For anyone who doesn't know, Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili, died on Friday, just hours before the Olympic opening ceremony, after a fatal crash during a practice run. Nodar lost control of his sled, flew over the walls of the track, and hit a steel pole. Doctors worked their hardest to try to revive him, but to no avail.
The luge course in Vancouver is said to be the fastest dangerous in the world, making in the most dangerous. While most courses don't put lugers above 80 mph, this one could put you well over 90 mph. Even some of the top lugers crashed during practice.
Since Nodar's unfortunate death, safety has become an increasingly popular topic. Talks now arise of padding such poles as the one Nodar hit after flying off his sled. In addition, the ice in the area of the accident was shaved and reshaped and the male lugers are now starting where the females start, decreasing the fastest speed they can reach. How unfortunate that someone had to die for what seems like simple safety precautions to be taken.
Some may argue inexperience as being the true cause of death in this situation. I, for one, disagree. As I said earlier, some of the top lugers in the world have been crashing on this course. I'm pretty sure they're experienced. Also, inexperience doesn't make up for the speeds this course can reach. Finally, everyone, including every athlete in the Olympics, makes mistakes and messes up some times. However, no one should have to pay for those mistakes with their lives.
So as you go about your lives, keep the friends and family of Nodar Kumaritashvili and all the other athletes competing in the Winter Olympics in your thoughts and prayers.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tweak by Nic Sheff
Hey! First off, I want to apologize for not posting in over two weeks. I'm gonna try to post at least once a week. This long break won't happen again. Now, on to the topic of today's blog.
Recently I read a pretty amazing book: Tweak by Nic Sheff. It's a memoir about his drug and alcohol addiction, his struggle with recovery, his many attempts at rehabs, and the emotional and mental problems, such as depression, that he encounters along the way. Tweak is an amazing view into the mind of an addict. Often people think, "Why don't they just quit? Don't they realize they're hurting themselves?" Well, Tweak gives you the answer. You get to see why, at least for one person, drugs are the answer.
At times, it can be difficult to keep reading; but ultimately, it's impossible to put down. One thing that makes it hard at times is the realization that everything you're reading is true. Every word of it actually happened. The lies Nic told, the things he stole from his family, his father's distrust, and the relapses that occured just when things were going right all really took place and Nic has annaptivating way of telling it all. He doesn't try to sugar coat it or make it anything it isn't. He tells it as it happened and doesn't hold back. All of this caused this book to make be very emotional. It's hard to put into words what I felt while reading it. It's almost as if I felt some strange connection to Nic, although that's probably not really the best wording. It's something you just need to experience for yourself.
I highly recommend this book to everyone! Tweak by Nic Sheff is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It may sound like a stretch to say, but Tweak will change your life, or at the very least, affect your thinking. I hope you take into consideration everything I said and decide to read it.
Nic's father, David Sheff, also wrote a book, Beautiful Boy, that gives his side of the story. I'm currently reading that and will blog about it when I finish.
Recently I read a pretty amazing book: Tweak by Nic Sheff. It's a memoir about his drug and alcohol addiction, his struggle with recovery, his many attempts at rehabs, and the emotional and mental problems, such as depression, that he encounters along the way. Tweak is an amazing view into the mind of an addict. Often people think, "Why don't they just quit? Don't they realize they're hurting themselves?" Well, Tweak gives you the answer. You get to see why, at least for one person, drugs are the answer.
At times, it can be difficult to keep reading; but ultimately, it's impossible to put down. One thing that makes it hard at times is the realization that everything you're reading is true. Every word of it actually happened. The lies Nic told, the things he stole from his family, his father's distrust, and the relapses that occured just when things were going right all really took place and Nic has annaptivating way of telling it all. He doesn't try to sugar coat it or make it anything it isn't. He tells it as it happened and doesn't hold back. All of this caused this book to make be very emotional. It's hard to put into words what I felt while reading it. It's almost as if I felt some strange connection to Nic, although that's probably not really the best wording. It's something you just need to experience for yourself.
I highly recommend this book to everyone! Tweak by Nic Sheff is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It may sound like a stretch to say, but Tweak will change your life, or at the very least, affect your thinking. I hope you take into consideration everything I said and decide to read it.
Nic's father, David Sheff, also wrote a book, Beautiful Boy, that gives his side of the story. I'm currently reading that and will blog about it when I finish.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
TWLOHA
Hello people of the blogosphere! Welcome to my blog. I figured I'd start off by sharing information about a charity I really care about in hopes of maybe (hopefully) helping them.
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a charity that, as I just mentioned, I feel very strongly about. What does this organization do? As it is very well put on their website:
For more info on IMAlive, please visit http://www.twloha.com/move/imalive/
For more info on TWLOHA, please visit http://www.twloha.com
And please, remember to vote. It's not that difficult and every little bit helps. Click here to vote.
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a charity that, as I just mentioned, I feel very strongly about. What does this organization do? As it is very well put on their website:
"To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."Currently, TWLOHA is a finalist in Chase Community Giving and has the chance to win $1 Million for the IMAlive program, "the first online peer-to-peer support system fighting against depression and suicide." TWLOHA teamed up with Kristen Brooks Hope Center (1-800-SUICIDE) to launch IMAlive. Click here to show your support of TWLOHA and IMAlive by voting for To Write Love on Her Arms in Chase Community Giving. Every vote matters and will bring TWLOHA one step closer to winning the $1 million and achieving the vision of IMAlive.
For more info on IMAlive, please visit http://www.twloha.com/move/imalive/
For more info on TWLOHA, please visit http://www.twloha.com
And please, remember to vote. It's not that difficult and every little bit helps. Click here to vote.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
