Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity : another 99er opportunity to be heard

Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity may well be another golden 99er opportunity to be heard, and is sure to be a ton of fun.

Do you live in the NYC area, or can you get to NYC for a free bus ride to the rallies? If so, Huffington Post is offering free bus rides from NYC. Kian Fredrick of UWAG, who also organized 99er transportation from NYC to the One Nation rally, is also organizing 99er transportation to the Rally to Restore Sanity.

If you are a 99er and you want to join other 99ers for this rally, follow the directions below from Kian:
Next Rally in DC: Sat.,10/30: DEADLINE to sign up: This Friday, October 8.

1. Sign up for free buses from NYC to DC for 10/30 Jon Stewart “Restoring Sanity” Rally:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/03/huffpost-sanity-bus-offic_n_745313.html

*Please note: General sign-up at HuffPost is for a seat on a bus only; they make no distinction between who is/is not a 99er. You MUST sign up at HuffPost for a free seat on a bus. DEADLINE: THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8.

2. Let us know you are going so we can include you in the 99er group:
http://flashmobs4jobs.blogspot.com/p/10210-sign-up.html

*Please note: FlashMobs4Jobs sign up is NOT for a bus seat, but to be included in the 99er group and receive special information and instructions for 99ers only. Unless you also sign up at FlashMobs, the 99er group will have NO WAY of KNOWING you will be there. For the next few hours, the FlashMobs site may still say 10/2 Sign-up; we’ll be updating it very soon. Sign up anyway; it is time-stamped, so we’ll know which list to put you on.

You must sign up at BOTH sites to have a seat on a bus and to be included in the 99er-only group. All information is kept strictly confidential.

3. Please help to get this information out to any/all 99er social networking sites ASAP!

If anyone hears of buses from other parts of the country, please post that info on the FlashMobs Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FlashMobs4Jobs/140646149305185

I’ll also see if I can find info re: cheap places to stay in DC and post it there. Thanks, Kian.

As Kian states, “We must take advantage of any opportunity to spread the 99er word.”

Followers of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are likely advocates for the long-term unemployed and will be supportive of 99er efforts. Stephen Colbert is promoting his own Keep Fear Alive rally that will be held alongside the Rally to Restore Sanity.

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CNN Fired Rick Sanchez: Poll Favors Rick; Apology To Jon Stewart On Facebook

In the Zennie62.com / Pollsb poll, a near-clear majority, of 458 votes, 44.78 percent as of this writing, claim CNN should not have fired now-former CNN Anchor Rick Sanchez. This in the wake of Rick's firing for his comments calling Jon Stewart a bigot and saying that CNN was owned by Jews.

Here's the Zennie62 YouTube video:



And here's the poll:

create a free poll on pollsb.com

CNN immediately fired Sanchez last Friday, removing his website profile. Then CNN enlisted Howard Kurtz to talk badly about him on Kurtz' show, Reliable Sources.  A move this space called "Classless."

Also, Rick Sanchez has apologized to Jon Stewart via his wife's Facebook page (his Facebook page, used for his CNN shows, has been removed).

Still A Hot Issue

Rick Sanchez' firing is still a hot issue, and threatens to reach this blogger's 12 day time span for important Internet stories. Thursday, the day that Rick's comments surfaced one week ago, marks seven days. Tuesday of next week will be 12 days.

 According to Google Insight for Search, as of this writing, "Rick Sanchez" went from just below "20" in search intensity October 1st, to almost 100 by October 2nd, then dropped to 40 the next day, and gradually fell to 30 on Tuesday, October 5th. The prediction here is that by next Tuesday, Rick's name will return to it's "pre-scandal" levels of intensity.

Not Fueled By Television

All of this isn't fueled by television, but by the Internet. While the issue started with Rick being removed from a TV show, with the exception of Howard Kurtz' show, and ABC's The View's discussion on Monday, there's been little on television about the issue. But one weekend television program that invests 15 minutes of it's time to the matter of Rick Sanchez' CNN firing could boost the search numbers, yet again.

Stay tuned.

Oakland Pican / Grand Marnier / Zennie62 Female Bartender Event A Success, BUT!

The first Oakland All Female Bartender Competition at Pican and by Grand Marnier and Zennie62 was held Tuesday night, and by all accounts, was successful. Well, except for this blogger, who's Zennie62 name was given as a sponsor - online marketing work was provided - yet, from the impression I received, no one at the event knew that I sponsored it.

That even with the emails exchanged where I did agree to sponsor it, and also agreed to put up the Grand Manier logo on the blog posts.  Plus, I agreed to make a blog about the event and did so.

But for all this, didn't even get a bottle of Grand Marnier.

United 747 Flight Delayed

What was vexing was that my United 747 Flight 973 from Chicago was delayed over three hours, which hampered my plan to show up at 6:30 PM PDT, which was when the event started. Instead, the flight was delayed two hours, then we sat on the tarmac at the gate for another hour. I called and emailed Josh at Pican to explain I would be late; I guess he got the message.

At any rate, I arrived at Pican at 9:15 or so, and to find the Oakland All Female Bartender Competition was history. A duo from Luka's won, followed by Pican's Britt Peterson, and then I later learned a bartender from Era Art Bar. Great.

But what was not great was it seems my blog's name wasn't even mentioned during the event. Also, when I arrived, it was as if I was some Joe who walked in, and not the event sponsor. I had to pay for what I ordered; there was no dinner, as we agreed I would receive.

And Michael Le Blanc, the owner of Pican, didn't even bother to come over and thank me for my sponsorship. And when I mentioned this to him (uh, I had to walk over to him) he said thanks for "helping."

Helping. Helping.

Helping. Like I'm the bus boy or something.  

And Josh, who contacted me about the idea for the event,  just came over and gave me a pat on the shoulder.  

Nice.

So by the end of all of that crap, I wondered what the hell I was doing there. It would have been better to have just went home or even not to have tried to return on Tuesday. Everyone - Pican, Grand Marnier, the event participants - were helped. And now, Pican shows up in Google News searches because of this blog and my work. My sponsorship. What Michael Le Blanc calls "my help."

Sponsorship Is A Business

Folks, I'm not taking comments on this. Not interested in snarky responses from rude people who don't get that sponsorship is a business. Sponsorship is a business or person lending their name and efforts to help promote an event. For that, they expect their name to be mentioned, to get what's called "logo exposure," and to have special treatment as the sponsor. That's business.

The only logo and name exposure, it seems, was what this blogger generated on his own. That's it. I'm really unhappy with Pican Restaurant. Moreover, I'm even more unhappy that the people I was around who I thought were my friends, but turned out to be anything but that.

I'm glad the event went well, but that's not how it was supposed to go for this sponsor.

Tired Of Rude People In Oakland

Maybe this experience is related to the overall epidemic of rudeness that's plaguing Oakland. People doing things to you without regard for your opinion or permission. Like the guy at the bar The Layover, who, even though I'm standing up over my chair with my cocktail on the bar in front of it, walks over and tries to sit down in the chair as if I'm not even there!

I asked him what he was doing and explained that he was being rude. He said "Well, you weren't sitting in the chair." And it never entered his head to ask if he could sit down!

Or how about the woman on the right, who decided to start talking past me to the guy on the left, without saying excuse me and as if I wasn't there. I pointed out that she was being rude as well.

Or how about the really ass-hole people who insist on walking over from your left to pass you on the right, even if you happen to be next to a wall, only to have no explanation for what they did when asked. (Note: stay on your right, and leave me alone!)

In all cases, people are just thinking about themselves without regard for anyone else, in this case me.

Just like at Pican. No one thought about anything other than themselves, and certainly not me. Maybe now, they will. It seems people only pay attention to bloggers when the blogger is upset, never when the blogger does something good for them.

Sad.

Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded to 3 professors By Nikky Raney

Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES/AP

CNN reports that the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to three professors Richard Heck of the University of Delaware (USA), Ei-Ichi Negishi of Purdue University (USA) and Akira Suzuki of Hokkaido University (JAPAN).

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the three received this award after the creation of a tool called a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling, which was created in order to make carbon-carbon bonds in organic chemistry.

Organic chemistry is also known as carbon-based chemistry which all revolves around the basis of life such as poison in snakes, color in flowers, penicillin, etc.

The Nobel Committee told CNN that organic chemistry has allowed humans to build on nature's chemistry and create "revolutionary" materials.

Negeshi has been trying to create this for over 50 years and told reporters that a dream amongst the professors is to be able to synthesize any organic compounds of importance in order to create bigger and better things.

The Telegraph online explains that thanks to the creation of the palladium-catalysed cross-coupling scientists and researchers will be able to artificially produce a substance that is naturally found in sea sponges that is an aide used to fight cancer cells.


The three laureates all worked independently and will equally share the prize which is worth $1.47 million.

Facebook status promotes breast cancer awareness By Nikky Raney

Courtesy of NY Daily News

Many Facebook users may be puzzled when seeing how many of their Facebook friends have a status saying: "I like it on the floor." (or "I like it on *BLANK*")

Along with the many Facebook statuses saying, "I like it on the floor," there are almost as many which ask, "Why does everyone's status say 'I like it on the floor?'"

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - this viral Facebook status trend is meant to raise awareness of breast cancer. Although "I like it on the floor" may seem to be leading to something sexual, but really it is referring to a purse or handbag according to a blog from  The Washington Post.

There have been many types of breast cancer awareness campaigns that have been questionable (like the ads with the body paint), but this one seems to be more tame than "Save the Tatas."

Time Magazine online explains how unusual this method to raise awareness truly is comparing this status to the one that had gone viral last year:

Remember last year's Facebook campaign where all of your lady friends suddenly had status updates like “Black,” “Red,” or “Polka dots” and no one had any clue what was up? Oh, but then word got around that the updates were the bra colors of choice and the updates were meant to peak interest of those left out of the joke (read: males) in order to raise awareness about breast cancer. Um, ok?

The appeal of posting the status is that it will confuse those who don't already know what it is referring to - which will cause the person to get educated in order to figure out why these statuses are being posted. Clever.

Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin Claimed Psychiatric Disabilities In 2003

According to official documents sent to this blogger by an unknown source, and making for a shocking turn of events, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin claimed she was suffering from "serious psychiatric disabilities, which limited her ability to earn a living wage," and that inhibited her ability to find gainful employment for a time.

The documents make up a filing for bankruptcy to avoid paying nearly $100,000 in delinquent student loans. Document letter "B" reads:

- Beginning in the mid-1970s, Plaintiff began to suffer from serious psychiatric disabilities, which limited her ability to earn a living wage. (Item 10, Page 3)
- During our about 1994, Plaintiff received Social Security Permanent Disability Award, and has been receiving Social Security Disability Funds since that time. (Item 11, Page 3)
- Plaintiff finally received her Bachelors degree, but was unable to complete her Masters degree due to her severe condition. (Item 12, Page 3)
- Plaintiff was hospitalized for her condition on two occasions in 1999. (Item 13, Page 3)

The next blog post will include the actual documents with the above information. The findings raise questions. Why is this coming out now? Why did Mayor McLaughlin fail to disclose this information during her campaign? Is the fact that she's served as Mayor of Richmond proof that she may have been inflating her claims to avoid paying a large debt?

Interviewed Mayor In 2009

This video blogger interviewed Mayor McLaughlin in 2009:



Stay tuned.

99ers growing restless - struggle to be heard by deaf Congress & President

With Congress on yet another 6 week vacation, their second such in as many months, the long term unemployed 99ers continue to fight on for their very survival.

The fact that Congress nor President Obama is willing to address this humanitarian crisis prior to the election, may indeed be what costs the Democrats their majorities in the House and Senate this November.

The 99ers have been calling for Obama to hold a virtual town hall meeting addressing them and this issue specifically, but Washington does not appear to be listening. So much for Healthcare being the President’s “Waterloo.”

The economy in it’s current state has many voters feeling apathetic at best and there is little time left for the Democrats to ‘rally the troops.’ The one Nation rally held last Saturday was a good start, but will those who attended really make more of a difference at the polls than millions of 99ers who are decidedly too angry to help the Democrats at all?

Consider for a moment what is at stake: a return to the failed Bush policies, 2 more wasted years of no help for those fallen on hard times, Social Security & Medicare at great risk, the undoing of nearly everything accomplished in the past 2 Congressional sessions and the possible wasted time and effort in impeaching a President that has committed no impeachable offense. What a waste and doesn’t Congress waste enough time already?

Even if one must hold their nose in order to vote for a Democrat this year, it may well be preferable to the other alternative. Republicans will likely not vote in any unemployment relief whatsoever. Do you really want to risk the only chance there is to get the help millions of Americans desperately need? This is a question everyone needs to ask themselves and the answer is deeply personal to every voter.

With the anger over the failed Tier 5 bill last month and the untenable situation many unemployed Americans find themselves in, this election could very well be about the failures of the present, rather than the hope for the future. Only not voting at all may well result in no future at all for a multitude of Americans, hurting so bad in this economic crisis.

It took President Bush and the failed policies of the last administration 8 years to create the huge mess we are in today. Is it really asking too much to allow the new administration at least 4 years to make a dent in pulling America out of the ditch?

The NOVO movement has been erroneously reported as consisting of less than a few hundred people. The San Diego Unemployment Examiner knows this not to be true. When the NOVO movement was announced, it was as a result of months of NOVO commentary observed on the blogs, Facebook and other social media. It would seem that a great many Americans, not just the 99ers, are quite vocal about punishing the party in power for failing to pass a Tier 5 after 8 months of fighting for such. Never underestimate the power of anger in the American electorate.

It certainly does not help the Democrats that the President and Vice President seem to discount the troubles of millions of hurting Americans with their statements to “buck up and stop whining.” Talk about rubbing salt in an open wound. Really Mr. President? Really Mr. Biden? Whining is basically the term used for those who complain with little or nothing to complain about. Desperate cries for help are a different story entirely.

What really needs to be done is for the Democrats to stop whining and actually get some work done for those Americans who need it most, those who cannot wait until after the election.

The 99er Nation for the most part has been without any UI lifeline for 8 months and that is after trying to survive 99 weeks on what little UI pays. They have nothing left to sell to avoid becoming homeless. 99ers cannot wait to see if Democrats keep their majorities in Congress before getting help. They need HELP NOW!

It would take some real leadership for Stabenow (now on vacation) to amend S3706 to first include ALL STATES and be paid for with unused stimulus money, to avoid Republican arguments over adding to the deficit. Then Obama should openly demand (as much as any President can) the Congress reconvene for passage of the Tier 5 bill, as amended before the election.

Two possible scenarios could come from this plan:

1) The bill is passed and signed into law, thus saving millions from hunger, homelessness and suicide - preserving a Democratic win in November

2) The bill, with funding no party could say adds to the deficit, is defeated by the Republicans, thus blowing their cover and resulting in a Republican bloodbath at the polls in November.

Without this pre-election intervention, a Democrat victory in November becomes a crapshoot at best.

Michael Vick Injury - Vick Out 1 To 2 Weeks?

Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick sustained a nasty injury as a result of a "double hit" in the game against the Washington Redskins last Sunday. Vick damaged his ribs after being hit on both shoulders at the same time while diving for the end zone. He was effectively sandwiched on the play.

Now, Vick reportedly may miss 1 to 2 weeks according to NFL.com. While that leaves the starting job to Kevin Kolb, it's not clear that Kolb can cause the team to win.

As of this writing before the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Kolb has thrown 45 times, completing 27 for 225 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception. His passer rating is 71.1.

Vick's performance is giant steps ahead of Kolb's in 2010 to this writing. Vick's 59 of 96 for 799 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions for a passer rating of 108.8.

Chelsea Handler and 50 Cent Hook Up In New Orleans

TMZ.com (once again) gets the story. This time of Chelsea Handler and 50 Cent hooking-up in New Orleans.

But does Chelsea Handler like the black men, or what? That's all Chelsea talks about! Not that this black guy's complaining; it's just funny.   Hey, she's hot.

Handler jokes about how brothers check out her ass (in fact, this was a skit when she hosted the MTV VMAs), and hit on her.

But you know what they say: the person who talks in playful protest really enjoys the attention.

Back to 50.

According to TMZ, Chelsea Handler and 50 cent were seen getting hot and heavy at the Blue Nile jazz bar in New Orleans.

And what about Handler's boyfriend?

Stay tuned.

Sadly, 12 Seconds Goes Dark October 22nd - Twitter App?

The micro video blog site 12 Seconds is going dark October 22nd. As one of the first to use 12 Seconds, then basically stopped, that's sad.

But the reason 12 Seconds failed from this perspective is 12 seconds is not enough time to make a video that says anything.

 The problem is once you've got the words out of your mouth you're done. Thus, what comes out is half of what you want to say, and you have to start all over again. That, at least, was my experience.

The idea is that 12 Seconds was supposed to be a Twitter app. Why? The use in this space was as a stand-alone system. Twitter was an amplifier, yes, but the idea of 12 Second should have been as an internal YouTube style network.

But the bottom line is 12 Seconds should have been 30 Seconds.

Here's what Sol Lipman, 12 Seconds Founder, blogged on the site:

Dear 12ers,

Nearly 3 years ago, David Beach and I decided to grab a beer at a local pub and talk about startup ideas. I told him a dumb idea and he told me about one called 10seconds. I said, "we should do that one." He said, "okay." And that was it. That is until we figured out that 10seconds.tv was already taken. 12seconds sounded pretty good to us too.

We set out on a journey that would take on a wild ride of ups and downs. We experienced birth, death and (Beach) even battled cancer.

Today we are announcing the end of 12seconds.

Why? As you probably know, everything has a life cycle. 12seconds is in its twilight. After all the new product launches and attempts at a revenue model, fundraising with VCs and late night coding sessions with Jacob hunched over his monitors - it's time to call it. It is time to end 12seconds.

However, if 12seconds had a bucket list it would have filled it up with amazing life experiences! We launched an innovative micro-vlogging system, built crazy mobile apps, created revenue with legit sponsors, we were nominated for awards and had the best users on the Internet - our beloved 12ers.

12seconds is not a failure - it is a life well-lived. It really is about the journey. I know this because I'm at the destination.

You're thinking, "holy crap I made like 1000 12second videos, what do I do?" Later this week, we're going to release a download tool for you to capture those moments in time. It will be available until we pull the plug - on October 22nd.

If you have any questions or want to say goodbye, feel free to click here (goodbye@12seconds.tv) to wish us all well.

There were a lot of team members and users who made 12seconds an incredible experience. I can't possibly list them all here but you know who you are. Finally, to my co-founders Beach and Jacob - I love you guys.

Sol Lipman
Founder

12 Seconds RIP.

Tim Lincecum "F- YEAH" On Video : SF Giants Beat Padres, Win NL West

SF Giants Cy Young Pitcher Tim Lincecum can be forgiven for getting off this F-bomb after the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 3-0.

Interviewed on Comcast SportsNet California, he could not help just saying what anyone would in the wake of doing something Giants fans thought was gone with the Barry Bonds era: winning the NL West and getting to the MLB Playoffs.

Here's the video;



The Giants play the Atlanta Braves this Thursday at AT&T Park at 6:30 PDT.

F-Yeah!  GO GIANTS.  Kind of torn as this blogger routinely travels between San Francisco and Atlanta.