Ice is a rather miraculous form of water. It can create great beauty, entice us with its mystery, or cause us great danger.
Traffic accidents, falls, icicles falling off of buildings and roofs not only can injure, they can kill you. Frozen pipes can cost a fortune. Snow and ice removal costs industry and municipalities millions each winter.
Driving in snow is one thing. Driving on ice is quite another. Ice alters one’s ability to stop or go. It doesn’t matter what you drive if you are driving on ice. The moral of the story is, don’t drive on ice.
SPOILER Alert
OMG, Lady Sybil! I bawled like a baby. That was the most personal, intimate death I have ever watched on film. I unfortunately came upon the British version, was reading something and slammed into last Sunday’s show. I knew there would be a bad ending. It didn’t stop the tears.
Is this the last season or are there more?
The 2013 version of Diet Coke Break….I couldn’t resist. Do you recall the 80’s version!!!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=HuHV4gwSXn4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHuHV4gwSXn4
Armed Arizona posse guards schools: Vigilantes or vigilance?
Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona’s Maricopa County has dispatched his armed posse to guard public schools. For members of the posse – often retirees – it’s a chance to serve.
By Lourdes Medrano, Correspondent / January 29, 2013
From a distance, the Maricopa County sheriff’s patrol car parked near the entrance to a school parking lot suggests the presence of a uniformed deputy, sitting vigilant behind the wheel – a 9 millimeter Glock on his waist, a Remington shotgun nearby, and a bulletproof vest snug under his tan shirt.
But the man behind the wheel is no deputy.
He is retiree David Bennett, a volunteer with the armed posse that Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently dispatched to patrol school zones in metropolitan Phoenix. It is the sheriff’s answer to keeping students safe in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings in December that left 26 people dead, including 20 children.
It is also at least a glimpse of how schools might look if the National Rifle Association had its way. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in Newtown, the NRA proposed putting armed guards at the entrance of every school. It vowed to help train ex-cops and other volunteers for the task. Here in Phoenix, Sheriff Arpaio has essentially already taken the lead.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2013/0129/Armed-Arizona-posse-guards-schools-Vigilantes-or-vigilance
OR they may look like my daughter’s schools. They each have had a resource officer.
Cargo, as you know, I feel that the school resource officers are an invaluable resource to schools. They are also the first to go if localities are tightening their belts.
More importantly, they really aren’t armed guards. Their jobs very much are about being involved with kids. They don’t guard the school. A guy in a school with a gun isn’t the answer to school violence, necessarily.
@Moon-howler
Our resource officers are county police. And they take the security seriously. We’re having a county meeting, unless I missed it (Its been a crappy two weeks) about school security, suggestions, etc.
Ours our county police also but….they aren’t armed guards for the schools.
Ours take security seriously also, but they aren’t armed guards for the schools.
I get disturbed when I think about the public perception. I would be interested to hear what you learn from the meeting.
I guess I don’t see how an SRO officer can be an SRO officer if he or she is guarding the bulding.
The emphasis is then off the kids and on the building as a safe house of sorts. Last I was involved, the SRO was a integral part of the school community and that officer very much interacted with kids.
Remember the SRO’s were on the Chairman’s chopping block. Then he changed his tune after Sandy Hook. I know when my daughter was in middle school, the SRO was a very critical part of the school.
Moon, you’ve got mail. It contains some good news for a change. 🙂
“Moon, you’ve got mail. It contains some good news for a change.”
Fresh Cookies???
If so, where are mine damn it!
@Mom
I’ve given up on baking for a while. I burned everything up I attempted over Christmas.
Only good news I could give you is, I’m meeting my second family at your local watering hole tomorrow night. Perhaps, I have time whip up a batch of cookies.
err, regularly scheduled programming…Friday night. 🙄
I’ll trade drinks for cookies.
@Starryflights
School bus driver shot to death in Alabama.
Shooting at an office park in Arizona. 3 with life threatening injuries.
Both this morning.
And now an explosion at hotel San Diego Seaworld. Geesh..
Christ, what is happening in this country? Starting to look like Somalia over here. That Alabama shooter sounds like a gun hugger
Worse Starry, 40+ people murdered in Chicago this year so far… and we are STILL in Janurary! More people killed than in Afganastan, and they have some of the toughest gun laws in the country.
If you can’t see the difference in inner city violence and spree shooting, then please don’t comment.
They are hiding out in a bunker in Alabama. The boy is a special needs child and has had medication sent to him through a PVC pipe.
Not sure if a reliable news source has confirmed it or not, but Isareal struck a convoy in Syria. Earthquake in Chili….
Gun hugger? What does that even mean? And how do u know? Me thinks this is yet another example of ‘jumping da gun’, no pun intended….
@Peterson
One cannot compare inner-city and war zone shootings with
school and office park shootings.
I see that the Governor’s transportation/tax proposal got through a significant committee vote today. Also noted is a favourable committee vote on a totally unnecessary measure to permit prayer in public places and schools. There never has been any prohibition on prayer. It would be a total violation of our rights under the First Amendment. Obviously, the State can’t sponsor or lead prayers, but individuals have never been prohibited from praying. I used to do it all the time to compensate for poor study habits. Oh well, our General Assembly at work. If they didn’t have someplace to go, they probably would end up playing in the street and getting hurt.
Why do they feel such a bill is needed, Scout?
Beats me. I think they just are ignorant and rather gullibly buy into all this “war against religion” stuff that is thrown around. It would be pretty hard to lose a vote in a primary if you’re on record for supporting prayer.
@Scout
Lets tax Virginians more with more sales tax and let the folks passing through skate on gas tax although a drop in the gas tax will only mean a rise in prices anyway. I like the Governor but this is stupid.
C, I think the assessment was that the General Assembly would not support in increase in the gas tax, even if it were for transportation improvements. “Folks passing through” also pay sales taxes, and, even with the increase, Virginia’s sales tax level will not be out of line with those of neighboring states, so there is no incentive to evade.
I agree with those (apparently including you) who prefer that the gas tax be raised to find these funds, but I agree with the Governor that that simply was not going to happen.
I don’t understand how it is all going to work with increased sales tax and lower gax tax. It just isn’t the sword I am going to fall on though.
It at least gouges your pocket book rather than something far more personal.
Any time Virginia politicians stick to financial issues I think it is an improvement.
Did anyone else have their cell phone start talking to them last night? MIne came on, without permission, and warned me about potential flood.
I nearly had the “big one” it startled me so badly. I didn’t know cell phones could do that.
My husband doesn’t have a smart phone…he has an old dumb phone…all he is capable of, he says, and his beeped and squawked and sent him a text message.
I am not sure I *WANT* a phone that comes to life without permission.
@Moon-howler
Yes, the cell phone talked here too. We spent a minute or two wondering what could have made that squawk with two phones and a CPAP machine in the vicinity. It definitely wasn’t the usual ring.
It startled the hell out of me. I cant even remember if the voice was male or female.
I am trying to figure if it is Verizon or the county sending the alarm.
Are you all signed up for alerts from the county? I would guess it’s them.
It didn’t sound like the county. I am sure my daughter isn’t. Her phone came to life also.
Heck, I have a flip phone. It’s not doing anything jazzy…
I would like share this from our Supervisor Pete Candland. I hope I can attend. Glad to see the meeting will be in-town. Now, if in-town people would attend.
Brown Bag Chat
Friends,
This Saturday, February 2, I’m hosting my first “brown bag chat,” where I come to your neighborhood and discuss issues that are important to you. I’ll be at the Bull Run Regional Library at 8051 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA, from 3pm to 5pm. Please visit my Facebook page to view more details and RSVP for the brown bag chat. This event is open to everyone, no appointment necessary. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Pete Candland
Gainesville District Supervisor
Prince William Board of County Supervisors
I presume the “in-town people” do understand that the brown bag is for their lunch and not their heads…..hehehe
Good onr, Mom. Yup, got that. BYOBB.
This is why polls are worthless and dueling polls on the same subject can disagree.
http://reason.com/blog/2013/01/31/poll-americans-especially-young-ones-sa2
At the end, you can see their conclusions as to why their polls is different than the Pew poll, etc.
@Mom
OK…that definately earned you a batch of cookies. What kind will I be bakng?
14 year old shot in the head at an Atlanta middle school. 🙁
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/31/school-officials-confirm-shooting-at-atlanta-middle-school/
OMG – do the biggest dumb@$$es in the DC area live in Manassas? From today’s WaPo article about the little boy whose father is accused of murdering him:
A Manassas man accused of drowning his 15-month-old son had claimed in a life insurance policy for the boy that the infant’s mother had died five years ago, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Prince William County Circuit Court.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/joaquin-rams-accused-of-murdering-son-claimed-in-life-insurance-policy-that-boys-mother-had-died/2013/01/31/85720d26-6bda-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_blog.html?hpid=z3
Can someone tell me how this is possible and what dork would claim it? Talk about stupid criminals…
Too dumb for words!!! We live in the intellectual sink hole of America.
@Moon-howler
It must be those damn schools that fail to teach reproduction, gestational periods, and math!
I think it was lattice multiplication.
Have you been practicing your lattice multiplicaton , BS?
Just think, that rascally old printing press came along and ruined it all.
Another earthquake off the Solomon Islands. That’s like 2 in that area in a week or so.
@Mom
Do you have your brown bag ready for today?
Soon, as I said the secret phrase to you last night, my mom immediately started laughing. I’m sorry I didn’t get to introduce MY mom to Mom.
Does anyone expect gas prices to go down if the gas tax is eliminated?
No. Someone will find a way to still gouge us.
The Virginian Pilot had this story about a fundraiser in Norfolk Saturday night that was to include auctioning an autographed rifle signed by a former SEAL sniper who was going to fire a shot from the rifle through a best selling book he wrote. Apparently they wrote and ran the story before they got the news that the former sniper had been shot and killed in a murder at a shooting range in Texas.
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/weekend-gala-will-honor-those-wounded-combat
If you aren’t safe at the range, where are you safe?
Apparently the shooter suffered from PTSD. He was captured by police after running.
That’s really a shame. Apparently Chris Kyle was a real hero.
LaPierre’s words are ringing a little hollow.
Author of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle shot to death: reports
Reuters – 2 hrs 5 mins ago
(Reuters) – Chris Kyle, the former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper who was responsible for 160 kills during his career as U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, was shot and killed with another man at a gun range on Saturday, the co-author of Kyle’s book said.
A suspect, identified as Eddie Ray Routh, was arrested, according to reports.
Kyle, who wrote “American Sniper” about his military service from 1999 to 2009, and another man were found dead at the Rough Creek Lodge’s shooting range Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, quoting Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant. The second victim was not identified.
http://news.yahoo.com/author-american-sniper-chris-kyle-shot-death-reports-060103082.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CclFg5RqhMA9w_QtDMD
Well, that is ironic.
If the highly trained former SEAL who holds the record for the most sniper kills in US military history gets shot to death on a gun range at a posh resort it undermines the claim that training and increased access to guns is the cure for the gun murder epidemic.
Not to mention that old Lapierrian adage–the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
It certainly does. I thought these things only happened in gun free zones, and that armed people wouldn’t be shot. What happened?
Listen to the crickets chirping. I expect all the gun nuts …err…enthusiasts…sorry…I slipped….are off getting re-programmed so they all come up with the same sound bytes for this tragic accident. This one is just taking a little longer than most.
Some local news claims that the shooter was a former Marine with PTSD and Kyle was helping him with therapy? Huh? Taking a guy with PTSD to a gun range? Wtf?
@Starryflights
And what the hell would you know about PTSD?
And you don’t usually see these things things at non-gun free zones. Let’s see….how many shootings have happened at ranges?
@Morris Davis
No it doesn’t.
2nd amendment supports don’t say that its a cure. They have never said that it’s a “CURE”
In fact, its the 2nd amend. people that say that it is OTHER factors that cause the violence and curing THOSE is the cure. Having a gun provides a chance for defense. NOT a sure thing.
Cargo! don’t ask Starry a question like that in that tone! He is a vet. That should answer that question. I guess he has as much right to PTSD as you do.
I love how you leftist gun grabbers fall all over yourselves to dance on the graves of the departed every time there’s a tragedy. Why not hire a band and arrange catering while you’re at it?
Oh, and you still don’t have the votes. Chirp chirp!
Leftist gun grabbers? Too funny. So now anyone who isn’t an absolutist regarding the 2nd amendment is a leftist gun grabber?
That sounds extremist to me.
What is it I don’t have the votes for? Obviously you aren’t speaking of the presidential election.
The NRA position sickens me. I will continue to mock LaPierre.
@Moon-howler
Well, then, that answer’s the question, somewhat? But all that says that, unless he has dealt with it, he doesn’t know anything about it either. He made a blanket statement, implying that PTSD people are, basically, unsafe around guns.
And Moon, after Starry’s many insulting posts and tone, in general, about all things GOP, and conservative, I don’t have a lot of sympathy for any of Starry’s oh, so sensitive feelings.
I didn’t say that he didn’t “have a right” to PTSD, whatever that is. And being a vet doesn’t mean squat about knowing anything about PTSD.
So, again, what do you know about PTSD, Starry? Do you have any special knowledge informing your opinion?
Cargo, PTSD is a serious issue. I know what you said to him. You know what you said to him.
I am not going to play word tag with you.
Drop the PTSD ‘challenge.’ Starry has as much right to comment as the next guy, maybe even more so.
I didn’t say he had sensitive feelings.
You are telling me that the military does absolutely nothing about informing its members about PTSD? Bull. I know better. You are telling me that someone in the military would not run into someone suffering from the disorder? Bull. I know better.
I think being a vet certainly qualifies him to have an opinion. I also think having a family member with it qualifies me to have an opinion on it.
You really are picking. That’s just a subject I think is better left unchallenged.
I get it. Starry makes you mad. You probably also make him mad.
@Moon-howler
Apparently it does…cops have guns.
Crickets? Taking so long? It happened YESTERDAY. And unlike the gun grabbers, we don’t tend to use these things to advance agendas. The only thing you’ll hear from us are condolences.
So, go ahead. Use it for political purposes. Talk about all the ways this shooting doesn’t match exactly what 2nd amendment supporters say should happen. Talk about how “see, guns don’t make you safe.”
We’ll be over here… saying goodbye to one of our heroes.
Actually I will continue to mimic LaPierre and his hollow words. I find HIS agenda extremely offensive.
I already offered my condolances.
Obviously LaPierre doesn’t have all the answers either. If I included myself in one of those ‘us’ statements like you have, Cargo, I would be clamoring for a better spokesperson for my organization.
Fox News host Chris Wallace ripped the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre saying about part of LaPierre’s argument “that’s ridiculous, and you know it, sir.” Where do you go when you can’t even get away with spinning pure NRA BS on Fox?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/02/fox-news-nra-wayne-lapierre.html?mid=google
@Cargo, I notice that you didn’t have to same slack jaw at Moe Davis as you did at Starry and me.
@Moe
I recorded that show today. I think I will watch.