May chitchat thread

[Ikoiko]

There was suggestion of arming teachers, in some town somewhere, after a school shooting a few years ago. One teacher brought a gun to school and managed to shoot himself in the foot or leg. So, no, I don't think arming teachers is a good idea.

[agate]

The idea of arming teachers is one of the worst ideas ever. As a former teacher, also married to a teacher, and with many teacher friends over the years, I'd say that most of is just aren't cut out for gun ownership.

I do recall in high school there was ROTC, and the sergeant who taught the ROTC classes was armed, and there was a shooting range in the basement of the school where the students taking ROTC could practice. Such a person would be the exception but I don't think ROTC exists in the schools any more?

[Howie]

Good morning sleepy heads!!! Sam and I have been up all night, drinking coffee, and watching YouTube movies. Sci-Fi and Horror mostly. I saved one I was watching to post here, then it's back to the movie. I love being able to click on "watch later" and it stops it right there, then starts it right there when you get back to it.

I just got a mug of coffee and started a fresh pot that I'll have later. I guess I need to fit in a nap today sometime today. That seems to be how I sleep lately. I nap whenever I feel sleepy, and don't care what time it is.

But I do know it's morning, so good morning to all. Have a great day!

[agate]

I love being able to click on "watch later" and it stops it right there, then starts it right there when you get back to it.

I like that feature too. In fact it's one reason I hardly ever watch TV series when they're being shown on TV but wait for them to be available on DVDs. With the DVD controls I can just turn a movie off or "pause" it and come back to it whenever I want.

This has been especially handy with the movie I saw most recently, "Lawrence of Arabia." It's nearly 4 hours long.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Today, after taking flowers to the memorial site of the Robb Elementary school shooting, the husband of one of the teachers, who gave her life to protect her students, collapsed and died from cardiac arrest. Irma and Joe Garcia were high school sweethearts, married 24 years, and parents to 4 children.

I can't even wrap my head around how devastated their children and family and friends are right now. To lose both of them at one time. The shock, the stress, the trauma of Irma's death must have been unbearable for Joe. Perhaps he had underlying health issues, which were exacerbated by this tragedy.

This is the end of the school year, and the children at Robb Elementary were celebrating. Before the shooting, the school held an awards ceremony for the students. In the classroom, they were watching "Moana," as part of the winding down from the year and having fun. No more tests or studying. Very typical for schools to devote the last week of school to these kinds of events.

"Moana" is a beautiful movie, with wonderful music and a moral message. Jonathan and I watched it many times.

Imagine these children and teachers relaxing after a long year of school and learning. Add to that the time, when school was virtual in their homes due to COVID. They may have had cookies and snacks, decorations, and all were so proud of their awards. They were watching a delightful movie together, which every child loves to do. Smiling, laughing, perhaps singing along.

Then, in a moment, they were silenced by a teenager with an AR-15. Gone. All of their joy, their exuberance, their gifts, their future gone.

Scotland, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and many other countries have common sense gun laws. It happened there one time and that was enough for those laws to be enacted.

How many mass shootings have we had in the United States just this year? The number is: 214 mass shootings in 5 months.

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There was a mass shooting inside a church in Laguna Woods, California in mid-May.

Blaming these mass shootings on people, who have a mental health problem, simply illustrates how broken our system is in the U.S. Does the U.S. have more people with mental health problems than other countries in the world? It doesn't matter. Because other countries in the world do not allow AR-15 weapons to be sold to their citizens.

In September, 1994, a ban on assault weapons was enacted with the support of former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.

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The ban expired in 2004.

So, it isn't like the U.S. has never done this before. We did, and it was successful.

There is an NRA convention in Houston, Texas this weekend, and the Texas Governor, and other elected officials will be attending and speaking. How insulting and insensitive to the people of Uvalde, especially the parents and families of the nineteen murdered children, and the two teachers, who tried to save them.

Money, power, greed.

They did not pull the trigger, but they put the gun in the hands of the person, who did.

I watched an interview with the President of the American Federation of Teachers, in which she addressed the suggestion that teachers carry guns. She said that many teachers are frightened that they will be the next school or classroom to be attacked, but none of them believe that they should carry guns.

Teachers are the next thing to parents to their students. Children probably spend more time with their teachers than with their parents. So, teachers become counselors and advisors They keep an eye on their students to see if they detect any learning disabilities, or vision or hearing issues. Or any kind of medical malady.

Teachers take work home every night, with papers to grade, curriculums to design, tests to create. In many states, teachers are required to take college coursework to be promoted or have a pay raise. That coursework generally occurs in the summer, when school is out of session.

While teachers are responsible for developing the minds, hearts, bodies and souls of our children, they aren't paid as well as they should be for that effort.

Teachers are essential workers, whether that means guiding the lives of their students to stay on the right path, or counseling parents about any potential issues with their child, or shielding their children from the bullets of an AR-15.

Suggesting that teachers carry a gun and become a tactical strategist to bring down a teenager with an AR-15 is positively absurd.

Today, we are learning that there was no guard at the school, with or without a weapon, as it had been reported previously. The story changed several times, until that truth was blurted out at today's press conference. The police hesitated to confront the shooter, because he had an AR-15, and their artillery was useless against that weapon.

This should not continue to happen. The longer it continues, the more it defines who we are.

Let us remove the politics of this issue and focus on the victims of gun violence and its escalation in our country. It could affect any one of us or our loved ones. No one is exempt from random violence.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Virginia]

Rose, we have all been so devastated once again, and "NO" teachers were never meant to learn to shoot and carry a gun in order to be a teacher.

There are those who will never change or admit that assault weapons should be banned to the public.

I know the solution, but not enough people will carry it out. What I say is not said as a political statement, just as a statement of fact. If enough people would change their vote and vote against the party who is standing in the way of gun laws being changed just for one voting cycle, then laws regarding guns would get changed in a hurry. It would take only one election and then the people could go back to voting for the party of their choice. Unfortunately, this will not happen either.

The NRA is running and ruining our country because people in power think they have to have them to keep their power.

[Lazarus]

I have been thinking about just what you said. I think the politicians who say they need the NRA to stay in power. That is often said but it is not true. Most people think buying weapons of war should not be allowed. I really think gutsy leaders could segue for common sense and still get elected. So, I ask myself, why perpetuate the myth that supporting the insanity is the only way to get elected. Trying to answer that question leads down a different rabbit hole.

[Virginia]

Howie, so glad you are enjoying your Utube videos. I just hope you are choosing videos that Sam likes too. When a man lives with his girl he has to try and please her. I have been doing what you and Agate are talking about for years. I record programs on my DVR, watch them when I get time and fast forward through the commercials.

I went to get my blood pressure checked today. It is high so I have to go back on BP medicine. It was taken 3 times and the average was 154/84. I will notify my Cardiologist and let him do the prescribing. Rose, my wrist BP cuff is an Omron, so when I get a arm cuff I will try to get an Omron.

I also had labs done. Thyroid was fine. I will have to wait a day or two before finding out the sodium and rest.

[Howie]

Howie, so glad you are enjoying your Utube videos. I just hope you are choosing videos that Sam likes too.

If I have to watch any of those Cat in the Hat videos one more time, I'm going to scream!!!

[agate]

I've been getting regular e-mails from both these organizations for years and often sign petitions. If each one of us does what we can, maybe we can change some minds to the point where something actually gets done to stop the carnage:

This one has been known as CSGV (Coalition to Stop Gun Violence) but is going to be renamed as it becomes part of Johns Hopkins:

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Everytown for Gun Safety:

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[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Your average of 154/84 doesn't seem extremely high. Before I started on lisinopril, I had readings of 200+ Systolic. Now, my average is 125/78. How did the doctor's BP readings compare with the readings you got with your wrist monitor? Perhaps you could ask your cardiologist about lisinopril as an option for you. You could start with 10 mg/day, the lowest dose.

Good news that your thyroid is fine. Now, we pray for the same outcome for your sodium.

I ordered an Omron, the current version of my 20 year old BP cuff monitor from Amazon. It was $41 and arrives today. I will compare my readings with the wrist and cuff to see how close they are.

Agate ~

Thank you for the links. The link to Everytown is also the link for Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America.

Here is a link to Gabby Giffords' website, Giffords Law Center:

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Today, I have been watching wall to wall coverage of this heartbreaking and preventable tragedy. Part of me wants to avoid it, and pretend it doesn't exist, but a greater part of me wants to know the facts and needs to grieve with these parents and this community. It is too easy to say, "I can't deal with it," and look away.

The Director of the Department of Public Safety revealed today that 19 officers were assembled outside of the room, where the shooter was murdering children and teachers. Their commander (of 6 officers who work for the school system and are untrained in tactical maneuvers) issued a command to stand down as the situation was now a "barricaded subject, and the kids weren't at risk." Meanwhile, the shooter unloaded 16 more rounds.

Approximately 80 minutes later, when back up personnel arrived with shields, and the school janitor arrived with keys to the classroom, they burst into the classroom and killed the shooter.

During all of this, several children made 911 calls and begged for help. In one 911 call, the dispatcher was told that there were still 8 or 9 people alive.

The DPS director said that the decision to stand down was a mistake on the part of the commander.

The school's Resource Officer was not present, when the shooter came onto the campus, but he drove to the school, passed the shooter, who was hiding, and drove around to the back of the school, where he saw a teacher.

As this story unravels, incompetence on all levels of the System is displayed.

During the Texas Governor's press conference today, he offered information about assorted assistance available to the families of the victims and the residents of Uvalde. He continued to emphasize mental health resources. The fact is that Texas ranks 50th in the United States in access to mental health resources. That also squashes his theory that the shooter had mental health issues, since there is no record that he had been diagnosed with any condition.

When confronted by a state legislator, who asked whether he would convene a special session after this massacre, the Governor said "No."

In Texas, you can buy a gun without a license. You need a license to drive a vehicle, to get married, to own a business, to practice law or medicine, or teach.

The Governor upholds the 60 year old law, which stipulates that anyone 18 or over can buy a "long gun." Because that law has existed for 60 years, and "school shootings have only been happening over the last 20 years," he believes it is still credible. After NINETEEN 10-11 year old children were murdered with a long gun by an 18 year old, this is his response. Let's just ignore all of the other mass shootings in locations like churches, grocery stores, salons, and concert venues, et al.

The Governor had bigger fish to fry today/tonight with the NRA convention in Houston. Instead of appearing in person, he prepared a video for the gathering. "Fourteen Acres of Guns and Gear!" That is the motto of this year's convention.

Texas bans abortions under the auspice of protecting life. Once those children are born, they are on their own. He has no intention of banning automatic weapons/AR-15s.

Parents of the murdered children were asked to give a DNA sample to help identify their children.

In an interview with the older brother of 10 year old Xavier, who perished in this rampage, he spoke about what a wonderful child Xavier was and how much he loved his 10 year old girlfriend, Annabella. Xavier and Annabella were found holding onto each other.

As much as we want to believe that this is not who we are in the U.S., it is who we are.

It is up to us to change this.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[agate]

I'm wondering if they actually "burst" into the classroom after waiting around for the janitor to come with the key and for the shields to arrive.

I've seen fire and police kick doors in many times. They think nothing of it. It seems to be standard operating procedure in an apartment building where there's reason to believe that someone on the other side is in danger.

Most doors are fairly flimsy, and these guys have huge heavy boots. The door usually gives way immediately. I can't imagine that that school door was so very much sturdier than most other doors. Doors are replaceable. This method makes complete sense to me, and it's very often used. With 19 people on the outside of that door, why couldn't they have kicked the door in?

[Virginia]

I have not watched a lot today, but the little that I did I saw a Doctor who had been an NRA member. He gave up his membership because he said the NRA has one purpose only - to make money by selling guns. He says they have no other reason and yet yield so much power. He is a believer in gun safety, but not assault weapons. He has treated persons with gun wounds, which is one of the reasons he left the NRA.

Agate, I can't imagine grown men waiting so long before entering that classroom. They must have been thinking that one of the others would do it so they wouldn't have to. It is unthinkable to wait that long. There could be no good reason for it.

[Virginia]

Rose, thanks for asking about my BP. I am already on hydrochlorothiazide for BP. I have been on a low dose of this for quite awhile, I think sometime last year or the year before. So, my Cardiologist is doubling that to see how I do on it.

I do have another problem, which I suspected and asked to have checked yesterday. I have a UTI and have to go on antibiotics. The Doctor did not get to me until 5:40 this afternoon. The pharmacy closes at 6PM. Due to staff shortages they are now closed on Saturday and Sunday, and this week they will also be closed Monday for Memorial Day. So, I will be unable to get my medicine until Tuesday.

Life does get complicated sometime.

[agate]

It's terrible that you can't get the antibiotic until Tuesday, Virginia! Isn't there any way? Seems less than considerate of the prescribing doctor to wait until so late on Friday to do the prescribing. If you could get hold of the doctor and let him know how long you're having to wait, he may know of another pharmacy that will be open.

But if you can't go that route, I did find this:

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or you are in immediate need of your medication, go to a nearby pharmacy and tell them you need an emergency supply. You may be required to provide proof of your Rx, so bring your prescription bottle with you. If the pharmacist determines that going without the drug will endanger your health or wellbeing, they are able to dispense an emergency 72-hour (three-day) supply.

Another option is to go to an urgent care clinic. Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register... for a one-time dose to hold you over until you can get in touch with your primary care physician.

It's from a place I know nothing about, and so I can't vouch for whether the information is any good. I just think that someone with MS with a bladder infection should NOT wait any longer than necessary to get on the prescribed antibiotic.

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If it's an asymptomatic UTI, the doctor may not feel it's important for you to have antibiotics, but it sounds as if that isn't what this is.

About the HCTZ: For years I took 100mg/day of it. It's not advisable to take that much but it is allowed at times.

[Virginia]

Agate, I got lucky. A neighbor called to see if I was alright because our power was out for several hours during the night. She offered to pick these prescriptions up for me if I could get them changed from one pharmacy to another one that is open. I didn't call the Doctor. I called the pharmacy that was open (both are Walgreens) to see if they could pull it up on their computer and fill it there. They did and both are ready to be picked up. What luck, especially on the antibiotic. I had been concerned about waiting so long.