exploration 1

While doing my interviews I noticed a few similarities and differences. The probation officers (PO’s) I interviewed were polite, well spoken, and well dressed. They both shared a genuine concern for the well being of their offenders. Which I found to be a bit surprising, I figured working with the worst of society would bring you down but not for these guys. They actually enjoy their work. They look forward to helping rehabilitate the offenders, and help put there life back together.
Not every individual can handle an occupation like this. There is something unique about PO’s, which allows them to posses a quality of understanding and forgiveness. Now what I found interesting about PO’s, is not that they like the variety of different cases, but that they actually have cases they don’t like to work. Each PO is different in what cases they don’t care for. For instance, one PO doesn’t care for anti government offenders. They seem to have a negative out look on probation as a whole. This PO also said that it’s really never the cases but the attitude of the offender that makes a case difficult. Even when I’m asking a negative question they still have a positive answer. Not one of them would straight out say I don’t like theses people. It’s there attitudes they don’t like. How do they do it? Their job is built around negative clients and they continuously find the good. I want to know what makes PO’s so understanding. I wonder if a certain type of person is drawn to this career, or is it just a coincidence that most PO’s are genuinely concerned with the well being of others.
Along with the differences, they also have similarities. I asked both PO’s what they consider to be a flaw in their system. They each gave different answers but both had one in common. Funding was an obvious issue for the federal PO’s. As a group Po’s agreed that funding is miss spent, and other uses would be more appropriate.
I’m going to do more observations to get an accurate view on PO’s. Also, I need more back ground information to really understand how Probation started. I’m hoping the history can relate to the modern day PO. I have come across one problem I knew I would. Since my community has a government affiliation, their responses to my questions are not the whole truth. The Po’s tend to re-word things that sound more appealing, like taking their time to word something, so it doesn’t come out to harsh or rude. It’s not in their best interest to bad mouth the hand that feeds them. I do understand where there coming from, it just makes my research more difficult.

I was surprised to read about the log books and laws.Also that truckers police up each other.I was intrigued when the author used the word gusto to refer to some one eating.I was disturbed to read about the lumpers who were on welfare and that the author noticed the truck driver boyish good looks.

Friday night at Iowa 80

I was surpised by the at gunpoint robberies that happen at truck stops. Surpised that truck drivers police each other however, nothing was mentioned of what was done within the community to stop the robberies. I was intrigued by the closed and suspicious community the trucker lives in. they feel like outcasts of society to some degree, yet they have a hard time letting people into their world. I was disturbed by the amount of government regualtion at such a tilted scale, especially with the gas taxes and emission issues. The trucker gets hit with all these while the farmer gets a break.

In the reading Iowa 80, nothing surprised me. I have worked in and around truck and trucker most of my adult life. I would have to say the trucker that didn't really trust him at first. But at the end found out that he was ok. What disturbed me the most is how a lot of the trucker were willing to lie so easily in their log books just to make a buck.

Friday Night at Iowa 80

What surprised me about the reading was how friendly the truckers were and how willing they were to talk. What intrigued was the truck stop itself. It reminds of one that was nearby where I grew up and had a lot of similarities. What disturbed me was some of the legal issues the truckers have to deal with.

Iowa 80

The part that i found to be most interesting was the old trucker in the green shirt on page 37. I liked how at first he wanted nothing to do with an interview but after he felt comfortable with

Thomas he really opened up and revealed a lot about himself.
The part that surprised me the most was that the lady named Bea on page 37 and 38whose husband got into an accident caused by a drunk driver and then got fired. I was surprised that even tho the husband was broken up about losing his job she was happy that he got fired and sent a thank you note to the company.

Friday Night at Iowa 80- Response

The thing that surprised me most was how a violation for a logbook varies in the states. In Nebraska it's a fine of $70 then in California it's $1500.
What intrigued me was the different rules and regulations truckers have.
It disturbed me how Bea's husband was fired after 5 years for a accident that was caused by a drunk driver.

Artifact

The artifact I chose was their clothing. They altered store bought clothes to fit their individual style or beliefs even within their subculture. They could use stencils to paint thoughts, beliefs, sayings, etc. onto their t-shirts, pants and jackets. One thing I remember specifically from that time was strong majority of them wore the "A" with a circle around it, promoting anarchy. You could not exactly find t-shirts with that insignia on them in those days.

The artifact I chose was the band posters. Punk music posters are very unique and I think they reflect what it means to be punk in a very interesting way.

I chose the hair. It has always amazed me what people will do to draw attention to themselves. Or what they do just to fit in with some group. My girls when the were younger (early teens) did the kool-aid thing behind their mother's and my back.

Artifact

The artifact I chose is their t-shirts. I think it's interesting to read how they made an ordinary t-shirt their very own by using a stencil and spray paint. They could make a shirt say whatever they wanted. To me that says they are resourceful with wanting to stay in the "punk" trend but by being totally original to their own style too.

The artifact that I found to be the most interesting was the Kool-Aide drink "hair die". I believe this is important/most interesting because it shows their money saving ways and also their ingenuity.

Inside connection

My inside connection is my brother who is a Boise police officer.

My inside guy is the Idaho Probation Office.

My inside person is the Sheriff in Owyhee County and his chief deputy.

Inside Connection

My inside connection is my friend Brook who is a military wife and is also raising a family. Her husband has been deployed to Iraq and is currently stationed here in Boise.

Inside Contact

My insider connection/contact is my oldest brother Chuck. He is a Sargent with the Canyon County Sheriffs Department. One of his many responsibilities include calibration and maitnenance of all area toxicology machines.

The old man made it

Sample Post

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Tazerr

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