I've mentioned many of the inconveniences that come with covering this trial, and I now conclude that our limited access to the facilities may be the greatest of them all.

But I'm not the only one whose bladder is being burdened.

During one of Judge Vincent Gaughan's short recesses Monday, I jetted to the john. Joining me in line was none other than lead prosecutor Shauna Boliker.

She, the state's star, must share two stalls with us- the mass of media and R. Kelly's hoard of hangers-on! What injustice!

I immediately offered up my place in line, because I figured her business to be more urgent than my own.

"Oh thanks, I'll be quick though," Boliker blushed. "I just have to go throw up."

Just moments before, Judge Gaughan had ruled to allow Damon Pryor to take the stand for the defense. He's the same man Kelly's attorneys say can discredit Lisa Van Allen's damning allegations of three-way sex with both the defendant and the alleged victim in this case.

Couldn't flush away the opportunity to fill you in.

She said she's had three three-ways with R. Kelly and the alleged victim in this case, two of which were captured on tape. He said her testimony is all about money and that she is an extortionist.

The she I'm referring to is Lisa Van Allen, the 27-year old single mom from Atlanta who dropped the most damning allegations in this trial thus far. The he is Sam Adam, Sr. He's one of Kelly's defense attorneys who attempted to paint the witness as a money-grubbing former hanger-on.

What will jurors think of these two portraits?
You tell me.

She said she had intercourse with R. Kelly within minutes of their first meeting at a 1997 video shoot when she was only 17. He said five years later, Van Allen left a Swissotel room she shared with the defendant in Georgia with his $20,000 diamond Rolex watch.

She said she had sex with both Kelly and the alleged victim in the "log cabin room" of his former North Side home, an encounter she claimed the R & B star directed, produced, and captured on tape. He said she kept that tape to haunt Kelly years later, with a phone call early last year.

She said she called Kelly in 2007 because she knew his trial date was approaching. He said she picked up the phone because she had a plan, and that plan resulted in a promise of $250,000.

She said when she handed over the tape in the Presidential Suite of downtown Chicago's Sheraton Hotel, she received $20,000 in cash.
He said she got a raw deal and now she's back to get her $230,000.

She said the defense team's investigators tried to scare her and fiance Yul Brown upon meeting this March. He said during that meeting, Brown brought up an alleged $300,000 book deal- and suggested the defense could do even better.

She said when she met with Sam Adam, Jr. in the the lobby of the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta three weeks ago, the meeting was about finding the truth. He said during that meeting, she solicited a bribe, and told them her testimony could be prevented.

She said it's about doing the right thing. He said it's about money. What do you say? Let me know what you think.

For those of you who are wore out from the highs and lows of the Democratic presidential nominating race, it looks like it will end tonight!

Hillary Clinton campaign officials say she will acknowledge tonight, after the votes are counted in Montana and South Dakota, that Barack Obama has the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination. Obama is 40 delegates short of clinching the nomination, but he’s expected to get closer by winning those primaries, along with more support from superdelegates.

Clinton is not expected to quit the race tonight but that’s more of a strategic move. Her advisors says it will give her leverage to negotiate with Obama on a few things, including pressuring him to make her his running mate and issues that she thinks he should focus come November.

Hurray! On to the general election in November.

The Chicago Tribune Printers Row book fair begins this weekend.

CLTV will be hosting the Kohl McCormick StoryBus.

The StoryBus is both an arts-based pre-k and kindergarten curriculum, as well as an actual bus-a 37-foot Winnebago that's been transformed into a children's literacy museum on wheels!

Close your eyes and imagine you are four-years-old, and when you step into the StoryBus, the exhibits magically lift you into the setting of your favorite children's book! Research shows that interactive, interdisciplinary learning is most effective for young children, so the StoryBus is filled with hands-on exhibits to transport young children into a world that makes literature come alive!

Here's the information on the Book Fair:

WHAT: The 24th Annual Printers Row Book Fair is set to take over the South Loop this weekend as the Midwest’s largest literary festival. Featuring 100 free literary programs and nearly 150 booksellers, the event is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors. For more information, including a full event listing, visit www.printersrowbookfair.org.

HIGHLIGHTS: SATURDAY, June 7:

10:00 a.m.: Scott Turow, author of "Limitations" in conversation with Ann Marie Lipinski

12:00 p.m.: Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize Ceremony with S.E. Hinton, author of “The Outsiders”

3:00 p.m.: The American Heritage Dictionary Define-A-Thon hosted by David Kipen

4:00 p.m.: U.S. Senator Tom Daschle, author of “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis,” in conversation with Jonathan Cohn

SUNDAY, June 8:

10:00 a.m.: Orville Vernon Burton, author of “The Age of Lincoln,” and Richard Brookhiser, author of “George Washington on Leadership,” in conversation with Gary Johnson

12:00 p.m.: Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts in conversation with Chris Jones

1:30 p.m.: Cooking demo with Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois, co-authors of “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day”

3:30 p.m.: Aleksander Hemon, author of “The Lazarus Project” in conversation with Elizabeth Taylor

WHERE: South Dearborn between Congress and Polk. Venues include the Harold Washington Library (400 S. State) and University Center (525 S. State)

As a criminal court judge, Vincent Gaughan may be sworn to a high level of judicial propriety, but as we saw Tuesday- he lags when it comes to achieving the most basic standard of political correctness.

During a hearing regarding the testimony of Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis, attorneys huddled near his bench. When defense lawyer Sam Adam, Sr. saw that the proceedings were going to take awhile, he brought over a chair- presumably for colleague Eddie Genson, who suffers from a neuromuscular condition.

"Oh no, this ain't the A.D.A. here," Gaughan barked- stopping Adam, Sr. dead in his tracks.

Genson spent the remainder of the hearing seated at the defense table next to his client- a spot often out of earshot of the mumblings from the north side of Courtroom 500.

Apparently in Gaughan's court, the justice stops short of protecting those with disabilities.

Jim DeRogatis has been ordered to testify as a "material witness to a crime," but Sun-Times attorney Damon Dunn has argued in three hearings since this trial's inception that the music critic should instead be viewed as a reporter.

DeRogatis received the now-infamous sex tape from an anonymous source in 2002, and he was the one who handed it over to police. The prosecution has said that they would not have a case if it were not for that tape.

That's why Kelly's defense team is so desperate for him to testify. But should he be required to do so?

"If he were to testify as a reporter, it would be a serious violation of his statutory rights, of his constitutional rights," Dunn argued in Tuesday's hearing.

So, Gaughan said that will not be the hat DeRogatis will wear on the witness stand.

"You're protecting something no one is after," Gaughan told Dunn- assuring him yet again that his client will not have to answer any questions regarding his source, or whether or not he kept a copy of the tape. (If he did, he could be charged with possession of child pornography).

According to Gaughan, the "reporter's privilege" does not apply here.

Do you think DeRogatis should be forced to testify?

Here's something else to ponder......does this ruling make you even less comfortable talking to reporters?

During Wednesday's testimony, the court heard from Jason Wallace, an investigator of sorts for the defense team as well as attorney Sam Adam, Jr.'s half-brother.

Wallace took the stand as part of the defense's strategy to impeach Lisa Van Allen as a witness- remember, she was the one who testified to engaging in three three-way sexual encounters with both R. Kelly and the alleged victim.

Wallace told of his trip to Buckhead, Georgia with both Sam Adam, Jr. and Adam, Jr.'s fiancee- a trip he described as taken with the intent of interviewing Van Allen prior to her taking the stand.

But Wallace said Van Allen didn't utter a word in the lobby of the Ritz Carlton that Saturday. According to Wallace, her fiance Yul Brown handled all the talking for her.

Here's a list of some of the things Yul Brown said, according to Wallace. The first is in response to a damning Sun-Times headline.

-"Don't worry about that, it can be handled."

-"R. Kelly has had three opportunities to rectify this situation so Lisa would not have had to go to the authorities."

-"She is pregnant and we have to look out for our family."

-"Time is of the utmost importance because time is running out on this."

-"Lisa does not have to testify in court if things are made right."

-"I'm not going to put a price on this right now, but they know what is right."

-"Lisa has been offered a $350,000 book deal about herself and R. Kelly."

Keep in mind, Van Allen said on the stand that she had no recollection of any of the above comments. She said she has come forward because "it's the right thing to do."

What do you think of Van Allen? Is she a compelling witness or a cash-hungry wench?

Send your thoughts my way.

I made two new friends today. I had been wanting to talk to them for weeks now, and I finally got my chance.

The logistics proved difficult because, as you know, Judge Vincent Gaughan's eleven-page court decorum order prevents me the media from talking to anyone else from anywhere else within the confines of Courtroom 500.

But today, the chase paid off. I caught 18-year old Jerhonda Johnson and 23-year old Keyonia Jones before they caught their respective busses on California Ave.

Johnson and Jones have been at every court proceeding since day one of this trial. All day, each day, they sit in the back spectator rows and stare down the defendant in solidarity and in silence. They tell me he is innocent, and even if a jury proves otherwise- at least they have found each other. A friendship has blossomed from their fandom.

Johnson lives in Elgin and makes the 40-mile commute each day via Metra and the CTA. After the trip in, she waits in Douglas Park, where she knows she can catch a glimpse of Kelly as his tour bus parks. She will watch as he proceeds to hop in his black SUV for the seven block drive to the courthouse.

Johnson walks.

Jones joins her each day around nine. She doesn't know what she's going to do Monday though, when she is scheduled to start her fourth semester at Harold Washington College.

Jones travels north about 40 blocks from her parents' home. Though her trip is shorter, her devotion is just as strong. She leaves her two-year old son Robert (named after....yes, you guessed it) with her mother so she can be here. What does that mother think of all this?

"My mom thinks he's innocent," Jones laughed, assuring me this case would have never existed if it were not for Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. She's the aunt of the alleged victim in the case as well as a professional singer, who was once on Kelly's record label.

Johnson agrees.

"I think she is behind the whole thing," she said- telling me Sparkle was the source of the now-infamous sex tape.

And what about that tape?

"I thought it was a bunch of B.S.," Johnson said before running for her bus.

"Are you headed to your parents' house?" I call after her.

"Yeah," she responds, explaining how she was neither enrolled in school nor seeking a job.

"I ain't got nothing else to do," she laughed. "Might as well spend my money on something."

I'm jumping on the blogging bandwagon. Should be fun.

The defense rested its case abruptly Monday. That means R Kelly's defense ends with the testimony of a video consultant- testimony the state will work to discredit during its rebuttal.

We've heard from relatives who said the girl on the tape was not the alleged victim. We've also heard from those who said she is. We've even heard from a woman who claims she had three-ways with the alleged victim and R. Kelly....but we never heard from the alleged victim herself.

Reasonable doubt?

Jury consultant Bill Healy of Decisionquest thinks so.

"You do not have a victim who is available and present identifying the actual defendant in a case, so it cannot be underestimated," Healy said.

If this now 23-year old woman says the girl on the tape is not her.... why didn't she take the stand? It would seem that such testimony would be the most powerful the defense could present.

If she is indeed telling the truth, she'd have nothing to lose.

If she's not, she could crack under cross-examination- perhaps opening herself up to perjury charges.

Jury consultant Healy breaks it down.

"Beyond a reasonable doubt is a very high hurdle, and it is even higher when you do not have a victim present," Healy said. "But obviously in cases like a murder case where the victim is not present to testify, jurors are willing to make that leap. They're willing to say the prosecution had enough evidence but they will only do that if they take the bricks and create a whole wall that says, 'yes, this is him.'"

I would like to know your thoughts. Should she have been called? Why didn't they call her? How do you think her absence will affect the jury?

It looks like the prosecution team has produced yet another witness the defense just flat-out doesn't like.

The state has indicated it will call Robert Wolf, an assistant district attorney from Atlanta, during its rebuttal Tuesday, despite defense lawyer Sam Adam, Sr.'s best efforts to keep him from the stand.

"There's nothing that the district of attorney of Atlanta, Georgia can offer that can rebut anything," Adam, Sr. argued in late housekeeping matters after the jury had been dismissed.

Not from prosecutors' perspective.

"There was a strong inference made that there was some deal between Lisa Van Allen and the state," assistant state's attorney Shauna Boliker said. "There was no deal."

Van Allen reached out to prosecutors this March, just a month after a police raid on her fiance's home turned up a loaded AK-47 and drugs. Even though that fiance is a felon, a judge just gave him probation- a gift the defense implies came courtesy of the Fulton County district attorney's office.

Team Kelly calls Wolf's testimony irrelevant.

"What was in her mind at the time she contacted the state's attorney's office?" Adam, Sr. rhetorically asked the court. "The issue is the credibility and reliability of Miss Lisa Van Allen."

It will soon be up to the jury to decide both.

Do you think Wolf's testimony will tip the jurors to the side of the state?

An article from LiveScience.com caught my eye today:

A Dutch woman who reached 115 years of age and remained mentally sharp throughout life also had a healthy brain when she died, a new study finds. The woman's brain showed almost no evidence of Alzheimer's disease. The finding suggests Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are not inevitable, as had been suspected.

What the article did not say is if this woman was blessed with incredible genes or if she lived her life in a certain way... a way we could all learn from.

I look at personal examples when it comes to mental decline in later years.

My two grandmothers, maternal and paternal, are still alive. My maternal grandmother never smoked and rarely drank alcohol. Her diet was normal--if not on the healthier side. She is living in the Alzheimer's unit of a nursing home. Though she still recognizes me and others close to her, she can barely be understood and exhibits many symptoms of advancing Alzheimer's.

My paternal grandmother, who's 7 years older than my other grandma, still lives in her own house. She jokes around with me, watches her beloved Brewers on television and even goes to the casino every once in a while.

What baffles me is that she smoked for a number of years before quitting about 25 years ago. She also ate, my most estimates, a staggering amount of red meat and artery-clogging foods.

Though she has some physical ailments at the age of 86, she is quite independent.

Reading the story of the Dutch woman makes me wonder--is our longevity and quality of life marked by decisions we've made in how we've lived our lives? Is it pre-determined in our DNA? Or, is it simply a crap shoot where some of us--no matter how we've taken care of ourselves--luck out with health while others do not?

Perhaps we'll find out someday.

Strike up another loss for Team Kelly today, in the midst of a week that doesn't appear to be going so well.

Defense lawyer Sam Adam, Sr. argued valiantly that the jury should be prohibited from viewing the sex tape within the deliberation room, but it was an argument Judge Vincent Gaughan struck down with sizable force.

"They have every right to see it," Adam, Sr. said in an early morning proceeding. "What we object to is the jury taking the tape back and screening it in the jury room."

Adam, Sr. suggested if jurors wished for another look at what's now known as "People's Exhibit Number One," they do it in open court.

Why the argument?

Adam, Sr. cited the wide-ranging and sometimes far-afield potential problems that could pop up with private screening.

1) the tape could somehow break
2) a negligent juror could erase its salacious sexual content
3) a savvy juror could tamper with it, and somehow alter the appearance of the players involved

What it really boils down to, however, is overemphasis.

Sam Adam, Sr. doesn't want jurors playing it and replaying it- seeing if they can see that mole for themselves.

"People's Exhibit One is the actual nucleus of the case," prosecutor Shauna Boliker argued.

Judge Gaughan wasted no time.

"It will go back to the jury room," Gaughan informed a disappointed Adam, Sr.

He then appointed a sheriff's deputy to handle what Gaughan called "the mechanical and electrical operation" of the V.C.R.

Will the private screening be a blow to Team Kelly?

With closing arguments scheduled for Thursday, I thought a profile of those who will determine R. Kelly's fate is in order. Here's a breakdown of the jury, delivered in two parts.

Juror #21
This young, white, criminal justice student is in her element within the walls of Courtroom 500. When other jurors' eyes glaze over after an hour or two of video-technological testimony, 21 is tuned in. We learned from jury selection that her boyfriend aspires to the police force and her dad works as a security guard, so if there were ever a "law and order" juror that defense teams loathe, 21 is it. When asked her view on the justice system, 21 wrote, "I like it, and think it is a fair system and done properly- and I will always do my best to make sure it is." She doesn't seem too impressed by R. Kelly's celebrity, either. When asked what she knew of the R & B singer's career, she retorted, "All I know is that it is very old stuff."

Juror #22
The media has dubbed this middle-aged white guy as "the professional juror." This case marks 22's third tour of jury duty- he served on two panels in civil cases tried at the Daley Center, both of which reached a verdict. During selection, he seemed to express a genuine interest in joining the jury- and being a pro, he knew how to answer any questions the judge threw his way. He did fess up to being a Sun-Times reader when lunching in the workplace cafeteria- a newspaper Kelly's defense attorneys wish would flat-out fold. But for the last month, 22 has had to turn away from the tabloids.

Juror #23
Wrinkled, ruffled, and with the uncanny ability to appear as if it's been three days since his last shave seemingly every day- this white guy in his 30's looks like that old friend who simply refuses to grow up. Despite his grown-up job as compliance officer at a downtown financial firm, 23 expressed the concerns of starvation and possible homelessness should he be picked for $17.40 per day jury service. Maybe that's why he looks so scruffy. During questioning, 23 spoke of attending gay events and said he was the victim of an attack after the White Sox won the 2005 World Series. When asked if the attack was a hate crime, 23 said "I don't know." Despite reservations about his newfound civic position, 23 promised: "I would hold myself to a very high standard."

Juror #32
This young black teacher's assistant was a surprise selection for several reasons- her place of employment being the first and foremost. She has worked for the past nine years at St. Agatha Catholic Academy- once known as Our Lady of the West Side Elementary. That was home to Rev. Daniel McCormack, who is now serving a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. 32 also confessed to being arrested while a passenger in a stolen car, and she told the judge she believed the justice system is "made to be as scary as possible." Another surprise? On her juror questionnaire, 32 circled the name of Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards as being a person she knew- Sparkle is considered one of the star witnesses in this case.

Juror #40
This middle-aged black man is currently enrolled in a culinary arts certificate program, and he has a wife who works with the mentally handicapped. He's followed the criminal troubles of rapper T.I. and actor Wesley Snipes, but said he knew little of this child pornography case. Whatever he does know, 40 promised to "absolutely" put it aside- and Team Kelly couldn't be happier. During selection, they had expressed frustration with the State for using its peremptory challenges for allegedly ridding the panel of black jurors.

Juror #48
What we know of this preppy white man's age is that he said he was too young to remember O.J.'s trial, but he had been following the canine criminal case of another NFL star- Michael Vick. He's a recent graduate of the University of Kansas, where he was arrested for possession of marijuana and spent five days in jail. In a separate incident, he was also charged with underage drinking and was forced to pay a $400 fine. Will his own legal battles solicit sympathy for the defendant?

To round it out, I've broken down the remaining six:

Juror #44
This 30-something, goatee-wearing, white male appears to be a blank slate. Due to his vague answers in jury selection, we know little about him- other than he knows little about R. Kelly. When asked for his view on the criminal justice system, 44 responded: "I have no opinion one way or another." Blank slate has been in court before regarding a child custody case- an experience that appears to have left no lasting impressions of justice.

Juror #61
He's one of the most animated members of this panel, and he appears to be the happiest to be on it. The 68-year old Romanian immigrant has lived in this country for more than 30 years, and they seem to be the three decades of delight in the American system. "The U.S. is a unique country," 61 said. "in our country, we don't have the same rights." As far as the defendant's celebrity status goes, 61 is unfazed. "He's a human being like the rest of us, and he should be treated like everyone else." He promised not to discuss the case at home, acknowledging that if he spoke of it to his wife, she would just go and tell her sister- an in-law implied to be problematic. Regarding how seriously he takes this job, 61 said: "When I go to bed, I want to have a clear conscience. I'm probably not the smartest guy but I will do what is best and fair." He perhaps is in need of a civics lesson, however, because when asked how he would respond should the defendant not testify, 61 said simply, "that's because the prosecutor didn't prove her case." If he hasn't learned any differently, R. Kelly has a true ally here.

Juror #66
He was an alternate, but he's now bumped up to a voting member since one juror backed out due to financial hardship. This well-dressed, white 20-something has an uncle who was convicted of child pornography, so his will be a vote to watch once deliberations begin. He described prosecutors to be honest and defense attorneys to be hardworking- an adjective that can be used on both sides of this case.

Juror #69
This young, white, father of two is an executive-type- a vice-president of national accounts, to be exact. During questioning, 69 said, "civic duty trumps work, I see that, but this is a detriment to my career." It's the parenthood thing Team Kelly should be worried about, though. 69 wrote in his questionnaire, "I have two little kids and child pornography is as low as it can get." He said he believes R. Kelly to be guilty based on prior press coverage, but 69 promised to put his feelings aside.

Juror #6
This middle-aged black woman could be the most fascinating selection in the case. Not only is she the wife of a Baptist preacher, but she resides in the same place R. Kelly makes his home- south suburban Olympia Fields. Well-dressed and a diligent note-taker, 6 said she believes the justice system to be "fair in most instances." She promised to judge Kelly by the laws of man, not the laws of God.

Juror #9
This black male in his late 50's describes himself as a Christian and has a brother who was murdered in 1983. 9 said he doesn't know much about R. Kelly, other than "I Believe I Can Fly." He works in telecommunications, and though he watches CNN, he said his opinion on the media is that "it's somebody else's opinion." 9 said he's in regular attendance at what he called a Christian Life Center,

He walks past me every day, but something about this stroll stood out.

Each morning court session starts the same way- with me seated in my usual spot, perched on the right-end seat of the second media bench. At around 10 a.m., R. Kelly arrives, taking his route to the defendant's chair right down my row. And each morning he carries off his entrance with courtesy, whispering an "excuse me" in my direction.

But "excuse me," was what I should have said at one point this week, when his strong, masculine musk made me look twice.

It was simply delicious, and I wasn't the only one who thought so. All three woman and even one male media member seated in my row looked at other with delight.

"Wow," I said. "Does anyone know what that is?"

"It's not Old Spice," remarked one colleague who shall remain nameless.

We even asked Kelly's attorney, Sam Adam, Jr., to inquire in the defendant's direction.

"I can't do that in court!" Adam, Jr. blushed, promising he'll instruct an assistant to ask.

Producer Brendan Greeley, who is covering the trial for 104.3 JACK F.M. was so floored by the fragrance, he headed to Macy's directly from court for a little smell test of his own.

The closest cologne?

It was one by fellow R & B singer Usher, Greeley informed me. Usher joined with Kelly for the 2007 duet "Same Girl," and perhaps now they sport the same scent.

Bottom line- after all this is over, and if Kelly walks free.... I would appreciate another walk in my direction.

I never thought I would be blogging about Biblical banter at a child pornography trial, but leave it to this one to surprise.

During closing arguments, defense attorney Sam Adam, Jr. turned twice to Scripture- using the Good Book often relied on for answers to instead raise "reasonable doubt" in the minds of the jury.

The first righteous reference he pulled out early- referring to the "Old Proverb 22." To be specific, it's Proverbs 22:6, and in keeping with Adam, Jr.'s love for language- I'll quote my King James Version: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Why such precepts on parenting? Adam, Jr. pressed the Proverb in praise of the alleged victim's mother and dad, folks he described as upstanding people who raised a "sweet and lovely girl." Translation: NOT the so-called "whore" Adam, Jr. pointed out who took money on the sex tape for "dirty, raunchy sex."

The second scriptural selection was actually used to slander Lisa Van Allen- a teaching from the New Testament twisted to taint the woman who is thought to be the prosecution's star witness. The verse? It's from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 14. "And no marvel," St. Paul writes, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

There's been a lot said in this case about the motives of Van Allen and her fiance, Yul Brown- but Adam, Jr. dipped to deepest levels of fiery hell for this one....and I'm wondering if for it, he will have to pay his penance.

Van Allen testified to engaging in three-way sex sessions with both R. Kelly and the alleged victim in the case. But by labeling her as the devil herself, Adam, Jr. seemed to be poking holes in his own argument- in front of self-described Christians on the jury panel, including one wife of a Baptist preacher.

To close, he instructed the jury that if they were to convict R. Kelly, they would be calling that young girl on the tape a whore. He then drove the point deeper with the use of an adage he said he learned from his mother: "If you ain't got nothing to nice to say about somebody, don't say anything at all."

Last I checked, he was the only one calling anyone the devil.

An uncomfortable encounter with two girls I have dubbed the "Court Watchers" has inspired me to write this today.

I have had second thoughts, but I believe readers should know what I'm up against.

If you recall from an earlier blog, two young ladies named Jerhonda Johnson and Keyonia Jones are in attendance every day here at their hero's child pornography trial.

Jerhonda is 18, she neither works nor goes to school, and she takes the Metra here every day from Elgin.

Keyonia is 23 and has named her baby Robert after R. Kelly himself. (Her son is with her at the court house today, sporting cornrows just like you-know-who.) Keyonia had told me she was to begin classes last week at Harold Washington College, but judging by her attendance record here in Courtroom 500- it appears that she hasn't.

I greeted them on the elevator Thursday evening, and got a mouthful of colorful vocabulary in return- I must say it was impressive language considering the college-aged ladies' lapses in higher learning.

"I ain't talking to you," Jerhonda shouted. "I think you're a (insert vulgarity)!"

"Excuse me?" I asked, shocked and taken aback.

"You heard me," Jerhonda yelled, "You're a (repeat vulgarity), and I don't like what you wrote. You know I read it!"

Kudos.

"Was there a problem? I quoted you directly, I'm sure. Please correct me if I'm wrong- " I asked, eager to ease her ire.

"No you didn't quote me wrong, but I'm mad you (even more vulgarity). How do you know I wait in Douglas Park everyday for Kelly....you're not there!"

No Jerhonda, I thought to myself. I'm not there. But I drive past you daily on my way to WORK- a word it seems with which your able-bodied self is not familiar.

What I actually said? "No but I see you, and my colleagues do too. A lot of people are watching you, Jerhonda."

"You don't know what you see," she snapped, explaining that if my vision were correct, I would know that some days she takes the bus from the park to court.

"That's what you're mad about? I'm sorry," I said, but I could hardly get it out before she shouted obscenities again, this time with television news crews rolling on her outburst.

Sheriff's deputies escorted her off the property, still shouting- but she's back again today.

She hasn't talked to me, and for that I am thankful.

But I'm watching my back, and she should remember that others are watching her.

There's a lesson she doesn't even have to go to school to learn.

Randi Belisomo, covering the R. Kelly Trial

The verdict is in -- R. Kelly has been found not guilty on all 14 counts stemming from his child pornography trial.
Kelly left the courthouse this afternoon without commenting.
The R&B superstar cried softly as the 14 not-guilty verdicts were read in the courtroom this afternoon.
He then dabbed at his face with a handkerchief and hugged each of his four attorneys.
A short time later, he emerged from the courthouse surrounded by bodyguards and was greeted by dozens of screaming and cheering vans.
Some yelled "We love you" as Kelly was escorted into a van.
The verdict came six years after the Grammy Award winning singer was first charged with appearing on a graphic videotape with a girl prosecutors contended was as young as 13 at the time.
Both Kelly and the now 23-year-old woman denied they were the ones on the tape.
The singer had faced 15 years in prison.
The sex tape in question has been circulating underground for just about as long as this case has been waiting to go to trial... six year.
Have you seen the tape? Even if you haven't, do you agree with the jury's verdict.
Did the jurors get it right or wrong?
Share your thoughts.

California is now the second state in the Union to allow marriage for gay couples.

The ladies in the picture above are 84-year-old Phyllis Lyon and 87-year-old Del MartIn .

They're lesbians.

They met in 1953 and have been together ever since.

On Monday, the two were married in San Francisco; the first of many couples to tie the knot on the first day that the state allowed the ceremonies to go forward.

55 years together. Straight or gay, that is astounding.

When you think about it, these ladies had more pressures than most. They were together in a time before the Stonewall riots in New York City. They were together in a time before gay people were called gay. Most importantly, they were together in a time when simply being together was a crime in many parts of the country.

They built a life together against all odds.

The Liberty Council, a group that opposes marriage for gay couples, has responded to May's court ruling allowing the marriages to happen with a move to amend the California state constitution.

The measure will be on the November ballot that would change the constitution to "provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

It's a measure Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) said he doesn't support.

As I read the story of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, my journalistic instinct to remain silent on the subject went away.

As a society, we need to encourage and be respectful of loving relationships like these. They make our communities and, in turn, our country stronger.

Sometimes all it takes is a good swift kick in the pocketbook to get people to do right.

Case in point. Environmentalists have been screaming for years that disposable plastic water bottles are bad for they environment because they clog up landfills. They’ve released study after study that says tap water is just as good and safe as bottled water. And in some cases, bottled water is nothing more than tap water put in a plastic container.

The city of Chicago has even gone so far as to start taxing 5 cents per bottle of bottled water.

But to no avail. People still want their fancy bottled water. That is until the economy started to dive.

With the price of gas sky-high and grocery bills going through the roof, people are trying to find ways to cut costs.

One way appears to be, to cut back on bottled water. The Associated Press reports:

With a day's worth of bottled water - the recommended 64 ounces - costing hundreds to thousands of dollars a year depending on the brand, more people are opting to slurp water that comes straight from the sink.

I’ll admit bottled water is convenient. But at a time when we are looking to save money, wouldn’t it make a lot of sense to stop paying for bottled water when you can get tap water basically for free?

According to the Urban Dictionary the word Millennials can be defined as a term used to describe the generation born between 1982 and 1995 ( also known as Generation Y).

Characteristics include: a strong sense of citizenship, moral, confidence, and sociability. Millennials often are associated with being optimistic, stubborn and civic.

Some important events of this generation include the Columbine High School shooting, the death of Princess Diana, World Trade Center attacks (1993 and 2001), and the Iraq War.

Trends include: internet chat rooms, the boom of reality TV, and multiculturalism.
Generation Y or Millennials are primarily children of Baby Boomers and in some cases Generation X.

Ok, now that we got that squared away it's time to talk about my generation… the Millennials. In one month I will officially be old. I am turning 25 on July 15th and my rapidly approaching day of birth has got me thinking about where I stand in this thing called life.

Now to some I’m far from being old, but if you ask a six-year-old (like my niece) they’ll quickly tell you I am. And I feel old. My life has quickly becoming a roundabout routine of work, eat, and sleep.

I am one of the lucky ones – I have a great job. I am blessed to be doing what I set out to do at the tender age of 14, which was to work in television. But, some of my peers haven’t been as fortunate in their pursuit of happiness.

The “Me” Generation – that’s how my doting mother often refers to us 13 to 26 year olds - have grown up learning that we can do and be anything we want to be.

All through our young lives we’ve been privy to this expansive technology that delivers anything we want to us at the click of a button. We’ve been taught to think outside the box and reach for the stars. (fyi, I have secretly always hated that expression – “reach for the stars” no matter how much one succeeds they will never be able to touch a star … even if they are an astronaut.) So as a result we have learned not to settle – for anything. Not to settle for a mediocre job, car, or life for that matter.

We’ve all grown up watching our parents struggle through life working jobs they hate just to put food on the table and buy us the designer clothes and shoes we crave – and have to have or we’ll just die….

But now that we are adults we find the world to be a very different place then how our parents described it to be…

We are just five months away from possibly having the first African American Male as President of the United States, gas is topping off at $4.20 a gallon in some parts of the city, and a cell phone can now double as a mini computer slash CD or tape-less music device.

My friends and I text more than we actually talk … I found it very difficult to write this blog without abbreviating my words and using cute symbols to describe my feelings (lol ;). And during the course of me writing this very blog, I’ve checked my Facebook and MySpace pages several times.

The entire world is accessible to me just by typing three w’s in a rectangular box.

It’s a life my African Immigrant parents have never known and currently don’t understand.

My peers and I believe that it is strongly important to love what you do and have fun doing it.
Does that makes us flighty – or risk takers?

I work a professional job that allows us show up to work in jeans and t-shirts. I don’t remember the last time I wore a pair of pantyhose – or bought a pair for that matter.

Being comfortable is key for me.

My peers and I walk around with our iPods and cell phones attached to our ears. We take cabs – instead of walking, we are more than willing to pay for convenience and a speedy delivery than being practical and saving our money.

(Coincidently, my mom is currently lecturing me right now on the fine art of saving money)

Our way of living life is different but it begs the question of is it wrong?

My generation is built off sex, violence, and Rock and Roll – just like those before me … well I think it might be more Hip- Hop than Rock and Roll. But you get my point.

Yes, we may not know what it is like to fight for civil rights for all – but we are living our lives in a more globally dangerous environment and are striving to make our marks on this world.

So can you blame us Millennials for wanting to better ourselves and only caring about what we want?

So many strong leaders died so that we may have these opportunities and yes some of us aren’t taking the full advantage of those opportunities but a lot of us are.

Don’t be so quick to write us off as a self absorbed-- tech crazy generation.

We are just living our lives the only way we know how...jumping outside the box that society is trying so hard put us in all the while reaching for those precious stars.

If you get a chance check out this link:http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4126233n

Morey Shafer from 60 minutes did a fabulous piece on The Millennials, which prompted me to write this blog.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)

I wanted to post a viral video ala Chris Crocker's "Leave Britney Alone" YouTube sensation but I don't have a camcorder so I'll have to settle for this blog.
As you known (unless you live under a rock) Michelle Obama was on ABC’s “The View” yesterday morning. Her appearance set off this media firestorm, cable news outlets pumped it up as her “likeability test” and her “media makeover”. They all say this appearance and future ones will show the softer side of Michelle.
Well, I would like to take this time to say” Leave Michelle Alone” and for that matter “LEAVE ALL STRONG WOMEN ALONE.”
Now, I may be wrong but I am getting the perception that people get upset when women, especially strong women stand straight up and toe to toe with strong men.
What I want is a First Lady who is reminiscent of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt (we had that for a time being with then Mrs. Hillary Clinton). Eleanor did not sit idly by her husband’s side knitting sweaters or house slippers – the woman took an active role in Civil Rights and supported the formation of the UN (which she was later appointed to as a delegate to the general assembly by President Truman).
The way I see it, the role of the First Lady is important, just as the Role of the President is important. Who has a man’s ear and attention more than his wife? And yes, these women typically aren’t politicians but I’d rather have one who knows more about our nation’s foreign policy than the Ralph Lauren sample sale down on Fifth Avenue.
I like to think of myself as a strong woman. I know my mother and sister are, so are my best friends. So this idea of “softening” Mrs. Obama’s personality and approach is ridiculous because that’s what makes her appeal to us regular folks. Here is a woman who stands tall at 5 feet 11 inches … she cowers from no one.
When Senator Clinton was running for the presidency we often heard political pundits say she needs to soften her image. How will wearing a skirt convey her ideas for universal health care anymore than when she wears one of those pantsuits?
Is a Stepford Wife really what we need in the White House? Who are we kidding? Most women today work full time jobs while taking care of their families. I doubt any of them take the “soft” approach in either of their roles as mother or professional.
Men aren’t asked to be soft – to appeal to women. So why must a woman be soft to appeal to other women?
So do me a favor… leave Michelle, Hillary, Nancy Pelosi and all the other strong women out in the world alone, before you find a 4 inch stiletto stepping on your backside.

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)

I guess a pat on the back isn't good enough anymore or just doing what you're supposed to do. Chicago Public Schools gave away a brand new dodge caliber car to a 12-year-old girl who had perfect attendance. It was part of a drawing where her family was the lucky one out of 150 people to have a key turn the ignition. First of all, a car. I never had perfect attendance in school ever but if I did I wasn't getting a car or any kind of gift. Then the girl is 12. She'll have to wait 4 years just to drive the car. I understand it's an incentive driven world nowadays and every good deed needs to be rewarded. But it just seems this wasn't thought out right. Why does a 7th grader need a car? School officials had their hearts in the right places, giving a reward for something that doesn't happen often. Kids these days are looking for any reason to skip class and miss school. How about a gift certificate? Maybe splurge and get an ipod or computer. I guess everyone will be showing up to class next year.

Anyone not living under a rock knows that with a few rare exceptions, Mayor Richard M. Daley's word is law in Chicago (Chicago Children's Museum anyone?). And if that's not enough, his brother John holds Cook County's purse strings as Chairman of the county board's finance committee.

But could their younger brother Bill be in line to head state government? Word is he's considering a run for governor in 2010. With federal prosecutors probing every one of Governor Rod Blagojevich's pores, to say he's a long shot for reelection is to state the obvious.

Bill, the youngest of Mayor Richard J. Daley's children, served as U.S. Commerce Secretary in the second Clinton administration and is now Midwest Chairman of J.P. Morgan Chase, something that wouldn't hurt in the fundraising department.

Bill Daley is currently an ad hoc advisor and fundraiser for presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign. He's also regarded as one of the few whose advice the mayor actually heeds.

Still the pool of potential 2010 Democratic hopefuls is growing. There's Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who could rely on the muscle of the state Democratic party headed by her father, House Speaker Mike Madigan. There's the up and coming State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias; State Comptroller Dan Hynes; Lt. Governor Pat Quinn; and State Rep. Julie (transit funding) Hamos, just to name a few.

A Bill Daley gubernatorial candidacy would likely (as it did when he flirted with the idea for 2002 cycle) inflame sensitive nerves and reopen the old resentments of many over the unchecked political power of the Daley family.

And that brings me to this question. Would a Daley in the governor's mansion equal too much power concentrated in one generation of one family?

Let me know what you think.

What was the Standard Oil Building has assumed the identity of Aon Center.

The Palmolive Building became the Playboy Building- and then stripped back down to Palmolive once again.

And Sears Roebuck? It's long left for the suburbs, leaving the Sears Tower free of its flagship.

Somehow, all three architectural landmarks have lived on, and the Tribune Tower won't topple either- whether or not the company which employs yours truly enjoys ownership or not.

Tribune chairman Sam Zell wrote Wednesday that he is "asking a number of real estate firms to give us their best thinking on how we can generate more value from the Tribune Tower in Chicago, and the Times Mirror Square complex in Los Angeles."

Many believe that announcement equals auction block, dear readers- and the 950,000 square feet of Neo-Gothic grandeur that's cemented into the Chicago lexicon may be in for a name change.

While Chicago's sentimental are shouting "Shame!," I can tell you many city capitalists are saying "So what?"

"These properties will always maintain the highest value the market can bear- just because of their architectural significance and their location," says Alexander Chaparro, the immediate past president of the Chicago Association of Realtors, regarding those landmarks many equate with the Magnificent Mile.

"When you look at these properties and you look at them painted in our skyline- they become an entity within themselves, beyond what one can call them," Chaparro says.

Don't believe him?

What true White Sox fan do you know still crying in his Coors over Comiskey, choosing to avoid U.S. Cellular Field for this weekend's Crosstown Classic?

Sox fans survived. Correction, they thrived.

If I had a dime for every time Governor Rod Blagojevich showed up late, I'd be retired and living on my family's ancestral farm in Puerto Rico.

But alas the only recompense for the governor's tardiness is an unwelcome spike in my blood pressure.

Today more than a hundred folks are waiting in a sweltering shack on the West Side for the governor to announce a summer jobs program for young people, at the same time he's planning more than a billion dollars in cuts to the state budget, something most see as a scare tatic to get his nemesis, House Speaker Mike Madigan to give him what he wants.

Anyone watching might notice these sort of announcements of help to targeted constituencies seem to come at curious times, often after bad news (like maybe his pal Tony Rezko's conviction).

But back to punctuality or lack thereof.

For those keeping score the gov was 38 minutes late today and that's not including the half hour by which he pushed the event back.

Form chicagotribune.com:

An angry Mayor Richard Daley on Thursday called the Supreme Court's overturning of the Washington D.C. gun ban "a very frightening decision" and vowed to fight vigorously any challenges to Chicago's ban.

The mayor, speaking at a Navy Pier event, said he was sure mayors nationwide, who carry the burden of keeping cities safe, will be outraged by the decision.

Chicago's handgun ban, which has lasted for more than a quarter-century, came under threat earlier in the day when the Supreme Court decided that Washington D.C.'s law against handgun ownership is unconstitutional.

In a 5-4 decision, the high court determined that Americans have the right to own guns for self-defense as well as hunting. The decision, which had been expected, is a win for gun-rights advocates and provides a better definition of the rights of Americans to own firearms.

Illinois gun-rights activists have said they expect to mount a quick legal challenge to the Chicago Weapons Ordinance.

Your thoughts? Post them here.

The White Sox were swept away in round one of the Cross-town Classic to the Cubbies last week.
But, now they have the opportunity to redeem themselves.
This weekend thousands of people will board the CTA Red and Green Line trains (silently praying they don’t derail…again) and head out to U.S. Cellular Field. These fanatical fans will be wearing the paraphernalia of their respective Chicago baseball team - all the while –hurling alcohol induced verbal insults at anyone daring to wear the opposing teams t-shirt.
As a native Chicagoan (ok, I am really from the suburbs, but you get my point) I’ve learned there is one thing that the people of this city are crazy serious about …and that’s the Cubs/Sox rivalry.
The atmosphere in Wrigley is out of this world and I am not just talking about inside the stadium, the neighborhood as a whole exudes “team spirit” now when you travel on over to Bridgeport… it’s a whole nother story. The stadium is perched right off the interstate and is basically surrounded by homes. Not at all like the Wrigley. Which has bars and restaurants on each corner of the field… and those homes around Wrigley, well you already know – they have bleacher seats on the roof. This is a neighborhood that never sleeps.
What I’ve noticed about Sox fans is that they are a lot more subdued in their display of team spirit, while, Cubs fans are loud and obnoxious (now hold on, don’t get offended – you know you are). And for a team that hasn’t won the World Series in 100 years – their fans are pretty darn over confident about the team’s abilities. Yes, this year they are winning – which is awesome … but weren’t the Sox the 2005 World Series Champions?
We seem to forget that little tid-bit some times.
I think Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said it best, “ No matter how many World Series we win were BLEEP … no one in Chicago BLEEPing cares … The Cubs never win BLEEP and everyone BLEEP’n loves them. I don’t know what we can do to make people love us.”
I am not a huge fan of baseball; I think its long and boring. I really only pay attention to the last couple innings. I enjoy going to the games for one reason and one reason only (and no its not the alcohol) – I love to watch these crazy fans argue about whose team is better.
Nothing cracks me up more.
So come on Chicagoans don’t disappointment – go out and show your team spirit.
Me… I am routing for the White Sox, I’ve always had a thing for the underdog… plus, I have a third grade crush on Nick Swisher (feel free to call me Nick ;)
Go White Sox!

These are just the thoughts of a 20-somethinger ... please feel free to leave a comment

Afua
News Producer
(Uh-fee-yah)

Today on CLTV, we kick off a new weekly segment called "Beyond Green." Each week, our sustainability expert, Neal Levin http://nealhlevin.com, will help us make sense of the cluttered world of "green."

We all know by now the basics of cleaner living, like reusing bags at the grocery store and replacing conventional light bulbs with those squiggly ones. But then what? Are you overloaded with information? Do you know what local companies are doing to make their businesses sustainable?

What kinds of questions do you have? What topics would you like to see addressed in this segment? Let us know of, email us at cltvdesk@tribune.com

Amy Winehouse is back in the spotlight, after she punched a fan at one of her concerts.This comes just a week after her father told a British tabloid the retro soul singer has pre-emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine.

This is really a shame. I think she has a unique talent that could really make an impact on the music scene. Instead, she's making an impact for all of the WRONG reasons.

I'm also worried about the impact she's making on some of her young fans. Where are the good role models, these days? Too many talented young stars are getting sucked in by the pressures of Hollywood and celebrity.

Earlier this year, Amy Winehouse walked a way with an arm full of Grammy Awards. One of my best buddies told me she thought it was wrong for the prestigious Grammy's to reward an out-of-control junkie. I disagreed with her then...but I'm starting to change my mind.

Amy Winehouse's story is reminding me of another fallen star -- Billie Holiday.

We all know how that story ended.

I hope Amy can beat her addictions and turn things around.
What do you think? Is her talent as big as it's hyped up to be?

Starting on July 1st, Chicago will hold the crown for having the highest sales tax in the country. It's a title most shoppers would be glad to give back in a heartbeat. The sales tax will be 10.25%, much higher than the 7% sales tax in neighboring counties like Lake County and Will County. Shoppers will definitely head to cheaper places to shop. But my question is, What would be the other option? I'm not saying I agree with the increase, but the other alternative is cutting government programs and services. I guess what I am asking is, Would you rather pay more for goods or lose valuable services? It's a tough question to answer for some. No matter what outcome you pick, people are going to rally and be upset. Of course, you could boycott and stop shopping in Cook County, but that will hurt the honest business person working to support his or her family. Something needs to change, but what? Just cutting so-called patronage jobs and things like that won't bring in enough money to balance the budget. Hard cuts need to be made. Where would you start?