Happy Summer / (Illinois State) Bar is Over...

A very merry Summer
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear (of failing the Bar Exam)

And so this is Summer
And what have we done (took the Bar Exam)
Another test over
And a new job just begun (well, in the Fall)

And so this is Summer
I hope I have fun (in the six weeks of free time before I start my J-O-B)
With the near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Summer
So let's drink some beer
Let's hope we have good times
Without any fear (of failing the Bar Exam)

Bar is over over
We just took it (in the A.)
Bar is over

Bar is over
We just took it (in the A.)
Bar is over...

Baaaaaaaaaarrr iiiiiiiisss oooooooooooo-verrr...

A Parting Shot and Mantra Considerations

Dearest friends and readers:

Just wanted to let you loyal few know that I'm shutting down DDCD for the time being so that I can study for and pass the Illinois State bar exam. I, in advance, appreciate your collective understanding.
I leave you with this statement I came across today while reading TimeOut Chicago:

"Be disciplined in your life so that you can be violent and orginal in your art."

I don't know the originator of this command. It was printed on a shirt donned by Chicago MC Rhymefest (pictured). I'm seriously thinking of taking it up as a personal mantra. I like the idea of having a mantra, so I think I'll have one. I think this will be it.

Do you have a mantra? What is it? Are mantras (conceptually) ill or are they totally wac? Are mantras pulled from some rapper's t-shirt the waccest?

Goodbye to all of you, all 5-ish give or take of you, see you again in a cupla weeks... with thoughts and photos regarding and relating to, the test, life in Bucktown (and perhaps some tracking(with Michael's permission) of new roommate Tim), Lollapalooza, 2 trips to Missouri in 3 weeks, and 2 weeks in California with a good good friend.

Stay Focused,
Dinner

Tyson Is Gone Like Chicken Parmesan

Adieu to you, newest former Bull Tyson Chandler.

We in Chicago appreciated your work ethic and that you tried. Oh how you tried. We wish you the best of luck in Charl... er... New Orlean... er... Oklahoma City with Chris Paul and the rest of the buzzing pests. I will miss your tattoos and your record setting foul outs.

A hearty welcome to P.J. Brown. P.J., may your wrinkles and arthritis bring wisdom and leadership to young Luol Daaaaaang, Ben "The Closer" Gordon, The Heinrich Manuever, The Noche, and new Bulls TyThom and Thabo Sefolo-Shha-mone-ah.

Hello to another yung-gun J.R. Smith. J.R., may you ride the bench and/or get traded and/or give us someone to cheer for in the dunk contest. Or maybe Skiles can motivate you in ways Byron Scott couldn't conjure up. Who knows. Either way I don't really care, just don't get in anybody's way.

11 Game Season Ticket Plan: here I come.

A Letter Concerning Why I'm Lovin' It

Dearest friends and readers:

I'm Lovin' It.

No, not McDonald's (which, apart from the Sausage McMuffin w/ Egg, I'm not too keen on).
I'm lovin' Big Ben (no not the famed clock tower of Westminster Abbey in London, England and no, not the motorcycle riding, cranial wounding QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and no not that fictional yet affable bear (and by the way that's Gentle Ben)).

I'm talking about Big Ben Wallace, newest member of the Chicago Bulls. While not yet officially official (league rules prohibit free agent signings until July 12th), all reputable sources report the Ben has said goodbye to Detroit and hello to the City of Wind with a four year deal worth anywhere from 52 to 60 million in cash money. This makes me quite happy.

All signs also indicate that the (not so) baby Bulls are not quite finished wheeling and dealing this offseason. With the acquisition of Wallace, rumors are raging that the much maligned and underachieving Tyson Chandler and his unjustifiedly bloated contract could be off to the Hawks in some sort of sign and trade for Al Harrington (the league's second most coveted free agent behind Wallace. Who knows if there is any truth to this rumor, but the fact that it has been thown out there gets my juices flowing like Jerri Blank at a cockfight.

Look out for the Bulls next season. I firmly believe that Chicago's team will be a force to be reckoned with in the East next year and in the years to come. The similarities to the old Bulls era of dominance in the 90s and the upcoming era of the youthful and tenacious are present if viewed with open eyes. I offer two for your consideration: 1) The young, talented, inspired Bulls on the rise and the aging yet still-bruising Pistons on the decline (A decline I feel is imminent in the next cupla years without keystone Wallace) 2) The draft day swap (2006 is to 1987) of a borderline, iffy but skilled big man (LaMarcus Aldridge is to Olden Polynice) for an explosive, oddly long and incredibly athletic defensive minded forward (Tyrus Thomas is to Scottie Pippen). I'm certainly not comparing this new Bulls squad to the one of the greatest teams (1995-1996 Bulls) and dynasties the NBA has ever seen, but I'm saying the seeds are being planted by John Paxson and Scott Skiles. And as Ryan Adams sings on his excellent record 29, "if you want any flowers, you gotta get your seeds in to the ground." (From "Strawberry Wine")

Color me excited. I fear no Piston, I fear no Pacer, I fear no flaming-aging Heat (well maybe D.Wade), and I fear no Cav (well maybe LeBron).

Get ready for the stampede and stay focused,
All the best,
Two Scoops

P.S. - I am also quite pleased with BAM these days.

P.S.S. - Here is some video of Ben Wallace and Tracy Morgan just doin' little kid things. (seconds 6 thru 11 of this clip encapsulate one of the finest Tracy Morgan performances in the history of performances by Tracy Morgan history).

P.S.S. - More Tracy Morgan.

I Know Its a Saint Louis Website But...

the talended young writer is all Illinois. Read up on a friend's musings and mullings...

Congrats to Quank AKA Katherine Zeta AKA Mrs. Matty BellVegas AKA Cook, a net published author and critic...

For those who like music crit...
http://www.insidestl.com/stlmusic/index.php?storyid=17

For the ladies... and the guys who like ladies... and sensitive inquisitive mens...
http://www.insidestl.com/stlladies/index.php?storyid=90

Hedgeucate yourselfz.