Leah Doherty, the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee, held a press conference today to say that tickets are available for the Thursday August 28th event where Senator Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party's nomination for President of The United States.
For more information, read the account at DemConWatchBlog, and go here >> BarackObama.com to sign up.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Obama Invesco Field Speech Tickets Now Available At BarackObama.com
Gopalan Nair Blogging Truth About Singapore Judge; Stands Trial
Gopalan Nair, a lawyer who was a citizen of Singapore and is now a U.S. National, is standing trial for blogging the truth about two Singapore judges...
Nair should have done it in the U.S., but I think we need to force Singapore to relax their laws just by blogging about whatever's going on over there. Nair should be left alone. Seems the judges were acting in a way not consistent with best practices anyway.
Nair faces two charges of insulting judges on his blog. Each charge carries a jail term of up to one year, a 5,000 Singapore dollar fine (3,676 US) or both.
In the first charge, he is accused of insulting Justice Belinda Ang, who presided over a defamation case where Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong testified against the leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
Nair, 58, alleged that Ang was "prostituting herself during the entire proceedings by being nothing more than an employee of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his son and carrying out their orders," a court document said.
In the second charge, Nair is alleged to have sent an e-mail to Supreme Court Justice Lai Siu Chiu in 2006 saying he has "no shame" and that judges "are selling their souls and their conscience for money," according to a court document.
Nair should have done it in the U.S., but I think we need to force Singapore to relax their laws just by blogging about whatever's going on over there. Nair should be left alone. Seems the judges were acting in a way not consistent with best practices anyway.
The Dark Knight Reaches $400 Million In Just 18 Days
The amazing run of the movie The Dark Knight continues. According to Nikke Finke,..
So The Dark Knight posts still another best-ever. Media By Numbers is reporting that early estimates show Warner Bros' latest Batman installment crossing the $400,031,000 domestic gross milestone yesterday after only 18 days in release. This beats 2004's Shrek 2 and its 43-day sprint to $400 million. Final figures today.
Brett Favre To Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NFL Network
Brett Favre To Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NFL Network
According to NFL Network, there's a good chance that Green Bay Packers quarterback Bret Farve is going to be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within 24 hours. So Mark September 28th, 2008 as a day for the Bret Farve Day Against Green Bay. What a story, especially if he wins and wins big.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Commission On Presidential Debates Has Set Three Debates
The Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization intrusted with the task of setting the format, venue, and dates of the Presidential Debates, annouced that there would be three debates. This is what they reported:
November 19, 2007
Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the non-partisan, non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates ("CPD" or "the Commission") today announced dates, sites and formats of three presidential and one vice presidential debates for the 2008 general election. The dates and sites are:
First presidential debate:
Friday, September 26
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Second presidential debate:
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Third presidential debate:
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
The two backup sites are Centre College in Danville, KY and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
The Commission also announced formats for the debates.
All debates will be ninety minutes in length and start at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Each debate will be administered by a single moderator.
The first presidential debate will focus on domestic policy; the third presidential debate will focus on foreign policy.
The second presidential (town meeting format) debate will include any issues raised by members of that audience, and the vice presidential debate will include domestic and foreign policy.
In each debate except the town meeting format, the candidates will be seated at a table with the moderator.
Kirk and Fahrenkopf introduced two format features different from CPD formats of the past. The first change will be incorporated in the first and third presidential debates as well as the vice-presidential debate.
Each of those debates will be divided into 8 ten-minute issue segments; the moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates, for the balance of that segment. Time will be reserved for closing statements by each of the candidates in each debate.
Kirk and Fahrenkopf noted that this change is aimed at increasing the educational value of the general election debates. "Our mission is to promote voter education. The public deserves to hear and see the candidates offer and defend their positions on the critical issues facing our country in the most thoughtful and in-depth manner that television time constraints will allow. Loosening the constraints within the ninety minutes debate will allow for more serious examination of complicated questions. This change will also open the possibility of the moderator inviting candidates to question each other. We want voters to benefit from as full an explanation of a topic as possible, and we feel certain that the candidates will welcome this change for the same reason."
The second departure from past CPD formats will be the introduction of internet access to the presidential town meeting debate. Questions solicited by Internet will be included with those from citizens on the stage with the candidates.
Kirk and Fahrenkopf said: "The Commission believes that by including questions from Internet participants, we will enhance and expand the effectiveness of the town meeting debate. This technique has been employed in different ways during many of the primary debates. We will continue to learn from its use in the primary season, and we intend to consult with experts in information technology who can help us integrate it into a general election town meeting in a manner consistent with our non-partisan charter."
The Commission also released the 2008 Candidate Selection Criteria which will be used to determine who is invited to participate in the general election debates. In addition to being constitutionally eligible, candidates must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority vote of the electoral college, and have 15% support in national polls before the debates.
The Gallup Organization will advise the CPD in the application of its criteria to polling data as it did in 2000 and 2004. View the 2008 Candidate Selection Criteria.
The co-chairmen noted that moderators for the four debates would be chosen in the summer of 2008.
The CPD was established in 1987 and sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004.
John McCain, Cindy McCain, Miss Buffalo Chip T-Shirt
As you may know, Senator John McCain made headline today because he suggested that his wife try out to be "Miss Buffalo Chip" before 50,000 bikers at the Sturgis Biker Rally in South Dakota. Here's my video take on it:
I read somewhere that McCain didn't know "Miss Buffalo Chip" was a topless contest, but this photo shows that it's possible both he and Cindy saw the t-shirt at the right, which features a topless woman. This was taken before his speech and the gaffe, so even if both of them knew it, I don't think Cindy had any idea Senator McCain was going to offer her as a crowd-pleasing contestant. The author of the blog "DoubleTalk Express" asks if McCain is sexist? Ya think?
McCain "The One" Ad Focus Of Controversy, Petition
A group called "Matthew25" after a bible verse, is not happy with the "White Christian Male" John McCain. Here's why:
This is the video:
This is the text of the petition:
As Christians, we are deeply troubled by the John McCain campaign's latest ad entitled "The One.” This ad, which was released on the web last Friday, portrays Senator Obama as some kind of would-be Messiah and implies that those who support him are cultish followers looking for a new Savior.
Even more troubling, many view the ad as a dark attempt to portray Senator Obama as an anti-Christ figure. View the ad here.
This is the video:
This is the text of the petition:
Senator McCain,
As fellow Christians, we are deeply troubled by your campaign's latest ad entitled "The One,” which portrays Senator Obama as some kind of would-be Messiah and implies that those who support him are cultish followers looking for a new Savior.
We find it beyond offensive for you to piece together out-of-context video snippets to suggest that Senator Obama is a false Messiah or the anti-Christ, especially in light of Senator Obama’s open and humble confession of Christian faith.
Instead of seeking to inspire false fears, we would prefer you speak more positively about how your own faith would guide you in leading this country.
We trust that this desperate and insulting campaign tactic is not an indication of your true character, and we call on you to repudiate this ad and take it down immediately.
Sincerely,
John McCain Protects White Male Power Structure & Miss Buffalo Chip
Senator and GOP Presidential Candidate John McCain appeared on Bill O'Reilly's show and let O'Reilly do the talking, and then agreed with him. This is what was said:
Bill O'Reilly: But do you understand what the New York Times wants, and the far-left want? They want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, which you're a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have. In that regard, Pat Buchanan is right. So I say you've got to cap with ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif number.
John McCain: In America today we've got a very strong economy and low unemployment, so we need addition farm workers, including by the way agriculture, but there may come a time where we have an economic downturn, and we don't need so many.
[crosstalk]
O'Reilly: But in this bill, you guys have got to cap it. Because estimation is 12 million, there may be 20 [million]. You don't know, I don't know. We've got to cap it.
McCain: We do, we do. I agree with you.
Geez...
Then,on August 4th, my birthday, John McCain stuck his foot in his mouth again. You're not going to believe this, but Senator John McCain, speaking at the annual biker convention the Sturgis Bike Rally said
"I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete," McCain said to cheers from the (mostly male) crowd. "With a little luck, she could be on the only woman ever to serve as both the first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip."
CNN's Wolf Blizer Not Showing McCain "Miss Buffalo Chip" Comment
I'm watching CNN's the Situation Room, and Wolf Blitzer's showing John McCain's speech before the Sturgis Biker event, but not the part where he offers his wife as a contestant in the "Miss Buffalo Chip" contest. That's the real news and they're covering for John McCain. That's totally wrong!
John McCain Offers Wife For "Miss Buffalo Chip" Topless Beauty Contest
John McCain Offers Wife For "Miss Buffalo Chip" Topless Beauty Contest
(No, that's not her)
You're not going to believe this, but Senator John McCain, speaking at the annual biker convention the Sturgis Bike Rally said
“I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete,” McCain said to cheers from the (mostly male) crowd. “With a little luck, she could be on the only woman ever to serve as both the first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip.”
You don't believe it? See this video; it's all there:
What is so troubling is that this is the first time in my life, I've seen the role of first lady be reduced -- REDUCED -- to that of topless beauty model. That's what the Miss Buffalo Chip contest is about.
It's an insult to anyone with a level head. It's an insult to the inititution of the President of The United States, and an insult to all American ideals.
Senator McCain should appologize to his wife and America. Moreover, I can't believe Cindy McCain just stood there and waved her hand to the crowd.
Oh, and then the crowd yells "Show us your boobs!" It's in the video!
I can't believe I'm writing this. But it happened. What a disgrace.
Monday, August 04, 2008
The Commish Speaks on rookie salaries
Goodell speaks out on rookie salaries By Ralph Garcia for Football Reporters Online 8/1/08
Several weeks back, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made his feelings about the rookie pay scale known. He called it ridiculous and rightfully so. Well no kidding commish. I like that he mentions a system where the younger players can renegotiate their contracts after they have proven themselves.
He made another great point when he said that when the last CBA was approved no one took into consideration the hit the economy would take. The affect it had later has made us want for the old days. We need to get back to the days where a player would earn his money by his play. Now these days we are losing core players. Players that have taken these teams to playoffs and made their mark in the league are being lost to the salary given to unproven talent.
In the past you would have to work hard to earn your pay and now all you have to do is have a great college career and you are set for life. Forget the player that has settled his family in a city and then has to move on a couple of years later due to the cap. So a big applause to the commish and lets hope something can be worked out where the rookies get their money and those who have worked for theirs get paid right then and there. Where you earn your keep and not get paid for what you have not earned yet.
Several weeks back, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made his feelings about the rookie pay scale known. He called it ridiculous and rightfully so. Well no kidding commish. I like that he mentions a system where the younger players can renegotiate their contracts after they have proven themselves.
He made another great point when he said that when the last CBA was approved no one took into consideration the hit the economy would take. The affect it had later has made us want for the old days. We need to get back to the days where a player would earn his money by his play. Now these days we are losing core players. Players that have taken these teams to playoffs and made their mark in the league are being lost to the salary given to unproven talent.
In the past you would have to work hard to earn your pay and now all you have to do is have a great college career and you are set for life. Forget the player that has settled his family in a city and then has to move on a couple of years later due to the cap. So a big applause to the commish and lets hope something can be worked out where the rookies get their money and those who have worked for theirs get paid right then and there. Where you earn your keep and not get paid for what you have not earned yet.
The Scheme in Team Salary
The Scheme in Team Salary
July 31, 2008
By Slavica Milosevska for Football Reporters Online
Since Walter Camp in 1867 established a simple game of football to just play for fun, nothing about it has been the same. Point rules, regulations, salaries and politics have grown into what is now the NFL. William Pudge Heffelfinger was the first man to be paid to play the game for $500 in 1892, then in 1893, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club signed Grant Dibert to the first known contract. Nearly thirty years later in 1920, the first APFA trade was Arkon's Bob Nash to Buffalo for $300 and 5% of all gate receipts. These first timers helped set a precedent for the intricate scheme of revenues and team salaries.
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) was founded in 1956 when players demanded a minimum league-wide salary and fair benefits. Owners ignored these requests, leading to an antitrust lawsuit in the United States Supreme Court forcing owners to oblige but they still managed to deviate from a CBA, leaving players unsatisfied. The 1982 strike finally led to the ratification of the CBA that lasted until 1987. The NFL and the NFLPA officially signed another seven year CBA in 1993 that has been extended and amended for over two decades. The 2010 season will be uncapped and free agency restrictions are applied because it will be the Final League Year (FLY) of the CBA. Would we see a similar antitrust suit and strike in 2011?
The upcoming FLY was supposed to be in 2012. Owners shortened the 2006 six-year CBA extension to after the 2010 season. To cut costs, owners could attempt locking out players in 2011 to eliminate free agency with its payouts. Clubs would not be required to monetarily support different benefit programs. NFLPA's Executive Director Gene Upshaw predicts that when there is an uncapped season, the salary cap would never come back. A football hierarchy could approach when wealthier teams obtain better athletes and make higher revenues than the less fortunate teams. However, the threat of a lawsuit or strike could rectify something amenable to players.
For the last two years, the salary cap has risen $7 million annually making the 2008 season's hard cap $116,729,000 million. The 2009 cap is already set at $123 million. The cap is just under 60% of all 32 team's total revenue during a League Year including earnings from ticket and merchandise sales, TV contracts, naming rights and local advertising. Coaches, assistants, trainers or associates do not fall under team salary. We all know that players are paid more than handsomely for the love of playing football. In a recent interview, Chicago Bears DT Tommie Harris spoke about players being undeserving because as he put it, “we play a kids game and we get paid a king's ransom.”
An NFL game alone has the most turn out rate of 67,000 attendees in comparison to other American professional sports leagues. Since football has fewer games per season compared to other sports, the total revenue for NFL games in only 20% of baseball, which has a much longer season but less of an average per game crowd. If there were a lockout or strike, teams would lose much more money for missed games because the NFL is so profitable.
Teams still exceed the cap due to rising salaries, but clubs have means of outwitting the system. For instance, signing bonuses do not count toward the cap, so giving a new player a grand signing bonus really enables more cap room for the rest of the team. A signing bonus is given the first year, however it is prorated in the salary cap over the contract length. Team owners can spend more in the cap this way for other players.
One problem for the owners is that if a player is cut or traded the bonus cash is no longer prorated and must be paid in full that year which will count under the cap. Salary is back-ended meaning a player gradually receives more money each year and the most loot in the last year or two of their contract. In the latter, this is when owners will drop players to save money and spend a ridiculous amount of money to sign a rookie with no pro league experience.
Players deserve more compensation year after year for ongoing injuries and risks they impose on their bodies, not to get kicked to the curb. The NFL teams won't stop milking that cap for whatever its worth and not sharing with vets who were their backbone. NFL owners like to say the cap allots teams to sustain their best veterans, but these days, we see rookies with higher pay. Where else have you seen a new employee acquire more compensation than his established co-worker with a job akin?
The Indianapolis Colts owners are the most generous to its veterans according to their positions. In 2007, DE Dwight Freeney signed a $72 million contract with $30 million guaranteed after his rookie contract expired. Freeney played in the pros for five years to deserve this amount when rookie QB Matt Ryan stumbles onto the Atlanta Falcons with guarantees of $34.75 million and also a $72 million deal.
You may say that QBs are generally paid more than DEs.
Well then, look at fellow Falcon teammate QB Joey Harrington's deal. This will be his seventh year in the NFL. He originally signed a two year $6 million deal in 2007, however they cut his salary to adjust the cap for the draft. Harrington was to receive $2.5 million in his second and final season, but the salary cut left him $1 million, a $700,000 base and $300,000 bonus. Here are some other contracts to look at. LT Jake Long was the first draft pick signing on with the Miami Dolphins for $57.75 million and $30 guaranteed. Fourth pick RB Darren McFadden has $26 million in guarantees and a $60 million deal with the Oakland Raiders.
It seems easier for owners to hand over $30 million in guarantees to rookies. Promising veterans are being dropped to stay under the cap. Upshaw doesn't believe in having a salary cap on rookies. Players negotiate their salaries based on a cap within a cap. Under the Rookie Pool this year, the entire league's available cap money is $140 million or 2% of total revenues. The first round pick is paid the highest amount unlike later round draft picks because they are working under a limited budget. Rookie salary also depends on contract length, so the first 16 picks of first-round draft obtain a six-year contract in contrast to second half of first round picks that get a maximum of 5 years. All others sign for a maximum of 4 years. Rookies can negotiate performance incentives to escalate salary as well. The CBA has guidelines for this not to be deducted from the overall Rookie Pool.
The guidelines do not apply with the CBA out of the picture. When 2011 rolls around, many issues would arise for everyone involved in the NLF. More than 60% of total revenues could go to players. Owners could stock up on players and would be free to spend without restrictions. Rookie contracts would go up even though that has been constant. Revenue sharing would no longer disperse equally throughout all 32 teams, so clubs with the most leverage could have better players and be more profitable. Since football is such a large part of the American culture and the NFL is a jackpot and with the greed in the business associates, a strike is unlikely.
July 31, 2008
By Slavica Milosevska for Football Reporters Online
Since Walter Camp in 1867 established a simple game of football to just play for fun, nothing about it has been the same. Point rules, regulations, salaries and politics have grown into what is now the NFL. William Pudge Heffelfinger was the first man to be paid to play the game for $500 in 1892, then in 1893, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club signed Grant Dibert to the first known contract. Nearly thirty years later in 1920, the first APFA trade was Arkon's Bob Nash to Buffalo for $300 and 5% of all gate receipts. These first timers helped set a precedent for the intricate scheme of revenues and team salaries.
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) was founded in 1956 when players demanded a minimum league-wide salary and fair benefits. Owners ignored these requests, leading to an antitrust lawsuit in the United States Supreme Court forcing owners to oblige but they still managed to deviate from a CBA, leaving players unsatisfied. The 1982 strike finally led to the ratification of the CBA that lasted until 1987. The NFL and the NFLPA officially signed another seven year CBA in 1993 that has been extended and amended for over two decades. The 2010 season will be uncapped and free agency restrictions are applied because it will be the Final League Year (FLY) of the CBA. Would we see a similar antitrust suit and strike in 2011?
The upcoming FLY was supposed to be in 2012. Owners shortened the 2006 six-year CBA extension to after the 2010 season. To cut costs, owners could attempt locking out players in 2011 to eliminate free agency with its payouts. Clubs would not be required to monetarily support different benefit programs. NFLPA's Executive Director Gene Upshaw predicts that when there is an uncapped season, the salary cap would never come back. A football hierarchy could approach when wealthier teams obtain better athletes and make higher revenues than the less fortunate teams. However, the threat of a lawsuit or strike could rectify something amenable to players.
For the last two years, the salary cap has risen $7 million annually making the 2008 season's hard cap $116,729,000 million. The 2009 cap is already set at $123 million. The cap is just under 60% of all 32 team's total revenue during a League Year including earnings from ticket and merchandise sales, TV contracts, naming rights and local advertising. Coaches, assistants, trainers or associates do not fall under team salary. We all know that players are paid more than handsomely for the love of playing football. In a recent interview, Chicago Bears DT Tommie Harris spoke about players being undeserving because as he put it, “we play a kids game and we get paid a king's ransom.”
An NFL game alone has the most turn out rate of 67,000 attendees in comparison to other American professional sports leagues. Since football has fewer games per season compared to other sports, the total revenue for NFL games in only 20% of baseball, which has a much longer season but less of an average per game crowd. If there were a lockout or strike, teams would lose much more money for missed games because the NFL is so profitable.
Teams still exceed the cap due to rising salaries, but clubs have means of outwitting the system. For instance, signing bonuses do not count toward the cap, so giving a new player a grand signing bonus really enables more cap room for the rest of the team. A signing bonus is given the first year, however it is prorated in the salary cap over the contract length. Team owners can spend more in the cap this way for other players.
One problem for the owners is that if a player is cut or traded the bonus cash is no longer prorated and must be paid in full that year which will count under the cap. Salary is back-ended meaning a player gradually receives more money each year and the most loot in the last year or two of their contract. In the latter, this is when owners will drop players to save money and spend a ridiculous amount of money to sign a rookie with no pro league experience.
Players deserve more compensation year after year for ongoing injuries and risks they impose on their bodies, not to get kicked to the curb. The NFL teams won't stop milking that cap for whatever its worth and not sharing with vets who were their backbone. NFL owners like to say the cap allots teams to sustain their best veterans, but these days, we see rookies with higher pay. Where else have you seen a new employee acquire more compensation than his established co-worker with a job akin?
The Indianapolis Colts owners are the most generous to its veterans according to their positions. In 2007, DE Dwight Freeney signed a $72 million contract with $30 million guaranteed after his rookie contract expired. Freeney played in the pros for five years to deserve this amount when rookie QB Matt Ryan stumbles onto the Atlanta Falcons with guarantees of $34.75 million and also a $72 million deal.
You may say that QBs are generally paid more than DEs.
Well then, look at fellow Falcon teammate QB Joey Harrington's deal. This will be his seventh year in the NFL. He originally signed a two year $6 million deal in 2007, however they cut his salary to adjust the cap for the draft. Harrington was to receive $2.5 million in his second and final season, but the salary cut left him $1 million, a $700,000 base and $300,000 bonus. Here are some other contracts to look at. LT Jake Long was the first draft pick signing on with the Miami Dolphins for $57.75 million and $30 guaranteed. Fourth pick RB Darren McFadden has $26 million in guarantees and a $60 million deal with the Oakland Raiders.
It seems easier for owners to hand over $30 million in guarantees to rookies. Promising veterans are being dropped to stay under the cap. Upshaw doesn't believe in having a salary cap on rookies. Players negotiate their salaries based on a cap within a cap. Under the Rookie Pool this year, the entire league's available cap money is $140 million or 2% of total revenues. The first round pick is paid the highest amount unlike later round draft picks because they are working under a limited budget. Rookie salary also depends on contract length, so the first 16 picks of first-round draft obtain a six-year contract in contrast to second half of first round picks that get a maximum of 5 years. All others sign for a maximum of 4 years. Rookies can negotiate performance incentives to escalate salary as well. The CBA has guidelines for this not to be deducted from the overall Rookie Pool.
The guidelines do not apply with the CBA out of the picture. When 2011 rolls around, many issues would arise for everyone involved in the NLF. More than 60% of total revenues could go to players. Owners could stock up on players and would be free to spend without restrictions. Rookie contracts would go up even though that has been constant. Revenue sharing would no longer disperse equally throughout all 32 teams, so clubs with the most leverage could have better players and be more profitable. Since football is such a large part of the American culture and the NFL is a jackpot and with the greed in the business associates, a strike is unlikely.
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