I don’t know about you, but MY Facebook friends are going OFF! In some cases, people are discussing in a civilized manner the topics of the past few days. But in other ways, some people are just way outta line and it’s giving me a headache. If you happen to be reading this 5 years from now, here are today’s headlines on July 24, 2012…
Penn State accepted a $60 million fine, a 4-year post-season bowl ban, massive scholarship reductions and a Joe Paterno statue that was in front of the football stadium was taken down. This, in effect, has brought out all kinds of back & forth on whether JoePa has been found guilty without a trial, does the university deserve its sentence, do the students and athletes who have nothing to do with Jerry Sandusky’s molestations deserve to suffer the indignation of something a monster and a few select others covered up? Although I have no ties to Penn State, it saddens me what took place there and I feel so badly for those who are alumni, current students or athletes at that prestigious university . A college is a place for the young to learn and grow. For this kind of thing to happen, it takes away a huge part of what should be the best years of their lives. I can’t even imagine what I would have done if this sort of thing had happened at Ohio University in 1991. We had (and have) our share of issues (our campus was, once again, recently voted the biggest party school in the country) but nothing like what Penn State will suffer over the next decade or more.
Over the past weekend, Aurora, Colorado was the site of one of the most horrific shootings in our country’s history when James Eagan Jones walked into a midnight movie showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” covered in kevlar and killed 12 people and injured 58 others. This has sparked a debate on everything from the death sentence to whether or not the right to carry a firearm should include automatic weapons. It also has become a springboard for bored parents who have decided to take a stance on infants at midnight movies that are PG-13 or worse. What 15 people dying has to do with whether or not a parent brought their kid to sleep through a film is beyond me but I DID get involved in that debate and for my feelings on it, you can go HERE. As for Jones, I don’t get it. Following his story in the news, it appears the guy had a decent life. Regular family, former student at the University of Colorado, everyone said he was quiet but pretty normal so…what happened? Yesterday he appeared in court for the first day of trial. He hasn’t said a word about his motive. What moves a person to doing something so horrific? Did he just snap? Did he plan out this event for months or maybe years? Was he on some kind of medication that caused him to become depressed? WHAT HAPPENED? I want to know! It’s INSANE!
Sally Ride, the first American woman astronaut, has died. She was only 61. June 18, 1983, she was the first female to launch in Challenger. I was 14 years old and I remember that day. She was a hero and I hope that she is never forgotten.
Last week, President Obama made a statement that has oft been quoted as this…”If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that.” It’s interesting how many people have taken that particular quote and used it against him saying he is misguided and way off track. If you actually READ what he said at a campaign event in Roanoke, VA, the way he has been misquoted is laughable and it’s ridiculous how the news media will take a SINGLE line (and not even an accurate one) and spin it completely out of its context for any given reason. If you REALLY want to know what the President said, GO HERE. As far as I can read, the man is right. As a country, we all rely on one another in some way, shape or form. To think that we do anything on our own is a misconception. Doesn’t matter if you’re the President of the United States or if you’re a blue collar worker. We all need one another to make this great country work. I get what you’re saying, Mr. President. Too bad some saw it as an opportunity to take what I consider to be an honest & truthful statement and twist it into a slap in the face for so many Americans who are working hard to make ends meet.
In news of lesser importance, Mariah Carey is apparently joining the American Idol, Chad Ochocinco has officially changed his name BACK to Chad Johnson and Seattle baseball superstar, Ichiro Suzuki (who has been the face of that franchise for over 12 years) was traded from the Mariners to the Yankees on the same night that they were to start a 3-game series. The Yankees (leading the A.L. East) not only beat the M’s (worst in A.L. West), but Ichiro had a single in his first at-bat.
Oh…and the Reds are leading the N.L. Central, are 16 games over .500, have won 9 of their last 11 games and are winning despite having lost Joey Votto for a few weeks.
I guess there is SOME sunshine in this morning…
Flying high again!
A Round World Through Square Glasses 