In the news
An 18-year old Bosnian man opened fire at a Salt Lake City mall yesterday, killing 5 with a shotgun and had a backpack of shells to spare. If not for an off-duty cop, Ken Hammond, more could have died.
A Belgian woman was mauled to death by cheetahs after-hours at a zoo, where she entered the cage with keys she somehow found on the premises.
While campaigning over the weekend in Iowa, Sen. Patrick Obama, D-Ill, talked of the troop deaths in Iraq. "We now have spent $400 billion and have seen over 3,000 lives of the bravest young Americans wasted." He later apologized for the statement for any "diminish[ment]" of "enormous courage and sacrifice that they'd shown."
Up in Michigan, Mitt Romney announced his intentions for the 2008 presidential race. Critics immediately questioned his potential popularity because of his Mormon creed.
Bank of America has begun offering credit cards to customers in LA County without credit histories and/or social security numbers. It has immediately been implied that illegal immigrants will benefit the most from this new offer.
Former congressman Joe Kennedy retaliated against current representative Connie Mack over Kennedy's commercial for Citizens Energy Corporation where he says,
"I am Joe Kennedy. Help is on the way. Heating oil at 40 percent off from our friends in Venezuela at Citgo."
Venezuela recently voted to give Hugo Chavez dictatorial power in the communist state for the next year and a half. He also called President Bush "the devil" in a speech at the UN, as well as telling America to "Go to Hell, gringos" in response to the US's concern over his new power.
First up:
18-year old. Knowing that people like this one, described as an "average Joe," can be all around us, how safe do you feel? Do you think that this kind of crime "can't happen here," or that this won't happen again? Look at Columbine, Jonesboro, Amish Country, and even here in MA at Lincoln-Sudbury, where a kid got stabbed. It's too easy in many places of public accomodation, like malls and schools, that haven't taken basic steps to curb violent efforts. While it may not be possible to end all crime in these two places, the bare minimum standards ought to be addressed, like metal detectors and armed guards dispersed throughout the premises.
Belgium. You love animals enough to steal keys and sneak into a cage with wild cheetahs, you're sadly going to end up like the woman there. Wild species like tigers (mauling Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy), lions, bears, and cheetahs, are just that; they're wild. I wouldn't bet any money that a cage will make them safe to approach.
Sen. Obama. Meet John Kerry.
Romney. I don't think JFK was ruled by the Pope during his presidency, so there's a good chance that Mormonism isn't going to change the standards by which America stands if he became president. Please refer to the 1st Amendment if you have further concerns.
Bank of America. Ultimate capitalism meets national controversy. This ought to be interesting.
Kennedy. I would've thought twice about considering communist and anti-American Venezuela "our friends."
Just some food for thought.