gang violence

Have you or anyone you know ever been effected by gang violence? In the United states and even though out the world gang violence has and still effects our world today as we know it. families are torn apart children and parents are killed and lives are ruined. Most gang related violent crimes aren't random. they also aren't usually over drugs or other crimes like most people would think. the most violent gang related incidents are over "turf", reputation respect, and revenge. Los Angeles is wildly known as the gang capitol of the world. one of the biggest problems happening there is gangs are getting more connections to easily get guns and other weapons. the more guns there are the more robbery's there are and the more drive-by shootings that happen. Most gangs in America are started by young adults and even teenagers (Weiss). In some of the bigger cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and others it is sometimes hard to even go on a walk down the street, or even picking your kid up from school with out seeing gang violence going on around you. Some people don't realize but gangs have the most affects on children. Gangs know that kids between the ages 10-13 can not go to jail or be incarcerated for any crimes the commit. The way that they lure these kids into being in a gang is promise them protection, money and almost anything else they could want, and most of these kids that join have problems at home and want something they can call a family to look out for them. (Gang Violence) As you can see there are many struggles/problems with gang violence. But What these gang members don't seem to realize is that its a never ending circle to cause violence and act on revenge. The link below is part of a story of a well known gang and the things that go on in thier life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMqVd0PAm4Q

Illegal Drugs.

An illegal drug is a drug whose production or use is prohibited or strictly controlled via prescription. There are many different kinds of illegal drugs. They range from crack, heroin, inhalants, marijuana, LSD, meth, steroid, and even prescription drugs. all of these drugs you can get addicted to, either physically or mentally.

The 19th century was the discovery of new drugs. These drugs were morphine, heroin and cocaine. In the beginning of the 20th century the first drug use epidemic came about. But by World War II drug use became rare and the epidemic ended and the problem was forgotten. That was until the 1960's, when marijuana amphetamines and psychedelics became popular drugs. Inhaling also became popular. (Drud and Alcohol Abuse) Cocaine reappeared again in the 1970's. U.S. Drug Enforcement Act was created in the 1973 to enforce the federal drug laws. Today the DEA has many problems with drug trafficking and organized Crimes. (Illegal Drugs in America)

Drugs have become big in modern societies. Many celebrities are addicted to drugs or have been in the past. Charlie Sheen for example. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of San Fernando Valley, took a survey and found that 62% of kids has tried marijuana, 57% percent believe that kids will try marijuana at some point. 51% percent believe that TV, movies, music make drugs seem "cool". Many people believe that parental involvement in their teenagers lives may cut down the amount of drug use. (Teens Want Adults To Do More To Solve The Drug Problem) Kids try to fit in to groups and crowds by using drugs, but the truth behind it is that it really doesn't make you cool at all.

Illegal Drugs change the way you think and the way your body function. They are extremely addicting. Also range from many different kinds from LSD, to cocaine and marijuana.

http://www.nevisblog.com/Photos/illegal-drugs-in-nevis.jpg

(my computer would not let me post the picture.)

There are prison systems all over the united states there are thosands of prison facilities.some prisons are clean and properly run.other prisons are inproperly run and prisoners are exposed to horrible treatment and disgusting and horrific atrocities in a horrible prison life.

In a prison in california a mother is pushing to have clean water in the prison due to arsenic pollution in the tap water it is more than two times the safe ammount.this is making the prisoners and her son who is serving time in this prison and is now sick. Another unfortunate occurance and a plauge that covers all prison is rape. prison rape is a dark well known secret that no one talks about in prisons prisons.

In early 2003 president George W. Bush signed the prison rape elimination act which cracked down on rape and gave out harsh consequences against the the rapists.It could be more jail time longer sentences and time in solitary confinement.this will hopefully be an end to these unfortunate happenings. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=20

Child abuse

Child abuse is the physical, emotional, and sexual mistreatment or neglect of children. Most child abuse occurs at home by parents or guardians of children. Child abuse is doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or putting them at risk. (Medline plus : child abuse) About eighty four percent of prison inmates were abused as children. One in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused by an adult at some point during childhood. One in thirteen kids with a parent that does drugs is physically abused regularly. Families with four or more children have higher rates of abuse and neglect especially if they have crowded living conditions. More than eighty percent are a parent or someone close to a child. Child abuse is far more likely to occur in a child's home than in a day care center. Also, one of ten babies are born with a mother who abuses drugs. (Baltimore country MD) Child abuse is more than broken bones, cuts, and bruises. Physical might be the most noticeable sign of child abuse but its not always the outside. Emotional and mental abuse can also leave deep, long lasting scars. But there is still hope for children if you can start helping them early. The earlier children get help, the greater the chance they have to heal from their abuse. Whether it be physical or mental/emotional. Some say child abuse could be a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs. (child abuse and neglect) You don't have to be physical with a child to be abusing. Emotional abuse is just as harmful if not worse than physical abuse. Physical abuse may last temporarily, but sometimes emotional and mental abuse could last a lifetime. Also, mental and verbal abuse is way easier to get away with. Physical abuse is easily visible to others. But mental and emotional abuse is easily hidden unless a child tells someone they are being abused. Emotional abuse happens to innocent children everyday. One of your closest friends may be being abused everyday and you would never know. Physical and mental abuse is all around us. Its everywhere. (ebscohost.com/ cruel intentions) Many innocent children around the world are abused everyday. Whether it be their parents, their aunts and uncles, or whoever their parent guardians may be. If you are being abused, you are not alone. The fact is, most people who are in prison or contributing negatively to society have been abused as a child. If you are being abused, get help early.

Gangs

There are many gangs in the United States today. According to the FBI website there are about 1 million gang members are in 20,000 active violent gangs in the U.S. today. These gangs use violence to control cities, try and make more money, sell and buy drugs, robbery, crimes, and prostitution. Gangs are growing in size and numbers every day. (FBI website)

Parents have a huge influence on how their child is brought up. They could be the influence that decides weather they are criminally active. In the book Gangs Lewis Yablonsky says that " parents who abuse substances are self centered and unable to teach their children how to be caring and compassionate."(pg. 17) I completely agree with him because I feel that parents are supposed to be role models for their children and show them the guild lines to get through life.

Some statistics about gangs it was reported that in 2008 that 58 % of state and local law enforcement agencies said that criminal gangs are active in their communities. It was also said that criminal gangs are reported for 80% of crimes in many cities. Many gangs are dealt with drugs many of them get them illegally from Mexico. Many gangs use the Internet for recruitment and to communicate with other gangs and other members. (national gang threat summary)

Parents can play a big role in keeping their children off the streets and out of gangs. to keep kids out of gangs you should pay attention to your child's friends, pay attention to their grades. You should always communicate with your children. Be a role model for them. Set standards not to high but expect success. And always make time to spend with your child. You need to be involved and in their lives and make sure you're children are on the right track for their lives.(Sanantonio.gov)

Gangs are all over the place many people are in them. I think that parents should always be involved in their kids lives. i think it makes a better relationship and makes it easier for kids to get along through life.

Work cited

Croft, Harry. "Physical and Psychological Effects of Being Raped or Sexually Assaulted ." Healthy Place, Americas Mental Health Channel. HealthyPlace.com, 2000. Web. 6 Apr 2011.

"effects of sexual assault." Rainn. Rainn, 2009. Web. 7 Apr 2011. . Stevens, mark.

"Merriam- Webster's Collegiate Dictionary." Rape. 10. Springfield, Massachusettes: Marriam- Webster, incorporated, 2001. Print.

Essay: Forest Fire

Fire is an inevitable part of nature. As long there has been life there has been fire. Adding man to the picture only increased fire. Since man began building civilizations fire has been working against them. One part of fire that hasn't changed is forest fires. There will always be forests to burn. In recent years man has came up with ways not only to prevent forest fires but to battle them.

Forest always burn, they always have and always will. It is just a cycle of nature. Fires vary in intensity. Intensity is how hot a fire burns. A low intensity fire has flames less than 3ft, a moderate fire has flames 3-10ft, a high intensity fire has flames 10-30ft, and a extreme fire has flames greater than 30ft. Often extreme fire turn into fire storms. The intensity can change based on the amount, material, and moisture content of the fire. So basically dry bark, leaves and small branches make perfect kindling. There is also different kinds of forest fires. A common type is a ground fire. These fires just burn ground debree like leaves and bark. Another type of fire a crown fire. These fires are less common but they completely wipe out forests. Since people have been building cities the forests have become more dense. We are reducing the forest area but trying to conserve the trees. Combine this with fire prevention methods and you get today's forest fires. They now burn less often, but because of the increase in tree density and the debrie being allowed to build up the fires are more devastating. This makes Wild fire, which like the names implies the fire is next to impossible to control.(Dickman)

Now days there is more tools to help firemen to put out forest fires than most of us would know what to do with. They have a variety of different pumps just to get the water there. Even the fire trucks are different. A forest truck is designed to go off road and make it to the scene of the fire. There is no hydrants out in the middle of the woods so the trucks have to carry all the water with them. For smaller fires fireman carry hand powered backpack pumps. The most common tool on forest fires is a good shovel and an axe. Sometimes on large fires, departments will bring in bulldozers to establish a fire ring. Now they have modern technology that will allow you to check the greenness of a forest and predict possible fire spots.(Fire Equipment Specs)

Fires have been burning for millions of years. The dinosaurs had to deal with fire, but they had nobody to come put them out for them. A fire can wreak mass destruction, but it can rejuvenate and regenerate a forest too. They can wipe out sick and dying trees and they can can get rid of bugs that can kill trees. Man totally changed the burn cycle though. They did this through increasing the amount of trees per acre and fire prevention methods. You would think that fire prevention would be helpful and it is to a degree, but putting out all small little fires that start allows for the kindling to build up creating a time bomb. That means that eventually a fire will start and it will catch all the tinder create a massive and uncontrollable fire storm. In 1871 the Wisconsin fire burned up 1.2 million acres and killed 1182 people. That pales in comparison to the Big Blow Up. In 1910 a massive fire tore through Washington, Idaho, And Montana burning up over 3 million acres! Another major fire was the South Canyon Fire. It took the lives of 14 firemen which lead to advances in fire fighting technology and weather predictions.(foresty.about.com)

Forest fires are a unpredictable, rebellious force of nature. Fire in any form is a dangerous force, but a forest fire is a massive force to reckon with. It destroys anything in its path. Unlike a computer or a car, there is no manual saying how to fight a fire, just guidelines. No matter how many tools we make, fire will never be completely controllable.

Research project, samantha and tim

Rape is “sexual intercourse with a woman by a man without her consent and chiefly by force or deception.”(Merriam- Webster's Collegiate Dictionary) Rape or sexual abuse of any kind is a serious matter. Even after all emotional challenges a person faces during the encounter it continues on passed that. Often times after an encounter, a victim will begin to have changes within themselves. Because it is such a serious matter a person may need to seek professional help or help from someone they trust, though it might be embarrassing to admit. Rape or Sexual abuse is a serious crime against a person. It’s not only is traumatic at the time but it continues to traumatize a person days, months and years after it has happened. Rape or sexual abuse can cause a UN healthy view of body image. Due to lack of high self esteem and good body image a person can acquire an eating disorder, such as bulimia or anorexia. Anorexia is an obsession with body weight. It is extreme and if not treated a person can die. Bulimia is the act of binging and purging, eating a lot of food then forcing yourself to vomit it up. Bulimia is fatal if not treated and usually has emotional issued connected to it. Self injury is another effect rape or sexual abuse can have on a person. The person will feel guilt for happened and become depressed, angry or have extreme anxiety. A person will in return become impulsive and self mutilate to help cope with all the feelings(Croft). Many disorders or syndromes may occur after an encounter of rape or sexual abuse. One may be Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. This is when the victim experiences severe stress, fear, and anxiety. Something may stimulate them to feel the emotions they did during the rape or abuse, a flash back. Stockholm syndrome is another thing that can occur; this is when the victim emotionally bonds with the victimizer. This happens involuntary and subconsciously. Dissociative Identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder is a dissociative disorder when a person has two or more separate identities that control an individual’s behavior at different times. As a result of rapes and sexual abuse often times the victim will inhabit sleep disorders, and disturbances. A victim will have nightmares and/ or just not be able to fall asleep because of fear. Body memories which are when a victim changes their emotional problems into physical problems that cannot be explained, can also occur. This can range from serious to minor. An obvious effect of rape or sexual abuse is sexual transmitted infections or diseases, or even pregnancy. This can lead to many numbers of things. Not only health wise but also the person will have low self esteem and feel it’s their fault. They will think about suicide, commit suicide or abuse illegal substances.(Stevens) Rape or sexual abuse is a self destructive problem a person may face in their lives. It needs to be faced head on, so the person can try to regain their normalcy in life. It is out there and it does happen, don’t think that it can’t happen to you, because it can happen to anyone. So be safe and if you are a victim seek help so these things do not ruin your life.


Here is a video of the effects of sexual abuse on a male -
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Effects-of-Male-Sexual-Abuse-Video

Its a bit dry, but the effects of child sexual abuse is shown -
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/125781/how-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse.html

Reporter Week 4

Today i went to the big that everybody is taking about. We were the 6th alarm called to the scene. It was a 3 story building and by the time we got there the flames were leaping out the windows and spreading to the neighboring building. i went in though a stairway on the side of the building. The heat was to unberable to enter the building, so i layed on the stair way trying to fight back the flames. As i was doing that my partner realised that the flames were building up behind us on the other building. It took us quit awhile to battle the flames back but we did it. Later on i found out that 1 fireman lost his life and 2 others were badly burned when a flaming beam feel on them. The fireman that lost his life was my mentor Tracy. I couldnt believe it, he was just weeks away from retirement. It just shows you that no matter how much experence you have or how many fires you've been to, when your times up, its just up.

week 4. quote keeper.

"the big problem is, the way they deal with anger is violence and unnecessary violence is always bad" I believe this is saying how violence happens out of anger. "Those who study the juvenile justice system have a term to describe why "minority youth are often treated differently":race effects" This quote shows that even studies have proven that race controls a lot in your life the way people treat and look at you. "Race, Ethnicity and serious violent Offending" People seem to believe that race ethnicity does lead to violent offending.

Reporter Week 4

Tami Coy -director of the girls program Jani- Short compact girl- sabotages all bonds made at school - teen offender Cristina- Latina - five feet tall. At age 8 she drank 3-4 beers and smoked two joints and inhaled almost everyday. But the time she was a teenager she did coke. She was raped. - teen offender Cheryl - beats up Jani - teen offender Nicole- Big mouthed girl - teen offender Elena- defiant at first, now very insightful - teen offender Ric and Judy Nesbit - Parents of murdered girl Katy - help the girls realize what happenes when they do bad things. Keisha teen offender Michelle teen offender Racheal teen offender * All teen offenders has made it to the Capital Offenders Group.

Journal Week 3

I went on an ambulance call as a medic and found a man that shot himself in the head. There was dried blood all over the roof of the truck he was in. It looked like someone cut his face off and took all the bones out. It was making me sick thinking that someone could do this to themself. I never wanted to go on an ambulance call like this again. I also went on a basement fire call and as i was in there i got lost. I thought i was going to run out of oxygen. Just as I thought I was going to die in the fire, my fellow firefighters came in and found me to make my way out safely.

Web weaver Week 3

http://www.nafeco.com/ I chose this link because it shows all the different kinds of gear the firemen have to use for their differnent jobs. http://www.sparky.org/firetruck/firetruck_gallery.html I chose this link because it shows the different types of trucks that are used in fire fighting.

Web Weaver week 3

http://www.lawyershop.com/practice-areas/criminal-law/juvenile-law/crimes
I chose this Because it is all about juvenile crime and this whole book is about a place in texas that houses these children. In this facility children must tell their crime stories and life stories. in this website it states that most go unreported, and when the children tell their stories the psychollogists have to say that if it is bad they have to report it to their home town. It also states the kind of crime and this book outlines that as well/.
http://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=juvenile+crime+2010&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&safe=active&cad=cbv#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=active&q=murder&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=4285b1562c76fb8e
this is a website that talks about fending of an assalent.. if someone would have known this some of the people these kids murdered or hurt would have been able to fight back..

web weaver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChN4QvbbpFM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2x4KAAN27k&feature=related


these links show the danger of gang violence and relate to the book last chance in texas because the magority of kids in there have been convicted for gang violence, and explains why they do the things the do.

journal writer

ive been covicted for gang violence and am now in the capitol offenders group. i guess you can say this all started when i was a little kid i always grew up around violence. when i was 5 i woke up to my aunt screaming, when i came into the kitchen i seen my uncle standing over her after hitting her a few times saying ill do what i want this is my ****ing house. when he would leave in the morning he would chain me to a table and wouldnt let me go untill he got home in the late afternoon.

Connector, Week 2

Connector, Week 2

Text to Self:

In the book when Zac is moved to Station 1, he has to go through a complete change in scenery and the way people act around and to him. I know how this feels because i have been to 4 different schools. Each time i changed it was a completely different experience. All your familiar surroundings are gone and your surrounded by new faces. It definitely makes you feel out of place.

Text to world:This book takes about call the different emergency calls Zac goes on. This relates to the real world around us because everyday people with no real emergency call 911. The calls arew offten nothing that the fire dept. should have to bother with. Sometimes people just call to get taken to the hospital or just to get taken somewheres. They take advantage of the system.

Text to Self:When Zac is taking about peoples blood making him squeamish it reminded me of when i got hit in the head with a golf club. Seeing others peoples blood doesn't bother me, but if i see a lot of my own it makes me me feel weird. I got hit the forehead with a golf club in 2nd grade. My friend had brought it in for sports show and tell day. I was fine until i realized that i had blood running down my forehead. The instant I knew that i got all light headed and dizzy, just like Zac does in the book.

connector Week 2

i understand how johnnie feels because i was picked on for a few years of school and i know how hard it is to cope with people who dont like you. it is a struggle everyday to even have the will to get out of bed to go to school.

in a way johnnie is also misunderstood he had a rough childhood likie not knowing who his parents were or why they gave him up he reminds me of a book on Nikki Sixx he was torn apart for most of his life by not knowing who his father was so that lead him through a rough journey through life just like johnnie.

i remember hearing a story like marinas like her father abused her and her mother didnt belive her it happened to a girl in toucson except the girl in toucson didnt survive because no one belived her and she ended up taking her own life :(

Journal writer week 2

Dear Journal,
I sit in these meetings day after day, listening to my peers tell their crime and life stories. I look around to see everyone with bus cut hair and the same pants as me. Not much differnt i suppose then the life i lived outside in "the free" because in my gangs everyone wore the same colors. I am different though. I have a lettermans jacket i recieved after almost making it to states with our football . I sit here and think how messed up i have become because of the lack of mother i had as a child, or maybve it was the abuse my aunt inflicted. when we do role play i am a person i would never want to imagine again, but it is to help a peer. So i suck it up and do it,. I begin to think about the pain i have infllicted through my years, murdering, beating, and tormenting those around me.. Sadly i have wound up here, but i am hopefull to get out soon because i am in the capitol offenders group and almost all of us get off our 25 to life sentance with just a few years,, I remain gaurded but i will have to show my feelings when it is my turn. I am nervous..
Sincerely,
Me

Quote Keeper Week 1

pg 1
"For me the pole ment everything i admired about the fire department-speed, daring, an ageless tradition offered to only a select few." I think that this quote is important to the book because it expresses Zacs' feeling towards being a fireman and how difficult it is to acheive that that position.

pg 7
"Theres' no rational explanation for why im about to voluntarily throw myself into the great flaming unknown, a place my every instict tells me i should be fleeing." This quote is important because it shows just just how scarey his job actualy is and how dangerous it is.

pg 59
"Two weeks. About two weeks Timo. ... And ur cutting bread?... Hey guys! Get in here. The new kids cutting bread." This is important because it shows how weird and ritualistic firemen are.

reporter week 1

The characters of this book are, Mark who is now eighteen and when he was seventeen he murdered his girlfriend. Then there is Ronnie, his mom left him at his grandparents one night and said she would be back in the morning and that was the last time he heard of her. Then there is Tran who walked in on his uncle beating and screaming at his aunt in the kitchen and wanted to help but he couldnt because he knew he was to small. and from that night on his uncle would chain him to the kitchen table every morning while his uncle goes out.

Quote Keeper Week 1

"Fry" Pg.24
I just think that this is important in the book because in a way it shows how the boys lives has been. And it shows how they have been brought up. It also shows how society now a days doesnt care about how the launguage is and like its "slang talk."

" I felt like i was related to just about everybody in Frederick." Pg.34
I think this quote shows a lot about Marina, she felt so close to her families herritage(spanish) that she felt like everyone from her home town was family.

" Finally, I decided I must have. I blammed myself." Pg.39
I think this is very relavent to what kids do all the time in real life. Lets say the parents got a devorce a lot of kids think its their faults and they get down on themselves.

Reporter Week One

johnnie was a chinese american boy who was adopted by an american family and was incarserated for hurting his adoptive mother.he is scared and abused by peers which led to internal problems making him feel unloved.

Web Weaver. week 1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick,_Oklahoma
Ronnie tells his life story, just like the rest of the boys. Ronnie dad was from Frederick Oklahoma and his mother moved there. Ronnie grew up there. And he talks about his childhood growing up there.


http://www.ehow.com/about_4598220_effects-of-gangs.html
This website exlains the effects that gangs have on people and society. Johnnie didn't fit in school and was made fun of all the time. So when gang members acted like they were his friends he began hanging out with them and following them. The gang made Johnnie steal his grandpa's car for a drive by. The gang effected his life and influenced him to make made decsions and effected his life.

Reporter Week 1

In Working Fire Zac Unger the main character see's an ad for being a firefighter at a bus stop after some encouragement he decides to join. Shona Zac's girlfriend encourages Zac throughout his training at the training tower to stick with it and not give up. Zac's intructor at the training tower was Captain Gold and he pushed everyone thrugh by being really strict. Zac made some friends at the tower and one of them was Antoine he was a strong and smart man when it came to firefighting. In Zac's group was one of three women from the tower Mary Mills she made it up until there was week left then she was removed. Zac's mother always was nevous about Zac's adveturous decisions but she wanted him to apply for the job to be a firefighter. When Zac got a job at Station nine the senior firefighter Reggie gave Zac trouble about being the new kid. One man named Tracy came to Station nine to cover for some that left for the day and he taught Zac some more of what he knew, he also led Zac through his first fire. Alan a new person to Station nine but not to firefighting helped Zac learn to not take the abuse he takes from the guys that have been there and to not get into the troublesome routine.

Connector week 1

TEXT TO SELF - A lot of these boys have had a mother abandon them and a father mostly not in their life. I relate because we got taken away from my mom so i know what its like to feel abandonment there. But my dad stepped up so i dont have an absent father.

TEXT TO WORLD - everyday on the news you hear about juvenile offenders. In the book it talks about murders, drug dealers, rapists.. thats all reality to everyone in the world. We are faced with this in our state even our community.

TEXT TO WORLD - In the book a part talks about a boy who killed his sixteen year old girlfriend. It is like a story in the news now about a boy we all know, that used to go to Holley. Even though it wasnt his girlfriend he still murdered a young girl.