Category: Society

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VT – Remember and never forget

Virginia Tech is the commonly used name for the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, located in Blacksburg, Va., southwest of Roanoke. A student gunman killed 32 people, including himself on April 16th, 2007 now known as the Virginia Tech Massacre . This incident was the deadliest shooting rampage in American history and came nearly eight years to the day after 13 people died at Columbine High School in Colorado at the hands of two disaffected students who then killed themselves.

There are many factors that can be reviewed and finger pointed as signs to forewarn of this incident or areas where the social and community systems had broken down (how did Cho get a gun when he was shown to be psychologically unstable?) but ultimately there’s only so many safe guards society can put in place to protect it’s citizens. Cho Seung-hui illegally acquired two handguns that morning but there were already warning signs of his behavior in his volatile behavior, harassment IMs, and writings.

Timeline:
7:15 a.m. – 911 call reporting the first shooting in West Ambler Johnston dormitory
7:30 a.m. – Police interview witnesses and believe the double homicide is an isolated case
8:00 a.m. – Students at VT begin the majority of their classes as text messages and phone calls spread of the shootings
8:25 a.m. – VT school officials meet to assess the situation and decide how to notify the students
9:00 a.m. – Campus police Chief Wendell Flinchum briefs university officials on the investigation
9:10 a.m. – Cho sends “manifesto” package to NBC news desk (time recorded on package)
9:26 a.m. – Email news to student body about shooting on campus at West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall:

Subject: Shooting on campus.

“A shooting incident occurred at West Amber Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the scene and are investigating.
The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police at 231-6411
Stay attuned to the www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information.”

~9:30 a.m. – Approximate time of second shooting at Norris Hall.
9:45 a.m. – Campus police respond to 911 call for second shooting at Norris Hall.
9:50 a.m. – email sent to student body:

Subject: Please stay put

“A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows”

Additional emails were sent to the student body updating the end of the shootings and notice of class cancellations and at 12 p.m. at a news conference, Virginia Tech police Chief Wendell Flinchum says 22 people have been killed.

We Remember and never forget

Some sources:
Timeline: How the Virginia Tech Shootings Unfolded
Virginia Tech Criticized for Actions in Shooting

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The Landlord

The last house I lived at in SLO was on Kentucky st with a roommate Ben-G (ms). If you’re not familiar this spot is on the hill about a few blocks from the University campus. We lived in small railroadish building of 4 apartments, each 2 stories (bedrooms up stairs, common area down), single driveway with a small back lot and up against a similar set up behind us. It was college row as almost everyone around the street went to SLO and there were several frat houses around the block.

I remember the neighbors to the right of us were mellow college geeks/hackers with whom I got all my free software (Photoshop, windows, media, games etc.), mp3s and other computer tech from. They used to have the fastest binge parties where everyone drank hard liquor for an hour or two straight and was either passed out or gone before midnight… on rare occasion there was a lingering crew but I always assumed the participants were rotating and no one actually lasted more than 3 hours at a time there. Our neighbors on the otherside were brothers and that’s were we met the basty. Soon after, plenty of antics ensued…

Our landlord for the building was a retired lady who insisted we come by the house to drop off the check each week. Her and her husband were nice people and all, and we never had much to complain about (unlike our previous landlord – another story), although he would sometimes show up unannounced to “check out the quality of the window screens” or “see if the water is on” as reasons to check out the place so that we hadn’t destroyed it yet. Pearl was her name and just by name she reminded me of this video, however, unrelated to her tenant etiquette, this is certainly a funny vid.


The Landlord on FunnyOrDie.com

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Coldest Easter Ever

Happy Easter! and make sure you still have those parkas! I don’t have time to research NY but it’s certainly close to the coldest Easter on the East coast in spots south of here like VA, NC and KY (Accuweather.com). We had snow flurries today, which made this a colder day than the week of Christmas last year as well as forcing the ladies to keep all those “ultra-short” shorts I’ve been seeing around town new, for 2007, from coming out for the first time:

We started the morning with a hectic “Easter” brunch at Grey Dog’s Cafe, which is not an uncommon spectacle in this U of Michigan alumni owned west village spot (I now only go for the banana bread, chai and maybe a sandwich if it’s not too busy). Gotta say I thought the breakfasts were better before but I’ll still wander in when in the hood. We killed some time across the street at “Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books” store, which if ever on Carmine St, is a good walk in for those that like cheap books with cheap covers (lots of hon-fiction mixed with political and philosophy).

We headed to the NY International Auto Show shortly after and I’ll make a follow up post on that sooner than later (I hope).

Enjoy the rest of the week, it can only get warmer right? …to think spring was supposed to start over 2 weeks ago.

Presidential Easter Egg roll: