lucius septimius 4/16/2021 5:38:25 AM

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vxbush 4/16/2021 5:39:56 AM

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Good morning, everyone. I think I have just about reached the point where I am sick of the news, regardless of where it is from or what it says. 

Can we make today a good-news story day? We all know there is a lot of bad news out there. Let's share a bit more good news today--assuming we can find something. 

vxbush 4/16/2021 7:17:20 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

Or, you know, everyone can actually get work done except me. I killed the thread before it even started. 

buzzsawmonkey 4/16/2021 7:33:56 AM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 1:

Saw it; and thanks very much.

To some extent, I simply needed to get some of this out of my system; since I've only got one more session of Re-Education Camp, it is not really worth going to the mat on this unless there is followup from the school Powers That Be; there are reasons I'd like to keep the job for at least a little while yet, and I don't want to jeopardize it needlessly, but I needed to hear from someone who's had to deal with this sort of crap in an academic setting to get some perspective.  It's reminiscent of the old saw that he who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client; if you don't talk to someone outside the situation it gets overwhelming. 

I may have some followup questions.

JCM 4/16/2021 7:50:28 AM

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So cops shoot a 13 year old in Chicago. Initial impression is it is a bad shoot.

Chicago gets wrapped around the axle over one shooting.

But they accept the weekly shootings of children.

The rank hypocrisy is so vile.

buzzsawmonkey 4/16/2021 8:06:16 AM

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In #5 JCM said: The rank hypocrisy is so vile.

The rank and vile are the normal participants in a democracy hypocracy.

JCM 4/16/2021 8:06:22 AM

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Occasional Reader 4/16/2021 8:15:24 AM

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In #5 JCM said: Initial impression is it is a bad shoot.

Mine, too, but I learned from experience to wait until more facts come in.  Yes, even with video. 

Kosh's Shadow 4/16/2021 8:19:07 AM

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JCM 4/16/2021 8:23:24 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 8:

Based on video only, he ran from cops, then turned around and showed his hands.

The time between, the cop had a fraction of a second to decided shoot no shoot.

IF it was a bad shoot it certainly wasn't intentional.

Based on what we know... I will put in lack of training category. Like the Minneapolis shoot where the cop thought taser but deployed the firearm.

Training has to be frequent and intense, to hone and maintain those skills.

Defunding police will only increase the number of shootings where a primary factor is training.

lucius septimius 4/16/2021 8:32:13 AM

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In #2 vxbush said: Can we make today a good-news story day?

Used my lawnmower for the first time this year and it started just fine.  That, in my world, is exceptional news.

Occasional Reader 4/16/2021 8:47:59 AM

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In #9 Kosh's Shadow said: Took my wife to her second COVID shot in the snow

Wouldn't an indoor vaccination have been more comfortable?

/

Occasional Reader 4/16/2021 8:50:38 AM

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In #10 JCM said: I will put in lack of training category

No no no

ALL of these are cases of racist white cops deliberately gunning down People of Color in cold blood, for sport.  

Get with the program, comrade.

(Except for the US Capitol Police, who are immaculate and cannot be questioned.... unless you're some kind of insurrectionist traitor.  You're not a traitor, are you?)

JCM 4/16/2021 9:37:30 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 13:

That's what I meant!

The cops are TRAINED to hunt down black people!

vxbush 4/16/2021 9:42:11 AM

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In #11 lucius septimius said: Used my lawnmower for the first time this year and it started just fine.  That, in my world, is exceptional news.

Fantastic!!!!

Alice in Dairyland 4/16/2021 9:43:43 AM

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In #9 Kosh's Shadow said: Took my wife to her second COVID shot in the snow

Three years ago we got 30" of snow on Friday the 13th in April.  That's uncommon even for Wisconsin.  Don't ever want that to happen again.

Alice in Dairyland 4/16/2021 9:45:38 AM

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In #11 lucius septimius said: Used my lawnmower for the first time this year and it started just fine.

I take it the mower starting up fine is the good part, because having to mow the lawn in April would suck.  See my comment above.  Most years we still have snow on ground in April.  Not this year though, yippee!

Kosh's Shadow 4/16/2021 11:30:21 AM

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In #11 lucius septimius said: Used my lawnmower for the first time this year and it started just fine. 

I gave up on gas lawnmowers. I don't have a place to drain the gas, and they make it difficult, too. 

Got an electric (lithium ion battery) one around 5 years ago, and it works so well I got other battery powered tools from the same company. (EGO)

In fact, the trimmer's battery failed less than a month after the battery warranty, but with not too much trouble they replaced it anyway. The other two batteries have been fine. (Lawnmower and hedge clippers)

Alice in Dairyland 4/16/2021 11:37:59 AM

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In #18 Kosh's Shadow said: Got an electric (lithium ion battery) one around 5 years ago, and it works so well I got other battery powered tools from the same company. (EGO)

We bought an Makita battery powered chain saw last summer for camping.  Tried our son's out and were amazed at how long the battery lasted.  It much quieter also.  One battery carries us through a whole week and we cut a lot of firewood.  Ranger stopped by to make sure we weren't cutting it to sell.  Nope, we cook on the fire a lot and a fire during the day helps keep the mosquitoes away.

@PBJ3 4/16/2021 12:39:59 PM

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Occasional Reader 4/16/2021 12:44:35 PM

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In #18 Kosh's Shadow said: I gave up on gas lawnmowers. I don't have a place to drain the gas, and they make it difficult, too.  Got an electric (lithium ion battery) one around 5 years ago

I'm sure your neighbors are grateful.

One thing I do not miss about the suburbs (where I grew up) is the din of gas lawnmowers.  (Not that the city doesn't have its own din.)

Kosh's Shadow 4/16/2021 1:05:56 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 21:

The mower is very quiet; just the whooshing noise of the blade.

It even has a headlight because it can be used in the dark.

And if I do have to stop and adjust the height (our lawn is uneven), I can just let it stop. Push the key in and squeeze the bar to the handle, and it runs.

Kosh's Shadow 4/16/2021 1:06:50 PM

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In #21 Occasional Reader said: Not that the city doesn't have its own din.

And India had Gunga Din

lucius septimius 4/16/2021 1:12:51 PM

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Occasional Reader 4/16/2021 1:38:30 PM

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In #24 lucius septimius said: Personally, having grown up around the boat store

So I imagine your favorite detective-fiction writer is Raymond Chandler... 

buzzsawmonkey 4/16/2021 2:09:44 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 25:

Nicely done.

Alice in Dairyland 4/16/2021 2:52:50 PM

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In #24 lucius septimius said: I find it comforting.

I like it too.  The best time to sneak in a nap is when the neighbors are mowing.  It's like white noise, the droning of the mower drowns out everything else.  Don't hear traffic, dogs barking or kids playing.  Sitting out on the patio having a beverage, not so much. 

Kosh's Shadow 4/16/2021 3:35:41 PM

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Wondering how much COVID has to do with this spate of crazy people shooting.

Several possibilities (and I suspect they are all true)

Stuck due to lockdowns and lack of regular social contact

Stress of being in this strange masked environment

Neurological/psychological effects of COVID itself (article1 article2)