FETUSVENERIS

I was excited when my sister called me and said Osama bin Laden was killed. He was really the only tangible enemy the United State had left in the war on “terrorism.” I remember being in middle school and the Twin Towers fell. Everyone said it would be a historic moment that I would remember for the rest of my life. And since then, “where we you on 9/11″ has always been an interesting conversation topic when meeting new people.

After the announcement of bin Laden’s death, Facebook and Twitter feeds reflected this 9/11 unity. There was a sense of excitement that I haven’t seen since 9/11 or Barack Obama’s election — excitement that we have a shared sense of identity, pride of being Americans.

But after reading more posts, and seeing the “dead” and “killed” headlines, the unity suddenly became frightening. It was no longer something constructive, something filled with hope.

Rather, we had come together in death.

The images on TV and the internet look similar to those shown in American after 9/11 of people on the other side of the world rejoicing because of the attacks on the United States — parades in Afganistan, rounds of gunfire shot off in celebration in the streets.

While I haven’t heard of any guns being shot off in the streets, the sentiments are the same. Take the New York Daily News cover — “the best front page of the day.”

After 9/11 and bin Laden’s death, both sides came together joyously — but it is joy because of death. We are cheering because a man was shot and killed in the head. “We got him” Obama was said to have remarked when the operation was completed. But what do we really have now? A better understanding of our neighbors?

Joy is happiness and should be of the living.  How can we be happy because of death? It’s a dangerous game. What can bring us into the streets together again? What will provoke us again to chant “U-S-A, U-S-A”?

Obama said the death of bin Laden was justice for all those who have died. What will his death do? Not bring back the lost lives. Not make the world a safer place. Not rid the world of terrorism. Not end the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

If anything, the bin Laden killing perpetuates the idea that death can solve problems and make us a more united people. But this unity is temporary.

Looking at more comments on social media last night, I saw a quotation from the Bible a friend posted on Facebook — Ezekiel 18:32 (an Old Testament book, read by Jews, Christians and Muslims):

For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”

Human life is sacred — no matter whose it is. Cultures that can disregard it and show no forgiveness, even to our greatest enemies, are misguided. We become what we hate. We come down to their level. We have a hard time to turn and to live, for we rejoice in death.

…who needs to go to college? Well, we did, and this is how we end a party. Sometime we do it to get people to leave. But this night, everyone but us, my sister and the two DJs were gone.

Music was added for dramatic effect.

They said it was going to be big, and it kinda was.

Here is a video, well photos, I shot for the Kalamazoo Gazette of the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard.

Check out this blog post about it

I ended a four-month internship today at the Jackson Citizen Patriot. I had a great time working with the staff in the newsroom and covering cops

Here are some of my favorite stories that I wrote there.

Purse stolen from woman at Jackson apartment complex that contained a toy Chihuahua recovered; dog and owner reunited

The call came over the scanner as a woman’s purse was stolen. Minutes later the dispatcher said a dog was inside. We laughed, wrote a brief. I tracked down the woman. Ended up the dog’s name is Baby Girl. The woman had her for a week. An hour later I was back in the newsroom writing the story. Just as I turned it in, got a call from the family. They found baby girl. Went back out. Rewrote the story. Not often you find a happy ending in one day.

Fourth generation of Dimitry family gets his first haircut at Harry’s Barbershop

Great family getting a hair cut. I had to lie and said I went to a barber. Strange thing was that there are four family members, and I could only talk to two of them.

THE BILLY AND JOHNNY SHOW

This was fun. These two brothers rock it. Young, talented and a strong love of Johnny Cash.

Opening day of deer hunting season

I had no idea it would be such a big deal, but in Jackson it was. Woke up really early and staked out a truck stop, waiting for hunters.

A rural shooting (and all the cops had the day off).

It was a fun day when I got to play detective. I mean, it was Veteran’s Day and everyone had the day off.  Not us, or the criminals. I had the whole story before the detective called me. I saw blood, got kicked out of a trailer park and almost arrested, but I got the name, got the six shots.

War Memorials at Jackson’s Withington Park honor soldiers from past and present wars

Normally, I think Veteran’s Day stories are lame, but these people were great, and they had a good tale to tell.

And then they canceled Halloween, and people cared more about that than budget cuts.

Then I met an old woman who is more ballsy than I am.

Well Jackson, there is more than that. Maybe later I will revisit some of the stories. I worked in the fall, when it’s cold, little serious crime, just people stealing for Christmas presents.

I love birds. Almost as much as they love each other.

Waiting for a date from Fritz Klug on Vimeo.

On June 4, Kalamazoo Central seniors had their last day of school. The next time they all would be together would be at graduation, where President Barack Obama would give the commencement address. The class, having won the first Race to the Top competition, signed a senior class photo for the President, got six tickets to the ceremony, and said goodbye to their high school. The media was everywhere. Here are some photos I took for the Kalamazoo Gazette.

After a break, here comes the rest of the Sparks rarities. Tonight, we go into orbit with “Sparks in Outer Space.”

“Mini Skirted” is a nice commentary on the mini skirt. Remember how much of a shock the “less is more” skirt was in ‘63. The alternative version of  ”All You Ever Think About is Sex” is great for any rave, and “Sports” should get you burning the rest of the calories you have.

pump pump pump until you’re purple (link)

possibly inspired by the track posted two days ago, “Dancing is Dangerous” and “Is There More to Life than Dancing” is the awnswer to sparks disco. Yes, the whole No. 1 in Heaven album is dancetasktik, but the two selections (that fade into one another) are choice.

All else that I will say is that the only time I have ever run a mile, it was to these two songs.

01 Dancing Is Dangerous
02 Is There More to Life Than Dancing
03 Beat the Clock -Meat Beat Manifesto remix- (Double Bass Remix)

I ‘ought to know (link)