Smokin Paper, Commercial That Is...

Commercial Paper, uh. Yea.

So I am leaving court on my way to class. I was feenin for some blueberry muffin tops from Atlanta Bread Company. So I am driving, bumping some Con Law. I notice a older Cadillac on my tail. I kind of ignore it and keep rolling on Poplar. So proceeding on, the Cadi still on me. I can't make out the driver cause the sun was behind me. So it's time for me to turn onto the lot of the Bread Co, and as I am getting into the turning lane, so does the Cadi. So I am scratching my head, do I know the driver, or is this just mere coincidence. Maybe all the Red Bull has a brotha a lil paranoid. I dunno. So I turn into the lot, and grab me a quick parking spot.

I look up, and damn, the Cadi done pulled up behind me and stopped. Can't pull off, there is a parked car in front of me, and I still can't see the driver or passengers cause of the glare. Oh well, if a beat down is in store, at least I can get my muffin tops afterwards. So I get out the car, and sho nuff the passenger seat rolls down, (so lets see, option a.) be a punk and run inside, safe with muffin tops., b.) act like I aint notice them and get jacked from behind., c.) be the hard negro and confront., or d.) be the helpful negro and ask, may I help you?. Hmm......damn multiple choice sucks. So.........hmmmm.....uh.....D?

The window rolls down and the driver is a elderly white woman and what appeared to be her two sons. So now, I'm somewhat off guard, not sure what to expect. The lady says, I just wanted to tell you that I love your bumper sticker, and can you tell me where I can get one? I had to laugh and shake my head for a second. So I put on my of late, rarely used polite Cali voice, and told her, I was sorry, but I made it myself back in Cali. She smiled back and said, well I sure would like to have one, that guy is a nut. I agreed with her, thanked her and got those needed muffin tops.

Normally, folk will pull up beside me and honk their horn and throw their thumbs up. Not to mention those occasional times where a driver will pull up and throw the bird at me. I kind of like those occurrences more, but I digress.

Oh the sticker says,

This is kind of funny.

Oh it's Black History Month aint it. Hmm......ok........

Here's an article relevant to this month. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/education/26affirm.html?ex=1170478800&en=71b7f49141ebc5e7&ei=5070

Black History Month Quiz? Do you know who this nut is?

Naw he aint my uncle or nothing......

If you don't know who he is, here you go, http://www.campusprogress.org/tools/230/

Pure Torture

Lets see, spend two weeks refreshing your memory of 8 courses covered in your first three semesters of law school. Then you get to take a six hour practice exam to see how much of it you remember.

That was so fun..........

Oh the small minute details, the small variations,

I wish I could disappear from the real world for a few weeks to digest this material. So many distractions.......so many lazy moments.

A lot of sleepless nights too. Red Bull is a helluva drug.

Just going to have to work a little harder, naw I should say a whole lot harder.

Good to see that the folk marching onward have decided to take some action. Perhaps inaction by some is an indicative of one that either doesn't give a darn, or one who likes getting done. Let me shush.

How is it that Robert Spence lost the election for Congressman Cohen's old seat. Spence is an outstanding individual, but has lost two elections. Memphis voters, of or lack of Memphis voters.

When will the many Black Churches that exist in multitudes on every Memphis corner inspire its congregations to take back their communities? Oh, I forgot, that's no longer a role that in today's society. Well dang, what roll does it play???

Not that I watch, but I heard Memphis got much positive exposure on American Idol,

Now, time to mellow out, and jam a little. This sista is bad.......

State of The What

No need to watch the Speech, the Union is f#$%ed up!

The War, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.tucker22jan22,0,133627.story What......8 billion a month?

Health Care and Personal Debt, http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012207E.shtml , http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?pid=159864

Habeas Corpus, http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/011807.html

The Forgotten City called New Orleans, http://www.alternet.org/story/45953/ If you watch, see if Katrina is mentioned.....

In conclusion, http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/sanmateo/ci_5022801

Militance? Naw Common Sense

Some folk tend to think I am some crazed militant when it comes to certain issues. Naw, that aint me.

But I am a firm believer of speaking up when your interests is at stake. You know sometimes even when your own particular interest is not directly affected, you may need to speak up.

At the same time, not everything is worth taking action. Gotta weigh the affect upon your groups interest.

But what if your own direct interest is not directly affected, but you've placed yourself in a position of leadership? You gotta act. No doubt. You volunteered to be a leader remember? Sometimes leadership requires sacrifice. Leadership puts one out on the forefront. Some folk take leadership positions cause it looks good on paper. Those type of people will never take a stand when its time for action. That's straight selfish.

The key to action is having a plan. You never take action without a plan. That's foolish. Do you have a plan? What's the plan? Or are you stalling? Why stall? Don't let your ego get in the way either. It's bigger than you and me and others.

Don't strike a deal without the consent of those affected. Can't keep others in the dark when their interests are at stake. You don't let folk get shitted on when they don't even know its coming. That's just wrong.

Is this militancy? Naw, that's just common sense. You don't ever let folk make harmful decisions without some legitimate basis. Especially when the decision maker either has a history of such actions or tend to make such decision when it only affects folk like me and you.

This is to the folk still marching onward. Ya'll know who you are. Take some action.

Just A Little Jam

Sitting here.......uh.....reading and attempting to memorize some things, I felt the urge to listen to some mellow sounds from one of my favorite artist, Meshell Ndegeocello. My peeps know how I rave about here talent. Maybe you have watched Love and Basketball, one of her songs was playing in the background at the end of the movie when Sanaa Lathan challenged dude to a game of one on one. If you still don't know, you can jam with me. Enjoy.....Oh, pay attention to the lyrics.

Civil What Violation

I love the way the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is handling their ish addressing such violations. That's a damn lie. See why.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/15/AR2007011501196.html

No Charge

Why do I let those damn San Diego Chargers get my hyped up, just so they can let me down. Damn them. I took a break from BARBRI for this ish. We had the game, but let it slip away. Dudes dropping catchable passes, Db's freaking fumblin interceptions. Quentin Jammer plays a solid game all game, then gets beat on a crucial play. Ok I cant just call him out, I gotta add Eric Parker for droppin passes and fumbling, then their is Jackson for his dropped passes. Drayton Florence for that stupid unsportsmanlike conduct call. All ya'll need to be slapped. As Florida Evans would say, DAMN, DAMN,DAMN...... Maybe I should just abandon their azzes and roll wit the Titans.........Naw cant do it. Been a fan since a kid. Loyalty....damn that. Maybe next year. Whatever.

King Day - Dr. Kind would be mad as hell if he was here today and saw all of the black crime in our society. There were stories over the week about New Orleans having its 8th homicide in the first few days of this year. Memphis last I checked is at 11. That's just a damn shame. I do believe all but one victim was white. Bottom line is ni#$%s are killing each other at a record rate. And why? Who knows. When Dr. King and others in the Civil Rights Struggle were fighting, the least of their worries were there brothas, it was the other man. Now, sheeeettttt.

The State of Black America is in ruins, if not all, a great portion of it. Some of us lost our way, and it does not seem like there are enough to help get folk back on the path. I use to take offense when crossing the street, I could hear a driver locking their car door as I pass. Now I am doing it. It's messed up you have to fear your own. Black youth are off the hinges. Senseless murders, senseless crimes.

What is the cause of the chaos? I mean we know the problem, but what is the cause and solution? Hell If I know. I think education is one cause. Alot of parents do not stress it and our kids get the wrong message. I mean, you got kids that know the lyrics to every wack rap song, but can't read a freaking book. That probably cause their parents failed to buy a book when they were out shopping for Baby Jordans.

There is no excuse for the violence though. I guess when folk hopeless, anything goes. I think most youth are simply ignorant as to how far black folk have come. Uneducated as to what our distant relatives went through. Do they even know there was a fight? A struggle? Do they know there was a movement? Do they know n@#$@s aint always been killing each other. Better yet, if they knew would they even care?

I think if Dr. King was alive, he would throw us the dueces.

At the same time, would Black America be in the state that it is currently in if, Dr. King and Bro. Malcolm were alive? That's the million dollar question.

So in honor of King Day, I let Mr. McGruder finish this post up.

Mo Bodies.......Mo Death.......

So lets see....he's gonna send more boots to Iraq. But we won, remember.....Mission Accomplished, I could have swore I saw that ish somewhere.

If you oppose more boots on the ground, then you are a defeatist. Sound reasoning right?

I am sure those Iraqis love good ole American Democracy.

Crim Law / Crim Pro

I find it kind of funny that I spent two semesters in Torts class learning torts and then I spend one whole saturday reviewing everything I learned and didn't learn in six hours.

Slander.....libel.....hmmm....how does that go?

Intentional Infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress....thats all the same right? Ha....

Why is it if I invite you to my home for a party you are a licensee? But if I go to the store, I am a invitee? Why can't the person invited be the invitee?

Res Ipsa who?

Break time's ova, holla.....

Out & About

Before I actually got placed on lockdown with BARBRI, I got a chance to hang out with my sisters to tour the city. Let's see.......we went to..... I know I look a hot azz mess.......

It's always good hanging with fam. We hit up most of what Memphis has to offer. They may come back....I hope.

Saddam

I don't have the time to give my view at this time of the whole Saddam and justice thing. Bottom line is it won't prevent any deaths of U.S. soldiers. Not one bit. Maybe Bush earns another Boy Scout badge, but other than that, nada.

For those of you who want to see, here is the actual hanging.

Here is one view I might sign off on. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/article2112555.ece

http://www.bartcop.com/day-3000-dead.JPG

Graduation

On Dec. 16th, I finished my legal studies and participated in the U-M graduation ceremony. It has/was been an experience. I recognize though that I did not do it alone and there are many many individuals that helped get me to this point. I didn't walk the stage alone on graduation day.

It has been a long, tough, bumpy, frustrating, eye-opening, stressful, many sleepless nites in these three years. I learned alot about myself. It was not all torture, there were a few happy days in between. As I have said before, law school is a lot like pledging and being online. Except you are on line three years. Hell week began a week before exams and ended when grades were posted.

I give thanks to God for guiding me and blessing me during these years.

I give thanks to my parents and sisters for being there and supporting me.

I give thanks to my God-Mother for her support and inspiration.

I am thankful to my many mentors for their stories and their encouragement.

I give thanks to my classmates who together we challenged each other, while remembering we were in it together.

I give thanks to my inner circle. Ya'll know who you be!

I give thanks to my friends who stood behind me, with kinds words and support when my nerves were on edge.

I give thanks to the students who graduated before me and left books, outlines, study cards and gave advice when it was needed.

I am thankful for the TIP program. No doubt.

To all of you who have sent kind words the past two weeks while I was away, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The Ceremony.

The Crew

The Fam

The Reception - Big Ups to Zanzibar.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all. May we all be blessed in our endeavors. Peace