The King of Thailand is indeed super-cool. Elizabeth had a shot at the coolness in 50s, but elected to go the stodgy route. More's the pity.

{{{{{sj}}}}} The only BCP that has consistently worked for me is Yasmin (neat/annoying side effect: it made my chest gain a cup size), but I think it's starting to go wacky on me, too. Grumble.

~ma for S & Sean.

Cash, it does seem like that is a case where if adults had stepped in and acted on the teens bad behavior (with a talking-to, punishment, etc.) then it would never have escalated like this.

{{Sean}} {{S}}

ION: TGIF

Cash, it does seem like that is a case where if adults had stepped in and acted on the teens bad behavior (with a talking-to, punishment, etc.) then it would never have escalated like this.

The guy who did the shooting looks like a classic case of a tormented loser and I hate that this happened but when you see the pictures and the "spirit session" they held at the high school for the girl and yet nobody--not even the girls who were with her or their parents were pointing out that they were tresspassing and taunting an old woman and her pathetic son because their fence and house overgrown and in disrepair I tend to get a little hot.

{{{Sean}}} {{{S}}}

I know I come into the office darned early compared to most folks, but it is ticking toward 9am and the place is still deserted. Is it some holiday that no one told me about?

Is it some holiday that no one told me about?

I'm willing to declare one if I get to go home.

they were tresspassing and taunting an old woman and her pathetic son because their fence and house overgrown and in disrepair I tend to get a little hot.

Exactly. Some parents/authority figures should have stepped in the first time they taunted these people, because the appropriate punishment is maybe grounding these teens (or for repeat offenders making them fix the fence) not gunshots. No one wins with what actually happened, and everyone is wrong.

Did anything say these particular kids were always the taunters?

I feel badly for both the girls and that beleagured family, but gun shit pisses me off. They were stupid kids being stupid kids. The family shouldn't be tormented for being odd ducks, but the kids shouldn't have been shot at (never mind shot) for being asshats. Why is the first response to shoot, rather than call the cops?

it's a floppy wee white dog VERY reminiscent of Tin Tin's white dog.

Snowy. "Woah! Woah!"

I totally skipped (I'm about to teach class) just to tell JZ and Hec they were in my dreams last night. I'm exhausted -- we were up all night (with other friends of mine) killing hordes of zombies!!!!

Cool! Except I'm tired now just thinking about it. Still, I'd totally fight zombies with you Erin.

Did anything say these particular kids were always the taunters?

I feel badly for both the girls and that beleagured family, but gun shit pisses me off. They were stupid kids being stupid kids. The family shouldn't be tormented for being odd ducks, but the kids shouldn't have been shot at (never mind shot) for being asshats. Why is the first response to shoot, rather than call the cops?

A saw an interview with a neighbor of the shooter and she said he'd been tormented and teased since he was a child. He may have just snapped. The mother and son both said they've been targeted by teenagers for years but never call the police because of their shakey relationship with the city about the condition of their house and yard.

I'm not justifying his actions--I'm pro-gun control and don't think he should have even had a gun. But the local coverage is so swayed towards the pretty, young cheerleader that nobody even brings up "pranking" that could get people killed. Like the link Ailleann posted--two kids were put in the hospital and the football players get a slap on the wrist.

I think what aggravates me the most if the perpatrators are upper middle class, athletes or attractive, they seem to be the victims of tragic accidents, versus their own stupidity.

Oh, yes to all that, Cashmere. I was just wondering about Sparky's comments, and if I'd missed something specifically about these kids being repeat offenders. All you need to do is look at the man to imagine how he's probably been treated his whole life.

nobody--not even the girls who were with her or their parents were pointing out that they were tresspassing and taunting an old woman and her pathetic son because their fence and house overgrown and in disrepair I tend to get a little hot.

Given how long it's been going on, I wouldn't be shocked if the parents had done the same thing, to the same people, in their day.

I think these unfortunate girls are the tail end of a very long chain. Not to justify in any way shooting at them - but what exactly were the police likely to have done? Tormenting weird people is not exactly high on the list of things this society gives a damn about.