The Parkers

Some might feel we have been playing
cards with a Tarot deck and using
only the evil cards lately. We assure
you this isn’t our intention.

So on a more uplifting note, we’ll tell
the story of a family whom few will know,
but most see a dedication to every day.

Oswald and Deborah Parker worked all
their lives in the automotive industry.
During this time they raised five children;
Margaret (Peg), Veronica (Roni), Edward
(Ned), Robert (Dob), and Leroy.

Both worked in the Drivetrain Development
Division of a major auto manufacturer. She
designed drivetrains to provide smooth and
powerful performance for all vehicles,
while he built and tested prototypes to
ensure they would perform flawlessly.

After 20 years of dedicated service to
the company the couple was a bit perplexed
when the owner called them to his office.
On the way to his office they worried
over what they may have done wrong.

The owner, seeing the grief on their
faces, assured them this would be a
pleasant meeting. He then stated that
because of their dedication his
company was a huge success, and he
would like to see a homage to them in
most vehicles when they left the plant.

The humble couple responded that they were
very happy with their salaries and
positions in the company and that was
enough for them, and politely refused
the offer.

But the owner wanted to show his
appreciation and set about doing so
without their knowledge. He gave them a
project to build the world’s best
clutchless transmission.

After much trial and error the couple
unveiled the finished project much to
the joy of the owner. And to this day
we still see his appreciation in most
cars on the road.

The owner had a plaque designed to
honor the couple that did not mention
them directly, but honored them none
the less.

The plaque we see is indeed a homage
to the humble couple and once you see
what’s on it you will understand. It
says simply: P-R-N-D-L.
The owner later added OD.
Happy April’s Fools Day.
Comments are always welcome.

No hope?

What is the mindset of the person
when the future holds no hope?
Historically, every generation has
had the promise and hope of a
future out there. These kids don’t
have that. It leads to this horrible
fatalism, where life ain’t worth
living anymore.
Wiley Rogers

Chicago has the highest youth
homicide rate in the country.

Youth is considered under 21
in this study.

Chicago’s youth homicide rate
is double that of New York City
and Los Angeles.

Since 2008, more than 530 youth
have been killed in Chicago.

286 youth under the age 18 have
been killed since 2008 in Chicago.

247 youth between the ages of
18 and 20 have been murdered in
Chicago since 2008.

80% of the homicides occur in
22 African-American or Latino
community areas.

These 22 areas represent one
third of the population of
Chicago.

In the West Englewood area on
the South Side, the homicide rate
is nearly five times higher than
than the citywide rate.

22 other Chicago areas had no more
than 1 youth homicide, and at least 3
reported no homicides.

After a high school student was
beaten to death in September 2009,
Attorney General Eric Holder and
the U.S. Education Secretary visited
Chicago and gave a $500,000 grant
to restore a peaceful environment.

The next school year 218 students
were shot and 27 student deaths
were reported.

Local groups have worked to stem
the violence; but where is the
outrage?

Everything here was taken from an
article in the Chicago
Reporter from January 25th of this
year.
Comments are always welcome.

Truth?

We have long said that common sense
is dead. Now it seems truth is on life
support and will not make it either. Let
us explain.

Readily admitting we don’t watch much
TV, we heard of a new show called ‘Dance Moms’.
If those involved with this show were
honest, they would call it ‘Eye Candy
for Pedophiles’.

If the media were honest, everyone
would know that last year Obama made
65 domestic flights over 104 days,
six trips to eight countries over 22
days, and six vacation trips over 32
days.

This does not include the 196 helicopter
trips he took last year! And for every
hour Air Force 1 is in the air it costs
us $181,757. That doesn’t include travel
costs of Marine 1, the Secret Service,
logistics or local police overtime.

This begs the question: how big is his
carbon footprint? Add his 491 speeches
last year and we’d bet his carbon footprint
is bigger than some cities.

How come we don’t hear more about the
Freedom Group? Sounds like a nice
American entity. Heard of Cerberus
Capital Management? Okay, both are
controlled by George Soros.

We asked because the Freedom Group has
bought up gun and ammunition makers with
names like Bushmaster, Marliln, Remington,
DPMS, Dakota Arms, and H & R. Mr. Soros
believes private citizens should not be
allowed to own or purchase arms.

He also gave millions of dollars to the
2008 campaign of Obama. And lastly…

Why hasn’t Justice Elena Kagan recuse
herself from the Supreme Court case on
Obamacare? She not only supported it,
she worked on the legal defense for it.
We’re just saying.
Comments are always welcome.

Thoughts on junk

We’d like to thank Jim Fisher for
the mention of our blog on his talk
radio show yesterday. We listen to
his show on WOC Talk Radio as often
as we can. He does seem to enjoy
his job.

Then there is the meeting tonight
about city government calling some
businesses ‘junk yards’ and enacting
new statutes to enforce the new
terminology.

Some of the businesses affected
include: Bobe’s, Cedilco, B & C
Auto Wreckers, Ricker Hill LLC,
Goacher Towing, Worton’s Pine Street
Body Shop, Bob’s Body Shop, John’s
Towing Inc, and the Antique Auto Parts
Warehouse.

There are more, but on the form
they are listed by their names and
not business and we won’t list them
here.

At present we know of 34 different
properties, listed under 16 different
names, that are to be considered as
‘junk yards’.

We cannot speak for the businesses
themselves, only from our observations
when we visited some of them.

Most of these we have dealt with have
had the ‘junk’ in an enclosed area, in
fairly neat rows, with buildings kept
in good repair.

We have never had to step over pools
of dirty motor oil, or been assaulted
by vermin while looking for parts.

We have been stopped by prostitutes
asking us if we wanted a ‘date’
while getting out of our car.

How can a city consider it itself
business friendly when it wants to
penalize a junk yard for being a
‘junk yard’?
Comments are always welcome.

Odds and ends

Thought we’d mention a few things that
might be important. After we mention
these, we’ll have a little fun.

Later today is the Zoning Board meeting
about the ‘junk yards’, which will be held
at the Police Station at 5 pm.

Free yard waste pick-up will begin on
Monday and run for two weeks. We still
have to put the leaves and clippings in
paper lawn waste bags but don’t need a
sticker.

If you’re still wrenching on your ride
in preparation for the cruisin’ season,
the first cruise-in is less than a
month away.

We’re told Karl Marx once said, “the
difference between Capitalism and
Communism is that in Capitalism man
exploits man and in Communism it’s
the other way round”.

A complex system that doesn’t work is
invariably found to have evolved from
a simpler system that worked just fine.

Every solution breeds new problems and
every problem costs money.

We are still wondering how to tell
when one is out of invisible ink.

If you never do anything stupid when
you’re young, you won’t have any funny
stories to tell your grandkids when you
get older.

The reason you won’t find any leprechauns
in America is because they’re afraid
Obama would redistribute their pot of
gold.
Comments are always welcome.

Talking heads II

We feel Americans have been duped. Much
like an Obamarita, which is a margarita
that we order and pay for while someone
else gets to drink it.

We say this because after the young man
in Florida was shot, Obama is now selling
hoodies to finance his campaign. We say
this because of the nonsense over the
idea of that if it had been a black
man that shot a white kid the outrage
from the white community would be
instantaneous and loud.

We submit the following as proof of
what we say.

We will forewarn you the following link
is to a video of a real tragedy. It may
be offensive to some because it is about
a very gruesome crime.

Although it happened in 2007 this is a tragedy.
Do any of you remember Hugh Christopher Newsom,
24, or Channon Gail Christian, 21?

If you’d rather read about it, here is
the wikipedia page on the crime.

We do not mean to belittle what happened
to the young man in Florida but wish to
point out we believe the racism charge
being tossed around is mute.

After they were murdered, their families did a
press release to thank the community for
their prayers, held a candlelight vigil,
held a golf tournament, and established a
memorial foundation so that a senior from
the girls’ high school could attend the
University of Tennessee.

Where was the media? Why don’t we remember
their names, or the many protests and
marches? Stop the nonsense and let the
authorities do their jobs.
Comments are always welcome.

Circus junk

There was another story on ‘junk’ properties
in the QC Times Monday that we had a few problems
with.

The picture would lead one to believe that
a lot of things are visible if one would
just walk down the alley involved. We believe
the picture was taken either from a set of
steps or some other form of elevation to
make it appear worse than it really is.

As to Alderman Boom’s comments about when
you see a fences like that and peek in, you
see junk. It is a privacy fence, and it isn’t
junk. We have personally bought a car and
other parts that were in that lot.

We are not in the habit of buying worthless
junk. We also find it odd that the city has
taken commercial property taxes and all the
associated license fees from those mentioned
for years and now want them to jump through
hoops to stay in business.

And aren’t the prostitutes who congregate
at the other end of said alley more of a
‘quality-of-life’ issue than your imagined
‘junk’.

We would also guess you won’t be too popular
at the meeting Thursday, at 5 pm, in the
Davenport Police Department. Just another
example of how our city isn’t very business
friendly.
Comments are always welcome.

Talking heads

Like many others we have been following
the shooting of the young man in Florida
and the outrage that has ensued.

We have heard cries of racism without
proof, injustice without facts, and
travesty without trial.

We are more than tired, as someone who
is light-skinned, of being accused of
racism every time something like this
happens.

It is indeed a tragedy when a teenager
is killed, but we haven’t heard one of
the many speakers on the subject offer
up a solution.

We have heard the shooter should be
arrested, but haven’t heard on what
grounds. If he didn’t break the law;
what should he be arrested for?

Getting people riled up must be good
for business for the Reverends Sharpton
and Jackson. They seem more media hogs
than keepers of the word of God.

Instead of calming the flock, these
two seem to incite mob mentality. So
while we know they like to hear themselves
talk, we can’t seem to remember any
such problem they have resolved.

This will probably get us labeled as
racists, but those who know us know
different. We are merely realists who
hear the noise but find no real
answers when it stops.

We hate no one and try to treat
others as we like to be treated. We
have no pre-conceived ideas about
anyone, instead we reserve judgement
until reason is given to like or
dislike.

Everybody should just take a deep
breath, let it out slowly, and calm
down. Let the justice system do its
job and if you aren’t happy with
their results, then make noise.
Comments are always welcome.

Leaves and an auction

One week from today the free yard
waste pickup will start. It will
run from April 2nd to April 13th,
2012. We’ll post again on this.

For those who knew Norm Miller,
or like to attend auctions, his
estate will be auctioned off this
year. Here are some dates and links
to what is being auctioned.

On April 6th, Stenzel Auction will hold
the first of three auctions. This first
auction will include a 51′ Chevy sedan,
a 59′ Chevy pickup, a 74′ Ford pickup,
an engine lathe, an air compressor, and
lots more.

For directions and a full list just go
the link above.

On July 22, an auction
that will include Norm’s collection
of Star automobiles along with a lot more
will be held. The parts list is too long
to mention here, but is listed in the
link above.

We are told, but cannot yet confirm,
that a 3rd auction will be held on
August 26th. When we get facts we will
post what we find.

You may remember Norm died January 16
of this year. He ran Norm’s Antique Auto
Supply from the 60’s until his death.

These are a few upcoming things we felt
we should post today instead of waiting
for friday.
Comments are always welcome.

Panda post

Some Sundays we post something about religion.
This time we’d thought we’d do a joke. We hope
that you haven’t heard it and enjoy it.

A panda walks into a bar, sits down and
orders a sandwich. He eats the sandwich,
pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter dead.
As the panda stands up to go, the bartender
shouts, “Hey! Where are you going? You just
shot my waiter and you didn’t pay for your
sandwich!”
The panda yells back at the bartender, “Hey
man, I’m a PANDA! Look it up!”
The bartender opens his dictionary and sees
the following definition for Panda: “A tree
dwelling marsupial of Asian origin, characterized
by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves.”
Comments are always welcome.