Guns In the House

On the topic of guns, I don't really understand why some people are so avidly against owning any sort of gun, especially if you have kids. I know that there are many many accidents involving kids and guns where one or more of the kids was either injured or killed. But I don't think it was just having a gun in the house that caused the accident. I think it's a combination of the kid's personality and how the parents handle having a gun in the house. I don't have kids yet, but I was raised in a house with guns, and I think you can have guns in the house without having your kids get into trouble with them.

I think the trick in this situation is to educate your kids and to not make the gun like it's some secret/special toy. Take your kids out with guns and teach them gun safety. Teach them how to safely handle a gun, shoot a gun, and act around guns. Also, I think if you make it known that you'll take them out to shoot regularly, then they won't be tempted to take the gun and go shoot it without you. This way, when their friends come over and want to see the gun, your kid will know to say, "Yea, when my dad gets home he can show us his guns. He'll even take us shooting if we ask."

So yea, I'm one of those parents that will have a whole bunch of guns in the house with kids. And if you are so terrified of guns that you won't even be near one, I think you are just ignorant.

High School Drama

As the school year drew to a close, I reflected on the many counts of high school drama I saw my students encounter throughout the year. The hook-ups, the break-ups, the cheating, the sports, the girl fights, the boy fights, the homework, the blah blah blah. Oh and we can't forget the tremendous sadness that comes with graduating and or just not seeing all your friends for a whole summer.

Then I was reminded of my own high school experience. I know I went through all that drama (or most of it), but as I look back I can't help but think, "Why couldn't you have just been more mature?" And then I ask that same questions of my students. I know those feelings they are experiencing, but sometimes it's hard to actually sympathize with them and not just laugh hysterically at them. I'm not sure if what I feel is actually coming across clearly, but I hope you get my point. I know that the high school drama is hard, but can't you just get over it and grow up? Hopefully I'll be able to muster up more sympathy when I have teenagers of my own. As for now, however, I'm content with laughing and getting a kick out of my students "pain".

Family Pet

Someday when Miles and I have some land, we will definitely have a pet. I have compiled two lists: those pets I would have and those I wouldn't.

Pets I Would Like:

• Sheltie - this is the dog that I grew up with. They are are like a collie, but smaller.
  
• Yellow Lab - they are the classic family dog.
  
• Golden Retriever - these puppies are SO cute!


• Cool fish like the pretty tropical fish. Beta fish would be especially cool because then I could watch them fight the other fish.


• Horse - I really like horses, but they are high maintenance. So we'd need lots of money and lots of land.


• Puppy - If I could have a puppy that would stay a puppy, it wouldn't matter what breed.

Pets I Would NOT Like:

• Any sort of cat - I am about the farthest thing from a cat person.


• Chihuahua - not a big fan of small dogs or a dog that reminds me of Taco Bell everytime I see it.


• Bulldog - I think these dogs are just plain ugly


• Afghan Hound - talk about a lot of hair! Too much and again, way too ugly.


• Boring fish like guppies or gold fish.


• Birds - they are loud and poop a lot.


• Any sort of rodent - i.e. hamster, mouse, rat, etc.

My So-Called Asanine Argument

During my prep hour I have two independent study students whom are both girls. I usually let them listen to their ipods while they work. I heard them mention ICP (Insane Clown Posse) the other day and asked them what they thought of them. One responded that she did not like them while the other said she did like them. As I hear their reponses my mind was flooded with thoughts of disgust towards this band. I first learned of them at a drug/gang conference I attended last fall. For those of you not familiar with ICP, here's a little background before I continue:
In 1991 Joseph Bruce, a founding member of ICP, had a dream where "a caravan of strange and powerful beings" appeared to him in what appeared to be a traveling circus (Wikipedia). As he talked to his psychologist about the dream, he was advised not to act out these violent instructions but rather express them through music. So he did. He and his band members set out to spread their message of "reform". Each album revolves around a joker character who has a specific message on how to change your ways before the end comes. Here's a sample of one of their songs entitled "The Thrill of the Kill":

I'm shakin' so fast that you could say I'm vibratin'
There's a sickness in my head a hunger escalatin'
There's no other ending to this s**t so why the f*** I'm waitin'
Hop into the darkness for my homicidal break-in
I thought it out for many weeks I even told a reverend
But he ain't even listenin' 'cause I'm over elevenI told my girlfriend and she just said it was cute
Then asked me how she looked in her f*** me boots and took off
[Shaggy 2 Dope:]Sweatin' and my chest is burnin' like I'm on fire
So much pressure in my head I could blow air in through a car tire
I'm about to burst pop shatter explode
And everybody's pokin'sticks at me like they wanna splat me
[Violent J:]No one sees me when I creep I stay behind s***
Check for open windows I scale across and climb s***
Get inside and choke an old lady in her Craftmatic
And like fresh oxygen to an asthmatic I get a thrill
[Chorus:]Every time that a door gets closed. The thrill
Every time that the reaper shows. The thrill
Every time that the red blood flows. The thrill
I gets my proper dose
Every time, (every time) every time (the thrill)Every time, (every time) every time (the thrill)Every time that the red blood flows. The thrill

Okay, so now that you are totally disturbed, back to my story. I proceeded to tell this student what I thought of ICP and how no one should listen to music that has those kind of lyrics. When a person listens to violent, sad, happy, humorous lyrics, their actions and thoughts are influenced. She then told me my argument was "asinine". How can you say that music doesn't affect you?!! Then the thought came to mind, "So maybe that's why you're such an angry teenager!"
The APA (American Psycological Association) did a study on violent lyrics and found that they do increase aggressive thoughts and feelings ("Exposure to Violent Media: The Effects of Songs With Violent Lyrics on Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings," Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Vol. 84, No. 5.). I've always felt that music greatly influences the way a person thinks, acts, and interacts with other people. And yes, I do think that ICP influenced those boys to kill Cassie Jo Stoddart here in Idaho. They wore clown masks and repeated lyrics of ICP as they went to murder Cassie Jo. I'm not saying ICP made those boys commit the crime, but I don't think ICP had nothing to do with it. Whether you're listening to happy, violent, funny, or spritual music, an impression is left on your thoughts, feelings, and tendencies.

How's THAT for a first blog!