Book Excerpt Of The Week: "The 8th Habit" By: Stephen Covey

"I have found that by making four simple assumptions in our lives we can immediately begin leading a more balanced, integrated, powerful life: (1) For the body- Assume you've had a heart attack; now live accordingly. (2) For the mind- Assume that the half life of your profession is two years; now prepare accordingly. (3) For the heart- Assume everything you say about another, they can overhear; now speak accordingly. (4) For the spirit- Assume you have a one-on-one visit with your creator every quarter; now live accordingly." -From, "The 8th Habit" By: Stephen Covey

Definitions Better Than Webster's: Part 15

HONESTY:
"Honesty does not apply only to what you say. The term actually means consistency. There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do; no thought opposes any other thought; no act belies your word; and no word lacks agreement with another. Such are the truly honest. At no level are they in conflict with themselves." -From, "Gifts From A Course In Miracles"

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Floor Plan Financing is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as, an "Arrangement for the lending of money to an automobile dealer, or other supplier of goods, so that he may purchase cars, or other articles, to include in his inventory; the loan being secured by the automobile or other goods while in the dealer's possession, and is gradually reduced as the cars or other merchandise are sold."

Quote Of The Day

"Marshal some of our purchasing power and start producing some of the things we are already spending money for. You spent $400 million last year just for toothpaste." -Louis Farrakhan

Anecdote Of The Week: Can You Make The "Impossible" Possible?

"'I can't believe that!' said Alice.

'Can't you?' the Queen said in a pitying tone. 'Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.'

Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying,' she said. 'One can't believe impossible things.'

'I dare say you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.'" -From, "Alice In Wonderland" By: Lewis Carroll

The Toll Drugs Took On The Black Community

"By the mid 60s, things had changed dramatically. Drugs were being used everywhere. I can recall that not very long after Black awareness came about in the community, and Black pride and Black power was spoken about freely and openly, illegal drugs seemed to flood the neighborhoods.

The influx of drugs seemed to coincide with the civil rights movement. Black people were coming aware in one area while being rendered unaware in another. Something was truly happening here; something very sinister and insidious." -From, "Urban Suicide" By: Melvin B. Blackman

Celebrate Your Progress

"When we do not remember to celebrate our progress, the day-to-day revelations that lead to our feeling better, what we do remember is the pain. It is the pain that keeps us stuck in our patterns." -From, "Yesterday I Cried" By Iyanla Vanzant

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to Black's Law Dictionary, "obstructing justice" is "impeding or obstructing those who seek justice in a court, or those who have duties or powers of administering justice therein. The act by which one or more persons attempt to prevent, or do prevent, the execution of lawful process. The term applies also to obstructing the administration of justice in any way- as hindering witnesses from appearing, assaulting process server, influencing jurors, obstructing court orders or criminal investigations.

Any act, conduct, or directing agency pertaining to pending proceedings, intended to play on human frailty and to deflect and deter court from performance of its duty and drive it into compromise with its own unfettered judgment by placing it, through medium of knowingly false assertion, in wrong position before public, constitutes an obstruction to administration of justice."

Quote Of The Day

"Cultivate the oratorical. Do it diligently and with purpose, remembering that it is by the exercise of this weapon perhaps more than any other that America is to be made a free land, not in name only, but in deed and truth." -William Grant Allen

Cops Gone Wild Part 20: The How Could You Shoot Someone "Running Towards You Firing A Weapon" In The Back Edition

Early Sunday morning, two brothers were killed in front of a Brooklyn nightclub. Initially, news reports on the incident stated that the brothers' deaths were due to them being provokers in a shoot out with undercover police officers. The New York Daily News described the fracas with the following statements: "As the brothers kept running toward him, the cop started shooting...;" "As the siblings bore down on them, the cops returned fire and mortally wounded the two suspects...;" and, "The shootings appeared to be justified under department guidelines." However, the mourning mother of the deceased brothers, voiced a different theory to the Daily News.

The mother of the 22- and 21-year old young men stated that she believes her sons were bystanders, and the police department is "whitewashing the shootings." New emerging evidence, may substantiate her claims.

The city's medical examiner has released details on the brothers' fatal gunshot wounds. According to The New York Post, the ME has reported that: the 22 year old "was shot twice in the lower back," and the 21 year old "was shot once in the back of his left arm and a second time in the middle of his back with the bullet exiting his stomach."

The wounds that the young men suffered, is not consistent with the initial rendering of events. The obvious question that arises after reading the statements given by the medical examiner is, "How could you shoot someone running towards you in their back?"

[SOURCE]

The Good Way To Banish Evil: Part 2

"The remedy for an absence is a presence. Evil is an absence, and therefore, it can not be healed with an absence. By hating evil, or one who is engaged in evil, you contribute to the absence of light and not to its presence.

Hatred of evil does not diminish evil, it increases it. The absence of light causes the personality to suffer. There is pain.

When you hate, you bring that suffering upon yourself. Hatred of evil affects the one who hates. It makes him or her a hateful person, a person who also has absented himself or herself from light.

Understanding evil as the absence of light does not does not require you to become passive, or to disregard evil actions or evil behavior." -From, "Seat Of The Soul" By: Gary Zukav

Former Detroit Mayor Has His Day Of Reckoning At The Courthouse

After committing a laundry list of crimes- criminal and moral- Detroit's former Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, was sentenced to 120 days in jail.

Kilpatrick was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of felony obstruction of justice. According to News Blaze, the former mayor's punishment will also include, "A $1 million payment to Motor City in restitution and five years' probation."

[SIDEBAR: I'm sooooo tired of shady politicians!]

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week

Pictured above is George Edward Alcorn Jr. He holds 8 patents in the U.S. and Europe for semiconductor technology.

[SIDEBAR: Don't asked me for a detailed description of what "semiconductor technology" is. I'm a rapper, writer, and entrepreneur, not a rocket scientist. Lol.]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Black's Law Dictionary defines "Trespass" as "An unlawful interference with one's person, property, or rights. At common law, trespass was a form of action brought to recover damages for any injury to one's person or property or relationship with another."

This is a broad definition. There are many different types of trespass including: Forcible trespass, criminal trespass, permanent trespass, trespass to land, joint trespass, and permanent trespass- to name a few.

Quote Of The Day

“Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands- and then eat just one of those pieces.” -Judith Viorst

The Good Way To Banish Evil: Part 1

"Understanding evil as the absence of light requires you to examine the choices that you make each moment in terms of whether they move you toward light or away from it.

It allows you to look with compassion upon those who engage in evil activities, even as you challenge their activities, and thus protects you from the creation of negative karma." -From, "The Seat Of The Soul" By: Gary Zukav

Video Of The Week

Here are two of some of the most talented performance artists ever!...

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Immemorial possession is a premise that is unique to Louisiana. Black's Law Dictionary defines it as a "possession of which no man living has seen the beginning, and the existence of which he has learned from his elders."

Quote Of The Day

"We've got to decide if it's going to be this generation or never." -Daisy Bates

Peace & Strength

With all that is going on in the world today, I thought that it would be apropos to post a couple of poems that I found on the internet regarding peace and strength. These two poems, are more like affirmations.

The first poem is called, "Peaceful Prayers." It was written by, Jude Ogunade.

"Let there be peace in the world.
Let us all see peace and not war.
Let us all have peace in the world.
Let all our statesmen know no violence,
Let all love peace with warm vehemence,
Let all be clothed with passionate patience,
Let all respect peace with real reverence.
Let peace pervade every political terrain,
Let peace calm the spirits of every domain,
Let peace be at peace with every reign,
Let each achieve peace with poor pain.

Peace, to you we plead: come to us.
Peace, we entreat you: deign on us.
Peace, we want you: envelope us.

Let our homes be adorned with peace,
Let our streets be paved with peace,
Let our cities be set on a hilltop of peace.
Let peace taint our every thought.
Let there be peace,
let peace never cease.
Let there be peace, let war forever cease." -By: Jude Ogunade

The second poem is about strength, and it was written by, Anders Lim.

"The strength to resist the night
The strength to endure the day
The strength to keep righteous paths in sight
The strength to take them without delay
The strength to find a purpose in life
The strength to find the truths it brings
The strength to kick away from strife
The strength to stabilize the rock it clings

The strength to light a friend’s day up
The strength to resist wrathful foes
The strength to fill a stranger’s dry cup
The strength to shun sin when it opposed
The strength to feel a injured man’s pain
The strength to hold a reject’s hand
The strength to act against any gain
The strength to love without demand

The strength to understand that our King
Has blessed us with more than we can contain
Therefore regardless what time may bring
The strength will continue to reign." By: Anders Lim

Definitions Better Than Webster's: Part 14

ILLUSIONS:
"Illusions are investments. They will last as long as you value them...The only way to dispel illusions is to withdraw investment from them...Every illusion is an assault on truth. Every illusion is one of fear, whatever form it takes." -From, "Gifts From A Course In Miracles."

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"The Uniform Commercial Code, commonly known as the U.C.C., is a general commercial statute that controls areas of contract law such as the sale of goods and leases of personal property. The code was drafted to make commercial law the same across the country, and it has been adopted in every state except Louisiana, which is still under the influence of the French civil law." -From, Law 101" By: Jay M. Feinman

[SIDEBAR: I wonder how Louisiana being exempt from the U.C.C. affects the "clean up" that is going on in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.]

Quote Of The Day

"Religion without humanity is a poor human stuff." -Sojourner Truth

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"CASE EXAMPLE: Officer Smitts and his partner observe Delany punch somebody outside a bar and then run away. The officers give chase. When they catch up, Delany struggles and strikes at the officers in an effort to escape. While Officer Smitts applies a chokehold, the partner manages to handcuff Delany and manacle his legs. However, Officer Smitts continues to apply the chokehold for another minute, until Delany passes out.

QUESTION: Did Officer Smitts use excessive force?

ANSWER: Yes. Once Delany was shackled, there was no further need for the chokehold. However, Officer Smitts would probably be able to convince a judge or jury that his continued use of the chokehold was reasonable under the circumstances." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.". -Ella Fitzgerald

The Global Threat Of Malcolm X

"Malcolm was courted by high officials...He met Heads of States, and top world leaders. Malcolm was treated as a Statesman and important leader. The Arab Islamic leaders embraced him enthusiastically. The very people who had vast resources of oil were giving Malcolm X special attention, and police escorts. The implications of all this, with a person with the drive and ambitions of Malcolm X, of how he'd have made use of this, are simply enormous and staggering. Malcolm X literally had the chance to change world history!" -From, "The Revenge Of Malcolm X" By: Don Steele

The Legal Eagles Legal Brief: The Case Of The Stop And Frisk

"Using a procedure known as stop and frisk, authorized by Terry v. Ohio, U.S. Sup. Ct. 1968, a police officer need only have a reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior to detain and question a person (the "stop"). For self-protection, the officer can at the same time carry out a limited pat-down search for weapons (the "frisk").

This rule applies whether you are on foot or in your car.

A "reasonable suspicion" requires more than a hunch or a mere distrust; the officer must have reasonable grounds, based on all of the circumstances, to suspect that the person is involved in criminal activity. The reasonable suspicions give the officer a legal basis to detain and question a person (the "stop"). And for self-protection, the officer can at the same time carry out a limited pat down search for weapons (the "frisk"). -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"CASE EXAMPLE: Officer Fish sees a suspect take a camera from an outdoor sales stall and run without paying for it. The officer calls for the suspect to stop, but the suspect continues to run away.

QUESTION: What force may the officer use to arrest the suspect?

ANSWER: Officer Fish has personally observed the suspect commit a misdemeanor, and therefore has probable cause to make an arrest. But the officer can not shoot the suspect or use other serious force. If the suspect refuses to halt and the officer can not chase the suspect, the officer would have to try to make an arrest at a later time." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"Everyone has a base, and everyone has something they believe in. To me it all boils down to God." -Jennifer Hudson

[May God protect, comfort, and guide her, and her loved ones, through this troubling time.]

Book Excerpt Of The Week: Part 2- "Gifts From A Course In Miracles"

"'What for?' This is the question that you must learn to ask in connection with everything. What is the purpose? Whatever it is, it will direct your efforts automatically. When you make a decision of purpose, then, you have made a decision about your future effort; a decision that will remain in effect unless you change your mind." -From, "Gifts From A Course In Miracles"

Book Excerpt Of The Week: Part 1- "Gifts From A Course In Miracles"

"What you must recognize is that when you do not share a thought system, you are weakening it. Those who believe in it therefore perceive this as an attack on them. This is because everyone identifies himself with his thought system, and every thought system centers on what you believe you are." -From, "Gifts From A Course In Miracles"

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"QUESTION: Can the police legally use deadly force to make an arrest?

ANSWER: Sometimes. A police officer may use deadly force to capture a suspect only if a suspect threatens an officer with a weapon or an officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect has committed a violent felony (Tennessee v. U.S. Sup. Ct. 1985).

The police can also use deadly force to protect the life of a third person. But police officers can not routinely use deadly force whenever they seek to arrest a suspect for committing a felony. The police should allow some felony suspects to escape rather than kill them." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"As long as you are a consumer, you are a beggar. You must become a producer." -Camille Cosby

The Day That Democracy Died: NYC Term Limits Extended Without The Approval Of The People

Today the City Council of New York, not only voted not to allow the citizens of the city to determine whether their municipal representatives should have an extension of term limits, they also took matters into their own hands- negating the rights of their constituents to cast their own votes- and voted to extend NYC's term limits.

The people of New York previously voted twice (in 1993 and 1996), not to have their governmental officials in office for more than two terms. However, today, the voice of the people was blatantly ignored by the majority of the city council. According to the New York Daily News, "Votes began tipping toward the mayor before noon, as Council members feared they would lose committee assignments or pork-barrel funds if they voted "no"- and their protest would be pointless if the bill passed anyway." [SIDEBAR: The war of politics is no place for jellyfish!]

The term extension bill was passed in a 29-22 vote.

Many of the city's residents seethe over not being able to vote for term limits directly. However, this fight is far from over. Many constituents are vowing not to re-elect council members who voted to have term limits extended.

Here's the New York Daily News' breakdown on how the City Council voted on extending term limits:

YES
Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D-Bronx)
Maria Baez (D-Bronx)
Leroy G. Comrie, Jr. (D-Queens)
Inez E. Dickens (D-Manhattan)
Erik Martin Dilan(D-Brooklyn)
Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn)
Lewis A. Fidler (D-Brooklyn)
Helen D. Foster (D-Bronx)
Alan J. Gerson (D-Manhattan)
Sara M. Gonzalez (D-Brooklyn)
Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan)
Melinda R. Katz (D-Queens)
G. Oliver Koppell(D-Bronx)
Miguel Martinez (D-Manhattan)
Darlene Mealy (D-Brooklyn)
Michael C. Nelson (D-Brooklyn)
Christine C. Quinn (D-Manhattan)
Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. (D-Brooklyn)
Diana Reyna (D-Brooklyn)
Joel Rivera (D-Bronx)
James Sanders, Jr. (D-Queens)
Larry B. Seabrook (D-Bronx)
Helen Sears (D-Queens)
Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn)
James Vacca (D-Bronx)
Peter F. Vallone, Jr. (D-Queens)
Albert Vann (D-Brooklyn)
Thomas White, Jr. (D-Queens)
David Yassky (D-Brooklyn)

NO
Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens)
Tony Avella (D-Queens)
Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn)
Gale A. Brewer (D-Manhattan)
Anthony Como (R-Queens)
Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn)
Mathieu Eugene (D-Brooklyn)
Daniel R. Garodnick (D-Manhattan)
James F. Gennaro (D-Queens)
Vincent J. Gentile (D-Brooklyn)
Eric N. Gioia (D-Queens)
Vincent Ignizio (R-S.I.)
Letitia James (D-Brooklyn)
Jessica S. Lappin (D-Manhattan)
John C. Liu (D-Queens)
Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan)
Michael E. McMahon (D-S.I.)
Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan)
Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens)
James S. Oddo (R-S.I.)
Annabel Palma (D-Bronx)
David I.Weprin(D-Queens)


[SIDEBAR: In alignment with the Biggie Smalls adage that, "Real Bad Boys move in silence," the instigator of the whole term limits debacle, Mayor Bloomberg, has yet to issue a statement regarding today's going-ons.
What isn't for sale in this city???
Democratic Dictatorship at its worst!]

"Social Junk" vs. "Social Dynamite"

In his book, "Lockdown America," Christian Parenti analyzes a criminologist's breakdown of "Social Junk" vs. "Social Dynamite," and how it relates to social control.

"Years ago criminologist Steven Spritzer described the cast-off populations produced by capitalism as either 'social junk' or 'social dynamite.' A rather blunt and painful nomenclature to be sure, but Spritzer makes useful distinctions. These different segments of the 'surplus population' require uniquely tailored strategies of social control.

'Social junk' are those whose spirits and minds are shattered; they are the deinstitutionalized mentally ill, alcoholics, drug addicts, and cast-off impoverished seniors; the lonely, beaten drifters with no expectations of a future and little will to fight. This population- the collateral damage of unchecked market economics- is managed through spatial and social containment. They must be driven away from beaches, malls, and tony shopping areas of resort towns, financial districts, and the pleasure zones of theme park cities. They are, as Mathiesen put it, 'sand in the machine.' They pose an ontological threat to market social relations but they rarely coalesce into an organized political threat.

The other segment of the surplus population- 'social dynamite'- are those who pose an actual or potential political challenge. They are that population which threatens to explode: the impoverished low-wage working class and unemployed youth who have fallen bellow the statistical radar, but whose spirits are not broken and whose expectations for a decent life and social inclusion are dangerously alive and well. They are the class that suffers from 'relative deprivation.' Their poverty is made all the more unjust because it is experienced in contrast to the spectacle of opulence and the myths of social mobility and opportunity. This is the class from which the Black Panthers and the Young Lords arose in the sixties and from which sprang the gangs of the 1980s. In the 1930s this same class provided the brawn for the Communist Party-organized Unemployed Councils that forcibly sttoped evictions in New York's Lower East Side.

Thus social dynamite is a threat to the class and racial hierarchies upon which the private enterprise system depends. This group can not simply be swept aside. Controlling them requires both a defensive policy of containment and an aggressive policy of direct attack and active destabilization. They are contained and crushed, confined to the ghetto, demoralized and pilloried in warehouse public schools, demonized by a lurid media, sent to prison, and at times dispatched by lethal injection or police bullets. This is the class- or more accurately the caste, because they are increasingly people of color- which must be constantly undermined, divided, intimidated, attacked, discredited, and ultimately keep in check with what Fanon called the 'language of naked force.'" -From, "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

Anecdote Of The Week: How Persistent Are You In The Pursuit Of Your Goals?

"In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner.

Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance. The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade.

Henceforth will I recognize that each day I am tested by life in like manner. If I persist, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed." -From, "The Greatest Salesman In The World" By: Og Mandino

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"Inside the courtroom, witnesses ordinarily have no trouble figuring out who to identify: it's the person sitting next to the defense attorney. Arranging for a truer test of an eyewitness' credibility, famed defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr., on at least one occasion got a judge to allow the defendant to be seated among the spectators. A decoy sat next to Cochran at counsel table. When the eyewitness was asked to 'look around the courtroom and tell us if you see the perpetrator,' the arrangement forced the eyewitness to carefully consider before answering.

Much earlier in the 20th century, legendary Los Angeles lawyer Earl Rogers did the same thing, actually having the defendant switch places with a courtroom spectator while Rogers cross-examined the eyewitness. Rogers stood so as to block the witness' view of the switch." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." -Paul Robeson

Are Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Hazardous To Your Health?

With so many people conscientiously going green these days, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is issuing a warning for certain types of energy-saving light bulbs.

UK's news source, "The Independent," states that "open" energy-saving light bulbs "can emit levels of ultraviolet radiation sufficient to damage the skin...[The bulbs can also reportedly,] aggravate light-sensitive conditions such as the blood disease lupus, eczema and porphyria."

"Open" energy-saving light bulbs are the ones in which the glass coil is not encapsulated (i.e. the ones that don't look like standard light bulbs).

According to "The Independent," researchers have determined that "open" energy-saving light bulbs should not be utilized as reading lights, in desk lamps, or in any other situation that would cause the user to be "closer than one foot for more than one hour a day."

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week

Gertrude E. Ayer was the first African-American to be named Principal in the New York City school system.

TODAY IS...

In 1996, The October 22nd Coalition To Stop Police Brutality, named October 22nd, National Stop Police Brutality Day.

On their website, The Coalition describes their mission as follows: "The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has been mobilizing every year since 1996 for a National Day of Protest on October 22nd, bringing together those under the gun and those not under the gun as a powerful voice to expose the epidemic of police brutality. The Coalition also works on the Stolen Lives Project, which documents cases of killings by law enforcement agents nationwide. The second edition of the Stole n Lives book documents over 2000 cases in the 1990's alone."

According to Amsterdam News, The Coalition will hold a rally 4:30 this afternoon at The Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem, NYC.

Black People Investing In The Black Community: Part 2

In his tome "The True Meaning Of Malcolm X," Don Steele lays out a blueprint of how Black people can invest in Black people. He uses the city of his residency, Lexington, Kentucky as an example.

"There are about 32,000 (or, 32 K) Blacks in Lexington. Real leadership would establish a capital fund goal of $20 million (or, $20 M) per year. That works out to about $12/head per week. Naturally, this 32 K includes kids and the elderly. But most Blacks are capable of investing $20/week or more. Leadership would direct Blacks' attention to the dollars spent on alcohol, tobacco, gambling, entertainment, high priced cars, etc.

This is an investment. Not a donation. Accounts are given. Corporations are established. I know (from my work as an "international financier"- a pretentious title) in the international banking market, without any risk to capital, how 100% APR can be had for that $20 M. After paying commissions, taxes, an 10% dividends to investors, that leaves 50%, or $10 M to work with. Understand, the $20 M is safe and undisturbed, and that 10% return to investors is more than the bank CDs' 4%.

During this process, Blacks are put to work reviewing and analyzing various businesses. Which are the businesses which are feasible for Blacks to start, based upon a dozen or so factors? This work includes getting all information and contacts on expertise, supplies, training, etc.

A good example would be auto repair shops. Blacks own cars and need servicing. The decision is reached to open 10 Black auto repair shops, under a trade name, like "Black Town Auto Repair." Perhaps it requires $250 K per shop. That's $2.5 M of your $10 M. That's one, but there are at least a 100 businesses here in Lexington that Blacks can get into.

Establishing financial institutions would be a priority. Black banks, insurance companies, venture capital groups. Favorable loans for college and job training would be guaranteed. Blacks who have good ideas for businesses will be encouraged to get Black funding. But Blacks should not, as the Bible says, 'put a stone before a blind man.' Blacks must adapt things to their own peculiarities and needs, and design things to genuinely help other Blacks, without being made fools of. These are not government programs, but private Black capital.

Example: Black management companies should be established. A would-be owner of a new business needing funding would effectively work first for the management company. This company would be assigned to work with this Black, knowing who she or he is, and what his or her level of skills are. Because a Black has a criminal past can't be a taboo for this Black development...

The management company will insure that monies are not either stolen or foolishly wasted. This is because the owner doesn't have control of the funds. An account is established for him or her, and all payments are reviewed and made by the management company.

A contract will have been signed giving the details, terms and understanding to the owner. It may take up to 5 years of such management/training before the company is completely in the hands of that Black. Owning the company requires buying it. During the chosen business apprenticeship period, if that person doesn't work out, then instead of the whole affair being a waste of money, some other Black can be put in place who wants to own the business.

A Black advertising council would be formed. Their business would be to see that Blacks, and the general public, are specifically aware of these businesses. They would advertise in the media. Weekly newsletters and sales advertisements would be distributed to Black churches, social outlets, the Community voice, and by direct mail.

Now, each year, you're adding another $20 M to your capital base, and another $10 M of its interest invested in Lexington. So after two years, you've got $40 M in untouched capital, and $20 M invested plus the first years' $10 M for a total of $30 M invested in Lexington. After one presidential term of 4 years, you've got a safe, untouched $80 M capital base, and $100 M invested in Black businesses, loans and employment- which will be returning high investment profits...

Land area in Lexington van be brought which will concentrate an array of Black businesses, supermarket, restaurants, cinemas, theaters. Just like many cities have Chinatowns, this mall can be known as Blacktown. Naturally, Black businesses will be located around the city, but Blacktown will be an inspiring center/magnet for Black shopping and entertainment.

Instead of you complaining about not having a radio station, you'd have several. You'd have TV programs also. The Community Voice would be a weekly newspaper, much thicker, with color photos. A big office, with a paid staff.

You'd inspire the young." -From, "The True Meaning Of Malcolm X" By: Don Steele

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"[Tort] damage award is individualized to the particular accident and the circumstances of the particular plaintiff...Imagine a series of drivers each of whom ignores a stop sign and drives into an intersection, hitting a pedestrian. Each driver commits an identical act of negligence, but pays a very different damage award. The first driver delivers only a glancing blow, so the pedestrian is only slightly bruised. That driver's damages will be trivial. The second driver also delivers a glancing blow, but the pedestrian suffers from a degenerative bone disease, so the slight touch of the car causes major fractures of both legs. Under the rule that the defendant 'takes the victim as he finds him,' the defendant is liable for all of the plaintiff's huge medical bills and substantial income loss. The third driver runs over the pedestrian, seriously injuring him, but this pedestrian is an ailing elderly person with a short life expectancy and no job, so the damages for future economic and non-economic losses are small. The fourth driver also runs over the pedestrian, but the pedestrian happens to be Donald Trump, so the driver is liable for Trump's lost earning capacity in the tens of millions of dollars." -From, "Law 101" By: Jay M. Feinman

Quote Of The Day

"Only your mind can produce fear. It does so whenever it is conflicted it what it wants, producing inevitable strain because wanting and doing are discordant." -From, "A Course In Miracles"

Black People Investing In The Black Community: Part 1

"Malcolm X's, Marcus Garvey's, and Martin Delany's position was that Blacks must financially and economically invest and work for themselves.

The results would be profoundly, profoundly, profoundly different. Just today, instead of abandoning Blacks, African Americans are fully capable of investing one billion dollars a week into themselves. That's 52 BILLION dollars a year. Without asking for any new laws. Any White support. Any politics. With this funding and commitment, the many diseases infecting the Black communities would mostly vanish.

Blacks would take a seat in the world of productivity. There would be too much work to do for murder and social drop out. Every Black talent, skill and positive efforts would find an outlet, and would be rewarded." -From, "The True Meaning Of Malcolm X" By: Don Steele

This Is Why I Now Refuse To Invest More Than $30, $25, $20...And Counting In A Louis Vuitton Or Gucci Bag...

The top rated music artist in the country right now, according to record sales, has been snubbed by two luxury brands that one of his most played songs bolsters. Rapper T.I.'s song, "Swing Ya Rag," basically provides the luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Gucci with a commercial several minutes in length. Despite all of the, most likely free publicity, the brands aren't happy with the association.

The companies reportedly stopped the video clip that was supposed to accompany the song, from airing on music video networks. LV and Gucci were allegedly peeved at having their logos prominently displayed in the young, African-American rapper's music video clip.

This is not the first time, and probably not the last time, that "name-brand" companies have feigned association with "urban" musical artists. This is done despite these very same musical artists not only spending small fortunes on these brands, but also encouraging their fanbase to do the same.

Hopefully, this time around, the hip-hop generation has heard these corporations loud and clear. I know I have! (And this is coming from a person who is a life-long clothes horse). Although I am a die hard gear head (<-Remember that term...LOL); I'm a practical one, with a strong interest in the survival of my community- economic and otherwise.

This lack of respect for the Black dollar, is the main reason why I became an avid thrift store shopper a while ago; and I'm still fly...If not flyer than ever...LOL.

True Story: The Salvation Army > The 5th Avenue Stroll.

No Respect = No Dollars.
No Investment In The Community That Supports You = No Dollars.

[SIDEBAR: Buy Black Fridays is becoming more necessary than ever! In fact, it needs to spread to other days of the week as well! Let's take this snub as an opportunity to grow and become more focused.]

[THE LAST STAND SIDEBAR: Accept no apologies or excuses. They'll only be insincere ones. Let's learn to be smart with our money instead of giving it to businesses who's owners' families are set for generations, and get sick to their stomach when they see someone "urban" wearing their brands.]

RESPECT THE BLACK DOLLAR!

Book Review Of The Month: "Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America" By: Morgan Spurlock

Okay, how many of you out there are fast food babies? You know what I mean. I see those of us who grew up thinking a McDonald's #2 with an apple pie was a balanced meal, nodding like a bobble-head. Eighty percent of the rest of you stiff-necked readers need to surrender to the old adage that, "confession is good for the soul." The truth is that most Americans who grew up after the Civil Rights generation were weaned on fast food. Some of us could identify the golden arches before we could identify our grandparents.

American citizens are now feeling the aftereffects of feeding on such unhealthy diets during our developmental years. Obesity, diabetes, cancer, and a slew of other nutrition-related diseases are running rampant. Still we can't totally blame our parents for our health woes. Ignorance is bliss, plus most of us were begging for it- literally. Don't front and act like you never pitched a fit and whined like Urkel (from that TV show, "Family Matters") for a happy meal with that special included toy.

However, hindsight is genius, and with a little analytical thought, we're now becoming hip to the whole fast food game. The proverbial gig is up. Now that most of us have younger family members and/or children who are craving fast food like possessed children of the corn, we're realizing that there's something to this fast food hustle. Those special little toys that we used to get with our kid's meal was part of the lure to make us love the whole fast food experience. Thus, making us consumers and public advocates for our favorite fast food chains from the cradle to the casket. Pretty slick, huh? But like I said, "The gig is up."

Exploring the dangerous effects of fast food consumption in his book, "Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America," is Morgan Spurlock. Morgan Spurlock was the producer, director, and test subject of the documentary "Super Size Me." For his documentary, Mr. Spurlock ate nothing but McDonald's for 30 days straight, three-meals-a-day. The results of this dietary regiment are astonishing. Let's just say ol' boy is lucky to still have a pulse.

In, "Don't Eat This Book," Morgan Spurlock discusses the physical, mental, and emotional effects of being a human guinea pig for his documented experiment. He also goes into depth about the dangers that may be lurking on the end of your fork due to the way that food is processed and grown.

One of the most enlightening revelations that Mr. Spurlock expresses in his book is that there are just as much, if not more, toxins and chemicals in the food we eat as there are in cigarettes. YES, CIGARETTES! You know, those things appropriately nicknamed cancer sticks. However, that shouldn't be so shocking considering that the same companies that manufacture cigarettes, own most of the food companies. (Spurlock provides a comprehensive listing of these companies in the book's appendix). I think we can all agree that that's one to grow on.

Refreshingly, "Don't Eat This Book" isn't just a complain and blame session. It is an informative and witty book that also provides solutions. Morgan Spurlock provides his readers with resources for improving their health, and implementing nourishing meal plans that fit their lifestyles.

This book is a must read! It's educational, entertaining, and it just might save your life.

Video Of The Week

So this is the man who's going to lead the world economic summit?!...[SIDEBAR: If I was the leader of another country, I'd call out sick for this one!]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"Contraband Of War" is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as: "Certain classes of merchandise, such as arms and ammunition, which, by the rules of international law, can not lawfully be furnished or carried by a neutral nation to either of two belligerents. If found in transit in neutral vessels, such goods may be seized and condemned for violation of neutrality."

Quote Of The Day

"My family lived on Park Avenue, just above the uptown railroad. The poverty of my childhood differed from the poverty of today [this was written in 1980] in that the TV set was not sitting in front of our faces, forcing us to make unbearable comparisons between the room we were sitting in and the rooms we were watching, neither were we endlessly being told what to wear and drink and buy." -James Baldwin (From, "Baldwin's Harlem" By: Herb Boyd)

The Attempted Assassination Of Marcus Garvey

Approximately 89 years ago, on October 14, 1919, Marcus Garvey was the target of an assassination attempt. Garvey was grazed by his assailant's bullets. However, he survived the attack. The fact that Marcus Garvey's life was spared in this incident is attributed to the fact that Garvey's wife at the time, Amy Ashwood, knocked the shooter to the floor and incapacitated him.

The shooter was identified as George Taylor, a Southern Black man. Mr. Taylor was apprehended and arrested after the assassination attempt. However, before he could publicly confess to who hired him to kill Mr. Garvey, he was reportedly found dead hanging in his jail cell. George Taylor was found dead the day after he grazed Mr. Garvey with his bullets.

I Would Like To Commend The MTA...

After several inter-borough errand runs turned into what felt like out-of-state trips due to a ridiculous amount of bus-wait time, I did some research concerning who to contact at the MTA to complain about certain buses running grossly off-schedule.

To the credit of the workers at the MTA bus complaint line (especially one lady in particular), I am pleased to report that the MTA Bus Complaint Representatives have verbally responded to my complaints several times.

They have assured me that they are diligently working on my issue of the timeliness of the bus service (especially as it relates to the B48 line). I look forward to seeing continued results.

Kudos.

If you are a NYC MTA bus rider you can program the following numbers into your cellphone, so you are always prepared to let the MTA know that you are waiting an inordinate amount of time for the arrival of a bus. [SIDEBAR: If you aren't tapped into the cellphone matrix, please keep these numbers stored in a convenient location]:

(718) 927-7499 (The MTA Bus Investigation Line)
(718) 330-1234 (The MTA Directions Line. PLEASE NOTE: Although this number is for rendering directions, If you press "0" and wait to speak to a customer service operator, they have the responsibility to take your complaint and forward it to the proper supervisors).

Call the aforementioned numbers if your bus is unreasonably off schedule. You don't have to give your personal information to the MTA operator if they request it. You can make an anonymous complaint if that is your preference.

NYC Heat Requirements For Dwellings

According to The City of New York's Department of Housing Preservation & Development, the annual heat requirements between October 1st and May 31st, are as follows: Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if it is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside must be 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if it is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside must be 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

There are no heating requirements for June 1st through September 30th, no matter what the temperature is outside.

Also, the hot water requirements for all dwellings that are 3 or more stories high and were built after April 18,1929; and, all dwellings that were built after January 1, 1951 is as follows: There must be a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. For all other multiple and private dwellings that aren't included in the description above, the hot water must be at a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit between the hours of 6:00 AM and Midnight, on a daily basis.

If you are not being properly provided with heat or hot water, call 3-1-1.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Black's Law Dictionary defines, "Contraband" as: "In general, any property which is unlawful to produce or possess. Goods exported from or imported into a country against its laws. Articles, the importation or exportation of which is prohibited by law. Smuggled goods."

Quote Of The Day

"The greatest gift is not being afraid to question." -Ruby Dee

Sunday's Op-Ed: The Importance Of History

When people don't know the truth, they aren't prepared. It is easy to be blind-sided and manipulated when you are ignorant of the facts of a situation.

It is no coincidence that masses of people are constantly keep in the dark when it comes to their history. Without historical knowledge, people are rendered powerless to create long-term change in a pointed and purposeful way.

If we examine the modus operandi of colonists, one of the first things that they do after implementing colonial rule is to forge the history of the people they have conquered. For example, history has painted Native Americans as "weak" and "gullible" for not defending their land. However, what history has failed to proclaim is that the spiritual beliefs and good-natured ethos of the Native Americans made them adverse to participating in any type of war. The Pilgrims' belief system allowed them to violently ravage a peaceful and generous people- despite those very people welcoming them, and helping them to survive in a new land. Therefore, one must ask oneself, why Native Americans are the ones branded with the label of "savage" in the annals of history. A forged history clearly plays on perception, and can make killers seem like heroes, and victims look like imbecilic non-entities.

In these times when everyone is talking about "change," the importance of having a strong historical perspective is further highlighted. Change, in a beneficial direction, can not be directed and navigated without a real knowledge of history. Novelist, John O. Killens, stated that: "A people must face its history squarely, in order to transcend it." This is true; for we can only recognize the pattern of history repeating itself, if we know what to look for. If we can honestly analyze and recognize the direction that we are going in, we can determine what the repercussions of our movements will be based on our knowledge of what those repercussions and cycles have been in the past. This gives us the priceless benefit of learning from the actions of others.

We must seek to know the truth of our history. We should not do so in order to dwell on the past, or be distracted by it. We should do so in order to honor our history, and evoke change that will do justice for ourselves and our ancestors.

[SIDEBAR: This is the first installment of a new blog feature- my weekly opinion-editorial piece, that will appear on Sundays.]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to "The Criminal Law Handbook," the difference between a search and a frisk is that "a search is more extensive. An officer conducting a full search can probe extensively for any type of contraband or evidence. A frisk allows officers only to conduct a cursory pat-down and to seize weapons, such as guns and knives or objects that the officer can tell from a plain feel are contraband."

Quote Of The Day

"For those of you who are tired of hearing about racism, imagine how much more tired WE are of constantly experiencing it." -Barbara Smith

The Legal Eagles Legal Brief: The Case Of Being Read Your Rights

Miranda v. Arizona, is the landmark 1966 case that determined "that information obtained by police officers through the questioning of a suspect in police custody may be admitted as evidence at trial only if the questioning was preceded by certain cautions known collectively as a 'Miranda warning.' Accordingly, police officers usually begin their questioning of a person in custody by first making the following statement: 'You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you can not afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire. If you choose to talk to the police officer, you have the right to stop the interview at any time.'" -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"People reasonably expect their telephone conversations to be private whether made from home or a public telephone booth. Police need a search warrant before recording or listening in to telephone conversations. Federal laws enacted in 1996 extend the general privacy to electronic devices like cell phones and e-mail.

[However,] under the Patriot Act as reenacted in 2006, the National Security Administration claims the power to listen in to private conversations that may involve domestic terrorism. Any phone call placed to or received from a non-U.S. exchange is currently subject to a warrantless search. How widespread the domestic surveillance is, and the legality of such surveillance, is a subject of furious debate." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." -Karen Kaiser Clark

Book Excerpt Of The Week: "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

"The crisis of the seventies was finally dealt with in 1979 when Carter appointed Paul Volcker as Chairman of the Federal Reserve; it was the opening salvo of a 'new class war.' Late in 1979 Volcker dramatically tightened the money supply by boosting interest rates, thus cutting borrowing power and buying power, and diminishing economic activity in general. This monetarist squeeze accelerated when Regan took office, until interest rates, which had been 7.9 percent in 1979, reached 16.4 percent in 1981. As a direct result, the U.S. economy plunged into its most severe recession since the Great Depression.

In the eyes of Paul Volcker this was a good thing. For the economic stagnation and low profits of the seventies to be vanquished the American people would have to learn how to work harder for less; Regan's plan was to cut taxes on the rich, gut welfare, and attack labor. As Volcker told the New York Times: 'The standard of living of the average American has to decline...I don't think you can escape that.'

In 1981, as the recession was reaching new depths and many in Congress were calling for relief, Volcker again explained the utility of his artificial economic disaster: 'in an economy like ours with wages and salaries accounting for two-thirds of all costs, sustaining progress [in price reduction] will need to be reflected in moderation o growth of nominal wages. The general indexes of worker compensation still show relatively little improvement, and prices of many services with high labor content continue to show high rates of increase.' The chairman's goal was labor discipline. The recession- though hard on many businesses, particularly small firms- had not yet achieved its purpose: wages were still rising.

Not until the behemoth First Illinois Bank collapsed under the weight of its bad loans and Mexico seriously threatened a default on its $90 billion foreign debt did Volcker relent and open the Fed's spigots, easing interest rates and making credit available throughout the economy, thus stimulating economic activity.

But according to Harrison and Bluestone, 'The deep recession did what it was designed to. With more than ten million people unemployed in 1982 it was impossible for organized labor to maintain wage standards let alone raise them. Reductions in wages rippled from one industry to the next and from the center of the country outward. The real average weekly wage fell more than 8 percent between 1979 and 1982, and failed to recover at all in the next five years. Essentially, with wage growth arrested by unemployment, what growth occurred during the Reagan period rebounded mostly to the profits side of the capital-labor ledger.'" -From, "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

[SIDEBAR: Draw any parallels??? Do you see why I wrote in a previous post that, "We are NOT in a recession?"]

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"QUESTION: Doesn't a police officer always have to read me my "Miranda rights" before questioning me?"

ANSWER: No. A "Miranda warning" is required only if a suspect is in custody and the police intend to interrogate the suspect. In other words, both "custody" and "interrogation" have to occur for Miranda rights to kick in. A statement by a person who is not in custody, or a statement made voluntarily rather than in response to police interrogation, is admissible in evidence at trial even though no Miranda warning was given." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"I will never say that progress is being made. If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. You pull it all the way out, that's not progress. The progress is healing the wound that's below." -Malcolm X

The Eerie Connection Between Gandhi & Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to having the similar philosophies regarding social change, there are other similarities between Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. For example, they were both assassinated. Also, eerily, on the same day that Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi, Martin Luther King's life, and the life of his family, was also endangered.

In his book, "Let The Trumpet Sound," Stephen Oates, states: "On the night of January 30, the date Gandhi was assassinated, [Martin Luther] King was speaking at a mass meeting, when he received dreadful news. His house had been bombed. He sped home in a strange calm... [A] bomb had exploded on [his] porch, breaking it in two and showering the living room with broken glass."

New York Passes The Safe Harbor For Exploited Youth Act

New York Governor David Paterson recently signed The Safe Harbor For Exploited Youth Act into law. The Governor's website describes the act as one that, "requires local [New York] districts to provide crisis intervention services and community based programming for exploited youth. Currently, individuals under the age of 18 who are arrested for prostitution or other illegal activities of a sexual nature enter the criminal justice system with the legal presumption that they are juvenile delinquents. This bill would decriminalize child prostitution, recognizing these children as victims, not criminals, and provide them with necessary social services."

David Paterson made the following statement, regarding why he thinks this law is so important: “As a society we must do everything in our power to prevent sexual exploitation, but when it does occur we must be prepared to assist our youth with appropriate outreach services. For too long we have been disciplining young children who are the victims of brutal sexual exploitation instead of providing them with the necessary services to reintegrate them into society and ensure they receive adequate crisis intervention. This law establishes a Safe Harbor Act which will ensure that sexually exploited youth receive counseling and emergency services as well as long term housing solutions.”