To contact us Click HERE
As 2012 comes to a close, Beth Bentley has been missing for 136 weeks.
She vanished, probably on May 23, 2010, from southern Illinois. But only "probably". One person ought to know, for sure.
Two others ought to know, but no word from them has ever surfaced. Were they interviewed by Woodstock Police? By Mt. Vernon Police? By Jefferson County (Ill.) Sheriff's Department investigators?
Is there a strong chance that some people in Woodstock know what happened to Beth?
Who might know information that could help find her?
Her husband, Scott Bentley?
Her co-workers at Bentley's former law office location on Route 31 in McHenry?
Her buddies from Gus's Roadhouse?
Her party friends?
Her father?
Her brother, who works in Woodstock?
How can 2½ years pass and a missing-person investigation not be any further along that it apparently was at the end of the first week after she disappeared?
Have the cell phone records been analyzed in great detail by police detectives? Did they examine carefully the record of calls to and from all cell phones on the master account? Did they notice gaps? Absence of calls that should have been there?
Did they wonder why a 4:00PM Sunday call (the "last" call from Beth's phone) was so short? If Beth was calling from Mt. Vernon, and not from Wisconsin, did she not explain why she was not going to be in McHenry County for a birthday dinner with her father? Did police investigate when that dinner got canceled? And by whom?
Did Beth's phone really "ping" in McHenry County late on Sunday night, May 23?
Was there really a break-in at Scott Bentley's law office on the night of May 23? The McHenry Police Department has no report of it. If there was a break-in and if one of Beth's sons slept at the office, in case burglars returned, why don't the police know about it?
When was the last call from Beth to her children? If she was a "serial texter", did questions get answered about the infrequency of text messages after the time that her traveling friend and she reportedly left Woodstock on Thursday night? When is the last time that someone in Woodstock really heard her voice - live?
This case has now fallen off the radar of the Woodstock Police Department. It no longer reports monthly to the City Manager and City Council on its (in)activity. Out of sight, out of mind? The City Council has never demanded an answer about case progress.
Beth's disappearance is not gone from the minds of some in Woodstock!
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Is Nygren investigating Zinke?
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Is McHenry County Sheriff Nygren really investigating Undersheriff Andy Zinke for revealing a confidential DEA drug investigation to a "close friend" (as described by the Northwest Herald) and political contributor to both Zinke and Nygren?
Last summer Sgt. John Koziol was a member of a DEA Task Force out of Rockford, Ill. Koziol informed Zinke, as required under General Orders of the Sheriff's Department, that the DEA had discovered in Texas a truck containing illegal drugs that was headed for the RITA Corporation in Crystal Lake, Ill.
Zinke, of course, should have kept his mouth shut and let the chips fall where they might. If anyone at RITA Corporation was complicit, catch him. If no one was involved in anything illegal, that would be clear in the DEA investigation. Maybe the drugs would have been off-loaded before the truck reached Crystal Lake.
Instead, Zinke revealed the confidential investigation to RITA Corp. president Brian Goode, who is a heavy political fund contributor to Nygren, a contributor to Zinke's early election campaign for Sheriff in 2014, and member of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission, having been appointed by Nygren in 2004.
Is Nygren investigating Zinke? Will Nygren discipline Zinke? Will Zinke be demoted? Fired? Will the results of his investigation and any discipline be made public?
Is it in the public interest to know the results of the investigation into Zinke's releasing confidential information to a possible target of a DEA investigation?
Last summer Sgt. John Koziol was a member of a DEA Task Force out of Rockford, Ill. Koziol informed Zinke, as required under General Orders of the Sheriff's Department, that the DEA had discovered in Texas a truck containing illegal drugs that was headed for the RITA Corporation in Crystal Lake, Ill.
Zinke, of course, should have kept his mouth shut and let the chips fall where they might. If anyone at RITA Corporation was complicit, catch him. If no one was involved in anything illegal, that would be clear in the DEA investigation. Maybe the drugs would have been off-loaded before the truck reached Crystal Lake.
Instead, Zinke revealed the confidential investigation to RITA Corp. president Brian Goode, who is a heavy political fund contributor to Nygren, a contributor to Zinke's early election campaign for Sheriff in 2014, and member of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission, having been appointed by Nygren in 2004.
Is Nygren investigating Zinke? Will Nygren discipline Zinke? Will Zinke be demoted? Fired? Will the results of his investigation and any discipline be made public?
Is it in the public interest to know the results of the investigation into Zinke's releasing confidential information to a possible target of a DEA investigation?
Take away Obama's pen
To contact us Click HERE
Pres. Obama signed an Executive Order granting pay raises to members of Congress and to Joe Biden, his go-fer. Maybe that's to toughen up Joe for his upcoming battle on gun control.
Somebody needs to destroy all those pens that Obama has for signing Executive Orders. A reader wrote recently that Congress has to approve raises; apparently not.
Is anyone else outraged at the procrastination by Congress to resolve the "financial cliff" mess? Here it is December 31 and there is no deal. Well, wasn't the deal made back when the cliff was first cut?
It's kind of like buying a house, getting a low mortgage payment, and knowing that there will be a balloon payment in five or ten years. Duhhhh.... how can you complain, when that balloon payment comes due? You liked the low payment, right?
Or buying term insurance, because you think Whole Life insurance is a rip-off and that you can "save" money better than by giving it to an insurance company. And then you have the unfortunate bad luck to outlive your term insurance policy. Guess what? If you don't die before the term insurance policy expires, then you WILL die after it expires. And then you will wish you had purchased Whole Life insurance.
You know ... insurance for the "whole" of your life???
If Obama wants to sign an Executive Order that I'll like, he'll sign one today stopping pay to Congress and himself for not solving the financial-cliff so-called crisis. And cutting off his taxpayer-funded vacations, like the $4,000,000 trip to Hawaii for a few days. Just give him a Netflix subscription and order some popcorn.
Somebody needs to destroy all those pens that Obama has for signing Executive Orders. A reader wrote recently that Congress has to approve raises; apparently not.
Is anyone else outraged at the procrastination by Congress to resolve the "financial cliff" mess? Here it is December 31 and there is no deal. Well, wasn't the deal made back when the cliff was first cut?
It's kind of like buying a house, getting a low mortgage payment, and knowing that there will be a balloon payment in five or ten years. Duhhhh.... how can you complain, when that balloon payment comes due? You liked the low payment, right?
Or buying term insurance, because you think Whole Life insurance is a rip-off and that you can "save" money better than by giving it to an insurance company. And then you have the unfortunate bad luck to outlive your term insurance policy. Guess what? If you don't die before the term insurance policy expires, then you WILL die after it expires. And then you will wish you had purchased Whole Life insurance.
You know ... insurance for the "whole" of your life???
If Obama wants to sign an Executive Order that I'll like, he'll sign one today stopping pay to Congress and himself for not solving the financial-cliff so-called crisis. And cutting off his taxpayer-funded vacations, like the $4,000,000 trip to Hawaii for a few days. Just give him a Netflix subscription and order some popcorn.
County Compensation explained
To contact us Click HERE
This morning I was directed to the source of the County employee pay information on McHenry County Blog.
Cal Skinner is doing a great job of putting out the numbers for all to see what is being paid to County employees. In addition to the name, he is publishing the Budgeted Salary and Total (Pay and certain benefits). For me (and for others) there were questions about what was included in Total.
Here's the answer. The County is obligated under state law to publish certain information within 30 days after it is approved. In McHenry County, official decided to publish the information for all employees, not just those making over $75,000 in pay and benefits.
First, the source. To view the published information, go to
www.co.mchenry.il.us
Click on Departments
Click on H
Click on Human Resources
Click on Employee Compensation Report (you may need to scroll down to it)
Notice the columns in the Report:
Name
Job Title
Budgeted Salary
County-share Health Insurance
County-share Dental Insurance
Vehicle Allowance
Stipend
Clothing Allowance
Sick Days
Vacation Days
Total
These figures are the ones that are budgeted. This is looking into the future of the year ahead. These are not figured that have already been paid or spent.
NOTE: Overtime is not included in the Total column. While overtime is estimated and budgeted elsewhere, it doesn't show up in these numbers. Also, note that pension or retirement plan contributions are not shown.
Many thanks for the phone call this morning.
Cal Skinner is doing a great job of putting out the numbers for all to see what is being paid to County employees. In addition to the name, he is publishing the Budgeted Salary and Total (Pay and certain benefits). For me (and for others) there were questions about what was included in Total.
Here's the answer. The County is obligated under state law to publish certain information within 30 days after it is approved. In McHenry County, official decided to publish the information for all employees, not just those making over $75,000 in pay and benefits.
First, the source. To view the published information, go to
www.co.mchenry.il.us
Click on Departments
Click on H
Click on Human Resources
Click on Employee Compensation Report (you may need to scroll down to it)
Notice the columns in the Report:
Name
Job Title
Budgeted Salary
County-share Health Insurance
County-share Dental Insurance
Vehicle Allowance
Stipend
Clothing Allowance
Sick Days
Vacation Days
Total
These figures are the ones that are budgeted. This is looking into the future of the year ahead. These are not figured that have already been paid or spent.
NOTE: Overtime is not included in the Total column. While overtime is estimated and budgeted elsewhere, it doesn't show up in these numbers. Also, note that pension or retirement plan contributions are not shown.
Many thanks for the phone call this morning.
Best New Year's Eve arrest
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Every December 31st I remember my best-ever arrest, which happened on New Year's Eve in about 1978. I enjoyed working holidays and special nights, like Halloween and New Year's Eve.
On the night in question it was cold in the Denver area. I don't recall the temperature reading, but I do remember that it was very frosty - maybe 5-10º F. About midnight I was dispatched on a "loud party" call.
Land in Arapahoe County (just south of Denver) isn't flat. Streets aren't necessarily straight. There are many cul-de-sacs. And I couldn't get to the party. I could hear it blocks away but, because of arroyos into which the cul-de-sacs dead-ended, I couldn't get to the party.
Then I spotted a panel van with a special carrier-rack on the back bumper. In the rack, vertically against the back doors of the van, were sheets of plywood. And the van had an out-of-county plate. At that time license plates were issued by county, and the van had a Denver County plate. That, with the plywood, attracted my attention.
The van turned into a cul-de-sac, went to the end and pulled up into a driveway. Instead of turning off the engine and lights, the driver backed out, returned to the main road and turned to drive away from my squad car.
I decided to stop him and he pulled right over. Let's just say I was very careful as I walked up toward the driver's door. The driver had rolled down the window before I got there and, before I could say anything, he said, "I didn't mean to take them. I'll take them back."
"What?" I asked.
And he repeated his statement. There was a fur coat on the passenger seat and I asked whose coat it was. When he said it was his wife's coat, I asked where she was, thinking she was probably dead in the back of the van. He said she had driven home separately. Yeah, sure.... without her coat.
I called for back-up and ordered him out. You should have heard him trying to talk his way back into the van so that he could leave.
Officers from the nearby town showed up, too, and they recognized the van as one they had been looking for for six months. This guy had been stealing sheets of plywood to finish his basement and build a dog house. The local cops had a partial description of the van and a partial license plate, but they hadn't been able to put the two together.
When the driver realized he was going to jail, he got unhappy, but there was plenty of "force" there by then. Nights like that made all the slow nights worthwhile.
On the night in question it was cold in the Denver area. I don't recall the temperature reading, but I do remember that it was very frosty - maybe 5-10º F. About midnight I was dispatched on a "loud party" call.
Land in Arapahoe County (just south of Denver) isn't flat. Streets aren't necessarily straight. There are many cul-de-sacs. And I couldn't get to the party. I could hear it blocks away but, because of arroyos into which the cul-de-sacs dead-ended, I couldn't get to the party.
Then I spotted a panel van with a special carrier-rack on the back bumper. In the rack, vertically against the back doors of the van, were sheets of plywood. And the van had an out-of-county plate. At that time license plates were issued by county, and the van had a Denver County plate. That, with the plywood, attracted my attention.
The van turned into a cul-de-sac, went to the end and pulled up into a driveway. Instead of turning off the engine and lights, the driver backed out, returned to the main road and turned to drive away from my squad car.
I decided to stop him and he pulled right over. Let's just say I was very careful as I walked up toward the driver's door. The driver had rolled down the window before I got there and, before I could say anything, he said, "I didn't mean to take them. I'll take them back."
"What?" I asked.
And he repeated his statement. There was a fur coat on the passenger seat and I asked whose coat it was. When he said it was his wife's coat, I asked where she was, thinking she was probably dead in the back of the van. He said she had driven home separately. Yeah, sure.... without her coat.
I called for back-up and ordered him out. You should have heard him trying to talk his way back into the van so that he could leave.
Officers from the nearby town showed up, too, and they recognized the van as one they had been looking for for six months. This guy had been stealing sheets of plywood to finish his basement and build a dog house. The local cops had a partial description of the van and a partial license plate, but they hadn't been able to put the two together.
When the driver realized he was going to jail, he got unhappy, but there was plenty of "force" there by then. Nights like that made all the slow nights worthwhile.
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Postage rate increase coming 1/27
To contact us Click HERE
Stamps for your first-class letters are going up "only" a penny on January 27, when the new first-class, one-ounce (or lighter) rate becomes $0.46.
Remember, if you are using Forever stamps, you don't have to add a penny stamp to get your letter delivered. Unless you have some really old stamps, they are all Forever stamps now.
The second ounce (to U.S. addresses) remains unchanged at $0.20.
Postcards go up one penny to $0.33.
But watch out if you are mailing to overseas addresses.
If you are used to mailing to Canada for $0.85, you can forget that. The new rate for letters to all international addresses will be $1.10. That looks like a a 29% rate hike!
Mail to England or Germany? Going up from $1.05 to $1.10.
The new international rate will be a Forever rate (stamp). Aren't you glad?
Here are words of wisdom from the USPS website: "The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) will review the prices before they become effective Jan. 27, 2013." How nice! Anyone think it's not a "done deal"?
Remember, if you are using Forever stamps, you don't have to add a penny stamp to get your letter delivered. Unless you have some really old stamps, they are all Forever stamps now.
The second ounce (to U.S. addresses) remains unchanged at $0.20.
Postcards go up one penny to $0.33.
But watch out if you are mailing to overseas addresses.
If you are used to mailing to Canada for $0.85, you can forget that. The new rate for letters to all international addresses will be $1.10. That looks like a a 29% rate hike!
Mail to England or Germany? Going up from $1.05 to $1.10.
The new international rate will be a Forever rate (stamp). Aren't you glad?
Here are words of wisdom from the USPS website: "The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) will review the prices before they become effective Jan. 27, 2013." How nice! Anyone think it's not a "done deal"?
Smiths' trials - 2013
To contact us Click HERE
A reader inquired today if I knew when trials would be in the cases of Timothy Smith and Kimberly Smith. Tim Smith has been in McHenry County Jail since May 29, 2011, on a murder charge. His bail is $900,000.
From Circuit Court records:
Feb. 25, 2013 10:00AM for Timothy Smith's jury trial. Case No. 11CF000520
Mar. 11, 2013 10:00AM for Kimberly Smith's jury trial. Case No. 11CF000521
A year ago, in December 2011, Timothy's public defender told the judge that no more hearings would be needed and they'd be ready for trial in May 2012. A jury trial date was set. Since then, it has been changed at least twice.
Kimberly Smith's trial date has been changed, also.
Are the defendants' attorneys playing the "You first" game?
Does the State's Attorney have a game plan? Is that office calculating which trial IT wants first, in order to gain leverage against the party tried second?
I won't be surprised at more delays and continuances.
Will one (or both) of the defendants try to cop a plea? If there is a deal and no trial, then the evidence against that defendant won't get presented in court. And what that defendant knows will never be heard in court, assuming that the defendant chooses to testify in his or her own defense.
Will the State say, "No deal! We're going to trial."
Defending on the quality of the prosecution, the defendant might roll the dice and decide not to testify in his or own defense. But the People's case would still be revealed in court, in the event of a trial.
More than a few people want to know the truth about how and why Kurt Milliman was at the Smith residence. How much time passed between the moment when Tim Smith shot Milliman and they called 9-1-1? Five-ten-fifteen minutes? Longer?
Was Milliman's computer confiscated? Who has had access to it? Who was the Sheriff's Department computer geek at the time? Will any testimony from him be credible? Will he even be available to testify?
From Circuit Court records:
Feb. 25, 2013 10:00AM for Timothy Smith's jury trial. Case No. 11CF000520
Mar. 11, 2013 10:00AM for Kimberly Smith's jury trial. Case No. 11CF000521
A year ago, in December 2011, Timothy's public defender told the judge that no more hearings would be needed and they'd be ready for trial in May 2012. A jury trial date was set. Since then, it has been changed at least twice.
Kimberly Smith's trial date has been changed, also.
Are the defendants' attorneys playing the "You first" game?
Does the State's Attorney have a game plan? Is that office calculating which trial IT wants first, in order to gain leverage against the party tried second?
I won't be surprised at more delays and continuances.
Will one (or both) of the defendants try to cop a plea? If there is a deal and no trial, then the evidence against that defendant won't get presented in court. And what that defendant knows will never be heard in court, assuming that the defendant chooses to testify in his or her own defense.
Will the State say, "No deal! We're going to trial."
Defending on the quality of the prosecution, the defendant might roll the dice and decide not to testify in his or own defense. But the People's case would still be revealed in court, in the event of a trial.
More than a few people want to know the truth about how and why Kurt Milliman was at the Smith residence. How much time passed between the moment when Tim Smith shot Milliman and they called 9-1-1? Five-ten-fifteen minutes? Longer?
Was Milliman's computer confiscated? Who has had access to it? Who was the Sheriff's Department computer geek at the time? Will any testimony from him be credible? Will he even be available to testify?
Crowley, another anti-gunner
To contact us Click HERE
Asa Hutchinson was interviewed by Cindy Crowley on CNN's State of the Union program. Hutchinson is a former Congressman who was appointed by Wayne LaPierre to head up the NRA's safe-schools initiative.
Cindy Crowley: "To put more guns into the schools seems like exactly the wrong answer."
Is that woman stupid, or is she Stupid? The "more guns" will be there for defense, not for criminal purposes. She just doesn't like guns. I mean, look at her. She can't even hear "defensive" purpose or use of guns.
"School safety is the debate," said Hutchinson.
And that dip mayor of New York, Bloomberg, said to CNN, "[T]he NRA's lobbyists blamed everyone but themselves for the crisis in gun violence."
The NRA is not responsible for the crisis in gun violence. Nor am I. Maybe Bloomberg is responsible, since he won't let New Yorkers arm and defend themselves (unless you are rich and powerful).
I guess I just don't like Crowley from the way she handled one of the Presidential debates. A lot of people didn't like that.
Cindy Crowley: "To put more guns into the schools seems like exactly the wrong answer."
Is that woman stupid, or is she Stupid? The "more guns" will be there for defense, not for criminal purposes. She just doesn't like guns. I mean, look at her. She can't even hear "defensive" purpose or use of guns.
"School safety is the debate," said Hutchinson.
And that dip mayor of New York, Bloomberg, said to CNN, "[T]he NRA's lobbyists blamed everyone but themselves for the crisis in gun violence."
The NRA is not responsible for the crisis in gun violence. Nor am I. Maybe Bloomberg is responsible, since he won't let New Yorkers arm and defend themselves (unless you are rich and powerful).
I guess I just don't like Crowley from the way she handled one of the Presidential debates. A lot of people didn't like that.
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
To contact us Click HERE
Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD
To contact us Click HERE
What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.
Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!
8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.
Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
20 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Citizen's Police Academy - a little more (or less)
To contact us Click HERE
The agenda for the 11-week Citizen's Police Academy of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department included:
September 20: Department tour, ID badges, and a presentation by the Administration Bureau
September 27 Operations, Part 1. Patrol, Intelligence, specialty divisions
October 4, Operations, Part 2. Traffic, "Criminal Vehicle", SWAT
October 11, Investigations, Part 1. Investigations, Evidence, Warrants
October 18, Investigations, Part 2. Narcotics, Gang Division
October 25, Corrections, Part 1
November 1, Corrections, Part 2
November 8, Community Relations
November 15, Training, Part 1. State mandates, internship program
November 29, Training, Part 2. Firearms Training Unit
December 6, Graduation
Return of ID Badges is not mentioned... Are all ID badges, even for those who did not complete the Academy, now back in the possession of MCSD?
Numerous items in my FOIA Request were not provided:
The date when the Academy was established;
Copy of announcement to the general public of the Academy
How participants were sought for the academy?
Was enrollment by invitation only?
How many members of the public applied to attend?
How many participants were accepted?
How many members of the public started the academy?
How many members of the public completed the academy?
The names of the members of the public who started the academy and who finished it
Names of presenters or instructors for the academy
Obligations, requirements or duties of graduates of the Academy
Whether participants had access to confidential records of the Department or of any suspects or persons who are or have been incarcerated in the McHenry County Jail
The estimated budget for the Academy
Did participants go to the Sheriff's Department range for training or live-fire demonstrations or shooting (by them)?
Was overtime paid to any MCSD employee for conducting the academy?
Does anyone else wonder why a taxpayer-supported program, conducted on County government property, utilizing County employees was not open to the public and announced to the public, instead of being treated like a private club for a hand-picked group?
September 20: Department tour, ID badges, and a presentation by the Administration Bureau
September 27 Operations, Part 1. Patrol, Intelligence, specialty divisions
October 4, Operations, Part 2. Traffic, "Criminal Vehicle", SWAT
October 11, Investigations, Part 1. Investigations, Evidence, Warrants
October 18, Investigations, Part 2. Narcotics, Gang Division
October 25, Corrections, Part 1
November 1, Corrections, Part 2
November 8, Community Relations
November 15, Training, Part 1. State mandates, internship program
November 29, Training, Part 2. Firearms Training Unit
December 6, Graduation
Return of ID Badges is not mentioned... Are all ID badges, even for those who did not complete the Academy, now back in the possession of MCSD?
Numerous items in my FOIA Request were not provided:
The date when the Academy was established;
Copy of announcement to the general public of the Academy
How participants were sought for the academy?
Was enrollment by invitation only?
How many members of the public applied to attend?
How many participants were accepted?
How many members of the public started the academy?
How many members of the public completed the academy?
The names of the members of the public who started the academy and who finished it
Names of presenters or instructors for the academy
Obligations, requirements or duties of graduates of the Academy
Whether participants had access to confidential records of the Department or of any suspects or persons who are or have been incarcerated in the McHenry County Jail
The estimated budget for the Academy
Did participants go to the Sheriff's Department range for training or live-fire demonstrations or shooting (by them)?
Was overtime paid to any MCSD employee for conducting the academy?
Does anyone else wonder why a taxpayer-supported program, conducted on County government property, utilizing County employees was not open to the public and announced to the public, instead of being treated like a private club for a hand-picked group?
Zinke "investigation"
To contact us Click HERE
On Wednesday, December 19, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren blew off any investigation of Zinke by the DEA. Say it ain't so, Keith.
Supposedly, DEA agent-in-charge Brian Besser, in Rockford, told Nygren that the DEA “would be in touch with (him) if they found any violation of federal laws or any policies with the DEA.”
Besser is probably (ok, well, I won't say it), after he heard that. If the DEA decides to charge Zinke, they'll be smart enough not to tell Nygren until after they arrest Zinke.
Nygren continued to the Northwest Herald reporter, “I've never been contacted back. My assumption is they're finished with this thing.”
Great police work, Keith. You make us really proud. Did you give Besser your cell phone number, so he could reach you in Minocqua or Cape Coral? Or is he supposed to call the Undersheriff, if you aren't in?
Nygren dismisses the allegations against Zinke by claiming the Feds “looked” at them, and then the State (must mean the McHenry County State's Attorney) looked. (How about the Appellate Prosecutor? The Illinois State Police? The Illinois Attorney General?) And now the MCSD is “having a look”.
He claims that is a three-pronged investigation. Does he even understand what a “three-pronged investigation” is?
Whom do you think he put in charge of a MCSD investigation of Zinke? Zinke? Somebody lower in the food chain than Zinke? (That's everybody.) If he asked for volunteers to step forward, did everybody take one step back? Did he appoint someone in the in-crowd at MCSD to investigate Zinke?
Or did he appoint somebody with the backbone to make a thorough investigation and report his findings (knowing that he'd better have his next employer lined up or be old enough to retire)?
There is only one person higher in rank than Zinke.
Maybe Keith ask the Illinois State Police to come in and investigate. Be sure to get someone from Investigations Zone 1, not from Patrol District 2. No friends allowed.
Who has faith in any internal investigation into Zinke's outing of the DEA investigation?
Don't miss the re-hash of the “disgruntled employee” line (meaning Koziol) by the reporter and the dig at Koziol's attorney having “ties” to an announced challenger to Zinke in the 2014 sheriff's election. What does attending law school at the same time have to do with something years later?
I don't know Sgt. John Koziol, but I certainly admire him for having the guts to stand up to the Keith and Andy Show and making sure that the public learned about Zinke's revealing a confidential DEA investigation to Brian Goode.
The reporter wrote twice in Wednesday's article that Brian Goode is a “close friend” of Zinke. Has she got that right? Is Goode a close friend of Zinke? Or is he a really a “close friend” of Keith Nygren? Goode interests have donated $50,000 to Nygren's political activities over the past ten years, and Nygren appointed Goode to the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission in 2004. Do Goode and Zinke see each other socially? Do their families get together? Has Zinke been a frequent guest in Goode's home? Do they pal around on vacations? Maybe they do.
Goode donated $5,000 to Zinke in September, only two months after Zinke told Goode about the DEA investigation. Why is he donating money to Zinke so far in advance of the 2014 election?
Supposedly, DEA agent-in-charge Brian Besser, in Rockford, told Nygren that the DEA “would be in touch with (him) if they found any violation of federal laws or any policies with the DEA.”
Besser is probably (ok, well, I won't say it), after he heard that. If the DEA decides to charge Zinke, they'll be smart enough not to tell Nygren until after they arrest Zinke.
Nygren continued to the Northwest Herald reporter, “I've never been contacted back. My assumption is they're finished with this thing.”
Great police work, Keith. You make us really proud. Did you give Besser your cell phone number, so he could reach you in Minocqua or Cape Coral? Or is he supposed to call the Undersheriff, if you aren't in?
Nygren dismisses the allegations against Zinke by claiming the Feds “looked” at them, and then the State (must mean the McHenry County State's Attorney) looked. (How about the Appellate Prosecutor? The Illinois State Police? The Illinois Attorney General?) And now the MCSD is “having a look”.
He claims that is a three-pronged investigation. Does he even understand what a “three-pronged investigation” is?
Whom do you think he put in charge of a MCSD investigation of Zinke? Zinke? Somebody lower in the food chain than Zinke? (That's everybody.) If he asked for volunteers to step forward, did everybody take one step back? Did he appoint someone in the in-crowd at MCSD to investigate Zinke?
Or did he appoint somebody with the backbone to make a thorough investigation and report his findings (knowing that he'd better have his next employer lined up or be old enough to retire)?
There is only one person higher in rank than Zinke.
Maybe Keith ask the Illinois State Police to come in and investigate. Be sure to get someone from Investigations Zone 1, not from Patrol District 2. No friends allowed.
Who has faith in any internal investigation into Zinke's outing of the DEA investigation?
Don't miss the re-hash of the “disgruntled employee” line (meaning Koziol) by the reporter and the dig at Koziol's attorney having “ties” to an announced challenger to Zinke in the 2014 sheriff's election. What does attending law school at the same time have to do with something years later?
I don't know Sgt. John Koziol, but I certainly admire him for having the guts to stand up to the Keith and Andy Show and making sure that the public learned about Zinke's revealing a confidential DEA investigation to Brian Goode.
The reporter wrote twice in Wednesday's article that Brian Goode is a “close friend” of Zinke. Has she got that right? Is Goode a close friend of Zinke? Or is he a really a “close friend” of Keith Nygren? Goode interests have donated $50,000 to Nygren's political activities over the past ten years, and Nygren appointed Goode to the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission in 2004. Do Goode and Zinke see each other socially? Do their families get together? Has Zinke been a frequent guest in Goode's home? Do they pal around on vacations? Maybe they do.
Goode donated $5,000 to Zinke in September, only two months after Zinke told Goode about the DEA investigation. Why is he donating money to Zinke so far in advance of the 2014 election?
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
To contact us Click HERE
Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD
To contact us Click HERE
What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!
8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.
Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
16 Aralık 2012 Pazar
Gun Free Zones - a bad idea
To contact us Click HERE
Thanks to the McHenry County Advocate I read this article titled "The Solution to our Nation's 'Gun Problem". Thanks, Rich!
If we are going to protect our children in Gun Free Zones, then we'd better have a law-abiding, trained, educated, skilled, armed person at the ready.
Instead, schools lock their doors (try to get in a school in Woodstock (Ill.) next week). Buzz, buzz... "Hi, I'm here to see my kid's teacher." Click! You're in. Then you are on your honor to walk to the principal's office for your pass.
What happened in Newtown, Conn. could have happened in any school in the U.S.A. yesterday.
If we are going to protect our children in Gun Free Zones, then we'd better have a law-abiding, trained, educated, skilled, armed person at the ready.
Instead, schools lock their doors (try to get in a school in Woodstock (Ill.) next week). Buzz, buzz... "Hi, I'm here to see my kid's teacher." Click! You're in. Then you are on your honor to walk to the principal's office for your pass.
What happened in Newtown, Conn. could have happened in any school in the U.S.A. yesterday.
Beth Bentley - Week 134
To contact us Click HERE
Beth Bentley has been missing for 134 weeks now. That's 938 days... That's a lot of days.
Every week I wonder what I'll find to write about this case. I think I've missed one, maybe two, weeks. In 2½ years. I wish I had missed every week. I didn't know Beth, but I wish she had walked back into Woodstock after a couple of days, maybe a week, with a "Hi, everybody. I'm back."
As I have written frequently, the Woodstock (Ill.) Police Department has always classified Beth's disappearance as a Missing Person case. Could you find five people in Woodstock who think that's what it is? Four? Three? Two?
And now the Woodstock Police Department doesn't even mention Beth's open Missing Person case in its monthly report to the City Manager, which goes to the City Council in electronic form. Do they even read, carefully, the Police Department's report? Have they noticed what's missing? Do they care?
How many of the City Council members or the Mayor realize that the Police Department has quietly dropped mention of Beth in the monthly report? Nothing appeared in the September 2012 Report. Nothing appeared in the October 2012 Report.
For over a year the P.D. published virtually the same paragraph in the monthly report. A word changed every once in a while; not often. They might as well have written "We'll let you know if she shows up."
Every week I wonder what I'll find to write about this case. I think I've missed one, maybe two, weeks. In 2½ years. I wish I had missed every week. I didn't know Beth, but I wish she had walked back into Woodstock after a couple of days, maybe a week, with a "Hi, everybody. I'm back."
As I have written frequently, the Woodstock (Ill.) Police Department has always classified Beth's disappearance as a Missing Person case. Could you find five people in Woodstock who think that's what it is? Four? Three? Two?
And now the Woodstock Police Department doesn't even mention Beth's open Missing Person case in its monthly report to the City Manager, which goes to the City Council in electronic form. Do they even read, carefully, the Police Department's report? Have they noticed what's missing? Do they care?
How many of the City Council members or the Mayor realize that the Police Department has quietly dropped mention of Beth in the monthly report? Nothing appeared in the September 2012 Report. Nothing appeared in the October 2012 Report.
For over a year the P.D. published virtually the same paragraph in the monthly report. A word changed every once in a while; not often. They might as well have written "We'll let you know if she shows up."
42. The Unofficial St. Patrick's day in Champaign Urbana
To contact us Click HERE
If you have been anywhere near the campustown on certain Fridays in March, and come up with a huge throng of greenish looking leprechauns, don't start pinching yourself to see if you are dreaming or not. You have just stumbled into the "Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day" in Chambana.
Here is what UofI wiki has to say about it:
Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day, or commonly known as Unofficial, is a local event on the Urbana-Champaign campus, which aims to replace the celebration of the official Saint Patrick's Day holiday with excessive drinking of alcohol.
Champaign bar owner Scott Cochrane created the event to increase business because the week of spring break on the academic calendar usually includes Saint Patrick's Day, which leads students to celebrate away from the campus.
The event is celebrated usually the weekend before the official Saint Patrick's Day holiday. Bars might open as early as 7 a.m., and students wear T-shirts with slogans such as "Drink 'til you're Irish" or "Irish I were drunk." One T-shirt slogan read: "Tap the keg, forget the class... it's Unofficial, so fill my glass!"
Things are not really as rosey as the above note suggests. On this day, you'll find a lot of underage drinkers, passed out here and there, or coming to class drunk. The police (Champaign, Urbana, County, and of course UofI ones) have a field day ... and nab a lot of underage drinkers.
However, things can often get deadly ... a few years ago, a UofI alumnus died when the motor bike she was riding crashed into a pole on Wright street between Green and Springfield. So, be careful when you are driving through campustown , better avoid going through the area altogether.
There is of course, the "official" Saint Patrick's day, but the drinking frenzy is much less on that one.
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
To contact us Click HERE
Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD
To contact us Click HERE
What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!
8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.
Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
12 Aralık 2012 Çarşamba
Harrison invites all Gov't. employees to 12/17 event
To contact us Click HERE
Jim Harrison, Woodstock lawyer and already-announced candidate for McHenry County Sheriff in 2014, has extended his invitation list to all governmental employees in McHenry County for his Monday, December 17th, educational event.
Recently, information about the political rally and informational was posted on the Woodstock Advocate here. Originally, it was geared for deputies and employees of the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. Jim now invites employees from any governmental unit in McHenry County.
The R.S.V.P. name/number have changed. Now, please contact Carolyn at 815.575.4111 to indicate that you'll attend.
Jim was kind enough to invite me, but I won't attend (so that you won't have to be concerned about your name or photo showing up here). While I would be discrete about whom I photographed, if anyone, you shouldn't have to worry about your photo (or name) showing up on somebody's dartboard at the office.
Please read the notice on the other blog page for details about Monday's event. It's at 7:00PM at Offsides in Woodstock.
Recently, information about the political rally and informational was posted on the Woodstock Advocate here. Originally, it was geared for deputies and employees of the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. Jim now invites employees from any governmental unit in McHenry County.
The R.S.V.P. name/number have changed. Now, please contact Carolyn at 815.575.4111 to indicate that you'll attend.
Jim was kind enough to invite me, but I won't attend (so that you won't have to be concerned about your name or photo showing up here). While I would be discrete about whom I photographed, if anyone, you shouldn't have to worry about your photo (or name) showing up on somebody's dartboard at the office.
Please read the notice on the other blog page for details about Monday's event. It's at 7:00PM at Offsides in Woodstock.
Hope this idea doesn't migrate north
To contact us Click HERE
Little ol' Conroe, Texas, is blowing $170,000 in asset forfeiture funds on a Ford. Well, not just any Ford.
How about a Ford 550 sound to you? I didn't even know there was a 550.
Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said, “If we know people inside have weapons, as we make approach to the house, we will be in an armored vehicle.”
So I guess, if the Conroe cops were coming to my place, they'd call out the Big F and roll up to my door. I think about everybody has guns in Texas. Does this mean they'll roll the Big F on every call or that they'll be stocking up on these Fords and getting rid of the Ford squads they currently drive?
Chief Dupuis also said, “If a member of the public is injured and laying in the open and the suspect is still armed, we have no way of rescuing victims (without the vehicle).” He can't find a solution for less than $170,000?
When is the last time Conroe PD needed to recover an injured citizen "laying in the open"? Ever?
And where is Conroe, anyway? It's a city of about 50,000 (about 25% larger than Crystal Lake), on I-45 about 40 miles north of Houston.
Source: “If we have a Benghazi”: Texas Cops Cite Libyan Tragedy in Purchase of Armored SWAT Vehicle.
Thanks to the reader who sent this to me.
How about a Ford 550 sound to you? I didn't even know there was a 550.
Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said, “If we know people inside have weapons, as we make approach to the house, we will be in an armored vehicle.”
So I guess, if the Conroe cops were coming to my place, they'd call out the Big F and roll up to my door. I think about everybody has guns in Texas. Does this mean they'll roll the Big F on every call or that they'll be stocking up on these Fords and getting rid of the Ford squads they currently drive?
Chief Dupuis also said, “If a member of the public is injured and laying in the open and the suspect is still armed, we have no way of rescuing victims (without the vehicle).” He can't find a solution for less than $170,000?
When is the last time Conroe PD needed to recover an injured citizen "laying in the open"? Ever?
And where is Conroe, anyway? It's a city of about 50,000 (about 25% larger than Crystal Lake), on I-45 about 40 miles north of Houston.
Source: “If we have a Benghazi”: Texas Cops Cite Libyan Tragedy in Purchase of Armored SWAT Vehicle.
Thanks to the reader who sent this to me.
Gov't employees & political activities
To contact us Click HERE
If you are an employee of a governmental entity in McHenry County (let's say, for example, the McHenry County Sheriff's Department), should you attend Monday evening's discussion on political rights of governmental employees?
Someone said to me years ago, "If you don't know your rights, you don't have any." I believed it then, and I believe it now.
How real is your fear of retaliation and retribution? I think your fears and suspicions will reduce, if you know more about your rights.
Are your fears real? Of course. Deputies have watched what has happened to fellow employees in other situations, such as when they went public with whistle-blowing, testifying under oath in depositions. They know that attending a political function sponsored by a challenger for their boss's job could possibly work against them.
But what if 75-100 deputies and corrections officers (or more) showed up Monday night at Jim Harrison's political event and educational program? It's Monday, December 17, 7:00PM, at Offsides in Woodstock.
The best way to know whether you want to support someone for an office is to get to know that person and hear first-hand what they have to say. This is much better than getting it second- or third-hand or, worse, not getting it at all.
The following is from Jim.
"The Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act protects employees in their free exercise of protected political activities. One variation of a cause of action under the statute is established by proving that the defendant used his official position of employment to coerce or inhibit others in the free exercise of their political rights. (The prohibited conduct under this variation can take many forms, including an adverse employment action or the threat of an adverse employment action).
"If an employee was photographed at a political fundraiser for an opposition candidate, that photograph would establish that the employee engaged in political activities. If the photograph was published on a blog, or some other news media, it would become more widely known, and of course the photograph could later be used as evidence to invoke the protections of the Political Rights Act, should an unjustified adverse employment action later befall the employee.
"With these thoughts in mind, I invite you, once again, to attend my get together on the 17th and to bring your camera along. Thank you for thinking to limit publication to consensual photos of attendees, and I suggest that you to wait until after the Political Rights Act discussion to break out your camera and to ask the attendees whether they would like their picture taken. By then they will be clear that the more open, outward, and public their political rights are displayed, the easier it is for them to invoke the protections of the Political Rights Act."
Someone said to me years ago, "If you don't know your rights, you don't have any." I believed it then, and I believe it now.
How real is your fear of retaliation and retribution? I think your fears and suspicions will reduce, if you know more about your rights.
Are your fears real? Of course. Deputies have watched what has happened to fellow employees in other situations, such as when they went public with whistle-blowing, testifying under oath in depositions. They know that attending a political function sponsored by a challenger for their boss's job could possibly work against them.
But what if 75-100 deputies and corrections officers (or more) showed up Monday night at Jim Harrison's political event and educational program? It's Monday, December 17, 7:00PM, at Offsides in Woodstock.
The best way to know whether you want to support someone for an office is to get to know that person and hear first-hand what they have to say. This is much better than getting it second- or third-hand or, worse, not getting it at all.
The following is from Jim.
"The Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act protects employees in their free exercise of protected political activities. One variation of a cause of action under the statute is established by proving that the defendant used his official position of employment to coerce or inhibit others in the free exercise of their political rights. (The prohibited conduct under this variation can take many forms, including an adverse employment action or the threat of an adverse employment action).
"If an employee was photographed at a political fundraiser for an opposition candidate, that photograph would establish that the employee engaged in political activities. If the photograph was published on a blog, or some other news media, it would become more widely known, and of course the photograph could later be used as evidence to invoke the protections of the Political Rights Act, should an unjustified adverse employment action later befall the employee.
"With these thoughts in mind, I invite you, once again, to attend my get together on the 17th and to bring your camera along. Thank you for thinking to limit publication to consensual photos of attendees, and I suggest that you to wait until after the Political Rights Act discussion to break out your camera and to ask the attendees whether they would like their picture taken. By then they will be clear that the more open, outward, and public their political rights are displayed, the easier it is for them to invoke the protections of the Political Rights Act."
Cars block sidewalks - no tickets
To contact us Click HERE
FirstElectricNewspaper.com covered last night's Village of Lake in the Hills Board Meeting and reported on comments by residents during the public comment period. It seems that a few residents are upset about getting tickets for parking their cars across sidewalks. Read all about it right here.
What does this have to do with Woodstock?
The same problem exists in Woodstock. You can drive all over town and see cars blocking sidewalks.
If this happened occasionally, it wouldn't be a big problem. It's when the same cars are parked every night and, often, every day to block sidewalks that it becomes a problem.
Why do drivers park cars across sidewalks?
The 2:00AM-6:00AM street parking ban is one of the reasons.
Another reason is that the garage is full of boxes, garbage, junk, bicycles, trash cans; you name it.
Another reason is that the driver is too lazy to open the garage door and pull in. A garage on South Madison Street is empty; yet two cars regularly are pulled up to the closed garage door and left across the sidewalk. Every day.
Another reason is too many cars at one residence.
Enforcement is sporadic, so drivers and residents learn they can "get away" with leaving the car across the sidewalk.
Because Woodstock has been lax for years in enforcement, it would be fair for an officer to make one pleasant, courtesy stop and apprise the resident of the law. It happens to be a State law, not "just" a local ordinance.
If the courtesy call doesn't correct the problem, start writing tickets. And write them every time the violation is observed. A resident should have to call and report violations at the same address time after time. Writing one tonight and then not again for 6-8 months just lets the residents know that it's cheaper to pay the $10 (or whatever the fine is) and forget it. Ten dollars a night would be a different story.
And there is no reason for the fines to escalate for repeated violations. Each one should stand alone. Each one is a separate violation. Any application of an escalating fine structure is wrong.
Anyone know some locations where blocking sidewalks is a problem?
What does this have to do with Woodstock?
The same problem exists in Woodstock. You can drive all over town and see cars blocking sidewalks.
If this happened occasionally, it wouldn't be a big problem. It's when the same cars are parked every night and, often, every day to block sidewalks that it becomes a problem.
Why do drivers park cars across sidewalks?
The 2:00AM-6:00AM street parking ban is one of the reasons.
Another reason is that the garage is full of boxes, garbage, junk, bicycles, trash cans; you name it.
Another reason is that the driver is too lazy to open the garage door and pull in. A garage on South Madison Street is empty; yet two cars regularly are pulled up to the closed garage door and left across the sidewalk. Every day.
Another reason is too many cars at one residence.
Enforcement is sporadic, so drivers and residents learn they can "get away" with leaving the car across the sidewalk.
Because Woodstock has been lax for years in enforcement, it would be fair for an officer to make one pleasant, courtesy stop and apprise the resident of the law. It happens to be a State law, not "just" a local ordinance.
If the courtesy call doesn't correct the problem, start writing tickets. And write them every time the violation is observed. A resident should have to call and report violations at the same address time after time. Writing one tonight and then not again for 6-8 months just lets the residents know that it's cheaper to pay the $10 (or whatever the fine is) and forget it. Ten dollars a night would be a different story.
And there is no reason for the fines to escalate for repeated violations. Each one should stand alone. Each one is a separate violation. Any application of an escalating fine structure is wrong.
Anyone know some locations where blocking sidewalks is a problem?
Illinois - never concealed carry?
To contact us Click HERE
When I read the news yesterday of the decision about concealed carry for Illinois by the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, I remembered a phone call to the McHenry County Sheriff's Department shortly after I moved to Woodstock in March 1996.
I had called MCSD after first calling the Woodstock P.D. to ask how to get a concealed weapons permit.
The Woodstock officer was polite and suggested I call the sheriff's dept.
I was connected to a deputy there. When I asked my question, he laughed out loud and said, "You'll never get a concealed weapons permit in Illinois." Now, he didn't mean that I (personally) wouldn't.
Then, over the years, I came to understand what he meant.
Well, getting a permit is in sight now. Almost. Let's say that it's still over the horizon, but it's there. Somewhere.
The hurdles now are 1. Will the Court of Appeals decision be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court? 2. Will a fair law be enacted? 3. Or will the naysayers and obstructionists interfere so greatly that we'll end up with a law that
a. calls for a $1,000 annual fee for a permit;
b. a 500-hour training course;
c. a $10,000,000 personal liability insurance policy, premiums payable five years in advance and purchased from a Cook County insurance agent who is a Democrat;
d. weapons can only be carried with a trigger lock installed and the key carried in a separate lockbox on the person, requiring another key;
e. a range score of 98% at 75 yards on a paper target blowing in a 20MPH crosswind;
f. permit is only good on the fifth Tuesday of the month and in a car northbound in the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive between 2:00-5:00AM when there is a full moon.
g. your last name doesn't start with P.
I had called MCSD after first calling the Woodstock P.D. to ask how to get a concealed weapons permit.
The Woodstock officer was polite and suggested I call the sheriff's dept.
I was connected to a deputy there. When I asked my question, he laughed out loud and said, "You'll never get a concealed weapons permit in Illinois." Now, he didn't mean that I (personally) wouldn't.
Then, over the years, I came to understand what he meant.
Well, getting a permit is in sight now. Almost. Let's say that it's still over the horizon, but it's there. Somewhere.
The hurdles now are 1. Will the Court of Appeals decision be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court? 2. Will a fair law be enacted? 3. Or will the naysayers and obstructionists interfere so greatly that we'll end up with a law that
a. calls for a $1,000 annual fee for a permit;
b. a 500-hour training course;
c. a $10,000,000 personal liability insurance policy, premiums payable five years in advance and purchased from a Cook County insurance agent who is a Democrat;
d. weapons can only be carried with a trigger lock installed and the key carried in a separate lockbox on the person, requiring another key;
e. a range score of 98% at 75 yards on a paper target blowing in a 20MPH crosswind;
f. permit is only good on the fifth Tuesday of the month and in a car northbound in the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive between 2:00-5:00AM when there is a full moon.
g. your last name doesn't start with P.
11 Aralık 2012 Salı
Here comes concealed carry to Illinois
To contact us Click HERE
180 days and counting.
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals stuck it to Gov. Quinn, the Cook County Democrats who have blocked HB 0148, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (which is actually an anti-gun organization, not a gun-violence prevention organization),Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Illinois Coalition Against Concealed Carry and other anti-gun groups today.
The Court of Appeals today ruled that the Illinois state-wide ban on carrying a weapon in public is unconstitutional.
It gave Illinois 180 days to come up with a law. It could do that tomorrow. Rep. Brandon Phelps has a good bill read to go. Phelps, a Democrat from Illinois House District 118 (downstate, of course) has HB 0148 on the shelf, neatly locked up in the Rules Committee by another Democrat, Barbara Flynn Currie (from Chicago). All the legislators have to do pull out that Bill, dust it off and vote on it (again). They voted in May 2011, and it was only six votes short of passing in a manner that Gov. Quinn could not successfully veto.
The Bill has the proper safeguards: training, education, range work, background check, prohibition for certain classes of individuals.
Of course, the idiots might appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why not just pass HB 0148 now?
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals stuck it to Gov. Quinn, the Cook County Democrats who have blocked HB 0148, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (which is actually an anti-gun organization, not a gun-violence prevention organization),Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Illinois Coalition Against Concealed Carry and other anti-gun groups today.
The Court of Appeals today ruled that the Illinois state-wide ban on carrying a weapon in public is unconstitutional.
It gave Illinois 180 days to come up with a law. It could do that tomorrow. Rep. Brandon Phelps has a good bill read to go. Phelps, a Democrat from Illinois House District 118 (downstate, of course) has HB 0148 on the shelf, neatly locked up in the Rules Committee by another Democrat, Barbara Flynn Currie (from Chicago). All the legislators have to do pull out that Bill, dust it off and vote on it (again). They voted in May 2011, and it was only six votes short of passing in a manner that Gov. Quinn could not successfully veto.
The Bill has the proper safeguards: training, education, range work, background check, prohibition for certain classes of individuals.
Of course, the idiots might appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why not just pass HB 0148 now?
Harrison invites all Gov't. employees to 12/17 event
To contact us Click HERE
Jim Harrison, Woodstock lawyer and already-announced candidate for McHenry County Sheriff in 2014, has extended his invitation list to all governmental employees in McHenry County for his Monday, December 17th, educational event.
Recently, information about the political rally and informational was posted on the Woodstock Advocate here. Originally, it was geared for deputies and employees of the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. Jim now invites employees from any governmental unit in McHenry County.
The R.S.V.P. name/number have changed. Now, please contact Carolyn at 815.575.4111 to indicate that you'll attend.
Jim was kind enough to invite me, but I won't attend (so that you won't have to be concerned about your name or photo showing up here). While I would be discrete about whom I photographed, if anyone, you shouldn't have to worry about your photo (or name) showing up on somebody's dartboard at the office.
Please read the notice on the other blog page for details about Monday's event. It's at 7:00PM at Offsides in Woodstock.
Recently, information about the political rally and informational was posted on the Woodstock Advocate here. Originally, it was geared for deputies and employees of the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. Jim now invites employees from any governmental unit in McHenry County.
The R.S.V.P. name/number have changed. Now, please contact Carolyn at 815.575.4111 to indicate that you'll attend.
Jim was kind enough to invite me, but I won't attend (so that you won't have to be concerned about your name or photo showing up here). While I would be discrete about whom I photographed, if anyone, you shouldn't have to worry about your photo (or name) showing up on somebody's dartboard at the office.
Please read the notice on the other blog page for details about Monday's event. It's at 7:00PM at Offsides in Woodstock.
Hope this idea doesn't migrate north
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Little ol' Conroe, Texas, is blowing $170,000 in asset forfeiture funds on a Ford. Well, not just any Ford.
How about a Ford 550 sound to you? I didn't even know there was a 550.
Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said, “If we know people inside have weapons, as we make approach to the house, we will be in an armored vehicle.”
So I guess, if the Conroe cops were coming to my place, they'd call out the Big F and roll up to my door. I think about everybody has guns in Texas. Does this mean they'll roll the Big F on every call or that they'll be stocking up on these Fords and getting rid of the Ford squads they currently drive?
Chief Dupuis also said, “If a member of the public is injured and laying in the open and the suspect is still armed, we have no way of rescuing victims (without the vehicle).” He can't find a solution for less than $170,000?
When is the last time Conroe PD needed to recover an injured citizen "laying in the open"? Ever?
And where is Conroe, anyway? It's a city of about 50,000 (about 25% larger than Crystal Lake), on I-45 about 40 miles north of Houston.
Source: “If we have a Benghazi”: Texas Cops Cite Libyan Tragedy in Purchase of Armored SWAT Vehicle.
Thanks to the reader who sent this to me.
How about a Ford 550 sound to you? I didn't even know there was a 550.
Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said, “If we know people inside have weapons, as we make approach to the house, we will be in an armored vehicle.”
So I guess, if the Conroe cops were coming to my place, they'd call out the Big F and roll up to my door. I think about everybody has guns in Texas. Does this mean they'll roll the Big F on every call or that they'll be stocking up on these Fords and getting rid of the Ford squads they currently drive?
Chief Dupuis also said, “If a member of the public is injured and laying in the open and the suspect is still armed, we have no way of rescuing victims (without the vehicle).” He can't find a solution for less than $170,000?
When is the last time Conroe PD needed to recover an injured citizen "laying in the open"? Ever?
And where is Conroe, anyway? It's a city of about 50,000 (about 25% larger than Crystal Lake), on I-45 about 40 miles north of Houston.
Source: “If we have a Benghazi”: Texas Cops Cite Libyan Tragedy in Purchase of Armored SWAT Vehicle.
Thanks to the reader who sent this to me.
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
To contact us Click HERE
Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD
To contact us Click HERE
What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!
8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...
The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.
Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.
I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.
I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.
If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.
Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com
8 Aralık 2012 Cumartesi
Jim Harrison for Sheriff Event - 12/17/12
To contact us Click HERE
The following information was received from the Jim Harrison for Sheriff campaign. The announcement looks much nicer than I'm able to re-produce here, but here is the information. That's what counts.
“CALLING ALL CARS!” A VERY SPECIAL INVITATION
WHO: ALL ACTIVE/RETIRED MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE EMPLOYEES
THEIR SPOUSES ~ PARTNERS ~ SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
WHAT: A POLITICAL RALLY & INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR
Hosted by ~ CITIZENS TO ELECT JIM HARRISON*
WHERE: OFFSIDES SPORTS BAR & GRILL ~ 680 S. Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47), Woodstock
WHEN: Monday ~ December 17, 2012 ~ 7-10 P.M. ~ R.S.V.P. Tony @ 815-403-4533
WHY:
1. MEET JIM HARRISON ~ REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF.
LEARN ABOUT JIM’S PLAN TO RESTORE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
2. LEARN ABOUT THE RIGHT OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
3. LEARN HOW THE LAW PROTECTS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ~ LEARN WHAT CONDUCT IS PROHIBITED!
4. GATHER, UNITE, RENDER & RECEIVE MUTUAL AID AND PROTECTION
$20/PERSON ~ ACTIVE/RETIRED MCSO I.D. GETS YOU IN FREE
CONTRIBUTIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED ~ COME JOIN US!
JIM’S SPECIAL GUEST ~ MARLENE LANTZ ~ MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER (RET.)
Visit us at www.jimharrisonforsheriff.com beginning December 17, 2012
*A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
“CALLING ALL CARS!” A VERY SPECIAL INVITATION
WHO: ALL ACTIVE/RETIRED MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE EMPLOYEES
THEIR SPOUSES ~ PARTNERS ~ SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
WHAT: A POLITICAL RALLY & INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR
Hosted by ~ CITIZENS TO ELECT JIM HARRISON*
WHERE: OFFSIDES SPORTS BAR & GRILL ~ 680 S. Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47), Woodstock
WHEN: Monday ~ December 17, 2012 ~ 7-10 P.M. ~ R.S.V.P. Tony @ 815-403-4533
WHY:
1. MEET JIM HARRISON ~ REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF.
LEARN ABOUT JIM’S PLAN TO RESTORE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
2. LEARN ABOUT THE RIGHT OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
3. LEARN HOW THE LAW PROTECTS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ~ LEARN WHAT CONDUCT IS PROHIBITED!
4. GATHER, UNITE, RENDER & RECEIVE MUTUAL AID AND PROTECTION
$20/PERSON ~ ACTIVE/RETIRED MCSO I.D. GETS YOU IN FREE
CONTRIBUTIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED ~ COME JOIN US!
JIM’S SPECIAL GUEST ~ MARLENE LANTZ ~ MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER (RET.)
Visit us at www.jimharrisonforsheriff.com beginning December 17, 2012
*A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
MCSD Police Academy? What's this?
To contact us Click HERE
What is the McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren Citizens Police Academy?
On December 5 there was apparently a graduation ceremony. Who are these people? How were they selected? What did they have to do to get into this picture?
What are their duties? Responsibilities?
What kind of Department ID will they have? Equipment? Radio? Uniform?
What are the rules about graduates claiming any association with the Sheriff's Department? Will anybody be flashing an ID card (or a badge) and trying to get out of a ticket?
Do you know any of these people? If so, please identify them by position in the photograph and name. This is obviously some type of official photograph that was taken somewhere in the Sheriff's Department headquarters. Or is it? Isn't that a seven-point badge on the wall?
What is the McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren Citizens Police Academy?On December 5 there was apparently a graduation ceremony. Who are these people? How were they selected? What did they have to do to get into this picture?
What are their duties? Responsibilities?
What kind of Department ID will they have? Equipment? Radio? Uniform?
What are the rules about graduates claiming any association with the Sheriff's Department? Will anybody be flashing an ID card (or a badge) and trying to get out of a ticket?
Do you know any of these people? If so, please identify them by position in the photograph and name. This is obviously some type of official photograph that was taken somewhere in the Sheriff's Department headquarters. Or is it? Isn't that a seven-point badge on the wall?
42. The Unofficial St. Patrick's day in Champaign Urbana
To contact us Click HERE
If you have been anywhere near the campustown on certain Fridays in March, and come up with a huge throng of greenish looking leprechauns, don't start pinching yourself to see if you are dreaming or not. You have just stumbled into the "Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day" in Chambana.
Here is what UofI wiki has to say about it:
Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day, or commonly known as Unofficial, is a local event on the Urbana-Champaign campus, which aims to replace the celebration of the official Saint Patrick's Day holiday with excessive drinking of alcohol.
Champaign bar owner Scott Cochrane created the event to increase business because the week of spring break on the academic calendar usually includes Saint Patrick's Day, which leads students to celebrate away from the campus.
The event is celebrated usually the weekend before the official Saint Patrick's Day holiday. Bars might open as early as 7 a.m., and students wear T-shirts with slogans such as "Drink 'til you're Irish" or "Irish I were drunk." One T-shirt slogan read: "Tap the keg, forget the class... it's Unofficial, so fill my glass!"
Things are not really as rosey as the above note suggests. On this day, you'll find a lot of underage drinkers, passed out here and there, or coming to class drunk. The police (Champaign, Urbana, County, and of course UofI ones) have a field day ... and nab a lot of underage drinkers.
However, things can often get deadly ... a few years ago, a UofI alumnus died when the motor bike she was riding crashed into a pole on Wright street between Green and Springfield. So, be careful when you are driving through campustown , better avoid going through the area altogether.
There is of course, the "official" Saint Patrick's day, but the drinking frenzy is much less on that one.
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
To contact us Click HERE
Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!
6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
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