All weekend long, my heart has felt heavy and my head has been full. Filled with anger and sadness and sympathy for the families who have lost their loved ones in such a senseless way. In the wake of the shooting in Connecticut on Friday morning, I haven't really commented on it because I've been completely disgusted by the "debates" going on on Facebook, Twitter and other places about gun violence in America.
Living in Canada, in a small town, I can only recall two times in my life that gun violence touched me personally in anyway. The first time was while I was in high school. A young man went to a local high school (not mine) and shot his girlfriend on the front lawn of the school. Some friends of mine witnessed the murder and I can tell you that it changed them forever. The second time, was many years later. A young man whose family had lived across the street from mine when I was very young, committed a similar crime. The young man shot and killed his girlfriend at a local mall. Both events were horrific and were related to domestic violence. Both victims were known to the shooters and in all likelihood, the shootings could have been prevented or predicted by folks who were close to the victims.
These events seem very different to the huge mass shootings we keep hearing about from down south. I know that folks in the US have very strong opinions about their right to own guns. Personally, I would never have a gun in my home but I think that if you like to hunt and you have the proper permits and licenses, owning a hunting rifle or a crossbow, to hunt with, should be legal.
I do have a lot of questions though, about guns in general, which I can't find answers to:
Why does anyone, except the military or the police would need to own automatic (or semi-automatic) weapons?
Why would an individual need a hand gun?
How does arming entire communities make people feel more safe? (personally, I would feel less safe to think that everyone was walking around carrying a hand gun)
Why do folks who want to own guns think that "gun control" means "gun ban"?
Why is it harder to receive a diagnosis and treatment for mental disorders than it is to access guns in the US?
Goodness knows, no country is perfect. In Canada over the past couple of years, there has been an increase in gun related deaths and injuries (mostly in large cities and primarily related to an increase in gang activity) but it is like a drop in the bucket compared to the devastating massacres which continue to happen, almost monthly it seems at times, in the States.
Collectively, your Nation needs to pull it's head out of it ass and stop arguing about who can legally love someone else and figure out how to get people to stop killing each other. Wake up America, how many more more children have to die while you keep bickering about guns?
Showing posts with label stupidity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stupidity. Show all posts
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, April 25, 2008
week end yay
I'm very glad to be home. The week was really really busy for me. Good busy, got lots done busy. Many things are off the to-do list busy. Time flew by like an I don't know what busy. Next couple of weeks will be that busy too. It's good though, still in love with the new job which helps.
Yesterday, I went back to the old job to give some training to two folks. It was really weird being back in my old office. I don't think I realized how small the room was, or how crammed in like sardines folks are until I went away and came back. It's hot and noisy and overcrowded and there are many competing perfumes and a giant colour copier. No wonder I had headaches all the time. I really miss the ladies I worked with but I'm not missing the environment. I love having my own office. It's bright and airy and the windows open and it's my space. I mean, I share it with the copier / printer but still, I'm in there working alone.
Before the training session, I had lunch with two friends who still work there. Well, I say lunch but we didn't eat. We sat on a bench outside and gabbed. I got the weirdest sunburn on 1/2 of my face and on part of my neck. Bizarre looking sunburn, really. It's warm and a little sore today. I kept putting lotion on it last night though so it shouldn't peel. It was weird though, I had no idea that the sun was that strong but I guess I should have known.
Anyway, I think that I need to go play with Sam a little bit. Before I go though, I have this question to ask: How come I never ever see folks with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths trying to cram stuff that is in large flat-pack boxes in the parking lot at Costco but I almost always see this same demonstration of stinky-smoky stupidity in the parking lot at Walmart?
Yesterday, I went back to the old job to give some training to two folks. It was really weird being back in my old office. I don't think I realized how small the room was, or how crammed in like sardines folks are until I went away and came back. It's hot and noisy and overcrowded and there are many competing perfumes and a giant colour copier. No wonder I had headaches all the time. I really miss the ladies I worked with but I'm not missing the environment. I love having my own office. It's bright and airy and the windows open and it's my space. I mean, I share it with the copier / printer but still, I'm in there working alone.
Before the training session, I had lunch with two friends who still work there. Well, I say lunch but we didn't eat. We sat on a bench outside and gabbed. I got the weirdest sunburn on 1/2 of my face and on part of my neck. Bizarre looking sunburn, really. It's warm and a little sore today. I kept putting lotion on it last night though so it shouldn't peel. It was weird though, I had no idea that the sun was that strong but I guess I should have known.
Anyway, I think that I need to go play with Sam a little bit. Before I go though, I have this question to ask: How come I never ever see folks with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths trying to cram stuff that is in large flat-pack boxes in the parking lot at Costco but I almost always see this same demonstration of stinky-smoky stupidity in the parking lot at Walmart?
Thursday, January 03, 2008
stupid is as stupid does
I think that the cold weather has created a frozen brain phenomenon.
Earlier today, we went out to do a couple of errands and it seemed like everywhere we went, folks were moving in slow motion. I know that I wasn't moving super fast (which may have made it seem like folks were moving more slowly than they actually were), some folks seemed to be moving backward they were wandering around so slowly.
Going out earlier in the day, I figured that it wouldn't have been as busy as it would be during the post-work-day time slot. I don't call it a rush hour around here because Kingston doesn't really experience anything close to what rush hour looks like in a bigger city.
It actually was a little comical after a while. It seemed like many customers at costco were having trouble driving their buggies around. We witnessed many near-miss incidents in the produce section.
Outside in the parking lot was more frightening because of the snow. When we were walking around the parking lot, I noticed that a lot of drivers (primarily women - sorry girls) seemed frightened to be driving. They had this weird look of fear in their eyes and were gripping the steering wheels like they would fly out of the vehicle if they let go. Personally, I think if driving makes you so nervous that it shows in your face and your body language, it's probably not a good idea for you to be out in traffic. I say this all of the time, I know, and I know that I complain about the stupid a lot but seriously, when you are out in public, wake up!
The temperature is suppose to start to rise tonight. Hopefully if things thaw out a little bit, folks will perk up a smidgen.
Earlier today, we went out to do a couple of errands and it seemed like everywhere we went, folks were moving in slow motion. I know that I wasn't moving super fast (which may have made it seem like folks were moving more slowly than they actually were), some folks seemed to be moving backward they were wandering around so slowly.
Going out earlier in the day, I figured that it wouldn't have been as busy as it would be during the post-work-day time slot. I don't call it a rush hour around here because Kingston doesn't really experience anything close to what rush hour looks like in a bigger city.
It actually was a little comical after a while. It seemed like many customers at costco were having trouble driving their buggies around. We witnessed many near-miss incidents in the produce section.
Outside in the parking lot was more frightening because of the snow. When we were walking around the parking lot, I noticed that a lot of drivers (primarily women - sorry girls) seemed frightened to be driving. They had this weird look of fear in their eyes and were gripping the steering wheels like they would fly out of the vehicle if they let go. Personally, I think if driving makes you so nervous that it shows in your face and your body language, it's probably not a good idea for you to be out in traffic. I say this all of the time, I know, and I know that I complain about the stupid a lot but seriously, when you are out in public, wake up!
The temperature is suppose to start to rise tonight. Hopefully if things thaw out a little bit, folks will perk up a smidgen.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
no water and no gas makes me ...something something
I swear, if I was a five year old boy, I'd be in heaven right now.
There are like a zillion trucks on our street right now. The water main construction took a bad turn today. From the eastern corner of our street to our western next door neighbour (the thief!), the work crew had to drill down 8 feet into solid limestone. In front of our thief neighbour's home, the limestone ended and now the works crew is into mud and sand. It's not as noisy working in that but it's way messy.
This morning, while I stood outside waiting for Mark, I saw steam coming out of a big hole in the street. I didn't think that this was good at all. I'm not sure if it's related or not but they made a big hole in the gas line and apparently, the gas leaked into the neighbourhood for about 5 hours today. They also damaged the existing water main so, for quite a while, we had neither water or gas.
Needless to say, we went out for dinner tonight. Our water was restored but the gas is still off. I'm really glad at this moment, that our water heater is fueled by oil. It just must be a "dumb" day all around. Mark and I actually overheard a guy at the table next to us (at Denny's), ask if they served breakfast. At Denny's. I'm guessing that this guy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.
There are like a zillion trucks on our street right now. The water main construction took a bad turn today. From the eastern corner of our street to our western next door neighbour (the thief!), the work crew had to drill down 8 feet into solid limestone. In front of our thief neighbour's home, the limestone ended and now the works crew is into mud and sand. It's not as noisy working in that but it's way messy.
This morning, while I stood outside waiting for Mark, I saw steam coming out of a big hole in the street. I didn't think that this was good at all. I'm not sure if it's related or not but they made a big hole in the gas line and apparently, the gas leaked into the neighbourhood for about 5 hours today. They also damaged the existing water main so, for quite a while, we had neither water or gas.
Needless to say, we went out for dinner tonight. Our water was restored but the gas is still off. I'm really glad at this moment, that our water heater is fueled by oil. It just must be a "dumb" day all around. Mark and I actually overheard a guy at the table next to us (at Denny's), ask if they served breakfast. At Denny's. I'm guessing that this guy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
hosed
is it hot hot hot in your neck of the woods?
it's still hot hot hot here but not hot hot hot hot hot like it was yesterday. today we have a breeze and it is good. it's still humid and all but at least the air is moving.
we just got home from costco. I would like to move in to their walk-in produce cooler. it's nice and cold and you can see your breath in front of you as you select your mushrooms and what not.
I'm glad to be home, very very glad. it was very hot in our office today and I had a hard time concentrating by the mid-afternoon. Part of me would like to go get into our pool and the other part wants to hide in the house, in the air conditioning and eat chicken salad in front of the television.
If I wanted to, I suppose I could eat chicken salad in the pool but that doesn't sound quite so appealing.
seriously, the heat has fried my brain today but then, I'm sure you can tell that already without me pointing it out.
it's still hot hot hot here but not hot hot hot hot hot like it was yesterday. today we have a breeze and it is good. it's still humid and all but at least the air is moving.
we just got home from costco. I would like to move in to their walk-in produce cooler. it's nice and cold and you can see your breath in front of you as you select your mushrooms and what not.
I'm glad to be home, very very glad. it was very hot in our office today and I had a hard time concentrating by the mid-afternoon. Part of me would like to go get into our pool and the other part wants to hide in the house, in the air conditioning and eat chicken salad in front of the television.
If I wanted to, I suppose I could eat chicken salad in the pool but that doesn't sound quite so appealing.
seriously, the heat has fried my brain today but then, I'm sure you can tell that already without me pointing it out.
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