Pacific Cartel

Maria S.

English Per.2

04/21/2011

Pacific Cartel

         People are facing many social problems and one of those is the growing Mexican drug cartels. The Sinaloa, best know as the Pacific Cartel, was founded in 1989 and still exists today.  This cartel began in 1906 and the 

first leader was Pedro Aviles Perez.  He is considered to be 

first generation of major Mexican drug smugglers of marijuana 

who marked the birth of larger scale Mexican drug trafficking.  

The second generation is commanded by Aviles Perez's

nephew Joaquin, known as “El Chapo Guzman “. 

        The second generation Sinaloa traffickers have famous members such 

as: Rafael Caro Quintero , Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, Miguel 

Anguel Felix Gallardo. Federation is another name for this 

Cartel,which was originated from the coast  of Mexico . The 

Federation was partially splintered when the Beltran Leyva 

brothers broke apart from the Sinaloa cartel.The Sinaloa cartel is associated with the label “Golden Triangle” because the regions of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua form a triangle.  This gang has seventeen states under its control, including: Guanajuato , Michoacan,Colima, Chiapas ,Guerrero ,Zacatecas, Baja California, Baja California Sur , Coahuila , Oaxaca, Queretaro. Hidalgo,Tlaxcala ,Puebla , Mexico city , Morelos. Also they operated in Central America , United States, Colombia and Argentina .

         This cartel has 2000 membership soldiers, their criminal 

activities include trafficking, money laundering , extortion , 

kidnapping , murder and arms trafficking. However they have 

allies and rivals .
       Their rivals are Los Zetas , Beltran Leyva 

cartel , Tijuana cartel, Juarez cartel. Crime is the most urgent concern in Mexico , as Mexican drug trafficking rings play a mayor role in the flow of cocaine, heroine , and marijuana . Drug trafficking and organized crime have also been a major source of violence in Mexico. In many of their fights  

for territory a lot of innocent people died.

         Mexican people are have faced this problem of drug cartels for 

many years. Maybe if they let the people buy whatever they want 

they can finish with this drug cartels problem.

ME

Yazmin M.

Period: 2

Nov. 3, 2010

Me

Expectations, are very high for me pressures coming from parents, friends and school. Being my last year in high school and wanting to do all school activities plus Applications for Universities. It’s a lot on one teenager. My name is Yazmin Martinez I’m seventeen and this is my life. 

I was born on June 28, 1993. My parents are Barbara Perez, and Fidel Martinez. My ethnicity is Cuban. My parents met each other when my mom was a senior in high school they met at “Stars” they fell in love and when my mom turned twenty- one she became pregnant with my older sister Yuvizela Martinez. Four years later I was born. Nine months after I was born my mom was pregnant agian and my little sister Yazandra Martinez was born. My parents got divorced on my sisters birthday August 30, 1995. My parents have been divorced for sixteen years but we are still a very close family. My mom had another baby on March 20, 2007 her name is Yarazely Marie Figueroa; she’s  my half sister but I see her as my own; because her father left her at only ten days old.

I’m the type of person who is is very loud, and out going. I have lots of goals in my life that I want to achieve. Since I was a little  girl I always wanted to be a Teacher or some kind of authority figure at a school. In my sophomore year in high school I finally figured out what I really wanted to be and that’s a high school principal. Since I love bell so much one day I would love to work here and achieve my goal as being principal of Bell High School. I also want to have a PhD in Phycology. I hope to achieve all this in less than ten years. School has always been my first priority.

My very first city activity Cheer I was five and I love it. I learned a lot from these city activities. I learned discipline, work ethics, and teamwork. One of the most important things I learn that I will already remember was when you’re on a team or squad u never leaving a person behind; they’re your own little family. After starting cheer my mom placed me in a Ballet Class.  I loved it because I had something to do on my own because belle is a one-person thing. So I had a very busy schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday was Cheer and Tuesday and Fridays was belle practice. Because of all my activities when I was little that’s what why I’m so discipline and out going know that I’m older.

I have done all school activities you name it I’ve done it. Some of these activities are The USC Blood Drive, Walk- A-thons, Breast Cancer Walks,  School Dances, Bell Mascot, Water Girl, and Ect. One of the most important to me has got to be Short Flags. I’ve been in Short Flags for two years; I’m the Lieutenant, (we go buy military ranks) this year. Short Flags, is a Drill Team, Dance Team, and Flag Team all in one so it’s great because you get all different sorts of things to do. Life as a flag girl is very hard at times because you have late practices, and its lots of hard work, as Mrs. Pickard always says “Practice makes Perfect” I need to balance  school work, flags, family and other stuff. The girls on my squad have impacted my life in lots of ways. We all have our family problems and it’s nice to know that we have each other to talk to, be our own little family.

My Best Friend, is Jessica Alamo I’ve known her since third grade we went to Corona Elementary together. We’ve had our ups and downs but  we have been there for each other. Friends come and go but we have always been there for each other. She’s a former cheerleader at Bell High School when we were small we participated in a lot of city activities but one of our favorites was cheer. It was fun at the time but little by little I didn’t like it no more,  so I got into flags and she stayed in cheer. Last year she decide that cheer wasn’t fun for her anymore and decide to stop cheering and continue with dance instead.

My other Best Friend is Christian Pineda also known as Pancake is a Varsity Football player at Bell High School. He is the starting center/ guard number sixty-two. I met him at Chester Nimitz Middle School in sixth grade. The football team is currently 8-4. Ever since he started playing football for our high school I’ve bought or gave him food when ever they win. So every football game when we win I buy him a whole “family pack” from stars.

In my senior year of high school I’m currently Most Spirited on A track. I feel honored by winning this award because I have given this school four years of my life and I wouldn’t change these four years for nothing. The Four years I spent here I will always remember the good the bad and the okay. I have met lots of new people at Bell High School some friends for life. In high school I have had my emotional days, happy days, sad days. I’ve grown a lot in these four years and I’m happy I came to Bell and not gone some were else.

I’m scared of the future and what it holds but I’m ready to educate my self even more and achieve my goals in life. I have currently applied to Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State North Ridge, and Cal State Fullerton. The one I really hope to get into is Cal State North Ridge because I feel like that’s where; I’m supposed to be it’s not to far from home but not to close. All the schools that I applied to have the curriculum I want to pursue my dreams.

Big Punisher

Gary H.

Per.2

4/7/11

Big Punisher

 Well known in the underground rap circuit is Christopher Rios also known as Big Punisher found great success through his ability to flow. Pun possessed skills unmatched by any emcee of his time. His divine use of multi syllable words, tongues twisting vocabulary and raw, fluid like delivery made him a force to be wrecking with. Many critics considered him the combination of Biggie and Pac.

            Punisher grew up as a young arrogant Puerto Rican youth with an incredible talent for rhyming. Pun found it difficult to fit in with the people in his neighborhood, which was predominantly African American. Throughout the course of a rough childhood and many obstacles Chris kept his head high and refused to back down from any challenge, battling in numerous places and earning respect.

            Big Pun suffered from obesity for many years. Once reaching a total weight of 701 pounds.  Throughout adolescence into teen hood he was a physically fit individual and always participating in sports. Later into what had become an amazing short-lived career he lost his battle and eventually passed away. Puns death was a catastrophic blow to the Hip Hop industry and was felt across the nation. His death coming as a result of natural causes not violence marked a day that will never be forgotten by Pun fans.

JUST ME

Geovanny V.

4/21/11

Per. 2

     I am a musician whose passion is learning various types of instruments. I play percussion instruments for example; drums, xylophone, piano, and others.

     I’ve been currently attending the bell high school marching band for four years. I have meet many people and cooperated with everyone. These four years gave me a learning experience and shown me how fun it is to travel and play music.

I plan to achieve this as a goal in my life because I love creating music with anyone and playing for people. I also know that I’ll be able to perform on stage or tour because I have practiced and played with people before in concerts and shows. I started off playing with my brother with two friends. My brother on guitar, my friend, David on bass, and his younger brother, which was also my friend, Damien.

     The finest things about me are sometimes hard to see, however most people see me as a kind, friendly, and funny person. At school, I have a lot of friends, some from my brother too.

     I usually hang out with friends outside when I’m not busy with schoolwork or band practice. I have seen a lot of faces in my life and they have changed me in many different ways.

     The way I describe my family is fun, caring, and loving. My mother’s name is Lisa Belen Hudson Alvarez and she is smart, funny, outgoing, hardworking, and protective with the family. My mother works as a manager of the Eisner Pediatric Medical Venter in Downtown Los Angeles. My brother’s name is Walfred O. Vargas Jr. He is very outgoing. I used to hang out with him more when we were young, but as we grew older, my brother and I drifted apart with different friends although we still talk and get along. I have two sisters one is ten years old and the other is eight. 

Attitudes and Behaviors Toward the CST 6

Ricardo R

Per.2

4/21/11

CST Attitudes

          For the CST’s many students are not prepared to take it because either their teachers don’t lecture or they just don’t care. When students see that teachers don’t care they’ll do the same and wont take responsibility for themselves. Many teachers will sometimes just give the work and let students figure it out themselves, so some will just let it go and not pay attention, and others will take it upon them to work hard. There’s teachers that will mention it once and wont bring it up again, and students don’t like this test so they won’t say anything either. Basically if teachers show a negative side about this test, students will too.

          Students don’t know the importance about this test because the school doesn’t take it seriously themselves. The only subject the school cares about is math because that’s the subject that makes Bell High look good. The school focuses on that subject because they get rewarded with money, which benefits them for new computers, more pay, and other supplies.

          This test affects all the students because it places them on a grade average at the school they go too. Some students don’t know this, so they’ll just bubble anything in. Once the state grades them and sees how students did, they’ll be placed in advance classes or below basic. This will make it hard for students who want to go to a four-year college too get in.

          From a students perspective a lot of them are not motivated because in their eyes this test is just a waste of time. And the parents are not included or involved to help prepare their children to do excellent on the CST. The community we live in doesn’t help our students stay in good paths and stay away from gang violence. 

Harrassment is Disrespect

Diana R

Period: 6

04/21/11

Harassment (Disrespect)

What would you do if you were a victim of harassment? Putting a stop to it would probably be the perfect step to do in order to avoid more problems, or people from being harassed most of the time.

    A lot of people disrespect others by judging them on the way they are, by the way they look, because of their skin color, nationality and many examples harassment. Even if you think some people are weird that’s no reason for you to be judging them because of stupid stuff like the examples I gave.

    Also no one should care or criticize others because nobody is perfect in this world. Everybody has his or her good and bad stuff. The ones who judge see all the defects of others but yet they don’t look at themselves. If someone doesn’t like someone’s personality of their way to dress or any other stuff than it’s none of your business let them be.

    It gets really annoying and gets me really mad when immature people don’t have nothing else to do besides judging others like if they were to perfect. I’ve seen some students laughing and making jokes about obese people like if they were too perfect. If I were to see someone getting harassed by more than one and just against just that one victim I would probably get involve because I really hate that specially when the ones being the bullies are not even perfect or there are not even close to be judging others or making fun of them.

    Finally the only excuse I find to be asseptable is if someone has been talking bad about you behind your back or if they judged you first.

Clarifying “The Road Not Taken” By Robert Frost

Jeffrey R.

April 18, 2011

Clarifying “The Road Not Taken” By Robert Frost

In the Poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost the tone portrayed in the poem is didactic. It teaches a moral lesson towards human and regular life decisions. The main conflict in the poem revolves around a man choosing between two different lifestyles. It depicts the two obstacles one man’s struggled between. He analyzed both roads to see what benefited him the most and chose the one that was least taken. He didn’t let any other’s decisions reflect on his lifestyles.

            In the poem Frost uses rhetorical devices such as diction. He uses words such as, “better” to recite the claim. He also uses “trodden black” to describe that no other steps are left by the travelers before him. He states, “Yellow Wood” defining the season of the poem, which is in Autumn/ Fall. Uses “Undergrowth” for a preview of each road of life.

            In the first stanza Frost introduces the readers to the two paths of life. He describes it as a yellow wood meaning it is Fall. He depicts how he stares at the roads to analyze the better path. In the second stanza he describes how he decides to take the path that looks greener and brighter. He knows that others decisions did not make him follow the crowd. After he concludes that both roads are equally the same.

In the third stanza Frost illustrates how both roads are covered equally with leaves. He also describes how no one has yet taken the roads meaning no one has passed through. He is determined to take the road he had already chosen, so therefore he will leave the other road for another day. He concludes that his decision will create a great impact towards his lifestyle. In later years he will tell other family members or friends about the decisions he’s made either way he know that he will not regret it because he committed the right choice.

Robert Frost used diction and attention to detail to achieve a didactic tone in his poem “The Road Not Taken”. His tone depicts the daily life scene of making choices either good ones or bad. Somehow we all learn from the small decisions we make and they have a great impact towards our life. The poem teaches us a lesson and its up to us whether we learn from it or not. We know that the road we take makes us who we are.

Attitudes and Behaviors Toward the CST 7

Danny N

04/6/11

Period: 6

Attitudes During the CST

            Let me ask you this: Why is the CST (California Standards Test) so important? Is there a reason why to pass the CST, or is it just a waste of time? Students tend to question themselves about the CST before the day of the testing, yet they feel prepared. The students show a lot of confidence that they’ll pass the CST and promising that they will pass it, 24/7.  Yet, when the day comes the students show signs of nervousness and unprepared as they’re taking the test. What’s lurking in the minds of our students, what happened to their showing of confidence to the CST?

            One thing that students tend to show during the CST is signs of them feeling tired/thirsty/hungry. Most of the time, students will do the test while either doing three things: closing their eyelids then opening them in a quick second (follow by a quick head shake), holding their tongue out wanting something liquid, or holding their stomach as it’s doing a lion’s growl.  Students tend to show these signs, as they’re tired, thirsty, or hungry while doing the test. I can tolerate that sort of sign, but I always ask myself this: Why can’t the students have a good sleep, or drink water and eat a hearty breakfast at the beginning of the day? Would that make it a lot easier, instead of just holding your stomach, hanging your tongue out, or closing your eyelids then opening them in a quick second (follow by a quick head shake)?

            Another attitude that students tend to show during the CST is that they kept feeling like they’re timed. The CST does have a time limit, but it’s not short (only 8 hours on one 72-90 questioned subject, not bad). Yet, students feel like they’re timed on a short amount of time (example: 2 hours, 3 hours, or even 1 hour).  I know, I used to be like that too, but at times like these students need to read the questions carefully and answer it as best as they could, not just bubble out every answer in one minute and get everything wrong. Bottom line: take as much time as you want on the CST, and when you’re done, double check your answers and see if their correct, don’t just be done with it and hang out by texting, playing with your fingers, playing with your hair, etc.

            Third thing that students feel when they’re doing the CST, is feeling too nervous, and having false confidence. This is the main problem during the CST, cause when a student is too nervous during the test, they’ll struggle a lot to the point that they’ll not finish the test on time, or just give up too easily on the test. The false confidence part: students sometimes scoffs at the test, thinking that it’s just a practice test and want to get away with it when in reality, the CST is a test taken seriously, and the results would someday come back to bark at you, chase you around, and bite you in the rear.  Okay, I know that’s taking the situation to extreme detail, but you get what I’m trying to say here. In other words, The CST is a very serious test, and the students must pass it, regardless if you’re lazy or just don’t really care about it. Who knows, maybe you’ll get yourself a prize when you pass the CST, or maybe be proud that you’ve done something to earn respect for the school.

            That’s mostly what everyone felt during the CST, and it’s pretty disappointing at the thought of it. Yet at the same time, everything felt like it’s just to see which school has the smartest students in the whole district, so it’s also pretty disappointing. Yes, it’s pretty honoring, but at the same time it’s just another contest with a few prizes (getting proficient/advanced proficient, rewarding yourself with whatever you want, etc.) and less to no satisfaction of the results (we could be relieved when we finished the CST, but still no satisfaction).  Regardless though, it’s still a pretty serious test, and in other words it’s pretty deadly when people don’t pass the CST. So bottom line: be well prepared for the CST, study as much as you want and answer it with your honest thoughts, no lies.

My Life

Pedro Luis A-P

Per. 6

                                                    My Life

              Music is my passion and like an artist as a rapper. I would like to travel around the world and perform my music, also to explore the other side of the road.

  The things I like to do and enjoy doing is rapping. Music is the biggest part of my life. I grow up with the love of music. Things that I been through and faced against made me who I am today, and stronger. My goal is to be a rapper and travel around the world. I remember what I faced up against, I am proud. My mother and my two little brothers been through the same road that I was trapped in, but we became stranger. I’m still here to proof that I’m somebody after all we faced. I want my family to travel with me so they could have fun memories, when years pass by. In my family tree have my mother her name is rose Pacheco, my little brother his name is Edgar Pacheco and my other little brother his name is Leo Chavez.

  I got a lot of cool friends. I look up to my friend Ram C. We always hang out at the park, his house, and sometimes we go to the studio, after we about to stop hanging out we go buy something to eat. I respect Ram C he has been there for me in the good times, and when we hade no money for the rent.  My buddy John Torres is my friend that helps me record songs and talk about life. My friend Jose, Leo and Alberto is my friends from Compton. There’s some people that say there my friends but they really not what they say they are, they end up being a phony person that pretended to be something different. I been careful who’s my friend and who’s not, I end up always moving schools because all my life I been moving around, so its hard for me to make friends.

  Sports I like to play are basketball and soccer. I don’t dream to be a pro at any sport. I like to go hiking and just walk around the city.  I like to get on the bus and get lost and try to find my way back home just to explore new places.  I also like to write and use computers and explore the internet to see what’s going on in the world.  There’s so many things that make it hard for me to work on what I like but for the reason of me being in a foster home where there’s to many rules in the house and in the system.  Sports I’m not really into the game.  Sports and being on TV is the thing I’m into, what its called the media.  The media its what people think its bad but it has its evil and its good.  I try to stay in the game where I could just record and lay a track and help people out with my music, and to enjoy it.  Music is the thing the people use to escape the reality.

 

About Me

Aldo S

Period 5

“Me Essay”

        Ever since I was small, I always wanted to play baseball. Baseball is very important in my life. I go to school and try very hard to get good grades in order to play baseball.

         My name is Aldo S and was born on August 26 1994. I am very nice and have lots of friends. I get along with everybody and if someone needs help or someone to talk to I am always there for that person. I’m very fun to be around and like to meet new people and go out to different places. I’m athletic and I really like sports a lot. I enjoy playing sports and watching sports.  My favorite team for basketball is the Los Angeles Lakers. For baseball my favorite team is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

           I enjoy spending time with my family. I have four family members. I have two older brothers. The oldest one is named Hugo and he attended Bell High School. He played for the basketball team for his school. In his senior year 1997 they won the championship. The next oldest is named Noel and also attended Bell High School. He played for the baseball team for his school. They are fun to be around and I like to spend time with my brothers. My parents are named Martha and Eberto. My parents are always there for me when I need them. I like to spend time with my parents.

           School is very important to me. I try so hard in school to get good grades and good test scores. My parents are always pushing me to do well in school. Once in a while school gets hard and I try to get help by going to tutoring or a friend to help me so I would understand it. So far I am doing very good in school and hopefully finish good at the end of the year.

            Baseball is very important to me. I always wanted to play baseball when I was in 6^th grade. I wanted to play little league but never got the chance. Then finally got the chance in 8^th grade in my middle school. We were 1^st place in our league. Then went to district wide and got 2^nd place. Ever since that I been practicing and trying to get better. Now I am playing baseball for Bell High School and I’m in JV. I am trying to get better to go up to Varsity.

            Music is important to me. My favorite singers are Drake, Kid Cudi and J.Cole. I really enjoy hearing their songs. Most of there new songs are very good. Music it relaxes me and I like hearing it when I am doing homework. Also I just enjoy hearing different kinds of music.

           I enjoy who I am and love my family and friends a lot and try to succeed in school, trying to get an education. Baseball and music is very important in my life.