How many times hav e you had to step out of the vehcle

TENAHA, Texas (CNN) -- Roderick Daniels was traveling through East Texas in October 2007 when, he says, he was the victim of a highway robbery.

Police in the small East Texas town of Tenaha are accused of unjustly taking valuables from motorists.

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The Tennessee man says he was ordered to pull his car over and surrender his jewelry and $8,500 in cash that he had with him to buy a new car.

But Daniels couldn't go to the police to report the incident.

The men who stopped him were the police.

Daniels was stopped on U.S. Highway 59 outside Tenaha, near the Louisiana state line. Police said he was driving 37 mph in a 35 mph zone. They hauled him off to jail and threatened him with money-laundering charges -- but offered to release him if he signed papers forfeiting his property.

"I actually thought this was a joke," Daniels told CNN.

But he signed.

"To be honest, I was five, six hundred miles from home," he said. "I was petrified." Watch CNN's Gary Tuchman try to question officials »

Now Daniels and other motorists who have been stopped by Tenaha police are part of a lawsuit seeking to end what plaintiff's lawyer David Guillory calls a systematic fleecing of drivers passing through the town of about 1,000.

Highway Robbery?

Out of the blue, drivers are pulled over. Their valuables taken ... hundreds of thousands of dollars worth. And you won't believe who's behind it all. "Highway Robbery,"

"I believe it is a shakedown. I believe it's a piracy operation," Guillory said.

George Bowers, Tenaha's longtime mayor, says his police follow the law. And through her lawyers, Shelby County District Attorney Lynda Russell denied any impropriety.

Texas law allows police to confiscate drug money and other personal property they believe are used in the commission of a crime. If no charges are filed or the person is acquitted, the property has to be returned. But Guillory's lawsuit states that Tenaha and surrounding Shelby County don't bother to return much of what they confiscate.

Jennifer Boatright and Ron Henderson said they agreed to forfeit their property after Russell threatened to have their children taken away.

Like Daniels, the couple says they were carrying a large amount of cash --- about $6,000 -- to buy a car. When they were stopped in Tenaha in 2007, Boatright said, Russell came to the Tenaha police station to berate her and threaten to separate the family.

"I said, 'If it's the money you want, you can take it, if that's what it takes to keep my children with me and not separate them from us. Take the money,' " she said.

The document Henderson signed, which bears Russell's signature, states that in exchange for forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency.

Maryland resident Amanee Busbee said she also was threatened with losing custody of her child after being stopped in Tenaha with her fiancé and his business partner. They were headed to Houston with $50,000 to complete the purchase of a restaurant, she said.

"The police officer would say things to me like, 'Your son is going to child protective services because you are not saying what we need to hear,' " Busbee said.

Guillory, who practices in nearby Nacogdoches, Texas, estimates authorities in Tenaha seized $3 million between 2006 and 2008, and in about 150 cases -- virtually all of which involved African-American or Latino motorists -- the seizures were improper.

"They are disproportionately going after racial minorities," he said. "My take on the matter is that the police in Tenaha, Texas, were picking on and preying on people that were least likely to fight back."

Daniels told CNN that one of the officers who stopped him tried on some of his jewelry in front of him.

"They asked me, 'What you are doing with this ring on?' I said I had bought that ring. I paid good money for that ring," Daniels said. "He took the ring off my finger and put it on his finger and told me how did it look. He put on my jewelry."

Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy for a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.

In addition, Russell donated money to the local chamber of commerce and a youth baseball league. A local Baptist church received two checks totaling $6,000.

And one check for $10,000 went to Barry Washington, a Tenaha police officer whose name has come up in several complaints by stopped motorists. The money was paid for "investigative costs," the records state.

Washington would not comment for this report but has denied all allegations in his answer to Guillory's lawsuit.

"This is under litigation. This is a lawsuit," he told CNN.

Russell refused requests for interviews at her office and at a fundraiser for a volunteer fire department in a nearby town, where she also sang. But in a written statement, her lawyers said she "has denied and continues to deny all substantive allegations set forth."

Russell "has used and continues to use prosecutorial discretion ... and is in compliance with Texas law, the Texas constitution, and the United States Constitution," the statement said.

Bowers, who has been Tenaha's mayor for 54 years, is also named in the lawsuit. But he said his employees "will follow the law."

"We try to hire the very best, best-trained, and we keep them up to date on the training," he said.

The attention paid to Tenaha has led to an effort by Texas lawmakers to tighten the state's forfeiture laws. A bill sponsored by state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, would bar authorities from using the kind of waivers Daniels, Henderson and Busbee were told to sign.

"To have law enforcement and the district attorney essentially be crooks, in my judgment, should infuriate and does infuriate everyone," Whitmire said. His bill has passed the Senate, where he is the longest-serving member, and is currently before the House of Representatives.

Busbee, Boatright and Henderson were able to reclaim their property after hiring lawyers. But Daniels is still out his $8,500.

"To this day, I don't understand why they took my belongings off me," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/05/texas.police.seizures/index.html

##### My 2 Cents ###########

I copied this entire article from CNN because it pretty much speaks for itself. I have been a victim of racial profiling and it is something that I will always remember. The majority does not believe that this happens and that things done by the police are to "protect and server". Every time I need to make a point of how racial profiling is very real I will direct someone to this blog and to this article. Feel free to do so as well.

Rondo vs Hinrich

Last night during the bulls game there was an altercation between Rondo and Hinrich the video can be seen here



Rondo was given a flagrant file and Hinrich was given a technical foul.
Lets Discuss --
Do you think the NBA should take some more action?
If so what action should be taken?
If there was a rumble who do you think would have won?

I think that the NBA should suspend both players but if they suspend Rondo they should remove the flagrant foul given to him because that would cause Rondo to be penalized more. I am will 100% agree that Rondo was unexcusable for his actions but if i have been in situations when playing and a grown man falling on you can really frustrate you especially when you have a bad ankle and he is stumbling all over it. One thing to look at is Hinrich is gives a box out but he continues to box out after the ball has been rebounded and is still boxing out after his teammatte that is rather close to him is dribbling the ball all in a clear shot of the ref that probably should have called a moving screen or foul on Hinirch, but the technical foul was called on Rondo before he even slung Hinrich into the scorers table.
As far as the rumble Hinrich was ready and Rondo was backing up but I have to put my money on the brother
One think i would like to point out is that the commentators kept talking Rondo starting it but they never mentioned Hinrich's retaliation. In certain situations they make it very clear that they do not support retaliations and players should be able to keep their cool no matter what is going on. Example - glass bottle being thrown at a player in the palace vs being slung into the scorers table that players run into all the time. Coincedence? I dont think so.

Animal Rights Activist can be criminals also

By Terry Frieden
CNN Justice Department Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI for the first time has placed an animal rights activist on the bureau's "Most Wanted Terrorists" list.

Daniel Andreas San Diego is 31 years old and a "strict vegan," the FBI says.

The FBI announced Tuesday the addition of Daniel Andreas San Diego to the list, hoping a burst of international publicity associated with the move will help investigators find him after six years on the run.

San Diego, 31, may appear to be out of place on a terrorist list with familiar names like al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Adam Yahiye Gadahn. The "strict vegan," according to the FBI, is charged with bombing two corporate offices in California in 2003. The blasts caused extensive property damage but no deaths.

Vegans eat no meat or any other food containing animal products.

Authorities allege San Diego bombed facilities in Emeryville and Pleasanton, California, because he believed the Chiron and Shaklee Corporations had ties to animal-testing labs.

The sophisticated homemade bombs had ammonium nitrate brand explosives and relied on "kitchen timer style mechanical timer devices," according to an FBI affidavit.

After both bombings, e-mails from a group called "The Revolutionary Cells-Liberation Brigade" claimed responsibility for the acts.

Photographs of San Diego, who grew up in suburban San Francisco, California, show a well-groomed, bespectacled man.

But the computer network specialist also sports several elaborate tattoos. According to an artist's rendering of the body art, San Diego has one in the center of his chest of a burning hillside and the words "It only takes a spark" in a typewriter-style font.

An abdominal tattoo shows burning and collapsing buildings, while his back features a leafless tree rising from a road above buildings that are burning but still standing, the FBI says.

Last year, agents pursued reports that San Diego was hiding in Costa Rica. They also received a report he was spotted in rural southern Virginia.

************************ My 2 Cents *************************************

This article on cnn made me a little irritated and upset. Not becuase there are new people that are no the terrorist list, but becuase in my belief that the author subtly states that this individual does not "appear" to be a criminal. I did not realize there was a terrorist dress-code if so can I get the memo to ensure I am not mistaken for one. I mean I definately fit the dress code for being black. What does a terrorist look like: turbin, long-beard, and sandals? Or maybe a vegan diet gives someone more compassion for human nature than a meat eater? It is these same ideas that have created skewed statistics, stereotypes, and profiled people. Many geniouses are unemployed becuase some well-dressed idiot chose not to hire them. A lot of law enforcement efforts has been used to keep cocaine infested neighborhoods protected from average law-abiding citizens. Many uncaught sinners cast the vote to disfellowship a fallen comrad.

Student Loan Nightmares

View the link below:

Student Loan Nightmare

If student loan payments were reduced it would definitely stimulate the economy. More money I dont have to send more money I spend. What good is the "American dream" if it is repressed by the rising cost of education at institutes where individuals can matriculate and develop themselves. This is not to say that if you do not go to a institute of higher learning that you cannot matriculate and develop yourself. But our current system dictates and gives preference to individuals that not only attend an institute of higher learning but also give more preference to some institutes where the cost is even higher. This is something that must be seriously looked at. The pull yourself up by the bootstrap mentality is becoming harder and harder everyday. We will soon be no better than the social class societies found in eastern countries if we do not find a way to decrease the gap in which the upper class is getting farther away from the middle and lower classes. Eventually it will be nearly impossible to reach the "American Dream".
Tell me how you feel.

A Timeout for T.O.

Although I am a die hard Washington Redskins fan I am not happy to see in my opinion one of the best receivers on the Dallas Cowboys and in the league released. Terrell Owens has always carried the label as a locker room "cancer". It amazes me that many of these "cancer" quoting individuals look like they have never played a team sport in their life. While locker room chemistry is important to how a team plays together it is not uncommon to find a locker room that is not 100% together. Although I have never played a professional sport I can imagine that an ego-studded professional locker room in which individual performance can mean more money lacks this chemistry more often.

I will never deny and often say that T.O. is horrible with PR and should keep quiet more than he talks because ESPN will ultimately twist and chop up his words to make him say he hates his QB when in reality he said he has a pest control problem (I can write about ESPN witch hunting in another blog). As far as chemistry every team has that guy that talks way too much. In High School basketball our center often cost us more laps in practice because he would intentionally cuss after the coach would warn us to chill out on the cussing. Did that make him a "cancer" and destroy team chemistry in the words he would use "Hell No".

The one thing that would make T.O. anything but a "cancer" is his work ethic. A guy that bust a hump to make sure he has done everything that he can to be ready for the season should be a role-model to the other players on the team. Never have you seen T.O. except loosing he is a true competitor that makes sure he does his part to fulfill his role. Never have you seen him not step up. I cannot comprehend how this winning attitude can be considered "cancerous". Also at the age of 36 he should hold some seniority in the locker room which will allow him to bust a man's chops for screwing up. One of sports greatest competitors Michael Jordan was also known to be one of the biggest jerks in practice and sometimes fought his teammates but nobody has ever called him a locker room "cancer". While T.O. is not equivalent to the football Jordan he is a definite future Hall of Famer.

How come nobody is putting more emphasis on Romo's weekend rendevues before a big game. Not much conversation about Romo's last game of the season in which he was so horrible you may want to investigate him for loosing the game on purpose. If T.O. took a break for one play becuase he was winded from running a post corner in which the QB didnt let him get 10 yards down the field before passing to his TE buddy the sports writers would quickly label him a quiter. How come nobody is wondering what leaked "team only" and "player-coach" meeting minutes being released to the press did to locker room chemistry. Do you really think one man can convince a defense to be against Romo? When does he have time to coerce the Defense between the run pass when Offense is coming off and Defense is going on and vice versa? Clearly they see something also which usually happens when a part of the team can spectate the part of the team playing.

The Approach

This blog is in response to "So about that three month rule"
While the 90 day rule validates to a women the intentions of the individual trying to win either the goods or her affection, a great guess in his intentions can be found in "The Approach". The Approach consist of the time frame of first verbal interaction to the time of separation. This a key factor that many women that feel heartbroken and used miss. Many women are so busy and blinded by checking his swag that forget and never look at his approach. Before a word is uttered a man knows exactly what he wants and how hard or long he is willing to work for it. Here are a few description of a couple of approaches narrowed down to a mingle spot where many approaches occur.

A man that blatantly talks about sex in the conversation only wants sex period. The common excuse is "I like a man that knows what he wants" and he is proving that statement so don't get mad when he gets what and all he wanted. Continuously talking about sex negates any other good quality.

A man that only talks about superficial things and has a superficial demeanor thinks that if he can impress you with his clothes, car, and money you will have sex with him. If you do have sex with him then you have given him something great while he had to give you nothing except some high hopes and maybe a ride in a nice car.

A man that rubs all over you and cant keep his hands off of you while dancing is trying to see where his boundaries are and how far he can push them. If you allow him to rub all over you with your clothes on what is to say that you wont allow him to rub all over you with your clothes off. A man that puts his hands on your hips and even helps to keep your skirt down is having a good time and wants to keep things respectable.

A man that insist on buying you a drink is trying to get you drunk to have sex with you. The guy that ask what you are drinking while ordering his own drink must be watched carefully. If he buys you drinks until you are drunk or encourages you to drink them fast he is trying to get you drunk to have sex with you. If he slowly drinks and chats he wants to talk and learn more about you while easing the tension of talking to a stranger. For a side note: Women stop asking strange me to buy you drinks its tacky and it makes you look like the price of the pussy is the cost of the drink. Also stop camping atht the bar not only do you make men invision a buffet at the bar but you are also taking up space and stopping me from getting a drink. Find a table or section away from the bar.

A man that talks about any and everything is truly interested in you and either wants to know everything about you or does not want the conversation to end. If you have kids he will ask how old are they. If you say you love your dog he will ask what kind of dog is it. He will ask not only ask where you work but will ask what do you do.

Having sex on the first night with a man that you want to respect and continue to pursue you is the worst thing that a woman can do. The man that only wanted to hit it has achieved his goal and the man that was really interested in you will now question your promiscuity. He will wonder if I can hit on the first night how many other men have hit on the first night and no man wants to knowingly date the reformed slut. Not having sex with him on the first night also plants the seed of trust in knowing you wont leave or cheat with the next man that approaches you. While it is not impossible to produce a great relationship from sex on the first night it is more likely the chic who has been on Maury 3 times will find her baby daddy. Ninety days is an arbitrary number picked and does not contain any logical reasoning for its time frame. You can get rid of booty getters by going home alone or with your girls on the first night. The true test is of what a man wants is the first time you deny him sex. If he seems a little disturbed and begins to act differently he is probably just in it to hit it and a few more denials will push him over the edge and he will show his true colors. To him why work hard and get paid minimum wage when there are an abundance of "job opportunities". If he does not seem phased or gives an "its cool" response he is really interested in you and wants to be with you. Honestly he knows in the back of his head that the two of you will eventually have sex whether it is on a honeymoon or before then but that is not his reason for wanting to be with you. He knows that a relationship is much more than sex and sex is not a big enough reason to call it quits. Of course this must take place in the right setting. Not in the bed after passionate kissing and petting because every man will give a dammit sigh whether you hear it or not. That is not to say give him some depending on his response because are you establishing some standards for the relationship or are you just trying to torture the man? Never tell you time frame unless its marriage this will only makes things awkward and will make sex feel like a task. Though you should feel worth the wait sex ultimately must be an experience and bonding not a reward for a job well done.

Racial Coward

Commentary from Micheal Eric Dyson about Attorney General Eric Holder's racial coward speech

My 2 cents:
This article sparks the idea of why should there be black history month? Black history is American history. Separating the two implies that one is totally independent of the other. This is far from the truth. Black history is woven into the story of American without it American history is a time line that contains gaps and illogical periods. The existence of this segregation gives proof to Holder's racial coward idea. If Black history can be contained to 28 days a year and not made mandatory in education I can avoid the topic of American economic and social imbalance. It is easy to tell the story of prosperity and boot-strap success but it is hard to tell the story of how the prosperity came from the work of many and only benefited a few. There is no need to dwell on the past but how can you know where you are going if you do not understand where you came from.