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| photosdepot.com |
Monday, 31 December 2012
Sunday, 30 December 2012
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| modernmom.com |
Sixteen days ago, a mass murderer shot and killed six women at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, as they tried to protect the children in their charge. Dawn Hochsprung, the school principal, and Mary Sherlach, the school psychologist rushed to stop the intruder when they realized he had breached the security system by shooting his way into the school using a weapon intended for battle. They were the first to lose their lives. Victoria Soto died trying to shield her students, but only six of them escaped execution. Lauren Rousseau, a sub who was waiting for a permanent position, also perished in an attempt to save her students. Rachel Davino, a behavioral therapist, used her body to protect students from the barrage of bullets fired, and Anne Marie Murphy, a special ed teacher, died holding a student in her arms.
Ham on Wry shares this post as a reaction to an opinion column written by Bill Maxwell in the Tampa Bay Times December 23. Why the delay? I spent part of the holidays with my family in another stated. An irate reader wrote letter to the local paper in Newtown as a response to a teacher who opposed cutting Sandy Hook's library and music programs. As a former teacher, the part of his letter that infuriated me the most stated, "You, as a public sector employee don't generate ANY revenue. Every penny of the budget of your public sector enterprise is TAKEN from producers. It's other people's money versus money your organization earned." Wow! What an enlightened individual this disgruntled man is and how woefully uninformed about how schools receive funding.
Obviously, this person doesn't understand the intrinsic value of educating children, which pays dividends after they graduate, get a job, and make contributions to the society. Perhaps he should take a refresher course in school funding. States use a variety of means to determine the amount of money allocated to education at all levels, but, at least part of that money usually comes from taxes based on real estate values. This idiot doesn't seem to realize that educators do contribute to their own salaries because they pay the same direct taxes that any homeowner does ,or they pay it indirectly if they rent.
I wonder how many times Mr. Big Stuff has been called upon to lay down his life for fellow employees. This man is the poster child for what is wrong with our culture today. More value is placed on how much money one earns than what lasting contributions one makes during a lifetime. This guy needs a lesson in humility and should spend a week each in an elementary school, a middle or junior high school, and a high school before he pontificates from his soap box. That should give him a dose of reality. He should honor those who choose to educate children rather than excoriating them. Maybe his last name is Scrooge.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
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| hollywoodgossip.com |
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| hollywoodlife.com |
Any of the three finalists would have made all of the coaches proud, because they displayed recording-star talent. McDermott was the consummate rock star, while David had a soulful bent and a haunting voice. All three won a car for reaching the finals.
Ham and Wry took delight in the fact that a female won it all because so many of talented women and girls made it through the early phases of elimination, but only one remained in the Final Four. Pope chose Liz Davis, Melanie Martinez, and De'Borah to join her onstage for a rendition of "It's Time", which sent the audience into a frenzy of applause. Calling them "my girls", Pope revealed how much she supports the talent of the other three performers.
The coaches paid special tribute to Christina Aquilara in honor of her birthday and also to bid her farewel,l because she is taking a leave from the show, as is Cee lo Green. Along with Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, the four coaches have built a camaraderie that resembles a mutual admiration society. Usher and Shakira will join the show as replacements for Aguilara and Green next season. I hope that the magic continues at a level equal to Season Three.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
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| memorial to Sandy Hook victims/cnn.com |
More details about the murders of 20 Sandy Hook elementary students and 6 adults Friday paint an even grimmer picture of the scene than when the news first hit the media. Adam Lanzer, the 20-year-old killer, first shot his mother as she slept, before taking some of her guns and blasting his way into the school seeking victims. H. Wayne Carver, Connecticut's chief medical examiner said that all of the victims were shot multiple times, adding that it was the worst carnage he or any of his colleagues had seen.
Lanza used a Bushmaster .223 assault rifle in most of the murders and shot his victims at close range using ammunition designed to result in maximum damage. Ham on Wry chooses to use bold on part of the previous sentence, because herein lies the problem with gun ownership in America. Lanza had two handguns and two assault rifles, one of which he left in the car. Investigators believe his mother had legally purchased all of them, but are questioning local gun shops to corroborate that.
I can hear the fanatical fringe of the NRA stridently screaming, "See. They were legally purchased. What's the problem with our gun laws?" The answer is quite simple. What person with legitimate intentions needs assault rifles with bullets that rip through a body, even one with protective gear? The answer is simple. No one. In case that doesn't register, no person who purchases a gun should be allowed to have an assault rifle with bullets designed to do maximum damage. No one, that is, who doesn't work for a law enforcement agency of some type, and their employers issue them the guns that they use.
I call for a national debate and swift action in changing some of the laws that govern the sale of guns, so that we create a common sense approach to gun ownership. NBC's Today Show Sunday morning featured a criminologist who stated that most mass murderers don't have criminal records and could pass a background check. Okay. So what? We should still run background checks because we could stop some crazies from purchasing guns. More importantly, even if a person who is planning to use guns for a criminal purpose does pass a background check, no one needs an assault rifle, bulletproof vest, or bullets that penetrate protective gear that were originally designed for law enforecement officers.
The NRA has long ignored the opinions of our local, state, and national law enforcement agencies and advocated for all guns, all the time, at all costs to human life without interference. The citizens of this country must band together and force action from our politicians, starting with President Obama, who can draft legislation and submit it to Congress for action. I'm certain many NRA members would support laws that reduce the chance of the horrific scenes we have witnessed all too often in this country.
A final note to Congress and the White House: Steel your courage and stand up to the NRA! Do something for all of this country's citizens and take action now!
Friday, 14 December 2012
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| Reuters |
Tragedy struck Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning, when Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old son of a teacher there, shot his mother in the face at her home, took her car and drove to the school where she taught with the intent to murder as many people as possible. At the end of the shooting rampage that left 20 students and 6 adults dead, the shooter committed suicide. This horror story marks the second deadliest shooting of its type, with 26 victims killed by Lanza. The Virginia Tech massacre left 33 dead.
President Obama, moved to tears in discussing the tragedy, stated, "“The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.” He called for meaningful action to address the problem of mass killings of Innocent victims as he concluded.
The gunman used two handguns and wore a bulletproof vest when he launched his assault. Police also found an M4 carbine that they believe belonged to the killer.
Ham on Wry calls on NRA to restore sanity to an organization that promotes unregulated purchase of guns of all types and sanctions carrying concealed weapons. In fact, the Florida Secretary of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, recently boasted that Florida would soon reach a milestone: one million concealed weapons permits. Now that is truly something to boast about. Perhaps the state should use that as part of its marketing campaign.
The NRA originally started as an organization for hunters and has morphed into a lunatic organization that believes guns should be available to anyone at all costs. This blogger fails to understand how the NRA can ignore the statistics which reveal the undeniable fact that more murders by gun occur here than all other industrialized nations combined. Shameful! Concerned citizens must express their outrage toward the NRA, which has encouraged laxity in oversight of gun ownership. What legitimate use does anyone have in owning bulletproof vests, or AK47's, or bullets that rip through protective gear? None!
President Obama is right. We must address this massive problem as a nation--now! Obama and Congress can no longer ignore the need for action on their part. The NRA should not control the actions of our government, nor should our elected officials pander to the demands of such an association. The United States Constitution emphasizes the welfare of the country's citizens as a top priority of government. Unfortunately, those in power have abdicated their responsibility, which leaves the responsibility in the hands of citizens. Demand better from our leaders!
Thursday, 13 December 2012
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| Yuri Gipas/Reuters |
Awaken from your hypnotic state, Mr. Boehner, and hear the drumbeat that sounds a message from ordinary citizens who support an increase in the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans. This blogger eagerly awaits an announcement that Republicans will do what a majority of citizens want: keep the current tax rates for those earning below $250k a year and raise them for those above that mark. Fixing our economy, balancing the budget, and reducing debt will require more time than the few days remaining to deal with the tax structure. Spending cuts must figure prominently in adopting a balanced approach to government expenditure, but that can be handled next year.
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
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| Luke Macgregor/Reuters |
After two years of trying to buy Singapore Airlines' share of ownership in Virgin Atlantic, Delta has finally struck an agreement of $360 million for 49% of Richard Branson's airline. Delta set its sights on Virgin Atlantic in order to expand its presence at London's Heathrow Airport and increase its offering to the lucrative New York/London corridor. The airlines would operate as a joint venture, if they gain the necessary anti-trust approvals from United States and European regulators. That would allow them to sell seats on one another's flights and offer a smoother flight experience for travelers who connect through New York to London.
Ham on Wry sincerely hopes that Delta won't nickel and dime overseas travelers to death as it does to passenger in the U.S. Given the competition and the stellar reputation Virgin Atlantic has earned, it should affect the collaboration positively. Branson uses a customer-centric approach in operating his airlines, and his Virgin America Airlines consistently appears as the number one airline operating in the U.S. based on customer satisfaction surveys. Not so for Delta.
London-bound travelers might have reason to cheer if the joint venture goes through. Delta states that it will consummate the purchase, regardless of whether regulators approve the request.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
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| NBC.com |
Contrary to Ham on Wry's prediction in the December 4 post, Nicholas David made it to the final four contestants on The Voice instead of Amanda Brown, one of this blogger's picks yesterday. While both singers have consistently proven their talent, David has a special artistic flair and a unique, soulful voice that won him the support of fans. The duet he sang with Melanie Martinez, a rendition of Fiona Apple's "Criminal", allowed both of them to shine and better showcased their vocal style than their choices from the previous show, but Martinez was one of the two performers eliminated. Terry McDermott, Cassadee Pope, and Trevin Hunte round out the slate of singers who will continue.
Next Monday, the contestants will vie for the remaining two slots and the others will leave the show on Tuesday. All four must choose a song that suits their style and vocal range, because no room for experimentation or error exists now. Ham on Wry will defer a prediction about who will win the Season Three title until after the show airs December 10, because that can make or break any of them. This blogger has turned into an ardent viewer of The Voice this time around because the level of talent exceeds the other seasons. Everyone who made it to the final four have what it takes to achieve success in the music industry, so, although one one can win it all, no one really loses. They have already been discovered.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
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| NBC.com |
Trevin Hunte delivered two equally amazing performances December 3 on entirely different types of songs. "Walking on Sunshine" showcased a more upbeat, light-hearted Trevin as he created an atmosphere of fun that included a few dance moves. Later, he sang "I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", a song Jennifer Hudson made famous in Dream Girls, that evoked an emotional reaction in the audience equal to what it saw on stage. Hunte ruled the night, in this blogger's opinion.
Tonight, The Voice will reveal the two contestants viewers have voted off the show, so Ham on Wry will predict which of them will go. While Adam Levine saved Melanie Martinez, who has developed a solid fan base, she was off-pitch on both of last night's performances, as she has been several times before. The competition has reached a crucial point, so voters should consider quality rather than cuteness and bid her farewell. At 17, she has time to develop further. Her teammate Amanda Brown wowed the crowd during her two songs and should be saved. While Nicholas David has a unique and remarkable talent, his songs last night didn't reflect his abilities well. As a result, he will not make the final four. Cassadee Pope and Terry McDermott both delivered solid, audience-pleasing entertainment and will move on to the next round.
This season has offered eye-popping performances that equal anything an audience would witness at a sold-out performance of professional artists, so one slip has cost many of the original 16 a place in the finals. The four who continue must make careful selections in order to be the last person standing. This blogger will watch until the very end.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
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| Alex Wong/Getty Images |
Ham on Wry could have accurately predicted this stalemate before the negotiations began. Boehner and many of his fellow Republicans claim that raising taxes on the wealthy will cause another economic downturn and stymie job growth. This blogger has spent hours poring over statistics from past administrations where the highest tax rate far exceeded the current cap on taxes. None of those studies support Boehner's claim that raising taxes on the wealthy would "deal a crippling blow to the economy." Instead, the stastics showed that the economy still grew, and most Americans experienced job security and enough money to keep their families afloat. It seems that Boehner has far more interest in the top earners in the country than he does the middle class and those who fall below the poverty line. Could part of his motivation be self-serving?
Until Boehner provides data accumulated by objective sources--no thinly-veiled groups run by the Koch Brothers or Grover Norquist--citizens should pay little attention to his moaning and groaning and demand movement toward a compromise that doesn't involve preserving low tax rates for the rich. Those people already have various means of investment vehicles that shield money from taxes and don't need the help of those of us who don't have the same choices.
Either prove your statements or stifle yourself, Mr. Boehner. Hearing you speak about the negotiations reminds this blogger of watching Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. Repetition doesn't make a statement true.
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