Texas explosion

[Yorkshire pud]

I don't know if you've gt this yet, but it's making our headlines here. Absolutely dreadful. As I'm on this side of the pond, I'm not in a position to repeatedly punch Alex Asshole when he inevitably claims later that it's a government job. Can you guys line up and take it in turns please?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22195495

[Eddie Coyle]

I don't know if you've gt this yet, but it's making our headlines here. Absolutely dreadful. As I'm on this side of the pond, I'm not in a position to repeatedly punch Alex Asshole when he inevitably claims later that it's a government job. Can you guys line up and take it in turns please?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22195495

The date and proximity to Waco is going to be natural pathways to rampant speculation and rumor. It's been covered live non-stop by CNN/Fox News since at least 10pm on the East Coast.

          Yes, Jones will have a field day with this. More fuel for his conflagration of idiocy. What a shitty week this has been. Meaning a boon for the likes of him. 

[stevesh]

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Fertilizer Plant Explosion Near Waco, Texas

Unbelievable.

[ziznak]

Please dad... get outta here... I can't hear... get outta here... please dad.

Theres still firefighters missing? I've seen what a jet engine can do to a person.  Looking at that video I'll bet those firefighters got vaporized.  At least it was quick right?

[West of the Rockies]

That is a heart-wrenching final 20 seconds in that video...  There probably is no clear cause for the disaster, is there?  Okay, this may be a knee-jerk reaction, but I wonder if this was a company where safety standards were lax (rather like the coal-mine disasters of a couple years ago in West Virginia).  Could be standard equipment or operator failure, I suppose.  Man, it seems like the last couple months have been one miserable event after another, ya know?

[FightTheFuture]

That is a heart-wrenching final 20 seconds in that video...  There probably is no clear cause for the disaster, is there?  Okay, this may be a knee-jerk reaction, but I wonder if this was a company where safety standards were lax (rather like the coal-mine disasters of a couple years ago in West Virginia).  Could be standard equipment or operator failure, I suppose.  Man, it seems like the last couple months have been one shit sandwich after another, ya know?

Exactly what I was thinking. I can not conceive of an operation this large, manufacturing what they did and not having some kind of massive heat/smoke activated sprinkler system. Then again, maybe they did, and it was malfunctioning.


Also, I`ve heard that the volunteer fire fighters - God bless them all - were using water to extinguish the flames. I`m pretty certain, in light of the type of fire it was, they  should have been using some sort of dry chemical extinguisher.

[MV/Liberace!]

i'm surprised emergency personnel were in such close physical proximity to the fire.  you'd think, knowing the building is full of fertilizer, protocol would prevent this.

[Morgus]

Regarding the timing of this event, isn't this week the 20th anniversary of the end of the Waco siege in 1993?

[Sardondi]

Unbelievable

What the hell was that doofus 1) doing there filming it (from what looked like a mere 600-800 yds away), 2) with his young daughter?? Fool, fool, fool. I bet Mama wore his stupid ass out when they got home. I'm guessing the trip home may have included a stop at an ice cream parlor, where he tried the old, "Uh, now Mama doesn't have to know every little detail about this, okay?".

[PB the Deplorable]

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Fertilizer Plant Explosion Near Waco, Texas

Unbelievable.

This reminds me of the people sitting on a ridge across from Mt St Helens waiting for it to blow.  I think they may have found similar recordings under a few feet of ash.

[West of the Rockies]

This reminds me of the people sitting on a ridge across from Mt St Helens waiting for it to blow.  I think they may have found similar recordings under a few feet of ash.

There will always be such fools, PB.  Some people hurry to the Gulf Coast for "hurricane parties".  Others run to the beach when they hear about a possible tsunami.  And then the gene pool is typically scrubbed of a few knuckleheads.

[Yorkshire pud]

What's this about a paramedic being arrested for a pipe bomb. Has there been a definite connection to the explosion?


I hope the Austin windbag doesn't start suggesting 'patsy' ...Please say he won't, and be correct.

[Sardondi]

There's been no mention of a connection yet.

There's always the outside chance of the "rescuer's fantasy" scenario, though. There have been cases, most often in the case of volunteers or those who are not full fledged members of whatever first-responder group they want to be a part of, in which a fireman, policeman, paramedic, etc. will cause an incident which necessitates him being called to a scene, where he will then get to do that responder thing which jazzes him so much, or even get a chance to be a hero and thus worthy of full inclusion into his group of heroes. I really hope that's not the case here. 

[General Johnson Jameson]

What's this about a paramedic being arrested for a pipe bomb. Has there been a definite connection to the explosion?


I hope the Austin windbag doesn't start suggesting 'patsy' ...Please say he won't, and be correct.

Doesn't half the population (roughly) of Texas have pipe bombs?
I think they call them homemade thundercrackers down there.

[West of the Rockies]

Doesn't half the population (roughly) of Texas have pipe bombs?
I think they call them homemade thundercrackers down there.

Well, if half of all Texans don't have pipe bombs, they should!  The only thing that stops a bad guy with a pipe bomb is a good guy with a pipe bomb. 

I am, of course, making a bit of fun of Wayne LaPierre.  Although I take 2nd Amendment rights seriously, I do not take the NRA prez seriously.

[onan]

Well, if half of all Texans don't have pipe bombs, they should!  The only thing that stops a bad guy with a pipe bomb is a good guy with a pipe bomb. 

I am, of course, making a bit of fun of Wayne LaPierre.  Although I take 2nd Amendment rights seriously, I do not take the NRA prez seriously.

Think LaPierre is scary... wait for Porter. I think LaPierre is actually the vice president. but Porter calls the civil war the war of northern aggression. It should be fun.

[West of the Rockies]

Oh, for sure, Onan!  Does the NRA have no ability whatsoever to see themselves as much of the public will when a good ol' boy with a pot belly and a deep southern drawl stomps up to the podium and starts separating us into Yanks and Rebs?  I thought Mitt Romney lacked much self-awareness, but, yes, the incoming NRA guy looks like a hoot.

[Yorkshire pud]

Oh, for sure, Onan!  Does the NRA have no ability whatsoever to see themselves as much of the public will when a good ol' boy with a pot belly and a deep southern drawl stomps up to the podium and starts separating us into Yanks and Rebs?  I thought Mitt Romney lacked much self-awareness, but, yes, the incoming NRA guy looks like a hoot.

He's already on it! Due for broadcast next week sometime.. 

[Juan]

Oh, for sure, Onan!  Does the NRA have no ability whatsoever to see themselves as much of the public will when a good ol' boy with a pot belly and a deep southern drawl stomps up to the podium and starts separating us into Yanks and Rebs?  I thought Mitt Romney lacked much self-awareness, but, yes, the incoming NRA guy looks like a hoot.

Bigoted, racist, regionalist name calling doesn't advance your point.

[Yorkshire pud]

Bigoted, racist, regionalist name calling doesn't advance your point.

How is it any of the three you accuse it of being? You should come to the UK if you want a bit of 'regionolism' (If there is a word)! Northerners slag off wet lettuce southerners with their warm and flat beer and inability to stand the cold...The Irish slag off the folk from Kerry in Ireland..many of the Scots detest the English (It all goes back to the Jacobite uprising, The Campbell and MacDonald clans in 1692)..


Unless the NRA southern branch get all sensitive and hurt with a bit of slagging off? BTW..I have a good friend in GA, and she gives as good as she gets when it comes to 'regionolism'! 

[West of the Rockies]

Bigoted, racist, regionalist name calling doesn't advance your point.

Hey, Fill... And do you see nothing wrong with the incoming NRA president's words, his reference to "the war of northern aggression"?  Does he not, in fact, have a southern accent -- which when coupled with his above words -- smacks a bit of all-too-traditional we-vs-they-ism?  HE is the one who began with the north vs. south reference.  Yes, I took that sentiment and ran with it.  I will also confess that his pot belly has nothing to do with the content of his words or character.  But have you no sense of concern at long last, sir, for the beliefs embodied by this man's words? 

[Sardondi]

...Unless the NRA southern branch get all sensitive and hurt with a bit of slagging off? BTW..I have a good friend in GA, and she gives as good as she gets when it comes to 'regionolism'! 

Heh. The I'm-not-bigoted-one-of-my-friends-is-a-whatever response.

Oh, for sure, Onan!  Does the NRA have no ability whatsoever to see themselves as much of the public will when a good ol' boy with a pot belly and a deep southern drawl stomps up to the podium and starts separating us into Yanks and Rebs?  I thought Mitt Romney lacked much self-awareness, but, yes, the incoming NRA guy looks like a hoot.

You can not be serious.

[West of the Rockies]

Okay, for what it's worth (probably nothing), I (and Onan) have noted in the tone and phrasing of in-coming NRA president Porter's words a certain bluntness.  So far, UFOFill and Sardondi, you have both taken great offense at my response to this man's comments.  Neither of you have anything whatsoever to say about Porter's actual speech. 

I don't know what else to say on the matter.  Once again, it appears to me that we (collectively) are unable to see past our own filters.  I am sure that were we neighbors, we'd have great conversations over the fence; we'd help each other build fences and fix cars.  But politically, we seem almost unable to connect in any meaningful way without immediately hiding behind our preconceived notions and beliefs.  Curious.

I'd say more, but it's Mothers' Day, and I gotta go do the mom thing.

[Juan]

I don't know what he said, and don't care. Gum bumping doesn't bother me. Actions may.

My only point is that the name-calling detracts from your argument.

[Sardondi]

Okay, for what it's worth (probably nothing), I (and Onan) have noted in the tone and phrasing of in-coming NRA president Porter's words a certain bluntness.  So far, UFOFill and Sardondi, you have both taken great offense at my response to this man's comments.  Neither of you have anything whatsoever to say about Porter's actual speech. 

I don't know what else to say on the matter.  Once again, it appears to me that we (collectively) are unable to see past our own filters.  I am sure that were we neighbors, we'd have great conversations over the fence; we'd help each other build fences and fix cars.  But politically, we seem almost unable to connect in any meaningful way without immediately hiding behind our preconceived notions and beliefs.  Curious.

I'd say more, but it's Mothers' Day, and I gotta go do the mom thing.

What the hell, bubba? "You can not be serious" draws that? I'm beginning to see some problems with your sense of scale.

[Yorkshire pud]

Heh. The I'm-not-bigoted-one-of-my-friends-is-a-whatever response.
You can not be serious.

Who said I wasn't bigoted? But regionolism as a title of derision is a new one on me.

[West of the Rockies]

What the hell, bubba? "You can not be serious" draws that? I'm beginning to see some problems with your sense of scale.

Sardondi, UFOFill called my words (or me?) racist and bigoted.  (For whatever reason, I don't care so much about regionalist.)  Those are pretty strong words.  Perhaps I over-reacted to your words, but on the heels of charges of racism and bigotry, it was a little difficult to say, aw, shucks....

I'm not mad about this; I haven't lost any sleep.  I enjoy our cyber conversations on all manner of topics.  And for the record, I try to acknowledge in many of my political posts that both sides have plenty of turds, plenty to be "held accountable for" intellectually, ethically, spiritually.  I try to present examples of both sides being fools.  Yesterday, for instance, in a post I said that both sides spew outlandish charges against the other.  I presented the oft-repeated charge of some libs that "all Repubs care about is the super wealthy".  I then presented an oft-repeated conservative claim that "Obama wants to take away all our guns."  Both claims are ludicrous.

BUT, I still maintain that Porter's words were pretty damn tone-deaf and vitriolic.  UFOFill hinted that these words were mere "gum-flapping".  My words, however, were bigoted and racist.

Look, no one here is getting paid to post on this forum.  I suspect we have all worded certain posts inartfully, said things we later think we might revise and delete or sometimes even apologize for.  I acknowledged that making reference to Porter's fat belly was pointless.   But to me (westcoast lib that I am), referring to the Civil War as "the war of northern aggression" is a bit silly. 

Out of curiosity, how do you guys feel about the bars and stars flag so proudly displayed on the backs of so many pick-up trucks and such?  Do you see that to some people in this country, that flag is symbolic of racism, an unwillingness to acknowledge that slavery was wrong?  I DO see that the flag also represents to some people -- or so they say -- a pride in their heritage and has nothing to do with a pro-slavery attitude.  I guess I don't personally care all that much either way.  My people had no slaves (being Native American and late-arriving Polish immigrants -- it's a weird family mix... don't ask).  As the saying goes, I don't have a dog in that race (concerning the stars and bars flag).

So I look forward to further chats with you, Sardondi and UFOFill, and anyone else who disagrees with me.  I also encourage all of us to use a little more self-examination.

[FightTheFuture]

Jim Porter`s comments regarding "War of Northern aggression" were made at a very casual get together at a shooting club in New York and with tongue firmly in cheek. Remember; context is everything.


The man is a highly respected Alabama attorney; he`s no country bumpkin, redneck for God`s sake.


I see nothing what-so-ever "crazy", "bizarre", or what-have-you, about this man taking the reigns of the NRA.

[Sardondi]

Sardondi, UFOFill called my words (or me?) racist and bigoted.  (For whatever reason, I don't care so much about regionalist.)  Those are pretty strong words.  Perhaps I over-reacted to your words, but on the heels of charges of racism and bigotry, it was a little difficult to say, aw, shucks....

I'm not mad about this; I haven't lost any sleep.  I enjoy our cyber conversations on all manner of topics.  And for the record, I try to acknowledge in many of my political posts that both sides have plenty of turds, plenty to be "held accountable for" intellectually, ethically, spiritually.  I try to present examples of both sides being fools.  Yesterday, for instance, in a post I said that both sides spew outlandish charges against the other.  I presented the oft-repeated charge of some libs that "all Repubs care about is the super wealthy".  I then presented an oft-repeated conservative claim that "Obama wants to take away all our guns."  Both claims are ludicrous.

BUT, I still maintain that Porter's words were pretty damn tone-deaf and vitriolic.  UFOFill hinted that these words were mere "gum-flapping".  My words, however, were bigoted and racist.

Look, no one here is getting paid to post on this forum.  I suspect we have all worded certain posts inartfully, said things we later think we might revise and delete or sometimes even apologize for.  I acknowledged that making reference to Porter's fat belly was pointless.   But to me (westcoast lib that I am), referring to the Civil War as "the war of northern aggression" is a bit silly. 

Out of curiosity, how do you guys feel about the bars and stars flag so proudly displayed on the backs of so many pick-up trucks and such?  Do you see that to some people in this country, that flag is symbolic of racism, an unwillingness to acknowledge that slavery was wrong?  I DO see that the flag also represents to some people -- or so they say -- a pride in their heritage and has nothing to do with a pro-slavery attitude.  I guess I don't personally care all that much either way.  My people had no slaves (being Native American and late-arriving Polish immigrants -- it's a weird family mix... don't ask).  As the saying goes, I don't have a dog in that race (concerning the stars and bars flag).

So I look forward to further chats with you, Sardondi and UFOFill, and anyone else who disagrees with me.  I also encourage all of us to use a little more self-examination.

Well thank you, but I still think that you're trying too hard to make the sky fall. The NRA guy was speaking in jest. His remarks were exactly like those a British Northerner might make to other Northerners about British Southerners; or to a roomful of Southerners about their stereotypes of Northerners. .

Jim Porter`s comments regarding "War of Northern aggression" were made at a very casual get together at a shooting club in New York and with tongue firmly in cheek. Remember; context is everything.
The man is a highly respected Alabama attorney; he`s no country bumpkin, redneck for God`s sake.
I see nothing what-so-ever "crazy", "bizarre", or what-have-you, about this man taking the reigns of the NRA.

That's more my take on it. WOTR, I'm not sure you understand how the Civil War still paints the way many Northerners view people from the South. It's not that those in the South are still fighting the Civil War, it's that those in the South have reason to feel Northerners think they're still fighting it. Porter was merely riffing on that stereotype.

[General Johnson Jameson]

There's been no mention of a connection yet.

There's always the outside chance of the "rescuer's fantasy" scenario, though.

He was probably just using pipe bombs for fishing. Old timers say that's how they'd get the big channel catfish. That or those old crank-type Bell telephones with the leads in the water and shock the fuck out of them.
Heh, I actually have two of those old telephones...never went fishing with one though. People really used to catch fish with them.