December, 2012 archive
Stray Question 0
I wonder how many persons are waiting to see what happens today hoping to get out of Christmas shopping?
All the News That Fits, Reprise 0
Mosque arsonist: “I only know what I hear on Fox News.”
Via C&L. IF the embed doesn’t work, follow the link to C&L.
Christmas Trauma 0
The Chicago Tribune compiles its 2012 “Scared of Santa” gallery.
If your world didn’t end this morning, check it out.
Conflict Emotions 1
Mark Dillon examines our societal fascination with firearms. A nugget:
While millions and millions of guns are sold each year (10.8 million guns, generating $4 billion in revenue, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation), you see far less advertising for gun brands than for motorcycles, smart phones, breath mints, power tools or constipation cures. Look at the movie ads this weekend if you don’t believe that gun = cool, gun = power, gun = right.
Android Is Going to Pot 1
From El Reg:
Video (no human beings are involved) at the link.
Sellers’ Market 0
The fraidy cats and the fetishists are stocking up.
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said yesterday that it would continue to sell guns, including rifles like the one used at Newtown, where 26 people, most of them children, were killed on Dec. 14.
It would be simpler if all they needed were inflatable women, like normal nutcases.
A Picture Is Worth, American Exceptionalism Dept. 0
Click for a larger image and discussion.
Y = the number of firearms per 100 persons.
X = the homicide rate per 100,000 persons.
(Graph axes descriptions corrected. Algebra II was a long time ago.)
Rescued from a comment by George Smith.
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
About the same:
(snip)
The four-week moving average of claims, a less-volatile measure, declined to 367,750, the lowest since the end of October, from 381,500.
The number of people continuing to collect jobless benefits rose by 12,000 to 3.23 million in the week ended Dec. 8. The continuing claims figure does not include the number of workers receiving extended benefits under federal programs.
Those who’ve used up their traditional benefits and are now collecting emergency and extended payments decreased by about 94,000 to 2.14 million in the week ended Dec. 1.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Support your local sports franchise, politely.
While on the train, an argument erupted. Investigators say the victims were fans of the Chicago Bulls and were celebrating the team’s victory.
Lieutenant John Walker from West Detectives told Action News on Thursday, “It escalates when the young males began to use profanity. The [36]-year-old says, ‘listen man, this train is filled with people – there’s young kids, there’s ladies on here. You need to watch your mouth, young boy.'”
At about one minute into the surveillance video, the train stops at 46th and Market Street and the Early brothers exit onto the platform.
Surveillance cameras were rolling as one of the brothers, identified by police as Matthew Early, turned around, pulled out a gun, and fired.
Guess the shooter got his man card reissued.
Support Accessibilty 0
Hold Amazon accountable for attempting to place non-accessible devices, that is, Kindles, in schools.
Via GNC.
Governor McGunnutcase 3
I can just imagine my first-grade teacher, a sixty-something lady who had taught my father when she was a young teacher, packing heat.
In the wake of Connecticut elementary school massacre that took the lives of 20 first-graders and six adults, some have advocated the idea of allowing adults to carry weapons inside schools to prevent school violence.
The way to prevent carnage is to turn everything into a battleground.
Yeah.
Right.
And our governor is that rare wingnut who usually knows how to behave in public.
Does this mean we have reached the fabled Peak Wingut?
Droning On 0
Be popular. Fool your friends. Then post them on the innerwebs.
If the embed doesn’t work, watch here.
