|
Forum: General Talk
04-07-2012, 09:29 PM
|
| |
That's hard to do. I mean look at what's happening with Catholics. Most of them dearly love their church but lately? Not so much the people running it I would think. Even as someone outside their faith, as someone who has worked with some really fine Catholic clergy at charities and such, has always respected those people, I'm finding it increasingly distasteful what's been going on with their church hierarchy, the scandals et all. I try very hard not to look at the nuns and priests I meet while volunteering and see all that but it's been getting harder and harder to keep that perspective. The only thing that helps is knowing that most of them are actually as dismayed as I am. One woman I've known on and off for years she's THISCLOSE to leaving because of all of it and FYI she's been a nun for longer than I've been alive. Poor woman, all this scandal has just been tearing her up emotionally. I can't even imagine being in her shoes and trying in my mind to separate all that, the good from the bad, all that's been going on with her religion. I don't think I could do it myself. I really don't.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
04-04-2012, 08:38 PM
|
| |
First off, I haven't debated his guilt or innocence. I have questioned trying, convicting and hanging him in the press based in part on altered and manipulated audio etc. As I said before, the state has been investigating this all along. This same kind of thing happened with the Duke LaCrosse Team. I am waiting to see what the State has.
Actually, you don't know and neither do I regarding how things went down. However, it is interesting that you have backed off from the mantra that he "Chased" Martin down. The details is under investigation. And again, you don't know how the crime scene was treated or the quality of the evidence. The results of the autopsy are still sealed.
I do know more about Florida's gun laws than you do though. ;) They aren't the problem. Gun crimes have serious penalties in this state. A crime committed with a weapon by a ccw holder is rare. I posted the numbers on that way back as well.
Where have I said they shouldn't be debated? Show me. I think a manslaughter charge may have been made that night, but I haven't seen the sealed records. All I have seen regarding facts is on the Sanford PD site. Those are limited.
Contrariness and defensiveness? That is pretty "special" given some of the comments leveled at me with absolutely no substance behind them. As far as Zimmerman's behavior go, I said he showed poor judgment by not waiting for police in his truck or going on home. Being stupid isn't necessarily illegal. I made an analogy to seeing Count Dracula somewhere earlier in this thread. Many of the posts I have made weren't really about Zimmerman such as the discussion about bail and crime statistics.
I haven't defended Florida's "Way" of doing things. If you go back, you will find some links to a case in Pensacola involving a police shooting of an unarmed man when there were 10 officers there as backup. I really didn't like the way that went down. I have also been critical of the Robert Champion case at FAMU still not having any arrests made. That is being worked by FDLE and Orange County Sheriff's office. I didn't agree with the way the Rachel Hoffman case was handled here in Tallahassee by TPD.
Being Intractable works 2 ways you know. Actually, I haven't made any kind of final opinion on this case. There are several scenarios that could be true, and there are 2 to 4 outcomes. I have thought about the O.J. case over the years.
Have you ever seen a Gun Smoke episode when there is a prisoner in the jail waiting for trial and the guy may be guilty? However Marshal Mat Dillon holds off the lynch mob regardless.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
04-04-2012, 01:25 PM
|
| |
Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman and the media's misleading rhetoric on guns
Read more: Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman And The Media's Misleading Rhetoric On Guns | Fox News
NBC News came under fire after Fox News and others discovered that the network had edited the audio tapes that they broadcast to make it look as if Zimmerman believed Martin’s race made him dangerous.
ABC News aired a surveillance video from the police station that made it appear as if they had proof that Martin couldn’t have attacked Zimmerman that evening.
In addition, the media has consistently described the laws incorrectly.
The Wall Street Journal ran a story implying that the increase in justifiable homicides from 176 in 2000 to 326 in 2010 arose from a 'shoot first' mentality.
A lot of people (both conservatives and liberals) are going to end up being embarrassed by their instant, snap judgments about this case.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
03-29-2012, 06:27 PM
|
| |
Didn't figure it would make you a convert. :lol:
|
|
Forum: General Talk
03-28-2012, 10:40 PM
|
| |
I had a purse snatcher on a bike yank me off the sidewalk into busy traffic once in NYC. He didn't get the bag because it was across my body and I had secured it with steel guitar strings besides but he gave it his best shot and nearly got me killed while he was at it. If I'd had a weapon at the time I'd have nailed that MF. Not to kill him but definitely to wound him and you know what? He'd have deserved it too. What kind of total a-hole pulls a woman half his size off a sidewalk into major traffic to try to snatch a satchel bag?
No, I don't think killing or even maiming someone should be done carelessly but in my book if a person in the process of committing a crime puts you in danger of severe harm or even death as this man did to me? Then maybe me hurting him back should be fine. Someone pulls a knife on me or worse you bet I'd hurt them back if I could. I mean come on. Pacifism is all good and well but it can also get you killed.
I've been nearly mugged. I've had a guy attempt to molest and possibly rape me once on a subway car and yes both times I fought back. You bet I did and I won too. I kicked some ass, hurt guys twice my size and I'm pretty proud of it too. There isn't much you can do against a gun unless you have one too, but otherwise? I don't think standing there letting yourself be victimized is very effective actually. That's old school self defense teaching and it just doesn't work a lot of the time.
There are violent muggings, home invasions here all the time now. 99% of the time it seems the person doing the mugging beats the person even if they just standing there and give it up. We don't live in a world with polite sensible criminals. Avoiding a fight is sensible when you can, sure, but you can't just sit there and reason that if you don't fight back the criminal won't get violent. It just doesn't work that way a lot of the time anymore. These days a thug will take your money and still pistol whip you just because they like it and they think they can.
I personally believe in weapons of opportunity. In bad circumstances anything i can get my hands on that can be used to hurt someone intent upon hurting me is legal to use. I really do hope to heck I never do have to kill someone but better someone else dies than they kill someone I love or me. I once thought I could never go there but not anymore. I'm not as sure as I once was that I couldn't pull the trigger if someone threatened me or my loved ones. The increasing violence around here has me really rethinking my stance on that one. On guns, which I have always hated.
Muggings and car jackings, home invasions, drive by shootings they happen in broad daylight around here. There have been a number of attempted rapes in this town. Most were women just trying to ride the bus to work or women at work in offices, stores etc. This kind of thing never happened here when I was a kid. You can't tell me that gangs haven't taken over the place. It's pretty self evident.
Honestly if I saw some guy, of any skin color, walking around with his pants hanging down, in a hoodie? I'd get a bit nervous too. Not because of skin color but because of his chosen attire. Like it or not those clothes have become a uniform of sorts for gang members. I'd probably assume he might be a gang kid and get the heck out of there. I certainly wouldn't confront him like that guy did. That was too stupid but I wouldn't just assume he was a nice, safe person to be around either. He might well be, but if he's dressed like a thug? I'm not going to take any chances. I can't really afford to. Not in this town, not anymore, and while that might one sad situation it's also unfortunately necessary.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-27-2012, 09:42 PM
|
| |
Wonderful shots! The first is great, but I also like the detail in the center of the third, a lot.
I'm starting to get conflicted on whether to buy the Sigma 105 or the Sigma 70, after seeing more of what people can do with the 105mm.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-28-2012, 04:22 AM
|
| |
Douglas these are out of this world great! I am inspired to learn your technique. Beautiful captures of lovely subjects!
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
03-26-2012, 03:09 PM
|
| |
A very unique picture indeed. It is sharp, good colors, interesting composition. I like it.
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
03-25-2012, 10:45 PM
|
| |
Something different! Like the colors and the blur in the background. Well done!
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-23-2012, 04:16 PM
|
| |
Your image turned out quite lovely. The bud is gorgeous with the rain drops sparkling and magnifying the colours. The blue is very nice juxtaposed with the greens and purples. thanks so much for sharing :)
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-23-2012, 07:58 AM
|
| |
Nice pic.
XnView is an awesome program. I use it to view and resize my pics.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-23-2012, 07:10 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-23-2012, 07:06 AM
|
| |
Changing the background to blue is a powerful effect, because it looks like sky and changes the apparent perspective of the shot -- it seems as though the bud is shot from below, which I suspect is not the case.
Nicely lit.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-22-2012, 07:53 PM
|
| |
We have been blessed with summer-like temps during a month that is often fraught with snowstorms and below freezing temperatures. So while worrying about Climate Change we headed out in the canoe for a paddle on an ice-free creek. I have a series to put together, but for now wanted to share this bridge shot. We paddled back to the car as the sun was dropping behind the horizon. As we passed the bridge I could not believe my eyes and made Norman back-paddle so I could take this...
thank you for looking:D
|
