Boyfriend busted for leaving tot locked in car while he hits strip club
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 12:50 p.m., May 16, 2008
Updated 12:50 p.m., May 16, 2008
Alan Baxter
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Alan Baxter has blown his shot at Babysitter of the Year.
The Denver man was busted for leaving his girlfriend's hungry toddler locked in a parked car while he hit a Glendale strip club.
The topper: The girlfriend, who was at work, gave Baxter $20 to buy dinner for her 3-year-old daughter. The 20-year-old man instead used it for the cover charge and stripper tips at Shotgun Willie's.
The manager of Fascinations porn shop next-door came to the rescue — flagging down a police officer May 10 to report the toddler left alone in the locked car with a the driver's side window opened 3 inches.
"The child appeared very afraid, and seemed to 'cower' in the rear seat," a Glendale officer wrote in the police report. "There was no food or water left in the vehicle."
The officer noted that it was about 50 degrees. Leaving a child in an over-heated car can be fatal — at least 36 children died in hot cars nationwide last year.
The Fascinations manager and patrons told police the car has been parked there about 25 minutes. The manager described a man who'd exited the car and appeared to enter the strip club.
In Shotgun Willie's, officers found the man fitting the description — Baxter — sitting at a table with a cold beer, tipping a topless dancer.
Baxter was initially evasive, denying driving to the club or knowing anything about the child, the report stated.
But when police asked him if he knew the car's registered owner, Daphne Phillips, Baxter admitted she was his girlfriend.
When police called Phillips and said that Baxter had left her daughter in a parked car while he hit the strip joint, the mother appeared "very upset and concerned about her child's well-being."
"He was supposed to take the (daughter) out to dinner and then come pick me up," Phillips said.
The little girl told police she was "very hungry" and an officer got her a McDonald's meal before reuniting the toddler with her mom.
Baxter admitted that he'd used the child's meal money to enter Shotgun Willie's and his wad of 16 $1 bills were for dancer tips.
He said he'd only had a "sip" of beer and a police Breathalyzer test showed no measurable alcohol in his system. He was charged with neglecting a child and released.
Police discovered Baxter had been served with a restraining order baring him from drinking alcohol.
The girl's mother arrived at the police department, appearing "very upset with Baxter and concerned for the child," only to be told by police that her boyfriend was driving her car — and her daughter — with a revoked driver's license.
Ultimately, "Baxter stated leaving the child alone was 'very stupid,'" according to the police report.
At Westword.com, which broke the story, readers blasted Baxter.
"Please tell me that the mother dumped this jerk," one reader wrote in a post.
"This guy is a complete moron and a looser (sic)," another read wrote.
Police alerted the Shotgun Willie's manager that a club worker had allowed Baxter to enter, failing to notice that his driver's license showed he was three weeks shy of his 21st birthday. The worker was fired immediately, because patrons must be 21 to enter the club and be served alcohol.
gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com
or 303-954-5486
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May 16, 2008
1:04 p.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
how many corny innuendos can you fit into a story?
May 16, 2008
1:07 p.m.
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chuckyg writes:
This guy should be castrated and should never be aloud to have children near him.
May 16, 2008
1:19 p.m.
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Grizzwyld writes:
This guy should be shot and the poor little girl's mother should be horsewhipped
May 16, 2008
1:37 p.m.
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davies writes:
Hey - the guy was given $20 to spend on a girl, and that's what he did. He just got confused about the details.
May 16, 2008
1:39 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Got to have a license to drive a car or own a dog... but these mental midgets get a kid. Nice.
Hope this child has a better life then the way it started!
May 16, 2008
1:40 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Well, I hope Social Services will have enough sense to take note of this GLARING RED FLAG and monitor this situation.
May 16, 2008
1:42 p.m.
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KaySieverding writes:
clearly attending strip clubs brings out the worst in people. Judge Edward Nottingham testified that he was so drunk in a strip club in Sept 05 that he couldn't remember how he spent $3,000. That same weekend he ruled that I wasn't entitled to an independent prosecutor, an evidentiary hearing, a lawyer, or a statement of what law I was accused of before I was packed off to jail. I found the federal sentencing guidelines on the Internet and it listed all the laws people can legally be jailed for and none of them applied to me, as I was jailed for doing something legal. I really don't believe that my rights would have been violated the way they were if the judge's judgment wasn't adversely affected by the strip clubs, prostitutes, porno etc. Same as Eliot Spitzer's good judgment disappeared around prostitution. It is possible that when people feel that they have permission to violate one taboo that they might violate more taboos at the same time. Another possibility is that there is a lot of alcohol consumption at strip clubs. Another possibility is that people associated with the strip clubs are providing cocaine or other drugs that impart a feeling of being not bound by laws. These middle aged men might get an overwhelming rush around the illicit sex that they just can't resist. I heard that cocaine gives men extra sexual performance and I wonder whether that was a factor with Spitzer, since men in powerful positions don't usually have to submit to random drug testing. Maybe Spitzer thought that he was entitled to a super rush. Most people have sex only in safe situations where they are not making decisions or risking people. Maybe the whole idea of getting sexually excited in groups in public brings the blood away from their brains and they just lose all inhibition. Maybe seeing other people losing inhibition encourages them to lose inhibition.
May 16, 2008
1:44 p.m.
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bugmenot writes:
This kid is screwed. Her mom's an idiot. Number once source of danger to fatherless children? Mom's boyfriend. I don't usually advocate taking a child from their parent, but this mom is so incredibly stupid, the state should intervene before her next stupid boyfriend kills the poor child. Yes the guy's a loser, but the one resonsible for the welfare of that child is the mother, not her idiot boyfriend.
May 16, 2008
1:44 p.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Maybe he can explain himself on Judge Judy. He must have a good reason for this. Maybe the girlfriend put him up to it. What a dirtbag.
May 16, 2008
1:56 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
KaySieverding... did you have something of interest to add to this thread or are you still butt hurt you got nailed in court?
Please find a new place to wash the sand out of your va-jay-jay!
May 16, 2008
1:56 p.m.
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indisbelief writes:
kay... um, what?
May 16, 2008
1:59 p.m.
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gs writes:
Good point bugmenot. I agree.
May 16, 2008
2:01 p.m.
gs writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 16, 2008
2:03 p.m.
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Ken writes:
Give the mom a break. At least she has a job and had decent intentions (providing money for food). Nobody here knows her circumctances, so back off.
May 16, 2008
2:07 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
This story just depresses me on so many levels. A young mom having to work and entrust her kid's safety to someone else other than the father. That someone being just a kid himself practically, with clearly no sense. A scared and hungry toddler.
We as a society have got to put our differences aside and somehow figure out how to help those among us who are clearly drowning.
May 16, 2008
2:11 p.m.
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TIMMAH writes:
I don't understand what the problem is here.. it was only 50 degrees.
May 16, 2008
2:12 p.m.
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gs writes:
mytwosense,
Who is telling people to go ahead and have children as a teen and unmarried? It isn't me.
May 16, 2008
2:22 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
This poor woman had thought she had met a decent guy.How was she to know he was only decent when she was around.As for this man he needs to grow up and face the music.No one should ever mistreat a kid or a dog.It is just wrong and the worse part of it.The kid could have fallen into the hands of some sicko pervert weirdo.The mother is doing the best she can.She is on her own and probably does not have alot of help.But from what I read she did have the kids welfare in mind.It just was the jerk who blew it.Give the mother a break it is twice as hard for a single mother then a two parent family.
May 16, 2008
2:24 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
gs, it's more like, who is telling them not to? Who is giving them a solid foundation of support in their teenage years to prepare them for a productive life as an adult?
Of course, based on your disgusting post about the young mom's weight that I have hit the "suggest removal" button on, I don't expect you to be a moral compass for anyone. But for those in our society with a modicum of compassion and human decency, maybe they would agree with me it's time we get serious about helping our young.
May 16, 2008
2:28 p.m.
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kirbysfriend22 writes:
Every time i read something like this it makes me want to hug my own little one that much tighter. Poor little kid. So sad.
May 16, 2008
2:28 p.m.
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gs writes:
mytwosense,
Absolutely. i donate to Planned Parenthood. Any other suggestions?
May 16, 2008
2:30 p.m.
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DahmersCookbook writes:
Dearest Kay,
Ever been to Europe?
-J.D.-
May 16, 2008
2:41 p.m.
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Ken writes:
Yo hasslicher, where yo education at?
May 16, 2008
2:46 p.m.
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vudumom writes:
Unfortunately the mother is probably still with this jerk. She had to know this guy didn't have a valid driver's license or maybe she hasn't known him that long. If that is the case then why would anyone allow a boyfriend to use her car and take care of a 3 year old daughter? When are single mothers going to stop looking for babysitter/boyfriends and start caring about their children's needs instead of their own selfish needs. I think the mother is responsible for 50% of this mess.
One interesting angle to this story is. I've never heard of someone having a restraining order against them barring them from drinking. Who took out the restraining order and what good is it if the guy is underaged anyway? Isn't the fact that he is underage enough to arrest him for underage drinking? How would a restraining order make a difference? Just when you think people can't be any more stupid than they are, out comes another story.
Of course lost in all this is the 3 year old. We will probably be hearing more about her later. I have the feeling she doesn't have a stable home life and just because the mother has a job doesn't make her a fit parent.
May 16, 2008
2:46 p.m.
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tm3869 writes:
TIMMAH,
Please tell me you are joking........
May 16, 2008
2:51 p.m.
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Heidi writes:
Did anyone stop to think that maybe the mother works at Shotgun Willie's and he was there to pick her up as instructed? He was thoughtful enough to want them to all go to McDonald's together.
May 16, 2008
2:52 p.m.
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momof5 writes:
Obviously the mother knows now that this guy is a loser but at least she is trying to provide for her child. She thought she had someone she could trust to care for her child. She gave the guy $20 to buy her daughter and presumably the boyfriend dinner (since I doubt a 3 year old would eat $20 worth of food even at McDonald's). The loser her is this 20 year old guy. He's not a child. He's an adult. Presumably he knows the difference between right and wrong.
He was "smart" enough to deny at first that he knew anything about the child or that he had even driven to the club. By the way, why does he have a revoked license on him in the first place? Doesn't he have to surrender that to the authorities and get an ID of some sort instead?
This entire incident was HIS fault. I certainly hope the mother knows better than to leave her child with losers like him the future. Hopefully she's learned a valuable lesson without any real harm coming to her child. I hope she dumped the loser too. Happy that the child is safe.
May 16, 2008
3 p.m.
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Ken writes:
vudu~
Where do you get off calling the mother selfish? None of you know a thing about her or what kind of person she is. Did you ever stop to think that maybe she is doing the best she can? Maybe she doesn't have friends or family to help her with babysitting duties. So she does the only thing she can, which is put some trust in another human being. I agree, it wasn't the ideal situation, but sometimes you have work with what you have. The limited information that this story offers us of the mother gives you no right to judge her.
May 16, 2008
3:02 p.m.
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CyberHostage writes:
Maybe he was trying to procure breast milk for the tot.
May 16, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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OhBrother writes:
Davies comment was classic!
"Hey - the guy was given $20 to spend on a girl, and that's what he did. He just got confused about the details."
GREAT!
but seriously, how does some one under 21 have a restraing order that bars them from drinking? what wizzard set that all up? somthing tells me he went to shotguns before and they didn't check his ID...either way, the child will recover. It could have been a lot worse and hopefully the mother makes better choices about who to leave the child with
May 16, 2008
3:07 p.m.
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davies writes:
mytwosense and happymike: Sorry, but your hearts are bleeding a little too much here.
Happymike, what makes you assume the mother "thought she had met a decent guy"? For all you know all she cared was that the guy looked at her twice, or was a sexy dancer, or gave her some weed or sex or whatever. Maybe she thought he was decent, but it doesn't say that anywhere.
Mytwosense: you say the guy was "someone being just a kid himself practically, with clearly no sense"... "We as a society have got to... somehow figure out how to help those among us who are clearly drowning." Huh? This guy was three weeks shy of 21 years old, was clearly asked to take care of a hungry three year old, and instead he takes the mom's $20 to ogle naked women at Shotgun Willies!
I prefer to continue to use my own limited resources to help people who are a little more deserving than this guy - this guy is the kind of people you end up helping with government entitlement programs, where we mustn't discriminate against anyone, even if they ARE an irresponsible, self-absorbed prick.
May 16, 2008
3:15 p.m.
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gs writes:
Thanks davies. And I'll bet my obese comment is correct too even if it has been removed.
May 16, 2008
3:22 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
And to another point... Taking a 3yr old to McDonald's? That is child abuse right there. Poor kid has stupid people watching over him and is now going to grow up and be fat.
May 16, 2008
3:33 p.m.
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nobodyman writes:
Planned Parenthood. That's all I have to say.
May 16, 2008
3:35 p.m.
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BroncoRick69 writes:
I cant blame the guy. C'mon, it's shotgun willies. Besides, its not like it was HIS kid he left in the car. Get a grip people. I bet the Mother marries him.
May 16, 2008
3:35 p.m.
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TIMMAH writes:
I was kidding. Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers.
May 16, 2008
3:39 p.m.
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davies writes:
BroncoRick69: "I bet the mother marries him."
Unless YOUR mama marries him first.
May 16, 2008
3:41 p.m.
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Heidi writes:
davies,
I take it you don't like the Broncos.
May 16, 2008
3:42 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
davies, I mean we need to help people like this young mom and her kid so she does make better choices for herself and her children. We live in a day and age where so many of us live far from family, we have little time to build strong social networks because so many of us work long hours outside the home, and when we are home, we keep to ourselves instead of cultivating friendships with our own neighbors.
Our social fabric is disintegrating. Stories like this are indicative of this sad state of affairs. If you've got a better life for yourself going, great! Then you have wisdom to share with those who could probably use it. Get involved in a Big Brother/Big Sister program, or something similar where maybe you can help a young person who isn't getting that badly needed guidance from a parent. Or even just befriend someone and give them this guidance, you could make all the difference in their world and future.
May 16, 2008
3:54 p.m.
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Fresh writes:
we seriously need to look into execution squads for people like this. Unless he is mentally retarded there is no excuse for a ADULT to carry on this way when taking care of a child. He is a waste of human flesh, and is not contributing to society. Infact, he is a detriment to it, and should be executed for his idiocy.
May 16, 2008
3:56 p.m.
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davies writes:
mytwosense: I don't disagree at all, except that some of the earlier comments sounded like a complete absolution of both of them for their responsibility in this matter.
Of course sometimes we rush to criticize unfairly or without all the facts. But at the same time I think some people cling so tightly to being non-judgemental under any circumstances, that they end up contributing to the societal disintegration you just cited.
Heidi: up to your mischief again I see. I love the Broncos, unless they are involved in something with Rick and 69.
May 16, 2008
3:58 p.m.
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scottmo writes:
As bad as it sounds at least the little girl came out okay. Hopefully the mom will get a wake up call, dump the loser, and find better arrangements in the future.
Based on todays society, she will probably stay with him, get pregnant, and next time we'll read about the girl dying in an overheated car. I sure hope not though. Maybe the little girl can come to my house and play with my kids sometime?
May 16, 2008
4:03 p.m.
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Heidi writes:
davies....ewwwwwww! I need to get that mental picture out of my mind!
It is a fine line to how much compassion we should have for a person. And each person is different. Why can't we all just take care of ourselves and our own? It sounds as though there is a chance the mother and the child will come out of this okay, but how much hope is there for someone like Baxter?
May 16, 2008
4:22 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Heidi: "Why can't we all just take care of ourselves and our own?"
A good deal of us do, of course. It just seems an increasing number are really having difficulties doing so, for whatever reasons. If for no other sake than to help their children who didn't ask to be born under such circumstances, I hope we can figure out why life is too hard to successfully cope with for an increasing number of people.
I'm honestly not trying to be a bleeding heart. I just feel really, really bad for kids who are trapped in these sh*tty situations, with no way out until they're an adult. If they make it to being an adult without being irreversibly damaged, that is.
May 16, 2008
4:24 p.m.
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davies writes:
I dunno. I don't advocate giving up on the guy completely, but short of giving his life to Jesus while in prison, I have a hard time envisioning him changing direction, based on how selfish this one act was. Who knows though, really.
Who's this hasslicher_jude dude? He sounds a little familiar...
May 16, 2008
4:40 p.m.
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BMat writes:
Maybe he was going to take the child to eat AFTER Shotgun's? There's a Wendy's right there in that lot . . .
May 16, 2008
4:41 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
i tend to agree, davies. He needs some spiritual guidance, for sure. Maybe a church will read this article and offer some kind of help to these people. Anyway, I just wish I lived in Denver so I could befriend this mom and offer to babysit her kid for her. And also beg her not to get back together with this guy.
May 16, 2008
4:51 p.m.
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davies writes:
You really are a softy, twosense ;-) I've still got a daughter at home and a son sort of halfway, but I've been thinking of giving that Big Brother thing a try someday when they're gone...
May 16, 2008
5:07 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
davies, I know...I can't help it...sometimes it really hurts to care, though. By the way, I'm a new mom, my son is just about eight months old. But for the grace of God, his little soul could have been born to completely different parents in a different environment. As another poster mentioned, when I read stories like this, it sure makes me hold him tighter.
I want to do the Big Brother/Big Sister thing, too, one day. When I come up for air. Also, some of the foster kid programs have an ongoing need for "mentors," something else to consider.
May 16, 2008
5:47 p.m.
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Novo writes:
Let's give the guy a little credit. He did crack the window.
May 16, 2008
6:26 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
First of all single mothers do the best they can.I do not know this woman.But How do I draw my conclusion,the mother wanted her child fed.That is proof she is a loving caring woman.Also I do not think most single christian black women would put up with this. I have lived in the south and the majority of single mothers care for their child's needs first.So it seems the mothers innocent because she was not at the strip club working the room.That makes her a mother who loves her child.
May 16, 2008
7:46 p.m.
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nonayerbsns writes:
GOOGLE THE FOLLOWING: "Father kills child" and see what comes up. For all of you idiots blasting this hardworking woman, and implicitly blaming her because the a$$hole isn't her father, you will have a rude awakening. But, that would mean looking for the truth, something most of you have NEVER done. idiots. Take care little baby girl and mom. You will be fine. Baxter will likely get the crap kicked out of him now.
May 16, 2008
8:20 p.m.
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MattGuyver_007 writes:
Single mother or not this is disgusting. Focus on raising your child and pause your love life to ensure your child's well-being.
May 16, 2008
8:25 p.m.
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me2 writes:
My Goddess, just think how many postings we could come up with on a subject, if we knew all the pertinent facts.
May 16, 2008
10:01 p.m.
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jacka writes:
A fine graduate or attendee of DPS I am sure....
May 17, 2008
1:59 a.m.
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MRSTTYLER writes:
THANK GOD SOMEONE FOUND THE CHILD. WHAT A STUPID *** TO DO THIS
May 17, 2008
5:55 a.m.
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Vector049 writes:
Yo, my main man is kewl, like, real down and kewl, know what I mean?
I wonder if he'll be wearing that silly fake head jewelry when he goes before the judge.
May 17, 2008
10:09 a.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
The locked safe little girl was waving and happy. I do not see the problem? Maybe the sex toy shop owner was embarrassed that she might see a big dildo coming out of his store?
I am just confused about the 20 spot. That will barely get you in the door
(sarcasm)