A kid walks into a library . . .

[BoSoxGal]

. . . and shoots 6 people, killing 2. Apparently it barely makes the national news, because floods in Houston.

And of course, it's the 254th mass shooting in America so far this year, so I guess they don't really rate news coverage anymore.

254th American mass shooting 2017

What a country we have become.

[Bicycle Bill]

Maybe he was using a silencer??

-"BB"-

[Gob]

Buckingham Palace was placed on lockdown after a man attacked police officers with a knife.

Images posted on social media showed a heavy police presence at the scene and a cordon around an area of The Mall in front of the palace.

Two male police officers sustained minor injuries while detaining the suspect on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting a police officer. No one else is reported to have been injured in the attack.

Initial reports suggested the man had been armed with a sword but the Metropolitan Police described the weapon as a knife.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 13641.html

No deaths, still headline news all over the UK.

[Lord Jim]

still headline news all over the UK.

Yeah, well, "Buckingham Palace"...

[Big RR]

BSG--just google it and you will see national coverage--from the Washington Post to CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and Fox; even some London papers have picked it up. Not sure what sort f coverage you would think is appropriate for something that occurred in the late afternoon/early evening (depending on what US time zone you're in), when no real details are forthcoming; personally, I would rather the coverage wait for something giving some insight into what happened and what the likely motives were, rather than instantaneous coverage with the inevitable unsupported speculation of the reporters we usually see.

[Burning Petard]

Coverage yes, do it. BUT ! ! ! NO ! NAMES ! ! !

No notoriety to the individual(s) who did it. Bury them in anonymity. Not even 10 seconds of fame.

snailgate

[Jarlaxle]

Will never happen, period.

[BoSoxGal]

BSG--just google it and you will see national coverage--from the Washington Post to CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and Fox; even some London papers have picked it up. Not sure what sort f coverage you would think is appropriate for something that occurred in the late afternoon/early evening (depending on what US time zone you're in), when no real details are forthcoming; personally, I would rather the coverage wait for something giving some insight into what happened and what the likely motives were, rather than instantaneous coverage with the inevitable unsupported speculation of the reporters we usually see.

Before I created this thread, I had been looking for the story online - and found few mentions of it, only in local news. Right now on CNN's homepage, I can't find a link to this story - although there is a prominent link + video of the dog in Houston who walked around carrying his own bag of dog food.

I'd like to live in a country where this kind of freaking horror isn't so commonplace that it barely gets a mention. I watch a lot of TV news, didn't see the story covered at all. I *get* that the situation in Houston is big, but it's constant coverage of people walking around in water and such, there's tons of coverage of that creep Joel Osteen refusing to open his mega church to flood victions - a worthwhile story, sure - but nobody has mentioned a high school kid walking into his local library and shooting people. I don't get paper papers, but I'm assuming this story is below the fold, if it's front page at all.

Again, I'm just sick that we are this inured to mass shooting violence. I don't think anyone can reasonably argue otherwise at this point.

[Big RR]

Here's a CNN link:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/us/new-me ... -shooting/

But I agree with you, there are far too many of these shootings, and we often are inured to the outrage they should generate, unless the death toll is double digits or includes a lot of children. Not sure what can be done about it, but it is a concern.

And Gob, if knife welding suspect broke into the White House, or Miss America's house (not sure which is more akin to breaking into Buckingham Palace, maybe something between the two), I imagine it would be news here as well,

[MajGenl.Meade]

there's tons of coverage of that creep Joel Osteen refusing to open his mega church to flood victions - a worthwhile story, sure -

I'm not fan of Osteen (as you know)... but this was the inside of their giant ego church which is why they were directing people to established emergency shelters. They are, according to Osteen, prepared to help as much as they can, including taking people in.

Maybe so.

[Econoline]

According to this article, the situation and the claims of Lakewood Church are far from clear. The article's conclusion:

• So, depending on where you stand, maybe this was just a communications mix-up. Maybe Team Osteen really did think the arena was inaccessible—though they got inside the church pretty quickly to take pictures of what they claimed was water damage inside. And maybe Lakewood really did always plan to be a "distribution center" that would ultimately take on displaced people in desperate need of refuge. Or, you know, maybe it took a public shaming for an obscenely rich pastor to help people in need.

More photos, which apparently contradict the church's posted photos:

[RayThom]

http://babylonbee.com/news/joel-osteen- ... -life-now/

[Econoline]

Thanks for posting that link, Ray. I just know I'm going to find that website, The Babylon Bee ("The Babylon Bee is Your Trusted Source For Christian News Satire") extremely useful going forward!

Some of the other stories linked to on that page were excellent, too; I particularly liked "Hell Introduces 13 New Varieties Of Pineapple Pizza."

[Lord Jim]

Thanks for posting that link, Ray.

Here's something that I know one poster here will want to check out:

New Service Replaces ‘Game Of Thrones’ Sex Scenes With Glaring Kevin DeYoung



U.S.—A new service offered by Pure Flix will now allow Christians to watch Game of Thrones in good conscience, as all of the show’s raunchy scenes filled with sex and nudity have been replaced with a disappointed-looking Kevin DeYoung glaring at the viewer, a company representative confirmed Wednesday.

Just as believers are settling in to enjoy the show’s intricate plot and wide range of morally gray characters, the Reformed reverend will suddenly pop up on the screen and shake his head in disappointment at the viewer at all of the numerous points where the show would usually feature a graphic sexual act.

“All in all, we only had to replace about ten hours of the show with DeYoung footage,” a Pure Flix representative said. “We think believers will really enjoy the alternating experiences of taking in the story’s complex narrative and wallowing in guilt for watching a show filled with pornographic material.”

At publishing time, critics had given rave reviews to the new edited version of the A Song of Ice and Fire adaption, stating that DeYoung’s performance rivaled the work of even fan-favorite actors like Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey.

I wonder if you can get Pure Flix in South Africa...

[ex-khobar Andy]

Thanks for posting that link, Ray. I just know I'm going to find that website, The Babylon Bee ("The Babylon Bee is Your Trusted Source For Christian News Satire") extremely useful going forward!

Some of the other stories linked to on that page were excellent, too; I particularly liked "Hell Introduces 13 New Varieties Of Pineapple Pizza."

A bit of a thread hijack, but I have to agree with Econoline - what a great site! I particularly liked the article about the Christian feminist who has trouble clicking the 'Submit' button when sending something to HuffPost. And now I think about it, there is one on this site I shall be pressing in a minute or two. There goes my street cred.

But just to prove that satire has no limits, there is a Snopes debunking of the story which Ray posted about Captain Osteen. http://www.snopes.com/osteen-yacht-hous ... -hurricane. You can't make this stuff up.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I'll have you now, LJ..... er, I'm sorry I'll read that again.... I'll have you know, LJ that I watch GOT and enjoy it. Just as I think that Fargo is one of the top 50 movies of all time. So there. Neither one is low-brow (or uni-brow) unpleasantness such as Breaking Bad, Say Yes to the Dress or that Kardashian nonsense.

[rubato]

I'll have you now, LJ..... er, I'm sorry I'll read that again.... I'll have you know, LJ that I watch GOT and enjoy it. Just as I think that Fargo is one of the top 50 movies of all time. So there. Neither one is low-brow (or uni-brow) unpleasantness such as Breaking Bad, Say Yes to the Dress or that Kardashian nonsense.

Since you already hijacked it ... jerk ... Breaking Bad is very good, might be as good as Fargo (one of the most crisply moral movies of all time). Its like Nabokov's "Lolita". IF you don't go all the way to the final chapter you don't understand the moral center of the story.


yrs,
rubato

[ex-khobar Andy]

There's a bit of an edit war going on over at Wikipedia. Earlier yesterday Wiki editor rklawton posted this addition to 'Pastor' Joel Osteen's page:

Osteen's preference for cash over care was illustrated in full on August 27, 2017. In the wake of hurricane Harvey, Osteen cancelled Sunday services and closed his church stating concerns of flooding. Refuges have been directed to the nearby George R. Brown Convention Center where, "It’s amazing what they’re doing there the make people comfortable." Neighbors have reported they have no flooding concerns.[http://nypost.com/2017/08/28/pastor-ost ... ng-crisis/]

A few minutes later bobbby4321 added this:

. . . is a financial predator of the worst kind, a pernicious agent of mammon who exploits the generosity and the faith of his flock to live a lifestyle of heretical luxury and sinful excess. He's a fake Christian con man who refuses to open the doors of his 16,800 seat mega church to the desperate people Houston during hurricane Harvey.

Didn't last long. I imagine the good 'pastor' has people who look after this sort of thing for him.

[BoSoxGal]

I agree wholeheartedly with rubato - I didn't much like the first episode of BB, I quit without getting half way through it and didn't try watching it again for a few years. I'm so glad I didn't miss it, it was a terrific show with a great deal to say of value about morality. (Not to mention terrific acting and writing.)

Meade, you might wish to rethink your position on Breaking Bad.

[Big RR]

Very interesting topic drift, starting with a rant on how a shooting is being ignored by the media, and ending up diverting to a discussion of TV preacher Osteen and movies and TV shows. What a country/board.

For those who are still interested in the OP, not a lot is available, but here's a link:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/us/new-me ... -shooting/