"You know, Judy, the reality is — and it’s a terrible reality — since Robert Kennedy died in the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968, more Americans have died from gunfire than died in all the — all the wars, all the wars of this country’s history, from the Revolutionary through the Civil War, World War I, World War II, in those 43 years."
In considering all gun deaths in America since 1968, not just homicides, they gleaned their figures from databases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI
Welcome RNC!
We here at Team Spilka wanted to take a few minutes to introduce you to our great state. We thought we’d give you a few pointers to help you with your stay in our Commonwealth:
First, be sure to take deep breaths while you’re here and soak up as much clean air as you can; we have some of the cleanest air in the country. In fact we are #1 in the country in clean energy.
For any gay, lesbian or transgender Americans traveling to the RNC meeting, we want you to be sure you know that discrimination is illegal. Also, if you meet that special someone, good news! We were the first state in the union to legalize same sex marriage!
Also, we can save you a few bucks at the airport when it comes to checking your bags. Don’t bother packing your assault weapons; they’re not allowed here. In fact we are in the top two states for lowest gun violence.
For any of the women attending the RNC meeting, if you need access to health care, or wish to go to a Planned Parenthood clinic for a cancer screening or contraception, you won’t have to drive several hours to the other side of the state; you also won’t be harassed on your way into a clinic.
We know that you all are obsessed with repealing the Affordable Care Act (doesn’t 40 votes seem a bit excessive even by your standards?). But we enacted the prototype right here in MA. And guess what? It’s great. Over 98% of our population is insured. Our health care premiums are down, insurance companies can’t discriminate on the basis of preexisting conditions. Young people are able to stay on their parents’ plans.
You may even want to stay and look for work! Our state’s economy is really taking off under our Democratic Governor Deval Patrick and our Democratic legislature. And if you would like to join a union, those are alive and well here, helping ensure a thriving middle class. We are also considered the Innovation State.
In fact you may want to move here so your kids can go to our terrific schools. MA has consistently been rated #1 in education.
So please enjoy our great state. Here’s hoping some of our values stick.
Sincerely,
Team Spilka
Quote by TriSec:
Why, I hate 'Murrica so much, I live in freakin' MASSACHUSETTS!!!
Quote by TriSec:
Why, I hate 'Murrica so much, I live in freakin' TAX-ACHUSETTS!!!
Quote by TriSec:
It's been my mantra for a while...the Founding Fathers were not infallible.
It is entirely possible that with the Second Ammendment, they made a mistake.
But that usually touches off an argument instead of a debate.
Quote by trojanrabbit:
I suppose if someone could show me a sign that said No Catholic Parking I'd be OK with it.
I'd like to pass this off as ignorance, but I can't.
Quote by Raine:Dumb-asses could have easily said no church parking and it would have been fine.Quote by trojanrabbit:
I suppose if someone could show me a sign that said No Catholic Parking I'd be OK with it.
I'd like to pass this off as ignorance, but I can't.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Dumb-asses could have easily said no church parking and it would have been fine.Quote by trojanrabbit:
I suppose if someone could show me a sign that said No Catholic Parking I'd be OK with it.
I'd like to pass this off as ignorance, but I can't.
better yet they could have simply said "Parking for Shopping Center Patrons Only" I've seen that sign in lots of lots, mostly to deter commuters from leaving their car all day and taking the bus or train into the city.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Dumb-asses could have easily said no church parking and it would have been fine.Quote by trojanrabbit:
I suppose if someone could show me a sign that said No Catholic Parking I'd be OK with it.
I'd like to pass this off as ignorance, but I can't.
better yet they could have simply said "Parking for Shopping Center Patrons Only" I've seen that sign in lots of lots, mostly to deter commuters from leaving their car all day and taking the bus or train into the city.
Quote by Raine:
Are we back?
Quote by Raine:
^^ We're back!! ^^
Suck it, schrodinger's cat
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
^^ We're back!! ^^
Suck it, schrodinger's cat
but didn't we exist is both places thus proving schrodinger's cat?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
^^ We're back!! ^^
Suck it, schrodinger's cat
but didn't we exist is both places thus proving schrodinger's cat?
Quote by Raine:
A verdict has been reached in the Whitey Bulger case....
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
^^ We're back!! ^^
Suck it, schrodinger's cat
but didn't we exist is both places thus proving schrodinger's cat?
Now you are getting all Heisenbergy and I don't mean you are cooking meth.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Boston media, why aren't you breaking the Bulger verdict story? I'm looking at you Boston.com!
:waits for Tri's response with baited breath:
Quote by Scoopster:
Guilty of Racketeering & Conspiracy thereof..
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
A verdict has been reached in the Whitey Bulger case....
Whitey does want to keep his Stanley Cup ring, but not the 822 grand.
It wasn’t clear who gave Bulger the ring. Bulger paid for the wedding of NHL player Chris Nilan, who won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens, to Karen Stanley, daughter of Bulger’s late girlfriend Teresa Stanley. Nilan and Karen Stanley are now divorced.
Quote by Raine:Watching MSNBC and it looks like not all the verdicts have been read.Quote by Scoopster:
Guilty of Racketeering & Conspiracy thereof..
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Watching MSNBC and it looks like not all the verdicts have been read.Quote by Scoopster:
Guilty of Racketeering & Conspiracy thereof..
Well then he's going to die in jail.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I give this two huge thumbs up.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I give this two huge thumbs up.
I hope I am doing this right, Mondo.
Thanks for this article, it made me feel a little more confident in how I've been doing WRT Linda.
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh my..
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I give this two huge thumbs up.
I hope I am doing this right, Mondo.
Thanks for this article, it made me feel a little more confident in how I've been doing WRT Linda.
There is not right way or wrong way. Only some things to keep in mind. You are doing what is right for Linda.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
Oh my..
WANT! With a side of bacon.
Quote by Raine:Sometimes, just sitting with her and not saying anything seems to be the right thing to do.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I give this two huge thumbs up.
I hope I am doing this right, Mondo.
Thanks for this article, it made me feel a little more confident in how I've been doing WRT Linda.
There is not right way or wrong way. Only some things to keep in mind. You are doing what is right for Linda.
I offer her what I can, and tell her it's her decision. For example: if she wants to go to the store with me she can, if she doesn't want to go to the store, I go for her.
I've told her Mom that I do my best to let Linda take the lead -- but Linda knows that if I feel out of my league, I will call her Mom.
I'm strangely comforted that in the past few weeks, Linda has said that she is aware that she may be having an 'off day'.
I know you went through losing Ms. Mondo -- What I didn;t know was how to be a friend to a friend who lost a spouse. It's really amazing that you posted this today. I talked to my sister this morning -- you'll recall her best friend died a year and a half ago, Tina left behind her husband, Steve. Nin (my sister) also told me that I was doing alright -- she went thru this with Steve.
Quote by Raine:OMG.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:
Oh my..
WANT! With a side of bacon.
I want as well.
Quote by Mondobubba:
My first thought was of you.
Then the deaths started piling up. There was the year all the dads died. The 24-hour period that saw a suicide and a heart attack. The week that took out a huge chunk of our family’s cancer support groups. A deluge of loss.
I never get used to it. But grief is a muscle that the past few years have made stronger. And though I still frequently find myself stunned and stammering for the right words with every fresh death, I’m trying to improve at the art of consolation.
Quote by TriSec:
I think that "in a better place" comment is a Catholic or Christian relic....I've had that from many an Italian or Cuban relative when our elders have gone on.
I was so miserable myself last year when my great-uncle passed that whatever was being said barely registered, but when my father-in-law made the leap last fall, it was generally accepted as a great relief and a burden lifting.
So you never can tell which way grief will go.
I never get used to it. But grief is a muscle that the past few years have made stronger. And though I still frequently find myself stunned and stammering for the right words with every fresh death, I’m trying to improve at the art of consolation.
Quote by TriSec:
And I've had a year like one of the ones referenced in the story....1993, "The year everybody died.". Took me a long time to get over that, but we did.
Perhaps the only real platitude is "time heals all wounds". But I wouldn't suppose that's something you'd say whilst standing next to an open coffin.
Quote by Raine:I agree. One cannot can't tell which way it will go. I remember when my Opa died in '86. I was 19. I remember thinking it strange when people kept saying that *he had a good and interesting life*Quote by TriSec:
I think that "in a better place" comment is a Catholic or Christian relic....I've had that from many an Italian or Cuban relative when our elders have gone on.
I was so miserable myself last year when my great-uncle passed that whatever was being said barely registered, but when my father-in-law made the leap last fall, it was generally accepted as a great relief and a burden lifting.
So you never can tell which way grief will go.
I remember that didn't comfort my Oma or my Mom at all. I know people meant well but it just seemed strange.
I think funerals are more for the living than they are for the dead. It's after the funeral when what really matters begins. Just a thought.
We said goodbye to Bounced this past year. A woman I was best friends with in high school died. Another friend from High school jumped off the Rip Van Winkle. My first *boyfriend* committed suicide. Another friend lost her mom -- we spent a lot of afternoons at her house when we were in High School. Her Mom rocked.
and -- Niki died.I never get used to it. But grief is a muscle that the past few years have made stronger. And though I still frequently find myself stunned and stammering for the right words with every fresh death, I’m trying to improve at the art of consolation.
It's been a sad time, I guess.
Quote by Raine:It's been a really tough year and a half. Just this really hit home:Quote by Mondobubba:
My first thought was of you.Then the deaths started piling up. There was the year all the dads died. The 24-hour period that saw a suicide and a heart attack. The week that took out a huge chunk of our family’s cancer support groups. A deluge of loss.
I never get used to it. But grief is a muscle that the past few years have made stronger. And though I still frequently find myself stunned and stammering for the right words with every fresh death, I’m trying to improve at the art of consolation.
The one thing I have earned is to not try to project what the person who has pssed would be thinking. IE: "they would have wanted you to be happy; they would have wanted you to (etc.) "
Or: They are in a better place.
That's not to say I haven't done these things. I have. But I have always believed that saying that to the grieved is almost selfish. It's a way for *me* to make things better, and ironically -- it doesn't help the person who was left behind.
I hope that makes sense.
I guess I need to get used to people going away, I just want to be a person that doesn't make grief more difficult. The thing I have learned is that sometimes hugs and food are really better than offering counsel.
Quote by TriSec:
I think that "in a better place" comment is a Catholic or Christian relic....I've had that from many an Italian or Cuban relative when our elders have gone on.
I was so miserable myself last year when my great-uncle passed that whatever was being said barely registered, but when my father-in-law made the leap last fall, it was generally accepted as a great relief and a burden lifting.
So you never can tell which way grief will go.
Quote by TriSec:
That's a rather lengthy list.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 13
Quote by Mondobubba:Here is a picture of baby koala bear hug:
Quote by TriSec:
And I've had a year like one of the ones referenced in the story....1993, "The year everybody died.". Took me a long time to get over that, but we did.
Perhaps the only real platitude is "time heals all wounds". But I wouldn't suppose that's something you'd say whilst standing next to an open coffin.
Quote by Mondobubba:
So this happened, NYPD stop-and-frisk ruled unconstitutional.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
So this happened, NYPD stop-and-frisk ruled unconstitutional.
What started out as something I thought was completly legit was bastardized by the NYP under mayor Bloomberg.
Politically this is going to be a big problem for Candidate Quinn --
and I think that is just fine with me. She's not my personal choice for the city. I;m kinda liking Bill de Blasio.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
So this happened, NYPD stop-and-frisk ruled unconstitutional.
What started out as something I thought was completly legit was bastardized by the NYP under mayor Bloomberg.
Politically this is going to be a big problem for Candidate Quinn --
and I think that is just fine with me. She's not my personal choice for the city. I;m kinda liking Bill de Blasio.
Why Raine, I'm shocked you aren't a Weiner Gal. :Skates to penalty box under a hailstorm of boos and Ballpark franks:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Duane "Dog" Champman is going after Edward Snowden.