President Barack Obama is addressing the nation as this blog post is written. You can see it live, online, right here, below, and courtesy of The White House:
You can also review Twitter tweets below:
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Angry, Violent, SF Luxor Cab Driver update - no Luxor apology
An update in the case of the Angry, Violent, SF Luxor Cab Driver who tried to physically remove this blogger from Luxor Cab #1046 License number CA 8L46060, a white Ford Crown Victoria.
The assault report was filed and San Francisco Transportation Authority staffers reported that it was sent to the San Francisco Taxi Cab Commission. As of this writing, there has not been a follow-up phone call, but the report was filed on Friday and today is Tuesday.
But given this blog series was first posted last Wednesday and it's six days later, and information to me explains that Luxor has seen the blog post, there has not been an apology from anyone representing Luxor Cab in San Francisco.
Meanwhile there has been a sudden development of comments from the same person using different YouTube accounts. Cool, but if this person represents Luxor Cab San Francisco, they're advocating against free speech rights (in this case, the right to say the cab driver's problem was he wanted a white passenger and not a black passenger), and that I should have been assaulted for expressing my point of view, which is what the Luxor cab driver tried to do.
This is a matter that I will press until change happens; it will not just go away and if that upsets someone reading this, too bad. There should be a California state law that says cab drivers can't remove passengers from cars without just cause and the presence, permission and assistance of a uniformed police officer. Any violation of the law will be a felony resulting in the loss of license, drivers license suspension, jail time, and a fine to both the driver and the cab company of $10,000.
Some cab drivers are on total power trips, taking passengers on rides deliberately longer than necessary to gouge them, not wanting the passenger to have their say in how to get to a destination, or worse, like my experience here on video:
Enough is enough. No more of this.
Stay tuned.
The assault report was filed and San Francisco Transportation Authority staffers reported that it was sent to the San Francisco Taxi Cab Commission. As of this writing, there has not been a follow-up phone call, but the report was filed on Friday and today is Tuesday.
But given this blog series was first posted last Wednesday and it's six days later, and information to me explains that Luxor has seen the blog post, there has not been an apology from anyone representing Luxor Cab in San Francisco.
Meanwhile there has been a sudden development of comments from the same person using different YouTube accounts. Cool, but if this person represents Luxor Cab San Francisco, they're advocating against free speech rights (in this case, the right to say the cab driver's problem was he wanted a white passenger and not a black passenger), and that I should have been assaulted for expressing my point of view, which is what the Luxor cab driver tried to do.
This is a matter that I will press until change happens; it will not just go away and if that upsets someone reading this, too bad. There should be a California state law that says cab drivers can't remove passengers from cars without just cause and the presence, permission and assistance of a uniformed police officer. Any violation of the law will be a felony resulting in the loss of license, drivers license suspension, jail time, and a fine to both the driver and the cab company of $10,000.
Some cab drivers are on total power trips, taking passengers on rides deliberately longer than necessary to gouge them, not wanting the passenger to have their say in how to get to a destination, or worse, like my experience here on video:
Enough is enough. No more of this.
Stay tuned.
Touchdown Jesus statue in Ohio burns after lighting strike (video)
 |
| Touchdown Jesus |
An event that occupies multiple positions on Google Trends is the news that a version of what's called the "Touchdown Jesus" statue burned on I-75 near Monroe, Ohio.
Why the burning of the six-story, 65-foot creation news is more because Internet news searchers may have believed this statue was the one that graces the football field at The University of Notre Dame. Here's a YouTube video of the event:
The statue is also called "King of Kings" and reportedly "Big Butter Jesus" after a song, and "Touchdown Jesus" because it looked like Jesus was giving the American Football sign for a score in the end zone.
But it's not the statue at Notre Dame, so ND Football fans need not worry.
Channel 5's Mike Sugarman discovers the camera at BART
San Francisco TV Station KPIX Channel 5's Mike Sugarman discovers the Sony camera at BART.
I stopped to help Mike and suggested he restart the Sony camera; he did and it worked. So, in turn he interviewed me as part of his segment.
That was Mike's first time with the camera on his own.
For 31 years Mike Sugarman worked a story assignment with a camera person. But in the age of smaller media budgets, reporters like Mike Sugarman are learning to be, well, something like video bloggers, using the camera to make the news themselves without a camera person. That saves as much as $500 to $1,000 for a segment.
This is an example of what I was blogging about regarding Social Networking being Social Broadcasting. Now, you have the power to make media just like Channel Five's Mike Sugarman. The only difference is in your ability to use the equipment.
Mike Sugarman says it's something more he's got to do that's part of the job, but to me it's a lot of fun. He's more flexible and can react faster to stories that develop. In fact, he really could have done the same job with just a Flip Video Camera. One day a Non AT&T iPhone will allow one to make studio quality videos.
Wait. We've got that already, just with AT&T.
Rats.
Catch Mike Sugarman on SF Channel Five, KPIX.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Concert Film At Balboa SF
This San Francisco event annoucement comes from Gary Meyer, the owner and operator of The San Francisco Balboa Theater and the Co-Director of The Telluride Film Festival, who you may remember from this video interview earlier this year:
Sent a press release announcing the exclusive debut of a new concert film featuring Bruce Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band this Thursday June 17th at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco with two shows at 7:15 PM and 9:15 PM. This YouTube video gives you a preview. It's from the very show the concert film is based on:
Here's the extensive press release:
If you have a major event to promote, regardless of location, please send your press release to zennie@zennie62.com.
Sent a press release announcing the exclusive debut of a new concert film featuring Bruce Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band this Thursday June 17th at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco with two shows at 7:15 PM and 9:15 PM. This YouTube video gives you a preview. It's from the very show the concert film is based on:
Here's the extensive press release:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND
CONCERT FILM PREMIERES AT BALBOA JUNE 17 TO BENEFIT MELANOMA RESEARCH
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band in "LONDON CALLING: LIVE IN HYDE PARK” will have it exclusive San Francisco area Premiere on Thursday, July 17. This one night only benefit will have two showings at 7:15pm and 9:15pm. The showings will benefit the Danny Fund/Melanoma Research Alliance, a charity focused on finding and funding melanoma research to accelerate progress toward a cure.
"LONDON CALLING: Live In Hyde Park" conveys the experience of being on stage and the vast crowd of a festival environment. Captured in London at the Hard Rock Calling Festival on June 28, 2009, a special 90-minute film of this highly anticipated outdoor concert begins in daylight and progress through a gorgeous sunset into night.
Bruce Springsteen spontaneously directs the E Street Band through 13 live tracks, all recorded in glorious HD. A special Dolby Stereo System utilizing the unique speakers from Berkeley’s Meyer Sound www.meyersound.com/ will be featured.
The concert earned rave reviews. The London Times called it "epic" and "a revved-up power drive through Springsteen's America." The Independent concurred: "Springsteen's intensity was staggering from first powerful vocal to final thrashed-out chord."
GRAMMY® and Emmy Award®-winning producer and editor Thom Zimny and director Chris Hilson - both members of Springsteen's video team dating back over a decade - oversaw the filming.
Set list:
London Calling
Badlands
Night
She’s The One
Outlaw Pete
Working On a Dream
Born To Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Jungleland
American Land
Glory Days
See “Glory Days” at:
http://www.vevo.com/watch/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band/glory-days-live-in-hyde-park/USSM21000730
All tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased in advance at the Balboa Box Office or at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/116231
The Danny Fund was set up after the 2008 passing of Danny Federici, longtime Springsteen friend and E Street Band member. See www.dannyfund.org for additional information. With the warm weather just now coming on, it’s especially timely to raise awareness about the dangers of the sun.
Three lucky attendees will win the deluxe two DVD extended version of LONDON CALLING, a 172-minute film with 27 tracks being released tracks being released by Columbia Records on June 22 (http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html ).
The BalboaTheatre is located at 3630 Balboa Street (between 37th and 38th Avenues) in San Francisco.
For more information go to www.BalboaMovies.com or call (415) 221-8184
If you have a major event to promote, regardless of location, please send your press release to zennie@zennie62.com.
Tila Tequila Fans Attack Nikky Raney in comments by Nikky Raney
Looks like I am a big enough deal for "Tilafanfaraway" to talk about me on Tila's site. Which, we know that account is actually Tila. Look at what she had to say:
That's pretty funny. Thanks Tila, I love the attention just as much as you.
P.S. Being 20 years old, 5 foot 5 at 115 pounds isn't fat.
How many posts have I made specifically stating that I am not trying to attack or hate on Tila? Unlike the public figure that Tila is, defamation of me is a lot easier to prove.
I have made it very clear I am not trying to attack Tila.
Nikky Raney
Strange any other comment that has my name in it gets auto-deleted. Seriously, when anyone writes "nikky" in the comments the post is auto-deleted, but somehow that account could bypass that? Maybe it's because that account is actually Tila.
Miley Cyrus gets a surprise from Perez Hilton by Nikky Raney
According to CBS News (among other sources) Perez Hilton posted photos on his Twitter account which exposed that 17-year-old Miley Cyrus was not wearing any underwear under her skirt. I did not personally see this photo, and I would not like to see that photo. The censored version of this photo can be seen here.
I don't know who took the photo or how Perez acquired the photo, but I think that Miley is going a bit too far. Britney Spears was not even this extravagant at Miley's age. Miley has already been caught grinding on a 44-year-old man, pole-dancing, posting other provocative photos, and now she is following in the footsteps of Paris Hilton by "forgetting" to put underwear on.
Disney stars are forming a stereotype, and I am not fond of this.
Miley's provocative outfits are not appropriate for the Disney audience that she is still a role model too, and I really cannot understand how her parents can allow this. It all started with the Vanity Fair photo shoot, but now it has gone a bit too far.
I hope that Miley doesn't go down the dark path of many other celebrities. She has already done so many things that are inappropriate, but somehow she isn't being as scrutinized for what she has done.
I do not think it was right for Perez to post the photos, because that is technically child pornography. If you look at the censored photo you can tell that Miley in her white outfit was clearly aware that the way she was getting up would clearly expose her lady parts.
Now, the censored photo may have just been covering underwear, but I do not dare look at what the actual Perez posted photo looks like.
I hope that Billy Ray finally puts his foot down. I liked Miley when she first started on Hannah Montana. Before she legally changed her name from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Cyrus. She has gotten away with things that any other teenager would not get away with.
Miley started posting "sexual" photos on her myspace when she was only 15. I don't condone Perez posting a crotch shot, but maybe this will impact the opinion of Miley's family and change the way that Miley presents herself publicly. Let's hope for the best, because she has so much potential. Miley, you don't need to use your body and sexuality to get attention. Enjoy being a teenager, you'll have time to dress and be sexy once you aren't jailbait anymore. The tattoo beneath your breast is enough for now.
(all photos courtesy of Google Images)
Look at how she has transformed so quickly:
Monday, June 14, 2010
BP Gulf Oil Spill - why not oil eating bacteria? Gov. Crist must act
BP Gulf Oil Spill - why not oil eating bacteria? That's a question many have asked this blogger to "put out there" so here it is. There are manufactured types of bacteria developed to essentially "eat" oil.
In Internet research relevant to the British Petroleum Gulf Oil Spill, results show that a company called Osprey Biotechnics has announced they're ready to make large quantities of their product called Munox. Munox is a bacterial compound that can be used to consume, digest, and breakdown oil into water and carbon dioxide according to one blog report.
The Osprey Company website describes Munox in this way:
Munox significantly reduces FOG, BOD/TSS, COD, ammonia, nitrate, phenolic compounds, terpene-based and chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons in a variety of industrial wastewater applications
But what's puzzling is why governments have been so slow to adopt the technology in a time of need. According to the same blog report, Florida Governor Charlie Crist called Osprey Biotechnics last Thursday, June 10th, but has not followed up as of this writing.
The sinister mind would say that Republican Governor Crist is stalling action to avoid helping Democratic President Barack Obama.
And what about Osprey Biotechnics? It's a Sarasota, Florida biotech company established in 1990 and with annual revenues of over $2 million. While this may seem like corporate opportunism, remember, we got into this because another company, BP, screwed up.
Gov. Crist should stop with the delays and formally bring Osprey Biotechnics in to solve the oil spill problem before it gets even worse.
Albany avoids shutdown by Suzannah B. Troy
1010 Wins reports, "The New York state legislature has passed governor Paterson's emergency spending bill averting a government shutdown. Watch my YouTube and learn my insights on why Albany politico's went out of their way to avoid a humiliating and historic shutdown. I suggest another reason. Thug Pedro Espada with the help Hiram Monserrate brought Albany to a humilating stand still which cost the tax payers a fortune. Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate went to a Yankee game to celebrate their power play mugging for photographers like their lenses were cocaine....high on the attention and clearly incapable of understanding their action cost the tax payers a fortune....post appear to be stupid thugs. I have made a YouTube on more shady dealings....click here to see it and here is my latest on why Albany needed to prevent a shutdown besides the fact a shutdown might have caused a full out official depression.
Italy vs Paraguay: exciting World Cup Soccer game ends in 1-1 tie
A World Cup Soccer game for the ages had FIFA 29th ranked Paraguay scoring first and leading World Cup Defending Champion Italy 1 to 0 into halftime. That even as Italy had the time-of-possession advantage and who's players seemed faster to the ball. But Paraguay played with heart and hustle, assisted by a light rain that made play a bit slippery.
But then the rain went away and Italy turned it on in the second half, creating numerous scoring chances, but getting only one goal. It looked as if Italy could have ran away with the contest, but it failed to convert on its many goal chances in the second half.
Then, toward the end of the game, Paraguay did well just to keep Italy away from a possible go ahead score, hanging on to survive a 1-1 game.
But then the rain went away and Italy turned it on in the second half, creating numerous scoring chances, but getting only one goal. It looked as if Italy could have ran away with the contest, but it failed to convert on its many goal chances in the second half.
Then, toward the end of the game, Paraguay did well just to keep Italy away from a possible go ahead score, hanging on to survive a 1-1 game.
Shocking World Cup Soccer Score: #29 Paraguay 1, #5 Italy 0, first half
 |
| Antolin Alcaraz of Paraguay |
Paraguay's AntolÃn Alcaraz scored the first goal with a monster kick that sent the ball flying past Italy's Goalie Gianluigi Buffon and into the net.
Considering Italy played in Paraguay's part of the field most of the game, that Paraguay got the score was amazing. Simply, Paraguay took better advantage of their fewer opportunities.
Paraguay, the 29th ranked team, was expected to see Italy's cleats; not happening.
Still, its the first half of a great World Cup Soccer Game.
Watch it live at ESPN.com.
Jimmy Dean, sausage king, dead at 81 - John Draper
Jimmy Dean, of sausage and country western music fame, died of natural causes yesterday in his Varina, VA home.
His wife, Donna Meade Dean, told the Associated Press:
...that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.
Born to Ruth and George Otto Dean of Plainview, TX in 1928, he eventually dropped out of high school to join the US Air Force for a brief tour in the late '40s. He later went on to country music fame.
His first hit was "Bummin' Around" in 1953, but he is best known for his 1961 chart topper "Big Bad John." Such big names as Patsy Cline and Roy Clark got their start with Dean.
He had an extensive television career including his skits on The Muppet Show with Rowlf the Dog and his own ABC variety series, The Jimmy Dean Show. I used to love those skits as a kid.
In 1969, he and his brother Don founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company (ahahaha that's a sausage link), which was acquired by Consolidated Foods (later renamed Sara Lee Corporation) in 1984. I loved that sausage as a kid too. Put a link on a popsicle stick, dip it in pancake batter, fry it, and then dip it in maple syrup. Om nom nom nom.
He is survived by his wife, three children and two granddaughters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)