How not to catch a thief...

If you're the victim of a purse-snatcher, don't get rick-rolled and make it worse.

(from KingBach Vines)

Host clubs and human trafficking

Your mission, should you choose to accept it…

How would you go about seeing kingdom change in this cultural nexus?



And as a follow-up, this article is really confusing to me.

So in 2013, 22,335 calls were logged about trafficking (out of how many unreported?).  Since 2011, there have been 17 convictions.

"Currently, six suspected sex traffickers are in jail, and grand juries are investigating three cases involving multiple suspects. The number of sex-trafficking cases "has picked up, definitely," Correa said."

I must be missing something.  Are they actually patting themselves on the back for an increase in arrests?  A whopping six people in jail?!

Later, "Traffickers prey on the vulnerable, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths' struggle with their identity and often hostile communities make them perfect victims, Sanchez said.  "LGBT populations are highly susceptible," [...] The number of reported cases of transgender victims is small in the Southwest. In 2013, only four cases in Texas involved transgender victims, according to the Polaris Project. In New Mexico, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center received no calls reporting transgender victims."

Highly susceptible.  Transgendered trafficking made up 4 out of 2,236 cases of trafficking in Texas in 2013.  Um, say what now?

Community tutoring at your neighborhood superhero supply store

Okay, as I transition away from all the fabulous comics action, I'll leave you with this gem, the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company.

Doing good for the community - free tutoring for inner city kids, etc. and quality goods for the caped crusaders.  Dream high.

I don't trust anyone else with my quasi-vigilante needs.

Some HFH pre-movie release Cap captions

Cap is on the way! Early reviews say "Winter Soldier" is one of the best MCU films yet. Now I want to buy a motorcycle...

Better heed Cap and take notes, Spider-Man.  Never compromise.  Not even for Iron Man.

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world — 'No, you move.' "

-Captain America (from Amazing Spider-Man #537)

Here's a fun Throwback Thursday panel from Cap #108 (1968) for ya...

Cap faces Batroc and must put himself between innocents and danger - which reminds him of the man from Galilee?!

Cap (#122) does some soul-searching between battles for his identity and place in this world.

That's it, Cap! Seek the Scriptures, cry out to the Lord and you shall find Him. You might want to talk to some folks like Cannonball or Wolfsbane too about life in the Spirit.

Taking the "Mall Santa" concept a few notches up - think of how kids would respond to messages if Cap or Spidey were the ones giving talks at schools.

If you've seen him in action, you never forget it. In the darkest hour, Cap gave hope to a generation.
From Marvels #3 (Busiek/Ross).

Here's a novel approach to crime - have Cap give the bad guy a disapproving look!

I know it's been something of a binge with the Cap pics this week - maybe one or two more panels to go, I think, in honor of the new movie, unless you have some pics you want to share too!

When the Fantastic Four are near to giving up hope, the Watcher admonishes their doubting hearts (#72, 1968).

If you are at the point of despair, that is, of turning your back on God, know this: your adversary is not so dreadful as your fear makes it out to be.  But there is One who is greater, who is truly All-Powerful, and you can run to Him for refuge.

‘Cause, you know, Cap  called it…

The case of the convenient store cowgirl

Lest you think we're all about bare-knuckled vigilantism here, here's a lady showing us how to fight crime Jesus-style.

P.S. - God bless Texas.


As a follow-up, this child's close-call with an abductor highlights the power of God in the delivering the weak, the poor, the small, the captive.

When I was scared at night, my mom taught me Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee..."

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are saved."

Some good news in the struggle against sex-trafficking

Some news we can all feel good about sharing.  I know it's just rehashing links and info dumping, but I'll polish it up later...   If it helps get the word out there... “The Locust Effect” and "Ending Sex Trafficking in Canada."

Link on Bullying - what to do, what to do...

I was gonna post up a rad poster of Captain America on a motorcycle smacking some bad dudes up-cross the head, but Sherly sent me this link on bullying, so Cap will have to wait (just two weeks 'til the movie comes out!).

I know I've posted on bullying before, but this is one of the big issues we want to see changed, so it's always a good time to raise awareness. I just wish I could address each and every student and teacher in Japan about this since they are, by their own admission, clueless about how to go about handling these kind of confrontational situations.

Oldcastle’s Journal, Mar. 22nd.

11:05PM.  Wound on my foot looks unpleasant, swollen.  Insect bite, or whatever it is, kept me from hitting the street last night.  Could kick myself.  Tonight, the plan is to check out S&D, a local bar that Zach used to work at.  Mingle, make contact.  Try to be of help to people who don’t realize they need help.  At the station, meet up with Zach and a couple short-termers he brought along.

Once hand-stamped and through the doors, the cacophony engulfs us.  We waft through the miasma of smoke, making out shapes of tables in the back.  There are a couple guys in plaid shirts idling their time and we hit it off.  One of them, Ken, seems interested in our blonde friend, but doesn’t seem to know his chances are tenuous.

At the front, where the soundtrack is stuck on “tribal caterwauling”, the hunting grounds are whatever space is to be had between tables for gyrations, set up according to the local ordinance.  The guys mostly gawk awkwardly around at the edge of the herd, or, steaming with desire, find some girl in loincloth to rub up against.  Between the strobing lights, you can see the hollowness in the girl’s eyes.  Their bodies want to crash, but caught up in the surge, they push on, convincing themselves they enjoy this routine.

1:10AM.  Talk with two or three other folks as the night wears on.  It’s dicey.  Two girls at the next table seem worn out and I saddle over to try things out.  They’re slow to warm up.  Figure I’m there on the prowl like everyone else.  Offer to get them some energy drinks and come back with two Red Bulls.  It’s an exercise in practice.  One of the girls tells me I have a nice smile, so of course I’m unable to smile for the rest of the time.  Ken spends most of the time slumped over in the corner.

2:30AM.  Find Zach and his friends talking with a group hanging out outside the club.  They’re an assorted bunch.  Look promising.  But I got stuff in the morning and have to be heading on.  I walk with Ken as he looks for a taxi.  We cross the footbridge over the street and meet a super-sized Aussie with a prominent midsection and rat-scraggle of a beard.  Steve, as he’s called, greets us in friendly, but edgy way of drunkards, holding out a bottle for us.  I pass until he turns to Ken, who has a sip.  He’s told to drink it all, but Ken demures.  “Drink it down or I’ll throw you off this **** bridge,” he breathes, reaching to grab Ken’s jacket.  I move in and tell Steve hands off.  Then he shrugs and laughs, says he was only joking.  Good.  I was about make a joke of my own involving the Zima bottle and the bridge of his nose.  I make a friendly “see you around” (sunovagun) and walk Ken across the street, apologizing for fat-heads like that.  Ken nervously laughs it off.  Guess he’ll remember this night.