Don't mock the Aretha-generation coon-dancers; America's ability to contrive new venues of amusement is what makes us such a compelling military power.

Raise your hand if you saw 2011's Melancholia.

Raise your hand if you saw 2011's Melancholia.

My middle kid did. She played me a clip of the last scene on YouTube, and played some of the music as well. It sounded hugely depressing.

Not for the ostrich types, but this is the best analysis of the Elliot Rodger murders I've seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oybAUKZhaMA

As I had thought, it's clear his childhood was one of home/parental abuse and detachment and alienation, combined with severe bullying. (Someone here, can't recall who, disagreed with me that it could be either.)

I don't know if it's a pattern or anything, but the Norway killer was also abused by his mother.

From the "how about that?" files: a Sri Lankan newspaper is fighting dengue fever by using insect repellent ink!

Obviously you need to pile a lot of straws on a camel's back before it breaks, but I think it would be helpful to re-think a few things in our culture. Kids need to be treated with love and care (well, everyone does really), and protected from ill treatment. There are some things we might never be able to do something about - e.g. abusive parents can be good at hiding the cruelty that takes place inside a home (though perhaps there are solutions to this too) - but we can surely come up with ways to improve the school environment, e.g. try schooling methods that are known to decrease bullying (and stupid "zero tolerance" policies that punish the victims don't count).

> Kids need to be treated with love and care
> (well, everyone does really), and protected
> from ill treatment.

No. They need to be brutalized and disciplined, and taug

Fuckit. Whatever...



> It sounded hugely depressing.

It's a weird movie, because it goes on a long time and moves slowly and ends with as much ugly as you could ever imagine, but seeing it once is rstrangely gratifying. (Over the weekend I tried three times to watch it again, but couldn't do it.)

(So I had to fast-forward to Kirsten on the riverbank.)

Nine minutes 'til kickoff or pennystart or sockdrop or whatever it is to commence an inning of the World Soccer "Championship" trophy, so let me just say...

Fuck the Beljimese.

They wouldn't be safe on that silly little island if the United States Navy weren't patrolling their shores, anyway.

Fooor-ners are stoopit!! The don't know how to sports!

> No. They need to be brutalized and disciplined

Aw, you're probably just lashing out because you were hit by your own mommy ... it's OK .. Crid needs a big hug everyone!!! Peace & love.

For the first time in 800 years, wild beavers have been spotted in England. Oddly enough, they were spotted in the River Otter. That must mean something, maybe that beavers can't read.

I was kidding about Belgium.

That was unnecessary. They're assholes.

Really assholes.

Really.

> Aw, you're probably just

Given the particular garlic intensity of Rodger's madness, it's easy to imagine that intimate femininity from incompetent family was what pushed him from clumsy Asperger's to murderous psychopathy.

M'kay? I'd be receptive to some discussion that went like that... There's nothing bigger in character formation than family.

But Lobster, dood/sister, you linked a tv show.. I mean, I assume it was a TV show, because it was a YouTube link. I didn't watch it.

The thing about TV shows is, they're cooked up with specific economic motives baked right into the crust, intentions which move thoughtful analysis to the back burner. They're composed to stir the emotions of people who watch TV... People who want their emotions stirred.

And I'd say that would be you, Lobs, given your penchant for clucking at (often imaginary) scenarios of mistreated children.

Accordingly... In a sense, it would thusly be intellectually dishonest to take your comment seriously.

Go hug your own nipples.

15 minutes to go, the Belgiatics are sportsing pretty well.

OK, the Americans just sportsed again, with 13 minutes to go.

Compare the following response to Crid's response to the video I posted: The mother of one of Elliot Rodger's murder victims has also responded to that same video, with these comments, which I find quite amazing:

"Hi Stefan, thanks for sharing. You've made some great points

I am mother of George Chen ( who was one of first three victims ). My family and I are experiencing the enormous pain of losing of our beloved son.
We agree that Elliott's miserable childhood ( such as: lack of love from his father, an abusive step mother, paternal abandonment, physical insecurities, extreme loneliness, etc ) had caused tremendous pain and hatreds inside him. In a way, Elliott's cold blooded and selfish father had turned the poor kid into a monster.

As a mother, I feel so sorry for the kids that are suffering from abusive parents. Although it is too late to save my son's life, but it is not too late to save other children. Please share your ideas on reaching out and help potential Elliott.

I have faith that with love and care and proper treatment, every child can have a beautiful life. Every child deserve a beautiful life.

You may also visit George Chen's RIP page in Facebook, and leave your messages there. Please support our goal of " To End Senseless Killing of the Innocence; To Love and Care for Every Single Child". Please, please"

So the mother of a murdered child has found more humanity and compassion within her for children who are victims of maltreatment and abuse ... wow.

Crid, if you're not even going to look at the link posted before trashing it, and have nothing useful to contribute instead of insults, then honestly, just STFU now already. Just shut your piehole. Enough now.

> "I assume it was a TV show, because it was a YouTube link. I didn't watch it ... they're cooked up with specific economic motives baked right into the crust, intentions which move thoughtful analysis to the back burner"

If you watched the video you'd be highly embarrassed at the idiocy of your own comments right now.

> So the mother of a murdered child has
> found more humanity and compassion within
> her for children who are victims of
> maltreatment and abuse ... wow.

What wow? What's the wow part? For what irony are you seeing sarcasm?

I'm not in the market for humanity and compassion... My humanity and compassion are finely-tuned and plentiful. I just wanna know what happened with that little fucker.