There was a spreadsheet, which spanned over seven feet long, found in the home of Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary School assailant. Printed in twelve-point font were the names of weapon models and the number of victims.
This was not just any spreadsheet; however, it was a score sheet of the victims he had killed. Lanza killed approximately twenty children, six teachers and fatally shot his own mother before turning his assault rifle on himself and pulling the trigger.
According to the authorities, it took only a few hours to distinguish that the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre was linked to Lanza playing violent video games. “[People heading the investigation] don’t believe this was a spreadsheet,” a police officer reported to the New York Daily News. “They believe it was a score sheet. This was the work of a video gamer, and it was his intent to put his own name at the very top of that list”.
Lanza’s unforgivable crime is one of the many vicious shootings that have been blamed on video games.
Are video games really to blame, though?
Did Adam Lanza “overuse” video games and then massacred all those children and teachers? Or was he simply unhinged?
Some video games have the player take on the role of a silver-haired demon hunter; a caped crusader seeking vengeance for the murder of his parents and administering punishment to super criminals; a current world-heavyweight champion and even a God of War. “Video games change your brain,” said Shawn Green, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin.
Much like exercising builds muscles, video games can actually teach people thinking skills that would prove to be beneficial within their future. When someone plays a video game, it gives the brain a real workout.
Adam Lanza was mentally ill; not every child, teen or adult in America is insane. I don’t play Mortal Kombat with the intention of ripping someone’s spine out or decapitating someone.
Playing NBA doesn’t make me want to be a basketball player; Mario Party doesn’t make me want to be a plumber and playing Pokemon does not encourage me to take up dog fighting.
Video games keep people engaged; they are fun to play alone or even with a big group of friends.
Violence in games is fantasy. Children don’t consider Sub-Zero as their role model, so that means a teenage Mortal Kombat player is not going to go out into society and try to freeze someone to death with a magical ball of ice.
People are driven to maim and kill not because of the games they play, but because they’re depressed, alone, unhappy or angry. The caretakers of these children need to be more aware of what their children are going through.
Have you ever talked to someone recalling an interesting time in their life? Your friend does not rush through his story – the pacing is good and they vividly describe all the minuscule details as if we were there right along with them.
He continues to build his story toward a dramatic conclusion, knowing that is what we want to hear.
Did you know there is an element of storytelling within business as well?
According to Leslie Billera’s blog “Wrestling With Corporate Storytelling”, one has to have a way of telling their point of view so it engages, entertains, and stays with a potential employer.
A core message is a way to externally and internally get potential employers on the same page in terms of selling your brand.
“Every brand has a story,” said Billera. “The goal is to find your story and then define how that story should be told.”
If stories interest people, then they would want to tell someone else, and then someone else would want to tell another person. It is a never-ending cycle.
Billera also discusses one should compact their storytelling into one cohesive document – an elevator pitch, narrative, timeline, and sound bites.
When I was growing up, Elmo taught me important life-lessons like saying “thank you” when I receive something, smile (even when life has gotten me down), and treat others with respect.
Where has the time gone? With each passing decade, technology becomes more advanced than the last.
When said technology becomes more advanced, producers such as “Sesame Workshop” look to join forces with companies that are willing to take their legendary sitcom to the next level.
We know that companies use technology not only as a marketing vehicle but also for PR. This partnership between ToyTalk and Sesame Workshop shows that technology can be utilized to educate their consumers.
Can you imagine a digital version of The Count teaching your child numbers 1-100, or perhaps a digital Bert and Ernie reading your child a story?
It is Apple’s PR nightmare! And apparently bendable iPhone 6s are a new feature consumers of Apple products have been waiting on…
The release of IOS 8 wasn’t enough for Apple consumers; they wanted a feature that sets the iPhone 6 a part from the Galaxy Note 3, so consumers decided to bend their phones.
If the phone was proven to be so durable, then why are consumers so fixated on bending their phones? What they’re doing is wasting precious time and money, quite frankly.
For all the skinny-jean-wearing guys, myself included, iPhone 6+ IS NOT compatible with skinny jeans (at least this is what someone tweeted, so maybe there is hope after all).
The “bendable” iPhones have effectively become the laughing stock of social media and it doesn’t look too good for technological powerhouse.
There may be some hope for iPhone 6 users, albeit at a price…
Instagram celebrated its fourth birthday on Monday. It has been a social media platform that users, such as myself, take “selfies” with or post funny memes about current events within pop culture.
As years progress, technology and various applications follow suit. Instagram has evolved into more than a simple tool for uploading photos and applying filters; it has become an outlet for a glimpse into the personal life of our very own president and a way to connect with our favorite celebrities.
According to Matthew Schwartz’s article, “How to Get Your Message Out Via Instagram”, people meet up at different places, take photos, and then share them on Instagram with a universal hashtag.
This is actually a prime example of how Instagram has been tied to digital PR – using your pictures to communicate your messages.
According to Matthew Clyde, founder of Ideas Collide, communicating your message should make people care, spark conversation, and inspire your audience.
Listen to these ideas, people! Instead of taking a “selfie”, try to fill your news feed with something that stimulates one’s mind, or something that inspires the viewers to do better.
It’s Friday night and you’re out drinking with some of your coworkers. A few hours later, you’re trashed and decide it would be cool to take some photos and post them on your Instagram.
The next day at work you’re called into your boss’s office, scolded for taking drunk “selfies” and how it is an embarrassment to the company. Like clockwork, your boss fires you.
You begin to wonder, “I got fired because I took a picture on my day off?”
According to a newsletter on www.delawareonline.com, a restaurant manager was fired from his job because he decided to post photos, credit card receipts, and make insulting comments about customers on his Instagram.
If you feel a certain way about your job, then it should be kept to yourself. Disrespecting your job – that grants you a steady paycheck, mind you – on social media is not the best thing to do.
You’re a reflection of whatever company you’re a part of – it doesn’t matter if you have a day off. There is nothing wrong with having a good time after a bad day at the job; however, some things are better left unsaid.
Before you do something stupid like take a “selfie” with some insulting hashtags about someone, make sure you let your boss know you’re quitting ahead of time.
You’re cruising around the streets, looking for job openings. You come across a “help wanted” poster at the local Steak n’ Shake.
You take an application, fill it out, and submit it. Days later, you receive a call stating the manager would like to conduct an interview with you.
There’s a catch, though – your potential manager wants you to bring in a resume. When the time comes for the interview, you’re confident and flying through the questions.
Then, the time comes when your potential manager reviews your resume. He doesn’t look too pleased with its structure and almost immediately ends the interview with the dreaded “we’ll be in touch” phrase.
As days pass, you receive an email stating “after careful observation, you do not meet the requirements to be a team member at Steak n’ Shake.” So what exactly went wrong you may ask?
It’s simple – your resume.
According to PR News.com, “even if you’re not seriously considering looking for a new job, it’s probably a good time to at least add some updates to your resume.”
Brian Greene’s “Infographic: Tips for Creating the Perfect Resume” gives good tips on how your resume should be structured and presented when you’re looking for a job.
Also, there are certain words to avoid such as “me”, “need”, “chance”, etc… because you can guarantee that employers will overlook your resume and move on to the next person. However, words such as “leadership”, “experience”, “management”, and “business” would be more noticeable to potential employers.
I enjoyed Greene’s tip about including a cover letter with your resume. He says to always begin the letters with “thank you for your consideration”, which is a powerful statement, because it exhibits politeness and good manners. This would surely score you some favorable points with your potential employers.
Next time you apply for a job, make sure you follow these steps because it would make you that much more credible than the individual you’re trying to outshine.
“Don’t be surprised if you hit a man, he hits you back,” Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of “The View”, says. (per www.huffingtonpost.com)
Janay Palmer, wife of former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice, was knocked out cold after her husband delivered a shattering blow to her face. Rice then proceeded to drag his unconscious wife out of the elevator.
Rice was serving an indefinite suspension for his conduct. However, according to ABC.com columnist Dean Schabner, “The NFL Association announced that it is appealing the suspension of former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice.” (per http://www.abc.com)
Domestic violence can occur at any age and ethnic background. It is often used to gain complete control over women and even men.
I asked multiple students for their perspective on the situation and they all agreed on one thing – Ray Rice is not a real man.
“I’m against a man hitting a woman,” Cinnamon Stewart, a Mass Communications Major at SIUE, says. “However, if a woman decided to strike a man and provoke him, then she probably deserved to be struck.”
“He’s not a real man,” Andrea McIntyre, a representative of the Black Student Union, says. “A man shouldn’t put his hands on a woman under no circumstances. That is frowned upon in God’s eyes.”
If a man strikes a woman in retaliation, is it justifiable?
“No, it’s not okay for a man to strike back,” McIntyre says. “There are ways a man can defend himself without actually putting his hands on a woman.”
“The only reason this story has gained so much publicity is because Ray Rice was caught on video,” Matt, a resident in Evergreen Hall, says. “Look at Ray McDonald, a player for the 49ers. He is currently being investigated for beating and threatening to kill his wife and yet he is still being played!”
In a phone interview, a case worker for “Alive”, a centre for domestic violence in St. Louis, could not disclose information on the Ray Rice issue and domestic violence as a whole.
“After outrage from Rice’s suspension, the NFL announced last month that players accused of domestic violence would face tougher punishments,” Schabner says. “Players get six games of suspension for a first offense, and at least a year for a second offense.” (per www.abc.com)
Their names alone strike fear into the hearts of the WWE locker room, announcers, and even the WWE Universe themselves. “The Brothers of Destruction” are dangerous when they are on the same page – boasting numerous championships combined, and they also have terrorized the likes of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, and Vince McMahon himself.
Although “The Brothers of Destruction” are formidable as a unit, their sibling rivalries have resulted in one or the other being set on fire, buried alive, or driven into a casket. Their very first confrontation, however, began at Badd Blood 1997.
Badd Blood 1997 was the birthplace of the sinister structure known today as “Hell in the Cell”. The combatants in the very first cell match was “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and the legendary Undertaker.
Just as the bloody bout was swiftly coming to an end, the lights flickered off in the arena and then suddenly an explosion of intense flame heralded the coming of Kane. Walking slowly down to the ring, “The Devil’s Favorite Demon”, flanked by Paul Bearer, tossed numerous referees aside and effortlessly ripped the cell door of its hinges.
The Undertaker was unbelievably silent; he had absolutely no idea how his younger brother survived the infamous house fire that killed both their parents and seemingly Kane. In a fit of rage, Kane scooped his brother up and nailed him with an emphatic Tombstone Piledriver.
Badd Blood 1997 will forever be the day that spelled the end of The Undertaker’s dominant cell match, and ushered in the birth of a new, terrifying force. As weeks progressed, Kane was becoming more frightening by second – he attacked a fan, dominated the fodder of the WWE and he even cost his brother a victory against Shawn Michaels in a Casket Match.
Not only did Kane rob his brother of an opportunity to capture the World Wrestling Federation Championship once again, but he also set the casket he chokeslammed “The Deadman” in on fire.
Throughout their storied rivalry, The Undertaker vowed that he would never lay his hands on his own flesh and blood. Every time Kane confronted The Undertaker, their meetings would always end with Kane coming out on top.
Kane tried everything to get his brother angry; he even set a cameraman on fire. The final straw came in the form of a resurrected Undertaker that summoned a bolt of lightning, which caused a casket Undertaker personally crafted for Kane to be set on fire.
Undertaker laid down the challenge for WrestleMania 14 and vowed his brother would rest in peace.
Memorable Spots/Highlights
Kane tombstones Pete Rose.
Kane hits a flying clothesline while Undertaker hangs helplessly off the top rope.
Kane throws the steel steps on top of a prone Undertaker.
Paul Bearer hits Undertaker with cheap shots while Kane intimidates the referee.
Kane hits Undertaker with a chokeslam, covers him and then breaks the count at two.
Undertaker misses a suicide dive on Kane and crashes through the Spanish announce table.
Kane hits a Tombstone Piledriver and Undertaker kicks out at two.
Undertaker hits a chokeslam and Kane kicks out at two.
Undertaker nails Kane with three Tombstone Piledrivers to win the match.
Kane attacks Undertaker afterwards with a steel chair.
The Match
WrestleMania 14 marked the day “The Brothers of Destruction” first met in battle. Before the two brothers went to war, The Undertaker and Kane met face-to-face in the center of the ring.
When I was younger, I was under the impression no one could beat The Undertaker – he was always a dominating force – until Kane exploded on the scene. Kane outweighed and towered over his older brother; The Undertaker had to change his strategy since he was the underdog in this match.
The Undertaker struck first, nailing Kane with powerful strikes that did not seem to faze him. Beating Kane into the corner, “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” with an incredible showcase of strength powered his older brother into the corner, too.
Throughout the match, the fans witnessed an old-fashioned fight, not a wrestling match. There were no technical holds or suplexes; it was a pure, unadulterated mugging.
The Undertaker refused to stay down and Kane was fueled by his rage and desire to make his brother pay for his sins. Kane battered “The Deadman” for several minutes – he tossed the steel steps on top of his older brother’s prone body, threw him into barricades and punished him with stiff body shots.
Perhaps the most shocking moment of the match was when Undertaker leapt on top of Kane’s shoulders and tried to pummel him to the mat with closed-fist shots; however, Kane turned The Undertaker’s futile attempt into an emphatic electric chair maneuver. The entire ring rattled as the two seven-footers came crashing down to the mat.
In an attempt to rally, Undertaker aimed for several lariats, but instead, he found himself on the receiving end of a massive chokeslam from Kane. Kane went for the cover; however, as the referee’s hand was just inches away from the mat for the three count, “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” picked his brother up to administer more punishment.
Jim Ross summed up Kane’s actions perfectly – it wasn’t about winning the match; it was about making The Undertaker pay for all the pain and suffering he has caused him. No matter what Undertaker did to fight off his younger brother’s assault, Kane was always a step ahead of him.
In an incredible burst of agility, Undertaker leapt over the top rope while Kane stepped aside and allowed his older brother to crash directly into the Spanish announce table. After a few minutes, the match pace quickened.
Several reversals of Undertaker’s Tombstone later, Kane finally nailed his brother with his own Tombstone to which “The Deadman” kicked out at two. As a result, Kane became more enraged – he even attempted to attack the referee.
Battling back, Undertaker finally dropped Kane with a chokeslam and then signaled the end was near with his signature Tombstone Piledriver. 1, 2… no… Kane kicked out of the Tombstone, much to Undertaker’s dismay. Moments later, after Undertaker dropped a huge leg onto Kane’s throat, he tombstoned his younger brother for a second time.
1, 2… no… Kane somehow managed to kick out yet again. Deep down inside The Undertaker’s cold, dark heart was a man who was afraid of his younger brother’s power.
He knew that it would take a third and final Tombstone Piledriver to put down his monstrous brother once and for all. After the match, Kane left Undertaker lying motionless in the ring after a heinous assault with a steel chair.
This match was arguably Kane and Undertaker’s best – they were in their prime; Kane was established as a credible threat to not only the entire locker room, but also his own brother; and finally, the match offered memorable spots/highlights that “Attitude Era” fans such as myself would never forget.
Don’t forget: this match marked Undertaker’s seventh straight victory at WrestleMania.
Randy Orton is universally known as “The Apex Predator” – a moniker he has lived by since that fateful night on Raw when he viciously assaulted Mr. McMahon. Orton has taken out the likes of Triple H, Batista, and even John Cena with this new-found edge.
He has also won multiple championships ever since he adopted this persona. Throughout 2013, however, “The Apex Predator” was no more; he was merely a shell of his former self.
Orton became a whining, complaining lapdog for The Authority and lost the edge that made him so formidable in the first place. No one believed Orton would return to his former glory; his character had become stale, and he even stopped performing to the best of his ability.
Unmotivated, Orton slowly, but surely, began his inevitable descent into obscurity until one man stepped up to solidify his place in history – that man was Roman Reigns. Reigns was formerly known as the muscle of one of WWE’s most dominant factions, The Shield.
One-by-one, The Shield took down those who dared to challenge them. They have beaten the likes of John Cena, The Undertaker, and even Randy Orton on some occasions.
Now, The Shield is no more and Reigns is all on his own. He needed to make a statement, so he chose to make a name for himself by targeting Randy Orton.
Reigns has been a thorn in Orton’s eye. He has been robbed of his championship opportunities by an even hungrier competitor in Reigns.
Triple H gave Orton a choice – either he accepts the fact there are no more title shots in his near future, or he takes Roman Reigns permanently out of the picture. Orton chose Option B and assaulted Reigns before his match with Kane.
Orton systematically dissected Reigns, dropping him on his head with a Hanging DDT, smashing him against unforgiving steel steps; and finally, taking him down with not one, but two, RKO’s through the announce table. “The Apex Predator” was reborn, revitalized.
On Friday Night Smackdown, Orton laid down a challenge for Summerslam. He was looking to show Reigns why he was known as “The Apex Predator”.
Unafraid, Reigns accepted the challenge and their match for Summerslam was on.
Memorable Spots/Highlights
Orton stomping each of Reigns’s limbs
Orton nailing Reigns with a picture perfect Superplex off the top rope
Roman Reigns’s comeback sequence
Orton catching Reigns with a Powerslam before the Spear
Reigns hitting Orton with a top-rope Samoan Drop
Orton catching Reigns in mid-air with an RKO
Reigns kicking out of the RKO for a nearfall
Reigns knocking Orton out of his boots with a Spear
The Match
Reigns brought the sold-out LA crowd to its feet after he finally defanged “The Apex Predator” in a hard fought match. Orton came to Summerslam looking to prove a point – no one steals precious title opportunities from him.
Reigns, however, was looking for the complete opposite – respect. Despite their varying motives, the rivalry between WWE’s most explosive competitors came to a head.
Reigns opened the match with some trademark offense, dominating Orton for the most part until the momentum shifted. Tossing Reigns into the unrelenting steel, Orton cackled like a sick villain.
Orton even fired back with a ring-shattering Superplex from the top-rope. Throughout the match, Orton seemed to be one step ahead of Reigns.
However, the WWE Universe learned how resilient Reigns was after kicking out of a picture perfect RKO in mid-air. With nothing left in his arsenal, Orton looked to utilize the punt that put many superstars out of commission.
Reigns had other plans as he dodged the punt and nailed Orton with an emphatic Spear to end the match. Earlier in the evening, Orton referred to himself as Reigns’s Kryptonite.
Reigns in Superman-like fashion conquered Orton’s Kryptonite and solidified his place in the history books as one of the most dominant competitors.
My Thoughts Exactly 