Save the Salton Sea

Saving the Salton Sea

            In the article “California Far from Solution as Salton Sea Crisis Looms,” the authors described how the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley is rapidly shrinking causing health problem. As the sea shrinks, it would create respiratory problems that would affect cities as far as San Diego and Coachella. California government has a preventing plan to reduce the fast shrinking of the sea and protect the fauna, but so far, nothing has been done. Residents who lives around the sea are frustrated with government official because they haven’t done anything, and their children are getting sick with respiratory health problems like Asthma. Imperial County has the highest rate of Asthma, and as the sea shrinks respiratory issues would increase. The Dust created by high winds would not only cause health issues but create an economical reduction of tourism to the Coachella area. The conservation of the Salton Sea is vital for the benefits of people around, and protection of the fauna.

Freewrite

Today, people are overusing natural resources without noticing the negative impact that is causing to our planet. Each year, more air pollution, water contamination and trash, are accumulating affecting our ecosystem. Contamination is something that people need to take seriously. My brother taught me we can make the difference little by little.   My brother is a person wo cares about others, loves the environment, and cares about the future of this planet. Growing up, he was mocked for being different and caring for the environment. He was always involved in the Arts and environmental movements. He knew the importance of recycling and protecting our ecosystem. He joined several environmental movements in Mexicali, and through his art, he expressed the importance being conscientious about the use of natural resources. He used his gift of art to express the issues in our environment. He held several art expositions throughout the Imperial Valley spreading awareness of these issues. The first time I went to one of his art expositions, I saw the real issues the world is facing. I felt proud of my brother’s accomplishments. Through his Art, I was able to make changes to better the outcome of our future planet.

Community Profile

Anecdote- Faces of Imperial

            Couple years back, I was looking for a job as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and a friend told me about this company in Indio CA that were hiring. I had never been to Indio before. Even though it was far from home I needed a job quickly and I was willing to commute for the job. I ask my oldest brother Israel to come with me since he knew the road and the area. The next day, we started driving to Indio. We took Hwy 86 North the easiest and faster way. As we past Brawley City and Westmorland I started to notice an unusual smell. At first, I tried to ignore it, but every mile we drove. The smell was getting stronger and hard to ignore. It smelled like rotten old fish, a similar smell you would find on the beach. For a second, it thought it was a dead animal at the side of the road, or even old forgotten food inside my car. It was something unusual because all around me was just farm fields and desert. In the distance miles away into the desert, it appeared what it looked like a lake. It spread from miles long and wide. I had never seen something like that so close to the Valley. I ask my brother if he knew something about it and he told it wasn’t a lake. In fact, it was a sea, The Salton Sea. He told me is a dying sea that is polluted, drying up, and nobody is doing nothing about it. He told everything he knew about the sea, and how is affecting our ecosystem. He also explained to me how contamination overall is killing our ecosystem.

My brother has always been a person who care about the environment and is related to the Arts. He is very good painting and he expresses environmental issues through his paintings. He had held art exposition where he addresses environmental issues that affects not only our valley, but the whole world. Through him I was able to learn the importance of the environment, and prevention. Because of my brother, I had learned to recycle, and how to do my part by protecting the fauna. Today, my brother is still painting and exploring different ways to create awareness of the issues that are affecting us all. Now, every time I drove by the Salton Sea I remember my brother efforts, and that we still need to work hard for the preservation of our natural resources and environment.

Book of My Past

"A Confederacy of Dunes"

The novel from by past is “A Confederacy of Dunes” by John Kennedy Toole. I started reading this book by the begging of last year. This book was given to me as a gift by a good friend, for let her stay at my apartment for several days while she visited her family. She knew I just finished a book, and I had no other book to read. Also, she knew I started a reading habit to better my vocabulary and writing. When she left, as a way of saying thank you, she gave me the book. At first, I didn’t recognize the book, and I had never heard of it, but the colorful cover was appealing, and had good reviews on the back cover. Right away, I started reading the book, and for my surprise is was very interesting, and funny. Every day, for the next two month I read the book at home and work. I carried the book everywhere I went.  The novel is about a childish grown old man name Ignatius J. Reilly who still lives with her mother. He spends most of his time writing, but her mother wants him to get out of the house and get a real job. He believes there is no good job for him and prefers to stay home and enjoy pleasures of life. He is lazy, arrogant, selfish, and doesn’t care for other. One day, his mother convinces him to get a job. He worked on several different job, and every single time he manipulates people around him to do his work. He doesn’t care about the consequences of his accts and people get affected by them. One day, all his plans start falling apart when people around him really started to know him. Consequently, he is thrown in jail and nobody believes a word of what he says. He ends ups alone, and even his mother believes he is going insane. Rapidly and with no time to waste he escapes town to avoid persecution. I really enjoyed this book, and still remembered it because it brought me laugh and a good time. I would strongly recommend this novel for anybody who wonts to have a good time and expand their vocabulary. I would say this is the best novel I have ever read.

Border Line Personality

Border Line Personality

Border Line Personality Disorder is a condition that characterized by difficulty regulating emotions.  BLP disorder affect people by not able to cope with stress causing them to lose themselves in deep emotions. These individuals have trouble getting back to their normal mental status and tent to express stress by dangerous behavior. Each individual is different and the reaction varies from the stressor. Susanna have this same condition, she get lost in her own emotions after she doesn’t get was she wants or something triggered her. For example, as her wisdom tooth was removed she was sedated and she didn’t know how long she was sedated and how much times her procedure took. For her time is valuable because she believe something has been taken from her. As she couldn’t get an answer, she got anxious and started to cry. In other occasion, she started to bite her hand to see if she had bones inside her and not just skin. She wanted to see if she was herself and not somebody else. Personally, as a Paramedic I have encountered people with this condition. Once an individual is focus and triggered is hard for them to get back into reality. Is like you are speaking to the wall and they don’t care what is going around them. Most of the times because of their violent reactions, I have to sedate them to transport them to the hospital safely.

Airport Screeners Could See X-rated X-Ray

Airport Screeners Could See X-rated X-ray

In the article “Airport Screeners Could See X-rated X-rays,” Joe Sharkey states airport screeners violates personal privacy and is not really efficient against treats. Sharkey believes X-rays screeners is not and efficient method of providing security in the air port, and no matter how extensive is the security system there are always a way to violate security. I disagree.  X-rays scanners are essential and needed for the security of all air ports. X-rays screeners would bring a safer atmosphere to passengers and will eliminate possible treats against people. Although X-rays screeners would keep people safe, it would violate personal privacy.

First of all, X-rays screeners are a needed and essential tool in all airports for the protection of all people. Today, we live in a world of constant political instability. Treats and attacks had been made in all parts of the world killing thousands of innocent people. For example, The United States is a primary target for terrorist attacks which creates fear among passengers.  X-rays screeners would not only help stop terrorist trying to smuggle explosives or weapons that could kill thousands of people, but  It would create a safer atmosphere among passengers knowing that each person has to be screener. According to Homeland Security Department, X-rays screeners are necessary because normal metal detectors did a miserable job detecting explosive artifacts or weapons concealed in carry-on bags or on the bodies of undercover agents.  Also, it would help stop drug smugglers that are related with drug Cartels. For instance, I had travel several occasions in and out of the USA, and knowing that each person has to be screener and meticulous check. It makes me feel safer and protected.

On the other hand, walking through X-rays screeners violates the privacy of each passenger. Privacy and technology consultant Bill Scannell said, “Well, You’ll see basically everything.” He states screeners show a person anatomy in detail, so whoever is watching the screen is able to see you completely naked. It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree, if you are traveling you would need to pass through the X-rays scanner, so people can be safer. Security expert, Mr.Elson argues no matter how many X-rays screener’s airport uses, terrorist or other treats would always found holes in the security system. In other words, screeners are not really necessary and efficient for the protection of people. For instance, only when I travel back to the USA I encountered long security checkpoint that takes hours to pass creating only delays. Once, you get to the checkpoint they make you take off your shoes, personal belonging and makes you walk through the X-rays scanner. It makes you feel like if you are some sort of terrorist or criminal. All personal can see you literally with clothes and without clothes with no minimal concern of your privacy. 

Today, we live in a world of constant political instability, treats, and attacks that kill thousands of innocent people each year. Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do about past attacks. However, we can prevent it from happening with X-ray screeners. I strongly believe security systems in airport should be constantly changing and evolving for the protection of people. X-rays scanners are an essential tool of preventing future attacks or other treats that can create chaos among innocent travelers. People should learn that is more value and important to prevent an attack and to safe a live over minimal privacy issues. Again, I believe It is better to be safe than sorry.

Wonder

Wonder

Auggie is a young kid who was born with a congenital facial deformity. He goes into multiple facial reconstruction surgeries as he grows up. Even though with the love and support of his family, growing up was hard for him.  At age of 10 years old, he goes to school for the first time. Since the first day of class, he is not accepted and is bullied because of his appearance. He has big trouble fitting in. Until, he made his first friend. Unfortunately, he loses his best friend, but he makes new ones. With his determination and the help of his friends, he is able to fit in as normal kid. For the first time in his life, he is accepted, and feels normal for the first time.