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Applying business principles to philanthropy
Westminster Matters
Applying Business Principles to Philanthropy
A Message From President Michael Bassis
Social Entrepreneurship
A Message From President Michael Bassis
Fall 2005
I suspect that few of you will be surprised to learn that, as the president of a private and independent college, I take a keen interest in philanthropy. I am, after all, constantly asking donors for money. To be successful, I need to understand the factors which influence their giving. What continues to surprise me, however, is the fact that many of the donors I talk with are just as interested as I am in gaining a deeper understanding of the practice of philanthropy. Many of them told me that while they might not share Bill Gate's wealth, they do share his belief that it is a lot easier to make money than it is to give it away intelligently.
The more I studied the issue, the more I learned that there is a body of knowledge and experience one can use to address the challenges associated with philanthropy. I was particularly interested in the effort to adapt the practices that produce success in the private sector to the challenges of operating effectively in what John Gardner called "the independent sector." But determining what policies and procedures can and should be exported from the private sector to a philanthropic effort is, at best, challenging.
My educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that learning is richer, deeper, more nuanced and more valuable if individuals, under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable expert, learn with and from each other. So it occurred to me that there would be value in bringing together people involved in philanthropy and encouraging them to talk with each other about what they do and why and how they do it.
There was an enthusiastic response to that proposal. Both Zions Bank and Wells Fargo Bank provided funding to support three symposia on philanthropy. The Westminster College community—recognizing that such a series would provide our students with a unique opportunity to learn more about why and how philanthropists act—provided support as well. And individuals involved in philanthropic activities signed up to participate.
We held the first of our three scheduled events earlier this year, and while I believe much of what transpired was valuable, I was particularly struck by the insights contained in the keynote address delivered by Patrick Byrne, the founder and CEO of Overstock.com. His discussion of how he modified his business model to support a philanthropic initiative illustrates both the inherent differences between, and the essential compatibility of, these two vital forms of activity. While he would be the first to recognize that his approach is not appropriate for every philanthropic initiative, I would emphasis its power to illustrate the level of creativity needed to transform profit making models into an effective philanthropic program. With his permission, we have modified his presentation and are delighted to make it available to a broader audience.
We have two additional symposia scheduled to take place in the next few months. If you are interested in getting more information about them or attending those programs, feel free to call 832-2734 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com and we will provide you with additional information.
Michael S. Bassis
President, Westminster College
Excerpts from
Patrick Byrne
CEO, Overstock.com
As an undergraduate at Dartmouth, I majored in Asian Studies and Philosophy. When I did my graduate work at Cambridge University and Stanford, I continued to explore that area of the world and the philosophies to which it gave birth. So, when my Internet company, Overstock.com, was in good enough shape, I decided to take some time off, get on a motorcycle, and travel through India and Southeast Asia.
I spent my time avoiding cities and traveling from one small village to another. In almost every village, I met interesting people, ate great food, and had fascinating detours. I also saw some absolutely first rate, top notch hand-made craft work—jewelry, woodwork, table settings, silks, and home décor products. I suspect that I was thinking about the quality of the workmanship and not about the road conditions when I lost control of my bike and crashed in a relatively isolated area of Cambodia. That explanation wasn't much comfort, however, as I lay sprawled across a dirt path and wondered what I had gotten myself into this time.
After a while, some local kids came down the path and, after getting over the shock of seeing a Western white guy lying on the ground, they helped me get to their village. There, some kind people took me in, tended to my wounds, and offered me food and hospitality.
As I healed, I started wondering how I might repay the kindness these people had shown me. I knew that offering them cash would be seen as an insult, but I didn't know how else to express my thanks…until I really started to think about their lives, and what I had seen on my travels through their country.
In the economic terms in which I was now trained to think, the most obvious thing was the crushing poverty. But there was also the pride: pride in the quality of the work they did even if that work didn't bring them much money. After all, how could it? They were individuals, working in isolated environments, and producing goods in quantities too small to be efficiently moved to potential buyers who might be located a world away.
Then, on that cot in a small village, I realized that the problem these people faced was precisely the problem that my company had been established to solve. I had created Overstock.com to work within the fractured supply channels of numerous, scattered vendors, scooping up products in lots too small to be moved efficiently through mass retail. Overstock.com proved that you could match small lots of liquidated goods to mass demand through the Internet. I could, I thought, just expand that concept to include artisan production. That way I could bring economic growth and individual profit to countries and craftspeople while giving customers an opportunity to help people by buying wonderful products that would otherwise be unavailable.
However, what seemed so simple on a cot in a Cambodian village got a little harder when I returned to the States.
The problems weren't operational. Expanding Overstock to include Worldstock (the name I gave to the venture) wasn't simple, but there were experts I could turn to in systems design and logistics management who could give me clear answers to the problems I faced. I could not, however, find experts to give me definitive answers to the ethical problems such a venture involved.
For example, I didn't want to trade in products produced by child labor, but I also knew that many children helped their parents in informal, cottage-industry settings. I needed to find a way to draw a line that would respect local customs while still expressing my moral belief that child labor was wrong. And, there was the question of whether I should buy products from countries which had abysmal human rights records.
Different theorists argued that the economic boost that trade provided would end up supporting abusive governments, while others claimed that increased trade would promote reform. Should I buy through organizations—NGOs, micro-enterprise ventures like those supported by the Grameen Bank—or directly from individual craftspeople? Again, experts drew different conclusions about the impact of different purchasing patterns in promoting self-sufficiency or encouraging and rewarding organizations working on the ground.
Realizing that there were no easy answers to these problems, I decided I needed to think through the problems myself. I do not claim that the answers I developed are either comprehensive or correct, but they have guided Worldstock's behavior and they seem to be working fairly well.
I began by trying to define what kind of market I wanted to serve. My conclusion was that I wanted to sell products whose purchase would support women, disabled people, traditional artisans (such as Native Americans), or other disadvantaged groups. I wanted to focus on goods produced through micro-credit rather than traditional commercial ventures. And, I wanted to trade in goods whose production and consumption was environmentally sound.
With those goals in mind, it soon became apparent that the basic principle which ought to govern Worldstock was sustainability: we should support enterprises that sustain rather than use up people, cultures, and natural resources. With that basic principle in mind, four criteria emerged:
1. Economic Sustainability. Worldstock offers "employment" to disadvantaged people: we seek to purchase products made by people who don't have many options—casualties of war such as land-mine victims and widows; aboriginals and traditional peoples who have been bypassed by over-centralized development; and women with no viable job opportunities. By giving such people a market in which to sell their work, we provide stable employment that does not "use up" workers in the short term, and through which people can build a life for themselves over the long term. By purchasing products through Worldstock, our customers circumvent a top-heavy, hand-out approach to poverty and, instead, obtain objects they value while supporting an approach which nurtures local cultures and practices and rewards individual initiative.
2. Cultural Sustainability. Development often causes massive cultural dislocations. For example, efforts to stimulate job creation in cities can lead to increasing urban unemployment as stimulatory effects get washed out by waves of workers forsaking traditional crafts for urban jobs. By buying the products of artisans working in traditional settings, we aim to support traditional practices while ameliorating the cultural disruptions which often accompany development.
3. Environmental Sustainability. Goods can contribute to environmental sustainability. For example, organizations such as Worldwatch Institute and One World Projects, Inc. aim to save the Brazilian rain forest by researching and selling replenishable products from it rather than burning it for pasture. Moreover, some goods are surrogates for commercial goods but are produced in non-industrial, eco-friendly ways.
4. Worldstock Adoptive Principles. I wanted my fourth criteria to fit within the "sustainability" format in order to complete the symmetry of the first three, but I just couldn't. Indeed, I confess that, in addition to lacking "sustainability" language, the fourth criteria was really a catch-all for a number of concerns designed to ensure that our behavior matched our rhetoric.
Razor-thin margin pricing. Some retailers buy the same sort of products we do, from the same type of sources, using the same humanitarian justification. Then they turn around and mark up their prices by 300 percent or more. The net result is that only a small part of the proceeds get back to the producers. My model is different. While I need to price products high enough to cover costs of acquisition, importing, and shipping, my goal is to keep the price as low as possible. That will allow me to grow Worldstock rapidly, increase the numbers of producers we help, and spread the advantages of the system to as many areas as possible. Roughly 60–70% of the purchase price of our goods is returned to the producers with the rest covering our costs.
Fair negotiations. Despite the fact that I didn't set up Worldstock to make money, please believe me when I tell you I am a capitalist. I enjoy making money, and I do everything I can under the law to edge out the competition. At Overstock, I try to pay as little as I can for merchandise in order to make as much as I can when I sell it. However, that kind of model is inappropriate in a Worldstock context. When disparities in wealth, options, and information between two parties go beyond a certain point, negotiations can no longer be fair. We don't want to chisel Peruvian widows in order to increase our profit margin. That just isn't the point of this activity. We do, of course, negotiate with our suppliers, but it is a "gentle" negotiation designed to remind them that lower prices will increase volume and benefit everyone in the supply chain from producers to purchasers.
Transparency. As I indicated earlier, there are a host of ethical problems associated with the kind of business I want Worldstock to be. As is often the case, well-intentioned people can reach different conclusions about those issues. Additionally, consumers know only too well that some firms which boast about their philanthropic motives can end up (knowingly or not) subsidizing sweatshops or other unacceptable practices. Our response to these issues is simple: we make our policies and practices as transparent as possible. We require all producers to sign a statement of principle regarding the manner in which they produce the goods we buy; we do our own investigation of our suppliers and their reputations. We make all that information available so that if anyone doubts my claim that buying a particular product from Worldstock will help a particular producer, they are free to review the information on which I base that claim. Worldstock customers want to be socially responsible. We help them achieve that goal by making products—and information about those products—available to them.
So, one may ask, how is it all working? Pretty well. In the three years since Worldstock was created, we have sold thousands of products and returned roughly $8 million to artisans throughout the world. Can we do more? I certainly hope so. I hope that Worldstock continues to grow, and I have pledged to do everything I can to support that goal. In fact, this year alone we are on track to sell another $25 million and return over $15 million in payments to the developing world.
I was able to extend my core business model, with minor adaptations, to create Worldstock. Other companies may not be in a position to do that. But virtually every company that really wants to can find a way to contribute to a cause. And every company should—both as a way of discharging a human obligation to help others and as an exercise in good business. I indicated earlier that I am a capitalist, and now I want to make it clear that I am proud of that label. While my primary motive for creating Worldstock was to improve conditions in a part of the world I care deeply about, I am happy to report that "doing good" also helps my core business. Worldstock attracts the kind of people I want to have working for me; it attracts customers to Overstock; it even makes some people think that I'm an OK guy and run a pretty good company.
But I recognize that Worldstock is not the only model that will help achieve the goals I have identified. For example, there is an organization called Rehab Craft Cambodia, a NGO, which is building a self-sufficient business channel for Cambodians with disabilities. In a capitalist environment, my goal would be to compete with them, but in this environment my goal is to share space with them. They may, after all, be able to do more for the group they have targeted than I can. Our interests are not in conflict; their success helps me achieve my goal.
And, of course, there are other ways to help and other areas that need help. Business people ought not shed their humanity when they enter their offices. There are ways to combine making a profit with serving people, and there are plenty of reasons to do so. I would hope that the philanthropic community might encourage the business community to think about those potential combinations: encourage rather than confront. Business can, after all, do more than give money to organizations trying to solve problems—it can solve problems itself. And, I believe Worldstock demonstrates that.


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on February 1, 2013 - 1:00 AM
It's time for America to bring troops home
Where were the GOP members of Congress when they initially voted to send our kids, not theirs, to war because of weapons of mass destruction – a "cash cow" for Vice President Dick Cheney? Did anyone find these weapons?
The world is dealing with ignorant – yes, ignorant – maniacs who have been weened on death, destruction and mayhem for thousands of years. Nothing could have prevented the attack on Benghazi and the loss of life except not being there in the first place.
Bring our troops home; enough of this. Let the Arabs patrol the area with their kids, not ours.
Henry Mazurek
Vietnam Veteran

subset: commoncrawl


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Organizer Robie Scott called The Post and Courier's Spring Book & Author Luncheon "a good-luck stop for authors" because it has seemed to signal literary success for several of the event's participants.
Frank McCourt won his Pulitzer Prize just before appearing at the annual Charleston event; one of Michael Connelly's books hit the New York Time's Best-seller List a few days after his appearance. And John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" became a smash success at about the time the writer was addressing the lunch gathering in Savannah's sister city.
Earlier this week, one of this year's guests, Bob Dotson, saw his latest effort, "American Story," arrive on the Times' Best-seller List.
Dotson was one of six visiting authors who briefly discussed his work and writing from the podium of the Charleston Marriott ballroom Friday. The event drew perhaps 350 book enthusiasts who had a chance to meet not only Dotson but commercial fisherwoman Linda Greenlaw, the mother-son mystery-writing team of Charles and Caroline Todd, mystery writer Deborah Crombie and the widely syndicated Miss Manners herself, Judith Martin.
Greenlaw, the Maine native who survived the "Perfect Storm" in 1991, went on to write several autobiographical books on fishing and on parenting, including "The Hungry Ocean" and "Lifesaving Lessons." The latter, which she called "a horror story with a happy ending, chronicles her experience as the legal guardian of a teenage daughter.
Crombie, a Texas native who lived for many years in England, called herself an "unlikely writer."
"I realized that when you put words together in certain ways, you can make words sing," she said of learning to write.
The Todd team spoke of their working method, obsessions with the U.K. and determination to convey a little of what the World War I era was like, through two characters they've developed over the years, Inspector Ian Rutledge and amateur sleuth Bess Crawford.
Martin, who Scott referred to as the "pioneer mother of today's civility movement," said she was only "a harmless little old lady" working hard to subvert staid commercial practices that are accepted too readily as etiquette but ought to be cast aside in favor of simplicity, dignity and useful enterprise.
She spoke of etiquette, to be sure, but also shared some of her passion for the city of Venice, which has provided a fine example of civility and where she spends many weeks of the year. Her latest book is about La Serenissima; it's called "No Vulgar Hotel."
Before and after lunch, participants purchased books and solicited signatures. Laura Ayers of Sumter came with other members of her 44-year-old book club.
"It was a different mix of authors this year," she said. But entertaining indeed.
That Miss Manners surely isn't timid, Ayers added.
"She doesn't mind saying exactly what she thinks."


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Top Definition
Similar to the Wingman, Wingbhaiya is a term for a man who supports his male friend (the pilot) when approaching women. He helps the pilot approach pairs and groups of women without the awkwardness of being alone. He will sometimes take the less attractive woman of a pair so that the pilot can get the more attractive without interruption.
Yaar, I'm going out with my wingbhai tonight. We're gonna get after than chuddi.
od uživatele Subshark 06. srpen 2008
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Hamilton College attracts the nation's most talented students and scholars. College Hill is truly a special place, yet in today's society, the Hamilton College Campus Safety Department faces the same challenges as other schools across the country. Campus Safety is committed to providing a safe and secure learning and working environment to every student, faculty member, staff and visitor to Hamilton. Let me assure everyone that your safety and well-being is our highest priority and my primary concern.
Campus Safety's dedicated and experienced staff is ready to assist the Hamilton community at all times. The security of our campus is a joint effort that involves us all. Your thoughts and ideas are of significant importance to the continuous advancement of our safe learning, working and living environment. By cooperating with each other, exercising good judgment and using basic crime prevention safety measures we can all be assured of the safest possible experience.
This website is designed to inform the Hamilton community of the programs and services Campus Safety will provide, influence and encourage safe behavior and inspire and invite others to partner with us in our mission to reduce criminal activity on and near our campus.
Cooperation is critical to the success of our mission. I ask each of you to make responsible choices, discourage careless behavior, and to promptly report any suspicious activity. It is my pleasure to work with every member of the Hamilton community as we strive to achieve our goals.
Francis A. Manfredo
Director of Campus Safety
Anonymous Tips
Directory Assistance
Hamilton has contracted with TipNow to allow individuals the opportunity to anonymously report suspicious activity. Individuals can text, email, or leave a voicemail from a cell phone or computer regarding the activity they have observed. The information sent by the user is delivered to Campus Safety computers and cell phones and can be immediately acted upon by members of Campus Safety. TipNow ensures that all user information remains completely anonymous.


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The Common Law of Federal Question Jurisdiction
F. Andrew Hessick
University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law
May 21, 2009
Alabama Law Review, Vol. 60, 2009
The Supreme Court has repeatedly stressed that the role of the judiciary interpreting statutes is to declare the law as intended by Congress. But the Court historically has not followed that practice in interpreting the statute conferring federal question jurisdiction. The most notorious example is the well pleaded complaint rule, which the Court developed based on its own policy determinations about the appropriate role of the federal courts. In recent terms, the Court has developed various new doctrines expanding and contracting federal question jurisdiction without regard to Congressional intent. This Article contends that these recent developments reflect that, contrary to its statements about the proper role of the judiciary, the Court increasingly perceives itself as the primary regulator of federal question jurisdiction. The Article also contends that this practice has resulted in a highly manipulable and unstable law of federal question jurisdiction.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 57
Keywords: jurisdiction, federal question, supreme court, statutory interpretation, federal courts
Date posted: May 21, 2009
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As Immunotherapy Revolutionizes the Cancer Treatment...
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Researchers at Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering Labs report that initial studies with their knockout rat autism models at Baylor College of Medicine produced results not seen in other animal models. Citing these results, Sigma and the Autism Speaks® advocacy organization agreed to expand a previous collaboration to develop rat models with modified autism-associated genes.
The Baylor research, led by Richard E. Paylor, Ph.D., showed that while FMR1 knockout mice exhibit elevated social interactions, rats lacking the same gene participate much less in social play and emit fewer ultrasonic squeaks during play sessions than control rats. These types of social impairments, such as reduced verbal and interactive play, more closely parallel social behavior symptoms seen in humans with FMR1 mutations. Rat models lacking functional NLGN3 and FMR1 genes also display other unexpected characteristics, including compulsive chewing on water bottles and wood blocks. Compulsive and repetitive behaviors are core symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
According to Autism Speaks, an estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in the U.S. The disorder affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide.
Currently SAGE Labs provides the two rat lines with knockouts of autism-associated FMR1 and NLGN3 genes. The remaining five gene knockout rat lines developed in the original collaboration—for the genes MECP2, NRXN1, CACNA1C, PTEN, and MGLUR5—are expected to be released soon, says an official at SAGE. CNTNAP2 and MET knockout rat lines, which will be generated in the expanded collaboration, are expected to be available in 2013.
"At SAGE Labs we use CompoZr® Zinc Finger Nuclease technology to perform targeted genetic modifications in species previously not amenable to such modifications, be it gene knockout, transgene insertion, point mutations, or conditional gene knockout," says Edward Weinstein, Ph.D., director of SAGE Labs. "We can help researchers and pharmaceutical companies access rats, rabbits, and other species that best model a medical condition of interest and provide a direct path for preclinical efficacy and toxicology testing,"
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Last year, a law enforcement officer died in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every three days. Six of them were in Colorado.
On Wednesday, about 200 people gathered at the spot where seven of Weld County's officers are honored for making similar sacrifices.
In recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day, law enforcement officers in variations of brown, black and blue uniforms gathered alongside community leaders at Bittersweet Park in Greeley to pay their respects to those who gave their lives to protect public safety.
"At this moment, we unite to show respect," Weld County Sheriff John Cooke said before the names of each of the 120 men and women who died in the line of duty last year were read out loud.
Cooke spoke from the grounds of a memorial that one year ago wasn't fully constructed. The Weld County community came together to build the memorial with donated time and resources, including volunteered labor and contractor services from Roche Constructors, materials from Home Depot, memorial design by Greeley City councilman Robb Casseday and fundraising through a nonprofit organization.
Now, the names of the seven fallen officers from Weld County are permanently etched in black granite, which was arranged in the shape of the star in a sheriff's badge. The seven include two officers from the Greeley Police Department, one from Evans, one from Firestone, one from the Colorado State Patrol, and two from the Weld County Sheriff's Office, including the most recent fallen officer, Deputy Sam Brownlee.
Ruby Brownlee, Sam's aunt, was in attendance to honor Sam, the first Weld sheriff's deputy to be killed in the line of duty in 70 years. Brownlee's death in 2010 shook much of the law enforcement community in Weld, and the thought of his sacrifice still brings many of those who knew him to tears.
"It's a long list of names every year," Ruby said of the fallen officers memorialized.
Cooke used the day to challenge those present to remember that life is precious.
"Each day as officers, we are faced with the ultimate understanding ... that sometimes, the choice to live or die is taken from us," Cooke said. "If we have just one life to live, how do we live it?"
Encircled by 120 American flags — each one representing a fallen officer in the U.S. — the crowd stood silently for a three-round rifle salute and the lowering of American and Colorado flags to half-staff.
Firestone police chief Dave Montgomery said he is personally affected by the death of any officer. But he said those who died protecting others are resting in peace.
"At the end of our final tour on this earth ... We will fear no evil, for we are peace keepers."


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As Americans look to a new year, they typically do so with some combination of hope, optimism, excitement, and enthusiasm. It's who we are, a land and people of unending potential, for whom anything is possible. But today, at least for the business community, we anticipate 2013 with something else, something more different and darker:
Uncertainty. And we have the federal debt crisis and looming sequestration cuts to blame for it.
By now, the numbers are probably familiar to most people. The nation's debt stands at more than $16 trillion — about $52,000 for every one of our citizens and $135,000 for every U.S. household. To put that in some perspective, $16 trillion could pay off the mortgage debt of all Americans twice over. It could finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 12 times over. It could pay off all student loans 16 times over.
When Congress passed legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff, many felt that we had dodged the debt crisis bullet. But we haven't. That deal did not reach the necessary $1.6 trillion in debt reduction over the next 10 years, so massive sequestration cuts are still on the horizon effective March 1. And if that happens, South Carolina will pay the price — literally and figuratively:
■ We will lose up to 30,000 jobs.
■ We will see a 6.9 percent decline in our share of federal funds — money that has already been allocated for spending.
■ Some South Carolinians will see their state tax bills rise.
In that 18 percent of the sequestration cuts that will affect specific federal programs, we will lose funding for nutrition programs for low-income women and children, education programs, public housing and many other programs that protect our most vulnerable citizens.
From a purely business perspective, however, failure to the fix the debt will result in another problem that, in its own way, is equally devastating: It will create an environment of policy uncertainty that cripples our ability to confidently make the kinds of hiring and investment decisions necessary to speed up what has to date been a stubbornly slow economic recovery.
For example, Sageworks, a financial information company, took a recent poll of accounting professionals and bankers who work with privately held companies and found that nearly three-fourths of the respondents believe it is unlikely that companies will increase hiring because of the national debt. What's more, a similar percentage said businesses are also less likely to increase other investments because of the spiraling U.S. debt.
This is no small matter. Confidence is critical to economic recovery, and until policymakers in Washington take the necessary steps to instill that confidence, businesses aren't going to spend any money. The private sector wants to know where the economy is headed. Unless it gets a roadmap that makes sense — or at least moves us in a positive direction toward a long-term solution — capital investment and hiring will likely be at a standstill. With growth in the gross domestic product forecast to be 2.1 percent next year, and with the unemployment rate expected to be at or just below 8 percent, that's not good news.
In the absence of a sound, serious fix, this is only going to get worse. Consider this:
■ According to the White House Office of Management and Budget, gross federal debt has surpassed 90 percent of GDP for the past two years and is expected to stay above that threshold through 2017.
■ A major research paper published in April shows that in countries where debt exceeds 90 percent of the economy, growth rates have been subpar for more than 20 years, and that economic output at the end of that period has been 25 percent lower than it would otherwise have been.
■ A study from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University concludes that high debt levels are currently contributing to reduced economic growth and declining competitiveness, and that those conditions will only get worse as the debt-to-GDP levels keep rising, as is forecast.
Taken in the aggregate, those statistics demonstrate clearly and convincingly that the more the debt grows — and the longer the battle is fought with overheated words rather than meaningful actions — the greater the risk to our economy, our people, and our state.
The point here is not to make any specific policy recommendations. It is, however, to say that we have to stop the political posturing and rhetorical back-and-forth in Washington and find constructive, long-term solutions to this problem. That's why I have joined Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement created to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.
Our experience in South Carolina mirrors that of the entire country; that is, business creates the jobs, opportunity, and wealth that keep the economy growing. We can't do that in an unpredictable policy climate, and avoiding the fiscal cliff has done little to ease that unpredictability. So it's time for Congress to solve the problem rather than keep ducking it, and send a message that delivers the confidence business needs — and the nation demands — to ensure that we can once more look to the American future with a renewed sense of hope, optimism and determination.
Michael Brenan is chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and president of BB&T of South Carolina.


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on February 22, 2013 - 2:41 PM
, updated February 23, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Four Erie County sheriff's deputies have been injured by inmates during separate attacks at the Erie County Holding Center over the past two days.
The more recent attack happened at about 10:30 a.m. Friday, when a deputy was escorting Devan Hunley, 20, of Johnson Avenue in Buffalo, back to his cell, according to Undersheriff Mark N. Wipperman.
As the deputy tried to unlock a door, Hunley pushed him from behind, which caused the deputy to smash his face on the metal fire door, Wipperman said.
More deputies responded, and they struggled with Hunley briefly before restraining the prisoner.
Two deputies were taken to Erie County Medical Center with head, leg and hand injuries. Charges will be filed against Hunley once authorities know the extent of the injuries suffered by the two. Their names were not released.
The second attack happened at about 11 p.m. Thursday inside the Holding Center, Wipperman said.
Lakita Hawkins, 22, of Hopkins Street in Buffalo, was being escorted to another cell when she dropped her property and attacked one of the deputies from behind, the undersheriff said. As Hawkins pummeled the deputy in the head, face and upper back, a second deputy tried to intervene but could not control the inmate. Additional deputies responded to an "officer down" emergency call and were finally able to restrain Hawkins.
Two deputies were taken to ECMC, where they were treated for head, neck and back injuries. The two were released from the hospital but remain off duty due to their injuries. Their names were also not released.
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Source: Technology Review
quote: You're right, what would Elon Musk do without the government loan? He would only have billions to fall back on. - See more at: http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=30009...
quote: Once equilibrium is reached, expansion will start to occur as money is invested in those areas providing return
quote: Musk was almost broke in terms of tangible assets, and put everything he had into Tesla.
quote: If you end handouts, then everyone receiving one has to reduce the goods/services they buy with them, which means the businesses producing them lose orders and lay off even more people, who in turn reduce their consumption and the cycle viciously repeats.
quote: The free market is actively choosing to watch tens of trillions of capital earn negative real interest instead of building or buying anything, and it's done it for over four years. That is indisputable fact, not opinion. Think about how absurd that is for a moment.
quote: Capitalism is making a cry for something more to build, and nothing in the free market is giving it to them.
quote: Building something when demand is low or nonexistent, just for the sake of it, is crazy.
quote: Even in a great economy, Tesla's market is TINY!
quote: it's the government keeping us afloat instead of pulling us down


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Top Definition
a fart that bubbles out of your ass and makes you feel like you will shit yourself if you follow through with it, of course you follow through with it anyway and then yes you shit yourself but who cares curiosity killed the cat and it mearly fills your pants with shit so who cares your not dead after all!!!!
dude i am so going to blast this paracute out my ass for the good of all mankind!!!
作者 boxcarbenjamin 2006年7月27日
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Christmas traditions in the arts world bring a wealth of favorites, and sometimes you don't even realize that what you are looking at is art. Here's a few perennial favorites (other than "The Nutcracker") that you may want to put on your holiday list.
Church music was once the repository of the world's greatest music since churches had money to spend on fine organs and compositions. Some of the world's finest composers created classics, including George Frideric Handel's "Messiah." Excerpts are familiar to everyone and the holidays are a great time to learn more about this seminal work.
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra is putting on several performances in the Lowcountry. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, they will perform at the Cathedral St. John the Baptist in downtown Charleston and at 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2012 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Summerville. Tickets are $30.
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra's Gospel Choir and Spiritual Ensemble also are performing at church. They will perform lesser known works with some musical guests at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ashley River Baptist Church on Savannah Highway. Tickets are $30.
The POPS! Orchestra in North Charleston is going to rock the house with popular tunes such as "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bell Rock" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the North Charleston Coliseum. Tickets for that event are $35. It's more secular, but just as valid as an art form.
Lionel train art
An event that proved very popular last year was the Lionel Toy Train Memories exhibit at Coco Vivo Art for Living, 25 Broad St.
Angela Trotta Thomas is the official artist of Lionel Trains LLC and will exhibit a collection of original oils depicting her nostalgic toy train art.
Or, if you just want to peer in the window at the trains, there will be a Christmas window scene featuring a toy train set traveling through a snowy holiday village. Angela's powerful images are a mixture of Lionel trains, childhood and the holiday season.
A special invitation is extended to kids of all ages to meet the artist from 5-8 p.m. Friday, at 25 Broad Street in downtown Charleston during a special artist reception. Thomas will be handing out and signing the latest Lionel Christmas catalog and this year, the Lionel toy train will be twice as big as last year's.
Dickens' Scrooge
And it wouldn't be Christmas without a visit from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Village Repertory Co. presents "A Christmas Carol" at the Woolfe Street Playhouse starting Friday and running through Dec. 22. This version is special to Charleston because the group only uses Dickens' words from the classic tale. You won't find this version showing up on television.
All shows at Woolfe Street Playhouse 34 Woolfe St. Tickets can be purchase at www.woolfestreetplayhouse.com or by phone at 856-1579.
Magnolia Gardens
The top prizes for the Charleston Artist Guild and Magnolia Garden's art contest "Garden of Dreams" were announced this week.
Wadmalaw Island artist Mark Beale received the top prize of $3,000 purchase award for his painting, "Creekside Dusk."
The other top awards went to Daniel Island artist Alana Knuff, second place and a $1,000 prize, for "The Pasture: Magnolia Plantation," and Charleston artist Russell Buskirk received third place and a $500 prize for "The White Bridge." Buskirk is also the guild's director of exhibitions.
The competition was inspired by John Drayton Hastie Jr., who wanted to encourage artists to paint scenes of Magnolia's gardens in the style of Charleston Renaissance artists. Elizabeth O'Neill Verner and William Halsey were among the guild's founding members six decades ago.
The guild received 178 pieces of art from 108 artists in 11 states during the contest period that ended in September.
Giving and getting
And while you are thinking of garden art, here's an opportunity for you to take the family to see the garden in winter, one of the best times to see the structure of the famous plantation. For the second consecutive year, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens will collect food during the holiday season to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank.
In November and December, bring one or more non-perishable healthy food items to Magnolia to receive a special discount off the general garden admission. Buy one garden admission for $15 and get the second one free. This offer expires Dec. 31.
It's a way to give back some of that holiday spirit, and tour one of the area's famous landmarks.
Reach Stephanie Harvin at email@example.com.


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Expected growth in the rental car industry at Kahului Airport drives the need for the proposed Consolidated Rental Car Facility, according a draft environmental report.
Projections in the draft report show that an additional 8 acres, or a total of 49 acres, are needed to accommodate rental car facilities by 2020 and an additional 12.5 acres, or a total of 53.5 acres, by 2025. Seven rental car companies currently operate on 41 acres, northwest of the terminal off the airport loop road.
The state Department of Transportation has proposed building a 3-level structure that would bring all the rental car agencies under one roof. The building mainly will be used for rental car pickup and return and for car washing and other car-prepping activities.
Article Photos
Shown is a model of the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at Kahului Airport. The facility will bring all car rental companies under one roof with shuttle buses running between it and the airport.
State Department of Transportation photo
The proposed facility would have about 4,200 stalls for rental car use, which will be 2,000 more than the projected demand of nearly 2,200 stalls needed for rental cars by 2025, according to the report.
All the customer service desks and offices would be housed in the facility with one trolley/shuttle connecting the facility and the airport terminal. Currently, each rental car agency has its own shuttle.
There would be 719 airport and car rental employee parking spaces and 400 rental car staging and storage spots on the third floor and a 15,000-gallon fuel tank in the proposed facility, the report said.
The proposed facility will be used mainly for the "quick turnaround" of vehicles, with most overflow storage - which is becoming a problem - at the current rental car site near the airport.
"Rental car companies frequently run out of space and park in any available spaces around the airport," the report said.
The 16.7-acre site proposed for the facility is southwest of the current public parking lot and will be encompassed by the proposed "Airport Loop Road," which will drastically redesign traffic flow through the airport area.
The site also will help achieve two other goals - to reduce traffic in the airport loop by making more efficient use of shuttles and to reduce wait and travel times for rental car customers, the report said.
Caroline Sluyter, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, said recently that the facility is in the design phase with tentative plans to begin work in February with completion estimated near the end of 2015.
In the draft report, five sites around the airport were identified as possible locations for the car rental facility - including ones that abutted Hana Highway and Alahao Street near Kanaha Beach Park - with the site in the Airport Loop Road deemed the preferred site. No off-airport sites were identified as possible locations for the facility.
The draft report concludes that there are no cultural or environmental effects from the project. The facility may have "incidental" impacts on the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat and/or the habitat of the Blackburn's sphinx moth. The site is in the 100-year flood plain of Kalialinui Stream, though without residential property downstream, there is no flood or safety risk, the report said.
The report was made available Friday at oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov. Copies of the draft environmental assessment are available at the Kahului Library.
Public comments on the report must be received by 5 p.m. April 8. They may be submitted by mail or fax to Hawaii Department of Transportation, Attention: Jeffrey Chang, Engineering Program Manager, DOT-Airports Division (AIR-EP), Engineering Branch, 400 Rodgers Blvd., 7th Floor, Honolulu 96819. The fax number is (808) 838-8753.
For more information, call (808) 838-8835.
* Lee Imada can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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For traditional recipes from the Mysore region and food from all over, with ramblings about life and kids thrown in the mix.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Cabbage Kootu
It has been 6 weeks since we moved here. Except for the weather (which has not been too bad lately) and light bulb moments like above, it has been quite nice. Contrary to the general opinion that the city is not so cosmopolitan and only Tamil works in Madras, I've found that English works quite alright too. Even Hindi, to a certain extent. A few shops here and there that did not have English speaking/understanding folks but I could still manage with my toota-phoota Tamil or with help from other patrons. The only trouble I have is with the maid, who understands no word of English - even basic stuff like "go" or "come". She likes to talk, that Chinnamma. The fact that I don't get 95% of what she says does not deter her at all from going on and on in eloquent Tamil! We still manage to communicate with each other though - me in sign, Kannada, English, Tamil, all mixed in and she, after much training from me, in shortened Tamil with words that she now knows I get! :)
The traditional kootu does not have garlic, lemon juice nor sugar. I tend to add garlic in most dishes these days. The lemon juice and sugar came about in an effort to offset an accidental overdose of salt in this dish. And it worked well too. Goes to show why you never say "never" when it comes to cooking. You don't know which no-no thing you did that brought about your next signature dish! Right? So, here's my recipe for cabbage kootu.
2 cups cabbage
1/4 cup tuar dal
1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
salt to taste
For grinding (with a little water):
1 tbsp coconut gratings
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 dried red chilies
5-6 peppercorns
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp chana dal
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp crushed and finely chopped garlic (optional)
Cook dal and cabbage in a pressure cooker, with a bit of turmeric.
In a pan, do the tadka and add the cooked dal and cabbage.
Mix in the ground masala.
Add salt, lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a boil.
Serve hot with chappatis or rice.
18 comments:
- Sharmilee! :) said...
My fav looks super yum with rice
- December 3, 2010 at 12:18:00 AM EST
- Kurinji said...
looks yummy n try to learn few tamil words, otherwise can't manage.
- December 3, 2010 at 12:52:00 AM EST
- Prathibha said...
Looks perfect and gr8 combination wid rice...:)
- December 3, 2010 at 12:52:00 AM EST
- LG said...
Looks yummy!
- December 3, 2010 at 2:06:00 AM EST
- AshKuku said...
Hey that looks yum & tempting with rice ganji.... wow!!!! SWARGA!!!!!
- December 3, 2010 at 2:16:00 AM EST
- Priya said...
Love cabbage kootu anytime, my fav..
- December 3, 2010 at 3:09:00 AM EST
- Pari said...
Dear Vani, I can relate to u so much as even I lived on the topmost floor in Chennai and I had to learn the basic words in Tamil to explain it to my maid. I remember she telling me "akka nalla irakka" everytime I added the malai to her tea.
The kootu looks good for a quick meal.
- December 3, 2010 at 4:44:00 AM EST
- lata raja said...
Top floor?? beware when there is a water problem dear girl!I learnt practical lessons on basics of water and pressure! Otherwise Chennai is my favourite city too. Chennai-ites are not conversant in hindi, Thanglish will help...and I think your maid will keep you educated enough with her constant Tamil.
Kootu with a bit of tang from the lemon is something I should try.
- December 3, 2010 at 6:55:00 AM EST
- indosungod said...
The top floor has benefits too doesn't? less noise, less pollution and far from the madding crowd.
this kootu looks tasty. I made one yesterday but a bit different.
Good Luck with learning Tamil.
- December 3, 2010 at 8:20:00 AM EST
- Kannada Cuisine said...
Kootu looks yum...Never tried it with cabbage before.. got to do it..Tamil is a rather difficult language.. I never managed it though my Mother mastered the script but not the language LOL!! Good luck with Tamil and life in Madras :)
- December 3, 2010 at 10:06:00 AM EST
- Kairali sisters said...
That looks yummy, Vani..I never tried to cook cabbage this way, shall try soon...
- December 3, 2010 at 11:43:00 AM EST
- Ramya's Mane Adige said...
LOL @ your Chinnamma story :D Howz ur lil one liking Chennai? Kootu looks delicious!!
- December 3, 2010 at 12:33:00 PM EST
- Bong Mom said...
That reminds me of the househelp in B'lore. All I got by with was "mari".
The cabbage reminds me of a dish you made while here with coleslaw
- December 3, 2010 at 1:25:00 PM EST
- indianspicemagic said...
Yummy and delicious.Love the colour of the kootu.
- December 4, 2010 at 1:47:00 AM EST
- Santosh Bangar said...
tempting kottu i like it bec my daughter makes it oftenly as her in-laws are tamalian
is time here very new recpes do visit my blog
- December 4, 2010 at 2:53:00 PM EST
- Jayashree said...
Luckily, Chennai doesn't have water supply problems anymore....or that would have added to your top floor woes. On the bright side, you will have fewer mosquitoes making it all the way to the top floor :-)
- December 4, 2010 at 8:42:00 PM EST
- Vani said...
Sharmilee - yeah, great with rice too :)
Kurinji - thanks. managing alright so far with my limited Tamil. but you're right - always good to know a bit of the local language.
Pratibha - yeah, love it with rice too, even though I had this with phulkas
LG - thanks :)
Ash - hmm. rice ganji. Never thought of that. Should be good. Swarga even :) Hope you're well. Not seen any posts in a long time.
Priya - I'll check your blog for your recipe. Would love to see your version
Pari - same situation as me. Yeah, the help will surely get us going faster with Tamil, na?
Latadi- yeah, heard some horror stories about the water situation here. We made sure the apartment had 24 hr water supply before we signed the lease. So far so good on that front :)
ISG - We lived on a higher floor in Bangalore too and loved it. yeah, lots of benefits for sure.
Smitha - I'd have thought the script would be more difficult. kudos to your mom! and thanks, girl. need god wishes our way :)
KS - thanks :)
Ramya - M is doing fine. Adjusted well to her new school and quite alright with the weather too. She misses her friends from Bangalore though. She's forgotten about most of her friends from NJ now though.
San - another friends mentioned the same one day. She just added "maadi" after English words and that worked just fine. It's not that easy here though.
ISM - welcome! and thanks :)
Santosh - welcome! looking forward to seeing your blog too :)
Jayashree - dunno about fewer mosquitos. There certainly seem to be a lot here and immune to most remedies too, those pesky things! and yeah, no water issues, thank God! :)
- December 5, 2010 at 12:42:00 PM EST
- meeso said...
Yum, I love me some cabbage! :P
- December 9, 2010 at 5:07:00 PM EST


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Slang for Kronenbourg 1664.
"Pint of numbers and a packet of pork scratchings please, barman."
evilmangoによって 2005年08月15日(月)
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Top Definition
A term for a joint.
Light that number, geez, I'm dyin for a toke.
Saucyによって 2003年08月17日(日)
a drug order. how much you want of a certain drug or multiple drugs.
I texted my dealer numbers.
friendswithintervalsによって 2006年09月02日(土)
A rather brutal and secretive group of prison gangs in South Africa. Number gangs have numbers instead of names, and typically have millitary-style hierarchy, extensive tattoos, strict internal laws, and require violence against prison staff for initiation. The 28 Gang also has a system for distributing sex between new recruits and established members. Recently featured on a BBC documentary.
Numbers gangs include the 26s, 27s, 28s, etc...
gooberliberationによって 2006年03月12日(日)
Physical damage. To "do a number" in an aggressive situation frequently implies hurting someone, usually a particular body part. For example a number is used in the phrases "I'm going to pop you one" and "a quick one-two" (in boxing).
Rough him up a little, then do a number on his face.
Balfdorによって 2007年06月13日(水)
1. slang term for a woman
She's a saucy little number isn't she?
Bud E Loveによって 2003年05月05日(月)
Short form for "phone number."
Joe: So what happened with you and that girl at the bar?
Sammy: I got her number!
Joe: Sweet, you'll be banging her in no time!
Sammy: I got her number!
Joe: Sweet, you'll be banging her in no time!
RexGibsonによって 2004年03月11日(木)


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Submitted by Mary Saylor of Altoona
1 pound navy or soup beans
1 pound kluski noodles or any thick noodle or mini pasta like farfali or shells
1 pound carrots-scraped or peeled, but crosswise into 1/2 rounds
12 cups water
2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
1 stick butter- not a butter substitute
2 teaspoons salt. More may be needed according to taste.
Cooking time: Two hours or as my mother would say: "The soup is ready when the soup is ready!"
Sort the beans, removing any discolored beans. In a large stockpot, cover with water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse. Return to stockpot.
Overnight soaking cuts cooking time, but is not necessary. Check package directions for other options.
Add the water to the drained beans. Add salt.
Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer until the beans are tender.
Add sliced carrots- bring back to a simmer and cook until the carrots are tender. Do not overcook.
While soup is cooking, prepare noodles according to package directions. These may be prepared any time and refrigerated until ready to use.
Melt the butter in a skillet until foamy; do not allow butter to brown. Add the paprika and cook for two or three minutes until paprika is thoroughly mixed into the butter.
Bring the bean broth to a rolling boil and quickly add the paprika-butter, stirring in completely. Reduce heat to low. Add noodles at this time, heating until ready to serve. May be ladled over hot noodles in individual soup bowls.


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Quality Education in the Benedictine Tradition
A book by Fr. Rene Kollar, O.S.B., professor of history and dean of the Saint Vincent College School of Humanities and Fine Arts, A Foreign and Wicked Institution? The Campaign Against Convents in Victorian England, which was published in the United States in spring 2011, was recently published in England by James Clarke and Co. Ltd. of Cambridge. This book is an examination of the development of Catholic and Anglican female religious orders in 19th century Britain and the religious and cultural prejudices that they had to overcome. The publisher's website currently lists the publication on its Best Seller list.


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6 stores in 3 counties searched, synthetic drugs worth thousands seized
Despite a ban, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of synthetic drugs and related paraphernalia were sitting on store shelves, authorities said Thursday.
During a news conference at the Berks County Detectives office, state police said they believe a bust in Berks, Schuylkill and Centre counties is the first major bust of synthetic drugs since the substances were first outlawed in Pennsylvania last year.
Synthetic marijuana, bath salts, drug paraphernalia and $2,000 in cash were seized from Nirvana's Closet on Rockland Street in Reading on Wednesday.
"The average retail value of the synthetic drugs that were seized during this raid was over half-a-million dollars," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams.
Nirvana's Closet in Reading was closed for business Thursday. The store is one of six businesses across the three counties simultaneously raided by state police Wednesday.
The raid was initiated by state police in Schuylkill County and included stores at the Schuylkill Mall and the Fairlane Village Mall, near Pottsville.
Authorities said the items they recovered are some of the hottest drugs on the street, and they're not only illegal, but deadly.
"Almost all of these packages state not for human consumption," said Adams.
The drugs mimic the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. In Berks County alone, Adams said two people were killed recently because of synthetic drug-related shootings.
Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill banning synthetic drugs in June. It took effect two months later.
Ever since Corbett enacted the law, Adams said it's been his goal to eliminate the drugs being sold in stores and trafficked in our area.
"The chemicals found within these drugs are very powerful and can have life-threatening consequences for users," said Adams.
Police said the owner of the store in Berks is 47-year-old John Okeefe, who also owns three other stores that were raided.
Authorities said no charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2012 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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News Posts
How to Feed a Growing Planet
by AMNH on
In the next 30 years, global population is estimated to surpass nine billion people. Will there be too many people, too little food? In this podcast, join NBC News Chief Science and Health correspondent Robert Bazell and a round-table of food experts as they discuss how climate, politics and economics impact food systems and food security.
Guests include activist and best-selling author Raj Patel, geneticist Molly Jahn, and chef and UNICEF ambassador Marcus Samuelsson.
Wooden Ifugao Figures from Anthropology's Philippines Collection
by AMNH on
In the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines, the Ifugao people cultivate rice on elaborate terraces with intricate irrigation systems, a landscaping effort grand enough to have earned designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some households keep carved wooden bulul figures representing mythological deities to ensure good harvests and to protect the fields and granaries.
The Museum's Giant Squid
by AMNH on
For centuries, humans have been fascinated by giant squids, among the largest—and most elusive—living invertebrate species. The Museum's giant squid (Architeuthis kirkii) specimen is one of few housed in a museum in North America, says Curator Neil H. Landman, who studies fossil (and living) invertebrates in the Division of Paleontology.
Restoring Iconic Dioramas in the Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals
by AMNH on
After a painstaking, yearlong process of restoration, the spectacular dioramas in the Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals are back to doing what they were always meant to do: transporting visitors to beautiful vistas as far away as Yellowstone or Alaska.
Classic 19th Century Text Informs Modern Herpetology
by AMNH on
In the course of his work studying the reptiles and amphibians of Madagascar, Associate Curator Christopher J. Raxworthy often refers to a classic 19th-century herpetological text: Erpétologie générale, by André-Marie-Constant Duméril, of the Paris Museum of Natural History.


text:
The conversation that parents have with their kids about the birds and the bees can be uncomfortable, but for Liam Hemsworth, it got taken to a whole new level of awkward – his mom, Leonie, was also his sex-ed teacher at school.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire star talked about his embarrassing experiences during an interview on Live with Kelly and Michael on Wednesday.
"I was in her class – I would come in for the first part of it and leave half way through," he admitted about his school days back home in Australia.
"That must have been awkward," Michael Strahan commented.
"Ah, yeah, a little bit. You'd think it would be, wouldn't it?" Hemsworth, 23, replied. "You have your mom talk about sexual stuff, it's not a class I'd like to be in."
"Did she ever call on you or anything?" Kelly Ripa asked.
"I used to put my head down most of the time," he said. "We had this one time where we were given out cards of different sexually transmitted infections and you had to stand up and talk about the card and she picked me out of the whole room. It was like, 'Well, I have chlamydia … thanks for this, Mom. Good class.'"


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2 new threads. 1 new replies.
#56 - ninjastarthrow
Reply +36(12/15/2012) [-]
trolled. I don't understand this world sometimes.
INB4 Overused meme.
INB4 Overused meme.
#471 to #56 - flappypenguin (12/15/2012) [-]
Even if the US don't allow privately owned guns, it's probably gonna take a couple hundred years for it to be fully effective, considering many people have guns from their grandparents etc.
#638 to #471 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
I know, I don't want them to be illegal, just regulated. I'm sick of seeing **** like this and I want to be a cop. I don't want to come into a crime scene and see every yahoo with a gun. Who can I trust?
#161 to #56 - funkmasterflex (12/15/2012) [-]20 children.... 20 people will never know what it's like to love a woman, 20 people who never feel the joy of graduation, 20 people will never feel the joy of driving a vehicle for the first time, 20 people won't have a wedding day, 20 people will never feel a hangover, 20 people won't go out with friends to celebrate their 21st birthday... 20 futures lost, all because of one ******* idiot.
#635 to #161 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
#637 to #94 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
**** like this wouldn't happen if there were no guns at all but I don't want that. I just want smarter, well trained, police officers to be the only people allowed to carry them in a holster. I want a police officer at every school to be the guy to protect our children, not you dumb rednecks who think you're John Wayne. A guy came into work with a glock on his belt looking for his wife who was a manager. I asked if he was a cop and he said no so I avoided that guy for the rest of the day. He was fat, bald and he looked like he was not fast at all. He looked like he'd be the first to be killed in this situation. Plus automatic weapons are so easy to get it's disgusting.
#96 to #94 - CaptinAwesome (12/15/2012) [-]
i own 3 automatic rifles, your logic is flawed
#58 to #56 - Keleth (12/15/2012) [-]
he didn't even use a rifle first of all, he left it in his car, and it was not automatic. he used 2 handguns, all 3 were legally owned and i REALLY doubt he has a class 3 permit. that **** is really expensive and you bet your ass they do homework on you before passing out a class 3.
#59 to #58 - Keleth
Reply -2(12/15/2012) [-]
2nd of all...if a principal or a teacher had a concealed carry, and of course knew how to ******* shoot and not have any chance of endangering the kids, it would have ended so ******* quickly. instead the guy just walked right in without any resistance.
tldr : good honest people can't have guns.
tldr : good honest people can't have guns.
#65 to #59 - notsixroller
Reply -2(12/15/2012) [-]
So your answer is to have the teachers carry guns, instead of trying to prevent maniacs from having them?
#71 to #68 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
Okay hear this, you just took the shooter out who killed a bunch of preschoolers. You think you're a hero. Cool whatever, but I'm a cop and I walk into this building full of dead kids and I look up and see you with a gun I'M GOING TO DROP YOU. Do you not get that? That **** happens all the time. You think your reflexes are that good? Your gun is useless when a guy has his gun locked and loaded on you unless you have yours on him first. They thought this guy was there to visit his mom. They let him in and he executed them before his rampage. If the principal had a gun he was executed before he could have been able to pull it. You think that won't happen to you just because you think you're John Wayne? Sadly mistaken my friend. My grandpa was a cop and he said he almost killed a tweeker who was going insane because he reached into his jacket to grab his wallet and he shot him in the shoulder thinking he was reaching for a gun. That **** happens all the time.
#244 to #71 - Keleth (12/15/2012) [-]
bro....chance of stopping a guy with a gun unarmed...nearly 0%....chances of stopping when im loaded with a 45...MUCH BETTER. if your not an idiot, youll put down the gun when you see cops. don't reach into jacket or ****, JUST ******* FREEZE AND DO WHAT THEY SAY.
#633 to #244 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
You're not in a movie, this is real life. Start thinking realistically.
#98 to #71 - CaptinAwesome (12/15/2012) [-]
BUUTTTT cops are not allowed to do that. they have to tr and arrest you before they fire. unless they are threatend
#634 to #98 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
They could easily say "He had his gun on us." This guy was killing kids. What cop would arrest him. My grandpa was telling me he would have killed him on sight.
#636 to #634 - CaptinAwesome (12/16/2012) [-]
i would oof tried to arrest him first.
what iwoulda done
what iwoulda done
#639 to #636 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
Look at this guy. "Ohh I'm John Wayne, I can protect the innocent with my guns! Yoohoo Hommadinger!"
#641 to #639 - CaptinAwesome (12/16/2012) [-]
considering im from the deep dark mountains of eastern kentucky, i have no problem ending a life. If someone woulda done that around here, you wouldnt of needed the cops.
#642 to #641 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
Well unlike other people I like cops. HAHA KENTUCKY THAT EXPLAINS IT! REDNECK! HAHAHA!
#643 to #642 - CaptinAwesome (12/16/2012) [-]
yes, i am. I like my guns.
#644 to #643 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
I understand, I like my guns too but I don't feel safer when everyone around me has a gun.
#97 to #71 - midnighttech (12/15/2012) [-]
No they didnt. He walked into the school with his weapons dressed in a combat suit
#640 to #97 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
He wasn't in a combat suit, The guy who shot the **** out of that Batman premier had a combat suit on. This guy was in all black and the principal thought he was there to visit his mom who is a teacher there.
#69 to #68 - notsixroller (12/15/2012) [-]
I'll take that as a yes...
Do you not see issues with that line of logic?
Do you not see issues with that line of logic?
#64 to #59 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
He used a Bushmaster .223 AR-15, don't give me that **** "Hey if the principal was armed he could have saved the day and been a hero." Everyone wants to be a hero, that guy was wearing Kevlar under his shirt how do you know the principal would have killed him. To tell you the truth I'd trust a police officer with a gun a lot more than some hick with a concealed weapons permit. If I was a cop I'd prefer if every civilian around me wasn't armed, how could I tell who was the shooter and who is a civilian when everyone around me is holding a pistol? He stole these weapons.
#77 to #64 - penguinicus (12/15/2012) [-]
#79 to #77 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
Okay well The Principal was executed. Even if he had a gun the guy would have killed him before he could have whipped his out. The guy executed The Principal and The Counselor before he started the rampage. More guns is not the answer, you think you're going to be a hero. You have your gun out and you kill the guy, cops arrive and see a bunch of dead kids and you holding a gun. They know that this guy has already killed 20 people surrender may not be an option. How do you know the cops will know you're not the shooter. What if they shot you then found out later? Whoops looks like you're dead because you watch too many John Wayne and James Bond to know better.
#83 to #79 - penguinicus (12/15/2012) [-]
Ummmm calm your tits/dick?
Just sayin that kevlar wouldn't completely protect a guy.
And if i just had to shoot a crazy dude who tried to kill me, i'd drop my gun pretty fast and be dang grateful i'm not dead. I wouldn't run around the school yelling and waving the gun around
Just sayin that kevlar wouldn't completely protect a guy.
And if i just had to shoot a crazy dude who tried to kill me, i'd drop my gun pretty fast and be dang grateful i'm not dead. I wouldn't run around the school yelling and waving the gun around
#86 to #83 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
Hey I'm, I'm pointing out the flaws in your argument. I know Kevlar wouldn't protect from everything but what if it did? There is a lot of factors you have to put into it. Trust me I don't like arguing about this I own a gun too but 20 preschoolers died yesterday. My little brother is in preschool I had a dream last night where that happened at his school. I woke up really scared okay? I may not like kids but they don't deserve that. I just hate it when people think they're Han Solo or John Wayne and can out shoot someone who has a gun on them already. I think realistically.
#90 to #86 - penguinicus (12/15/2012) [-]
And sorry to hear about havin a bro in pre-k...
this is a nightmare for folks like you and i understand the freakin out thing
this is a nightmare for folks like you and i understand the freakin out thing
#89 to #86 - penguinicus (12/15/2012) [-]
You think negatively...
what if kevlar protected them from everything? no
what if one lucky teacher with a weapon saved the day?
Sure, it might not have been able to save any of those kids, but there would've at least been a slightly higher chance of saving even one of them if ANY of the adults in that school carried. And that's all i'd want. Even a slightly better chance to protect those kids.
Wouldn't you want to try to do anything to make sure your brother is safer?
what if kevlar protected them from everything? no
what if one lucky teacher with a weapon saved the day?
Sure, it might not have been able to save any of those kids, but there would've at least been a slightly higher chance of saving even one of them if ANY of the adults in that school carried. And that's all i'd want. Even a slightly better chance to protect those kids.
Wouldn't you want to try to do anything to make sure your brother is safer?
#632 to #89 - ninjastarthrow (12/16/2012) [-]
Having every teacher armed would not make me feel safe at all. Again the only person I trust with a firearm is a well trained police officer.
#57 to #56 - VincentKing (12/15/2012) [-]
as long as there are idiots out there, or a chance for someone to just snap, things like this will happen. It is sad, yes, but unfortunately it is the world we live in, and I don't see it getting any better. We constantly find new ways to harm each other, yet no one finds a way to protect each other. This world is already too far gone, and all we can do is sit, wait, and hope for the best.
#60 to #57 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
I agree there is no saving this world. Some people care more about their guns than they do the safety of others. 20 children and 8 of their teachers and school staff were massacred yesterday. For no reason other than some dick lock had a grudge against his mom. I know people are going to get pissed at me and say "Hurr durr guns don't kill people, people with guns kill people." Yeah I know I'v heard it before but why must these guns be available for these psychotic nut jobs?
#63 to #60 - VincentKing (12/15/2012) [-]
believe it or not, most of the shootings actually happen with guns that aren't registered. Its those who buy them off the streets, or find a friend or family members gun that end up doing this, and all everyone else see's is an easy dollar to be made.
Although, chances are, I might snap one day and go crazy. I have aspergers so I get the creepy thoughts (the social shyness/fear is what keeps most from doing anything bad) and my bloodline seems to have a lot of killers in it. If I do go crazy though, I promise no kids will be hurt, only those who I think deserve to die.
Although, chances are, I might snap one day and go crazy. I have aspergers so I get the creepy thoughts (the social shyness/fear is what keeps most from doing anything bad) and my bloodline seems to have a lot of killers in it. If I do go crazy though, I promise no kids will be hurt, only those who I think deserve to die.
#81 to #63 - ninjastarthrow (12/15/2012) [-]
Well why don't you have yourself committed?
#447 to #81 - VincentKing (12/15/2012) [-]
because at the moment there is nothing wrong with me, minus a morbid thought every now and again. I am completely fine.