Chilean Miners Rescue Op Called "Operation San Lorenzo"

Chilean Miners on video (CNN)

33 Chilean Miners, who have been trapped for 25 days and 2,258 feet below the ground in Copiapo, Chile, will be rescued as part of a plan called "Operation San Lorenzo."

The miners, who reportedly almost escaped being trapped in the mine itself as it collapsed, were discovered alive, and surviving via stretching a 48-hour food ration over a 20-day period.

Now, the miners are receiving food, supplies and communications equipment via three holes bored down to the area they're trapped in. Their first request? To Send toothbrushes.

The miners aren't all in one space; they sleep in various parts of the mine. A tunnel some distance away reportedly serves as their toilet.



Operation San Lorenzo Ambitious and Risky

"Operation San Lorenzo" involves using giant drills, one called The Strata 950 and the other the T-130 to bore through the rock. It's estimated that it will take four months to create a full hole. Engineers are reportedly examining how the hole can be expanded in such a way as to get the men out of there.

Stay tuned.

Beck admits he lied to the rally August 28th: it was easier than telling the truth.

As Steve Krakauer of Mediaite explains, Keith Olberman caught Glenn Beck's "white lie" told to the crowd at the August 28th rally:

...he didn’t actually hold George Washington’s first inaugural address. He just had it held in front of him.

Beck's discussion on his show, admitting the lie, seeks to make light of it because the full explanation is "clumsy" in a speech. So, he says, "They caught me."  He recounted a trip to the Archives, but...

"...you can’t touch them..."

Glenn Beck

Keith Olbermann caught him telling a lie. He wants people to laugh it off; Beck says it's no big deal in his quasi-retraction, the equivalent of artistic license.

At a certain level, Beck's doubters are unsurprised by the irony that he'd stoop to fabrication to maintain his credibility with his audience. The problem remains that Beck followers are unlikely to even hear the correction, let alone to believe it if and when they do. We'd all like to think that presented with a truth, logic will dictate what most people believe - but Beck's realized that oldest truth: that a lie can run around the world while the truth is still getting its shoes on.

"Tell the truth," Glenn Beck exhorted the crowd on the National Mall, "and then expect it from others." But not, for heaven's sake, from a Fox Network entertainer in pursuit of ratings. But he probably did at least go to see the Archives building, I suppose. He wouldn't lie about that, would he?

Thomas Hayes is a political strategist, entrepreneur, and journalist currently working for the Madore for Congress campaign in Minnesota's Second Congressional District. He contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Cal 52, UC Davis 3: Keenan Allen For The Heisman

Keenan Allen in High School 

When Cal Football Assistant Coach Tosh Lupoi convinced North Carolina and America's best high school defensive back Keenan Allen to commit to UC Berkeley rather than Alabama, no one had any idea that Allen would wind up on the other side of the ball at Cal, except perhaps Head Coach Jeff Tedford.

Now, Keenan Allen may be the best college freshman wide receiver in the nation.

With his 158 of the 517 yards of total offense Cal amassed against UC Davis in a 52 to 3 win Saturday in Berkeley, Keenan Allen should be marketed as a candidate for The Heisman Trophy. So, let's get the ball rolling (excuse the pun) now. It would make the second straight year Cal had a real, live Heisman candidate, with Cal starting the 2009 Season by touting Running Back Jahvid Best for the award.

If you missed Keenan Allen's amazing 48-yard touchdown, here it is:



And unless you think wide receivers can't win the Heisman, here's two names: Desmond Howard and Tim Brown.

OK, so it's just one game. But this blogger's counting on Cal Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig to design the right plays to make it happen.

It's on you, Andy; please, don't wide-receiver-screen him to death, deal?  (More on this, later.)

Cal's Keenan Allen For The Heisman.   You saw it here, first.

Cal Football vs. UC Davis: Cal 42, UC Davis 3 , 3rd

Either because of the weather or because of UC Davis there is a packed house for Cal vs. UC Davis.   Cal is ahead 42 to 3 with a lot more game to go.

Really, Cal should be happy UC Davis is playing a pro offense.  The Aggies are really well suited for a spread option system and could show better against Cal.

The main problem for UC Davis is Cal's Team Speed.  Yep. In caps. 

Lovely day in Berkeley

On The Way To Cal Football vs UC Davis

The Cal game started.  This blogger got a late start and all to see Notre Dame vs Purdue.  ND was leading 7 to zip.

Florida beat Miami of Ohio but 34 to 12.  That is good for Miami.   Florida should be concerned.

This is mobile blogging from a taxi cab in Oakland.

Stay tuned.

College Football Weekend One: Cal, Stanford, Notre Dame, Penn State

Today marks the first day of the 2010 College Football Season. Locally here, in what must be called the "stomper" games, at 1 PM, the Cal Golden Bears take on The UC Davis Aggies at Cal Memorial Stadium, and Stanford Cardinal meets the Sacramento State Hornets at Stanford Stadium.

Dangerous matchup, because if either UC Davis or Sacramento State wins, or does well, it's going to be embarrassing for Cal or Stanford.

Penn State Beats Youngstown State

Meanwhile, in their own stomper game, Penn State beat Youngstown State 44 to 14. The game marked the first start for Penn State Freshman Quarterback Robert Bolden. State College News reports that Bolden did well:

He looked comfortable in the pocket and connected with his targets quickly and accurately. He threw 29 passes for 20 completions, 240 yards, two TDs and and an interception before Kevin Newsome replaced him in the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame v. Purdue

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on The Purdue Boilermakers at 3:30 PM ET. The game marks the first one for new Head Coach Brian Kelly and his innovative hybrid-spread offense.

Watch for live blogs from the Cal game here! GO BEARS!

Robert Schimmel Dead: Facebook Page For Schimmel Turns Memorial

Robert Schimmel

Long-time Comedian And Howard Stern Show Star Robert Schimmel is dead. As reported at Zennie62.com, Robert Schimmel, long famed for his X-rated and controversial humor - died of complications from a car accident he was in with his daughter and son four days ago. He checked himself into a hospital Friday, where he passed away.

Robert Schimmel is survived by his ex-wife Melissa Schimmel and his son and daughter.

Special blessings for his daughter, who was driving the car that was in the accident that caused his injuries. She really must be going through a hard time.

Robert Schimmel On Facebook

Robert Schimmel's Facebook page has turned into a memorial. Fans and friends can leave messages here: Robert Schimmel's Facebook page.

Robert Schimmel Dead: Howard Stern Show Regular Dies After Car Accident

Robert Schimmel

Howard Stern Show regular and Comedian Robert Schimmel is in the hospital and in critical condition after injuries from a car accident. Now, just 7 minutes ago, it was confirmed that he's dead.

Schimmel was reportedly traveling in Arizona with his son and daughter. Robert's daughter was trying to avoid one accident in the lane she was driving in, but caused her own car to roll over in the process.

The 60-year-old entertainer had overcame cancer and was waiting for a liver to complete a transplant operation to combat cirrhosis.

Schimmel An Amazing Talent

TheComicsComic.con reports:

Schimmel's big break came through Rodney Dangerfield's young comedians special for HBO in 1988, Nothin' Goes Right, in which he shared a bill with a soon-to-be murderers row lineup of Bill Hicks, Andrew Dice Clay, Lenny Clarke, Dom Irrera, Carol Leifer and Barry Sobel. Here's the clip from that appearance (language, obviously, is NSFW):

TheComicsComic.com has posted a great memorial to Robert Schimmel, that's worth a read.

This is sad news for The Howard Stern Show as it marks the second time in less than a year that a comedian who was a regular on the show has faced altering events. The last time was Artie Lange who tried to commit suicide in January.

More on this unfortunate news soon.

Jan Brewer Debate Gaffe Shows Brewer Is Not Executive Material

To say that Arizona Republican Governor Janet Brewer blew it in her debate performance is an understatement. By now you know Brewer totally flubbed her opening statement in her debate against Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, but in case you don't the video is an introduction to her.

This space has been extremely critical of Governor Brewer and suspected that she was far too impatient because she was not a quick study and so-fueled by a dangerous mix of racism and power-lust that she was not executive material.

it would be easy to cause her to make a misstep in a discussion. But to this degree was unexpected.

What obviously happened is that Governor Brewer forgot her talking points, and could not come up with an original thought. Arizona has her as Governor?

Governor Brewer was, in part, the focus of my video on Arizona's Illegal Immigration Law:



Arizona can right this amazing wrong of a Governor by voting for Terry Goddard in November.

Stay tuned.

CNN News On YouTube at Zennie62.com

Now, you can get up to the minute videos posted by CNN News on YouTube at Zennie62.com.

In seeking a way to add a news information widget that was informative, entertaining, respected, and space saving, WidgetBox, which produces the Zennie Abraham Widget (currently at 426 installs), once again provided the basis for a novel approach. The CNN News video widget.

The CNN News video widget was created specifically for the Zennie62.com blog. It's located in the upper left area of the blog and just above the pages section. Visitors can now see three kinds of videos: Zennie62 on YouTube videos on news, videos, and pop-culture, videos installed for blog posts by Zennie Abraham or Zennie62.com bloggers, and CNN News videos.

What's great about CNN News is that it's an established brand that's well-respected and frankly without the hyper conservative-cut that's come to dominate cable news. While I have been critical of specific CNN shows and some contributors for being racist, the basic respect for the CNN brand has never wavered.  I will continue to push my friends at CNN in the future.

CNN iReport Relationship

As the CNN iReport Initiative is a favorite of this space, and this blogger has been on CNN nationally several times, it was only right to include CNN in this major addition to the Zennie62.com blog.



CNN News is an established name that signals international news coverage - just what we want for the changes coming to Zennie62.com. We welcome CNN News to Zennie62.com, as our effort to expand beyond just me, Zennie Abraham, continues to move forward.

Harold Ford Jr., A Democrat, Pumps GOP's Sarah Palin For President

Harold Ford Jr. 

This space never has had anything negative to blog about Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. until today. His statement about Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was so grating the television set was turned off.

Ford said that Palin was going to run for President and that she was "formidable." That was when this space wondered if Ford was being paid by a Republican operative.

Sarah Palin has so many errors and mistakes that will be tossed back at her in the middle of a presidential campaign it would be embarrassing. Ford saying she was "formidable" just gives hope to her foolish faithful. There's not much more to say there.

But there is more to say about Ford claiming he's a Democrat but, and beyond Sarah Palin, sounding like he's a Republican when on NBC's Morning Joe. Instead of talking about what's wrong with Republicans and The Tea Party, he goes all Fox News on us and talks about what's right with Republicans.

Now I know Ford's trying to get paid by someone with the GOP. The best move for Ford is to get out of the Democratic Party.

USC Football: Lake Kiffin A Twitter Trend After 49 36 Win Over Hawaii

Lane Kiffin

USC Football started the first lost season after its NCAA Football punishment of a season where they can't go to a bowl game (here's why) with a win: 49 to 36 over Hawaii. For USC Head Coach Lane Kiffin it could not have been fun to sit through.

Not only did Coach Kiffin's team give up 588 yards to Hawaii, but it showed how the book this space presented on beating USC works in practice. Oh, and because of that and a lot of things, including that the game was on ESPN nationally, Lane Kiffin's a Twitter Trend this morning.

USC Is In Trouble

In the past, USC would not have allowed a team like the Hawaii Warriors to run up 588 yards of total offense, because their defensive pass rush would have been enough to stuff their passing game. But the talent spread is so wide in college football today, and the Internet-fuled trading of ideas for game plans so constant, USC will suffer.

Given that USC has a new scheme under Kiffin, and Hawaii an established one, USC should have had a larger win margin. But what happened is this: the way to beat USC is to spread their defense and throw, short mostly, and often. Hawaii used an offense that had elements of the Piedmont High School A-11, and spread systems, with the Run-And-Shoot, and frustrated the USC's Defense.

Here's the bad news: that's not the only time USC will see that approach all year long. The only way the Trojans can expect to win is to outscore their opponent and have Quarterback Matt Barkley throw five touchdowns a game as he did last night; the USC Defense, unless Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin falls in love with Zone Blitzing, is going to be gassed at the end of every game.

Lane Kiffin Is Hated Man; Not Here

Because of his actions with the Oakland Raiders and The Tennessee Volunteers, Lane Kiffin is described on Twitter as the most hated man in college football. Not here.

I have to profess that I enjoy watching Lane Kiffin's offense at USC and how his thinking has evolved. He's demonstrated a great fluidity in his use of formations, like the outpost-and-settlement formation he used to get a sure two-point conversion last night. There will be more about his offense in this space as the season rolls on.

But this just in: USC will not beat Cal.