Honda Recalls Accords, Civics, Elements due to ignition switch

Image via Wikipedia

Honda becomes the latest Japanese maker of cars to have a massive recall, as 428,000 Accords, Civics, Elements made from 2003 to 2004 and purchased in the United States and Canada are being recalled due to an ignition switch problem that causes each car to roll away when incorrectly parked.

That can be a particularly vexing and dangerous problem in the San Francisco Bay Area and especially hilly San Francisco.

Apparently when the ignition switch becomes worn it's a candidate for the problem.

Here's the statement below and on the Honda website, but hard to locate. One has to know to go to the "News" section of the website.

Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Regarding Ignition Switch Interlock Mechanism Recall: 2003 Accord, Civic, 2003/2004 Element Vehicles

August 09 2010

Honda will recall approximately 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic vehicles from the 2003 model year and roughly 69,000 Element vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years in the U.S. to prevent a malfunction of the ignition interlock feature of these vehicles. Honda has received several complaints about such failures in these vehicles and is aware of a small number of related incidents, including one that resulted in a minor injury.

The ignition interlock mechanism can be damaged or worn during use. If this happens, it may become possible to remove the ignition key when the shift lever is not in Park. If the transmission is not in Park and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle could roll away, and a crash could occur.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage all owners of affected vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification from Honda that their vehicle requires repair. Notification to customers will start in late September, 2010.

When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers. To this end, in addition to contacting customers by mail, after Sept. 20, 2010, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicle requires repair by going on-line or calling Honda. Honda owners can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009, and select option 4.

Stay tuned.

Ramon Ayala out of jail, rushed to hospital

Ramon Ayala via last.fm

U.S. Musician Ramon Ayala, in jail since December 11, 2009 for alleged ties and actions with organized crime, and committing money laundering activities, was released from jail Monday and taken to the hospital.

King of The Accordion.

Ramon Ayala is called the King of The Accordion. Ayala's been in 13 movies, won a Grammy four times, and recorded 105 albums, but for all of that, is still known as a person with a big heart who gives an annual Christmas party at his home in "Rinconcito en el Cielo" (or "A Rinconcito or corner or nook in the sky") located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.


Ramon Ayala is the victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, nothing more. He was arrested during a raid and while playing for what turned out to be a member of a drug cartel in Tepoztlan, Mexico.

Reportedly, for Ramon Ayala, as with most musicians, a gig is a gig. Ayala did not know his customers were drug runners.

Released for Medical Reasons

Ramon Ayala was released from prison due to undisclosed health problems, and returned to the United States.

Jim Edmonds traded from Brewers to Reds

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Jim Edmonds 

Jim Edmonds, considered trade material after turning 40 years old and even though he's turned in good numbers batting .286 and playing center field, was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 28-year old Chris Dickerson.

The Milwaukee Brewers get the younger Chris Dickerson and think he can contribute, even though he's missed much of the season due to hand injury.

Dickerson's "On-base Plus Slugging" or OPS percentage is .789 and was .853 in AAA ball; a rate over .900 is considered the range for elite players.

The Reds reportedly think Jim Edmonds's experience can help them more than Dickerson's athleticism.

Will Tron Legacy be the 2001: A Space Odyssey of the 21st Century?

Image via Wikipedia

Post the Comic-Con 2010 trailer introduction, and the sound that Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles said "shook his balls," Disney's Tron Legacy is rocking the Sci-Fi and fantasy world. Fans - the term "Fanboy" is banned in this space because it implies an immature group - are searching for and consuming any content related to the December 17th 2010-release of what looks to be a classic. And that raises this question: will Will Tron Legacy be the 2001: A Space Odyssey of the 21st Century?

2001: A Space Odyssey was not just the first movie to effectively give an idea of what it would be like to live and work in space, it was also a colorful, confusing mental trip. It was the focus of books and websites on its meaning and to this day commands the attention of a new generation of science fiction fans. The bet here is that the stylistic Tron could have almost the same impact, but not quite there.

The reason is where 2001: A Space Odyssey was grounded in a possible reality, Tron and Tron Legacy are part of a fantasy World that no one knows really exists at all. Who knows what it means to be digitized? Do you live? But even with that, Tron presents a World detailed enough for fans to want to learn more about.

While it may not reach the status of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tron Legacy will come close. That's the prediction here.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Rebecca Kaplan interview first take

Last week, Friday morning, Oakland Councilmember (At-Large) and Oakland Mayor's Race candidate Rebecca Kaplan met this video-blogger at an appropriately Oakland location, The Merritt Cafe and Bakery.

There, we were warmly greeted by Merritt Bakery Owner Charles Griffith, and sat down to a brunch of excellent chicken and waffles for Kaplan, and eggs, corned beef and hash for this video-blogger.

Image by spotreporting via Flickr

Rebecca Kaplan at The Oscar Grant Protest

This is not the full blog about the interview, but an introduction. Kaplan and I talked about the issue of earlier this year and got that out of the way off camera.

On camera, we talked about the impact of the Federal Court decision to declare Proposition 8 (or Prop 8) unconstitutional, Kaplan's take on Oakland's police cost problem, how the Oakland Mayor's Race was going for her, and how she would handle a range of issues if she was elected Mayor of Oakland.

Thus far, Oakland Mayor's Race competitors Don Macleay, Don Perata, Councilmember Jean Quan, Greg Harland, Terrance Candell, Joe Tuman (two inteviews; one has appeared) and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan have been interviewed on video for this space.  That's seven of the nine candidates with just Orlando Johnson and Larry Lionel Young Jr., a new comer, remaining.

But of all Oakland Mayor's Race candidates, only Terrance Candell and Larry Lionel Young Jr. have filed papers officially establishing his intention to run for Mayor of Oakland, according to The Oakland Tribune.  Why Councilmember's Kaplan and Quan failed to file early is a question, as is the case for the other candidates.  It sends a weak message of true interest in being Mayor of Oakland.

And on that note, Larry Lionel Young Jr. needs to get his campaign act together. Young has no search-visible website or blog post and other than newspaper mentions including (now) this space, and a YouTube-posted video of a home he's trying to sell where the video title mentions that he's running for mayor, has only issued a one-sheet a the last Oakland Mayor's Race candidates forum.

Larry Lionel Young Jr. must stop treating the run for Mayor of Oakland as an afterthought, and demonstrate some real interest in it by having some "online marker" about himself and how to contact him via email. Otherwise, the Internet void Young created for himself will be filled by someone else.

Stay tuned.

GSI Commerce losses become Internet news after Undercover Boss

Image via CrunchBase

GSI Commerce, a company you may have never heard of, has risen to the very top of Internet search trends because its boss appeared on the TV show Undercover Boss.

 The TV exposure revealed some unfortunate news. According to The Wall Street Journal, GSI Commerce, which develops develops and operates e-commerce sporting goods businesses for retailers and other organizations stock shares dropped 5.8 percent after news of its losses.

Before Monday's news, GSI Commerce enjoyed stock gains of 65 percent over the past year. But GSI Commerce also posted overall losses in seven of its nine last quarters. Most recently it lost $25 million or about 41 cents a share and that was up from a $13 million loss or 27 cents a year before.

But for all of this, why is the GSI news number one on Google Trends, and without any one region dominating the search? Because its boss went on the TV show Undercover Boss. GSI Commerce President Michael Rubin appeared on the show, then told Leader Telegram Review he now requires corporate managers to spend time at their call centers.

But will that stem GSI Commerce losses? Time will tell.

Naomi Campbell perjury? Blood Diamonds Charles Taylor by Suzannah B. Troy

The global world owes Naomi Campbell a great thank you for bringing awareness to the Charles Taylor, an ex-Dictator, oops I meant to say ex-President of Liberia , and alleged war criminal.   It takes a super model to do this even if it is for the wrong reasons and that is an understatement!

If it was not for Charles Taylor sending her a bag of "blood diamonds" most people would not know his name or even be aware of his monstrous acts.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_diamond.  I recommend you take a look at his Wikipedia page but it won't give you enough information on the "blood" aspect of these diamonds but informs you of the Hague taking the amorous Charles Taylor to court for crimes against humanity.  Naomi Campbell never imagined she would be a player in the actual trial and resisted testifying but unlike NYC, USA she couldn't wiggle her way out of this trial.  Too see video footage of Campbell testifying click here.

Leave it to NPR to get right to the heart of the war crimes where almost every article and Wiki page sounds light.

If you have gotten this far and not read the brilliant reporting by NPR you need to stop and read the article.   Zennie has an ad pop up and than you will read the most disturbing interview and a bit of optimism regarding the 1st African Woman President and she replaced Taylor.  Below click on super model and you will see Nelson Mandela with Taylor.  Please explain that photo op to me.


Not that a super model would let crimes against humanity get between her and diamonds and by the way after bragging to anyone who would listen, Naomi was very disappointed at the lack of size and beauty of these baubles but that is not her biggest problem.


Naomi Campbell's biggest problem is that she may have allegedly lied under oath about the diamonds and there is testimony by her former agent as well as Mia Farrow, a very talented actress and humanitarian.   Click on the link for Mia Farrow and you can read her testimony which is straightforward as in Campbell was well aware she was getting a gift of diamonds from Charles Taylor.

If it is proven Campbell perjured herself she is in BIG, BIG trouble, bigger than the Hope Diamond.   She is not in NYC anymore where the rich and connected can get away with almost everything and walk away...Yeah, I have to repeat this sentence because it just galls me.

Even driven by vanity and stupidity, Naomi Campbell has done good because if you were not aware of the monstrous Charles Taylor you are now and hopefully the Naomi Campbell name will make more people around the world aware of what his actual crimes against humanity are.

Campbell was not motivated to bring attention to the horrific abuses to African people by the ex-warlord Charles Taylor who is also said to have  help fund Al Qaeda but she did so she is owed a thank you in a way but she may find herself in the first really deep hole she might not be able to climb out of.

There are better ways to bring attention to the crimes against humanity in Africa and also help make a difference.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt flying to Nimba for Angelina to give birth to the beautiful Shiloh was a front line act. Angelina Jolie said to People Magazine, "We want to tell the world how magnificent this country and the people We love this part of the world."

Sounds like Naomi Campbell if she gets lucky will have a long term community service position to help Africa or she may be heading to jail for perjury. Are super models allowed to go to jail?

Google News now has Zennie62, but still plays news favorites

The great development is that as of August 5th, Zennie62 is on Google News and listed as a blog. This marks the culmination (you can almost hear that assistant coach from American Pie saying "culmination") of over a year of template testing, blogger recruiting, configuration changes,  new blogging techniques, and a whole new media organization, and it's fitting.

It's fitting because the same blog posts this blogger installs at SFGate.com, the website at the San Francisco Chronicle, start at Zennie62.com first. Yet, Google News would treat the SFGate.com version with index priority over the exact same blog version. That's just not right. Both should get the same Google News exposure. And so now that Zennie62.com is on Google News, you'd think that would be the case, right?

It's still not the case. If I post the same content, the SFGate.com version is posted over the Zennie62.com version. I have to make a new blog post about the same subject for both the SFGate.com blog post and the Zennie62.com blog post to appear in the listings. But that's not true for SFGate.com and Bloomberg News, and here's an example to prove it.

In checking the Zennie62.com Google News listing regarding Jodie Fisher and the Mark Hurd Sex Scandal, this blogger cyber stumbled over a dual listing: one post called "Ex-HP Contractor Fisher Says She's "Saddened" by Hurd's Exit" on SFGate.com and Bloomberg.com. What's more, both listings were right next to each other, San Francisco Chronicle over Bloomberg as you can see here:

And that's because SFGate.com and Bloomberg have a content partnership. But there's no "partnership notice" that a publisher must fill out for Google News; this duplicate happened because Google News still irrationally favors news sites over blogs.

The Google response is that an algorithm is responsible for this, but my counter is that the algorithm is a cyber-representation of someone's ideas.

That Zennie62.com is on Google News is a major milestone, but Google News still must replace the "big news website" prejudice that's displayed there from time to time.

Thanks,

Z

Jodie Fisher hires Tiger Woods Sex Scandal Lawyer Gloria Allred

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Actress and Event Planner Jodie Fisher hired famed Los Angeles Lawyer Gloria Alred to represent her in her sexual harassment claim against Mark Hurd. Now, from her history in the Tiger Woods Sex Scandal, where she represented two of Tiger Woods 12 or 14 mistresses, Allred's brought in when the woman who selected her is looking for some kind of payoff.

That's what happened in the case of Rachel Uchitel, the first Tiger Woods Mistress who some claim got as much as $10 million, and Veronica Siwik-Daniels, another alleged Tiger Woods mistress that Allred represented, who also sought monetary relief from Woods. Allred's involvement has this space wondering how much Jodie Fisher got from Mark Hurd in exchange for her silence and kind words about the now-former HP CEO?

All of that would depend on what happened to lead to this point in the lives of both Jodie Fisher and Mark Hurd. Here's the statement from Jodie Fisher and Tiger Woods Sex Scandal Lawyer Gloria Allred:

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Gloria Allred released the following statement from her client, Jodie Fisher, the former contractor who recently made a sexual harassment claim against former Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Mark Hurd:
"I was surprised and saddened that Mark Hurd lost his job over this. That was never my intention."
"Mark and I never had an affair or intimate sexual relationship. I first met Mark in 2007 when I interviewed for a contractor job at the company."
"At HP, I was under contract to work at high-level customer and executive summit events held around the country and abroad. I prepared for those events, worked very hard and enjoyed working for HP."
"I have resolved my claim with Mark privately, without litigation, and I do not intend to comment on it further."
"I wish Mark, his family and HP the best."
Ms. Allred added:
"My client is a single mom focused on raising her young son. She has a degree in Political Science from Texas Tech and was recently the vice president of a commercial real estate company. She formerly worked on the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. She has also been a successful salesperson for a Fortune 500 company and has been in various television shows and films, some of which were R-rated when she was in her 30's. Most recently, Jodie was one of the stars in an NBC television show called "Age of Love." Our office does not plan to have any further comment."
SOURCE Allred, Maroko & Goldberg

But if there was never sex, what was it to buy off Jodie Fisher? Mark Hurd clearly feels it was necessary to get involved with some kind of deal.

Or was it some kind of extortion attempt that Mark Hurd got on the wrong end of? Let's look at it this way: Hurd was paying for Jodie Fisher's silence about something that happened. What happened?

Perhaps Tiger Woods's experience is the key here.

Stay tuned.

Jodie Fisher costs Mark Hurd his job as HP CEO over fraud, sex scandal

Image via Wikipedia

It was Jodie Fisher from The Age of Love, not the Actress Jodie Foster.

On Friday, Mark Hurd lost his job as CEO of Hewlett Packard over allegations of fraud and a sex scandal involving a sexual harassment claim that an HP investigation revealed to be baseless. HP fired Hurd for falsifying documents to cover up his relationship with Fisher.

Now, after Mark Hurd lost his job and annual compensation that was as high as $42 million in 2009, it was revealed on Sunday that Actress Jodie Fisher, 50, was the woman at the center of the sex scandal claims.

According to The New York Daily News, Fisher says she's "sorry" Hurd lost his job over the issue, and that they never had sex.

Fisher said she knew Hurd via event organizing functions for HP, where she was paid $5,000 per event to greet and then introduce executives. Apparently, it wasn't enough because whatever the details behind her sexual harassment claim, Mark Hurd paid her off and for an undisclosed sum. So, now Fisher says there wasn't any sex involved and she's "sorry," but given the payoff from Mark Hurd and the paltry money she was making before, why should anyone believe her claims?

It's obvious there's more to this story than we know and the two people who really know the truth, Fisher and Hurd, aren't talking.

Taylor Swift : Mine song #1 on iTunes; can she top Fearless?

Cover of Fearless (2009 Edition)

One reason why Country and Pop Music Superstar Taylor Swift is so well-liked, seemingly teflon-coated, and perhaps why fans buy her songs, is that she's vulnerable, or at least has presented that in her public communications.  In the case of the early release of her new song "Mine," Taylor Swift blogged on MySpace that..

I landed in Japan and got 20 texts and looked at iTunes and got tears in my eyes. And so, we begin again. :)

Taylor Swift grows in power from Fearless

Taylor Swift is 2010's 12th most powerful celebrity from an earnings perspective, pulling down $45 million. That's up from 2009, when Swift earned "just" $18 million, and was the 69th most powerful celebrity. That level was earned because of the success, the overwhelming success of her second album Fearless.

Fearless placed Swift on a pedestal that's going to be hard to maintain. The album featuring this bloggers favorite, You Belong To Me, was at the top of the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks, and no song has been ranked number one more times since 2000.

Can "Mine" and her upcoming third album called "Speak Now", due for release October 25th, 2010, match the performance of Fearless?

If both do, Taylor Swift will prove she's got bankable star power that will last for years. No one can ever say she's a one-or-two hit wonder if that happened.

Taylor Swift : Mine song all over Internet

Taylor Swift via last.fm

Superstar singer Taylor Swift and her management company were forced to release her new single "Mine" 12 days earlier than planned and due to a bootlegged copy that made its way onto the Internet, according to Reuters.

The alleged act of Internet piracy forced Big Machine Records, the producer and distributor of music for Taylor Swift, to issue the following statement on its website:

Due to overwhelming fan demand, Taylor Swift’s lead single, “Mine,” from her upcoming album, SPEAK NOW (in stores Oct. 25), has been rush released to iTunes and to Country radio.

An unauthorized low-quality mp3 file of the single appeared online earlier today. As the low-quality file started to spread virally the decision was made to rush release “Mine" to iTunes and Country radio to ensure that Taylor’s fans were able to hear the single as she intended.

Within the first couple of hours of it's release to Country radio, “Mine," had already jumped into the Top 35 on Billboard’s Top Country Songs chart.

“Mine” is available here.

SPEAK NOW, Taylor’s third album, will be released on Big Machine Records and contains 14 tracks, all written solely by Taylor. Taylor co-produced the project with Nathan Chapman.

Starting on August 20th, SPEAK NOW will be available for special pre-sale on the site www.SpeakNow13.com

Taylor Swift's "Mine" a good song

So how does Taylor Swift's "Mine" sound? It's good, but not the best work she's done. It's not to the level of "You Belong With Me" on her album Fearless, but it's a good, easy listening tune.