Massacre at Fort Hood

I had planned for this week's blog to be my chance to do a "drunken princess," but I think there are more important things for me to talk about. On November 5, 2009, Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fired on his fellow servicemen in the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, killing thirteen people and wounding thirty others. On November 12, Major Hasan was charged with thirteen counts of premeditated murder, and may face additional charges for court martial. Hasan was a U.S. Army Psychiatrist, and practicing Muslim. Now that I have gone over some of the facts of the case I am just going to spill all the frustration I have built up for this incident. These types of events are always heartbreaking for the American people, but the circumstances in which this massacre occurred is a bit ridiculous and infuriating to me. How the hell does a member of our own military get away with doing something like this? We had the signs that this guy had ties to Jihad extremists. The military is currently investigating Major Hasan's involvement with radical Muslims, and all the warning signs that an events like this could occur. Why the hell was this guy still allowed to be in the military? With all the problems this country has had with radical Muslims, it is extremely important that we investigate Muslims more closely. I am not trying to be racist or discriminate against a large part of society, but history shows that we should be careful. Radical Jihadists have a long history of hating everything that America stands for, and acts of terrorism have been a result of this hatred. Whether President Obama wants to admit this was an act of terrorism means nothing to me, because that is exactly what this massacre was. It is finally time we start cracking down on the people who are liable to commit acts of terrorism, regardless of discrimination.

Vocab Words

Gainsay- to deny, dispute, or contradict.

Misogyny- hatred, dislike, or distrust of women.

Tim Lincecum and the 420

Last week I could not think of anything to blog about, so I just spewed out random thoughts to fill up space. While last week had no eventful moments, this week was the complete opposite. Some of the things I thought of harping on were the three hikers getting detained in Iran for espionage (which is a joke), or the 49ers losing their 4th straight. These subjects were interesting, and could have made a great blog, but I decided to write about Tim Lincecum getting arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Not gonna lie, this absolutely cracked me up (no pun intended). The Giants ace was arrested at 8 in the morning going 75 MPH in a 60, and the cop smelled weed on his breath and in his car. Timmy, were you craving the bud that much that you were forced to speed as fast as you could to get it? Not only did Lincecum go out and get it early in the morning, but he could not even wait till he got home to blaze it up. What a dumb thing to do. Lincecum is a guy that is up for arbitration this year, and could get a raise up to about 10 million per year, and now may not get that much. It is almost a certainty that the Giants will use this as a bargaining chip to not have to pay him so much money. It is no lie that baseball players have a long history of enjoying drugs of all kind. The steroid epidemic ran throughout baseball for about 25 years, and players today probably still use Human Growth Hormone to get an advantage. Players still take "greenies" on a daily basis, and these are amphetamines that give players a boost during the course of a game. Vida Blue was notorious throughout the game for doing cocaine before and after his starts. In no other sport to players need a drug fix so much. Timmy, I have a little advice for you: if you want to get high then go for it, but just wait till you get home to pull out the little baggie of 420 and get high as the sky.

Vocab Words

-Nadir- the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair

-Impugn- to challenge as false.

The Beauty of Halloween

Halloween is one of those advantages that gets taken for granted every single time it comes around. People just think that Halloween is one of the holidays that is just normal, and is definitely not as cool as Christmas or Thanksgiving. Well I have news for all the Halloween haters: If you don't like Halloween or don't think you have to take it seriously then don't come out and be a kill joy. Personally, I think that Halloween is one of those holidays that takes a lot of creativity and effort. One of the things that I think about Halloween is that costumes is a reflection of the personality of the person wearing it. Whatever state of mind you are in each year is directly represented in your costume. Let me take myself as an example. Last year I dressed up as Michael Phelps. Well my costume basically consisted of a swimming cap, fake gold medals, and a speedo. This costume says that I want to get drunk enough to not care about wearing a speedo in public, and that I want the ladies to see the "bod." So this year I was Iceman from Top Gun. BTW Top Gun is one of the greatest movies of all time and anyone who hates has no clue what they are talking about. So my Iceman outfit says that I don't mind being put in an uncomfortable flight suit because I want to look smooth and cool. Another aspect of my costume was my aviator sunglasses. For so long I wanted to be the person that wore sunglasses at night, and finally I was able to do it. I love Halloween for many reasons, and one of the main ones is that it is the one night that girls can dress as promiscuously as they want. As a 21 year old guy, I don't really mind that aspect. Well the one message I want to get across about Halloween is that people need to take it seriously and try to look awesome.

Vocab Words

-cruciverbalism- art of crossword compilation or being a fan of crossword puzzles.

-galimaufrey- large helping of hodgepodge consisting of leftovers, remnants, or simply scraps from the larder.

What to Blog About?

After being able to come up with different subjects to blog about week after week, I have definitely hit a wall this week. For the last hour I have been sitting here just thinking about what I want to write about, but nothing is coming to me. So instead of continuing to sit here, frustrated, because I cannot come up with a topic, I am just going to harp on some random issues that are decently prevalent today. First of all, I do not understand the fascination with this Twilight movie series. Personally, all I see is relatively good-looking people (not the girl) with too much make who are overacting. Vampires are supposed to be violent creatures who suck the blood out of their victims, but these movies are romantic. What the hell? And people who think this series will be as successful as the Harry Potter series are just morons. This type of person needs to get punched in the face. The next thing I am thinking about this morning is U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. All the major news organizations are debating whether President Obama will send more troops to fight that guerrilla war. If it were up to me, there would be more troops over there ASAP. We do not need another Vietnam on our hands, and it is imperative we do not give these terrorists the satisfaction of "beating" us. Finally, I am a huge Friends fan and I can't express how gorgeous Jennifer Aniston is. Ever since I started watching this show religiously, I have essentially been in love with her. What is the exact reason? Could it be the sense of humor she shows in the series? That may be. Could it be how she has dated younger men ever since she divorced Brad Pitt? That could also be the truth. Honestly, it's probably how damn hot she is. Just check out the recent cover she has for GQ. Well, that's all I want to harp on today, and maybe I can come up with something specific next time.

Vocab Words

-Voluble- characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words.

-Iconoclast- a person who attacks cherished beliefs.

Alex Rodriguez and his Playoff Struggles

Alright, so Alex Rodriguez is my favorite baseball player in today's age, and I always get hated on all over the place for liking this guy. So many people give me so much shit on being an A-Rod fan, and damn do they get to me sometimes. People say, "You are a front runner," or, "You only like him because he makes the most money," or, "He's just a pretty boy," or even, "He's only good because he used steroids." However, the one people rag me about is how A-Rod has always "shat the bed" in the playoffs. This is definitely a subject that gets to me every single time that someone brings it up. You know what, I'm not going to deny that he has sucked in the playoffs, because he has been god-awful. Back in 2004, he tried to knock the ball out of the first baseman's glove by slapping in away. When he did that I was like, "Dude what are you doing? Do you even know what sport you are playing?" Better yet, in 2007, he was dropped down to the eighth spot in the batting order because he was crapping all over himself every time he got into the box. This is a guy who may go down in history as the the greatest home run hitter of all time. Now, after all these playoff struggles A-Rod has finally told his doubters to go screw themselves after carrying the Yankees so far. Through his first five games this playoff season, A-Rod has hit for a .358 BA, with three home runs, and eight RBIS. The way he has turned himself around this postseason is almost miraculous, after all the drama that has gone on the last few years. This is a guy that has terrible moments in the late innings when the game matters most, and this October it is the total opposite. When things have mattered most, A-Rod has dropped bombs over the fence to tie games in the ninth innings against All-Star closers, Joe Nathan, and Brian Fuentes. People are still going to hate on this guy because he simply better than other players, but I am finally proud to say that I am an Alex Rodriguez fan.

Vocab Words

Rife- of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use

Ebb- a flowing backward or away; decline or decay

The Big 21

On Wednesday, October 14 I finally turn the big 21. For years now I have pictured what my 21st birthday would be like, and all the crazy things that I would do. So what will I do on my birthday? Will it be as I have envisioned? Will I end up doing memorable things that I will probably not remember because of my drunken stupor? Will I end up having a drunken princess moment? Will I be waking up next to countless girls that I cannot name? Finally, will I be getting into stupid, drunken bar fights that are caused by a mix of liquor and testosterone? As much as I would love to have moments like these, the answer to these questions is that my life from 21 on will most likely not be what I have imagined. For the most part, people have told me that turning 21 is a bit of a letdown. Don't get me wrong, I plan on having someone memorable nights, but for the most part I won't be making a fool of myself in forgettable bars on a daily basis. From what I see, turning 21 is a just another birthday in a long line that are to come. Turning 21 does not make you an adult, the only thing it does do is allow you to go into places where they charge too much for a drink, and encourage you to make an ass out of yourself. Personally, turning 21 is just a little closer to 25, which is half way to 30, and which is the birthday that makes people finally feel old. I've seen my life flash by so quick that I cannot keep up, but I hope it will slow down soon. Getting old is not something I want to happen quickly, but I will accept it when it comes. For turning 21, I expect to have some fun nights and early afternoon hangovers, but I don't think it will be anything it is cracked up to be.

Vocab Words

Abase- to reduce or lower.

Anhydrous- with all water removed

Beginning of 49ers Season

For the last few years, I have not been too proud to be a San Francisco 49ers fan, but this year is a totally new story. Since Steve Young and Jerry Rice left the team, the 49ers have been a team without vision, but that all changed when Mike Singletary took the helm in the middle of last season. Every lesson he has tried to instill on the team have looked like they are being heard loud and clear. The players, from star linebacker Patrick Willis to aging receiver Issac Bruce, play with a new sense of intensity like never before. Mike Singletary explained his philosophy to the team when he said, "We go out and hit people in the mouth." This message was taken clearly obvious yesterday when the 49ers emphatically kicked the stuffing out of the Rams, bludgeoning them to a 35-0 defeat. It was a display of physicality that we only see out of dominating defensive teams like the Ravens, and Steelers. As good as the defense looks, it is pretty apparent that the offense has some work to do. Shaun Hill runs the team pretty well, with limiting turnovers, and making the routine throws. However, the play calling is extremely conservative, and it looks like the team gets complacent at times. Frank Gore is a budding star, but every year it seems like he gets hurt at one point or the other. At receiver, the 49ers could use a star, but it looks like the ego of Michael Crabtree will never allow him to put on the red and gold. After being banished to the locker room in Mike Singletary's first game, Vernon Davis looks like one of the best tight ends in the league. In the trenches, the offensive line needs some improvement. They show glimpses of brilliance at times, where Frank Gore gets a huge hole and runs for an eighty yard touchdown. Consistency is still not there. The 49ers look like one of the best teams in the league through four games, but we will see if they can pick up the pace. If it were not for a Brett Favre miracle, the team would be 4-0. Oh well, 3-1 is pretty damn good and the future looks bright.

Vocab Words

ossify- to convert into or cause to harden like bone.

quell- to suppress; put an end to; extinguish