NYC Apartment Search -- the outlook is bright!

Today I have good news to report.

I don't know that I've told you this before, but I'm a little OCD about Google, and well research in general. So everyday, I spend about 45 mins to an hour looking for housing accomodations in NYC. I've learned alot about the rental market, and am beginning to notice trends. For example, I can kinda guesstimate how long properties in my area of interest will remain on the market. But the search can be intimidating, and I was starting to get concerned about whether or not we would be able to find a spot. Let's be clear, while there are tons of places in NYC, I just ain't ready to move into an apartment where my refrigerator is in the middle of my living room. Call it what you like but us southerners are into room or rooms--clearly defined. But today I was surprised to find several apts available in my area and in my ideal price range, all with rooms, all renovated many with no broker fee. WOO HOO!!!

So, I am going up next week to view my potential cribs in person. Hopefully, they will still be available. But for now I am in NYC Relocation heaven. Trust.

BET Music Awards, tonight @ 8PM

Diddy -- It's a wrap. Or maybe I'm just growing up. Who knows?

In either case, for all you foks that are into music, here's my plug for Internet Radio. I've been into internet radio for a few years now. Yahoo, VH1 music, freemusic.com. I went to turn on my station, and learned that today was a Day of Silence in protest of recent changes to the fees that are associated with playing the music. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15. Apparently, if Congress doesn't repeal a law that goes into effect next month, my internet radio days may be gone for good, and that really makes me sad, angry and frustrated. Please help!!! Check out the website: http://www.savenetradio.org/, for more information on how you can get involved.

Happy Studying. I'll be watching the BET Music Awards in honor of June being black music month and all. Besides, I'm skipping Essence Festival this year b/c of the bar.

HONEY DO "My To Do List"

Off the top of my head, here's all of the things that I need to be doing, (in addition to studying) but that I have not gotten done yet. It's funny how much life continues to go on, even when studying for the bar.

1. Sell Car. (have detailed and list for sale)


2. Find NYC apartment


3. Renew auto registration. This was truly a waste of $$$ considering that I will be xferring my southern car tag in for a big city tag in a couple of mos. grrrrrrr!!!!


4. Pay Bills


5. Modify Albany Hotel Reservation


6. Change Albany Flight Reservations


7. Minor home repairs


8. Turn in resignation letter.


9. Open new checking accounts.


10. Fax off hardship deferrment for student loans.


11. Plan bar trip.


12. Book California air tickets


13. Call momma.


14. Work-out.

I just want you to know that you can fail the NY Bar Exam.

Writing a blog about the bar exam is cool. I've met some awesome folks who are doing the same thing, learning what works and what doesn't. However, in so doing, I am opening up myself to public scrutiny. And today I am feeling horrible. Fed Judx, NY Civil Practice are two of the most boring outlines I have attempted to read. Does that mean I'm going to fail the bar exam?

No one really ever wants to talk about failure. And I think I understand why. The thought of failing is scary, embarassing, and in most instances not really an option. Nevertheless I am having a freak out session in my mind.



according to a friend of mine that is doing fed district ct clerkship -- "You can fail the bar. She goes on to say that she wants me to be aware because, "no one ever broke it down to her like that when she was studying. On a positive note though, you have the ability to alter the outcome of your bar experience by putting in the time now." That was motivating

According to another friend, the one that's at a top BIGLAW litigation firm, "you aren't going to know everything, even the night before the bar." Now that's reassuring, yet still somewhat unhelpful.

Friends.

So today, I'm thinking . . .how in the hell should I approach the subjects that I've already fallen behind on-- Fed Judx and Civil Practice like the back of my hand. Does anyone out there have tips on how they tackled these two subjects -- and quickly.

This reminds me of a lesson I learned during first year, there's no such thing as a short cut.

Happy Studying.

I am qualified to take NY Bar Exam on Laptop!!!

that was a doobie, but I found a friend willing to lend me laptop for a couple of days so that I will be comfortable. The software seems to be pretty straightforward, alot nicer than ExamSoft plus with more features.

If only the hotel prices in Albany would drop, better yet, if only the availability of rooms would increase.

Sup Ct, says car passengers have 4A standing

US Supreme Court holds that a passenger as well as a driver has standing to challenge the legality of a police officer's decision to stop a car. All in a unanimous decision. All this just as I finish my Search and Seizure -- Automobiles outline. No worries, we aren't responsible for this new decision on this year's bar exam. Here's the story . . .

Want it in MBE Format? Here 'tis .. .

Bruce E. Brendlin, was a passenger in a car that was stopped by a deputy sheriff in ONOUDIDN, CA. The deputy soon ascertained that Mr. Brendlin was an ex-convict who was wanted for violating his parole. An ensuing search of the driver, the car and Mr. Brendlin turned up methamphetamine supplies. Mr. Brendlin pleaded guilty to a drug charge and drew a four-year prison sentence. But he continued to appeal on the issue of whether the evidence of drugs found on him resulted from an illegal search and should have been suppressed because of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure. The prosecution argues that Brendlin lacks standing to bring forward such a motion. How should the judge rule on the appeal?

A. affirm, as passenger Brendlin was not seized by the search.
B. affirm, unless the police had probable cause to search the passenger.
C. affirm, a balancing of society's interest in eradicating methamphetamines outweighs the privacy interest of a passenger in an automobile.
D. reverse, when a officer makes stop he seizes not only driver of car, but also car and every person in car.

BAR BLOGGERS BIRTHDAY!!!

Bet you'll bust if you boast that boisterously!!



Today's my birthday and I'm having a private party in my head!

So far I have received . . .

• an acapella voice messagefrom my uncle, the counter tenore, singing our family's version of Happy Birthday
• A midnight phonecall from my baby brothers-not so baby any more,
• voice messages from two of my three aunts wishing me well.
• a pop-out card from my friends at Southwest Airlines,
• an e-mail from my friends at Carnival Cruise
• an invitation to join my girlfriend and her mother for her mother’s birthday dinner.
• Two Birthday Cards from my birthday twins at work.
• Drama, drama and more drama . . . will it ever end?

Well I still have a few more hours, heck I plan on celebrating this all month, to the extent that the bar review allows it!

Happy Studying folks!

Aspiring lawyer missing -- Stepha Henry - PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD

I heard about this story on the radio this morning and then later read this post from the Magnolia Diva.

***************************


It's AMAZING how much the media would rather talk about that rich, spoiled, whimp, Paris Hilton, than report on a missing 22-year old minority in Miami...

Here is a link to one of the stories on her.

Stepha Henry, a 22-year old honors graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice who is working her way to becoming a lawyer mysteriously disappeared after leaving Brooklyn to visit a relative in Miami, Florida.




On May 24, 2007, Stepha Henry headed to Florida to relax and have some fun. After working full time while studying hard for the LSAT (law school entrance exam), she was looking forward to visiting her aunt in Miami and attend a reggae concert.

She was last seen leaving her aunt’s home with an unknown man driving a black sedan, possibly a four-door Acura at about 1:00 a.m. on May 24, 2007, on her way to a Fort Lauderdale dance club called Club Peppers. Police spoke with the man who was last with Stepha, and he alleges they separated at the club.

She has not been seen since and did not make her return flight to Brooklyn on May 29.

She is black, has red hair and brown eyes and is about 5-feet-2 and 110 pounds, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

Please post this story and picture on your blogs since the media isn't giving this story the attention it should.

Crim Law & Procedure: Genarlow Wilson released from prison today

Do y'all recall the story about a Georgia high-school athlete being senetenced to ten years for having consensual oral sex with another teenager at a party? The judge threw out his sentence and he was released. The prosecutors plan to appeal the judge's order.

Initally when I read that last line I was thinking . . .prosecutors can't appeal because the appeal will necessitate a retrial. But I thought about it and an appeal of the judge's order wouldn't require a new trial, just a hearing to discuss whether or not the judge's order was procedurally invalid. Now I'm confrused? The defense originally appealed Mr. Wilson's sentence on the grounds that it was cruel and unusual punishment.

In review . . .

Q: What's more complex than studying for the New York Bar?
A: Preparing to move to New York City!

In preparation for my move, I had to put my home up for rent.
Craigslist works wonders, i got over 20 phonecalls and 10 of the
people actually showed up. A few even filled out the application on
the spot and forked over the application fee. let's keep fingers
crossed that at least one of the applicant's pans out. Goodness knows
that I can't lose another day to showing my place. The sooner I get
it rented out the sooner I can put a deposit on a place in NYC.

And about that bar . . .

I don't want to make this a bash Micromash session, but technical
support just ain't technical nowadays. In an attempt to remedy an
issue with my software I found myself explaining the software program
to Micromash Technical Support. She decided that I really did have an
issue that was going to need to be referred to the programmers. She
asked for my Barbri number and I had to remind her that I am using
MICROMASH . . . not Barbri. That's when she informed me that she
provides tech support for both Barbri and Micromash. Go figure.
Either way, I won't get help until tomorrow. The thing is I'm sure
it's a pretty simple fix.

Until we meet again . . .

New York Bar Exam Laptop Lottery = No Macs allowed

Whoever, ever, ever heard of such a thing.

Congratulations, you have been selected for the July NY LAPTOP Lottery!

So I'm psyched, doing my ghetto girl dance. I rarely win anything, and the odds that i would win this, well I wasn't too hopeful. I look at the timeframe that I have to pay the $70 -- hmmm looks like I need to do this immediately. Wait, do I have $70?

Yes, of course I do. What are the minimum laptop requirements:

512 MB of RAM
• 100 MB free hard drive space
• Internet access for laptop (for purposes of downloading software, receiving e-mail regarding laptop testing, uploading qualification exams, and uploading Essay and MPT Answers)
• Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework
• Microsoft Windows Operating Systems XP or Vista (Software Secure does not support Non-North American Versions)
• Functioning USB Port
• Functioning CD drive
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
• No APPLE / POWER PC /MACINTOSH (in any form, even if it runs Windows)
• No Mini-PCs

Are you serious??? Everyone who is anyone uses a Mac these days, it's 2007 not 1997! What do THEY have against Macs? They're explicit too. Would it have hurt to find a software company that developed software suitable for both PC and MAC. duh!!! Alas, I'm not so lucky after all. **tear**

This is important because I have taken all notes and law school exams on laptops and I type way faster than I think (hence the errors in my blog, but who's proofreading anyway?). The one time that I didn't use my laptop was b/c I mistakenly forgot to pack my power cord. And let's just say I was riding the curve that day. I've got to figure something out and fast because I have to take a mock test on the laptop that I play to use by June 18th!!!

Do I have a cause of action?

Micromash . . .not the perfection that I was hoping for

This weekend I got in some real good study time, and I am finally beginning to understand "The Micromash Way". Here are my thoughts:

1. The errors in the literature make me nervous. While reading I can't help but wonder who wrote this stuff and where did they get the information from. And then I begin to wonder about who they hired to type it up. Was it an attorney or a high school drop out? Either way, it is certainly evident that NOBODY proofread this information before sending the error-laden document to a printer to be bound in books and sold to desparate law school graduates like myself. Needless to say, I have finally decided to call in reinforcements. What's worse than not knowing the law, well studying the wrong law. PMBR CDs where are you???

2. Speaking of PMBR CDs, there has got to be a better way to absorb this information. I mean READING 20+ pages of straight law gets a little dull. I need questions at the end of reading or something, but hey that's just me. After studying for a week, I am beginning to appreciate the Barbri video method. What Micromash is missing is CDs. I don't think it would cost that much more to have the person that "typed" the study guides speak into a microphone to record CDs. Hey maybe while speaking she can actually read what she wrote.

3. Lastly, more instructions on MBE studying. Like what subject should I begin with. When should I move on to the next MBE subject? stuff like that.

We do have attorney-mentors. I hope they are getting paid for answering all of my non-essay related questions. I sure have alot of them. On the positive side of things, I definitely like the software and the way that you can manipulate the questions. But because of all of the other errors I find myself worrying that someone spent a little more time reviewing the questions in the software.

I am prayerful.

Larissa finally eliminated from Monique's Charm School

A diversion I know. . .

I am a sucker for reality TV, it all began in 1993 with the first
season of Real World. i use it for my own psycotherapy. You see, my
first year of law school i was drowning in all the seriousness that is
first year law school, and I needed an escape. i found the release I
needed through Jerry Springer and America's Next Top Model. For me
the more ridiculous the people on TV were, the more normal i felt.
hey, it got me through first year sane.

Some of my favorites have been Venus and Serena, Being Bobby Brown, My
Fair Brady, Flavor of Love, white rapper show, The Fame Games and now
Charm School. so I speak with experience when i say that Larissa was
a parasite on the show. I liken her to Puck from Real World.
Everyone, remembers Puck. He was always getting on someone's nerves,
most importantly mine. this is a problem, cause you would think the
viewing audience is supposed to be entertained by his outlandish
behaviors.

Such is the case with Larissa. She got on my damn nerves. She was a
loud, angry, juvenile, backstabber with deep seated issues that she
refused to address just like some of the women that I left behind in
high school and met in the dormitory my first year of college. You
couldn't get through an issue without her yelling and cursing someone
out. It's like come on, don't you get that your behavior is not
charming? But the irony is that she prided herself on being so real,
but yet sold her homegirl out to Becky's wackness. Gimme a break!

But Larissa knows who not to mess with. She hasn't been seen arguing
with my girl Sapphyri. I am rooting for her, she has grown the most
of all of the women on the program and seems sincere.