Chicago High School Senior Arrested for Writing an Essay

The Chicago Tribune published a story about a Chicago area high-school senior who was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for writing what the school has termed a "disturbing" essay. The essay was penned for a creative writing class and according to the student followed instructions to the students to go ahead and express their emotions as they see fit. Yes, there were general references to shooting people and commentary regarding the English teacher being a control freak, but with that the "disturbing" part was over.

How predictable is this arrest only days after the Virginia Tech killings. This is a perfect example of people overreacting and hassling students for remote references to violence. This, of course, happens in a society, where violence in best-selling books, blockbuster hits and all types of songs has been part of the day for years. What happened to freedom of speech and artistic expression? Yes, the maniac Cho did write some violent essays, but how many of the thousands of people who write about violence and reference killings actually become mass murderers?

Too bad for Allen Lee, the student who was arrested in Chicago. In his essay he was talking about joining the Marines, but even the Marines have dropped him as a result of the arrest. Its a pity. Hopefully this arrest will be an isolated incident and Mr. Lee will graduate and join the Marine Corps as he wants.

Adrian the Coyote hanging out in Quiznos

This is an interesting story about a coyote that apparently walked into a Quiznos sandwich shop downtown Chicago for a quick break. He was later named “Adrian” after the guy from the Animal Care and Control Department, who took care of him overnight. Adrian was released in a Chicago suburb after a medical exam. He is to share the company of two other coyotes that seems to live in the area. I wonder how he managed to get downtown at 37 E. Adams Street. But then I remember seeing rabbits hopping around close to the Jackson and Dearborn intersection of all places. It is nice to know that although the city advances in all directions (except for the lake) you can still see wild life in the very heart of Chicago.