Fayette County is already "clean" we just want to keep it that way.

Here is some advice for you to pass along to your friends:

When you break the law in Fayette County our peeps at the po po are going to get up in your grill!

If I was a criminal I wouldn't feel safe here. The best place to be a criminal is fulton or clayton counties. The jails are so overcrowded even if you do get arrested they will street you in about 2hrs.

That's pretty good.

Here's a new one that a local high school teacher has heard lately.

Teacher: "Why are you late?"

Student: "I got busleft."

Makes sense, right? "pistolwhipped," "sunburned," "moonstruck," "busleft."

Bus-left verb, passive, of recent youthful African American origin. (1) To have been left behind by a vehicle of public transportation. Typically used in educational contexts. The term is ambiguous between (a) the assertion that one was waiting at the designated stop but inexplicably abandoned by the driver, and (b) the assertion that one arrived either late or not at all at the designated stop. Such ambiguity is typically encouraged by those employing the term in the hope that (a) will be assumed where (b) is, in fact, the case.

Grazie mille!

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I know you have the day off are your plans still on?

____________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

Hope you're doing OK.

but "busleft" is a term that has been around for a LONG time. Anyone who has ever ridden a regular-route school bus is probably aware of the term. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Yes, I guess you're right. I entered "I got busleft" into google and found it used in precisely that way.

I was googleshocked.

A better one is "left-snookered."

It basically means to be fooled in some fashion.

In billiards, it means to be blocked by a ball between your cue and the ball you need to hit!

There is a lot of "snookering" going on here!
Have you been left-snookered?

Probably.

Also, while playing pool, I've been cuepoked and ballstruck--where the latter is a reference to one of the playing pieces and not any of my own pieces.

When my dad was a S. Florida cop, he was once called to the scene of a horrible accident. A man was lying next to the RR tracks with a severed leg. He told my dad, "Snake bit me." (Translation: I was run over by a train.")

Yes, I have heard "snake bit me."
Also, "I'm carrying this pint of liquor with me in case I get snake bit!" (or any number of other mishaps).

Very popular in Appalachia.
No one admitted drinking more than one beer!

Just about anywhere else in metro Atlanta will do.

99 percent of those of us in Fayette, however, still care about peace and tranquility. That means gang bangers get a ticket to JAIL.

As for the upstanding youth you know, sounds like you've been hoodwinked. Book smart ain't street smart, but I hope you know that.

The truth, Whiteboy, will set you free. At least if your eyes are open long enough to actually recognize it!!!

You should be applauding the youth who actually considered his fate and came clean, helping the authorities. That's real courage! His life, at least to a degree, is in danger.

The authorities are trying to stamp out gangs before they become a real danger here. More power to them.

".......but just some dumb kid that makes his first mistake?
Give them the max!"

Mistake? That's what this was, just a big mistake? A misunderstanding?

No, a mistake is talking on the cell phone while your driving, not paying attention, and rear-ending the car in front of you.

This was no "mistake". It was a crime. These punks are criminals in the eyes of the law and the community and they got what they deserved. They broke down in tears because they are also cowards.

I'm so sick and tired of people like "whiteboy" (who is probably black) trying to make excuses for the thug-punk wanna-be rapper gang members.

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Barack Obama is a human featherball -- a slick, smiling, substance-free empty suit who excites gullible dimwits by repeating the words “change,” “unity,” and “hope” over and over --

What punishment would you believe to have been appropriate? (that means: wat be a guud punismant)

I ask because I fear that I might be caught with my 'gang bible' promoting and recruiting gang members and "beating them in" in a school bathroom.

Just today I was thinking I would either do that or work on my dissertation on Educational Leadership. it's really a toss-up.

What about two days of after school detention? that would show those Crypt wanna-bees who is really in charge!

It's so nice to see you raising the level of discourse with our youth:

"that means: wat be a guud punismant"

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

I am flattered that a charter member of the keeper of the 'Truth' approves.

I was going to plagiarize some of your previous not so congenial comments to bpr/lilly and Denise but thought them a bit too 'harsh' to qualify as civil discourse.

I found my sarcasm much more appropriate - Exactly like your comment that it is " ... so nice to see you raising the level of discourse with our youth".

Next time I'll try hypocrasy.

Hopefully, the incident with lilly/bpr is behind us all - I know it is for me. Please see the wonderful post from bad_ptc to bpr this morning at 4:19 am. That should, hopefully, put the nail in the coffin of this bad experience that unfolded in front of us all, in this public forum.

BTW - my harsh comments, to certain individuals, came as a result of personal attacks on their part, if you must know. If you're really curious about the history regarding this saga, use the search option provided here and you'll see what I'm talking about.

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

This wasn't the case here. Ballard's secure in his job. Maybe the tops guys in this gang aren't in this county-I'd say they're based in a adjacent county. Thankfully law enforcement knows what's around the corner and are proactively trying to stop it.

Nifong didn't prosecute innocent people!

He charged them with the wrong thing. There is nothing innocent about an illegal stripper party. If you get caught you pay the fine and get the record.

If those girls had been 21 year old students (white) then they would surely have been in deep trouble, however.

These athletic "students" who draw in the girlies for parties at campus, hotels, boats, etc., need to be stopped instead of promoted by assistant coaches!

"Gangs" of kids can be handled if we put in the effort at the right time.

Nifong didn't charge innocent people? You think he should have charged them with " .. an illegal stripper party"?

Is it now illegal to have a stripper at a party? Uh, oh.

Please, read this (at minimum):

Michael Nifong

or this:

Declared Innocent

Here are the "Cliff Notes":

The case's prosecution has been criticized by the legal analyst for the National Journal, Stuart Taylor,[8] as well as New York Times columnists David Brooks[9] and Nicholas Kristof.[8] Susan Estrich, a former Harvard law and current USC law professor as well as a feminist and victims' rights advocate, also cites serious prosecuturial misconduct and failure to follow basic procedures.[47] An investigation by CBS' 60 Minutes "reveals disturbing facts about the conduct of the police and the district attorney, and raises serious concerns."[7] (This 60 Minutes segment was honored with a Peabody Award on April 4, 2007.)[48] Several writers at Slate have also criticized the prosecution's actions and have especially criticized the mainstream media for accepting prosecution claims at face value in light of countervailing evidence.[49][50]

In light of the fact that Nifong failed to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to defense lawyers on December 22, 2006, The News & Observer wrote that "to press forward in the [...] case, District Attorney Mike Nifong must rely on scanty evidence while deflecting serious questions about whether he broke the law or violated the ethics rules governing prosecutors."[51] Some critics have accused Nifong of using the case to improve his chances in his next election.

, the North Carolina State Bar Disciplinary Committee unanimously voted to strip Nifong of his law license after delivering a verdict of "yes" (i.e., guilty) to 27 of 32 charges. The committee found that Nifong's previously exemplary disciplinary record and acknowledgment of his improper pre-trial statements were substantially outweighed by (among other things) the players' vulnerability and his failure to acknowledge the "wrongful nature of (his) conduct with respect of the handling of DNA evidence."[63]

Committee member Williamson called the case a "fiasco" and Nifong's actions involved "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation." Williamson further stated, "At the time he was facing a primary, and yes, he was politically naive, but we can draw no other conclusion that those initial statements he made were to further his political ambitions." In the end, the panel concluded that "there is no discipline short of disbarment appropriate in this case given the magnitude of the offenses found."[63]

Nifong agreed to surrender his law license and said he would not appeal; through his attorney, he said that disbarment was an appropriate punishment. Nifong is the first sitting district attorney in the history of North Carolina to be disbarred.[64] Earlier in the day, Nifong offered to voluntarily surrender his law license. However, Williamson said that the panel had to issue a ruling, and issued its disbarment order shortly thereafter.[65] Under North Carolina law, the order took effect 30 days after Nifong received it in writing.[62] He will not be eligible to regain his license until 2012.

On August 31, 2007, Smith held Nifong in criminal contempt of court, and sentenced him to one day in jail and a $500 fine.[86].

On September 7, 2007, Nifong reported to the Durham County jail to serve a one-day jail sentence for contempt of court. He was held alone in a cell for his protection.[87]

On January 15, 2008, Nifong filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code [91]. He listed assets of almost $244,000 and liabilities of over $180.3 million, the bulk of which being six $30 million "unsecured nonpriority claims," one for each of the six members of the 2005-2006 Duke Lacrosse team suing Nifong, among others.

and walks and quacks like a duck. It is a duck. My personal opinion is that if you want to be known as a gang member, then be prepared to take the punishment as one. If you want to wear the "colors," post your fights on your myspace page,and "act" like you're in a gang; then you are in a gang. We're known by the company we keep and the impressions we make. If the kids are truly innocent, then how were they even connected to a gang at all? Where were the parents through all of this? Did they not teach their children that gangs are stupid and that only idiots want to be connected to such? As usual, it boils down to parenting skills, doesn't it? So the answer to your question, whiteboy, regarding "where are the bosses" is they were in the courtroom with their children. And you're right...the bosses should be punished.

How refreshing!

Who and what is the "Southside" Mafia and why would they want to kill someone?
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Could it be the same ones that robbed Audrey's Armory. The same ones that killed Trevon Wilson (4 years old) during a shootout at a park with another gang - The Hit Squad. I would suspect that most of us don't want that element here.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

For fighting at school?
I would have had to serve 15-20 years that I can remember!

The person who mentioned Nifong may have something.

This case will go nowhere in court unless the kids have been found guilty before for crimes.

We should not use kids over-punishment as a deterrent to others. We need to quit being lazy and discipline every instance we see, but especially the home of these kids must be an example so that they will be more ashamed of some of their acts.

I feel we don't punish the Fathers, and Mothers, enough for not providing a better model. It is sheer stupidity for allowing some of these kids to be born and raised as they are.
Do we need thousands of counselors being tough with these families?
Jail for the kids is not the answer.

Yes I was in the court room and I've known one of the kids for over six years.

If you weren't there what makes your opinion worth anymore then anyone else's?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Adults protect adults as much as possible, especially famous athletes.
All I can figure is that they think it will do no good to punish a football player who is a grown man, so why do it. Anyway, in jail he costs money and out he pays taxes (sometimes).
We despise kids for the most part and want to spend no time on their upbringing. I have never known one who spent any time in jail who ever after that was a normal person! It is not a place to rehabilitate them, it is a place to punish them---which most of them are used to anyway!

I think Lohan or Speers could kick cops in the groin and still go home that night. And, if they started to fight each other, they would be rewarded for the show!

Our justice is based upon fear, not the violation.

Thank you DA Ballard for another job well done. 2 more wanna-be thug rapper punk gang members off the street!

I hope this sends a clear signal to our neighbors to the north that we won't tolerate this kind of nonsense.

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Barack Obama is a human featherball -- a slick, smiling, substance-free empty suit who excites gullible dimwits by repeating the words “change,” “unity,” and “hope” over and over --

Did you know that one of these kids was intimidated last summer at the fayette skating ring by a gang because of the colors he had on. His parents reported this to the detecive Isreal and guess what happened? nothing. Now he is in jail for the same thing he was running from. Ask the Detective who helped prosecute these kids what he did to follow up earlier in the summer of 2007 to protect him.

That if he wasn't "wearing colors" then he wouldn't be dealing with the consequences of his poor decisions. I say send him to Gitmo. Gang members are no more than a bunch of worthless urban terrorists.

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In regards to Democrats, Republicans, gangs, and other scads of coterie Kool-Aide drinkers; Remember this..... Eagles Don't Flock

So let me get this right: Any young black male that wears a red or blue shirt is now a gang member in fayette? These kids are not gang members and come from good families in the fayette county area. These kids were honor students and played sports for fayette high. The DA throws gang around like you are dealing with crips and bloods from California or other major cities and this is not the case. I'm not a liberal at all but the crime that was committed does not fit the punishment that was given. By the way ask the DA why both kids that were in the fight did not go to jail. The one non black student is out free as a bird.

YOU really do live in a closed up box
its nothing to do with the color of the shirt
if you knew anything. you would not make this comment
showing colors is not always visible by persons not in a gang
can you tell what level shriner i am
am i a shriner
another shriner would know
The DA needs to throw gang around you really do need to worry
go to the mall or fayette pavalion on the week end walk around look up
not at your feet and you might pick some of it out

shadowalker

You both paint very different pictures about what really happened in that school bathroom. This would be really troubling if those kids were given such harsh sentences if it was in fact, just a bathroom brawl with no gang involvement. Talk about an injustice.

I don't know what, or who, to believe anymore, regarding this particular incident! Does anyone REALLY have the facts as to what happened???!!!

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

Whether that is the fault of the school, Citizen reporting, the police, Ballard,etc., it's hard to make much sense out of what happened. Obviously, the reports over and over of this being a gang initiation and "beat in" are completely wrong. You have two wanna-be thugs "representin'" rival gangs who get into a fight in bathroom with some other wanna-be's watching. How in the world did this get to be some kind of "beat in" or what was earlier reported as a bunch of thugs pounding on one guy as part of some gang initiation? Seems like 3 people had charges dropped as they were just watching, not beating up someone.

The whole story has stunk of sensationalism since it happened from all sides. GANG BANGING!!! LOCK THE BATHROOMS!! ALERT THE COMMUNITY!! FRONT PAGE!

How does a fight at school warrant a 2 year prison term? Does anyone think that throwing a 17 year old in prison for 2 years after a minor altercation in school accomplishes anything meaningful? Anyone here ever get into a fight at school? Was the punishment prison?

Well, I do hope that the school/police/judge/courts have crossed all of their t's and dotted all of their i's, regarding this case, otherwise, we will have Oprah, the NAACP, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the media, descending upon Fayette County to uncover any injustice, as well they should.

If this was NOT gang related, the sentence was too harsh and we, as a community, will lose in so many ways, because of this.

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

Actually the ages were 15 and 16yrs old. And I agree with you.

Do not get me wrong. These kids were acting like wannabe gang members. They went online and downloaded gang information and staged a fight in a school bathroom. They indeed broke the law and should be punished, but in no way were these kids hard core gang members. I would just like the punishment to fit the crime. A good example is Adam pacman Jones received probation for fleing from a police officer and biting a police officer in fayette county. This is a felony. He has a criminal past. He recived no jail time. Is his crime of biting a police officer any less than these kids acting like gang members and staging a fight? Oh by the way these Kids had no criminal records what so ever and were good students in school. 2-4 years incarceration is just not right.

well what would they be doing right now if they were not caught
how far would they ACT it out,how far would they go
were there cameras in the rest room common area
is it all open stalls
im sure witnesses were talked to
if you are acting like a hooker and get arrested are you guilty
if you are acting like a bank rober will you get arrested
if you are acting like a race car driver are you speeding
if you are acting STUPID will you get caught
everyone throws all this i know him hes a b student
they are so nice blah blah blah
if your doing something like this then thats what your doing
man
give it a break how do they know one was a recuiter
and the other was trying to gain rank back
maybe the cops and DA made all that up
maybe your a bunch of cry babies and
you need a towel to cry in
the world is getting to liberial

shadowalker

Pacman should have gotten 5-10 years for assault on a police officer.
Probation for this thug-punk is unacceptable......

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Barack Obama is a human featherball -- a slick, smiling, substance-free empty suit who excites gullible dimwits by repeating the words “change,” “unity,” and “hope” over and over --

Why do you think there is such inconsistencies with the punishment? 13-15 yr old kids are going to make mistakes and should be punished but why give them years in jail and let an adult with a criminal past off? It does not make sense.

I don't know why there was an inconsistency in the sentencing.
Pacman should have gotten 5-10 years minimum for assault on a police officer.
Probation for this thug-punk is unacceptable......

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Barack Obama is a human featherball -- a slick, smiling, substance-free empty suit who excites gullible dimwits by repeating the words “change,” “unity,” and “hope” over and over --

Notice how tough Ballard is trying to sound. A "beat-in"??? Ask to see the video, it was more like a scuffle.

This is going to end looking more like the Nifong case where the DA for his own political gains railroaded a couple of kids. Also like the Genarlow Wilson case where they ended saying the prosecutor abused his office. this is going to end up being a huge embarrassment for the county. This was and is a huge travesty of justice. It will be turned over on appeal. Don't re-elect this idiot, he is dangerous.

Look, being a gangsta is very attractive these days, you see it on TV, see it on MTV, NFL and NBA players want to look like gangstas. Why be surprised when kids pretend to be gangstas too. But there is a big difference between playing at it and being a gang member.

They were members of the Bloods and the Crips only in the D.A.s mind. He sounds like he is cleaning up the country and keeping people safe but he is sacrificing real people while he is doing.

Gangs are not social clubs, they are businesses. They exist to make big money. Where is the money? Where are the drugs, the weapons? Oh that's right there were none.

First time offenses, clean records, a scuffle in a bathroom and four years?? Yea, there was gang related material found. But you can make that up and download it from the Internet. You want to know about real gangs check that out. The punishment doesn't fit the crime, not even close, unless of course you have political ambitions and you want people to believe you're being tough on gangs. So just invent a few gangs.

If you read that gang stuff above, he has put these kids in grave danger also. Real gangs do not like fakes and are obligated to kill them. Real gangs don't have little scuffles. They stab people, they beat people to within an inch of their lives. You get initiated by killing or almost killing people. This is a joke and all of Fayette County should be embarassed by this.

As for their expect witness school detective Isreal. Almost all his expert witness was debunked by the real expert Rev. Brown who has been there and done that. He actually works with real gang members, he noted that real gangs don't recruit in high schools. They recruit in jail, where there are sending these kids. so actually Ballard is creating gang members.

He told the court several times these kids could not be real gang members, but it didn't fit the political agenda that Ballard has.

If these were real gang members where are the big fish? How come they didn't leave these little fish go in exchange for finding the really big fish? Maybe because there are no big fish?

If one was in the Bloods and one was in the Crips (notice how Ballard gets both the gangs in there) they are obligated to kill, maim, seriously hurt the other. They are mortal enemies. Funny then how after the bathroom scuffle in early/mid Novemeber, everybody got along fine, they were all buddies. Funny how they were all in juvenile together, and they banded together to support each other. Bloods and Crips don't do that. Kids do.

I'd be afraid if I lived in Fayette County. For some small and stupid mistake your kid could go to jail for four years too. After spending a ton of money. For what? Ballard's ego.

They call us Fayettenam for a reason. Those so called "kids" were not railroaded, not even close.

If you can commit the crime, expect to do the time.

If you are a criminal you should be afraid to live here. Go back to clayton they love crime.

The message is very simple don't commit a crime in Fayette County.

Did you know that one of these kids was intimidated this summer at the fayette skating ring by a gang because he had on a red shirt. His parents reported this to the police and guess what happened? nothing. Now he is in jail for the same thing he was running from. Ask the Detective who helped prosecute these kids what he did to follow up earlier in the summer of 2007 to protect him.

It sure would be a small gang if they killed the people who wanted in. They've got these kids right where they should be, in jail not in the school maybe shooting or stabbing someone to be initiated into their gang, if you don't live here what do you care? Stop making excuses for the scum.

I yam what I yam....Popeye