As few may know yesterday was the tenth anniversary for the columbine shootings. Where two young men stormed the high school wounded 20, killed twelve students, and one teacher before killing themselves. April 20 1999 was a trying day for hundreds of students and families connected to the school. Sunday hundreds came back to the high school to remember those that were lost.

Everyone knows about the stress that students of forms go through. There are many that bear the strain and get through, some who go up,down,back,and forth motivation wise; Then there are those that break down completely, and either get depressed beyond all help, or lash out inducing physical harm to themselves, or others. The truth of the matter is that some people are truly crazy. I understand how this may sound harsh or rude to some, but it must be said.

Many times post horrific tragedy, the authorities investigate why this happened. This so they can have a better understanding of the cycle people go through to reach murderous ends towards themselves and others. Well, in many of the investigations authorities find that there were slight hints and events that engaged thoughts of murder.

For instance look at the columbine incident, the two boys were caught by their parents .with explosives and gun barrel sights. The family found the video of them practicing right out in the open of one of the two boys. Another example, the Virginia Tech shooting, the man involved with that stopped talking to everyone, and sent a hate note to his own parents.

To me these are all obvious signs that something is wrong. The fact that no one saw these signs astonishes me. I feel horrible for the families wronged and all the victims of the events I speak of, but in truth I think that both instances could have been stopped preemptively.













When you hear the word mercenary what words , and or thoughts come to mind ?

Usually people come up with negative connotations, thoughts of money, greed, and combat. These are what define a mercenary, they are men and sometimes women who fight, and /or kill for money, or material gain.


The earliest record of mercenaries was in ancient Egypt thirteenth-century B.C. when Ramsesses the second hired eleven thousand men and women from Nubia, Syria, Iran , Kemit, and Canaan. They were made his personal guard as well as one of his elite fighting groups. From then on we have read of different countries, kings, and empires all lead into their power by a privately paid force.


Even now as we, U.S. is at war in the middle east there are mercenaries that are going in before are troops, and accomplishing missions at a hire rate. The fact is that the only way to win a war is to have a private contractor on the side doing what you need to win. There lies the problem, with the war on terror, many people are on edge about why we are still fighting this war. We can not just pull out and let things fall into chaos, nor can we totally destroy everything and just start a new.


The war has stretched the armed forces thin... we just do not have the people to fight in all these different parts of the world. If you do not know what I am speaking of, is we have troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, south Korea, and many other places, but the U.S. can not be in the all these places with force, so they hire private contractors, or mercenaries. they go and take care of the what the armed forces can not.


The mercenary was feared in olden times because of his ability to fight and his resources, many acquired "friends in high places", and knew how to maneuver around the rules and laws of the land.
The future of modern warfare could very possibly be invested in the private contractors and armies. The facts are, the United States has been effectively using private contractors in Iraq and many other wars. Having such a force rises the percentage of success.

There was a massive earth quake in the the region of L'Aquila which is a city next to Rome. Today a 6.5 quake spread destruction and terror around the whole area. Tremors earlier could be felt, and many came out to see what was happening, as they watched many of their own buildings and structure crumbling apart in front of them.

There are estimates of up to ninety people killed, as well as hundreds missing. Rescue workers and the army are making an effort to get all civilians to safe places. Many reporters called the procession of people in the sleep wear and blankets refugees, these people have been gathered and taken care of at the red cross stations set up all around the suburbs of L'Aquila.
Italy sits on two of tectonic plates that cause earth quakes, these are not unheard of, but usually occur in the southern part of Italy.






What are tectonic plates, you ask...
Tectonic plates are large masses of land that basically float on the lava, or core of the earth. They are in constant motion and follow a set pattern in movement. As plates move they some time release massive amounts of energy causing an earth quake. These quakes and plate movement are key reasons for volcanoes, mountains, and basically the structure of the planet's landscape.

A fault line, or plane is mainly where an earth quake can be expected to occur. These are the unsupported parts of earth on the plate, they can sometime break apart or sink in. In Italy many buildings were destroyed because of this.

The plates were once all together hundreds of thousands of years ago. These plates have been in motion since then. We have come to understand much about geology and how the earth works, but there is much we do not understand.

In Lahore today a police academy on the outskirts of the city was taken by terrorists.this is an officer of the elite armed forces of Pakistan, right after taking back a police academy.

In the early morning while many of the young cadets and officers did their morning drill.




Terrorist suspected to be involved with al-queada threw grenades and rushed in the small fortress.
Pakistani forces came to drive the terrorist out.After ten to fifteen minutes of speratic gun fire and helicopter support. the academy was retaken. This comes weeks after Obama's pledge to root out terrorist from their safe zones in Afghanistan, as well as in Pakistan.

In this map(to the left) you can see where Lahore is as well as where the academy in question is. The space is more traveled than it looks. although it is very far from the city, many people use it to get back and forth from their villages.



Pakistan was made independent on the fifteenth of august, in 1947 by the British. You should know that the British had a monopoly of sorts on almost all of middle east. The reasons for this were oil, and quick travel to India and Australia. Pakistan was not made a country until after the second world war and the fall of the ottoman empire(an empire ruled by Turks and Kurds). Where it became a mandate state of Britain. Pakistan was added to Iraq and Kuwait. The Pakistani people were very empowered to make their own government and rules of state. The problem was that many of the British influences were made directly. Meaning there were "Brits"
in office actually ruling and making decisions, later they saw that this form of ruling would not work and started to appoint people from Pakistan to rule over their own people. The British still had an influence of indirect controlled because they were funding so much of Pakistan's economy and infrastructure.

Now the country of Pakistan is running its own semi- democracy with some monarchical traits. The U.S is involved in rooting out the terrorism and having Pakistan as a great ali.















Iran Drones

In recent news we have heard of Obama getting some arguments and conflicts with Iran. Saying that the Iranians are tiered of the unman drones that come in and attack certain terrorist occupied areas. These drones are the new age of war fare. They can go as far as some maned jets can and destroy the enemy with no casualties. The air force as well as the navy and marines are using these new weapons to cause destruction and chaos in the enemies lines.

I have an interest in this technology because on of my friends is actually learning to fly and repair these machines of war. He has always been interested in this type of thing and I'm glad he is doing what he likes.

The Predator-qr is an awesome piece of equipment that can use the lower atmosphere orbit to stay in the sky up to three weeks. This allows our forces to take important pics and get enemy locations in seconds. With a small unmanned air craft in the air radar is virtually useless. Also the air craft is very quiet and small so hard to destroy , in the right hands can dish out a lot of trouble for the other side.

The reason I brought up Iran, because we are discussing about Iran in my history class. We were talking about the new and modern weapons that the Iranians had in 1975. The dangerous weapon of hostage taking. In 1975 the most unprecedented happened. Some Iranian students charged the American embassy and took all inside as hostages for four months. This was Americas first globally staged hostage situation.

The hostages were released and everything was resolved, but as we have seen and history has shown is that if you bring some new type of warfare to the equation you have a better chance at a better out come.

random sayings from onetruth......



















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Yeah this week I really have absolutely have no idea what I'm going to write about. I mean really, I have no freaking clue. Have you ever had moments when you just totally space out, you have no what to do first so you get nothing done at all... Well I have that but it has lasted for three days, I bet it lasts the rest of the week too though.

When I get like this it is bad, cant finish work, nor can I effectively think or sleep. Its a real problem. I wonder if this will be a problem latter in life because if it is then my future boss is in for a horrible surprise.I mean if I get a week like this I most likely will be fired.

No I doubt that any of that will happen, I m just stalling so I can get this assignment done. Wow I haven't made any progress on this at all.

Oh... I got my camera fixed and had a new focal plane shutter put in. Its the shutter that sits right in front of the focal plane, or viewing area of the camera. With a focal plane shutter i am able to take a clear and pristine picture, my focus increases by twenty percent, and my camera is a little lighter.




I usually listen to the news on t.v. and hear about whats going on in our country and around the world. I would call what I see on the television the worst pack of P.R. lies, pro government propaganda. Aside from that I found that the Internet net has a little more truth. One of my favorite sources of news is NPR(National Public Radio). They have many interesting stories as well as a streaming feed of news talks and podcast from all over the world. Tuesday after class I found that I could become a border police deputy if I so chose.










Virtual border patrol... that's right the United States of America is calling for you, to sit at your computer and watch one of about eleven cameras all along the border. When, or if you actually see someone you are to report this by email to an office in Texas that goes and investigates the problem.





This is our new solution to protecting our borders. I would call it minor vigilantism, if that's a word. Basically the government has put the protection of our borders in the hand s of anyone who wants to help. Yes there are still, regular police who handle these matters, but now they can have more eyes on more of the popular crossing sites of our border.





(By clicking the link you hear the the short podcast on the NPR website. )





While listening to the guest who called din on the program I was amazed... and I do mean truly amazed when he said" I enjoys sitting at my computer for hours at a time after work (he's a truck driver mind you) I don't think that it is in any form being a vigilant, but I think that I am helping to protect my country's borders.





While I sat there, wondered if any one else would do this another guest was on (chief patrol officer), he said that they once got an email that stated... "hey mate we've been watching the border for ya from the pub." These people were watching our border in Australia!


There are a couple of people that think that this is a total waste of money and time; especially in the state our economy is in, we need to stop wasting it on this. I guess this has the potential to be a good resource, but there would need to be some form of training I would suggest.





Just having random people on the Internet looking when ever they want is just a waste if time and money that, and as of now we cant afford to be wasting either. Some of the people working as virtual patrols believe that they are making a difference. I think that they are doing something good for their country yes, but my question would be is this really what we want our citizens to be doing in their spare time.

What do you think about this situation and new form of patrolling our nations borders?
Matt Kelley, a student in my dorm says " I think that it is sort of a good thing, because those people could be out there doing things themselves. " I think that he made a legitimate statement
there are those who take extremes and would be out there with there own arms trying to do the right thing the wrong way.

All in all this is both a waste of time and money, but there are also a few benefits. some of the vigilantist can be occupied with something that will keep them out the way.

This weekend was the competition of Rube Goldberg project. Many of you may be wondering what, or who is Rube Goldberg. He was an engineer that be came a cartoonist, and was widely popular. Many of the cartoons in news papers today are made by people who loved Rube's work.

Reuben Lucius Goldberg was born in San Fransisco on July 4Th 1883. He went to college and be came an engineer. After graduation he became an aquatic engineer for the sewer, and water systems in San Fransisco. After a while Rube saw that This job was not for him, he got a job at a newspaper, as a office boy. Mr. Goldberg would send drawings and cartoons to the editors to publish, and they finally got published. He became a great hit and many people liked his work as well as his nifty inventions on the paper.

Today there is a national Rube Goldberg contest that many colleges have made popular. These competitions are usually for engineer students and consists of a team of students, making an invention that uses a lot of actions to make one thing happen. The national competition rules say that the minimum actions are twenty, but since the competition has evolved many of the teams have one-hundred to one-hundred and twenty actions.






Now here at Purdue N.S.E.B.E (National Society of Black Engineers) is one of the teams that participates in the competition. I myself am in the organization, my friends from high school David Howard, and Kaijah Blackwell were on the team and made an invention. I was proud to see there picture on the front page of the Exponent Monday morning. The Rube Goldberg project is a very interesting project that brings many of Rube's ideas alive.




Bomb!!!!



Last night there was a bomb threat on the one of the buildings across from the bell tower. The police, late Sunday night were informed about this threat and acted accordingly. Many fellow students in my hall knew what was going on because of Purdue's online web cam system.

We could see on the live feed that the police were searching the labs and rooms of the mechanical engineering building. using dogs and high powered semi-automatic guns the police were able to search the whole building.


This was truly an exciting and frightening moment. I was watching it all happen in real time. The reason I am so baffled about this is that I was over inn that area last night at about nine o-clock. I was in a scheduled pledge class meeting. I saw that the whole fire-station was there,but I did not know what was going on till I got back to my dorm.


Many students in my dorm thought that Purdue would close, but alas they would lose more money closing that staying open. I knew that there would not be any delay in classes. The exponent, even only gave a small paragraph or two to tell what happened. The bomb did not go off, of course and many of the students I talked to think it was a prank, or some kid who did not study for a test and needed extra time. Who knows who did it, why and to what end, I guess we might find out in time after the investigation.


Its no surprise that the police took this incident very seriously. I mean it would be really easy for a person to make a bomb. The internet and all its resources are all you need to create "a weapon of mass destruction".







I just recently had my first visit to the west Lafayette library. I had a lot of studying to do and did not want to go to my dorm. When entering the building I got a real sense of solitude and meekness. By the color scheme of tan, light brown, light green and hints of blue. All of these colors make you feel as if you are calm, or ready to settle down.
While roaming through the library I was greeted by a few of the employees for assistance. I kindly refused their offers and told them I was just looking around. I found myself upstairs in the back of the top floor, looking out over food strip of Einstein's and subway, with my fellow students. We were all silently studying and writing trying to play this game called college as best we could.
I explored a little more and found that The library also was equipped with a conference room as well as board meeting and study rooms. I might sound shocked in this story, well its because I was. I did not expect for a small city like this to have such a lavish and well stocked library. I can not, for the life of me know why, but I was expecting something different and was blown away.
From now on I will be doing all my studying on campus here at the library of west Lafayette. The first impression experience has caught me in its jaws. If you don't believe me please check it out for yourselves. I think that those of you who haven't been will be just as amazed with their facility as I was.

This week the president has been under a lot of pressure with his first presidential statement to the press. In my opinion he did a great job expressing what needed to be expressed. The president came on a little strong willed and, hearted. He told the people of the united states as well as the press and the world of our problem and his current actions in detail.




The economic stimulus plan has been the controversial issue in present times. Everyone expects a quick and simple fix, well that's what got us into this mess in the first place. Also where my main picture represents. Super "O" to the rescue, here to fix the economy,war in Iraq, and world hunger in three weeks tops. No really, Super "O" can sign a thousand bills with one hand tied behind his back. "He can enunciate himself in a speech, and can actually express himself in an intelligent way".




The president has come to make the white house his home. Unfortunately he can not go on his famous lone walks, but the white house lawn suffices. With the family, Home, and work place all in one; Mr. Obama has found that he can spend much more time with his family and children. In fact more than with any other job. Although he thinks of his former job from time to time.I've been posting a lot of humorous pictures, from political views to theses Obama shoes. I just want "you" to see some of the outrageous multimedia portraits of Barack and his Secretary of state Hillary.







I just think it is funny how all of these different clothing lines that I've never heard of start to pop up when Barack was elected. I mean his face was on everything, I saw a guy in Indy who had a perforated picture of Barack on his sunglasses. I mean he really has harnessed this idea of change; especially in the hearts and minds of the youth of America.



To see all of this change before my eyes is a wonderful experience,I am witnessing history as it happens; as a history major... that's a big deal! If I possibly become a teacher (which I highly doubt because I would hate to teach a student like me) one of my favorite things to teach would definitely be this event in history.






Ijust had to post some these hillarios pics I found on the internet. enjoy lol!!!


Red or Blue Pill?


What up people, so as college students we all want or wish for something to make homework and classes easier. Well apparently there's this new drug you can take. It has neither side effect nor does it cause you to become drowsy. In fact it does the very opposite keeps you alert, focused, and centered. One catches... It’s illegal yep you know what I'm talking about, Adderall.

The new craze in study techniques and destroyer of procrastination, any students are using Adderall for all work and doing very well in their classes. This has become an epidemic, where four out of every twenty students are taking Adderall the (wonder drug) to get through their classes.

Many of my friends are on this drug and say that it works great. That it really does all that it is said to do. I also know that the same friends are staying up two and three days straight after taking this drug. I have asked some students around campus; not many about twenty what they think of Adderall and have they taken it themselves. I found out that many of them said yes, and that it works. My question is what is the cost for having this drug?

I've looked up some information on this drug and found that it has a high tendency for becoming quite addictive. Meaning the more you take it the more you want it. I mean that is one of the worst symptoms ever if you ask me. I wonder how many kids are on this drug here at Purdue, and is there any way to make this safe.

My rant on this would be if you want to do well in class, but don't want to work hard on your own will, then take this pill become a studying and working machine for a couple days and have a nice life. Cause your most likely going to become an addict for it. There will always be some drug or supplement out there that everyone says will help with something. Especially with students, we as students should make the choice either to take or not.

From a student’s point of view, I can see the real potential for good this to happen. You get your work done all caught up in school, so you get to hang out more. Whatever the reason, more time to do whatever. Adderall would be sold out on shelves if it wasn't illegal, but it is. Students are taking the risk of getting incarcerated to get their work done easier, fast, and focused.

Then again I would like to know what the universities are thinking about this. I mean they also know what goes on in college, as well as with the students. Looking from their view I would wondering how to keep students from using something illegal, dangerous and addictive just to get work done. How do you stop something like that?Well I’ll tell you one they have tried… DOGS; yes dogs. The new K-9 unit for the Purdue and west Lafayette police. This unit includes eleven new dogs and trainers who will help in the service of protecting the city.

What do you think about Adderall in colleges all over the country? What are your views on this situation, and where do you stand? I want to hear from some students, to see how many people really know of Adderall and what it does.




















With his first week under his belt, the forty-fourth president Barack Obama has hit the ground running. With all the promises made through out the campaign trail and slogans for change, many people are watching to see witch promises were true. The expectations are up high for Mr. Obama, our nation's economy is down, the united state's reputation to the world is diminished, and we have environmental and power issues. This is what our president is focusing on as main issues.

BeforeMr. Obama can acomplish all of this MONEY is needed! Today the u.s senate will have a debate over the stimulus plan produced by the Obama administration. The bill was passed by the house, but now in the senate there is to be "The Debate for the ages" says "The Christian Science Monitor."

I was delighted to hear today on channel six news that the president is making education one of his top priorities. Even though the president hasn't started on any plans he has on the subject he has already had results. In the exponent There was a short study done by "Ray Friedman a management professor at Vanderbilt University, has documented an Obama effect." The article goes on about how the influence of a positive black role model effect the African American population. The preliminary trials of the study show that the gap between caucasian and black students is closing. The article goes on to say that with a Black president in office many of the stereotpyes of African American's are shedding. Now students who find these stereotpyes as hendering can now focus on their studies and excell.



















Alright for my first blog I'm going to talk about one of the most stupid things I have done here at Purdue. Coming to Purdue is a great privilege for me and I like it here, but I swear that when I came here I lost all my luck from past present an future. I mean all of it, the odds of me getting hurt back home in Indy were very slim, but for the last month of high school and I found myself getting hurt all the time. with every crazy gimmick tried, I got hurt in some way or form.

So... I come to Purdue and first month is good and nothing really bad happens. I agree to become a student who will be shadowed for a weekend, I got a pretty cool guy and everything was cool.... The last night we're suppose to go to a party, but I didn't feel like going and ended up not. Everyone had fun and was partying while, I ran through a shatter proof glass door and got a huge gash in my arm. Now when people ask what happened I jokingly say knife fight. lol!!





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