Nevada Seventh Grade Shooter

Less than ten minutes after being dropped off  for school, seventh grader Jose Reyes made a decision that would change the lives of those Sparks Middle School students forever. He and a well-liked teacher lay dead in the courtyard from various severe gunshot wounds. Two other students were wounded in the incident.



After an much investigation for the case, police release the details of the crime, stating that Reyes's behavior was the effect depression, bullying, and the feeling of inadequacy at home. Jose Reyes had planned to kill himself that day. Even after the extensive search of information and interviewing of important bystanders, police still aren't quite sure why this seventh grader thought the only way out of his situation was to take his parent's 9mm Ruger pistol and empty the two ammunition-filled magazines at his school that morning.

When Jose Reyes started this tragic retaliation on his schoolmates, math teacher and former marine Michael Lansberry tried to stop the dispute from getting violent. This, unfortunately, did not have a good outcome. Landsberry was severely wounded and killed shortly before Reyes took his own life. During this rampage, one nearby student was shot in his stomach, and another victim was also wounded.







Interviews with Reyes's parents, classmates, teachers, as well as the paintings and search history on his electrical devices display where some of his hatred and frustration stemmed from. A trip to the psychotherapist only three days prior to the incident retold stories of mockery and torment targeting Jose throughout his life, exposing deep emotional scars. When searching through his phone, police also found signs of premeditation, such as photos of the columbine shooters and searches for columbine-based video games. 

Just before the event, Reyes wrote two suicide notes, one for his parents and one to the teachers and students of Sparks Middle School. In his parent's note, he states that the event occurred not because of anyone else, but because of his ongoing internal conflict In the other note, however, he states that he will make the students and teachers pay for the pain they've caused him. “If you hate me and my family doesn’t love me it’s okay. I know that I’m just an idiot. But I love you and I wish the past would be good and better someday", he states after calling himself a monster (AssociatedPress). 

Though Reyes's parents were almost charged for 'allowing the gun to be accessible to the boy',  they were relieved to discover they were not charged at all. They supposedly did not know he was aware of the gun. The cops still do not know who to blame and what his real motive was. “We will never know the complete motive or intent behind this tragic incident as the only person with the true knowledge felt acting out in violence and taking his own life was the best course of action,” police said. “That in itself is a tragedy (AssociatedPress).



This relates to what we're are doing at school because for the talent show, I was thinking about doing some spoken word about bullying and the struggles some people face. This also goes along with the suicide awareness we were doing a while back. Being go through this almost everyday around the world, and shootings and violent rampages could be prevented if we just stop judging people and show kindness towards one another. 

I feel that this was a sad, traumatic event for everyone in that situation, and it definitely could have been prevented in some way. if he was shown some compassion and friendliness, he might not have felt so strongly about the people involved with his school life. This does effect me in some ways, because sometimes I worry about some of my friends, such as every decent friend should. Things can be overwhelming for everyone, but you just have to make sure you are there for people in need. You might just save lives.

The authors support their claim by adding quotes by the very policemen and bystanders who are involved with this event. Many people, including his parents, explain Jose's traumatic events prior to the rampage, reciting his suicide note to them. It said "If you hate me and my family doesn't love me it’s okay. I know that I’m just an idiot. But I love you and I wish the past would be good and better someday" (AssociatedPress). The police officers and investigators also describe the troubling interests Jose had such as "Super Columbine Massacre Role Playing [and] violent themed first-person shooter  type games” (AssociatedPress).


Press, Associated. "Nevada school shooter left 2 suicide notes." Channel One News. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 12 May 2014. Web. 12 May 2014.

"Nevada School Superintendent Says There Is No Evidence The Middle School Shooter Was Bullied." Fox News Latino. Fox News, 10 November 2014. Web. 12 May 2014.

"Jose Reyes Identified As Sparks Middle School Shooter By Spokesman." Wn. Wn, 25 October 2013. Web. 14 May 2014.

"Sparks Middle School shooter identified as 12-year-old Jose Reyes." Las Vegas World News. Las Vegas World News, 25 October 2014. Web. 12 May 2014.

"Gun used in Nevada teacher killing wasn't locked away: Shooter's parents." NY Daily News. NY Daily News, 07 November 2013. Web. 12 May 2014.

United Church of Christ Sues NC Over Same-sex Marriage Ban

Last week, a group of Ministers from around the Charlotte area worked together to start a lawsuit against the State of NC against the ban of gay marriage. They say that the ban goes against their religion, and that the ban prohibits their rights listed in the first amendment: the freedom of religion. These ministers claim that “North Carolina judges some of its citizens as unfit for the blessings of God. We reject that notion”, expressing their feelings toward the ban (Gordon). These people of North Carolina feel that in their baptist beliefs, the communion and sacraments are open to all. “All God’s children [should] be able to receive marriage,” according to Nancy Allison, pastor of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ and one of the many plaintiffs in the lawsuit (Gordon).

This connects with me in my life because I live in North Carolina, and I know some people effected by this ban. This is a controversial topic, and people can be very divided with their choices. This issue can be very hard for some people to talk about because some parts of the state are very stuck in their backwoods ways, some support the idea of same-sex marriage, and some are indifferent. I know people from each group, and I've seen he chaos the topic can provoke.

This relates to what I'm doing in school because in civics we learned about public opinion, and how the opinion of citizens can shape an area. The majority of NC has had a negative view of gay marriage, which is why the ban was put in place. However, things are starting to change. People are taking a stand, and they was equal rights for every sexuality.

Personally, I feel that everyone should stop getting offended by everyone else's choices and let them do what they want. If two men or women want to get married, let them. It's not a big deal to me. It's not me that's marrying a girl, and i'm not gay, so that's okay. But if i was gay, I would want to know that somebody was behind me, backing up my decisions. The best thing we can do is support each other and do what we feel is right, without bashing others and/or being hateful or demeaning. In the end, everything doesn't revolve around a few select people. We are in the United States, and if some have the right to get married, I don't see why others don't.

The author is obviously in support of this movement, because they don't use any negative, degrading, or harsh words towards the parties suing the state of North Carolina. He seems to feel the same way as the women making a stand, because he doesn't even recognize the opposing side in this matter. He states that conservatives against this movement claim that "this lawsuit does not change the fact that God created men and women differently,” and that “The fruits of that difference are marriage and the continuance of the human race through children. (Gordon). These statements may be partially true, but they do not exactly give a reason why same-sex couples can't be married.

I feel that one day, it'll happen; same-sex marriage will be legal.. eventually. Just as slavery was abolished, weed was legalized, and equal rights were given, every big debate ends up with more freedom given. Many things were once seen as taboo, but as time progresses, people will get over it. In a few years time, people will be stuck to some new topic and this will all be over and done with.


Gordon, Michael. "United Church of Christ sues over NC ban on same-sex marriage". Charlotte Observer. CharlotteObserver, 28 April 2014. Web. 28 April 2014.

Boggioni, Tom. "Citing religious freedom, NC clergymen sue state for right to perform same-sex marriages." The Raw Story. The raw Story, 28 April 2014. Web. 28 April 2014.

Badash, David. "Christian Church Sues NC For Violating Its Religious Liberty By Banning Same-Sex Marriage." The New Civil Rights Movement. The New Civil Rights Movement and David Badash, 28 April 2014. Web. 28 April 2014.

Gordon, Michael. "United Church of Christ sues over NC ban on same-sex marriage". Digital image. Charlotte Observer. CharlotteObserver, 28 April 2014. Web. 28 April 2014.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/04/28/4871111/united-church-of-christ-sues-over.html#.U18lYPldUTo#storylink=cpy

22 Students Injured in Knife Attack

In the early arrival of April, 22 Franklin Regional High School students had a morning they'll never forget. Within five minutes, a hallway full of sleepy high school students waiting for class to start turned into a gory crime scene. Many people were injured, but luckily no fatalities were found. However, some hurt need additional surgery to correct damages.

That day started like any other, lingering in the halls and gossiping with fellow classmates. Just before school started, sophomore Alex Hribal ran through the hallways "slashing and stabbing 21 students and a security guard with two 8-inch knives" (Silver). The random attack was more hectic than it could have been, due to a student pulling a fire alarm, causing more students to enter the chaotic hallway. A resource officer tried to charge at the offensive student, but couldn't stop him. The man was stabbed multiple times in the stomach. The attack finally ended when Sam King, and assistant principal of Franklin Regional High School, tackled and disarmed the teenager.

This event connects with everyday life, because these events are becoming more and more common. Columbine, Virginia Tech, New Town, and now this. It seems that as time progresses, the mindset of some people becomes more and more off balance, or corrupted. Many people either have a mental disability, or they no longer have the will to live, and are so full or hatred or anger that they are determined to bring down people with them.

This article relates to what we were doing in class due to the fact that we recently made suicide awareness posters to remind our students that they always have a friend, ad/or a way out of their troubles. In the article, the student doing the harmful stabbing stated that he simply didn't want to live anymore, being a suicidal statement. Although he was seen as a quiet kid who was nice and agreeable, there must have been something terribly wrong in his life.

I personally feel that this was a terrible event, and that it was very lucky that no one was killed. This child's reckless actions effected everyone who happened to be in that hallway on that dreadful day. It was even stated that these attacks were not premeditated, they were at random, so he didn't eve have a reason to attack these people. This event definitely effects me because the actions of reckless students around the country cause many (if not all) schools to try to be cautious of something similar. This makes me wonder if we have anyone this uneasy at our school, and if our students' lives are in danger.

The central idea of the article is to tell of the horrific events that occurred that day, at Franklin Regional High School. It is It is developed and refined throughout the passage by giving more and more details and information as the article progresses. In the beginning to the news article, it just gives an overview, only stating that "sophomore Alex Hribal went on a rampage" (Silver). As the article goes on, however, it gets into more depth and detail, such as when the author includes that students didn't realize the resource officer was hurt until they saw him "leaning against the wall and... bleeding from his stomach" (Silver).

Events like this are definitely troubling to the people of the world, and causes a great bit of chaos and havoc to regular peoples' lives. Although this may be true, these altercations also have a uniting effect on people, bring those together than may not have been friends otherwise. The only way we can stop events like this from occurring is to care for others, and make sure no one has a mindset like Alex Hribal. Helping people through difficult and/or traumatic events may just save peoples' lives.

Silver, Jonathan D. "22 injured in knife attack at Franklin Regional High School." Pittsburgh Post- Gazette. PG Publishing Co., 09 April 2014. Web. 12 April 2014.

"Alex Hribal." Robert Phoenix. podPress, n.d. Web. 12 April 2014.

Weber, Katherine. "Pa. Community Focuses on Healing, Prayer After Tragic School Stabbing." Christian Post. ChristianPostInc., 12 April 2014. Web. 12 April 2014.

Washington, Jesse. "Attorney: Stabbing rampage came out of nowhere." The Marrieta Daily Journal. Madiate Media, 10 April 2014. Web. 12 April 2014.

Bethel Middle School is warning parents about a dangerous new game: “The Eraser Challenge”

Bethel Middle School students are partaking in a dangerous new game: The Eraser Challenge. Parents are baffled and teachers don't know what to think, or how to stop the weird activities. Many kids continue to play the game, although it said to be painful. Adults are also noticing the dangerous medical risks the game may influence.
 
The Eraser Game is basically when "teens use an eraser and rub it back and forth on their arm between the wrist and elbow while reciting the alphabet and coming up with a word for each letter" (Krafcik). After finishing the game, students compare wounds. Many have gone to the nurse complaining of burning and irritation even hours after playing the game. Nurses and parents have realized that playing the game, if done vigorously, can break the skin and cause bleeding. The administration of the school sent out a letter to parents of Bethel Middle School, explaining what their child may or may not be partaking in, and asked them to explain to their children the risks of the game.

Teachers have discovered that students share, or pass around a single eraser between groups of friends, spreading bodily fluids, such as blood and puss. Though most students know not to get someone else's blood in their blood stream, these students don't realize that this game is one way to do just that. This medical mishap has caused severe irritation and infection, although it has not yet caused a serious problem, such as contracting some sort of disease.

 Sixth grader Of Bethel Middle, Alexandra Luhrs, says she's seen classmates play the game in the hallways of her school, though she never really had the urge to play. Luhrs stated that “They were like, 'oh it stings so bad', but they just kept going", referring to her schoolmates (Krafcik). Teachers worry that the leading cause of the game's rising popularity is peer pressure within the school. Alexandra's father, John Luhrs commented on the matter, stating that “[he didn’t] understand why kids [were] mutilating themselves or doing things to hurt themselves” (Krafcik). Many parents had no idea of the game until the school had notified them.

Although stopping this game is a serious matter, teachers will not reprimand students for partaking in this game. They are not worried about disciplining them against the game, as if a crime. They just want to keep the children from harming themselves.

I think that this game is very harmful, and can have effects that students may not fully understand. This game effects me personally because I know some people that play this game, and I have seen the damage it can cause. People should really try to inform their friends, family, children, and/or parents about the game, and how it can do damage to a person. I haven't had a friend who has been seriously hurt form it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did occur.

This relates to what we're doing in class, because in English 10, we talked about self harm and suicide prevention a little bit. Some people give themselves eraser burns as a source of self harm, rather than something else, such as cutting. Even though this is a game, and not an issue as bad as self harm and suicide, it is still a serious thing that needs to be addressed as much as possible.

I feel that the author's point of view is that the game is harmful and should be prevented. You can tell by finding textual evidence in the article such as when he states that the game is "dangerous" and "concern[ing]" (Krafcik). You can also tell because he is only showing the harsh and negative aspects of what parents and teachers were saying. The author talks about how the teachers and parents should stop the game from being played, and how they can tell their kids about the game's dangers. Their negative tone towards the game influences the article by letting the reader know that the game is a bad thing, and that it shouldn't be played. 


Muharem, Derek D. "Parent Letter". Letter. Fox. Tribune Broadcasting Company, 27 March 2014. Web. 30 March 2014.

 Krafcik, Mike. "Students Warned Of Danger Of ‘Eraser Challenge’". Fox. Tribune Broadcasting Company, 27 March 2014. Web. 30 March 2014.

Mr.E?. "Ouch 3". Flickr. Flickr, 11 January 2011. Web. 30 March 2014.

Reading reimagined: Speed Reading with Spritz

Spritz is a new tool to help people reader at a faster rate. The application's creator, Frank Waldman, "claims it can increase a user's reading speed, without any special training, to 1,000 words per minute" (Reading). The tool works by displaying moving words or phrases across the screen at different speeds to increase the reader's comprehension speed.

This tool is great for practically everyone because reading is an important task to master no matter how old you are. You can be in preschool, high school, working, or retired; it doesn't really matter! And for those who master this tool, "reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [would take] 77 minutes"(Reading).



The technology used in this tool is based off of the RSVP method (rapid serial visual presentation), which is when text is shown one word at a time on the screen at a constant speed. Increasing the speed after a slower speed is mastered, is what helps readers see and comprehend the text faster.

This tool increases your comprehension process because "only around 20 percent of your time is spent processing content, [and] the remaining 80 percent is spent physically moving your eyes from word to word", so when the speed is at a faster rate, your brain sorts through the text faster, because your eyes have to see the text first.

I think that this is a great tool because its versatile, its handy, and it helps with the one tool that everyone uses. So many different people can use this and any language can be programmed into the tool, giving people the option to learn a new language through Spritz. Virtually anyone can use this tool, except for those who cannot read, and those who are blind.



This invention does effect me, and the people around me because I actually have this app installed on my phone. It works great and has effectively helped me read and understand what I am reading at a faster speed. It also helps my sister read, who has always had problems reading because she has troubles focusing her eyes. With this tool, she can see the text and understand it with no problem.

The purpose of using statistics in the article and video is to inform readers how this invention works. By stating that readers only use one fifth of the time they read to comprehend, the author explains how Spritz would help strengthen a person's reading. The statistics also give the reader a sense of professionalism, and also lets the reader know that actual experiments have been tested for this invention.

"Reading Reimagined: Speed Reading with Spritz." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, n.d. Web. 16 March 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/technology-video/10692164/Reading-reimagined-speed-reading-with-Spritz.html>

Blain, Loz. Spritz reader: Getting words into your brain faster. Photograph. Gizmag. Gizmag, 04 March 2014. Web. 16 March 2014. <http://www.gizmag.com/spritz-speed-reading-galaxy-s5/31063/>

Physicians' Stethoscopes Spreading Disease?

"Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands." ScienceDaily. n.p., 27  Feb.2014. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140227134841.htm>



Recent studies performed by investigators at the University of Geneva hospitals have shown that physicians' stethoscopes often contain more dangerous bacteria than their hands do. These studies have proven that these doctors actually spread many of the germs that infect and make citizens sick. Discovering these results is the first of many steps to learning new and more effective ways to prevent the spread of bad bacteria.


                                        

Sergey / Fotolia. Untitled. n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.

The numbers of deaths from viruses and the flu have increased over the past year, but doctors couldn't understand why. Now that this discovery has been acknowledged, many physicians have made the connection between the two. More precautions have been made to lessen the spread of contagious germs such as MRSA.

This article relates to my First Aid class the most because we learn about the different diseases you can contract from performing CPR on a victim, and how to prevent it. Even though a doctor's appointment isn't as dramatic and hectic as giving or receiving CPR, it is always good to know how to prevent the contraction of a disease. It is good to know they are doing something about the matter because after finding out about this newly found discovery, I didn't feel very safe going to the doctor's office.

This does effect me substantially because the germs from the patient before me may have been the thing to make me sicker than I was before. This is a problem, because then if people start associating doctors with further sickness, then no one will want to go, increasing their chances of dying from untreated illness. This also effects me because if my friends or family die because of germs caught from the physicians' stethoscope, I will be very upset and distraught.

Killing Centers During the Holocaust

During the Holocaust, Nazis needed efficient ways to exterminate Jews. Killing centers, along with death/concentration camps were the places Jews and gypsies were sent during the Holocaust. Depending on what race and gender they were, they were either sent to a camp where they were forced to work, or a camp that killed them by either being shot, gassed, or scientific experimentation. The first killing center opened was Chelmno, in December of 1941. A year later, they opened the Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka killing centers. These camps were referred to the Operation Reinhard camps. Auschwitz-Birkenau was by far the most imfamous killing center, killing as many as six thousand Jews a day. Majdanek was thought to be the sixth killing center of the group, but was later found to be a place to store valuable objects taken from Jewish victims. It also occasionally acted as a killing site for those who couldn't be killed at any of the other various killing centers.


"Killing Centers: An Overview". Ushmm. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 20 February 2014.

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007327