Loaded Questions
After this latest high school mass shooting, in which 17 lives were needlessly lost, the cry once again goes out for gun control.
But that leaves us with two very difficult questions:
1. How can "gun control" ever be accomplished?
2. What is the real the cause behind these mass tragedies?
To the first question, I answer, "I really don't see how". I'll explain why in a moment.
To the second, I can only sigh and observe, "our American soul is adrift".
By various estimates, there are anywhere from 270 million to 310 million guns in the United States — close to one firearm for every man, woman and child.
Ironically, gun sales boomed during the Obama era, as the gun debate was pushed to the forefront. In 2016, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) published a report that said the gun industry had expanded by 158 percent during the eight years of President Obama's time in office. Some of this increase can be attributed to firearm-owning civilians boosting their arsenals, worried that they might soon lose the opportunity. But history has also shown that gun sales spike after a mass shooting; and tragedies like Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, and Orlando's Pulse Nightclub shooting occurred within Obama's two terms, steadily driving gun ownership upward. And, of course, it was Obama who eased restrictions and allowed the deadly bump stock to become commercially available.
But let's put politics aside; let’s look at the dreaded semi-automatic AR-15 rifles, alone. As of 2016, The NSSF estimates there are roughly 5 to 10 *MILLION* AR-15 rifles owned in the United States, a small share of the roughly 300 million firearms owned by Americans. Five-to-Ten Million. Sadly, this horse is long out of the barn.
I agree that gun ownership is excessive and, yes, out of control. But gun owners are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, unregistered voters and illegal aliens. So this transcends politics. This is a deadly serious non-partisan national malaise.
I just don't know what to do about guns.
But I do know that we need a dramatic change in our national psyche and soul. Isn't that where the core of our problems truly lie?
God Bless America.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Monday, January 8, 2018
In The Noise - January 8, 2018
Jack Frost Nipping at Your Global Warming Nose
The climate alarmists have been fabricating fictions and side-stepping facts labeled as “science” for some nearly 50 years now - and me thinks that should be a paramount concern.
In the 1970’s, they labelled it, “global cooling”, a conjecture that imminent cooling of the Earth's surface and atmosphere was culminating in a period of extensive glaciation (which proved to be wrong). In the 90's it was “hole in the ozone layer” (scientists later revealed the hole was completely natural, and not man made. And then it “healed” itself). Then in the late 90’s, the alarm became “global warming”, a hypothesis now under great criticism as data has proved to be flawed and manipulated. Now, as the delusional alarmists are realizing there is no real man-created change in the Earth’s long term temperature trends, they have decided to call it "climate change" (that way, however the climate changes, they will never be “wrong”. If it's cold, “climate change”, if it's warm, “climate change”). It’s been slightly over ten years since Al Gore’s predictions of climate Armageddon in the film, “Inconvenient Truth” and the movie’s predictions and assertions have become increasingly and alarmingly inaccurate.
I hate to break it to the unenlightened pseudo-science buffoons, but the climate that the Earth has now, is NOT the way it's always been…nor how it WILL be in the future. (cue: mic drop)
Scientists estimate Earth is 4.54 billion years old, with an error range of 50 million years. Let that sink-in: 4 point 54 BILLION years old. The world’s climate has been constantly changing since day one, through countless terrestrial and extraterrestrial cataclysmic events LONG BEFORE MANKIND EVEN EVOLVED. The climate HAS ALWAYS been changing and WILL ALWAYS be changing - whether humans are here, or not.
Should we be responsible and care for our Earth? Of course. Should we try not to blow it out of existence? I’m in favor of that.
But ~ barring nuclear holocaust ~ does man have the power to seriously change BILLIONS of years of what God, nature or the universe (your choice) has done so far? To believe so is man’s egocentric folly. “Modern man”, a species that has graced this planet for a paltry few hundred thousand years…or LESS THAN 1/4000th of the Earth’s history. Within that, let’s be very generous and say that man has had the scientific knowledge to study the climate for 10,000 years. That’s only 1/400000 (one four-hundred-thousandth) of the Earth’s history: the equivalent of a grain of sand in a sand box; a drop of water in a swimming pool. How arrogant we are to believe we have the perspective or insight to accurately measure, analyze and predict what the Earth’s atmosphere is going to do!
Good luck, scientists, in formulating credible conclusions based on Billions of years of cataclysmic climatic history that profoundly predates you and your species; history you can never truly see, never truly test, nor ever truly or precisely measure or hypothesize about. The climate has always been changing and will always be changing - whether humans are here, or not. Face it! Mankind - in all its dysfunctional glory - means bupkis in terms of impact on the cosmos.
Our civilization has become so self-centered, we have no true proportion of where we stand in cosmic climatic cycles. Scientists are struggling to do their best, but each decade brings new findings, new research and new discoveries that dramatically change the previous scientific data. For some of these interpreters of scientific theories to assume today's hypotheses are "THE answer" to preventing future climate anomalies is nothing short of irrational and irresponsible.
I have no problem doing what we are able to better our planet. But, the doom-and-gloom "End of The World" activists generally have no idea what they are talking about. As previously noted, Al Gore (just one example of many) made multiple outlandish claims that have been proven erroneous. This type of inflammatory rhetoric does science an incredible disservice - as does the flawed reporting by "mainscream media". Not to mention the bloviating politicians, supported by their big money special interest lobbyists.
'Tell you what. When meteorologists start to accurately predict the 10-day weather forecast; provide us with the correct path and magnitude of hurricanes; and can truly forecast extended periods of devastating drought or torrential floods anywhere in the world...then, maybe, they are ready to intelligently examine longer range climatic trends and our impact on them.
But until that time comes, our energy is best spent "here and now" - focusing on the immediate future, which directly affects us, our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren. We need to effectively use science to prevent or give ample warning about impending climatic cataclysms (hurricanes, tornados, droughts and torrential floods). Doing so can save millions of lives "here and now"...and help us learn-by-doing, which can aid our future research.
To quote Eustace conversing with the retired star, Ramandu in The Chronicles of Narnia:
“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
Ramandu's reply:
“Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of."
And...from soldier John Winger (Bill Murray) in the motion picture, Stripes:
“That’s the fact, Jack!”
The climate alarmists have been fabricating fictions and side-stepping facts labeled as “science” for some nearly 50 years now - and me thinks that should be a paramount concern.
In the 1970’s, they labelled it, “global cooling”, a conjecture that imminent cooling of the Earth's surface and atmosphere was culminating in a period of extensive glaciation (which proved to be wrong). In the 90's it was “hole in the ozone layer” (scientists later revealed the hole was completely natural, and not man made. And then it “healed” itself). Then in the late 90’s, the alarm became “global warming”, a hypothesis now under great criticism as data has proved to be flawed and manipulated. Now, as the delusional alarmists are realizing there is no real man-created change in the Earth’s long term temperature trends, they have decided to call it "climate change" (that way, however the climate changes, they will never be “wrong”. If it's cold, “climate change”, if it's warm, “climate change”). It’s been slightly over ten years since Al Gore’s predictions of climate Armageddon in the film, “Inconvenient Truth” and the movie’s predictions and assertions have become increasingly and alarmingly inaccurate.
I hate to break it to the unenlightened pseudo-science buffoons, but the climate that the Earth has now, is NOT the way it's always been…nor how it WILL be in the future. (cue: mic drop)
Scientists estimate Earth is 4.54 billion years old, with an error range of 50 million years. Let that sink-in: 4 point 54 BILLION years old. The world’s climate has been constantly changing since day one, through countless terrestrial and extraterrestrial cataclysmic events LONG BEFORE MANKIND EVEN EVOLVED. The climate HAS ALWAYS been changing and WILL ALWAYS be changing - whether humans are here, or not.
Should we be responsible and care for our Earth? Of course. Should we try not to blow it out of existence? I’m in favor of that.
But ~ barring nuclear holocaust ~ does man have the power to seriously change BILLIONS of years of what God, nature or the universe (your choice) has done so far? To believe so is man’s egocentric folly. “Modern man”, a species that has graced this planet for a paltry few hundred thousand years…or LESS THAN 1/4000th of the Earth’s history. Within that, let’s be very generous and say that man has had the scientific knowledge to study the climate for 10,000 years. That’s only 1/400000 (one four-hundred-thousandth) of the Earth’s history: the equivalent of a grain of sand in a sand box; a drop of water in a swimming pool. How arrogant we are to believe we have the perspective or insight to accurately measure, analyze and predict what the Earth’s atmosphere is going to do!
Good luck, scientists, in formulating credible conclusions based on Billions of years of cataclysmic climatic history that profoundly predates you and your species; history you can never truly see, never truly test, nor ever truly or precisely measure or hypothesize about. The climate has always been changing and will always be changing - whether humans are here, or not. Face it! Mankind - in all its dysfunctional glory - means bupkis in terms of impact on the cosmos.
Our civilization has become so self-centered, we have no true proportion of where we stand in cosmic climatic cycles. Scientists are struggling to do their best, but each decade brings new findings, new research and new discoveries that dramatically change the previous scientific data. For some of these interpreters of scientific theories to assume today's hypotheses are "THE answer" to preventing future climate anomalies is nothing short of irrational and irresponsible.
I have no problem doing what we are able to better our planet. But, the doom-and-gloom "End of The World" activists generally have no idea what they are talking about. As previously noted, Al Gore (just one example of many) made multiple outlandish claims that have been proven erroneous. This type of inflammatory rhetoric does science an incredible disservice - as does the flawed reporting by "mainscream media". Not to mention the bloviating politicians, supported by their big money special interest lobbyists.
'Tell you what. When meteorologists start to accurately predict the 10-day weather forecast; provide us with the correct path and magnitude of hurricanes; and can truly forecast extended periods of devastating drought or torrential floods anywhere in the world...then, maybe, they are ready to intelligently examine longer range climatic trends and our impact on them.
But until that time comes, our energy is best spent "here and now" - focusing on the immediate future, which directly affects us, our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren. We need to effectively use science to prevent or give ample warning about impending climatic cataclysms (hurricanes, tornados, droughts and torrential floods). Doing so can save millions of lives "here and now"...and help us learn-by-doing, which can aid our future research.
To quote Eustace conversing with the retired star, Ramandu in The Chronicles of Narnia:
“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
Ramandu's reply:
“Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of."
And...from soldier John Winger (Bill Murray) in the motion picture, Stripes:
“That’s the fact, Jack!”
Sunday, April 18, 2010
ON HIATUS
"Hiatus" is a commonly used Hollywood term meaning one or more of the following: "On vacation"; "We've temporarily had our budget frozen"; "We've been canceled but nobody's admitting it"...
But in THIS case, it just means there's too much craziness going on in Sky's life to find time to contribute to his blah, blah Blog...
However... Once "Sky Writing" returns, I am told the Earth Will Move (or have a movement). Either should lead to some relief.
But in THIS case, it just means there's too much craziness going on in Sky's life to find time to contribute to his blah, blah Blog...
However... Once "Sky Writing" returns, I am told the Earth Will Move (or have a movement). Either should lead to some relief.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
In The Noise - Wednesday, February 24, 2010
High Times and Hot Dogs Can Choke You Up
"Marijuana use by seniors goes up as boomers age", says the Associated Press headline....
What a great story!
"In her 88 years, Florence Siegel has learned how to relax: A glass of red wine. A crisp copy of The New York Times, if she can wrest it from her husband. Some classical music, preferably Bach. And every night like clockwork, she lifts a pipe to her lips and smokes marijuana."
It turns out (not surprisingly!) that pot-smoking is increasing among the AARP age group, stoked by (as it were) baby boomers growing older. This is according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
And seniors are using Mary Jane for both recreation as well as "healing" - a way to cope with the aches and pains of aging.
One senior is quoted as saying, "Food tastes better, music sounds better, sex is more enjoyable."
The grass is always greener on the other side of 50.
-----------------------------
The Academy of Pediatrics wants you to know that you probably don’t worry enough about the risk that your children may choke to death on a hot dog.
It may sound weird, but choking is one of the leading causes of injury and death in children, especially those under age three who have yet to develop mature airways and are still mastering the crucial life skills of chewing and swallowing.
An analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2001, nearly 18,000 kids were brought to hospital emergency rooms after choking. Almost 60% of those kids choked on food, and about 30% choked on coins or other foreign objects.
But frankfurters are really in the, um, dog house, because - according to the journal Pediatrics - a hot dog “is cylindrical, airway sized, and compressible, which allows it to wedge tightly into a child’s hypopharynx and completely occlude the airway.”
Yuck!
Someone clearly has to redesign the hot dog.
Maybe as a breakfast cereal - sugar frosted dog flakes!
Or...make little teeny hot dogs and serve them like legumes. You know, "beaner weiners"!
Or...grab a food processor, toss in a hot dog, coffee, milk, ice and - voila - a "frankuccino".
Now that's easy to swallow, right?
"Marijuana use by seniors goes up as boomers age", says the Associated Press headline....
What a great story!
"In her 88 years, Florence Siegel has learned how to relax: A glass of red wine. A crisp copy of The New York Times, if she can wrest it from her husband. Some classical music, preferably Bach. And every night like clockwork, she lifts a pipe to her lips and smokes marijuana."
It turns out (not surprisingly!) that pot-smoking is increasing among the AARP age group, stoked by (as it were) baby boomers growing older. This is according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
And seniors are using Mary Jane for both recreation as well as "healing" - a way to cope with the aches and pains of aging.
One senior is quoted as saying, "Food tastes better, music sounds better, sex is more enjoyable."
The grass is always greener on the other side of 50.
-----------------------------
The Academy of Pediatrics wants you to know that you probably don’t worry enough about the risk that your children may choke to death on a hot dog.
It may sound weird, but choking is one of the leading causes of injury and death in children, especially those under age three who have yet to develop mature airways and are still mastering the crucial life skills of chewing and swallowing.
An analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2001, nearly 18,000 kids were brought to hospital emergency rooms after choking. Almost 60% of those kids choked on food, and about 30% choked on coins or other foreign objects.
But frankfurters are really in the, um, dog house, because - according to the journal Pediatrics - a hot dog “is cylindrical, airway sized, and compressible, which allows it to wedge tightly into a child’s hypopharynx and completely occlude the airway.”
Yuck!
Someone clearly has to redesign the hot dog.
Maybe as a breakfast cereal - sugar frosted dog flakes!
Or...make little teeny hot dogs and serve them like legumes. You know, "beaner weiners"!
Or...grab a food processor, toss in a hot dog, coffee, milk, ice and - voila - a "frankuccino".
Now that's easy to swallow, right?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
In The Noise - Thursday, February 18, 2010
Another wacky hat has been thrown into the ring for California's Governer's race, dahling!
Zsa Zsa Gabor's eighth husband and flamboyant socialite, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, described as the "lover (never confirmed) of Anna Nicole Smith," and a "self-proclaimed member of European royalty," will try and succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Gubernator in the upcoming election.
This guy's a hoot! He's been married seven times; and previously worked as a "bank clerk, screenwriter and sauna manager" (according to the AP). Several years back, he was found naked behind the wheel of his Rolls Royce Phantom. Why? Well, he said, "I was mugged by three women". He also sued the makers of Viagra, because he was annoyed that he couldn't perform without the drug.
And as for his plans for California should he get elected?
He wants to lift the ban on Cuban cigars, and legalize marijuana and prostitution. Then tax them all to help end California's budget woes.
Now that's a political platform...
...from a guy who's probably in platform shoes.
-----------------------------
"Craps!"
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has declined an invitation to meet with President Obama when he arrives in Sin City tomorrow. Mayor Goodman called President Obama "a slow learner" after the President told Americans not to "blow money on a weekend in Las Vegas" if they were saving to put their kids through college.
"I've got other things to do quite frankly..." explained Mayor Goodman.
I'll bet he does. And don't expect Mr. Mayor to tell you what those things are. After all, "What happens in Vegas...."
Wonder what Obama's planning to do while in-town?
-----------------------------
I don't know what Martin Scorsese has for Leonard DiCaprio. Must be the goombah connection, I guess. Well, regardless...
...DiCaprio is set to play Frank Sinatra in yet another film for Scorsese. But he’s probably not going to sing.
“With those records?” Scorsese was quoted as saying at last night's premiere for Shutter Island. “Frank will do the singing.”
I guess I'm a goombah, too.
I was hoping for Milli Vanilli.
-----------------------------
And finally...
The Zamboni Company has been the official ice-resurfacing machine of many Winter Olympics, and is not a stranger to the chill of controversy.
You may have heard in recent media reports that Zambonis caused delays in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Those reports put the Zamboni folks in melt-down mode...
"While it is unfortunate that there was an interruption to the Winter Olympic events, please note: the resurfacers which were on the ice during those events were not Zamboni® brand ice resurfacers and should not be referred to as 'Zamboni machines,"' the company spokesman said.
It turns out the machines causing the problems were made by the Olympia Company.
I can hear Don Rickles now, "Well, of COURSE they were, Hockey Puck!"
Zsa Zsa Gabor's eighth husband and flamboyant socialite, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, described as the "lover (never confirmed) of Anna Nicole Smith," and a "self-proclaimed member of European royalty," will try and succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Gubernator in the upcoming election.
This guy's a hoot! He's been married seven times; and previously worked as a "bank clerk, screenwriter and sauna manager" (according to the AP). Several years back, he was found naked behind the wheel of his Rolls Royce Phantom. Why? Well, he said, "I was mugged by three women". He also sued the makers of Viagra, because he was annoyed that he couldn't perform without the drug.
And as for his plans for California should he get elected?
He wants to lift the ban on Cuban cigars, and legalize marijuana and prostitution. Then tax them all to help end California's budget woes.
Now that's a political platform...
...from a guy who's probably in platform shoes.
-----------------------------
"Craps!"
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has declined an invitation to meet with President Obama when he arrives in Sin City tomorrow. Mayor Goodman called President Obama "a slow learner" after the President told Americans not to "blow money on a weekend in Las Vegas" if they were saving to put their kids through college.
"I've got other things to do quite frankly..." explained Mayor Goodman.
I'll bet he does. And don't expect Mr. Mayor to tell you what those things are. After all, "What happens in Vegas...."
Wonder what Obama's planning to do while in-town?
-----------------------------
I don't know what Martin Scorsese has for Leonard DiCaprio. Must be the goombah connection, I guess. Well, regardless...
...DiCaprio is set to play Frank Sinatra in yet another film for Scorsese. But he’s probably not going to sing.
“With those records?” Scorsese was quoted as saying at last night's premiere for Shutter Island. “Frank will do the singing.”
I guess I'm a goombah, too.
I was hoping for Milli Vanilli.
-----------------------------
And finally...
The Zamboni Company has been the official ice-resurfacing machine of many Winter Olympics, and is not a stranger to the chill of controversy.
You may have heard in recent media reports that Zambonis caused delays in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Those reports put the Zamboni folks in melt-down mode...
"While it is unfortunate that there was an interruption to the Winter Olympic events, please note: the resurfacers which were on the ice during those events were not Zamboni® brand ice resurfacers and should not be referred to as 'Zamboni machines,"' the company spokesman said.
It turns out the machines causing the problems were made by the Olympia Company.
I can hear Don Rickles now, "Well, of COURSE they were, Hockey Puck!"
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