Turn on any TV and you are bound to be slammed with talk of the midterm elections or unemployment news. The unemployment news is always bad these days, but today Glenn Beck talked about the 99ers on his Fox show.
Being a 99er myself and belonging to the American 99ers Union Beck discusses during his program, I can tell you that I am an expert on the 99er issue and really wish Mr. Beck had contacted me or one of the other 5 million 99ers to fact check his story - but then again - we are talking about Glenn Beck, who doesn’t ever really deal in facts.
The 99er talk begins at 13:05 in the 1st video and continues in the 2nd video below it. Boy has this guy got just about everything wrong. I guess he won't fork over the $$$ to pay for fact checkers. If he was actually as concerned about the unemployed as he represents in his video - he would at least hire one fact checker, right? Come on man - Glenn, buddy - try to practice what you preach. It would give you a little something you cannot buy with all of your money: Credibility!
See for yourselves the absolute drivel he spews and all under the guise of trying to appear so concerned about the unemployed in America. [WARNING: Viewing the “Beckster” is known to give most who watch him extreme nausea.]
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Taylor Momsen Flashes - Needs A Heidi Montag-Style Big Boob Job
But when the videos and pictures were shown, they revealed the sad fact that Momsen's almost flat chested.
The number one rule of sexual teasing is to have something to show. Taylor Momsen flashing and showing off her little mounds wasn't worth all the buzz because she had nothing to show.
In fact, Taylor should wait until she's 19 and more developed to show her tits. Her only hope is breast enhancement surgery. Yep. In fact, she should see what it's done for Heidi Montag.
Before her boob job, Heidi looked like, well, a little like Taylor Momsen, with just an inch more cleavage.
Sure, Heidi was popular in a girl-next-door way, but nothing like what happened after the now late Dr. Frank Ryan worked on her chest.
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| Heidi Montag's Boob Comes Out (Pacific Coast News) |
Ok. 10 times.
But now, va voom, Heidi Montag's a sought-after Internet hottie who's now famous episode of her boob falling out of her bikini in Costa Rica made the World stop what it was doing to check it out.
If Taylor Momsen wants to up her media game and have something to really flash, she's got to get a bigger set of boobs. That's all there is too it.
Momsen should consult Montag about this and how to conduct herself when her boobs are big. Heidi's boobs are her best publicity weapon.
Richmond City Council: Myrna Lopez and Maria Viramontes Making Richmond Streets Safer
Richmond City Council Candidates Myrna Lopez and Maria Viramontes are running for election this November 2. Word is getting out on their successes in improving public safety in Richmond.
Among the important issues that the Richmond City Council will be working on next year are strengthening public safety, improving education, and getting Richmond back to work, particularly at the Chevron Richmond Refinery where the long-stalled Renewal project would bring back more than 1,000 much needed jobs to the community.
According to mail pieces that are posted on RichmondJobsNow.org both Myrna Lopez and Maria Viramontes, candidates for Richmond City Council on November 2, both have strong records that are making the streets safer.
According to the pieces on Myrna Lopez:
Myrna Lopez Found Funding to Put More Police on Our Streets: Myrna Lopez knows that making our streets safer begins with putting more policemen on our streets. She supported an initiative to increase the number of officers on patrol – especially in high crime areas. And it’s working, Crime in Richmond is down for the third year in a row.
Myrna Lopez is making a real and direct difference in the lives of Richmond residents – especially when it comes to making our neighborhoods safer. She helped lead the push to secure funding for more police officers. And that’s just for starters. When it comes to safer communities, Myrna believes that more police officers are a necessity but so are good jobs and better schools.
The pieces on Myrna Lopez are available here and here on RichmondJobsNow.org.
According to the piece on Maria Viramontes:
Maria Viramontes: More Funding for More Cops on the Beat in Richmond: Crime is down in Richmond. And that’s no accident. City Councilmember Maria Viramontes has been on the forefront of the effort to put more police on the beat. Officer staffing levels are the highest they’ve been in many years — and it’s having an impact.
To continue making progress, Richmond needs to turn up its commitment to funding our police force – not merely offer lip service to root causes of crime. With Maria Viramontes on the case, Richmond has a City Councilmember whose eyes are wide open and whose commitment to keeping our streets safe never waivers.
In 2007, Maria Viramontes authored legislation to increase the number of police officers to 3 per 1,000 residents in high crime areas. Today, there are 193 officers patrolling our streets, making them safer.
Crime reports show that crime is down for the third year in a row. Homicides remain a serious problem but Maria Viramontes is pushing for a new plan to raise the number of officers to 213 – the same level Richmond had when our crime rates were their lowest ever.
The piece on Maria Viramontes is available here.
According to "About the Campaign" on RichmondJobsNow.org, "On November 2nd, Richmond residents will elect a new Mayor and three members to the City Council. With so much at stake, it is important for voters to be informed about the issues that will affect our city’s future. This website provides articles and posts about the upcoming election."
Myrna Lopez website: http://myrnalopez.com/
Maria Viramontes website: http://mariaviramontes.org/
More to come on the Richmond City Council elections.
9/11 Cover Up Theory
There are many conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, and now there is another cover up theory being brought to public attention.
Infowars.com has a large collection of articles/blog posts/etc. about "the truth behind 9/11." There are articles taken from Fox News, MWC News, Sydney Daily Telegraph, etc.
Infowars has the most recent cover up posted today, Wednesday, October 27, 2010. The article is called "New Footage Implodes 9/11 Cover Up."
This post refers to a Youtube video that brings in the idea that there was a "secondary hit" to one of the towers before it collapsed.
Another part of this cover up is being brought to light by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer who wrote the book Operation Dark Heart in which he reveals his encounters with executive director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, Dr. Philip Zelikow.
The book suggests that Zelikow may have something to do with the 9/11 cover up, according to JackTimes.com
Brooke Baldwin Shows Legs On CNN News
If you recall Brooke Baldwin took Rick Sanchez' place because Rick made a comment defamatory toward his bosses at CNN, saying that it was owned by Jews, in addition to calling The Daily Show's Jon Stewart a bigot.
Baldwin - who, like Sanchez is bilingual - was Rick's on air sidekick who focused on reporting on the news trends of the day. The chemistry between Brooke and Rick was one of the pluses of The Rick's List Show.
Before that, Brooke was on CNN's sister network HLN. But never before, even though she's worn a skirt, has she worn one so freaking short. She's done this twice from memory, but not all the time. That's too bad - CNN needs to have her in some short skirt. Look at what it did for Mary Hart's career.
Considering CNN's ratings problems, and Fox News success with the same formula, it was a smart move.
Brooke's got great, athletics legs. Plus, she talks about some of the days most searches for news and does so effortlessly. Baldwin just needs to up her Twitter game just a bit to be perfect.
CNN should not shy away from having Brooke show her legs. If some get pissed about it, big deal - it will pay off in higher ratings and more money and a new start for CNN.
Just because a woman looks great doesn't mean we will not take her seriously, and it's psycho to think otherwise.
Brooke Baldwin is super-hot, super-good, and super-cool. Deal with it!
LeBron James: Nike Commercial - LeBron Rise
The Nike Commercial "LeBron Rise" has already gained almost 1 million views and also a number of critics asking why the Miami Heat Star Basketball Player made the Nike ad, which really isn't an ad.
The commercial has not made a lot of people happy because it just rekindled all of the hard feelings James created in Cleveland, New York, and Chicago, when he shamelessly flirted with fans of each town in considering where he was going before he selected Miami.
If LeBron were smart, he'd have listened to President Obama and went to The Chicago Bulls.
But the bottom line is LeBron James is not Michael Jordan and at this point, he's not going to be. At least until he stops whining and starts playing some real lights out basketball. The kind of basketball that takes over games, shocks fans, and scares the hell out of opponents.
LeBron had his first chance to do that with his new team Tuesday night. He didn't do it.
What should LeBron do?
Just play.
Saw 3D Comes out Friday
Saw 3D comes out Friday and will be the first movie to be filmed using a 3D camera. This will be the seventh and final movie of the Saw franchise. Watch the following video for a nice Zennie62.com blog update & the video below that is a fun video that was made.
Troy Smith To Ted Ginn - Ohio State Fuels SF 49er (Niners) Offense
The reason is that Niners Starting QB Alex Smith is recovering from a shoulder injury and backup David Carr just plain sucked against the Carolina Panthers.
Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, played with QB Kyle Boller in Baltimore and some fans wanted him to start in place of Boller. Troy is known for his speed, intellect, and leadership, but never got the break he needed to show he could be "the man" at quarterback. Perhaps this is just that.
The problem for Troy Smith and Ted Ginn is one that plagues the San Francisco 49ers overall and that's lack of discipline. The 49ers under Coach Singletary have players not looking when the ball's thrown to them on screen passes, make errors in judgment based on poor temper, and in general make just enough errors in penalties and missed assignments that add up the losses.
Don't expect Troy Smith to fair too much better than David Carr. The reason is coaching. The 49ers of Singletary are offensively an insult to the tradition set by the late 49ers Coach Bill Walsh. Coach Walsh's quarterbacks were so well-trained that one could step in for the other and be effective.
David Carr looked just plain terrible against the Carolina Panthers and was a major reason they lost a close game.
Troy Smith ads the dimension of speed, but timing in that passing offense, unless the Niners plan to throw fly patterns, is another story.
Avatar 2 & 3 are coming
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Avatar2.movie-trailer.com |
Techland.com has announced that James Cameron is going to be releasing two Avatar sequels. These sequels are scheduled to be released Decmeber 2014 and 2015. Let us just hope that Cameron doesn't get carried away with the "bad movie sequel syndrome." Lets face it. Over the past couple years there has been some pretty bad sequels. If Cameron is able to pull this off he will be hitting the box-office hard.
According to E! Online, movie stars Sam Worthington (Jake Sully) and Zoe Saldana (Princess Neytiri) are back on board for another Avatar experience, both playing in both sequels.
James Cameron told E! Online, "The second and third films will be stories that fulfill a greater story arc. We will not back off from Avatar's visual and emotional freight train, which touched the hearts of audiences in all cultures around the world."
In fact, according to IMDb.com, James Cameron is planning to shoot some footage seven miles underwater in the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Mariana Trench; the deepest location on earth. The pressure at such a depth would be over 8 tons per square inch. This is far beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced Russian military subs, which can handle only 1,600 pounds per square inch of pressure.
Hopefully these sequels will prove to be extraordinary like the first. The worst that could happen is there is a knock-off sequel of the movies Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves, who many people proclaimed in multiple reviews for that last movie.
World Series 2010 Giants vs. Rangers: Tim Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee For Game One
Today, at 5 PM, the World Series 2010 gets underway at AT&T Park in San Francisco and it's a pitchers duel pitting two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum against the multi-pitch phenom that is Cliff Lee, who also has a Cy Young award. Of course, there are a ton of story lines for the World Series, but today it's Lee vs. Lincecum.
Tim Lincecum Finds His Form
After a bit of a rough patch in 2010, dealing with control issues after starting 5-0, The San Francisco Giants Pitcher they call "The Freak," Timothy Leroy Lincecum, found his form and came up on the winning end of some dramatic games, formost was the 1-0, 14 strikeout gem for the battle against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS 2010. He then beat Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay, striking out 8, and winning 4-3 for the first game of the NLDS.
The Bellevue, Washington-born Lincecum, known off the field for his stylish dress and spontaneous answers to reporters - his "fuck yeah" comment to a reporter before the playoffs sparked a new line of shirts with the quote on them - is a serious player with an ice-water demeanor on the field.
On the field, Tim Lincecum has a delivery Fox Sports Tim McCarver calls "violent." He kicks his left leg high, then throws from a place that causes his body to almost fall backward, before firing out a howitzer of a pitch. His best pitch is a curveball that's noted for it's sudden break.
Cliff Lee Finds A Home
Unlike Lincecum, who's been an SF Giant for his entire career, Texas Ranger Pitcher Cliff Lee wasn't even with the Rangers at the start of the 2010 Baseball Season. Lee went from the Phillies in 2009 to the Seattle Mariners, and then to the Rangers in July. He was in the 2010 AL All-Star Game, but as a Rangers player. With the Mariners Lee was 8–3 and posted a 2.34 ERA, an 0.945 WHIP rate, and a 89/6 K/BB ratio, according to Wikipedia.
Like Lincecum, Lee's best work was in the MLB Playoffs. Against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, Cliff struck out 13 batters and the Rangers blew out New York 8-0. They would eventually win that series and the AL Pennant for the first time in franchise history.
Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum
If both Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum are at the top of their game this evening, World Series 2010 Game One could be one of the best in the 106-year history of the event. The difference will be the Giants and Rangers bats. More on that later.
Stay tuned.
After a bit of a rough patch in 2010, dealing with control issues after starting 5-0, The San Francisco Giants Pitcher they call "The Freak," Timothy Leroy Lincecum, found his form and came up on the winning end of some dramatic games, formost was the 1-0, 14 strikeout gem for the battle against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS 2010. He then beat Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay, striking out 8, and winning 4-3 for the first game of the NLDS.
The Bellevue, Washington-born Lincecum, known off the field for his stylish dress and spontaneous answers to reporters - his "fuck yeah" comment to a reporter before the playoffs sparked a new line of shirts with the quote on them - is a serious player with an ice-water demeanor on the field.
On the field, Tim Lincecum has a delivery Fox Sports Tim McCarver calls "violent." He kicks his left leg high, then throws from a place that causes his body to almost fall backward, before firing out a howitzer of a pitch. His best pitch is a curveball that's noted for it's sudden break.
Unlike Lincecum, who's been an SF Giant for his entire career, Texas Ranger Pitcher Cliff Lee wasn't even with the Rangers at the start of the 2010 Baseball Season. Lee went from the Phillies in 2009 to the Seattle Mariners, and then to the Rangers in July. He was in the 2010 AL All-Star Game, but as a Rangers player. With the Mariners Lee was 8–3 and posted a 2.34 ERA, an 0.945 WHIP rate, and a 89/6 K/BB ratio, according to Wikipedia.
Like Lincecum, Lee's best work was in the MLB Playoffs. Against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, Cliff struck out 13 batters and the Rangers blew out New York 8-0. They would eventually win that series and the AL Pennant for the first time in franchise history.
Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum
If both Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum are at the top of their game this evening, World Series 2010 Game One could be one of the best in the 106-year history of the event. The difference will be the Giants and Rangers bats. More on that later.
Stay tuned.
Husson University Senate Meeting
Article written for Ed Rice's class x-posted at The Future of Journalism
Nikky Raney
October 21, 2010
Thirty-five seconds goes by without a single sound. The room is filled with college students who have been given an open forum to voice their opinions, but for once they are speechless.
On October 18, 2010 the Husson University and New England School of Communications (NESCom) student government's senate meeting took place in Peabody at 9 p.m.
Chris Stevenson, Vice President, began the meeting alongside the other four Husson students on the executive board.
Kelsey Tucker, Secretary, projected a Word document onto the white board with the agenda for the meeting which included: updates from all executive board members except for Treasurer, going over the approval of an attendance policy for the executive board and then an open discussion about the issues on campus that the senate members find to be important.
The attendance policy was projected on the screen in another Word document as Matt Teague, President, explained its key points.
"The senate cannot miss more than three unexcused absences, and we in the executive board think we need to be held to a higher standard [than the senate] since that is what our job entails."
A copy of the document was passed around to the 20 representatives and advisor in attendance, Anne Schmidt. The senate voted in favor of the attendance policy.
Tucker projected a new Word document onto the screen with a list of concerns and issues that the members of the senate submitted prior as campus concerns that were to be discussed at the meeting. She asked the senate if there were any specific issues they wanted to discuss.
This was the time where it became an open forum and every representative was given the opportunity to voice any concerns or issues.
Thirty-five seconds of silence passed before Ubed Rimvil, VP of Commuter Affairs, spoke up.
"I think that we need some more diversity and cultural events. There are lots of people at [Husson] from all over the world and the country, and it would be good to have more things go on to help embrace diversity."
Tucker added that issue to the list and then brought up one of the issues listed that she felt strongly about.
"I think that we really need benches in the showers." She continued, "I am in Hart and I don't even have a hook. It would be great to have a bench to put our stuff down on."
Tucker's statement sparked discussion with the senate and led to members of the senate bringing up a variety of topics such as campus parking, sharper knives in the dining commons, Internet service, financial aid for Pharmacy students, signs at Husson, keys for all dorm buildings, microwaves etc.
When the topic for sharper knives was brought up Tyler Allen, one of the five NESCom students in the senate, took a stance of opposition.
"We don't need sharper knives. Do you know how much stuff gets stolen from the [Dickerman Dining Commons (DDC)]? Do we really want people being able to steal sharp knives?"
As more concerns were brought up regarding the DDC Schmidt informed the group that the DDC will be undergoing a $4 million renovation in the near future.
Rimvil addressed the concerns for dorm building keys by explaining a new idea that talks about the involvement of "scanning cards to get into the building."
The senate members were able to vote for the topics that they considered to be the most important. The voting was conducted through a count of hand raises. Members could raise a hand for as many topics on the list as they pleased.
The issue that was unanimously voted the most important topic was fixing the Internet.
Teague ended the meeting at 9:29 p.m. after the votes had been tallied.
The following day Teague explained the structure of meeting in greater detail.
"That was the third senate representative meeting. The number of students in the senate is based on the size of the school, that is why NESCom has five out of the 20. The senate is mostly made up of sophomores who live on campus, but there are a few commuters. The meetings usually run for 45 minutes to an hour, but last night's meeting was short."
NESCom students are eligible to apply to be on the executive board, but in the last election none of the students ran.
He is able to elaborate on one of the issues that has an effect on all a large majority of students and is constantly complained about: parking.
"The senate is working on parking in a different approach. We are talking to administration and interviewing security to talk about how it could be, or what ideas we have to help change and make it better - instead of just demanding and complaining about it to the administration," Teague said.
The meetings always have an advisor to oversee the meeting.
"Sometimes it is Anne (Schmidt) like it was last night or it is Pamela Kropp-Anderson. She is the Assistant Dean of Students at Husson and they attend to see another perspective or way around aside from just students," Tucker said.
Schmidt has been one of the four student government advisors for the 14 months that she has been at Husson although her formal title is Coordinator of Student Activities.
She makes sure that everything goes smoothly with the meetings.
"I like that the students have so many ideas and goals; it is very good. I help to bring their ideas to a realistic level and help prioritize. They do such a good job," she said.
She recalls one of the most important ideas that was discussed at the meeting was the need for signs and how the students have already done so much to make improvements.
"The sign in the front of campus looks a lot nicer thanks to the students. Last night the students were talking about that we need better signs around campus, and that's a great idea."
NESCom senate representatives Rachel Clark and Tyler Allen both feel that although there are only five NESCom representatives the two schools are treated equally within the meetings.
"The meetings are based on campus related things, and if there is a specific problem that needs to be addressed then one of the senate members will bring it up. Sometimes one of the topics covered might mostly relate to NESCom students, and other nights there could be a topic that applies more to Husson students," Clark explains.
Allen would be the first to speak up if NESCom students were being treated as second class citizens and enjoys being able to participate in meetings.
"I speak up when I have to, and if there's something that I think needs to be said I'll say it. I think that NESCom students and Husson students have equal opportunity in the meetings. I would speak up if I didn't think that the two were being treated fair." Allen continues, "I won't participate in it next semester; I was a write-in on the ballot when senate was being voted for. I do think that issues like parking need to get taken care of right away and that there are more topics that need to be concentrated on."
2010 World Series Giants vs Rangers - Traveling Tips For Texans
Today is the first game of the 2010 World Series and I hope you're as excited as this blogger is. To you Texans from the DFW Metroplex, welcome to the San Francisco Bay Area. (For those of you who don't know, "DFW Metroplex" refers to the metropolitan area that includes the two large cities of Dallas and FTWorth Texas, with Arlington in the middle, all served by DFW Airport.)
Here's some tips for you visiting Texans. (And a special welcome to anyone who attended the University of Texas At Arlington, where my undergrad degree was earned before going to Cal Berkeley for my Master's Degree In City Planning.)
Now, this: the San Francisco Giants are going to kick The Texas Rangers ass. Cliff Lee doesn't stand a chance against two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. Still, it's a dream match-up. Here's my tips for enjoying your stay.
First, don't rent a car. I don't mean to take money out of their pockets, but you don't need a car to get around San Francisco. Take a cab. Use Yellow Cab. DO NOT USE the white LUXOR CAB - their service is awful. Yellow Cab's the best in San Francisco. Period. Also, use a limo and transportation service. I recommend San Francisco's Bauer's Transportation at 1-800-LIMO-OUT.
Second, there are a lot of restaurants in San Francisco and everyone has their favorites. Next to AT&T Park is Momo's Restaurant on the corner of Second and King Street - you can't miss it. The pastas and steaks are good as are the cocktails, but get there five hours before the game - it's going to get packed. Plus, forget reservations. Too late for that.
There's also 24 Restaurant, also right at the Ballpark. If you can't get in to Momo's, go here.
My favorites are also The Balboa Cafe on Fillmore and Union in the Marina District, where Brian's a Giant's expert of the first tier and should be working tonight. The Brick Yard's on Union Street next to Union and Octavia. Downtown is The Royal Exchange on Sacramento and Front Street - the best and classic San Francisco sports bar.
Around the corner of Front Street on California Street is San Francisco's oldest restaurant, Tadich Grill. And next to it, are the twin restaurants Barbaco and Prebaco with excellent food and wine. As I stated, everyone has their faves, but I like those.
Then come to Oakland, and eat at The Lake Chalet on the waters of Lake Merritt - a cool setting for a meal after the game. If anyone tells you anything bad about Oakland, laugh at them.
At The World Series, Behave
Finally, please be nice to everyone. And male SF Giants fans, please do not throw beer bottles at people and be nice to everyone. Don't get drunk and stupid.
GO GIANTS!
Tea Party Racism & Violence Continue to Surge in the 2010 Elections
Tea Party candidate Al Reynolds says minorities prefer drug dealing over college
With 6 days away from the election more and more racism, violence and outrageous behavior is being blatantly displayed by the Tea Party. Let’s start with this doozie. Here we have Tea Party candidate Al Reynolds who is running in the 52nd district in Illinois who during a candidate’s forum said minority men preferred drug dealing vs going to college.
“I’ve been in the city and the dichotomy of the women and the men in the minorities, there is a difference in the fact that most minority women, either the single parent or coming from a poor neighborhood, are motivated more so than the minority men,” Reynolds said, when asked what he would do to increase diversity at state colleges. “And it’s a pretty good reason. Most of the women who are single parents have to find work to support their family. The minority men find it more lucrative to be able to do drugs or other avenues rather than do education. It’s easier….We need to provide ways that are more incentive, other than just sports avenues, for the men for the minorities to want to go to college and get an education and better themselves before the women have to support them all.”
We’re not sure if he saw a BET comedy show or if watched one too many rap videos. Perhaps he overheard the rhetoric of one of those self hating token Black and Brown folks who are a part of the Tea Party. In any case, it’s an erroneous statement and quite offensive. It’s also indicative of the Tea Party and their supporters.
The big irony here is the other day after I put out my article about the parallel’s between the rise of the Tea Party and the rise of the Klan at the turn of the century when the movie ‘Birth of a Nation‘ was released, these Tea Party folks went and found a some Black guy to write a blog calling me a bonehead for speaking on their racism. My guess is he’ll defend these remarks. Thats how such folks usually do..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsIqRpEB7lQ&feature=player_embedded
The other incident that has everyone talking involves Tim Profit a volunteer co-ordinator Kentucky Senator Tea Party candidate Rand Paul and a 23-year-old woman named Lauren Valle who is a member of MoveOn.org. A video shows Valle being stomped by a group of men who support Rand. Included in that footage is Profit actually stomping on her head.
Valle explained that she was in Kentucky to bring attention to Paul being a puppet of corporate interests and she has been using street theater as a way to get her message across. The night of the debate, when Valle got beat up, she was wearing a sign and wanted to satirically give Paul and ‘employee of the month award’.
Valle describes what was shown in the footage;
When Rand Paul’s car arrived a couple of them stepped in front of me so I stepped off the curb to get around them to get back out front. At that point they started grabbing for me and I ran all the way around the car with them in pursuit. The footage is after I’ve run all the way around the car and I’m in front of the car and that is when they took me down. One or two people twisted my arms behind my back and took me down… It was about two-to-three seconds after that another person stomped on my head. And I lay there for 20 seconds or so and my partner Alex came and got me up and that’s the point where there is the media clip of me speaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsrD9NxRC74&feature=player_embedded
So what we have at the end of the day is Tea Party members stating unabashedly that Black men prefer drug dealing over education and a young 23 year old woman who wearing a sign getting stomped by a group of men. This is the same Tea Party folks who were running around just a year ago disrupting Healthcare Debate Townhalls. Have people forgotten that? Sadly the Tea Party is reminding the world that violence is a way of life for them. In the words of former SNCC member H. Rap Brown ‘Violence is as American as Apple pie’. If you think that assertion is far-fetched we remind you of this infamous confrontation involving the Tea Party misfits confronting a man with Parkinson’s disease.
written by Davey D
Celtics vs. Heat: "Overrated" Heat and LeBron Fall To Celtics 80 - 88
But observers, and The Miami Heat, asserted that with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, James was all but assured of an NBA Title.
Okay.
But there's that little thing called chemistry that has to develop before a team can put up wins. That's what the Miami Heat lacked as they fell to the Boston Celtics 80 to 88 to open the NBA's 2010-2011 Season.
What the Boston Celtics have is the "original big three" in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo. Add Ray Allen, and ex-Laker Shaquille O'Neal, and you have a formidable team that was ready to put Miami in it's place and did just that.
Now, the question is, how long will it take The Miami Heat to be that NBA Finals contender everyone talks about. Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers thinks it's just a matter of time. He told ESPN "They're going to be great."
Time will tell.
Is Texas Governor Rick Perry Gay?
It's something that was brought to light again, after being dormant for a period, by blogger Mike Stark of The Stark Reports. That's the same blog that brought you the charge that Rep. John Boehner (R - Ohio) has a girlfriend in powerful Washington Lobbyist Lisbeth Lyons.
But this time, unlike the other story that doesn't have much in the way of media legs, this one has been covered in the past and the media continues to mention it in Texas. But Stark's blog is the hardest hitting effort yet. Stark writes:
As I began looking into this, I repeatedly heard detailed rumors of a past gay relationship between the Governor and his former Secretary of State, Geoff Connor. A version of this story included Perry’s wife, Anita, catching Connor and Perry in the act and screaming at him the next day from her office phone. The most common retelling has it that the Governor was caught, struck a quick (and expensive) deal with his wife that allowed him to avoid an immediate trip to divorce court, and swore everyone involved to secrecy.
I also learned of a new rumor making the rounds. Several sources told me they had heard that the Governor is in a current gay relationship with one of the two (male) chefs that Perry he keeps on staff at the tax-payer funded ($10,000 a month) temporary governor’s mansion.
What’s interesting, given the longevity and evolving nature of these rumors, is that as far as I can tell, no media outlet has ever publicly asked the Governor the simple question: “Are you gay?”
Stark also names members of the Texas Republican Parry who want Perry to declare his sexuality. But the other question is, the most important one, is will the electorate care if he's Gay? The bet here is no, but then he will have to clear-up his anti-Gay rhetoric.
Stay tuned.
Oakland Mayor's Race: Joe Tuman Interview
Oakland Mayor's Race candidate Joe Tuman and this blogger met last Thursday at Merritt Station at 614 Grand Avenue for this interview. It came at a time when Tuman, like this week, is riding a high of name recognition thanks to Grand Lake Theater Owner Allan Michaan, and a powerful word-of-mouth campaign on the part of people who've met Tuman.
Tuman vs. Matthai Kuruvila and The SF Chronicle
On the subject of newspapers, Tuman and I briefly talked about the little feud between San Francisco Chronicle "Reporter" Matthai Kuruvila. The issue from this blogger's perspective is that Kuruvila has upset a number of the campaigners with a form of coverage that reveals a bias not expected for a "reporter." He's only talked to some, not all, of the persons running for mayor, openly expresses his opinion even by body language as he did in the San Francisco Chronicle Board Meeting with Tuman, and when he does blog - in this case in an attack on Tuman, the effort is intellectually sloppy at best.
The best Oakland political reporter was The Oakland Tribune's Kelly Rayburn (who's in law school now), who kept his personal views to himself and was a consummate professional - such cannot be said for Mr. Kuruvila. Moreover, Kuruvila is crossing over into territory reserved for the legendary San Francisco Chronicle Columnist Chip Johnson. Tuman had enough.
While Joe will not say Matthai has a bias against him, he's "If not hard on me, maybe harder on me, and a little dismissive," Tuman said. But. I've talked to him about that and I take him at his word when he says he treats everyone the same. But, in all honesty, sometimes it hasn't felt that way."
The Campaign's Progress
Tuman says his numerous house meetings have "Gone great. I don't know what number we're at. Sometimes it seems like we do one every night or every other night. Sometimes we have several in one day, like on Saturday I did three." Tuman says the house meetings are all over Oakland, both the hills and flatlands, and the response has been "uniformly good."
Allan Michaan and Parking
Tuman got a real significant elevation in visibility from Grand Lake Theater Owner Allan Michaan, who used his marque normally reserved for movies and anti-war announcements, to say that Oaklanders should vote for Tuman. The reason is that Tuman's openly adopted Michaan's call for an end to Oakland's predatory parking enforcement system, even to the point of saying he would "phase it out" and do away with the parking machines.
Tuman observed, "I could run on a platform that says 'Let's do away with the boxes that spit out the white pieces of paper that fit in your dashboard,' and I'd get all the votes." Tuman says he's not opposed to charging for parking, but he wants to make it, over the long term, free "only for a couple of hours," and says, again echoing Michaan, that the parking rates should be "around $20 or $30," and not the $60 to $80 they are at now.
Tuman Against Measure BB
Measure BB, if passed, would rehire the 63 neighborhood officers responsible for crime prevention on the Oakland police force. In Adams Point, Hong Bahn has served as one of those officers and has done an incredible job. This blogger's in favor of Measure BB; not Tuman. Tuman says he's in favor of the programs that BB puts money into, like Youth Uprising, but is in opposition to the measure because it does not address the reason Measure Y, which it modifies, was passed which was to serve both the desires of those who wanted more beat police, and those who wanted more money for after school programs.
Tuman says that Measure BB is a way for the Oakland City Council to get around the problems of Measure Y, where the City failed to meet its obligations to that program.
What happened was that Oakland did essentially raid Measure Y money and use it for other services - what Tuman calls a "bait and switch" - while police were laid off, and failed to conduct a good program audit. (While I disagree with the logic in not wanting Measure BB, the interview is Tuman's platform, not mine to disagree with him.)
Tuman objects to the idea of a "fix" and wants Oakland to live up to its obligations.
The Tuman Mayor's Office
The conversation turned away from that, and to what kind of Mayor's Office Tuman would have if he won. What I mean is style and structure. Anyone can talk about policy issues, but what separates the wonks from the leaders is a knowledge of how to form a managerial and organizational structure that can effectively push policy through to adoption, improve city service delivery, and fill the giant leadership vacuum that exists in the Office of The Mayor (and something Oakland City Attorney John Russo and I talked about in an interview earlier this year.)
Tuman says he does not want a large staff or for that matter a security detail. He says he'll drive himself around Oakland "or ride my bike." Tuman wants to appoint a new city administrator, and bring that person into the Mayor's Office, essentially fusing the City Administrator's Office into the Mayor's Office.
He will then set times with the City Council - separate meetings where they bring "a punch list" of things they need to get done. "I want them to let us manage the bureaucracy." Tuman wants control of the city staff to get things done.
As to the City Council, as a note, Joe says Councilmember Desley Brooks (District 6) has endorsed him. But in full he says he can "count to four" City Council votes, and in time will be able to "count to five." Moreover, Tuman will attend all City Council meetings, much as Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris did during his tenure.
Should Oakland Sue The Oakland A's?
Tuman's not in favor of using the legal process against the Oakland A's, which seems to be threatening to leave Oakland every year, as he thinks it just encourages them to try harder to do so. But suing the City of San Jose is something Tuman's willing to consider, as that municipality has worked to try to take the A's away from Oakland, interfering with contracts between the parties in the process.
Tuman says he will be a friend to all of Oakland's sports teams, but does not want to give away public money to retain them. But he does leave tax increment revenue as an exception because of it's market generated nature.
Tuman The Candidate
Overall, Tuman expresses a very good feel for the issues, politics and, management of The City of Oakland, and has come a very long way in a very short time. Give his website - Joe4Mayor.com - a study as well as this video and learn about all 10 of the candidates, too, before you make a decision (if you've not voted already).
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