Zennie Abraham's Travel Problem Focus of CNN Live Appearance Today

I had the pleasure of sharing my iReport story with CNN's anchor Richard Lui who's a fellow Cal Berkeley graduate like myself. The original video on CNN is below and I told my story live today at CNN Headquarters. Thanks to Henry Hanks of the CNN iReport team and to the producers at CNN. 

Original video:

Toyota predicts first ever loss as sales drop - Dec. 22, 2008

More at CNN.com - Dec. 22, 2008: “NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Japanese auto giant Toyota said Monday that it would suffer an operating loss due to plummeting auto sales and a strong local currency.

About 30 minutes after the market closed in Tokyo, Toyota said it expected to lose approximately $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion this fiscal year. Toyota reports earnings on a fiscal calendar beginning in April.

This would be Toyota's first operating loss since 1950, Toyota spokesman Steve Curtis said.

Despite the likely operating loss, Toyota expects to post a $557 million net profit for the fiscal year. The profit stems, in large part, from joint ventures whose revenues are not included in the automakers' accounting for its operating profits.”

--- This should show others that it's not just American car companies that are hurt by this economy.

Greta Van Susteren Goes Off On CNN Layoffs - Gretawire

Blood Bath at CNN ? No “heroes” in management there! « GretaWire: “They did it again! CNN fires people just in time for Christmas!  Make you sick?

People often ask why I left CNN…..I didn’t like management.  I liked my colleagues in the news gathering but the corporate culture that seized management when AOL came in (Steve Case and Gerry Levin) was disgusting.  Everything changed.  Don’t get me wrong - I like corporate organization and a corporation should make money - what I don’t like is a mean spirited selfish management that, despite not doing its job of efficiently running the company, lines it pockets.  And then the topper? because the management didn’t run the company well,  CNN fires loyal people to meet some bottom line the management failed to meet.  Blame the little guy not the way the company is run?  Go figure! Well….CNN management did not disappoint me yesterday…meaning, it met my low expectations.”

--- This is a crass move by CNN management. It's the timing. Why the holidays?

Atlanta Slave Grave Site to Landfill Controversy Happened In Baltimore

CNN's Rick Sanchez is thankfully focusing on a story in Atlanta where a slave grave site is planned to be moved to make way for a landfill site for trash.


I'm not kidding.  


And Sanchez is right that this happens more in the South than anywhere else.  For example, I uncovered this story in Baltimore as far back as 1996:

The Sun - Baltimore, Md.
Author:	Sherrie Ruhl
Date:	Feb 11, 1996
Start Page:	2.B
Section:	METRO
Text Word Count:	715
Abstract (Document Summary)
A landfill, with the accompanying rattle of dump trucks, and dust, dirt and debris, would bring the end of the church, Mrs. [Violet Hopkins-Tann] said. "Who is going to want to attend this church or live in this community if there's a landfill here?" The cemetery is adjacent to a 100-foot gravel pit that would be part of the Maryland Reclamation landfill, running west along Gravel Hill from Earlton Road near Havre de Grace. Mrs. Tann said she believes Maryland Reclamation proposed a landfill at the site in part because much of the community is African-American and poor. "They think if they wait long enough, we'll give up. Well, that's not going to happen," she said. Why this happens in the South is anyone's guess.  But it certainly must stop.

Zennie62 Bill Gates Question On Newspapers On CNN TV Today

I asked Microsoft Founder Bill Gates this question which was selected to be used in Wolf Blitzer's inteview with Gates on CNN's The Situation Room  today: The Huffington Post, a website, was valued at $100 million, more than many newspapers. What should newspapers do to survive in the 21st Century?

What do you think? What should newspapers do? 


This is the iReport version: Zennie62 on CNN 

President Bush At G-20: No One Shakes His Hand

This is both disturbing and amusing because it seems to show how unpopular President Bush is. On the other hand, he's not shaking hands either. Regardless, the video speaks volumes about the U.S. reputation around the World under Bush II.

UPDATE: According to CNN's Jeannie Moost, the Bush White House says that the President already shook all of the hands of the leaders twice.

The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer and The CNN iReport

This is my video based on an email I received from Nicole Saidi, CNN.com's Senior Assistant Producer, requesting a video on my thoughts on how iReport was used on The Situation Room's Mike Hukabee segment.