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Messages - pwvogt

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1
Off-Topic / Re: Are stricter gun laws really going to stop killings?
« on: December 26, 2014, 02:34:28 pm »Message ID: 945855
If you look at the number of people (particularly children) wounded or killed in the U.S. there are only a small fraction killed by "goofballs going into schools and movie theatres".  Many more children are killed by firearms in their own homes than by "goofballs" (although I suppose some of the parents might be labelled goofballs for buying guns and not keeping them safely locked up).

2
Off-Topic / Re: Are stricter gun laws really going to stop killings?
« on: December 26, 2014, 08:44:02 am »Message ID: 945742
It depends on what is meant by "stricter" but the sad reality is that it is often *angry* people who kill other people so I don't buy the standard "guns don't kill people, people kill people" line.  We tend to think of guns as being used by criminals who will, as pointed out at the start of this thread, always find ways of obtaining guns.  However the number of accidental shootings and the number of shootings by people who have easy access to guns when they are angry can be reduced.  The American Association of Pediatricians has made the following recommendations in order to lower the number of children killed or wounded in the U.S. by firearms (estimated at about 10x the rate of other wealthy nations):

There are some concrete policy solutions that could help address this issue. Webster suggests raising the legal age to purchase a handgun to 21, since research has demonstrated that there’s a peak in gun violence among youth between the ages of 18 and 20. The AAP has also pushed for expanded background checks and safe storage to ensure that guns aren’t falling into the wrong hands. And more states could move to make adults criminally liable for allowing kids to have access to guns.

From: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/01/27/3206581/kids-gun-violence-killed-injuries/

3
Off-Topic / Re: New Years Day plans
« on: December 26, 2014, 08:30:50 am »Message ID: 945739
Usually we stay in on New Years eve.  We both like small social gatherings and New Years parties tend to end up as very large affairs with too many people drinking too much.  Also, approaching 60 means that we have a hard time staying up til midnight...LOL!!  ;)

4
Off-Topic / Re: Opening Gifts
« on: December 26, 2014, 08:28:30 am »Message ID: 945738
Mostly we have opened presents on Christmas day although when one of my wife's uncles was still alive we would open his gift on Christmas eve.  We knew it was always a "regifted" item so that's why we did it. 

5
Off-Topic / Re: Reality tV
« on: December 26, 2014, 08:26:40 am »Message ID: 945736
who watches and what do you watch? What's your favorite? My favorite is Big Brother
i feel  really sad  for reality  show  participants   

I don't know if I feel sorry for them as I think they go in with eyes wide open although they may mistakenly see stars or dollar signs instead of the reality that most of them end up with nothing.  Don't know what the odds of getting on these shows is but I guess once you make it on the odds of winning big are better than buying into lotteries which a lot of people do.  I see that even Swagbucks runs "draws" fairly regularly in an attempt, in my opinion, to draw down what they are going to have to eventually pay out.  This is no knock on Swagbucks but they understand that people will take a chance even if it means that most lose and someone (Swagbucks, the government, casinos, etc.) continue to profit by it.

6
Off-Topic / Re: Let's talk movies
« on: December 26, 2014, 08:17:51 am »Message ID: 945735
Haven't had much time to watch movies this year.  Anyone got some suggestions about movies from the past year you thought were really good and worth watching?

7
Off-Topic / Re: Banking
« on: December 22, 2014, 06:23:55 pm »Message ID: 945057
Rarely inside the bank anymore.  Mostly do what banking I can through the ATM.

8
Off-Topic / Re: Christmas commercials?
« on: December 22, 2014, 06:20:59 pm »Message ID: 945055
Most commercials run ad nauseum because the advertisers know that repetition is the key to success.  While the commercials may make us annoyed they do their job because we remember them.  Ultimately, as long as the advertisers (Walmart, etc.) continue to make a kazillion dollars they will attribute some of that success to their advertising which they will continue to run.

9
Off-Topic / Re: Reality tV
« on: December 22, 2014, 06:13:49 pm »Message ID: 945050
I don't have access to TV except through the internet so I don't watch a lot of TV.  I don't think any of these shows are "reality" TV.  Using real people and paying one or two of them big $$$ or giving them recording contracts is just a cheap way of offering programming.  Most people, like most people on any game show, win next to nothing but provide the rest of us with "entertainment".  I used to watch Survivor but what we saw on the show was totally manipulated by the producers who tried to keep the "suspense" level high even when it was obvious who was "going home".

10
Off-Topic / Re: 2024 Olympics
« on: December 22, 2014, 04:13:42 pm »Message ID: 945029
Don't know if the Olympics are really worth the price tag.  For some countries and cities it might draw some attention to them but not sure if any of these cities in the U.S. would really benefit from the exposure that would cost a lot.  Better for them to invest in some good tourist PR.

However, if I was going to choose one I'd choose Boston.  LA has had them twice.  SF is still in California.  DC...really??

11
Off-Topic / Re: Insomnia
« on: December 22, 2014, 03:47:04 pm »Message ID: 945023
I do some meditation exercises like concentrating on my breathing, counting breaths, focusing on one sense (e.g. things I can hear), etc.

If that doesn't work I will get up and read (I don't stay in bed if I can't sleep) or go on the computer for a bit.

12
Off-Topic / Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
« on: December 19, 2014, 08:30:52 am »Message ID: 944257
As much as would like to there is no way this is possible for me.  I just don't seem to have the time to prepare everything "fresh".  I try to stay away from "fully" prepared foods (e.g. like frozen dinners, etc.) but adding a can of tomato sauce to something or buying canned soup or sometimes canned vegetables just makes life easier and I hope isn't going to have a huge impact on my health.

13
Off-Topic / Re: Christmas electric bill?
« on: December 16, 2014, 08:07:56 am »Message ID: 943445
We used to decorate a *lot* when we were younger and it did make a considerable difference in our electricity bill.  As we've gotten older and less able to do all the decorating our decorating is more modest and there is now only a small blip on the electricity bill.

14
Off-Topic / Re: Do you ever wonder what your pets are saying?
« on: December 16, 2014, 08:03:24 am »Message ID: 943443
Sometimes it seems obvious what my dog(s) are telling me.  "I need to go outside", "Pet me / hold me", "I'm hungry", "Get out of bed", etc.  If you mean do I wish my dogs could "talk" I'd say no.  The fact that the communication between me and my dogs is non-verbal is one of the things I love about them.  It makes me more aware of them and of what they (and I!) react to.  I love them the way they are.

15
Off-Topic / Re: Broken up
« on: December 16, 2014, 07:58:47 am »Message ID: 943440
I don't think there is a "best way".  My advice, for what it's worth, is make sure to deal and acknowledge your emotions as they happen.  Breaking up is a lot like grieving and people experience different emotions at different times in different ways during the process so trying to deal with them as they surface seems like the best idea to me.

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