Kenneth Ellis Shot to death

    A greatly appreciated teacher at Manatee School for the Arts was shot to death late Tuesday night at his home in North Port. The police had said that Kenneth Ellis answered the door and no one was there. His wife had been home with him as well that night. Although, there had been two people who looked liked ninjas running from the area. Neighbors had reported seeing a dark colored 4 door sedan leaving the area after the shooting occured.  They rushed Ellis to the hospital and was announced dead.
    Kenneth Ellis had been teaching Tae Kwon Do and World History at MSA for 13 years. Everyone at the school has been mourning about his death. I wouldn't even know what to do or how to feel if one of my teachers died. Like my journalism teacher for example, I just don't know how I would take the news hearing one of my teachers is dead. You build a relationship with your teacher in the classroom and it just won't ever feel the same knowing they are gone.

New York Times reporters are freed from Libya

                 On the date of March 15, in the country of Libya, four New York Times reporters were reported as missing. There was a reporter, videographer, and two photographers. The Libyian government finally released the 4 captives after 6 days of being detained. They were taken into custody of the Turkish diplomats who accompanied them out of Libya.
             The reason for them getting captured was  they entered the rebel-controlled eastern region of Libya without visas over the Egyptian border to cover the insurrection against Col. Moamar Ghadafi.
         This is a very scary situation that these four reporters were in. Libya is definitely not the safest place to be at the moment with everything happening in the world. There are several bomb threats and missel threats and bombings go on at that country and just taking one wrong step can lead to something terrible. It wasn't exactly fair that they were held captive just for not having their visas. I think it had to be for personal resentment against Americans because I know a lot of people hate Americans and don't want anything to do with them.
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpps/news/new-york-times-confirms-reporters-freed-in-libya-dpgonc-20110321-fc_12416255

NFL player commits suicide to donate brain to science

        Former NFL player Dave Duerson, who was a two-time super bowl champion with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants decided to take his life to donate his brain to science. He was only 50 years old and shot himself in the chest taking his own life. He donated his brain to Boston University so researchers can study and assess the life-long neurological effects of playing in the NFL. 
        Duerson was confident he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy that many former nfl and college football players suffer from this brain injury. Before he committed suicide he texted his family members and close friends to donate his brain to the University. When police arrived at his apartment after the suicide, the found a hand-written note in has hand that said, "Please, See that my Brain is given to the NFL's Brain Bank." 
       It is such a tragedy that anyone would committ suicide. Suicide is not the answer to your problems it seems like an easy way out of your life, but in reality it's not. You complicate everyone else's lives once you are dead. It was very nice of him that he decided to donate his brain to Boston University. Now they can finally do the research on the brain and the effects of playing in the NFL. Hopefully with their research and Duerson's great sacrifice they will find answers to what causes these brain injuries.

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/02/duerson-suicide-brain-study/

One of the women's 8 for Palmetto in the race.

Before the girls took off on their races!

Palmetto High's First Regatta

       Palmetto High's new Rowing Crew celebrated their first regatta invitational on Saturday March 12, 2011. There were 4 boats that competed in the races. The boys 8 raced at a varsity 3 level. The 2 girls 8's raced at the novice level and another boy's 8 raced at a novice level. It was our first race after being on the water after 5 weeks. We all did very good even though we lost the races. The boys ended up doing very good and beat a couple teams and a few racing times.
        Our coaches were all impressed with us, the other day at practice we had a special visitor. Laura Embry, Jane Lynche's wife. She was impressed with as well. She said for only being on the water for 5 weeks and then racing was remarkable. We are all keeping up the hardwork and will soon start winning those medals. "Get it in Get it in. That's the ticket", as coach Jon would say :)

Vanishing village in Japan

      Just a couple days ago there was a terrible earthquake that hit Japan. It was a rate of an 8.9 a very high level earthquake. After the earthquake, a giant tsunami came right along after it wiping out everything in it's path.
      The tsunami managed to make one village disapper completely. The population was only of about 250 people and around 70 homes. The village was named Saito. Now it is just in complete ruins and ash and is not a pretty sight at all. 
       It seriously just breaks my heart to see this on tv and hear all about the sudden earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The tsunami also hit the coastline of California and Oregon as well as Hawaii. All my family is out in those 3 places, I woke up that morning hearing about it and i quickly dialed my phone to call my family. I had to check and see if they were all okay. Thank you God they were fine.
       I can only imagine what the people of Japan are facing right now. They have to be completely devastated if not angry that this happened to them. They had no warning at all that an earthquake was coming. They didn't have time to prepare and get time to flee their country. No. No time at all. They got a rude awakening which wasn't fair at all.
       It seems like it is only getting worse and worse for Japan. I see them on the news every day now since that earthquake. First the earthquake, then a tsunami, then a nuclear powerplant explodes. My heart goes out to the Japanese. You are all in my prayers every single day and night. Things will get better.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110314/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_tsunami_vanished_village