Why must we fix our prisons

So far the United States has the largest incarceration rate of the world. Jim Webb the author of this article focuses on the views from Japanese prisons to prisons of our own. It is severely different with an almost five times the world average incarcerated. Although they are prisoners the United States has to look at making shorter sentences or none at all.

The United States is not only overpopulated but it's over incarcerated, and needs to be fixed. With the percentage of the population rising year by year the incarceration population is only going to get larger. The only thing to do is change sentencing and laws to keep U.S. citizens a little bit more on the rather aware side of what always could happen.

This article should be taken seriously; at a stand point my father works at a prison. Lebanon Corrections Institution has an over population. The prisoners out populated the correction officers 5 to 1. This is bad and scary, not only is their more prisoners than correction officers threes a serious threat of them being able to control the prison. Overpopulation does need to stop and needs to be fixed. We need to take action now before it’s to late.

Peoples Temple, Why it is considered a cult.

The Peoples Temple was started by a man named Jim Jones, all in a common purpose; making the world a better place. The peoples temple main stream church started in Indianapolis, Indiana. This church was against the norms of the time, all colors accepted. No matter what your color is the church would take you. The churches choir was even integrated, to help everyone feel loved. This was a short lived place for soon the peoples temples were criticized for the integration congregation.

Now the majority of the church moves to Ukiah were their not only in a small town they are safe from any nuclear holocaust attacks. Most of the work in Ukiah is done by the congregation, food, water, work. You are not allowed to take too many leisure activities. Each person is also allowed a certain amount of money, $1 to $2 dollars. This is when bus trips start, this is when the congregation gets on 3-4 busses and travels around preaching their ways. As they gather more members they move to San Francisco.

Now the with the congregation in full bloom people start to notice Jim Jones. They also notice what Jim Jones is doing, and how he did it. He was bringing people in and punishing them for talking bad about the church. This is also when he “test” his followers by giving them kool aid. He told them all it was poison and the congregation when nuts. After the fact smaller and larger events came to view when former members went to the press concerned for family still in the congregation. This is when the congregation fled into the now known “Jonestown.”

Gianna is the actual location of Jonestown; this is where the whole congregation soon ends up. After leaving society behind Jim Jones makes sure none of them go back; by telling them America is evil we are the only good left in the world. After this the Congressman Ryan comes to inspect allocations that concerned family members have made. Soon after this Congressman Ryan is killed on the tarmac his plane was sitting on. Then as Jim Jones states revolutionary suicide is committed. Stating the end for the Peoples Temple.
Now listing the actual reasons

1. Socially separating from society (involving integration)
2. Geographically separating , Multiple movements
3. Geographically moving multiple times, Ukai, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Gianna
4. All movements and social functions regulated by Jim Jones
5. U.S. society claimed as loud and corrupt
6. Jim Jones claimed as divine power, friend, brother, father, god
7. Couldn’t talk bad about Peoples Temple
8. Couldn’t ever talk about leaving
9. Had a belief to change world through Social Protest
10. Became almost like a Gestapo, Family v. Family
11. Give up everything for the church
12. Left Indianapolis due to racial resists
13. Left San Francisco due to bad publicity
14. Made to felt guilty if you take to many luxuries
15. Mass Suicide to prove point, (revolutionary suicide)

All I have to say…was it worth it?

Is America Becoming Non-Religion Bound?

    The percentage of Americans who have a religion in the United States now is 76%; 18 years ago it was 86%. Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. have shown religion has dropped among Christians. 1 out of 5 U.S. adults chose not to identify themselves as religious. 

No religion is on the rise and also has shown citizens have been making Denominational drops. This would be going from one end of Christianity to another. Age and gender differences has also been proven to show a certain drop from female to male and old to young. Overall, this is showing how Americans are losing any thought into having a religion.

Is this because Americans are lazy? Is this because Americans don't have time? Americans I believe haven't been brought up like their parents. The older generations don't have trouble in deciding if their religious or not. They also don't have to identify and chose whether or not work or play is more important then church. Is religion soon going to end? I won't be giving it up anytime soon.

Dalai Lama Enraged?

The Dalai Lama held a speech in a small two street town about how the Chinese government has oppressed the Tibetan Buddhist so bad it has been, "hell on earth." The Dalai Lama goes on stating "These 50 years have brought untold suffering to the land and people of Tibet."

 

Peaceful riots have been held across the Buddhists parts of the world, or where there our Buddhists. Nepal, Seoul, South Korea, New York, London, Berlin,Vienna, Bern, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Canberra, the capital of Australia. The Dalai Lama prepares for the worst, as Chinese police increases in force and security checks are on the rise. 

This is crazy, why not just leave the Tibetan Buddhists alone? What are they really going to do, start a nuclear program and begin a nuclear holocaust. The answer is no they won't; their Buddhists, they are peaceful people. The only reason riots have started is due to the fact that their being oppressed. Leave the Tibetan Buddhists alone and let them live in peace.

North Korea plays with matches

Associated press writer Kwang-Tae Kim wrote an article titled NKorea, UN command hold talks amid tensions. The UN forced South Korea to open talks after North Korea threatened passenger flights near its airspace. North Korea denying it stating it was only a drill for an invasion. Also, later stating that it cannot be told that exercises are illiegal beinging ready at all times for a full blown invansion. Washington still trying to get North Korea to finish the talks still doesn't hold any ground.

This is ridiculous, North Korea knew what they were doing and we should have acted on it. North Korea is the boy who gets away with everything and needs to be severely scolded. North Korea needs to stop with all threats.

Current Event

Mullen: Iran has fissile materials for bomb was a title wrote by Steven R. Hurst. This article talks about the watchdog for Iran reporting that Iran when asked answered they have materials for a nuclear warhead. Although this has been known for awhile the attention has only been heighten in the past few weeks due to the proof. The U.N. had to report that the problem has been true Iran has materials for a nuclear program, and still plan on continuing. Warning at the end of the article about soldiers and civilians not being able to protect themselves from a nuclear attack.

This is stupid, go in and take the nuclear materials and slap the government with a fine for it. If no one wants it than stop it!

Sounds like sibling rivalry

In the Dayton daily news there was a story on Israel’s elections for parliament. This article was written by an associated press writer Mark Lavie. Even after the government takes votes from soldiers and prisoners, the votes still lean toward Kadima. But with each party with its own agenda and wanting the votes to favor themselves, it’s getting nowhere. Now with the current president getting upset with the issues and the parliament still disagrees with all; no progress will be made. The silence will not be broken until something is done. Investigations are still ongoing but still most of them fail miserably.

I don't understand why each will not try to come to a comprimise. It will still be an on going fight over each single issue.

Bombs in hiding?

US: Bombers arrested in lead up to election, by Chelsea J. Carter was an article I read while on the Dayton Daily News website. During a weapons check in Iraq a few explosive devices were found and confiscated. Although arrests were made it was not released on how many were arrested and obtained. As this was looked on as a success due to no injuries or deaths. Even though the troops are supposed to pull out by 2012, they still continue their jobs well.

I am glad the troops are still deciding to fulfill their mission even with the lack of support back home.

Rocket Attacks

I was reading Dayton Daily News when I came upon an article titled Medium-range rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city by Aron Heller. The rocket was the first of its kind since the cease fire with Israeli and Gaza. The Grad rocket that was fired is well known to be a little more powerful, due to it’s homemade with a lot more punch.(larger payload) Negotiations have been ruled out by the Israeli leader due to the ongoing rocket and mortar fire. Israeli’s foreign minister said that to fight terrorist activity it must be dealt with by lots of force. Now with the threat from a two front war with Gaza and Lebanon is becoming apparent with Israeli, trying to spark cease fires and get negotiations going again. And Isreali faces retaliations if it attacks Lebanon.

Israeli just seems to have bit off more than it could chew to me, or is just trying to defend itself. If it really didn’t want the war try more on negotiations and get out of a war before it’s to late.

Does India have the fountain of life?

An article titled World's highest drug levels entering India stream, tells about a extremely under estimated amount of chemicals in the water. Margie Mason the author of this article goes into detail about the epidemic. Turns out that Americans also have detectable chemicals from known medicines in their water to. The only difference from India and the United States is that India’s level of chemicals is 150 times higher. Factories in India continue to dump over hundreds of pounds of chemicals into the water supply. Klaus Kuemmerer at the University of Freiburg Medical Center in Germany, said all you basically have to do is drink or take a bath in the water and be cured from almost any sickness, the only problem being how long. Now researchers are discovering that growth problems can be caused by these pharmaceutical drugs being flushed into the river. This stream so far will continue to be a river of disaster.

America I think has done a deceit job at protecting us, but India just hasn’t for their own. I mean yes that is a problem for them, but if we don’t help it could leak into the worlds water supply. Thus we need to help clean up the mess and help them somewhat dilute it, to save not only India and its people but the world.

Nickel and Dimed Cont.

Continuing my review of Nickel and Dimed I was asked to write a review on chapter two. This chapter starts out in Maine where Barbara finds herself “as clueless and alone as I have ever been in my grown-up life.” She starts out here time in Maine with $1,000, and few bills. Barbara also finds a hotel for an alarming rate of $59 a night. This gives here a scenic view of route 25, and a bed, TV, and phone. This location is now closer to a gas station, store, and restaurants. She decides though to go about 30 minutes away to a town called Old Orchard Beach. This is where she has decided to share an apartment for $65 a week.

When she arrives the place is “disturbing,” she can’t even go to the kitchen until the guy sleeping in there is gone. Otherwise there is no cooking in the kitchen. Her room only a bit smaller than the motels, having two twin beds and light in the ceiling, no windows. Next looking down the road at a nicer looking hotel ran by a retired cop. The place is nice but at $150 a week it’s too expensive. On the main street through the town she also finds a place where she finds to be not of her liking. $110 is the asking price but it offers nothing that she wants, linens, TV, or dishware. On her way back to Portland she spots a cute little cottage area of a hotel. $120 is the asking price a week and only asks for a $100 security deposit, which she produces at the spot.

Returning at the hotel to gather her things, she notices her key doesn’t work. Stating that’s managements way of telling her to pay the bills. Looking for a job was next on her agenda. First is a job at Goodwill which is $7 an hour, but it’s an awkward job. A man at the exit gave her an awkward swimming motion which was not easy to judge. Taking a test at Wal-Mart she is told she would be great in the women’s department, agreeing with the comment. Two job offers come in that afternoon, one about a nursing home only for weekends ($7 an hour) and a maid job ($6.65 an hour) both are accepted.

Starting the next day at the nursing home, she is met with the same requirements as a server. She refills coffee and tires to remember names. As all of them eat and return to their rooms, the clean up starts. Scraping off uneaten food into the disposal by hand. Then washing the dishes, and putting them away. Pete one of the cooks is met after all this on a smoke date. This is where Pete tells her about all the people that work there, and asks a few questions himself. The next day trying to be positive she laughs at the Barbara Bush joke, but gets juice thrown at her in the end by another resident.

Going to basically a church service she stands an actually goes along with the sermon. Even though she didn’t have her own bible and only did what the preacher said. After that night she packs up and moves into Blue Haven.

After the week she starts holly a fellow worker snaps and breaks a bone. Barbara then tells her she needs to get an X-ray. Blandly saying I can’t, I can’t. Here job also takes here to the bathroom, nasty jobs. This is the part I will skip due to explicit details. It is disgusting what people in minimum wage jobs have to stoop to get by.

Nickel and Dimed

My sociology class was asked to start reading Nickel and Dimed by: Barbara Ehrenreich. This book so far has shown the views on how hard it is to live on minimum wage. Barbara actually ends up in a conversation about poverty, ultimately asked to do her own story. Barbara starts out with $1,300 to allow herself the essentials. Barbara also sets certain rules for herself; making the experiment more realistic. There are three main rules; 1st rule, not using any prior education. 2nd has to take the highest paying job, and 3rd take the cheapest, but safe accommodations.(4) But, Barbara also has certain advantages that an actual person on minimum wage wouldn’t have. Barbara had a car she uses, along with a credit card. She also has no kids, to be a financial drag; even fresh clean clothes. But Barbara set out to see if a person could actually live on minimum wage, and is it possible to get by in the work force. Her main objective through this whole thing was to see if she could survive a month in a new city, but be able to pay months rent at the end. During this experiment she finally gets a job at hearthside, where she was employed as a waitress. Most often she would pretend she was a princess to change her mind set; due to the lack of change in her job. (19) She also meets a lady named Gail, who is also a waitress in who looks in her fifties. (20) The become on the job friends watching out for each other. While Gail was taking an illegal smoke break, Barbara would watch out for her. Due to the fact when Barbara got busy and slowed her progress Gail would come in and help. Both of them had to suffer through the management, whom was cruel and unusual. Barbara would go out of her way every other night when she wasn’t busy to clean up tables so they look nice. But, every team meeting the management would say how awful everything look, stating that the tables needed to be cleaned up. Then, she also meets Joan a militant feminist; telling Barbara “men run everything-we don’t have a chance unless we stick together.” Her first day walking through the kitchen she meets Billy who throws a steak against the wall saying a couple curse words. Claude another Haitian cook is stuck in an apartment with two more unrelated people but, he’s forced to stay in the situation if he wants a home. (25) Then Barbara gets a job at Jerry’s, another restaurant. George another cook she meets is a nice guy trying to afford the essentials just like the cook from Hearthside. But when at Jerry’s Barbara gets a new home a mobile home. With no supermarket in sight and not being able to jump out of bed. This was a new time and place for her now. I couldn’t do all of this, the job the livening arrangements, on job relationships. This book and the insights so far are amazing at what people have to do to secure a steady life but it’s still not that easy. As, I read the book more I hope to see more and more. It might even be the same thing due to everyone with the same wage would have the same problems.

Merchants Of Cool Video Questions

1. What is "cool-hunting" and how is it done? What theories and methods of media research are the "cool-hunters" using?

    Cool-hunting is a hunt for a specific personality, and style in the teen culture. The cool-hunters are using interviews, surveys, focus groups, and case studies. All are used with hired help. The hired help mostly being a random sample of teen population.

  2. According to the commentators in the video, why do television, music, and fashion corporations want to understand how teenagers think and what they want?

Television, music, and fashion want to understand teenagers for the soul purpose of getting the teenager to buy their product. Teenager have $100 billion dollars of what is called disposable income. They even get another $50 billion of what is called guilt money from parents. Giving the corporations billions if they can understand the average teenager.

         3. How do MTV executives and other programming and marketing decision-makers characterize their relationship to teen culture? Do they say they are creating it or simply reflecting it?

Look Look is a company many executives and programming get their cool from. They claim to have a close relationship between teens, saying they understand us...; but all they want is to sell their product. They claim they only reflect it but, it's not true. They put it out there in the first place giving us access but, only for us to reflect certain things back showing them what we think is cool.

4. What is the difference between marketing research and human research, according to the commentators in the video? What are the goals of each?

Marketing research is simply what to sell, figuring out how and what and why to sell a particular product. Human research is what the human uses or likes to use, giving specific information to researchers. Marketing researching goals are to find and eliminate specific products and to find what product that specific sub-culture likes. Human research is to find out what and how much the human likes, and how to present the product.

5. Who is giving the most accurate description of the relationship between teen culture and commercialization, the "merchants of cool" or their critics? What role are these institutions playing in the socialization process? Argue for one of these two positions using specific points and examples from the video.

Pretty much it's a little of both. The "merchants of cool" are watching and waiting for the next cool; the critics watch them and then find when and why it's cool. The institutions are suppling the cool, it's what they put out there for us to find and then wait for us to reflect what we like and don't. So, in a way they are creating the description and suppling the fuel to burn the fire. 3,000 advertisements are see daily by many teens. 75 % of teens own a T.V. and 1/3 own a personal computer. The fuel that the companies are suppling is astronomical. Commercials use athletes to promote sprite, this makes kids want to drink sprite. If you think about this it's ridiculous all these companies preying on children for their own benefit. Companies are going a little to far.

Presidential Racism Review

In my sociology class I was recently asked to find three articles dealing with the issue of race, then to review and analyze them.

Who’s playing the Race Card?

By: Charles Krauthammer

Krauthammer writes: Barrack Obama has played the race card against McCain many times, threatening to say he’s done it too much. In fact McCain hasn’t really played any race cards. Obama is falsely accusing McCain that he’s a racist, even on one occasion Obama was told he was going to be insulted by Bush and McCain; saying Obama doesn’t look like any president on the dollar bills; even Obama has a funny name. In fact, Obama’s campaign has been asked many times to give proof or incident were McCain has done such a thing…Obama’s campaign couldn’t give any. I think this is very unfair to throw up a race card to McCain, don’t make it about race. If you want a fair and honest run for the presidency, stop being childish about it and just be an adult and run for it.
Active Link to the Article

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/finding_racism_where_it_doesnt.html


Does Race Really Matter?

By: Michael A. Cohen

Cohen’s writes: Barrack Obama seemed to be ahead in poll standing and in the average Americans eyes. But, recently that doesn’t seem to be the case, Democrats and Republicans alike are starting to realize white Americans really aren’t ready to vote a black president into office. A current poll says “56 percent of Democrats believe that many people will not vote for Mr. Obama because he is black.” This could also be a positive; due to Americans being “closet racist”; and voting would show their own racism. Also, the Black turnout rate became higher due to the fact Obama is black. But, Obama is also a Democrat, and most working class Americans vote Republican. This is my opinion: Honestly, race shouldn’t matter will it yes! Most Americans aren’t subject or like change, so when Obama became the Democratic nominee heads turned. Obama has some great ideas, but can the American public get beyond his race and see that.

Active Link to the Article

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/does-race-really-matter/?ref=opinion

Obama’s Race May Be as much a Plus as a Minus

By: Frank Newport

Obama’s votes are going to have a total loss of about 6% due to his race. But, McCain is going to have a loss of votes at the same percentage, but maybe not the same reason. 85% of voters say they don’t care about Obama’s race and will vote accordingly. McCain has people saying basically the same thing. With no whites there is a net difference of about 11 percentage points. Which if the corresponding information above this graph shows. McCain being slightly different with the white votes to non white votes from Obama. Pretty much what I’m trying to summarize and show you is that even though it’s a black against a white, race only has a small impact on votes. It’s mostly on how you run and the party you are running for. This is an important election, one of the most important in history...a black presidential nominee vs. a white nominee. But, the way we should see as is, a Democrat vs. a Republican not the other way around. I know I state about a graph in the article, well I had some technical difficulties...but you can see the graphs using the active link at the bottom.


Active Link to the Article

http://www.gallup.com/poll/111049/Obamas-Race-May-Much-Plus-Minus.aspx

Whose Qualified To Be Commander And Chief

Policies are a guideline that leaders set for themselves and others. Deciding who has the better policy is important. John McCain basis his views differently than Obama, and visa versa. McCain’s view on education is as followed. He wants to shake up failed and failing school bureaucracies, with more competition. Also, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors. Barack Obama similar in what he also wants to do with the education system. Wanting to hire more teachers for higher pay. Even higher all school standards nationwide. Now, this is where like many times the candidates will disagree, energy. McCain wanting to stop the $700 billion dollars from being spent on foreign oil. Instead, drill right here off the coast of the United States. Barack Obama though would like to tap natural gas reserves. Also, invest in clean coal technology, and invest $150 billion dollars in affordable, renewable sources. Now, why would Obama not just want to drill off shore? There is plenty of oil we can obtain right here in the U.S. There is no point in investing in clean oil technology in the U.S. right now. Right now we need help in pulling the gas prices down from $3.00 and $4.00 dollars a gallon. This much for gas is ridiculous.


Economy is important to all American citizens, with both candidates trying to help. McCain, wanting to keep taxes low and help small business grow and create new jobs. Then, double the child tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000. Obama wanting to give back jobs to most automotive industries in America, instead of shipping those jobs overseas. Then, make healthcare affordable for all. Iraq, one of the most discussed topics in the 21st century. McCain fought for more troops when it wasn’t accepted. He would rather see himself lose the election than lose a war. Obama on the other hand just says he wants to finish the war responsibly, not to prolong it. Yes, we need to finish it or the lives lost was for nothing, but McCain did right when he fought for more troops. Without more troops there is no way in winning a war. To win a war you need supplies, meaning men, weapons, advanced tactics. In this issue the only right one is both. Foreign Policy is next, McCain wanting to give aid to Georgia. Becoming allies with Georgia could mean giving us foreign oil for cheaper. Now I know I’ve already said I wanted drilling off the coast but, if getting a little extra oil; cheaper gas. Obama on the other hand wants to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Yes, its important but were in Iraq, wouldn’t keeping Iran from getting nuclear weapons cause a conflict? Yes…

The armed services are next. McCain wants to honor all American veterans and current active duty soldiers. Obama wanting to just build a larger army. Budget Taxes, McCain just wanting to keep takes low and cut them were he can. Obama wanting to close corporate loopholes and tax havens that don’t help America grow.

Honestly, after all I have read about the following candidates I want McCain as president. Yes, he’s an older man but with age comes wisdom; which can be shown in the above policies. McCain I believe can do more for the country than Obama can. McCain’s Energy, Economy, Foreign Policy, and finally budget taxes are all superior to Obama’s. McCain has served the country before in Vietnam, and I believe he has what it takes to be president.

Is Controlling The Minorities Important For A Equal Future

I read an article titled , “In A Generation, Minorities May Be the U.S. Majority”, by : Sam Roberts. This article explained how in the very near future, the United States will be home to more minorities all around the world. Soon the Latin Americans, African Americans, Asians, etc., will no longer be societies minority. It will be the whites whom will become the minorities. This immigration to the United States is supposedly to triple, making the U.S., have a non dominate race. White would no longer be the races associated with the U.S., it would be African Americans or Asians, etc. This basically kind makes me happy and upset at the same time. This is what the founding fathers wanted for America, an outlet or a country for escaping the up rise of monarchs and dictatorships. The only reason I become upset is due to the new ethnicities coming to the U.S., and not knowing our language are government, etc. This, also means taking jobs from the working man and or living off welfare and basically becoming a vampire effect on the working class. Also, after this article I read, “A Nation of None and All of the Above”, By: Sam Roberts. In This article he states even though the other ethnic groups are rising the white population will cease to fall. Meaning even though the other ethnic groups will rise the white will only fall by a few percentile. This mostly takes my thoughts by surprise. The last article by Roberts stated large populations of immigrants coming to the U.S. This made me think that white population would then become the minority. Well, no it won’t according to Roberts. Making this article important, imposing the issue, why not make both articles one. This is what America needs to know and discuss…..Are Future.

Direct T.V. Hates Puppies

Since direct T.V. charges so much for HDTV, in fact they are hating on puppies. Time Warner Cable loves puppies due to the low charge for HDTV. With less money for puppy chow due to the over charge on HDTV...direct T.V. hates puppies. Why direct T.V.?