Mission 6: Transportation

Learn: I had to educate myself about public transportation I Stanislaus County a while ago. When I was first coming to CSUS, I used to take public transportation because I didn’t have my license yet. This was in late 2005/early 2006 so a lot of routes hadn’t been cut yet. It would take me over an hour and a half to get from the mall in North Modesto to the STaRT bus stop in front of CSUS. I think one of the reason’s people don’t choose public transportation over driving to a destination is that driving is just faster. Also, Modesto isn’t a big city so more people may work and want to visit places that are further away and driving may be more convenient. The STaRT buses can take you to I think any city within Stanislaus County; the furthest is Turlock I think..

Act: I would build a High Speed Rail System (original, I know) underground! And I can do this because I’m a badass millionaire. But until my project is completed people can ride their bikes, use public transportation, or carpool. I, myself, use a car to wherever I need to go. My older sister, however, HAS to take the bus wherever she goes, and with two small children, she finds it somewhat of a struggle. She sometimes has to wait a long time when transferring from one bus to another because the buses don’t do routes as often as they used to. My younger sister also took the bus for school. She didn’t like it because guys would bother her; she told me that one time she was harassed but decided to not tell. This made me pissed of course.

My banana peels help make the trains go faster! (and it poses no danger at all to the passengers...)

Imagine: My underground High Speed Rail System would connect most cities in the valley to one another or to other forms of public transportation like BART. This would make it faster and safer for people from Modesto to go to work or school. I will use my banana peels to make the trains (or whatever they’re called) go superfast! My rail system would be faster and more convenient than a car so people would choose it over driving. It will be environmentally friendly as well.

My wonderful postcard -.-

Mission 5

LEARN
The high rates of foreclosure in Modesto affect the citizens and the community in ways nobody had predicted. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was created to purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes. The Community Development Block Grant was created to help people with low to moderate income by creating economic opportunities, creating suitable living environments and building affordable housing. The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program will help people from becoming homeless and will help those who are homeless re-housed an stabilized. The Making Home Affordable Program was made to help get the housing program back on track. There are several emergency housing facilities in Modesto, I only knew of one.
ACT
I will make an alliance with the Community Housing & Shelter Services. I will use my power of accelerated plant growth laser vision thingy to help provide food for people that were left homeless…I don’t know how else I could use my powers to help the homeless…or how to help the homeless without superpowers for that matter.

IMAGINE
Umm, my powers didn’t make much of a difference I guess. I saved the Shelter money on food. They had the ability to use that money to help families find jobs so they can afford housing. Other than that…um…I didn’t help much.

Mission 4: Be Healthy :D

Learn: I, Monkey Woman, used to be very unhealthy during my teen years. I was about 60-75 lbs. overweight. When I was 19 I decided to lose weight. I educated myself on how to eat better and exercise. I am now around 140 lbs. I am currently in the process of trying to lose 10-20lbs; so it is the perfect time to learn more about how to eat healthy when I’m not home and how to incorporate my daughter into my workouts (as a weight! :D) Two of my siblings are also currently slightly overweight as well. My father is also overweight but he has other medical conditions. He has insurance and I find it frustrating that he doesn’t go to a specialist for each of his health problems since he already went to a physician and he told my dad that there was nothing wrong when he has and umbilical hernia and his right knee is swollen. (AGH!) We all (except my dad) try to exercise a few times a week and eat fruits and vegetables. I think all of us need to improve how we treat our bodies. I will also try to learn ways to convince my dad to help himself.

I learned that I shouldn’t pressure my dad. I remember my mom used to pressure me to lose weight. I never listened to her. I was not ready to lose weight. I don’t know how to convince my dad that he should lose weight without pressuring him or making him feel bad.

I found this article: http://www.livestrong.com/article/34430-mentally-prepare-lose-weight-diet/

I will tell my dad about the tips I found here…but I’ll do this when he’s in a good mood.

As for the rest of Modesto, I think we should educate the person that cooks and buys the food in the home about leading their family to a healthier lifestyle.

Act: I am going to create programs that educate parents about how to cook healthier meals, buy healthier foods, and help incorporate physical activity in the daily lives of their kids and themselves. If only there was a way to make unhealthy fast food repulsive…hmm. THAT’S IT! I will join forces with Sad Sack and we will put StinkyButt powder over all unhealthy stuffs. ( I don’t know if it comes in a powder). And I will use my powers of making crops grow super fast to grow produce and give it to poor people for free! YAY!

Look at this dude's reaction after smelling this burger with StinkyButt powder...I dare ya to eat it now!

Imagine: Now that my super awesome healthy alliance has over 500 members we will spread the knowledge to all! I will give free fruits and veggies to whoever needs them in Modesto! We will educate people about healthy recipes and exercise activities, etc. We will spread general awesomeness as well.

Keepin' it real...I mean safe!

LEARN: With the current state of the economy, budget cuts are affecting even our law enforcement departments. This means a smaller police force. To help fill the gap that will be left by the officers, investigators, detectives, etc. that have been let go, we, the citizens of this city have to get involved in making and keeping our communities safer. I, Monkey Woman, live in a…how should I say?...um…not a very safe part of town. In fact, one month after moving to this neighborhood, my car was stolen from our front yard…and stripped…SO, being the awesome super hero that I am, I went on the internet to look for ways to help make my community safer!

ACT: Using the information I learned, I came up with several ideas that would make my neighborhood less prone to crime. For example, I could add more street lights around the neighborhood. My car was stolen BECAUSE there was no street light lighting it. I would also ask neighbors to keep their lights on in their front yard and maybe even in their back yard. I am going to start a Neighborhood Watch!! I’ll even put the signs up…that will discourage people from doing criminal acts. Also, I will knock on people’s doors to recruit more people to join Neighborhood Watch; if they don’t answer I will leave some sort of flyer letting them now a neighborhood watch is starting in our area and in what ways everyone can help prevent crime here. I think these flyers will discourage crime as well. I will hold monthly meeting for our Neighborhood Watch. I will also patrol around the streets at night. If I presence any crimes being committed I will use my powers! You don’t remember?...It’s the banana peel I make appear spontaneously in front of bad guys and the poison banana seeds I shoot out of my index fingers…

These street lights will help my community be safer! YAY!

IMAGINE: What if a safety emergency occurred in my neighborhood five years from now? Like, um, what if there were burglars targeting our area…HMM. First, I would deliver flyers to each house to notify the neighbors. I would hold a NW meeting to hear about people’s concerns and also their suggestions. I would also keep watch at night.

Me keeping an eye on my local JITB..notice my awesome banana peel.