Some humor to lighten the mood

Very funny clip, click here.  Cops can laugh too

Another Campus Shooting

A student-gunman opened fire with an AK-47 rifle this morning at The University of Texas.  Fortunately, before he was able to injure anyone, 19 year old Colton Tooley shot and killed himself.   It is the same Campus that suffered the first infamous campus shooting in 1966.  In 1966 another crazy U of T student shot and killed a dozen people from the campus clock tower.  Needless to say, I'd bet that the U of Texas Campus has been one of the most prepared campuses across the country.  Perhaps, lessons learned from the horrific incident in 1966 were applied today and helped to save lives.

This story is particularly interesting since there is a college campus within my jurisdiction.  Moreover, off the top of my head, I can name 25 college campuses within a 30 minute drive. 

As Phillies Head to Postseason...

With the Phightin Phills  seemingly headed to the postseason, are we in for more mischief and misbehavior from our exuberant residents?  How could any citizen of West Chester forget the mess that occurred in the during/after 2008's Call Classis?  Click here for a reminder, or here for a video reminder.

It almost made me, one of the world's biggest Phillies fans, wish they didn't do well this year. 

By the way, in keeping with my disappointment in the criminal justice system, all of the people that were arrested and charged with Riot and related offenses after the celebratory melee in 2008 were allowed into ARD, the court's diversionary program, and were able to escape any actual jail time and will be allowed to have their criminal records expunged. 

Baseball Stadium Coming to West Chester?

I'm not sure how I feel about it, but there is a chance that the former Wyeth Pharmaceutical cite in the southeast section of West Chester Borough will become a new home to a Phillies minor league affiliate. Story here at the DailyLocal.

I wonder how neighbors would feel being walking distance from a 5 or 6 thousand seat stadium. I also wonder who would REALLY end up paying for the stadium. Who would pay for the added polo e service it would require? State grants (Aka tax-payer dollars) might pay for start up, but what's the long term impact?

If the stadium does become a reality, I hope the Phillies are still competitive when it's built.

Humor and corruption

Today, a friend of mine told me this joke.  When I re-told it to my wife, she didn't laugh.  When I re-told it to a few co-workers, they cracked up...

A butcher walks into a barber shop and gets a hair cut.  Its a particularly good cut, and when he's done, the butcher asks the barber, "how much for the cut?"  The barber refuses to take any money and says "don't worry, we're both tradesmen, maybe one day I'll be in need of your services."  With that, the butcher thanks the barber and leaves.  The next morning, the barber comes to work to find an assortment of fine cuts of meat on his doorstep - a thank you from the butcher.

A few days later, a florist stops in for a hair cut.  After the barber is done, the florist asks, "how much for the cut?"  The barber, similarly, refuses to take any money.  He tells the florist that the cut is on him, and maybe one day he'll be in need of a florist.  The florist thanks the barber and walks out of the shop.  The next morning, the barber arrives at work to find the entire inside of the barber shop adorned with the most beautiful, fragrant flower arrangements.

A few days later, the barber is giving the policeman a hair cut.  The barber takes his time and makes sure to give the officer a particularly handsome hair cut.  When the policeman gets up to pay, the barber won't take his money.  The barber thanks the officer and says, "I appreciate your profession, and maybe one day I'll need a friend in your business"  The cop smiles and thanks the barber, leaving with a spring in his step. 

The next morning, the barber arrives at work and finds ten cops waiting in line for a free haircut!

After Workplace Shooting in Philly, Hero Emerges

Around this time of year, there's lot's of talk about heroes.  Following the 9-11-01 attacks, thousands of people who died, among them hundreds of Firefighters and Police Officers who sacrificed their lives, all have been honorably labeled as heroes.   At West Chester University this weekend, a statue of Flight 173 Co-Pilot Michael Horrocks, a West Chester University football player and graduate, was dedicated at the football stadium.  Horrocks' plane was the second one to fly into the towers.  At Ground Zero, at The Pentagon, and in a field in western Pennsylvania, memorial services were held, honoring heroes from 9-11. 

But on Thursday, a crazed woman with a gun, pissed off because of a looming suspension from her job at the Kraft plant in Philadelphia, entered her workplace and started shooting.   Yvonne Hiller killed two of her co-workers, and shot at at least two others.  Another Kraft employee, Dave Ciarlante, put his life in harms way, by following the shooter through the building, warning other employees, and notifying police of her whereabouts.   Ciarlante himself was shot at by Hiller, but was not struck.  Kudos to Mr. Ciarlante.  Condolences to the families of the victims.

Furnishing Alcohol, Destroying Lives

What a surprise, alcohol is the subject of another post.

On the front page of today's Daily Local News is an article about a 22 year old who police say bought booze for two teens just a few hours before a fatal car crash in the western part of Chester County back in July. Although it doesn't look like the police are saying that alcohol actually caused the crash, I wonder. I wonder how well the 22 year old is sleeping these days. I'm sure she knows the truth; I bet her conscience holds her responsible.

In Pennsylvania, Furnishing Alcohol to Minors is a misdemeanor 3, meaning it's the LEAST serious crime one can commit. I wonder if the parents of the teens involved in that crash think it's the least serious of crimes.

College Student Dies, Alcohol involved

To some people, the two go hand in hand - College and Alcohol.  Ask just about any 18 to 21 year old enrolled in college.  He or she will tell you that alcohol is everywhere, that it is just as much a part of college as books and class.  Ask most parents, and they will admit that they are very much aware that their underage (under 21 year old) kids are drinking are college.  "At least he's not doing drugs," some parents say.

But then you have a case like the one in Bloomsburg this weekend.  A 19 year old college student was found dead after getting drunk and sleeping at a friend's place.  (link to story here at Delcotimes.com)  So what's the deal?  Should drinking and college go together like peas and carrots?  Should we continue to accept Underage Drinking as something that is just going to happen, and then deal with the casualties as they come?  Are we doing enough to keep kids from drinking themselves to death?

Speaking of Frustration

Add this case to the list of defendants slowing down the criminal justice system.