For the next seven days, Lynn Wheeler, former Charlotte City Council member and mayor pro tem, will chronicle her tour of historic Civil Rights locations in Alabama and Georgia for QCityMetro.com.

Why am I going?

I want the Civil Rights experience to impact my mind but also to reach even deeper within my soul. I want to understand what it was like. I know this tour will never provide me the real knowledge of what it was like to be black in the 1950s and 1960s on the frontline of change — simply because I wasn’t — but I am confident I will garner a better understanding.

At the culmination of these seven days I want to be different, changed by walking in the footsteps of so many courageous men and women.

Read more here.

President Obama will be at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base camp about an hour and a half up coast from Wilmington, N.C., to discuss his plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

A base spokesman said there would be little fanfare for the event. A single American flag has been draped in the field house where Obama will speak. After an invocation and a solo performance of the national anthem, Obama will give his speech and then visit with wounded Marines at the base.

At least 24 Marines from North Carolina have been killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and more than 200 have been wounded.

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The men of Johnson C. Smith took the court at 7 p.m., playing the Shaw Bears like their female counterparts did yesterday. And much like the women, the arena was half full. Maybe the recession has kept fans away from the CIAA tournament this year. Then again, it was Thursday night and there were several parties outside of the arena.

One thing that's interesting to note about the tournament this year: there are more older people in the arena. Maybe this is the year that only the retirees can afford to come.

The Golden Bulls, last year's champions, were hoping to avoid an upset at the hands of the Shaw Bears. They'd beaten the Bears twice in the regular season.

Side fashion note: Old men are rocking the cowboy hats this year. And Mr. CIAA is working the crowd as usual. At 7:17 p.m., he was decked in gold — long trench coat and a fedora with a glittering gold band.

Back to the game, with 11:13 in the first half, J.C. Smith had a 14 to 8 lead and a horrible percentage from the free throw line. But Shaw couldn't hold on to the ball with a handle, so it balanced out.

Side fashion note: Even though the Cosby Show is in reruns on TV Land, it is not OK to pull out the old sweaters Bill wore on the show and wear them now. Especially the ones that don't fit.

With about 3:13 left in the first half, J.C. Smith had an 11 point lead and the arena started filling up.

At halftime, Smith led Shaw 39 to 27. The halftime entertainment was an American Idol finalist, LaKeisha Jones. She had on some nice shoes, but it's obvious why she lost the competition. What got the crowd going, however, was the infamous line dance the Cha-Cha Slide. Fans rushed to the floor to dance and even CIAA staff got into the spirit.

The second half started with a pair of turnovers that neither team could convert on. But the Golden Bulls started clicking and led the Bears, 47 to 29 with 14:36 left in the game.

Side fashion note: Pants should not be pulled up to your chest, especially if they are sweatpants. Perhaps the recession has bit into the CIAA attendees fashion budgets. But, it doesn't mean you can mix seasons. If it is cold enough for a wool pea coat, you shouldn't be wearing open-toe sandals. And Spanx are your friend.

Job hunting? Take advantage of the "Resources for Changing Times" event at Central Piedmont Community College Mon., March 2. It's an excellent opportunity to network with a variety of people from Charlotte's business community, learn about current job market trends and hone your skills. Best of all — it's free.

If you are a working professional that is currently unemployed or at-risk of losing your job, CPCC invites you to attend “Resources for Changing Times.” This signature event will educate you on today’s employment outlook, connecting you to the local and college resources you need to achieve personal and professional success.

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To all you female lushes out there, you may want to check out this story from the LA Times. Apparently, even one drink a day can do you harm. Darn it.

As little as one drink a day increases a woman's risk of several types of cancer by 13%, according to a British study of more than 1 million women.

Oh well. They haven't said anything about chocolate, have they?

North Carolina Rep. Sue Myrick is looking after us herself in Washington. She both demanded earmarks that will benefit the citizens of Charlotte and stood with her career-conscious Republican cohorts in their recent junior high pouting pageant.

The $410 billion spending bill that Rep. Sue Myrick opposed Wednesday included millions of dollars for the Charlotte area that she inserted in the legislation, including $20 million to expand the city's light-rail system.

“It is sort of having your cake and eating it too by getting earmarks and then lambasting the bill,” said Steve Ellis, a spokesman for the taxpayers group. But, he said, he was glad Myrick didn't feel compelled to vote for it just to get her projects funded.

Read more here.

Keep up with Sen. Sue Myrick's voting habits at Congress.org.