Links of note on dark night day

With yet another mass murder under our collective expanding belts, it's worth noting that this is just another example of domestic terrorism made possible by easy access to guns, particularly assault weapons.

Apparently, this nutcase in Colorado had at least four guns, including an AR-15, the civilian semi-automatic version of the M-16 which can kill people at a rate of up to 800 per minute. "Luckily," the Colorado shooter may have had just a 100-clip magazine.

Still, killing 100 people per minute doesn't seem very civil in a country that claims to be exceptional.

Nor does it seem Christian-like.

Yet, this is who we are. Mass murders are deemed an acceptable tradeoff, by the NRA and its acolytes, to our freedom to "bear arms."

With that in mind, here's a link to an interactive timeline of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.

Until we once again ban semi-automatic weaponry, our mass murders will not go away. In fact, the frequency of these incidents will only increase, and the death tolls will only climb higher.

Speaking of the health of the nation, here's a link to an essay by a conservative, anti-abortion Christian woman who was always opposed to national health care.

Until she moved to Canada, where she experienced universal health care and now considers it the most humane, or Christian, way to care for one another.

Speaking of values, here's a story whose headline says it all: "Corporation That Paid Nothing in Taxes for Four Years, Tells Congress it Pays Too Much in Taxes."

One corporation, though, is doing fine: "Walmart Is America's First Welfare Queen Superstore."

At least the weather forecast for Bend is decent: Highs in the low 80s, lows in the high 40s and no thunderstorms.

Which means that fire season is just around the corner.