May he rot in hell.

Why, I remember the time when Little Hoppy was in the 8th grade and there was a math test for which I didn't study.

No problem....

"Dear Jesus, please help me with the test tomorrow."

Damn, if it didn't snow and school was closed the next day. The day after was the beginning of Christmas vacation and the teacher forgot about the test when we got back.

Now that's customer service for ya.

I did fail the next test, however. That might have had somethin' to do with why I was in the 8th grade twice.



He ain't helped Ol Hoppy with the lottery ticket yet but that's just because I ain't prayed good enough on it.

Hardly representative if you're into the whole math thing.

"Briggs had been a Pennsylvania trooper for 26 years, when he retired in 2012 with an honorable discharge. The former officer was assigned to turnpike patrol during his tenure as an officer."

I am a retired florist, the thoughts and prayers thing is the "go to" phrase. Take it as is offered, some believe the phrase offers solace to the bereaved.
My father was born and raised in a burg off the Fort Littleton Exchange (Google it). The gun violence in that area of the country is unbelievable. Domestic violence, child abuse and alcohol abuse statistics are staggering as is the poverty of that part of our nation. Really! Who robs a toll booth.

The gunman was age 55; state troopers' retirement age is 50.

As of July 2014, the starting salary for Pennsylvania State Police graduates is $55,853.
State Trooper (2) (from pdf for state employees)

(somewhat contradictory re starting salaries from another source)
Total Pay $51,628 - $95,097, pay range for state troopers.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=Pennsylvania_State_Police_Department/Salary

In either case, a conservative estimate of annual income for last 3 years on the job for this gunman would be minimally $70,000 per year salary times 26 years times multiplier of 2.5. and this gunman was pulling down a pension of 65% times $70,000, i.e., $45,000 per year.

The gunman, identified as retired Trooper Clarence Briggs, 55, of Newville, Cumberland County — about 36 miles from the scene — retired in 2012 after more than 26 years of service, according to Cain.
http://triblive.com/news/regional/10179035-74/turnpike-exit-shooting

The multiplier is 2.5 times the average salary of the 3 highest paid years.

Briggs then shot and killed one of the toll collectors, Danny Crouse, who had been on the job less than three months, and Ronald Heist, a retired York police officer who was employed by a detective agency and was working as turnpike security, Capt. David Cain said.



http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160321_Three_dead_in_robbery_attempt_on_Pa__Turnpike.html


Sad. Wondering if Briggs (the killer) had a substance abuse problem. It's all weird and sad. That particular toll booth is one of the least used on the turnpike. Probably the reason why it was targeted.