Monday, June 22, 2009

Timmy Hit's the Big Time

My protégé, Timmy, hit the big time. Congratulations, young man. Good luck at your new address.

28 comments:

Alabaster said...

Hi, Craig, thanks for the link.

I'd been reading Timmy's blog for a while and really appreciate what he's doing. When I read that he'd hit some snags last week I pitched him the idea of heading over to the Citizen for the summer to see if we could help him build on the audience he's pulled together so far. It's a low-cost proposition. If we can help him find more readers and have more fun with it, then we can all be happy.

Thanks for your support. Do stop by to let him know what you think of the new digs.

jeff in chicago said...

Great. Timmy has been totally brainwashed by Craig. Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that Timmy is obsessed with crime? And here's my favorite sentence from Timmy's new site:

"You'd think a 16 year old like myself would be comitting lots of crime, or thugging outside..."

Well, actually, no, that's not at all what I think about 16-year-olds. And the only people who do have hearts of darkness and probably lead miserable lives. Most 16-year-olds are doing no such thing. But thanks, Craig, you've got Timmy convinced that that's the way the world he lives in works. Now he'll spend the next 50 years of his life paranoid and listening to his scanner.

Well done, Craig.

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Jeff in Chicago, think what you want, is all I can say. I haven't been brainwashed by ANYBODY. I have a mind of my own, so I can think for myself.

I'm not obsessed with it, either. If you want, I can limit my updates to once or twice a week. How about that :-)? I think today I'll go outside with my friends and get in trouble (just kidding ... sort of), but then you'll have my neighbors pissed off and do you really want to deal with that? :-)

Here's a fact for you, "Jeff". Most 16 yr old boys in this city thug. I know that not EVERY one of them does, but most do.

Speak for yourself. I'm not convinced by that. It's a known fact, living in a city like Chicago and a neighborhood like Avondale.

I'm not paranoid, either. I'm a little worried, but I'm sure as hell not PARANOID. In fact, sometimes I think to myself, "what's the point of even doing this crime blotter all of the time?". Well, I do it as much as I can because our crime rate in the neighborhood I'm in is OUT OF CONTROL, though I'm not paranoid about it. I've spent days (traveling, going to church, etc.) in MUCH worser neighborhoods, including Englewood.

Tell you what, "Jeff"? Why don't you come spend a day in my 'hood, then tell me what you think. But then again, you shouldn't. You might become real PARANOID.

Ultimately, be quiet about what you don't know about. End of story.

Razldazlrr said...

LMAO - guess he told you!

Anonymous said...

Good job Timmy!!!

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Oh, and Jeff, regarding the sentence: I've had it since November. It's not new.

jeff in chicago said...

Timmy said: "I'm not obsessed with it..."

I say: 48 "crime updates" in 9.5 hours yesterday. To me, that's WAY scarier than the actual "crime" you're "reporting" on.

Timmy said: "If you want, I can limit my updates to once or twice a week. How about that :-)?"

I say: I really don't give a crap what you do, kid. It saddens me, but it's your life. Do what you will.

Timmy said: "Here's a fact for you, "Jeff". Most 16 yr old boys in this city thug. I know that not EVERY one of them does, but most do."

I say: Demonstrably untrue. If it were true, the streets would be swarming with "thugs." They are not. You are not merely paranoid, you are delusional.

Timmy said: "...sometimes I think to myself, "what's the point of even doing this crime blotter all of the time?". Well, I do it as much as I can because our crime rate in the neighborhood I'm in is OUT OF CONTROL..."

I say: And this solves the problem how? Regurgitating scanner updates does nothing. Nothing (Not that any significant number of people are reading your updates anyway.) In this you are like Craig in another way - you bitch and whine about crime, but don't actually do anything about it.

Timmy said: "Tell you what, "Jeff"? Why don't you come spend a day in my 'hood, then tell me what you think.

I say: I live in the 1400 block of Lunt. If I believed half the crap on this blog (I come here for entertainment provided by stupid people, not information), I wouldn't walk out my door. This is, according to TBHORP, a horrible neighborhood. Yet I have never been a victim of a crime here. I know no one who has been a victim of a crime. I've never witnessed anything even close to a crime. Am I lucky? Perhaps. But I know this area is not what Craig - and now you - say it is.

Timmy said: "Ultimately, be quiet about what you don't know about. End of story."

I say: Wow. You tell me to shut up. How mature of you. I know you're just a kid, but at your age I was volunteering with my local Police Boys Club, spending time working at a recycling center, and campaigning for a presidential candidate. But hey, you just keep watching TV, taking pictures of buses and listening to your scanner. It's close to the same thing.

Sad. Just sad.

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Obsessed? I'll show you obsessed. How about I take a few days off from it? Yeah, that sounds like a perfect plan to me. My readers will wonder where I am, but who cares, right? Not me :-).

I'll admit that I'm just not blogging so residents in my area can be informed and do something crime. I'm also blogging because 1) I would like reading over the calls again to see what all took place on a day and 2) I would like for residents to see what all takes place in the daliy life as a police officer. They could also see what kind of calls come in (and I'll admit, some calls aren't even worth 911's time).

Why am I making you sad just because I'm blogging? What would you rather see me doing?

As for the street swarming with thugs, it looks like it's happening up in Rogers Park. However, I don't reside in Rogers Park, so what do I know? Down here, they're not on the streets that much, but when they are, all hell breaks loose.

I'm "delusional"? Well, maybe I'm "delusional" because I had a friend, who was an innocent bystander, mind you, SHOT AND KILLED IN GANG CROSSFIRE. He was just going to the store for his mother and they took his life away. This is the exact reason why I don't go outside much. I don't want to be a vitcim of gang crossfire.

Me reporting the crime solves the problem by having residents informed so they can do something about it.

How the hell do you know the number of people who read my updates? Over the past few months, I've gotten COUNTLESS and countless emails of people who said they read my blog AND were informed. I have people not even from my neighborhood reading my blog.

Jeff, I do things about crime. I call 911 for every gunshot or anything else that requires 911, I pick up the trash every weekend on my blog, I email my local police regulary to see how investigations are going and I will soon be attending Beat meetings.

I'm aware you live in Rogers Park, but like I said, come over to my neighborhood and then tell me if my updates are worthless or not.

I didn't tell you to shut up, either, but I will if you want me to.

As for me doing activities, don't you worry. Next year, I'm enrolling in Journalism class and the drama (acting) class at school. As more interesting programs come, I'll even sign up for those.

I'll have you know that taking pictures of CTA buses is at least going outside and enjoying the weather. And it's traveling. I love to travel too.

Yeah, I know, I don't lead an interesting life (at least for now), but so be it. It's my life.

But then again, why is it even your business what I do? You don't even live in my neighborhood. Stick to the business in Rogers Park.

Anonymous said...

Jeff, how old are you? First off, I can tell you that I read Timmy's entries and visit his blog. Some of us like the truth about this crime plagued ward!

You would have to be an absolute IDIOT to say that there is not much crime in the 49th ward!

Timmy is just trying to keep everyone informed about what happens at his school and around the area. He has the eyes and ears that most of us do not have.

If you seriously have a problem with what Craig, or Timmy says, why do you keep coming back? this has and never will make since to me!

Did you beat up the smaller kids in grade school?

You don't have any pets do you, or even worse, a kid do you? God I hope not!

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Where it says "I pick up the trash every weekend on my BLOG", that should say BLOCK. Sorry.

jeff in chicago said...

Chicago said: "Jeff, how old are you?"

I say: Really? That's your first question? What possible difference could it make? But for the record, I'm approximately 20 years older than you.

C: Some of us like the truth about this crime plagued ward!

J: Crime plagued. Again - I don't see it. My best friend is a cop in an Ohio town of about 15,000. Did you know that the per-capita crime rate there, and almost everywhere in the U.S., is the same? Yes, Chicago is larger so there is more in absolute numbers. But "crime plagued"? I don't think so.

C: You would have to be an absolute IDIOT to say that there is not much crime in the 49th ward!

J: And indeed I did not say that.

C: If you seriously have a problem with what Craig, or Timmy says, why do you keep coming back? this has and never will make since to me!

J: Explained in previous post.

C: Did you beat up the smaller kids in grade school?

J: Ahhh...the standard first sign of a weak argument. An ad hominem attack. In fact, I was the one beat up, usually by my older brother. I have never laid a hand on anyone in my life. Can you say the same?

C: You don't have any pets do you, or even worse, a kid do you? God I hope not!

J: And another one. But that's the best you can do, isn't it?

You spent a fair amount of time criticizing me, but tell me - how do you feel about Timmy's statement: "Most 16 yr old boys in this city thug. I know that not EVERY one of them does, but most do." Do you believe that to be true?

Unknown said...

Jeff...

You have officially crossed the line from annoying little twit to complete fucking asshole.

Timmy is just a nice kid doing something positive and productive with his time.

You are just an asshole.

Unknown said...

Timmy...

It's your decision to make, but I'm recommending you no longer waste your own time responding to Jeff.

Everyone here will agree you are doing a great job, and you're a great kid.

Unfortunately for Jeff, he is just an angry little man who is trying to make himself feel better by trash talking a nice kid like you.

Nothing he says is important.

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

RogersParking, I agree with everything you said.I also believe I'm doing a positive thing and doing something productive with my time. I could be outside right now, looking for my old friends whom I used to get in trouble with, but I'm choosing to do the right thing and not do that.

Oh, and Jeff, I'm aware of the email billyjoe sent you about Craig and I.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I just caught myself stooping to your level. I'm done wasting my time with you!

Resident said...

Everyone's favorite resident troll billyjoe had something to do with this malicious bullshit?

You don't say.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Chicago, I'm stunned you got sucked in.

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Ok ... I see the deleted comment, Resident asking about billyjoe, Chicago saying he's wasting his time and Craig saying something about getting sucked in ... what happened last night?? LOL.

Anonymous said...

Honestly Craig, I am too. I get very agitated when people pick on ones that are trying to make a difference.

I will definitely do better in the future.

Keep up the good work Timmy! And Craig, I have been a loyal reader since '04, and am very appreciative of the work you do to keep us informed! In other words, Thank you!

jeff in chicago said...

RogersParking said: You have officially crossed the line from annoying little twit to complete fucking asshole...You are just an asshole...Jeff...is just an angry little man who is trying to make himself feel better by trash talking a nice kid like you. Nothing he says is important.

I say: Well done! You make "Chicago" sound like William F. Buckley when it comes to rational debate. Nothing but name-calling. Pathetic.

As for Chicago, what do we see? He makes some ad hominem attacks and then runs away. Never addresses the issue. Equally pathetic.

I was "talking trash" to Timmy? By encouraging him to spend less time obsessing about the negative and concentrate on something positive? Interesting. Here's what I see. I see Chicago and RogersParking condescending to Timmy, patting him on the head and saying "nice kid." I, on the other hand, was expressing genuine concern and trying to talk to him like the (near) adult that he is.

As for "billyjoe" - It turns out he sent me an e-mail after my first post and, for some reason, sent it to Timmy as well. I have no idea why he did that. He and I had never communicated in any way before. So, "Resident," billyjoe had nothing to do with this "malicious bullshit." (More name-calling...nice.) I would have said what I said with or without having received an e-mail from billyjoe.

And finally, I find it interesting that no one here has the balls to answer my question: Do you agree that "most 16 yr old boys in this city thug. I know that not EVERY one of them does, but most do." Anyone? Or are you all now afraid that to contradict Timmy would somehow offend him and/or validate me? I eagerly await your reponses. (I more expect your evasion of the question and further name-calling.)

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

How many times do I have to say this, Jeff? I'm not obssesing over it. In fact, I'm starting to get to the point where I don't care at all. This is just to keep residents informed, not I. I know what's going on. I'm starting to feel like there are better things I can do than this.

However, I also feel that this is not being negative. This is just telling the facts. This is also informing. Until I came around, according to people that comment on my site, they had NO idea of all the crime that occurred in our neighborhood. You see, our aldermen, Ariel Reboyras (30th) is a COMPLETE mute. He's NEVER spoken on the news or anything before. He has NEVER address our crime problem. We've NEVER have a community meeting about crime issues. At least Joe Moore speaks to the public, being it about what residents want to hear or not what they want to hear. We may not have half the problems Rogers Park has, but at least there is an aldermen who anknowledges.

Jeff, you were NOT "expressing genuine concern". If you were so concerned, you would've been much nicer trying to address your concern. But, no, you just had to go say that Craig brainwashed me, I'm "obsessed" with it, calling me paranoid and being a general a-hole about it.

Nobody has answered your question because they probably think you're wasting their time or they agree with me. But, even if they don't, I wouldn't be heartbroken. I have my opinion and other people have theirs. Though, I base my opinion about that with things I've seen over the years.

Pissed off? Yes, I am. Tired of bullshit? Yes, I am.

Craig Gernhardt said...

===At least Joe Moore speaks to the public===

With forked tongue.

Anonymous said...

Craig, you are going to have to forgive me.

Jeff said: "I was the one beat up, usually by my older brother."

sad!!!

This would explain your tough-guy attitude on the net.


I do not believe that all kids in Chicago are thugs, but there are a lot of them.

I did the citizen police academy, so don't give me any crap about who, or what you know. I got and still get my info from the Chicago Police, not an "Ohio" cop. And if you want to play the who you know, I have a relative that is a an officer in the K9 unit.

You seriously have no life and are very boring!

Go ahead and, once again, attack me, but this is my last with you.

You are a miserable, hateful, sad person that really needs to find something else to do!

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Got that right, Craig. I've seen that goof on TV. Seemed like an idiot if you ask me. But, even though he may be an idiot, at least he speaks. Not saying I want him to be my aldermen, though :-).

Craig Gernhardt said...

=== I find it interesting that no one here has the balls to answer my question: Do you agree that "most 16 yr old boys in this city thug.===

40% drop out rate at Sullivan.

An estimated 70 to 75 gangs with more than 100,000 members reportedly operate within Chicago. Source.

100,000 thugs in Chicago. No matter how you slice it, that's a recipe for thugging.

Jeff, before you internet babble anymore, get your facts together.

Craig Gernhardt said...

I say we round up all the 16 year old males in Rogers Park.

We'll put the thugs on one side, and the do-gooder's on the other.

Then we play dodge ball.

Anonymous said...

A dodge ball game with thugs and do-gooders? I think that is a great idea!

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