The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

Is there a way of replaying events?

Here you go

Wonderful.

 

[Denali]

News just in, Bikie bad guy/murderer shot: Bikie boss shot outside gym

As I said to my US friend, most of the shootings down here are bad guys shooting bad guys or cops shooting bad guys. The average person is unaffected by it.

 

[love_the_life]

Here you go

Wonderful.

Thanks - I saw the runners up and they were fantastic as well. But had missed this one. Not much in it at that level!

 

[love_the_life]

News just in, Bikie bad guy/murderer shot: Bikie boss shot outside gym

As I said to my US friend, most of the shootings down here are bad guys shooting bad guys or cops shooting bad guys. The average person is unaffected by it.

Saw a post somewhere that said that the school shooting in Parkland, Florida marks the 29th* mass shooting in the US in 2018. There have only been 45 days in 2018.

*though haven't verified that

 

[JohnK]

The best answer has been given twice now JohnK.

Posts #72715 & 72744.

I replied to the first post. I have no idea. They are council BBQ's. Perhaps not hot enough.

My wife loves having a BBQ so I'll try oven paper next time as suggested.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks - I saw the runners up and they were fantastic as well. But had missed this one. Not much in it at that level!

Hallulujah wins it for me and it’s a family argument ( and think I’ve posted here) as to who has the best version. KD wins for me.

 

[JohnK]

How are they going to get the guns off the crims??

It may not be that easy in the beginning but a register may help.

I'm not sure how we ever arrived at the point when guns are so easily obtained. I understand the US debate but arming everyone is clearly not the answer when innocent children are dying because some nut job is not happy and wants their name in lights.

 

[Quickstatus]

Their 2nd amendment unfortunately stands in the way. They could have a referendum to change that but the way politics is in the USA, I can’t see it happening anytime soon. I think needs 2/3 majority in both houses.

The previous administration could have done it but didn’t. If so many people want gun control would you think that a referendum would be the easiest way to go. I suspect the pollies there know the answer. Alternatively both sides of politics are so in the quagmire of the Washington swamp that they have lost sight of the true meaning of “We the People”

I have not seen anyone directly advocate for a change in the constitution. They talk about gun control but never seem to want to advance the notion of a constitutional change

Luckily over here in OZ we don’t have a deeply rooted gun culture nor a constitutional issue. So it was relatively easy to change - but still required a massacre and a brave politician.

 

[Major]

I don't think the US will have bi-partisan support for change to gun laws any time soon

Constitutional Amendment Process
The authority to amend the Constitution of the United States is derived from Article V of the Constitution. After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is charged with responsibility for administering the ratification process under the provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106b. The Archivist has delegated many of the ministerial duties associated with this function to the Director of the Federal Register. Neither Article V of the Constitution nor section 106b describe the ratification process in detail. The Archivist and the Director of the Federal Register follow procedures and customs established by the Secretary of State, who performed these duties until 1950, and the Administrator of General Services, who served in this capacity until NARA assumed responsibility as an independent agency in 1985.

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention. The Congress proposes an amendment in the form of a joint resolution. Since the President does not have a constitutional role in the amendment process, the joint resolution does not go to the White House for signature or approval. The original document is forwarded directly to NARA's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication. The OFR adds legislative history notes to the joint resolution and publishes it in slip law format. The OFR also assembles an information package for the States which includes formal "red-line" copies of the joint resolution, copies of the joint resolution in slip law format, and the statutory procedure for ratification under 1 U.S.C. 106b.

The Archivist submits the proposed amendment to the States for their consideration by sending a letter of notification to each Governor along with the informational material prepared by the OFR. The Governors then formally submit the amendment to their State legislatures or the state calls for a convention, depending on what Congress has specified. In the past, some State legislatures have not waited to receive official notice before taking action on a proposed amendment. When a State ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the State action, which is immediately conveyed to the Director of the Federal Register. The OFR examines ratification documents for facial legal sufficiency and an authenticating signature. If the documents are found to be in good order, the Director acknowledges receipt and maintains custody of them. The OFR retains these documents until an amendment is adopted or fails, and then transfers the records to the National Archives for preservation.

A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution as soon as it is ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States). When the OFR verifies that it has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents, it drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution. This certification is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large and serves as official notice to the Congress and to the Nation that the amendment process has been completed.

In a few instances, States have sent official documents to NARA to record the rejection of an amendment or the rescission of a prior ratification. The Archivist does not make any substantive determinations as to the validity of State ratification actions, but it has been established that the Archivist's certification of the facial legal sufficiency of ratification documents is final and conclusive.

In recent history, the signing of the certification has become a ceremonial function attended by various dignitaries, which may include the President. President Johnson signed the certifications for the 24th and 25th Amendments as a witness, and President Nixon similarly witnessed the certification of the 26th Amendment along with three young scholars. On May 18, 1992, the Archivist performed the duties of the certifying official for the first time to recognize the ratification of the 27th Amendment, and the Director of the Federal Register signed the certification as a witness.

 

[Quickstatus]

A study of the US method of government suggests that their “founding fathers” made it very difficult for a branch of government to do anything unilaterally and deliberately so - to prevent a reoccurrence of the tyranny that ruled over them prior to the Republic. There are so many checks and balances between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches such that the wheels of government turn very slowly - and some say if at all

And so while one side of politics lambasts the other about gun control they are all hypocrites for not putting their political reputation on the line by refusing/or being silent about an Article V vote. Would a #ArticleV be as powerful as a #metoo?

So why do some loudly protest gun control if not serious about constitutional change?. Like most issues in the US it’s a just tool for votes at the next election.

Want a government that always acts in the interests of everyone and quickly?. Aristotle believed that can only be the “benevolent dictator”. Have you seen one?

 

[Deleted member]

I replied to the first post. I have no idea. They are council BBQ's. Perhaps not hot enough.

My wife loves having a BBQ so I'll try oven paper next time as suggested

BBQ Buddy Nonstick Hot Plate Liner

 

[JohnK]

Saw a post somewhere that said that the school shooting in Parkland, Florida marks the 29th* mass shooting in the US in 2018. There have only been 45 days in 2018.

*though haven't verified that

There's an earlier post that mentions 15 shootings this year. One shooting every 3 days. Sad.

 

[Denali]

At 4.15, evacuation alarm sounded and we always evac, because the building is built on the cheap.

Declared the coughtail bar across the road as new marshalling area, first drink on the birthday boy/boss, counted people off the roster and early mark home

(Staff won't be driving under the influence/also sorted)

 

[love_the_life]

There's an earlier post that mentions 15 shootings this year. One shooting every 3 days. Sad.

I think that post is 18 school shootings as opposed to all mass shootings. It really doesn’t matter, there are far too many of any kind.

 

[love_the_life]

At 4.15, evacuation alarm sounded and we always evac, because the building is built on the cheap.

Declared the coughtail bar across the road as new marshalling area, first drink on the birthday boy/boss, counted people off the roster and early mark home

(Staff won't be driving under the influence/also sorted)

About the same time we saw smoke billowing from the PWC building across the road from us but they didn’t seem to evacuate and we didn’t hear alarms ( not that that can be relied on). Didn’t see any fire engines. Checked the ESA website and apparently there was a rubbish fire...whatever that was

 

[JohnK]

I think that post is 18 school shootings as opposed to all mass shootings. It really doesn’t matter, there are far too many of any kind.

Oh. Agreed. One is too many.

 

[love_the_life]

And just for Pushka squid - it was still moving at this stage

 

[cove]

Avon is in the departures lounge. It is goodbye to the brand in Australia.

 

[Pushka]

Avon is in the departures lounge. It is goodbye to the brand in Australia.

Really? My SIL in Perth has made nice pocket money selling it. Still does ?did.

 

[VPS]

Here you go

Wonderful.

That was up there with Torvill and Dean's Bolero

Not my favourite version of Hallelujah though