Things are a little crazy around here, because my power chair is scheduled to arrive today. Because I arranged my schedule for it to come a week from now, I’m going to have to do some appointment juggling.
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: A Modesto, California pastor is recovering after being accidentally shot by his firearms-safety instructor during class:
During the course, Rushing was using a training gun, a rubber fake with no firing mechanism, said Heather Graves, Modesto Police Department spokeswoman. But as the class was ending, she said, he removed that prop from his holster and replaced it with his real handgun.
About that time, Graves said, a student asked Rushing to demonstrate what to do if attacked by someone armed with a knife. Smith volunteered to portray the attacker in a role-playing exercise.
“During the scenario, the instructor drew the firearm and it accidentally discharged,” she said. She did not know whether Rushing forgot he replaced the training gun or whether he knew he was drawing the real gun.
Oh those Republican Ammosexuals! If republicans were serious about addressing mental health issues, they’d disarm themselves.
From Upworthy: An amazing new trove of fossil fuel industry documents was released in summer 2015.
Check out this Russia Today segment, featuring Aaron Huertas from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It’s surprisingly zinger-filled for a discussion of corporate memos.
Pro tip: Listen for this phrase “cannot be denied." The part about employees leaking some of these documents starts at 1:48.
That’s 34 years of lies and destruction of our planet. Take them down, make them pay, and lock them up!!
From Alternet: I know, I know. You probably haven’t tuned in to MTV recently—unless you’re a big fan of teenage reality shows. But as it turns out, the music-less music television station is working to educate their audience on the racist origins of some commonly used phrases.
We’d better not let Republicans find out about these. They’ll use them more.
Cartoon:
6 Responses to “Open Thread–12/17/2015”
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Power chair! Wheeeeee!
DKos – I got distracted when I saw this the first time and sidetracked into high school courses taught by people unqualified, not totally, but for the particular subject. Had I not, I would have wondered out loud what church the pastor was a pastor in and what prompted the gun safety course. Was it he (I am assuming a he) or possibly his parishoners who pressured him, who forgot Jesus's words to Peter: "Put away your sword"?
Upworthy – The tipoff to what has happened to America is that no one is shocked. I have signed enough petitions to prosecute to choke a horse, if they were paper and not digital.
AlterNet – Good information, yes. It's sad about the g-word, because it has also developed a lot of positive assiciations over the years. I did know about that origin, and have avoided the pejorative use for – oh – decades.
Cartoon – If man were meant to fly, God would have given him fur, so he wouldn't have to strip to be searched.
DK: Failed big time. Safety first, not putting a loaded gun back in your holster. During the scenario, the instructor drew the firearm and it "accidentally discharged". Methinks that the instructor needs to quit teaching class, but also, why does a pastor need a gun???
AlterNet: Good learning video on history of some words that are racial/harmful/disrespectful to others. Passing this one on also.
Cartoon: Visited the area and museum that the brothers flew, Kill Devils Hill, in Kitty Hawk N.C. It was a interesting tour.
Woo Hoo for you on getting your Power Chair !!! It's a good day all around, I'm glad to read that. Enjoy the rest of your day/evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
I assume you'd like to have your power chair delivered rather sooner than later, and the rescheduling is annoying, but it arriving will make up for any discomfort you've had, TomCat. Now you'll have to get used to running it in smaller spaces than the hospital, and no nurses to ketch down the halls either. Good luck with your first try-out.
Daily Kos: I feel bad about it, but I had to laugh when I read it. It's a bit like reading the Darwin awards for people who kill themselves in the most stupid ways. No-one was killed here, I understand, so two ammosexuals got very lucky this time. But I doubt this will keep the pastor from going to the next class this firearms-safety instructor teaches.
Upworthy: I think many of us have known on some level that the fossil fuel industry has known for quite some time that Climate Change is real and that they've been active in denying it and selling it off as a hoax, but none of us would have thought that this has been happening since 1981! As an individual I've been calling on this site for a tribunal to make these companies pay for what they have done to this planet, and perhaps one day I'll get my wish. They should also be made the rectify and undo any of their denial garbage they've been spreading, and the "they" must include the American Republicans.
Alternet: The hep-hep-hooray stems from Roman times, but was used in the same derogatory fashion against the Jews when the Romans toppled Jerusalem. The Nazis have taken it up in the ghettos in much the same spirit. The funny Dutch have been using the phrase for much longer then the Nazis because it is a part of our birthday song and anything else with cheers, our three cheers are three hiep-hiep-hoera. 😉
I noticed that after submitting my "comment is awaiting moderation". Is that the reason two of my comments had disappeared in the past weeks? Or did I just forget to click on the Submit button 😉
Nothing seems to be going on schedule for you, I hope that improves soon!
Daily Kos: I am speechless. Those people are supposed to be "trained" yet the trainer "accidentally" shoots a student? I thought some of my teachers were mean!
Upworthy: It is utterly disgusting that the energy companies are not responsible for damages caused by their lies, and I doubt that will change. Too many governmental policies are written by these energy companies, they have too much influence in DC for effective change any time soon.
Alternet: I had seen this a few days ago and it was enlightening.
Cartoon: I am sure that was their response.
Hope the power chair does all you hope it to do for you.
Who learned the lesson best?
Will any be prosectured?
Using a thesaurus can be risky because of how many synonyms have racist roots.
Oh my, were the Wright brothers run out of town?