Are we just going to live with mass murder in this country?
Every time we have some random, senseless act of violence as we did in Aurora, Colorado, last Thursday night/Friday morning, we say the same things. We offer prayers to the dead and wounded, and their families. We wonder how someone could do something so horrible. And then, we don't have anything left to say, other than there's nothing that can be done about a crazy person.
That is true, to a degree. But are we to just accept this as the new normal? We're just going to have a half-dozen mass murders every year in our country, so watch where you go, don't let your kids ever go anywhere by themselves, be strapped at all times? That's the answer? That can't be the answer. There is something missing in us if that's the answer. This has nothing to do with politics. This is something much deeper, something wrong with us as a nation, if we accept this carnage as business as usual.
We are increasingly anesthetized to this high level of death. In Chicago, there's been a spike in murders this year compared with the recent past, but because they haven't happened all at once, they've gone virtually unnoticed by the national media.
This is a violent country. It was created out of violence; let's not put our heads in the sand about that. But this isn't about our history. This is a new phenomenon, where deranged people find weapons of mass destruction and start firing.
Can you talk about these horrors without talking about guns? No. But that's not the only issue. This is also a health care issue. Our mental health system, like the rest of our health care system, is leaving far too many people untreated, fending for themselves. Our information society transmits events worldwide in seconds, giving copycat killers ideas and blueprints. Why do so many people feel so completely detached from the world? This guy in Aurora was going to some sort of medical school; he was, like so many of these killers lately, distinctly middle class. We certainly don't know all the details of his life yet, but something led him down this dark, dark path. Why does this seem like an increasingly viable option for so many disturbed people -- I will take out my anger and disillusionment with the world out on strangers, by killing as many of them as I can?
And, yes, we have developed weapons that are increasingly lethal, and available, as long as the buyer isn't, you know, crazy. Unfortunately, there's no blood test or credit rating for crazy.
Is it possible to have a discussion about guns without both sides screaming, their lobbyists demanding that they not give a single inch? We aren't going to have a zero gun society, and I don't think most people want one; I don't. I want people to be able to protect themselves, and I want people to be able to hunt and shoot at targets. I just don't want a psychopath to be able to buy an assault weapon with a 100-drum magazine. Isn't there a happy medium? You have to take a test to prove you can drive a car. You have to take a test to prove you're competent to be an attorney. You have to go to medical school for years, and have residency in a hospital, before you're allowed to be a doctor. All you have to do to buy a gun whose sole purpose is to kill other human beings is to wait a few days.
Here's the basic question: is every gun a litmus test for whether you believe in the Second Amendment? I believe in the Second Amendment, and I don't think we need our streets flooded with Uzis and Glocks. Those are not mutually exclusive ideas.
I didn't know anyone who was killed in Aurora, though the friend of a dear friend of mine lost his son. And this young girl , who was trying to break into the sports media in Denver, was killed as well. Why is this acceptable?
There are those who demand that I never, ever write about anything that doesn't involve basketball. They are annoyed when their fun and games mixes with the real world. To those people I say, sorry. You are free to click on something else if this offends you. I am offended by watching this sick scene play out over and over, in city after city, where people can't go to a restaurant, or to church, or to class, or to a movie, without fearing that someone they don't know will kill them and others in the blink of an eye.
-D. Aldridge
Nobody asked me, but..
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Aurora Colorado Shooting D Aldridge
Are we just going to live with mass murder in this country?
Every time we have some random, senseless act of violence as we did in Aurora, Colorado, last Thursday night/Friday morning, we say the same things. We offer prayers to the dead and wounded, and their families. We wonder how someone could do something so horrible. And then, we don't have anything left to say, other than there's nothing that can be done about a crazy person.
That is true, to a degree. But are we to just accept this as the new normal? We're just going to have a half-dozen mass murders every year in our country, so watch where you go, don't let your kids ever go anywhere by themselves, be strapped at all times? That's the answer? That can't be the answer. There is something missing in us if that's the answer. This has nothing to do with politics. This is something much deeper, something wrong with us as a nation, if we accept this carnage as business as usual.
We are increasingly anesthetized to this high level of death. In Chicago, there's been a spike in murders this year compared with the recent past, but because they haven't happened all at once, they've gone virtually unnoticed by the national media.
This is a violent country. It was created out of violence; let's not put our heads in the sand about that. But this isn't about our history. This is a new phenomenon, where deranged people find weapons of mass destruction and start firing.
Can you talk about these horrors without talking about guns? No. But that's not the only issue. This is also a health care issue. Our mental health system, like the rest of our health care system, is leaving far too many people untreated, fending for themselves. Our information society transmits events worldwide in seconds, giving copycat killers ideas and blueprints. Why do so many people feel so completely detached from the world? This guy in Aurora was going to some sort of medical school; he was, like so many of these killers lately, distinctly middle class. We certainly don't know all the details of his life yet, but something led him down this dark, dark path. Why does this seem like an increasingly viable option for so many disturbed people -- I will take out my anger and disillusionment with the world out on strangers, by killing as many of them as I can?
And, yes, we have developed weapons that are increasingly lethal, and available, as long as the buyer isn't, you know, crazy. Unfortunately, there's no blood test or credit rating for crazy.
Is it possible to have a discussion about guns without both sides screaming, their lobbyists demanding that they not give a single inch? We aren't going to have a zero gun society, and I don't think most people want one; I don't. I want people to be able to protect themselves, and I want people to be able to hunt and shoot at targets. I just don't want a psychopath to be able to buy an assault weapon with a 100-drum magazine. Isn't there a happy medium? You have to take a test to prove you can drive a car. You have to take a test to prove you're competent to be an attorney. You have to go to medical school for years, and have residency in a hospital, before you're allowed to be a doctor. All you have to do to buy a gun whose sole purpose is to kill other human beings is to wait a few days.
Here's the basic question: is every gun a litmus test for whether you believe in the Second Amendment? I believe in the Second Amendment, and I don't think we need our streets flooded with Uzis and Glocks. Those are not mutually exclusive ideas.
I didn't know anyone who was killed in Aurora, though the friend of a dear friend of mine lost his son. And this young girl , who was trying to break into the sports media in Denver, was killed as well. Why is this acceptable?
There are those who demand that I never, ever write about anything that doesn't involve basketball. They are annoyed when their fun and games mixes with the real world. To those people I say, sorry. You are free to click on something else if this offends you. I am offended by watching this sick scene play out over and over, in city after city, where people can't go to a restaurant, or to church, or to class, or to a movie, without fearing that someone they don't know will kill them and others in the blink of an eye.
-D. Aldridge
Dallas, TX
A former pageant queen turned motorcycle chick and now a worldwide hit as an online gaming reporter, who seems to always be getting into mischief and adventure.
Oh did I mention she is absolutely gorgeous?
Allyn currently works for Myx.tv, IGN Entertainment & NBC as a live reporter.
"I figure one measure of true happiness and success is when you can equate work as play, so why not turn something I enjoy and good at into a career, right? I actually started out in hard news and even had a couple major TV networks personally take me under their wing to help me pursue my news career. Nevertheless, my intuition kept hauting me, so I finally had the courage to recently make the big decision and jump into the world of entertainment."
"You can usually find me hosting live shows or even performing magic tricks and now I'm here for you guys to get the skinny on the latest. Catch me on twitter @allynhoang. Whether it's pop culture, current events, the latest on fashion and technology, or lifestyle tips and trends, let me know what you guys want to talk about!"
-Allyn Hoang
Allyn Hoang - The most stunning TV host
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Allyn Hoang Gorgeous TV host
Dallas, TX
A former pageant queen turned motorcycle chick and now a worldwide hit as an online gaming reporter, who seems to always be getting into mischief and adventure.
Oh did I mention she is absolutely gorgeous?
Allyn currently works for Myx.tv, IGN Entertainment & NBC as a live reporter.
"I figure one measure of true happiness and success is when you can equate work as play, so why not turn something I enjoy and good at into a career, right? I actually started out in hard news and even had a couple major TV networks personally take me under their wing to help me pursue my news career. Nevertheless, my intuition kept hauting me, so I finally had the courage to recently make the big decision and jump into the world of entertainment."
"You can usually find me hosting live shows or even performing magic tricks and now I'm here for you guys to get the skinny on the latest. Catch me on twitter @allynhoang. Whether it's pop culture, current events, the latest on fashion and technology, or lifestyle tips and trends, let me know what you guys want to talk about!"
-Allyn Hoang
-Allyn Hoang
San Diego, CA
Krystle began singing at the tender age of 3, and started performing at the age of 9. The natural born performer notes, "The moment I picked up a microphone and opened up mouth to the world, I knew that I wanted to share my voice with the world for the rest of my life."
Influenced by artists such as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Nina Simone & Aaliyah, her sound brings a fresh new face to pop and dance music while paying tribute to those who came before her. Singing, however, is not the only main weapon in her arsenal, she also happens to be a gifted dancer. She started dancing at 13 & joined the San Marcos High School dance team as a freshman. A year later, she became captain of her team, becoming the only sophomore to become an artistic leader. As she grew, so did her skills. Krystle also continued further training in Hip-Hop under Erik Saradpon and Philip Geniza for 5 years and joined their all-female Hip-Hop team Hi-Fidelity and their co-ed team Mass Appeal, under the umbrella of EK Entertainment & Talent Company. (EKetc)
Her YouTube career begain in 2008, when she decided to focus on her music. Soon after, Krystle was discovered on YouTube by a prominent producer at a Japanese label, Avex Entertainment. Krystle flew to Japan, and for 3 months she underwent exclusive artist development training. Since then, she has performed multiple events & tours gaining a bigger following every day.
www.krystlecruz.com
www.youtube.com/krystlecruz
Krystle Cruz
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Krystle Cruz Music
Krystle began singing at the tender age of 3, and started performing at the age of 9. The natural born performer notes, "The moment I picked up a microphone and opened up mouth to the world, I knew that I wanted to share my voice with the world for the rest of my life."
Influenced by artists such as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Nina Simone & Aaliyah, her sound brings a fresh new face to pop and dance music while paying tribute to those who came before her. Singing, however, is not the only main weapon in her arsenal, she also happens to be a gifted dancer. She started dancing at 13 & joined the San Marcos High School dance team as a freshman. A year later, she became captain of her team, becoming the only sophomore to become an artistic leader. As she grew, so did her skills. Krystle also continued further training in Hip-Hop under Erik Saradpon and Philip Geniza for 5 years and joined their all-female Hip-Hop team Hi-Fidelity and their co-ed team Mass Appeal, under the umbrella of EK Entertainment & Talent Company. (EKetc)
Her YouTube career begain in 2008, when she decided to focus on her music. Soon after, Krystle was discovered on YouTube by a prominent producer at a Japanese label, Avex Entertainment. Krystle flew to Japan, and for 3 months she underwent exclusive artist development training. Since then, she has performed multiple events & tours gaining a bigger following every day.
www.krystlecruz.com
www.youtube.com/krystlecruz
Seattle, WA
With nearly six years under their belt, Seattle based Christian rock band, New Heights, has garnered the attention of fans and industry representatives around the country. 2009 proved to be an important year for the band with two nationwide tours and their third self-released EP titled, "Starting Again" to show for it. The band recorded "Starting Again" in Portland and their hometown Seattle. They worked with three different producers on the project, notably, Allen Salmon (Starfield, This beautiful Republic).
What began as a jam session in early 2005 has turned into a movement with the bands mission being to encourage and sing for the broken in a Christian market where they feel people are hurting just as much as people in the secular market.
Despite numerous meetings throughout the year with various industry representatives, the band has stayed focused on continuing to tour and write new music. The band will go into 2012 & 2013 with more tours ahead of them and more songs to write.
In 2010, The Jubilee Project adopted their song "Peaches", in a public service announcement to raise money for the Deaf. A total of $3000 was donated to charity and the groups music even more exposed to a wider audience. This exposure motivated New Heights even more. We have yet to see the best. Stay tuned.
www.new-heights.net
www.youtube.com/newheightsmusic
New Heights
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New Heights Music
With nearly six years under their belt, Seattle based Christian rock band, New Heights, has garnered the attention of fans and industry representatives around the country. 2009 proved to be an important year for the band with two nationwide tours and their third self-released EP titled, "Starting Again" to show for it. The band recorded "Starting Again" in Portland and their hometown Seattle. They worked with three different producers on the project, notably, Allen Salmon (Starfield, This beautiful Republic).
What began as a jam session in early 2005 has turned into a movement with the bands mission being to encourage and sing for the broken in a Christian market where they feel people are hurting just as much as people in the secular market.
Despite numerous meetings throughout the year with various industry representatives, the band has stayed focused on continuing to tour and write new music. The band will go into 2012 & 2013 with more tours ahead of them and more songs to write.
In 2010, The Jubilee Project adopted their song "Peaches", in a public service announcement to raise money for the Deaf. A total of $3000 was donated to charity and the groups music even more exposed to a wider audience. This exposure motivated New Heights even more. We have yet to see the best. Stay tuned.
www.new-heights.net
www.youtube.com/newheightsmusic
John Ha's MX5 Full View Labels: Mazda MX5
Mission Veijo, CA
Kina started playing shows at the age of 4 in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn't the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer.
In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video "Message From Your Heart" aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout the world. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as General Hospital, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and MTV's College Life.
After obtaining a record deal, Kina planned to work with Interscope Records to produce a new album, but in January 2009 she announced she left the label to be an independent artist. Since then she has self-released three EP's, and in February of 2010, Kina independently released her debut full-length album, Stairwells, which debuted on Billboard's top 200 and #5 on iTunes' Pop Chart.
Kina's "Valentine" music video, directed by Ross Ching, has over 11 million views and is being played in a range of Cafe's and on rotation on MTV. Also the song has been aired on radio stations in the UK & Europe.
Her music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope. She'd want you to know that she saves drowning honeybees from pools whenever she gets the chance.
Kina started Run Team Kina not only to encourage and support healthier lifestyles, but to raise money for the Leukemia And Lyphoma Society (which nominated Kina for woman of the year).
-Danny Cooper
www.kinagrannis.com
www.youtube.com/kinagrannis
www.twitter.com/kinagrannis
Kina Grannis
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Labels:
In Your Arms World Tour,
Kina Grannis,
Leukemia And Lyphoma Society,
Run Team Kina,
Woman of the Year
Kina started playing shows at the age of 4 in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn't the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer.
In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video "Message From Your Heart" aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout the world. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as General Hospital, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and MTV's College Life.
After obtaining a record deal, Kina planned to work with Interscope Records to produce a new album, but in January 2009 she announced she left the label to be an independent artist. Since then she has self-released three EP's, and in February of 2010, Kina independently released her debut full-length album, Stairwells, which debuted on Billboard's top 200 and #5 on iTunes' Pop Chart.
Kina's "Valentine" music video, directed by Ross Ching, has over 11 million views and is being played in a range of Cafe's and on rotation on MTV. Also the song has been aired on radio stations in the UK & Europe.
Her music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope. She'd want you to know that she saves drowning honeybees from pools whenever she gets the chance.
Kina started Run Team Kina not only to encourage and support healthier lifestyles, but to raise money for the Leukemia And Lyphoma Society (which nominated Kina for woman of the year).
-Danny Cooper
www.kinagrannis.com
www.youtube.com/kinagrannis
www.twitter.com/kinagrannis
Janice & Sonia, yes they really are twins, same hair, same face, similar in many ways yet once you get to know them, you'll find that they're different at the same time.
Both 24, born & raised in Sydney, from a Korean background in which they are fluent in speaking, reading & writing. Sonia just got married in March, 2012. *Cue shatter sounds*
The pair began singing and performing at an early age for their church choir. They shot to fame when they uploaded a cover of Tamia's hit "Officially Missing You" which now has over 11 million views and amassing 500,000 followers.
"We have always shared a passion for singing and now, we are both pretty set on pursuing music."
"Unfortunately, Facebook won't let us add any more friends (didn't even know that was possible), but we do have a fan page so that we can keep in touch with you! Just type in Jayesslee and you'll see us."
"Just to know that a single person was blessed through our music is enough to keep us going!"
"All glory to God,
Janice & Sonia"
http://jayesslee.com
http://youtube.com/jayesslee
Janice & Sonia Lee
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Janice Sonia Lee
Both 24, born & raised in Sydney, from a Korean background in which they are fluent in speaking, reading & writing. Sonia just got married in March, 2012. *Cue shatter sounds*
The pair began singing and performing at an early age for their church choir. They shot to fame when they uploaded a cover of Tamia's hit "Officially Missing You" which now has over 11 million views and amassing 500,000 followers.
"We have always shared a passion for singing and now, we are both pretty set on pursuing music."
"Unfortunately, Facebook won't let us add any more friends (didn't even know that was possible), but we do have a fan page so that we can keep in touch with you! Just type in Jayesslee and you'll see us."
"Just to know that a single person was blessed through our music is enough to keep us going!"
"All glory to God,
Janice & Sonia"
http://jayesslee.com
http://youtube.com/jayesslee
I was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and my model name is Cornhusker lol jk. I moved to California when I was 3 and have lived here ever since. I am Vietnamese, German, French, Irish, Dutch, Spanish, American Indian Italian etc etc.. lol a mutt! No one can ever guess what I am.. hehe. I currently work at Marquee Las Vegas and former spokes model for Nos Energy Drink.
You will definitely love working with me! I am definitely not your average model! I am very humble.. I honestly don't even know how I even got this far lol. Never thought I could ever be a model. It definitely is a blessing.
Looking for paid work!! NO PORN/NO NUDE/NO SEE THROUGH MATERIALS
http://www.myspace.com/aliciawhitten
Alicia Ann Whitten
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Alicia Whitten
You will definitely love working with me! I am definitely not your average model! I am very humble.. I honestly don't even know how I even got this far lol. Never thought I could ever be a model. It definitely is a blessing.
Looking for paid work!! NO PORN/NO NUDE/NO SEE THROUGH MATERIALS
http://www.myspace.com/aliciawhitten