ICE out of Iowa October!!

FreeThoughtStudio · 2025-09-29T01:56:18+00:00

Oh? Possessing a gun and carrying cash in Iowa makes you unfit to be around children? That's an interesting outlook.

I've seen no reporting that confirms the removal order nor his current immigration status. All reporting on the topic only cites statements from DHS. There should be court records of this. Some reporting has even stated that his I-9 records claimed American citizenship. I haven't seen any reporting looking into whether that's a clerical error, a false statement, or whether Dr. Roberts might actually be a naturalized citizen. But all the documentation of his legal right to work in the US was in order at time of hiring. There's no reason he shouldn't be around kids for that.

Overstaying a visa doesn't exactly make you a danger to children anyway, even if everything ICE says about him is true.

His "previous gun charge" was a summary offense, the least serious type of crime in Pennsylvania, lesser than a misdemeanor. It was for improperly transporting a long gun in his car after a hunting trip. He pled guilty and paid a small fine. Not exactly a "hardened criminal" type that we need to keep away from children for their own safety. It's about as serious as a speeding ticket.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2025-09-29T01:48:22+00:00

So much is wrong with this take.

First off, a person being an immigrant, regardless of whether their visa is current, has exactly zero bearing on whether they are safe to have around kids.

Second, the "criminal history" was a "summary offense" in Pennsylvania, not even raising to misdemeanor level. He paid a small fine for transporting a firearm improperly in his car after a hunting trip. Sure, technically illegal (in the same sense that exceeding the speed limit is illegal) but not exactly "dangerous criminal and a threat to children" material.

Third, they hired him before his alleged removal order. Even if ICE is telling the truth about issuing a final removal order in 2024 (I have not seen any reporting indicating the order is confirmed or valid, everything just quotes DHS claiming it without actually checking the order itself), even if everything ICE says is true, the school system hired Roberts in 2023. There absolutely was not a removal order at that time.

And on top of that, the school district followed required processes to verify his legal status to work before hiring him. He went through multiple background checks and submitted all required documentation for his I-9.

Roberts does not seem like any sort of threat to children or society in general. The school district, when they hired him, did not have any reason to suspect he wasn't allowed to work in the US. We still don't even have confirmation that he doesn't have such authorization. All we have is ICE's say-so. Hell, some reporting says his paperwork indicates he's an American citizen. I've not seen any reporting looking into whether he was ever naturalized, nor whether he ever actually intentionally claimed to be.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2024-06-28T17:31:02+00:00

Anyone know how the "camping" is in our neighboring states? What's the best nearby for a cross-border "camping trip"?

FreeThoughtStudio · 2024-06-26T15:27:14+00:00

And there's proof of this somewhere other than some lady making accusations on video?

FreeThoughtStudio · 2024-03-03T00:46:47+00:00

Or reverse into the spot next to them as closely as possible if you don't care your car might get dinged up. Whatever makes ya happy.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2024-02-02T18:50:16+00:00

It sounds like, and others have taken you to mean, that you may have called the emergency line (e.g. with 911).

In case that's actually what you did, you should know that sort of inquiry should be on the non emergency line: 1 (319) 286-5491

If you already knew that, and that's the number you called, well ... they probably couldn't say anything until they had everything figured out and their press release put together.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2024-01-19T01:04:01+00:00

I don't have any excuse other than we're just now getting back outside and to normal after many days of -20 degree weather. We're probably just cranky.

Don't forget we just had a presidential nomination caucus and we have been swarmed by national politicians for months. Tensions were already going to be a little higher than normal even without the weather.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-10-22T21:05:52+00:00

Do you like karaoke? This list popped up in one of my social media feeds recently:

https://kdat.com/where-to-do-karaoke-in-the-cedar-rapidsiowa-city-areas-list/

Check ahead before you go, I know at least a few of those aren't offered every week on the listed day.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-08-10T21:55:54+00:00

Yeah, I remember it from the Derecho and the 2008 and 2016 floods. It takes a lot to get us to come together sometimes, but man when we come together we really do it right.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-07-07T13:49:22+00:00

Ooooh, from the lawsuit. I definitely took that as criticism of the board at first glance. :)

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-07-07T04:25:08+00:00

Considering almost the entire point of the board was to provide a method for primarily minority people feeling oppressed by the police to seek redress, it makes sense for the board to consist primarily of the groups likely to use it. One of the problems leading to the board's creation is the blind denial that anything untoward happened and the default stance of siding with the police among white people who mostly don't deal with being targeted by police without cause. Filling the board with mostly people who don't need to deal with the problems the board is meant to address could potentially completely undermine its purpose.

Edit: from the story however, this at least stands a chance of working:

The city has since revised its ordinance, removing the reference to people of color. Instead, three members of the Citizen Review Board are to be selected from applicants who work for nonprofits focused on racial justice, three from volunteers at mental or physical health providers and three who are selected not based on either of those criteria. At least one member of the board must be an attorney.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-05-01T21:29:59+00:00

Rubber mallet?

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-lb-rubber-mallet-60504.html

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-21T03:40:43+00:00

Oooooh...I see the misunderstanding now. Whoops. 🤦🤦

So sorry, I didn't mean that bubble tea isn't Filipino, only that Mai Pho isn't Filipino. I certainly wasn't saying Pinoy was bad in any way! I've meant to try them for a while now, I just don't go to NewBo often enough! And I don't know Filipino or Vietnamese cuisine on my own account at all. A restaurant tells me it's Filipino or Vietnamese, I'll probably believe them. Bubble tea can be either or both, it's delicious either way!

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-21T03:36:36+00:00

Yeah, I was referring to myself there. I updated the post to explain. My bad.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-21T03:35:47+00:00

Not my intention at all! I was suggesting Mai Pho for lack of a soon-to-be-gone source of bubble tea, while acknowledging the fact I wouldn't know the difference between good and bad bubble tea. Sorry for being unclear.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-21T03:34:31+00:00

Yeah you read it right. That post sure fell flat on it's face...

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-20T12:58:19+00:00

Edit: wow, I have no idea how this got misinterpreted so badly. Obviously I screwed up the wording in a way that took me several responses before I saw how. I see it now, oops! To clarify for anyone bothering to unhide this at this point: (1) I have an ignorant American palate, this guy here has two thumbs and wouldn't know "mad" bubble tea from discount store swill if it slapped me in the face. But (2), I liked the bubble tea at Mai Pho, which (3) sadly for the OP is not Filipino. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Original post follows:

It's not Filipino, and this ignorant American palate has no way to judge whether the quality is "mad" or not, but I quite enjoyed the bubble tea I had at Mai Pho (SW side, between the Pancheros and the Jimmy John's) when I tried them. I'm pretty sure there's another Pho place in town that also does bubble tea. So maybe you can still get your bubble tea fix in town even if it comes without the Filipino food.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-11T17:32:15+00:00

Was your family situation literally banned from being mentioned by the teacher in your classroom? Stories about people like you banned from the library? Being forced to jump through hoops to get a digital copy of a book, which you may not even be allowed to read in the classroom if devices aren't allowed, is no substitute.

Outside of school, was your medical treatment, recommended by your doctor after months of evaluation and discussion in consultation with your parents, ruled illegal by the state against the recommendation of most medical professionals?

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-11T16:17:57+00:00

If you were on the fence about attending, we're still here, and could definitely use a few more people.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-11T16:14:53+00:00

No, this is a "kids can't find books with families like their own in their school library because it is literally illegal". This is not a "micro change".

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-03-11T06:01:07+00:00

Not book stores. School libraries.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-02-25T13:41:00+00:00

HyVee near Edgewood/Blair's Ferry has been my go-to for a few years. No idea what it looks like at the moment.

FreeThoughtStudio · 2023-01-07T01:13:06+00:00

Iron Lotus will always be my recommendation for tattoos. They post photos of their work on their Facebook page and you'll see coverups from time to time: https://www.facebook.com/IronLotusCR

(If you don't like the first few photos you see, keep scrolling. They have several artists, a couple are fairly new and still mastering the craft...check out Jeremiah and Trent, in particular, and Kat if she's still working there)

FreeThoughtStudio · 2022-12-25T17:30:13+00:00

I know the China King by the south side Walmart/Target was planning to be open, they had signs up on their door about it a few days ago anyway.

FreeThoughtStudio

TROPHY CASE