Speechless

A Queens judge on Friday acquitted three detectives charged in the shooting of Sean Bell, who died on his wedding day in a hail of 50 police bullets. He said that prosecutors had failed to prove their case and that wounded friends of the slain man had given testimony that he did not believe.
The top-to-bottom acquittals of Detectives Gescard F. Isnora, Michael Oliver and Marc Cooper were delivered by Justice Arthur J. Cooperman in an essay form bearing little resemblance to a standard jury verdict, and were met momentarily with silence in court as spectators looked at one another to be sure they had grasped what he was saying.

The detectives, all but obscured behind a human wall of courthouse officers, finally seemed to exhale deeply, even crumple, with relief. Detective Oliver — who reloaded his gun to fire a total of 31 shots and helped catapult the shooting from tragic mistake to a symbol, for many, of police abuse of force and poor training — closed his eyes and cried.

Except for a few scuffles outside the Queens Criminal Court building and shouted displays of disbelief and outrage, the day passed peacefully amid calls for calm delivered by the mayor, the police commissioner and other officials. Still, the Rev. Al Sharpton, a spokesman for the Bell family, called for street protests and said people should get themselves arrested, “whether it is on Wall Street, the judge’s house or at 1 Police Plaza.”

Legal hurdles remain for the officers: federal authorities said they would now investigate the case, and the Police Department is mulling internal charges. A $50 million lawsuit against the city, filed last year by Mr. Bell’s fiancée, who had two children with him, and the two men wounded in the shooting, may now begin moving forward.

The shooting of Mr. Bell, 23, outside a nightclub in Jamaica, Queens, early on Nov. 25, 2006, the morning of the day he was to be married, was the city’s latest crucible for distilling questions about police treatment of people of color and the use of excessive force on unarmed black men. The shooting lasted seconds, but offered a glimpse of what it is to live in a neighborhood where black men and women are stopped and frisked at a higher rate than elsewhere in the city.

I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. That's just my opinion though, but who the hell am I?

History Mystery

I was sent this in an e-mail and thought it was kinda cool. Let me know what you think.

Have a history teacher explain this----- if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday .
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln .

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln , was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, w ho assassinated Lincoln , was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln ' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe , Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Peculiar, isn't it. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Desiderata Week #4

"Even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story."


Give me your thoughts and opinions on what I feel is a life changing piece of literature. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

M.I.A.

What ever happened to these guys? The Wu-Tang Clan used to be one of the most influential, innovative, and original groups to ever hit Rap music. They gave us artists like Raekwon, Method Man, Old Dirty Bastard (RIP), Ghostface Killah, and the RZA. They also branched out into others areas of entertainment, like Television, Movies, and Fashion. I really miss them and I hope they return to give the game a few things that it has been missing: Lyrics, Originality, and Social Commentary. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Support Your Local MC

I am so proud to post this post. I knew this young man when he was just a little guy. We lived in the same project building. He was around 14 and I was around 21. He was interested in music then and was one of the most innovative young men that I've ever met. He used a Karaoke machine to create a single called, "Big Bitches In The Car , Oh No!!!". I am proud to announce that he has broken on to the rap scene with his best CD to date, "Underground: Tha Mixtape". He is primarily a producer but spits a few verses on this CD. I am such a proud man today. I can't wait to utter the words, "I knew him when". So if you are planning to purchase a CD of some artist who you never met and doesn't know you; why not shell out $20 for a homegrown product. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Where Is He Now?

I haven't posted much about music for a while so I thought I would make sure that I had something for you guys on that topic today. Being the avid hip-hop fan that I am, I'm always looking for that next fresh voice in Rap. I think I've found that in Saigon. This MC isn't new but he has never gained the exposure or the opportunity to let his voice and story be told. We have been teased with the promos of possible albums and those terrible words: "Coming Soon". Then he had a brief run on HBO's Entourage, but still nothing popped. He isn't what that picture leads you to believe: a loud ultra gangster-ish, misogynistic, ghetto kingpin. He is a very skilled lyricist and an amazingly poignant storyteller. He is giving substance to an art form that is wasting away. His past is littered with prison time for dope and gun cases; for those who are fans of keeping it real, but what I like most about this artist is his ability to bring you into his stories as if you where there with him. The perfect example of this is his song, "What A Life". In it, he takes you on tales of unanswered adventures and uses the end of the track to clear up any of the actions and attitudes he made during his verses. His wordplay and delivery are top notch and I hope one day I can see this young artist get his shot at letting the world get to know him. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Desiderata Week #3

"Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,"

Give me your thoughts and opinions on what I feel is a life changing piece of literature. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Shaken Tree Syndrome

Once again, I have asked God to shake my tree. For those of you who don't know; this is where you ask God to shake your "proverbial" tree, and let all the things that are not in your favor or productive in your life, fall from it. Every time I ask, it happens. Each time it happens, I am astonished at what, and who, falls from my tree. People that you thought were your friends, fall. People that say they care for you or love you, fall. Your job and the people who you work for and with, fall. Even members of your family fall. My problem is, once the shaking begins, and things begin to fall, I ask God to stop. He always does. Then I pick things up and try to reattach them. Some take, and some don't. I'm really hurt this time, by what and who has fallen. I'm trying my best to fight the urge to ask God to stop shaking. It is hard, but I'm trying. Who knows. This my be a turning point in my life. If I let it. Sometimes, I guess; I can be my worst enemy. Especially when it comes my life's progression. No matter how healthy of a person you are, or claim to be; drastic or dramatic changes in life can bring out fear and apprehension.

Try it sometimes. Ask God to shake your tree; and when things begin to fall, see if you can take it. Especially when they are things that you were once so sure and certain about. It will make you look at and question yourself at the core of your being. It is difficult to say the least.

I'm getting used to it though. It's tough. But a wise man once said, "Without struggle there can be no progress". That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Desiderata Week #2

"As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons."


Give me your thoughts and opinions on what I feel is a life changing piece of literature. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Husband Store

I hope I'm not coming off as a sexist, but taking into consideration my current situation; this story was appropriate and hilarious. Let me know what you think.

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however, a catch... You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband…

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 – These men have jobs and love the Lord.

The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.

The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.

“Wow,” she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead good looking and help with the housework.

“Oh, mercy me!” she exclaims, “I can hardly stand it!”

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 6 – You are visitor 4, 363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day.

That cracks me up every time; but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Desiderata Week #1

"Go placidly amid the noise and hate and know what peace there may be in silence."

Give me your thoughts and opinions on what I feel is a life changing piece of literature. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Videos

I just found out that I could put videos on here. After painstakingly going through hundreds of clips, I decided that the first video to be posted on my blog will be: my daughter doing the robot to Earth, Wind, & Fire. I think it's quite cute; but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Desiderata

In my ever lasting search to find a blueprint, handbook, or guide through life; I feel as though I have finally found one. It is agenda free, without affiliation, and all inclusive. It has a silently explosive grasp of the soul, once it is read. It's dripping with truth and covered in divine fingerprints. As you can see, I think very highly of it. It was written in 1692 and Desiderata is Latin for "desired things". I don't want to write it all down in this text but I would love to challenge all of the readers of this blog to Google: The Desiderata or find it somewhere, read it, and write a comment telling me what you think about it. I am going to start with the beginning of it and post each line as a motto and mantra for that week until I am done. I hope you all get a chance to open your mind and read it. It is a very short, but powerful prose poem. I am not asking you all to abandon your Bibles, Korans, and other holy doctrines; I would just like to see if you can see and feel the effect of it's truth as I did when I read it. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?