Tag Archives: stockton

Earth Day At Victory Park

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I’m not much of an environmentalist but my friend Noe convinced me to pay Earth Day a visit. It’s held every year at Victory park. My old friend Gemini use to rave about this event like it was the one. I headed down without hesitation. As soon as I got there the first thing I noticed was that it was hot as fuck haha. Almost 90 degrees. I’m a fan of the cold so I was like, non buono. One thing was great though. The music. A band called the Central Latino All Star Band was playing some great Chicano jams. If you’re reading this on a computer you’re listening to one of my favorite jams they played.

Earth Day At Victory Park

Stopped by the booth for the Da Vinci Center a program for innovative learning with Noe and met some cool cats. Canon 5D Mark II, Nikon 85 1.4D

I met up with Noe and explored the various booths at the event. After walking around for a bit we came across the booth for the Da Vinci Center. This is a really cool program that allows creative kids to learn in a distinct environment. Things like robotics, design, media, and the arts. They learn real world skills and work on some really great stuff. They even have access to a 3D printer! After that Noe went to volunteer at the San Joaquin Bicycle Coalition Booth and I went over to the Stockton Aesthetic Initiative’s booth to find Ryan and a bunch of his cronies working on some art. Continue reading →

Earth Day At Victory Park

The Lie

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The Lie

I used to believe this city had hope, yet now the only hope I see is escape. I used to believe that there was more to this place than met the eye, but reality has set in. The Tone, what a fucking joke. As my time in this city comes to an end I’ve come to realize the truth. This place is nothing more than a failed city on a crash course towards mayhem, it always has been. The college was once a haven but the filth has crept into it’s halls as well. What this city needs is a merciless purge of the cancer that grows inside it, but that purge will never come. Some things just aren’t worth saving and this city is one of them.

I wake up every morning only to catch that Stockton stench, that smell of ghetto scum. It’s thick and exhausting. It’s negative culture, it’s negative people, hell, it’s god damn air. It’s made me a negative person once again. Even the college has fallen victim to the city, the counselors preach failure more than anything else. It’s hard to hold on to hope when the people who are supposed to help you move forward feel more like they’re trying to prevent you from moving at all. It’s all bullshit and it’s taken its toll. You can only keep the anger at bay for so long and at some point you can let it consume you or choose to embrace it. I guess you could say this city has broken me. Despite how resilient I thought I was, it’s changed me.

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The Lie

The Koi

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The KoiThe Koi are some of the most beautiful sites you can find at Delta College. I see them every day and sometimes in the afternoon, when the sun is setting, I take a seat and observe. I’ve grown to admire one who seems to stay close whenever I stop by. Its look is distinct; white with a hint of orange and a dark patch shaped like a “C” upon its head. I look into its eyes and a sense of peace overwhelms me. I then begin to drift, reminiscing of the legend that is the Koi.

They’ve long been a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity. Representing an individuals willingness to overcome and achieve what is their destiny. According to Chinese legend, long ago thousands of Koi swam up the Yellow River on Hunan. Along this great journey many gave in and decided to let the streams guide them but a few pressed on. At some point they reached a great waterfall that cascaded down from a legendary mountain. Upon seeing the waterfall the Koi became disillusioned & surrendered themselves to fate. Yet among the many, there was one persistent Koi who wouldn’t give in. His resilience was impeccable and for over a hundred years he pressed on until one day, in one spectacular leap, he made it up the falls. The gods were so impressed with the courage and determination of this Koi that they transformed him into a powerful dragon. From then on the falls came to be known as the Dragon’s Gate and any Koi who managed to make it up too became a Dragon.

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The Koi

The Tone

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The Tone

I love this city greatly & to some it may be strange but the knowledge I have gained here knows no price.

Growing up, Stockton was like my home away from home. Just about every weekend was spent here, summers I would be here months at a time. Sierra Vista & the entire Southeast were a sharp contrast to the suburbia that is Marin. It was like stepping into a different world where everything was real out on the pavement. The homelessness, the drugs, and the violence; it all hit me like a brick wall. Despite these things I have much love for this city, being that it taught me a lot about life. Many of the beliefs I hold today can find their roots in things I experienced here.

I remember how one of my best cousins Daniel would take me for a cruise through the neighborhood & educate me on the problems a people faced, on why one should avoid it all & stay focused on the “come up”. As we passed by, the local gangs threw their sets up high, yet at the same time, we could count the candle vigils laid out for those that died. I remember when he got shot in the head, by a bullet that wasn’t even meant for him. I spent that night in a lot of pain because, in my mind he was dead. Luckily the bullet missed the vital point by a few millimeters & he made it.

During high school, I stopped coming out here due to hard times in my life, but I pulled through stronger than ever. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be; back in that lovely Mudville a year & counting. Stockton opened my eyes to the reality of the problems a people face. It hammered out of me any hint of racism & taught me to see colorblind. More importantly, it established a firm foundation in my loyalty to the people. Always for the people.

The Tone