Chill and damp in Baltimore. Oregon shooting. Papal denial. Syrian airstrikes. Allies demand of Russia. Amazon bans rivals. Weak jobs. Market panic?
It is chill and damp here in Baltimore, where I am today to celebrate Lionel’s birthday. It is grey and gloomy, a perfect background for a day which is filled with mourning.
Yesterday, as we all must know by now, a young man, 26, killed nine and wounded 20 before being killed by police. He targeted a Community College in Umpqua, Oregon. Authorities are trying to discern what, if any, connection he might have had to this particular school.
President Obama made a live appearance and was as angry as most had seen him, frustrated by the number of times in his Presidency he has gone on air to offer condolences after a mass shooting. He warned that his comments would be described as “politicizing” the situation but that this was a situation that should be politicized. It has become routine, said the President, and it has. We have become inured to the tragedies that unfold before us when crazed gunmen slaughter men, women and children.
This young man engaged with others on social media about his intentions. Disgustingly, some respondents encouraged him and gave him tips. No one alerted authorities. Hearing this I was not surprised; my lack of surprise horrified me. I felt thoroughly ashamed of my fellowmen. Who would encourage murder? Are they not culpable?
The young man asked victims if they were Christians. If they said yes, he shot them in the head.
Another young man, a former soldier, Chris Mintz, launched himself at the shooter and was shot seven times.
As I write this, Mike Huckabee is on CNN talking about this tragedy. He has often said that more guns are needed to protect us rather than less. The network’s anchors are giving him a challenging time about his positions.
The Vatican is attempting to push back at the controversy that has bubbled up about Francis’ meeting with Kym Davis, the Kentucky County Clerk who opposes gay marriage. The meeting tarnished the glow among liberals from the Pope’s trip to America. It had been described as a private meeting between the two, with the Pope giving her support and a rosary.
Now the Vatican is saying it was not a private meeting but she was part of a group.
Conservatives, including Huckabee, just now, deny the denial.
Both the U.S. led coalition and Russia are leading airstrikes in Syria. All of the U.S. Coalition’s strikes have been against IS. Russia has been targeting both anti-Assad groups and IS. They are using “dumb” bombs, which will cause indiscriminate damage.
Western nations are demanding that Russia only target IS. My sense is that Russia is shrugging its shoulders and is calling all rebel forces, terrorists.
Friction, of course, exists between Russia, and every one else fighting IS. It’s very messy.
Paris meetings today that were to focus on Ukraine probably will now shift to Syria.
Amazon has its own OTT devices and in a push to get them sold, it has pulled other OTT makers like Roku from its shelves. It will be interesting to see what this will do. Their Fire devices have not been particularly successful in the marketplace.
There was a weak jobs report today with only 141,000 jobs added this past month. It has sent the markets into a wobbly day. Credit Suisse is wondering if the markets are panicking.
They are certainly down.
However, despite the national mourning and the bad economic news I am feeling centered and upbeat today while acknowledging tragedy and grief. I’m off to have my iPhone screen repaired; I shattered it yesterday. Then I am going to see if I can have my haircut.
Tags: Amazon, Amazon bans rivals, Amazon Fire, Assad, Baltimore, Chris Mintz, Credit Suisse, iPhone, Kym Davis, Mat Tombers, Mathew Tombers, Mike Huckabee, Obama, Oregon Shooting, Papal denial, Pope Francis, Putin, Roku, Russia, Social Media, Syria, Syrian Airstrikes, Umpqua, Vatican
Letter from the Vineyard 
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