Sunday, December 28, 2014

Go Bucks!!


Monday, October 20, 2014

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Spider

Morning Snack!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Gun Control in Chicago

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-shootings-violence-girl-killed-on-west-side-20140718,0,7102175.story

chicagotribune.com

22 shot in Chicago over 12 hours, including girl, 11, killed at sleepover

By Mitch Smith, Peter Nickeas and Juan Perez Jr.
Tribune reporters
2:28 PM CDT, July 19, 2014
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Shamiya Adams was sitting on a bedroom floor in her best friend's home, making s'mores after an evening of practicing a dance routine, when the shot ripped through the house in Garfield Park.
The bullet crashed through the wall of the bedroom and struck the 11-year-old in the head. She was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where family kept an overnight vigil until the girl was pronounced dead at 7:33 a.m. today.
"They came out and told us she wasn't going to make it," Shamiya's grandmother said. "Oh, my God."
As the night wore on, about 40 people joined hands outside the hospital, forming a circle and praying.
"Just be with us, God. We need you now," one woman pleaded as a black SUV filled with police rolled past. "We need you now like never before."
Thirteen hours later, as police searched for the gunman, marshmallows and Hershey bars were still spread out on the bed, remnants of a summer sleepover turned tragic.
Traces of the girl's blood could be seen just beneath a stuffed Tweety Bird doll hanging from the bedroom wall.
"Everybody was in the room," said Aaron Hill, who lives at the house but said he wasn't there at the time of the shooting. "They were just doing their girlie things. They heard shots and a bullet came through the window."
Hill said Shamiya was best friends with one of his younger daughters. She had a "big smile," he said while choking back tears on his porch in East Garfield Park, just a couple blocks from the Eisenhower Expressway.
At the hospital, community activist Andrew Holmes urged the public to call authorities with information about the shooting. "We don't want these perpetrators on the street to rest nowhere tonight."
Earlier, a 12-year-old girl was wounded, one of more than 20 people wounded over 12 hours Friday and early Saturday in Chicago.
The girl, along with a 33-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, were attacked in the 700 block of North Ridgeway Avenue about 3:30 p.m., police said. The girl suffered a graze wound to the foot, and the woman suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound above her right eye.
Their conditions were stabilized at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, said Chicago Police Department News Affairs Offier Veejay Zala. The man suffered a graze wound to the right calf and declined medical treatment, Zala said.

The victims told police they were approached by someone they didn't know, who fired shots at them.

In other shootings:

• A 30-year-old man was killed in the Austin neighborhood about 3 a.m. He was found in the front seat of a car, shot in the neck, back and shoulder in an alley next to Laramie Avenue just north of Madison Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Someone shot a 35-year-old man in the Englewood neighborhood about 3 a.m. He was wounded in the leg and taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said. Police said the man was on a sidewalk when someone opened fire from inside a passing dark vehicle.

• A 15-year-old boy was shot in the West Englewood neighborhood about 12:50 a.m. He was sitting in a parked car, in the 7000 block of South Winchester Avenue, when someone in a passing white van opened fire, police said. The boy was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with an arm wound.

• A 19-year-old man was in serious condition after someone shot him in a Lawndale neighborhood alley about 12:20 a.m. He was shot in an alley east of the 1200 block of South Christiana Avenue and ran around the corner onto 13th Street, where police found him bleeding from a wound to his back. He was taken in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.

• Two men, 24 and 33, were shot about 12:10 a.m. in the 500 block of East 71st Street in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. The younger man was shot in the abdomen and taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County while the older was taken to University of Chicago Hospital with a foot wound. The two told the police they "heard shots and felt pain."

• Four men were shot in the 1300 block of North Mason Avenue in the North Austin neighborhood about 11:30 p.m. All four took themselves to hospitals.

A 24-year-old man was shot in the arm and went to West Suburban Medical Center.

A 33-year-old man with foot and knee wounds, and a 31-year-old man with an arm wound, also went to West Suburban Medical Center.

The fourth man, 30, walked into Oak Park Hospital with a foot wound. The 33-year-old was later transferred to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

• Three people were wounded on the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood about 11:30 p.m. One walked into Mount Sinai Hospital, one was dropped off at a fire station on Maypole, and the third was taken to the hospital, police said.

A 15-year-old boy was shot in the leg and a 32-year-old suffered a graze wound, police said. The two were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, along with a 22-year-old man who was went to Mount Sinai Hospital on his own.

• About 11:20 p.m. someone shot a 25-year-old man in the ankle near Haddon Street and Long Avenue on the West Side. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. Police said he had been sitting on a porch when two men approached and at least one started shooting.

• A 38-year-old  man suffered a gunshot wound to the eye in the 7600 block of South Drexel Boulevard about 11:05 p.m., police said, citing preliminary information. He was listed in stable condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

• A 15-year-old boy was shot in the 11800 block of South Yale Avenue about 10:30  p.m. He suffered wounds to the arm and foot and his condition was stabilized at Roseland Community Hospital. He was outside when someone walked up and shot him, police said.

• A 26-year-old man was shot near Armitage and Lamon avenues about 10:50 p.m. The man suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder, abdomen and leg. He was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition.

He was standing on the block when someone drove up in a light-colored car. The 26-year-old and the man in the car exchanged words. The man in the car got out and started shooting, police said. The man who shot the 26-year-old fled the scene.

• About 5:50 p.m., a 33-year-old man was wounded in both legs in the 3800 block of West Wabansia Avenue, Zala said. The man walked into the St. Elizabeth campus of Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, although he was possibly transferred to Stroger.
chicagobreaking@tribune.com | Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

Friday, July 4, 2014

Joe Biden bet the SOFA in Iraq, and lost

Joe Biden bet the SOFA in Iraq, and lost

Welcome to Chicago Style Gun Control!

13 shot as holiday weekend begins: 'It's like an everyday normal thing'

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At least 13 people have been shot in Chicago at the start of the long holiday weekend, including a woman killed as she sat on a porch near Garfield Park and a man slain in front of a hair salon on the South Side, police said.

Shambreyh R. Barfield, 21, was sitting with a friend at a two-flat in the 3800 block of West Monroe Street Thursday afternoon when four or five masked men drove past in a blue sedan and fired, apparently aiming for someone else, police said.

Barfield was hit in the head and the friend, a 21-year-old woman, was shot in the left arm.  Barfield, of the 6000 block of South Winchester Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  Her friend was taken to Stroger Hospital, where her condition was stabilized.

A teen at the scene, whose mother did not want him identified, said he saw a woman slumped over on the porch after he heard what sounded like fireworks. "I think it was like 10 or 8 shots," he said. "They told me, 'Run!' So we ran."

The mother of the boy, Andrea Byes, said she is planning to move out of the two-flat where she lives with her children because of the violence, drug sales and loitering on the block.

"I'm not surprised something like this happened," said Byes, 40. "It was a matter of time. They're all over everywhere. . .These people are used to it. It's like an everyday normal thing, and it's sad that these children have to grow up thinking it's an everyday normal thing."

Another shooting overnight left one dead and one wounded in West Englewood. The two were hit when someone fired from inside or near a black car about 2:40 a.m. Friday in a stripmall at 63rd Street and Damen Avenue.

Corey Hudson, 34, was killed and a 35-year-old man was wounded in front of a salon where children were getting their hair done overnight. Shell casings littered the sidewalk and bullets had pierced a nearby gyros restaurant.

A man who pulled up to the scene after the shooting, but before police arrived, said saw two men on the ground, one of them still moving.

A woman whose 4-year-old daughter was inside the salon became separated from her child until after police arrived. She stood outside the crime scene until a supervisor was able to walk her into the salon, where she was told she’d have to wait until detectives and evidence technicians finished their investigation.

The strip mall is covered by at least six security cameras, though it wasn't clear which ones worked.

Hudson was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital. He lived in the 6500 block of South Bell Avenue in the same neighborhood. The second man remained in critical condition at Stroger.

In other shootings:

• A 21-year-old man walked into Mercy Hospital and Medical Center about 5:20 a.m. and told police he had been shot near the corner of 47th and Ada streets in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. It was not clear if police found a crime scene there. He had a thigh wound and was expected to survive.
• Around the same time about a mile away, an 18-year-old man was shot in the thigh and brought to the University of Illinois Medical Center by his relatives, according to Police News Affairs Officer Janel Sedevic.  He was transferred to Stroger Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The man told police he had been shot in the 4300 block of South Wood Street around 5:20 a.m. No one was in custody.
• An 18-year-old woman was shot about 3:45 a.m. in the Little Village neighborhood. She was shot in the buttocks and was in good condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. It was not clear what prompted the shooting. Police kept watch over a trail of five shell casings on Homan Avenue just south of 24th Street.

• A man was shot about 2:30 a.m. in the 3500 block of West Lake Street in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. He was treated at a hospital for a calf wound and released. Details of the shooting were not available.

• A 56-year-old man was shot in the 7400 block of South Winchester Avenue about 12:20 a.m. and took a bus to 67th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. The man told police he was shot on Winchester but it was not clear if police located a scene there.

He was taken from Cottage Grove Avenue to the University of Chicago Hospital, but police said he wasn’t able to cooperate because he was intoxicated.

• A 21-year-old man was grazed in the face and shot in the arm and stomach about 9:45 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of North Ridgeway Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Police said he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition and unable to be interviewed because of his wounds.

• A person walked into Saint Bernard Hospital and Healthcare Center about 2:45 a.m. and told police he was shot in the leg the day before in the 8600 block of South Racine Avenue. Details were not available.

• A boy and a girl were shot in 4400 block of South Dearborn Street about 3:10 p.m., police said. The boy, 14, was shot in the thigh and the girl, 13, suffered a graze wound to the thigh, police said.

Both were taken to Comer Children's Hospital in good condition. Police said the boy was a documented gang member and that the two were shot by a car traveling north while the two were walking south.

Friday, May 16, 2014

USDA now wants body armor...Again Why?

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USDAOIGVEST-5-7-14
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Sources Sought
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Added: May 07, 2014 2:24 pm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, located in Washington, DC and Regional Offices, pursuant to the authority of FAR Part 13, has a requirement for the commerical acquisition of ballist vests, compliant with NIJ 0101.06 for Level IIIA Ballistic Resistance of body armor.  Body armor is gender specific, lightweight, trauma plate/pad (hard or soft), concealable carrier, tactical vest, undergarment (white), identification patches, accessories (6 pouches), body armor carry bag, and professional measurements.  NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISITS.  All responsible and/or interested sources may submit their company name, point of contact, and telephone number.  If received timely, shall be considered by the agency for contact.
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1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 40-E J.L. Whitten Fed Bldg
Washington, District of Columbia 20250
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USDA, Office of Inspector General - Investigations
Headquarters and Regional Offices

Washington, District of Columbia 20250
United States
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Linda F. Josey,
Chief, Procurement Management Branch
Phone: 2027208337
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Desiree Clayton,
Sr. Business Analyst
Phone: 202-720-5931
Fax: 202-690-1282

Thursday, May 15, 2014

USDA request sub-machineguns...Why?

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USDAOIGWEA-5-7-14

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Sources Sought


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Added: May 07, 2014 2:03 pm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, located in Washington, DC, pursuant to the authority of FAR Part 13, has a requirement for the commerical acquisition of submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W, ambidextrous safety, semi-automatic or 2 shot burts trigger group, Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsilbe or folding, magazine - 30 rd. capacity, sling, light weight, and oversized trigger guard for gloved operation.  NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS.  All responsible and/or interested sources may submit their company name, point of contact, and telephone.  If received timely, shall be considered by the agency for contact to determine weapon suitability.

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1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 40-E J.L. Whitten Fed Bldg
Washington, District of Columbia 20250

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USDA, Office of Inspector General - Investigations
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20250
United States

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Linda F. Josey,
Chief, Procurement Management Branch
Phone: 2027208337

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Desiree Clayton,
Contracting Officer
Phone: 202-720-5931
Fax: 202-690-1282

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Charles Koch, Fighting to Restore a Free Society

Charles Koch: I'm Fighting to Restore a Free Society

Instead of welcoming free debate, collectivists engage in character assassination.

Updated April 2, 2014 7:47 p.m. ET
I have devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It is those principles—the principles of a free society—that have shaped my life, my family, our company and America itself.
Unfortunately, the fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by the nation's own government. That's why, if we want to restore a free society and create greater well-being and opportunity for all Americans, we have no choice but to fight for those principles. I have been doing so for more than 50 years, primarily through educational efforts. It was only in the past decade that I realized the need to also engage in the political process.
Getty Images
A truly free society is based on a vision of respect for people and what they value. In a truly free society, any business that disrespects its customers will fail, and deserves to do so. The same should be true of any government that disrespects its citizens. The central belief and fatal conceit of the current administration is that you are incapable of running your own life, but those in power are capable of running it for you. This is the essence of big government and collectivism.
More than 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson warned that this could happen. "The natural progress of things," Jefferson wrote, "is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." He knew that no government could possibly run citizens' lives for the better. The more government tries to control, the greater the disaster, as shown by the current health-care debacle. Collectivists (those who stand for government control of the means of production and how people live their lives) promise heaven but deliver hell. For them, the promised end justifies the means.
Instead of encouraging free and open debate, collectivists strive to discredit and intimidate opponents. They engage in character assassination. (I should know, as the almost daily target of their attacks.) This is the approach that Arthur Schopenhauer described in the 19th century, that Saul Alinsky famously advocated in the 20th, and that so many despots have infamously practiced. Such tactics are the antithesis of what is required for a free society—and a telltale sign that the collectivists do not have good answers.
Rather than try to understand my vision for a free society or accurately report the facts about Koch Industries, our critics would have you believe we're "un-American" and trying to "rig the system," that we're against "environmental protection" or eager to "end workplace safety standards." These falsehoods remind me of the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan's observation, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts." Here are some facts about my philosophy and our company:
Koch companies employ 60,000 Americans, who make many thousands of products that Americans want and need. According to government figures, our employees and the 143,000 additional American jobs they support generate nearly $11.7 billion in compensation and benefits. About one-third of our U.S.-based employees are union members.
Koch employees have earned well over 700 awards for environmental, health and safety excellence since 2009, many of them from the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. EPA officials have commended us for our "commitment to a cleaner environment" and called us "a model for other companies."
Our refineries have consistently ranked among the best in the nation for low per-barrel emissions. In 2012, our Total Case Incident Rate (an important safety measure) was 67% better than a Bureau of Labor Statistics average for peer industries. Even so, we have never rested on our laurels. We believe there is always room for innovation and improvement.
Far from trying to rig the system, I have spent decades opposing cronyism and all political favors, including mandates, subsidies and protective tariffs—even when we benefit from them. I believe that cronyism is nothing more than welfare for the rich and powerful, and should be abolished.
Koch Industries was the only major producer in the ethanol industry to argue for the demise of the ethanol tax credit in 2011. That government handout (which cost taxpayers billions) needlessly drove up food and fuel prices as well as other costs for consumers—many of whom were poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Now the mandate needs to go, so that consumers and the marketplace are the ones who decide the future of ethanol.
Instead of fostering a system that enables people to help themselves, America is now saddled with a system that destroys value, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. This is what happens when elected officials believe that people's lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal.
If more businesses (and elected officials) were to embrace a vision of creating real value for people in a principled way, our nation would be far better off—not just today, but for generations to come. I'm dedicated to fighting for that vision. I'm convinced most Americans believe it's worth fighting for, too.
Mr. Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries.