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Separate But Equal? Policy Brief Aims To Ensure Charter Schools Aren't.

2012-02-23T01:06:25Z

Charter schools often promise to bring greater equity to education, but a new brief starts with the assumption that they fall short in delivery -- and provides recommendations to fix the alleged injustice.

"Charter schools tend to be more racially segregated than traditional public schools," said author and Penn State law professor Preston Green III, who sat on a board that considered charter-school applications in Pennsylvania. "What we tried to do is write ways to enable charter schools to promote desegregation rather exacerbate segregation."

The brief, "Chartering Equity: Using Charter School Legislation and Policy to Advance Educational Opportunity," from the University of Colorado's National Education Policy Center features recommendations from both Green and University of Wisconsin, Madison education professor Julie Mead on how states and school districts can ensure that charters are integrated and helpful to disadvantaged populations. It also includes statutes that states can use to help reach those goals.

Charter schools are publicly funded, but can be privately run, and often admit students via lottery. Charter schools advocates argue that educational opportunity should not depend on zip code, and that charter schools allow for educational innovation that eventually can trickle back into the traditional system.

Detractors, however, often assert that charters siphon resources from traditional public schools without equal compensation and that they don’t serve specific populations, such as special-education students, in proportion with their existence.

Either way, charter schools, championed by both the Obama administration and free-market entrepreneurs, are growing: This year, as they edge into their third decade of existence, charter schools serve a total of 5 percent of American public school students -- an increase of 200,000, or 13 percent, from the year before.

According to research released in 2010 by professor Gary Orfield of the Civil Rights Project at the University of California, Los Angeles, 70 percent of black charter school students attend a school where the bulk of their peers are also minorities -- compared to 40 percent in traditional public schools.

Orfield's brother, Myron Orfield, a professor at the University of Minnesota who directs the Institute on Race & Poverty, studies charter segregation at a local level.

"I think that charters are an engine of racial segregation. They are more segregated than public schools and cause public schools to be more segregated than they otherwise would be," he said. According to a report he plans to release Friday, from 2010-2011 almost 90 percent of black charter-school students in the Twin Cities are in segregated schools -- a number that actually increased by 8 percentage points over the last decade.

A common problem, Green said, is that charter schools often do not comply with federal civil-rights statutes. According to Orfield, they are legally responsible to do so, but are rarely challenged. For example, previous Supreme Court cases found "single-race schools were intentional segregation," Orfield said. "But charter schools haven't been challenged in this way, because people don't have a picture of how big a part of urban education they are."

But Ursula Wright, interim president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, rejects the premise of the brief. "I believe that charter schools have had the type of success that we currently have, serving 2 million kids across the country with hundreds of thousands on waiting lists, because people do see that we offer in many instances a better alternative," she said. "I can't agree with their starting point. The demand speaks for itself."

She added that she's heard Orfield's studies aren't "gold standard."

The brief includes recommendations for charter authorizers -- groups that approve and deny applications to start charter schools -- as well as state legislatures and the federal government.

One suggestion is that charter school authorizers require that in addition to academic qualifications, charter-school applicants show how "the school will broaden, not replicate, existing opportunities for struggling populations." Applicants should provide evidence that their approaches address environmental factors such as local achievement gaps, the brief said, and charter authorizers should FACTOR? weigh "equal educational opportunity" concerns into renewal standards.

The brief's authors said they hoped its publication would influence the debate. Connecticut is deciding whether to increase charter-school funding. Alabama and Mississippi are considering their first charter-school laws.

Mead and Green recommend that state legislatures explicitly state in their laws that charter schools aim to "enhance equitable educational outcomes for all students, particularly those who have historically struggled," and that "charter schools must comply with all federal laws."

They also proposed new federal regulations, to be considered in the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind: that federal charter-school funding be tied to advancing equal opportunity, and that states are required to collect data on recruitment, retention and discipline in charter schools.

But those recommendations, said Wright, might not be feasible. "To push a federal statute down assuming states are set up to get that level of data is a bit of an oversimplication," she said.

Cornel West Speaks At Vigil For Unionizing UM Food Workers

2012-02-23T00:52:57Z

Moments before taking the stage at the University of Miami's 8,000-seat Bank United Center Tuesday to deliver remarks on the school's 50th anniversary of desegregation, outspoken author, professor, activist, and prominent Bill O'Reilly opponent Dr. Cornel West made a surprise stop in the name of solidarity.

"I was told there are some precious, priceless food workers who are not being treated as they ought," the well-known Princeton professor said, taking the podium at an on-campus candlelight vigil tied to Black History Month in support of workers employed by Chartwells, a food services company that staffs most of UM's on-campus dining options.

"Let's salute them," he continued. "Let us salute them. It's their humanity, their dignity, their sanctity we are here to affirm."

West told the crowd he didn't want to come on campus without addressing the issue, having received emails detailing the Chartwells employees' fight. With some workers making hardly more than minimum wage even after 10 years with the company, Chartwells employees are moving to form a union to demand increased benefits, higher pay and better working conditions.

"It's a beautiful thing to see people from all different colors and cultures here to fight for justice," West observed, surveying the crowd before alluding to the reason for his visit to Coral Gables: "You can't talk about desegregation over 50 years ago -- of course, by desegregation you're talking about the vicious legacy of white supremacy -- you can't fight the vicious legacy of white supremacy without also fighting the vicious legacies of male supremacy and the vicious legacies of imperial arrogance and vicious legacies of class exploitation and vicious legacies of homophobia and anti-Semitism and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim and anti-Latino and these racist immigration policies and practices around the nation.

"So we're here to let our brothers and sisters trying to form a union know that we are behind them. I am behind them. Use my name any time, any place, any way you want," he said to applause, before hugging workers and heading over to the BUC.

Tuesday's vigil was organized with help from on-campus activist group STAND (Students For a New Democracy), whose members believe the UM community has a call to support the fight of on-campus workers for fair treatment -- even if, as in the case of Chartwells, they are not directly employed by the university.

"Employees, students, faculty, and administration have the opportunity to set wages and benefits that reflect the work that Chartwells food-service workers provide," said STAND member Dylan Beasley. "The campus community has a responsibility to set high standards in Miami-Dade county to ensure that workers have access to a dignified life. Supporting our workers is a duty that we cannot neglect."

Hoping to repeat the success of UM's UNNICO janitors and landscapers who unionized in 2006 and successfully negotiated better pay, seniority, and paid healthcare, Chartswell employees have reached out to the Service Employee’s International Union. Worker Estee Chandler said she can't afford the company's health care plan despite five years of employment.

"For me to have been working at Chartswell all of this time, I only make a little over $9 [an hour]," Chandler said. "I can't even afford to get healthcare insurance for myself, it is very expensive."

A Chartswell spokesperson told The Miami Hurricane this month they support "employees making an informed and educated decision whether or not to join a workers union," but one employee at UM told the paper the company screened a film that showed unions in a negative light, and others complained managers have been intimidating on the subject.

In a published editorial, Hurricane staff argued Chartswell employees deserved the same success as the UNNICO union: "At every booth in the food court and dining halls, Chartwells workers are the ones making our food, serving it and making sure we’re satisfied. For this reason alone, we should care that they too are satisfied."

The Vote Is In: Will $250 Truancy Tickets Stay?

2012-02-22T23:47:40Z

Story comes courtesy of The City Maven.

By Alice M. Walton.

Los Angeles students who are truant from school would not face a monetary fine until their third offense under a proposal unanimously approved today by the Los Angeles City Council.

The amended daytime curfew is expected to receive final approval next Wednesday.

Students who are stopped by police for not being in school would either have to show the court that they have an attendance plan that was developed with a guardian or perform 20 hours of community service over a 60-day period. If a student violates the daytime curfew three times, he could face a $20 fine, which would increase to as much as $155 with court fees. The current fine is $250.

“It’s really difficult for kids to pay that fine. It certainly puts a strain on families and really creates a system that is more designed to help people fail than to help people succeed,” said Judge Michael Nash, who presides over the Juvenile Dependency Court.

Between 2004 and 2009, LAPD and school officers issued 47,000 truancy tickets. African-American and Latino students accounted for 88 percent of those tickets, though they represent 74 percent of the student body, according to a report from the Public Safety Committee.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas spearheaded the change to the curfew.

“Truancy is a very important issue because school attendance rates are directly tied to school success and (are) a proven factor in reducing crime,” Cardenas said. “We’re going from a purely punitive model to a restorative justice model.”

truancy fine

Idris Elba Set To Play Nelson Mandela In Biopic

2012-02-22T23:06:12Z

The rumor that Idris Elba will play Nelson Mandela has been circulating on the web for at least a month or so, today we can confirm that it is official…

Tyrese, Martin Luther King: Singer Channels Leader In 'A Dreamer's Dream'

2012-02-22T22:58:58Z

A few years ago, singer-actor Tyrese Gibson was in the running to portray Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the Lee Daniels-directed movie 'Selma.' When the film was shut down in the pre-production stages, Tyrese threw himself into research on the late civil rights icon, determined to produce an MLK project of his own.

Rihanna 'Forgives' Chris Brown

2012-02-22T22:21:10Z

The-Dream is in full promo mode in new York City for his new single, 'ROC,' which will appear on his fourth album, 'The Love IV: Diary of a Madman,' the follow-up to 2010's 'Love King.' Early Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 22) at the Def Jam offices, while speaking on his project and his upcoming Kill the Lights tour, the R&B crooner spoke to The BoomBox about his role in creating the remix to Rihanna's 'Birthday Cake' featuring Chris Brown.

Aretha Franklin: This Is No Reflection On Whitney's Upbringing

2012-02-22T21:49:28Z

NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin says Cissy Houston raised her daughter Whitney Houston well – and that an interview where Franklin said parents need to make sure children "leave home prepared" was taken out of context.

Franklin released a statement Wednesday, four days after Houston's funeral. She was expected to sing at the funeral in Newark, N.J., Houston's hometown, but bowed out because of leg spams she said she suffered after a concert at Radio City Music Hall the night before. She performed again at Radio City the night of Houston's funeral, and paid tribute to Houston as "a very fine young lady."

In an interview about Houston on NBC's "Today" show last week, Al Roker asked Franklin about Houston's superstardom.

Franklin said: "I think parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home ... (that they) leave home prepared, really. She left home with all the right things."

After Franklin didn't attend the funeral, there were some reports that Houston's mother was upset over Franklin's comments and that Franklin was uninvited, a charge Franklin denies.

"Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral," Franklin said. "Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I – particularly at this time."

Franklin also said her full statement – "This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing," using a nickname for Houston – wasn't aired (a request for comment wasn't immediately returned by the "Today" show).

"Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry," she said. "I was not speaking of anyone specifically. "

Houston had fought substance abuse for years. She was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 11, the day before the Grammy Awards. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

Nekesa Mumbi Moody is the AP's music editor. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi

Heavy D's Bio-Documentary Set To Air On Centric

2012-02-22T21:08:12Z

WASHINGTON — The story of late rap pioneer Heavy D will be chronicled in a documentary airing Sunday on Centric TV.

"Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D" will feature interviews with the Jamaican-born rapper's family and artists such as Will Smith, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah, according to Centric TV, the 24-hour channel that is part of the BET Network.

Heavy D, whose given name was Dwight Myers, is considered one of the most influential rap artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s, both as the front man for his group, Heavy D and The Boyz, and as a solo artist. He died last November at age 44, from a blood clot in his lung.

Centric said the documentary includes footage from Heavy D's last televised performance, at the BET Hip-Hop Awards last October.

In addition to building his own successful music career, Myers was a big part of the careers of other black artists. Queen Latifah discusses in the documentary being mentored by Myers. Myers also was a record label executive who hired Sean "Diddy" Combs as an intern, and was producer to other rappers, such as Jay-Z.

Myers' talents went beyond the studio to the theater and television. He appeared in "The Tracy Morgan Show", "Law and Order", "Boston Public" and other shows. He most recently played a courthouse guard in "Tower Heist."

Will Detroiters Bother Voting In Michigan's GOP Primary?

2012-02-22T20:51:41Z

Michigan voters will head to the polls Tuesday to vote in the state's presidential primary, but very few Detroiters will be among them.

Turnout for non-general elections in the city is generally low, and Department of Elections Director Daniel Baxter said he expects just 10 to 12 percent of the city's 550,000 registered voters to cast ballots Tuesday. The uncontested Democratic primary and the absence of local issues on the ballot are also expected to depress turnout.

Very few Detroit residents vote Republican -- around 13 or 14 percent in general elections -- according to Wayne State University Professor of Political Science Lyke Thompson. Historically Detroiters long have voted Democratic, with the party having dominated elections since before the Great Depression.

"Detroit has had much more connection to the Democratic Party than did the rest of the state," Thompson explained.

Overall voter turnout for the 2008 presidential primary in the city was 15.7 percent. A total of 5,235 people voted Republican. Mitt Romney won Detroit that year, with 1,661 votes to eventual GOP nominee John McCain's 1,306. Ron Paul got 411 Detroit votes.

But in the 2008 general election, Obama swept McCain 97 percent to 2.7 percent. Only 8,881 people voted for the Republican candidate.

Voters are required to declare a party when casting a ballot in the primary. Thompson said one factor that might discourage participation this year may be a new Republican-backed law that makes that choice a matter of public record. GOP legislators said the measure would prevent ostensible Republicans from sneaking their votes into the Republican primary process this year.

But even without the declaration provision, Thompson says a GOP-only primary would draw few Detroit voters.

"You're talking about a population that's pretty sensitive to the Democratic agenda and the need for services and active economic development policies to support them," he said. "When you have a bunch of candidates coming through who say the auto companies shouldn't have been helped and a lot of employment that exists in southeast Michigan is auto-related, that doesn't bode well for high participation."

Baxter, the elections department head, said Detroiters might show up at the polls not to vote in the Republican primary, but to cast a Democratic ballot for Obama.

"The caveat to the Democratic ballot is the Democratic Party is not recognizing the results of this particular election," he explained. But nonetheless, "people will show up and vote the Democratic ballot."

Thompson sees "a very great loyalty" to Obama among Detroiters. Looking forward to November, he predicts another big win for the president in the city, and even the same high voter turnout as in 2008 (53.5 percent).

"Those voters will get out and vote for Obama," he said. "There may be some white liberals that are ambivalent in other parts of the region that might not turn out as much for Obama as they did in 2008, but that won't apply in Detroit."

As for the Republican candidates?

"They have little chance with Detroit voters," Thompson said.

National Enquirer's Jaw-Dropping Whitney Houston Cover

2012-02-22T20:37:16Z

The National Enquirer has published a photo of Whitney Houston in an open coffin on the cover of this week's issue.

The unauthorized picture shows Houston lying in a golden coffin, and wearing a purple dress. It is accompanied by the headline, "WHITNEY: THE LAST PHOTO!"

According to the Daily Mail, the National Enquirer claims the photo was taken at Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey. The tabloid did not specify who took the picture, which has provoked shock on Twitter.

Members of Houston's family attended a private wake at the funeral home last Friday. Over 1,000 friends and relatives, including Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey, gathered for a larger service for the pop legend the next day. Houston was found unresponsive in the Beverly Hilton on the eve of the Grammy Awards. She died at the age of 48.

It is not the first time a publication splashed such a graphic photo on the front page. Newspapers published an image of Michael Jackson on his deathbed when his former physician Dr. Conrad Murray was on trial.

Click through to GossipDavid to see the National Enquirer's Whitney Houston cover.

BlackVoices History Quest: Seattle

2012-02-22T18:48:10Z

Today's edition of Black Voices Black History Quest is based in Seattle.

You can plan a trip with your family to these places with the helpful map, courtesy of MapQuest, below!

If we missed a place that you know and love, let us know in the comments, tweet it to us using the hashtag #BHMQuest or post it on our Facebook wall. We'll keep adding to this map and gallery as the month goes on.

WATCH: Star Jones' Epic Return To 'The View'

2012-02-22T18:46:36Z

Star Jones returned to "The View" on Wednesday and set the record straight about her nasty departure from the show almost six years after falling out with Barbara Walters.

Jones exited "The View" in a firestorm of controversy in 2006. ABC had decided not to renew her contract, and she retaliated by announcing that she would be leaving the show. Walters would not allow her back the next day. The feud escalated when Walters revealed that Jones had asked her fellow co-hosts to lie about her weight loss from gastric bypass surgery.

Jones' epic return to the show on Wednesday, however, was much more amicable. The former co-host made a guest appearance to raise awareness of heart disease, and Barbara Walters said that she was genuinely "so happy to welcome" her back. When asked how it felt, Jones pointed out all the changes on the set, and joked that she and co-host Sherri Shepherd were in fact two different black women.

Walters asked Jones to recount the details of her exit, which she did not seem eager to discuss. "Are we really going to go here, Barbara?" Jones asked, before proceeding to give her account.

"It was ugly," she remembered. "Nasty things were being said in the media, it just wasn't a good emotional time." She said she took "real responsibility" for her behavior, adding, "I came to congratulate all of you on what you have accomplished."

The roundtable also touched on the sticky subject of Jones' weight loss. "Just to clear it up, we tried to protect you," Walters said, clarifying that Jones had asked the co-hosts not to discuss her surgery.

Jones said that she did not want them to discuss the "private way I decided to lose weight." Walters pointed out that they had lied to viewers. Joy Behar said that she and the other co-hosts had been told to attribute the weight loss to pilates instead of gastric bypass.

Jones declared that she was both physically and emotionally healthy today. She and Walters discussed undergoing heart surgeries, which they received within two months of each other.

"You look great," Walters said. "You look healthy. And we really are happy that you're back."

WATCH: Rapper Erick Sermon Says Being Gay In Hip-Hop Is 'Like A Curse'

2012-02-22T18:37:00Z

Rap and hip-hop music are often characterized as being heavily chauvinistic -- and according to at least one star, that's not looking likely to change anytime soon.

In a new interview with VladTV, EPMD member Erick Sermon sounded off on the topic of homophobia in hip-hop. Though the true sexuality of many rap and hip-hop artists has long been questioned, Sermon says he feels an openly gay mainstream rapper may never exist.

"When you talk about sports players, too, like we don't know if that's ever gonna happen, 'cause that's like a curse to be in the sports and be gay and be in hip-hop and be gay," Sermon stated. "You can't be on a basketball team, football team and be homo, and be rapping...and be homo. N----s will kill you."

The star, who has been the subject of gay rumors himself, went on to note he doesn't think he's ever worked with a gay artist, and noted that he "can't even let my kid" watch TV shows on channels like MTV due to the exposure to "girl-on-girl" or "boy-on-boy" experiences.

Meanwhile, hotshot rapper Azealia Banks recently admitted to being bisexual, and while not entirely mainstream, openly gay rapper Cazwell is known for his collaborations with transgender performer Amanda Lepore and has also appeared on "RuPaul's Drag Race."

Take a look at some of our favorite gender-bending musicians below:

Chris Brown Backlash: Twitter Feuds & A Bounty On His Head

2012-02-22T17:54:34Z

The backlash surrounding Chris Brown's appearance at the Grammys and subsequent remarks on Twitter just won't stop.

The lastest contestant to throw his hat into the "hatin' on Chris Brown" ring is WWE wrestler CM Punk, who is now in a "Twitter feud" with the singer.

On Monday, the professional wrestler, whose real name is Phillip Jack Brooks, tweeted, "I would like @chrisbrown fight somebody that can defend themselves. Me curb stomping that turd would be a #wrestlemania moment."

Never one to let things slide, Brown decided to engage with the WWE star. In true Chris Brown fashion he tweeted and later deleted: "@CMpunk needs more followers. He's such a leader! Not to mention the roids hes on has made it utterly impossible for him to pleasure a women."

The wrestler responded with a video directed at Brown:

"I never meant to include Chris Brown's name in one of my tweets for publicity. Now that he's accusing me of using steroids please allow me to retort," he said in the video. "I am a life-long, proud, drug-free straight-edge individual. So Chris and I come from two completely different worlds."

CM Punk continued, explaining that he doesn't have a manager, bodyguard, assistant, or PR team to tell him when to tweet or when to delete tweets.

"And I don't hit women. Period," he said, referring to Brown's brutal assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. "In my world women are meant to be revered and respected, and I firmly believe that in this life there are consequences and repercussions for people's actions and I think Chris Brown hasn't paid for what he's done. Picking up trash on the side of a highway does not make amends for repeatedly striking a woman to her face and sending her to a hospital."

The 33-year-old wrestler finished his statement by inviting Brown to duke things out in the ring: "So, Chris want to throw stones my way and I say that's fine, but I say put some gloves on in the ring and I will choke you out and make you feel as weak and powerless and scared and alone as any woman has had the misfortune of knowing any sad, cowardly little boy as yourself. And all proceeds can go to a women's charity of my choosing."

Brown (who doesn't seem to understand that his tweets will be written about even if he deletes them) responded to the video with a rant about missing "real" wrestlers, and wrote, "@cmpunk the video u posted was cute! It's so funny how defensive you are."

Ironically, Punk is not the only one who wants to inflict some pain on Brown. Violence never solves anything, but that didn't stop a writer named Kevin Seccia, from offering a $1,000 prize to the first person who beats up Chris Brown.

In a blog post, Seccia wrote that Brown "is a horrible human being," and argues that he doesn't even pretend to be sorry for "brutally assaulting and threatening to kill a woman," and shows no awareness of what he's done. For those reasons he's offering the cash prize to the first person to deliver documented proof that they hit Brown with "at least two solid punches." For legal reasons, Seccia writes that his offer is partially a joke, but he seems serious about wanting some karma to come Brown's way.

Another high-profile hater is country singer Miranda Lambert. She was one of the first to express her disgust at Brown's performance at the Grammys and got caught in a Twitter feud of her own with the 22-year-old R&B singer. Brown responded directly to Lambert with a sarcastic tweet: "Using my name to get publicity? I love it! Perform your heart out! Go buy Miranda Lambert album! So motivational and 'PERFECT'!"

Lambert doesn't seem to want to drop the issue anytime soon. At a concert on Thursday in Amherst, Mass., she spoke out against domestic violence. "I just have to speak my mind, because where I come from, beating up on a woman is never okay. So that's why my daddy taught me early on in life how to use a shotgun."

CM Punk's video message to Chris Brown:

Kirk Franklin Lands Nods For Gospel Show

2012-02-22T17:01:13Z

ATLANTA — Singer Jason Crabb grabbed eight nominations for the Dove Awards, leading the way for the gospel and Christian music show that will be held in Atlanta for the second year in a row.

Laura Story had six nominations and rapper LaCrae got five nods for the show, which has run for 43 consecutive years. The show will take place April 19 at the Fox Theatre.

Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, Natalie Grant and Jamie Grace each received four nominations.

Franklin, who recently collected two Grammys and two NAACP Image Awards, hasn't won a Dove Award since 2007. He'll seek his first male vocalist of the year with Crabb, Christ August, Chris Tomlin and Steven Curtis Chapman.

Franklin said he was surprised because he doesn't consider himself as a singer. He's known for talking during songs, leaving the singing to his choir.

"It's funny to me because I can't sing," said Franklin, whose album "Hello Fear" has sold more than 415,000 copies.

"These other guys in the category can really sing," he added. "But I'm thankful to be nominated in any category."

Crabb will also compete for artist of the year against Casting Crowns, Story, LaCrae and The Issacs.

One singer absent in the artist of the year category is Francesca Battistelli, who won the show's top award last year. She is looking for her third straight female vocalist of the year against Mandisa, Kari Jobe, Story and Grant – who had previously won the award four years straight before Battistelli.

"I'm still blown away to be named among some of the best in this industry," said Grant, who has won a total of four Dove Awards since she released her first album in 1999. "It's cool that I'm nominated and people still think I'm relevant."

The Dove Awards held its first show in Atlanta last year after being held in Tennessee for more than four decades.

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Online:

GMA Dove Awards: http://www.doveawards.com

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Follow Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mrlandrum31