Violence: Peeling back the layers– Video games, music, and movies

MoonHowler

venn1

Most of us aren’t ready to stop talking about the mass murders of Newtown, Connecticut.  I have tried to stop and I can’t.  I keep thinking guns and mental illness and their life-threatening intersection.  Guns and mental illness become the common denominator for all of our mass murders.    However, there is a sub layer to all this violence that we also need to talk about.

Video games, movies and music are also a vital part society that is feeding the violence.   God only knows what kind of violence is on video games. I won’t look.  I pop bubbles and have frogs spit balls in my video games.  No one over the age of three likes my games.  However, I know they are out there.  Video games are very life-like.  The people look pretty much like people.  How many video kills do we have to do before we are just desensitized and indifferent?  At what point can we not come out of our game mode?  Where do we draw the line?

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Maybe Huckabee needs his back end kicked!

MoonHowler

Maybe Mike Huckabee needs his back end kicked a time or two. What an outrageous thing to say. To suggest that school prayer would have prevented this carnage is insensitive and obnoxious. Huckabee certainly doesn’t have the corner on God any more than the rest of us.

As parents, siblings and friends struggle to make meaning out of that which makes no sense, someone coming along with a “prayer in schools” political message is just cruel.  He is moving along into Westboro Baptist territory on this one.

Speaking of those agents of Satan, I hear that Westboro plans on putting in an appearance at some of the children’s funerals.  If the crowd turns on them and beats them I simply would not care.  I guess we need to have Veterans motor cycle groups out in full force.  What a shame.

Meanwhile, shame on Mike Huckabee.  I expect better from him.  He is an educated man.  He knows all children aren’t of the same faith.  I am so disappointed in Huckabee.

Anonymous hacks Westboro Baptist website

MoonHowler

Huffington Post:

Members of the hacktivist group Anonymous have targeted the Westboro Baptist Church after the hate-mongering, quasi-religious group announced plans to protest a Sunday night vigil in remembrance of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, 20 of whom were just 6 and 7 years old.

On Saturday, Westboro Baptist Church spokesperson Shirley Phelps-Roper tweeted that the group would be protesting the vigil in Newtown, Conn., to “sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment.”

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Joe Scarborough, Eloquently and Passionately Shares His Feelings on Sandy Hook

Elena

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

“I knew that day that the ideologies of my past career were no longer relevant to the future that I want, that I demand for my children. Friday changed everything. It must change everything. We all must begin anew and demand that Washington’s old way of doing business is no longer acceptable. Entertainment moguls don’t have an absolute right to glorify murder while spreading mayhem in young minds across America. And our Bill of Rights does not guarantee gun manufacturers the absolute right to sell military-style, high-caliber, semi-automatic combat assault rifles with high-capacity magazines to whoever the hell they want.

Scarborough shared what so many of us have been struggling to express.  I am not anti gun, but to throw my hands up and say all we can do is arm more people, well that just isn’t an acceptable solution to me.  We must deal with this crisis in a comprehensive manner, from all angles.  There is no perfect solution, but we must, as a nation, at least try.

Thank you Joe Scarborough.

 

WaPo: 12 facts about guns and mass shootings

MoonHowler

From the Washington Post.  The information was collected after the Aurora, CO massacre.

1. Shooting sprees are not rare in the United States.

2. 15 of the 25 worst mass shootings in the last 50 years took place in
the United States.

3. Lots of guns don’t necessarily mean lots of shootings, as you can see
in Israel and Switzerland.*

4. Of the 11 deadliest shootings in the US, five have happened
from 2007 onward.

5. America is an unusually violent country. But we’re not as violent as
we used to be.

6. The South is the most violent region in the United States.

7. Gun ownership in the United States is declining overall.

8. More guns tend to mean more homicide.

9. States with stricter gun control laws have fewer deaths from
gun-related violence.

10. Gun control, in general, has not been politically popular.

11. But particular policies to control guns often are.

12. Shootings don’t tend to substantially affect views on gun
control.

 

A case of blackmail and extortion: Where is Robin Hood?

MoonHowler

robin

From the Sheriff of Nottingham PWC blog:

The Sheriff will make this offer:
The PWC Republican Committee passes a resolution strongly endorsing a Flat Tax Bill for FY 2014 for Prince William County that affirms the Republican principles of lower taxes and smaller government.  And then the PWC Republican Committee informs the Republican members of the BOCS that the Republican Party endorsement in the next election is contingent on their support for the Flat Tax Bill resolution and the principles that support it.
In return, The Sheriff agrees to muzzle his sharp tongue in the future and express only the most civil of criticisms when necessary.  Cross my heart, hope to die.
Seems like a fair deal to The Sheriff.
What say you?
***
What say I?  I say that the Republican Party of Prince William County should not be held hostage or  allow itself to be a victim of extortion or blackmail.  There is room for debate regarding a flat tax.  However,  that debate in no way settles the issue.  We must consider education and public safety first.
***
Most of us don’t really look at the R and the D behind a person’s name as much as we look at their vision for  the county.  I don’t really think property taxes have gone up much at all the last few years.  In fact, mine went down significantly there for a while.  I am tired of the whining.   We don’t have high taxes here in Prince William County.  Cheap isn’t necessarily better.
***
If memory serves me correctly, Robin of Locksley came along to protect the people from the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Where is Robin Hood?

 

The Newtown, Connecticut Tragedy: Sandy Hook Elementary

MoonHowler

candle2 ani

Most of us have shed  tears today.  I cannot imagine sending my children or grandchildren  to school to have them killed.  That is what many people in Newtown, Connecticut did today.  I have no idea how to even absorb what has really happened.  I have no idea what those people are feeling/thinking.  Can you think after losing your child in this senseless manner?

Principals and teachers are also dead.  No one signed on for a combat job.  There is no combat pay.  These were babies, for God’s sake.  Kindergartners. First graders.   They had done nothing but live their little lives.

The entire nation mourns.  There will be some serious questions needing serious answers in a few days.

New blog in the neighborhood–Queer at Patrick Henry College

MoonHowler

Tom Jackman has introduced a new Sh**-storm.  Its about time.  I have grown weary of our regular news.  Thanks, Tom.

The Washington Post:

A new blog launched this past summer called “Queer at Patrick Henry College,” written anonymously by several former students of the Purcellville-based institution for home-school grads. Without any notoriety, the blog might have toiled in relative anonymity, exploring the idea of homosexuality at a Christian college where it is, uh, frowned upon.

But then the president and founder of the school, Michael Farris, sent a threatening note to the bloggers, saying he would sue if they didn’t stop the unauthorized use of the college’s name. And now, Queer at Patrick Henry College is out there, blogospherically as well as sexually.

College President Mike Farris used to be the darling of all that was home school so I expect he is having one fit.  He has threatened to sue.  Well, anyone can threaten to sue.  He certainly doesn’t own the name “Patrick Henry.”  Farris also insists that homosexuality does not exist at Patrick Henry College.  I guess statistics isn’t taught at Patrick Henry?

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Testing the waters: unions and abortion

MoonHowler

Washington Post:

Virginia Republicans and Democrats will really go at it in the 2013 elections, but at least they’re talking to each other for now. Not directly, mind you. But on Thursday, both parties kinda, sorta reached out by publicly addressing the other camp.

Addressing them in a way meant to put them on the spot, but heck, it’s a start.

The Republican Party of Virginia opened the dialogue with a news release that began:

“As Democrats continue to celebrate and rally around President Obama, his actions in Michigan raise a critical question for Virginia voters: Where do the 2013 Democrat candidates stand on Right to Work? Do they stand with President Obama, or do they stand with Virginia?”

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Open Thread………..Geminids…………Thursday, Dec. 13

MoonHowler

Thursday night and Friday morning will be a great time to view the Geminid Meteor shower.  This year’s light show might be extra special.  There might be a meteor shower from a lesser known comet, Comet Wirtanen, at the same time.  If things go as predicted, stargazers might very well see 150 meteors per hour!

We just have to wish away those clouds.  There will be no moon interference.

More information-National Geographic

 

Certain members of BOCS: “Never Again” will a blogger dictate county policy!

Elena

You know the old saying?  Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.  Well, citizens saw a whole lot of that during December 11th’s BOCS meeting.

How well most of us remember when a certain blogger was able to intimidate the BOCS into an immigration policy that was little researched and backed by a nefarious anti immigration group called FAIR.  However, at least we knew the name of that blogger!

Moonhowlings, for some time, has been expressing our sincere reservations about the tactics of a certain blog.  From erroneous attacks about furniture to personal attacks about the mannerisms or physical features of BOCS members, our discomfort has been growing.

Corey and Pete Candland have now joined forces to promote the idea of a flat tax.  The debate I saw occur yesterday was mostly reasoned and fair.   I saw a process that made me proud to be a resident of Prince William County.

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BOCS meeting: A post mortem

MoonHowler
The PWC Rogues Gallery

Yesterday’s board meeting definitely ended up being a “Sh**-Storm.”  There really is no other way to put it.  To date, the open thread is  the location where it has already been discussed.

I noticed my usual crew was not here.  I know why.  We don’t allow county employees to be beaten up here.  That rule will continue.  They cannot fight back.  However, that does not mean we cannot discuss events that involve them.  There is  a difference in beating someone up and discussing an event.  Politicians are fair game, up to a point.  Politicians  can fight back as we have seen.   I more or less use fact as a standard.

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Michigan: A new right to work state

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com

LANSING, Mich. — Even with the outcome considered a foregone conclusion, the heated battle over right-to-work legislation in the traditional union bastion of Michigan shows no sign of cooling.

Authorities in Lansing were bracing for an onslaught of demonstrators Tuesday at the Michigan Capitol as the Legislature reconvenes for what could be final votes on bills. Hundreds of people gathered early Tuesday to get inside.

“I want to try to get into the gallery. I want to see the proceedings,” said Wes Nakagiri of Livingston County’s Hartland Township, an engineer with an auto parts supplier. “I’m for the legislation, but I can see both sides.”

If it is passed and signed into law, Michigan would become the 24th right-to-work state, banning requirements that nonunion employees pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services.

“I’m for the legislation, but I can see both sides.”   It sounds reasonable to me and pretty much sums up how many folks feel–yea–both sides seem to make sense.

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Not a tea party county: don’t go on the cheap

MoonHowler
CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!!!

Tuesday brings another board of county supervisors meeting and more red meat for the blogosphere.   The red meat lately has come from the supervisors budget time.

Remember last spring when Corey Stewart pretty much told us that if we were going to attract business we were going to have to have services that people wanted?  He actually mouthed the words that taxes might go up.  All that has been forsaken it appears and he is now back to Tea Party Mentality.

The problem with Tea Party Mentality is that Prince William County isn’t a poor county.  We are the 9th richest county in the nation and have the second largest school system in the state.  Our school system is suffering.  Teachers aren’t getting raises and the per pupil classroom ratio is the highest in the state.  There are rumblings now to “adjust” the amount of money given to the schools.  Currently the school system receives 56.75% of the revenue.  I certainly don’t think anyone intends to give the schools any more money.  That would be a first.  There are also rumblings about the BOCS having more input into the School Board budget.  I do not believe this is legal. If it is, it shouldn’t be.  Why have a school board then?

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