Officially back from Chicago. Good trip. Finally got a Chicago-style hot dog at a place called “Rosie’s” this morning before leaving town. (Pics follow below.)
Got home to discover that the City of St. Louis apparently issued me a parking ticket back on 6/25. I found this out by getting a notice of “delinquency of payment” (sic) and a threat to boot or tow my vehicle if it is not paid by 8/9. The problem here is tri-fold and goes as follows:
- I was NOT issued a ticket on 6/25. I didn’t have a ticket on my vehicle. I have not received one in the mail (which would, if I understand the law, also necessitate photographic evidence of my “crime,” which I also have not received). And yet, I am now “delinquent” (sic) in payment of a ticket that never existed in the first place.
- To my knowledge, I have NEVER parked at the intersection mentioned on the ticket.
- Burden of proof is on the accuser, not on the accused. Anyone can WRITE a parking citation…but there has been absolutely no evidence provided to me that I did commit this violation. Which I didn’t.
Even though it’s going to cost more than the cost of the ticket, I am contacting an attorney on this one. If the state can provide me ANY evidence of the violation, then I guess I just don’t remember doing it and I’ll pay the ticket…but the “delinquent” part of the ticket is an absolute fabrication, since there was NEVER a first-issuance. That I will not pay without a lawyer telling me to do so. If I did wrong, I’m man enough to admit it…but this? This is just insulting. It’s the kind of thing that makes people vote against bills designed to give money to police departments. Seems like they’re (fradulently) getting ENOUGH of my money, to me… City officials are only in power because the people ALLOW them to be. Their power is limited. And I’m pretty sure I have a lawyer who is capable of reminding them of that.
So welcome home, huh?
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In other news… I was going to write a much longer post, with a section about how I’m going to try to be more fair to the celebrities, performers, and organizations I write about on my blog (with the possible exception of some political figures, talk-radio personalities, and/or people who are just ridiculously irresponsible) unless it’s obviously a joke. I’m still going to hold myself to the concept of being more fair in the things I write…but the explanation got long-winded. Basically, it boils down to this… I think my points are valid. I wouldn’t post them if I didn’t. But my statement of those points is sometimes less than constructive. ANYONE can read my blog…and if a celebrity whose last record or movie wasn’t my cup of tea wanders by, will they get my (possibly valid) POINT or just see that I called their last project a pile of crap? I fear it’s often the latter. So I may still say I hate a record or movie…but I’m going to be more careful about the reasons I give. That’s the short version. (Not that Paris Hilton or someone like that is likely to stumble upon my blog, mind you…)
Anyway… Here are some pics from the Chicago trip. Sorry that some of the pics from my phone suck. I couldn’t sneak a real camera into the show and the camera on the phone doesn’t do well in low-light, long-distance situations (making it virtually useless). Nevertheless…here we go!













And that’s it. 🙂