Over the past few months I have noticed violent behaviour towards dogs around my neighborhood, begining first with a young dog  starved so that he could be ready to fight. Sadly, the dog lost the fight and the next day was found tied up in a trash bag left by a light pole to be picked up, some people around my neighborhood only buy dogs in order for them to fight others. Though how do you talk to the people who do these things? Right now this family has two puppies who are freezzing outside and looked a bit starved.

 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?

When attending the Vanguard awards ceremony on Friday December 19th, one of the members of the student organizations that were there typed up a nice little history of the delicious treat. I thought it would be nice to share that with you since most people don’t know the history and probably don’t care, but let me say that it is very interesting.

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.

I like this story, though I am sure much more can go into it and when read it will probaby be a little confusing. It is loosely based on the Sweeney Todd barber and is generally my interpretation of what some individuals will do to themselves because of their hatred for our president, Barrack Obama. I am here to say that people who don’t like Obama should really get over it all ready, he is my president and he is yours.

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.

I never thought, even though I started the position as a teachers assistant in the fall of 2007, that I would be helping to teacher 7-8 year olds. Today was the first day at Summer Camp with the K-6 program at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs. Let me tell you, kids can ware you out and make you feel like you’re in your 40’s or 50’s. Geesh they just will not stay still.

I would much rather be up on the teen floor, I feel that I could offer more of my learned skills to them. Especially with the NPM. Hopefully I will get my chance in the fall. I am exhausted now and it is taking every last bit of energy I have to write this post. My advice to anyone who is thinking of having kids, don’t. Though I am exhautsed the newspaper has to get done and since my computer at home is down…again, it’ll take me a little longer to get things done.

On the plus side, yesterday I hung out with Steve Bozzone my old and still mentor and friend. We talked a little in RittenHouse Square and then grabbed a bite to eat at “Five Guys” Once I learn my way around (yes I still have trouble navigating a bit) I’ll be returning there. There burgers, unhealthy yes, but really really good and big. Oh and if you order fries don’t worry they give you plenty. After that we went on over to get some parts for our bikes, name escapes me right now. I got a nice helment, nice lights, and a nice lock. Stayed up a bit unscreawing my old lights and putting the new ones on, now all I have to do is work on my break and newspaper boxes. Other than that the bike is ready. Me and Steve will be meeting up soon to ride before he moves to portland.

Another thing, I’ll be helping Mr. Wade Jackson film a training video of some type in the not so far off future and also I’ll be helping to get his DVD’s out more. For those of you who have read the NPM featuring Mr. Wade’s article, you know he’s a very facisnating guy who has a lot to say.

There is a cute girl working with me at Summer Camp, sadly she’s too young, I believe she is a junior in high school. Peak knows his boundries unlike some. And tomorrow will be a repeat day with the crazy kiddies, but Peak loves the crazy kiddies, pray for me.

Guess I’ll go back to work on the NPM now.

How can a parent forget their child in a heated vehicle?  Sure I can forgive the first grandparent who did it, but when it starts to happen 3 times in the same month, enough is enough I think. Was watching the news yesterday and saw a report about a couple I believe who forgot their child. The child was unfamiliar with the area and stayed in the car for a total of 9 hours. Can’t remember if the parents were charged. Though the first grandparent whi forgot their child this summer was charged, I guess a life really isn’t as important as one would think if you can forget about your own child.

But that’s outstanding parenting for ya…yeah right.

Yesterday as I waited for the 33 bus after getting my copy of the Spiderwick Chronicles DVD from FYE, a mother walked by, who looked to be in her 20’s, walked by and was talking on her phone. Thing is a few feet behind her was her son, shoes untied, and trying despertly to catch up to his mother with his little legs who is talking on the phone and not even paying attention to him.

How can you not pay attention to your child? Anything could have happened. Anyone could have took her child while she was on the phone, that’s how bad she was not paying attention. So once the child fell and the mother just stood as he helped himself up, mind you he had to be 1 or 2, the mother finished talking and completed her saga of not paying attention to her child.

That’s outstanding parenting folks…yeah right.

The saying goes, “Children watch us more than we watch them.” At least I believe that is part of the saying. So far in my life I have met a lot of out of control teens or should I say teenagers who you can just tell have not been taught any kind of sense from their parents. What’s up with that? I don’t want to write this as if I am bashing the parents of Philadelphia, but some of our youth are very angry at the world and this source of anger usually starts at home. At the HLCCTL there are some teenagers who are just that, angry, but why.

Well some of their parents don’t listen to them and treat them as if they don’t matter or know what they’re talking about. Not too long ago, there was a kid who was disrespecting a co-worker of mine and when another threaten and then called his father he completly froze with fear. Another example, throughout the school year I worked with primarly seven year olds. One day one of them were out of control by throwing chairs and screaming. My co-worker that I work with in the class called his father. HIs father came in and beat him with a twitch in front of his friends.  

The child was of course upset and abashed by this.  The point about both these scenarios id that both boys feared their fathers, this shouldn’t be. Yes sometimes the children should be reminded that they have certain lines that are able to cross and know that they are not “grown” yet. But I don’t think they should fear their parent in a negative way, maybe a respectful way, ya know?

However, there are some parents who really don’t pay any attention to their child therefore not really educatiing them about lives and explaining to them that they are not “grown” yet. Some parents will let their child rome the streets of Philly in an out of control fashion and not caring what time they get in or what theyt do between the hours of noon and when they’re supposed to be home.  Some parents are just as out of control as their child and the child has mimicked that because that is who they are supposed to look up to.

Yesterday as my sister was playing with her jump rope outside, little girl came up to her and asked if she wanted to play. The little girl, from what my mom was telling me, had a firecracker or was playing with them. My sister said “no, because fire is dangerous,” the little girl replied, “fire is not dangerous.”

That’s outstanding parenting folks…yeah right.