US Census Worker Murdered, word "fed" scrawled on his chest

[EddyBeers]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...s-worker_N.htm

An update on the happenings in "Real Merica" as Sarah Palin would put it.

The 51-year-old Sparkman was found this month hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest

Lucindia Scurry-Johnson, assistant director of the Census Bureau's southern office in Charlotte, said law enforcement officers have told the agency the matter is "an apparent homicide" but nothing else.

Sparkman's mother, Henrie Sparkman of Inverness, Fla., told The Associated Press her son was an Eagle scout who moved to Kentucky to direct the local Boy Scouts of America. He later became a substitute teacher in Laurel County, adjacent to the county where his body was found.

Some thoughts by the locals on the murder.

Kelsee Brown, a waitress at Huddle House, a 24-hour chain restaurant in Manchester, when asked about the death, said she thinks the government sometimes has the wrong priorities.
"Sometimes I think the government should stick their nose out of people's business and stick their nose in their business at the same time. They care too much about the wrong things," she said.

[peter12]

An update on the happenings in "Real Merica"

Do people like you actually travel anywhere in the United States? For the most part, aside from the usual crazies, I find Americans to be generally as nice and intelligent as anywhere else in the world.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by peter12

Do people like you actually travel anywhere in the United States? For the most part, aside from the usual crazies, I find Americans to be generally as nice and intelligent as anywhere else in the world.

It was more a comment on Sarah Palin's "Real Merica" being where she likes to hang out.

And to answer your question, yes I have been to virtually every state in the Northeast, West Coast and Mountain West regions of the USA. I try my best not to go much farther east than Colorado, not much farther south than Illinois and not much farther west than Virginia. I leave the rest of the states alone. But you are correct, I have only been to 38 of the 50 states, so not all of them.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

It was more a comment on Sarah Palin's "Real Merica" being where she likes to hang out.

And to answer your question, yes I have been to virtually every state in the Northeast, West Coast and Mountain West regions of the USA. I try my best not to go much farther east than Colorado, not much farther south than Illinois and not much farther west than Virginia. I leave the rest of the states alone. But you are correct, I have only been to 38 of the 50 states, so not all of them.

That doesn't make sense. Anyways, you should take a trip to the Southern states. Incredibly friendly people, great (unhealthy) food, and beautiful scenery.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by rubecube

That doesn't make sense. Anyways, you should take a trip to the Southern states. Incredibly friendly people, great (unhealthy) food, and beautiful scenery.

I'll pass on the southern states, I have a mutli-ethnic gf and she has made it very clear that is one part of the world she will not visit. Even when my mom lived in Georgia, we drove to Daytona Beach rather than go to New Orleans, simply because my gf did not want to go through Alabama. She said she felt uncomfortable even being in Atlanta as a woman who is half black with a white man.

Your right though, that did not make any sense. I basically have skipped the traditional southern states and have been everywhere else in the US of A.

[Buff]

Been watching too much Criminal Minds lately. I immediately wondered if the BAU was on the case.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I'll pass on the southern states, I have a mutli-ethnic gf and she has made it very clear that is one part of the world she will not visit. Even when my mom lived in Georgia, we drove to Daytona Beach rather than go to New Orleans, simply because my gf did not want to go through Alabama. She said she felt uncomfortable even being in Atlanta as a woman who is half black with a white man.

Your right though, that did not make any sense. I basically have skipped the traditional southern states and have been everywhere else in the US of A.

Depends where in the South that you go, it seemed to me that Raleigh was very diverse. But then, Raleigh is the third most educated city in the country (51% of the population with a college degree or higher, only Seattle and San Fransisco best that). It explains why I loved Raleigh but generally don't like the South.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

It was more a comment on Sarah Palin's "Real Merica" being where she likes to hang out.

And to answer your question, yes I have been to virtually every state in the Northeast, West Coast and Mountain West regions of the USA. I try my best not to go much farther east than Colorado, not much farther south than Illinois and not much farther west than Virginia. I leave the rest of the states alone. But you are correct, I have only been to 38 of the 50 states, so not all of them.

And you guys think WE suck at geography?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I'll pass on the southern states, I have a mutli-ethnic gf and she has made it very clear that is one part of the world she will not visit. Even when my mom lived in Georgia, we drove to Daytona Beach rather than go to New Orleans, simply because my gf did not want to go through Alabama. She said she felt uncomfortable even being in Atlanta as a woman who is half black with a white man.

Your right though, that did not make any sense. I basically have skipped the traditional southern states and have been everywhere else in the US of A.

That's what fear mongering will do for you.

[missdpuck]

Damned Southerners

[peter12]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I'll pass on the southern states, I have a mutli-ethnic gf and she has made it very clear that is one part of the world she will not visit. Even when my mom lived in Georgia, we drove to Daytona Beach rather than go to New Orleans, simply because my gf did not want to go through Alabama. She said she felt uncomfortable even being in Atlanta as a woman who is half black with a white man.

Your right though, that did not make any sense. I basically have skipped the traditional southern states and have been everywhere else in the US of A.

What the hell is a multi-ethnic person? Sounds like it makes one kind of intolerant and silly.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by peter12

What the hell is a multi-ethnic person? Sounds like it makes one kind of intolerant and silly.

And a lame excuse to visit the south at that.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by peter12

Do people like you actually travel anywhere in the United States? For the most part, aside from the usual crazies, I find Americans to be generally as nice and intelligent as anywhere else in the world.

As a pure broad stroke they are absolutely as nice and welcoming as anywhere in Canada. They might be as intelligent, but are definitely not as worldly. In Seattle this summer many of them had no clue where Calgary was. In Nebraska they haven't got the slightest idea....telling them to go to Montana and head straight north means absolutely nothing!

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Slava

As a pure broad stroke they are absolutely as nice and welcoming as anywhere in Canada. They might be as intelligent, but are definitely not as worldly. In Seattle this summer many of them had no clue where Calgary was. In Nebraska they haven't got the slightest idea....telling them to go to Montana and head straight north means absolutely nothing!

This tells me Americans view Canada as a lesser country. For example, would the average Canadian know anything about the internal political divisions of Mexico? Aside from Cancun, Tijuana and Mexico City.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by Slava

As a pure broad stroke they are absolutely as nice and welcoming as anywhere in Canada. They might be as intelligent, but are definitely not as worldly. In Seattle this summer many of them had no clue where Calgary was. In Nebraska they haven't got the slightest idea....telling them to go to Montana and head straight north means absolutely nothing!

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

This tells me Americans view Canada as a lesser country. For example, would the average Canadian know anything about the internal political divisions of Mexico? Aside from Cancun, Tijuana and Mexico City.

The same broad stroke applies to that. I can name the provinces of Canada, I know where the larger cities are (and many of the smaller ones), and frankly, I love Canada. Many of us aren't complete idiots.

But then again, there was a guy who came into my salon who couldn't figure out where West Virginia was. And he lives less than 45 minutes from the West Virginia state line. So there are intellectual, worldly people, and there are complete idiots. I'm sure Canada is the same.

[Azure]

A lot of the surveys done in the US point out that some Americans have a very poor working knowledge of their own country.

As for them not knowing much about Canada, I know next to nothing about Mexico, and even less about every single European country.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Slava

As a pure broad stroke they are absolutely as nice and welcoming as anywhere in Canada. They might be as intelligent, but are definitely not as worldly. In Seattle this summer many of them had no clue where Calgary was. In Nebraska they haven't got the slightest idea....telling them to go to Montana and head straight north means absolutely nothing!

Say that to most Japanese and get the same situation. Live with the fact that Calgary is not the Centre of everyone else's Universe. I.e. not famous enough to register.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Azure

A lot of the surveys done in the US point out that some Americans have a very poor working knowledge of their own country.

As for them not knowing much about Canada, I know next to nothing about Mexico, and even less about every single European country.

It is good that Canada is off the radar. It makes the stealth take-over of the US that much easier. We have Florida already and most of the northern states. You are fighting a 2 front war and don't even know it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Say that to most Japanese and get the same situation. Live with the fact that Calgary is not the Centre of everyone else's Universe. I.e. not famous enough to register.

No, and my point isn't that everyone should know where Calgary is. I know that we are a small fish, so its not disrespectful in the least that people don't know where we are. I actually think its hilarious though when you are in the US and try to describe where we are:

Me: Do you know where Montana is?

Them: No, I have no idea.

Now the lack of worldliness is your own country...which is a whole different realm.

On top of this I was listening to the Howard Stern Show today and one guy was asked what country is above them. His answer at first was "Iceland or Greenland or something?"

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by HOZ

It is good that Canada is off the radar. It makes the stealth take-over of the US that much easier. We have Florida already and most of the northern states. You are fighting a 2 front war and don't even know it.

You're talking about the Latinos, right?