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Entries from April 2008

RE: Montclair State Citadel Criticism

Saturday, April 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment

So I’ve been receiving a lot of flack about my last entry. Unfortunately most of it is about the composition of the pictures, instead of the content. Yes they are over exposed. With all the excitement of the day, and everything, I forgot to take the ISO down from 1600. I can bring the shadows out in photoshop before they go into the paper, but yes, it was bad photography. I admit it, so you can all eat my shorts now. Hindsight is 20/20 folks.

The entry was merely my take on the whole situation. Yes it was excessive, but if they were really expecting something (and not just showing up for time and a half pay) they should have been guarding the 2 entrances that I was able to “infiltrate” successfully. Nobody will ever announce their attack on a school like this. VT was a complete surprise, and so was Columbine and everything else. I really think this was more of a show for the media, than an actual lockdown of campus.

I should have been a primary suspect, because I have a class in the room that the note was left in. So why wasn’t I searched, and why was I able to walk off of campus and back on again with no body stopping me? And the campus IDs don’t mean shit from a glance. They stopped putting the semester stickers on them a few years ago, so now you can’t even tell if the person is a valid student or not. My ID is the same one I first got 4 years ago, who is to say that I haven’t graduated already and was coming back to extract revenge?

Bottom line is, yes it was a lot of force and a lot of guns for a very uneventful day. But the administration knows the campus map just as well as us undergrads, and yet I was able to find big gaping holes in the “stepped up” security. It shouldn’t have happened.

Categories: Montclair State University · Personal

Montclair State Citadel

Thursday, April 10, 2008 · 7 Comments

So today there was a threat against campus. MSC pulled out all the stops to keep the campus safe. Here’s a look at how my day has been so far.

Heres me leaving the apartment. I have my gym bag and backpack, along with my camera and headphones. I hope the cops don’t think my gym shorts are deadly weapons.

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Next I walked down Clove Road and onto campus. Heres some cops keeping the Child Care center safe.

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No one at the Village or Clove Road though. That makes me feel safe.

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Here I am past Checkpoint Charlie The Clove Road Entrance. Nobody checked either of my bags, just an ID flash. I say ID flash because they weren’t checking anything. It’s just a piece of plastic. A piece of plastic that all the alumni keep after they graduate. Again, an overwhelming sense of security.

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After that, I walked down to Quinn road to take more pics. Here’s the snipers on top of Bohn.

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Here’s Police HQ in lot 22.

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There wasn’t much going on at the Quinn road entrance, so I walked north up Valley road. When I walked back onto campus at freeman, I got ID flashed again. This officer on the left was the only person who looked through my bags all day. I just had my camera bag then.

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But, then when I walked down to the Newman Catholic center, this is what I found.

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NOTHING! I was literally walking onto campus, no bag check, no ID flash. I even walked past these officers, right near the top of the walkway. They didn’t even ask to see anything.

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After that I decided to see how well the President’s house was guarded. She makes more money that G.W. Bush you know, and he has the secret service. I’m sure her house had to be on extra lock down.

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NOPE! Then I went and took a look at the Montclair Heights train station. Surely, there must be a police presence there.

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Sadly no, but wait, whats this? I walked across the street and back onto campus. No cops?

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This patrol vehicle saw me, didn’t stop.

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As did these guys.

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So for the second time today, I’ve walked onto a locked down campus, with no ID flash or bag check. After that, I decided it was time to work my way back to the office. I went up to the top of the Red Hawk Deck. This officer from WPU stopped me and said no one was allowed on 8. apparently 7 is ok though.

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Can you see the snipers in this picture?

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Here they are!

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And to perfectly capture the mood of the day, My roommate Dan…

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..Wearing a bullseye.

Heres some bonus pics to make you feel extra safe.

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And my favorite. The kid in blue was wearing a Seton Hall shirt. Obviously a terrorist.

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HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE DAY!

Categories: Montclair State University

Messing around with HDR

Monday, April 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

So it dawned on me today that I should try out HDR photography, because apparently it’s very easy, and the results are fantastic.

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I didn’t have my tripod in the office, so I just went out to Bobby’s desk and took 3 shots. Here is the after:

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I think I could definitely have some fun with it once I learn all the settings.

Categories: Flickr · Personal

Reggie & The Full Effect – Congratulations Smack and Katy

Monday, April 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Girl, where’s your head full of lead?
Can’t you see what you’re doing to me?
Wipe that disgrace off your face
Look and see what you’ve done to me

Girl, you look bored
I wish everything about the danger wouldn’t make you such a stranger
So what’s the deal?
Don’t you feel what i’m dealing with?
But it’s alright
Girl, come on, I’ll show you how to deal with this.
But not tonight cause…

Girl, you look bored
I wish everything about the danger wouldn’t make you such a stranger
Hold me so close
I can tell you have the best intentions, one of those simple inventions
Never a dull situation, we could just stay on vacation

Never start an argument with you
Something I won’t do

Girl, you look bored
I wish everything about the danger wouldn’t make you such a stranger
Hold me so close
I can tell you have the best intentions, one of those simple inventions
Now that I have your attention

Categories: Music · Personal

Best seats in the house

Sunday, April 6, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Best seats in the house

Originally uploaded by Matt McCullough

We got the last 5 tickets in the house. Literally

Categories: Flickr