Do you need this?

Based upon this list, choose three things that are "wants" and not "needs." List them and then describe, in a paragraph, why they are not necessary:

1. Buying Hot Cheetoh's
2. Cable TV
3. Fresh meat
4. New furniture
5. Nike Shoes
6. Internet
7. Going out to the movies
8. A swimming pool
9. Donating money to a charity
10. A birthday present for your nephew
    

A Web of Issues

by Pablo

In toady's world there are many problems that the world or certain individuals are faced with. As individuals it is our duty to overcome the issues or problem that are afflicting us. If we don't confront the problems while they are small after a while they get bigger. After time if the problem is not solved it becomes almost impossible to solve. That is why it is better to confront problems as soon as they show up.

The housing crisis is a issue that a vast majority of the people in the U.S. are facing. This predicament occurred because the banks gave many loans to people who would not be able to pay them. as a result many people lost their homes. This problem was was caused by a cause and effect. A related issue to the housing crisis is the low stock of the stock market.

The low stocks have not only caused a national recession but a global recession. This recession is linked to the housing crisis in the following sense. The sense is that if one of these two things is doing bad so is the other. Which leads us to think about what was done with all the money that was given to all these major corporations. Yet we do not know what was done with that money but the government wants to continues to give them more money. Many of the major CEO's of important companies continue to give large raises to some of there employees.

Which leads to the topic of corruption. Corruption is one of the main reasons we are in this mess. As mention in the first paragraph if this problem this problem isn't solved soon it is just going to get bigger. The CEO's of these major companies should just take responsibility for their actions. If they don't do it soon thing are just going to get worse for everyone as well as for them. Major companies aren't they only areas that have become corrupt an example of this is the following. The example is former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich trying to to sell president Obamas vacant senate seat. The point I am trying to make is that corruption is everywhere.

Which leads to my conclusion that problems need to be taken care of when they are small. There are many more examples of this that apply to other issues. So it is important to take this into perspective. Even more important is to practice this. That concludes this article.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxypar4/2124673642/

Living History: Lucero

We created this video in our "Maryvale Voice" as a demonstration of how people in our community are applying concepts from social studies to life.

vandalized dreams

by Jackie

What do you think of when you see a tagged wall? Are you those kinds of people that think "In what way does it benefit those people that tag up all these walls"? Or do you always think "Poor families that have to pay the consequences for their kid'srediculous actions"? Or something like that. In my point of view, those who fill up the walls their taggings don't just mess up their dreams of being someone in their lives. They never think about the dreams of their younger siblings. When they mess up their dreams if they get caught, they mess up their siblings dreams as well as their own. Also how they ruin their future they ruin their family's future. Not only that, if they get caught the officers are going to put that in his/her record and it will stay perminantly.

When someone sees a person writing on a wall, they should do something. That doesn't only help, it makes less taggers in our country. It's not fair that other people's walls are all tagged up because someone decided to write on someone's wall, fences, and even cars these days, but they don't think that. They just do their drawings on the walls, cars and etc. They don't think that other people have to take the money out of their pocket to get rid of the writing on the walls.

Something else that I have noticed on those people who do that, is that they don't like to regret their actions. They just do it and it's done for them at that moment. Then later when they don't even imagine, they get caught. Some people's biggest mistake is to deny something that the police is sure that you did. So if i were to be one of them, I would not deny whatever I did. If I got caught, then to bad I got caught, but for them it's hard to take the consequences and easy to deny.

When you decide to to write on a car, or a wall you are putting in risk the most important things in your life. First of all your future, the most important thing in someone's life. Then your reputation. When you go out there trying to find a job, that will be in your record. Then also even if you don't notice it, you lose more things than what you gain. When it's to late you will want those real friends back and you won't be able to have them because partically you changed a real friend for those other supposable friend and for tagging.

Some main reasons why people start tagging is for their friends. Some people care more about what their friends think about them. They end up getting into that and other stuff so that their friends don't call them a scarycat or what they call each other pussies. Most of them say "NO I won't get caught" but when they say that they don't realize that they can get caught. Sometimes they don't get caught, those who say that they are their friends snitch on them too. Those who you call friends today will someday be a backstaber, but those who really care about you, get ignored by you because you, instead of thanking that person, you ignore that person and when you realize that that was the real friend, it will be to late or that person won't want to talk to you no more.

Tagging doesn't only destroy walls, it also destroys families. I say that because when a person in your family is a tagger, then your behavior is different and you don't listen and the family gets tired and they can't deal with you no more. So they send you to another place so you can learn to behave. Either you ever want to talk to your parents ever again or not they will still send you. Not because they don't love you no more, because that is why they want to send you, because they love you. If they wouldn't care about you or love you they would let you get caught and then that is when you will regret it.

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/merrickb/82281756/

Peace

the issue in our neighborhoods

This home in Las Vegas is similar to the scene in Maryvale

by Eva

When I walk around some of the neighborhoods, they feel empty.  Foreclosure signs litter the streets.  Within the walls of some of the homes, children hope for a next meal.  Parents lie to their children, saying, "It will get better," but they don't know.  The reality is that the economy is hitting them hard.  With the immigration raids and then the collapse of the construction industry, families in our neighborhoods are struggling to make it. 

Many people have lost their jobs during these last few years. People have begun to struggle with money because of the loss of jobs. No money to pay their debts or their necessities means they struggle more. Jobs began to fade away and citizens are desperate to become employed. When citizens are desperate, immigrants are even more so. They simply want to support their family or children. A lot of families are going through difficult times because of the loss of jobs.

For all the immigrants life becomes more complicated each day With the difficulty of not having stable jobs and failing to have a good income, they struggle to raise a family. What start out as a goal for a better life is now just a goal to maintain life. Sometimes they have to eat the same food for days. No money means no groceries and that means no food. They lose their homes and cars because they cannot afford the next payment. Losing jobs is a big issue in the real world. Immigrants really have a harder time with this situation, because the laws have made it so hard for them to work.

Photo Credit 

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadrzy/3406206433/

Moco Loco: Two Campaign Commercials

From the Archives:

We created this awhile ago to show how political propaganda works.  We're finally posting it here. 

the change

by Andy

Two guys call an apartment complex. The first man wanted to rent, but he was Mexican. The company could tell by his "weird" English and by his accent. Another man calls with good English. Which guy gets the apartment? In many cases, it's the second man. There are many groups in our society that do not have equal rights. There are also a lot of people who are racist and who fail to accept those who are different.

Some people don't accept others because of there race. They hate people because they are different skin colors and they have a different culture. They don't let them in their stores or even their states or countries. It depends on how much they hate them. In the old days they use to beat up or even kill the people that they hate. Nowadays, people still get beat up and sometimes killed, but it's less violent. Most of the time, it's things like not getting jobs, not being talked to and being treated differently.

Some of the people who get mistreated are Hispanics or Latinos. They're not even let in our state without papers, even though this land used to belong to them. The government doesn't let them in because they say that Hispanics brought violence into this state. The reality is that many Latinos work in farms and do different jobs to get a better life. You need to have papers to come here and if you don't you are judged. Why do you need a dumb papers that say your name?

African American have also been mistreated for the past years. In our nation's beginning, blacks were slaves and died for their freedom. The stereotyping began there and continued over the years. Some Americans think that Hispanics and African American are just criminals, but they're not. African-Americans aren't the only ones committing crimes.

Many people have tried to change the racism in our world. For example Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. They were both good people, that had great ideas. We even have Martin Luther King Jr. Day too. Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta both tried to get equal rights for Latinos. These people were somewhat successful, but still people are racist.

What if there is a cure for racism? A cure that will change peoples way of feeling or thinking. There won't be racist people any more, and people won't be mistreated badly, like they are nowadays. I believe that Barack Obama will make huge changes in the United States, by showing racist people that an African American is as equal as any other race.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23327394@N05/3160242401/

Debt

A video about debt

Q&A on College

The following is a "wiki style" Question and Answer about college. Students researched the questions and found the answers and then we added a bunch of them together. This will change throughout the process as students add and modify it.

How much does it cost to go to college?
The price figures range from $7,000 a year to $14,000 a year depending on the university we looked up. However, if you get a scholarship it’s not that much.

Do we have to have roommates?
If you live on campus, most places require a roommate?

Can you choose your roommate?
This was hard for us to find. It sounds like you can request one at ASU, but there is no guarantee that you’ll get to choose them all.

Is it illegal to party in college?
It’s not illegal to get together with friends, but it is illegal to drink alcohol underage.

What’s the difference between college and community college?
Community college is open to anyone and doesn’t have bachelor’s degrees.

How long does it take to go to college?
It usually takes four years, but associates degrees are two years. Sometiimes people take longer.

How many classes do you take?
It depends on what you are studying. Most full-time students take at least four classes (12 credits)

How many students are in a class?
Some classes are as small as one (music tutoring) and some have more than one hundred.

Are classes everyday?
Some classes are available on certain days and others on other days. So it’s possible to go to school on just Monday/Wednesday or just Tuesday/Thursday.

Can friends that are not attending visit?
Yes, unless it’s a private college.

Why weren’t there more Hispanics?
This is beginning to change. More and more Latinos are getting degrees, which means things will be better for the next generation.

Will it be harder?
Yes, because you will have more work to do outside of class. But they treat you like adults and you have freedom.

Can you work a job?
They don’t recommend it for students who are a little behind. They are worried it might affect your grades.

How many majors are there?
There are fourteen choices at ASU and it varies in other colleges.

How do you get scholarships?
You earn one by having a high GPA, scoring well on the ACT or SAT, doing community service, being in clubs or sports and making sure you find out about what’s available. If your parents make less money, you have a better chance.

Are night classes available?
Most universities have night classes.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photos_by_chrystal/2809604871/

Is world peace possible?

by Jose

Is world peace possible? Can everyone get along in the world? Is there anything that can prevent world peace? If world peace was possible would it last forever or would it be a momentary bliss before more war? Peace activists, hippies and idealists around the world have asked these questions.  However, world peace is impossible. 

People all around the world have to have at least one enemy that they truly hate. One area includes racism. Some people think that they aren't racist to any kind. That's a lie, because everyone is racist in some sort of way. You might not think your racist but you really are. Racism is the main reason people hate each other. In subtle moments you do things like locking doors when a race comes along or blaming them for taking a job or resorting to a stereotype.  Out of the racism and bias you can eventually justify a war.

The word friendship is a very strong word. People might not think it's a strong word but it is more powerful than making "friends" on Myspace. If there was friendship all around the world, countries would not have to waste money for war weapons. There would be no reason for world wars to happen. People all around would be hand to hand a never ending chain. If only people thought of that. It's a great idea.  However, friendships end and no one has the capacity to make friends with billions of people.  Even if whole nations were friends, wouldn't that just be an alliance?  Isn't that what caused world wars?  

One hope people point to is children. Some kids around the world aren't hateful or violent or racist but their parents might be. The parents would be telling bad things about the people they hate until they to hate the same people their parents do. Hatred is the main reason that world peace is impossible. What's so hard is that so much of the hatred is disguised as justice or doing what's right.  Sometimes we fight wars because we think it's for another nation's own good.

World peace might be possible because of the for a few reasons. First of all I doubt that anyone likes being involved in a war. If we just let people be then we might be able to obtain peace. We can also try not be nosy and not get involved in other peoples problems. We can also try to get along with other but we don't have to like them. All of those ideas work in theory, but it seems there is some drive connected to power that compels us to start war.  So, though it might be "possible" it is highly improbable.

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yardsale/76188544/

Day Four: College Barriers and Solutions

Lizbeth's Group

1. Transportation 
 a. Live on Campus with a scholarship
 b. Ride a bike or travel by bus , even by taxi
 c. Afford a car
2. Low Income
 a. apply for a scholarship
 b. financial Aid
 c. Start saving up money for a Collage fund
3. Parents
 a. Live your own Dream
 b. Convince them that Collage is the right thing for you
 c. Show that you can be independent, so you  can be trusted
4. Criminal Records
 a. Try to avoid temptation
 b. Learn from your mistakes, try to improve yourself
 c. Get any help needed
5. Not Qualified
 a. Get good grades
 b. Be nice to all your teachers, to earn a recommendation from them
 c. Get involved in as many clubs, sports, and even do some community service

Fahrenheit 451 Questions

We just finished reading a scene where a woman stayed with her books as they ignited her house. Was this woman crazy for dying for her books?

Is there any idea or belief that you would be willing to die for?

Pollution

Day Three: College Barriers and Solutions

College can feel intimidating

Angela's Group

1.Money
-They can apply for scholarships{Good grades, community service,and
participation}
-They can get a job
-They can get student loans

2.Not focusing
-They can find people that will keep them on track
-They can think of what means more in the long run, Parties or Education
-Concentrate more and try finding study buddies

3.Falling Behind
-Talk to your professors to ensure you are on track
-Complete all of your work on time so that you don't have to play the
catchup game
-Study for every test to make sure you are preprepared and you
pass{Tests are a major percentage of final grades}

4.Qualifying
-Make sure you have all of the credits required
-Make sure you don't fail any classes and if you do make up for them
as fast as possible
-Keep your record clean both with the law and with school

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaspi/7971252/

Adoption

by Andrea

Do they ever think about how it all happened? Why they're there? Do they ever worry about feeling different or out of place?  Or is it normal since that's the way it's always been? Getting adopted and being put up for adoption is something that can be very hard for kids. Anybody can be or get adopted, but that doesn't mean that the issue is easy. They can be adopted from anywhere.Why though? Why do they put them up for adoption? Is adoption the best alternative? It's a sometimes controversial, always personal, decision people make.

There are many different types of adoption out there.There is international adoption, public adoption, private agencies adoption and independent adoption.Each adoption method is different.When you want to adopt from another country then you'd do the international adoption.If you want to do everything on your own you can do independent adoption.There are many different ways you can adopt though. 

About one million children have been adopted or put up for adoption in the year 2008. Now we have started a new year. Will there be more? Will the number be increase? Is it like a solution for a problem? Does a higher adoption rate mean more stable families?  Does it mean lives are being saved because people choose it over abortion?

Is adoption like a solution to a problem? At this time there are young girls who get pregnant. For the girls who decide not to keep their baby they have two alternatives, either abortion or adoption. The reason they choose adoption over abortion could be that they believe abortion isn't right. They feel life within them and they can't imagine getting rid of it. Either way adoption is something many people consider especially young teenagers. They might realize that they are not in a place 

Just like being put up for adoption its something very hard for anyone. Adopting is something you have to think about. Some children who were adopted describe feeling lonely or different.  Some parents who give a child up for adoption describe a sense of guilt.  However, there can be many reasons behind why adopting or putting up for adoption.You really have to think hard. Adopting or being put up for adoption is not an easy thing to decide.You've got to choose the right thing to do,and if adoption is one of them,then so be it.

Photo Credit

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/289152748/

Day Two: College Barriers and Solutions

1. Students drop out of high school

• If it's already happened, you can get a G.E.D
• If it's not working out, you can look for a school that will accept you
• Find out about your credits and how to earn them through summer school

2.College is too expensive

• Do community service and get a scholarship
• Get good grades to get a scholarship
• Apply for a student loan

3.Students earn bad grades

• Go to summer school
• Take extra classes
• Extra credit work
• Ask for tutoring help
• Start at a lower class and move into a better one

4.A lack of transportation

• Learn the light rail
• Get a room at school (dorms)
• Ask for a ride or carpool with someone else nearby

5.Don't want to go to college

• Go to a college that fits what you want to do
• Start with community college if a university seems to big
• Find a degree that seems fun 
• Stick with it even if it's hard or if it's not as exciting as you hoped

Podcast: College Barriers and Solutions

Two students discuss their thoughts on the barriers people face in going to college. It's a quick dialogue, where they both offer their ideas on potential solutions to match the barriers.

You can download it at:

http://www.archive.org/details/CollegeBarrierAndSolution

Or listen below:

Photo Credit:
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/2429429397/

College Solutions: Day One

This is the first in our series on College Barriers and Solutions.  Groups created these last week and we're posting them this week.

Donovan's Group

Barrier #1: Students don't money for college.

-They can get summer jobs

-They can have car washes or do fundraisers
-They can earn scholarships by having good grades, community service and school involvement

Barrier #2: Students have a low GPA
-Start to pay attention in class
-Finish all of our homework before moving onto fun activities
-Ask for help in maintaining study habits

Barrier #3: Students are concerned about getting accepted
-Be in your top 25% of your class (see above)
-Get a high GPA 
-Earn scholarships

Barrier #4: Students are in need of scholarships
- Get really involved sports, even if you are not the best.  Do summer camps and improve.
- Take academics seriously
- Learn the art of financial planning

Barrier #5: Students fail to meet with their counselors
- Be assertive and talk to your high school counselors
- Make them remember you by being visible and by asking intelligent questions
- Stick out to them in all four years and be honest about needing help

The Solution to Poverty

by Angel

Do you know that 65% of country's populations are in poverty. Some are so poor that they don't have food to feed there own family. In many of these cases, kids die of hunger. Sometimes they don't eat for days weeks and then they die a slow painful death. It's crazy to think that the poverty of an underdeveloped country can exist within the walls of America.

I think that we should all grow food so we can send it to them and have some for us because we have that same problem here in the United States. Some people don't have food because they have to pay all the bills so they live check to check and they never buy anything cool for them self's they just buy stuff they need. Some of them can't afford to live healthy lives because they are in a survival mode. What if we were that change? What if we grew the food and donated the supplies? What if we pitched in some money? What if it began with the students and the children and trickled up to parents?

We all have to work together so we can get past this because we all live in this big rock we call earth and we should all try to help each other. I know the economy is bad. I know people have lost valuable money. However, we should get over losing money but can we ever get past the fact that we would rather feed ourselves and are families then another person that you don't even know? We all need to find that spot in are heart that tells us to do the right thing.

But do the rich people want to waste their money over something that they have never seen or cared about? When I say rich, I include us, all of us, who have more food than we need. Why should they care? It's not like they will ever have to go through that right? But what if in a couple of years they lose all there money and then they don't have money for anything (not even to feed their kids). True, that might not happen but imagine it does. Wouldn't you want people to help them out?

All have to do something to help out the people because we are all human we all go through the same pain; some more than others; but we have all felt it. We all know how it feels to miss a meal or to go without for a short time. Can we extend our imagination to get beyond a meal and think of that as a childhood? So why don't we help out people that are feeling that pain and suffering right now? Why haven't we done anything?

We should all grow food so we can send to people that need it. Schools should mobilize supply drives and car washes and whatever it takes to get rid of the worst parts of poverty. I believe that we can do this if we wanted to.We can all do anything we want as long as we all put our minds to it.. But we all have to want to help because we need everyone to get past this ugly side of poverty.

More things that we can do to help out:
1) Don't waste food - In fact, buy extra non-perishables and for every meal you eat, donate a can to a shelter or a food bank.
2) Try to grow your own food. It will help the environment and our society. What if we had urban gardens that would feed the urban population while getting rid of our brown cloud?
3) Try to give money to the people that don't have that many money. We could get creative with low-interest microloans.
4) Try to help out them most that you can. You might not be able to change the world, but you can help a family get by.

We all have to help out if we all want to live happy in our planet. I realize that it might take a long time for that to happen but it won't hurt to start right now.We can all just help out a little and together make a huge impact. We can all have food for are families but we have to work together the rich, the middle class and the poor on solutions to end hunger and poverty. So what are we going to do? We're going to work together so we can end all the poverty in the world. Our generation is not going to do it all in 1-3 years. It may take 4,5 even up to 6 years but we can do it and it will be worth it to see that no person in the world is dieing of hunger.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15100608@N03/2499736641/