I never really have been into halloween or participated much ever. I spent halloween at a small party and it was basically just hanging out with my friends like I usually do on the weekends. Halloween is not really worth celebrating. It has no biblical significance like Easter or Christmas and doesn't have significance to our culture like the 4th of July.

Gangs

The main controversy is how to prevent gangs and what to do about them now.  It is hard to come up with programs that give the support that kids need.  Mostly, people are trying to give kids a place to go and things to do after school and at night when most crimes occur.  These programs help a little bit but people need to get to the source of the problem.  By cutting off a gangs main income it will not be able to operate near as well.  If politicians, law enforcement and citizens can work together we can significantly slow down the drug trade.  It is not near as easy as it sounds.  

Politicians say that they have plans to stop the drug trade but they never really work for two reasons.  Police officers don't want to risk their lives going into a dangerous neighborhood to bust a few gangsters.  A solution is a special gang task force which many cities already have.  Locating who is selling drugs and where they are getting them from is another problem.  Boarder control is another issue.  It is very difficult to patrol thousands of miles of land and coast line where most drugs come across.  Boarder patrols help but will never be able to completely illiminate drugs coming in.  

Most people would agree that they do not like gang activity in their neighborhoods yet lots of people buy drugs.  They are directly supporting gangs by doing so and bringing more gang activity to a profitable area.  If people stop buying drugs, gangs have no money and die off.  This however can never happen because we live in a broken world.  Some one will always be willing to buy.  Lots of people don't believe that doing drugs is bad because they say it doesn't effect other people but supporting gangs effects a ton of people.

I learned a lot from Mrs. Micikas' story.  I have some cousins that are extremely sheltered kind of like she was.  I completely disagree with sheltering kids from culture.  One of my cousins was home schooled his whole life and when he graduated and moved away he started getting into a lot of trouble.  He totaled a car street racing, got a tattoo, started drinking underage, started smoking, and got arrested.  He just rebeled against everything his parents stood for because he had never been exposed to the real world and seen what it had to offer.

The Play

The play was really hard to follow in the first half. I didn't understand what was going on with all of the paper work and the money. There were also too many characters right away and I was trying to figure out who was who instead of listening the whole time. The second half was a lot easier to follow but I didn't really like the story. The tour was alright but I couldn't hear what Roger was saying for about 90% of it. I don't believe that anyone could have heard him in that big theatre. I liked seeing the building where they built the sets and props. It was the best part.

I really enjoy the week of homecoming because of all of the activities. The teachers don't give as much homework and I like that. I am pretty excited for the volleyball game and the bonfire. Homecoming is valuable tradition that people remember for a long time and provides a little bit of a break from the monotony of every day. Homecoming creates a good culture but some people make it into something else. I see it as sort of a relaxing and fun week.

The first movie that I thought of was Fight Club.  It portrays multiple world views throughout the movie.  It starts out with a man who lives in the culture created for him.  He buys everything for his apartment that he wants and is kind of a chick.  When he meets Brad Pitt, everything changes.  He completely changes his lifestyle and the way he sees the world.  He lives in an old run down house that always floods.  They make and sell soap made from human fat that they steal from liposuction dumpsters.  Together they form a fight club that lets men do what they want to.  The point is that the world has become so femanized that men are expected to act like it.  I agree that the world is being femanized but the movie takes it to the extreme to get the point across. 

I see tons of evidence of gang activity everyday. When I was at Cherry Creek some people claimed to be members of either the Bloods or the Crips and would fight afterschool. Some would wear their colors to school as well. It isn't always gangsters though. Lots of times, it is posers or just people who like the clothing style. I also see lots of graffiti that is gang related. Crowns, C's, B's and other signs show up a lot. Where and what do you see on a day to day basis?

Most people feel that all gang activity is bad. That is not the case at all. In some neighborhoods gangs are the source of protection. They keep the peace within their area so that they can continue selling drugs. They do not want the police coming around either so they settle matters themselves and keep the residents under control. What evidence do you see of gang activity in your neighborhood?

Heart of Champion

Nelly

This song is about giving all you got no matter what.  Its a good pump up song and I listen to it before basketball games.  The only thing that I think is a little bad is it sounds cocky and full of yourself.