Archive for August 12, 2014

Fight Injustice with a Bottle

The cops did it again!  They shot an unarmed kid in MO!  They claim it was self-defense, citing the supposed fact (for sure, all the people who said they saw this part are just cop-lovers) that the kid went inside the police car after the cop, which is when the first shot went off.  Then others, who really knew what was going on, say the kid was outside the car trying to surrender when the cop shot him again in cold blood.

Sure, they’ll investigate. But why wait to find out what actually happened, since they won’t be impartial anyway? Let’s show them how we deal with injustice.  I just threw a brick, breaking the window of that sporting goods store–I bet the owner is a dirty cop-lover and deserves what he gets.  So we all scramble in and take what we want from the goodies he sells, because we deserve it.  Another guy is throwing bottles at passing cars.  That’s good.  If they’re driving in this area they’re bigoted cop lovers who hate kids, and if one of them gets hit and crashes, so be it.  I hope a bus comes by–that time those other guys (they were protesting injustice, too) lit one on fire it was way cool.

This is America.  We have rights.  We demand justice.  And, look how we’re not afraid to stand up and show the world how we’re willing to fight for that justice!

Riot on!!!!!!

 

 

Down-to-Earth Back-to-School Ideas

Here are two ideas that are economical for you and healthy for the earth:  Don’t toss last year’s backpack into the trash.  Cover spots with patches depicting music groups, sports stars, whatever interests your child.  Also, together with your child, choose colorful cloth and make a simple reusable lunch bag that matches the backpack.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]

 

 

Knife vs Gun

There was yet another knifing on the local news.  I’m very concerned.  Shootings are terrible, but an increase in the number of knifings is, in some ways, worse.

With a gun, the assailant stands away from the victim.  He has what I call “space courage.”  That is, he has no contact with the victim and doesn’t even have to look him in the eye. It’s so easy to pull that trigger, especially with these guns that essentially shoot themselves (automatic, multiple shots).

With a knife, however, the attacker is up close.  He has physical contact and likely can’t avoid seeing his victim’s face.  He plunges the knife anyway, sometimes again and again. Each plunge requires effort and a will behind it to hurt.  That will is born and sustained by a hatred more powerful than that seen in most shootings.

Does the increasing choice of knife as weapon of choice reflect growing personal hatred in our society?  I can handle seeing a gun or a knife.  It’s that blind hatred that scares me.

 

 

Join 317 Million of your Closest Friends Tonight

Want something to do tonight?  Be part of the annual National Night Out.  The idea behind it is to get people out of their homes to mingle, to get to know each other.  It’s intended to help build neighborhood solidarity and friendship and get people involved in crime-prevention activities.  The result is to put the bad guys on notice that we’re fed up with their crimes and are organized and unified enough to take back our neighborhoods.

There are National Night Out events which you can participate in.  Otherwise, grab some lawn chairs and sodas, invite neighbors to join you, and talk about the kids, pets–preferably not about politics or religion–and how you, as a group, can make your neighborhood a safer place.

See you there!

 

 

What a Stroke Victim Wants from You

If you have a loved one who has had a stroke, this is for you:  40 Things I Need the Most–Requests from a Stroke Victim.    So many of us fear doing or saying the wrong thing.  As a result, many of us do nothing, thus isolating our loved one when he or she most needs  human contact and love.  This simple guide should remove all discomfort and make life better for both you and that person you care about.  Click on the above link and look for “Special Feature” a short way down the page.

New Rock Accidentally Made by Man

On the shores of Hawaii, scientists found a brand new rock-type, one that man has made.  It’s multi-colored, has a variety of textures, is eroded into a round shape, and is usually 2” to 8” in size.  Break down its name—plastiglomerate—and you’ll guess at what it’s made of.  Yes, it’s partly plastic.  It forms when our garbage plastic melts, then hardens inside the pores of a rock.

How does our discarded plastic get melted?  Because the area where the hybrid rock was discovered is remote, campers keep fires going for cooking and heat for the period in which they camp there.  Often they think they’re doing a good thing by burning their garbage, much of which contains plastic. The melted plastic seeps into the ground and into rocks.

Makes me wonder how else we’re changing Nature.

 

Plastiglomerate

“That’s Terrible” (Wink, Wink)

I’m not surprised that Ray Rice assaulted his fiancé (now wife) or that the NFL is letting him off with a slap on the back, er, I mean, on the wrist.  A look at the history of NFL game suspensions (rather than kicking them off the team) shows that these Good Old Boys think that violence is a healthy part of the sport—or is it a sport in itself?  Consider these suspensions:

Felony aggravated assault on your fiancé/wife = 1 -2 games

Assault on a former roommate = 3 games

Alleged sexual assault in a nightclub = 4 games

Altercation with a bodyguard = 4 games

Attacking a stripper and threatening a security guard, or DUI that killed someone = 16 games

Participating in a “bounty” = 3 – 16 games

Illegal hits on opposing players during a game = 1 – 2 games

Shooting self in the leg = 4 games [my personal favorite]

Participating in dog fighting = 2 games

DUI = 2 – 3 games

Multiple DUIs and other incidents = 32 games

Involvement with steroids or tattoos = 6 games

For a more offenses and penalties, see the chart at CBS.com.

By the way, Commissioner’s Roger Goodell and the league’s excuse for Rice’s mild penalty is that they have to go by precedent.  I guess reason and justice don’t count, especially if the offender wins games for you.