Never Picture Perfect » Current Events

Firecrackers and Tragedy

Brian Groce — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:46:57 +0000

Man, this is truly sad (and yes, I’m being serious)…due to tradition, if I were Chinese, I couldn’t enjoy firecrackers…

(CNN) — The sharp sound of firecrackers and the wails of grieving parents echoed Tuesday morning aboveJuyuan Middle School, where hundreds of students are still trapped 24 hours after a major earthquake in central China.

The firecrackers, a tradition to ward off evil spirits, sounded each time a child’s body was found, a reporter at the scene said.

“We heard firecrackers at regular intervals of about 5, 10 minutes,” said Jamil Anderlini, a reporter for the Financial Times.

Don’t get me wrong. This earthquake is tragic. The lives lost are tragic. Every culture has their own traditions and that is cool. But from the mindset of an American who has recently lost a child, I swear, if firecrackers were a reminder of my child’s death, I’d probably never light another one again and I’d probably be tempted to leave the States for the summer and never go to a good amusement or theme park again in order to avoid the large displays that seem to be everywhere during the summer.

It’s not a matter of wanting to forget. You can’t. But that constant summertime reminder in America would be quite a weight to bear, so I’m thankful that’s not the case. Watching pregnant women and those with newborns walk by is hard enough at times.

Yelling At Police Is Not Free Speech

Brian Groce — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:20:38 +0000

Via the Indy Star…

“The fact that one is engaging in protected political speech does not obviate one’s responsibility to act in a civically responsible manner.”

…makes perfect sense to me, but I’m sure someone will pursue this further as being unconstitutional.

Get Rid of Spinach

Brian Groce — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:18:38 +0000

Federal health officials want you to get rid of any bagged fresh spinach you may have. They want to stop an E. coli outbreak in nine states, including Indiana.

No problem. And I think that’s probably a good idea regardless of an E. coli outbreak.

9/11 Five Years Later

Brian Groce — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:35:04 +0000

It’s hard to think that five years have past since watching the events of 9/11 unfold right before my eyes on live television. I clearly remember my activities that day from walking into the office and wondering what was going on, to sitting in the boardroom watching CNN as a second plane hit the other tower, to people in the office predicting that the Twin Towers would collapse, to watching the towers collapse, to making multiple phone calls (when I could get through), to meeting with our church group, to sitting at home later that evening glued to the television. It’s something that you’ll never get out of your mind, yet something that my children’s generation won’t really “get”. Like my generation doesn’t really “get” Vietnam, but our parents certainly do…I can read all the stories and watch all of the documentaries, but the ambiance just isn’t something that can be conveyed all that well.

I pray for my country as we reflect on the past and cast a vision for the future.

Comair Flight 5191

Brian Groce — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 01:30:47 +0000

The “media” has managed to sicken me yet again (why I continue to keep up with the “news” is beyond me), this time in regards to the Comair Flight 5191 crash in Lexington, Kentucky this morning. While browsing the news headlines I came across a story that talks about the sole survivor of the crash. Apparently since they didn’t really have anything else to say, and being “good journalists” they dug up this guy’s life story and published it for all of the world to read (I hesitate posting the link, but I know that people will ask).

Again, why can’t the media have any decency these days? 49 people are dead and this guy is critical condition. Show some compassion and a conscience people!

Hazing Expert Hank Nuwer

Brian Groce — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:23:47 +0000

On the noon news today they were interviewing a “hazing expert” which sparked my interest as to what exactly that meant. (Does he have excellent hazing skills or is he a researcher about what hazing is going on? Luckily it was the later.)

Seriously, parents might want to keep an eye on Hank Nuwer’s Hazing Blog to keep in touch with what their children may encounter and parent accordingly.