Just a note to say that all of our members from Omaha appear to be safe after yesterday awful shooting that occured in an Omaha Mall.
Greg Nunn and Mark Goodall, two members that I am aware of that live in Omaha have both posted or have been heard from since this shooting.
I know that my partner and Mike used that very same Mall and the Von Maur's store to do some shopping for me during the convention. It is scary that in a world as large as ours, that we now have a connection to some of the folks that may have waited on any of us during that time. I am glad that Greg and Mark are fine, but my prayers go out to their city and all those affected by this awful event.
What is truly sad to me is that the man that did this has gotten his wish and will now in some sick way become famous...
Ian, some people don't understand 'wry'. I have always felt that name calling is a pretty weak way to advance a position (not to mention proscribed by the rules).
Of course, you also said something nice about me and that might have been what set him off.
...and be careful. He'll be back.
BTW, how do you make those red letters? All I know how to do is upper and lower case.
As an English Lit. undergraduate major, I find that England has a rich, colorful, and clever literary history. So I am surprised that wry wit, satire, subtlety, etc. would be lost on this gentleman.
I am associated with one of the 'first to arrive' police officers. As you might presume, he starts this day with precious little sleep. He describes an absolutely surreal experience entering that establishment. When/if he is comfortable with me doing so, I will share some of his impressions/memories with you.
While I feel so bad for the innocent victims and their grieving loved ones, it is this police officer's descriptions that I walk around with.
P.S. Please, gun lovers, do us the courtesy of locking them up. Please.
Here is the content of a message I received at my office this morning:
I'm getting an abundance of much appreciated e-mail and several phone calls, so I decided to put out a quick note addressing what happened at Westroads Mall and my involvement in the incident. I've been a cop for twenty years, but nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced yesterday afternoon.
Myself and two of my officers were first to arrive at Von Maur. It was surreal.
Cordite hanging in the air.
Blood, bodies, and empties from the suspect's rifle everywhere you looked.
People frozen and cowering under displays and in fitting rooms.
Abandoned baby strollers, ladies' handbags, dropped cups of coffee and Christmas shopping bags littering the floor throughout the mall.
Alarms shrieking from speakers in the ceiling, "Emergency! Depart the mall immediately!"
Christmas music playing in the background.
And all the while, you're searching, guns at the ready, certain the bad guy is going to pop up from a clothing rack and kill one of you before your buddies can react and fight back.
Scan, drive forward a short distance with your fire team, pray. Repeat.
I will write more when I have time, [...] three hours of broken sleep. Please pray for the victims and the ever-widening branch of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and public safety personnel who will be forever impacted by this horrific event.
Ian I respectfully ask that you reference in a dictionary or online the word "glib" as it might pertain to your opening commentary here. I do not expect nor do I want to see a reply to this here.
You pop in here. Take a shot. And then say you don't want a reply. How does that work in thread give & take?
If you don't like, or don't understand, Ian, just click back out. You didn't have to take a shot. I would think that if you decide to participate, then you are participating and there may be a response. Why should you be able to take a shot and get a pass?
P.S. Having said that, I guess I am fully aware that some around here get a pass. Frustrates the heck out of me.
I figured it out... Marks a stranded on Earth rocketwarrior from the planet Didactica. A planet on the furthermost region of the universe inhabited by a few races the most notable race being known as the Goads. It's believed this name was derived from the long pointed sticks the Goads carried early on in their development and were used mainly to poke and prod the other races individually or collectively to death. Early drawings found on discarded space ships show depictions of Goads and in many instances some appear to have a small elf like creature sitting on their shoulder. Though not confirmed as yet there is reasonable anecdotal evidence to support the theory that these little elf-like creatures were commonly referred to as Glibbers, chatty and comical at times but prone to leaving little messes to clean up much like a parrot.
And my USAF source Bob familiar with Area 51 made me swear I wouldn't divulge where I got this information so I'm sorry I can't so please don't ask with a cherry on top.
Pete, really, I am not ignoring you. I accept your sparring challenge and will engage a little later. But, in the meantime, I thought I would get back to the subject.
Even though there were any number of higher odds ways a loved one could have gotten into trouble yesterday afternoon, the cell phone system was jammed as people satisfied their need to check in with each other. That even happened on this site, AW site, and probably virtually every site with a national presence. But any day, at any time, someone we care about could be in trouble.
Within a couple hours of the incident I heard from a woman with whom I had worked in San Francisco a very, very long time ago. She was “checking in” but she also reminded me that she (I had forgotten) was a survivor of a shooting rampage in SF. It still affects her – always will. This incident caused her to reconnect with me and, for better or worse, revisit the horror she had experienced.
Then first thing this morning I received the message I shared with y’all at Post #26809 above. While it is sort of lost here, it affected me more than I expected. First of all I was somehow gratified that he was disposed to share his feelings so soon. But heavier than that was the realization of the depth of impact this man, in a macho profession, was experiencing. I am not sure why I want to, or feel a need to, share this. But I know that I feel closer to him, and want to feel closer to him. So I will kind of try to figure the right balance between the space he needs and connection he needs. And he will struggle with that too.
I don’t mean to go 911 on this and elevate anyone. After all, he was just doing his job. Further, I have witnessed, or been tangentially involved with, some police behaviors that would make Norman Rockwell turn in his grave. But I somehow feel, like I said, gratified that he would share this struggle. And I am glad that when bad stuff happens we have good people who will walk into that mall when everyone else is running out. He is a good man.
Morgan, I appreciate your thoughtful words about the Omaha shooting at Von Maur's.
As Morgan mentioned, this hits especially close to home, since two of our club members live in Omaha. Greg Nunn lives within just a few miles of the store. I was very thankful to hear that Greg Nunn and Mark Goodall are ok.
This also hits close to home because many of us were in Omaha just a few short months ago. The hotel in which we stayed was only a few miles from this store. As Morgan also pointed out, a few of us were even in the store and on the floor where the shooting took place. After reading an article on Omaha TV station KETV's Web site, I was saddened to learn that one of the employees who helped me was shot and killed. I've included a link to the article that lists the victims.
My thoughts and prayers are added to those that go out to the victims, their families and friends. This will be a difficult holiday season for many people. It certainly puts my small day-to-day challenges in perspective. And, it reminds me of how blessed I am.
At first, I was going to try to join in your attempt to converse in metaphor. But then it occurred to me to simply look at your metaphor to see what it is you are saying. And what I found was irony. Not an attempt to use irony, like your attempt to use metaphor, but irony itself. Here is the irony:
Robert totally missed the satiric subtlety of Ian’s post. He missed the fact that Ian feels the same way he does. Ian doesn’t like killing. I mean, real killing. In Robert’s haste to start name calling he didn’t realize that Ian’s comment was not only not offensive, it was, well, thoughtful. (And if it is thoughtful, then it isn’t glib either).
Enter Pete. First the off point glib reference, then the metaphor. Why a metaphor? Just fun, cleverness? No, when reduced to its contextual meaning, the metaphor is……are you ready for this?….name calling. Pete one-ups Robert in the name calling business by using metaphor to call both Ian and Rocket names. So, at the end of the day, there is this thread about the Omaha shooting and these guys break in and start calling us names.
And that is why I can’t join in the metaphor. I would rather not stoop to calling people names. But it makes a guy wonder. So, Pete, why exactly did you click in here? I mean, you showed no interest in the thread topic. That’s it, you just dropped in to call us names. Did you decide to do that on your own or were you sent?
Now, and this is for the record. Let’s see if the system gives Pete a pass. Let me guess: No one will indicate a problem with such behavior.
In Posts 16084 and 26089 I shared my having heard from a "first to arrive" police sergeant on the morning after. Well, I can now disclose that his name is Jeff Baker and his story is on the front page of the Omaha World-Herald today.
Here is the link but the site might be pretty busy.
Honourable: adhering to ethical and moral principles; "it seems ethical and right"; "followed the only honorable course of action"; "had the moral courage to stand alone"
The events in Omaha are a terrible tragedy, and my thoughts are with all of those involved, and I really do wish everyone the very best. I was briefly able to follow this story on the news earlier, but I have not been able to gather enough information so far for various reasons. Once I can gather even more information, I may comment further.
I know I am unable to be a regular poster on here for health reasons, but this thread saddens me, especially as I have been trying my best to be a more regular visitor. :(
I must say that, as someone who has moderated health message boards in the past for a British youth CFS/ME support charity, as well as my former secondary (high) school (though I still assist with the school’s website from home), there is no need for any kind of potentially adverse language. In actual fact, the rule should be this: if you cannot say something to someone’s face, you cannot say it on the Internet. In light of this, the Internet cannot and should not be used as a potential excuse, as it were, to use anything less than friendly language, especially if it becomes personal. Robust discussion is welcome at times, I would guess, but more than that is not.
This is a forum for all of us, and I am loathe to bring my health into this matter, but I will, I am afraid. It is not a particularly pleasant experience reading some of the messages here. :( Indeed, I doubt it is for many others. :( I simply am not able to follow the central point of this thread, which is very difficult for someone like me whose disability requires a great deal of effort to undertake even minor activities.
I personally know some of those involved in this thread, and although it is not really my place to do so, I will be discussing the issues with them individually via MSN and text, but certainly not on here.
This is meant to be a magnanimous message from me, not one of conflict. I am a relatively new member as such (joined in spring of this year), and I do realise I have to be careful with how I approach this. However, I would urge people, please, to think and think again before posting messages, and to realise that we really do get on very well – just think of the interests that unite us. :)
I do realise from my experience in teaching IT/ICT and Computing in the past, especially online communications, that conflict can arise on forums such as this. The simple fact is that, although online communications are a fantastic way of getting messages across quickly, they do not often lend themselves well to the little nuances of adult conversation that we are all capable of. Also, these online conflicts would be very unlikely to occur if we were to meet in person. Indeed, such negative behaviour, as mentioned earlier, would be unacceptable in such cases.
I do sincerely apologise if this message is not welcome, and I am not targeting anyone at all. :)
Remember to really enjoy this and other forums – they’re for real fun and nothing else. :)
And, finally, do remember those involved in the recent events in Omaha.
Take care. :)
Regards,
Carl :)
Post# 26198-12/7/2007-18:30 ||| beerad(Beautiful Vancouver BC)
how about forgiveness and gratitude...
How about forgiving?? Forgiving is very powerful and it starts with yourself. When you forgive yourself your ego is tamed. Once you are able to forgive( this is a process), it puts you in an empowering position to then forgive others...this is where the healing begins; it then has a ripple effect out into the world....at a subsconscious and conciuos level.I have a question for every person reading this post.What are 10 things that you are truly gratefull for right now here in this moment?
I will share my gratefulls;
1.I am gratefull for my mental, spritual, emotional and physical wellness.
2.I am gratefull for the beautiful sunset I experienced last night.
3.I am gratefull for this website where I may share in my joy with other fellow vacumm lovers.
4.I am gratefull for the joy I feel when I am actually vacuuming.
5.I am gratefull for my freedom.
6.I am gratefull for my warm, safe and cozy home on thism very cold winter day.
7.I am gratefull for the people who have created this vacuumland website.
8.I am gratefull for being a kind person to myself and others.
9.I am gratefull for having a kind, loving, reverent best friend.
10. I am gratefull for my inner peace.
Thank you all for reading this post.
It is mt intention for every person inside and outside of "vacuumland" to have infinite Joy, Love and Gratitude.
Why do you voluntarily click in here and read stuff that upsets you and then complain about it? I asked Pete about the same thing? People are having a discussion here that does not rise to your personal standard of a discussion and you feel a need to be a proctor.
Is asking this question against the rules that you have for on line discussion? Sure me, Pete, Ian, Robert can tend to rub each other but we don't feel (or did someone?) a need to holler "Webmaster, Webmaster, someone is bugging me, make them quit."
Really, Mr. Stock, Pete is a really bright guy. Ian is a really bright guy. Neither need a babysitter. What exactly are you up to here?
(Or did someone who is "in" holler Webmaster?)
After my last post I went out to suck on a Rocky Patel and shoved a little snow. The plow had blown some of that white loveliness over a walk I had cleared last night. I don’t use it, but neighbors taking a constitutional do. And I was thinking about you and your well intentioned but unnecessary post.
I mean no disrespect, but I am not sure why you injected your health into the discussion. We old timers can be a little manipulative playing that card if we want to – I don’t think that’s fair. I mean. to use that to squelch free flow of discussion.
And only because you played that card I will play a health card of my own. A few years ago, fall of 2003 I became uninsurable. The cardiac stuff was pretty tolerable because there is at least some decent science there. All ya need is a good plumber.
It was the other thing that has such a dismal prognosis. And I started that nasty medicine every week that made me sick for 3 days, marginal for 1 day and reasonably tolerable for the other 3. I respect that you might not have the health choices I do. And I am truly sorry and wish you the best. But I don’t see the relevance and don’t see how that gives you license to incorporate it into your attempt to modify our discussion.
Anyway, I got really fed up and took hold of the management of my illness. I swapped it out for denial. A diagnosis that seems to work pretty well for me. And I dumped a couple of nasty medicines and replaced them with good old fashioned home grown spit and vinegar. The spit and vinegar cocktail seems to work a lot better for me and it is a heck of a lot cheaper.
And I am never going to ask these young bucks to tip toe around us old farts so as not to disturb our serenity. If you want serenity, click somewhere else. Robert and Pete and Ian are full of spit and vinegar. That is why I love them and know they can ‘handle it.’
Really, Mr. Stock, it is like we were over in another room and you walked by, listened for awhile, and decided you needed to tell us how to act, how to talk. I can take what Pete dishes out. Pete can take what I dish out. He’s cocky and fun and bright and, well I don’t know how old he is, but he is certainly young at heart. That’s where I want to be, dishin’ the dirt with Pete.
I acknowledge the fact that it is not your cup of tea. So, with all due respect, have your tea in any number of places that better fit your mood. Or sit down with us eye to eye instead from some position of authority.
I am very sorry indeed if I have caused any problems here. :( Apart from that, I do not really know what to say. :(
It really was my intention to simply help. :( I know exactly what Rob is like, and I know him not just on the Internet, but I have also spoken to him by telephone several times (and another member who has not added to this thread so far).
Rob is one of my best friends, along with another member here, others on AW.org and others (non-appliance friends) locally and nationally. I also know Ian, who is a new friend of mine, but I have not spoken to him by telephone.
To make it clear who I am really am, please feel free to view the video of me (see the link below). For more information on my condition, please see the second link.
Thank you. :)
I shall leave this here and just say that I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. :)
Carl,
I think you would have some insights about the way the horrible Von Maur shooting is being "discussed" here in Omaha. We, of course, are deluged with "information." Where you and I probably come together is the way it is handled on "talk radio." On the drive on the way home, a "radio host" (yeh, I cringe too) was trying to stir up a little participation with his handling of the shooting and suggesting people were overreacting emotionally. I, probably for some unhealthy reason, listen to some of that and then click back to NPR. Now there is a place where your skills are really needed.
Oops, my Thai Pizza just dinged in the oven, gotta go get it. Thanks for coming in.
BTW, I sure don't need any apology - hang in there (here).
