Violent Beating In McDonalds Baltimore County; McD's Responds

This update in the story of the video showing the violent April 18, 2011 beating of a 22-year-old woman by two teenage girls at a McDonald’s Restaurant on Kenwood Avenue in the Baltimore suburb of Rosedale, Maryland. A story that has not only gone viral, but because it involves someone white, and two black teenagers, has seemingly brought out every racist animal in existence. Moreover, how it happened has provided a platform for the problems McDonald's Corporation faces with the patrons it serves and hires, regardless of color.

If you've not seen the video, here's this blogger's video commentary and the incident itself:



McDonald's Corporation was quick to issue this statement on its website:

Our Concern Regarding the Baltimore Incident

We are shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchised restaurant showing an assault. This incident is unacceptable, disturbing and troubling. McDonald’s strives to be a safe, welcoming environment for everyone who visits. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of customers and employees in our restaurants. We are working with the franchisee and the local authorities to investigate this matter. We are doing everything possible to make sure the right thing is done.

Indeed, as this space reported in the video, and in the first blog post, there's a larger problem of violence at McDonald's by teenagers regardless of color. In McDonald's fight video, after video, whites, Latinos, and Asians, mostly young women and girls, are getting into fights at McDonald's Restaurants.

That's too much for people who are already racist to hear; they want to use the McDonald's Baltimore Beating as a reason to support their own home-spun racist ideas on blacks, and have took to YouTube videos to vent their issues. But fortunately, their voices are countered by many who see the real problem, and it's not race, creed, or color.


Some say this incident is a hate crime, but a second review of it looks like it's actually a report of two girls who say a man dressed as a woman, but a man, not a tranny, had got into the woman's restroom.

The video was made by McDonald's Restaurant employee Vernon "Charm" Hackett, who explained, on his now-removed Facebook page, that the "woman" in the video wasn't a woman at all, but a guy with a wig trying to sneak into the woman's bathroom, and did so. The fight reportedly started in the women's bathroom.

Moreover, Hackett said the woman who was on the ground shaking with a seizure, got up when police arrived. But the video version with sound reports that the woman was "Bleeding, YO," by the Hackett, the cameraman.

Even if that's the case and the teenage girls though they were protecting themselves, the beating was still the wrong answer: calling the police was. In fact, what's galling about the video is no one is shown immediately calling the police at all. But there are people in the video who try to intervene and stop the teenagers, who seem intent on carrying out their anger.

ut, given the unfolding evidence, it's hard to believe what some racists want to think: that the two black girls were beating the white "woman" or man just because she or he was white.

There's more to this story; let's hope the truth isn't blocked by racists.

Stay tuned.

Violent Beating In McDonalds Baltimore County; YouTube Video Goes Viral

There's an ugly trend of fighting that's happening at McDonalds Restaurants, this one in Baltimore County. And a beating incident so awful that it reportedly caused the death of a young girl.  This is my YouTube video vlog commentary on this American Tragedy:



This blogger learned of it via an message from a YouTuber called benjamin42779, who did not make a version of the video. The tag on the first one read "Live Leak," so a search for that site revealed an account of the video that reads like this:

Here is another fine example of the trend of violence in fast food restaurants. Two females beating the hell out of a patron, while several employees stand by and watch. One male manages to provide the facade of assistance to the victim in this brutal attack.


The two females exit, then re-enter the store to continue the beating, until a an older woman attempts to stop them from dragging the victim outside into the parking lot. note: the male employees have disappeared from camera view, even though they are plenty well capable of stopping the attack.


At the end, the white victim is beaten until she has a seizure, at which point the camera operator warns the female attackers to flee, because the police are on the way. Note: he makes sure to repeatedly tell the criminal attackers to flee, instead of keeping them there for the police to apprehend.


4.19 pm EST UPDATE: response from Mc Donalds: "We are shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchised restaurant showing an assault. This incident is unacceptable, disturbing and troubling. McDonald's strives to be a safe, welcoming environment for everyone who visits. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of customers and employees in our restaurants. We are working with the franchisee and the local authorities to investigate this matter."

LiveLeak offered downloads of the video, but the one that was able to work happened to have hard-rock music, and not the voices, on it.  So, I stripped the music off, made a notation referring to the difference, and surrounded the video with my commentary, thus differentiating it as a video-blog made for news commentary, and not a video that was just uploaded.

More searching revealed that Matt Drudge had links to the video and stories related to the incident on his website The Drudge Report. Of the links, the one most disturbing is from The Smoking Gun, and reports that a McDonald's employee named Vernon "Charm" Hackett is reported to have "taken credit" for filming the beating at the McDonalds in Baltimore County.

The Smoking Gun explains that the beating happened this week, April 18th 2011, and at "McDonald’s location on Kenwood Avenue in Rosedale, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb."

Moreover, the account reports that Mr. Hackett said, on his since removed Facebook page, that the "women" was actually a cross-dressing man, who was in the woman's bathroom, as if that's justification for his actions in making the video, and the 14-year-old and 18-year-old girls who beat up the woman. Hackett also said the woman got up when police arrived.  Comments report the woman may have passed away, but that's not confirmed as of this writing.

Also, the other problem is race: the two girls are black and the woman is 22-years old and white. That fact ignites those who already have racist issues with African-Americans, forgetting that these problems in McDonald's restaurants happen regardless of race.

For evidence, I point to the fight at the McDonald's next to AT&T Park in San Francisco and during World Series Game Two. There, the people, 90 percent women, were black, white, and Latino, and the melee reportedly involved 70 people and was not racially motivated. Here's that video:



Again, the demographic that tends to commonly use McDonald's is multi-racial, but seems to be used to violent actions, as is clear in this video below. In it, there's no one in the crowd who's black; the crowd appears to be a mix of Latino and Asian (perhaps Filipino). Here's that video:



And in this video, the two people, described as "Drunk Kids," are both white:



And in the next video from a security camera at a McDonald's drive-in, the woman is white, and so upset she gets out of her car in an attempt to climb in the window go after the clerk. Here's that video:



So people who use the Baltimore McDonald's beating to make racist comments about blacks aren't helping the issue, and really are pointing a finger at themselves. They seems to not want to believe that the issue is far beyond race, and points to a kind of class-based problem.

This is all in the hands of McDonald's Corporation. It must take action to train its employees and select workers based on some kind of evaluation system that makes this action not likely to occur.

Stay tuned.

Bay Citizen's Ad Message Errors In YouTube Video

The Bay Citizen is not a newspaper, it's a news website. But looking at it's new ad campaign, you'd think the news organization was either taking a dead aim at print, some attempt at attention by confusion, or something else - but nothing having anything to do with a website, or bringing traffic to it.

The ads for the Bay Citizen, the year-old news website started with $5 million in financing from legendary San Francisco Investment Banker Warren Hellman, are all over the place in Oakland, from downtown to Lake Merritt, and populating AC Transit bus shelters. But who knows what they're about? No one, unless they happen to know the news website's managers.

The ads read "In Today's Journalism Truth Is Indeed Stranger Than Fiction," and has, in much smaller print, more gibberish, then finally BayCitizen.org way down at the bottom.

To prove this, I created a video today using an ad at an AC Transit Bus stop on the 600 Block of Grand Avenue and next to the intersection of Grand and MacArthur, just off the I-580 Grand Avenue Exit. The people I talked to about the ad took several seconds, well, really minutes, to figure out what it was referring to.

Here's the video:



Two women looked and guessed until admitting it was hard to figure out what was going on without reading it, and even then, as stated above and obvious in the video, the ad did not refer to a website until one read down to the very bottom of it.

Let's face it: most people just aren't going to do that, especially if they're whizzing by in a vehicle of some sort.

The second man I talked to agreed to be in the video, and said that he actually knows the managers connected with the Bay Citizen.  He agreed that the ad was not communicating the right message - that its readers should check out the the Bay Citizen online.   Then, he gave a recommendation fitting for Linkedin, that I would be a great consultant to them.

They don't have the guts to approach me.  Won't happen.

What The Bay Citizen is trying to do in terms of hyper-local coverage is understandable, but, as I've said before, hyper-local is hyper-stupid.   Without national and international news, it's traffic is far less than needed to sustain itself, and it's revenue potential far less.

The Bay Citizen needs to be repaired in many ways,  else, it will burn through Mr. Hellman's money, and stop running online.   

Cisco Talks Future Of Flip, Pisses Off Facebook Fans

Well, as if Cisco Systems upset enough people, including this blogger, with its announcement that it's discontinuing the Flip Video Camera, it's Facebook Page message called the "Future Of Flip" has pissed off Flip fans even more.

In a nutshell, Cisco says the following:

1) Tech support will be provided until December 31, 2013
2) If you buy a Flip, they will support the 1-year warranty
3) Flip Share Software and support will be available through December 31, 2013
4) Flip Video Cameras will be available online and in stores until supplies run out.

Finally, Cisco Systems reports:

The teams have been reading your comments from emails and our social media community pages and are touched by the overwhelming number of thoughts and messages.

We hope you will continue to have fun with your Flip video camera, and we appreciate your loyalty and business.

Well, this blogger's video message still stands:



But reading the Facebook page, there are a lot of people just as angry as I am for Cisco's action. Here's a sample of the comments:

Stacy Marie Arvelo-Kaegi - I got one as a gift the very same day Cisco announced their exit. :(......And I love it so much and so do my students. :)

Jinger S. Pasternak - I'm beyond angry! I bought my flip for near 200 bucks the day before this was even announced not to mention bought the extended warranty as well! So what happens in 3-4 years before my warranty ends and I need a replacement.. am I going to still get it? Doubt it! *pissed*

Peter Coopersmith - To NOT support flip share past 12/31/13, means the product becomes useless for the very pupose many bought the Flip. Most consumers assumed that a company the size of Ciso would not put out a product that they didn't plan on supporting for years to come. Cisco is using profoundly bad judgement... I will NEVER buy or SUPPORT another Cisco product. I have had Cisco rounter in my home for 20 years.... MY next purchase will be anything but...

Derek Hoiem - I'm even a CSCO shareholder and they should at least sell the company to someone who wants to buy and nurture it. There's a market and a future for pocket sized devices that do ONLY video. Just because phones have cameras doesn't mean that the digital camera market went away.

Robert Ng - Why buy the company and then kill it? SMH

Gina Elwood - Gill I recently used mine on a Patriot Guard Ride for a fallen hero. I too am sad to hear this. I will continue to use mine. (I won my Flip as a prize)

Chris Robinson - Well that sucks, My flip HD is less than a year old and now its gone the way of the vcr. I know thats a lil oversimplifying but it is what it is.

Or maybe more like a useful Pet Rock.

Mary Johnson - I love my flip, too... maybe someone *cough google* will buy it

Jill Cooper - the writing was on the wall with all the smart phones... but I still love my flip and like someone else said, I'll use it until it dies.

Tom Levier - Stupid stupid stupid...

Mark Frank - why not just try selling flip div.?

Alison Heller - So sad you guys are closing. iphone cameras don't compare. The videos I post here with my Flip are clear, beautiful and good quality. iPhone videos are grainy and sound like putting a child in a garbage disposal. I think you're making a huge mistake. I NEVER use my phone as a video camera. I use my Flip.

John Tucker - Contact Cisco and let them know of your disappointment and concern. Hopefully they will listen if they get enough emails.

Whatever the case, Cisco's done it again: proved that it totally missed the social media boat in promoting Flip Video Cameras in the first place.  And the Forbes blog post stating that Cisco "probably" made the right move is completely baseless; the post doesn't even explain why the move was a good one.

Stay tuned, and check out the blog Love My Flip!

David Letterman Lectures Katie Couric On Leaving CBS News

Yep, the title "David Letterman Lectures Katie Couric On Leaving CBS News" is appropriate, although this blogger was toying with the title "David Letterman kicks Katie Couric's butt for Leaving CBS News," but it reads a bit too harsh.

Just a bit, but that's essentially what Letterman did earlier this week. It was a funny segment overall, because Couric, who has been the face of CBS News since 2006, was shaking her leg, eager to get on with the subject of her, rather than deal with David Letterman's constant recapping of World events. Katie handled the onslaught with considerable aplomb, but it was really obvious she was impatient.

Then, after a commercial break, he brought up the subject of her leaving CBS News, and she said she didn't know when it was going to be, that she would really depart. Then, after a small exchange, Letterman went into that "lecture rant" that was most famously seen when he got after Paris Hilton after she was released from jail after a DUI conviction.

David tore Paris Hilton a new one in 2007 "How did you like being in jail?":



Classic.

With Katie, it's equally funny to me, because, here she is in the Chair Of Cronkite, and after just five years, wants to give it up? For what, basketweaving? Katie should stay there, even if there's a money issue; make it work another way.

But American Television News needs a person who grew to Cronkite's stature. PAY ATTENTION - I said "grow," OK.

I'd hoped it would be Katie Couric, who I have nothing but love for.

I'm just disappointed in her.

Oakland Hard Boiled Eggs On Earth Day, Good Friday Before Easter Sunday

Ok, what is the title, "Oakland Hard Boiled Eggs On Earth Day, Good Friday Before Easter Sunday ," all about? It's the result of this blogger's desire to get some Oakland-related content out to a wider audience, coupled with the fact that, as of this writing "Hard Boiled Eggs" is the top search trend on Google Trends, and "Easter Sunday" is something like eight positions down, yet this Sunday, and today's Good Friday and Earth Day, too.

It's also about the sheer problem of so much content now, it's hard to get a word out that is seen by a lot of people, without resorting to what will be called the "Oakland Hard Boiled Eggs On Earth Day, Good Friday Before Easter Sunday," approach.

Oakland Human Trafficking Fight Update

For those who may have missed my video, Missey.org held a rally and protest on Wednesday to bring attention to the stretch of 14th Street, also called International Boulevard, that is plagued by child prostitution. Here's the video:



And visit Zennie62 On YouTube.com, too!

Nice Rotunda Event For Richard Winnie

The passing of my friend Richard Winnie brought out 500 people to The Oakland Rotunda yesterday, and for those who attended, it was not just a wonderful event honoring a great person, but kind of an Oakland Reunion, of sorts.

Without naming names, because I think it's cheesy to do that in the discussion of a funeral, it's just best to say that you realize how, for people who choose to get involved in improving Oakland, we're all one big family. We may not like each other, or we might love each other, but the one thing we can all agree on is that, like Richard Winnie, we care about Oakland. That's something to smile about before Easter Sunday.

But the thought I can't escape is that, with every passing of every Oaklander, we lose a little bit of the city as we knew it. Just what it's becoming is something we all need to talk about. It also brings up a weird idea I call The New Oaklanders Party - a kind of event that presents the City to people who are new to it. I just came up with that off the top of my head.

And another query: why is it that Seattle's coffee shops have women in bikinis serving it hot, and Oakland's don't? Is Oakland really that neurotically boring?

Hmmm...

Oakland Birthday Celebration For Porche Jefferson At Lake Merritt

Two Sunday's ago, I saw a growing, rolling party on Lake Merritt, and got out of a cab just to make a video of it. So, if you're wondering what all the Haiti flags and dancing was all about, it was a celebration of the birthday of dance teacher Porche Jefferson, who works out of the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts on Alice Street. Here's the video:



Never met Porche Jefferson, but she's got to be a special teacher for an event like that to happen!

Oakland Bankrupt?

We also need to talk about this issue of Oakland possibly declaring bankruptcy. No, not in a "when will it happen" way, but in a "What may happen if it does" way. What bothers me is that, while the Oakland City Council avoids talking openly about the issue, the collective should be presenting the scenario to the public, not avoiding it.

Oaklanders should know what would happen under the condition that Oakland goes bankrupt. Don't you think so?

So that's the task for the Mayor of Oakland and the City Council: tell us what this possible worst-case condition will look like. Even if it doesn't happen, and we all hope it does not.

A Useful Oakland Twitter Tweet:

northoaklandnow Oakland North
Egg hunts, tree plantings, community clean ups, nature walks -- an Earth Day/Easter edition of This Weekend In Oakland! http://bit.ly/gpVxQm

Oakland A's Brandon McCarthy Doing Well

Some baseball news: Swinin A's reports that pitcher Brandon McCarthy's logged 30 innings, has a 1-1 record, and a 2.10 ERA, and all in his first four starts as a member of the A's. Not bad.

Oh. Follow Zennie62 on Twitter for a good time!

Oakland East Bay Paratransit Driver Texting

A Twitter Tweet to note:

CallingTyrone Tyrone Tobias
Why did I just see the East Bay ParaTransit driver swaying on the 580, while txting and driving?!? #SMH #imjustsaying #ItIsWhatItIs #Oakland

Oakland Restaurants Don't Get Social Media'

You can tell a lot of Oakland Restaurants just don't get social media and social broadcasting by the number of them that aren't on Twitter, or if they are, that don't regularly tweet using an #Oakland hashtag, or any useful #hashtag at all.

Being on Twitter is like using a giant billboard: if you put something on it, depending on how and where it's positioned, thousands will see it. Plus, it sits there online forever, or at least for a degree of time that might as well be considered that.  And combine your Twitter effort with Foursquare, and you're really on to something!

In fact, think about it as that: a billboard. You know a lot of people are going to see it, because people are there - you just have to get their attention, right?

That's what people just don't get: you have to do social media to get social media, even though I hate the term "social media" and prefer the term "social broadcasting" because that's what you're doing.

Wow. There's a lot more I could say, but I'd give away my consulting secrets.

The 2011 NFL Draft Next Week

This blogger will attend his 7th consecutive NFL Draft, so starting Wednesday, it will be all NFL Draft until the following Monday.

Oh. Follow Zennie62 on Twitter for a good time!

Did I say that already?

Happy Easter, Good Friday, and Earth Day!

Frank McCourt Vs. MLB, Bud Selig, And LA Dodgers' Financial Woes

The issues with Major League Baseball and The Los Angeles Dodgers are heating up and it looks like the only place that the two sides are going to achieve relief is court.

According to TMZ.com, the owner of the Dodgers have said he's ready to go to legal battle against Baseball, who, in the form of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, has announced that it's set to takeover the Dodgers.

Mccourt and his lawyers will seek a a mandatory injunction against MLB, and from the perspective that the league's actions were "arbitrary and capricious" in working to take over the storied West Coast franchise.

TMZ.com reports the legal action "is not imminent."

Meanwhile, Commissioner Selig is quite clear about his intent, saying that it's his "unwavering commitment" to the maintenance of the game, and because of his "deep concerns" for the state of The Dodgers.

What's The Problem With The Dodgers?

While the franchise has had attendance problems, the real issue is the way Frank McCourt has handled the finances of the team. Frank McCourt has rang up $459 million in debt for the organization.

And from a baseball business perspective, it's going to take a massive cutting of star players and raising of ticket prices, and a winning franchise, to make up for the difference.

The Dodgers problem is further compounded by the fact that to make that happen takes another load of debt to clear that debt, then a pay off of that.

That's the most ideal solution situation.

In 2008, The Dodgers revenue was $241 million, and expenses are reportedly far over that. The first step will be to reduce expenses, perhaps to dramatically low levels, then to produce a totally new team on the field, then either replace the current management or count on the current group to coach the new team to a winning place.

Winning is the only marketing tool the Dodgers have in their favor. Realistically, the organization can't afford to spend a lot of money of marketing, and taking what would have to be a kind of "bootstrap" approach will have to be the strategy for the future.

Stay tuned.

2011 NFL DRAFT: An overview of the top Offensive Linemen

This is the 9th Installment of the "Pro Draft Report" presented by Football Reporters Online)

By Mark Kern-Writing Intern-Football Reporters Online



1. Mike Pouncey OL. 6’5’’ 303lbs 5.28 40 yd.

Pouncey is the brother of Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey. Blessed with the same talent as his brother, Mike has a chance to be a very good lineman. He has all the physical tools and knows how to play. One thing Pouncey needs to do is to get a little stronger. Defensive lineman that are very strong are able to go through them every once in a while. Look for Mike to join his brother in being a first round pick somewhere around 13-18.

2. Tyron Smith OT 6’5’’ 307lbs 5.10 40yd.

Smith is an extremely raw tackle. He is not as polished as some of the other lineman in the draft, but is believed to have the most potential. He is a very athletic big man who can get out in lead the running back down the field. Will probably start out on the right side of the line, but has the capability to eventually play the left tackle for many years. He should be off the board right around the same time Pouncey does.

3. Anthony Costanzo OT 6’7’’ 295 5.2 40yd.

Constanzo is very intelligent football player that is going to play hard every play. Constanzo really excels in pass blocking; which he shown in a match-up with another potential first round pick DaQuan Bowers of Clemson. A slight on him is that he is tends to not keep the same intensity for lesser opponents. That will need to be fix as there are no plays off in the NFL. Overall, another outstanding lineman in this class and should be off the board from 18-21 in the first round.

4. Gabe Camiri OT 6’7’’ 325 lbs. 5.03 40 yd.

Camiri was a standout lineman that featured one of the best ground games in the country. He showed how good he was going against standout defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Heyward. He also showed a very good ability to get his block early and then get to the linebackers. He needs to get stronger in the legs and work on his footwork. Camiri will not make it past the Eagles at 23 and the Chiefs at 21 could take him as well.

5. Nate Solder OT 6’8’’ 319 lbs 4.96 40 yd.

Solder is a freak athlete. He weighs 320 pounds and is able to run a sub 5.0 40 yd. dash. This impressive athleticism including his incredible makes it very tough for the defensive end to get around him. A negative is that he only benched 225 21 times, so a lot of people say that he is weak and will struggle with big d-lineman. However, if you could get him to get stronger while keeping his athleticism, then you have a potential star at tackle. He will go in the later first round possibly to the Jets or Steelers.

6. Derrick Sherrod OT 6’5’’ 308 pounds 5.18 40 yd.

He is very athletic for a man his size. Once he gets his hands on you, he does not seem to let you go. When he gets someone smaller than him, he sometimes gets lazy and just tries to lean on them causing himself to lose his balance. Overall, he is a solid lineman who will be a bargain in the middle of the second round.

7. Danny Watkins T 6’4’’ 310 lbs. 5.46 40 yd.

He is the opposite of Solder. Watkins is kind of the old school a lot nastier physical lineman. Takes it upon himself to make sure the quarterback does not get hit. He was a huge reason why the Baylor Bears offense was so improved and helped lead them to a bowl. Watkins is still raw on his blocking and the fact that he will be 27 to start his rookie season will make some people pass on him. Smith will probably be an early 2nd round pick with a chance of sneaking in at the end of the first round if teams start drafting lineman.


8. Rodney Hudson C 6’2’’ 288 lbs 5.08 40 yd .

Hudson is a very athletic lineman that gets out and leads on the sweeps. He has a great understanding for the game and is able to help the quarterback out by making sure his lineman know who has who on different blitzes. Not extremely big guy that does have a tendency to struggle with the big defensive tackles. If drafted into a system that likes the quicker linemen, could develop into a very solid pro for many years.

9. Stefen Wisniewski, G 6’3’’ 295 lbs 5.11 40 yd.

Started the sixth game of the sixth game his freshman year and was the starter after that. He is thought to be a center and the NFL and with his athleticism has a real chance to be an elite center. A negative is that he struggles with his balance against a quick smaller rusher. He is the nephew of former pro-bowl and current Oakland Raiders offensive line coordinator Steve Wesniewski. There is a possibility that he could be reunited with his uncle early in the second round, but look for him to go more towards the later part of the second.

10. Ben Ijalana-OT/OG 6"3-1/4" 320 5.36 40 Yd.

Started 53 games for FCS powerhouse Villanova of the CAA. A quality lineman with very good feet and hands and good frame. Very bright young man who should have little trouble learning the NFL game if he has a year to "ease in." Better then average balance and flexibility. Not always as explosive off the snap as you might like, but can improve that with the right finishing. Might not be a OLT for most teams but could play anywhere else on the line.



11. Marcus Gilbert G/T 6’6’’ 315 lbs 5.53 40 yd.

Gilbert is extremely tough to get around as a defensive lineman. He is a very fluid athlete that shows the ability to get to the second level and block. Has a real tendency to just not put out the effort that is needed. He also does not finish blocks like he should. Talent-wise, he has the potential to be a high round draft pick, and if he can get his lazy streaky fixed, could be a huge steal in the third round.



12. James Carpenter OT 6’5 300lbs 5.02 40 yd.

Carpenter is another very athletic offensive lineman in this class. He went to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas to develop before going to Alabama and performing very well. He is very good at getting out and blocking downfield for his running back. He tends to block to finesse and does not just deliver the devastating block he is capable of. He is going to need some good coaching, but in the right system could be a very effective right tackle. He will probably be drafted in the second to third round

Sleeper: Marcus Cannon OT 6’6’’ 355 lbs 5.36 40 yd.

Cannon is as big as lineman as you will find. What has the scouts loving him is that for his size, he is extremely athletic and agile. He is very strong in the upper body bench-pressing 225 33 times. His main weakness is that he does not have a high football I.Q. He does not read a blitz very well, causing him to whiff on some blocks. However, the size and athleticism is too good to knock take a chance, he could go as high as 2nd round, but will probably go late third.

Cholera in Haiti: A Muckraker's Reward for looking at actual Muck

In today's hyper-evolving social media, with GPS mapping and crowd-sourcing of vast amounts of information, it might seem quaint, if not downright foolish, to believe that old school journalism's low-tech and low-cost approaches - a pen, a pad, and shoe-leather investigation - could result in an article that ignites a global furor. We're talking about an article that spread almost instantly around the world, irrevocably reframing a massive health crisis and probably  changing international policies for years to come.

But it's true. Jonathan Katz, an Associated Press reporter in Haiti, did just that last fall.

Cholera is an old-fashioned disease. Cholera could be eradicated worldwide with a single proven approach in use since Victorian times: a reliable sewer system. It's easy to get caught up in obfuscating technologies like genetic footprints and resistance patterns and bio-plankton reservoirs. But the symbol of cholera's inevitable demise is the simple toilet.

A decent sewer system absolutely stops the spread of cholera. So when the initially wild-sounding, conspiracy-theoryish rumors that peacekeepers had brought cholera to Haiti were running rampant, the UN issued a statement defending the base. It said the Nepalese unit there used seven sealed septic tanks built to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and emptied every week by a private company to a landfill  a safe 820 feet from the river.

But armed with only a pad, a pen, "and maybe my point-and-shoot-digital camera," Katz broke a story worldwide, in much the same way that the Rev. Henry Whitehead nailed the final controversy about cholera's source during the 1854 Broad Street pump outbreak.

Read More...

Brad Watson, WFAA-TV Dallas Obama Diss Gets Media Jerk Award

What to make of the actions of TV reporter Brad Watson of WFAA-TV Dallas, in the wake of the revelation that he was rude to President Barack Obama? This corner gives Mr. Watson and WFAA-TV the media jerk award.

There's a standing rule that people like Fox News Bill O'Reilly, and now this guy break, and it's got to be put to a stop: you don't treat the President Of The United States rudely.

The exchange that sent off the Internet buzzing about this terrible excuse for an interviewer is here:

Wow. It's no wonder the media's all over Brad Watson. At least the media that's outside of Dallas, where WFAA seems be enjoying the coverage. The Texas media was never this mean to President Clinton. No wonder Dallas Super Bowl was cursed with the worst weather ever for a Super Bowl.

Why did Watson do it?  Well, think about it.  Until now, have you ever heard of Brad Watson?

See. 

Brad Watson and WFAA-TV should never be allowed back into the White House.

Meanwhile, at least this blogger can allow even common people he disagrees with  to finish their ideas, as I did  in this video from President Obama's San Francisco visit:



If you're reading this, and think Watson's behavior was OK, you're not a good person. Sorry. That's the truth.

Obama Visit To San Francisco: Protestors Few, But Vocal

As this blog post is written, President Barack Obama's undoubtedly holding court in San Francisco's Masonic Auditorium. And while a substantial crowd turned out to see him, well into the 2,000 range if not more by estimate, there were some protestors. Frankly, only a handful of them and far out-numbered by Obama supporters.

Including this blogger.

The San Francisco Police officers I talked to said that everything was orderly, or as one cop put it: "Well, we haven't had to arrest anyone and take them to jail." Which makes an officers job easy: all they had to do was stand around and watch, and there were a lot of them who did that.

Police and security were all around the Masonic and the Nob Hill area, from two blocks uphill to two blocks downhill, and even on the roof of the theater itself. Everywhere you looked, security was superbly visible.

I didn't stay long enough to get a glimpse of the President's vehicle, but I did have a number of on video conversations.   Most notable were with people I disagree with.  While I talked to folks who support Obama as I do, it's fun to chat with people who have different points of view.  Some understandable, others worthy of challenge, and some just plain, er, different. 

Here's one example.

My first talk with a man I see at almost every notable political event I've attended in San Francisco and Oakland over the years. He's a small Asian gentleman who carries a sign that reads "Thornburgh" and other words, and when you talked to him years ago, would say "Oja Wallah, Okgie, Gaga."

Well, that's what it sounded like to me.

Now, he's much more intelligible: "Well, I met Channel Five and some of the news people, and told em about the populations of other galaxies that - that I'm the movie star."

Well, at least that's an improvement over year's past.

More serious and far more intelligible was the group of Armenian-Americans who say President Obama has not kept his campaign pledge to recognize The Armenian Genocide on the eve of its 96th anniversary.

The woman with the Statue of Liberty crown said "I'm pretty sure he's (not recognizing The Armenian Genocide) because the American Government has very good relations with the Turkish Government."

I checked this, and according to the New York Times, President Obama did acknoweldge the terrible event, but did so without alienating Turkey. Obama said:

"On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that 95 years ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began. In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire."

While that's not enough, and does fall short of his campaign statements, it went a long way beyond what other American presidential administrations have done. For example, Bill Clinton worked to block an Armenian Genocide bill from passing the house, and Obama's statement directly used the word "genocide" whereas Clinton's statement of April 24, 2000, and of years before, did not.

But that's the thing some Liberal activists don't see with President Obama: he's good at moving the needle in the direction they desire on most issues, but they want him to push the thing all the way to redline. Thus, the source of much of Liberal angst about Obama. Not in this corner, however.

Almost nothing the President has done has disappointed me, except the Economic Stimulus Package: it should have been 1.2 trillion or 1.5 trillion in size, not $800 million. The problem was former Economic Advisor Larry Summers deliberately hid the bigger package from the President, because he and other advisors didn't think Congress would go for it because of its' size.

That was dumb, played to the overall "dumbing down" of America, and got us into more trouble, because now, after the 2010 Midterm Election, it's harder to get any stimulus through because of a set of massively thick-headed Republicans who either forgot or didn't learn basic macroeconomics.  Someone needs to tell those knuckleheads the "G" in GDP = C+I+G+(E-I) stands for GOVERNMENT!!

But I digress. 

The economic conversation spilled over into my talk with a nice man by the way of Michael Lyon, who did not support Obama in 2008 (or anyone) and says today that Obama is "captive" of corporate America, and wants to reduce Social Security.

Nuts.

Mr. Lyon said on video he would be open to be proven wrong, and here it come, his reason for change of his mind.

According to The Huffington Post, Obama said he would not slash or reduce Social Security benefits. Where Mr. Lyon got the opposite idea, I do not know.

But, at least Mr. Lyon's open to listening. That's more than I can say for a lot of "birthers."

And Donald Trump.

Stay tuned.

Oakland Human Trafficking Rally Draws Mayor Quan

This, in a strange way, is a follow-up to my blog of Sunday called Oakland Rapper Alleged Sex Predator? It started with a totally unrelated phone call from a friend, who asked me to cover a rally planned for the Wednesday of this week; the rally featured in the video that was made today.

Oakland's faced with an enormous problem: human trafficking. Human trafficking is where children, girls, are literally bought and sold for sex. According to the FBI, Oakland has been a hotbed for this activity, and has maintained this distinction since 2003.

The rally, organized by Nola Brantley, the Executive Director of Missey.org, (in photo) met at 19th and International Boulevard today, and drew a crowd of about 200 people, including Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who then marched down the street, some carrying signs of protest against the activity.

How bad is it? It's so bad that a prostitute was seen on that corner at about 10:30 AM that morning, and one onlooker said he could not talk about it on camera because his friend talked and got shot. Not kidding.

Mayor Quan and Ms. Brantley says that we all must get involved in stopping this major problem in Oakland. But even with the FBI's 2003 designation, Mayor Quan says the street part of the problem is less than it was then, but now we have The Internet. "I think there's was a lot more prostitution in Oakland, when I was first elected (as councilmember) eight years ago. Many more streets. I think now, unfortunately, much of it has gone off the streets and online. And we have a whole undercover group that just answers Internet ads, and bus people that way."

And while incidents of child prostitution are less than years ago, Mayor Quan says that Oakland Police are arresting people for online child prostitution activities much more than in the past.

Ms. Brantley says who to blame for the problem isn't one person, but all of us, society as a whole. "If we have a problem in '03 and we (still) have a problem in '11, then something ain't being done about it."

You can get involved in helping stop child prostitution by visiting Missey.org, or attending a fund-raiser Thursday, April 21, at Z Cafe, at 27th and Broadway in Oakland from 5 PM to 11 PM.