Monday, June 19, 2006

A380 Delayed Again; Scandal - Video Of A380 Landing

Better safe than crached. While the Airbus A380 may be losing money because of the delays, that's nothing compared to what would happen if one of them crashed due to negligence. They should be careful. Here's a video of an A380 comin into land at Perpignan.



EADS top exec on the defensive
Questions about Airbus A380 delay, stock sale loom

By August Cole, MarketWatch
Last Update: 3:00 AM ET Jun 17, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Airbus's former chief executive, Noel Forgeard, already on the defensive after the botched delivery of its next-generation flagship jet, is under further assault from customers, investors and even his employer.
EADS, the largest aerospace company in Europe and parent of Airbus is reportedly probing Forgeard's knowledge of electrical system development delays with the Airbus A380. Forgeard, now co-chief executive of EADS, told a radio station Friday that he was apprised of the situation in April.

And French financial regulators also disclosed Friday they have been looking into the trading of EADS (FR:005730: news, chart, profile) shares for weeks, and will be looking at the latest revelations as part of their investigation.
Forgeard sold Airbus shares, as did other directors, in a trading window that opened in March, according to EADS. See full story.

The timing couldn't be worse for Airbus, which is the only rival to Boeing Co. in the revived commercial-jetliner market.
The aerospace industry is just one month away from gathering in Farnborough, England, for what is arguably its most significant trade show of the year. Instead of wowing attendees with the massive, A380, and a much anticipated design to challenge Boeing's composite-built 787 Dreamliner, the spotlight is likely to be on Forgeard's woes and impatient airlines waiting for their 555-seat jets.

And with the attention on the U.K. for the air show, British firm BAE Systems is planning to sell its 20% stake in Airbus -- effectively making Airbus a Franco-German operation.

That sale follows a similar move by French media firm Lagardere which announced they were reducing their Airbus holdings in April. See full story.

Airbus' shareholder structure is changing at a critical juncture for the aircraft maker, eager to outsell and outsell deliver Boeing for another year.

The global airline industry is in the midst of a rebound, and even some of the large U.S. airlines are expected to turn a profit.

Santonio Holmes - Steelers WR Holmes faces domestic violence charge - ESPN and AP

I'm not sure this is the case of the Steelers not doing their homework. Or is it? They gave up a lot to get him. But .... He's a father as well. Did they ask if he was a good dad?

Steelers WR Holmes faces domestic violence charge
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes was charged early Monday with assaulting a woman, his second arrest since he was chosen in the first round of the NFL draft.

Holmes was arrested at an apartment just after midnight and taken to the Franklin County jail, Sgt. Loucious Hollis said. The 22-year-old player is to remain in jail until his arraignment Tuesday on charges of domestic violence and simple assault, both misdemeanors.

Police received a call from a female who said the father of her child had assaulted her, police spokesman Sgt. Michael Woods said. While the officers were making their report at the apartment, Holmes returned and was arrested. Police would not release the woman's name or details about what Holmes was accused of doing.

Before the April draft, Holmes said he hoped he would be a top pick so he could support his three children.

Holmes, who is from Belle Glade, Fla., was arrested in Miami Beach, Fla., on a charge of disorderly conduct during Memorial Day weekend. Steelers coach Bill Cowher criticized Holmes the following week, but said he wouldn't hold the matter against the former Ohio State receiver.

The Steelers did not return a message concerning this latest arrest.

Holmes led the Buckeyes in receiving last season with 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns. He gave up his final season of eligibility to make himself available for the draft.

Rachel Sears: Pro Triathlete Runs At The Escape To Alcatraz Triathlon




Rachel Sears is a professional triathlete, friend, and SBS Personality who's been through a lot over the past two years. She's been hit by a car, attacked by a pit bull, and beset with injuries that have caused her to make the "continue or quit" decision many times. She continues, carrying out an ambitious racing schedule that had her at the annual Escape To Alcatraz triathlon.

This race starts as the contestants dive into the waters of the San Francisco Bay from a ship stationed near Alcatraz Island, hence the name of the event. I caught Rachel long after she emerged from the waters of the San Francisco Bay, and as she entered the Bike In, Run Out transition zone, then as she finished the run portion of the "Escape" with a sprint to the finish line, and a wave to the camera guy.

Rachel's a premier coach of triathletes at all age levels. You can reach her and her partner Phil Casanta at HyperCat Racing: http://www.hypercatracing.com

Sunday, June 18, 2006

"I'm Late" - My Trip To Fantasy Studios In Berkeley




I've been a member of a film festival screening committee that meets at the legendary Fantasy Studios in Berkeley for about five years, now. Our 2006 movie screening season kicked off on the day this video was made. As it happened I was running late for a 3 PM screening of what turned out to be a very weird and terrible film, with some of the most interesting camera angles I've ever seen.

At any rate I decided to film my trip because I was late! Fantasy Studios is the home of the Saul Zaents Film Center, where such famous flicks as "The English Patient" and "Out of Africa" were conceived and produced.

Saul Zaents and Fantasy Studios are featured in the new book "Cinema by the Bay" about Bay Area movie studios and their famous founders -- George Lucas, Saul Zaents, Francis Ford Coppola, Steve Jobs and Pixar -- who've had such an amazing impact on Worldwide cinema.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Vloggercon: Introducing Ben "Bendrix" Williams Of www.codedsignal.com




Ben "Bendrix" Williams is quite simply an expert at not just making podcasts, but distributing them. The head of codedsignal.com is one of the headline presenters at the upcoming "Podcast and Portable Media Expo" September 29-30 in Ontario, Ca. He will talk about "Viral Promotion Tips N Tricks for the Video Blogger and Podcaster."

Ben's available to develop podcasts of conferences and events. Visit http://www.codedsignal.com

Friday, June 16, 2006

Vloggercon: Introducing Randy Man Of "Live From Lowell"




Being a newbie to Vloggercon and vlogging in general, I didn't know all the players. So I had no idea that my table mate -- Randy Man -- was the host of "Live on Lowell" until I teased him about his preferred attire: a New England Patriots jersey and a Boston Red Sox hat. Both raise the ire of any good Oakland Athletics or Oakland A's fan.

Randy told me how he thinks the New England Patriots are going to do -- 5 wins, 11 losses -- and that the Red Sox will continue to win, but lose to the Yankees.
Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Why do Players think they are unbreakable?-an editorial

I think Big Ben is lucky to be alive right now. He and the Steelers front office staff should be thinking more about doing something about motor saftey then worrying about when he could take snaps fron under center during a workout!
last year's injury to Kellen Winslow jr. should have been a wake up call to Ben and every other player who owns a bike that nothing in life is risk free, and if you are going to ride a motorcycle, any motorcycle, you need to wear saftey gear,no matter what the state law says.

I never rode a "street" bike the size of the one Ben crashed. In my younger days, i owned and rode 2 different Bikes.
one was a "combo" that i mostly rode on the trails of the pocono mts. in Eastern PA. the other was a Honda 550 that i rode for two years when i just couldn't afford normal 4-wheeled transportation. My Brother-in-law rides some kind of monster bike(a Honda Nighthawk i think) back and forth to work each day while working for the government of the town he lives in.
In nearly 30 years of riding, he tells me he has never had an accident, and never has ridden without a helmet.

I quit riding myself 15 years ago when i got into a minor acident on the Taconic parkway in upstate NY with my Honda. I might have been riding slightly over the speed limit when i hit a depression in the road known as a POTHOLE, and went flying arms first onto the grass on the side of the road. It was an act of god that nothing was broken. That was my last ride on a Bike of any kind with a motor. But i digress.

My prayers are with Ben right now. Even though we know he will recover according to the most recent reports, Prayer still helps. But I also hope that Ben has realized what a foolish mistake he made riding without saftey gear. I hope he will use this pause in his life to address this, and use himself as an example of what not to do with a powerful vechile under you.