Obama's on TV giving a speech at the memorial service in Tuscon Arizona for the victims of those who were slain in last weekends shooting!

Powerful words I tell you.

January 8 was a sad day for Arizona, and the United States. I missed Obama's speech last night, but have been watching it this morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztbJmXQDIGA&feature=player_embedded) He has such a vivid, powerful and steadfast way with carrying his words.

It's difficult to know exactly if there is anything to be done in response to the shooting. Distancing politicians from their constituents by heightening security and disallowing events such as the one where Giffords was shot would arguably be a disservice to the openness of democracy, and as much as I don't like the right to own tools to bring about the death of someone instantaneously, we aren't going to undo the second amendment to the United States constitution.

There has been very little insight into what exactly inspired the shooter's actions, and from what I've read, the guy, unfortunately, chose to construct his reality in such a way as to present himself to be a danger to our society, evidenced by his actions last Saturday. Choosing our words more carefully may help ease tension, but I don't know that we can undo mental instability simply by speaking more nicely to one another.

This is an unfortunate tragedy, however you look at it. One thing is for certain, though: FUCK THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH.

MadPooter, on 14 January 2011 - 07:43 AM, said:

I guess that's the one that gives everyone a right to own or carry guns. Sooner or later someone with some power is going to realise that is a big mistake and start to toughen the laws. Well I hope they do. Touchy subject in the US I guess. In Aus, after one guy went rampaging and killed 35 people in 1996 our gun laws changed. Thousands of guns were handed in and destroyed. Personally I find that comforting to know.

funny thought!

The Chems are in Mexico on the 8,9, and 10 in April!

But guess what is coming up the next weekend....Coachella!

C'mon Bros! You guys are right next to us! Just saying!

I'm hoping and praying for Coachella! Please please please pretty please with a cherry on top let them play Coachella this year!

I sure could use an excuse to take a long weekend.

In other news. My son is growing up and has joined the message board community. Not this one, but some forums dedicated to gaming. He belongs to 4 of them now. And he'll be online, typing little things on his message boards, gathering opinions, giving opinions.

I told him not to say anything stupid that would get him flamed. It's just... I don't know. It's weird. But I wonder if part of that weirdness is knowing that if people got on his case then there wouldn't be someone like me moderating and telling people to behave, hahaha! Oh dear...

inchemwetrust, on 14 January 2011 - 07:55 AM, said:

I dear hope so =-/

whirlygirl, on 13 January 2011 - 11:14 PM, said:

I can imagine you peeking over Connor's shoulder as he types...watching what he posts! Mommy Moderator!
Wish we had the 'nets' back then!

Because back in the day, the only way we could socialize as a kid was either hanging out at the mall, at the park, or hang out at some arcade or after school. Now kids are talking to complete strangers or non-strangers with anonymous ages on the net, whether opinions are agreed or disagreed, and where saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can make reality set really quick. But I think message boards are a good tool to develop communication with diverse groups of people in the wonderful world of gaming, but in addition, talking in turn on the forums develops kids to prepare them to effectively debate, explain, and talk maturely in their adult life.

I sounded fatherly on that post a bit!

Anyway....where to eat for dinner?
BK is pretty close......El Pollo Loco is a little farther.....and Panda is tempting too!

Hehehe, no I don't really peek over Connor's shoulder. OK, well, I lied. I do... sometimes... when I walk past. I want to know what he's up to and I'm rather endeared to seeing him interact with other kids that are nuts about the same things he's nuts about, so comfortably online. I do agree message boards are a good tool to develop communication. It's sparked an appreciation for reading, travel and strengthens his appreciation for writing. Sometimes they talk about music and that makes me smile. Our computer is just off the kitchen by our dining table, in the same vicinity as our livingroom (imagine typical S. California apartment with the "open floor plan" and that's our place). We're either in the kitchen, the dining area or livingroom so there's not much room for privacy as far as hanging out on the computer goes. But he does have his own little group of friends he hangs out with online, the same as he does when he's at school. He chats with them on Steam and on Facebook, and he's been Skyping as well. We're pretty open here. Connor has grown up with parents who socialize on and off the computer, and some friendships we've made online have bubbled over into 'real life'. We've invited people into our lives, our home and vice versa, and we stay in touch online in some way (by message board, Facebook, what have you). It's not traditional, and it might seem a bit strange but it's what Connor knows.. And it's what we know as parents in this day and age. We just have to instill in him a good sense of judgement, self control, online etiquette and things that will help him get along in a world that's so different than the one I grew up in. Well at least we try to instill good a sense of those things as much as we possibly can. That's the hard part, haha!! We'll see how this goes over when he hits puberty.

KNE, on 13 January 2011 - 11:14 PM, said:

I hope so because they haven't played live there since 2005!

btw you guys I deleted/ am undergoing trial separation with my facebook account, so if you seem one friend less, I'm still here! I just got sick of hearing about people I wouldn't otherwise keep in contact with (yeah, I don't care about some former coworker from 3 years ago's farmville score). I use twitter because I like it's simplicity (name: TheOrangeFilter) and you cannot pass following Ed or the chems modular photos!

In other news the whole thing with Arizona was really tragic and disturbing. Ironically, I was in Arizona when it happened (though way different location). They definitely love their guns, to the extent where some eccentric anarchist can buy a gun easily. While he didn't seem to be political, the whole things with guns and the culture that the right wing celebrities/new correspondents especially (look at Palin's now famous gun target picture) really does bring up the ugly culture in politics that has just gotten worse and how overly zealous we treat politics, for something we don't have much significant involvement in for the most part. But like so many things in our culture (movies, news, etc) it knows that emotional arousal is the most effective attention getter, politics seems to be perfecting it.

Britney fucking Spears is having her album produced by dubstep artists.
WILL YOU BELIEVE ME NOW THAT DUBSTEP HAS DEFINATELY GONE IN THE SHITTER!?

igorchete, on 16 January 2011 - 03:37 AM, said:

If you ask me, I actually assumed that Dub was either peaking or falling at the present time. If what you just told me was true, then it shows what Dubstep could've been!

A little birdie (or a so-called birdie) told me that the line-up for Coachella would be announced this Monday or Tuesday!

inchemwetrust, on 16 January 2011 - 10:06 PM, said:

aaahhh, the wait!!

Looks like they've been putting up a few videos from different bands on the main website. One can only assume that the videos from the different bands means that those bands are going to be appearing at Coachella.

Lots of money for me to go. Hoping that, if the Chems show up, they'll stop off somewhere else in CA again...

Now for some Contracts. YAAAAAY CONTRACTS!

My fingers are crossed for a Coachella appearance! Then I can start planning!

I haven't been keeping up with Coachella news at all. Anyone know if they are going to enforce the 3-day only rule, or will they allow single day passes once again?

I haven't heard any news on the single day/3-Day pass situation. Hopefully the single day tickets will be available this year. If they are and the Chems come to town, I'm there. :-)

MadPooter, on 17 January 2011 - 04:51 PM, said:

Sorry Poot!They're still doing the 3-day pass! The one ticket deal is now a thing of the past!

Kroq commerical came up! It said 'announcement soon'

That's too bad about the 3-day pass. Single day passes are so much better for those of us who aren't able to spend money hand over fist, or can only go for one day due to work/finances/family. I read some irritating and elitist comments last year on Facebook Coachella page and message board for proponents of the 3 day pass saying that people that only go for one day aren't true music fans. And well, we can just suck it if we can't afford 3 days. So no thanks in participating in their conversation. Goldenvoice has to make money and a 3-day pass guarantees revenue. But just can't bring myself to follow either the comments on FB or the messageboard because of such dominating elitist behavior. It's a shame we all can't be self entitled trustafarian hipsters!