Society’s Ills Catch Up with East Tennessee (Again)

Song Lyric of the Day:

I wanted to see something that’s different, something you said would change in me / Wanted to be, anything different, everything you would change in me / Got this way, upfront but never true / God I’m wrong, it’s just the way I am

Acceptance / “Different”

10:51AM.
As you’ve no doubt heard, there was a school shooting here in East Tennessee yesterday. It was not, however, in Knoxville as some media outlets initially reported, but nearby in Jacksboro in Campbell County. A 15-year-old boy did this. No one knows why. Inevitably, though, people will think they know the reasons why: he was teased by classmates and couldn’t take it anymore; he loves violent movies; he’s always seemed a little off–nice, but off; maybe he was just bored with life, tired of living. Any, all, or none of those reasons might be behind his motives, but the bottom line remains: this 15-year-old boy shot three people, killing one and leaving another in critical condition.

Where did our society go so wrong that kids–and adults–are occasionally compelled to go to their school or place of work or worship and indiscriminately open fire? How do we pinpoint what causes a person to become the type of person who will one day snap and go on a rampage? How can we know when they will snap? What can we do to prevent this from happening again?

Because, as we all know, it’s only a matter of time before it will.

9:43PM.
I’m not watching Lost right now since Rich is working on some art work. That’s the downside to enjoying a big buzz show with your significant other–they’ll give you hell if you watch it without them. Tivo once again saves the day (read: relationship).

So I decided to put my time to good use and email everyone back in Virginia. Why? Because I’m god-awful at emailing people, and I think they think I’m dead. To that end, I came up with this handy list:

Top 10 Reasons Why You May Have Thought Pattie Was Dead or Trapped Under Something Heavy:

10. You hadn’t even noticed I had moved from Virginia back home to Knoxville, TN.

9. I haven’t made the national news, only local (since I wasn’t actually convicted).

8. TV this season has been really, really great.

7. My current activities with family/friends/stalking my ex have kept me incredibly busy.

6. I’ve been busy tutoring President Bush on how to say “nuclear” instead of “nukeular.“

5. I’m training for the 2008 Olympics. Ah, let’s say the 2012 Olympics. I’m lazy.

4. I’ve been following Coldplay around the country on their Twisted Logic tour.

3. The scale lincoln log house I’m building modeled after my own house is taking far longer than I’d expected.

2. Oprah. Everyday with the Oprah.

1. I really, really, really, really, truly suck at sending emails.

And there you have it.

11:18PM.
Wow. How heartbreaking was that last scene of Lost? I won’t give it away for anyone who hasn’t watched it yet, but it was pretty tragic. Stay tuned for my “Lost Recap Haiku”, which will be posted tomorrow morning.

11:36PM.
Must…buy…TV Guide magazine…tomorrow. Rowr.