Comic Con 2010 - Sylvester Stallone target of Twitter attack for The Expendables

Stallone 

While Sylvester Stallone's new movie The Expendables has many at Comic Con 2010 in the USA excited, the movie's unofficial debut at Comic Con created enough buzz to upset South Americans. As of this writing, Sylvester Stallone represents not one, but three trending topics on Twitter. In order, "CALA BOCA SYLVESTER STALLONE", "Stallone", and just plain old "SYLVESTER" appear on Twitter.

Why? Many tweets are like this "top tweet":

nataliagoficial - CALA BOCA SYLVESTER STALLONE is a brazilian campaign to protest the actor Sylvester Stallone, for trying to denigrate the Brazilian image.
about 2 hours ago via web

But the problem is The Expendables isn't out yet, so the people launching the campaign haven't seen the movie. Plus, at Comic Con 2010, Stallone said to me that it wasn't a political message movie. OK, he was referring to mercenaries at the time, but if you think about it, mercenaries should take offense, too.



In developing a war story, which The Expendables is to a degree, it's almost impossible not to come up with a political message, even if the movie's not about delivering one. In writing The Expendables, Stallone's 63-years of World view has accidentally bumped up against the hypersensitive 21st Century consumers of Internet news.

I'm not calling Mr. Stallone old, just making a point that you have to remember, he played a man in John Rambo who embodies the American soldier's "us versus "them" view at a time, the early 80s, when America was sending hired killers to upend political revolutions in Central and South America.

Perhaps The Expendables would have had even more impact if the focus were North Korea and not a fictional country in South America. But it's too late for that now. The Expendables is set for release on August 13th, and will undoubtedly be helped by this buzz.

Stay tuned.

BP's Deepwater Horizon warning system was disabled

An article in today's Washington Post highlights disgusting, disgraceful business practices at BP. The profit-motive places pressure to pivot risk-analysis decisions on the short term bottom line numbers, particularly when the people making the decision are driven by personal gain.

The Post has video of Deepwater chief engineer Michael Williams, an ex-Marine who survived the April 20th explosion and fire, telling a government panel that "warning systems on the drilling rig were inhibited because the crew did not want to be disturbed in the middle of the night."

Williams told the panel that he understood that the rig had been operating with the gas alarm system in "inhibited" mode for a year to prevent false alarms from disturbing the crew.

Washington Post, 22 July 2010

The profit motive accomplishes certain things very well. It's driven the price of medical equipment in Japan well below what similar products produced in North America costs, for instance, and it obviously drives creative innovation across the business sector.

But the mortgage-lending and Wall Street crises that are still hampering our economy years after they surfaced demonstrate that without regulation and enforcement business owners can, and all too often do, become focused only on money. To balance that greed is one of the ways that governments can, and should, "promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."

Special interest money has entirely too much influence in Washington. It's time that our leaders stopped talking about small businesses while voting to enable big business to ruin our planet, our standard of living, and our future. That's a bankrupt ideology - that's the real threat to our children.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, Democratic Campaign Manager, journalist, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Comic Con 2010 - Sylvester Stallone and The Expendables cast has red carpet fun (video)

Thursday at Comic Con 2010 was a big day, both for San Diego and for Sylvester Stallone and The Expendables cast that arrived for Comic Con (and this blogger's trip was sponsored by The Kings Inn Hotel in San Diego).

The Expendables is Sylvester Stallone's new movie is about a band of mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Stallone), who are led on what they're told is a covert, CIA-funded mission to overthrow the dictator of a South American country. In reality, it's a trick; they were sent on a suicide mission.

Stallone 

The Expendables stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Eric Roberts, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in what is the greatest collection of action movie heros in Hollywood's history. Of the cast, four arrived at the red carpet press conference held at Comic Con and just before their The Expendables panel in Hall H.

From the way Stallone, Lundgren, Crews, Couture, and Austin got along on the Comic Con red carpet, the movie had to be fun to make. But that aside, what is it about Stallone's movies - his formula, if you will - that has made them so popular for so long?

"It's about redemption," Stallone says, before he laid out a big set of words. "My theme is 'epistemological taxonomy,' which means 'spiritual signifiers.' In this movie, or in Rocky, or in Rambo, it's always about something, some mission. Like, in the last Rambo it was about The Burmies, and you had Christianity against Atheism. And in Rocky it's about just having some recognition in your lifetime; the last one was about loneliness. But the main thing I think, in all (of his) films is about redeeming your soul. Mercenaries, by in large are cold-blooded killers for money. And Mickey Rourke in this scene (in The Expendables) says 'Don't be like me. I did that, and I'm cursed. I have no soul left.' So these guys go back to save this person, not for money, but for themselves. They're saving themselves."

With all that, Stallone says he's not trying to make a political statement about mercenaries, even though the focus on a South American dictatorship may ruffle some feathers. But political issues weren't on the plate at The Expendables red carpet, fun was. From Terry Crews bragging about his muscles and saying "The gun show has come to Comic Con," to Stallone, Crews, Lundgren, and Couture, giving muscle poses before the cameras, and just a lot of laughing in general, it's clear these guys really like each other and had a lot of fun making The Expendables.

Where was Bruce Willis?

As Dolph Lundgren noted in the video, a number of cast members didn't show up for the red carpet event, one of them being the legendary Bruce Willis. Later, after the press event ended and the stars rushed to Hall H for the Comic Con panel, I walked outside of room 28 CD to get some air and exit, talked to a security worker, and was pointed to an elevator to take. That elevator went down to a dark driveway dotted with more security people. As I walked, I realized the back entrance to Hall H and where The Expendables cast was, was on my right, so, realizing I could have walked into the event and on stage, but not wanting to make trouble, I walked to my left and as I did, a tall, bald white guy in a dark blue suit walked toward me. As he did, he pointed, gave a smile and nodded; I returned the action. Then I realized it was Bruce Willis, giving me the "bald brother" nod.

Of course, it's hard to miss a bald black guy in a mustard colored blazer.

Stay tuned.

Will the RNC replace Michael Steele with a hockey-mom?

GOP strategists are surely already considering who can best replace their controversy-laden RNC Chair - their principle questions are the timing and who will be able to insure the media spotlight stays on the party's message while inspiring both donors and voters, particularly the vocal, visible Teabaggers. Perhaps this time they'll turn to a woman?

After all, the most recent crop of Naval "Sailors of the Year" were all female, and women make up more than 50% of the U.S. population while turning out to vote more consistently than men.  In fact, if Representative Bachmann weren't seeking re-election she'd surely be in the running, but she'll have to wait her turn as elite GOP strategists have to be aware of the looming November election as they consider their "short list."

Who can inspire big donors? Who can keep the media focused on the GOP's talking points? Who has a photogenic face and comfort in front of the cameras?  Who has the balance of national recognition and all these other elements, and is available to step up and step in when the next gaffe strikes Michael Steele down?

The Thrilla from Wasilla.

It's what she's been waiting for. It won't matter that she's blown any credibility on international affairs, or quit her post as Governor --  the chair doesn't direct policy or even write speeches; the job responsibilities are largely smiling for the cameras and memorizing scripted phrases while insuring a good turn-out for fund-raising events.

I'm sure there are other possibile choices, not to mention that the GOP loves how she distracts the rest of the pundits already pondering future presidential hopefuls.  But the GOP still has Romney and Huckabee, plus Pawlenty and Coleman coming out of "middle America" with records they can ostensibly run on to work with  thus leaving the hockey mom free to court publicity without anybody questioning her readiness or suitability to be Commander-in-Chief.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, Democratic Campaign Manager, journalist, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN THIS WEEK; BROWNS FIRST IN ON FRIDAY

From NFLMedia.com
FOR USE AS DESIRED
7/20/10

NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN THIS WEEK;
BROWNS FIRST IN ON FRIDAY

“Helmets on! Buckle ’em up!”

That’s what coaches will say to players this week as the first group of NFL teams report to training camp.

Four clubs will begin their on-field preparations for NFL Kickoff 2010 this week, starting with the Cleveland Browns on Friday, July 23 when their rookies report.

Three teams will follow this weekend, starting with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, July 24 and then the rookie class of two more clubs on Sunday, July 25 – the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers.

By August 1, every NFL team will be in camp.

For the second consecutive year, 17 of the 32 NFL teams will be “staying home” for training camp, which represents more than half the league (53 percent). In 2001, only 5 of 31 (16 percent) teams stayed close to home.

When he accepted the position of Washington Redskins executive vice president/head coach in January, MIKE SHANAHAN liked the idea of “going away” for training camp to build his team in his image.

But after viewing the considerable meeting space and pristine practice fields at Redskins Park and hearing stories about the huge fan support the team received at the club’s Ashburn, Virginia facility during recent camps, he changed his mind.

“I have heard about the passionate fans and the huge, enthusiastic crowds that come out to support our team during training camp,” says Shanahan. “I’m looking forward to sharing in this experience for the first time. Training camp is the time our players build their identity as a team, and we are pleased to begin laying the foundation for the 2010 season in front of Redskins Nation.”

Here’s a look at the number of NFL teams that stayed home for training camp the past 10 years:

YEAR
NFL TEAMS WITH HOME
TRAINING CAMPS (PCT.)

YEAR
NFL TEAMS WITH HOME
TRAINING CAMPS (PCT.)
2001
5 of 31 (16%)

2006
13 of 32 (41%)
2002
7 of 32 (22%)

2007
17 of 32 (53%)
2003
12 of 32 (38%)

2008
14 of 32 (44%)
2004
12 of 32 (38%)

2009
17 of 32 (53%)
2005
15 of 32 (47%)

2010
17 of 32 (53%)

The Saints’ dream 2009 season began with a home training camp before culminating with the franchise’s first NFL title. The club decided to remain in Metairie, Louisiana for the first time at the Saints practice facility for training camp last summer.

“As NFL training facilities evolve and develop, there is a trend to want to maximize the exposure your team has to all of the amenities that help make training camp successful,” says New Orleans general manager MICKEY LOOMIS. “Training camp is a very physically and mentally demanding period of time for the players, and by being able to utilize our facilities, we feel like it is the best decision that we can make for our team.”

The numbers may prove home-base popularity is a growing league-wide trend, but there are still teams employing the “old-time” philosophy of encamping away. And they just might know something.

Before the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV victory, the previous four NFL champions all trained away from home at college training sites, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers (XL, XLIII) and continuing with the Indianapolis Colts (XLI) and New York Giants (XLII).

“You could just feel the way that the team was coming together, and it went through the whole year,” says New York Jets owner WOODY JOHNSON, whose team trained at SUNY-Cortland last summer en route to an AFC Championship Game appearance. The club recently extended its agreement with the university through 2012.

“The trends that started here at Cortland continue,” says Johnson. “Those kinds of traditions are very important.”

There may be two NFL schools of thought when it comes to where to train, but the debate rages on. When it comes down to it, Detroit Lions head coach JIM SCHWARTZ thinks how they train is even more important than where they train.

“In Tennessee, we did it both ways,” says Schwartz, who spent 10 years with the Titans, including his last eight as defensive coordinator, before earning his first head-coaching opportunity last year. “We went away. We stayed home. We were successful both ways.”

*******************************************************************************************************************
FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS

Two teams – the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs – will encamp at new training sites this year. The Cowboys will once again return to the Alamodome in San Antonio for a portion of camp, but will also spend time in Oxnard, California and Dallas.

While some clubs have changed their training bases in the past decade, others return to familiar venues where they have spent their summer months for years.

The NFL training camp longevity king? The Green Bay Packers, who return on July 30 for their 53rd consecutive summer at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin.

The longest active NFL training camp tenures:

TEAM
TRAINING CAMP
CITY
YEARS
Green Bay Packers
St. Norbert College
DePere, Wisconsin
53
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota State Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
44
Pittsburgh Steelers
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
44


********************************************************************************************************************
The 2010 NFL training camp sites and reporting dates:

AFC
TEAM
SITE
LOCATION
ROOKIES
VETERANS
Baltimore
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD
7/26
7/28
Buffalo
St. John Fisher College
Pittsford, NY
7/29
7/29
Cincinnati
Georgetown College
Georgetown, KY
7/28
7/28
Cleveland
Cleveland Browns Training Facility
Berea, OH
7/23
7/30
Denver
Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre
Englewood, CO
7/28
7/31
Houston
Methodist Training Center
Houston, TX
7/30
7/30
Indianapolis
Anderson University
Anderson, IN
8/1
8/1
Jacksonville
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Jacksonville, FL
7/29
7/29
Kansas City
Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph, MO
7/29
7/29
Miami
Miami Dolphins Training Facility
Davie, FL
7/30
7/30
New England
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
7/25
7/28
NY Jets
SUNY Cortland
Cortland, NY
7/29
8/1
Oakland
Napa Valley Marriott
Napa Valley, CA
7/28
7/28
Pittsburgh
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
7/30
7/30
San Diego
Chargers Park
San Diego, CA
7/25
7/30
Tennessee
Baptist Sports Park
Nashville, TN
7/31
7/31

NFC
TEAM
SITE
LOCATION
ROOKIES
VETERANS
Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
7/30
7/30
Atlanta
Atlanta Falcons Training Facility
Flowery Branch, GA
7/29
7/29
Carolina
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC
7/28
7/28
Chicago
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL
7/30
7/30
Dallas*
Alamodome/Marriott Residence Inn
Oxnard River Ridge
San Antonio, TX/
Oxnard, CA
7/24
7/24
Detroit
Detroit Lions Training Facility
Allen Park, MI
7/30
7/30
Green Bay
St. Norbert College
De Pere, WI
7/30
7/30
Minnesota
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN
7/30
7/30
New Orleans
New Orleans Saints Training Facility
Metairie, LA
7/29
7/29
NY Giants
University at Albany
Albany, NY
8/1
8/1
Philadelphia
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
7/26
7/29
St. Louis
Russell Training Center
Earth City, MO
7/28
7/30
San Francisco
Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center
Santa Clara, CA
7/30
7/31
Seattle
Virginia Mason Athletic Center
Renton, WA
7/30
7/30
Tampa Bay
One Buccaneer Place
Tampa, FL
7/30
7/30
Washington
Redskins Park
Ashburn, VA
7/29
7/29
* Dallas will train in San Antonio (7/24-8/6), Dallas (8/7-8/13), and Oxnard, CA (8/14-8/27).
2010 NFL PRESEASON NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)

DATE
GAME
NETWORK (TIME)
Sunday, August 8
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, OH:
Cincinnati vs. Dallas
NBC (8:00 PM)
Thursday, August 12
Carolina at Baltimore
ESPN (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 16
New York Giants at New York Jets
ESPN (8:00 PM)
Thursday, August 19
New England at Atlanta
FOX (8:00 PM)
Friday, August 20
Philadelphia at Cincinnati
FOX (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 22
Minnesota at San Francisco
NBC (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 23
Arizona at Tennessee
ESPN (8:00 PM)
Thursday, August 26
Indianapolis at Green Bay
ESPN (8:00 PM)
Friday, August 27
San Diego at New Orleans
CBS (8:00 PM)
Saturday, August 28
Dallas at Houston
CBS (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 29
Pittsburgh at Denver
FOX (8:00 PM)

COMIC CON 2010 - Jeff Bridges and cast talk Tron Legacy

Jeff Bridges from the press room 

Hall H at Comic Con 2010 at The San Diego Convention Center is known for its super-long lines. But one advantage of having a press credential is you can watch it from the press room.

In this case I was able to catch the tail end of the Tron Legacy presentation featuring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner and the rest of the cast. It was a study in how an excited audience has such a generational mix, it has to be reeducated about Tron.

Tron was originally made in 1982 and featured a person, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who finds himself digitized without permission and thrust into a digital world, all in search of a way to thwart a piracy effort. (Ok, that's a simple explanation.)

The new Tron Legacy is a sequel; something not known by some of the Comic Con audience. One person asked Jeff Bridges if it "was going to be a sequel or a remake," to which Bridges responded "Have you seen the first one?" She said no. "Well," Bridges said, "What difference does it make?"

The crowd roared with laughter.

Frankly, the reaction to the new Comic Con Tron trailer, big build-up and all, wasn't what I expected. I didn't hear the whoops and yells generally associated with a trailer at Comic Con or Wonder Con. Interesting.

Next up for Hall H is Salt, and the much-anticipated appearance of Angelina Jolie. The new Comic Con Tron Trailer will come later today. It's 12:47 PM. Here's a trailer from earlier this year:



Stay tuned.

Comic Con 2010 - Stan Lee talks BOOM partnership and comic book writing

When this blogger tweeted that he was waiting for Stan Lee at Room 33 at The San Diego Convention Center and for Comic Con 2010 (and the trip is sponsored by the Kings Inn Hotel), long-time friend Lars Frykman wrote "Stan Lee is God" on the Facebook page.

Stan Lee 

That alone proves how big the legend that is Stan Lee has become. So large that new comic book producers are falling all over themselves to be linked to him.

But in the case of BOOM Studios, the partnership with Stan Lee started by way of an unnamed mutual friend. That meeting led to the press event at Comic Con Preview Day, Wednesday.

But really it was less about the new characters Soldier Zero, The Traveler, or Starborn, or their writers Paul Cornell, Mark Wald, and Chris Roberson, respectively, than Stan Lee. If Lee's name wasn't on the meeting title, the room would have been almost empty. Instead, the ever-funny Stan Lee said he'd never seen more reporters when he was at Marvel Comics.

What's Stan Lee doing with BOOM Studios? Well, first, he likes the material they're producing, specifically mentioning their Edgar Allen Poe work, saying he could recite it if we stuck around to hear him. The partnership gives Lee the right to be a "budinsky" as he put it, sticking his creative nose into the story creation and writing process.

On comic book writing, Lee gave this advice just off the cuff: "Don't write for others or what you think they want. Write what you like." Lee says others will enjoy it if it comes from you and what you like rather than be created for them.

Stan Lee Looks Good

What's cool about Stan Lee is to see how youthful he is at 87 years old. He's thin, mobile, and dare we say athletic. He clearly enjoys the attention he's getting after so many years of making the Marvel Universe work and doesn't seem to resist a chance to promote himself or what he's doing. A really self-actualized man.

Will BOOM Benefit?

The question is, will BOOM Studios benefit from the Stan Lee media attention. Well, we're talking about BOOM Studios and that's enough.

Bloomberg's Deputy Anti-Gay & a disaster? by Suzannah B. Troy

I telephoned City Hall, actually the mayor's office, 8 am yesterday to speak to the new "deputy" in town, Deputy Stephen Goldsmith.  I met him the day before at The Crain's breakfast for him and a few hundred business people and two activists, me and a friend.

Watch the YouTube I am posting and hear how he responds to my questions.  He shook my hand and it was a hand shake I can only describe as a small dead fish; completely limp and disingenuous.  He said, "thank you" to me twice actually.  Each time I felt he was saying, "F-you, you are now dismissed."   Don't actually ask me questions about politics, infrastructure and the harsh reality the people of New York actually need people in office that will be their advocate and work and fight for them.

The woman  that answered the phone for the mayor's office transferred me over to Goldsmith's office.  You see, he did not give me his card.  He did hand out his business card but not to me.   What ever I looked like or perhaps my questions some how registered as not a person to hand your business card to.

So much for Crain's and their networking.   What was clear from the Crain's breakfast is besides my questions before the event started and the questions of only two news reporters who happened to be -- you guessed it -- two white males -- Stephen Goldsmith could not handle the heat or should I say pressure of their questions.   He won't be here long.  He won't make it as long as Dollarbill Dan Doctoroff who left king Mike's public empire to re-join his private empire.

Dan considered himself the man in charge of infrastructure until the steam pipe explosion that looked like a terror attack by Grand Central.  You see, I would call and email him about the way too rapid development and NY's old infrastructure.  I made it clear I felt Bloomberg and he were endangering us and were leaving a hell of a mess for when they actually left office.

Dollar bill Dan quietly and quickly left office.  Bye, bye.

Stephen Goldsmith thinks he can take on Albany.  Good luck Stephen.  You would have better luck taking on the Mafia perhaps converting them to vegetarianism.

Good old Stephen thinks he can come in here and at the Crain's hosted breakfast talk about closing firehouses.  Bloomberg and his socialite mega millionaire city planner called Amanda the peoples' Burden aided their developers pal in a reckless tsunami of shady development helping to create mass displacement, perhaps a record number of people displaced and a record number of infrastructure related problems from water main breaks, sewage, Con Ed problems as well as expansion so over the top Con Ed set a record hiring outside contractors, to the worst street conditions seen in years with DOT repaving streets not once but twice or even more than twice.

Why do the streets look like bombs went off on them.  If the FDNY is not answering fire calls they are responding to infrastructure problems including man hole cover exploding with dramatic fires that so far have not caused any deaths...so far.   We have had heart breaking deaths including children to fires and what does Deputy Goldsmith do at his first Crain's hosted breakfast?

This highly inarticulate man in a very expensive suit with an impressive gold tie tells us he will be closing fire houses.

Interestingly enough Crain's video taped the entire embarrassing disaster for Goldsmith and his new boss king Mike Bloomberg but Crain's did not release any of the let us say awkward or controversial moments and they were many.  Crain's released just a small piece on video on their website.  Mike has been very lucky with the press that way.

Listening to Goldsmith speak, I never heard some one talk so much to give so many 'non-answers'.

Why would Bloomberg hire a Republican this late in the game unless he wants to cater not to the people of NYC but to the conservatives he hopes to woe when he pursues his one big unrealized dream....running for President of the United States?  That is why it is believed Bloomberg took his charitable giving national instead of local.  It is why I believe he burdens the tax payers to the tune of 2 million dollars post-his third term hiring so many campaign staff with 6 figure salaries.  Why hire them after the election unless he feels he wants them close at hand to pursue his last chance at perhaps one of his biggest dreams unrealized.  Bloomberg doesn't fully grasp that he displaced so many people and angered even more denying us a referendum that he paid a record amount of money to barely win the most humiliating and expensive win in NYC history.  He won't win a presidency or any political office again.  He is very smart and accomplished but he lost sight of the fact he serves the people.  He now hired Goldsmith who is not a people person and clearly doesn't represent New Yorkers.  Goldsmith looks at this city as some corporate business model.

Denial is the new crack cocaine for politicos from Albany to City Hall.

The one issue Goldsmith was clear on is the devastating budget crisis coming our way here in NYC next year.  As usual it was as if no one heard what he had to say and city council will continue to vote themselves raises and give slush money to charities where their life partner (what is Christine Quinn's significant other's name) sits on a board, ditto for their wives, brothers, sisters, husbands, etc.

Albany and City Hall politicians are 2nd to last to deal with the harsh reality of what are terrible economic  crisis is coming our way because they contributed to it hugely and Albany still has not dealt effectively with the budget crisis.   The last people to deal with and won't be able to escape it like the politicians here in NYC are the people.

Under Bloomberg the city saw a new wave of "sexual McCarthyism" with two women owned Adult Toy Stores Babeland raided and after the raid Babeland is now no longer allowed to rent adult films, some that were instructional but all that a guy like Goldsmith would call porno.  Rumor on the street is the NYPD were picking their super elite hottie cops to entrap gay men in adult book stores.

Goldsmith hemmed and hawed at the Crain's breakfast but after a very long non-answer he sure sounded like he said he is anti-gay marriage which I interpret as he does not believe in equal rights.  In America we have straight people that are marriage gluttons having been married 2, 3, 4, 5 times but people like Goldsmith would deny gay people the right to even one marriage?

Why would Mike Bloomberg bring in a conservative Republican who wants to privatize everything unless he has his eye on the White House?  Either way Goldsmith will not be here long.  He said in his non-speak.  Hey guys why are you asking me such tough questions.

Goldsmith is out of touch with New Yorkers and a fish out of water in NYC.

I left him a voice mail on Deputy Goldsmith's answering machine at City Hall.  I want a  STRAIGHT forward answer, no hemming and hawing, do you believe in gay marriage and equal rights?  I left my telephone number.

I have not heard back from him.

COMIC CON 2010: has Comic Con outgrown San Diego?

Comic Con 2010 San Diego is a wonderful Mecca of pop culture (and this trip was made possible by the Kings Inn Hotel). Comic Con is a combination of a toy convention, TV production confab, and comic book writers meetup all in one.

At one stop you can see a giant booth for Fox Television next to Lionsgate, then Mattel's down the path a bit, and Hallmark Cards has the kid-friendly Hoops&Yoyo just over there. Stan Lee's in Room 33 cracking jokes (I was there). The whole array is dizzying and on this "preview" day, already very crowded.

The question on the floor, literally, is "Has Comic Con outgrown San Diego?" Some who raise the question point to the availability of hotels, but a deeper look reveals that some hotels aren't getting business because they're trying to price gouge the visitor. Still, that problem has others raising the question more assertively. Indeed, it seems every media person's asking someone the question.

Can San Diego handle Comic Con? I'm going to leave that question open for discussion, but I will observe that Comic Con's attracting more than the 125,000 people who have badges. Moreover, it could grow to a point that it draws twice that many people, and up to 300,000 people.

Already, and again this is "preview day" the San Diego Convention Center's having a problem with people who are so tired from the miles of walking they do, they just want to sit on the floor. The SDCC's having employees tell them they can't sit down, which isn't what a sweaty walker wants to hear. Would that happen in Los Angeles or Chicago? Just a question.

Several veteran Comic Con-goers have said that San Diego's willing to make adjustments to keep Comic Con, but the convention just may fare better in another city. 'It's like a LeBron James thing," observed one man who comes annually from New Jersey and was thinking of how The Chosen One left his home team the Cleveland Cavaliers for The Miami Heat, "Do you leave San Diego? The city that gave birth to you?"

That's a question that will be on the minds of many comes Thursday, when Comic Con 2010 is expected to burst at the seems of the San Diego Convention Center.

You have to be here to see it. Comic Con's an incredible event.

Stay tuned.

Glassman tops list to face McCain

Tuscon Vice-Mayor Rodney Glassman

Former Tucson Vice Mayor Rodney Glassman, U.S. Senate candidate from Arizona, freshly bouyed by his SEIU endorsement, took command of the 2nd Democratic primary debate today while besting three other Democrats: former State Representative Cathy Eden (his closest competitor in the polls according to Rasmussen,) Randy Parraz, and John Dougherty.

Arizonans are enjoying debates on both sides of the contest, and it seems Glassman has gone a long way to impressing voters that he will be the best candidate to take on presumptive GOP nominee John McCain in the fall. (J.D. Hayworth trails McCain significantly in most polls.)

"John McCain and I might both love town halls, but the difference is that I would host more in Arizona than I would in New Hampshire."

Rodney Glassman

During a debate earlier today on Yuma's KAWC Radio, Glassman discussed the necessity for securing the border, a hot-button issue in the South-West in general, and Arizona in particular, and outlined national security priorities. Already known as a strong advocate for military veterans, Glassman has also recently announced a plan to ensure high-quality medical services for veterans on the Navajo Nation.

By some reports over 70% of Arizona residents support the recently enacted immigration enforcement law, which has drawn national scrutiny and a series of challenges, and this is sometimes seen as an issue that likely drives more support to GOP candidates.

Glassman also explained how he would go about bringing jobs to Arizona, saying he'll build on this success and continue to campaign on jobs, education and how to finally bring Arizona's concerns -- rather than rigid ideology -- to the U.S. Senate.

"I look forward to talking to the people of Arizona about what they want, and don't want, out of Washington," Glassman said. The lively debates are providing Arizona voters an excellent chance to see the candidates in both parties, and discover where they differ from one another, but it's already shaping up to be a likely Glassman vs. McCain election in November.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, Democratic Campaign Manager (in Minnesota,) journalist, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

In San Diego for Comic Con - On Comic Con, Shirley Sharrod, Andrew Brietbart

San Diego, CA - After a long morning of flying this blogger's in San Diego for Comic Con 2010, thanks to The Kings Inn Hotel, home of The Waffle King.

There are two topics of note to this space that are trending on Twitter today: Shirley Sharrod and Comic Con. Shirley Sharrod is the former USDA regional director who was stripped of her job after a smear attack by conservative Tea Party attack-blogger Andrew Brietbart. Comic Con is the amazing San Diego-based (but for how long?) convention that brings together Hollywood and animation and science fiction. You know you're in the right place when the airport PA announcer says welcome in a Darth Vader voice! This is Mecca for sci-fi fans.

But first Shirley Sharrod.

Shirley Sharrod is a reluctant hero who, before the NAACP on March 27th 2010, gave a great, long speech on the evolution of race relations and how it impacted her. Andrew Brietbart saw her speech, and so blinded by racism, took it and edited it to make it sounds as if Shirley Sharrod was giving a racist message. If anything, she was giving one that's uplifting and here it is in full:



Andrew Brietbart should be jailed for what he did. Saying he's sorry is bullcrap. Andrew Brietbart gave zero thought to how his smear job would effect Shirley and her family. He is an awful, awful, sad man.

Shirley Sharrod should get her old job back and not some civil rights job. President Obama should make everything as it was before Andrew Brietbart decided to act in a criminal way. Throw him in jail!

Or better yet, send him to Comic Con to be thrown to the gallows and punished in a way he would not forget.

Comic Con: it's great to be here.

I've got to wrap this up because Comic Con press registration is on, I need to take a shower and get down there, and Stan Lee's press event is at 5 PM, and Hallmark's is after 6 PM. It's preview day at Comic Con.

Follow me on Twitter and don't forget to take advantage of the food deals of 15 percent off at the Amigo  Restaurant and 20 percent off at The Waffle King at the hotel just by mentioning my blog, Zennie62!

Stay tuned.

Andrew Breitbart defamed Shirley Sherrod; Brietbart could be in trouble

Andrew Breitbart (right)

Taking a Comic Con break to look at what else is happening; Google Trends reveals the ugly story of what happened to previously unknown Shirley Sherrod.

Conservative hit-blogger Andrew Breitbart's known for his extreme approaches in attacking liberals, but what he did to Shirley Sherrod, a goverment worker who gave a speech to the NAACP this year and regarding a matter that happened 24 years ago, was that he apparently made a new video to claim she was racist, and went way too far.

While he says he intended to harm the NAACP, he picked Shirley Sherrod to do it. She did not ask for this. Breitbart altered a video to twist her words.

Andrew Breitbart may be a target for the U.S. Department of Justice' Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (“CCIPS”) which is in the Criminal Division. The website, which was forwarded to this blogger by the DOJ on another issue, covers various types of crimes that involve a computer.

If Breitbart altered the video of Shirley Sherrod to make it look like she was making a statement he then called racist, he's certainly guilty of defamation of character against Shirley Sherrod.

Breitbart may also be guilty of Internet harassment. He certainly should be made a high-profile example to discourage others from these uses of the computer and The Internet to harass a person. Enough is enough.

Computer Crimes: The DOJ's Information.

If you believe you're the victim of a cybercrime, here's a link to another DOJ web page called "Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, United States Department of Justice."

DO NOT RESIST using this resource.