Monday, November 7, 2011

Conrad Murray is Guilty: What do you think?

A verdict has been reached in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. See the live stream of the verdict reading below. - Courtesy of CNN.COM


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Occupy Wall Street: What's the beef?

Unless you have been under a rock lately, you might have heard a little something about a movement called, "Occupy Wall Street" This movement has shaped itself into a whirlwind of a spectacle around the world.  It began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. 

These protesters are resiliently embarking upon a month of protesting against the "corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations." see Occupy Wall Street Website 

The idea that a group of people are using old school "No Justice, No Peace" style protesting to make a point, is quite frankly refreshing. I'm excited about the aspect that good ole democracy could possibly be back in business.  Fighting the system, not by playing by their rules (which never really works), but by attacking the "Man" with vigilante yummy goodness. Ah....America. 

The movement aims to expose how the "richest 1% of people are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future." see Occupy Wall Street Website
I get it. They are pissed. But what is their agenda? What will get them to stop?  
At least that is what perked my interest to investigate. Here is what I found.

"We have no agenda other than to provide people with information about the events and actions happening in their area in solidarity and support of those that currently Occupy Wall St. Our political and social beliefs will remain neutral for this cause; this is not about us, this is about the movement. The only thing we will promote openly is peaceful demonstrations."


See Occupy Together Website.


What a bummer. No list of demands? No helicopter? No bag of money being dropped at an undisclosed location? What a let down. This is what I thought at first. I was confused. But then I realized, isn't that always how change starts? With a whisper. With acknowledgment. With anger. You have to let people know what your angry about to have a leader take notice and want to grab all those budding followers that are egging for direction and focus. The question is who will take the bate in the 2012 election? Or will anyone? I think all the coverage these protesters are grabbing it is making them very hard to ignore. It will be interesting in the coming months what with the weather getting colder outside and hotter inside the election walls to see how this all pans out. For now, in the interest of offering information, I will post a few links for additional information on the Occupy Movement. 


Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Together 
Occupy Everything 



Thursday, November 3, 2011

Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities: L.A. is Number 158!

Good News! We didn't make the list. Good thing it is not based on crimes like driving under the influence or celebrity paparazzi attacks, then we might have been in trouble. Check out the whole article on Gawker.com..


1. St. Louis, MO (This worries me since one of my best friends lives there) 
2. Camden, NJ
3. Detroit, MI
4. Flint, MI
5. Oakland, CA
6. Richmond, CA

7. Cleveland, OH
8. Compton, CA
9. Gary, IN
10. Birmingham, AL
11. Baltimore, MD
12. Memphis, TN
13. New Orleans, LA
14. Jackson, MS
15. Little Rock, AR
16. Baton Rouge, LA
17. Buffalo, NY
18. New Haven, CT
19. Hartford, CT
20. Dayton, OH
21. Kansas City, MO
22. Washington, DC
23. Newark, NJ
24. Cincinnati, OH
25. Atlanta, GA

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Trial of Conrad Murray: The Short Version

Ok, So I know I have totally missed the boat in my coverage of the Trial of Conrad Murray. You would think I would have been more present in my discussion of this given that it causes me to be at least 10 minutes later in the morning with it's venue being in my backyard. #dtla baby! 

Anyway, here are some major points to get you caught up if you haven't been paying attention. 

So, the cast of this play are as follows: 
  • Defendant Conrad Murray, 58-year-old cardiologist, personal physician to Michael Jackson
  • Judge Michael Pastor
  • Prosecutor David Walgren (L.A. DA's office)
  • Prosecutor Deborah Brazil (L.A. DA's office)
  • Defense Attorney Edward Chernoff
  • Defense Attorney Nareg Gourjian
  • Defense Attorney Michael Flanagan
So far, Act I and II have gone something like this: 
  • Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael Jackson died of "acute propofol intoxication."
  • Conrad Murray is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. He could face four years in prison and lose his medical license.
  • To convict on involuntary manslaughter, the district attorney must prove that Murray was recklessly doing something illegal (or doing something legal but in an illegal way) that was likely to and did in fact kill Michael Jackson. The DA does not need to show that Murray intended to kill Jackson, just that he acted recklessly. 
  • Legal experts say that administering the powerful anesthetic propofol in a home setting simply to fall asleep could definitely count as reckless and a gross violation of medical norms. Although propofol can legally be prescribed by most doctors, it's used in hospitals during surgeries or in rare cases to help dying hospice patients, but NOT to treat insomnia.
  • Murray is contending that he left MJ alone for only 2 minutes for a bathroom break. Other experts have stated that MJ must have been alone for a longer period of time and that he must have injected himself with the fatal dose. 
  • Prosecutors contend Murray is criminally liable for Jackson's June 25, 2009 death because he recklessly administered the propofol, a potent surgical anesthetic drug, and was negligent in properly monitoring Jackson.
Conrad Murray has stated that he will not take the witness stand. If Murray decides not to take the stand then 
closing arguments will probably take place tomorrow, Thursday. 

We may be very close to a resolution. FYI, The jury consists of seven men and five women. Six white, five Hispanic and one African American.

I will post more details as I get them.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Crackdown on Crack Sentencing

For years there has been an upset in the legal community regarding the unequal treatment of sentencing amongst defendants caught with crack cocaine v. powder cocaine. The fact is that the punishment for consuming or selling crack cocaine is 100 times worse than that for powder cocaine. 
Many have linked the disparity to a deliberate prosecution to "round-up" those in the African American community. The stereotype has been that Americans plagued with a lesser economic disposition are more liable to use the less expensive crack cocaine than it's more expensive counterpart, powder cocaine. "What was clear was that the rules disproportionately affected African-Americans, leading civil rights leaders and other public officials to level harsh criticism against the criminal justice system. That's why in 2010 Congress passed and the Barack Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act which lowered the sentencing ratio of crack to powder crimes from 100:1 to 18:1." See "Inmates Set for Release After Changes in Crack Sentencing" by Gabriel Roxas
I will admit it is slightly embarrassing that we are using legal time to discuss the fairness of sentencing for drug dealers and crackheads but someones got to fight for them too, I guess. Also, the concern that should touch everyone at home is that the prisons are wasting capital on housing these offenders. There is even a advocacy group for this. see The Sentencing Project
Under the new Fair Sentencing Act, thousands of federal prisoners nationwide are now eligible for early release after changes in the way sentences for crack cocaine are calculated. The overall effect will be spread out over years, but almost 2,000 federal prisoners will be eligible for release on Tuesday. It could take longer for paperwork to go through and allow the inmates to walk free.
Now the U.S. Sentencing Commission is applying that law to past cocaine convictions. Officials estimate about 12,000 inmates could eventually benefit.

Getting Off My Ass...Halloween Relief

Getting some steam under my ass to start writing again. To be honest, I have been so consumed with life and the choices that I have before me that the additional stress has not allowed me the clarity to write in this blog. Forgive me.

I find myself wanting to do this:
(see right)

When I should be facing my stress head-on, like a joust.

So, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I know last year I had the Halloween party for the kids at the house which was followed by a post with pictures of family fun. See "Halloween Fun Party: For the Little Monsters" and "Halloween Party Maddness And The Fall of Super Mom"  and read again about last year's antics. 

This year the NuNu took one look at the decorations for the party and proceeded to tell me to place them back in the garage. What a bummer. What a relief. I'm disappointed that she was scared by the decorations but I can't lie, I was relieved that I didn't have to orchestrate a Halloween party. I have just been too on edge lately to deal with any of that.

Instead, we dressed her in her Princess costume and took her to meet the princesses at Disneyland. She enjoyed every minute, including seeing the Mickey Parade for the first time. priceless.

Easy peezy. Now, to get through Thanksgiving.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Touched by an Angel

Two weeks ago I lost a friend in a tragic car crash. She was a friend from work that I saw everyday of my life and lunched with at least 3 out of 5 days in a work week. She was killed by a drunk driver on the freeway. Survived by her 17 year old daughter, she was as far as I know a single mom. I am shocked and devastated. 

Prior to this, I hadn't given much thought to drunk drivers. I knew it was wrong, of course. I was aware of the destruction that could be caused by drinking and driving. But it wasn't a cause I put a lot of focus in. Until it affected me directly.

I felt silly crying over a co-worker. I felt like her family and close friends deserved to be more upset than I was. I felt as if I was taking away from them by being upset because I have only known her for a short time. But the truth is that she touched my life in a big way during the small amount of time of knowing her.

As a Latino Lesbian woman, she was out, proud and strong. Not just about her sexual orientation, but her  ethnicity, her New Jersey origin and being a single mom. She was out front and center about who she was. She was also determined to make anyone that spoke to her, just as comfortable as she was in her skin, in theirs.

Without me even telling her and without her knowing me longer than a few months, she tuned into my weaknesses. She could tell that I was a giver and at most times strong and controlled. Not because I want to be, but because I have had to be for so long. She noticed how I am nurturing and overbearing in my relationships with others because I am afraid to let go control to the other person. Not because I want to, but because I fear that others will not be able to pick up the slack I extend. As a control mechanism, I hold it all down so I don't have to feel disappointed. That's pretty deep conversation to have over onion rings. But that was Karen.

She was a counsellor at heart but would sandwich her sessions with hilarious antidotes and wise cracks. She would produce jokes that would make me belly laugh even after I went home for the day.

She made me realize that wanting to accomplish my dream of having career and family was admirable. That I shouldn't feel like I am being selfish in wanting both. She reassured me that it was myself that was torturing myself (Fight Club Style). I should let go, just live life and see what happens. It's refreshing to hear this from a stranger. Without any prior inhibitions or previews of who I used to be clouding her opinion. Worth it's weight in Gold. 

When I heard of her death, I went to the bathroom at work and cried for what seemed like hours. Because I wasn't ready for her to leave this earth. There was a beginning blossom of a beautiful friendship happening. But after time passed, I realized that I was meant to have her in my life for just the amount of time that I did.

I was truly touched by an Angel. Her inspiration has been given. It's up to me to take it from here. And now she can be an Angel to the Universe and help so many other people. Thank you, Karen. Rest in Peace, Friend.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth of July!

First, a thank you to our founding fathers for declaring our Independence and creating a country where we can openly change and develop our government.

"Fourth of July", "The Fourth" and "Independence Day" are all names claimed for today. In my duty of education, here are a few points about the history of today.
  • July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941.
  • The tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83).
  • In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain.
  • On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
 What I love about today:

Barbecue, Yummy apple pie, Family and color scheme.

What I hate about today:

Fireworks.

I hate fireworks. They are loud, annoying and scary. They cause fires. Upset children and dogs. Maintain an influx of burn victims and cost enormous amounts of money. So my question was why do we need them? When did this start? I didn't have to look long to find out that fireworks have been a part of the tradition of Fourth of July since the first anniversary of the Fourth of July. Instead, at the time it was cannons and fire squads.

 
I have included a video below for the history of fourth of July:

 

 

 

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Woman Sues Federal Government For NOT Deporting her Husband

Mrs. Uzamere should've read the fine print.
In Uzamere v. Bush, et al., Cheryl D. Uzamere alleged that her "American" husband Ehigie Edobor a.k.a. "Goodwin" Uzamere was a ringleader in a green card scam marriage. After filing her complaint with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Office in 1980 Mrs. Uzamere pursued her allegations in the Federal Court system.

She claims that her husband, Mr. Uzamere tricked her into signing his immigration paperwork and ultimately abandoned her and their daughter. She claims that she had no idea his name was fictitious, that he was not a United States citizen and that he had obtained entrance into the United States illegally. She claims that Mr. Uzamere, a Nigerian Senator, and his immigration attorneys created this scheme to outsmart someone that had no knowledge of the law or his true origin.

I was beginning to feel sorry for the woman, but then the case took a unusual turn: The funny part of this case is that in addition to suing the husband and his attorneys she is also going after New York State (yes, the entire state) , New York State Grievance Committee for the 2nd and 11th Departments, City of New York (yes, the entire city), New York City Police Department, New York City Human Resources Administration / Department of Social Services, Google Corporation (yes, the entire Google) and YouTube Corporation (same here), Condoleeza Rice (what did she do?), Michael Chertoff, Julie Myers, The United States Of America (ok, wow), United States Department of State, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Why? Because she thinks that they should have known that he was lying.  She believes that they should have discovered the fraud and uncovered the truth. See the remainder of the complaint here.

There is no surprise that Mrs. Uzamere's complaint was dismissed for not stating a claim as to the Federal government defendants and for having a frivolous cause. But it sure was entertaining!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Eat Your Heart Out Doogie Howser...Autum's Coming!


With all the stressful news these days about the plight of our youth and the downfall of education, it is nice to hear a wonder story.

Autum Ashante will walk onto the campus of the University of Connecticut. She will attend orientation, gather all her books from the bookstore and pour over her class schedule. She may have to ask for directions to lecture hall and she may even gain the "Freshman 15" (or in my case it was the "Freshman 25") from an overabundance of late-night pizza. As a matter of fact, the only difference between Autum and the other freshmen will be that she is ONLY 13.

The Pelham Parkway teen has been accepted at the University of Connecticut, where she plans to study medicine. "I know it's going to be hard, but I'm excited," she said. Autum will move to Norwalk, Conn., with her father, Batin Ashante, later this summer, to be close to UConn. "What she's doing is groundbreaking but this is not about vanity," he said. "It's about setting the tone for other black and Latino children who will come behind her. They're always being told they are underachievers. We want to show this can be done."

She could walk at 10 months old; she could read at age 2 and by the time she was 3, she was writing and performing poetry. By age 8, she reportedly had an IQ of 149 (the average college graduate has an IQ score of 115).

Ashante, a single father, chose to home-school his daughter and sought out retired teachers from the community to help tutor her. Autum, who speaks Arabic, Swahili and Spanish, has never set foot in a classroom, but that's all right with her.


"My dad always says 'the world is a classroom.' I got to go places and do different things, so it never really is boring," she said.

As a mother, I definitely feel the burn that society projects to make my kid a prodigy. We have everything from Your Baby Can Read to Baby Einstein in my house. Anything to get that edge over the other students when NuNu goes into grammer school. But I have to admit, I have learned a lot about life by my social environment. The jury is still out as to whether a completely home schooled book immersed education is the best for a productive well rounded person in society. Not to say I'm not proud of little Autum. I just wonder how she will perform socially when she enters University of Connecticut. I wish her the best.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2011/06/21/2011-06-21_move_over_doogie_howser_13yearold_bronx_girl_heading_to_college_.html#ixzz1Q4eDdVZa

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Idiot Allegedly Kills Her Baby In Microwave

This lady does not deserve to have her picture shown
A Sacramento mother was arrested Tuesday for allegedly killing her 6-week-old baby by putting her in a microwave oven, police said.

The infant, Mirabelle Thao-Lo, was found dead March 17 after officers responded to the home, the Sacramento Police Department said.

A three-month investigation uncovered evidence that the child died from "extensive thermal injuries," the department said in a statement.

"Based on that research and the autopsy results," the statement said,  "detectives believe the injuries occurred as a result of the child being burned in a microwave oven."

On Tuesday morning, officers arrested the mother, Ka Yang, 29, at the home in the 800 block of Rood Avenue. Yang was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and charged with homicide, police said.

Really lady. You suck.

[originally reported on Los Angeles Times Online]

Monday, June 20, 2011

It's Mine! Toddlers Give Our Lawmakers A Clear Definition for Possession

NuNu Having Won the War w/Some Poor Kid and a Ball
Legal Definition of Possession:

Most courts say that constructive possession, also sometimes called "possession in law," exists where a person has knowledge of an object plus the ability to control the object, even if the person has no physical contact with it (United States v. Derose, 74 F.3d 1177 [11th Cir. 1996]).

Toddler's Rules of Possession:

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in anyway.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically
becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Finding a Twin, Makes Me Feel Inspired


This is not Michelle Williams Court, but the picture goes with the point I'm making. LOL


















Totally obsessed with powerful and successful African American women. It is the ultimate high to see women that are making an exceptional spectacle of themselves in a world where men dominate. In law school, women represent 50% of the students. However, women are only 16-18% of the equity partners in law firms. The percentages are not inspirational for a woman that is interested in going into law. One can choose to look at the dirt or look at the roses growing from the dirt. I am not interested in dirt. Because it's, well, not as interesting as the roses.

While researching Loyola Law School, one of my choices for applications this year, I found the student blog section on their website. I figured this would be the best place to look in order to learn more about the opportunities available to the students within the school environment. A student liaison spoke about the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. This is where I found, Michelle Williams Court. A fellow African American female attorney for Bet Tzedek who was named by Daily Journal as one of the Top Women Lawyers Under 40. This is a big deal because Michelle's story grabbed me as it paralleled my experiences growing up. As I did, she grew up in a poverty stricken neighborhood where she was bused into a more influential neighborhood for schooling. This is when she was first introduced to a "different" environment. Like Michelle, this is when I first realized what "different" meant.

The real life education about the disparity that exists in our society between the wealthy and the poor influenced her decision to become a lawyer. To become a lawmaker, a life changer, a people mover. This is also my reason. It feels good to see a woman that looks like me, having the same inspiration and following through. At her firm, Michelle started a receivership program where she helps turn slum properties into affordable housing. Making a step to correct what she saw as a little girl.

Along with our similar dreams, Michelle's personal life mirrors mine as well. She is a mother and a wife. She has only been an attorney for 12 years and is now 39 which means she started law school around the same time I will be. I am so excited I found this article. Just a bit of inspiration to round out the week. If you have a dream, seek out those that are like you that have already achieved it. It is a MAJOR motivator. I know it is for me. Happy Friday.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Go The F**k to Sleep

Guilty Mom Secret No. 345: I have said this to my child at some point. Ok, so maybe it was in my head, but I thought it and I said it, just not out loud.

I saw this book a while ago and instantly appreciated it's GENIUS! I am so glad that someone had the guts to write this on the title of a book, illustrate it AND get it published. Oh, joy of modern literature. We just have no filter anymore do we?

So, as time went on I forgot about this book. But now, to make this SOOOOO much better, it is being read. aloud. By the one and only Samuel L. Jackson. Who better? I mean really, who better?

Here it is.

California Budget Passed But Not Without a Fight, Literally.

Lawmakers of California finally pass a budget but not without getting a little rowdy.  Under the threat of loss pay if a budget wasn't passed, Democrats and Republicans reached a consensus, getting a budget that was described by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), as "Plan B" and simply, "worthy of the governor's signature."  Lawmakers were able to ignore enough bills to minimized the reductions on government spending.

Debate became heated as Republicans chastised the budget. Some calling it "unbalanced, gimmick-ridden and poor policy". Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-San Bernardino) ridiculed it as "the legislative paycheck protection program." A skirmish broke out briefly on the Assembly floor after Don Wagner (R-Irvine) likened a portion of Democrat representatives' budget to a "Tony Soprano" insurance scheme and subsequently offered a half-hearted apology "to any Italian Americans who are not in the Mafia and engaged in insurance scams." It took San Mateo, Menlo Park and Coachella to hold back Gardena from kicking Irvine's a@#.

Project Quary Family Home: Backyard Boogie - Week One


This border area in the yard, Hubby started on Sunday.

Will look like this...We hope.
The Family Quary has decided to remodel our backyard!

After 2 years of living here in our inherited 1929 Californian bungalow home, we have finally decided to do something about the boring lawn stretching from our backdoor to the back wall. At least 2000 sqft of lawn. Yes, we have our work cut out for us.

We currently have a swing set/playground out there and an orange tree. Yup, that's it. We would like to add plants, water features, veggie garden and a patio and barbecue pit. Hubby says he needs a deadline in order to commit to this project so it is currently set for July 23rd.

So piece by piece we will get it done. I got so excited by the small border that he dug up that I ran out to Home Goods and purchased a gardening tool belt, tools, a hose, watering can and other miscellaneous items. I can't wait to have this garden as a serene place to pour all my anxious energy into. This will be the perfect place to work on my personal statements and in the future, my law school papers. It will be fun for Nunu to help plant. It will also give Hubby something else to whine about doing but secretly love. I can't wait. This will definitely be my favorite of the home projects.





Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Why Is My Kid In A Cap and Gown?

Today was difficult for me. A friend texted a picture of the NuNu in a cap and gown holding a certificate. Now, to anyone that may not know any different this may seem innocent. My first thought and response to this picture was "OOOOOOKKKKK, why is my kid in a cap and gown?" Her response was that she was having a graduation ceremony at the local library. Cute. But why wasn't I there? Someone neglected to tell me about it.

The daycare that NuNu attends is at a woman's home. She has approximately 20 children and 5 helpers. She is a very sweet older lady with a stern hand. I love how NuNu has developed over the year she has been in attendance. She knows her letters, numbers, shapes and colors. She has great communication and social skills as well as incredible motor skills. She is all in all a relatively smart kid. The facility is clean and warm. Everyone that works there seems to genuinely enjoy the children. I have been pretty happy with her being there. Except for one thing... communication with the parents.

There are no calendars or newsletters that go out to us parents to make sure we know what is up and coming in our children's lives. It usually is no big deal. Or at least I tell my control freak-ness to stay at bay and PRETEND it is NO big DEAL. She tells us the day of the field trip if they are going on one. The most notice she has ever given us is maybe a day or two but that type of notice hasn't been often. But to miss an event like this, is NOT OK.

Not only did I not know that the graduation happened. I don't know WHERE it happened or WHAT it was for. I am not sure what she was thinking. Did she think I wouldn't think it was that big of a deal? That I wouldn't want to come? Did she think there wouldn't be enough room for all the parents? IDK But what I do know is that it was not her decision to think for me. What I also know is that the first time my baby had a graduation gown on with a hat and tassel, I missed it. I wasn't there. And call me a weirdo, it BROKE my heart. I cried and raged.

Needless to say, I will be talking to the daycare owner tomorrow about the situation. I am going to offer her my services as a member of the parents to assist with calendaring. If she doesn't have the staff and the time to do it, I will be there to help. But this can never happen again. In the meantime, I will be looking for a new preschool.

Monday, June 6, 2011

LSAT Here I Come! Well, The First Time Anyway...

So here I am. The night before the horrendous dreaded LSAT exam. All of my days, weekends and nights that I "should" have been studying are rushing back to me now. Playing in my head like bad film noir.
Joel Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation...
Sam Spade: What do you want me to do, learn to stutter? - The Maltese Falcon
I have always despised standardized testing. (Check out this article, "How Standardized Testing Damages Education" but I digress) Since the PRE-SAT in high school, I have been punished with testing jim-jams. I was never one to perform poorly grade wise, but always seemed to flop in a room of wooded desks, number 2 pencils and nervous energy. This is my past experience but it does not have to determine my future.

The essence of my fear is without root. Going into this mess, I assured myself that I would go at this as a challenge. Only to see if it was possible. Only to see if I could excel at this exam and get into a reputable law school. I have a career. I have a current method of making money. (Which is ultimately what we all strive for I would think, especially in this economy.) I have dreams and other plans to implement in my life that would allow me to succeed without furthering my education beyond what I have already accomplished. This is all just for "fun". (emphasis on the quotations around fun)

To curb my anxiety further, I have convinced myself that I can always take this exam one more time. Although, I have read several publications alluding to the statistic, many that take the exam more than once gain nothing more but a point increase equal to or less than 5. 5 is better than nothing, besides I don't even know what my score will be to know if this will even be enough or needed to get me where I need to be. The idea to keep in mind above all is that I cannot be fearful or anxious about something that has YET to manifest itself. I owe myself the decency to try my best.

How it all will work out, the future will tell. But I know in the forefront of my being that I am very proud of myself. If anything for getting this far. I have studied for 6 months, while working full time, raising a child and being a wife. Just brushing my teeth in the morning is an accomplishment some days. Thanks for the support to whoever reads this thing. And until we meet again...

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

10 Laws of Power - You Know You Want Some

We all want to learn how to get the one thing that is more important than money but less important than spirituality. What is that? No, it's not Krispy Kremes, it's power. Robert Greene, author of books, "The Art of Seduction" and "The 50th Law" (with 50 cent) and Joost Elffers, author of "Teddy's World" and "How are you peeling?" collaborated on the laws which are a total of 48. I picked out some of my favorites for all of you.

Never Outshine the Master
In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity.

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory:  The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion.  It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word.  Demonstrate, do not explicate.





Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.  If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. 

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control.  It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process.  Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack.  You hold the cards.

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease.  You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster.  The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you.  Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds.  He will find a way to ignore you.  Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion.  He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
Too much circulation makes the price go down:  The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear.  If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired.  You must learn when to leave.  Create value through scarcity.

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons.  The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are.  Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you.  Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience.  Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you.  Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.

Be Royal in your Own Fashion:  Act like a King to be treated like one
And since this post had a lot of words I leave you with this song:

The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you.  For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others.  By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tales from the Paper-Cut Trenches: The Sin of the 3 Minute Late Conference Call

Today was one of the most frustrating days I have had since being employed at a law firm. An attorney, we shall call him Robert, screamed and yelled at me in frustration. My computer issues caused a conference call to start an alarming 3 minutes late. This evidently was probable cause for an attitude.

Now, this wasn't my first time at the rodeo. It wasn't my first time being a "disappointment" and it wasn't my first time on the receiving end of the most high strung and verbal stinging group of people of the world. What made this frustrating to tears was 3 fold.

(1) It was a technical foul. Having computer issues is not my fault. I have no control over the decade old equipment on my desk. To yell orders with a frightening tone at me from your office, does not fix the issue but only causes everyone anxiety that is involved. Including the poor IT guy at my desk. I am the first one to admit and apologize when I do something inccorrectly but when it is not within my control it is the most frustrating feeling in the world.

(2) Robert is not my attorney. He is not assigned to me. He has someone else he could have asked to handle his issues. Stefany, the office bitch, is his assistant. (more about her in another post) When I went to ask Stefany to help him and I with our technical issues. She replied, literally with her nose in the air, that she did not have time to help. Maybe because she was too busy eating her morning croissant. I am always the first to volunteer to help assist other attorneys. I am the first to stay late, come in weekends, take on extra assignments and ask if someone else needs help. NO ONE IN THAT OFFICE EVER HELPS ME OR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ME. When I ask for it, in a crunch like this, it would be nice to have some teamwork, some support. Stephany and Esther were out on Friday. Which means I had to cover for their 6 attorneys and my own on the day before a 3 day weekend after working 12 days straight. Did I complain? No. I guess I should have just eaten my croissant and ignored their absence.
(3) Robert, the frat boy from Berkley, thinks he is super cool get along with everyone guy. He also has a kid that's Nunu's age. We have hung out multiple times outside the office, had several lunches together and have even shared a few happy hours and play dates. For him to now "pull rank" and play Mr. Attorney talking down to the Secretary for filing her nails and not getting her job done is demeaning and uncalled for. If he knows me outside of work and has worked with me several months now, he should know that I am not purposefully causing his call not to happen. He should have sided with me and my technical issue, taken a deep breath and realized that shit happens sometimes and yelling at me across the office may not be the best thing for him to do. He better NEVER ask me for another play date.

This was maybe my third time crying at work. This time it was out of pure frustration and anger with nowhere to go with my emotions. I couldn't slap the shit out of Stefany and I couldn't tell Robert what a douchebag he was, so I was just stuck in the middle, floating and angry.

What made matters worse is Robert has the audacity to go to one of the partners of the firm and complain about the 3 minute call delay. Of course he doesn't matter the verbal abuse that I have already endured from him and therefore I am subjected to further abuse from the partner he chooses to "tell on me" to. I hate that this happened and I am left with no solutions. I hate that when you are a simple staff member you have no power against attorneys who are the upper level of the firm. I hate that as a woman you are chastised for being "too sensitive" and taking things "personally". I hate that when there is a human resource issue like this there is always a "next time you should do this..." speech at the end. When is should be a "next time he shouldn't be such a douche to you" speech.

I am feeling very wronged today. I am feeling very betrayed today. I am glad I have this blog to vent. I am more glad that I now will move forward and study for my LSAT in preparation of leaving this situation behind me. As an attorney, I vow to never treat my staff this way. It's attorneys like this that makes the world hate them.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Just a Spoonful of Sugar to Help the Medicine Go Down

Hi Peeps. I know I have been away long. I have been so busy both studying for the LSAT and working my ass off incorporating a new Partner that has been added to my roster of attorneys at work. (I try to spend any free time I have giving love to JoJo Squared)

As you can see, I am awake at 1:00 am on a Friday night, not because I was in the club dancing the night away but studying. In addition to the lethargic reading of logic, I have subjected my body to yet another late night after working for 12 days straight. I must be a masochist.

When I am usually up around this time, I like to Stumble the net. In effort of giving my brain a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Here are some funny pictures I found tonight. Enjoy them in my apologies for not posting. One week to go...I will be back soon.








Friday, April 15, 2011

Lady Wants Match.com To Screen The Weirdos

A California woman is suing a popular Internet dating site, saying she was sexually assaulted by a man she met on Match.com.

The entertainment executive, unidentified Jane Doe, hired Attorney Mark L. Webb to file her lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The suit demands that Match.com screen its members for sexual predators. The woman is asking for a temporary injunction barring the site from signing up more members until his client's demands are met.

On their second date, when they met at the Urth Cafe in West Hollywood. After a second date, the attorney says the man followed her home and attacked her. The man had been convicted 6 different times for sexual battery.

More in these articles.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/04/14/woman-sues-match-com-after-sex-assault-by-man-she-met-online/

http://jezebel.com/#!5792045/women-sues-matchcom-after-date-leads-to-assault

http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-sues-match-sex-assault/story?id=13378401

Thursday, April 14, 2011

"If you touch my junk, I'm going to have you arrested"

How many times have I said this to someone?  Here's a vid of a man that refused to be fondled by the TSA at the airport. He refuses several types of scans and then says he doesn't want to be felt up either. What's a TSA officer to do? Well, fine him and tell him he can't go anywhere.

"I don't understand how a sexual assault can be made a condition of my flying," said 31-year-old John Tyner to a pair of Transportation Security Administration officials insisting on giving him a "groin check" before boarding his plane.

Tyner was scheduled to fly out of San Diego International Airport when he was pulled from the security line at the metal detectors and told he would be either subjected to one of the TSA's full-body scanners – which reveal a virtually nude image of passengers – or a full-body "pat-down," including an inspection of his inner thigh.

Discomforted by the invasive procedures and the thought of a security officer touching his genitals, Tyner made a joke that has since made him an instant Internet folk hero:

"If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested." Go ahead make a t-shirt.

Tyner's words have since resonated in dozens of online comments and thousands of views on YouTube, for the comment – and the controversial discussion that followed – was recorded by Tyner's cell phone. Though the phone was with his belongings, and thus only caught audio of his confrontation with TSA officials, the camera's footage is posted below:


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tax Day is April 18th! Not the 15th. Thanks, to Lincoln - Yes, Him Again

...No, I Am Not Trying To Get You Arrested...LOL

You get three extra days to file your taxes this year. They'll be due on Mon., April 18.

But it's not because of a previously announced processing delay that will prevent people who itemize their taxes from filing before mid- to late February, the IRS said Tuesday.

Instead, the bonus days come thanks to Emancipation Day, a little-known Washington, D.C., holiday that celebrates the freeing of slaves in the district. Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, but it is observed in D.C. on Fri., April 15.

That prompted the IRS to extend the tax filing deadline to April 18 this year. Under the tax code, filing deadlines can't fall on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.

The last time an extension was granted for this reason was in 2007.

But don't expect a separate -- or longer -- extension to make up for the IRS's processing delay, said IRS spokesman Anthony Burke.

The delay -- caused by Congress waiting until late December to pass new tax policies -- means that the 50 million taxpayers who itemize their taxes on a Schedule A form can't file until February.

However, the IRS estimates that less than 9 million taxpayers will end up being impacted by the delay, based on historical filing patterns.

"It's a very small percentage of folks who will be affected," said Burke. "There's no real reason why they would need time beyond April 18 because these are the people who want to file early anyway, and who may not be able to file early due to events the IRS couldn't really have done anything about."
People who do need more time to file their taxes can submit Form 4868 for a six-month extension, Burke added. 

I guess I will make my appointment for Sunday. Because I like to live on the edge and I have a playdate on Saturday. LOL

See the vid below on tax cuts, maybe this will make it a little better.