The story is now on our local tv stations (which have interrupted their normal programming). Looks like a few people were shot.

They are reporting that LAPD officers are stuck in traffic, which is at a standstill. I can imagine Sounds like they called the bomb squad.

Geez, LAX is busy anyway, I'd hate to be there now.



TIS

A young cousin of mine got an extra role in this film. Not sure if he gets to speak or not.

Anyone following the typhoon in the Philipines? They say over 10,000 dead. That's horrible. OMG!!! Has there ever been that many deaths in a disaster like this?




TIS

Yesterday was the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, so I took the short trip to Gettysburg for the festivities. Good crowds were spread across the town as well as the battlefield where a reenactment of the address took place. I also got to see Ken Burns give a brief lecture indoors at the museum about the significance of the day.

Wow how cool. I got stuck reading and annotating the Gettysburg address in AP English.
But deep down I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ahhh.

There is a current movement to get Americans to memorize the two minute address. The site learntheaddress.com contains information about the project.

This is the most important speech in American history. Its importance equals or exceeds the Declaration of Independence in American history.

Yea I totally agree. Some people, when asked what speech is most important to American history, say the I have a dream, but I feel that although it is important it's not the most.

Both speeches made us a much greater nation, and both brilliantly examined our country's past, challenged our present, and embraced our future.

Martin Luther King's magnificent address was the realization of "the new birth of freedom," contemplated by the Gettysburg Address.

Going to get my permit renewed tomorrow, because although I have had my permit for a year it has expired and I have not gone driving yet. Hopefully I will get my license before I graduate high school.

Not far from where i live, a police helicopter crashed into a pub 8 died 3 who were in the helicopter and 5 others . It's still not exactly clear what went wrong .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25165894

That was awful Camarel. Terrible tragedy!

Nice House

That IS nice. I'd hate to have to clean that house tho. What a change from my small place. Then again, if I owned it, I'd likely be able to afford maids, butlers, gardeners etc.



TIS

What a gorgeous house! All that woodwork, and what beautiful windows! NICE!

Yes, it is another house that I can't afford...yet???

Not a bad little shack, similar in size to mine

Left side of the house - the gas meter is crooked .
The house looks a little like mine....well, the bush on the right corner does.

It is a very beautiful house.

Atlantic City has been struggling to reinvent itself. The casino business has been in decline from all the competition in the surrounding states. It was announced recently that the Atlantic Club has been sold for $24 million to two other casino related companies. One has purchased all the gaming equipment and the other the hotel. The Atlantic Club was formerly the Hilton. It opened in 1980 as the Golden Nugget, owned by Steve Wynn. In 2005 it was valued at $513 million! 1,600 employees will be laid off. Atlantic City has an unemployment rate of 15% and Atlantic County has a rate of 11%, the highest in NJ. Sad times.

I remember AC suffering in the 70s before the casinos. The enthusiasm and prosperity in the 80s came suddenly. But now I guess the cycle comes complete.

Our bank notes are going to be transformed from paper to plastic over the next few years. The factory that will produce them is up here so there will be jobs available. This is good news, about the jobs, I have no idea how plastic money is going to work......

Well plastic money will work just like paper money obviously bit you know what I mean

Plastic money? Isn't that like credit/atm cards? We already have that. Or, you talking literally plastic money? If so, what is the purpose of plastic money?




TIS

TIS, they simply have some polymer fiber content

That must be it Oli. Apparently 23 other countries already have it, but I have no idea which ones!!

Two days ago the "remains" of a woman were found in a suitcase in a wooded section of the town in which I live....like 2 miles from my house. She was found by a hunter, but not far off the road. She has been identified as a 30 year old and died of asphyxiation from strangulation. Her family reported her missing in October. Police have found evidence that she had a room at the Borgata Water Club (casino) in Atlantic City at the end of October.
Whenever there is a body found near Atlantic City (and there have been a few), the media links the story to the four prostitutes who were found dead behind a fleabag hotel on the highway leading into Atlantic City. That was in November 2006 and the murders have never been solved. This should be an interesting case to follow.

Are any of you who live in New Jersey exercised over Bridgegate - the shutting down of several lanes on the George Washington Bridge about a year ago?

Were any of you affected by it? It's gained national attention, prompted a Chris Christie news conference and apology, and spawned legislative investigations and may prompt legal investigations. It may also affect the 2016 presidential race.

What may seem to many as a small inconvenience to some drivers may end up costing the Republican Party its rising star a chance at becoming the next president.

The basic story is that Governor Christie ordered the closing of several lanes on the George Washington Bridge last September supposedly as an act of retaliation against the mayor of Fort Lee, NJ (the town into which the bridge empties) because the mayor would not support Christie in the gubernatorial election. The bridge is operated under the authority of the Port Authority, an agency which is run jointly by New York State and New Jersey and it is believed Christie is closely involved in his state's decisions regarding the agency.

By ordering the closing of the traffic lanes (starting on the first day of school after the summer break) the traffic became a total nightmare in the area. It is believed this was all done to make the mayor look bad. Christie claims to have no knowledge of these plans but he has fired his assistant this morning (alleging she was responsible for this).

Should be interesting to watch the fallout from this.

This sound like a big conspiracy SC? I think Christie wouldn't care about the Mayor of Fort Lee or is there something about that town or him that has any clout?