Guns

Guns

Guns are a bit of a big issue for me. I've had mixed experience with guns. Both legal and illegal experiences. Self-defense situations as well as sports-shooting experiences. Unfortunately I've long since acknowledged that there are gun laws on the books today that I feel are not strict enough considering that I know people who I myself do not consider as fit to own a firearm that own several. 

In my experience these individuals do own firearms and are not afraid to use them against individuals whom they've disrespected openly in public and treat with the utmost disrespect imaginable. 

They have bad things coming to them and don't respect human life or dignity and are not afraid to violate it if they see fit to do so. 

Gun laws have not closed the capability of individuals such as these from acquiring firearms and I doubt it ever will. The black market for guns is unimaginably large and the legal market is largely unregulated.

In America, today, you can go out and by a gun as a gift for someone else other than yourself without naming that person on any legal document before, during, or after leaving the point of sale and the gun can pretty much go anywhere from that point be it legally, illegally or otherwise. 

It can be sold to a schizophrenic on the street who sells heroine to scrape by and support his own addiction or a family friend who still has two years until he can buy his own guns but has been depressed lately.

Guns, in my opinion, need stricter regulations.

- The Blogging Boss

Suicide

Suicide

This post I wanted to cover something that is a major issue for many people.

The American Psychiatric Association reports that as many as one in five Americans (20%) suffer from some form of Depression.

As such, it only makes sense that many Americans as well as many human beings regardless of nationality experience suicidal thoughts, tendencies, attempts, or actual suicides.

When I was in high school suicide was a major issue as many high school students had witnessed suicides but never talked about them because they were still in shock for a while after it happened and it took a lot of quiet time for them to process it

Kurt Cobain, the lead singer from the world-famous band: "Nirvana" has been in the news recently as the anniversary of his death approaches on the 8th of April.

Dying of a self-inflicted shotgun blast to the head is a hell of a way to go.

As for the sadness that spread following his death. Many hailed him as the "John Lennon" of Generation X.

His death brought a sudden end to the Grunge Movement and stripped music of much of its flavor.

Suicide is a serious issue and if any individual is feeling seriously in need of assistance regarding the issue of suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.

The Aurora Shooting

The Aurora Shooting

Essentially, the picture above displays Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger famously played The Joker in the movie The Dark Knight and was famously quoted as being "scared of himself" while playing the role.

Ledger said he didn't like The Joker character and after filming was done Ledger soon overdosed.

The character Joker in the movie came to be associated with Heath Ledger's suicide and many problems afterwards have come about, arguably, as a result of this suicidal symbol.

That there can be such a strong popular culture symbol, The Joker, that is so closely associated with suicide is unthinkable.

In my opinion the movie should have never aired. That they considered it a testimony to the acting career of Heath Ledger felt insulting. 

Many cite the Dark Knight Movie Premiere on July 20, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado at the Century Theater in Downtown Aurora where the now infamous Aurora Theater Shooting occurred.

 It started when James Eagen Holmes walked into the movie in full riot squad gear armed to the teeth with military grade weaponry shot and injured 82 people, killing 12.

Afterwards, Holmes admitted that he wanted to be like, "The Joker" from "The Dark Knight", a character associated with mayhem, menacing, and, because of Heath Ledger, suicide.

In this person's opinion, what was done was humorous and said, "I'd do it again."

This individual felt no remorse and did in fact believe that what he did and what happened to 82 people who were shot, killed, or injured was comedic.

Now, if anyone thinks this is funny i'd question their definition of comedy.

Being in a situation such as the one Holmes was in would not be comedic as it would be terrifying. 

For Holmes it may have been comedic as he was in full control of the mayhem he'd created but there is not sense thing as comedy that derives it's value from human suffering. 

A few ill-reputed remarks? Sure

I feel a little angry about it afterwards? Great.

I get over it and we still dick around because we're cool like that? Of course.

Just don't crack any sarcastic, "I'm gonna commit an massacre and here's how" jokes.

Video Games

Video Games

Who doesn't like video games?

Nobody.

Everybody loves video games except those who don't play them at which point they have no inclusion on the matter of opinion. 

I, on the other hand, have played video games for as long as I can remember to way back when I would play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the Genesis. Sonic RPG(role-playing game)? Great. Super Mario RPG? Cool. Final Fantasy? Wonderful. War of the Gems? Amazing. All, however, are fantastic video games. 

Modern Gaming, on the other hand, has come VERY far and has become incredibly realistic and graphic (no pun intended). 

Hours and hours and hours of time, years of life (literally) have been spent in-game on leveling up, increasing stats, farming currency, defeating bosses, getting 100%,, finding secrets, easter-eggs, cheats, and so on.

As a hobby it is personally one of my favorites, relaxing, engaging, testing, interrogative, and interactive.

I recommend it to anyone whose interested.

Right now I happen to be playing Dark Souls 2 and it is quite the game. I've spent probably 20 hours on it over the past month or so. Man, it is difficult. I die a lot. But, in the end my resolve pushes me through and strikes down my obstacles no matter how impossible the odds are that face me.

Game On.

Elders

Elders

Respecting one's elders should always be practiced. To not have respect for one's elders is to not have respect for one's self. The Elderly have given much of themselves to make this society what it is today whether through building our infrastructure, fighting war, saving economies, building futures, or some other modern miracle. 

The majority of individuals aged 65 years and older are what one considers their elders. Simply because someone is older than you does not automatically merit their respect and, of course, poor behavior should never merit respect. Elders, or Seniors, however do merit respect as they have been through far more than you and may even have gone through more than you ever will if you don't make it to old age. Respecting your elders may just earn you some secrets to long life.

Never under any circumstance should you insult or harm an elderly person. It is among the utmost disrespectful and indignant of acts. Shame and terrible luck will befall you. It's not exactly just a superstition either. 

Many people aren't aware but a large organization exists which acts as a political bloc for the elderly. This organization, known as the A.A.R.P. or the American Association of Retired Persons, consists of elderly individuals from all walks of life. War, Peace, East, West, you name it and a Senior Citizen has been there. 

If there is something to be taken from this blog post, it would be to consider whether or not there's an elder or senior citizen in your life, perhaps a member of the A.A.R.P., who you would consider helping out? There's not many days left for these brave souls. Age is a complex problem and scientific research in progressing the field revolving technologies designed to lengthen the average lifespan such as Biological Engineering are not advancing fast enough. 

Many Senior Citizens, on a regular basis, are forced to come to terms with their coming fatality. If there's anything you can do to help these individuals it is highly recommended, if not insisted upon in your community, to do so.

Teacher Appreciation Day

Teacher Appreciation Day

Ah Yes. Teachers. 

There have a great many teachers in my entire life. Many, many, many. Some good, some bad.

There have been many times when I felt my teachers were obviously good people who had gotten the short end of the stick. Noticing which ones were completely obsessed with this fact and which ones were actually decent, lovely human beings was quite interesting.

Teachers have an odd way of letting themselves manifest. A sort of "to each his own" if you will.

Substitutes always seemed to be lacking in the discipline department, rarely having a strong grip on the class. Those substitutes that did have a grip were given my respect for being able to do something with the class in a single day better than a full-time teacher had done the entire year. Such individuals, in my opinion, were the epitome of discipline.

Every once in a while i'd get an attractive teacher. Most teachers were closing in on 40, fast. These fortuitous teachers were revered by the students as smart, attractive, and quite capable individuals but I believe merely being a teacher merits fortitude.