Wow! Do I feel stupid. Ten years after the killings at Columbine and I didn’t have a clue about what went on that terrible day until I read this book. Dave Cullen painstakingly researched and expertly crafted this compelling story of two teens, one a psychopath the other suicidal, who opened fire on their friends and neighbors, killing thirteen. The story shocked a nation and forever changed how we perceived school shooters. Unfortunately, the story was wrong.  Dave Cullen presents the facts you may not have heard, and worse for Americans, those that were there all along but we chose to ignore.

Goths? No. Trench Coat Mafia? No. Loners? Losers? Outsiders? No, no, no. These boys were smart and popular, but determined to end their lives in front of the national media in the most horrific way possible. They planted four large explosives, consisting of gasoline jugs and two propane tanks each. Two they cavalierly planted in the middle of the cafeteria, against the support columns, timed to explode during the busiest rush of the day. Two others they left in their cars in the parking lot to kill any emergency responders and survivors who would have assembled there. A fifth explosive was set in a field timed to lure police away from the high school and delay their response.  All five bombs fizzled! Only the one in the field ignited at all, but it caused only a small brush fire and actually served to ready police in the key moments before the 911 calls started coming in.

Cullen also details a sheriff’s office that hid the facts and delayed the release of key evidence and reports. And the media who opted to write their own story in the absence of the truth. Dave Cullen shows that in addition to the tragedy of fifteen deaths that day, is the tragedy of how readily the public accepted the archetypical explanation of what happened.

I found this read to be fair and sympathetic to those who were affected by the killings and those who were powerless to prevent it. Even the infamous Sheriff John Stone is balanced by the expertise and professionalism of Agent Dwayne Fuselier. Each page kept me hungering for more and the writing was vivid and approachable. I highly recommend it!!

I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.

If you have a Rubik’s Cube that you haven’t been able to solve and want to “clean it up,” you should check out the free online application at Wrongway.org. Wrongway is a blog run by Eric Dietz out of Minneapolis and includes some very helpful links, including those to solve the standard 3x3 Rubik’s Cube, the more advanced 4x4 Cube, and some general advice on solving the cube on your own. With the simple interface, you color the cube to match your exact configuration, click solve, and a page will be displayed with the step-by-step instructions to solve your cube. It’s quick, simple, free, and effective; all the hallmarks of good software.

Wrongway.org

There’s a great collection of videos on Youtube posted by StupidGSA, Stupid Game Show Answers. Each is between two and three minutes long, and contains a montage of funny moments from game shows.  There are clips from Wheel of Fortune, The Newlywed Game, Password, $100,000 Pyramid, Jeopardy, and many others.  Some, like the Newlywed Game clips are hilarious just to see the outfits that contestants of the 60’s and 70’s wore.  Others are funny for the unintended slips or gaffes, like the more recent one with Jeopardy king, Ken Jennings, a mormon. Check them all out and enjoy the laughs.

http://www.youtube.com/user/stupidgsa