In a recent article by Jamie Gumbrecht, titled "Guns, guards, and posses: Schools try new security strategies," Gumbrecht explains to readers about some new ways that different schools are trying to protect their students.
The article states "In Utah and Texas, some educators trained in shooting or self-defense." School shootings are tragic, and I think it's great that schools are finally trying to do something to prevent them. Educators training in shooting or self-defense seems to me like a great way for teachers to take a stand for their students.
The article also states "Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio put a 'posse' of armed volunteers around school perimeters." While I do believe that schools should do something to try and keep students safe, I'm not sure how I feel about just putting volunteers around school perimeters. Anyone could volunteer to do that, right? Anyone. To me this seems a bit too dangerous to be doing.
This article also states "It's all in reaction to the December 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, where 20 children and six staffers were killed." I'm glad that schools are finally doing something, but it's sad that it had to happen after such a tragedy. If schools would have taken action before this, it could have been prevented.
As I was reading this article, I was reminded of one of my classes in 9th grade when my teacher was telling the class about the Jonesboro shooting in 1998. There were two boys, Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden. One of them pulled the fire alarm so that everyone would go outside, and they started shooting at people as soon as they started filing out of the building, killing five people. I don't understand why anyone, especially kids, would so something so violent.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Monday, December 3, 2012
Book Review #2
"Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing."
This is a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's book "The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers." This book enthralled me with its intriguing characters.
J.R.R. Tolkien makes me believe in the characters as people. They are all brave and noble. Gandalf, a wizard, is kind and wise. In the book, he says "Do not regret your choice in the valley of the Emyn Muil, nor call it a vain pursuit. You chose amid doubts the path that seemed right: the choice was just, and it has been rewarded, For so we have met in time, who otherwise might have met too late..." Gandalf is telling Aragorn that he shouldn't regret the decision he made when choosing what path to take to search for the hobbits, because if he hadn't chosen that path, he wouldn't have met with Gandalf, and the hobbits would not have been saved in time.
What I dislike about J.R.R. Tolkien's style is that he spends too much time describing the scenery, and not enough time describing the characters' personalities. The book says "The trees were grey and menacing, and a shadow or a mist was about them. The ends of their long sweeping boughs hung down like searching fingers, their roots stood up from the ground like strange monsters, and dark caverns opened beneath them." There's just not enough written about the characters.
I recommend that you read this book, because it's an awesome sequel to "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring."
This is a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's book "The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers." This book enthralled me with its intriguing characters.
J.R.R. Tolkien makes me believe in the characters as people. They are all brave and noble. Gandalf, a wizard, is kind and wise. In the book, he says "Do not regret your choice in the valley of the Emyn Muil, nor call it a vain pursuit. You chose amid doubts the path that seemed right: the choice was just, and it has been rewarded, For so we have met in time, who otherwise might have met too late..." Gandalf is telling Aragorn that he shouldn't regret the decision he made when choosing what path to take to search for the hobbits, because if he hadn't chosen that path, he wouldn't have met with Gandalf, and the hobbits would not have been saved in time.
What I dislike about J.R.R. Tolkien's style is that he spends too much time describing the scenery, and not enough time describing the characters' personalities. The book says "The trees were grey and menacing, and a shadow or a mist was about them. The ends of their long sweeping boughs hung down like searching fingers, their roots stood up from the ground like strange monsters, and dark caverns opened beneath them." There's just not enough written about the characters.
I recommend that you read this book, because it's an awesome sequel to "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring."
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Male Model Convicted In Grisly Murder Of Portuguese TV Journalist
In a recent article by Michael Martinez, titled "Male model convicted in grisly murder of Portuguese TV journalist," Martinez informs readers of the murder of a male model's older lover.
The article states "He was a 20-year-old male model. His lover was a 65-year-old man who was a television journalist. They were from Portugal, visiting New York City. The older partner broke off the relationship and ended up mutilated and dead." Wow. I think this is a major overreaction to a breakup. I mean, the guy's 20 years old, it's not like he'll never find someone else. And besides that fact, his lover was 65. That's a 45 year age difference. Some say "age is but a number," but come on. To me, it seems a little ridiculous to be dating a guy who's 45 years older than he is.
The article also states "'This was a brutal and sadistic crime, where Renato Seabra bludgeoned, choked, and mutilated his victim before murdering him,' Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said following Friday's verdict." According to the article, Carlos Castro, the victim, was found "bludgeoned and castrated in the hotel room in January 2011, a law enforcement source told CNN at the time." Renato Seabra must have been really sick to do something like this to a man that he supposedly loved, or I guess you could say that he really loved the guy to want to kill him for breaking up with him, because he couldn't stand being without him? Or, like I've said, he's just really sick. Which is what I believe.
The article also states "Following the prolonged attack, Seabra showered, took about $1,600 from Castro's wallet, and hung a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door, prosecutors said." As if killing and mutilating the guy wasn't enough, Seabra stole from him, too. That's not right(but neither is murder).
As I was reading this article, I was reminded of a book I once read, called "Blood Lies," that was about a grisly murder.
The article states "He was a 20-year-old male model. His lover was a 65-year-old man who was a television journalist. They were from Portugal, visiting New York City. The older partner broke off the relationship and ended up mutilated and dead." Wow. I think this is a major overreaction to a breakup. I mean, the guy's 20 years old, it's not like he'll never find someone else. And besides that fact, his lover was 65. That's a 45 year age difference. Some say "age is but a number," but come on. To me, it seems a little ridiculous to be dating a guy who's 45 years older than he is.
The article also states "'This was a brutal and sadistic crime, where Renato Seabra bludgeoned, choked, and mutilated his victim before murdering him,' Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said following Friday's verdict." According to the article, Carlos Castro, the victim, was found "bludgeoned and castrated in the hotel room in January 2011, a law enforcement source told CNN at the time." Renato Seabra must have been really sick to do something like this to a man that he supposedly loved, or I guess you could say that he really loved the guy to want to kill him for breaking up with him, because he couldn't stand being without him? Or, like I've said, he's just really sick. Which is what I believe.
The article also states "Following the prolonged attack, Seabra showered, took about $1,600 from Castro's wallet, and hung a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door, prosecutors said." As if killing and mutilating the guy wasn't enough, Seabra stole from him, too. That's not right(but neither is murder).
As I was reading this article, I was reminded of a book I once read, called "Blood Lies," that was about a grisly murder.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Israel Holding Off On Ground Offensive As Clinton Travels To Region
In a recent article titled "Israel holding off on ground offensive as Clinton travels to region," the author informs readers about violence and rocket attacks on Israeli cities.
The article states "Eleven Hamas rockets came flying into the Israeli city of Beer Sheva, causing casualties, CNN's Wolf Blitzer reported from the city. More than 30 rockets were fired into the area Tuesday, but most were destroyed by Iron Dome interceptors." I think it's awful that rockets were sent into the city and caused casualties. There's so much violence happening everywhere, and I don't see why people can't just accept one another and make peace instead of war. The world would be so much better if it were peaceful and no one was in danger of being hurt or killed in the cross fire of war.
The article also states "In Tel Aviv, a man with an ax attacked a U.S. Embassy security guard, Israeli police said. The attacker, who also had a knife, was arrested, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said." I don't understand the reason for attacks like this, particularly on Americans. What has America done to deserve to be hated the way it is hated? I love America, and I am proud to be an American. Violence is never the way to solve problems.
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way to the region, in its seventh day of deadly conflict filled with huge explosions that have triggered fear on both sides." She is going to try to help stop the conflicts and understand why they are so violent.
As I was reading this article, I was reminded of a trailer I saw for a movie called "Red Dawn." I know it's not about Israel, but it's about foreign invasion and war. We need to stop being so violent and make peace with each other. Because as the Beatles said, "All you need is love."
The article states "Eleven Hamas rockets came flying into the Israeli city of Beer Sheva, causing casualties, CNN's Wolf Blitzer reported from the city. More than 30 rockets were fired into the area Tuesday, but most were destroyed by Iron Dome interceptors." I think it's awful that rockets were sent into the city and caused casualties. There's so much violence happening everywhere, and I don't see why people can't just accept one another and make peace instead of war. The world would be so much better if it were peaceful and no one was in danger of being hurt or killed in the cross fire of war.
The article also states "In Tel Aviv, a man with an ax attacked a U.S. Embassy security guard, Israeli police said. The attacker, who also had a knife, was arrested, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said." I don't understand the reason for attacks like this, particularly on Americans. What has America done to deserve to be hated the way it is hated? I love America, and I am proud to be an American. Violence is never the way to solve problems.
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way to the region, in its seventh day of deadly conflict filled with huge explosions that have triggered fear on both sides." She is going to try to help stop the conflicts and understand why they are so violent.
As I was reading this article, I was reminded of a trailer I saw for a movie called "Red Dawn." I know it's not about Israel, but it's about foreign invasion and war. We need to stop being so violent and make peace with each other. Because as the Beatles said, "All you need is love."
Monday, November 12, 2012
At what point does defending one's ideals turn to indefensible hysteria?
Defending one's ideals turns to indefensible hysteria when one has power. Adolf Hitler, gaining power, tried to exterminate the Jews. Accusing others of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, the people of Salem gained power. A person could accuse another person, without evidence, of witchcraft. And the accused person would be hanged or thrown in prison, just because they were accused. The townspeople turned into monsters, hanging nineteen people without reason.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Why Bacteria, But Not Humans, Can Live on Caffeine
In an article by Veronique Greenwood titled "Why Bacteria, But Not Humans, Can Live on Caffeine," Greenwood informs readers about Pseudomonas putida CBB5 and why humans can't live on caffeine.
The article states "This doesn't seem to be a problem for the new bacterium, Pseudomonas putida CBB5..." Pseudomonas putida CBB5 can get energy from caffeine.
"But compare the calorie count for a black coffee with a latte and it's obvious that humans don't get energy, in the scientific sense, from caffeine." Humans don't get energy from caffeine, so they wouldn't be able to live off of caffeine.
The article also states "The specific reason caffeine isn't an energy source for us, thus, is that we don't have the gear to digest derivatives further." Humans can't digest caffeine derivatives like Pseudomonas putida CBB5 can.
I became an active participant in my learning because I didn't know that anything could live on caffeine.
The article states "This doesn't seem to be a problem for the new bacterium, Pseudomonas putida CBB5..." Pseudomonas putida CBB5 can get energy from caffeine.
"But compare the calorie count for a black coffee with a latte and it's obvious that humans don't get energy, in the scientific sense, from caffeine." Humans don't get energy from caffeine, so they wouldn't be able to live off of caffeine.
The article also states "The specific reason caffeine isn't an energy source for us, thus, is that we don't have the gear to digest derivatives further." Humans can't digest caffeine derivatives like Pseudomonas putida CBB5 can.
I became an active participant in my learning because I didn't know that anything could live on caffeine.
Government report on secret flying saucer program made available
In a recent article titled "Government report on secret flying saucer program made available," the author informs readers about the government's plan to build a flying saucer.
The article states "...came across a 114-page document from 1956 sure to interest the tin-foil-hat crowd: a document describing a secret program by the Air Force to build a flying saucer." Why would the government want to build a flying saucer? Perhaps they feared another Roswell incident and wanted to be prepared.
The article also states "The newly released documents, not yet posted on the website of the National Declassification Center, offer details on a Cold War-era plan to build a round vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can only be described as a flying saucer." The government had planned on building a flying saucer, but that didn't work out.
"The report notes a follow up plan to develop weapons suitable for the saucer..." The government wanted to build the flying saucer and make sure it worked properly, and wanted to build weapons for it.
This article makes me think about all those movies about aliens.
The article states "...came across a 114-page document from 1956 sure to interest the tin-foil-hat crowd: a document describing a secret program by the Air Force to build a flying saucer." Why would the government want to build a flying saucer? Perhaps they feared another Roswell incident and wanted to be prepared.
The article also states "The newly released documents, not yet posted on the website of the National Declassification Center, offer details on a Cold War-era plan to build a round vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can only be described as a flying saucer." The government had planned on building a flying saucer, but that didn't work out.
"The report notes a follow up plan to develop weapons suitable for the saucer..." The government wanted to build the flying saucer and make sure it worked properly, and wanted to build weapons for it.
This article makes me think about all those movies about aliens.
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