Open Thread #274

It’s a lovely day out. I might have to pop out on the bike for some much needed exercise.

Horrendous stuff in Connecticut, it’s very very sad and the survivors are going to be traumatised for life. Korean kids might have a lot of stress at school, but at least they don’t have to worry about being gunned down by some low life piece of shit.

The US really must do something about it’s ridiculous gun laws. I don’t think all guns should be banned, but there certainly needs to be a lot more restrictions on ownership. The US is the only developed country where horrendous tragedies like the Connecticut massacre happen on a such regular basis. I know that apologists for America’s daft gun laws say that if you outlaw guns only the criminals will have them, but most of these massacres are not carried out by gangsters or career criminals, they’re carried out by crazy people. Letting lunatics own or have access to firearms really is not very sensible.

I’m not quite sure how Keith’s comment qualifies as “anti-American?”

Another day, another shooting in the US.
On a personal note, I’m trying to get my own franchise started.

The reason the right to bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution is because of the terrible abuses and misrule of Keith’s forbears. For him to blame “daft gun laws” that he knows really nothing about simply shows his ignorance.

And of course, never having lived in the U.S., and being of limited intelligence in any event, he has absolutely no idea that regardless of what laws are amended, revised, or passed, it is literally impossible for the U.S. government to confiscate firearms from their owners. Gun control will never work — problems such as this must be addressed by other means.

What changed?  The first person now stays up first?

A sad day.  20 kids + adults shot in USA, 22 stabbed in China.

Americas daft gun laws changing won’t help the situation.  It might prevent some new guns being sold, but the USA is already FULL of guns – even if stricter gun laws are introduced, it won’t stop the spread, sale and purchase of all the guns already on the streets in the USA.

It does seem that the schools need stricter security and perhaps even secure “panic rooms” built in.

Robert, you really sticking with the current change?

Aww… (I’m not protesting.)

Hey has anyone yet commented on the fact that North Korea SUCCESSFULLY launched their satellite into orbit? This is what South Koreans have been trying to do with their Naro rockets only to see them come crashing down, right?  I realize that I know nothing about the details, such as whether the Norks were able to somehow make their launching much easier than what South is trying to accomplish, but damn dudes, on the face of it it looks extremely embarrassing. 

Hi Robert,

Just want to thank you for now giving us the ability to edit posts. Another one of my favourite blogs also recently did so, so it must be the season of giving the power of amending.

George III killed those children. Mad indeed. Then why doesn’t this terrible tyranny continue in monarchist Canada: http://guncontrol.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/moregunsmoredeaths2012.pdf

dude,
last week some philly sixers fans shot a bulls fan for being a bulls fan. that’s just how we roll in this country.

govnar

Jieun K,
 
Wow, what a coincidence.. I’ve been playing Villa Piranesi a lot lately and there it is in your video. Good stuff.

Get real, Dogbert needs his gun, after all he needs to watch his back as the Brit tax inspectors could come any moment for his forbears overdue taxes.

 Guy, you *can* buy a gun but the skill and mind to use it correctly is a different issue entirely.  I seriously thought of doing such myself but gave up the notion after I realized that I could avoid accidentally shooting someone by not having one.  There is a greater chance of that happening than shooting someone who needs shooting.
Also, I discovered that if I spent more time being aware of my surrounding and reading people that I could avoid most anything that was dangerous.  If you walk in a bad part of town, your chances of needing emergency medical help increase so just don’t do it and keep your eyes open.  If you get a gun, you must work on the training that comes with that great responsibility.

P.S. IMHO, the Glock is a bad choice for many because the trigger is too sensitive.  That’s why so many more shootings occurred when DC cops first started using them.

It’s the second Monday after the first Wednesday in December, and you all know what that means.  Yes, it’s officially election day in the U.S.  Polls open soon.  Any opinions about who will win?  I’m taking Obama with about 61.71% of the vote.  Of course, we won’t really know for sure until around January 6.

This time it’s for reals. 

Again, read some history, Pom.

A federal judge has denied Samsung’s request for dismissal of Apple’s verdict and for a new trial based on allegations of jury misconduct, saying Samsung should have done more work during jury questioning.
In seeking to have Apple’s $1 billion verdict arising from software patents on mobile devices overturned, the South Korean electronics giant argued it was tainted by the jury foreman’s failure to disclose previous litigation with Seagate Technology, a company in which Samsung is a major investor, as well as an alleged bias made evident by statements made to the media after the verdict. Samsung said Hogan should have revealed to the judge during jury selection that he had been sued by Seagate — his former employer — which led to his filing for personal bankruptcy in 1993.
….
“Samsung has a substantial strategic relationship with Seagate, which culminated last year in the publicized sale of a division to Seagate in a deal worth $1.375 billion, making Samsung the single largest direct shareholder of Seagate,” the company said in its October motion. “Mr. Hogan’s failure to disclose the Seagate suit raises issues of bias that Samsung should have been allowed to explore in questioning.”
….
The orders represent the first major ones to come out of the court since the trial wrapped up in August. Still expected is a ruling from Koh that could change the damages tally. During the three-and-a-half-hour hearing earlier this month, Apple made its bid to increase damages while Samsung predictably argued to lower them.