President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden (SPOOF)

If you've not seen this spoof of President Barack Obama's speech after Osama Bin Ladin was assassinated, stop what you're doing and pay attention. This is a video that exactly expresses what you and I both know Barack wanted to say after the Navy Seal Team 6 got to their objective.

Created by So-Cal-based actor and impressionist Iman Crosson, the video, according to CBS News, perfectly captured the national mood. But enough of that, here's Mr. Crosson as President Obama:



If you're wondering "How did he do that?" Here's a video called President Obama on Death of Osama SPOOF- BEHIND THE SCENES and contains several out-takes, as well as Crosson's explanation of how he copied the President's speech style, while in time with the rap music he used.



In short, a work of genius that's only gained 4.66 million views over the past month, when it should have gained 10 million views by now.

By comparison, the eHarmony Video Bio featuring that crazy cat lover, Debbie,  faking her crying, has reached the 4 million mark in just four days.

Google's "Google Trends" Tool At 20, Now 14, 18 Results? Glitch?

Google's Google Trends online tool that allows you to see what others are searching for, and what the overall search and content production trend is at any given time on the search engine's site, is either suffering from a weird glitch, or Google's trying to shorten its results listing, yet again.

Today, Google Trends came up with just 14 results.  I figured it was a glitch, so I refreshed the screen.  The last keyword was still marked at 14.  Then, a few minutes later, that changed to 18, and as of this writing, Google Trends still produces 18, and not 20, keyword results.  

Something is wrong. 

As noted by this blogger on April 14th 2011, Google Trends has been long downward spiral of results offerings, falling from 100 to 40 in 2009, then from 40 to 20 keyword results in 2010.

And now, this year in April, Google removed "Hot Topics" from the Google Trends keyword search results report page

While the reason given by bloggers was "spamming" of topic results, I'm starting to remain fast to the idea that Google is really trying to force the World to read traditional media sources, and not blogs.

Let's face it, Google has been under constant legal attack from media companies like The Associated Press, and Google News took off on a weird and ill-advised, and still ongoing attempt to save these organizations, even at the expense of trying to slow the spread of democratic media, push many good blogs off the system, and in the face of constantly improving communications technology that allows for the democratization of media.

The real media results on Google rest with the largely hidden from view Google Blog Search. That Google makes it hard to find Google Blog Search, where Google News is in your face with almost every search action, is no accident.

That Google has allowed Google News to be such that it's news results are in "topic clusters" rather than first, and most recent results regardless of topic, is no accident. It allows traditional media to set the news agenda, even as blogs and social networks are really telling the story of what's happening.

In short, Google's doing evil, taking advantage of its monopoly position in the search market to manipulate the news. That's a horrible outrage that should spark a Congressional Investigation - forget Weinergate; Newsgate is much more important.

We have to take action to stop this kind of online control of what news is presented to us. The question is, what search platform should we use to overcome Google?

I highly recommend Blekko. Based in San Francisco and with a 22-employee team, the new company's effective search engine technology and hash-based categorization of search is starting to catch on. Blekko is now the preferred search engine for the giant Topix network.

The nezt step for Blekko should be to restore this news chaos. Google is going way too far. The firm that once focused on doing good, seems to be far more interested in doing bad by controlling the news.

Obama Inauguration: What The Inauguration Meant To Me

This video of my thoughts about the Inauguration of President Barack Obama will never, ever get old. Indeed, it's a good reminder of the basics that drove so many people to jump on Barack's bandwagon - in my case in December of 2006, when I joined BarackObama.com and made a donation.

It wasn't just the chance to elect the first African American President, that's came up before, but Barack represented, and represents, me. He's the representation of the new American mainstream that caught many in the U.S.A by surprise.

Not me.

I told anyone who would listen, and many who would not listen, that Barack would be the next President, and skin color would not stop it. Barack represents that guy in high school who you voted for for class president, or the person who you invited to your party, or that dude in your carpool, or the person you played poker with, or your college roommate.

Most in America were waiting for that person to emerge - the one who we said "I always knew that guy could be president." Well, in 2008, here we were - ready to elect 'that guy.' And we did.

Yes, there are many who are disappointed with Barack since then, and mostly, largely, because of the economy. I blame the Democrats and the liberal electorate, too. And for allowing Couch Potato Conservatives to hijack the narrative and convince Americans to cut spending, rather than deficit spend to get us out of this low period of private investment.

We need a new stimulus package, or to threaten to jail the nation's bankers, and have them get off the credit they're sitting on. We need a good cash infusion of $400 billion, at least. And all of that should go to helping private sector firms make payrolls - which fuel business. In other words, target that spending just to payments for salaries and wages for work in American firms where the unemployment rates are highest.

We should do nothing else.

But I digress.

We need President Obama to have a second term and because a Republican President would be the kiss of American economic death, choking off spending and causing economic failure.

Some business people, like Jack Welch, say we have to "innovate" our way out of our problem. But that's just plain silly because of the long lead times required to make new products and get them to market.

No. Jack doesn't get it.

CNN's Fareed Zakaria does get it - but to a point.

We need to work on pure, hard core, urban economic development. And at the heart of that is the maintenance of businesses and jobs in America.

Tracy Morgan Shot By His Gay Son After Rant?

Ok. Now, 30 Rock Star Tracy Morgan was what? Morgan was shot by his Gay son? That's the note passed to this blogger an hour ago. Wow.

So, let me get this straight: Tracy Morgan threatened to shoot his son because he's Gay, and instead his Son shot him in the butt? I can't believe it.

Tracy Morgan has three sons, so I'm inclined to wonder which one. But it's sad news to read that Morgan would actually have such an issue with the sexual orientation of his kids that he would threaten violence toward them in any way.

Wait.

OK.

Now I read that the real story was that Morgan went on some homophobic rant and said that he was going to shoot or stab (depending on who you read) his son (again, which one?) if he said he was Gay.

That's sad.

But for some reason, the initial report of Morgan's son shooting him in the ass just reads better. Not that this corner wants to see any harm come to the genius comic that is Tracy Morgan, but to remind him that there could be harsh unexpected consequences for such actions.

There are some ideas not worth expressing. Tracy Morgan didn't need to make that outburst. But he did, and he's apologized for it.

Moving forward.

Barbara Parker Appointed Oakland's Acting City Attorney For John Russo

Well, with former Oakland City Attorney and Alameda County City Manager John Russo's blessing, Barbara Parker, who Russo mentioned in my video interview with him as one of his lieutenants who "handles the (Oakland City) council's agenda," now has the title of "Acting City Attorney."

Here's the press release from the City of Oakland:

OAKLAND, CA - Chief Assistant City Attorney Barbara J. Parker, a longtime Oakland resident and second in command of the City Attorney's Office, will take over as Acting City Attorney effective 11:30 a.m. today.

In a letter sent Friday to the Mayor and City Council, outgoing City Attorney John Russo wrote that Parker will serve as Acting City Attorney "to assure a seamless transition with an experienced, eminently qualified attorney in charge of the Office until the Council makes its appointment decision." The City Council passed a resolution declaring the Office of City Attorney vacant as of June 13.

"With the number of complex, difficult legal issues facing the City on a daily basis, now is not the time for training wheels," said Oakland City Council President Larry Reid. "Barbara Parker is exceedingly qualified in providing objective, reasoned legal advice. I am very comfortable with Barbara taking on this responsibility until the City Council takes further action."

The Oakland City Charter provides that the Council shall make an appointment within 60 days of the June 13 vacancy to fill the balance of Russo's term, which runs until the end of 2012. If the Council does not make an appointment, it must fill the seat by special election within 120 days after the expiration of the 60 - day period for appointment.

"It is important that a seamless transition occur in the City Attorney's Office," said Sally Elkington, President - Elect of the Alameda County Bar Association. "A city of Oakland's size and complexity requires a clear authority to advocate for the City's and the Oakland community's interests. Barbara Parker is a strong supporter of the values Oakland residents hold dear - racial equality, marriage rights for all, a woman's right to choose, living wages, equal access to city services, and open government and transparency, to mention only a few."

Parker has 20 years of experience at the Oakland City Attorney's Office, including more than 10 years as second in command. She is a 1975 Harvard Law School graduate and previously served for more than five years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. She is a lifelong advocate for civil rights, women's empowerment and children's issues. As the Chief Assistant City Attorney, Parker has represented the City Attorney’s Office at virtually all City Council meetings for the past decade. Her responsibilities included overseeing a staff of about 20 attorneys and directing all legal advice provided to the Mayor’s Office, City Council, City Administrator and all other City Boards, Commissions and Departments.

"I have the utmost confidence in Barbara Parker's ability to discharge the City Attorney's duties under the Charter," Russo said Friday. "She is principled, innovative and one of the brightest legal minds I have had the privilege of working with. The City Council, the City of Oakland and the entire community will be well served through her leadership."

Parker has led and supported efforts on a range of important social justice issues including: conducting sexual harassment investigations and training, Oakland's groundbreaking anti - predatory lending ordinance, efforts to decriminalize medicinal marijuana, enforcement and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oakland's "Bubble Ordinance" ensuring patient access to reproductive health clinics.

"I welcome this opportunity to continue to serve the City and residents of Oakland in this time of transition," Parker said. "Oakland has been a national trail - blazer in using the law in innovative ways to make our communities safer, to eradicate blight, to provide medicine for people suffering from illness or injury and to fight for equal access and citizens' rights."

"During these challenging economic times, I am committed to continuing to work closely with the City Council and to bringing people together to represent the best interests of the Oakland community in a transparent, accessible manner," Parker said. "Teamwork and effective problem-solving are critically important at this time."

On a personal note, I've known Barbara Parker going back to my time as Economic Adviser to then-Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris from 1995 to 1999. Ms. Parker has always been a thoughtful, intelligent, and caring representative of the office of the Oakland City Attorney. She will do well.

The real question is who will run for Oakland City Attorney in 2012? I don't think Barbara has ever picture herself as a politician.

Stay tuned.

Oakland Police Search For Alleged Rapist

The person in this video above reportedly broke into a 28-year old woman's home in Oakland, and was allegedly in the process of stealing a box of "electronics" when she caught him via cellphone camera.

Here's the full video:



He's described as "a black man in his early 40s, five feet nine, 160 pounds, with a bald head," but as you can tell he's more light-skinned black or a person of color, who may be black or Latino.

According to reports, the woman didn't scream or call 911. And after the man left her home at her request, then he reportedly returned and sexually assaulted her. She was sent to the hospital for treatment, then released.

What I can't help asking is why didn't she call, or try to call, the police when the dude left the house the first time? Also, in the video she sounds rather calm for someone who was supposedly taken by surprise by the man. She says "can you please leave. How did you get in here?" in a calm voice. Maybe it's nothing. But why not say "Put my crap down, ass hole!"

But I'm wondering if he's someone she actually knows, which doesn't make the situation any better, and worse for her. Why, of all things to nab, would he take a box of electronics? What? A TV set? A radio?

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.


Stay tuned.

Brighton Beach Boardwalk Shooting: Teen Tysha Jones Killed

The chaotic period after the Brighton Beach Boardwalk Shooting, as the videos show:





Brighton Beach New York was the scene of the ghastly gun murder of four people, including a teenager by the name of Tysha Jones. According to the New York Post, a gunman, not specifically identified, inexplicably started shooting, and got the 16-year-old girl in the back. The Harlem and Norman Thomas High School teen was dead.

Why? Why? Why?

Four were wounded and no - not one - arrest was made.

Apparently, it all started when a fight broke out at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, and then the same person who would kill Tysha Jones, who had nothing to do with the fight, opened fire, at first shooting eight rounds into the air before training his gun on the crowd of beach goers.

On Twitter, some are referring to this as the Brighton Beach Massacre.

Stay tuned.