Mardi Gras Aftermath, an early spring storm

Wednesday 21 February 2007
23:16 -- Bedroom.

This is last nights mardi gras celebration in Kansas City. The parade got cut short by KC's finest, but the march made it to the destination of the Mutual Musicians Foundation at 18th & Cleveland.

Tuesday 20 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

What a nice day. Here is the view from our deck.

022007_13531.jpg, originally uploaded by studestevo.

I went to YJ's after walking with the dog at home. The weather's gorgeous, so I had my soda on the front walk by the cafe.

022007_13561.jpg, originally uploaded by studestevo.

YJ's IS mardi gras in Kansas City. Here are some of the decorations inside.

022007_13581.jpg, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Here is more adornment inside YJ's.

022007_14101.jpg, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is the thing that will lead the parade, as it has done every year.

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Today, sadly, we covered a trench collapse that killed a 51 year old worker. This happened by a new development north by Barry Road. The fire department allowed us acces close to the scene in a duplex garage under construction.

022107_18171.jpg, originally uploaded by studestevo.

As night fell, they still havent recovered the body. Tess and I did our package and lives here. Barry ENG'd.

Thursday 22 February 2007
13:25 -- Community Health Parking lot.

I just picked up Suyen from work and she is here to get a booster vaccination. We have no power at the house. Yesterday It was shut off. I called the power company and they said it was because we hadn't established service, which we did in January. Obviously the person I talked to on the phone who said it was all set up didn't set it up. They are supposed to be out today to hook us up. I took Tima for a walk and we explored the hidden lake[s].

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Here is Tima exploring the edge of the Hidden Lake[s].

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is the view of our neighborhood viewed from the north side of the Hidden Lake[s].

Friday 23 February 2007
01:02 -- Living room

Tuesday 20 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Kansas City's Mardi Gras celebration wound up at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Here is Suyen walking with Tima towards the historic railroad bridge that was moved to English Landing Park in Parkville, Missouri.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Suyen and Tima at English Landing Park.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Tima Posed!

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Tima looking for other dogs.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve with his ever present camera shooting yet another train

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Trains

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

That one's a long way away

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is a BNSF southbound coal unit train. It is heading into the Yard at North Kansas City. I believe this is the second section.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Train shooting takes concentration.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Shooting a train back to the river. That is the Missouri.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve & the Missouri River. On the other side of the river is Wyandotte County and Kansas.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

shooting a train in the sunset.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve, Sunset and the Missouri river.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

GL-2 & Steve

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve looks up from his hobby.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve looks up from his hobby.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Suyen takes a lot of pictures of Steve taking a lot of pictures of a train.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Too many pictures

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Close up

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Close up

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

But this is a nice sunset shot.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Suyen got a nice shot of the Sunset over the Missouri River at Parkville, Missouri. This is the end of a gorgeous day.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Suyen got a nice shot of the Sunset over the Missouri River at Parkville, Missouri. This is the end of a gorgeous day.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve is unscrewing the wide angle lens to get close up shots.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Steve picking up poo

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

A baggie of Tima dookie in accordance with English landing park rules.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Park University's Victorian administration building.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

The flash didn't go off for our first posed picture.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

The flash finally worked and even Tima was looking in the right direction.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Another Coal Train came by. This time it was close and dark. But Suyen didn't want to let me use the pod.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

My obsession.

Thursday 22 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Holding a dog and keeping a video camera steady is hard to do. Note the dook bags in my pocket. Yeah, I'm responsible.

Tuesday 20 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is the aftermath of the mardi gras block party as YJ's closed up shop.

P2200276.JPG, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Aftermath of mardi gras on 18th street.

20:16 -- YJ's Snack Cafe, 18th and Wyandotte, Kansas City Missouri

I worked today 10 to 6. Suyen is working now. She is on call and is at MTN working a case. I don't know if she will be home tonight. We just went to Oklahoma Joes where I got vittles for her and Angie. I did an extra 10 to 6 shift today, on my day off. Fritz signed me up for it. It was easy. I got van 4 and Paul and I basically went around looking for news. We ended up in KCK where there had been a police chase over something like a chop shop. We shot some vo of the shop and split as the police bugged out as soon as they saw us coming with a camera. Nancy did something on it later.

We stopped for some food before that. I got a rueben and mocha at Toto's. First time I've ever been there.

The city is giving out in select neighborhoods in a pilot project. They are nice cans

Then I shot a vo of new garbage cans the city is giving out in select neighborhoods in a pilot project. They are nice cans.

Then I got some vo for Leslies story.

Afterward I went to Short Circuit City to get some DV tapes for tomorrows expected severe weather....

While there I noticed they were having a fire sale on some items. I called Suyen up as they had a nice flat panel tv that would be perfect for our kitchen. She gave the nod and I got that as well.

Then I got Suyen and we picked up Oklahoma Joes. Now I'm at YJ's enjoying what I can of what's left of my weekend. Tomorrow and pretty much for now on I am the weekend morning guy. I go in at 6 and get off at 2 Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday 24 February 2007
14:47 -- MTN parking lot.

I worked with Kim this morning. There was a small fire at KCI. We didn't have any lives thanks to the weather. I am here waiting on severe weather which probably won't appear. Suyen has been working over 24 hours on her cases. The weather is grey and cool.

Moanday 26 February 2007
12:49 -- Living room

Yesterday I woiked with Kim in the moaning. I beleive that I am now permanent 6 to 2 on weekends. We had a rough go at it as my 6 am report time to work doesn't allow for far flung live shots. Yesterday there was a fire at a Lee's Summit Quadriplex and we arrived and got the mast up just as we were supposed to be going live. We were also dealing with heavy blowing snow. Oh, and there was a long cable run as well. Add to that, the ifb wouldn't work. So I had to give Kim my bluetooth. So everything calmed down and my bluetooth worked better than a regular ifb (the ifb wouldn't work at all in Lee's Summit). We shot our package....

Here is a picture of the Holden Tornado. It was funny as all the weather seemed to be happening or about to happen west in Kansas, then all of a sudden this storm popped up where I wasn't even looking and dropped a tornado that did some damage.

Sunday 21 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is the jazz jam at YJ's Snack Cafe at 18th and Wyandotte.

I was waiting on Suyen, who I took into MTN. She was on call all weekend, and she WAS busy. She was operating on little sleep.

Today we are recovering. I have to get ready to go to woik.

TMI

Stevo

Banning Musicians with Nancy, Haul of Shame -- Mayview and Mardi Gras

Moanday 19 February 2007
23:50 -- today was a gorgeous day. Tima and I went for a walk when I got up. I changed some light bulbs in the house. The one in the main bathroom was tough. Today I worked with Nancy. We did a story about musicians being classified as panhandlers in an attempt to banish them. We went live from Westport. I ENG'd in van 4.

Here's a link that will take you to yesterdays story.

Tuesday 20 February 2007 FAT Tuesday -- Happy Mardi Gras
09:40 -- puter room. Flickr was down last night. Lessee if they are done with the "massage."

Moanday 19 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

I took Tima for a walk. The weather is MUCH nicer. Still, the lake in Hidden Lake[s] is frozen.

Moanday 19 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Tima is here with her nose to the ground -- typical dog posture during a walk -- reading the news.

I'm here eating Grape Nuts(tm) and yogurt. I'm also having my homemade mocha --- mmmmm. Tima doesn't want to come inside now. I don't blame her after being couped up all winter. I am uploading a pretty drive I took yesterday from my dashcam. It is taking it's own sweet time to compress. Speaking of the dashcam, that little gadget has seemed to raise the ire of some people. I now have a cyberstalker who calls himself fr8hauler. I call him H8hauler. He doesn't like me. It all stems from this video I uploaded almost a year ago, that I would have completely forgotten about if it weren't for some bozo's who keep commenting on it...
Now, admittedly, the video doesn't show much other than him passing me in a no passing zone right before the road narrows for some construction. Like I said, I pretty much have forgotten about this video, except that some people seem to get upset. I mean, if truely there is nothing on the tape and the driver of that truck is innocent, then why all the noise? What's the problem. I got my anger out, had my little tantrum, let it rest. You either agree with me or you don't. But read some of the comments. Some of the people have all but stated they are UPS people. That is what upsets me. You know, were someone to show one of us in one of our marked cars doing something on the highway, my response would be, actually no response. But I'm sure the company response would be that we hire safe and courteous drivers and we are sorry if you are upset by the behavior of one of our personel. END OF STORY! It seems however that some otr truckers don't like to be called out. I mean, really nobody does. However, is there some guilt projection here? That stretch of I-70 between Higginsville and Blue Spring Missouri is known for its accidents. Many of them involve large trucks. Many of them have ended in conflagration and death not only of the truckers, but also of fellow travelers. One crash ended in the fiery death of ahighway patrolman. While looking for that link, I found another.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/10050366/detail.html?rss=kc1&psp=news

I was there working that accident all night, so I remember it well. There was also one in 2004 I beleive. I think it involved a trucker who came over the hill leading to Bates City too fast and plowed into the back of a bunch of cars that were stopped for construction. I know my neighbor, Ray said he was on the overpass when it happened and he said he literally saw cars flying in the air. I also worked that one. I also worked one in 2005 where a tour bus cliped an 18 wheeler causing a serious injury accident. The tour bus was hauling the road crew for eminem. My sympathies go to the trucker and his wife. She was injured seriously as she was coming from the sleeper into the front of the truck when the accident happened. We got to meet and talk to the trucker -- an independent operator, I beleive, and HE WAS LIVID!!! Understandibly so as his wife was nearly killed and his livelyhood was destroyed.

The point is that truckers, more than anyone should be, and I beleive most are, keenly aware of safety -- giving safe distances, not tailgating, avoiding the assohaulics we see on the roads daily. Definitely truckers must have the patience of saints, and most do. Road rage is out of the question for them. But as you know, you take a population of people, and you will find a small number that make the rest look bad. Now, I don't care if you believe me when I post in my Youtube description as to what happened.....

"UPS Truck: License 817 LAN
I-70, Milepost 45, Mayview Exit
Roadrage, complete disreguard of safety in a work area, excessive speed, tailgating, inattentive reckless driving
13 March 2006
23:20

I-70 is 70 miles per hour. But at a stretch where the road narrows for some construction work, I dutifully slowed down incrementally using my cruise control. Well, a UPS truck that I had observed weaving in the road a few minutes before, was right behind me -- apparently unaware or unconcerned that the speed limit was now 50. He bore down on me FAST -- honked his horn and flashed his lights and angrily honked at me as he passed me going EXTREMELY fast in a no-passing zone right before the road narrowed as the right lane was blocked by orange barrels. I first tried to contact the UPS company. Apparently they have only two options offered by their robo-voice and no live operators after business hours, so I found calling UPS helped nothing. Then I called 911, to get the Highway patrol. They can't help unless they actually witness the behavior. In the video, you don't see the incident that started me rolling on my dashcam, as it happened so fast before I could hit the button, but later on down the road you see how inattentive the driver is as he almost drove the truck completely off the road. That is when I made my second call to 911, only to talk to Independence Missouri police. I sped up portions of the video to show the time lapse."

I know what happened. So does the UPS driver who used his big brown billboard to bring shame and distrust to his employer. I also believe many truckers and other drivers who ran into this person know too because this driver had been weaving all over the road and tailgating other drivers terribly -- many of them fellow truckers.


As I've said, I've forgotten about this incident mostly. But the comments coming from some of the mother-truckers (some of them I believe to be UPS people) re-opened the can of worms. I posted it on platewire to see how that works.....

http://www.platewire.com/ViewBlog.aspx?bid=1211

Yeah, I read the comments, and took many of them in and considered what some of the more intelligent people said. However, for the most part, the comment sections, forums and blogs are a lot like the internet everywhere, a clicque takes over and tries to shout all the other people off -- nevermind that the site is about reporting plate numbers -- some people there seem to have made it into their own private yahoo chat room. It is kind of like the cjonline forum, right boB? If you don't believe me, read some comments on the other plates. You will see the same howler monkeys on almost every one. They even know each others names. And they say I need a life.

However, what really happened, and what was really productive, was that due to some of the nasty comments, I decided to retry the UPS hotline. After calling it and getting disconnected once, I finally got through. I talked to a nice customer service gentleman, and told him my story. I gave him the link to the video, and I even said i would remove the video if the company asked me to. But I told him, my main area of concern is that the culture among some of the UPS people who posted is one of yelling at or threatening people who complain rightfully about their driving. The customer service guy listened to me, and told me that the supervisors in charge will watch the video, and will investigate the incident. I told the UPS representative that I didn't feel that my calling him would have even been necessary if I hadn't felt like some UPS people (drivers) were posting their comments showing a complete disreguard and indifference to safety on the road. I mean, if a guy races up on your ass in a truck train honking and flashing his lights like he wants to run you off the road, that is pretty blatent, don't you think? Then for the comments to be rude, and maybe even threatening -- read h8haulers comments -- and note that he is now watching my channel (only mine) and has commented on some of my other videos as well in the same manner -- then you might conclude, as I am concluding that maybe some changes need to be made at UPS. Needless to say, the call to the UPS rep was satisfactory and productive.

Another thing I think is funny -- ironic, is that a lot of people who comment claim that I have been "keeping this going" for a year. I only posted it once on Youtube. The people who have been "keeping it going" are the people who have been posting comments. I only commented one other time, and responded privately to one poster who wrote me in my inbox. That in a whole year. Then, last week, I put it on platewire. What I have been keeping going for over a year is the other 399 videos I have posted with right now having 1228570 views of my videos and 47399 channel views and only 3 "haul of shame" videos being posted. I also have my blog and myspace page which I work on. Oh, and I have work, and life, and buying a house and all those other things. Up until last week, I literally don't think about the "haul of shame" videos much at all except to say that I think having cars equipped with security cameras that always capture what is going on is a great deterrent not only to assahaulic drivers but also to crime. Let me also state that the difficulties of getting a camera rolling in time to catch bad driving usually precludes showing anything. The mayview incident is no exception but that I clearly catch the truck train passing me in a no passing zone, then weaving later on down the road. Even at that, the compression of the space due optics of the lens and the darkness makes it hard to make out how bad it really is (distances and speed), but no one wants to discuss that. However, I think I've found something that is useful not only to police, who use dash cameras, but also to the general public. As I stated, these three that I chose to post, with all my driving, are but a few of the many that I have witnessed or tried to shoot. Suyen and I followed an obvious drunk driver one night on I-70, were able to safely call him in, and follow him until the highway patrol pulled him over on 291. The dispatcher even stayed on the line with us as we reported his exact movements. Not only that, as some people have noticed, I have a scanner in the car. Every day people (good citizens) do this and the police appreciate it. As long as they can do it safely and not get involved in the incident, the police are more than happy to allow people to do it so that they can pull dangerous individuals off the roads. I mean, how would you feel if a drunk driver killed people you loved and the police did nothing and no one called. I would feel angry. But the platewire monkeys think it is wrong for you to try and call somebody in. I know all the criminal cockroaches definitely don't want you to snitch. They just want to be able to terrorize everyone around them with impunity. So to do all the horrible assahaulics on the roads. I beleive that is why somebody would start a site light platewire.

To finish, I have a good friend, Mark, who is an over the road trucker. He tells me that many truckers dislike several things. One of them is drivers who cut them off or don't give them room. But truckers especially hate the few truckers who "should not be on the road" in his words. He also says that some trucking companies are known for hiring bad drivers and/or for having sloppy safety proceedures. You know, it only takes a few bad apples to ruing the financial prospects of a large company. UPS is no exception to that.

12:38 -- I just finished having my walk with Tima and lunch.

Tuesday 20 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

What a nice day. Here is the view from our deck.

Here is that video of yesterdays driving I promised....


I'm going to go by YJ's to see if there is any early celebrating.

TMI

Stevo

2nd Week of February rolling blog

Wednesday 14 February 2007
00:55 -- the puter room. Happy Valentines day.

Here is what I've worked on since Sunday:

Moanday I worked with Tess on a story about guy who was hit by a snowplow while he was heading to work. He was unhurt but his pickup was destroyed. We had to go all the way out to Lee's Summit for that. We had to "run and gun" in order to get the story on the air without missing slot as we had to meet Mike for our liveshot in the snow.

Tuesday I worked with Nancy on a disaster at Skies school
....

The expected snowstorm hit on Moanday evening at about 20:30 with a little heavier snow than expected. We probably got about 5 inches at the house. I got some clips uploaded to Youtube Tuesday Morning finally. Here is Thursdays dashcam timelapse video....

Here is Friday's dashcam timelapse video from when we went to Lawrence...

Here is the timelapse for Saturday...


Right now, I am working on Sunday's dashcam timelapse that will also have Moanday. Then I will add a nice sped up video from the snow as I was driving home Moanday night.

Tuesday 13 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

I started shoveling snow on the driveway after the nice storm we had Moanday night leading into Tuesday Morning. Man, you can really do some thinking when doing a chore like this.

Tuesday 13 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

We didn't have a liveshot so after my editing was done I did a little vo patrol then went to YJ's for hot chocolate. There were flurries tonight. While in YJ's a crazy homeless guy gave everyone there a hard time. They had to tell him to leave and they called the cops. I think the guy went by the name 'Ruby.'

Thursday 15 February 2007
22:29 -- the puter room

I finished editing and uploading the video of the snowstorm yesterday. The music is very interesting. It is "Making my way back to Mokie" by the Malachy Papers. It is interesting how randomly the music and the beat of what is happening in the video seem to go in synch.

Just got done adding yet another dashcam timelapse to Youtube....

It shows my drive to and from work Wednesday as well as my day on Thursday. I got a new phone at work, a razor.

Thursday 15 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

I got the van and drove out to Bates City to give a check to the trailer park manager. Due to our move we never got our bill. So I straightened that out, and went to the trailer to check on it and get some stuff. Today is the coldest day of the year and the season. The highs barely got out of the single digits and tonight the temps were expected to reach below zero. Daylight is at the end of the tunnel however as it is expected to be near 60 degrees a week from now.

Thursday 15 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

These are pix I took with the new work phone I got today. It is a razor. This is the old puter room in the trailer. I took the videotape shelf apart to get it ready to haul, though I didn't take it today as there is nowhere to put it at the house. The shelf was a good find. A video store threw it away in 2002. It is good, sturdy, holds a lot of tapes, and rolls around.

I stopped by RSO on the way homo. Not much there. At homo, Suyen fixed us a delish dinner of wings and taters with rice (mmm carbs) and salad and yougurt with granola. We invited Mom and Dad for dinner at the house tomorrow. I started working on cleaning the garage to make room for more stuff. I assembled the shelves and put them on the south side of the garage and am now sorting boxes and putting them on the shelves.

Saturday 17 February 2007
23:22 -- Homo living room. I got up and got around yesterday. There was another big fire, this time 6 firefighers were hurt.

I went out yesterday and got the fixin's for dinner, which was chili. I went to HIV. I also stopped by Weird Stuff Antiques. As I came home from HIV, it started snowing pretty heavily. Mom and Dad came for their visit as I fixed chili. I followed the 5-gun recipe and it worked. Suyen got caught in traffic, so she was late. When she got here, she decided to fix some chicken and shrimp.

Friday 16 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Dinner went well.

On Saturday I worked 6 to 2. I was with Leslie. She had switched with Kim. We went to the Ararat Shrine in Kansas City.

Saturday 17 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

This is mine and Leslies Saturday morning liveshot at the Ararat shrine in Kansas City, Missouri. My schedule is switched this weekend.

Saturday 17 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

I need to set up a semi decent photo if that is possible for phoners. I look like a convict in my pictures.

We put together a nice package on the shrine. I edited it on the Avid.

Suyen wanted pizza, so she ordered by phone and I got pizza at Minsky's. Then we went to Nebraska Furnature Mart. We wore ourselves out in that big place and only got some inkjet cartriges. Then we went to Tar-gay.

Saturday 17 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

We seem to spend a lot of time shopping these days, first Nebraska Furniture Mart, then Tar-gay.

Sunday 18 February 2007
22:40 -- Today I worked with Bob. We drove out to Breckenridge, Missouri.

Sunday 18 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

We saw this neat little country liquor store on the way into Breckenridge, Missouri. Today was a much nicer day. Temps in the 40's near 50's and all the snow was melting. Woo Hooo!!!

We did a story about the 1988 blast that killed 6 firefighters in south KC. A man has stepped forward who claims that the 5 people convicted for the crime were the wrong people, and that actually two security guards started the fires that caused the explosion. We went up to the small town of Breckenridge to talk to him. The new photographer, Donovan shadowed us. I edited it in the avid today.

Tonight Suyen met me at work and we ate at Taj Palace. Mmmmm it was good, and the owner is very friendly.

Afterward we went to YJ's for the jazz jam. It is becoming a regular thing for us.

Sunday 18 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Suyen, dragged into YJ's yet again. She loved the strawberry cake.

Sunday 18 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Sunday Jazz at YJ's

Sunday 18 February 2007, originally uploaded by studestevo.

Psst...I think Suyen was actually relaxing and enjoying some of the music...

TMI

Stevo