Zyklon B and The Holocaust

      When you think about the Holocaust, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Anne Frank? Auschwitz? Hitler? How about Zyklon B?

      During the time the Nazis and Hitler attempting to terminate the Jewish people, these six killing centers were installed: Bernburg, Brandenburg, Grafeneck, Hadamar, Hartheim, and Sonnenstein. Within these centers, you would find small rooms that would be used for gas exposure killings. At the start of the Holocaust, the only resource they knew of to use was carbon monoxide. The Nazis would "constantly searched for more efficient means of extermination" (USHMM).

     By September 1941, the Nazis had finally found a new way to fuel their gas chambers. Zyklon B. It was ten times as fast to kill the Jewish people. It had also been a big money saver for the Nazis. When they finally had installed it into their gas chambers, they had killed over 6000 Jews each day at Auschwitz. 

     This astounds me that people would be okay gassing out people, let alone children. I just found it so interesting that they had more than two or three types of ways to kill off the Jewish people, and I hope you do too. 

Jones, Adam. "Canisters for Zyklon B Gas." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo. 3 May 2011, Web. 20 Feb 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/adam_jones/5684006255/?rb=1> 

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Gassing Operations." USHMM. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 10 Jun 2013, Web. 20 Feb 2014. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005220>

One of the hardest things to do.

     Diabetes, acid reflux disease, obesity and other types of diseases can be caused by an too much soda intake. Mike Wilber had an addiction to soda. He would have it for breakfast every morning so the caffeine would give him a boost; but shortly thereafter, he would crash and sleep for long periods of time. Soon Mike developed acid reflux disease. It did not bother him much until after he got married. He was living with his two teenage daughters and his wife; frightened by the fact that they may fall into his bad habits. 
      Mike confessed that he "[struggled] with the thought of [soda]. [He] miss it and [could] still taste it six weeks later. Giving up pop has been one of the most difficult things [he] [has] done" (Wilber). America has always been so dependent upon caffeine, but not too many people note the health risks associated with this habit. "Old habits die hard," so America says. So maybe America will never get off its caffeine kick.

      America should take a note on Mike. He says, "Now I have to retrain my brain. Water has become my drink of choice" (Wilber). If more people would follow in the path of Mike, America's citizens would lead for healthy and happy lives. 


JDHancock. "Bokeh-Cola." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo. 14 Jul 2012, Web. 18 Feb 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/83346641@N00/7581262640>

Wilber,Mike. "One of the hardest things to do." CNN. CBS Interactive. 15 Feb 2014, Web. 18 Feb 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/14/health/fit-nation-wilber-soda/index.html?hpt=he_t3>

How Flappy Bird Symbolizes Our Decent Into Madness

THESE PICTURES ARE PROPERTY OF STORM SETOLA

      If you have ever downloaded the game "Flappy Bird," you know that you are about five minutes away from being committed to the 7th floor. This game has us all on the brink of insanity and the worse part is: we all know it. Among the five star reviews for this app, you see comments such as: "'the death of me,'" or "'my life is spiraling out of control.'"

      Many people let these silly apps take over their lives. Could this just be compulsive behavior? For years American's have let similar apps such as "Candy Crush," and "Temple Run," have a huge impact on our lives. Just last night my friend called me at 4am to tell me she was stuck on level 21. After hanging up on her and going back to sleep, I realized that this game is creating such a psychological crutch, that the players believe that deleting the app may actually cause harm to them. 

      In my opinion, it may just seem like a glorified angry birds game, "with a pixelated Super Mario twist thanks to some rather unoriginal green pipes -- and an experience [similar] to slamming your head on a desk in an effort to see what's on the other side."

      The author of the article supports his claims with a story of how he too became addicted to this game. He states that, "it was after maybe the 14th or 15th time [he'd] seen "Game Over" flash across [his] iPhone screen in the last maybe seven minutes that I decided that the app Flappy Bird... was perhaps the worst smartphone game ever created." With this said, are we drawn to the "worse" game to try and defeat an invisible obstacle. Usually these kind of game have some rewards or goals to get through, but with "Flappy Bird," there is no end to the madness. There is no end because it keep going forever. Will this new game drive you over the edge too? 

Statt, Nick. "Flappy Bird is the embodiment of our descent into madness." Cnet. CBS Interactive. 2 February 2014, Web. 2 February 2014. <http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57618175-94/flappy-bird-is-the-embodiment-of-our-descent-into-madness/>