Auburn Tigers 2011 BCS National Champions

Kicker Wes Byrum's 19 yard field goal was the winning score that led Cam Newton and #1 Auburn to its National Championship game win over #2 Oregon last night in Arizona. The win brought Auburn its first national title since 1957, and provided temporary relief for the Tigers' much scrutinized Quarterback; after much controversy surrounding the pay-for-play scheme concocted by Cecil Newton (cam's dad) almost let the Heisman winning quarterback ineligible. Vindication has come in the form of the crystal football (BCS trophy) and the completion of a perfect season, one of the best in recent college football history.

Next up for Cam, decision time, go pro or give the BCS one more run.

NEW Lloyd Banks feat Jeremiah

The next single off Hunger for More 2

NEW Rick Ross and Drake- Made Men

A Lesson to be learned

They say the people you pass on the way will be the same ones that you see on the way down. With that in mind I try my hardest not to take people or good times for granted. Ive been on both sides of the fence, and I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned from the highs and lows of life; I embrace both easily as well never losing my faith in the most high and the fact that he only gives us what we can handle.

We all know the story of MC Hammer whom blew through the type of money that we many of us may never see in a lifetime. To his credit he was feeding a lot of people. Not all too well known is the story of others whom fell, to the hands of greed and selfishness. If you are in denial of what the root all of all evil can do to you and why we should always save for a rainy day, check out this first hand account (courtesy of Mediatakeout.com)

"Hey I would like to keep my identity to myself but i have some rather FUNNY information on Former Death Row Singer Michel'le Toussant to whom i'm related to.

Around the same time Dre left Death Row he left her and tried to take her son Marcel but she wouldn't let him, not only because she loved him, but for the child support money in which she got about $50,000 a month for him. She soon started dating Suge who took all her money and spent it along with her and her sons Life savings which had about $1,000,000+.

She came around once in awhile to show off her new toys she got or whatever but around the time [her son] turned 18 and the checks stopped rolling in, Suge left her ass stranded. She still had a little money in which she soon spent up and eventually had to sell her Mercedes Truck for a 1991 Saturn which she now drives.

The only reason I'm doing this is because of all the years of her teasing our family calling us poor, and now she's on welfare & food stamps."

In case you do not remember who is she is: Check her out in her glory days



SAD BUT TRUE!!!!! Count your blessings.

Messge to Columbia U.: "where are the jobs"

Gentrification is defined as, "the restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle class or affluent people, often resulting in the displacement of lower-income people." Sounds like that definition was custom made for my borough- Harlem. A simple stroll through the neighborhood and you can see evidence of it- from the Target and Costco center on the East River to luxury condos on Lenox and 8th Avenue, to shops along 116th where the fee for a manicure and pedicure will cost you upwards of $40.

By no means am I against the restoration or upliftment of my community but I do however question the task being made possible through displacement. I remember my peers and I looked lightly at the reality of people being moved out of our neighborhood and either displaced or made to squeeze into tighter quarters on the other side of the block. At that point in time we were ignorant to the terminology "gentrification" Now it has come back to haunt us as we are beginning to feel like the outsiders in our own neighborhood.

I was perusing the Amsterdam News today and saw mention of a protest that took place recently on the footsteps on Columbia University in. A display of anger towards the Manhattanville expansion Project which Columbia has underwent as a model of its gentrification efforts in Harlem; Promises were made of 6,000 jobs to be created as a show of good faith that the goal was not displacement rather true enhancement and restoration as the definition attests to. Thus far it has not happened and the residents are not happy, and rightfully so.

Coalition to Preserve Community front person Carolyn Birden says, " I've been fighting Columbia for several years on this issue concerning Manhattanville. They are taking over 17 acres that invlove alot of businesses and a lot of homes. They are planning to put in something very dangerous, a biolab. Most cities force level three labs outside of the city." (Amsterdam News January 6-12, 2011 edition, pg. 6)

Level three labs are the 3rd highest out of 4 safetly levels. These facilities are used to house biomedical agents that can be lethal if exposed to the community. Construction of the facility makes Columbia eligible for federal grants and funding for biodefense.

All of this is on the horizon, but where are the jobs? Statistics show that to date Columbia has hired 900 local residents for a wealth of different positions from professional to administrative. Be that as it may the understanding was for 6,000; 900 falls well short of that objective.

My issue today is one of safety as well of that of a person who is directly affected by displacement. Pride was once taken in living in a neighborhood which felt like home; something that was ours. Restoration and upgrading is wonderful and definitely necessary, but is the price of identity worth it? Ignorance is no longer an excuse and unless we pay attention to gentrification among other things, we will slowly be working in reverse- with no one to blame but ourselves. If we do not fight for involvement, before you know it we will be picketing again in fear of taxation without representation.

Good to be Understood

Do you ever feel like when you talk its as if you are speaking a different language; people are unresponsive or hit you with the age-old "i dont know". For the exact purpose of being cliche, if I had a dollar for every time somebody said that.....well you know the rest. The past couple days I have been under the belief that 2011 is destine to bring change- if anything of pace, of occurences and most importantly of my focus! The latter would be the most important of the trio.

Much to my appreciation, thus far the year has lived up to its billing. Where I have sought inspiration I have found it, and where I yearned creativity , I was satiated. The ownness therefore is on me to continue to put myself in the right arenas.

I had a very interesting conversation yesterday about the importance of versatility and not always keeping up with the joneses. If any of you may be a follower of mine the end of 2010 saw me frequently mentioning the importance of people being themselves, and not be scared to stand out- for originality and not negativity of IMAGE. Dont get me wrong image and brand can be synonomus at times, but not inevitably. I'd'take a trademark over acceptance any day. Care to join me?

What Does It Take

To be clever, he asks; the secret is something that is before her nose, but the wine is too good the travel too tasteful, too erotic and her parents seemingly naive beyond anything she has ever reasoned. Glamour can be hard to thwart off, blinded by the action and lacking foresight.

Would she prefer Twickenham and latin homework, or spontaneity; even when feeling out of placed and a hint of overmatched her wit in comparison to others evens the playing field. The romanticized pedophilia begins to fade, even though your Western thought makes you want to fight it. Can anyone say they would turn down this type of education.

Robin Hood never seemed as smooth, and the victim less victimized. The right words are said effortlessly and she is in bliss. Her face reminds you that she is only 16, yet the Oscar nominations and mellow backdrop keeps the remote out of your hand. "This is who we are" is the proclamation.

From sports cars to homework, oxford and Paris on a whim. The courage and creativity to fight routine living and the advice of most those around her except for her peers, and mother whom vicariously experience what she does and applaud her. To chase "life" or to "just live" becomes the debate.

When life seems dullan and in need of color, what is one to do?

Education by definition is "the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill." The hardest thing in life is to learn while in the midst of rebounding or perhaps to find a silver lining. Those who have the ability can attest to the perverbial "one up" theory.

Disappointment is rampant in this life of ours, yet when we need it most there's always persevearance to lean on- if you have it. As funny as it may sound there's'a little bit of Jenny in everyone; "An education" is necessary from whichever means you do retrieve it