Still Around

All decks on hand, full speed ahead........

Actually had my last law class yesterday.........poured a lil you know what for the homies.

I have alot of unfinished things, like Beloved.

I hear her.......

A little reading http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29diverse.html?hp&ex=1164862800&en=f6a5a2633c7bb5e6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Marinating

I have been on the low the past few days. I took a moment to enjoy Thanksgiving. I got a lot to be thankful for these days. But as you know, Thanksgiving can't be limited to only one day. It really can't. You have to truly give thanks the moment you rise to the moment you lay it down at night, and all in between the two.

I've said before, no one is promised tomorrow. Zulu's death simply as a reminder of that fact.

What am I doing with my life and what legacy might I leave?

Will I be a trailblazer? Will I leave a path for other's to follow?

Yo, I waste alot of my free time on BS. Some of it justifiable, a brotha need a little entertainment in his life, and some of it just unnecessary.

Speaking of.......let me get back to Beloved...........I think Beloved's middle name is Procrastination.

FYI, We, the bruhs, and former LOC students, will be having a memorial for Rasul today at 6:06 at LeMoyne. Get there if you can.

My Brother

Last week during all the hustle and bustle of my daily activities, I got word that one of my good close friends had suffered a minor stoke and that as a result of the stroke, an embolism formed. He was going to have minor surgery to fix the embolism. I was shocked and disturbed by the news, but because the prognosis was good, I was relieved. I figured just as soon an my man recovers I would hit him up. I said a prayer for him, and jumped back into my bubble.

I won't be able to make that call.

My Brother Rasul Madyun did not recover. On yesterday, he passed, he had no brain activity and was not breathing on his own. His parents decided to turn the machine off. This after two surgeries could not correct the embolism. My brother Rasul was just 30 years old.

I met Rasul an East High graduate, when he was a junior at LeMoyne, he wanted to pledge my frat. I wanted to make his life miserable. He was going to be an "Uno" so I had to have him right. We called him Zulu. Matter of fact, one night we had a pledge session at my granny's house. The noise of swinging wood, brought her to the front of the house to see what was going on. Everybody in the house scattered. We still joke about that to this day. But Rasul had one of those personalities that kind of made it hard to pledge the guy. I would rather debate the issues with him, and that's what we often did. Discussed everything from politics to religion. Yo, he would talk me out of my position sometimes, or to the point that I no longer wanted to debate, ending the conversation with a handshake and a sly grin. That was Rasul.

Our bond grew stonger, evolved beyond that of frat brother. We had a religious bond as well. We did not know that some 30 years ago, his parents and my mom became friends and attended the same Mosque. It was only later that we learned of this connection.

Zulu and I kicked hard it, partied hard, debated hard, but we also kept each other level, never allowing each other to cross the line. I appreciated him yanking my collar when I pushed things to the limit. That's what brothers are for.

Three years ago, I decided to go to law school and he decided to marry and relocate. He ended up in D.C. He became a religious leader as a local mosque there. School and the distance kept us from chatting as often as we did before. But when we did I felt his energy, he was excited about the direction he was headed. I last saw him in October, I was running to class, jumped out the car, shook his hand, briefly chatted about things, asked him when was he and the wife gonna have some babies. We laughed it up and told each other we would catch up soon. My last communication to him was a text message I sent. I should have called.

Zulu always had a smile on his face and words of wisdom to speak. He was a very skilled artist. He was one of the best steppers in Beta XI, for that matter in the City, he would break out stepping in a heart beat and there was no one who was gonna challenge him. College days swiftly pass, imbued with memories fond......

You know, the distance and school was probably the only reason he and I did not chat that often. His untimely death hurts a lot. Talk about catching a brotha off guard. We plan and then the Lord plans, but............ He had a lot left to do in this world. He inspired a lot of youth here in Memphis, and had began planting seeds with many in D.C. Rasul had big plans, who is gonna finish the job he started of enlightening the youth and making a difference in peoples lives. In his thirty years he made a difference to many, I can only imagine how many more he would have reached if he had another thirty more. May God bless him soul, and grant him paradise.

Miss you already man.

His MySpace page, http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=79473340

Boondocks vs. Chargers

So I had a decision to make yesterday. Was I going to spend my Sunday being an intellectual, spend it working on Beloved (negative) or was I going to spend it yeling at the TV watching my favorite Chargers? Aaron McGruder, the creator of my favorite strip The Boondocks was at the U-M speaking to the Minority Graduate Student organization. I am a big fan of Aaron and having previously watched him on C-SPAN while at Emory University, I was really interested on getting his take on a host of issues.

On the other hand, my childhood team was playing the Denver Broncos for First place in their division. Under the lights, prime-time tv, I've gots to be there. But what if they lose, then I would have missed out on a good stimulating event.

So what would it be? Intellect or football? Getting dressed or chilling? Burning gas and drviing to school or walking ot the living room? Sitting straight up in a chair, or lounging on the couch? Why must I choose between the two? What shall it be?

Hmmmmm...

I'll catch Aaron when he comes back to Memphis.

Had the Charger's lost, I was going to be hot, but we prevailed............!!!!

What the hell is wrong with Kramer from Seinfeld? http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/showbiz/2006/11/19/b.anderson.nword.cnn&wm=10

Just a Little Ranting

Why do Smoothies cost so damn much? What exactly are you putting in it that makes its a $10 drink? Don't even think about asking for one of those vitamin boosts, that's an even 12 bones.

Why in the hell does Soul Train still come on? For real?

Why am I even up that late to flip past it?

ESPN covers Paintball tournaments, with color commentary, why? Is it that exciting?

Domino tournament on ESPN, with analyst, what is that about? You want excitement, take a camera to some of folks house and watch them play. Now that's excitement.

The realest show on T.V. is the Wire. I see BET will soon start showing the old episodes. Bout time BET get some decent programming.

When in the heck will Maxwell release a new CD?

Will we be punished with higher gas prices because the Repub's have lost control of the House and Senate?

Can I finish Beloved this weekend? Ha!

Why am I addicted to Chocolate?

Can a brotha get $65 for a $50?

Why is the computer lab like a damn sauna? Maybe they should pass out towels when we walk in here, that's the least they could do.

Update

While putting in work I can across a story I talked about in the past. One of those kind of things you just wish never happened. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1948615,00.html.

Smack Me Please

Well, Beloved was presented today in the form of a power point presentation. Let's see, I painted a picture in my head of what I wanted to do about two weeks ago, but I did not get started on it until last night. My last minute azz, it's not my fault though, it's damn near impossible to multi-task these types of assignments. I think the main points of Beloved were relayed made to the listeners so, I guess that was enough. Now I have to find the time to finish writing it.

I finished my BAR application and dropped it off, good riddance you pain in the (shut yo mouth)

And no, I did not wait until the last moment either. I was better off just doing the autobiography of Spike, that's what I felt like I was doing. Big Ups, to CR for notarizing that bad boy. Thanks!!!!

I think I am gonna have to find me a hustle real soon..........like tomorrow....... BAR fee's, Barbri fees, PMBR fee's, got dayuum.....I am about to turn into that friend that whenever he sees you, he asks for a dollar. By the time you have realized it, you've dropped off about $20.00 bucks. Gimme a dollar.. I am gonna be light headed when I drop that cheddah off in the morning.

Is it exam time already? It must be. I saw one of my classmates walking out of a study session, not with a cup of coffee, but with her own pot of coffee. She doing the damn thang. I betta jump on that too. Somebody pass me some Full Throttle.

Politics...........hmmmmmmmmm..................can I say it?............naw......well.........its a bore and we still at war.

I forgot, big up to JT for handling his in our mock trial. Good work dude.

Blowing Through

My mock trial partner and I had exactly 5 days to prepare for a mock murder case. That's learning the acts, formulating a strategy, finding/prepping good witnesses, and a lot of other time consuming things. I hate rushing and doing things at the last minute, the final product may often come out wack.

Glad to say that the rushed work came out pretty good. I think we kicked butt, but of course that's only my own biased opinion.

Just as I exhale, and wipe a little sweat off my brow, I look up, and dayuuum, I got to present Beloved to my class. I aint even done with Beloved, but I gotta make a presentation? Did I know about the presentation? Sure, but................... yea.......Gotta Go.

Darfur

I have spoken about the situation in Darfur on previous posts, and since you already are aware of what's taking place there, I need not brief you on the situation in Sudan. (You bet not be sitting there, going Darfur? Hmm... Darfur?)

Today is the 1st Annual NBLSA International Day of Community Service. The day will be spent raising awareness for the victims of genocide in Darfur. Our local chapter has a program scheduled for today at the Law School. One of my old professors from LOC will be the guest speaker, Dr. Randolph Meade Walker.

You know, given this Administration's desire to spread freedom and democracy to the world, it's a damn shame they wanna wait for the rest of the international community to make moves before they do.

It would not be Spike if I did not end this brief post with a little private message to someone............ready? Here it go?

Jon B. O., if you aint interested in the Circus, stay yo tail at home. But seeing as it is that you have sooo much time on your hands, it might serve you some good coming in and listening. Peace and blessing to ya bruh.

In D Face

Election results in, looks like there will be checks and balances. I have a couple of observations, but no time to share. I am just glad that voters made moves.............oh and that Rumsfeld is gone, not that this new dude is any different. Can we say Iran/Contra.

Gotta love the European press......

Voted Yet?

Just in case u r still staring into your monitor, thinking bout who knows what, and you have not voted yet. This might motivate you up out your seat and to your voter precinct. Hey one last time, I'm Spike Zee and I approve this message.......

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/110606.html Scary stuff aint it?

Go Vote........Today

I know we are busy and stuff, but put the mouse down, and go vote...................No, foreal...........Get up, go........

Vote for the candidate that best represents your interests and views on the issues if that is at all possible. Vote for the best candidate. Vote for the person who symbolizes what it is you seek in an elected official.

Hmmmm.....(BLEEP ALL THAT Patriotic ish I just stated), Just vote for Democrats, even if the actual candidate sucks. The Senate and the House of Rep's have got to be removed from the hands of the Repubs or else ________________________________________. (Think of something bad, and fill in the blank, or think of some bad ish that has already happened and fill in the blank). It's called Checks and Balances, and right now we don't have it.

You still here? Go vote, dang..........

Interesting Reads

I have been way too busy to talk politics lately, I had to drop these two articles.

Behind Bin Laden, Britons believe George Bush is more of a threat to the world over Kim Jong-Il. What a surprise.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1938434,00.html.

Reconstruction in Iraq and all of the Billions in tax money blown like a preacher blowing Sunday collection in casino. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110306M.shtml.

Thanks PA.

We Are Da Champions

Last night, the fellas won the Law League Intramural Championship, knocking out the Pink Pansies,(Hey, Bluebook this itch.) We are back to back champions!! Our Ladies team almost pulled off the upset as well. You all had a great season nonetheless!

You know, while on the field competing we get to see the other sides of each other. It's not the intellectual, courteous, friendly side that is exuded out there. It's the, this is how I am when I am with my peers type of personality that is displayed there. Everyone who knows me, knows I am a competitor and will talk you out of your game if you let me. It's never personal, and my team mates can back me up on that. If you you lack in skills on the field, I am gonna tell you. If I happen to get in your head, that's just a part of the game. It's funny though, cause it aint even that serious, you know, with papers, and exams, and other stuff pending, its just an outlet. But..............

To Napoleon Dynamite, if you see these words.....my mom's aint gotta be a itch......You don't even know me son. Matter of fact, I did not even speak to you last night. But hey, I sit a few rows down from you, I aint to hard too find......You lucky Los pulled my collar.

This may seem a little juvenile, but since I was about winning the game last night, I could not have responded to the statement the way I wanted to respond, I would have been ejected from the game. Cooler heads prevailed, but that was not even called for. You don't talk about no black man's mom (did I inject race?). Don't you know that's how folk in the hood come up missing?

Now that I have released that, on to other more important things.......

Got my vote on today. Talk about a lack of options. I swear Jr., if successful in his bid for the Senate, he better change the way he votes on the issues. Be a Democrat why don't ya? If the Repubs retain control of both Houses, its gonna be scary.

Cohen or Jake Ford? Come on be for real..........

Military Commission Act, read it yet? Here is an interesting read http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003345862

"Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act."

"What did Conservatives do? They opposed them on every one of those things ? every one. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, 'Liberal,' as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won't work, Senator, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor."