Thursday, April 14, 2005

Update on thecongressman.net
So, the State of Ohio, in their infinite wisdom, and their desire to protect the citizenry from profanity, has taken it upon themselves to print out every page of thecongressman.net. I'm sure multiple copies. And photocopies of those copies. At this point, I'm sure more paper has been wasted on this fool's errand than would fit in the average file drawer. Representatives of the Ohio BMV tried to use statements made by Byron on his PERSONAL blog to get him fired from his job. The problem was, the statements were neither inflammatory, defaming nor insulting. Said personnel had the gall to mention that Byron "shouldn't have pissed off" people at the BMV on his blog, thus validating the opinion of this intrepid chronicler that the whole thing is a witch hunt.
There were other things printed out by the BMV representatives, including pages of this blog and pictures from the happy hour! blog (also owned by me) of Byron and his coworkers drinking beer. Because, you know, drinking beer is bad. Not that it's not LEGAL or anything...
Investigators from the BMV have seized the plate BUKKAKE (even though standard procedure is to send out a letter about it and request that the individual obtain another plate). Normally, plates are surrendered. Not TAKEN. But, since this is a vendetta, the law doesn't matter, does it?
But wait...it doesn't end there. The Ohio BMV is meticulously going through every single eBay auction that Byron has, to make sure he's not selling any plates he shouldn't be. Not that the plate collecting organization he belongs to, ALPCA, doesn't do that already. Or eBay. No, the STATE is now monitoring eBay auctions. Yes, folks, Big Brother IS watching you. And his name is Frank Caltrider (I'm certain I spelled that wrong, and I'm sorry if I did), apparently.
Oh, but that's not the end of it. Apparently, the guy who started all of this, the owner of local coffee shop who shall remain nameless for now, has threatened to press charges for menacing against Byron. Now, keep in mind, while said person was protesting the inclusion of the plate W IS EVIL in Byron's plate display, he used the phrase "I'm not threatening you, but I'm WARNING you...", which is, in itself, a threat...and menacing... And that Byron posted something about this businessman on his PRIVATELY OWNED BLOG THAT THE STATE SHOULDN'T BE MONITORING.
Had Byron posted this on a message board or site that wasn't owned by him, like customerssuck.com or in a newsgroup, would the State still be involved? Considering the extent of their harassment and invasion of his privacy, probably.
However, it's perfectly all right to do the same to him! At least two BMV employees have been discussing their activities on the forums of a site called Detective Talk, while they were on the clock down at 1970 West Broad Street. If that's not a breach of ethics, I don't know what is. Byron posts something negative about a guy who treats him badly, or expresses frustration at the BMV on his private website, and the State is gunning for him, but two STATE EMPLOYEES engaged in this illegal harassment are actually posting on a PUBLIC FORUM details of their investigation, including linking to pages on his now closed website. They removed the thread about him the moment they knew Byron had found them, but forgot that servers keep backup copies of those things. And if this comes down to a legal issue, that forum's threads CAN be subpoenaed. The thread that Byron started was met with insults and mooning emoticons. Very mature behavior for these "professional" investigators." Yes, Ohio BMV...your own employees have succeeded in hanging yourself with the rope you meant for Byron. That might be why user "leener41" (whose member profile is here) was so upset, he didn't sleep all night last night. Or why registration is suddenly closed on the forum...and I SO wanted to join...
Yes, you folks got found out. Now who's the detectives? And leneer...I hope you don't just "loose" your dear friend over this, I hope you LOSE your job.
Am I wrong in thinking that this is so completely beyond the pale that Franz Kafka couldn't have dreamed it up? Hell no. Byron might be a twit, but he's a good friend. And I might love the state of Ohio, but the state government is another thing entirely. I can't wait until Mike Coleman runs for (and WINS) the office of governor and gets rid of all the Republican bureaucrats who are currently entrenched. They make me sick, frankly.
***UPDATED***: They've now removed the other thread from detectivetalk. However, it's reprinted in (most) of its glory in the COMMENTS. Have a nice night.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Since they were so nice to delete the thread where Byron popped in on them, here's what was said after they removed the original thread (I thought to save it)...

Hi guys!!






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thecongressman


  Posted: Apr 13 2005, 06:15 PM




Rookie Detective


Group: Banned
Posts: 1
Member No.: 650
Joined: 13-April 05




Well hello there! I'm the guy that's been the topic of your discussion the last two days! I'd like to invite you to my site, but as you all know the BMV is really on my ass, so I voluntarily took it down for the time being. I'd also like to say hello to the at least two BMV employees that are on this site! Hi guys! I'm sure it's not often that you all see someone that is the primary topic of your discussion on your website, and even rarer that they post. But here I am. If you're wondering how I found your site, it's only because I know all--they only thing I don't know is why you felt the need to eliminate the 5+ pages about me. It was great! I even have my own personal hard copy!

And to alleviate your concerns, I'm happy to answer any questions. I'll answer a few now.
1. Those plates that you see--they were obtained legally. See, I'm a member of ALPCA, member 9762, which is the Automobile License Plate Collector Association. It's been around for more than 50 years, and is currently over 3000 members strong. 90% of my plates are obtained through regional meets and eBay, the rest are out of my own personal stash. You all heard about SUWINS--which, by the way, were all legally obtained.

2. Yes, I did have BUKKAKE on my car, and yes, it was rudely confiscated by the BMV.

3. Yes, I did call some people at the BMV "fuckers," but they were never named personally. It's sad that they have a "personal vendetta" against me because of something I said in a non-work related enviroment. My website was, and still is, a PERSONAL website. It is a pathetic day when the BMV attacks a PERSONAL BLOG and attempts to use it against that person. It is equally as pathetic that they monitor my eBay auctions. But I've known that they've checked them since SUWINS, so it's no surprise--even though all of that runs afoul of personal privacy issues. If Wal-Mart were to fire an employee that made anti-Spraw-Mart comments on a message board (such as this) you can bet your ass every even semi-competent lawyer would smother Wal-Mart on that case. Same here. What I do on my personal time is totally unrelated to my paid time--unless I intermingle the two, i.e. pass out flyers about my site at work--which would be the most retarded thing I could do.

4. And to those that called me a "jerk"--wait until thecongressman.net v. 2.0 is complete. I'll remember you.

Let's talk.
BTW, hello, BMV investigations.

 


  
 



hol


Posted: Apr 13 2005, 06:24 PM




Yenta


Group: Members
Posts: 12825
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Joined: 3-April 03




Sounds like a real jerk! There, I said it too!!!!

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Remember...a layer of dust protects the Wood beneath it.

 


 
 



SunFlwer


Posted: Apr 13 2005, 06:43 PM




Elite Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 9429
Member No.: 247
Joined: 3-April 03






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sugar


Posted: Apr 13 2005, 07:18 PM




Secret Agent


Group: Members
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Member No.: 231
Joined: 3-April 03




4. And to those that called me a "jerk"--wait until thecongressman.net v. 2.0 is complete. I'll remember you.

What is that? A virus threat or something?

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"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness. Not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. "
- William Feather

 


 
 



sugar


Posted: Apr 13 2005, 09:59 PM




Secret Agent


Group: Members
Posts: 25709
Member No.: 231
Joined: 3-April 03





QUOTE (SunFlwer @ Apr 13 2005, 07:43 PM)





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"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness. Not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. "
- William Feather

 


 
 



Puhhlease


Posted: Apr 14 2005, 04:13 AM




Elite Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 4182
Member No.: 84
Joined: 18-February 03




Ok, since I don't read here as much as some of you, I cannot understand what the big deal is with this guy? Why is he such a thorn in people's asses? Did he do something personal to someone here? I am not trying to choose sides(yet LOL) or ruffle feathers here if someone is offended.
But I don't see the big deal. Again I state YET! LOL

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Has anyone seen my constitutional rights?
I drive a weapon of mass consumption!



 


 
 



SunFlwer


Posted: Apr 14 2005, 05:10 AM




Elite Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 9429
Member No.: 247
Joined: 3-April 03




You obviously don't know the whole story. (Because admittedly, you aren't here as much)

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traciloveslepp


Posted: Apr 14 2005, 05:13 AM




Leppard Addicted Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 9396
Member No.: 392
Joined: 16-May 03




Duuuuuuuuuuuuude....

its the internet....

Even with your lovely 5 pages of hard copy...it means nothing. Believe me...a printed piddly ass copy of a few message board posts doesnt mean squat. Take it from someone who had her personal writings copied and published in a book.

Get over yourself, darlin. For someone who KNOWS ALL...as you state you do...you dont know shit from shinola.

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4-3

 


   
 



Puhhlease


Posted: Apr 14 2005, 05:16 AM




Elite Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 4182
Member No.: 84
Joined: 18-February 03




Exactly Sunflower, that is kind of why I want to know what is going on. All I have seen of this was that he is accused of doing something illegal with plates?
I don't see his big deal either, what people say here etc are a matter of opinion, and anyone that is AN ADULT, could care less what is said where, IF what they do is on the up and up.

So, what happened that has people here mad?

--------------------
Has anyone seen my constitutional rights?
I drive a weapon of mass consumption!



 


 
 



leener41


Posted: Apr 14 2005, 05:17 AM




Elite Detective


Group: Members
Posts: 2509
Member No.: 280
Joined: 15-April 03




Guys please don't post any more back to this guy or about this. Our chief knows the whole deal and has asked for a copy of his post. I've printed it and will give it to Donna in the morning. Donna, bless her heart spilled her guts this morning. Thank you Donna She knows how upset I am. I haven't slept all night. I'm just sick over the whole thing of him getting on here and seeing what I posted. I'm sorry. I just hope I do not loose a very dear friend over this.

Unknown said...

Sadly, the very classy emoticons don't transfer to the blog's comments.

Anonymous said...

this stupid site looks like it was desgined by a person who just received a bukkake session and forgot to clean their face hahah

Unknown said...

That's nice.
Don't have anything of worth to say, I see.