WOW. Four years.

Four years ago today, I started babbling here. This was an attempt at removing all gun-related discussion from my livejournal, because I had "friends" who would cause me trouble for talking about what was then a new-found interest.

I started talking, and y'all started listening. Who'dathunk anyone would care about what *I* had to say?

I know I said this already, but thanks for reading. :)

Next up in Chicago, Hugs for gangsters and Free Murder Zones.

I really had no clue what anti-gun politicians think will help to solve crime problems. In this city we get lots of rhetoric and they they bandy about gestapo tactics and even hide the problem. In Rahm Emanuel's Chicago you get this An appeal to gangster "values" to leave Chicago's kids alone.

 "We've got two gang-bangers, one standing next to a kid. Get away from that kid. Take your stuff away to the alley. Don't touch the children of the city of Chicago. Don't get near them. And it is about values. ... And I don't buy this case where people say they don't have values. They do have values. They have the wrong values. Don't come near the kids—don't touch them."

Seriously?

This plan apparently also includes boarding up abandoned buildings and shutting down legitimate businesses where gangsters hang out. The wrong businesses, according to the local Alderman, but hey, top level city government can't be bothered with details like talking to locals, they know what's best for you. The more I think about this though the more I'm actually liking the idea. I really think I can get on board with this, and for the first time ever completely agree with anti-gun politicians.

He's doesn't seem to be asking the gang bangers to hug it out or change their ways, he's calling for a safe place to have a duel. Chicago's going to bring back dueling! I like it. They're going to make safe places for dueling by writing off sections of the city. We'll have to worry about what to do with the people that live in those areas later, but we're going to close all the businesses now, then allow gang bangers to murder each other to their heart's content. The mayor could get everything he ever wanted, the city could control the registered weapons and participants could be keyed in with smart gun technology so only they can murder each other in city sanctioned duels. Maybe they could even put it on TV and make back some of the lost revenue to help pay for the city's overblown budget. Maybe we'll quit tracking the murder rate though, it'll mess up the stats.

 So there is, I now support gun control for major cities, now how do I get this going in Baltimore. Half the City is already abandoned making it just a bit easier. If I only could get a super rich backer...

Someone explain...

How this is acceptable?

And people SERIOUSLY want him to remain in office another 4 years?

Losing power for a week at least once a year puts things into perspective.

I've been focusing on the positives this week:
1 - We've had a place to stay that is air conditioned, with room for both us and the dog (and the cats, if we needed to move them).
1a - The dog has had daily attention. I think he's going to lose it when he doesn't have someone catering to his every need all day long. This has also helped a great deal with housebreaking.
2 - We were able to move most of the food to our host's house as she had room in the fridge and freezer. This was a money- and time-saver, as it took just two hours to clean/disinfect both our standing freezer and our refrigerator Tuesday. They needed to be cleaned, anyway.
2a - Yesterday was trash day. No more stinky thawed-out year-old leftovers. Since Chris happened to be checking on the house when the trash guys showed up, he helped them load the ridiculously heavy bags in the truck. They appreciated it. I'm guessing they've been inundated with overly heavy cans this week.
3 - We're going to work on how long we keep food in the freezer. No more year-long storage plans, and no more sticking food in without a label. All leftovers get 4 months storage, tops, then we either eat or toss. This puts a damper on the idea of keeping game meat around, but we'll figure out a way to deal with that when we actually face it. We also have to be more careful about how much we cook initially to mitigate the amount of loss we inevitably face.
4 - It's very nice to stay someplace with power, rather than feeding a generator. We have a genny but we opted not to use it unless we absolutely had to. We didn't need to this time around. Huzzah!
5 - The house/yard/vehicles had absolutely no damage. We were lucky. Neighbors around us weren't so lucky. Many lost siding, some had trees landing on their homes, and a few people lost vehicles.
6 - None of my fish have died. I'm very happy about this. Water changes definitely do wonders for keeping fish happy and healthy.
7 - Did I mention yay AC? Because YAY AC.

We're back in our house, and the cats are much happier WE are around, though I think they're not too keen on having the dog back. Also, sleeping in my own bed really changes one's outlook on the workday.

Hope everyone's had a better week than this region. :)

This is the best example of trolling I've ever seen.

Last Saturday, a trio of individuals took a mess of scrap guns to a gun buy back in Chicago. They turned that money into...well, go look.

I like it.

Well, that explains the statistics problem in the city...

So, statistics of prosecuted/solved homicide cases vs. the amount of violent deaths in this city are a bit skewed. And I think this guy may have figured out why.

Beginning midway through 2011, the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, for the first time in modern history, became the sole arbiter of when to charge a defendant in a homicide investigation. Previously, that decision rested with the police department, which would do so in consultation with prosecutors from the Violent Crimes Unit of the State’s Attorney’s Office. Which is to say, while police detectives were expected to take guidance from prosecutors — and did so — they were nonetheless free to arrest defendants if they felt the evidence warranted a charge.

Mr. Simon gets a bit wordy here, but it really does explain a few things. Read it, if you've got the time.

HAH!

I guess his membership to the "only ones" society ran out. Oopsie?

FINALLY.

Woot has finally really embraced the shooting sports. First, earlier this week, they debuted sport.woot. Today, sport.woot has a passel of things to shoot outside. As if I couldn't love woot any more than I already did, they go and do this. :D

GO BALTIMORE.

So, remember this post?

I assumed they'd take the kids into custody, since there were witnesses and they were all in uniform. At least charge them! Apparently, that won't happen.

Surveillance footage is quite clear on what these kids did. THEY BEAT A MAN, for chrissakes...and yet, somehow, "We have reviewed all the evidence that the police gathered in their investigation, including the video footage, and have determined that criminal charges are not appropriate."


WHAT IN THE FLYING FLUFFERNUTTER IS GOING ON HERE??!? Have I somehow found myself in Bizarro Baltimore, where obvious criminal acts go unpunished? Have I simply gone mad? I just...I don't understand. Can someone smarter than me explain this so I can understand?

Today is gorgeous.

Sun's shining, temps are perfect, humidity is manageable, and the Blue Angels are flying over the city thanks to Sailabration. It's nice to see such a lovely display of our tax dollars at work.

Unfortunately, my good camera's at home, so you get no pictures. I'm too far away to get anything good with my phone.

ETA: Chris and his coworker D were allowed on the roof at their workplace, and D grabbed video. Lucky bastards.


More can be found here.