Blogcritics Author: Robert T DeMarco

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

How Do You Spell Boring? American Idol

Robert T DeMarco — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:12:54 EDT

After a red hot show three weeks ago, American Idol could not have been more dull and boring the last two weeks. Even the fights between Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest have been, well, boring. Even Sanjaya failed to liven things up this week. He was, well, boring. By now I guess you get the picture; on to the contestants and predictions for this week.Sanjaya, you are safe. I have been with you all the way man, but after last night you could be getting close to the end of your roll. You better come up with something new and different over the next few weeks because the competition is toughening up. When will LaKisha live up to the expectations she created on the first real week of the show? Ever since that week she has steadily worsened. I predicted last week she would end up in the bottom three and I’ll stay with that prediction this week. When LaKisha goes before Sanjaya we will really have something to write about.If Melinda keeps up her present course, she will go the way of Constantine (did you see him in the audience last night?). It amazes me that these contestants never learn. If you sing a song we have never heard of, we won’t pick up the phone and vote no matter how good you are. I don’t care that she gave an excellent performance last night; I would be willing to bet that she has dropped out of first place for the first time in many weeks.This of course brings us to Jordin. She has improved dramatically since the first week of competition; Jordin is now the one to beat. The most important thing to remember about Jordin is that she gets it. If Sanjaya goes, she is the one most likely to benefit and that is a real wild card factor in the weeks ahead. Will Sanjaya instruct his loyal legions of fans on how they should vote? Stay tuned.I really like Chris Richardson and I have since the beginning. Oddly, his performance was so bad last week I predicted he would go. Like Melinda, this week he just doesn’t get it. He is going to get a chance to drink all the Cherry Coke he wants soon enough, but it won’t be this week. If this young man wants to pull off an upset next week he is going to need to sing a song we want to hear and not a song he wants to sing. He better do it with some pizzazz while he is at it.I like Phil, but its time to say "bye-bye." You can only get so far on a big smile, bald head, loving your wife, and blowing kisses to the fans. Enough already. Paula thinks you have a career in country. I have a nice bridge I would like to sell to her.Nice job Blake, you definitely pleased your fans. You do get it.So to recap, Phil is going home. The bottom three are: Phil, Chris and LaKisha. By the way if there is a surprise this week it will be LaKisha going home.

My name is Robert T DeMarco and I am a caregiver by choice. I am responsible for the well-being of my 90-year-old mother who has Alzheimer's. 41% of caregivers are male. I have a series of blogs including The Alzheimer's Reading Room Weblog , The CareGiver Weblog , and The Robert T DeMarco Weblog .

American Idol - A Big Surprise Tonight

Robert T DeMarco — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:51:00 EDT

Let me start by saying this week’s show sucked! If you are going to do Latin you need some contestants that can carry it off. This crew, no way! This week’s show was really disappointing after the “hot” performances last week.I will say that Jennifer Lopez is really terrific. She looks great, has a wonderful positive attitude, and really seemed interested in promoting the contestants rather than herself. Kudos and props to Jennifer.Let’s get the important stuff out of the way - Sanjaya: you are safe and continue to be a force to be reckoned with even if people like pwinn don’t get it.LaKisha: it looks to me like you are now in the bottom three and losing momentum fast. Jordin: if you continue to improve each week, like you have so far this season, you are going to win in a barn burner against either Sanjaya or Melinda.Last week I took some “guff” because I incorrectly predicted that Phil was going home. I definitely underestimated the effect of him saying he was singing that love song “to his wife”. Nice touch man, very smart. I did have the bottom three correct in case you missed it.You won’t believe this but I think both Phil and Haley will make the cut this week. I did enjoy Simon Cowell’s comment about Haley’s skimpy clothing. Most of us have been thinking the same thing all season. Well, in order to survive Haley is going to need to consider wearing a “dental floss” bikini or she will be going home soon enough, but not this week. Please America, put her out of her misery soon!I am sad to say that I believe Chris Richardson is heading home. I’ll predict further that the bottom three are: Chris, LaKisha and Phil. If I am wrong on my prediction, bye bye Phil.

American Idol 6 -- Sanjaya Now the One to Beat

Robert T DeMarco — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 16:19:56 EDT

Finally, American Idol, HOT HOT HOT! Last night’s show was terrific. For the first time this season, the majority of the contestants came prepared to fight for the crown. Big performances by Melinda, Jordin, Blake, Chris, and yes, Sanjaya, as these five separated themselves from the pack. At this point, it looks like Chris is rising and both Blake and LaKisha are beginning to fade. My top five in order right now are: Sanjaya, Melinda, Jordin, Blake and Chris. That's right, America, Sanjaya is now the one to beat.The kid continues to surprise with his offbeat and often endearing personality. It now appears that the evil Simon Cowell is beginning to “get it.” No less than the great Tony Bennett left it clear that even he is impressed by the kid's presence (are you listening, Joe Scarborough, Mo Rocca, and Larry King?). It seems that some are willing to accept what is, while others just can't stand the idea that this is a voting contest. For those with short memories, Diana DeGarmo made it into the final two. Need I say more?So far I have correctly predicted who is going home for three straight weeks (the entire voting season). If last night is any indication, I should be able to get it right at least two more weeks. While it is Haley that should be going home tonight, my analysis tells me it is going to be Phil this week. Both Phil and Gina just continue to disappoint. I can't help but feel after last night's show that they want to go home so they can get out from under the pressure. Next week, it will be the beautiful, wonderful-to-look-at Haley versus the more talented Gina to see who gets to get back to the daily humdrum of things. Come on Gina, let it fly. Get a Red Bull or something before the show.To recap: Sanjaya is now the one to beat, Chris is rising, Lakisha and Blake are falling, and Phil is going home tonight.

American Idol Prediction: My Plea to Sanjaya and America

Robert T DeMarco — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:37:28 EDT

Hey man, I have been with ya all the way. Just look here on Blogritics to see my weekly predictions.While others have a problem accepting what is, I have successfully predicted each week that Ryan Seacrest would pronounce you safe. Who cares what Simon Cowell has to say about you (hey, you shut him up)? Or that Paula Abdul can’t seem to send out that love vibe for you? You are the man (da) dog, right Randy?I will predict that once again this week Ryan Seacrest will pronounce, “Sanjaya, America has voted and you are safe”. Congratulations dog, you made the top nine. Maybe Randy will let you in the dog pound tonight.You are a phenomenon, no doubt. The Fanjayanatics, the teenyboppers, they can’t get enough of you and the love affair continues. When Larry King started talking about you on Larry King Live, I though it was really wild. In the last week, you have Joe Scarborough (Scarborough Country) talking about you. As smart as Joe is, you really have him confused, he just doesn’t get it. Not yet anyway. And now, I really have to congratulate you. None other than Tony Kornheiser of Pardon the Interruption (PTI) on ESPN is watching and digging your act. What say you Stat Boy (Tony Reali)?Sanjaya, the most credible man in America, Larry King, one of the brightest and most honest men on TV, Joe Scarborough, and a Monday Night Football analyst and co-anchor of the best sports show on TV are all talking about you. Can it get any better? Okay, Sanjaya, here is my plea. Get back to the basics. Get the hair down and straightened or go with the curly look, but make it basic. Get dressed like the kid you are. Get into the middle of the stage. Let us hear your best effort. Get a Stevie Wonder or Lionel Ritchie song, something like that. Let the little girls have it. You gotta stay true to yourself, man, or you are “going home”. Forget the gimmicks.It looks to me like Chris S. is going home this week. Dude, you gotta watch your weight, man. I thought you love your wife? Well, killing yourself is no way to show it. In closing, here is my plea to America: send Hailey home next week. Sure she is really pleasing to look at and I admit I am enjoying it right along with you. But the sooner we send her home the sooner we get to see her in Playboy. Think about it.See ya all next week.Find:

American Idol Prediction: Teenyboppers Will Send Sanjaya Soaring Into the Top Ten

Robert T DeMarco — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:49:52 EDT

Call them what you want -- Fanjayanatics, Fanjayanistas, or teenyboppers -- it should be clear by now that America's teenagers love Sanjaya. Little Ashley left little doubt that Ryan Seacrest will say these beautiful words to Sanjaya tonight: "America voted -- you are safe."If you are still unable to figure out what is happening then maybe Peter Noone hipped you in last night when he explained it's not a singing contest, it's a voting contest. If you cannot accept this then all I can say is God bless you. Right, Simon?Frankly, I am really getting tired of people knocking this kid. He emanates a pureness that is rare in today's age. For me, and millions of voters across the country, this purity is what makes him so appealing. Is he a great singer? No! He gets our vote anyway — bah humbug.I admit that Sanjaya’s machinations on the floor and stage left a lot to be desired for many of the shows purists. But, at the end of the day his million dollar smile and the tears of Ashley let you know that he was sure to live to sing another day on the show. Like it or not.It was odd that Simon somehow concluded after the performance exactly the opposite of what everyone was seeing. Did he really believe that little Ashley hated the performance? Is that possible? You tell me. One thing for sure, Sanjaya confuses Simon and did something no one else has been able to do — he left him speechless.The fans of Sanjaya will prove the power of the vote by sending him on to the tour at the end of the season. It will be interesting to the see this new teenybopper generation in action at the concerts. Meanwhile, can the teenyboppers continue this trend of voting Sanjay through as the season progresses? Only time will tell.Our young people are learning one very good lesson, in my opinion — the power of the ballot box. If nothing else they are learning that if you get up off your butt and vote for what you believe in, you can change the world. In the big scheme of things it won’t change much if Sanjaya continues on each week. Or will it?It is a tough call tonight between Gina, Stephanie, or Phil as to who goes home. I’ll go with a lukewarm prediction of Stephanie.

Don't Disrespect American Idol Underdog Sanjaya

Robert T DeMarco — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:08:19 EDT

For several weeks now I predicted correctly that Sanjaya would continue on in his quest to become the next American Idol. It is amazing that a shy 17-year-old could elicit such strong emotions from so many across the U.S. Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion.So let me ask you these simple questions. Have you ever been in the top eleven in anything important? Are you the kind of person that has the courage to go in and ask the boss for a well-deserved raise? When you see that someone special that you want to talk to across the room or across the bar, do you go over and talk to them or clam up? If you answered yes, congratulations -- you are Sanjaya-like. If you answered no, stop dissing my guy.This young man, Sanjaya, by his own admission is shy. Gee, I guess most of us figured that out by now. It seemed from the way they cut the show at the beginning that he only went into the room to audition because he happened to be there with his sister. Next things he knows, it’s off to Hollywood and now the elite eleven. We should be rejoicing in his success and seeing him as a young role model. In the comments section of my previous article, "Long Live Sanjaya, American Idol Underdog", a young twelve-year-old named Terrie wrote that she is voting for Sanjaya because she read in his bio that he is shy. Being shy herself, she is attracted to the young man and sees him the way he should be seen — as a role model.Now some people are trying to explain his success by pointing to Vote for the Worst. While I have no doubt that this helps, I am certain this accounts for only a tiny fraction of the votes he is receiving. The teenagers of America are keeping this young man alive.We should cherish Sanjaya and accept that he is well-liked around America. Maybe all those teenagers see something in this young man that we as adults cannot. Maybe they see a role model. Maybe they see someone aspiring to a dream. Or maybe they just don’t like the fact that so many are “dissing” him.I’ll have my prediction out this week on Wednesday afternoon. I am happy to say I correctly predicted that Sanjaya was safe last week, and I also correctly predicted that Brandon would be the first of the top twelve to hit the dirt.Is a major surprise in store in the next two weeks? The answer is yes, stay tuned.

Long Live Sanjaya, The American Idol Underdog

Robert T DeMarco — Fri, 9 Mar 2007 19:02:34 EST

Hey, I don't mind admitting it, I watch American Idol. Frankly, I find the show uplifting. What could be better than watching young people reach for their dream -- the American Dream. If nothing else you need to admire them for having the courage to go for it. It beats sitting on your butt dreaming about what you want.And I'll tell ya what. I am a big fan of Sanjaya. That's right. The kid has a voice like Stevie Wonder. We can only hope that he shows it this week.The thing that interests me the most is the fact that every single person I know hates the kid and doesn't believe he deserves to be in the top twelve. Well guess what? Most of them have been paying off their weekly bets to me as the kid moves on.They continually ask me what I see in Sanjaya? I honestly believe he has a "fantastic" voice. No, he isn't a showman, nor does he have a big act. He looks like a deer in the headlights. But let's face it, I am not the only one that sees something in the kid. America, or a slice of America, believes in him.Do I think he will make it much further? No, I don't. On the other hand, it won't surprise me in the least if he goes another couple of weeks. One thing for sure, he is going to need to knock the cover off the ball if he intends to move on this week. Can he deliver the big big performance when he needs it? Well, I for one am rooting for him.I was sorry to see Sundance go. He is really terrific. But, sometimes they just don't seem to learn you gotta sing something popular. A tremendous rendition of a song none of us ever heard of insures one thing -- back you go to your day job. Right Constantino?

Sex, lies and videos

Robert T DeMarco — Tue, 8 Mar 2005 17:40:22 EST

Source Herald Argus: By DANIEL PRZYBYLA -- Staff Writer About a year ago, local film director and producer Don Varda read in The Herald-Argus about a series of arrests of Internet sexual predators in LaPorte County."Every other day there was an arrest for crimes related to Internet predators luring children out of their homes to harm them," said Varda, 38, a LaPorte County resident. "I thought it was the hottest topic right now and it's affecting my own county."Varda, who wrote and directed the independent film "Best for Last" and worked on "Prancer," said he felt compelled to put his filmmaking talent to work producing an informational video to educate parents and children about the threat of online sexual predators.What also drove the husband and father of three is that Varda wasn't aware of such a video in libraries or schools.Varda interviewed LaPorte City Police Det. Sgt. Adam Klimczak and LaPorte County Prosecutor Robert Beckman for the video, along with an investigator and renowned law-enforcement expert on Internet sexual predators."I was pleased to provide 27 years of experience to a cause that can educate people on what can transpire in these situations. Any information is good information," Beckman said....Did you Know? Teachers, parents, law enforcement agencies, non-profits or any interested website can get our free syndicated news feed for their Home Page at Watch Right Internet Crimes Against Children Syndicated News FeedYou can read about Crimes Against Children on the Internet at Watch Right Internet Crimes Against Children Weblog

Operation Predator probe nabs 15 for child pornography in Chicago area

Robert T DeMarco — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 21:47:34 EDT

Source Pioneer Local and Watch Right Internet Crimes Against Children WeblogAn investigation into child pornography resulted in charges against 15 Lake County residents, including two former high school teachers and a swimming coach. At a press conference last week, Lake County law enforcement officials announced the results of Operator Predator, a 10-month investigation into child pornography which started in November 2003.Fifteen men from throughout Lake County, from as far north as Antioch to as far south as Barrington, have been charged with unlawful possession of child pornography and other related offenses.Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said the defendants come from communities throughout the county, including Antioch, Grayslake, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Highland Park, Deerfield, Mundelein, Lake Barrington, Lake Villa, Round Lake Beach, Waukegan and Fox Lake. Some of the individuals have already been convicted while others are awaiting trial or have not yet been apprehended. "What's become clear to me during the course of this investigation is that child predators have left the playground and are now invading cyber space," said Lake County Sheriff Gary Del Re. Del Re said the investigation "strikes at the heart of the commercial trade of child pornography by attacking the commercial profits derived by such a deplorable venture." More than 75 personal computers were seized during the course of the investigation, and more than 50,000 child pornography images and video clips were discovered.Waller said among the individuals who were charged included two teachers and a high school coach. "In our view anybody who deals with child pornography needs to be brought to justice," he said. The defendants include:Andrew Shuran, 57, 425 Cambridge Drive, Grayslake, a former teacher and administrator at Farragut High School in the Chicago public schools. He was charged with four counts of possession of child pornography, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to make a $1,000 contribution to the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center. George Zerfass, 61, 945 Holmes, Deerfield, a retired school teacher who taught for 33 years at Glenbrook South High School. He pleaded guilty last week to one count of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 months felony probation, required to undergo counseling, ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 18, have no computer or Internet access, and required to register as a sex offender. Joshua Delcore, 32, of 185 Shoreline Road, Unit A, Lake Barrington, who was formerly employed as head coach for the boys varsity swimming team and as the head of the Barrington Swim Club. He faces 10 counts of possession of child pornography. A trial date is set for Jan. 3. Edward Small, 26, of 334 Jefferson Court, Vernon Hills, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to make a $500 contribution to the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center. Joseph Fieger, 40, of 983 Harvard Court, Highland Park, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to make a $1,000 contribution to the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center. Javier Piedrahita, 43, of 31339 N. Ranch Road, Grayslake, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced to three years in prison. Matthew Kuehl, 27, of 17417 Chestnut Lane, Gurnee, is charged with possession of child pornography and his case is set for arraignment. Bobby Armstong, 63, of 1234 Ballantrae Place, Unit A, Mundelein, charged with possession of child pornography and is scheduled to voluntarily surrender to police. Brian Hooper, 42, of 19482 W. Grand Ave., Lake Villa, charged with possession of child pornography and his case is set for arrangement. Lawrence Lott, 46, of 2390 Quaker Hollow, Round Lake Beach, charged with possession of child pornography and his case is set for arraignment. Others who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges were Ronald Patton, 39, of 2425 Samson Way, Apt. 1E, Waukegan and Gary Gibson, 43, of 7208 Hasting Circle, Fox Lake. Three other individuals, Steve Matoga, 27, of 17417 Chestnut Lane, Gurnee; Rory Klema, 43, of 33 W. Chicago Ave., Mundelein; and Craig Doyle, 25, of 1703 Partridge St., Waukegan, are all wanted on warrants on child pornography possession charges. The Lake County investigation began as a result of a federal investigation into a child pornography and money laundering scheme in Minsk, Belarus. Through that investigation, federal investigators identified and shut down a child pornography Web site in Florida. Federal authorities obtained the names of individuals were subscribing to the site and sent them to local authorities throughout the country. Waller said initially 29 potential cases were identified in Lake County. In some cases, it was determined the individuals had moved out of the area, there was insufficient evidence, or the individuals had been victims of identify theft, he said. The investigation in Lake County was a joint effort between the Lake County Sheriff's Department, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center, and the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, as well as local police departments. Waller said county investigators logged more than 400 man hours in developing the cases against the defendants. "Lake County is the first county in the Midwest, maybe in the country to complete this investigation," he said. Teachers, parents, law enforcement agencies or any website can get a free syndicated news feed for their Home Pages at Watch Right Internet Crimes Against Children Syndicated News FeedRobert T DeMarco IP Group Inc. Contact via Email Watch Right Monitoring SoftwareInstant Message Frame Software RSS Feed

Quiet teen's terror plot stuns school

Robert T DeMarco — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:10:57 EDT

In the real world, he was a shy suburban teenager who lived with his family on a Clinton Township cul-de-sac amid lawn ornaments, tidy gardens and children's play sets.Source Detroit Free Press But in the anonymous world of the Internet, police said, Andrew Osantowski, 17, became "Nazi Bot Sadistic," a chat room regular who wrote of his high school's police liaison officer: "Now I'm more than ever determined to blow her head off."The two worlds collided Friday, when Osantowski was publicly accused of turning his family's two-story home into a virtual armory with a stockpile of weapons that included an AK47, chemicals and pipe bombs. His plan was a Columbine-scale massacre at Chippewa Valley High School, where he'd enrolled 10 days before his arrest, police said.His father, Marvin Osantowski, 52, and neighbor Dominic Queentry, 33, also are charged with felonies linked to the teen's alleged plotting."At first glance, you would think that this is some kid who has got to be lying: He can't have an AK47; he can't have two shotguns; he can't have all these explosives," said Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor John Courie. "It's really scary to find out it is true. Thank God everyone took it seriously."The charges against the three stem from angry e-mails the teen allegedly sent to a teenage girl in Washington state. Based on a tip from her father, a state university police officer, Clinton Township authorities raided Andrew Osantowski's home Thursday and seized a cache of weapons, explosive materials, homemade videos and Nazi memorabilia.Police displayed the seized items Friday, along with marijuana plants taken from Queentry's home. They said Marvin Osantowski knew there were stolen weapons in his house and that Queentry coached Andrew Osantowski on making bombs -- even taking the teen to a wooded area in Clinton Township and blowing up a tree to show how explosives work.Andrew Osantowski "was angry at everything," said Clinton Township Police Capt. Douglas Mills. "I don't know if it was one particular race. It didn't seem to matter to him."Andrew's mother, Janice Osantowski, said she was stunned when police called her at work Thursday and told her they would be searching her home. She knew her son and husband had been arrested, but she didn't hear from either one until Friday morning when her husband called collect to ask her to arrange for an attorney and attend his arraignment.She sat Friday outside 41B District Court with a neighbor, her eyes red and watery as she described Andrew as a kind teenager who tends to his autistic brother. He struggled with depression two years ago and has bounced among three high schools, she said, but otherwise he's a normal teenager."I always thought he would be somebody someday," Osantowski, 51, said of her son. "I always thought he would be this wonderful person. "I think he's just been brainwashed by this Nazi stuff he had."Andrew Osantowski's only public comments Friday came during his video arraignment. Osantowski, his pale skin and blond hair a stark contrast to his black T-shirt, was polite and composed when asked for his thoughts on bond by Magistrate John Russi."I'd like to participate in, like, antidrug programs or antiviolence programs. Anything I can do to help the community," Osantowski said, just after requesting a court-appointed attorney.Russi told him that was a separate issue and set a total bond at $1.35 million for all of the charges.Osantowski faces one count of threatening an act of terrorism, a 20-year felony, and three counts of receiving and concealing stolen firearms, a 10-year felony. Other charges include larceny, computer crimes and threatening a witness.His father came on-screen a short time later to face charges of concealing stolen firearms and conspiring to conceal. He told the magistrate, "I'm a good citizen," before his bond was set at $600,000. Queentry is charged with possessing explosives, maintaining a drug house and marijuana possession. His bond is $100,000.Preliminary exams for all three are scheduled for Sept. 30.Queentry, a recent hire at a Rochester food service, moved to Clinton Township about a year and a half ago with his wife and kids but rarely socialized with anyone on the block, neighbors said. During the Fourth of July holiday, Queentry would often set off homemade fireworks in front of the house.Marvin Osantowski is an autoworker on disability with a penchant for neighborhood causes. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and a founding member of a local Catholic church. In 2000, he was appointed to the township committee after protesting a road expansion in his neighborhood. Fellow members didn't notice anything unusual. In fact, he seemed like a nice man, said Jason Davidson, who is the vice president of the Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education.Andrew Osantowski enrolled as a freshman in 2001 at De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren. He earned high marks and chugged through honors courses, never hinting that there was anything like a ticking time bomb within. His mother said he is a History Channel addict who especially likes World War II and video games."Certainly, during freshman year, we never had any indication of any major issues," said Terrence George, De La Salle's principal. But before the first semester of his sophomore year ended, Osantowski abruptly transferred to St. Clement High School in Center Line.Following advice from the school's lawyer, George declined to say whether Osantowski was expelled from De La Salle or left at will. He did say, though, that "there was no incident involving weapons. No incident involving hurting anybody, anything like that."Janice Osantowski said her son didn't want to attend Catholic school anymore and had asked to go to Chippewa Valley High School, where most of his friends were. He enrolled there as a transfer student just before his arrest. That was the school, police said, that he planned to blow to shreds.Chippewa Valley High School has approximately 2,000 students, many of whom were in class Thursday morning as Clinton Township police escorted Andrew Osantowski from the building. School was back in session Friday after police searches the previous evening found nothing dangerous.Teachers and administrators huddled Friday morning, reviewing safety protocols and guidelines. A public address announcement to the classrooms and a letter sent home to parents acknowledged the incident and said counselors were available to speak with concerned teens, said Diane Blain, a district spokeswoman.Tom Ptak, 17, a Chippewa Valley senior, said barely half of the students were in school Friday. He showed up in the morning but was yanked by his mother 10 minutes later because she feared for his safety.John Doman, 17, skipped school Friday and decided to attend the arraignments. He said he and Andrew Osantowski are friends going back to kindergarten and worked together at the Fern Hill Country Club in Clinton Township during the summer."He was just like a normal kid," Doman said. "I knew he liked World War II, but I never knew he was worshiping Hitler or anything."Andrew Osantowski's e-mails showed he "had a plan," Courie said. "He just seemed to rattle on. At one point he said he couldn't handle the problems that he was dealing with."Osantowski wrote about the Chippewa Valley High School police liaison officer, saying: "Now, I'm not even worried about getting into a gunfight with her because it doesn't matter. Now, I'm more than ever determined to blow her head off."The teen apparently targeted the liaison officer because she handled a case in which he and his father were accused of stealing three golf carts from Fern Hill in May. Both were charged with receiving and concealing stolen property and were arraigned Thursday morning, only hours before their home was raided on the terrorism tip.After Washington State University Police Officer George McGinty saw the e-mails that Osantowski sent to McGinty's daughter, he and another officer, Joseph Ederer, alerted Clinton Township police. He then faxed over 13 pages of e-mails that Osantowski allegedly sent.Osantowski corresponded with the girl from mid-August until Sept. 9, according to police reports. His mother said he did most of his socializing on the Internet."I don't know if the officers realized this guy was as serious as he is," Courie said.Teachers, parents, law enforcement agencies and others can get a free syndicated news feed for their Home Pages at Watch Right Internet Crimes Against Children Syndicated News FeedAbout Robert T DeMarcoRobert T DeMarco is CEO of IP Group in Herndon VA. IP Group offers software communication tools for use on the Internet. These include: PowerTools, Watch Right, Always on Time and IM Frame. Mr. DeMarco is the author/editor of several Weblogs and is also a member of the High Tech Crimes Industry Association (HTCIA). Mr. DeMarco has university level and corporate training and teaching experience, spent 20 years on Wall Street, acted as CEO of a small software company, and is currently discovering the world of blogging. Contact via EmailWatch Right Monitoring SoftwareInstant Message Frame Software RSS Feed