Call to Service: Join the Obamas on Jan 19th

Michelle Obama recorded a short video to tell you more about an important effort on Monday, January 19th in anticipation of the Inauguration of America's 44th President, Barack H. Obama. Please take a minute to watch it and sign up to host or attend a service event near you.

People like you are committing to renew America together, one community at a time. Volunteer part of your day on the eve of the Inaugural - you'll never forget it.

Whatever service activity you organize or take part in -- cleaning up a park, giving blood, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or mentoring an at-risk youth -- you can help start this important journey. But this is about more than just a single day of service, it's the beginning of ongoing commitment to your community.

Monday, January 19th, is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King taught us to live a life of service, and he led by example. He once said:

"If you want to be important -- wonderful. If you want to be recognized -- wonderful. If you want to be great -- wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness."

Ordinary citizens working together with a common purpose can get this country back on track. Join the Obama's national day of service as your next step. Whatever service activity you organize or take part in -- cleaning up a park, giving blood, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or mentoring an at-risk youth -- you can help start this important journey. Click below to find a service opportunity in your area or to organize one yourself.

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Tony Dungy reported to be resigning as Colts coach - Los Angeles Times

More at Los Angeles Times: “Tony Dungy reportedly will announce today that he is stepping down as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

The team has called a news conference for 2 p.m. PST.

Various media outlets, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, say Dungy is ready to call it quits after nearly three decades of NFL and college coaching. He has long indicated an interest in stepping away from the game at some point, in part to devote more time to his Christian ministry.”

-- Sad news and I would hate to see this happen, but it seems that it's going to happen.

Tony Dungy reported to be resigning as Colts coach - Los Angeles Times

More at Los Angeles Times: “Tony Dungy reportedly will announce today that he is stepping down as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

The team has called a news conference for 2 p.m. PST.

Various media outlets, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, say Dungy is ready to call it quits after nearly three decades of NFL and college coaching. He has long indicated an interest in stepping away from the game at some point, in part to devote more time to his Christian ministry.”

BART Meeting: Linton Johnson - BART Spokesperson On Shooting

BART Spokesperson Linton Johnson expresses his frustration over the bad PR BART has received regarding the BART Fruitvale Shooting just before the start of the community meeting held at MetroCenter on January 11, 2009

Christina Romer explains a new report about job creation

Chair-designate for the Council of Economic Advisers, UC Berkeley's Christina Romer explains how President-Elect Barack Obama's American Recovery Act of 2009 will create or retain over 3 million jobs.

Zennie Abraham Takes On CNN's Ali Velshi On Economic Stimulus

For me this was a ton of fun to do. But it's even better when someone takes time to let folks know you did a great job. Such was the case with the CNN iReport and CNN.com, who contacted me regarding my question for CNN's Ali Velshi on what he thought of giving $3,500 to each American taxpayer under $100,000.

Here's the video:



This is what CNN iReport's Rachel8 wrote:

Would you go head-to-head with CNN's top economic expert on an economic stimulus plan? How about live on the air?

Fearless iReport superstar Zennie Abraham did. After submitting an iReport suggesting a taxpayer stimulus package, he discussed his plan with CNN chief business correspondent Ali Velshi on CNN.com/live. Velshi said the plan -- which calls for a $3,500 stimulus check to those making less than $100,000 a year -- was not targeted enough to work. But Zennie courageously defended his idea.

"I disagree, with all due respect," he said to Velshi. "$3,500, particularly for college students or their parents, can help pay for their housing. For a person who's older, that could help pay their mortgage. ...You have to have time for the other aspects of President Obama's programs to work. The idea with this proposal is to buy time for those programs to kick in. I'm not saying that this is a cure-all. It works as part of a package."

And, after hearing the explanation, Velshi started to agree.

"In that context, I can understand that. If we are creating jobs, and we are helping people out with their mortgages, as an added extra, that could work," he said.

Nicely done, Zennie! You really held your own

.

Thanks Rachel! It was a lot of fun and I hope I get the chance to do something like that, again.

BART Meeting on Oakland Shooting Sunday Jan 11 2 PM to 4 PM

I was just informed today, Saturday evening January 10th, 2009, that BART is holding a "community meeting" on Sunday, January 11th, which is tommorrow, from 2 PM to 4 PM at 101 Eighth Street, the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter in Oakland, off Lake Merritt BART. More at Oakland Focus Blog.

Christine McCallum of Abington is teacher charged with 7 counts of child rape

Another Teacher / Student Sex Scandal?

From The PatriotLedger:

Christine McCallum is charged with having more than 300 inappropriate sexual encounters with a young teen over a three-year period. Watch Abington and Rockland police share information during a press conference.

Why does this happen, and how often does it occur? It seems it was a massive pattern three years ago, with a major scandal so often they were almost commonplace. But why?

Prince Harry: Racist Video In Full - Institutional Racist Example

Three years ago Prince Harry decided to either make to be in this video where he makes comments that show he's racially divisive where anyone who's not White is called by names that are considered insulting or divisive.

He uses the term "My little Paki friend" and "raghead" in the video. Look, those are not terms one has flying out of their mouth. It shows a certain lack of thought and consideration at the least.

Prince Harry has apologized for his actions.

MSNBC Decision 08 _ Porn Industry Losing its Shirt?

MSNBC Decision 08 _ Porn Industry Losing its Shirt?
Video sent by hulu

MSNBC Decision 08 series page at Hulu.com
Jan. 7: Village Voice columnist Michael Musto talks about whether Hustler’s Larry Flynt and Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis are serious about their inquiries regarding a bailout for the porn industry.

Predisdent-elect Barack Obama Weekly Radio/Youtube Address

President-Elect Barack Obama gives his weekly YouTube address and focuses on his economic recovery plan, where he projects that 3.4 million new jobs will be created. He correctly notes -- for the first time any President has -- the problem of the underemployed and not just the unemployed.

I hope Congress gives quick passage of his plan. We're wasting time as it is. I also push for a $3,500 check for all American making less than $100,000 -- it will buy time for his programs to work and help people pay bills and avoid going bankrupt.

U.S. unemployment hits 16-year high: 7.2% - Los Angeles Times

More at Los Angeles Times: “Reporting from Washington -- The nation's unemployment rate soared to its highest level in 16 years last month, reaching an eye-popping 7.2% as businesses slashed their payrolls by 524,000 jobs in December, the government reported today.

All together, 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008 -- 75% of them in the last four months -- and 11.1 million workers are now unemployed, the Labor Department said. And that's not counting millions more who have reluctantly taken part-time work instead of full-time jobs or have become so discouraged they stopped looking for a new job.”