Maybe weird things have a way of catching my attention, maybe it’s shapes, contours, and lines but I just kind of liked the flow in this and snapped a photo.
Kind of a testament to that Sigma F2.8 DN ART lens I’ve gone on about in the past – sharp with a lot of lines of resolution.
Was going to stop the aperture down but went wide open instead as it was kind of taken on a whim.
I’ve known a few scrappers over time – people who collect recyclable items out of personal need or to augment their income.
They provide a worthy service in a society where disposable has come to be seen as an asset.
To begin with I believe everyone, or at least the vast majority of people understand the definition and application of the term “one percenters”.
But I wonder how many are aware of the “three percenters”? Three percent, that’s the number of people who own half of the of guns in this country.
The question should be asked how many of this three percent belong to “militias”, white supremacy groups, or openly harbor racist views? How many have mental health, alcohol, or substance abuse problems? How many have a history of violence or abuse whether spousal, in relationships, or directed at children?
I would be interested in knowing the percentage of those among the three percenters who own an assault rifle, bump stocks, and high capacity magazines.
But if percentages are the topic of conversation then the fact that ninety percent of NRA “donations” go to Republicans should also be open to discussion.
The only thing the NRA and conservative political flunkies understand is money, not body counts nor public outcry – what they’re complaining about now in yet another attempt to create a false narrative are entities like banks, airlines, and others are disassociating themselves from the NRA.
Conservative flunkies like their bought and paid for politicians and yellow journalism outlets like Fox Fake News are left with little recourse other than attempting to portray this as being an assault on of all things freedom of speech and the Second Amendment …… but then they believe and support Citizens United as “free speech”.
Now these same people will froth at the mouth that a baker for instance who refuses to make a wedding cake for a gay couple not only has the right to do so but are exercising a Constitutional right.
That’s known as talking out of both sides of your mouth.
How about a bartender that refuses to serve an obviously inebriated customer – does that qualify as an infringement of rights?
hashtag#boycottNRA? damn right but also there needs to be a #boycottRepublicanflunkies
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/23/588233273/one-by-one-companies-cut-ties-with-nra
Automated empathy coming from the President of the United States and NRA minions like Marco Rubio who in a townhall meeting yesterday ran through his own personal list of “I hear you” and then boldly stated his lack of support for not banning assault rifles while proclaiming he will continue to accept money from the NRA.
Trump so detached, so addle brained clutched a list of what to ask and say during his meeting with survivors and parents of victims of the Parkland shooting that included the words “I hear you”.
In essence the message is that government is totalitarian in nature believing it has the singular right to tell people what to do rather than being representative – a right predicated entirely on contributions from entities like the NRA.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/apos-still-taking-nra-apos-042632610.html
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a18657418/cnn-gun-debate-town-hall-marco-rubio/
This is an artistic rendering of child, a black child who like any other child has an inherent right to grow up and attend school in an environment that is safe, user friendly, and conducive to well being.
To be perfectly honest about it I don’t believe black children, the children of the nations, or any other minority child has much importance to the NRA and Conservative agenda of putting a gun in the hands of every lunatic in this country.
A disregard that if it happens to include non dark skinned children well then that’s regrettable collateral damage and something to pray about because they’re probably just “actors” anyway.
So shameless, so disconnected are Conservative hacks that they and equally shameless propagandists are now attempting to float the narrative that children at Parkland or anywhere else who are rising up are paid actors – that’s a page directly out the Republican Manifesto as offered by Alex Jones that Sandy Hook was a “false flag” populated by actors.
Damn, “stupid is as stupid does” as spoken by Forrest Gump really is the way of it.
Among my people there was a time when bounties were placed on the scalps of our men, women, and even children – I’m not seeing much of a difference in that and the complete unwillingness to address the issue of gun violence and slain children.
I want someone, anyone, especially a parent, to explain to me how they can look their child in the eye and tell them the importance of owning assault rifles, bump stocks, large capacity magazines, and any form of silencer is more important than the safety of their child or any other?
How it’s more important for an individual with known mental health issues to be able to own a gun than the safety of their child or any other child?
Why there shouldn’t be serious background checks and a waiting period? Why assault rifles shouldn’t be banned?
As I’ve stated before if you need an assault rifle for hunting you either shouldn’t have a hunting license or if so then be issued a single Barney Fife bullet.
And that right to own arms thing, are there any limitations to that according to the “patriots”? Should they be able to own an RPG, a Rail Gun, or grenades for hunting or personal security?
Now here’s a question for the Trump bots – should a president as the leader of a nation step up and condemn those floating this “actors” bullshit?
Granted doing so would lead to some blow back from Fox Fake News, the NRA, and “patriots” but who is a president supposed to serve?
wn
Liar Liar Pants On Fire
Trump’s got the goods on all of his accusers and a day of reckoning is coming – well not really that’s just more bs doled out for his defenders to come down out of the trees and applaud.
I wonder if they’ve forgotten Trump’s bluster following former FBI Director James Comey’s revelation that during a private meeting authored by Trump he expressed the opinion that he believed Comey ought to just let the whole thing about Michael Flynn slide?
Trump went to great lengths to claim it was all fake news, Comey had lied, and suggest in a menacing sort of way that Comey better hope there weren’t any “tapes” of their conversation.
Well, Flynn’s gone down in flames, rolled over, and still no tapes.
Which kinda begs the question if they existed why didn’t Trump hand them over?
Obvious answer is either they don’t exist or they support Comey’s version of the conversation.
Now it’s about Rachel Crooks, one of roughly twenty women who have accused “locker room” man of sexual misconduct accompanied by the usual Trump “exaggerations” and lies that he hasn’t a clue who this woman is and never even met her …….. anybody recall having heard that before?
His supporters shouldn’t panic though, Trump once again wants them to know he has proof in the form of video evidence and it’s nothing more than “fake news”.
But that’s where it begins to get a little convoluted as is the norm in the dystopian world according to Trump – Rachel Crooks says if that’s true then release the video and so far Trump hasn’t.
Could it be they don’t exist or if they do they fail to demonstrate that “nobody respects women” more than he does?
I”m thinking maybe Trump should head to rehab, bunk in with Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, participate in some of that counseling and those group therapy sessions.
But then I’m also thinking a little rehab wouldn’t be a bad idea for his supporters as well.
There’s something else I’d like to draw attention to, and that is:
Trump is caught in a trap of his own design gnawing at his NRA donations friendly leg like some feral animal, coiffed his hair with super glue to hold it in place and said he’s signed a “Memo” directing USAG Sessions aka the Keebler Elf to see about the ATF banning bump stocks.
Problem is the ATF doesn’t have the Constitutional authority to do so, something Sessions must know and in knowing trickled that reality down or up to Trump .
What is required is legislation, and that’s a real threat to conservative pols who never saw an NRA dollar they wouldn’t bend over for.
Such legislation would put them squarely in opposition to the NRA, their names would be on the Bill with the NRA and members of the hive raining fire and brimstone on them, not to mention those stipends being withheld.
Not likely to happen so something is needed to toss against the Trump/Conservative wall of shame in the hope it will stick – ergo, a meaningless “memo” , a “memo” mind you, not even one of those “executive orders” Trump loves to sign with a flourish and beaming smile.
Trump and the rest of his gang have their fingers on the panic button as midterm elections draw ever nearer following the election of Linda Belcher to the state House of Representatives in Kentucky – if anyone’s counting Reps have won only five such elections since Trump has taken the “oath” he swore to himself to violate and the Dems have won thirty seven.
A panic that extends to the “tax reform” and some way to make up the shortfall which Trump has suggested could be a twenty five cents a gallon tax increase on fuel or a “mileage tax” for drivers.
Think about that – will a fuel and or mileage tax impact the everyday person or Trump’s buds? Should one even be necessary due to the giveaway to one percenters?
Yeah, “winning”, ain’t it great?
This is too funny not to pass along – a shout out to Agawela for sending it to me.
There’s a natural attrition of time, we all know that. The body slows down
and things change – some attempt to thwart this occurrence with supplements, exercise, diet, and even cosmetic surgery.
The purpose of generations is ultimately in my opinion about stewardship, to build on and enhance what is beneficial so when the torch is passed it burns a little brighter, casts a more inclusive light, and illuminates the path going forward.
We aren’t seeing much of that today – what we’re witnessing is a culture of greed and avarice, of corporate influence and indifference, racial and ideological divisions based on what regrettably have become the new norms of political tribalism.
A nation divided and in decline clutching at straws in a global community on a planet in decline – we live in a finite world with finite resources, where you gonna run?
Think you’re destined to be a Mars colonist or trail blazer on some other equally inhospitable planet whose distance from the earth is so far it will never be reached?
Are you counting on the aging process and attrition of time so when all the bills come due you won’t be around and future generations can pick up the tab?
Do you cling to fantasies that superior aliens or a divine being will intervene and it all works out in the end – recompense for fulfilling your “prosperity doctrine” obligations?
What about that Age of Aquarius which if the present course is maintained
will be an Age of Nefarious.
Children, school kids, have become the target of choice while gun nuts led by the Pied Piper of the NRA have an explanation for all of it – politicians weigh the profit from lobbyists against the lives of children and do nothing other than act like the sleaziest of crack whores cruising the halls of what has become the national bordello – the White House – write a check and you can truly have it your way.
Politicians, especially those in positions of most influence lie – that’s lie, not exaggerate or engage in innocent hyperbole as some claim and seem to have rushed headlong to abandon any vestige of common sense – maybe it’s time to abandon the “critical thinkers” and “experts” and begin listening to the children though I doubt there’s much chance of that as they aren’t viewed as a voting or campaign donations demographic.
Look, MAGA doesn’t mean McDonald’s And Golf Again accompanied by a virulent form of hoof of mouth disease – if it is to be a mantra the focus should be the common welfare of all.
Here’s a little food for thought – in 2016 the NRA spent fifty four million dollars to facilitate Republican control of government.
Paul Ryan has received tens of thousands during his “career” and that doesn’t take into consideration what is referred to as “outside money” directed to campaign ads etc.
Ryan’s response to events like the most recent one in Florida has always been that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions and what is really needed is prayer.
Understandable when you consider that Republicans are bought and paid for by the NRA and “prayer” is less risky and more profitable than actually addressing gun violence in any reasonable manner.
Marco Rubio has received considerably less -$4,950 in direct contributions but the NRA gave more than a million to efforts to re-elect him.
Rob Portman has been another beneficiary to the tune of $29,455 dollars in direct contributions over his “career” with the NRA chipping in $731,400 dollars in “outside money” towards his re-relection.
The only inducement for Republican candidates to sever their NRA servitude is the threat of being ousted from government – they’ve clearly demonstrated they have no intention of biting the hand that feeds them whether it be the NRA, the Kochs, or corporations.
They live in fear and are held hostage by entities like Fox Fake News, self described “patriots”, crazed evangelicals, and wannabe messiahs like Alex Jones and Rush Limbaugh.
As to the “prayers” and “condolences” they offer in the midst of their own complicity I’d say they can stick them where the sun don’t shine and then use one of those “infowars” perineal wipes that Alex Jones offers to enhance their experience.
This is about more than campaign finance, it’s about propaganda and false narratives, it’s about fear mongering that the “gun grabbers” are at your door, Citizens United, “outside money’, and a lemming like base who thrive on sound bites.
We have witnessed what has previously been considered a heretofore impossibility, pigs have actually begun to fly – no more can we dismiss anything as an impossibility.
There’s a saying that everyone has a price – the Republicans have demonstrated they do – question is do you the reader, the parent, the concerned citizen have a price, and if so does it include the wanton murder of school children?
In the aftermath of the latest mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Florida I read an article by a grieving relative that the NRA (national rifle association) is complicit.
I couldn’t agree more but would include every “family values” member of Congress that dances to the NRA’s tune who have demonstrated campaign contributions and fear of being abandoned and called unAmerican by the gun toting Make America Great Again lunatics has a greater value than public safety.
A greater value than children in school, workers at a job site or concert goers.
“Constitutional Originalists” – that’s about as pathetic a label as one could come up and begs the question do the “originalists” believe this is what the original intent was?
In the past when addressing gun violence I have stated that I support gun ownership but also repeatedly stated that it’s time for responsible gun owners to stand up and denounce the false narratives by both Congress and the NRA – to take back the “right”.
But I’m going to take that a step further and say anyone who believes they need an assault rifle as a “patriot” or “hunter” is not only delusional but a liar and a fool.
Bump stocks, silencers, open carry, large capacity magazines and the rest of the insanity are not a Constitutional guarantee – anyone believing they are or believes it heightens their personal Rambo fantasy should drop the pretense and joy the military.
That’s the real military not some laughable group running around in surplus military clothing.
Mental health issues? There’s a lot of that going round from the halls of government to the NRA and their stooges, so much so in the aftermath of Parkland you have a white nationalist group boasting that the shooter was a member of and “trained” with them – maybe this idiot president will announce there’s probably some good people in that group.
During the Great Depression among several agencies created to address the issues was the National Recovery Agency, NRA, this nation is in dire need of recovery – a recovery from the nightmare of gun violence and “family values” as propagated by the National Rifle Association and their puppets – there’s only one way to accomplish that – vote and take back the right to a government that places the common welfare above lobbyists and corporate donations…….. a government that values the lives of children and citizens above all else.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/florida-shooting-white-house-refuses-110258770.html
