that we are safe primarily because of the good will of others. Nothing more, nothing less. When that good will is absent, bad things happen.

We should start thinking of each other as family. We've all grown so far apart. When is the last time that you went out with your friends and they spent most of the time on their smartphone? How much time do you spend on the net unplugged from the real world. This distance is creating isolation. This isolation is creating animosity and disjointed realities.

If you think someone you know needs help, get them help by any means even if it means calling the authorities.

If you need help call a friend or a crisis hotline. Let someone know.

Hug your kids.
Hug your friends.
Hug your neighbor.
Hug a stranger.

We're all in this together. We need to love one another and love ourselves as well.

Pay it forward and love someone new today.

I'm re-posting this at the request of Bvar (this is not my OP):

I am no longer a Star Member, and can not post a poll,
so I will post an informal thread instead.
I would appreciate it if a Star member would post a simple Poll:

1)I am a Democrat who owns a single gun

2)I am a Democrat who owns several guns

3)I am a Democrat who owns NO guns

I am a Liberal Democrat who owns several long guns, and a hand gun.
I maintain them, and shoot them at least twice a year on our rural property.
I keep them all loaded, readily accessible,
but out-of sight on a wall rack in the back hallway.
(We have no children or adolescents in our home.)

I have used them to protect ourselves, our property, our stock and our pets,
and will do so again if the need arises,
though I prefer to Live Trap & Relocate.

I am not a Gun Nut, though some here would label me as one.
In 11 years at DU, I have never visited the Gun Forum and have no desire to do so.

I am one of the many, many responsible Liberal Democrats who own guns,
and will continue to do so.

http://www.ithp.org/articles/violentvideogames.html


What do you think? Is it interesting that first-person murder simulators are the most popular and profitable games of all time in the U.S.?
What's has a greater effect on those who would do violence? The gun or the conditioning?

Should we ban violent murder simulator video games because they glorify gun violence and desensitize future murderers?


[IMG][/IMG]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, one of the most popular games in history.

http://www.kgw.com/news/Clackamas-man-armed-confronts-mall-shooter-183593571.html

I care about my new family. I care about my well being.

I don't feel vulnerable. I understand the risks of reality. I wish we could all get along perfectly, but there are predators among us. I'm not an alarmist, I'm just acknowledging reality. I personally know other people that have used their firearms to protect themselves from human predators outside of their homes as well as inside. I've had to use mine once, but thankfully didn't even have to raise it nor fire it. I don't leave my personal protection and that of my family to the good will of others. Not to mention that LEOs have no duty to protect me, they are only responsible for enforcing laws. I know it's an old tired phrase, but it rings true: When seconds count the police are only minutes away.

I live in the middle of nowhere and the police response time is measured with a sun dial. There are coyotes, bears, meth labs, tweakers, drug dealers, rabid raccoons and other animals that are dangerous to humans. I still carried when I lived in the city too, every area has it's risks. Once the other guy decides you are a target, what you think doesn't matter all that much.

I am a firearms instructor. I take precautions to prevent injury to myself and others. Ted Strickland, former Ohio Governor, has shot under my supervision (he really didn't need it, he's quite safe). The others that handle my firearms are under strict supervision. They are under the same supervision handling their own firearms in my presence as well. I've trained close to 100 people so far over the last 2 years. CCW is a 12 hour class in Ohio. All without incident.

Here's my brother James, under my supervision, shooting a sub machinegun without incident.


Here's Gov. Strickland, under my supervision, Shooting a .45 without incident:


Cross Posted @ http://icarriedaguntodayandnoonewashurtbyit.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/i-carry-because-i-care/

Please leave a comment.

Source: New York Times

Three people were killed on Friday, including two people who died during an attack while class was in session at a Wyoming community college, the police said.

Many details about the attack, which occurred before 9 a.m., remained unclear late Friday afternoon. The Casper police declined to specify what type of weapon had been used or to discuss a possible motive.

A second victim, who was female, was apparently killed off campus, authorities said.

The attacker, who was male, committed suicide, said Chief Chris Walsh of the Casper Police.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/us/attack-at-wyoming-college-proves-fatal.html?_r=0

---

Very sad.

There is a discussion in the photography group about upping the max size limit for photos. I think that we should poll DUers to see what kind of bandwidth we are dealing with here on average to help us in coming up with a solution.

You can use this website to measure your speed if you don't know. Please hit the poll when you are done.
[link:http://www.speedtest.net|Http://www.speedtest.net
]


Mine is terribly slow as I live in the middle of nowhere.

Feel free to kick this thread to the top of the pile so we can collect more info.

Thank you all for participating.

You can trash that group and not only will you no longer see that group's postings anymore, you will NOT be called for jury duty for that group. (according to Sid )

So take this opportunity to trash it up!

[IMG][/IMG]

Post yours too! Let's discuss.

Congratulations to all! This was a fun contest to run. Autumn is my favorite season and living in Ohio you really get the full effect of Fall.

I love hosting things like this. We may not agree on all subjects at all times, but it's great that we can take a step back and enjoy the things that make this world beautiful and life worth living.

The arts are a part of my life that I couldn't do without, but there is no creation without inspiration. So for this contest we started at the beginning. Now we have come full circle. Thank you to all that participated.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021784419<- GD Winners Thread