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Afraid To Tell Because No One Listens

Sweat glistened off of my forehead and dripped onto my t-shirt as I ran home. Half of my shirt was now partially damp from this sweat, considering I had just run home from my job. Ugh, I just got laid off. I knew my mom wouldn’t be happy with me. (From here on the character is going on a mental rampage) Then again what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her right? Or should I remember that honesty is the best policy? It was neither. Either way I was trapped.

  Not telling her about work wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve hidden something from her. Last week I hid the fact that I had the money she wanted me to get, but I didn’t get it the way she expected me to. Standing on the corner was not apart of my ideal expectations for myself. I mean I had a job at McDonalds getting paid 5 dollars an hour. I had given her my 4 years earning for college, but that wasn’t enough. Working over time for her wasn’t getting the money in. It was giving my body up, sneaking over time without my mom knowing or selling drugs.

Money is the only thing that satisfied my mother. She expected me to sell drugs because she claims it brought the most money to the table. Out of everyone that I seen do it I just couldn’t sell drugs, although I knew someone who could, It was my uncle Tito. My mom still doesn’t know that my uncle has been back to his old ways, cigarettes, weed, guns, and cocaine. That was my uncle’s way of life, and he wasn’t planning to change it for anything.

I felt like I knew my uncle’s darkest secrets and one was what he did to me. The image of what he has done to me has been running through my head for a long time now. Ever since I felt his skin touch mine I was never the same. I remembered it like it was yesterday. 

 I felt his bare skin touch mine. I screamed out howls of despair as his cold flesh made my burning flesh become room temperature. I remember that moment like it was yesterday, I’m just aware that my mom wont believe it. She wouldn’t believe that her own brother decided to put his manhood into my delicate flower and take away my innocence. I was scared and I still am.

 My innocent anatomy wasn’t pure any longer and won’t ever be again. I know I need to stop doing all of these things and stop letting these things be done to my precious body. So, how could I please everyone and myself at the same time? It was a simple answer, I couldn’t. I wanted to come out clear but the dark shadows lurked behind me.

 I could imagine my uncle’s voice as he would slam my body down onto the bed and say to me “ Don’t complain, ain’t nobody gonna give you sex besides me anyway. No nigga wants ya, they never gonna.” This image burns in the back of my head, as my mind wanders in to the starry night.

 There was one thing that stopped me from living my daily life like a “normal” person. It took all my life to figure out what it is.  It is Fear (Character makes fear seem like a person*). Fear stopped me from telling my mom the truth and fighting off my uncle. Fear was beside me as I ran home to tell my mom I got laid off. That was until it caught up in front of me and blocked me from telling the truth. Fear keeps me awake every night and lurks behind my shadows. I am that little piece in my own mind, watching the world from a distance.  

I’m looking at the sunset as I see a young girl running towards me in tears. As she’s running towards me I notice she’s holding her wrist tightly and I realize she is my next client in need of help. I have always helped people with their problems and most of the time their mood completely changes. Other times they came to me just to get a nice view of nature. 

She sits on me and speaks of these actions that have occurred to her and even speaks of actions she wants to occur. Suicide? Why would such person want to end their life, especially at such a young age of 12? This is the first I have heard of someone wanting to end something for eternity over something that’s only going to last a while

According to her, it was a way for her to get it over with, to get life over with. A way to get rid of the late night thoughts, that got her more and more terrified of death. Thinking “Why should I wait for my death & be scared my entire life when I can end it now, either way it’s going to happen. So what’s the purpose of waiting for it”.

            I believed humans to be fun loving people who lived life to the fullest. They seem so happy and enthusiastic. I always noticed they find ways to get through their days in strange forms, but it works. I have seen them move their bodies in such motions to a combination of vocal and instrumental sounds to show happiness, and later on share a couple of laughs with a pat on the back. They write multiple letters in books to make it symbolize things that express how they feel, and it works. With all these options why can’t this one girl find a way to make it work and continue living the life she was brought into? 

This sunset is gorgeous, who would want to give up this view?, I know I wouldn’t. I have been sitting here for about 40 years and not a single day do I wish to be removed from this spot. The beauty of nature, the river, trees and peaceful people enjoying it all give life a bigger reason to live. She’s speaking of depression and the only way to end is to end her life. Humans shouldn’t jump to such conclusions. This girl is quickly making a decision with out really thinking of the consequences. I don’t know what its like to have problems, or be happy, or to simply have emotions. I’m just but a bench watching life take on its course.

 

We’ve been together for 10 years now. Her name is Ms. Snuffle bottoms, she likes long walks through the park and likes to bathe in rainbows. She likes to think she is a chip off the old block from time to time. She is so awesome, I think I might just take her to school with me tomorrow. Since it’s the firsts day of school, (with so much excitement) She might make me so popular!

Once I got up the next morning my mother yelled from the bath room, ‘Anthony its time for school, get up and take your bubble bath’

I yelled back, ‘Okay dog, this time make sure my yellow squeaky duck is in there alright home slice’

Yes I’ve been waiting for this day to come ever since I got an A plus on my art project last year. That project was so hard we had to spell our names out of cereal. I keep putting “Pimp daddy Ant”. Today’s going to be great especially since I have Ms. Snuffle bottoms with me.

When I finally got pass those gates and saw my friend Chuck with his Jan-sport book bag. I started to walk towards him with this expression on my face.

 (With a cheesy face) ‘Hey what’s up Chuck Waggon, how was your summer?’

He look at me with a I’m about to punch you in the face look. ‘It was good man, (in a mad tone) how many times did I tell you to not call me by my full name… Anthony.’

I started to giggle and I almost pissed in my pants when I saw his reaction. I wanted to see it again so I said ‘My bad Chuck Waggon, hey do you want to see something’

He almost popped a vein when I said that, but once his face wasn’t red any more he told me in a silent but mean voice ‘What!’

I grabbed my superman book bag and pulled out Ms. Snuffle bottoms. She keeps getting caught with the pencils and pens I had in my bag. His eyebrows rose and he look as if he wanted to start laughing. He said (With laughter behind it) ‘What? You still have a teddy bear?

i wanted to punch him in the face for asking a question like that but instead I answered ‘Yea so!’

he looked around and saw a crow and told me ‘Nothing I think you should go show Ms. Snuffle bottoms to that big crowd of 8^th graders over there, I think they’ll like Ms. Snuffle bottoms a lot.’

I had got so defensive that I said in a quick and silent voice, ‘you know what… I will!’

I started to walk towards them I knew that they were going to love Ms. Snuffle. Bottoms. I mean who doesn’t love teddy bears with button eyes. Once I go to them I tapped one of them on their navy blue shirt, right on his shoulder. When he turned around I began to stretch out my hands with Ms. Snuffle bottoms.

‘Hey do you like my teddy’

After I said those six words through out the whole day people have been laughing and pointing fingers at me. Most times when people saw me they called me something that was related to (in a disgusted voice)“teddy lover”.

See now Ms. Snuffle bottoms would have never sold me out to the whole school. I mean she wouldn’t have done what my friend Chuck Waggon did to me.

 

 

 

 

Si yo estuviera en esta situación como Pedro, yo no puedo hablara con Susana porque yo serîa triste. Susana era mi corazon y mi vida y quiero pedirle la mano de ella. Le dirîa a Pedro que ella no está bueno para el.

mis amigos son muy similares a mí. ¿cómo están sus amigos? Aquí está una imagen con mí y de mi hermana. ¡la amo!

Y un foto de mí máma y yo.

Aquí esta una foto de mí y equelpo de peorrista.

Come one. I can’t do this. This is wrong. You can’t kill this man. No matter, what he did.

He killed her! My fiancée! He killed Arianna! My Arianna. He shot her in cold blood! He deserves to die.

I have a life to live. I have a child. What would the child do if his Daddy ended up in jail? He is only five. The world is a terrible place for someone that young with out protection. He needs his Daddy.

That’s right. Jay-Jay needs me. But what am I going to do when he asks me about his mother? I’m going to have to tell him the truth. Then he will want to go out and kill the man himself.

How do I know that? He might be more forgiving than I am. After all, he does have some of his mother in him. Will my child be able to accept me after I’ve killed this man?

Yes. He will understand that I did it for him. He will be able to accept that I had to avenge his mother. None of this stuff matters. I am going to make this man pay for this. He killed her because she chose me and not him. Why couldn’t he just take it out on me? I hate him. I hate him so much.

Am I crazy? Is it really my place to take this man’s life? What have I done that is so noble as to take this man’s life? I am not perfect. There are quite a few things that I have done that could have been brought up in court. I’ve earned some unpaid parking tickets. I dropped out of high school. My life hasn’t exactly been successful. In fact I think I might just be the poster child of revenge. All my life I have been getting back at people who have ruined my life. I slashed my Dad’s tires after he took my toys away. I beat up half the people in my school simply because they made fun of me because I was dumb and had the lowest grades in the school. None of that was really important to me. But this, this is the last straw. This man took the one great thing in my life and destroyed it. He shot her, and now I am going to shoot him. I don’t care about the consequences. He took my fiancée and my child’s mother. It’s not fair.

Life isn’t fair man. You have to accept it and work with the cards you were dealt. This man may have taken the mother of your child but it isn’t your place to take revenge. He will have to fess up to his sins eventually.

What is eventually? He will go to his grave and not pay for his sins. His lawyer will make sure of it. His lawyer helped him get away with this. His lawyer will probably do it again. That bastard. How can he possibly stand by this man after what he has done? Oh yeah, he gets paid very nicely. There is no justice in the world anymore. There is just us, and I am ready to accept that.

Am I really? The justice system isn’t perfect, but they do make the criminals pay. This man will pay. If I kill him then I will have to pay.

I don’t care. Besides that isn’t true. I will expose him for the criminal he is. That is better than whatever time I will have to serve.

But your child, he will be alone.

I don’t care! He killed Arianna. He will pay!

I really think that you should reconsider this decision.

There is no turning back. I am going to kill this man whether you like it or not. There he is now. That bastard. Acting so innocent. He deserves to die (Pulls out gun).

NO! I can’t do this. Please, don’t do this! I am going to have to pay the price not him.

There is no justice, there is just us. I am going to make this right. I am going to make things right, for my son and for Arianna. After all, I am the poster child of revenge.

(Gunshot)

Jalen Smith

11/9/11

                                                           Alpina B7, The Ultimate Driving Machine

I remember the day I bought my dream car. “Ok Mr Garnett, enjoy your new BMW B7, “the sales man said.” Thank you for coming, have a great day.” I couldn’t believe I spent $122,900 on this car. I was so proud of myself. I deserved this, I thought. I am a successful Senior Chief of a criminal law firm. I thought that nothing could have gone wrong with the car. I couldn’t wait to show my wife and kids the cream leather seats, the shinny blue exterior, the navigation system, and the self parking system. Oh, I thought I was so fancy. Hearing the roar of the V12 engine coming down my street. I knew that Gabrielle was totally going to enjoy this car.  My wife and two children came outside to greet me in the driveway.

My son said “Oh my gosh this car is so cool!” He had asked me how much horsepower did the car have. I told him that the car had 500 horsepower. I knew that I shouldn’t have told him that, I knew that he was a little to curious. I told him that after I came back from my business trip, that we could take it for a spin. He was so upset because he would have had to wait 3 days to take the car out for a drive around the neighborhood. That evening I felt regret because I knew that buying an expensive car would lead to something bad. Knowing that my 18 year old son had an interest in cars and had constantly watched Top Gear every night, he would have loved to try to get into my car and take it for a drive himself. But then I trusted my son. I didn’t think that he would have done that while I was gone. He was already going to be with friends for the weekend so he wouldn’t have access to the car. Friday finally came and it was time for me to take a 10:43 am plane to California for my business trip. So I decided to park the car in the garage and leave the key with my wife just in case she had to borrow the car for the day. I would never forget that before I left I said I loved him, and that if he needed anything call me. We both agreed and I left.

“We are going to reach our destination soon, thank you for flying American Airlines” the Pilot said. While I was on the airplane, I felt pains in my stomach, cramping. I felt that something bad would happen to my family as a result of my new car. This was something that I have never felt before. After arriving at the LAX airport I called my wife and asked her if the car was still in the garage. She said of course, where else would it be. I then asked her where Devin was and she said that he was out with his friends. I felt relieved. So I carried on with my day. After the two days past and the business meetings were all attended to, I enjoyed visiting the numerous museums, theaters and restaurants, that California had to offer. I thought to myself that this was a very fulfilling trip. Everything was going according to plan, until the night when the hotel phone rang. There came a demanding voice on the telephone, it was a man calling me and asking me if I was Steven Garnett? I answered, yes. My stomach dropped completely to my ankles. He said: “My name is Detective Brown, do you own a 2012 BMW Alpina B7.” Yes, I answered. I wondered if everyone was alright and if my son was alright. He answered: “Your car has been totaled and 3 people have been killed in your vehicle, the driver was Devin Garnett. He has been drinking and driving and they were all killed. The car had instantly flipped over, pile driving the car into a ditch. My phone dropped to the floor leaving the police officer repetitively saying, “Are you there”? 

He didn’t listen. Why did he do this? My son, my seed? Tears filled my eyes. I called my wife and shouted, how did he get the keys to the car! I told my wife that Devin was dead. Screams and cries burst from the telephone. I kept asking myself why oh why did I even buy this car. Why did I leave this car with my wife and children. How come I didn’t leave the car at the airport? Why oh why? Why my son? It’s all my fault. I need to take the next plane to Atlanta. Filled with such sorrow I boarded the 9760 Airplane to Atlanta’s Harts field-Jackson Airport. When everyone settled and the plane was ready for departure we blasted off into the gloomy sky. Hours past and there were no signs of happiness once so ever. “We are about to reach our final destination, thank you for riding American Airlines.” Drifting in the air looking at the clouds I imagined how much my son meant to me. His smiles, his intelligence and his bright sense of humor left me breathless from what I could have imagined. A big chunk of my heart was taken away from me just because of two things. That car and that urge of curiosity. This was something that I could have never put up with.

I finally survived the 5 hour plane ride and 2 weeks went past after my sons death. Today is his burial. Seeing the features of fall I began to reminisce about how he was such a scholar. He was determined and all he wanted to do was make his parents proud. I realized that my son was special, he was my best friend. I wished to have him back, safe in my arms, free from danger seen and unseen. This was a lesson. Now that he is in a better place I can’t let this haunt me for the rest of my life. This tragedy was just like water spilled on the ground and could not be gathered up again. As I looked into the gloomy sky I known that god was keeping him safe from harm. He would never have to go through no more struggle, no more pain but he will always be my pride and joy. My jewel. 

Read about this law - http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show

What do you think should happen regarding legislation like this?  What could you do to either support or speak out against this legislation?

​Its November 11^th a day to give thanks to the control so im going to take my annual trip to Philadelphia National Cemetery and pay my respect to the greatest war hero who ever lived. Julius R. Jenkins. That man was like a father to me and gave up his life for the safety and everyday I just wonder why would he do it. It Should have had been me if wasn’t for me he would be here today. Why did he choose to save me who or what did he see in me that was worth saving? I look at the name Howard Jackson I think of a worthless man who managed to destroy everything in his life. So what potential did he see upon me that was worth saving. I guess its just something I will never understand Julius so certainly one of those things. But his deaf leaves me with great regret and at the same time hope because if he believed  why can’t I learn to believe in myself. I rethink that week all the time too try to understand….

We were under heavy fire from the North Vietnamese Army and I had just knifed the chest of a enemy solider that had rushed into me. The battle had me full with so much adrenalin that I forgot the strategies that you to taught me that have so many times kept us alive through so many battles. Like the one when u said to secure every kill with a second cut to the throat to be sure that your enemy will never get up. But I didn’t instead I turned my back on him and the wounded enemy was able to draw his gun and fire.I slowly began to turn around in shock of the fate I will soon take I felt powerless and it seem as if I could not move. But then came you  jumping right in front of me  pushing both of us down to the ground. As we laid on the ground I began a sigh of relief, until I notice this blank stare in your face and you where not responding to my cries.” Ceaser Ceaser are you alright” no answer so pushed you off from the top of me and noticed you have been shot 3 times and where heavily bleeding. So I rushed you back to home base for medical attention but by time we had made It I had already lost you. From that moment in life I decided that it was time for me too change my life around. See even in the past life you are still my teacher. So for that I thank you Julius u are a true life changer

“I walked down the hall towards the board room contemplating this latest situation with the bank and the attempted robbery today.  As I though to myself, that was the second one this week, what are we going to do about this?  The bank is hemorrhaging money and I am at a loss as to why. (Look around the hall) I wonder where everyone is now, no one has been on time to a board meeting in forever and, needless to say, that doesn’t make me feel very good as a boss or an authority figure.  What’s the word…(Stops and ponders for second)  It makes me feel disrespected.  (turns toward the wall and rests his head on it)  When I think about what we could do to save this bank I draw a blank, I feel spent, I just don’t know what to do anymore.  I have asked people what they think we should do about this money situation and they just stare at me and ignore me.  (Stops and listens) What’s that noise?  (Walks down the hall)  Oh yea that’s right it’s Franks’ birthday and they’re having that party.  I wonder if i should tell him that he’s getting fired at the end of the week…(debates and struggles with himself)  No I don’t want to ruin his birthday.  The sad thing is that most of us will be fired before the month is out that was the only way to keep people from suing."

"I knocked on the door and walked in, the shareholders and investors alike were furious with my leadership, if I had know this I might have made some excuse, anything that I could have…Just to get me some more time.  To do what?  I’m not sure.  At that meeting they voted to push me out, they literally pushed me out of the bank at the end of the day.  Needless to say that was my last day working there."

"My name is Tim and that is how I lost my job, my friends, the respect of everyone I knew, and everything that I ever cared about.  That is why I sleep on the streets every night.  It has been ten years since that day.  (Man that Tim was talking to throws a couple coins into a jar beside Tim and walks away shaking his head)"

Back in the closet it’s dirty, dark, and cold. I’m all alone in this box of nothing. My time has passed and I am aging everyday. I remember when I had that new fresh clean smell, not dirty like I am now. When the white part on me wasn’t an ashy brown and black. Back then I was cool.  My family came out with something newer; I am so “yesterday” as I hear the others say. What is wrong with me? Yeah I guess I am a little beat up. What is SO wrong about that? Although I don’t like being dirty, smelly, bent all over and damaged up. I hate just sitting here! I am not cleaned anymore. Is it possible I just smell so bad that no one wants me? So maybe it’s not the way I look. Or maybe it is you, not me? There are so many possibilities. Jessica my owner, is short, red haired, and loves to play in the dirt. Why can’t she pick something cleaner? Maybe I would still be picked to wear. My name is hi- top, and I have a white base, with purple in front and red flaps in the back. I have a blue check on my sides. Oh . . . and I can’t forget about my laces! Name a color and it is on there. Maybe, just maybe I will be wanted after all. (pause) Is . . . Is she really coming my way. Jessica, is that you? I don’t have to look through that little whole anymore in this cardboard box. I think the top is finally opening. I’m soaring through the air in Jessica’s hands. OUCH! She just threw me down to the ground. Next thing I know I have the feeling of my laces being untied. Stretching my body for the first time in a while. As I “oohh”, and “ahh” I feel warm socks start to slowly slip into my open mouth. As she yanks on my tongue to try to get her foot in, it hurts a little, but I am just too happy to care. Tying the laces back up into a bow. Doubled knotted too! But then . . . I feel a pull. I feel my stitching becoming looser and looser. As her toes, slowly but shortly curl up I realize that her feet are too big for me. That happy smile I had was no longer there. A frown is starting to appear. Maybe it just seemed that way. As she gets up and starts to walk around it hurts even more. I am being pulled in every direction. I can only stretch out so much. She finally notices that I am way to small and sits down. Once she unties my laces and yanks on my tongue once again she struggles to get her foot out. She’s pulling on me in every angle and it’s hurting me, and probably her too. After pulling and stretching me in every way possible Jessica’s foot finally comes out. I get put into that hard annoying cardboard box, again. Then getting picked up and not sure where I am going? Why not into the closet? Isn’t that where I live? KABOOM. I get thrown into this white thing. It smells a little funky. Definitely not my closet, or any closet! I see a big clear carton, which has 4 spaced out shapes across the top. But what I really want to know is, where am I? What am I doing here? And most importantly why? 

Curtis Jones jr. represents me because I live in the fourth district, he is also the person who drafted and sponsored the “Growing Greener” movement that has made Philadelphia cleaner in projects dealing with parks and recreational things. My representative Mr. Jones is not just interested cleaning parks and recreational places but he also is big into other stuff like transportation and public utilities. He has interests that are lengthily and important to keeping Philly a good city. According to this site from the Philadelphia city council, Curtis Jones jr. is a member of a broad number of topics that he fights for everyday. What Mr. Jones and I both have in common is the interest of parks, recreation, the disabled and the handicapped, the environment and a working knowledge of housing and the homeless. From all that I have read I can tell that the councilman really loves Philadelphia and really does want to change it for the better.

More sources

More sources

I am lobbying for the clean up of all Philadelphia parks. Parks get dirty, it is what they do but within that dirt is glass and cigarette buds from careless, thoughtless people, this is harmful to children when they play on it and it is unacceptable. My motivation for this project was my recent visit to the doctors office to get a tetanus booster when I cut my hand on rusted metal when I was in a park local to my house. According to this site, everybody in the city council was up for helping the “green” plan, which included open spaces i.e., parks so he had no opposition in getting support. The city council of Philadelphia has made this into a resolution that has already gotten funding to make it happen.

​  I am a member of the 8^th district in Philadelphia and I am represented by Congressman Chaka Fattah. Congressman Chaka Fattah attended Overbrook High School where he graduated from and then went on to the Community College of Philadelphia and then the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government where he later received his MGA in the year 1986. Fattah has been a member of the Pennsylvania HOR for 5 years and he has served as the State Senator for 6.

Congressman Chaka Fattah supports many things and has sponsored 6 Bills that all support a different thing but when looking through all of the things Chaka Fattah has supported I see that he is all about children and equality

When it comes to the topic of the electoral college Congressman Chaka Fattah was one of the co-supporters in the Bill H.J.RES.36: “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the Electoral College and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President by the popular vote of all citizens of the United States regardless of place of reside”

When it comes to things we have in common there isn’t much between Chaka Fattah and myself. We both went to schools in the Philadelphia School District, we share the same religion which is a Baptist Christian and we are both democrats that reside in the city of Philadelphia.

 Sources:

http://fattah.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=18

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/bills.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00001746&type=I&spon_type=sponsor&cong=112

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Fattah 

                                                Life as a Slacker

 

     I am so tired. I have an English and History project to due by tomorrow morning. There is no way I am going to get all this work done in time. I don’t know how I have gone this whole year without doing enough work to be able to graduate. Hmmm, well, maybe, just maybe, I have just been slacking off a little bit. I haven’t been motivated to do any work.

    I want to be there, at graduation, not watching the other students, but being apart of it. I really do. It is 1:00 am and I haven’t completed any of the projects. I can’t go into school tomorrow without them if I want to move forward with my goals for life.

      I might as well get started. I could always just drop out of school, even though I want to get a high school diploma. Why don’t I just start? What is the English project again? Oh yeah, the paper about that book that we were reading in class. What is wrong with me? Just start.

      My eyelids are starting to get heavier and heavier. I don’t see these projects getting done any time soon. Let me just start to write, I am not sure whether what I am writing makes any sense but I am writing. The clock says 2:30. Whew, I just finished writing the English paper.

              Ahhhhh…..Drifting off…

   I see myself walking into school without my projects. I see other kids laughing at me, pointing at me. I see teachers asking me “why?” That’s when I hear yelling coming from outside of my door. I wake up and hear my mom yelling. “I know you’re still awake in there, your light is still on. Go to sleep!” I slowly lift up my head and hear my mom walking back down the stairs.

      I need to get back to work. I realize that in a couple of hours I am going to have to go to school and hand in my projects. Or what there is of my projects.

     How did it get to this point? Why do I have to do homework? I don’t quite see the reason for homework in general. What purpose could it possibly serve? Is it to make up for the lack of learning in the classroom? Is it that the school year is not long enough, or is it simply to keep us from having fun when we get home? Maybe it is none of the above; all I know is that it is something that I don’t enjoy. Argh, isn’t life supposed to be about enjoyment?  But, I really don’t want to go to summer school! Back to work!

      I can do this. Onto my history project. American history. How hard could that be? I am American after all. Hmmm. It’s supposed to be about World War 2. I know about that, my grandfather fought in that war. He told me all about it when I visited him in Florida. It was fascinating to hear his stories. I particularly remember the one where he flew a plane for 45 hours to avoid enemy territory. This is great. I could write about this forever because I love this subject. It is both fascinating and intriguing. It touches something deep inside of me. Wow, this is great.

    I will finish my projects. I will graduate. I will get my diploma. Hell, I might even go to college.

           

                   “Here they come! Everyone hide! The police is here!” They screamed while I was recollecting all the junk from the tables of that restaurant. “¡Virgen santísima!” I screamed. I remember myself hiding under the table I was cleaning. I tried to hide as much as possible. Silent, I saw people getting arrested by the police officers. They were screaming, crying, begging. “¡No me lleves! ¡No me quiero ir!”  Those people who wanted the ‘’American Dream’’ like me, begged. Poor fellows. They cautioned me about this. I knew this was going to happen. The police would come one day looking for the immigrants. But thank God I practiced a little bit what to do when that situation came, and at least it helped me. I did not get caught.

 

                     While waiting for the police to leave… I felt like all my dreams got broken in one minute. After that horrible moment, I realized I do not want to live another moment like this one ever again. This whole situation about hiding from the government it’s not as easy as it may seem. Now the confusion starts. I don’t know what to do. I remember I was born in the deserts of México, where my dad had to wake up every single morning, put his clothes on, and go to the farm to start working. After hours of hard work, he came home to eat some Tamales and that was it. Saw my family suffering from economical problems my entire life. They had to work every day for long hours to get some money to feed five kids for two days approximately. I remember when my mom gave me her food because it was not enough. Oh dad, I remember you coming home all sweaty, dirty, and tired. While other people in other places without working and without moving one finger, had more money and food than what we had in three weeks. I was the oldest of my other four siblings. Even though I do not have an education because my family never had the resources to send me to school, I consider myself more educated and smarter than a lot of people who attend school. That’s why I decided to move on and do something for my family. I remember that Saturday. When I packed all my things up and finally did it. Crossed the border from Mexico to United States without finding death. I guess I was so lucky no one caught me.

 

                  Now I am here, without anyone beside me. Trying to find myself in this unknown place. Seeing a lot of different people dressing up, talking and acting in a very weird way. Women dress up almost showing her body, and men decorate their bodies with piercings almost everywhere. The funniest thing is that no one seems like caring about that. “Where are you from?” some ask me. “¿Qué?” I answer. Then I realize they are speaking English. I do not know the language. How will I survive like this? I remember when I used to say: “Nothing will stop me. I will look for a job. That is how I will start. It will not be easy, but I will do it”. “Maybe I will have to hide from the police, but not for my entire life because I will become a citizen. Some people have come here and now they have money and the life they dreamed of. So I guess I will be pretty good…”

 

                    Who am I trying to fool? Right now I feel so lonely, sad, and depressed. When I remember those hard times at México, I get weaker instead of getting stronger. I miss my Mexican culture. I never thought living here would be like this. Here everything is just so different. I am not used to this. It’s hard surviving in here. I can’t communicate with anyone. This is not what I expected. Where is ‘’The American Dream’’ I was looking for? Where is the money I want? It was just a fantasy, rumors people say. What am I supposed to do now? Go back to México, or stay here? This is so confusing. They all say love is louder than pressure. But, is it louder than the pressure of trying to help your family with their economical problems? A pressure you had since you were a kid. Is it louder than having no food, clothes, or money?

 

                     It’s hard being in this situation right now. Where all you know is that your body is in Los Ángeles, California… but your heart is in a little farm at Zacatecas, México.

 

 

- Sería muy enojado con mi primo y me enfrentaría con Susana.

 

- No haría decir nada a Susana, Yo no me gustaría Susana mucho.

 

- Diría a Pedro que él no necisita una chica muy mala como Susana y su primo es muy estupido.

 

- No sería ayudar. No es mi problema.

 

- No es mi problema. Recomendaría a buscar para una chica nueva y no hable con su primo o Susana.

 

- Yo, en su lugar sería más enojado con mi primo como Susana.

 

- Mataría los dos personas! 

I live in the 2nd District and it is represented by Anna C. Verna. Anna Verna made history in 1999, she was the first woman to achieve council presidency in philadelphia's 300 years history. Verna was born on April 15, 1931. She joined City Council in 1975. She represents the 2nd district which covers most of South Philadelphia and western end of Center City. Verna has been a strong supporter of the tax reform and has fought for affordable housing in various parts of her district. From 1991-1998 she was the Chair of the Finance Committee, She was trying to restore fiscal stability when philadelphia was on a edge to bankruptcy. Not only she was a great supporter in the tax reform but she also fought crime. President Verna successfully fought for 6 billion dollars in funding in the city's operating budget for an additional 100 police officers and has been a strong supporter of curfew center.  President Verna has made the renovation of housing stock in neighborhoods and affordable housing a top priority. She has worked with many community-based organizations to build hundreds of affordable homes throughout the Second Council District and was honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging as their statewide “Public Official of the Year” for her work in providing affordable housing for senior citizens.

The Good Friends have created their second promo video. Watch to find out what the show is going to be about and when the first episode will air. Don't forget to check out our Twitter at @TheGoodFriends and to e-mail us for more information. 

     Description:
          Humus is a kind of dip for pita bread, it's pretty bitter, although can be made to taste more like garlic depending on how much you add.

     Ingredients:
          1 can of chick peas,
          1/4 of a jar of tahini (essentially sesame seed oil),
          1 cup of lemon juice,
          1 teaspoon of garlic,
          1/2 teaspoon of salt & pepper,
          & Pita Bread

     Instructions:
          Optional) Prep chick peas, you can buy them pre-prepped however this is unnecessary.
          1) Pour all the ingredients into a blender.
          2) Blend until humus is the texture you want (normally creamy with clumps in it).
          3) Taste and add more garlic, salt, pepper, or lemon juice at your discretion.

     Conclusion & Analysis:
          Humus is really very cheap an quick dip to make. It's not really a full meal but goes well with pita bread or other Arab dips, like tableau or  baba ghanoush. It's also quite healthy, not so much in having a lot of nutrition it's really too simple for that, but in the fact that it has (or if you make it yourself has) virtually no calories even in bulk. I can't really recommend it with other foods that aren't themselves Arab because the flavor is a little exotic. Even if your used to American humus, you probably won't recognize this humus because it's bitter, and lacks the excessive garlic most American humus uses. The authentic humus definitely an acquired taste.

Click here for my awesome benchmark!

Reflection
I chose this bill because I saw that it was passed very quickly and I thought that it would make for an interesting topic but I also saw that it had a then and now focus because it was made into a law in 1996 but Obama brought it up during his presidency to discuss and argue about. I chose the particular presentation format of a wiki because I was familiar on how to work it and how to make it click out to different pages when the hyperlink was clicked. In wiki I chose a notebook format because I thought it would be ironic with a laptop school and an online project in a "notebook." Some of the challenges for this project was time management and internal destruction. I was so over whelmed with the first quarter and not getting all my benchmarks at the same time, that my planning for doing the benchmark was way off my original plan. My internal destruction was myself telling me it had to be better so do not turn it in yet and my forgetfulness in that the project flew out of my mind. If I were to do this project again I would defiantly make the poem longer and put it on a different site where instead of entire pages dedicated to a couple explanatory sentences I could have little blocks like the comment stickie on googledocs pop up. My research told me that getting a bill to become law can go either way in getting there fast or slow and it all depends on the biase of the Congress people. I can not say that the research was hard but at the same time I can not say that it was easy, somewhere in between is where I stand.

​Jason Davis

Court Case

11/8

US. Vs Jones argues whether the use of a GPS tracking device without a warrant on a respondents vehicle to monitor it's movements is constitutional. The amendment argued in this case is the 4th.The FBI placed a GPS device on a suspect's car -- a Jeep belonging to D.C. nightclub owner Antoine Jones -- and used it to track the car for a month, without a warrant. (In fact, a federal judge had authorized the use of the GPS device, but the device wasn't installed until a day after the warrant expired.)

The placement of the GPS e system is the result of an ongoing case dating back to 2008, where Jones was convicted to life in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and 50 or more grams of cocaine base.The D.C. court of appeals then overturned the ruling, saying that it violated his 4th amendment rights. The case is now being argued in the supreme court because the D.C. courts claim Jones had no fourth amendment rights after being convicted. 

On Tuesday November 8th, the case was argued in front of the Supreme Court. Midway through the case, Justice John G Roberts stated that such a right may exist, which may trump the fact that it was in public. In this case, the latest in a continuing series in which the Court examines potential constitutional limits on police use of new technology, the federal government is relying very heavily upon the fact that the GPS technology it wants to use is carried out only when the cars or trucks to which such a device is attached are going from place to place on public streets or highways.

Su nombre es Josh Ritter. Tiene treinta y tres años. Es de Idaho pero vivo en Pennsylvania. Él mucho gusta cantar y practicar música. Él es alto y musical. No le gusta nada aburrido.