The James Logan Courier

By Milto Ungashe, Courier Staff Writer

The rise of the digital age has influenced society in numerous ways such as new ways of acquiring information, simplifying everyday tasks and most notably transforming means of communication. But with the increase in popularity of websites like Twitter and Facebook - in addition to the subsequent increase of users online - some experts wonder if social networking is bad for the brain.

An Ohio State University study suggests that students who use websites like Facebook or Twitter had grade point averages a full grade lower than non-users. Facebook users also studied on average one to five hours a week, in contrast to the 11 to 15 hours of non-users.

Courier Staff Report

Names and places in this narrative have been changed or removed, including that of the author.

Part Two of Two:

Five years had gone by since he joined the gang. Five long years and he is now tired of running the crazy life. He is tired of hating and the way he feels when white folks discriminate against his “Raza”. He knows that he won’t be happy for the rest of his life.

Chito is surprised when Chuco rejected a shot of Tequila.

“Listen man I’m going to East L.A. this weekend,” says Chuco.

“That’s OK with me hommie, but what are you going for?” Chito asks.

“I’m going because I have something to do.” Chuco takes out his Italian stiletto and hands it to Chito. “Here, keep it, Carnal. You might need it more than I do,” he said.

Courier Staff Report
Names and places in this narrative have been changed or removed, including that of the author.

Part One of Two:

He walks through the apartment complex with his hands in his black Dickies’ pockets. He walks with a slight limp because the week before he was jumped by rival gang members and they hit his right knee with a baseball bat. There is a scratch on his elbows, couples of stitches on his eyebrows and a deep cut on his chest made by a knife. He doesn’t care about anyone except his homeboys and “hood”. He is now walking to his homeboy Huero’s house with an Italian stiletto in his pocket and a .22 in his waistband. He stands there outside the door in his Nike Cortez Shoes waiting for his homeboy to come out and welcome him back from the hospital.