Well, it's been 41 days and I'm still counting the days, yes I am! Not smoking was one of, if not the greatest decisions I have made so far this year.

As for the news, well, it's no surprise that someone has killed someone else in our country. First up:

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- A trench coat-clad teenager opened fire on shoppers at a mall with just one thing in mind: "to kill a large number of people," the police chief said Tuesday.
The gunman likely would have killed more than the five victims who died had an off-duty officer not confronted him, Police Chief Chris Burbank added.

Okay, now we cannot count on the killing happening in just anyplace outside of malls, now our shopping experience can be or will become a massacre? You know what? If and when we really start to pay attention to the mass of young people reaching out for help in this messed up world, we MAY be able to catch some of the distressed ones BEFORE they go crazy on our town/cities.
For real though, how many folks will claim that this young man was "the kid next door"? How many will claim that he had a perfect life, good parents, good neighborhood, above average in school etc...like it matters! I'll tell you straight, right now...I have great parents, I grew up in a family that believed in talking about issues. True, I was not the picture of perfection in school or otherwise everyday of my life, but, if I had a bad day at school or wherever, I could count on my family to let me talk it out. I have never thought seriously about killing anyone in revenge or because I was distraught. I have had some very stressed out days to be true, not unlike many of us out there. I think that our society is headed for a major breakdown. I feel as though these local and nationwide killings are just the beginning of some serious community issues. Are we ready to deal with the reality of it all? I don't think anyone is truthfully ready for this. I believe that with proper upbringing some of this could be avoided. I also believe that with certain restrictions on our young people in place, we may be able to avoid repetitions in the future. I know this doesn't cover or make much sense after the fact, but, we need to be more involved with our young people! Not just in after school sports! Not in just what happened at school and then leave the kid alone after a pat answer! Be involved!! Ask questions of your child, press for answers when they balk! DOn't be afraid that you're invading their privacy, if they live at home, then privacy should not be an issue! Parents, rise up and take responsibility for our actions! The younger generation is busy killing itself rapidly. Almost too rapid to keep up. Before long, gangs, murders on the streets will pale in comparison to what happens in middle class America, suburbia etc.

Not that it matters, I know I have a limited if that is the correct term for my reader base, or fan base, whatever. But, if I cause offense to anyone out there, I hope it provokes some if not all to take a short time out and consider the true reason behind my rants. To remain provoked to think independently of the norm, circumvent the typical thought process. To think outside the freaking box! That is the real reason I started blogging to begin with!

Well, until tomorrow, or the next time I write...

Peace.