They Tried It in a Small Town

Note the Following:

1.  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/7-people-found-dead-oklahoma-shot-head-apparent-murder-suicide-authori-rcna82773:  Defendant on trial for child porn kills teens 

2.  https://abcnews.go.com/US/ny-man-charged-murder-shooting-woman-wrong-driveway/story?id=98655167   :    Small town resident shoots woman who accidentally drove into his driveway.

3.  https://www.npr.org/2023/02/17/1158003226/mississippi-shooting-deaths-arkabutla :  Gunman kills ex-wife, stepfather and four other people.

And just for the record, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/map-gun-death-rates-lower-cities-than-rural-counties-rcna81462. : Two decades of data indicate that gun deaths have been higher in rural towns than the cities.

Mr. Aldean and supporters get a grip.  This was just from a quick look at one day’s news.  If you’re gonna fight the culture wars, read a book instead of the latest post in Qanaon, the men’s room wall, or wherever you get your news.

Out here.

#Smalltownscanbeterribletoo

0 notes

Genius!

Perhaps I finally understand Ron DeSantis’ brilliance. He is going to permit Florida’s department of Transportation to study the feasibility of using phosphogypsum as a paving material for Florida roads. Phosphogypsum is a byproduct of producing one type of fertilizer. As phosphogymsum decays, it produces radon, a radioactive gas that causes cancer. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/09/1174789570/florida-roads-radioactive-paving-phosphogypsum. Although this looks like yet another Republican giveaway to commercial interests (in this case, to the fertilizer industry), it may provide an excellent excuse for Florida’s typically unimpressive public school achievement instead of the fact that Florida ranks 43rd in educational spending. (https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/per-pupil-spending-by-state). As Hector said at Troy, “Just bring the wooden horse inside, and trust me. I’m a genius.”

Sorry, Folks

Please, for the love of all that is good, stop trying to cobble this idiot situation into a romantic narrative. Stockton Rush was not an “explorer” or an “Unalloyed Villain.” He was just a Darwin Awards winner with a lot of money. The fact that there have been countless articles about this foolish incident when real tragedies that were the result of desperate and not foolhardy decisions go barely noticed. Clearly this is yet another shameful mark against our already questionable collective humanity.

On the other hand, this article (https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/belgian-shot-putter-boumkwo-runs-100m-hurdles-save-team-disqualification-2023-06-25/) was an enjoyable hoot. A Belgian shot putter/hammer thrower had to run the 100 meter high hurdles so that her team would not be disqualified from the European Championships. Of course, she’s built like a shot putter and not a sprinter, but bloody well GOOD FOR HER! I love it when people compete outside of their comfort zone for the good of the team. It reminds me of this relay invitational I went to when I was on the track team in high school at which the guys in all the weight events had to run a relay also, passing the 16 pound shot instead of a relay baton. Anyway, have a good Sunday.

Out here.

Trump and his Ilk

He is the Id of the American White Male. This group of people see how Black, Latino, Asian, Gay, non-Christian, and female people are so much more VISIBLE than they were in the 1950’s.

That’s it. That’s all of it.

From this paranoid fixation, combined with demographic realities we have 70 million mostly armed malcontents with the mentality of a class of 7th graders whose teacher keeps cancelling recess.

I want to utter every cuss word I know. Glenda Jackson is dead and he is still sucking air.

Out Here.

Freedom Caucus loses its only copy of Cliffs Notes for 7th Grade Civics (Again)

The bar for petty, juvenile behavior has once again been lowered by House extremist Republicans who joined with Democrats to block a bill intended to protect gas stoves. This was a reaction to the debt ceiling deal, which despite all the evidence to the contrary was merely a deal to pay off the country’s debts that have already been incurred, and not one to expand spending.

For the sake of all that is decent and holy in the world: NOBODY gets everything they want in American Democracy. The genius of the system is that it promotes compromise when properly used. Stop embarrassing yourselves and everybody else by having parliamentary tantrums. NONE of us get all of what we want. Of the 500+ people in Congress, the Freedummies are the last people who will change this system.

Out here, Twerps.

Portrait of What’s Missing In this Country

Although this article ( https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/georgia-gun-shop-owner-shutters-store-mass-shootings-targeting-childre-rcna87116 ) was from a major news network, I haven’t heard much about it in any other media. A Georgia gun shop owner grew tired of children getting murdered or injured by guns, and feared what could be done with a firearm he sold. He maintains his support of the Second Amendment, but decided to close his store. He said “no” to the small fortune he could have earned supplying gun enthusiasts simply because it is the right thing to do.

Yes, I know, it’s one store, in one town, in one state of this violent country, but that’s the power of this act. In contrast to hundreds of stores throughout the country, this fellow made a conscious decision to not supply potential shoot-’em up glory-seekers. He also will probably be the object of the Republican Conformity Machine, meaning he may find himself receiving death threats to himself and/or to his family. He may experience an uncomfortable Thanksgiving this year if he has distant family that disapproves of this action. All because he doesn’t want to sell guns. I hope these events do NOT happen, because I likewise hope that others follow his example. It is an old story, I suppose, of people taking an unpopular stand and having to deal with the consequences. Just ask Colin Kaepernick. But this is the first time I’ve seen a gun advocate publicly acknowledges the unintended harm his sales can cause. If only the fossil fuel industry had such admirable convictions.

Out here.

If We Just Take Their Bullsh*t…

When the Republican Fear Manufacturing Commission declares with zero evidence that gay people and drag queens are all exclusively responsible for child molestation in this country and we say nothing…independents will start to believe them. Moreover, saying nothing officially makes us all look like feeble pushovers. We have to give it back to them and worse. It is our responsibility to take the initiative. We can’t expect that our sanctimonious indignation will do anything except please the MAGA Mob.

Idea Number One: I live in Illinois. So I believe the Illinois General Assembly and Senate should immediately declare that all gun ranges must charge a fee on all patrons, that will be used to educate the general population on gun risks and safety. Given the fact that there is a mass shooting in this country nearly every day, and that one of the first mass shootings to take place since the 1980s was in Illinois (Lori Dann, 1988), there is every good reason to enact this legislation.

In fact, we could (and should) enact a hefty tax in the sale on pistols, and assault weapons. Again, the money should be truly used to educate people on firearm risks and safety, not used for some legislator’s pet project.

Even if it doesn’t pass, we would, at the very least, make Illinois “Openly Hostile” to people who think firearm ownership rights supersede the rights of everybody else to exist safely in public places. By the way, I’m a gun owner who will gladly pay that fee if it were enacted. Comments?

Ideas Number Two: Make a huge, loud, and proud deal out of officially declaring Illinois a haven for readers of Banned Books. Schools that promote the Literacy Freedom would be officially held up as examples to the state, and would be able to earn official seals from the state Department of Education based on the variety of books in their school libraries.

Idea Number Three: We need compelling people (not Biden) to talk about the war and tell us why it’s important in simple, easily understood phrases (we should learn from Trump’s communication style). Likewise, successes (such as Ukraine’s attack on Moscow this morning) should be celebrated. Failures should be addressed and put in perspective, in order to maintain support.

I’m discouraging Biden from speaking on the subject because most people find President Biden about as compelling as a bag of potatoes. The man has been doing an admirable job at the most difficult job in the world under truly trying circumstances. Nothing significant has been changed, the country’s business is in order, and nothing has become much better or much worse. When you vote for a Corporate Democrat, SHAZAM! this is what you’re supposed to get. Regrettably, he is not particularly inspiring. Cue charismatic underlings to make their bosses (and the Ukrainians) look good!

P.S. I know that Governor Pritzker isn’t listening to me, but I have to admit, my ego was pleased with this: https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.26575.html