainly Catholic nations. If your religion encourages you to save up, you’re naturally inclined to do so as you run your business and do your shopping. Everybody wins in the long run. In contrast, if you must have the latest computer and all the gizmos and your business is given a new sign, even the old one is just a little faded rather than saving up for a new location, the money dries up fast. When disaster strikes you can sap a bit from the second location account or the save up for new car fund, unless you already spent them. So we watch business flop in Catholic nations because when something bad happens, no one can spend or stay open for business and a domino effect comes into play. Meanwhile Protestant communities stager a bit, but in time regain their composure.

Lastly Mr. Weber doesn’t have to be right. In many instances, nations who were Protestant didn’t capitalize anyway, like Scotland. And other Catholic nations flourished even though the church was glad to over look their how they spent their money, like Italy.

Upcoming class debate

Next Monday I will be arguing the point that men and women benefited equally during the Renaissance. For the record Nick, Josh and I will likely lose because the age of “Male Chauvinist Pigs” ended a while ago and at the same time the victors of that war are still fighting as if it just begun. While my comrades and I may have a better hope arguing that Hitler wasn’t such a bad guy after all or simply not arguing and instead attempt the world’s first snowball fight in a place some say snowballs won’t stand a chance, we will forever press on, even if that means running headfirst in to a pink, bubbly, brick wall of feminism. I do NOT intend on losing, however differently the opposition may feel. This is my final entry before the looming debate. Wish me luck… With onions.

Why Onions?

I have reason behind my madness you know; that being onions. If you’ve ever seen “Shreck” you’d know onions have a deep symbolic meaning. “You see Donkey, ogres are like onions, we have layers” said the ugly antisocial ogre to the donkey who sounded awfully like Eddie Murphy. What our ugly antisocial friend means by that is that onions have layers, and ogres have these layers too. There’s the outside layer, thin, yellow and flakey, the part the passerby only sees. Then as you dig down deeper, further into the onion, you find the true onion, the tasty part, the flavor, the part that hides the things that make you cry. Everything in the world has layers. Some have more than others. In A.P. Euro, my job is to delve into articles, text, and books and find the true meaning of the words.

That goes beyond other people’s text too. Other stuff I’ve read by classmates and non-professional writers, like myself, often lack depth, meaning and/or style. Something could have been written by another robot it’s so plain and boring, or maybe the stuff you’re reading is unorganized and wandering like you’re going nowhere in a hurry. I hate writing like that. I know sometimes it can’t be helped, but nobody wants to read that stuff. Not teachers. Not friends. Not even you’re his/her parents would enjoy such bland content. That’s why it’s Tom with Onions. Onions are a symbol of depth, meaning and style. So whenever you read something, get it with onions.