Two weeks later as I was walking home from school I saw by a small tree a dog with his intestines pouring out of its chest, I wish I had a camera at the time to take a photo of this terrible image.

Yesterday while walking from a friend’s house I heard a dog crying, I looked around but saw nothing but an abandoned house and a cord tied around the railing of the house, was there a dog trapped inside of this house I asked myself. There was, as I stood there for a few minutes I could hear the dog crying behind the shut door and the cord being pulled which led me to believe that he was tied up and attempting to free himself.

The block that I was on is not necessarily the safest place to be and is always heavily watched by someone even when you think its not, this sounds a little paranoid I know but a lot has happened since I moved from there and around the corner. Getting a last look at the abandoned house I started to walk back to work wondering if I should call the SPCA or Philadelphia’s finest. The last time that I called the SPCA for two kittens that were found by my mother in front of our house they never came, when I called them about my cat living outside and wanted them to come pick her up they never came, so I called 911.

It didn’t occur to me to see if the door was open, now that I think about it in order for the dog to be locked it maybe it was, in any case when calling 911 the operator asked and I said “Yeah, its locked.” She acted kind of rude when asking if I had actually seen the dog and kept going back and forth with this when finally I decided to make myself clear by saying, “Ma’m I can hear the dog crying and I can see the cord being pulled so obviously the dog is in the house.” She said ok and that she would send an officer out to check.

I understand that some people make false calls but not everyone, which doesn’t give her the right to act so rudely on the phone, even when you try to help it seems you get yelled at. Today I was walking past the house and could only see that the cord looked loosen, but the door was shut. This could mean that the police actually came or the dog choked itself trying to get free because I didn’t hear any crying or saw any tugging.

Why do people do these things?

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical at first about donating because of the recent report about a soldier going door to door to collect money “supposedly” for soldiers over in Iraq, but surprisingly he decided to use it on himself. However, I decided that I would not let that fact decline me from being able to help someone in need, so I dug into my wallet and pulled out a crisp $10.00 bill and shoved it into the bank. I know its not much but the guy ringing the bell said thanks and then went back to ringing looking gloomy once again. No thanks needed to be said I just want him and the others to keep ringing those bells.

A few blocks later I was passing another Salvation individual, who made anyone who passed not want to donate a dime. As I walked passed she said “happy holidays…,” gloomily mumbling the rest. But I guess if I had to stand outside all day in the cold I wouldn’t be happy either, but still.

This Christmas a lot of Philadelphians I believe will be thinking about politics, budget cuts, jobs, and other things that plague our unfortunate city, perhapes even our great country in general. Hell, even our beloved eagles owe us money, 8 million to be exact. I was reading last weeks Philadelphia Weekly when I found this interesting tid bit out and guess what folks, they owed us this amount since 1985 and were supposed to pay us back in 2001.

According to youngphillypolitics.com the eagles owed us this money as part of a deal to create luxury boxes at veteran stadium. These are things that even Santa Claus can not fix, sorry kids. It seems that everywhere you turn corrupt politicians are, if I may borrow a phrase from Mr. R. Kelly, “coming out of the closet.” The name that comes to mind is Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. If he did it, and I have a lingering feeling that he did, how wrong can you be? Attempting to give the senate seat away to the highest bidder and he doesn’t consider it to be wrong.

Anyway, lets get back to dear old Philadelphia, and the beloved libraries that are being shut down. Recently today a lawsuit was filed in common pleas court ordering and decreeing Mayor Nutter and others to hold off on library closures, the hearing will be held Monday at precisely 10am.

Even though there is a list of things Philadelphians wish to get for Christmas,perhapes Philadelphia couldn’t ask for anything better from Santa. For this moment in time this might just do, for now in our city of woes. Lets hope things shape up in 2009 shall we, I mean we still have an inauguration to look forward to, right?

The development of the candy cane took a few hundred years. Before the invention of the modern pacifier, parents used to give their babies unflavored white sugar sticks to on. During the 1670’s a German choirmaster had the sugar sticks bent into a shepherd’s staff and passed out to children attending the Christmas services. This holiday custom spread throughout Europe and fancy canes, decorated with roses, were used as Christmas decorations in many homes. About 1900 the white candy cane received its traditional red stripes and peppermint flavoring. At the same time the legend of the candy cane into being. According to this legend, a candy maker in Indiana designed the candy cane to tell the true story of of Christmas-a story about virgin giving birth to a shepherd who would give up his life for the sheep.

The most obvious symbolism used in the candy cane is its shape. Turned one way, it resembles a “J” for Jesus. The newborn Lamb of God was named Jesus, meaning Savior, because he was destined to “save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). Turned the other way, candy canes remind us of the shepherd’s staff. The first people to hear of Christ’s birth were shepherds guarding their flocks at night (LK 2:8-20). Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd searching for his lost sheep, feeding them. gently leading them, and carrying them in his bosom (Ps 23; Jn 10:1-18; Is 40:11; Jer 31:10; Micah 5:4; Heb 13:20). The sweetness of the candy reminds us that we are fed on the sweet milk of the Gospel of our salvation and peace (Eph 1:13; 6:15)

The hardness of the candy reminds us that Jesus is our rock of refuge (Deu 32:4, 15, 18; 1 Sam 2:2; 2 Sam 22:32, 47; 23:3 ). In rocky lands like Israel, people often sought shelter from their enemies in the caves or rocky crags of cliffs. Rocks also remind us of the solidness of the promises of Christ who is a precious cornerstone and sure foundation to those who follow him, but a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” to those who reject his gift of peace (1 Pet 2:6-8).

The whiteness of the candy brings ti mind the Virgin birth and the sinless life of Christ (Mt 1:23; Lk 1:34-35). We aksi are made as pure as the snow through the cleansing action of his blood (Rev 7:9, 14; Is 1:18). The traditional candy cane has 3 small red stripes to remind us of the soldiers’ stripes by which we are healed and a larger stripe which represents the blood shed by Christ on Calvary’s tree (Is 53:5; Mt 27:32-50). Some people say that the 3 small stripes honor the Holy Trinity while the larger stripe reminds us of the one true God. Others claim that the small stripes represent our mini-passions or sufferings and the great stripe symbolizes Christ’s Passion. A green stripe is sometimes placed on candy canes to remind us that Jesus is God’s gift to us. Green is the color of giving, by the way.

The peppermint flavor of modern candy canes is said to be similar to hyssop. In Old testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice. During the first Passover celebrations, a bundle of hyssop was used to smear the blood of Passover lambs upon the doorposts of houses so that the Angel of Death would pass over their occupants (Ex 12:22). Bundles of hyssop were also used to sprinkle blood on worshipers and objects during Mosaic purification rituals (Ex 24:6-8). After his affair with Bathsheba, King David appealed to God’s mercy crying, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7). Peppermint reminds us that Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). Peppermint reminds us that Jesus is our Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:7). His blood cleanses us from sin and destroys the power of death (Hosea 13:14).

Except where otherwise indicated all scripture quotes are from the NKJV

Wow, isn’t this an eye opener. Just wait until you read my entry on the big man himself, Santa Claus.

Read the final letter from Rhoda Fairbanks, L. O. Program Manager

 From:  Rhoda Fairbanks, L. O. Program Manager

December 3, 2008

 To:  All L. O. Community Producers

Re:  Closing of L. O. Programming Department

This is not an easy email to write.  As many of you might have heard about the restructuring and reorganization of many departments in the Comcast Corporation. Along with CN8- The Comcast Network, our L.O. Department has been eliminated due to  organizational  changes. Therefore, December 12^th, 2008 will be the last day of operation for the L. O. Department. If you have any set props or personal items at the studio, please pick them up by Thursday, December 11^th. I would like to personally thank all of you for your loyal participation and professionalism, in providing a service and imparting vital information to the community.   I know there is a Public Access Studio, scheduled to begin operation in the new year.  Hopefully this will be a vehicle for you to continue your community programming.

I wish you much success in your future programming endeavors, and that the New Year

will be Happy, Healthy and Prosperous for you !

I will miss you all,

Rhoda

          Sorry Twilighters, Harry Potter still rocks. Boy am I looking forward to Half-Blood Prince.

Yes there are issues that need to be fixed rather quickly such as, the troubled economy, the 10 billion dollar war, more jobs, and most recently the auto industry. Lets not forget the many budget cuts that are going around. Just because Barack Obama is African-American does not mean that our problems are going to fly away, I know, but we needed this change more than we needed the Phillies to win the title of world champs.

A few days after the election while I was in class there was a young lady sitting behind me, a McCain supporter. My professor, who liked Obama, suggested to the class that instead of our normal routine we would create a ballad about Obama’s winning victory. The class willingly agreed to this, however, the young lady was very upset and did not appreciate the ballad or the Sara Palin jokes that were on the tips of everyones tongue. There was a point when we were discussing a line for the ballad of how Obama gave us the audacity to hope, the girl replied in a whisper, “he didn’t give me shit.”

I wished at that moment that myself and her could have switched skin colors and history for a few minutes because maybe then she would have realized how important it felt to myself and others of my race that Barrack Obama was elected.

In focusing on this election I had hoped to find out in each candidates economic plan who would provide more jobs and how for the future youth of the United States we all know, especially now, how hard it is to get a good sustainable job. Overall the Obama-Biden plan will create new federal policies, and expand existing ones that have been proven to create new jobs.  The President elect believes that there can be and will be new available jobs through national infrastructure investment and technology, infrastructure investment meaning the rebuilding of our nation’s highways, bridges, roads, etc. Though there seems to be more that can be stressed about than just highways and such, read what Steve Bozzone had to say about this in his letter to Barack Obama.

The overeall idea of President elect Obama’s economic plan, I think, is that if you have an idea of doing things then that idea is welcomed, however, you must have the necessary skills and knowledge to back it up.

Now despite the many issues that have been promised to be looked into I feel that some African-American, not all, might have only voted for Obama because of the fact that he is an African-American. This can probably be viewed as either a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it, though there were blacks who only voted for John McCain because of the fact that he is white. It is just hard to believe that an individual who spends a majority of their time out on the streets smoking, selling drugs, causing trouble, would vote for Obama because of his policies.

Furthermore what’s ridiculous is the amount of hate that has generated since the begining and passing of the election date. Rumors flying around that blacks are getting hang for talking about Obama in coversation, anti-obama shirts, colleges going agaisnt each other because of racist slurs  being made, references of Obama to a monkey.

A co-worker of mine, her son, works down in virgina and has been doing so for some time and his co-workers/superiors are mostly white. Everything was cool with them until the results of the election came out. Now any little thing can get this young man in trouble, he was actually written up three time within a week…a week.

The bottom line, get over it, Barack Obama is and will be your president this coming January. Statistics state that youth voters did not vote in 2004 because they were not interested in the election. Other reasons are that they believed that they would be less likely to meet registration deadline and some did not know where to go or how to get registered. The voter registration rose a little in the years of 2000-2004 with the year 2004 totaling 60%. This time, however, 80% more of young people were paying attention. Yes good people, things have indeed changed.

Mr. Wade and I first met when I was writer/editor for the North Philly Metropolis teen newspaper. Mr. Wade had come to my office in the summer of 2006 wanting his views and concerns about the city of Philadelphia heard. I agreed to interview Mr. Wade for what soon became a series of articles appearing in every other issue of the NPM. Within this article I decided to switch things up a bit and instead of interviewing Mr. Wade, give him a chance to share his ideals and suggestions about the violence that inhabits Philadelphia.

 My name is Mr. Wade Jackson and I have a few things to say on how we can stop the violence in Philadelphia. I have a solution that will bring the violence down, but it will take participation from everyone including Moms In Charge, Moms Against Guns, Men United, Block Captains, Ex-offenders, former gang members, the commissioner, and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Locking up and throwing away the key is not the answer to prevent violence. My solution is that throughout the city of Philadelphia instead of thinking negative about the young generation that went astray; let’s turn this negative thinking into positive. Everyone, take one male or female that is going toward the wrong direction under your wing and reach out to them like they are one of your own. Show them what they are missing in life, show them how important education is, and take them to different places. Everybody must work together as one; we are the answer to the violence, not jail.

Michael Nutter since you are about education and want the violence to slow down, are you willing to take a teen under your wing and guide them in the right direction? You are the mayor of Philadelphia; you can set the biggest example by letting Philadelphians see you do this. I am asking everyone to reach out and take a chance with youth because we are losing them either in jail or to the grave. They deserve a chance, let’s give it to them. Reach out to them and show them love.  If God can forgive, so can we.

Everybody throughout the city of Philadelphia step up to the plate, it will be a big change for our lives. We must remember not all families have both parents. Even with both parents some children still don’t get love and that can definitely lead them in the wrong direction. We are all supposed to be as one, love each other as one no matter what color you may be.

Another solution for people who are ex-offenders and don’t have jobs, one thing that could be done is to create outside jobs such as, cleaning graffiti off of walls, painting buildings, washing windows, and landscaping. I know a lot of companies don’t want to take a chance with a person who has a record, but just give them a chance. I believe that a lot of outside jobs will be a success, there is nothing like getting a paycheck for doing honest work.

Michael Nutter this is another idea for you to think about, since you want to help people on parole and ex-offenders. Instead of millions of dollars going toward unnecessary things for our city they could go towards those who do need jobs.

Thank you.

(Peak Johnson, The Student Vanguard)

The Barber

Quincy ran through his mind once more making sure, as he watched the barber clean and straighten up his chair and surroundings, that he had completed the days tasks. He had fed the dog, dropped his children off, kissed his wife, cleaned his office, washed the dishes for the very first time and had a very big lunch.

“Yup,” Quincy said to himself as he made his way over to the barbers chair, “I’ve finished everything.”

The barber took his razor blade from his pocket and held it beneath Quincy’s neck, Quincy felt the cold touch of it and before letting a tear fun down his face ran through his mind once more to make sure he had completed everything.

“It’ll get better.” The barber said with a smile.

Quincy looked at an image of Barrack Obama appearing on television.

“No, it won’t,” he said sadly.

As an Obama supporter shouted loudly on television, “Change we can believe in,” the barber slit Quincy’s throat.

The sour metal taste that blood often had filled Quincy’s mouth and lungs, he struggled with it, gargled with it, until lastly he moved no more. The barber stepped on a button that existed beneath the arm of the chair and sent Quincy’s body to hell.

The barber grabbed a mopped and started cleaning and straitening up his chair and his surroundings as the next customer came to his seat.

“It’ll get better.” Said the barber, smiling.

“No, it won’t.” replied the customer.