A thing I learned today

[Low D]

Steve Jones and Paul Simonon played together on a Bob Dylan recording ("Sally Sue Brown", on 1988's Down In The Groove, which also includes contributions from Kip WInger and Sly & Robbie)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2iifl5

and more info about the session here:
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/bob_ ... th_members

Also, Steve Jones apparently played the solo on Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself".

[Low D]

Hulk Hogan attempted to join both The Rolling Stones and Metallica. On bass.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/hulk-hog ... metallica/

[Mike from Boston]

Barry Manilow is gay.

Well, this is the biggest surprise since George Michael announced he was gay. Apparently, Barry was the last one to know.

[Low D]

Bono is always wearing those ugly shades indoors because he has pigmentary glaucoma.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/ ... rk-glasses

Also Johnny Depp and Rosanne Barr.

[NewJerseyRich]

Went to a gun range with the whole family for Mrs. Me's 40th bday. I learned handguns are easy to shoot, and while i enjoyed it i very much I also learned that I never want to live in a country where everybody is carrying them around. That is a ridiculous idea.

Sorry I'm responding months after this post but I'd love to know why you think this is a "ridiculous idea" as you put it.

[Mike from Boston]

The last time I touched a gun was in 1982 during basic training. No desire to own one at the moment, but in my town, they have opened a gun range. Lots of young people I know are getting their License to Carry. Anecdotally I would say many of these people aren't the "type" of people who would normally own guns. People feel the need to protest themselves and their families.

Everytime there is a tragic event involving guns, there is a big hue and cry about "tougher gun laws". The problem is they aren't enforced. Here in Boston, there was a law passed in the 1970s, called the Bartley-Fox Act, that calls for a mandatory one year prison sentence for an illegal gun (unregistered, stolen, etc.). To the best of my research, only EIGHT people have been charged with this act in over FORTY years!! So, no one has the political courage to enforce the laws, because it would imprison more young men, esp. minorities.

This isn't the sole reason for gun violence continuing to exist, but why should a person be punished because of their economic status-i.e. if they live in a "bad" neighborhood, they sure as hell are going to want to own a gun for protection.

[Low D]

Went to a gun range with the whole family for Mrs. Me's 40th bday. I learned handguns are easy to shoot, and while i enjoyed it i very much I also learned that I never want to live in a country where everybody is carrying them around. That is a ridiculous idea.

Sorry I'm responding months after this post but I'd love to know why you think this is a "ridiculous idea" as you put it.

Because by the end of my 50 bullets i was pretty good, able to alternate shots head/torso in my human-shape target and hit most of 'em. On my first time. It's too easy to kill somebody.

Having spent more than half my life, 22 years, living in low-income areas where there are a lot of mental health and addiction issues, having grown up in a nice middle class household with domestic violence and addiction, working as a front-line civic staff person in a centre heavily used by many of the above - and frequently being the target of people's anger because there i am, i can only be thankful that there weren't many concealed handguns thrown in to that mix. At least in Canada it's harder to get one, so if you want to go shoot people you need to carry a long gun, and at least folks can see you coming.

Look, i get that some Americans get very irrationally emotional over their right to bear arms and all, and you think we all just don't get it. That's fine. You should know, though, that in the rest of the world, we think you Americans are all a little crazy with your gun stuff. The majority of Americans who are consistently polled as supporting some sort of gun control (sometimes as high as 90%), would apparently agree. The fact that a rational conversation cannot even be had about it due to a well-organized lobby is one more example of how governance in your country is broken.

(Keep in mind we're not an anti-gun country. One can legally own a handgun - or shotgun, or rifle, and many semi-automatic guns - here in Canada. If you can get a permit, which most people are able to do. But it's not legal to just walk down the street carrying one - concealed or otherwise. The result - as in ALL countries with restrictions - is that our rate of gun homicide - including accidental - is much much much lower. The US stands alone in ANY set of statistics around this.)

[Tal]

You can learn English by listening to the Pogues ; http://learnenglishwithsong.com/the-pog ... y-morning/

http://learnenglishwithsong.com/the-pogues/tuesday-morning/

[NewJerseyRich]

Went to a gun range with the whole family for Mrs. Me's 40th bday. I learned handguns are easy to shoot, and while i enjoyed it i very much I also learned that I never want to live in a country where everybody is carrying them around. That is a ridiculous idea.

Sorry I'm responding months after this post but I'd love to know why you think this is a "ridiculous idea" as you put it.

Because by the end of my 50 bullets i was pretty good, able to alternate shots head/torso in my human-shape target and hit most of 'em. On my first time. It's too easy to kill somebody.

Having spent more than half my life, 22 years, living in low-income areas where there are a lot of mental health and addiction issues, having grown up in a nice middle class household with domestic violence and addiction, working as a front-line civic staff person in a centre heavily used by many of the above - and frequently being the target of people's anger because there i am, i can only be thankful that there weren't many concealed handguns thrown in to that mix. At least in Canada it's harder to get one, so if you want to go shoot people you need to carry a long gun, and at least folks can see you coming.

Look, i get that some Americans get very irrationally emotional over their right to bear arms and all, and you think we all just don't get it. That's fine. You should know, though, that in the rest of the world, we think you Americans are all a little crazy with your gun stuff. The majority of Americans who are consistently polled as supporting some sort of gun control (sometimes as high as 90%), would apparently agree. The fact that a rational conversation cannot even be had about it due to a well-organized lobby is one more example of how governance in your country is broken.

(Keep in mind we're not an anti-gun country. One can legally own a handgun - or shotgun, or rifle, and many semi-automatic guns - here in Canada. If you can get a permit, which most people are able to do. But it's not legal to just walk down the street carrying one - concealed or otherwise. The result - as in ALL countries with restrictions - is that our rate of gun homicide - including accidental - is much much much lower. The US stands alone in ANY set of statistics around this.)

I'm seriously going to try to be rational and non-emotional. First, poking holes in a stationary piece of paper is quite different then a moving talking human being. I'm curious what make/caliber firearm you were shooting? No reason, again just curious. I've been shooting for decades and all I can say is if you think your good after a box o bullets you're mistaken. Additionally what you're saying is you might not capable of withholding your anger or you doubt your capability to control your actions with a firearm.....so because of your perceived incapability, no one else should be able to carry a firearm? Rifles are far more accurate and deadly then handguns. The fact is the vast majority of those that carry a firearm go out of their way to avoid any negative encounter. Firearms owners / carriers understand more then most the legal costs and ramifications of any silly cowboy actions. Carry permit holders are some of the most well trained, and heavily background checked on the planet. The polls on "gun control" usually don't tell you who they're polling or the question asked so usually it's more important to know who's doing the polling and their agenda. Do you know what you almost never see the media widely report? The stories of people defending themselves from thugs, home invasions, rapes, store robberies, muggings, car jackings etc. Day in and day out responsible firearms owners protect themselves and their property many times by just producing a firearm.

[Low D]

First, poking holes in a stationary piece of paper is quite different then a moving talking human being. I'm curious what make/caliber firearm you were shooting? No reason, again just curious. I've been shooting for decades and all I can say is if you think your good after a box o bullets you're mistaken.

Oh for sure, a stationary paper target is not the same as a moving, screaming body, and like i said, i hit "most" at the "end" of my 50 9mm rounds. Of course I missed a few, especially early on (although at least i never "shot the hostage" like Mrs. Me did!) My point was, it was easy enough for me to do to make me worry about how easy it would be for anybody to do.

Additionally what you're saying is you might not capable of withholding your anger or you doubt your capability to control your actions with a firearm.....so because of your perceived incapability, no one else should be able to carry a firearm? Rifles are far more accurate and deadly then handguns. The fact is the vast majority of those that carry a firearm go out of their way to avoid any negative encounter. Firearms owners / carriers understand more then most the legal costs and ramifications of any silly cowboy actions. Carry permit holders are some of the most well trained, and heavily background checked on the planet. The polls on "gun control" usually don't tell you who they're polling or the question asked so usually it's more important to know who's doing the polling and their agenda. Do you know what you almost never see the media widely report? The stories of people defending themselves from thugs, home invasions, rapes, store robberies, muggings, car jackings etc. Day in and day out responsible firearms owners protect themselves and their property many times by just producing a firearm.

Look, these are all arguments we've all heard voiced again & again... but the plain and simple not-fake-news fact is that the USA is in a class of it's own for gun violence, period. "Statistical outlier" doesn't even begin to describe it. To suggest that there is nothing wrong is denial. To suggest nothing should/can change is a bizarre acceptance of the status quo that could only be motivated by ideology or the sort of defeatism that we would not associate with the allegedly greatest country in the world. Until we can agree that there is a problem and something needs to be done to bring down the rate of gun violence, and this will involve SOME level of gun control (again, most stats suggest most Americans support SOME greater amount of control), there's probably no discussion worth having.

[NewJerseyRich]

Additionally what you're saying is you might not capable of withholding your anger or you doubt your capability to control your actions with a firearm.....so because of your perceived incapability, no one else should be able to carry a firearm? Rifles are far more accurate and deadly then handguns. The fact is the vast majority of those that carry a firearm go out of their way to avoid any negative encounter. Firearms owners / carriers understand more then most the legal costs and ramifications of any silly cowboy actions. Carry permit holders are some of the most well trained, and heavily background checked on the planet. The polls on "gun control" usually don't tell you who they're polling or the question asked so usually it's more important to know who's doing the polling and their agenda. Do you know what you almost never see the media widely report? The stories of people defending themselves from thugs, home invasions, rapes, store robberies, muggings, car jackings etc. Day in and day out responsible firearms owners protect themselves and their property many times by just producing a firearm.

Look, these are all arguments we've all heard voiced again & again... but the plain and simple not-fake-news fact is that the USA is in a class of it's own for gun violence, period. "Statistical outlier" doesn't even begin to describe it. To suggest that there is nothing wrong is denial. To suggest nothing should/can change is a bizarre acceptance of the status quo that could only be motivated by ideology or the sort of defeatism that we would not associate with the allegedly greatest country in the world. Until we can agree that there is a problem and something needs to be done to bring down the rate of gun violence, and this will involve SOME level of gun control (again, most stats suggest most Americans support SOME greater amount of control), there's probably no discussion worth having.

If you can leave out the buzzwords, talking points, and dead end conclusions we might get somewhere or at least have a decent discussion.
The problem is "illegal" firearms. The facts are further restricting law abiding firearms owners does nothing to stop crime, zero. Statistically US citizens legally own more then 300 million firearms. Nearly the same amount as the population. (obviously not saying every citizen owns a firearm) If there was a problem with firearms we'd know it. The problem that does exist is a mental health issue. Every recent mass shooting has involved some sort of mental issue on the part of the murderer.

Again, the polls/stats your talking about on "control" are by groups supporting control. Most legal firearms owners feel controlled enough and do not support any further restriction .....once again on legal law abiding firearms owners.
Now is it the new habit of people on this page to end their comments with an ultimatum that stops all debate?

[Low D]

The problem that does exist is a mental health issue. Every recent mass shooting has involved some sort of mental issue on the part of the murderer.

But crazy people having no trouble getting guns isn't a problem?

This is the old "guns don't kill people..." line. If, as you said, what you're after is avoiding slogans and buzzwords, that's a bad start. Look, it's like the healthcare thing: if you don't think there really is a problem, or a possibility of something better, then no, an ultimatum it is: there's nothing to discuss.

[NewJerseyRich]

The problem that does exist is a mental health issue. Every recent mass shooting has involved some sort of mental issue on the part of the murderer.

But crazy people having no trouble getting guns isn't a problem?

This is the old "guns don't kill people..." line. If, as you said, what you're after is avoiding slogans and buzzwords, that's a bad start. Look, it's like the healthcare thing: if you don't think there really is a problem, or a possibility of something better, then no, an ultimatum it is: there's nothing to discuss.

Who said they have "no trouble" getting firearms? Facts are they don't purchase them. Mass shooters have obtained firearms by someone illegally purchasing for them/stole them/or killed family and took their guns. Almost all suffered some form of mental illness and almost all were on anti psychotic prescription.
Again an ultimatum.
If you like you can just state "I support gun control". Then I'll say "I do not support gun control as were already controlled" and more control leads to the slippery slope of confiscation. Just like Obamacare is the slippery slope to single payer which I don't support. Then we can discuss the other points.

Here's what I see is the Lefts way of "compromise" with the Right. No matter what the issue....
"You have something and we want you to give some of it up. Because common sense, takes a village, some of your guys say it's good, if it saves just one blah blah blah..."
The Right says ahh well since this is a compromise "What will you be offering to give up?"
The left says well nothing of course. You have this thing we don't like, now give part of it up (for now until we come back again and compromise some more) and that's that. Not really a "compromise" now is it?

[Low D]

Yesterday I learned that ex-Tom Tom Club singer Mystic Bowie fronts a reggae Talking Heads cover band called "Talking Dreads", which makes me very happy. Apparently they've recorded an album with the great Ernest Ranglin on guitar. On tour now!
http://talkingdreads.com/

I also learned that the great Ernest Ranglin retired last summer, age 84, which is probably nice for him, but makes me sad because i hoped to see him live some time.

[Black Jack]

Japanese have this doll with white eyes named Daruma. It's sold everywhere as a souvenir and in Japan they believe that Daruma brings luck, also it helps to set and achieve goals. Once you have a goal in life you should paint one eye. When the goal is achieved you can paint another eye. Interesting