Happy Holy-days !

So its Christmas time and to be quite honest, I am not feeling the x-mas spirit. I guess once you figure out the whole thing is a hoax its pretty much lost its meaning. This holiday season however, I am feeling more practical than anything. I have loads to do: Like discover a career path that allows me to be paid well enough to pay off student loans, allow for my excessive book expense, my growing fashion sense, and all the things real Americans desire a house, a car and a dog of my own. Maybe not a house since I live in NY but at least a nice apartment away from the crime ridden neighborhoods, next to a major subway line and some food joints--not to hard right? Wrong! The economy is in the crapper, lawyers aren't getting paid the same and historians are also feeling the pain. and whats worse is, being from the "hood" there are so many things I have to learn and program myself to do before I can even consider myself a fully functional independent adult--all before I turn 21 I might add. There's just a lot to do this Christmas and I feel like all the hooplah is slowing me down, I'll be glad when its over.   

0L

As I read the many Law blogs in my blogroll and else where I am starting to believe that going to law school is not as hard as I am making it out to be. I know I want to go to law school and I have known since I was little, but I do not exactly know why. I feel like if I can't answer the question I am waisting my time, but its this feeling deep down inside where I know I am making the right decision. 

So far here is my plan:

• Raise G.P.A to a 3.8 or better 
• Take an honors course or two
• Apply for the B.A./ M.A. program at my school 
• Teach for a year to save money 
• Goto Law school 
• Do lawyer stuff 

(I think I should make an official set of goals and post them here) But thats just a simplified version of what just came into my head) But other than that I know I can make it in law school I just have to apply myself. And so I have been watching myself lately (yes you!) and from what I've seen I think I have seen a definite improvement to my studies and the way I organize and plan for things. Great Job! I am just afraid that if I make the wrong decision I am literally going to be paying for it the rest of my life and the thought seriously freaks me out! Hope I'm not being too dramatic. I'm done now! 




******Wait, almost forgot this isn't a law school blog so others don't be afraid to say Hey! lol

Dan Brown's New Novel (if you can call it that!)

         After getting my textbooks earlier this year, I had already planned to pick up the new Dan Brown book in addition to some other great fiction. See the whole summer I wanted to read historical/fantasy/detective/suspenseful books. I found 2. One of them satisfied me the other I had to put down. Not that it was good just either I got to busy to really give it the attention it deserves or I just got fed up with waiting to get to the good parts. 
       O, well in any event, the Dan Brown book comes at a really bad time in my life. It should have come out during the summer because now I am trying to read it and on top of that worry about graduating which means getting credits together, raising G.P.A applying to grad school and studying for my LSAT.  The book so far ( I Haven't finished it yet) is like a typical Dan Brown book and follows his necessary plot points:
   


 1. Murder 2. related person of the murdered must accompany Robert Langdon in his adventures 3. Robert Langdon knows everything (just give him a minute  to work out the clues. 


    
  Theres nothing wrong with the format (he even tries to change it) but it does kind of have this feel where I think it makes the book kinda droopy in parts, but its all good. Thats as far as I will go into the books because I don't like to spoil them; which means I'd make a pretty bad reviewer so for my sake and yours lets hope I get into Harvard Law School. The book is set in America, present day, Washington D.C. and its mostly about the founding of this country. The part where Robert Langdon explains it all is pretty interesting. All in all Dan Brown is Indiana Jones in book form for me. Its slowly weening me off my Harry Potter books that have had my attention for almost 10 years. I'd recommend this book to people who are into history, action, drama and white people lol. What ? theres alot of them in the book just giving you a heads up. Plus the book might make you look a little smarter on the train especially if you take off the book Jacket. Happy reading!

Up at 6 nothing to do

Ok so I know this will bore you to death  but I am up at 6 with nothing to do. I woke up with a horrible nose bleed which can mean a number of things A) my room was too hot B) my cold is breaking C) my cold just got a whole lost worse. B/n me and you I am shooting for B. I love blogging but I haven't been as active as I should. I am trying this new thing where I become the person I want to be and for the most part its working out fine. Rome wasn't built in a day. There's nothing wrong with me per say, I would just like to get my grades up to a 3.6 or better and get into Harvard Law School. I am actually at a point in my life where I think it will work I just have to keep trying to get things done everyday and stop procrastinating. It's Fascinating because I want to go to Law School and I know I will be a great Lawyer I am just really scared that I will accomplish everything. Is it possible to be afraid of success? I hate to start a sentence with "all my life" but All my freckin' (thats better) life I have only had to get by no one asked me really hard questions, no one challenged me and now that there's a BIG challenge staring me in the face I'm kinda putting my toes out there in the water inch by inch. With God's help and the ancestors I know I will be fine-they have yet to let me down. Somewhere in me is a fire I just have to turn it up and burn all my insecurities. 

Hello Moto!

So I've been sick and thats why I haven;t been on lately. Nothing to serious I hope (I didn't get my swine flu vaccination, nor do I wish to. I think what I have is a head cold and it will easily go away. Nonetheless it is flu season so I thought I'd give you guys some helpful tips on how to stay healthy. http://www.essortment.com/all/immunesystemst_rzzb.htm

Sorry about that!

Well I was back until financial aid tried to bite me in the behind so I am taking a little hiatus just to get a schedule and things so I will know how to run a blog, work like a mule, try to graduate on time, save my money, get a car, try to get more scholarships, a fullbright-you know all the things I am suppose to be helping you guys achieve. I will be back really soon just its taking me longer than I thought to settle down into the mood of writing ad posting. Plz don't be angry with me. 




You Know You Love Me XOXO

I'mmm bacccckkkk!!!!!

Sorry guys, silly me I lost my password to my blog and Google was acting real STANK and they wouldn't give it to me. I love Google and all but resetting your password should never be this hard. To make matters worst I lost my phone but I also found a new cool website, so maybe it was a blessing in a curse after all. Not exactly because I will be paying close to $300 for a new plan, and a new phone all because t-mobile said I didn't have insurance on the phone. SO I beg all of you cell phone users to stock  up on insurance and quickly. I feel like I just got raped by T-mobile with no Vaseline. I mean seriously I paid $40 for my blackberry curve only to pay $179 a month for 2 lines. But thats not all, I just paid them another $300 for a late bill,  I mean Geesh-Louise I am a College student! I have no MOney but I need a phone because I go to school so far away. Its driving me insane. But I'm back bitches and I am ready to post.

Working Girls lol

Okay guys so far so good with the online work. I haven't been paid yet so that's why I haven't posted the links so that you guys can make some money as well. I don't want to turn this blog into a get-rich-quick scheme at least not yet, because I actually enjoy posting things on here. Don't give up on me, I'm making moves.

America the $eautiful !!!! How Cell Phone Companies robb us blind!

Money is always the name of the game here in America , this is why I am never so quick to judge the conspiracy theories that run rampant on Youtube. How many of us have a cell phone? How many of us pay a monthly bill? How many of us were promised that our monthly bill wouldn't accrue to a ridiculous amount? All of us! Well as of now I have some suggestions as to how to handle it...however I do not want to put things up here that I haven't tried myself. You see as a "new" blogger I want my credibility to be through the roof, unlike your GIANT coorporations I would love for people to trust me! But while you wait how bout you read this great article from PC World about our favorite culprits, the cell phone companies AHHHHHHH!

Where have you been?

So I bet you guys were wondering where I've been, right? Well I have been doing some research in the whole "work at home" internet craze so that I can put it on my blog without any scams or hassles. Right now I made 32 cents on Amazon and I am ecstatic for some reason and quite shocked that it actually works. I have a complete list of things that work and do not work so don't worry for now just sit back and relax until I come back in full effect with more helpful tips and cool book reviews. 

Cool Website (I Just Found Tonite)

Want to get some much needed deals or coupons? Head over to Yahoo!Deals. I haven't used it yet, but it seems pretty safe just be cautious. It's much like price I told you about but just as good.

On DVD

Gosh. Every once in while do you ever find your self at home with nothing to do. Well as I just told you I love a good movie. Here are a few that I just love and guess what? Totally free

1st up  The Island  its very good in a Nietzschean kind of way about the future. 

Next is Gosford Park. A Murder mystery that is just spot on in humor and acting.

Apocalypto is just amazing about the early years of America. 




Those are just some Titles for your down time.

Being Frugal

If you all are going to be going on this journey with me you will have to learn how to budget. Brooke Stephens has a great book called Wealth Happens One Day At A Time. So far Ive followed most of her steps and I am a little better with my finances because of it. Here are a few:

• Saving every receipt dating them and keeping them in a box 
• The right time to shop 
• Wallstreet explained

And its all in plain simple everyday language. Come on people lets get Frugal!

Also Check out her other book Taking Dollars and Making Sense it will change the way you see money which is good. Money doesn't have to be a bad thing. Seriously if you don't get these books they are only $.01. And they are totally worth it. To prove it I will be writing some of her advise in a weekly blogpost. This way I keep reading the book and you guys have no choice but to buy it after I am this much closer to becoming a millionaire. 

Cool Website (I Just Found Tonite)

Price is a really great website I got from this book by Ronald Lewis. It lets you check on see if any prices on the products you want to buy or may have bought already have dropped. Depending on the stores policy you maybe entitled to a refund or you save a little money before you buy which is always nice. Check it out and tell me what you think. It's really simple just watch the video and your set. 

Stick it to the Man: How to Skirt the Law, Scam Your Enemies , and Screw Big, Fat, Stupid, Lazy Corporations...for Fun and Profit! by Ronald Lewis is well an okay book depending on what you want  I bought it mostly because of the websites like one that lets you copy the DVD's you already own to your Itunes account which is really neat.

What I'm Reading Now

I have this thing where I read alot of books at the same time depending on how good they are and if they hold my attention which is pretty hard to do especially now-a-days . Like say I'll be reading a book then that book mentions another author or article or even a video. I immediately stop what I am reading hop on the PC google or youtube it which takes me to something else that interests me then by the time I finish reading, surfing and watching I am on to another book. I mean its good because I find out something new but if I really want to focus on something it basically has to keep me shocked the whole way through.  

So at the moment my attention is focused on Randall Robinson, lawyer and founder of Trans Africa. I put some of his vids up in the youtube panel. If you are a newcomer to his work I suggest looking him up on youtube at the Black State of the Union Cspan 2009. I recently have been reading all three of his books at the same time. 

The first one is The Debt is by far the best book to get if you want a beginners guide to African History and some information on the Reparations movement. Many a passage is unforgettable. This is by far one of my favorite books and I think every American should read it. 

The second is Quitting America: A Black Man's Departure From His Native Land. I learned so much about Haiti and the U.S. that I am kind of appalled to be American even though I never really felt like one. While I can understand why Randall left America to live with his wife and child in St. Kitts I do not think he will ever stop writing about America and I hope he won't. America is not the BEST country on Earth. We have little rights compared to what we could have, We vote against our own interests, Our public schools really suck, Our culture is oversexed and hyper violent and before you say why don't you leave-I would but unfortunately I am too broke to spare the costs. 

The third of Randall's Books that I am currently reading is called The Reckoning, which tells the very disturbing tale about the prison system and its relationship with black men. Before you assume he is making excuses for black you should really look at the statistics and see just how many of us, young black men are in prison for non-violent crimes, how many of us get longer sentences than whites for the same offense and then tell me this stuff is just another excuse. See what most of us don't know is that the prison system in this country like everything else is a business which means they are only interested in one thing: MONEY. So they build big prisons and overcrowd them so they can build more. Then they make the prisoners do labor and pay them crackers. Don't get me wrong crime is crime but when you live in the ghetto and its ingrained into you on the television screen and your peers---its just insane how bout that!  

 I for one wish to be just like this man: A lawyer, a crusader for human rights, a scholar. Well happy reading!

What's Got My Gaskets Going !

Obama should really forget bipartisanship and let the Republicans do it on their own because thats exactly what they did for 8 years. Heres what I need from Obama right now because I knew this would happen sooner or later, he's going to have to toughen up and say what he wants and not try to please everyone. He has the Republicans thinking that they can scare him into just reforming healthcare without the public option when we ALL know thats not the way to go. I am so sick of people saying hes a socialist when we already have socialized policies in America i.e. Social Security, Medicare, Welfare. I mean come on America we finally get a smart one and everyones being so dumb about it. And now my Gaskets are cool thanks for listening! 

At the Movies

When I am not reading, I enjoy watching movies and to prove it once you follow the link you will be led to my favorite movie site. I dont see it as illegal though lol the way I see it I am a struggling college student they should pay me to see their films because those tickets are way to expensive especially in NY.

So this week I saw Orphan at the request of my brother who said it was very good and I thought the opposite it held my attention but I have to say as a lover of suspense I saw the ending from a mile away. The acting was typical for the film lots of screaming and why-dont-you-believe-me antics. But hey if its an early sunday morning why not give this melodrama a shot. 

                                                   
I also saw the Collector and I must say even with the wack quality I was enjoying every minute of it. Freddy who? Jason who? This guy is just pure evil. It was kinda like SAW mixed with Hostel because of all the gruesome death. I didn't even bother with the last 5 minutes I know their will be a sequel there always is.

Who's Bad!

As of right now, I think the music industry is hurting badly mostly because of the lack of originality. So if you want some real music you really have to go underground and thats exactly what I did. Janelle Monae is as original as music can get. If I had to compare her to anyone I would say shes sounds a little like Lauryn Hill with Andre 3000's style. Heres some youtube clips and someone told me you can buy her album or preview it on itunes or if you into the illegal business of downloading music. I cant stop you, but I'd rather you support her cause she is super talented.  

My fave songs so far are:
  
The ultra classy Sincerely Jane reminiscent of Lauryn Hill's That Thing 
Futuristic Violent Stars Happy Hunting 
Many Moons 
Mr. President 
And Metropolis 


Trust me this girl will be the NEXT big thing in music

Amazon

Blog of the Week!

Okay, so as you know this is my first go as a blogger and while I may be a fresh upstart now, I can only hope to be as good as Cal Newport. For those of you who are not familiar with him you really need to he's written two books about the college experience that I consider the Bible to Higher Education if you want to go to college and not be as stressed as the rest of us. But what I like most about his blog is that he always has good information, and its very well planned and organized. By all accounts thats what makes a blog a BLOG. So head on over college students I urge you if you are just in the planning stages of college or knee deep stress  his books and blog are excellent guides to LIFE.

1st Book Review

        So here we go! . This book was the book that made me want to read only books authored by black writers and it is part of the reason why I chose college over the streets or a "regular life".  Beloved by Toni Morrison, written in 1987 is the winner of Pulitzer Prize for fiction and numerous other awards since its publishing. In this novel, Morrison paints a somber picture of the brutal effects of slavery, especially from the point of view of the characters. It examines both the mental and physical trauma caused by slavery as well as its effect on survivors. The book follows the story of Sethe (pronounced "Seth-uh") and her daughter Denver as they try to rebuild their lives after having escaped from slavery.

My 2 Cents: 

I can still remember my teacher crying as he read Baby Suggs' speech in the clearing. Honestly if you must read any  book please make it this one. Even if you saw the movie first (which I did) the book is 10 times better and I loved the film version as well. I do not want to spoil anything so I am shutting up now but don't forget to follow the links below. 

One of my Favorite Quotes: 

"Definitions belong to the definers not the defined."

   *****After every book review I will post a link to amazon to buy the book, movie (if there is one) the publishers and other fansites. Yep, I said it I will do all the work for you. Oh but I will recommend you take it out of the library before you buy it. *****

Amazon book

Amazon movie

Toni Morrison Society

Fansite

Intro

Hello Everyone and Welcome to Byanymeanstry!

This is my attempt at a blogsite that I plan to convert into a website for readers/students/prisoners and young revolutionaries in the making. I want this blog to not only be an experiment for me but to be a kind of safe haven for young people who enjoy to read and think outside the box on issues that affect us all.




Here are some of the things that are yet to come that you can expect on this blog once I get it up and running:


Book reviews, book discussions, movie reviews, other blogsites that I enjoy, college tips, financial tips and just overall fun. So just sit back relax, subscribe and lets take this journey together shall we?