NFL Draft: OT Michael Oher On His Life and Football

 

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The University of Mississippi's Michael Oher's one of the best offensive tackles available in the NFL Draft, so good that he was invited to New York City for Draft Day. But he also has a background that's the total rags to riches story. Oher's Mom was adicted to crack cocaine and his father was not involved in raising him. He attended several different elementary schools and was even homeless at one point in his life. Then Oher met Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, who took him in and helped him become a better student.

I talked to Oher at the "NFL Play 60" Event in Central Park, where he did talk briefly about his life, but said he was blessed to be taken in by the Tuohy's and came from a neighborhood where "zero people make it out" as he said. "I've always been a good guy and a guy who cared." Oher says his friends have not changed and everyone's the same even with his new fame and income to come.


Jawing With Brandon Spikes

Every offensive and defensive lineman has a story about what kind of talk goes on "in the trenches" and Oher's no different. He likes going against Brandon Spikes of Florida because "He's a funny guy. He talks a lot is a hard-noser. He calls me by my middle name (as they're playing) Jerome."

Oher explains that while he has his favorite players, he never hates a player. Another "good character" gentleman at the NFL Draft.

Oher may not be the best offensive tackle available in the Draft, that honor generally goes to Baylor's Jason Smith, but I think he has the most to live for and will work to become the best tackle in the NFL.

Al Gore's Speech Endorsing Senator Barack Obama For President

Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Stating that this election is too important to do otherwise, Al Gore officially endorsed Senator Barack Obama in a rosing speech given at Cobo Hall in Detroit this evening.

Jojned by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Senator Obama, Gore was litterally blasted into emotional orbit by the crowd's yelling of "Yes We Can" again and again. Gore said that elections matter, reminding the crowd of Florida just by using its name. The Nobel Prize Winner then talked to the crowd explaining the importance of solving the crisis of Global Warming. He compared our current crisis to that facing "The Greatest Generation" of men and women who served during World War II, saying "That’s what the Greatest Generation did to win World War II, and then came home to start the Marshall Plan, unify Europe, create the United Nations and create the basis for peace and prosperity for decades."

The speech was stirring, to be sure.

MSNBC explains the significance of this event after showing Gore's speech:



This is the full text of Gore's speech:

Yes We Can!
Thank You, Governor Granholm, for your introduction and your great leadership. Thank you, Michigan, for supporting me in 2000. I’ll never forget it. Congratulations, Detroit, on the Red Wings victory in the Stanley Cup finals.

I speak to you this evening as a citizen as of the United States. I speak to you also as a citizen of the world because the outcome of this election will affect the future of our planet. For America to lead the world through the dangers we’re facing, to seize the opportunities before us, we’ve got to have new leadership. Not only a new president, but new policies. Not only a new head of state but a new vision for America’s future.

I want to begin with a few words to my fellow Democrats. We have just concluded an historic contest among the strongest field of candidates any political party has ever offered for the presidency of this country. An inspiring group of men and a woman with experience and vision, competence and boldness. Their vigorous competition has attracted record numbers of voters in every part of America, reinvigorated our democracy, and helped to rekindle the spirit of our country. And now we’ve made our choice.

As the general election begins, let us remember our obligation to honor our highest values of our democracy, and conduct this campaign in a spirit of respect for the Republican nominee.

[Audience Boos]

No, no! In that case, I’m glad I brought it up, because as Senator Barack Obama has said, John McCain is deserving of that respect. He has demonstrated bravery in war and as a prisoner of war, and has served in the House of Representatives and in the Senate for many years. Moreover, he has demonstrated a willingness to debate some critical issues, including the climate crisis, that many Republicans have refused to discuss at all.

But even as we acknowledge his long experience, we must and we will make our case that America simply cannot afford to continue the policies of the last eight years for another four.

And we all know that a long tenure in Washington, DC is the same things as judgment, wisdom, and vision. Nevertheless, the other party seems to think that age and experience are factors that will work in their favor during this campaign.

But our shared experience as a nation tells us otherwise. I remember when one prominent Republican wondered out loud whether the Democratic nominee, and “really is grown up enough to be president.” Another used the phrase, “naive and inexperienced.” Yet another said, “the United States cannot afford to risk the future of the free world with inexperience and immaturity in the White House.” Who are they talking about? Every single one of those quotations came from the campaign of 1960, when the Republicans attacked John Fitzgerald Kennedy for allegedly lacking the age and experience necessary to be president.

Richard Nixon’s slogan in that campaign was “experience counts,” to which John F. Kennedy responded, “to exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44, would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, and Christopher Columbus from even discovering America.” On January 20th, 1961, as a 12-year-old boy, I stood in the snow in front of the Capitol as John Fitzgerald Kennedy took the oath of office. I know what his inspiration meant to my generation and I feel that same spirit in this auditorium here tonight building all over this country this year. I feel your determination after two terms of the Bush-Cheney administration to change the direction of our country.

In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000: take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If you live in the city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter. If you or a member of your family are serving in the active military, the National Guard or Reserves, you know that elections matter. If you’re a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter. If you lost your job, if you’re struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter. If you care about a clean environment, if you want a government that protects you instead of special interests, you know that elections matter. If you care about food safety, if you like a T on your BLT, you know that elections matter. If you bought poisoned, lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter! After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.

And this election matters more than ever because America needs change more than ever. After eight years of lost jobs and lower wages we need change. After eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure we need change. After eight years in which our Constitution has been dishonored and disrespected we need change. After eight years of the worst, most serious foreign policy mistakes in the entire history of our nation we need change.

In September of 2002, I argued strongly that the invasion of a country that had not attacked us would be a mistake, and would divert attention, resources and resolve from the effort to track down and capture those who had attacked us. I argued that the occupation of Iraq would be dangerous and harmful for our country. And I well remember how few elected officials were willing to take that position in favor of protecting our national security by remaining focused on the right objectives. But I remember that an eloquent legislator in Springfield, Illinois named Barack Obama spoke up boldly and clearly with the force of reason and logic to join in opposition to that blunder. To those who still do not understand that the withdrawal of troops from the search for bin Laden in order to launch a misguided invasion of Iraq was a mistake, it’s time to say: We need a change. To those who want to continue making that same mistake over and over again indefinitely, it is important for us to say loudly and clearly with our votes this November: We need change. We intend to have change.

To those who want to continue borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf and burn it in ways that destroy our planet’s environment, it’s time to say: We need change. Barack Obama knows that we are too dependent on foreign oil and carbon fuels, and has proposed a plan to create millions of good new jobs and renewable green energy conservation and efficiency. Here in Detroit you know we need to revitalize our automobile industry with a commitment to plug-in hybrids and low-emission vehicles to solve the climate crisis and create the jobs of the future.

The future is ours: not to predict, but to create. But make no mistake: we need to change our policies on climate. Not too many years from now the next generation will look back at the decisions we make this coming November and the policies we put in place in January of next year. Were we to ignore the warnings of the scientists around the world and look the other way as the entire North Polar icecap melts before our eyes and the consequences we’ve been warned about unfolded, our children might then well ask: what were they thinking? Why didn’t they act? Why didn’t they choose change when they had a chance? It is my deep hope that they will ask another and very different question. I want them to look back on this historic year and ask: how did Americans in 2008 find the moral courage to rise and successfully solve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve? How did they find the strength to change?

As Americans, we know that our democracy often moves very slowly, but we also know that when we must, we can shift gears quickly and suddenly pick up the pace to respond boldly to a great challenge. That’s what the Greatest Generation did to win World War II, and then came home to start the Marshall Plan, unify Europe, create the United Nations and create the basis for peace and prosperity for decades.

Many people have waited for some sign that our country is awakening once again. How will we know when a massive wave of reform and recovery and regeneration is about to take hold and renew our nation? What would it look like if such a change were beginning to build? I think we might recognize it as a sign of such change if we saw millions of young people getting involved for the first time in the political process. I think we might just recognize it if we saw that new generation casting aside obsolete and hurtful distinctions and reaching out to one another across the ancient divisions that have frustrated action in the past. I think we would know this change was coming if a new generation rejected the special interest politics of the past and the big money that fueled it, and instead used the internet to get small donations and unite Americans in a common effort to realize our common destiny. If we saw it coming, we’d recognize it by the words “Hope” and “Change.”

Perhaps we would recognize it if we heard a young leader rise up to say, “We’re not a red state America or a blue state America. We are the United States of America.” We would know that change was on the way if that young leader reached out not only to the supporters of the other candidates in his party, but also beyond partisan lines to Republicans and independents and said to us all: “America, our time has come!” I think we would recognize it in a candidate who, in response to those doubting our ability to solve the climate crisis and create a bright future, inspired millions to say, “Yes We Can.”

We have such a nominee, we have such a leader! Yes we can! Ladies and gentlemen, the next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

Sex And The City - I'm Lame Because I've Not Seen It Yet

Ok. That's how I feel. Hey, I love Sex and The City for a lot of reasons. I've just not seen the movie yet. Why? I don't know. But I do feel lame for having not seen the movie. At any rate, here's a great video on the movie, complete with scenes:

Yosef Abrahamson African-American Hasidic Jew Proof Of America's Complexity

Yosef Abrahamson is a 16-year-old (as of this writing) African-American Hasidic Jew who's proof of the American Cultural complexity I have long talked about. He's proof of the stupidity of racism. For example, I know a woman who I run into at various places in San Francisco, and who once told me that "I've never dated a Black guy because I'm looking for Jewish guys", to which I told her that my last name's Abraham and there are Blacks who are Jewish.

The guy she was with reminded her of how right I was. Of course, they're not hanging out any more. But as stupid as the comment was, there are not a small number of people who think that way, including those in the media, which present "Blacks and Jews" as separate people, when that could not be further from the truth.

More people need to know about folks like Yosef, if only to get smarter.

I almost forgot that Yosef won the right to be New York Precinct Captain for a day after he won a contest where he wrote an essay about healing racism between, well, stupid people, in New York City.



This is the essay he wrote:

If I Were Police Commissioner For A Day
By Yosef Abrahamson age 16

To reduce crime and protect all New Yorkers if I were Police Commissioner for one day, I would take the approach of the Big Picture scheme, what policy I institute today will in the long run consistently applied is going to create a society free of crime.

Effective immediately I would put forth a statewide order to begin a policy of Pro-Active Policing, rather than Community Policing, Pro-Active Policing pays attention to the lesser crimes and makes them just as important as the more violent crimes, treating them as though they were the larger more serious, visible crimes, so that those who commit petty crime don't get away with the small stuff - breaking and entering, car theft, petty robbery, loud car radios, rowdy disorderly teenagers, panhandling, loud mufflers, running yellow lights, etc. Ticket them, tow them, arrest them - - because if you ignore them in the name of spending all the resources fighting crime like murder, etc, the group of criminals gets bigger and better and moves from small, ignored crime to all the bigger and more serious crime. It is not mean spirited or harsh - - we need to pay more attention to the people who are law abiding and want to be safe and respectful, instead of coddling the law breakers, being community policers, saying to these petty law breakers that we want them to listen to us, behave and be nice and don't do that again, and now run along, - - - and they keep breaking the law, because they feel that they can get away with it. Community Policing is the reason we have such an increase in violent crime, because we let the base of the number of petty criminals grow unchecked. Jail works. Law and Order must be firm, clear and the penalty for doing crime, swift and certain. Most crime is thought crime - - it is planned, so society must assert a planned penalty.

I would hold meetings with my Deputy Commissioners, Bureau Chiefs, Patrol Borough Commanders, and Precinct Commanders reviewing our selection, training and supervision of our officers, discussing ways of making sure they have a clear sense of their authority and that along with questioning, apprehending and arresting perpetrators it includes regulating behavior, protecting communities and individuals, pointing out a few bad incidents have happened , however reassuring them they ultimately are the keys to law and order, and in most cases their presence really gives a feeling of safety. On the agenda would be a review of the placements of high tech surveillance equipment in areas, making sure we have no gaps.

I would round up the day with a meeting with the press to release the events of the day, and to send a strong message assuring the citizens and visitors of New York we will live in a just, safe, and civilized community and to send an even stronger message to inform all those that break laws we will immediately began a motivated agenda and unless they correct their behavior they will definitely be going to jail.

Caleb Campbell Forgoes Iraq For NFL's Detroit Lions - Video

In the 7th Round of the 2008 NFL Draft a huge cheer erupted from the small-compared-to-Day-One crowd and it was for a little-known cadet who also played football for Army. Caleb Campbell, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in that last round. As that happened I talked to Dr. Bill Chackhes who gave me the details on Campbell's story. Caleb basically deferred going to Iraq as a officer after he is to graduate with the current Army class of 2008. The Army is allowing him to play in the NFL.

Everyone was enthusiastic to meet the man Bill called "The All American Boy" and this video captures that moment:

NY Mayor Bloomberg Reports At Least 4 Dead In Crane Accident

This terrible disaster happened Saturday as a massive construction crane just collapsed, crashing into a smaller building below and ultimately killing four people.

According to CNN, the crane company had faced 13 safety violations prior to the accident.

More on this later.

ELIOT SPITZER ACCUSED OF BEING IN PROSTITUTION RING

UPDATE: Video:




This is the classic "Big Story". According to The New York Times, but the NY Post has better and more detailed information, reporting that Fix News has stated that Spitzer's set to resign:

Feds last week busted a diamond-studded international call-girl ring that offered well-heeled johns "fashion models, pageant winners and exquisite students" for up to $5,500 an hour - after one of the prostitutes turned on her pimp. The Times reported that it was unclear whether this was the ring Spitzer was involved with...The Emperors Club, an upscale escort service, ranked its hookers on a seven-diamond scale on its Web site and then charged its wealthy clientele accordingly for "dates," court papers said.
Four people were charged with prostitution and tax crimes for allegedly raking in more than $1 million with a stable of 50 girls that serviced clients in New York, Washington, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, London, Paris and Vienna.

You will hear accounts that Spitzer was a "clean cut" person and that as Attorney General, he essentially picked on the Wall Street establishment, and the online ticket industry. In the latter, without success.

Now Spitzer's speaking and appologizing to his family. He says that he failed to live up to the standard of himself the people of New York. He did not say he would step down but that he would get back to the public. He did not deny being part of the prostitution ring.

More later.

Christine Smith Blessed By NY Post's Cindy Adams - NY Upper East Side Interior Designer A Celeb

Christine Smith Interior Design Blessed By NY Post's Cindy Adams

Taking a break from politics, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Mcain, we look at Cindy Adams who "brings you the juiciest celeb gossip and celebrity news" according to the New York Post, her employer. Well, if that's the case, then Cindy's just blessed Christine Smith as a celebrity. Cindy took note of the growing presence of Smith's workers around the Upper East Side, and gushed ..

"GUYS are around hauling demolition, filling dump trucks, wearing black T-shirts that read "Christine Smith." So who's Christine Smith? A stunning, skinny, befurred, 6-foot blonde with silver buckles on her jeans and waist-length hair. And why's anyone hauling fixtures wearing her shirts? She's this season's contractor du jour. Looking like a model, this lady is demolishing johns, pulling out sinks, building walls and redoing kitchens all over the Upper East Side."

Wow.

Not only is Christine a model, but the work of her and the crew of people she employs is as well.

Here is but one of the examples of the work of Christine Smith, who it can now be said rules the Upper East Side of New York. Visit her website at http://www.christinesmithassoc.com

Mike Bloomberg Lacks Enough Experience To Be President

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's reported to be "exploring" a run for president, simply lacks enough experience to be President of The Unted States in my view. Bloomberg may have built a company in his name and ran for Mayor of New York and won, but he's never had to deal with the complex politics of Congress and getting a bill through the process in Washington.

I don't know what's going on, but what's it with these New York mayors who think they can run the freaking country? Look, I love New York. I've got great friends there. But America's not that city and thus it's not the perfect testing ground for a presidential candidate.

Mike? Look. Be an effective leader. Back Barack Obama!

Barack Obama Draws 24,000 In New York - Hillary Clinton Just 1,500!

Hillary Clinton draws just 1,500 people?! That's it? Look, I don't care if the rally was in Harlem, they only drew 1,500 people. That's terrible. I don't care if it was in a church; thousands of people could have milled around outside. They didn't.

When Barack Obama held his New York rally, he drew 24,000 people. Hillary's tried, but can't even hold a rally that draws as many people as Barack can. She tried it in Oakland, and didn't do it. She can't do it. Period.

Why? Because she's not as popular as some media types and paid pollsters are trying to make us think she is.

You know what Barack Obama should do? Hold his own rally in Harlem -- just to prove a point. I'll bet he'd draw 10,000 people. Oh, and he should stage it right under that giant photo of Muhammad Ali.

The name of the rally? "Don't Call it a Comeback!"

Barack Obama Plans New York Campaign Headquarters

According to the NY Post Chronicle, Senator Barack Obama will annouce the opening of a new campaign headquaters in New York soon.

Barack Obama To Storm New York September 27th - Barack Video

Senator Barack Obama's coming to New York City September 27th in what promises to be a love in. Here's a video called "Meet Barack Obama."

1-18-08 - Best Monster Movie Ever: J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield

UPDATE: Cloverfield Characters revealed in trailer!

UPDATE - Five Days Before Opening, New Trailer

This is going to be the greatest monster movie ever, and it's not even out until 1-18-2008. It's a secret project with the codename Cloverfield, is produced by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves is directing, and has this website: 1-18-08.com , and can be seen with the movie transformers. But I've made a new trailer based on the clip. It's got a starting soundtrack that will make your blood curdle.

And what about clues like this website: http://www.ethanhaas.org ?

JULY 29th UPDATE - NEW PHOTO

See this Zennie's Zeitgeist blog post to learn about the fifth photo on the 1-18-08 website.,

JULY 21st UPDATE - NEW PHOTO

A new photo was just posted at the 1-18-08 site. This one has the time stamp of 1:24 AM, so we have a pattern -- a time pattern forming with these photos. See more at: Cloverfield Clues. and below...

JULY 18th UPDATE

Some have written that this information excludes the idea that this is Godzilla. But there's nothing in it to indicate that's the case. But I was correct about one thing: New York City is damaged considerably.

From The New York Post :

"A few weeks ago, the movie was shot in Coney Island on the blocks contained by West Eighth Street, West 17th Street, Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk. (picture here)



"A small crew, including Abrams (co-creator of "Lost") and director Matt Reeves ("Felicity"), along with up-and-coming actors Blake Lively and Mike Vogel (both from "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") came into the park with hand-held video cameras.

"They shot several scenes at Deno's Wonder Wheel, a scary swinging Ferris Wheel in which patrons ride in cages as they look out over Brooklyn. They also went on the Scooter bumper cars, played some ticket-stub games in the arcade, and rolled some skee ball.

"A member of the Vourderis family, owners of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, gave authorization to the film crew to shoot there.
"It's about an alien that wipes out all of New York City," says one of the owners, who wants to remain anonymous. "The footage is taken the day before everyone dies. A bunch of kids come to Coney Island with a video camera. The movie is a flashback to that day.

"It is reported that they have only a $30 million budget, not a heck of a lot for a monster movie. They also filmed a few scenes in front of the now-defunct and chained-up B&B Carousell.

"The crew steered clear of Astroland and The Cyclone, but shot some scenes on the Boardwalk by Nathan's and the booths selling hot buttered corn.

"They told me I could be in the movie," said Eric Gonzalez, an 18-year-old kid who plays the freak in the paintball game "Shoot the Freak."

"I wanted to be in it so bad and I gave them my number, and they never called. I got new shoes, a hat and a whole new outfit."

NY1 reporter Roma Torre, on the other hand, was lucky to get plucked to star in the flick, and shot "a lot" more scenes than the one you see in the trailer.

"This whole thing was cloaked in mystery," Torre told The Post. "We weren't given any names. They made me sign a nondisclosure agreement, and I'm not supposed to talk about it."

"It was so mysterious that I had no idea that this was going to be a big-budget film or an independent type movie. So I was shocked to hear about the trailer and the buzz it's getting. I'm hearing from friends across the country. It's fun.""

NEW UPDATE

Cloverfield and Slusho: Slusho's not a clue, it's a product placement.

UPDATE:

Well, not only has J.J. Abrams wrote that the Ethan Haas site has nothing to do with his movie, his staff's placed a new third photo on the site at www.1-18-08.com . This photo has a weird connection -- in my view -- between this film and the events of 9-11. It features two women walking in what seems to be a kind of haze and covering their mouthes. This scene reminds me of the aftermath of 9-11, when people in Lower Manhattan were covered in a kind of soot. A photo of the three picts is displayed here above.

With that, you can add the fourth Cloverfield photo , which has a miliary solidier looking one way, with people seemingly running past him. It's all blurry.

The picture also -- in my opinion -- implies a movie that depicts a level of destruction on an enormous scale. If you put together the explosion in the trailer with this photo and reflect on 9-11, well, what you've got is the decimation of the island of Manhattan.

Moreover, the three pictures are in time sequence: 12:01 it's the party; 12:36 AM, it's the horror, and at 12:48 AM the aftermath of a destruction of something. I think buildings. Or given that it's a bright light and we're talking the dark of night, it may be the middle of another explosion. Whatever the case, it's not pretty.

Yikes, what's this story about?

http://www.theparasitemovie.com - is a fake site. It has nothing officially to do with the movie, and leads to a forum on "tossing games."



Click here to see the "Godzilla" version of the trailer

NBC NFL Rock Stars Glass Wall Overlooking Midtown

NBC NFL rock stars2.JPG
Originally uploaded by swingsha.

If you've ever wondered where that NBC glass wall that features the "Rock Stars" after each NFL Sunday Night Football telecast was located, here it is. It's right at the top of 30 Rock itself in New York City's Midtown Manhattan, and hence the term "Rock Stars."