briefest of updates

[anotheranon]

House: Still up to my eyebrows in boxes and scheduling. We have 3 days between closing and moving, so I'm using the time to have the air ducts and fireplaces cleaned - I figure it will be easier without furniture potentially in the way.

We still haven't tackled the unfinished part of the basement. I can't speak for D., but I know I've been avoiding it. I've already gone through the fabric stash twice but dread facing whatever else I've accumulated over the years.

Current events: I'm still stunned about the Colorado theater shooting, and my heart sinks a little more every time I see that the victim count go up. The continuing coverage isn't informative beyond that - developments are slow, yet the demands of the 24 hour news cycle means that the media is filling the time with foolish speculation. I really hope this doesn't get pinned on geek culture or fans; my personal guess (I do it too, yeah, yeah) is that the Holmes chose the theater simply because he knew the premiere of a summer blockbuster would be packed.

Between this and Salon's cruelty on the border story, I am reminded why I don't follow news as closely as I used to. I don't ENJOY being misanthropic, but <rant>What is wrong with these people!? I get that illegal immigrants are breaking the law (need for immigration reform is another rant), but they shouldn't have to die for it. Leaving water in the desert assures that at the least they're alive to be sent back to their countries of origin. And the acts of the border control agents in the article are pointless sadism for...what? Because they can (also saving rant how law enforcement sometimes attracts power mad bullies)?</rant>

Fencing: wearing myself out with tiring "dancing" footwork and trying to get out of the bad habit of attacking out of range. Also, I'm involved in creating a fencing fashion blog (details forthcoming).

Tangential: the complaints about Twitter and Facebook destroying written communication holds true, at least for me. dustdaughter has rightly pointed out that with only 140 characters, everyone winds up sounding like Rorschach from "Watchmen", and while typing the comparatively huge tome above I found myself mixing tenses, repeating verbs, and dropping articles left and right. Maybe this is another bad habit to break.

Comments

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

I also think that Holmes chose the movie theater because it was packed. I'm still so sad and stunned by it. Joust an hour away from me. This summer is so messed up.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I understand the urge to avoid the news ... we've been having an unusual amount of shootings up here over the last while as well. Normally quite rare in Canada.

I share your disgust over the destruction of the water caches ... sounds as if many of the people hired by border control are the ones turned down by police forces because they show signs of this type of attitude/behaviour. I know the washout rate in the law enforcement program at the college I worked at was expected to be at least 50% for this very reason ... petty power cravers are not fit for that type of duty and students were observed very closely by the instructors for these traits.

Glad packing and fencing are both progressing well (maybe you two need to fortify yourselves with some GOOD chocolate and tackle the basement together ... that way neither can slide out of it without being caught and mercilessly mocked by the other. ;-)

And of course you know I agree about Facebook. Granted I haven't been particularly brilliant on LJ lately either, but I chalk that up to mental burnout from being shortstaffed at work (some long-term sick leaves and other problems) topped off by this area joining the heat wave trend over most of this month. I fantasize about having a functioning brain again one of these days ... ;p

Re: Toronto shootings

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely say unusual, and surprising to me, as I thought Canada had more stringent gun laws than the U.S. I gather that they were illegally obtained?

Giving Google+ another go. Not like it will improve my writing, but hopefully will be less invasive than FB.

Re: Toronto shootings

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Yeah, one of these days I'll have to sit myself down and toss out one or two of my longstanding oddball theories, just to see if anybody bites. ;p

You're correct about our gun laws being stricter than yours, but yeah ... illegal firearms are usually what's involved in these crimes. Not helped by our current P.M.'s mission to kill our national firearms registry, his and his cronies' reasoning being that since illegals aren't in it, it serves no purpose ... they have no concept of the multitude of other uses of the info for law enforcement. Frankly if I were answering a domestic or break-in call, I'd certainly appreciate an FYI that there were firearms known to be on the premises so I could adapt my strategy accordingly. (yeah, I know that wouldn't cover possible illegals, but it's still an edge when definite info is there)