The picture above is of Boston, taken from the Charles River which separates Boston and Cambridge while providing recreational fun for the area. It’s a beautiful city, a walking city, one I’ve explored and enjoyed many times.
I’m sad that anyone thinks murdering innocents is acceptable. I’m sad that too many of our cities are touched by violence.
I know there are more violent places. I don’t feel like doing any one-upmanship comparisons. I’m not up to speculating or tossing around potential blame for this tragedy. I feel confident those responsible will be held accountable, hopefully prevented from doing more harm. The people affected will face changed lives no matter what.
I hope the people of Boston find the strength they need.
Did you read this in yesterday’s edition of The Eagle?
Analysts, from left and right, call Kansas tax plan worst in nation
(from the link): “Governing” magazine asked two policy experts from nonprofit think tanks on opposite sides of the political spectrum to name the best and worst tax reform efforts in the country — and both cited Kansas as the worst.
…both said the tax plan, passed last year by the Kansas Legislature at Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging, encourages tax avoidance and probably won’t do much for the economy.
However, Johnson told Governing that the tax plan “fails almost every test of good tax policy,” including sustainability and fairness.
“Vertically, it’s beneficial to high-income taxpayers and harmful to low,” Johnson was quoted as saying on the magazine’s website. “It doesn’t do much for the middle either. Horizontally, its exemption of pass-through entities creates inequities and tax avoidance, which of course then goes back to sustainability because it balloons cost.”
Neither of the analysts thought it would do much to meet its stated goals, to jump-start economic growth and job creation.
Every time something like that happens, until the people responsible for it is finally found. The blame game runs the gambit of every favorite group that someone hates or wants to blame. First might be the Islamic terrorists, then it may turn to the local blame groups. Conservative, Liberal, anti-Government, Pro-life or Pro-choice. The list goes on till finally people wonder about the person across the street. I would not be surprised to hear Fox start flowing that it was some how the President’s grand scheme to use his power to enslave and take away the wealth of the Nation.
I hate this time when people start striking out like someone who has been hit in the dark. Fnord is right, it is the people of Boston who have suddenly had a joyous occasion rocked by unspeakable horror and unthinking actions.
Unreasoning violence is never the answer, striking out at innocent is never something that accomplishes a goal.
I know we are all facing bigger issues than this, but I saw this today and couldn’t help posting. There is a B & B in Abilene that refuses service to gay couples. They have to buy two rooms if they want to stay in this Abilene B & B because the owners have “religious” views that don’t allow them to serve gay and lesbian clients much less our transgendered brothers and sisters.
And…in Kansas… that discrimination is legal.
So here is reason #1,101 why I’m thinking of selling everything in Kansas and moving to Hawaii.
Hell, Kansas, in the wake of Lawrence v Texas, won’t even remove the already declared unconstitutional sodomy laws from the books. But Hawaii will smack down businesses that refuse service to lgbt couples.
And Kansas can’t get people to move/stay here? Shocking….
Intolerance, bigotry… If two women or two men were traveling together and stopped at that Abilene B&B, they couldn’t share a room and save money? Would the people at the check-in desk ask? How would that question be worded? How in the world can that be legal!?
I’m going To repeat this from last night:
When you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”
Each time one person steps up to say, “THIS IS WRONG”, it helps others to do the same.
The world lost a treasure when we lost Mr. Rogers – IMHO
But – to your scenario of two women sharing a room to save on cost – I wonder, does the management of this B & B actually ask if people are married, heterosexual or gay?
But….I have to wonder……if the local Horndog signs in with his mistress – that is okay because that particular Horndog is the preacher man?
After all, these B&B owners are those religious types..
I didn’t know until just now who to credit for the sentenceThe good outnumber you, and we always will.
Here’s the full statement by comedian Patton Oswalt:
Boston. Fucking horrible.
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, “Well, I’ve had it with humanity.”
But I was wrong. I don’t know what’s going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here’s what I DO know. If it’s one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we’re lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they’re pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”
During all this news coverage about the bombing in Boston – I was reminded by some pundit that this is generally the time in April that we see terrorist attacks – think of Ruby Ridge, Waco, OKC bombing, that Atlanta Olympics bomber….
And – I suspect – throw in Tax Day of April 15th. That is bound to set off more than a few nutcases.
But another thing to consider – these nutcases are usually the same nuts that love to stockpile those guns and ammo.
And we are currently in that hot gun rights debate……
Nutcases everywhere…….which is why I was also glad to hear in the same news coverage their were many Boston people that ran towards the explosion areas to help the victims.
Marathon volunteers continued to hand out the water bottles, blankets and gave the runners their medal for participating……so LIFE went on…..
And isn’t that really what should be the message after all this is investigated and hopefully prosecuted – that no matter what happens – our American life goes on…..
I’m making a point of avoiding ALL media sources speculating about responsibility for the Boston explosions or trying to make this tragedy political in any way shape or form. I’m sick to my stomach of media pitting people against people, maybe even ‘egging on’ those who may exist at the edge of sanity. Exactly as Indy said — there are more good people than bad ones. And both the good and the bad are represented in all walks of life. The few bad ones don’t implicate others who may walk beside them. Everyone has opinions but few attempt to make statements about those opinions by murdering people.
This is also near the time of Hitler’s birthday, which I think was the anniversary of Columbine, Waco, and OKC. I’ll have to check for sure, but that’s a big white power day.
Yes, April 19 & 20 are anniversaries for those tragedies. And there is some dispute if Hitler’s birthday is actually the 20th or the 19th. So… there ya have it.
I’d rather celebrate 4/20 with a smoke out than a bomb out. Give me peaceful, hippie pot smokers any day!
“Ruby Ridge” It is curious, the one factor with Ruby Ridge and setting aside that it was about a white Separatist. The timing is interesting as to when the Federal Government choose to have their raid? Perhaps it is something that should be researched and studied not just about insidious forces but in general as to why it is chosen for such actions?
Yes, Rick, I have many questions about Ruby Ridge. IIRC, it was in August, not April, but it may be one incident where the government agents were the real terrorists.
Indy, there are lots of unanswered questions and a lot of answered questions that point to, at a minimum, how badly the government handled it, and worst case, the government agents committed premeditated murder. Unfortunately, it gave the white nationalists, sovereign citizens and other militia and hate groups just what they needed to declare war on their own country. Part of McVeigh’s motivation in OKC was Ruby Ridge.
Any time you give any group anything to make themselves appear to be martyrs is not a good thing.
Isn’t that also true of Bin Laden and his Radical Islamists?
Hell – that is also true of my Mother-In-Law.. I learned a long time ago to not give her anything so she can put herself on that damn cross and then say ‘look at poor me’….
It just gave her more steam with which to try to roll me over……..I eventually wised up and just stopped talking to her when she got into one of her bitchy-Christian moods…
Those were the most peaceful moments I ever spent with that woman…….I simply tuned her out…
Of course, I twisted my little knife by smiling at her ever so sweetly when she was trying her best to get my goat.
I just read this on HuffingtonPost….and it made me laugh. Then it made me thank God there are Dads in this country like this man – and old ladies who will chime in and buy a movie for some small child.
NOW this is what America truly is……more good people than we realize….we just need to recognize the goodness in people when we see it..
BTW – My 2-yr-old grandson loves Sofia the Princess.
Once again media makes reports and then corrects the reports made earlier. The numbers of explosive devices, whether there is or isn’t someone in custody, how many injured… onandon. In the immediate confusion following tragedies, including Benghazi, reporting isn’t accurate and time sorts it out.
Unfortunately, the erroneous facts are spread throughout the world on the front page and then when corrected, the true facts are to be found somewhere on page 99…
Which is why – I suspect – Hate Talk Radio is so successful in making money….
You know the old saying….. gossip gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on..
As for the Benghazi incident – that is strictly for political purposes to bring down Obama (their # goal as I remember Mitch McConnell bragging before the 2012 election)
If these Republicans are so outraged at 4 dead Americans (as they keep screaming) – then where was their outrage at George W. Bush when many more Americans were killed at numerous embassies?
Not one single word of outrage when their puppet cowboy president was in office – huh?
I, for one, would rather let our officials do their job and investigate this bombing until we all go off half-cocked and ready to buy more guns and ammo for our already full stockpiles.
But – when there are folks that have been fed this 24/7 diet that the government is out to get them – then, of course, these folks are not going to believe the actual facts when the officials do finally find out what happened and who did it..
Unless, of course, those facts fall into their already pre-conceived idea of those foreign terrorists that have invaded America with their mosques.
Then – we’ll hear from these same anti-government folks how Obama is in cahoots with these foreign terrorists.
We’ve all been down this road before……haven’t we?
But…as that one pundit said this morning…..considering the timing of this bombing in Boston in mid April – it could very well be a domestic terrorist attack…
P.S. – when the majority of our media is corporate owned – then jumping to conclusions with erroneous facts is just considered a part of doing business.
After all – the outlet that gets the jump on their competition might just make that extra dime in profit…
Or if they can make their news coverage more sensationalized – then it brings in more viewers – which means more profits.
Bottom line – when the media is owned by profit-making corporations whose only goal is to make money………we see all this rush to bring us the ‘breaking news’…..
I just heard the Boston explosives were inside backpacks and were filled with shrapnel, metal shards, and ball bearings
Sounds eerily similar to the Atlanta Olympics bombing…..doesn’t it?
That guy was a domestic terrorist – and IIRC, he was anti-abortion.
God knows who is responsible for this Boston bombing…..but what’s more scary is the fact that if it turns out to be anyone connected to an anti-gun; anti-tax, anti-government, anti-abortion, an Obama-hater or any other anti-______ group – I wonder what God-given message spin will be put on this act of domestic terrorism?
And let’s not fool ourselves – this was a terrorism act..
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
The picture above is of Boston, taken from the Charles River which separates Boston and Cambridge while providing recreational fun for the area. It’s a beautiful city, a walking city, one I’ve explored and enjoyed many times.
I’m sad that anyone thinks murdering innocents is acceptable. I’m sad that too many of our cities are touched by violence.
I know there are more violent places. I don’t feel like doing any one-upmanship comparisons. I’m not up to speculating or tossing around potential blame for this tragedy. I feel confident those responsible will be held accountable, hopefully prevented from doing more harm. The people affected will face changed lives no matter what.
I hope the people of Boston find the strength they need.
Did you read this in yesterday’s edition of The Eagle?
Analysts, from left and right, call Kansas tax plan worst in nation
(from the link): “Governing” magazine asked two policy experts from nonprofit think tanks on opposite sides of the political spectrum to name the best and worst tax reform efforts in the country — and both cited Kansas as the worst.
…both said the tax plan, passed last year by the Kansas Legislature at Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging, encourages tax avoidance and probably won’t do much for the economy.
However, Johnson told Governing that the tax plan “fails almost every test of good tax policy,” including sustainability and fairness.
“Vertically, it’s beneficial to high-income taxpayers and harmful to low,” Johnson was quoted as saying on the magazine’s website. “It doesn’t do much for the middle either. Horizontally, its exemption of pass-through entities creates inequities and tax avoidance, which of course then goes back to sustainability because it balloons cost.”
Neither of the analysts thought it would do much to meet its stated goals, to jump-start economic growth and job creation.
http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/14/2761624/analysts-from-left-and-right-call.html
In case you can’t get past the firewall at the local paper, here’s the story at Governing —
http://www.governing.com/columns/public-finance/col-whats-wrong-kansas-tax-reform-measure.html
Every time something like that happens, until the people responsible for it is finally found. The blame game runs the gambit of every favorite group that someone hates or wants to blame. First might be the Islamic terrorists, then it may turn to the local blame groups. Conservative, Liberal, anti-Government, Pro-life or Pro-choice. The list goes on till finally people wonder about the person across the street. I would not be surprised to hear Fox start flowing that it was some how the President’s grand scheme to use his power to enslave and take away the wealth of the Nation.
I hate this time when people start striking out like someone who has been hit in the dark. Fnord is right, it is the people of Boston who have suddenly had a joyous occasion rocked by unspeakable horror and unthinking actions.
Unreasoning violence is never the answer, striking out at innocent is never something that accomplishes a goal.
There will always be rumors when something like this happens….
I wonder how many folks immediately blamed the Muslims and how many attacks on the Mosques will be seen in the coming weeks?
But like I commented below – this week in April is the anniversary of a lot of domestic terrorist actions……..
I just hope this bombing does not get politicized because then nobody will find the truth…..
I know we are all facing bigger issues than this, but I saw this today and couldn’t help posting. There is a B & B in Abilene that refuses service to gay couples. They have to buy two rooms if they want to stay in this Abilene B & B because the owners have “religious” views that don’t allow them to serve gay and lesbian clients much less our transgendered brothers and sisters.
And…in Kansas… that discrimination is legal.
So here is reason #1,101 why I’m thinking of selling everything in Kansas and moving to Hawaii.
http://news.yahoo.com/judge-rules-favor-lesbians-suing-hawaii-b-b-003846543.html
Hell, Kansas, in the wake of Lawrence v Texas, won’t even remove the already declared unconstitutional sodomy laws from the books. But Hawaii will smack down businesses that refuse service to lgbt couples.
And Kansas can’t get people to move/stay here? Shocking….
Intolerance, bigotry… If two women or two men were traveling together and stopped at that Abilene B&B, they couldn’t share a room and save money? Would the people at the check-in desk ask? How would that question be worded? How in the world can that be legal!?
I’m going To repeat this from last night:
When you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”
Each time one person steps up to say, “THIS IS WRONG”, it helps others to do the same.
The world lost a treasure when we lost Mr. Rogers – IMHO
But – to your scenario of two women sharing a room to save on cost – I wonder, does the management of this B & B actually ask if people are married, heterosexual or gay?
But….I have to wonder……if the local Horndog signs in with his mistress – that is okay because that particular Horndog is the preacher man?
After all, these B&B owners are those religious types..
I didn’t know until just now who to credit for the sentenceThe good outnumber you, and we always will.
Here’s the full statement by comedian Patton Oswalt:
Yes, the Abilene B & B people do actually ask if you have a room with only one bed. Then they deny service. Legal in Kansas.
Have they ever denied any non-married heterosexual couple – is that known?
Besides – did I miss the memo where God died and gave these B&B owners the power to tell people what they can and cannot do?
When you’re in business to the general public – then you put yourself out there in the general martkeplace.
Personally – I don’t want to know the marital status or the sexual lives of others.
Maybe that is why I never felt comfortable within the Fundy Evangelical groupies?
Corporate Tax Cheats on Tax Day
http://thecontributor.com/economy/looking-cheats-corporate-tax-filings-descent-circles-hell
During all this news coverage about the bombing in Boston – I was reminded by some pundit that this is generally the time in April that we see terrorist attacks – think of Ruby Ridge, Waco, OKC bombing, that Atlanta Olympics bomber….
And – I suspect – throw in Tax Day of April 15th. That is bound to set off more than a few nutcases.
But another thing to consider – these nutcases are usually the same nuts that love to stockpile those guns and ammo.
And we are currently in that hot gun rights debate……
Nutcases everywhere…….which is why I was also glad to hear in the same news coverage their were many Boston people that ran towards the explosion areas to help the victims.
Marathon volunteers continued to hand out the water bottles, blankets and gave the runners their medal for participating……so LIFE went on…..
And isn’t that really what should be the message after all this is investigated and hopefully prosecuted – that no matter what happens – our American life goes on…..
I’m making a point of avoiding ALL media sources speculating about responsibility for the Boston explosions or trying to make this tragedy political in any way shape or form. I’m sick to my stomach of media pitting people against people, maybe even ‘egging on’ those who may exist at the edge of sanity. Exactly as Indy said — there are more good people than bad ones. And both the good and the bad are represented in all walks of life. The few bad ones don’t implicate others who may walk beside them. Everyone has opinions but few attempt to make statements about those opinions by murdering people.
This is also near the time of Hitler’s birthday, which I think was the anniversary of Columbine, Waco, and OKC. I’ll have to check for sure, but that’s a big white power day.
Yes, April 19 & 20 are anniversaries for those tragedies. And there is some dispute if Hitler’s birthday is actually the 20th or the 19th. So… there ya have it.
I’d rather celebrate 4/20 with a smoke out than a bomb out. Give me peaceful, hippie pot smokers any day!
The biggest danger from hippie pot smokers might be the shortage of munchies in the kitchen pantry…afterwards…
Yeah, Indy. A shortage of Cheetos, Dr. Pepper and Skittles. OMG.
“Ruby Ridge” It is curious, the one factor with Ruby Ridge and setting aside that it was about a white Separatist. The timing is interesting as to when the Federal Government choose to have their raid? Perhaps it is something that should be researched and studied not just about insidious forces but in general as to why it is chosen for such actions?
Yes, Rick, I have many questions about Ruby Ridge. IIRC, it was in August, not April, but it may be one incident where the government agents were the real terrorists.
Wasn’t Ruby Ridge the first incident that most anti-government people cite on their grievance list?
I don’t remember that much detail about Ruby Ridge – but the guy’s wife and son were killed – IIRC.
And all for what…….
I just don’t get it…
Indy, there are lots of unanswered questions and a lot of answered questions that point to, at a minimum, how badly the government handled it, and worst case, the government agents committed premeditated murder. Unfortunately, it gave the white nationalists, sovereign citizens and other militia and hate groups just what they needed to declare war on their own country. Part of McVeigh’s motivation in OKC was Ruby Ridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Ridge
I know what you’re saying….
Any time you give any group anything to make themselves appear to be martyrs is not a good thing.
Isn’t that also true of Bin Laden and his Radical Islamists?
Hell – that is also true of my Mother-In-Law.. I learned a long time ago to not give her anything so she can put herself on that damn cross and then say ‘look at poor me’….
It just gave her more steam with which to try to roll me over……..I eventually wised up and just stopped talking to her when she got into one of her bitchy-Christian moods…
Those were the most peaceful moments I ever spent with that woman…….I simply tuned her out…
Of course, I twisted my little knife by smiling at her ever so sweetly when she was trying her best to get my goat.
I just read this on HuffingtonPost….and it made me laugh. Then it made me thank God there are Dads in this country like this man – and old ladies who will chime in and buy a movie for some small child.
NOW this is what America truly is……more good people than we realize….we just need to recognize the goodness in people when we see it..
BTW – My 2-yr-old grandson loves Sofia the Princess.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/dads-story-of-buying-sofia-the-first-dvd_n_3074141.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Thanks for sharing that! Yep, “Father of the Year” material.
If more Dads were like that, maybe gay teens wouldn’t commit suicide at such a higher rate than straight teens.
If ALL so-called religious people were like this Dad – maybe gay teens wouldn’t commit suicide at such a higher rate than straight teens.
I still lay blame at the feet of these Preacher Men who fill their collection plates with tax-free money by pushing their agenda of H-A-T-E
Once again media makes reports and then corrects the reports made earlier. The numbers of explosive devices, whether there is or isn’t someone in custody, how many injured… onandon. In the immediate confusion following tragedies, including Benghazi, reporting isn’t accurate and time sorts it out.
Unfortunately, the erroneous facts are spread throughout the world on the front page and then when corrected, the true facts are to be found somewhere on page 99…
Which is why – I suspect – Hate Talk Radio is so successful in making money….
You know the old saying….. gossip gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on..
As for the Benghazi incident – that is strictly for political purposes to bring down Obama (their # goal as I remember Mitch McConnell bragging before the 2012 election)
If these Republicans are so outraged at 4 dead Americans (as they keep screaming) – then where was their outrage at George W. Bush when many more Americans were killed at numerous embassies?
Not one single word of outrage when their puppet cowboy president was in office – huh?
I, for one, would rather let our officials do their job and investigate this bombing until we all go off half-cocked and ready to buy more guns and ammo for our already full stockpiles.
But – when there are folks that have been fed this 24/7 diet that the government is out to get them – then, of course, these folks are not going to believe the actual facts when the officials do finally find out what happened and who did it..
Unless, of course, those facts fall into their already pre-conceived idea of those foreign terrorists that have invaded America with their mosques.
Then – we’ll hear from these same anti-government folks how Obama is in cahoots with these foreign terrorists.
We’ve all been down this road before……haven’t we?
But…as that one pundit said this morning…..considering the timing of this bombing in Boston in mid April – it could very well be a domestic terrorist attack…
P.S. – when the majority of our media is corporate owned – then jumping to conclusions with erroneous facts is just considered a part of doing business.
After all – the outlet that gets the jump on their competition might just make that extra dime in profit…
Or if they can make their news coverage more sensationalized – then it brings in more viewers – which means more profits.
Bottom line – when the media is owned by profit-making corporations whose only goal is to make money………we see all this rush to bring us the ‘breaking news’…..
Craig Ferguson is not my favorite comedian….but he summed up what I feel about this latest bombing attack….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/craig-ferguson-boston-marathon-bombing-video_n_3091913.html
Speaking of tired of all this shit – this politician is just one example of why this country cannot ever just pull together at a time of tragedy.
We used to be able to do that – remember?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/steve-king-boston-bombings_n_3092929.html?show_comment_id=245395652#comment_245395652
I just heard the Boston explosives were inside backpacks and were filled with shrapnel, metal shards, and ball bearings
Sounds eerily similar to the Atlanta Olympics bombing…..doesn’t it?
That guy was a domestic terrorist – and IIRC, he was anti-abortion.
God knows who is responsible for this Boston bombing…..but what’s more scary is the fact that if it turns out to be anyone connected to an anti-gun; anti-tax, anti-government, anti-abortion, an Obama-hater or any other anti-______ group – I wonder what God-given message spin will be put on this act of domestic terrorism?
And let’s not fool ourselves – this was a terrorism act..