Poll: What Can/Should Be Done To Reduce Gun Violence?

The tragedy in Newtown CT on Friday has left myself and others wondering what, if anything, can be done to at least reduce the number of such incidences. Facebook, Twitter and other forums have been filled with passionate discussion from all perspectives. I don’t know the answer, I wish I did.

With a lot of reservation the poll question this week asks what can/should be done to reduce gun violence. The poll is in the right sidebar, I’ve provided a wide range of answers to choose from. When commenting below please be respectful to others.

— Steve Patterson

Pedicabs In St. Louis

Few things bring a smile to my face like the humble pedicab.

My one and only time as a passenger was in NYC in 2005. Riding among traffic in Manhattan leaving Central Park was a bit scary but it made for a great memory. Hopefully our pedicabs will create positive memories for St. Louis visitors.

— Steve Patterson

Happy Winter Solstice…Or End

It is the 21st and the world hasn’t ended, maybe that’ll happen later today. I suppose a few might be reading this from your bunker but most of us we are going about our daily lives:

Scientists confidently predict that the worst upheaval we humans face at the end of this, and indeed any other calendar, is the need to get a new calendar. And perhaps nurse a celebratory hangover.

To their credit – because to say nothing might be worse – scientists have come forward to explain the fallacy, or sometimes that misinterpreted grain of truth, which lies behind each of the doomsday scenarios. In a move that gave short shrift to hedging, the US space agency released a video intended for 22 December 10 days early. Nasa has called it Why the Earth Did Not End yesterday. Academics did their part too. They traipsed from studio to studio to lay out the mundane truth for TV and radio audiences. Some spoke to otherwise respectable journalists for newspaper articles. (Source)

Have a great weekend….happy solstice.

— Steve Patterson

MetroLink Railroad Tie Replacement Underway

Metro has been doing a lot of late night maintenance on the MetroLink light rail system.

Not all of the ties are being replaced, just those needing replacement were tagged. I’ve passed by the equipment that replaces the a tie from under the rails, but I’ve never seen it in operation.

Newer sections of our MetroLink system was built with more costly concrete ties, so they’ll not need this maintenance.  The original MetroLink line opened in 1993.

— Steve Patterson

Readers Mixed On Salvation Army

The results are in, most readers give to the Salvation Army at least on rare occasions. But the biggest group, just under 40%, never give:

Q: Do you drop money in the Salvation Army red kettle?

1. Never 58 [39.73%]
2. Sometimes 39 [26.71%]
3. Rarely 32 [21.92%]
4. Always 17 [11.64%]
5. I’d rather not say 0 [0%]

This may sound like many are cold and heartless but a couple of reader comments on my original post help explain part of the issue:

“used to but not since I’ve heard their stance of gays” — reader PR

“As a religious person, I do have a problem with their tactics. Proselytizing should not be part of the delivery of social services. One should not be ‘made to sing’ for their supper or spoken to about the lack of God in their life. There are plenty of religious charities (Catholic, Jewish, etc) that do not engage in such activities, but unfortunately, the Salvation Army does.” –– reader Fenian

You see, the Salvation Army is a religious organization and this enters into their policies:

“The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching. Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”

The above policy was deleted after a Salvation Army media person in Australia agreed that homosexuals deserve death (The Atlantic). They released a one page Q&A that included the following:

“The leadership of The Salvation Army continues to reflect on Christian and Biblical tradition, and especially on the themes of justice and mercy, to further deepen the understandings of our own members and build a more healthy relationship with the GLBT community.”

This gay atheist will have nothing to do with them. There are plenty of other charities, religious & secular, that are more open, no need to donate to the Salvation Army to help the community.

— Steve Patterson