Boston

The bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday were horrific. I never thought I'd see footage like that in my entire life. The images coming out of Boston looked like they were from a war zone. I felt so sad seeing something so joyful turn into an afternoon of pain and suffering.

Twitter was swamped with people sending thoughts and prayers to Boston. "#PrayForBoston" and "#BostonMarathon" were trending within minutes. Twitter was also swamped with people starting to play the blame game. Muslims were upset because "#Muslims" was on the national trend list. A tweet that I saw said, "Did #WhiteBoy trend when Lanza was caught in December?" Another one read, "Anyone who thinks that Muslims are responsible for this obviously forget McVeigh. #shame #RememberOKC."

One of the people I follow on Twitter, an army wife from Colorado Springs, said that she was tired of people blaming "her American people" for the bombing and she wanted an apology from ABC, NBC, and CBS. I asked her what she meant (I'd been watching all of those, as well as FOX, to try to get all the information) because I didn't understand. She said that those three networks had already said it was the "conservative right" that was to blame. I disagreed with this, seeing as I had been watching those for the last hour and had heard nothing of the sort, but I thought her reaction was a perfect example of the way people react in the wake of tragedies like this: they don't want it to be one of "their" people and they take everything they hear and twist it to fit what they need to hear at that time. It's easier to blame some other group, some other skin color, some other country. I don't fault this woman for her initial reaction; it was a horrible day and our gut reactions are not always the most reasonable. I wrote back to her saying that I hope it's not someone identified with a particular party, too.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on the hit TV show "Dancing with the Stars," tweeted, "Hard to dance on [a] day like today, but I hope we'll show whomever is responsible for #bostonbombing that we're stronger and unaffected!" I really do think that the show must go on and it's important that we get together and stay strong. But unaffected? No. We must allow ourselves to be affected by this event to ensure that we do come out the other side stronger.

So. I am not a fan of blaming people. I know that other people are. Some of the most popular people to blame for the Boston bombings have been President Obama, Muslims in general, and terrorists. But is it the right time? I feel like I did after the tragedy at Sandy Hook: is right now the appropriate time to talk about what our government "should have" done? While I understand that we will absolutely need to discuss this, are the first 24 hours the right time?

For now, let's hug our relatives, help out strangers, and pray for the victims of the bombings in Boston. If we allow ourselves to start blaming each other and arguing about who the "mastermind" behind all of this was, it doesn't matter who the person who did this is: they have already won. If we allow them to bomb our cities, turn us against each other, and break our collective resolve, they win.

We cannot let them win. We must find the person who did this and bring them to justice. And we must work together.

Stay safe. Stay strong.

"Be the change you wish to be in the world." --Gandhi

Spring Break Revelations

Good morning! I took a much needed week off because my fiancé was on spring break. I had been running out of good ideas for article topics and I felt like my articles were getting stale. My fiancé and I had a wonderfully relaxing break and we both are returning to our jobs today rejuvenated and excited for the next five weeks (how is it only five weeks until summer?!)!

Even though I didn't write during my break, I did keep up with the news. And I can't tell you how happy I am that I wasn't writing current news articles last week! Gun control, North Korea, and celebrity mishaps were hot topics. People were getting so fired up about everything and, on both sides, were polarizing issues.

Was it actually worse last week, or did it just seem that way, since I had removed myself from the fray?

I think the way our culture deals with news is fascinating. Everything goes so quickly that it feels like you have to be paying attention 24 hours a day and picking a side before that topic is no longer at the forefront of everyones' minds. For example, early last week, North Korea was making headlines every day. By Thursday, it wasn't even in the top news stories. Today, it's back on top because John Kerry is back from his visit there. Tomorrow, it'll be back in the second half of the hour's news, if at all.

How are we supposed to be informed citizens if we are bombarded with stories that freak us out, and then three days later, those stories are just gone and we have a bunch of new stories we're supposed to care deeply for and form very strong opinions about?

I am tired of seeing "political" articles that have no research behind them, surveys that don't actually give people all the options there actually are to choose from, and "debates" on television in which the minute someone says something that the host disagrees with, that person is cut off and the host tells us (again) what his opinion is.

This happens on both sides. I have done it. But we need to change. We need to decide that it's more important for our citizens to be informed than to choose a side. We need to decide that it's more important for us to make sure that everyone is safe (even if we don't know them and they live in a difference socioeconomic class than we do) than to keep a certain rating from a certain private corporation for our own "reputation" (wouldn't you rather have the reputation of helping people than the reputation of voting however the NRA wants you to vote so you have an "A" from them? I would.).

I guess the thing I took away the most from my week off is that I would rather be a well-informed citizen than have shallow (albeit loud) opinions. Sure, it's fun to get people all riled up and have arguments, but does anything really get accomplished with that? I'm not too sure. I think it's more important to help people understand (in a non-biased manner--yes, it's possible!) what's going on.

I have learned that just because I have strong convictions doesn't mean that they're always right. Just that last sentence alone shows growth on my part. I never would have said that even six months ago. This week, I am going to work on putting my hard and fast opinions aside and look at the big picture. I recommend that you do the same. It'll make all of us better for it.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

5 Ways to De-Stress in 10 Minutes!

I have had an incredibly stressful week. I'm exhausted, but have a long weekend ahead of me. I know I'm not the only one out there who's stressed out, so here are 5 ways to de-stress in 10 minutes or less!

1. Prioritize. Make yourself a list of everything you have to do today. Make a list of everything you have to do in the next week. Number the items in the order of most important to least important. Oh--and then do them. ;-)
2. Take frequent small breaks. If you're like me, you enjoy working for 30 hours straight to finish something...but then you crash! I get obsessive about what I work on, but it's not healthy to do that! If you take a five (or so) minute break every 30 minutes, it'll help your focus.
3. Hydrate. I know it sounds silly, but water helps every part of your body work better; including your brain! If you have enough water in your system, your brain function improves.
4. Endorphin yourself! Yep, "endorphin" has just been turned into a verb by yours truly. :-) Do 10 jumping jacks, 9 pushups, 8 jumping jacks, 7 pushups, 6 jumping jacks, 5 pushups, 4 jumping jacks, 3 pushups, 2 jumping jacks, and 1 minute of high knees. You have just been "endorphined." ;-)
5. Laugh. Go to Youtube and type in something that makes you laugh: baby kittens, puppies, baby laughs, silly dances, etc. Laugh for at least a minute! By the end of that minute, I'm betting you'll want to keep laughing--and laughing is good for you! 

With the wedding coming up, making my wedding dress, some personal situations, and financial stress, I'm really stressed. I really do try to do all of these things on a daily basis and they help. I wish you all a very relaxed, stress-free--well, I know it won't be stress-free, so I'll say "less-stressed"--weekend! 

And if your teams are playing in the Final Four like mine are (Louisville's men's and women's basketball teams made it to both Final Fours!!!), I hope they do you proud! I'm not going to say that I hope they win, because if you're anything but a Cards fan, no offense, but I don't want your team to win. ;-) Happy Weekend!

Win for Ware! Go Cards!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Nostalgic for a Time We Never Knew

Justin Timberlake

Emmy Rossum just had an album come out called "Sentimental Journey" with American standards on it. Justin Timberlake came out with an album of music that reflects the style of the 1960s and soul. The Fall 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week featured silhouettes akin to the high fashion of the 1940s and 1950s. Are we looking back and being nostalgic for a time we never knew?

Whenever I listen to Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong I feel like I'm transported back to a romantic time. Hollywood was full of "old" glamour, there was a standard of etiquette that everyone had, and it seems like it was simpler than current times. I know it's just a feeling, and that there were problems and scandals back then, but it's fascinating that people in their mid to late 20s are wanting to bring that feeling along into the 21st century.

And the way fashion is going right now, the younger girls are headed back to the 80s, but the business ladies and more dressed up women have silhouettes straight out of the 50s. I love it! As someone in their mid-20s who does not want to have all of their skin showing, it's refreshing to see necklines higher and hemlines longer.

I think that we are getting to the point where technology is continuing and the world is going faster and faster, and there are some of us who are tired of it. At 24, I'm exhausted! Just this morning Apple said they're going to be coming out next year with a ring that will be a remote for the new Apple TV. Reports earlier in the week mentioned that the new iPhone could come out as early as this summer (didn't we just get the iPhone 5?!). It feels like we never slow down. I would love to go back to a time in which men were romantic, children were polite, and hemlines were closer to our knees.

Until I figure out how to build a time machine, I think I'll just put on the "Sentimental Journey" album and let "These Foolish Things" pass.

Emmy Rossum

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Rerun: Is Having Sex With Teachers Okay?

Sarah Jones as a BenGal

Sarah Jones, of Northern Kentucky, is a former Ben-Gal cheerleader-turned-teacher facing two criminal charges: having sex with a 17-year-old student and wrongful use of electronic means to coerce a minor into engaging in sexual activity. Each one of these charges could come with up to five years in prison. This is the Huffington Post's story on the case in early August. Jones has maintained since her resignation in November that she is not guilty, and was actually blaming some of the high school girls for what happened. Two weeks ago, however, the court deemed it appropriate to include text messages and emails in the evidence used in the case. The extremely public trial was set to begin later this week, but this morning we woke up to the news that Sarah Jones is going to accept a plea bargain later today. On GMA this morning, one of their legal analysts said that the bargain will almost certainly reduce her punishment to maybe a month in jail, or even just parole!

It is absolutely incredible to me that a teacher who had sex with her student might only get a month in jail. Granted, her teaching career is over, so that's a rather large punishment, but only a month in jail?! That is nothing, compared to what that student is going to go through. We don't know his story because he is a minor, but it's not too hard to figure out: He has a crush on her, ends up flirting with her a little bit, she sees it as a thrill to be able to manipulate the student, while he thinks he's in charge of the situation; and then it goes too far.

This student has no idea what his life is going to be like now: How is he going to trust anyone again? She was married, but still had sex with him. Why should he ever trust that a woman who tells him that she loves him isn't cheating on him behind his back? Or why should he trust that the school he sends his kids to someday will keep them safe? It's the school's responsibility to keep the students safe, and his school's administration did not keep him safe. At least he can trust the fact that she will not be teaching ever again and will never do this to another student.

One that I find extraordinary is the reaction of the public to this case. Comments on some of the stories I was looking at this morning included, "I want to give that guy a high-five for that. She's hot. Who really wants to make a big deal over some teen getting some from an NFL cheerleader. Someone is jealous" and "All she will get will be a slap on the wrist...I'd gladly slap her, but not on the wrist." WHAT?! Is it just me, or is our society incredibly skewed when it comes to this kind of stuff? If it were a man having sex with a female student, he would be absolutely abhorred by the general public. Because this teacher is apparently "hot," though, this student is actually having people giving him props for having sex with her, and no one seems to care a whole lot that she was an authority figure who took advantage of her position. This is a problem that really needs to be addressed! Teachers are people who parents entrust their children's well-being to, and if parents can't be sure that teachers are not taking advantage of their children, the public education system is definitely going to lose credibility. The fact that I wrote an article similar to this one a month ago means that there is an absolutely huge problem in our schools. How can this be happening so much? And how many teachers are committing heinous acts like this and haven't been caught yet? And when they do get caught, are they getting prosecuted?

Students, please report anything you're seeing or hearing in regards to this topic. Teachers who commit crimes need to be taken down. They are supposedly pillars of our society, and if they are running around being inappropriate with students, they need to be taken out of that position. Let's stop this, please. All of us need to work together to make this something that is not okay. If you, personally, do not want to get involved, then use the anonymous tip lines. They are anonymous. Get these teachers out of our schools. Keep our kids safe.

UPDATE: Sarah Jones was charged with a misdemeanor around 9:45am EDT. A misdemeanor. That's it. Wow.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

Reds Opening Day!

Reds hat I knitted.

Yesterday was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds! Since I moved to the Cincinnati area last summer, I decided that this season I should at least try to watch baseball and learn the game. I am a newbie baseball fan so I thought it would be fun to have a slightly comedic take on the games. I'll keep writing about my journey to become a baseball fan through the Reds' season. The only baseball experience I've ever had was a Cubs game back in 2002, a Twins game in 2011, and a few Louisville Bats games. I had fun at them, but didn't understand the game.

New Vocabulary (I'll be sharing three new items I've learned each post.)
bullpen - the place where pitchers warm up
ERA - Earned Run Average: "mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched."
K - Used for a strike-out; started by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist for the word "struck" since "S" was already taken. A forward K is used when the batter swings to strike out. A backwards K is used when he lets the ball pass and it was in the strike zone.

Yesterday I sat down to watch the game around 3:45pm. All of the Los Angeles Angels were introduced (I saw "Angels in the Outfield" last year for the first time!). And then all of the Cincinnati Reds were introduced, from the manager to the coaches to the players to the eighth graders who hope someday to be in the Major League!

I was shocked when one of our players got hit with the ball! Choo is a new player with the Reds this year and he has a lot of potential (they said). But the pitcher for the Angels hit him in the ankle! He walked to first. I was just surprised that that was allowed--I'm used to watching basketball where fouls are called all the time.

I sat through and watched the first inning. It was scoreless and I was getting irritated because nothing was happening! I left the game on while I went to do some dishes. Because I went to the kitchen, I missed the first home run of the game! One to nothing for the bad guys. ;-)

I came back to watch after 5pm and Choo made it to home plate! One to one! But on the same play one of our good guys, Ludwick, slid into third base and dislocated his shoulder. It looked very painful. Someone came in to substitute for him...a "pinch runner" I think? He didn't really do too well.

I was taking notes through the game and this is a direct quote from my notes: "I don't know why the players chew so much gum, but it's disgusting. We do not want to see that." When my fiancé got home, he explained to me that chewing tobacco is a part of baseball culture, but they aren't allowed to use it during a game. He said that they chew sunflower seeds or gum during a game but they will use chewing tobacco during practice or something. Gross! They were all spitting so much during the game--I was seriously disgusted.

The game went on and on and on...for a while I thought it would be over maybe three or three and a half hours after it started. But it was tied so it got "extra innings." Four extra innings later, the Angels went up 3-1. And we lost. It was a rather anticlimactic way to end a five hour game--they barely showed the teams shaking hands and focused on one or two players instead of doing the football or basketball thing of showing the whole stadium. It was just over.

I think baseball is something I could learn to really like, but last night's game was kind of a tragic beginning to my being a Reds fan. I hope the next few games are more entertaining. My fiancé said that there are tons of statistics involved in being a baseball fan. I like stats, but there has to be entertainment in the games for me to stay hooked. ;-)

Hopefully we'll do better on Wednesday (definitely won't
be watching--it's too late) or Thursday (will probably watch that game) when we play the Angels again. In the meantime, I've downloaded the MLB Baseball app, will work on learning what all the abbreviations mean, and will learn some more players on "my" team, the Reds.

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up." --Vince Lombardi

Louisville Cardinals: A True CardNation

One of my friends and me in the
Cardinal Marching Band--in 2007!

I am a HUGE Louisville Cardinals fan! I'm a UofL alum and I watch all of our football and men's basketball games (I don't watch ALL of the women's games, but our women's basketball team beat #1 BAYLOR last night!!!). Our men's basketball team is currently the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. We played Duke in the Elite Eight yesterday.

With about six and a half minutes left in the first half, Kevin Ware suffered the worst sports injury I've ever seen. He had jumped up to block a shot and when he came down, the lower part of his right leg just shattered. The entire UofL bench (in front of whom the injury happened) turned away in horror. Siva, Behanan, and Blackshear were just sitting on the court, sickened after having seen the injury. Half the team and Coach Petino were in tears. And Ware, with a bone sticking out of his leg, was yelling to the team huddled on the court that he wanted to talk to them. He told them over and over, "I'll be okay, just win the game." And they did. By 22 points.

I have never seen a team pull together the way the Cardinals did. The visceral reaction to Ware's injury and the 17-2 run they had in the second half to pull away from Duke showed that this group of young men is special. They are so much more than just a basketball team. The love and commitment those guys showed for each other was absolutely phenomenal.

I am amazed at the strides medical technology has had! Joe Theismann had a just-as-horrifying injury that ended his career back in 1985 (he said that he was watching the game yesterday and felt a "shiver" when Ware had his injury). Michael Bush suffered a very similar injury while he was playing at Louisville and two years later, made his NFL debut (Bush tweeted yesterday after Ware's injury, "I just cried."). Kevin Ware had surgery last night and is expected to be back in a year. He'll probably redshirt for the 2013-2014 season and be back better than ever in 2014-2015.

I think the takeaway from yesterday's game is that bad things happen but if you have taken care to surround yourself with the right people in your life, everyone can get through the hardship. It wasn't just the team, either. CardNation came together on Twitter and Facebook--within minutes of the injury, #KevinWare, #Ware, and #WinForWare were trending globally. That means a lot. Made me a very proud alum.

And I'm not going to jinx my team by making crazy predictions or anything, but even though we didn't cut down the nets yesterday (we are waiting until only one team can cut down the nets, not four teams), I think getting Ware back home to Atlanta has made it possible for us to cut a net down for Ware at some point in the future. ;-)

You're on notice, Wichita State.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi