my co-worker doesn't let a conversation about London pass without saying something like, "well, it's too bad that happened over there, but I just hope that it won't start happening here." I don't know why this bugs so much. Possibly because I have personal stakes over there, as well as here. I guess what she is saying makes sense, if one doesn't.

Well, sure. It's understandable (better someone else than me), but still slightly tacky. IMO.

congrats, Vortex! When do they begin construction?

No, it's still pretty annoying, Nora. I mean, in some sense, sure, we all hope bad things don't happen here. On the other hand, what it ends up sounding like is, "Oh thank goodness that happened to those people and not to us." Which is -- well, again, honestly? Sure. I'm glad it's not anyone I know. But it doesn't make it okay... I'm not expressing it well. It's sort of the "all about me" thing, I guess. Like hearing about someone's mother dying and saying, "Oh, that's terrible; I'm glad my mother's not dead."

ETA: Er, y'all post too fast.

I am just. so. glad. that crackpot!cow-orker is out sick today. If he were here, I know that he would not be able to shut up about it, and contain his hostility.

shark week coming up

I first understood this as "jump the shark week" and thought "Surely not, in the summer!"

It's understandable (better someone else than me), but still slightly tacky.

Yes, this! I understand, but, hey, why don't you think it instead of say it?

Oh, Tom, I was going to comment. Don't they do drills near you like every week? I'm always seeing streams of cop cars turning down a street near you.

Yes, this! I understand, but, hey, why don't you think it instead of say it?

Yeah, you're crazy. How could someone have a thought and not say it out loud????

and also? doesn't it go without say that we are happy when we or the people we know are not killed by terrorist bombs. I MEAN REALLY!

There are drills, and then there are drills. This one is called "Operation Hercules".