Yes. I'm talking consultation fees. Now that I've established I actually have a case, I've been looking diligently for an attorney. Sadly, I must state the latter has been more difficult. In a world where justice costs an exorbitant amount of money payable only by society's most affluent, it's needless to say I'm the kind of girl on a poverty budget. However, before all assumptions, conclusions, and other entries are submitted, understand this: I am an unmarried, college graduate without children and the only debt I have is a car payment. I work both a full time and part time job while attempting to complete and LSAT preparatory course at night.
Majority of my life seems to be struggle. Oftentimes, I fear life will be nothing but struggle and strife. Hope seems such a desolate thing that I've decided to give it up: Time to get sober. How can something intangible hurt so bad? My one life goal that would give meaning to my existence, and fulfill me seems so unobtainable. There is a deep void I am desperate to fill. I've attempted so many alternative routes, police academy being one of them. Due to the backlash and hostility following this pursuit, this is a career path that no longer interests me in the state of Utah. It would be impossible to trust any of the officers I would have to consider colleagues and no one can tell me that submitting over 54 applications in this state alone is simply just part of the initiation process. Something is very wrong with this picture and I do not intent to take this lying down. I won't stop until justice prevails.
This will not be swept underneath the rug. Unfortunately, Utah has an extremely small legal community and I'm finding extremely difficult to find someone to take this case on contingency.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Sunday, June 14, 2015
The Plan II
A little bit about our home, sweet home: It's a charming (2700 sq. ft.) rambler built in 1961. 2 lovely, large fireplaces. It's very mid century modern and everything I could personally ever want in a home. The moment I pass through the door I feel as if I'm walking onto the set of Mad Men. We look forward to posting our renovation projects soon. Honestly, we don't plan on changing things too much b/c we don't want the house to lose the things that made us fall in love in the first place. We plan on adding central heat/air, updating the electrical, and remodeling the bathrooms/kitchen (era appropriately).
The house also features a full walk-out basement and second kitchen we plan to rent as a source of extra monthly income. The bathroom down there needs a little work and we've been researching load-bearing v. support wall, leasing agreements, plumbing, tile shower installation, etc., so we are able to do most of the work ourselves. Plus, we feel that we'll learn valuable skills to use on the homestead. We hope to eventually build a hen house, greenhouse, and gain other valuable skills. We close next week and we hope to be settled in at the beginning of July. I promise to post plenty of pictures. Please send lots of positive vibes our way.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
How to Save Money & Make the Best Out of Your Smartphone
In today's world, it's not uncommon to see everyone within eyesight on a smartphone. These little handheld miracles are the reason no one bothers to get to know or "love thy neighbors anymore", make small talk in the checkout lines, etc. In fact, there's probably someone ahead of you holding up the queue right now because he/she refuses to get off the phone long enough to make a purchase and leave. They're omniscient and for some, addicting. I'm not the one to tell people not to use smartphones because they are utilitarian. However, majority of people do not use them productively. I cannot count how many people simply pick up the their phones compulsively "just because", or when they feel "bored".
As I previously stated, I am not against the use of smartphones...I just feel like people can/should use them smarter.
Retail Apps: For some, shopping is considered an emergency. However, any reasonable human-being would agree that it isn't. I shop online, but I've deleted all of my retail apps in order to limit my acces to them and prevent impulse shopping. I know what you're thinking, "I'll just go online anyway". If you're that determined, sure you will. However, not having access to a vast amount of products with the "push of a button" will curtail a lot unnecessary purchasing. It also gives you time to think about purchases before pulling the trigger.
Retail Apps: For some, shopping is considered an emergency. However, any reasonable human-being would agree that it isn't. I shop online, but I've deleted all of my retail apps in order to limit my acces to them and prevent impulse shopping. I know what you're thinking, "I'll just go online anyway". If you're that determined, sure you will. However, not having access to a vast amount of products with the "push of a button" will curtail a lot unnecessary purchasing. It also gives you time to think about purchases before pulling the trigger.
Social Media Apps: I get it. We all live in a concrete world, but everyone (except for a few of us) prefers an abstract, digital one. I've found it preferable to limit myself down to two social media apps. Constantly checking your Insta-face-tweet-snapchat can be distracting. Not to mention really annoying to the human-being physically sitting right next to you. I might be slightly bias, but I enjoy productive social exchange sites such as blogger. Yes, it can be used as a diary. OR, a blog can be used as a way to generate interest, share ideas, and collaborate with people outside your usual social circle.
Email/Email Apps: Set limits on how often you check email accounts each day. Because let's face it, 90% of your inbox is junk mail (e.g., advertisement, e-spam, unsolicited mass emails, etc.). So, how about limiting the amount of time spent checking this crap because time is money, to twice-a-day (three times max), instead every hour on the hour from shear boredom?
Email/Email Apps: Set limits on how often you check email accounts each day. Because let's face it, 90% of your inbox is junk mail (e.g., advertisement, e-spam, unsolicited mass emails, etc.). So, how about limiting the amount of time spent checking this crap because time is money, to twice-a-day (three times max), instead every hour on the hour from shear boredom?
Gaming Apps:
This list will continue to grow as I grow.
This list will continue to grow as I grow.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
I Saw the Ghost of My Own Existence at Breakfast
Take away a people's history and you take away everything. My recent bout with the economy/lackluster job market left me feeling worthless and defeated. 30+ applications later, and I could not figure out why I had not landed a job in law enforcement. It peaked my curiosity and forced me to question my own existence: Where did I come from? Did Moors accomplish anything as a people? The answers dawned on me a couple of days ago at breakfast...
I realized, despite the fact most of my family's history was lost in the fire of the great house, I had grown lazy in complacency. I accepted this and didn't try looking any further than ancestry.com. My father's side is just as perplexing simply because each of them voluntarily chose to exclude me from all family life. I stood stopped in my own tracks, unable to see a solution around this mental roadblock. This is when I stood still and considered my options. The matriarch of the family, my grandmother, Dorothy Mullins is no longer with us. My next option: history.
Unbeknownst to any grade school level American history classes, Africa is not Africa. The continent's true name is Alkebulan or Afruika (Kemetic for motherland/birthplace). Aphrike in Greek, and Aprica in Latin–both mean sunny and warm. Scipio Africanus Major, the Roman general renowned for his army's victory over Hannibal in the Second Punic War, did not name the continent. In fact, the complete opposite occurred: He named himself in honor of the continent. Considering the time between the Kemetian Calendar (aka, "Egyptian Calendar") and the founding of Rome is 2,747+ years, it is fair to say Afruika came first. Scipio drove Hannibal from North Africa back to Carthage, then defeated him at Zama. Since these wars were fought in "Africa", he attached the surname, "Africanus".
Until recently, Berber/Moorish/Black history has been nothing but an oversimplified story of the oppressor and the oppressed. It wasn't until I started studying and looking for the answers myself that I realized the importance of brown people in history. For example, in regards to oppression: Toussaint L'Ouverture (1742-1803), a former slave and leader of the only successful slave revolt in modern history. He was the son of an African prince (Gau Guinon) who was captured by slavers. Taught by his godfather Pierre Baptiste and Jesuit priests, L'Ouverture was trilingual, a great strategist, horseman, and medical practitioner. He was notably familiar with African plant/herbal medicinal practices. Bayon de Libertad, manager of the Breda plantation was so impressed with Louverture, he gave him unlimited access to his library.
In 1791, in what was to be known as the "Night of Fire", slaves revolted by killing whites, torching plantation houses, and fields. Despite the fact L'Ouverture was "freed" in 1791 by de Libertad, he decided to join the Haitian Revolution in order to help others gain the same liberties. A gentleman, he did not join the insurrection until he secured the safety of his family in Santo Domingo (the Spanish-controlled eastern part of the island), and ensured de Libertad (as well as his family) had safe passage to America. The initial uprising was subdued, but inspired by French revolutionary principles and outraged by the inhumane treatment of Blacks by white planters, the fighting continued. In war, L'Ouverture will prove himself as a soldier, secretary, general, and be knighted by the Spaniards.
First, he served as a soldier and secretary to Georges Biassou, one of the leaders of the revolt. In the beginning, the black insurgency chose to align itself with Spain to defeat France. Fearful of Britain and Spain's attempts to capitulate the island, the French National Convention granted citizenship rights as well as freedom to all blacks on the island in 1794 primarily to preserve colonial rule. Unfortunately, this helped secure the loyalty of the black populous. Following the ruling, L'Ouverture led the French in ousting Britain along with capturing the Spanish-controlled portion of the island (1794–1802), and was made lieutenant governor of Saint Domingue by Étienne Leveaux. Eventually, he ran the entire island as a state and drafted a constitution where he reiterated the freedom of all slaves.
Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul in 1799, and when L'Ouverture ignored his commands to allow slavery to persist in the Spanish Santo Domingo, he declared war. Bonaparte deployed his brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc, to capture L'Ouverture and reinstitute slavery on the island. Truly, Bonaparte was concerned about the economic losses to ensue after the abolishment of slavery and did not want the territory being ran by a "colored" man. There are several stories surrounding the capture of L'Ouverture: He either put down his sword in battle in exchange for Lerlec's word that slavery would not be reinstated, or was taken captive during a parley. Both? Either way, he was imprisoned in Fort de Joux in the French Alps where he died of pneumonia and torture. Full independence was achieved a year later by one of L'Ouverture's generals, Jean Jaques Dessalines.
Please correct me and let me know if any of this information is incorrect. All of the information I gathered was from the sources listed below as well as my own limited historical knowledge regarding this moment in time. I am open to learning, found this highly enjoyable, and will periodically continue blogging in the future about black history.
Unbeknownst to any grade school level American history classes, Africa is not Africa. The continent's true name is Alkebulan or Afruika (Kemetic for motherland/birthplace). Aphrike in Greek, and Aprica in Latin–both mean sunny and warm. Scipio Africanus Major, the Roman general renowned for his army's victory over Hannibal in the Second Punic War, did not name the continent. In fact, the complete opposite occurred: He named himself in honor of the continent. Considering the time between the Kemetian Calendar (aka, "Egyptian Calendar") and the founding of Rome is 2,747+ years, it is fair to say Afruika came first. Scipio drove Hannibal from North Africa back to Carthage, then defeated him at Zama. Since these wars were fought in "Africa", he attached the surname, "Africanus".
Until recently, Berber/Moorish/Black history has been nothing but an oversimplified story of the oppressor and the oppressed. It wasn't until I started studying and looking for the answers myself that I realized the importance of brown people in history. For example, in regards to oppression: Toussaint L'Ouverture (1742-1803), a former slave and leader of the only successful slave revolt in modern history. He was the son of an African prince (Gau Guinon) who was captured by slavers. Taught by his godfather Pierre Baptiste and Jesuit priests, L'Ouverture was trilingual, a great strategist, horseman, and medical practitioner. He was notably familiar with African plant/herbal medicinal practices. Bayon de Libertad, manager of the Breda plantation was so impressed with Louverture, he gave him unlimited access to his library.
In 1791, in what was to be known as the "Night of Fire", slaves revolted by killing whites, torching plantation houses, and fields. Despite the fact L'Ouverture was "freed" in 1791 by de Libertad, he decided to join the Haitian Revolution in order to help others gain the same liberties. A gentleman, he did not join the insurrection until he secured the safety of his family in Santo Domingo (the Spanish-controlled eastern part of the island), and ensured de Libertad (as well as his family) had safe passage to America. The initial uprising was subdued, but inspired by French revolutionary principles and outraged by the inhumane treatment of Blacks by white planters, the fighting continued. In war, L'Ouverture will prove himself as a soldier, secretary, general, and be knighted by the Spaniards.
First, he served as a soldier and secretary to Georges Biassou, one of the leaders of the revolt. In the beginning, the black insurgency chose to align itself with Spain to defeat France. Fearful of Britain and Spain's attempts to capitulate the island, the French National Convention granted citizenship rights as well as freedom to all blacks on the island in 1794 primarily to preserve colonial rule. Unfortunately, this helped secure the loyalty of the black populous. Following the ruling, L'Ouverture led the French in ousting Britain along with capturing the Spanish-controlled portion of the island (1794–1802), and was made lieutenant governor of Saint Domingue by Étienne Leveaux. Eventually, he ran the entire island as a state and drafted a constitution where he reiterated the freedom of all slaves.
Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul in 1799, and when L'Ouverture ignored his commands to allow slavery to persist in the Spanish Santo Domingo, he declared war. Bonaparte deployed his brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc, to capture L'Ouverture and reinstitute slavery on the island. Truly, Bonaparte was concerned about the economic losses to ensue after the abolishment of slavery and did not want the territory being ran by a "colored" man. There are several stories surrounding the capture of L'Ouverture: He either put down his sword in battle in exchange for Lerlec's word that slavery would not be reinstated, or was taken captive during a parley. Both? Either way, he was imprisoned in Fort de Joux in the French Alps where he died of pneumonia and torture. Full independence was achieved a year later by one of L'Ouverture's generals, Jean Jaques Dessalines.
Please correct me and let me know if any of this information is incorrect. All of the information I gathered was from the sources listed below as well as my own limited historical knowledge regarding this moment in time. I am open to learning, found this highly enjoyable, and will periodically continue blogging in the future about black history.
Sources (Sorry, working on the hanging indent on Blogger!)
Fagg, John E. "Toussaint L'Ouverture." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Nov. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
McNally, Deborah. "Toussaint L'Ouverture." Toussaint L'Ouverture (1742–1803). BlackPast.org, 2011. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
McNally, Deborah. "Toussaint L'Ouverture." Toussaint L'Ouverture (1742–1803). BlackPast.org, 2011. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
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