5 Historical Figures Who Were Assassinated in The Lavatory. It's not always good to be the king.
Gun Violence Is Actually Worse in Red States. It’s Not Even Close. (via Kottke)
Humans Ain’t so Tough. A science fiction short story. (via Geeks Are Sexy)
Whale Approaches Boat Captain To Ask Him To Do Her A Helpful Favor. (via Everlasting Blort)
Peaches Are Facing a Crisis. Bad news for farmers market devotees: Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on this year's crop.
In Oklahoma, a woman was told to wait until she's 'crashing' for abortion care.
Vet Techs Share How Different Dog Breeds React to Getting Their Nails Trimmed.
Who Was the Real Pope’s Exorcist?
Gun Violence: what an absurd map. Looks like some of the maps of states (red and blue) with their own absurd gerrymandering. Note that the maps do not even display state boundaries. Most of California is in the Far West, which seems to be mostly red states.
ReplyDeleteThis red v blue stuff is only dividing our nation, but do people in these cities feel safer than someone living in rural Idaho or Florida?
CITY (listed by murder rate as of April 15, 2023) Year = MOST RECENT REPUBILCAN ADMINISTRATION.
St Louis 1945
Baltimore 1967
New Orleans 1873
Detroit 1962
Cleveland 1989
Las Vegas 1975
Memphis 1982
Newark 1953
Chicago 1931
All of these cities except Las Vegas have had a decline population since at least 2000.
"In these “big city” counties there was a racial divergence in the regional pattern for homicides, with several regions that are among the safest in the analyses we’ve discussed so far — Yankeedom, Left Coast and the Midlands — becoming the most dangerous for African-Americans. Big urban counties in these regions have Black gun homicide rates that are 23 to 58 percent greater than the big urban counties in the Deep South, 13 to 35 percent greater than those in Greater Appalachia."
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am misinterpreting this statement, but it seems to imply that Blacks are less safe in large "blue" cities than in similar "red" cities where the racists live. Opinion: Many blue states are more concerned with incarcerating perpetrators of gun violence than they are about the victims. The majority of victims are Black.
As an aside, Baltimore has the second highest murder rate in the country. At least 95% of gunshot victims are Black. In 2023, at least 12 homicide victims in Baltimore have been Black children aged 17 or under, including a 12 year old killed in what can only be described as a gang shooting. Where is the outrage, the protestors blocking roads, the "mostly peaceful" protests? We have a generation of young people being lost to violence and our solution is to ban a weapon that has been around for 60 years.
Culturally (and this is what those maps are really trying to represent) Most of California is closer to "Far West" than "Left Coast". San Francisco is nothing like Bakersfield. Similarly, southern Ohio and Indiana are closer to Appalachia than Cleveland and Gary are.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do feel safer in a blue city than I would in a red state. This statement is true not for gun violence reasons, but for literally everything else.
"Personally, I do feel safer in a blue city than I would in a red state. This statement is true not for gun violence reasons, but for literally everything else."
ReplyDeleteLiterally everything else? Lucky you. I am a white middle class senior citizen who is not overly concerned about visiting a blue (or red) largish city. I am not sure a person of color, lower middle class or low income, could say the same. 12 homicides of children in Baltimore in a 3 month period, all black children, several more shot but survived. In a blue city in a blue state, as if that matters. No one in the state or city government gives a crap because they are Black children and they are killed by other Black people. The state legislature (2 to 1 democrat - republican) refused to make illegal possession of a handgun a felony rather than a misdemeanor because we lock up too many people of color. No worries about the victims. But, yeah, red states are the issue.
"Literally everything else?" Yes, literally everything else. You returned to gun issues, but I cannot feel safe in any state that strengthens abortion restrictions, criminalizes trans people and health treatment, legislates the promotion of religion, restricts voting rights, limits education of sexual orientation and identity, extends freedom of conscience against fair and equal treatment...
ReplyDeleteMost of the crime I see in my city exists everywhere. Maybe more, maybe less. But these other issues affect my daily life and the lives of people I care about. We are increasingly targets in every sense, and these issues are first in my mind when I consider my retirement. There is absolutely no way I will ever consider moving to a red state, even to the bluest of cities.
You killed his dog... Bwahahahahaha.
ReplyDeleteThe impression I get on abortion is, “you’re killing a baby” vs “I want to end this pregnancy before the fetus becomes a baby”. I think there’s a lot of people on both sides who are unaware the term abortion covers a whole lot of medical ground other than simply choosing whether or not continue a pregnancy. “Wait till she’s crashing” is just one example of the many situations where a doctors intervention is needed. A doctor is a damn sight more qualified to make that decision than a politician, judge, or clergy. I know several women who had an abortion and it wasn’t something they took lightly, probably the toughest decision they ever had to make, but still nobody should be making it for them... nobody.