tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4994742023782310793..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: The Single Sentence Writing Contest resultsJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52596918635180856922016-06-15T11:21:02.289-04:002016-06-15T11:21:02.289-04:00Lucie,
What gun show loophole are you talking abo...Lucie,<br /><br />What gun show loophole are you talking about?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/facts-about-gun-shows" rel="nofollow">The facts about guns shows.</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEihkjKNhN8" rel="nofollow">This video might explain it better.</a> Politicians should know what they're talking about, but they seldom do.<br /><br />The Orlando shooter worked for G4S, which is a security firm hired by DHS that provides security for federal buildings, international transport, nuclear facilities among other things. He'd had several complaints filed against him by co-workers and was on an FBI watch list and they still PASSED his background check even while authorities are confiscating guns from veterans who have done nothing.<br /><br />I think we have a bigger problem than gun show loopholes that don't exist. julieweathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10198357981793324007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68358817373230363702016-06-14T23:16:09.045-04:002016-06-14T23:16:09.045-04:00Congratulations, Scott G! Very well done. After ...Congratulations, Scott G! Very well done. After a difficult day, I am finally enjoying all the entries and comments. It is a nice treat. Thank you, Janet!Just Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12546035917149403735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21431316575363908652016-06-14T23:10:29.291-04:002016-06-14T23:10:29.291-04:00I’ve only recently begun following, and have to sa...I’ve only recently begun following, and have to say my first contest was great fun. Loved all the original ideas and wordplay.<br /><br />As for one person’s stand against violence, there are no easy answers. People with evil intent will eventually find a way to hurt and kill. We have to balance our desire to do whatever we can to stop them with the knowledge that making more rules in order to stop the people who refuse to play by the rules can only find limited success. <br /><br />But individually, we can treat the people we come in contact with each day with respect and good humor, and help one another. From what I’ve seen in the comments, that happens here. Well done, people.Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6607278253033705162016-06-14T22:14:10.633-04:002016-06-14T22:14:10.633-04:00Congrats to all mentions and winners. I still don&...Congrats to all mentions and winners. I still don't quite get it, these contests. Should I be funny/serious/add twists? I feel a bit like Matt Damon in Ocean's 12. All good, though.<br /><br />On guns, I wait for someone with political power to act on the fact that there is NO RIGHT to access ammunition. No right to bear LOADED arms. Just 'arms'. Accessing ammo should be like filling a prescription. Or tougher.<br /><br />Kae Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17392544505852857299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14198372835051815442016-06-14T22:04:11.505-04:002016-06-14T22:04:11.505-04:00Kae Ridwyn: You are much too kind. Thank you.Kae Ridwyn: You are much too kind. Thank you.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7070495136239291362016-06-14T20:41:26.650-04:002016-06-14T20:41:26.650-04:00It's hard (if not impossible) to argue with Ja...It's hard (if not impossible) to argue with Janet's choice. Great concept and execution, Scott G.Michael Seesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03694187657718931214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12621325434203560652016-06-14T20:30:01.289-04:002016-06-14T20:30:01.289-04:00Wonderful entries as usual. As usual I didn't ...Wonderful entries as usual. As usual I didn't get some of them, but they were still beautifully crafted.<br /><br />What can one person do to impact gun violence. Hmm.<br /><br />It's interesting most people are focused on "outside" forces when the majority of mass shootings in our country are committed by us. By neighbors and coworkers and colleagues. By sons and fathers and brothers. We could magically end all "islamic terrorism" tomorrow and we would still have mass shootings here. Charleston, Sandy Hook, Aurora, these are holding a mirror up to us and us alone. It's easy to point at other cultures and all the ways they should change. Much harder to answer what exactly it is we need to change about our own.<br /><br />I am in agreement that tougher gun laws are not a cure all, since it's more of a problem with our hearts and minds. However, if common sense laws (basic background checks, no gun show loopholes, not letting people on terrorists watch lists buy guns like they currently can) l would decrease shootings by even 2%, would it not be worth it? Are we really only going to pass laws criminals will obey, because I'm seeing a major flaw in that plan.<br />Lucie Witthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08521285162656949602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59735467562316964752016-06-14T20:09:48.835-04:002016-06-14T20:09:48.835-04:00Congratulations, Scott. I'm really glad you wo...Congratulations, Scott. I'm really glad you won; I fell in love with your entry as soon as I read it.<br /><br />The gun debate is upsetting me, so I won't say anything regarding that. I'll save my spiels for my roommate.<br /><br />I'd rather take a moment to think about the victims. It's hard to find safe places when you're a member of the LGBTQ community. Pulse was supposed to be one of them. I'm reminded, again, that the only way a rainbow flag can deflect bullets is if you wear it under your clothes. <br /><br />I'm going to spend today writing and writing and writing until I've forgotten which world I live in.<br /><br /><b>AJ Blythe</b> - I'm not a religious person at all, but I love what you said. I think that's a great sentiment.<br />Where There's A Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00950272130403817282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91783125957000412542016-06-14T20:07:56.890-04:002016-06-14T20:07:56.890-04:00Congratulations, everyone - especially to the hono...Congratulations, everyone - especially to the honourable mentions, shortlisters and of course Scott!<br /><br />Steve Forti's gripped me from the get-go; one of those entries that made me wonder if I just shouldn't bother with this competition. But I'm glad I did; the exercise in editing is SO worthwhile! And count me among those who needed every clue in today's comment section to help me figure out sdbullard's entry. Incredible writing! But it was Craig's that made me gasp. I loved loved loved it, from the very first sentence.<br /><br />Awesome work, everyone!<br />Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9712322055694401862016-06-14T19:43:42.202-04:002016-06-14T19:43:42.202-04:00Congrats Scott on the win! I did well this time, t...Congrats Scott on the win! I did well this time, the only one I didn't get was Beth's entry.<br /><br />Donna, yep, we have about 24M peoples here. The other thing to remember is that the Port Arthur Massacre happened here 20 years ago, which is when our gun control laws changed. I'm forever grateful they have. Yes, we still have guns, and yes, bad people still get there hands on them, but they aren't easy to get!<br /><br />Miss Janet, I second what has already been said: keep on doing what you are doing. You provide a warm, welcoming Reef and your generosity to those of us in the trenches is probably more appreciated than you realise. <br /><br />My great-grandfather was a lay preacher and he preached that heaven and hell don't just wait for after death, that we experience a little of each every day. For every action we take a consequence follows. If you are good, you get a touch of heaven in your life, if you are evil, you get a touch of hell.<br /><br />Janet, for what you do here on the Reef, there must be a little bit of heaven in your life everyday. <br /><br />(I was going to say good always trumps evil, but realised with the political shenanigans happening in the US that probably wasn't a wise choice of words).AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54710954035482348582016-06-14T18:49:36.161-04:002016-06-14T18:49:36.161-04:00FYI, I just updated the Contest Spreadsheet in the...FYI, I just updated the Contest Spreadsheet in the <a href="http://www.colindsmith.com/TreasureChest" rel="nofollow">Treasure Chest</a>. It seems <b>Scott G</b> deserves double congrats, since he won the last-but-one contest. That's the closest anyone has yet come to consecutive wins. Well done, Scott. You can be sure a certain Sharkly agent has her eye on you, if you're not already taken... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81308742884571128252016-06-14T17:53:37.676-04:002016-06-14T17:53:37.676-04:00Congrats to all who entered and ScottG for winning...Congrats to all who entered and ScottG for winning it. I do love the wide range of entries. They are as complex as real life is.<br /><br />Since many others have brought up the unthinkable I have a few things to say:<br /><br />Someone really dropped the ball on this one. There should have been so many flags flying that even the FBI should not have been able to miss them.<br /><br />This guy made it easy to get stopped but no one did it. He bought these guns just for this purpose and was passed because he had licenses granted to few. He had these because he was a security guard for a big outfit.<br /><br />He had to have bought a bunch of ammo and extra magazines for both weapons. Those things should have been flagged also.<br /><br />To have been able to shoot over a hundred people he had to have modified the long gun to shoot in three round bursts. Only some of the AR-15 models out there can be modified in such a way. Those models should be removed from the market in places like Florida. I live there and know that use of anything beyond semi-automatic is illegal.<br /><br />Blaming the President will get nowhere because each state is very sanctimonious about the rights they have and states can get some ignorant shit passed. Florida recently almost passed a law to make it legal to carry guns on college campuses.Some thought it would curb violence there if someone could shoot back.<br /><br />It is way too late to contemplate curtailing gun sales. The AR-15 has been the top selling gun for over a decade and their owners will not part with them unless the price is right. We need better oversight for sales and we need to close loopholes that ease gun buying. I wish I knew a way to make things better but I don't.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91390354409074459142016-06-14T17:46:01.181-04:002016-06-14T17:46:01.181-04:00Scott,
Congratulations twice today. Your winning ...Scott,<br /><br />Congratulations twice today. Your winning entry and your winning comment. Both were exquisite. Both gave me a smile.John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70287523692993077282016-06-14T16:13:50.561-04:002016-06-14T16:13:50.561-04:00From Stockton to NYC to Sandy Hook and now Orlando...From Stockton to NYC to Sandy Hook and now Orlando, and all the God-awful tragedies in between, my eyes were always glued to the TV, my heart broken again and again, by looped horror playing over and over. <br />Not this time.<br />This time I focused on the cops in the pick-up taking wounded to the hospital. This time I watched as people carried people to help and safety. This time I realized that one person may have done this but there’s a world of good people out there, everywhere, to help. <br />Orlando brought back all the Sandy Hook feelings for our family. Reliving something such at that, such as this, has me doing what Newtown did for its babies.<br />I chose love.<br /><br />As a writing friend once said, “Hate is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Hate is the holy-water of extremists. Eventually they will drink themselves to death.<br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-571583490538838972016-06-14T16:01:51.089-04:002016-06-14T16:01:51.089-04:00Congrats to everyone, especially ScottG! These con...Congrats to everyone, especially ScottG! These contests are a wonderful way to see the varying hefts of clever words at work. Bravo!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65565355536930262322016-06-14T15:21:32.480-04:002016-06-14T15:21:32.480-04:00Great QOTKU, thank you. Congratulations to Scott G...Great QOTKU, thank you. Congratulations to Scott G, and seconding your comment in this thread about Janet and the positive impact she and this community make every day. Thank you everyone who submitted an entry to the contest. They were great as always and reading them made things a little easier to bear. Been breaking down a lot since the news broke. <br /><br />I know I'm a writer and I'm biased, but I really do believe this: stories save us. Stories can bring us back from despair, can confront ugliness unflinchingly and remind us of the good in the world. At least that's the way it feels to me when I have grief with no bottom and anger with no hands. <br /><br />Rambling thoughts:<br /><br />If you are willing and able in the Orlando area, consider donating blood in the coming days and weeks. From what I understand donor blood can degrade after less than six weeks, and the shooting victims may continue to need blood after that. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on that info.) And if you can donate blood wherever you live, that's a good thing. <br /><br />There are several organizations working to help and support the victims' families. If you can, consider donating to one. <br /><br />Keep pride month going. Read stories written by LGBT+ authors and read stories that feature round and awesome LGBT+ characters. Consider making a donation to your local LGBT+ organization or youth shelter. <br /><br />Gay or straight, on the rainbow or not, live your truth and do something nice for someone today. Not saying that we shouldn't be angry or passionate or galvanized--just don't let the anger and grief warp something good in you. (I'm writing partially as a reminder to myself because it's not easy. At all.) But as Scott G wrote, we cannot succumb to the pressure of evil.eaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02349173605228441511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42573335134531341432016-06-14T13:32:36.791-04:002016-06-14T13:32:36.791-04:00Congrats Scott G. It took me three reads before I ...Congrats Scott G. It took me three reads before I got it.<br /><br />Sunday I read most of the entries and thought it would be difficult to choose a winner because so many are awesome.<br /><br />The Orlando tragedy is horrifying. I'm speecheless.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-806239255756814092016-06-14T13:14:10.801-04:002016-06-14T13:14:10.801-04:00prt 2 - Personally, for hunting, If I have to fire...prt 2 - Personally, for hunting, If I have to fire more than two shots, I need to be responsible and practice more, in order to be a humane hunter. I don't want the animal to suffer. I don’t need a large clip, I need better practice.<br /> <br />After the fire, many animals, both domesticated and wild, had to be put down. Our children's pony too. One shot and she was gone within seconds. It is still advocated by Large animal Vet Associations as the quickest, humane way to put down an animal in a rural/remote location, if you know how. I have had to do this. I was glad I knew how.<br /><br />We understand about being prepared for all situations. Livestock needs to be protected from predators. Hunting needs to be accomplished in a humane way. Situational awareness training is important to know for personal safety. Although Montana is a stand your ground/castle doctrine state, the responsible ones know that guns are the last resort, not the first. Most people I know, know all of this. <br /><br />And for the others, they arent afraid the government is going to take away their guns- they are afraid that the only viable solution now may be to banned all firearms. We need to come up with solutions that allow the responsible to own firearms in order to hunt safely, protect their livestock, and for personal safety, and somehow keep firearms away from the violent, ignorant, and the unstable with violent beliefs. Having qualifications and proving you can own a firearm safely without a burden to the US government is a start; certainly by no means the end. <br /><br /> Orlando - my heart is still hurting. It was supposed to be a safe place, where people could have fun :/Janice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51002174614057784382016-06-14T13:13:39.560-04:002016-06-14T13:13:39.560-04:00Congrats to the mentionables, semis and to Scott -...Congrats to the mentionables, semis and to Scott - Thank you JR for hosting these and giving such valuable feedback! I really enjoyed the "hook" on the one... :D<br /><br />Since you asked, JR, I am willing to share my thoughts on Gun Violence in this format. Sorry so long- hard to discuss this topic in a 100 words or less.<br /><br />First of all, I think there is no such thing as gun violence. That statement could be construed as anthropomorphic, and that the gun itself can do violence. I'd rather put the burden of violence on the shooter. I believe there are people who have legal access to guns who should not have that access. They have violent beliefs, whether from culture, politics or their religion. Whatever method of weapon that they use, they are violent. Violence does not come from the gun (firearm) itself. The responsibility is on the person who is pulling the trigger. Violent people are hard to reform, let alone regulate.<br /><br />However-<br />I believe we need to instill a better screening method federally before selling a firearm - laws vary within the states and they are not consistent. If you think you will be banned from being sold a firearm, then the burden is on you to clean up your lifestyle, not on the government to do it for you. Put the responsibility on the gun owner, not the government. Having qualifications to own a firearm is the gun owner’s responsibility. The second amendment isn’t about selling guns to the unstable with violent beliefs, the criminals, and the ignorant.<br /><br />Before purchasing- everyone should know the 4 R's, and for personal safety, situational awareness training. If a person cannot understand how, what, why in use of a firearm then they should not be using a firearm let alone buying one (remember, firearms are designed to kill, target practice is to learn how to kill more efficiently). My children are not hunters, but they went through hunter safety training so that they could comprehend when someone wasn't using a firearm properly. So many people grow up without this training, and become dangerous to others not because they are violent, but due to their ignorance. We can prevent that by education. Education eliminates ignorance.<br /><br />I also believe that Assault rifles should be authorized for military and law enforcement use only- assault rifles are designed to kill people, not animals. It is not a play toy, nor a self defense weapon; it's purpose is to kill humans effectively and in quantity. We have video games to be used as play toys, not firearms. Everyone should know the difference.<br /><br />Concerning the NRA – they may have started out with good intentions decades early on, but are now a large lobby group who are in it for wrong reasons. They do not represent all gun owners. Especially not me.Janice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58769945133589894982016-06-14T13:07:03.026-04:002016-06-14T13:07:03.026-04:00Lennon - ha! Just don't call me Eileen.
Boy...Lennon - ha! Just don't call me Eileen.<br /><br /><br />Boy. I've got Edit Head. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9545313361923208212016-06-14T13:06:17.312-04:002016-06-14T13:06:17.312-04:00Okay Colin - after I'm finally awake, your ent...Okay Colin - after I'm finally awake, your entry makes sense, too. Keying in on "Butterfingers" broke the code. I've deciphered them all. Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6170069679458131492016-06-14T12:33:01.225-04:002016-06-14T12:33:01.225-04:00Thanks Colin, A bell went off after your explanati...Thanks Colin, A bell went off after your explanation and I now understand the sdbullard story. Unfortunately because I didn't know who or what the narrator was, the story flew over my head. I was in never never land. And it was far from obvious to me who or what the narrator was, and I had no inkling it referred to another work. Once I understood the narrator was ______, it was a very clever story.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49174643305724932972016-06-14T12:24:10.178-04:002016-06-14T12:24:10.178-04:00Donna - "sdbullard's still has me stumpe...Donna - "sdbullard's still has me stumped." Stumped, eh? Need a prosthetic for that? Like maybe a nice, shiny hook? :) Your comment made me giggle. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33915281206578734402016-06-14T12:20:47.141-04:002016-06-14T12:20:47.141-04:00Thank you Mark Thurber! Yes, you understood it.
...Thank you Mark Thurber! Yes, you understood it.<br /><br />:)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11858099820548100772016-06-14T12:17:02.499-04:002016-06-14T12:17:02.499-04:00Must be a bad morning. I only understood three of ...Must be a bad morning. I only understood three of the stories.<br /><br />ScottG - congratulations. I actually understood yours on first read. I like big clues and Virgin was a big clue; as was Barbara.<br /><br />I missed the clue is "She'd find out sooner or later" since I read she as meaning the clerk.<br /><br />Barbara's admission made Steve's dilemma easier to resolve for sure. Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.com