Stooper Heroes

Superheroes Anonymous brings superheroes into real life - taking to the streets and becoming a visible icon of community service and activism. We create the change by helping the needy, fund-raising, combating crime and inspiring others to take action.

And a video

And more amateur superheroes

Pictures too!

Though a note: if you're going to "fight crime" or go "patrolling the streets", don't carry around a fake gun. You'll get your ass shot. (Though, if you look at the cities these superheroes patrol, I'm not too worried.)

Seriously, what the fuck? It's time for some people to move out of their parents basement.

Blagojevich

Okey dokey, so it looks like it's my job to post about Blagojevich getting charge. Here we go . . . .

On Tuesday, Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI. He is being charged with: 1) mail and wire fraud conspiracy, and 2) corruptly soliciting and demanding bribes. Though I'm not really sure if there's any non-corrupt way to solicit and demand bribes. (Also, apparently this violates Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 666!)

Apparently the bribes revolved around the Trib selling Wrigley with State assistance in exchange for them firing some people critical of Blago. Since this likely would've involved mail/phones that can cross state lines, the feds get involved. Going back to this document, check out paragraph 13, on page 7. That's a list of all the corrupt things he's being charged with:
a) Taking bribes for state commission appointments, state contracts, etc. The next two items are going to get more attention in the press, cause they involve Obama and the Cubs, but this is the bread and butter. This is what got the FBI's attention in the first place five or so years ago. Most of the complaint involves this shit (through page 43 of 78). Apparently, Blago kicked into overdrive for this because new State Ethic laws, effective January 1, severely limit the amount of campaign contributions an individual can receive.
b) Trib/Wrigley deal. Why he'd try to extort a newspaper that could, you know, report that shit? I don't know. A good line from the complaint, paragraph 73: "During the call [regarding the Trib's editorials], ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife can be heard in the
background telling ROD BLAGOJEVICH to tell Deputy Governor A “to hold up that
fucking Cubs shit. . . fuck them.”" Stay classy, Peggy B



c) Selling Obama's empty Senate seat for Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama Administration. (Could be an uh-oh for Obama, or at least someone close to him.) Apparently he was also willing to take a job working for a union which a bidder was willing to try to work about for Blago and a union favored by the bidder. (Interesting, hopefully I'll remember to look in to that)


So this shit is getting mad attention in the press, as it should. (2,500 news hits in the first day) So what can I say that hasn't already been said? Let's deal with what should happen to Blago.

Lisa Madigan wants the Supreme Court of Illinois to kick Blago out. I'm not 100% sure on how this'll work and I don't think anyone else is too sure about this one either. I think she was performing her due diligence on how she can help get the jerk out of office.

Here's an article from Slate that covers the rest. Yeah, I'm copping out, but I got finals and it's my lady's birthday today and I got shit to do. More on this later and, most importantly, my thoughts on the Slate article. Pop quiz tomorrow.

Blind Injustice

Jeanette Sliwinski, convicted of killing three local musicians in a suicide attempt car crash, will be released from prison next week three years after receiving an eight-year sentence. Judge Howard said, "I believe the defendant was being truthful when she said she only intended to hurt herself and not anyone else."

Meanwhile a dood gets 7 years for killing one person in a DUI.

What's the difference? Besides they guy killed only 1 compared to her 3? Perhaps it's cause she worked as a "trade-show model" (as the Tribune says) or as a stripper as the Sun Times reported.

Either way, it's a questionable decision by Judge Garritt Howard to let her out and he isn't up for re-election until 2012. We can only wait.

A Question of Loyalty

Aides to Governor Palin have been issued subpoenas regarding alleged abuse of power by the Governor. "As state employees, our clients have taken an oath to uphold the Alaska Constitution . . . . However, our clients are also loyal employees subject to the supervision of the governor . . . . On behalf of our clients, we respectfully ask that you withdraw the subpoenas directed to our clients and thereby relieve them from the circumstance of having to choose where their loyalties lie."

That's not clever editing, that's what was stated. The lawyers don't want to make their clients to choose between the CONSTITUTION (albeit the Alaskan Constitution) and the Governor. I wonder how this is going to play out. Just kidding, the Department of Justice won't be around long enough for that!

I like your style, Palin!

Sausage Slap!

"The farmworkers told deputies the suspect woke them Saturday morning by rubbing spices on one of them and smacking the other with an 8-inch sausage."

I'm glad that made the CNN headlines. Go Bears!

An Actor from Pineapple Express Got Arrested For Drugs

Who'd've thunk it?

Prosecutors have filed felony drug charges against Craig Phillip Robinson, an actor best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on NBC's "The Office."

I'm Gonna Sell This For Drugs!

criminal cartography

Find out who in your neighborhood is a criminal! Once again, Google Maps and their contributors and 3rd party application developers amaze me. Obviously there is a lot of ground for discussion here. Should information like this be made publicly available with just a few mouse clicks, especially in a society that (at least in writing) bases its criminal justice philosophy on the idea that a person can be reformed.

Sloooooooooow News Day at CNN

Children's books reviewed by children is a headline

Some Harry Potter inspired science

Actual headline: Cops: Cat held hostage for dog's return

Actual headline (with video!): Cops: Man collected, drank boys' urine

Mean while, lower on the page buried under the international news section: Troop deaths in Afghanistan surpass Iraq

Makes me wonder whether worrying about government involvement in the media is such a big deal . . . it's like getting your pinto towed . . . .

Atlanta Police Crackdown on Biker Gang

While gas is skyrocketing almost as fast as the average American waistline and the hole in the ozone layer, the Atlanta Police Department has decided they've had enough of people riding their bicycles. (And just look at the sheer number of cops they have out there!)

But don't worry about these bastards getting off easy on our lenient judicial system: Atlanta plans on cutting down on public defenders.

But c'mon people, it's not like Atlanta is that dangerous of a place where the cops would have to go looking for real criminals.

Meanwhile, I had a lovely time at the Critical Mass/New Belgium Bike Festival, Tour de Fat. Paper Bird was a lovely band to hear on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Oh, Benny

Benny the Bull will bust you up!

He'll bust you up even if you're a cop!

His related blotter list includes reefer possession, shooting a t-shirt gun at the Celtics, and even appeared on Jerry Springer!

Drunk Driving Isn't Funny

But this article is pretty funny. Especially the "Click-2-Listen" option. Nothing like hearing a female robot saying "I ain't letting that ho take my car."