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.
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.
