Open Thread #70
I know, I know...another open thread. Well...they never seem to lose their popularity, do they?
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Since October 2005
Grand Forks Life is the first and biggest blog covering life in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. GrandForksGuy shares local news, rumors, and his own opinions.
Digg 
del.icio.us 
Welcome!
I want your news, tips, and ideas! Email me at grandforkslife@yahoo.com.
Posts
Search
The Poll
Followers
Grand Forks Blogs
- A Wee Blether
- Another GF Blog
- Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
- City Beat
- Dullum File
- Goon's ND Red Neck
- Grand Forks Life
- Growingupartists
- Milo's Turf Tips
- Nancy Devine
- On the Point
- On the Town
- Pop Culture on the Plains
- Popular Librarians
- Prairie Pulse
- Sioux Hockey Blog
- Still Fighting It
- The Daily Dale
- TooMuchDogHair
- Touring Grand Forks
- Whoops a Daisy
North Dakota Blogs
Local Links
GFL Archives
-
►
2010
(1)
- ► March 2010 (1)
-
►
2009
(26)
- ► September 2009 (1)
- ► August 2009 (2)
- ► April 2009 (1)
- ► March 2009 (5)
- ► February 2009 (5)
- ► January 2009 (6)
-
▼
2008
(127)
- ► November 2008 (1)
- ► October 2008 (9)
- ► September 2008 (10)
- ► August 2008 (11)
- ► April 2008 (15)
-
▼
March 2008
(13)
- Open Thread #73
- Interest in the Civic Auditorium
- "Shoppes at Aurora" update
- Open Thread #72
- Columbia 4 goes to dollar format
- Open Thread #71
- Panchero's plans Grand Forks store
- First look at Aurora Hospital
- Open Thread #70
- Open Thread #69
- Open Thread #68
- Retail on a dead-end street?
- For once, I'm jealous of Minot
- ► February 2008 (13)
- ► January 2008 (14)
-
►
2007
(216)
- ► December 2007 (10)
- ► November 2007 (8)
- ► October 2007 (21)
- ► September 2007 (12)
- ► August 2007 (27)
- ► April 2007 (17)
- ► March 2007 (16)
- ► February 2007 (22)
- ► January 2007 (13)
-
►
2006
(181)
- ► December 2006 (10)
- ► November 2006 (13)
- ► October 2006 (20)
- ► September 2006 (20)
- ► August 2006 (16)
- ► April 2006 (7)
- ► March 2006 (14)
- ► February 2006 (17)
- ► January 2006 (5)
-
►
2005
(16)
- ► December 2005 (5)
- ► November 2005 (3)
- ► October 2005 (8)
GFL Labels
- Airport (7)
- Alerus Center (39)
- BEST OF GF (3)
- Canad Inns (25)
- City Government (99)
- City Planning (43)
- Columbia Mall (27)
- Customer Service (1)
- Dining threads (4)
- Dog Park (9)
- Downtown (72)
- East Grand Forks (18)
- Economy (242)
- Entertainment (21)
- Gateway Drive (28)
- GFAFB (1)
- GFL Scoops (77)
- Grand Cities Mall (4)
- Grand Forks (566)
- Herald (17)
- History (26)
- I Love GF (3)
- Landfill (1)
- Local Blogosphere (74)
- Medical (17)
- Misc. (23)
- Movie Theaters (7)
- Newsbits (2)
- Open Threads (100)
- Pet Peeves (3)
- Polls (49)
- Postcards (7)
- Restaurants (110)
- Riverwalk Centre (5)
- Rumors (24)
- Smiley (6)
- Stores (100)
- The Ralph (12)
- UND (57)
- University Village (15)
- Videos (2)
- WDAZ (13)
Since October 2005
NOTE: The views expressed in original posts on "Grand Forks Life" are merely the views and personal opinions of the owner of this blog. No guarantee is given for the accuracy of content. The views expressed in reader comments are the views of those readers. "GrandForksGuy" and "Grand Forks Life" do not endorse the views of readers.
134 comments:
...and I'm first.
Will the snow just finish melting already?
^ Yes, Please!!!
Mostly so that the cops can't sneak around and hide behind those huge mountains of piled dirty snow and try to bust a hard wurkin' brutha such as myself heading home from work at a steady, if slightly excessive, pace.
I guess they just love to live it up, 'cause in the summer we are going to see them coming a mile off here in the flatlands. ;-) Write your tickets while you can blues, spring comes to thaw your cover!!
Looks like the snow plow drivers did their job a bit too well. I have a crapload of grass seeding to do once the ground thaws.
wannagraple...you are an idiot
I have to start it.. North end Wal-Mart next to University Station? I think it would fit with a brick theme. ;D
people wonder why police officers don't often trust the general public? It is because of people like wannagrapple and their midnless opposition to everything they do. Officers enforce the speed laws so your streets stay safe, they take calls for service to keep your community safe, and they wear guns and bullet proof vests in case they need to take/deliver force necessary to keep the deadliest of criminals away from you and your family. How about we cut them a break and say "thanks" to an officer every now and then.
Thanks for the frostbite officers!!!
Ah I love the "holier than thou" attitude some police officers possess.
To the rude little anonymous child who is under the sadly mistaken impression that he/she/it somehow elevated the discussion here by calling me an idiot... Grow Up and grow a pair.
I scoff and spit at your foolish holier than thou attitude, anon @ 7:04. You, devoid of any witticisms or snappy comebacks, had to resort to the lowest common denominator of internet rebukes... usually reserved for use by 12 year olds sneaking onto their parent's computer. You can keep, and even recycle your lame, unimaginative twaddle for next time some original comment needs to be brought down by a boring buzzkill such as yourself.
And to the other, slightly more verbose but still shockingly dull anon @ 707pm:
ARE YOU $%^&*ING SERIOUS!?!?!?!?
"people wonder why police officers don't often trust the general public?"
What freaking planet do you live on!?!? Either you switched the order of the words "police officers" and "general public" in that sentence or you truly are a clueless clod.
Psssst. It's the Public that doesn't trust the Blues. And for VERY good reason. I have lived in several large cities and even more small towns. Regardless of where you go, it's all the same. In large cities you have corrupt cops raping the public's good will and trust while in small towns you encounter discrimination and favoritism.
I and millions more like me get a hearty belly laugh when naive nincompoops try to spin it like cops are beneficent angels cavorting about and keeping the public safe.
They are garbage men who clean up after murderers, rapists, gangsters, etc. They are NEVER around to prevent a crime before it happens. Let's be realistic and drop the blue-colored glasses from our eyes if we are going to have a conversation regarding this issue.
PS... next time you get a ticket from a sneaky cop who was hiding behind a snowbank, be sure you thank him. [rolleyes]
@ wannagrapple: "They are NEVER around to prevent a crime before it happens."
Yeah, because everyone knows it says right on a cops badge "To Protect, Serve, and Predict the Future"
Get real. Imagine a world without police. Yes, it would eliminate police corruption, but then all other crime would be rampant. Which would you rather have?
The system is not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than your police free utopia.
Or, you could just drive the speed limit.
No, you know wannagraple I think the anonymous poster at 7:04 is pretty much correct. After reading your last rambling, ranting, obviously biased, self pity posting, I think you just might be an idiot...
wannagrapple - you are STILL an idiot
My major experiences with police officers in Grand Forks. (a short essay)
#1 2003 June or July. I was riding with my mom who got pulled over near university/42nd st at approx 10PM.(driving a 2002 Chrysler mini-van). Waited for him to do whatever in his car for over 10 minutes, then he checked MY ID, and about 20 minutes after the pull-over were free to go, no ticket (even for not 100% properly signaling a turn).
#2 November 2004. Me, a college sophomore and drinking (yeah, underage) my friend and I get a ride home from a sober *female* friend to my dorm. Cop pulls her over for going 41mph on University Ave. in front of the union (is the speed limit 25 there?). From there we get a ride to the dorm in the back of the cop car with "minor in consumption" tickets. The cop just told the girl driving to have a nice night and **sorry for the inconvience** (she was cute, he was male, what did you expect right??) I blew a .06 and he blew a .04, which, if you do your research, isn't really that drunk, and anyone in good taste would have seen we made the effort to get the ride home....yeah, I'll never forget the lecture that cop gave us on career decisions and how this would look bad on our criminal records...
#3 April 2005- Out-of-control party that deserved to get busted. It was epic, they broke it up, the end. The GF PD handled it really well, the officers that responded were really cool.
#4. Nov. 2005- Watching a football game at a friend's apartment. Cops end up getting called to the party *across* the hall. After that was all said and done they could hear my friends TV going when standing in the hall (normal volume, but still audible), and by virtue of the city ordinance (he got a loud-party warning 9 months previously) he got a $400 ticket.
#5 Aug 2006. Riding my motorcycle home from work, stop at a red light, 77-year old woman behind me hits the gas instead of the brake and launches me into the intersection, I'm ok, but we call the cops anyway because my bike is twisted up. First thing the cop says (to the old lady) (after whipping a squeeling cookie with his lights going off when he first arrived) is "so why are you hitting people today? HUH?" (and he didn't have a pleasant tone at all....)
#6 May 2007. I get T-boned at an intersection by a man in his mid-50's. It's a sunday afternoon, nothing going on cop-wise, nice weather....we get to sit in the back of his car (those are really cramped I should add) while he throws a pen and the accident information sheets back at us and remarks that he "didn't get a degree for this crap". Oh, I should also watch where I'm going.
Anyways, if you're ever in the back of their cars, watch how they IM sarcastic comments back and forth between themselves and other cops on their little laptops...I cant believe I pay for this crap.
I would list more, but I'm only going to list stuff I have 1st hand knowledge about. I know atleast 3 criminal justice majors who decided to take jobs with small town PD's in the area instead of the GF PD because of these reasons.
GF does have many good officers with great intentions, but there's way too many that get high off the power of the badge, sorry to say....
ANON 245 you sound like a whiny moron. How about fly on the straight and narrow and don't be so hypersenstive, what do you want the cops to do? The are not going to hug you. Do you want them to do cart wheels that they are there to help?
wannagraple is a douchbag plane and simple.
Thanks for the report, anon 2:45. I would say that roughly fits in with my experience in terms of the officer's attitudes. I've never been stopped for anything other than speeding (twice), but on other occasions when I have called the police to report various situations, I've encountered a mixed bag of responses.
I'll say this--the good cops are forgettably decent, and the bad ones are memorable pricks. I have not encountered a 'friendly' officer in 15 years in GF.
With the examples of wannagrapple and the anon above, is it any wonder that police don't trust the public? YES, wannagrapple the POLICE dont trust the PUBLIC. It is the comments like yours that create tension between the police and the public. Nowadays, the police don't know when they are going to be assaulted, resisted, spit on, or simply disrespected by people like you. Anon above gives several examples of his less than brilliant behavior (and sometimes illegal behavor) that has brought him in contact with the police, and then speads contempt by complaining that the police didn't hold his hand or something. i am not sure what he expected, but give me a break. And trust me, the three CJ majors he knows probably applied at GFPD and couldn't get a job there! Don't tell me a new grad would take a job somewhere else for 10-15k less than GFPD pays. Yes, there are "bad" people in every group. There are 79 officers at the GFPD, and you have to expect that every time you come in contact with them they are not going to be perfectly on. You expect them to be professional, which they almost always are.
What's the average salary of a GF vs EGF policeman?
Whether there are corrupt cops or not, there will always be tension between police and the general public. They are there to make sure we are abiding the laws, and they always have to be watching. And, let's face it, it feels a little weird to know there's an organization out there making sure we follow the law.
Wannagrapple, I don't really have any hard feelings against the cops, but I understand where you're coming from because I've had a few run ins with the police that I think are unfair. As a student, particularly, I feel like I am often being discriminated against. I once pulled out of a dorm parking lot and a police car began to follow me. It followed me all the way down Columbia, then just before I turned into the parking lot for Legacy Apartments, they turned the other way. Come on, you can bet they were just following me, hoping I'd breach the speed limit so they would have an excuse to pull me over.
However, to the anons that are calling wannagrapple an idiot, just keep your mouth shut. Your "input" does nothing to help the conversation.
I am not sure of EGF, but GF just had a hiring announcement, and it said they start at just under$39,000/yr.
(2-yr degree AND 2yrs experience req. or a 4 yr. degree required)
anon at 2:25am: going 41 mph down uni in front of the union when its only 20 mph down that road? Do you know how many people are hit and killed because of idiots like you and your friends?
anonymous - you feel discriminated against because an officer followed you for 20 or so blocks? Wow...look up the 60's and see what real discrimination looks like. Here are a few possibilities that could have been the case:
The city gas pumps are up on N. 48th street and a lot of officer's patrol areas are on the south end - maybe he was just filling up and then heading back to his area of responsibility.
Maybe he was called to the south ene to assist another officer on a call.
Maybe he was needing a potty break and prefers Superpumper.
Maybe he noticed you swerve or a slight questionable driving behavior that raised his suspicion a little bit and wanted to make sure you were ok to drive.
Maybe your vehicle matched that of a stolen car and he was running your plates to make sure yours wasnt't the stolen...
see, there are possibilities out there besides your self-centered approach to life (oh, if someone does something, it must be because of ME)
wannagrapple and anon who was "discriminated against" are idiots!
I gotta say, the police situation IS kinda suspect up there.
I've had three direct interactions with the Tampa PD down here, and each one was excellent.
The first time was when my girlfriend got into a really bad car accident and totaled our car. the officer who responded was extremely polite and very calm, which helped her out tremendously. She was at fault, but he never talked down to her. I had to run on foot to the scene a mile and a half away, and when I got there, the guy offered me one of his bottles of water he kept in a cooler in his cruiser.
The second time was when the window on our new car got blasted out one night when we parked downtown. The guy was caught less than 5 minutes after it happened, because undercover officers actually watched him do it to our car. He took my girlfriend's credit card from her purse from under the seat, and when the officers got him, they called the credit card company right then and there to have them contact her.
The third time was when I was leaving in the middle of the night to go to Wal-Mart for some damn reason, and when I looked in my rearview to back out, I saw a six foot gator right behind my car in the parking lot! I was lucky, because he had been sleeping under my car, and when I got in, he got agitated and moved. I called the police on my cell, and SIX cars full of the coolest and funniest cops I had ever met showed up. There were so many, because it turned out that all six were in the area when the call came through and they made bets over the radio on who would get there first to catch the gator. They were laughing out loud at my reaction to the whole thing, and kept asking me questions about what it was like in ND, and if I had ever seen a real buffalo, etc.
I've never had a positive encounter with police in GF, under ANY circumstance. Each time, they were rude and condescending to me and even to each other.
The police are definitely the good guys, but up there they are also the rude, grouchy guys.
How dare a cop give someone a speeding ticket for SPEEDING!
If you had been obeying the law you wouldn't have to whine about a ticket. For those bitching about how cops never prevent a crime, maybe you should call them up the next time you plan to speed through my neighborhood while my daughter is playing outside & give them a heads up. I'm sure they'd be happy to prevent you from breaking the law & I'd be happy that the cops were able to protect my family better.
Save The Riverside Park Pool!
Your daughter shouldn't be playing in the street anyway. haha.
This thread is littered with bad stories of the Grand Forks Police Department. I work at a local restaurant in town and the police officers come in quite frequently to eat. I haven't encountered one rude police officer. Of course they are probably normal off-duty and different when on duty. Give em' a break anyway. They are just doing their jobs.
P.S. I got pulled over last week by a police officer hiding behind a snowbank. I wasn't speeding and I had my seatbelt on. When he got to the car he told me he pulled me over for not having a front license plate (which was in my front window and he didn't see it.) When I grabbed it a showed him he said, "well I can't write you up to for that. Sit tight for a moment." I sat there for at least 10 min to have the cop come up and give me a verbal warning. Thanks for wasting my time. I was late for work.
"Don't tell me a new grad would take a job somewhere else for 10-15k less than GFPD pays. " Some of them apply at the county where they get paid waaaaaay less than GFPD does.
Wannagrapple is an idiot. I hope someone breaks into your house one day, or you become the victim of a crime.
Please, do Grand Forks a favor and move to Canada.
Jason- Thats awesome that you got your lawyer Probono. You better win "Frostbitten ears" never let you gaurds down. I'm on your side all the way. --GFPD has it's sneeky ways.
~ BLondie~
I'm getting the feeling this open thread should be renamed "police bashing". Until you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes you should probably keep your comments to yourself. A common thread in all of these anonymous comments that is being overlooked is the fact that all the whiners were, by their own admission, either breaking the law when they had contact with the police or were contacted by the police for a legitimate purpose, i.e being involved in an accident. No one here is claiming the police randomly profiled them or harassed them out of the blue for no reason. If someone is now going to claim that happened to them don't give me some third hand happened to a friend story because those aren't worth my time. If you don't want to deal with the police don't speed, don't have you license plate in your window instead of your front bumper where it belongs, don't drink and drive, don't drink under 21 and ride in a car with someone who does 41 in a 20 and then bitch when you get a minor. YOU WERE UNDER 21 and I don't care if you were being responsible and getting a ride. YOU WERE UNDER 21. Did it ever occur to they guy that was followed from one end of town to the other that the cop was doing nothing more than going that way too? Did it ever occur to him that he didn't get stopped? Since when is it illegal for a cop to follow someone? He took no enforcement action, he drove the same direction... If you don't like the laws the police enforce petition you legislators or city council members to change the law. The police only enforce the laws that are written. They don't make them up. Everyone is bitching about the police, in previous open threads I've seen people bitching about poor service at any one of a dozen eating establishments. Poor servers, poor food, etc. Rude employee's in the checkout line at Wal-Mart, incompetent people everwhere. Maybe everyone should take a deep breath and walk a mile in their shoes...
well said anonymous 2:48pm
VERY well said anonymous @2:48pm
Fine you don't want a 3rd hand account of police behavior her ein Grand Forks, here is a first hand account of the police in this town.
When I was 22 I owned a Ford Mustang Cobra. In the course of a 2 month period I was pulled over 3 times, no citation, no warning, nada. Each time the officer ended wasting my time by saying, "Nice Car". Mind you I never got an explanation on any of the occassions as to why I was being pulled over. Although the frequency of these pull overs diminished after those first 2 months of ownership, they still did occur randomly until I sold my car when I was 25. Although every meeting with the police officers was pleasant and they were nice, I still was not happy to have my time wasted for nothing. I'm guessing the car just looked fast so they used that as a measurement to pull me over.
I could even go further back to when I was in high school, I owned a Ford Mustang GT and was pulled over because "there are too many people in my car". There were 5 girls in one car (plenty of seat belts) and they did a full search of my car. Again no citation, no warning, nada.
I'm not saying that cops are bad, but you requested a first hand response and there it is.
My first hand experiences with the cops have been fine since I moved up here. I've had to call them a couple of times for "incidents" in the neighborhood including a hit-and-run on a parked car and a frantic lady that showed up on my doorstep stating her car was being stolen by some random dudes in my front lawn. Each time, they arrived within 5 minutes which seemed adequate.
I also had a good experience with a Minnesota Polk County Sheriff. He gave me a warning for 10 over on a county highway. Courteous, and made me aware of the unposted speed limits in the state. Of course my suspicion was his trap wasn't for speeders... I think he was waiting for DUIs leaving the rafting place in Red Lake Falls.
anonymous at 2:48. I realize that my license plate should be on the front of the car. But when he pulled me over for it, he could of just given me the verbal warning right away. I understand that he ran my ID for warrants and what not, but that shouldn't take 10-15 minutes.
If these threads are so popular, don't you think a GFL-sponsored discussion forum would be even better? That way, rather than have thirty different discussions going on at the same time, and people referring to each other by the time of their post (since more than half of the people that post are anonymous), there could be organized topics where people could speak freely. :P
"I hope someone breaks into your house one day, or you become the victim of a crime."
You are astoundingly asinine in your ignorant assumption.
Hey fool boy. How the heck do you think I acquired my sentiments toward the blues?! I have had breakins/robberies perpetrated upon my home. I have been the victim of many crimes, as anyone who has lived in LA, SF, NY and Atlanta can attest. One instance was when no one but a female family member was home alone... and the offender was a previously convicted molester.
It is specifically BECAUSE of the actions of those who are "supposed" to protect us that I have my ingrained sentiments toward police. Lack of "protection" lack of "service" and blatant, criminal discrimination.
logan said: "Yeah, because everyone knows it says right on a cops badge "To Protect, Serve, and Predict the Future""
Btw... @ the illiterate logan. Brief english lesson for you here: The word "protect" means to prevent injury or calamity before it occurs... not clean up the mess after it occurs. Isn't that pernicious word firmly inscribed on the mission statement of police, if not actually on the badge? I am certainly not shy about positing the notion that they are almost laughably ineffective at accomplishing that objective. Your attempt at wit was a sad expose in the current generation's grasp of the english language, and underscores a fundamental disparity in what is supposed to happen in policing and what actually does happen. Thanks for proving my point. ;-)
Still an idiot.
To those who keep slamming the cops...next time you need help, I am sure you will call somebody else since you feel so strongly that the cops are inept. Every profession has its problems.
__________
I think GF police are fine and doing their job. However...try driving in EGF at night and chances are you'll get pulled over for things I rarely happen during daylight hours. While I think they do a great job if you need them, they do seem to target the night driving folks just heading home.
"Every profession has its problems."
Yes, but what other profession has the license to kill and the ability to temporarily remove your freedom by way of it's own discretion?.
They must be held to the highest of standards, and Grand Forks is failing at those standards.
Police officer do not have a license to kill. They are justified in using deadly force to protect themselves or another from the threat of serious bodily injury or death. Just as any other citizen is entitled to do. Any shooting of another by a police officer is reviewed just as it is if a citizen did it. If the officer is found to have used unreasonable or unjustified force they will be charged with a crime just as any citizen would. If everyone here is feeling so wronged by police action file a complaint. How many times do we hear the higher ups at the police department in the paper or on television telling people they want to know about officer misconduct. If you have a gripe and feel that strongly about it file a complaint. If you don't you've nobody to blame but yourself.
To change topics... What are our options for a decent Easter brunch in this town?
"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
George Orwell
So we should send all the cops home and we'll take care of ourselves?
I'll bet the biggest whiners are the first to call the cops. :-)
"Any shooting of another by a police officer is reviewed just as it is if a citizen did it. If the officer is found to have used unreasonable or unjustified force they will be charged with a crime just as any citizen would. ... If you have a gripe and feel that strongly about it file a complaint. If you don't you've nobody to blame but yourself."
This is NOT reality for most Americans. You instead describe a utopian cop and their utopian review board, pretty much nonexistant on this planet. Must be nice to live in fantasyland... all the pretty blues, huh? Can you sell me some of what you are smoking? Or would that be illegal.
" "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
George Orwell
I'll bet the biggest whiners are the first to call the cops. :-)"
What is up with you guys? Are you playing sly jokes with me? First illiterate logan states that "Protection" is independent of the ability to stave off futute violence (huh!?!?!?) and now you quote an author who's arguably most famous work was 1984... a specific rebuke of the very "rough men" that you try to insinuate Orwell's support for. Please guys, read beyond the two line quote and you may gain actual insight beyond that granted by default to dilettantes.
*************************
And to the single anon who keeps signing off with a statement regarding my idiocy... Eventually you will see that you are indeed the village fool: mindless, repetitive, babble that got old even before it was vomited from you mouth in the first place.
Well smart guy it's reality in his county. Maybe not in NY, LA, SF or any of the other places you've lived and experianced bad relations with the police. Get off your high horse, apparently the air is too thin up there.
Save The Riverside Pool ! Greenglass4
Go Army beat Navy!
wannagrapple you are still a babbling idiot
I hate when people say "Let's change the subject",etc in these open threads, usually right in the middle of a good discussion. Sorry, but it's an OPEN thread, we can talk about both the police AND Easter brunches.
Lets talk about the Drop in day care, DO you trust them? : Just drop them off!! ...??? ( the place on washington st)
"Get off your high horse, apparently the air is too thin up there."
Well, again, if you read the posts in this thread rather than simply clip one line out of context you would see your's is a ridiculous response.
Actually, this isn't shaping up to be much of a debate. Seems that many folks have comeforward with their firsthand or close accounts of their often negative personal experiences interacting with law enforcement, but the opposing view doesn;t really have much to say other than bashing dissenters as somehow muddled in a moral morass, and even having criminal tendencies. That is an ad hominem argument, you are attacking the proponent of dissent, not the actual argument at hand, a technique which is usually the cache of the most petty and cruel suppressors of free thought. Howzabout actually addressing the point and describing how you think the law enforcement system is succeeding. What benchmarks designate success in your opinion? Otherwise this is a pointless discussion... or actually not one at all.
************
And it looks as though the "idiot caller" has finally focused and found a new word to play with. Funnily enough it is a word I had just used a few lines prior. How shocking original.
How about we talk about the GFPD using $21,000 in asset seizures to purchase and train in the use of 3D mapping software to assist insurance companies in claim disputes?
anonymous @ 7:10am
I frequently use Little Keepers (the drop-in daycare on S.Wash). I have been absolutely thrilled with them. Not to mention my daughter LOVES going there. When we first started using them I was nervous, but after meeting many of the girls that work there & seeing how they interact with the kids I'm put at ease. I totally understand someone not trusting a place like that, but since you are able to stop back in at any time & there are always at least 2 people working there, I think the risks of someone mistreating your child is lower than an at-home daycare where 1 person is watching your kid.
everyone must now find another thing to blog about, the almighty one has spoken on this issue.
"Actually, this isn't shaping up to be much of a debate." Just 'cause you can't convince everyone you are right and everyone else is wrong?? :-)
Little Keepers Drop-In Child Care @2520 South Washington - - I just won a bid for their services (GF Herald auction) for my granddaughter. Wouldn't have done it if I didn't trust them and besides, grandma approves. :-)
((She took granddaughter there and both of them liked it.))
Since I know nothing about daycare, I have to weigh in on the police thing. I would suggest that, while first person stories are useful, they are anecdotal evidence (on both the "police are good" and "police are bad" sides of the argument). Looking at crime statistics, rates of complaints against the police, and the actual reports on the stories we've heard one side of would give us more ability to either praise or condemn the Grand Forks PD.
As a note about "To Protect and to Serve," part of that protection comes from just having the police around. People who are afraid of getting caught generally don't commit crimes, and I posit that a tangible police presence does have this effect. Depending on the relationship between the citizens and the police force, this presence may have some undesired effects, but in theory I support it.
I love how much time wannagrapple wastes responding to anons that took seven seconds out of their day to call him an idiot.
Keep it up, dictionary.
If you are looking for movies to see over the long Easter weekend, the Columbia 4 Theatre $1.00 Theatre is showing 4 different movies this weekend. According to www.carmike.com, they will have starting on Friday, National Treasure 2, Definitely Maybe, The Great Debaters, and First Sunday.
In light of the rough stuff going on downtown on the weekends around bar closing time, maybe we should have 2-3 police officers on foot at the street corners. I'd suggest on Demers near the Crosstown, in between Joe Black's and Level 10.
It shouldn't involve much cost since the police pretty much circle around downtown in squad cars.
"Sorry, but it's an OPEN thread, we can talk about both the police AND Easter brunches."
Thanks for pointing out the obvious Paul!!! I wasn't trying to stop discussion of police, just simply mix it up a bit. Jees.
FYI I'm still open for suggestions for Easter brunch (if they exist).
For those who are concerned about whether the police 'protect' us by preventing crime. How can you tell when a crime has been prevented. I understand that if a policeman catches a masked man entering a bank, he has probably prevented a crime, but how do you know how many people didn't speed, because they saw a police car, etc. I assume that the presence of the police often discourages crime.
Anyone catch this headline in the Herald today?
SD, ND lead nation in young children with working parent.
More evidence of how low our salaries are.
Oxguesser, I hear Olive Garden has an amazing brunch selection.
I haven't been to the Blue Moose Easter brunch personally, but my friend says it's great stuff!!!
If you've got the coin and are willing to go to Winnipeg, you may alternatively check out the HoDo in Fargo. Sounds gooooood, that's where I'll be heading. :)
Home-made food beats anything, though :)
Obama to appear April 4th at the Democratic convention in Grand Forks at the Alerus per the latest Herald updates...
Awesome!
Little off the topic, but whats everybody's opinion of the pita pit? I was there the other day and I enjoyed it. Let me know.
I LOVE Pita Pit! In fact, I might run down there to grab dinner tonight.
I'm totally excited about Obama coming to town, too! My question is...if you're not attending the convention as a delegate/alternate, is it still possible to get in to hear his keynote address?
God Damn North Dakota!
The best way to take in the Sunday Brunch at the Fort Garry in Winnipeg is to stay over on Saturday night as they throw the buffet is included. Great value for the money. Plus, the have a Keg steakhouse across the street. It's a chain, but I've never had a bad meal there.
Does anybody know the brunch joint in WPG that is located in a civic park? It's a historic building with large glass observation room overlooking the park. The bldg has an interesting history. I don't remember the name of the joint or the historical significance of the property. Anybody know? I was there 10 years ago. It was fantastic experience.
Assiniboine(sp?) Park?
I think Obama coming to GF is the biggest thing since Kennedy was at UND. It's going to be historic on many levels....
I think wages are low here, and combined with the general lack of cultural influences this place is rather, sorry to say, dull- and thats the main reason the younger crowd makes living outside of ND a goal in life.
And yeah, pita pit...DEE-LISH..maybe it can replace some of the not-so-fresh or not-so-freaky-fast sub places in town....
Yes, we will be able to see Obama, they don't want to turn anyone away... ticket details will be out soon. They will have room for 20,000 people at the Alerus.
Also, the Pita Pit is great, I'm really glad it came to GF. Great lunch place... not filling enough for supper, but still a great restaurant.
szymanki's dd - you must be a good eater! The Dagwood Pita combo does it for me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
A little comment on the police in this town...Last night I saw two officers respond to a house fire north of downtown. They kicked in the door and made entry into the front room of the house. They came out hacking and coughing, but went back to the door to yell and try to get any occupants out of the house. They put themselves at grave risk about five or six times going up to the door and yelling and holding their breath. it looked like their lungs hurt. Unfortunately, the woman inside had already died of smoke inhalation, but these officers tried very hard and are to be commended for their actions. Will they be thanked by the public? Probably not, and that is most certainly not what was on their minds when they were doing this for their community. They were trying to help someone if they could. Thanks to ALL of the officers of this town, as they are the ones out there for us. This was an act of heroism, even though it turned out badly. Thanks also to the firemen who risked themselves as well (although they do so a little more properly equipped for a fire!)
On a side note, wannagrapple - would YOU run into a burning building to try to save a stranger?????? Somehow, I have very serious doubts, and until you can walk a mile in their shoes, maybe it is time to shut up!
I bet Obamarama would run into a burning house. It wouldn't make him shut up though. Without talking he couldn't promise a bunch of ways to spend billions of our future wages. Then he can change hate crime laws so nobody can ever accuse a non-white person of a hate crime. Whoops, it's that way already.
GO GO Go Obamarama, he's our man. I'm so excited I can hardly type 'cuz he's coming to Grand Forks and it's going to make history. He might even make Grand Forks a "Chocolate city" where the police wear brown and white striped uniforms instead of that hatefull blue color.
(TIC)
anonymous @9:24 am
wow
To GFG and anyone else
Can you please post the Obama info as soon as it is made public.
From what I've heard from active party members, there will be a "limited number" of free tickets available for the general public to see Obama.
I'll be honest, I'm registering as a delegate just to guarantee a seat. It will cost me $30, but it will be worth it.
I went to an Obama rally. 10,000+ people. Many more outside. Obama relaxed his security to pander to the crowds. My first thought was, I'm going to witness something real ugly. I'll spare you my second thought. This was late January or February. The assumption is, people are there because they're supporters. That just wasn't the vibe. More curiousty. Anyway, the event was hysterical. All the big Dems in my City/State were seated behind him. Of course, most of them hadn't publicly aligned with Hillary, or Barrack, yet.
This made for very comical obervations. Most people around me were laughing out loud. Barrack was hitting all the mumbo-jumbo buttons he does in these settings. There were even attempts to get the "wave" going. Anyway, the BIG Dems were having a REAL rough time. When the crowd would light up...they'd look at their cohorts with the "is it okay, can we react" look. When the wave came down, they were freakin'. Looking around to see what to do. The guy behind me, a Dem, said "look, it's the booble-head section". We all laughed.
I feel I cracked the code months ago, before the Reverend Wright scandle. Reverend Wright confirmed my theory.
Obama set out to be a bigtime US Civil Rights Leader. Did everything right to get there. Then, he threw his hat into the Pres. race. It just so happened, it's an election cycle where the presumptive nominee is tainted, and the current Pres is a goofy-ass mofo.
Well, this jacked him to the top. Now, buyer's remorse has set in. Bigtime.
I watched his speech this week. It seemed clear to me, he knows he's lost the Pres. office, he's now trying to salvage his big Civil Rights Leader/Reformer position/future.
WHat date is he coming to town?
I think he's coming Friday April 4th.
Should be APRIL 1st
Emerald Grill
Easter Sunday
10AM-9PM
Roast Turkey - Baked Ham Dinners
Mashed, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Veggie, Soup or Salad
$7.99/person.
Why spend $15-20 at a buffet serving yourself when you can get a hot meal served to you while you're able to have a conversation with your family?
And yes...I work there. See you Sunday.
ok, I'll be there. needing tips? what a good worker, you should work for me. =-)
Lets talk about um... umm.. How messed up Altru Doctors are. Whos got a storie? each told me i have somthing esle wrong with me. I was there for months trying to get better. GRRRRRRR. Still unknown to this day =-(
Dr. Zelewski in pediatrics is the only good doctor I've come across at Altru.
"From what I've heard from active party members, there will be a "limited number" of free tickets available for the general public to see Obama."
This would be the opposite of what Jamie Selzler, the Exec. Director of the ND Democratic-NPL party said publicly on the radio this morning. He said they are going to pack the Alerus Center until it is full, giving away free tickets to whoever wants to go, until they run out of seats.
Sad story last night regarding the house fire and death. May the victim RIP. Foul play? I'll let greenglass take it from here.
Dr. Yvonne Gomez is an awesome doctor at Altru. Fast, thorough and extremely pleasant -- oh yes and a damn fine knowledgable doctor who knows what she is doing.
Obama received 11,625 votes in the North Dakota primary. Even IF every person who voted attended, plus Delegates (a whopping 21), and figuring in supporters who didn't vote, are from surrounding areas and give and take those who will go out of curiosity... I bet he draws 14,000 people. The Alerus Center has an occupancy of up to 21,000 people. It'll work. A hell of a historic event for Grand Forks.
Bigger than Cher?
Wow
I think this is a good time to remind people to allow 3 hours for the 5 minute drive.
yeah I love that pita pit. I also work there!! Discounted pita's are always nice. We are hiring to if you want to check us out.
My family of 2 now has 7 different Altru accounts (each with a different number) we making payments on, these accounts are from 2 day surgeries and one MRI They have the worst billing system on earth!
Just to jump in on the drop in childcare places, I would recommend Child's Play in the Menard's strip mall above Little Keepers. It's much cleaner. They have more toys. I've taken my son to both, and I was less than impressed with Little Keepers, but I've never had an issue at Child's Play. Also, the owner of Child's Play is wonderful and great with kids.
How clean can a daycare really be? Do you mean there was less of a mess of toys? I always have been happy with Little Keepers.
The owner of Little Keepers is wonderful as well. I feel she really takes the time to talk to us & find out about our daughter. The women that work there seem to really love their job & love the kids. When you see one of the girls zooming around on a little toy car with the kids you know that it's a fun place.
Little Keepers is great! My son loves it there. Everytime we drive by he asks if he can go play. The owner made me feel very comfortable the first time I dropped him off and always remembers us when we come in.
I agree that Dr. Gomez is wonderful! She is the best Dr I have ever seen.
re: Obama
I'll save you the trouble and time of attending his rally.
"we need change", "let's work together", "change". That is all he ever says, as he doesn't want you to know about his true liberal values.
I am not endorsing one candidate over another, I just have a problem with people gushing over this guy when nobody knows what he stands for.
"Limited" was what I was told before they had the logistics figured out. At that point, it wasn't confirmed that Obama was even coming, so I may have been told incorrect information then.
Obama has said what he stands for in every debate, interview, and on his website. Hillary has done the same.
How does one sign up to be a delegate, lynsey? Didn't that deadline already pass?
Burglaries, assault, fires, and police brutality... Grand Forks is not the perfect utopia some make it out to be.
He's not ashamed of his liberal values any more than McCain is ashamed of his moderate values or Romney was ashamed of his conservative stance. That's just idiotic. Everyone knows Obama's liberal, and look at how far he's come. There is nothing wrong with being liberal, just like there is nothing wrong with being conservative -- they're just two opposite ideologies, and this country needs both to serve as a check and balance.
Amen.
"Burglaries, assault, fires, and police brutality... Grand Forks is not the perfect utopia some make it out to be."
And that "some" you speak of is not the media, as has been incorrectly propagated on this and other message boards. You very likely wouldn't know about these stories had it not been for DAZ, KNOX, the Herald, et. al.
-- Retired member of the media
Agree with the Little Keepers comments. Our daughter (not quite 2) goes only sporadically, but the owner (Mandy) always remembers her and remembers us. All the staff members seem great with kids and there's tons of stuff for them to do there.
I haven't tried the one near Menard's so can't comment.
There is also a drop-in daycare coming to the Riverwalk Center near the new movie theatre. Smart move -- you can drop off the kid(s), catch dinner & a movie, pick them up again, and everybody has a good time.
For those of us who don't have grandmas and grandpas in town, and limited sitters available, these places can be a godsend.
Yes, Wannagrapple is surely an idiot. Albeit an idiot who spends lots of time looking up sophisticated words in his/her thesaurus in order to attempt to appear intelligent...
10:55 Anonymous:
Call your district chair and ask if there is still room. Though the deadline has passed, they are still allowing delegates to register if the district isn't filled. I'm a student, and because I generally do an absentee ballot for my home district, I registered through that district, which covers a large part of north central ND, and does not normally fill. It may be a different story for the GF/Fargo area.
Better than the anonymous that can't come up with a wittier retort than, "wannagrapple is an idiot."
Anon 12:49pm, I advise you take the time to learn the proper usage of "albeit."
Pity how quickly the open threads can turn into childish squabbles. If you disagree with someone, either take the time to formulate an argument or don't say anything at all. Anonymous calling wannagrapple an idiot, your opinion on the police would undoubtedly be respected if it was put forth, but your inability to debate is making you look like the idiot.
Cheers, everyone. Have a nice Easter weekend. Writers Conference is next week!! Woohoo!
You mean like quibbling about grammar, when you know full-well what the person means....now that is "childish."
To be a delegate to the ND DEM-NPL State Convention, you would have first attended the regional convention (March 8, 2008 Schroeders Middle School; Districs 17,18,42,43). After having voted at caucus.
I am a delegate - District 18, I am please a strong DEM Candidate is arriving to rally, hopefully, tipping the scales for the ND DEM-NPL majority.
Obama's coming!
Alright, everyone. Are you ready to get Hopenotized?
Grab your glass of Kool-Aid and form a line to the left. You may feel a slight uneasiness while the Chosen One speaks. It is nothing to be alarmed about, as the feeling is just rational thought and reason leaving your body and being replaced by warm, fuzzy emotion.
Sit back, relax and let the Chosen One's vagueness wash over you like a warm bath.
;)
please forgive any spelling/keyboarding errors.
The Chosen One?? I do not know about all that. He is a strong candidate for the Executive Branch. We the people are fortunate enough to have a small pool of leadersip talent this election.
The position will soon open and WE need to staff considering economics as well as forgien policy.
Either way, you never really know how one will preform until she or he is in office. The hiring process is based on matching credentials to the duties and some intuition. Emotion, race, gender, and religion should not be a consideration. Yet, we are still merely human.
And, we are writing history. So RALLY!! Like you would for your favorite team. Educate others - encourage them to educate themselves and VOTE!! A vote not cast is greater than a vote wasted. If emotion is what brings you to the polls - so be it.
Those in ND who want to hire Obama will have a nice opportunity to Rally around their candidate. Cool history.
GET OUT AND VOTE!!
City Election in JUNE - Pay attention
Hey check out this news link on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/22/corn.flake.ap/index.html
That is the most stupidest thing I ever heard, and besides, that corn flake looks nothing like that state. Maybe we should start auctioning cereals that look like North Dakota!
Check out this article on the Herald's website...
http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=71393
Talk about adding fuel to the fire.
Does anybody still think that the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo will survive, given the continuing, blatant disrespect displayed locally to the people supposedly honored by the mascot?
I support the Sioux logo, but am sick and tired of hearing about it, so I hope they get rid of it.
It's gonna go, better sooner than later. UND is not going to get the endorsements they need. Better to not delay the inevitable. RETIRE THE NICKNAME ALREADY!!
Retire the nickname, then so be it.
UND shall then retire the tuition waiver for the natives. You don't lose something for nothing.
"Oh I love Native Americans! I love the nickname because it honors them and it's a tribute to their strength and-- what?! You want to take the nickname and logo away!? WELL GET THE HELL OUT OF UND AND AMERICA! WE DONT LIKE YOUR KIND!" It's really all the same with you hypocrites.
Well said, anonymous 4:38. I am a nickname supporter, but it always amazes me how people are so dumb that they play right into the opponents hands when they make stupid comments like that. "Oh we love you and honor you so much ...that is... until you try to take away what's ours." Wise up people!
It will appear that I am changing the subject a bit but, part of this tale goes the the original thread topic - GF/EGF Law Enforcement(Public Servents).
A great time has been had by all in attendance this March @ the Open Mic Talent Festival @ Mike's Pizza and Pub. For the past three weeks, talented individuals/groups of this community have been entertaining the house. Each week Top Talent(TT) and Honorable Mentions(HM) received Mike's gift certificates and Mike's Stuff. Random drawings too.
We will wrap up this week, Thursday March 27, 2008 @ 9 PM. 8 talented groups/individuals will express thier talent. Who will be Top Talent for a Talent Package worth over $300.00($200.00 cash, $100.00 Mike's GC & Mike's Stuff)???
Before I list the talent - A bit of darkness covered us this Thursday past when week II top talent Dana S.'s(THief River Falls) had his guitar STOLEN!!
Someone in the sandbox did not play NICE!!
This came to light toward the end of the evening as the house lights came up and folks were preparing to depart. Looking at each other with suprise and questioning what next - I stated we make a formal report. I called the EGf PD non-emergency phone. I explained the situation and the desk staff stated an officer would arrive in about 5 minutes.
Within the five minutes Office W. arrived. I explained what transpired and he took Dana's contact info and the leads we had to offer. The officer was very professional and did not make light of the theft. He was a young man and performed his duty.
This is the deal - I have had good and bad run-ins with the LAW!! The GOOD ones have generally been when I or others around me need their service and are behaving ourselves. The BAD ones are because I screwed up or was not so law abiding. We all are grown - if you have been out of order(speeding, dealing, assulting, etc.)give it up, throw up your hands and simply accept - - BUSTERD!! HE OR SHE IS SIMPLY DOING THE THEIR JOB!!
I have personal permission to list:
WEEK I:
TT) Lucy Black
HM) John L.
WEEK II:
TT Dana S.
HM UnXceppted
HM Tim & Joe
WEEK III
TT Mitch & Tyler
HM Anthony DLG.
HM Dewaine
Any individual can come play. Perhaps you can WOW the panel to rise to TT. It has been a fun ride . . .
Jesus! It looks like greenglass has a son.
who is greenglass??
Greenglass is Crs, Rodents, Fruit Flies and other seasonal invaders. Rock ON!
Post a Comment