For your information, I'm staying like this, and everyone else can just get used to it! If people don't like me the way I am, well TOUGH BEANS! It's a free country! I don't need anyone's permission to be the way I want! This is how I am - Take it or leave it!
-Calvin from "Calvin and Hobbes"

I was born in New Orleans and lived there ever since. My parents were good, kind folks and I guess I had a better childhood than most other gang members. None of my parents died or nothin' like that. I even went to school 'til 5th grade. Didn't mind it none. It even got fun at times; 'specially the first few years. When I was in 5th grade, that's when I first heard 'bout the gangs around the city. I think my teacher talkin' 'bout all them fights had the opposite effect on me than she planned. I've always been one to just go out and do what I want, when I want, and how I want. I don't let nothin' stop me. That's how I got the nickname of Dare. So after I finished the 5th grade, I headed out and hit the streets. I just decided that that life sounding much more fun than living with my parents. I do love my parents, but I do whatever I want to do and I wanted to be in a gang. Since my parents would have never allowed me to be in one, I ran away, dropped out of school, and that was the last I saw of my parents. Maybe someday I'll get the urge to go find out how they've been doing or if they're even still alive. Well I ended up joining up with Las Araņas and have been a member ever since. I think my whole outlook on how life should be lived got me up quickly among the ranks of Las Araņas. I'm pretty high rank right now and still on the move up. Since Lure and Whip left, that leaves a couple more openings. I can't say that I hate either of them for leaving Las Araņas. In fact I admire them for taking the chance to do what they wanted to do. But that's how I work. You have to do what you want or you ain't nothin' but someone else's puppet. I guess I ain't a normal Araņa, but I'm proud of that. I wouldn't wanna be "normal" if there's such thing. A while back I got caught and that fuckin' sucked 'cause they made so I didn't do nothin' I wanted. I always did the opposite. I'd rather die than ever live like that and, I think causa that, Miguel got that thing removed. So now I'm back to my darin' self, ready to take on the world. And first up is the Strikers. They ain't gonna be lastin' long no more. I ain't ever gonna back down and I ain't ever gonna give in. I ain't no puppet and I'm gonna keep it that way!

If you think you can do find the passion
And you're ready to take a chance
If you really believe you can make it
The power is in your own hands
-Survivor

This above all: To thine own self be true
-William Shakespeare