Kirjahaku

Here is a collection of poetry that brings emotion to the culture sitcom "Friends" and the late Matthew Perry. I've struggled with addiction throughout my life. So... when Matthew Perry died and the cause of death revealed, I was heartbroken. I was hoping he was better. I mean, I saw his interviews and whatnot. But... the struggle was real for Matt, and the severity of that struggle hit me full force.

What the hell? A school shooting right as the new year rolls around? Bullying continues to run rampant in the school systems, and teachers - more often than not - are overworked or have their hands tied. They want to get home and rest or they are severely limited in what they can do in terms of advocating for certain students. As a lifelong teacher, I am aware of the burnout and the stress forced down from the School Board. I've been part of the numerous active shooter trainings and drills. I've seen stricter rules about backpacks, additional metal detectors, more resource officers, etc. And, I've seen school shootings continue despite stricter gun laws. Personally, I think the solution is clear, but I know that School Boards detest logic and run from reasonable solutions. I will keep trying, though. I love teaching and I do it for the students.

The Titan submersible disaster of 2023 was a tragic event that drew worldwide attention. On June 18, 2023, the Titan, a small submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions, suffered a catastrophic implosion during a dive to explore the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. The incident resulted in the deaths of all five people aboard, including Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, along with a renowned French diver, a British-Pakistani businessman, and his teenage son. Communication with the Titan was lost about an hour and forty-five minutes into its descent, prompting an extensive international search and rescue operation involving multiple countries, ships, aircraft, and remotely operated vehicles. Debris from the submersible was discovered near the Titanic wreck site, confirming that the Titan had succumbed to the immense pressure at those depths, leading to a fatal implosion. The tragedy brought significant scrutiny to OceanGate's practices and the design of the Titan. The submersible used unconventional materials, such as carbon fiber, which some experts had criticized as unsuitable for withstanding the extreme pressures of the deep ocean. Additionally, OceanGate had bypassed traditional certification processes, arguing that regulatory oversight could hinder innovation. Reports later revealed that engineers and industry experts had previously warned about safety concerns with the Titan's design and operations, but these warnings were reportedly dismissed. The disaster sparked broader discussions about the risks of deep-sea tourism and the need for stricter safety regulations in the industry. It served as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in exploring extreme environments like the deep ocean. The reaction that followed was not supportive or mournful. The majority of people, especially over the Internet, were happy at the deaths of billionaires. This whole 'Eat the Rich' movement has not lost steam - not at all. Class warfare and class disparities are going to be at the forefront of societal issues for the foreseeable future or until something changes.

On July 13th, 2024, the news rang out around the country that former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. Then came the conspiracy theories that flew around the Internet and, especially social media, which were mixed with hatred against the shooter... because he missed. So many people - too many people - were just breaking Federal Law 18 U.S. Code 871: "Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both." The Internet was full of memes, postings, blogs, and quibs from people who wished Trump had died (sometimes miserably and painfully) or how they wouldn't have missed or how Trump deserved to die, etc. There were many government workers and regular people who ended up getting fired from their jobs over posts they wrote about killing Trump. This whole assassination attempt by Thomas Matthew Crooks was weird because he was not made into a villain. The gun advocates didn't jump on the fact that he used an AR style rifle and demand stricter gun laws. There was no talk about focusing more on mental health; no. The focus was mostly on the sadness of many people that Crooks missed. COVID already brought out a lot of weirdness in our culture, but Crooks brought out even more. Our culture is unique and we show it everyday. To me, it's all equally fascinating and surprising.

The case involving Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson has garnered significant attention due to its high-profile nature. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, where he was attending an investors meeting. Surveillance footage showed a man in a hoodie firing multiple shots before fleeing on an e-bike. Thompson was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Investigators recovered bullet casings with engravings that seemed to reference the health insurance industry. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old suspect, was apprehended on December 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was found with a 9mm "ghost gun," fake IDs, and a three-page manifesto critical of the healthcare industry. Fingerprints on a water bottle near the crime scene matched Mangione's, and evidence linked his 3D-printed gun to the murder. Mangione faces charges of second-degree murder, firearm possession, and forgery in New York, as well as weapon-related charges in Pennsylvania. Despite this, his defense claims insufficient evidence connects him to the crime. The killing has sparked debates over the role of 3D-printed firearms and their implications for public safety, with many details of the case still unfolding. The motive appears to be tied to grievances against the healthcare industry, as suggested by the manifesto. This whole story is poetry in motion - art unfolding itself right in front of us. And, those on the Internet who are helping it all happen hopefully see their important contributions.