Easter Sunday: On Pastor Rob Bell And Hell ( Author: Love Wins)

Hopefully everyone had a happy Easter and Passover. I happened upon an article in TIME Magazine about 42-year-old Pastor Rob Bell and the idea that Hell may not exist, while watching the Lakers v. Hornets NBA Playoff Game. (The kind of thing I do after a big Easter meal with my Mom and Godparents - have a mix of the entertaining and thought-provolking.)

Pastor Rob Bell's book, Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, is one I've not read, yet. But the presentation of the basic idea of the book as explained by TIME, is that Pastor Bell holds that regardless of our belief in Jesus and the Lord, all of us will be admitted to Heaven. Period.

The concept is called "universalism," and while I don't have a massive problem with it, I also choose not to believe it. Although Pastor Bell's take does make any reasonable person think about their belief system.

So far, mine has been reinforced on this Easter.

To this blogger, if one believes in Heaven, which is good, then one must believe in Hell, which represents that which is bad. Moreover, there are a set of behavioral systems that lead one to a "Heavenly" good soul. I prefer to maintain that path, and to battle evil.

My take on Pastor Bell's idea is that it lets evil off the hook, and makes it OK for Hitler to run amok: for evil to basically do evil.

MSNBC's Martin Bashir recently interviewed Bell, and tried, I guess, to trip him up by starting off with a question about how God regards the events in Japan. That was the wrong take. What Bashir should have asked Bell is, does he believe Hilter is in Heaven?



That would have been a more interesting conversation.

What do you think?

Stay tuned.

Football Reporters' NFL Mock Draft-A Palooza 2011

By the Staff of Football Reporters Online with Special Guests

This past Thursday evening was very special for us at The FRO! Not only was it our annual Mock Draft-A-Palooza Show it was also the 3rd Anniversary of our First Broadcast on Blog Talk radio! To date we have had over 1.7 Million live listeners and total downloads. We want to thank our listeners for their support, and to all of our Mock Draft GM's, Our regular staff that took part, Bill Carroll, Don Stokes, and Ralph Garcia, Anthony Carrillo, Our new writing intern Mark Kern of Kansas State, as well as several Guest GM's for the evening, Matt Elder, Eric Dolan, Joel Barker from First Round Exchange, and our "Celebrity" Draft Prospect who joined us, Mike Montoya, a RB from Laurier College in Canada. Here then we present our 2011 Mock Draft-a-Palooza!

1.

Carolina Panthers- Nick Fairley





2.

Denver Broncos- Marcel Darius

3.

Buffalo Bills- Cam Newton

4.

Cincinnati Bengals- A.J Green





5.

Arizona Cardinals- Von Miller

6.

Cleveland Browns- Robert Quinn





7.

San Francisco 49ers- Patrick Petersen

8.

Tennessee Titans-Julio Jones

9.

Dallas Cowboys- Prince Akamura

10.

Washington Redskins- Jake Locker

11.

Houston Texans- Cameron Jordan

12.

Minnesota Vikings- Blaine Gabbert

13.

Detroit Lions- Tyrone Smith





14.

St. Louis Rams- Anthony Castonzo

15.

Miami Dolphins- Mike Pouncey





16.

Jacksonville Jaguars- Da Quan Bowers

17.

New England (from Oakland)- JJ Watts





18.

San Diego Chargers-Corey Liuget





19.

New York Giants- Ben Ijalana

20.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mohammad Wilkerson





21.

Kansas City Chiefs- Aldon Smith

22.

Indianapolis Colts- Derrek Sherrod

23.

Philadelphia Eagles- Mark Ingram Jr.





24.

New Orleans Saints- Ryan Kerrigan







25.

Seattle Seahawks- Jimmy Smith





26.

Baltimore Ravens-Torrey Smith





27.

Atlanta Falcons- Gabe Carimi





28.

New England Patriots-Nate Solder





29.

Chicago Bears- Ras-I-Dowling

30.

New York Jets-Phil Taylor





31.

Pittsburgh Steelers-Kyle Rudolph





32.

Green Bay Packers- Cameron Heyward

Chrissy Lee Polis - McDonalds Beating Victim Baltimore Speaks

Here's a major update in the case of the "Violent Beating In McDonald's Baltimore County Restaurant:" Chrissy Lee Pollis, the beating victim, is alive and well, thank God, and talked to the Baltimore Sun via video on Saturday.

Polis confirmed that the beating actions in the video, and by the 14-year-old girl, and the 18-year-old-girl were a hate crime against her. It really more seems that it was because she was talking to "their men." You have to listen to the video, and remember that we're talking about teenagers who are 14 and 18 years old.

"Well, by the time I got there, the guy told me I needed to order something if I was going to use the bathroom," Polis said, "but I was there, really to use the bathroom. A guy approached me, asked me how I was doin. So I said 'Not now.' So I went to go and use the bathroom, and come out and the girl spit in my face, and said 'Are you trying to talk to my man. 'No, I didn't know that was your man at all.'

Chrissy says the other girl came up and spit in her face, and started 'ripping my hair. Throwing me on the floor.' And that's when the beating started that was captured on video.



So, according to Chrissy's statement, the girls didn't call her race names, or refer to her being a trans-sexual, so this blogger's confused. Emotions aside, thinking cap on, it looks like there were two violent teenagers who were just looking for a fight.

The McDonald's employee named Vernon "Charm" Hackett is reported to have "taken credit" for filming the beating, said that the woman we now know as Chrissy Lee Pollis was a "man," so from that perspective, it does look like some one of the three: the two girls and Hackett, at some point knew she was a trans-sexual, and that was used as additional motivation for their actions.

But their original motivation was teenage girl jealously. Still, regardless, it was ugly and both should be prosecuted.

McDonald's Employees Just Stood There

In the video statement, Chrissy Lee Polis says that the McDonald's Employees "all sat their and watched. They all sat there and watched." Ms. Polis says that one of the girl attackers (though it's not clear because her words come as she's talking about the McDonald's Employees) prevented her from calling the police.

McDonald's Restaurant At Fault

The bottom line, is that McDonald's Restaurant is at fault for this, and there's no getting around it. The employees of the McDonald's store just sat and watched the incident unfold, and then the camera guy tried to warn the girls the police were on their way.

This is outrageously bad for a corporation to have employees who would even think to act like that.

The Racists Come Out - Go Away

Equally offensive are the racists who come out and leave stupid comments containing their psychotic ideas about African Americans. In the case of my YouTube channel, I have proudly blocked and banned people, and not to curtain their speech because I disagree with it, but because the speech in its way is as verbally abusive as the two girls were physically abusive to Chrissy Lee Polis.

Two wrongs do not make a right, and as Martin Luther King said, an eye-for-an-eye leaves us all blind.

The good people of America have to stop hiding and take back their country from the bad people, like the racists and the girls in the video. We have to say 'Enough Is Enough; and mean it. I certainly do.

Beyond Race And Color

This incident reflects a problem with the teenage demographic that goes to McDonalds, and it touches all races. Moreover, it seems - seems - that women, really teenage girls, are far more involved in these violent stories than boys.

This is but a snap-shot of a problem that impacts American schools, and where teenage girls are regularly involved in sexual activity at school, and in some cases right in class. So, the problem is beyond race and has come because of the rise of single-parent families and not enough good job opportunities for them.

Moreover, I've noticed that when black and Latino teenage girls were having kids at rates that were gaining notice, it was a "problem in the black and Latino community," but when white teenage girls do it, they have TV shows called "Teen Mom," and the girls wind up on the cover of gossip magazines like Star and US Weekly.

All of this rhetorical crap masks the real problem of teenage violence and sexual activity. And now, it's out of hand. My fear is the racists will try and stop us from getting to this real problem.

Something's really screwed up. But the racists need to stay out of this, and go home.

Stay tuned.

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...