Back in effect??? Hardly. However...in the interim, I feel compelled to reach out to those of you who still check the site for updates. Thanks much for your steadfastness!!! Even moreso for your love & meditations! Right now, I'm bathing in the vigorous energy hoping to absorb all of the peace amidst.

For those of you who have yet to encounter my Jam Master Jay tribute posted on Hiphop oriented websites, or circulating via forwards, check it out at Politix.net . Politix.net is an online publication giving voice to forward thinkers of the Hiphop generation. Much love to the staff for blessing me with this opportunity to shine!

Hear the Headstone Rolling Toward the Sun can also be found in the Exhibit section of Writehanded.com.

Oh yeah...IN THE KNOW will resume schedule in the new year. Anticipate a NEW & IMPROVED format. Don't you just love the hype :-)?

For those of you who have come up against the challenges of getting in contact with me over the past few weeks, I have been

in the studio woodshedding this recorded project o' mine to perfection. I'm back in the swing of things for a week or so.

I will be in the office laboring- PR work, returning calls & actually answering the tele for a change [gasp], responding to back e-mails, attending meetings, ITK, negotiating, haggling, scheduling, booking & personal writing, all in between family time.



I'm breaking out into a sweat just thinking about the pile of work that requires me to park my narrow tail in one place for too way long. Notwithstanding, I withhold all complaints & instead glorify the most high, for I am living out my dream.



I encourage you all to live out your dreams. Use your God-given ability to create change in your own lives. Heed to the whispers

of the universe! Live love!



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please take time to read the government proclamation regarding

Black Music Month. Read here:



http://www.writehanded.com/articles.html

Also share your thoughts about President George W. Bush's "official"

declaration, along with your perspective about Black Music Month

in general, for inclusion in next week's IN THE KNOW.



Send feedback to:



FEEDBACK

**EDITORIAL**



Not until I became a mother was I exposed to fatherhood first-hand.

Having grown up without my father or any consistent male figures,

Father's Day was always just another day for me to reflect on life

without. Each year I would try to convince myself that, "You can't

miss what you never had," but even as a youth I understood that

what I secretly yearned for all those years was actually an intricate

aspect of my being that had been negated, neglected & unacknowledged

my entire life.



Unfortunately, in this day & age, we live in a society that accepts

the fact that many are growing up fatherless. But as a people who

claim to know the value of the black male, we must continue to support

& encourage our brothers to reach their full potential in all that

they achieve, especially fathering.



IN THE KNOW would like to honor all of the men who proudly accept

their roles as life-long parents. Thank you for your examples and

your dutiful contributions.



--Oriana lee

To find out what's going on in Nashville this weekend, check out IN THE KNOW.

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS



With the abundance of computer viruses going around, please remember

to be leery of attachments sent from unknown e-mail senders. The

IN THE KNOW mailing server was attacked last week, so if you have

received any attached files that appear to be from IN THE KNOW or

Oriana lee, please DISCARD IMMEDIATELY. We apologize for any

inconvenience that this may have caused.



Tune in to Fisk's 88.1 FM for "Freestyle," On Wednesday, May 22,

whereI will be chewing the fat on arts & entertainment with divapoet

Keisha D. Rucker, and the honorable jeff obafemi carr.



On Thursday, May 23, Alkebu-lan Images is hosting a tribute gathering

for Dr. Ray Winbush. Please come out and bid our great leader,

colleague, and friend adieu, as he prepares to break new academic

ground at Morgan State University.



Please plan to share time and space with me on Saturday, May 25 at

Black Coffee's Expressionz, where I will be expressing myself

artistically.



Check out written/spoken contributions by your very own, Oriana lee,

on two of the year's most-anticipated hip-hop albums: Dwight Spitz

by Count Bass D & Downfall of the Iblis by MF Grimm (Kool G Rap).

IN STORES NOW!



Thanks for your continued support!



UHURU--

-Oriana lee

Greetings--



Nashville is hosting a slew of cultural events this week, including the Black Enterprise Conference, a number of theatrical performances, & quite a few events to keep the youngsters entertained. IN THE KNOW has also begun listing urban-related events from other major cities, as to connect our people throughout the states. Please continue to forward the newsletter to everyone you know & feel free to print the listings directly from the site.



This week's commentary comes to us from Donna Jo Warren, Green Party candidate for Lt. Governor of California & Dr. Jonathan

Farley, Green Party candidate for US Congress in Tennessee. You might remember Dr. Farley's commentary on Fisk University a few issues back. Ten years after the Rodney King & the L.A. Riots, "Four White Policeman" encourages us to question the welfare of American Afrakans since 1992.



Attached to the newsletter is a flyer promoting an upcoming event in which I will be participating. Please come out & support!



Thanks for your continued support!



UHURU--

--Oriana lee

TUESDAY, MAY 7



Greetings--



As a fulfilled mother of three, I know all too well the unfortunate challenges involved in finding quality minority-based health care service. In celebration of Mother's Day, IN THE KNOW features a facility in the Nashville community equipped with a warm & friendly female staff dedicated to providing superior women's health care. East End Women's Health & Birth Center, a non-for-profit organization, has been dedicated to providing quality women's health care since 1999.



On this, the 2nd Anniversary of Writehanded.com, we eagerly present to you a new publication/site design. Please take the time to venture outside of IN THE KNOW & explore the complete overhauled territory.



We are also honoring one of our local public relations clients. Could it be you? Find out here: http://www.writehanded.com/exhibit1.html.



Thanks for your continued support!



--Oriana lee



Retraction- What's Goin On, featured on May 5, closed on April 30.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.



-------------------------------------------------------------------

TUESDAY, APRIL 30



"Today is the first day of the rest of my life."



When I was a youngster, my mother had an inexpensive flea market print -- with frame, hanging above her headboard. It had the above message typeset on what appeared to be a Bob Ross imitation. Somewhere between the fiftieth and one-hundredth read, I think I finally internalized the saying. It's since become one of the continuously resurfacing working mottos in my arsenal that never loses any of its persuasive swagger.



Thanks to all who wished me a *Happy Birthday* & shared time/space with me at Black Coffee last weekend. Quite an inspiring evening took place under the full moon!



To further emote the spirit of inspiration, I have included a thought-provoking perspective of the current *chaos* alleged within the Fisk organization. As both the penman of the article , Dr. Jonathan Farley -- Green-Party Candidate for the 5th Tennessee Congressional District-- and Fisk are high-priority community concerns, IN THE KNOW proudly services the at-large with this information.



Thanks for your continued support!



UHURU!