Mission 9: Full Circle

Review:

So it appears that my days as a super hero were numbered, but I must say that I had a blast with conquering all these missions. It only seems right that I Fierce Dreamer step out of the lime-light and allow some other super hero to shine bright. I mean I can't be a super hero forever right? I conquered all I set out to accomplish and I wish the new coming super heros well. Before I go on an extended vaction I want to give you upcoming heros words of advice. The first one being step up and help to your full potential, and don't be afraid to be creative with your ideas, because you never know what good can come from it. I mean if anything these missions helped me stay aware of all the local issues that are going on. I challenge anyone who wants to make a change in the world to partake in these missions.

Let's start off with an issue thats serious and deadly:

Modesto police nab 22 suspected drunk drivers

With roving saturation patrols and a DUI checkpoint over the Halloween weekend, Modesto police nabbed 22 suspected drunk drivers.Extra patrols started Friday and led to four arrest. Eleven of the offenders were caught Saturday night at a DUI checkpoint on I Street between Sixth and Seventh streets. Five others were arrested by patrol unitsActivity slowed on Halloween with just two DUI arrests.The enforcement effort was funded by a state Office of Traffic Safety grant.

Modesto woman killed by suspected drunk driver

Bee Staff Reports

CERES -- A Modesto woman pushing a shopping cart in Ceres was killed Tuesday night by a suspected drunk driver, according to the Ceres Police Department. Penny Hinckley, 47, was walking with her brother south on Rockefeller Drive northeast of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 99 when a white Jeep Cherokee crossed over from the northbound lane and struck her about 8:40 p.m. Her brother suffered a minor injury.
She was treated at the scene and taken to Doctors Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead

The driver, Jimmy Lee Dickinson, 33, of Ceres, is suspected of being under the influence of drugs and-or alcohol, according to police. His car came to a stop on the east side of the road in a planter east of the sidewalk. He remained at the scene after the accident. He was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter and is being held in Stanislaus County Jail on $100,000 bail, police said.

'Drunk' driver hits ambulance

An allegedly drunk and unlicensed motorist has driven the wrong way across a major intersection in Sydney's south-west and smashed into a passing ambulance.

Police say the man's blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit, he had been unlicensed for a decade and a search revealed he was carrying cannabis.

The crash occurred as the man sought to negotiate the intersection between Smithfield Road and Elizabeth Drive at Edensor Park about 11.15pm yesterday.

"The man was allegedly driving a red Ford Falcon sedan south on Smithfield Road ... [when] at the intersection of Elizabeth Drive, the man's vehicle allegedly mounted a median strip," police said.

The vehicle then crossed two eastbound lanes of traffic, before colliding with the ambulance that was passing in one of two westbound lanes.

Two ambulance officers suffered minor injuries and shock.

The man was taken to Fairfield police station, where he returned a breath analysis of .205.

He now faces charges of high-range drink-driving, negligent driving, being an unlicensed driver and possessing a prohibited drug.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in Fairfield Local Court on November 11.

Drunk Driving Statistics

US Drunk Driving Statistics

Drunk Driving accidents claim lives at the rate of one every 39 minutes in the United States, based on the most recent data available (13,470 deaths in 2006 in crashes caused by DUI drivers with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent). A quick review of some additional drunk driving facts for the United States (also from 2006) shows that all drivers are at risk when drunk drivers are on the road.

• Tragically, the 13,470 fatalities in 2006 caused by DUI drivers were slightly higher than the 13,451 fatalities caused by DUI drivers in 1996.  One would hope that a decade of Public Service Announcements, education in high schools and defensive driving schools, as well as work by community groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) would have lessened the fatal impact of drunk driving.
• In 2006, one-third of all automobile fatalities were caused by DUI drivers with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent. 
• If one looks at all automobile fatalities in which alcohol was a factor (drivers with a BAC at or above just 0.01 percent), the death toll rises to 16,005 people killed.  These are called alcohol-related deaths, as opposed to DUI deaths or drunk driving deaths.
• Of the 1,794 minors (age 14 and below) who were killed in motor vehicle crashes, 306 (or almost one in five) occurred in alcohol-related accidents. Of those 306 fatalities, the minors riding with drivers who had a BAC at or above 0.08 percent made up one-half (153) of the fatalities.
• Several trends are observable when studying drunk driving statistics:
• DUI drivers (those with a Blood Alcohol Content at or above 0.08 percent) were most often driving motorcycles (27 percent), then light trucks (24 percent), then passenger cars (23 percent). Of all DUI drivers, the lowest fatality rate occurred in large trucks (just one percent). The data does not reveal if drivers of larger vehicles are less likely to drive drunk, or if they are just less likely to die in the accident due to the vehicle they are operating.
• DUI drivers are more four times more likely to be male than female.
• Traffic deaths at night are four times likelier to be alcohol-related (i.e. caused by a driver with a BAC at or above 0.01 percent) than those during the day.
• Of all traffic deaths in 2006 caused by drivers with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent, the majority of those drivers were age 21 to 24 (33 percent), followed by those age 25 to 34 (29 percent), and then age 35 to 44 (25 percent).

Learn: What are the risk that drunk drivers bring? Who is considered to be a drunk driver? What organizations are against drunk driving?

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrinkingAndDriving.html

http://www.madd.org/

Act: What actions can be taken to prevent drunk drivers? What is already being done to stop drunk drivers?
Imagine: Through the use of  super powers how has drunk driving been prevented 5 years from now? Use images to help show how drunk driving is being prevented.

Arts and Culture..

Learn:

Tis the season to be jolly… Fa a la la la la laaaa! Oh goodness gracious it’s almost that time again to go caroling throughout the city, and participate in all the vigorous seasonal events that Modesto has to offer. Oh how I can remember when I Fierce Dreamer was a little youthful child how excited I would be to go to different events at the parks and recreation centers and make seasonal arts and crafts. On top of it being fun it was always free to attend the events at local parks, but boy are times changing.  Arts and cultural events are extremely important especially when it’s around the holidays. They just seem to get everyone in the holiday spirits. Even if it’s not around the holiday season arts and cultural events are a great way to get people involved within the society.

Act:

Oh I can’t help but get excited for the holiday season.  As it gets closer I figure that I will partake in some of the upcoming events. The first thing on my list is to catch a play at the Gallo Center. It is so surprising to me that almost every week they have a new play available to watch. I mean how great is that never having to rewatch the same play each week. Okay.. Okay just kidding what can I say I am a wishful thinker. Of course most people can’t afford to go watch a play every week, but I mean going like once or twice a year can be very entertaining and beneficial for the whole family. On a cheaper note of things the other event on my list will be to attend the Annual 25^th Light up a Life Holiday Tree Lighting. It’s always joyful to watch a big tree being lit up with gorgeous lights and on top of that there will be free refreshments available. I mean come on people what’s cheaper than FREE!

Imagine:

So I Fierce Dreamer have a great master plan on an activity that is definitely going to bring the community together in celebration of art and culture. First I will cause all the city employees and those with extra money to share to enter a dream like trance where they will envision a park and at the part there will be the people from some of the plays at the Gallo Center performing the Nutcracker for free and then there will be different booths where children and adults will be allowed to make various arts and crafts for free as well. At my FREE! Park event I will advertise the lovemodesto next event in hope that people will support and come out and help.

Ah! It has been a good 5 years and people are attending my FREE! Arts and cuture day at the park. It’s so nice that these city workers and actors from the Gallo Center are very supportive and  all the marvelous people that gave donations to make this event still possible. If it continues at this rate I don’t think there will ever be a problem with arts or culture anymore.

Mission 7: Let's Tag it Up

Learn:

Oh what a wonderful day it is bright and sunny not to hot and not to cold. So why is it that as I fly over the local neighborhoods there are no children in sight. What could possibly be keeping these young children playing outside on a day like this. Hmmmm? Ah-hah! I have an idea I will simply just peek in some of the houses to see what the children are up to. Tisk..tisk.. tisk just as I expected. These little precious children are all too busy being corrupted by the XBOX 360’s and Play stations. I mean if they were playing the Wii then I would be a little more understanding considering the fact that the Wii is a major workout and exercises’ more than just thumbs. This video game epidemic needs to put to a stop. So I Fierce Dreamer will set out on a conquest to find activities for these young Modesto children to participate in.

As I Fierce Dreamer went on my conquest to get children to participate in activities I came across a Family Cycling Festival that is located right here in the Stanislaus County. Not only is it a fun way for children to ride their bikes and meet new friends, but the whole family can participate in it together. The problems with most recreational activities are that it comes with a price. Most parents view the recreational price as a hassle so they do not let their children participate in activities. However, one recreational place that is fairly cheap is the Boys and Girls Club it only cost 15 dollars for a whole year. This can be best described as an after school club that children of all ages can join. I know from experience that this club is great as I fly over the Boys and Girls club there are always children outside playing various sports. It’s a great way to get children involved with meeting other children and a good way to keep them active.

Act:

I am utterly confused on why children prefer to stay inside on gorgeous days instead of roaming freely outside. When I was in my ages of youth I loved to play any type of game that revolved around tag. Whether it was freeze tag, regular tag or hide and seek they were all so fun. On top of that I didn’t realize how much running was involved in tag until I played with my sisters and cousins. I mean enjoy playing outside when you’re young kids, because trust Fierce Dreamer when I say the older you get the less your body participates with you. I mean I am not against video games or anything, but while there is light outside children should be out there playing. When it gets dark outside the children can come in and play video games then; playing video games 24 hours a day is outrageous.

Imagine:

Now time to put my plan in action. The first thing I will do is cause all the parents to enter a dream like trance where they will visualize all their lovely children playing graciously outside with the other neighborhood children. When the parents wake up all they will make it a household rule that their children must play outside for at least an hour, and at least 2 hours if they wish to play video games. I mean we have to take little steps first before we successfully reach our destination. My dream destination would be to have bi-monthly a tag-athon because we know that kids have a busy schedule so I couldn’t make it monthly. The tag-athon consist of a whole day of tag and of course children aren’t interested unless prizes are involved. Of course all the prizes will be healthy and educational. I will simply keep that detail from the children.