I am amazed at how many online and MSmedia journos and pundits, bloggers and facebook and twitter folks... have no idea about caliber nor shooting power of firearms, automatic, semi-automatic. Nor about the horror of devastating bodily destruction from bullets. Many appear to have no horrific images/memories in their minds, no gun oil on their hands, but plenty of dry dust … [Read more...] about The Weaponry James Holmes Used: AR15, GLock 40 Cal, Remington 870
Quote Of The Day
The quote of the day comes from former Reagan cabinet member and former Republican Bruce Bartlett. It stands to reason that if cuts in defense spending cost jobs, then cuts in nondefense spending also cost jobs. And if spending cuts cost jobs, then spending increases must be able to create them. Go to the link and read the entire thing. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day
Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office Releases Names of Victims in Aurora Shooting Rampage
The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office has released the names of victims killed in Friday's shooting at an Aurora theater during the premiere of "Dark Knight Rises." Gun advocate and enthusiast actor Stephen Baldwin told CNN's Don Lemon a red flag should have gone up when James Holmes purchased 6,000 rounds and equipment in such a short period of time. He said the Patriot Act put … [Read more...] about Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office Releases Names of Victims in Aurora Shooting Rampage
Defense Update: Military Casualties in the Aurora Tragedy (Updates)
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Jajuan Mangual adjusts the national ensign on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) to half-mast in remembrance of the victims and families impacted by the July 20 shooting at the Century 16 theatre in Aurora, Colo. President Obama ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff Friday to honor victims … [Read more...] about Defense Update: Military Casualties in the Aurora Tragedy (Updates)
Shots in the American Dark
Once again psychotic rage rises up to preempt our attention. Real blood splatters innocents enjoying movie mayhem and sets off another round of parsing a twisted soul’s life and motives. In coming days, curiosity about the “Batman” killer will sweep aside everyday anxieties to swamp us with unanswerable questions about mental illness, popular culture, gun control and the … [Read more...] about Shots in the American Dark
Randomness and Human Events: Reflecting on Aurora
I teach a Modern Western Civilization course a few times every year at my small liberal arts college in Tennessee and have been doing that this summer as well. Though I'm an American historian by training, I always enjoy the chance to pull the lens back and examine the larger forces at work that shape both American and global (not exclusively Western) history. It offers a … [Read more...] about Randomness and Human Events: Reflecting on Aurora
Bill Moyers: The NRA Has America Living under the Gun (Guest Voice)
Editor's Note: A Head's Up: I place inside this post the image of a real gunshot victim, as the intellectualized talk on the blogosphere takes over the grit of this situation that will remain 'a situation' for many months forward. The image is the ground zero, 'the point of entry' to this entire slaughter in Aurora Colorado, sister city to Denver. We who live here and those … [Read more...] about Bill Moyers: The NRA Has America Living under the Gun (Guest Voice)
San Diego UT: Arrested Colorado Shooter James Holmes Was Known as “Quiet Unassuming”
My journalistic alma mater the San Diego Union-Tribune has a fascinating article written by Peter Rowe and John Wilkens on accused Colorado theater murderer James Holmes, yet another example of a report that underscores how we may have walking-time-bomb people living among us. Here's the first part of it: He was as quiet and unassuming as the middle-class North County … [Read more...] about San Diego UT: Arrested Colorado Shooter James Holmes Was Known as “Quiet Unassuming”
The X-47B: Killing without ‘Scruple or Conscience’ (News, Switzerland)
Without getting into the politics, I want to express my personal solidarity with all of those, who through no fault of their own, have been affected by the massacre in Colorado yesterday. It is so frustrating to witness events like this and to have the unpleasant sense that nothing will be done beyond the expression of comforting words for the dead. I hope we can all come … [Read more...] about The X-47B: Killing without ‘Scruple or Conscience’ (News, Switzerland)
Iraqi Refugees: Will the Misery Ever End? (Update)
UPDATE: As has been reported, it is not only Iraqis who are fleeing Syria. The New York Times reports that between 8,500 and and 30,000 Syrians have fled to Lebanon in the last 48 hours alone, most of them coming from Damascus. This is on top of the 112,000 Syrians who have previously registered as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan and “ many thousands more … [Read more...] about Iraqi Refugees: Will the Misery Ever End? (Update)
Margin Call
I watched the movie Margin Call tonight. It is a fictional account of what went on at Lehman Brothers when it collapsed. A respected financial company is downsizing and one of the victims is the risk management division head, who was working on a major analysis just when he was let go. His protégé completes the study late into the night and then frantically calls his … [Read more...] about Margin Call
Toronto To Aurora, Close The Circle of Fire
Roger Ebert on the shootings in Aurora: Should this young man — whose nature was apparently so obvious to his mother that, when a ABC News reporter called, she said “You have the right person” — have been able to buy guns, ammunition and explosives? The gun lobby will say yes. And the endless gun control debate will begin again, and the lobbyists of the National Rifle … [Read more...] about Toronto To Aurora, Close The Circle of Fire
(Not So) Happy Moon Day 2012
Usually, this is an annual post I can kind of phone in. Naturally, the shootings last night upset that comforting assumption, as life has a disturbing tendency to do. Death stalks us at every moment, and tragedy is only a slip away. I will write about the horror of this day some other time. Not a very happy Moon Day, 2012. But Happy Moon Day, nonetheless... Perhaps the … [Read more...] about (Not So) Happy Moon Day 2012
A New Deal for Science and Religion
[This is the 14th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] Those who argue that religion should be counted out are overlooking the role that religious leaders played in overcoming segregation in America, repealing apartheid in South Africa, and ending the communist dictatorship in Poland and Central Europe. That religion has not always lived up to its own … [Read more...] about A New Deal for Science and Religion
Cartoonists React to Colorado Shooting (Cartoon Roundup)
Newspaper cartoonists are beginning to react to the Colorado shooting tragedy. Here is a cross section. NOTE: these cartoons CANNOT be reproduced on websites or weblogs without licensing. Colorado Batman Murderer: Colorado Theater Shootings: Aurora Theater Shooting: Massacres R Us: Aurora Theater Shooting: The Latest: LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: … [Read more...] about Cartoonists React to Colorado Shooting (Cartoon Roundup)
The Gag Rule on Guns
WASHINGTON -- For all the dysfunction in our political system, a healthy pattern usually takes hold when a terrible tragedy seizes the nation's attention. Normally, we engage in a searching conversation over what rational steps can be taken by individuals, communities and various levels of government to make the recurrence of a comparable tragedy less likely. Sometimes … [Read more...] about The Gag Rule on Guns
Live CBS Colorado Coverage of Colorado Shootings (Live Streaming VIDEO)
CBS News is offering this live coverage from its Colorado affiliate: … [Read more...] about Live CBS Colorado Coverage of Colorado Shootings (Live Streaming VIDEO)
‘I Say All The Time That Every Moment We Have To Live Our Life Is A Blessing’-A Tribute to Jessica Ghawi (Redfield)
It's not a day for politics. It is only a day for sorrow and prayer. My prayer goes out to all the families of the victims of the Aurora Colorado shooting. But I was especially touched my one young man on twitter who lost his sister, Jessica Ghawi (Redfield), in the shooting. His name is Jordan Ghawi, he is a firefighter/paramedic here in Texas. His blog is here. Today he … [Read more...] about ‘I Say All The Time That Every Moment We Have To Live Our Life Is A Blessing’-A Tribute to Jessica Ghawi (Redfield)
ALLEGED SHOOTER JAMES HOLMES HAS BOOBYTRAPPED HIS APARTMENT: 5 Buildings filled to overflowing with families evac’d
Skilled bomb teams pulled up various 'shield' vehicles to James Holmes apartment and through a window, threaded in cameras on long booms to skry the interior of the apartment. The Chief of police held an immediate news conference just now, and you can see he is fraying a bit in aggravation toward the aggressive news media. He said that he was only going to speak about very … [Read more...] about ALLEGED SHOOTER JAMES HOLMES HAS BOOBYTRAPPED HIS APARTMENT: 5 Buildings filled to overflowing with families evac’d
Romney Runs, But Can He Hide?
Even before his choice of VP, GOP strategists have their Great White Hope in modified crouch, a version of the 2008 Sarah Palin strategy: keeping him under cover while furors over Bain Capital and his tax returns have Mitt Romney reeling on the defensive. He surfaces this week only twice, in Ohio and New Hampshire, then goes into hiding before a trip to Israel, England and … [Read more...] about Romney Runs, But Can He Hide?