The Obama State of The Union Address is tonight, and presents what could be the beginning of the end of his problems depending on his course of action. President Barack Obama, normally politically brilliant, has made a critical intellectual error in the decision to place a freeze on discretionary spending for three years.
It's a proposal President Obama claims will save $250 billion. The problem with his proposal is its timing; there's no evidence that the freeze is needed now. While U.S. debt level is high at 11.4 trillion, the country's debt load capacity is by no means threatened. The need is to increase economic production, thus lowering the percentage of Gross Domestic Product that is the U.S. Debt.
That's the objective missing in the Congressional Budget Office's irresponsible debt statement today. Irresponsible because it failed to discuss the need to grow the economy to reduce the debt.
What President Obama and his economic team needs is a refresher course in basic economics. Aggregate Demand (AD) is Consumption plus Business Investment, plus Government Spending, minus Imports, plus Exports. Right now, Consumption, Business Investment, and Exports are all lower than they were even three years ago; so low the overall economy contracted where GDP was less than that three years before, thus the recession. The need is to rapidly increase AD and the only way to do that is via Government Spending.
The problem is that the Economic Stimulus Package was not large enough; it should have been $2 trillion in size. It is focused too much on maintaining the social safety net and helping local government infrastructure. But the vast majority of America's economy is based on small service businesses. We now have the cottage-industry economy futurists like Daniel Bell predicted decades ago in The Coming of Post-Industrial Society.
In a 21st Century America where technical jobs and services have been creamed by the credit-crunch, the Obama path ignores the post-industrial sector purely in favor of construction. Even as roads and bridges are built, the small business service sector goes without assistance. The idea was for service firms to be helped by spending in infrastructure, but that trickle-down concept does not have the same wide-spread impact as in saving an auto plant or General Motors.
The Economic Stimulus package is missing direct subsidies for firms that make products in the United States, and a basic "tax-payer bailout" of $5,000 for every American taxpayer below $100,000 in income. That amount, even if some use it to pay off credit card debt, will result in improved credit ratings.
The President could issue a controversial executive order establishing credit card rate controls. The end result would be a dramatic spending spur that would save jobs, create new ones, and fuel business development investment. The consumer is key but needs Government's help to be effective.
Somewhere in the course of the first year of his first term, President Obama got bad advise, probably from Larry Summers, who has no business being the head of Obama's Economic Team. Larry Summers and U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner should be fired and replaced by Princeton Economist Paul Krugman and TIAA-CREF CEO Roger Ferguson, respectively.
It's time for Obama to right his ship and get back on course. The President will not do it with the State of The Union Address, but he can do it before the year is over.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
City of Oakland stupidity: parking meters cost more than revenue gain
In this dramatic example of City of Oakland fiscal stupidity: the proposed 250 parking meter locations for new meters will cost more to install than the $146,000 revenue gain expected.
The previous Oakland Parking blog post on this focused on this email sent out by Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel's (District 3 - downtown Oakland, West Oakland) Office:
At the same Oakland City Council meeting of October 6, Councilmember Desley Brooks asked for an estimate of the cost to install parking meters; she did not receive an answer to her question that night.
Here's the answer:
In 2007 the City of Oakland arranged $4.8 million in financing to purchase 500 parking meters. At $4.8 million, it costs $2.4 million to install 250 new parking meters. That means the City of Oakland will spend $2.4 million just to raise $146,000.
That's stupid. There's no other kinder word for this, and its time for tough, no-holds-barred talk here. If the City has $2.4 million to spend, that means it does need to raise $146,000, it just needs to reassign the $2.4 million in spending. What's going on in Oakland City Hall?
Stay tuned.
The previous Oakland Parking blog post on this focused on this email sent out by Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel's (District 3 - downtown Oakland, West Oakland) Office:
From: Todd, Amber On Behalf Of City Administrator's Office
Subject: RE: Locating additional parking meters per Council direction on
October 6, 2009
Dear Council Members:
To realize $146,000 in additional revenue in FY 2009-10, the Oakland
City Council directed staff at the October 6, 2009 meeting to identify
250 possible locations to install additional parking meters. Staff in
Parking Administration and Public Works worked together and produced the
attached list which suggests possible locations where additional meters
could be installed. To give flexibility in generating revenue, the
attached list contains 470 possible locations for additional meters.
Staff plans to return to the Finance and Management Committee in
February to obtain approval for installing additional meters. During
the month of January, Parking Administration and Public Works staff
would like to work with members of your staff to reach out to and seek
feedback from potentially impacted merchants and other stakeholders.
Parking staff will contact members of your staff this week to discuss
the development and implementation of outreach efforts related to
installing additional parking meters.
Should you have any questions, you may contact Tom DiSanto in Parking
Administration at 986-2687.
Sincerely,
City Administrator's Office
At the same Oakland City Council meeting of October 6, Councilmember Desley Brooks asked for an estimate of the cost to install parking meters; she did not receive an answer to her question that night.
Here's the answer:
In 2007 the City of Oakland arranged $4.8 million in financing to purchase 500 parking meters. At $4.8 million, it costs $2.4 million to install 250 new parking meters. That means the City of Oakland will spend $2.4 million just to raise $146,000.
That's stupid. There's no other kinder word for this, and its time for tough, no-holds-barred talk here. If the City has $2.4 million to spend, that means it does need to raise $146,000, it just needs to reassign the $2.4 million in spending. What's going on in Oakland City Hall?
Stay tuned.
City of Oakland Parking Issue: Oakland wants more parking meters
The City of Oakland's desire to earn more revenue on the backs of Oakland's poor continues. This email, sent out by Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel's Office, reveals the first hand insensitivity of the City of Oakland during what many are still calling an economic recession and in a city with 17 percent unemployment and even more not working or underemployed.
The email below calls for locating additional parking meters "as Per Council Direction" on October 6, 2009. This is in reverse of the desires of Oaklanders for fewer parking meters.
Parking meters call for the same kind of draconian ticketing and enforcement practices that have overloaded Oaklanders with parking tickets and resulted in the towing of cars after five tickets were accumulated. Here's the email that shows the City of Oakland's irresponsiblity toward Oaklanders, and why the Oakland City Council should reconsider its policies or risk losing office, one-by-one, when each councilmembers reelection time comes up.
From: Todd, Amber On Behalf Of City Administrator'
s Office
Subject: RE: Locating additional parking meters per Council direction on
October 6, 2009
Note the email does not consider Oaklanders, and impacted merchants don't want the meters either. As this blogger calmly told one Oakland Councilmember after that person yelled in my ear, there are other ways to raise $146,000, but on the other hand, the City Council will have to do what President Obama's doing, and ordering a spending freeze where possible. That should include a reduction in salaries.
It's about time the City of Oakland adjust to economic realities and stop trying to act like some thuggish gangster, throwing a fiscal choke-chain around Oaklanders, shaking them down and forcing them to cough up money they don't have.
Stay tuned.
Oakland City Council squeezes Oakland
The email below calls for locating additional parking meters "as Per Council Direction" on October 6, 2009. This is in reverse of the desires of Oaklanders for fewer parking meters.
Parking meters call for the same kind of draconian ticketing and enforcement practices that have overloaded Oaklanders with parking tickets and resulted in the towing of cars after five tickets were accumulated. Here's the email that shows the City of Oakland's irresponsiblity toward Oaklanders, and why the Oakland City Council should reconsider its policies or risk losing office, one-by-one, when each councilmembers reelection time comes up.
From: Todd, Amber On Behalf Of City Administrator'
s Office
Subject: RE: Locating additional parking meters per Council direction on
October 6, 2009
Dear Council Members:
To realize $146,000 in additional revenue in FY 2009-10, the Oakland
City Council directed staff at the October 6, 2009 meeting to identify
250 possible locations to install additional parking meters. Staff in
Parking Administration and Public Works worked together and produced the
attached list which suggests possible locations where additional meters
could be installed. To give flexibility in generating revenue, the
attached list contains 470 possible locations for additional meters.
Staff plans to return to the Finance and Management Committee in
February to obtain approval for installing additional meters. During
the month of January, Parking Administration and Public Works staff
would like to work with members of your staff to reach out to and seek
feedback from potentially impacted merchants and other stakeholders.
Parking staff will contact members of your staff this week to discuss
the development and implementation of outreach efforts related to
installing additional parking meters.
Should you have any questions, you may contact Tom DiSanto in Parking
Administration at 986-2687.
Sincerely,
City Administrator's Office
Note the email does not consider Oaklanders, and impacted merchants don't want the meters either. As this blogger calmly told one Oakland Councilmember after that person yelled in my ear, there are other ways to raise $146,000, but on the other hand, the City Council will have to do what President Obama's doing, and ordering a spending freeze where possible. That should include a reduction in salaries.
It's about time the City of Oakland adjust to economic realities and stop trying to act like some thuggish gangster, throwing a fiscal choke-chain around Oaklanders, shaking them down and forcing them to cough up money they don't have.
Stay tuned.
Haiti Earthquake update: the human trafficking problem
In this Haiti Earthquake update: the human trafficking problem. As Haiti works to recover from the 7.0 Earthquake an the estimated 50 aftershocks (many over 5 on the Richter Scale), another problem has surfaced: fears of human trafficking.
"Human Trafficking" is the inhumane process of kidnapping primarily women and children for the sex trade, "forced" marriages, or bonded labor markets like domestic servitude, sweat shops, and agricultural plantations. Since the Haiti Earthquake, UNICEF has reported incidents of child trafficking in the wake of the thousands of newly orphaned kids after the Haiti Earthquake.
Human trafficking was a problem even before the Haiti Earthquake. With an 80 percent poverty rate in Haiti, a poor family sending or "trafficking" its children to wealthier families was common. With the new family the child would live often in substandard, unsupervised or policed abusive conditions.
Now, with escaped Haitian prisoners (because of the quake), little security infrastructure relative to the population, and again a large number of unaccounted for, but living minors, the fear and reports of allegations of child trafficking are on the rise.
UNICEF is not the only organization or person complaining about the poor state of security for kids in Haiti. On CNN's Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper reported from Haiti, explaining that many kids are in what he calls "ad hoc" groups, with little or no established organizational oversight. That has led to the kind of reported activity that was the basis of UNICEF's to this writing unsubstantiated charges.
I called and emailed UNICEF Communications Representative Alissa Pinck in the hope that more light could be shed on this problem. The question is, does UNICEF know who was doing the alleged trafficking and were they brought to justice? It's reported that 15 children were unaccounted for as of this writing in Haiti hospitals. But if those children belonged to wayward parents who survived the Haiti Earthquake, is it possible their parents may have simply arrived to get them?
With all of the uncertainty and chaos, it's hard to tell which end is up with this terrible issue in Haiti. But given Haiti's past, human and child trafficking is likely to remain a problem unless international forces step in.
Stay tuned.
"Human Trafficking" is the inhumane process of kidnapping primarily women and children for the sex trade, "forced" marriages, or bonded labor markets like domestic servitude, sweat shops, and agricultural plantations. Since the Haiti Earthquake, UNICEF has reported incidents of child trafficking in the wake of the thousands of newly orphaned kids after the Haiti Earthquake.
Human trafficking was a problem even before the Haiti Earthquake. With an 80 percent poverty rate in Haiti, a poor family sending or "trafficking" its children to wealthier families was common. With the new family the child would live often in substandard, unsupervised or policed abusive conditions.
Now, with escaped Haitian prisoners (because of the quake), little security infrastructure relative to the population, and again a large number of unaccounted for, but living minors, the fear and reports of allegations of child trafficking are on the rise.
UNICEF is not the only organization or person complaining about the poor state of security for kids in Haiti. On CNN's Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper reported from Haiti, explaining that many kids are in what he calls "ad hoc" groups, with little or no established organizational oversight. That has led to the kind of reported activity that was the basis of UNICEF's to this writing unsubstantiated charges.
I called and emailed UNICEF Communications Representative Alissa Pinck in the hope that more light could be shed on this problem. The question is, does UNICEF know who was doing the alleged trafficking and were they brought to justice? It's reported that 15 children were unaccounted for as of this writing in Haiti hospitals. But if those children belonged to wayward parents who survived the Haiti Earthquake, is it possible their parents may have simply arrived to get them?
With all of the uncertainty and chaos, it's hard to tell which end is up with this terrible issue in Haiti. But given Haiti's past, human and child trafficking is likely to remain a problem unless international forces step in.
Stay tuned.
R.T. Rybak: How money warps politics, and campaigns.
In the wake of the Supreme Court decision freeing up corporations to spend freely on political advertising campaigns one can only imagine the slander, innuendo, and deliberate misinformation will be getting worse -- more diverse and numerous -- right through Election Day in November. In Minnesota, it's already begun as a shadowy smear campaign evidently intended to convince Minnesotans to stay home on caucus night, February 2, 2010 -- especially if they’re thinking of supporting Minneapolis Mayor Raymond "R.T." Rybak in his bid to secure the party endorsement to run for Governor of Minnesota in November.The facts are chasing the lies in Minnesota, and nobody's quite certain who paid to send the misinformation - yet.
In brief: For years Minneapolis taxpayers had been overcharged by two pension funds that have been closed to new members for almost 30 years. No police officer or firefighter hired since 1980 draws any benefit from these funds — but all Minneapolis taxpayers contribute to it.Follow the money
Mayor Rybak and other city leaders stepped up to put a stop to the overcharging by the pension funds after the State Auditor alerted them to the problem. They approached the fund managers and the MN Legislature, but ended up taking the pension funds to court — and they won.One can only infer that high-priced lawyers and lobbyists who represent those who've been overcharging Minneapolis taxpayers are smear-mongering to get revenge for the money they lost.
To read more, and get links to Star-Tribune investigative reports, visit: Rybak Targeted for Recovering Taxpayer Money!
And remember, it's all about following the money.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Nancy Kerrigan's father dies, brother held on bail - by Cat
Nancy Kerrigan is in the middle of devastating family issues. Although there are conflicting reports, authorities say there was a violent struggle at her home which resulted in Daniel Kerrigan, Nancy's father, dead and her brother, Mark Kerrigan, arrested.
What is known for a fact is that family members reported a large dispute on Sunday between father and son resulting in Daniel having "a massive heart attack." There is uncertainty as to whether or not the argument had anything to do with his death. There are conflicting reports.
Police said that Mark Kerrigan appeared intoxicated and belligerent upon arrest. Mark Kerrigan is being held on $10,000 bail.
Stay tuned.
posted by Cat of someredcat.tumblr.com
The Hurt Locker wins Producers Guild Best Picture Award - Oscar Buzz
The widely celebrated movie The Hurt Locker won the Producers Guild "The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures" Award on .
The Hurt Locker, directed by Katheryn Bigelow and about a risk-taking bomb disposal group during the Irag War , beat Avatar, District 9, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Invictus, Precious, Star Trek, Up, and Up In The Air for the Producers Guild award. All of these movies are considered as possible Best Picture nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.
Oscar Nominations are scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. And this blogger will continue to mention that the Oscar Press Credential process needs a metric system to be considered fair, measuring web traffic, TV ratings (where applicable), subscription reach, and views.
As I state in my video below, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a non-profit organization. A firm that gets government help, and invites bloggers to apply for a press credential, should have a more "name blind" system of press credential submissions. The criteria should be media "reach".
Stay tuned.
The Hurt Locker, directed by Katheryn Bigelow and about a risk-taking bomb disposal group during the Irag War , beat Avatar, District 9, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Invictus, Precious, Star Trek, Up, and Up In The Air for the Producers Guild award. All of these movies are considered as possible Best Picture nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.
Oscar Nominations are scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. And this blogger will continue to mention that the Oscar Press Credential process needs a metric system to be considered fair, measuring web traffic, TV ratings (where applicable), subscription reach, and views.
As I state in my video below, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a non-profit organization. A firm that gets government help, and invites bloggers to apply for a press credential, should have a more "name blind" system of press credential submissions. The criteria should be media "reach".
Stay tuned.
Craigslist Founder on media, Obama, and Google Nexus One
On Friday, Craigslist Founder and SFGate.com blogger Craig Newmark was kind enough to open his cool Cole Valley, San Francisco home to me for a vlog interview on the future of media. This is the second "City Brights" video interview I've conducted; the first one was with Doc Jan Gurley, or "Doc Gurley."
For those of you who don't know Craig Newmark, he's a San Franciscan who 15-years ago started what was to be a simple website to help friends make connections with services, resources, and each other. It grew to a 500-city website system of which while he's the founder, is no longer the owner. By agreement, we did not talk about Craigslist business.
The talk with Craig (which was impacted by network problems that were vexing Craig when I arrived) really turned from a look at the future of media, to focus on a lot of pressing media problems today, then on Obama and the Google Nexus One. But to be sure, many people have been talking about The Future of Media. Just a Google search of the term reveals a number of relevant results out of the 199 million recorded.
When I asked Craig Newmark why this was the case -- why the concern? Craig said "A lot of people do realize that a trustworthy and viable press that asks questions is vital to the survival of our country, however, there's more and more problems that come up."
Craig Newmark does not consider himself a media expert, but says that he talks to a lot of people in media and journalists and from his base as a customer service rep for the Craigslist site, he has a view "from the ground."
Craig says there's a great concern for accuracy and fact-checking in media today. Craig also reports that, "In a lot of publications, there's a tendency to make things up...Even TV network or two seeks to propagate that disinformation." What he's talking about has many examples, the latest being the rumored breakup of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or the fake news death of Johnny Depp. In politics, the Right Wingnuts propagated the view that President Obama was Muslim and Fox News helped spread the idea.
This blogger thought the blogsphere was supposed to take care of correcting such information problems, but Craig correctly states that blogs also put out false information. The problem will persist until more media institutions do something about it.
With this, Craig's view of the future is optimistic because more and more people are working in what he calls "Networks of trust", doing fact-checking and news curation. Craig says that the main problem in media and journalism today is money; there' so much media that revenue does not flow to the newspapers of the past or present, leading to staff budget cuts and in some cases closures of entire publications, like The Rocky Mountain News, or Editor and Publisher.
Craig says there are a number of new media business models unfolding that are interesting, most notably the new non-profit initiative funded with $5 million from San Francisco financier Warren Hellman, called the Bay Area News Project. The BANP - which came under fire from local traditional journalists because they see it as taking jobs away from them - just hired Lisa Frazier as its CEO, and new Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Weber; Frazier will reportedly earn $400,000 per year.
Nice for a non-profit.
At any rate, Craig looks favorably on the BANP effort, which will supply Bay Area stories to the New York Times. Newmark sees the New York Times as a bastion of media accuracy, which I disagree with, but this space is not the place for that. He points to the NY Times as one publication that focuses more on important stories than others, and derides the habit of reporting "non-important" stories over stories of importance.
I asked Craig about this because as a person who earns a living via the development of media traffic I will post a celebrity blog entry over a political blog entry because it's clicked on more. That's just human nature. Craig says that's OK as long as important stories are mixed in. "People need to make money," he says. But regardless of the type of story, he wants to see more accurate blogs and news sites.
Craig recommends a good 30-second Google "sanity check" to make sure a story is accurate, and avoiding putting someone on as a news guest or source who's intentionally putting out a false story. Now with all of this, you may think Craig doesn't like TMZ.com, the "Three-Mile-Zone" celebrity news site with the habit of breaking big entertainment-related stories and getting news that other publications wish they could have. Craig appreciates what TMZ has done, he just hasn't got around to reading it. "My focus is elsewhere, and I need a break."
On Barack Obama and the media
We turned to how the media has covered President Barack Obama. Both Craig and I were among the first to support then-Senator Barack Obama (for me, December of 2006), for President. Craig is saddened by what he sees as the media covering the "sensational" aspects of Obama's presidency, but not the substance of what Obama is doing or has done. "Most of the media has badly or unfairly covered Obama," Craig observes.
Craig calls for bloggers to promote the truth about Obama, and on matters of how Obama has insisted on accountability and transparency in government "There's been a lot more accomplished in the first year (of Obama's Presidency), than the last eight (under George W. Bush)."
On Craigslist and society
From his ground level view at Craigslist, Craig see a "benevolent" society. "The big change I think I've seen," Craig says, "is that using the net people see that they can help each other out, and its easy to do."
Google Nexus One vs. iPhone
Craig Newmark is testing the Google Nexus One against the iPhone, and had both out for view in the video. "Right now, I think I'm heading, I think, towards the Nexus. The iPhone is a great phone, but right now it's on AT&T. There a few year behind where they need to be in in terms of networks...I may wind up with an Android phone on the Verizon network. I like the Nexus. As soon as I can figure out Google Voice, I can network all of my phones and make my life a little easier."
The 25-minute video features a deeper conversation on governance and technology, which I will post later this week. But Craig has also agreed to do another video talk so we can better flesh out many of the topics we touched on today.
Stay tuned.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split news called false
The Internet was inundated with rumors that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were breaking up or had already split and were filing for divorce.
One blogger claimed to have been "vindicated" by the news from a UK publication, because he claimed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie broke up last April.
The news originally came late Saturday night, from a British news website called News Of The World which reported a $205 million divorce settlement as in the works. But today, that news was declared false by People Magazine and TMZ.com.
TMZ:
The news by News Of The World was detailed and claimed that a divorce agreement was finalized.
The reason for the constant rumors of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's splitting up is that the two have heavy schedules that keep them on the road and apart. People Magazine reports that while Brad Pitt was in LA for the Hope for Haiti Telethon, Angelina Jolie was in New York city for a Vanity Fair photo shoot.
One blogger claimed to have been "vindicated" by the news from a UK publication, because he claimed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie broke up last April.
The news originally came late Saturday night, from a British news website called News Of The World which reported a $205 million divorce settlement as in the works. But today, that news was declared false by People Magazine and TMZ.com.
TMZ:
There's a report out that Brad and Angie are calling it quits. One source -- who should know -- says, "It's B.S."
The news by News Of The World was detailed and claimed that a divorce agreement was finalized.
The reason for the constant rumors of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's splitting up is that the two have heavy schedules that keep them on the road and apart. People Magazine reports that while Brad Pitt was in LA for the Hope for Haiti Telethon, Angelina Jolie was in New York city for a Vanity Fair photo shoot.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Oakland News: Glenview Neighborhood gets new website
Over at Zennie62.com, Patsy Eagan announced that there's a new website especially for the Glenview Neighborhood in Oakland. The rest of this blog post is her presentation of the website GlenviewNeighbors.com:
(Glenview street banners, courtesy of Maja Brugos Design: www.brugosdesign.com)
Yesterday's clouds dumped another inch of rain onto Oakland. More t-storms may be in the stars for the Bay today, with more precip. into next week.
Some of the banners along Park Boulevard have buckled in the harsh weather, flapping in the high winds and in some places, coming loose from their streetlight mounts. Below them runs the garden median; the city nearly shut off its drip water system last year due to budget cuts. Today it's soaked. Water brims, then runs down the Glenview slope and into the sea.
Next spring, the Glenview Neighborhood Association (GNA) plans to host a gardening party on the median. But while winter still reigns in Oakland, they've been busy with a little virtual refurbishment.
Yesterday the GNA launched a new Web site, and invite you to tour their virtual home today: GlenviewNeighbors.com.
Visit your GlenviewNeighbors online and consider making a donation. Your membeship will go to feed the plants on the median; they will fund online projects with the neighborhood youth. It could also purchase new flags for the Glenview—a nice distraction from the potholes on Park.
Saints v. Vikings: NFC Championship game a shootout
Saints v. Vikings UPDATE:
The Saints v. Vikings game is underway. The Minnesota Vikings shocked the New Orleans Saints by using a masterful short passing game featuring QB Brett Favre. They drove 80 yards in 10 plays, ending the drive with Adrian Peterson's 19 yard run.
Then the Saints answered back on their first drive: a mix of no-huddle, play action, screens, and quick throws. Pierre Thomas scored on a 38-yard screen, and we have a shootout: Saints 7, Vikings 7.
Stay tuned.
The Game Preview:
The 2010 NFC Championship Game is the Saints v. Viking on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in this battle to determine which team will represent the NFL's National Football Conference in the Super Bowl in Miami. The game will be a battle of quarterbacks: The Vikings' Brett Favre v. The Saints' Drew Brees.
Brett Favre is coming off what many are saying is the best year in his history. Brett Favre's thrown 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Drew Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Both offenses are potent, but the Saint's Offense is the league's 3rd best; the Vikings have the league's 2nd best defense.
The Saints Offense is indeed potent, but the key is not just in Drew Brees' passing, but the game planning and play calling of Head Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton has not only developed an offense that consists of a plays that he uses as tools to attack a defense' weaknesses in formation structure, he and his staff do a great job of changing their game plan to adjust to a defenses approach.
The Saints did this in their game against The Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when, down 24 to 7 in the third quarter, the Saints went to a hybrid four-receiver set to march back, only to lose 24 to 7. The the one factor of that contest which also works in the Vikings favor is the rush of the Cowboys' front four when they used a four-man rush, which harassed and hurried Brees all evening long.
The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48, and have a defensive line paced by Defensive End Jarod Allen, which is every bit as physical as that of the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to use more play-action against the Vikings, but if the Vikings scout well and pass rush and blitz when the Saints line up in single back sets, it could be a long day for Drew Brees.
The Vikings Offense consist of Favre, second-year Runing Back Adrian Peterson, and a set of excellent wide receivers paced by Sidney Rice (with 1,312 yards on 83 catches, and 8 touchdowns). But Percy Harvin, who was not expected to play, practiced with the team Saturday. Harvin has 790 yards on six touchdowns and 60 receptions. Percy Harvin is the Vikings weapon, used in reverses, and even as a running back.
Adrian Peterson is incomparable. He's good for 4.4 yard a carry, has 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adrian Peterson hasn't had a breakout 100-yard game since earlier this year when he went crazy against the Cleveland Browns. Adrian Peterson is the key in this entire game; if the Saints can't stop him, they'll lose.
The other factor here is the emerging talent that is the Saints' Reggie Bush. The man who should have been drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006, is finally seeing the field and as a result has become a better running back. His pair of long-distance touchdown runs against the Arizona Cardinals helped them when their NFC Divisional Playoff game 45 to 14.
But that was against Arizona. The Vikings have a better defense. The one question is their ability to craft an offensive game plan that takes the pressure off Brett Favre and keeps the Saints Offense off the field. The key is Adrian Peterson. The Saints' Defense is ranked 25th in the NFL and has given up 400 yards in six games this season.
The other key is the desire of New Orleans itself to escape the shadow of Katrina. That's hard to quantify.
Score: Vikings 24, Saints 21, OT.
The Saints v. Vikings game is underway. The Minnesota Vikings shocked the New Orleans Saints by using a masterful short passing game featuring QB Brett Favre. They drove 80 yards in 10 plays, ending the drive with Adrian Peterson's 19 yard run.
Then the Saints answered back on their first drive: a mix of no-huddle, play action, screens, and quick throws. Pierre Thomas scored on a 38-yard screen, and we have a shootout: Saints 7, Vikings 7.
Stay tuned.
The Game Preview:
The 2010 NFC Championship Game is the Saints v. Viking on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in this battle to determine which team will represent the NFL's National Football Conference in the Super Bowl in Miami. The game will be a battle of quarterbacks: The Vikings' Brett Favre v. The Saints' Drew Brees.
Brett Favre is coming off what many are saying is the best year in his history. Brett Favre's thrown 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Drew Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Both offenses are potent, but the Saint's Offense is the league's 3rd best; the Vikings have the league's 2nd best defense.
The Saints Offense is indeed potent, but the key is not just in Drew Brees' passing, but the game planning and play calling of Head Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton has not only developed an offense that consists of a plays that he uses as tools to attack a defense' weaknesses in formation structure, he and his staff do a great job of changing their game plan to adjust to a defenses approach.
The Saints did this in their game against The Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when, down 24 to 7 in the third quarter, the Saints went to a hybrid four-receiver set to march back, only to lose 24 to 7. The the one factor of that contest which also works in the Vikings favor is the rush of the Cowboys' front four when they used a four-man rush, which harassed and hurried Brees all evening long.
The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48, and have a defensive line paced by Defensive End Jarod Allen, which is every bit as physical as that of the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to use more play-action against the Vikings, but if the Vikings scout well and pass rush and blitz when the Saints line up in single back sets, it could be a long day for Drew Brees.
The Vikings Offense consist of Favre, second-year Runing Back Adrian Peterson, and a set of excellent wide receivers paced by Sidney Rice (with 1,312 yards on 83 catches, and 8 touchdowns). But Percy Harvin, who was not expected to play, practiced with the team Saturday. Harvin has 790 yards on six touchdowns and 60 receptions. Percy Harvin is the Vikings weapon, used in reverses, and even as a running back.
Adrian Peterson is incomparable. He's good for 4.4 yard a carry, has 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adrian Peterson hasn't had a breakout 100-yard game since earlier this year when he went crazy against the Cleveland Browns. Adrian Peterson is the key in this entire game; if the Saints can't stop him, they'll lose.
The other factor here is the emerging talent that is the Saints' Reggie Bush. The man who should have been drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006, is finally seeing the field and as a result has become a better running back. His pair of long-distance touchdown runs against the Arizona Cardinals helped them when their NFC Divisional Playoff game 45 to 14.
But that was against Arizona. The Vikings have a better defense. The one question is their ability to craft an offensive game plan that takes the pressure off Brett Favre and keeps the Saints Offense off the field. The key is Adrian Peterson. The Saints' Defense is ranked 25th in the NFL and has given up 400 yards in six games this season.
The other key is the desire of New Orleans itself to escape the shadow of Katrina. That's hard to quantify.
Score: Vikings 24, Saints 21, OT.
Colts 30 Jets 17: Colts AFC Champions, wait for Saints, Vikings
Colts 30 Jets 17. The Indianapolis Colts (15-2) are AFC Champions, having beat the New York Jets and now wait for the winner of the Saints - Vikings game as their challengers in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
The way the Colts earned their second trip to the Super Bowl in three years was with a strong defense to go with their quick-strike offense, as they marched back from 11 points down in the first half of the game. The Colts held the NY Jets , the NFL rushing leader, to an average of under three yards per carry.
But it was a story of Quarterback Peyton Manning.
After solving the riddle of the Jets overload blitz by using "three-and-one formations" and taking advantage of key Jets defensive losses, the Colts' Manning threw for 377 yards, and was 26 for 39 and three touchdowns for a passer rating of 123.55. The key was his rookie receivers: Pierre Garcon and Austin Colley. They combined for 274 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
As successful as the Colts were, it didn't start out well. The NY Jets came out to a 17-6 lead with a mix of power running and play-action passing. Mark Sanchez didn't look like the rookie he was here at the 2009 NFL Draft:
His success is a tribute not just to his New York Jets coaches, but to former-USC Coach Pete Carroll and his staff where Sanchez was signal-caller in college. Sanchez was well-prepared for the systems and speed of the NFL. Sanchez' advance to the AFC Championship game as a rookie will not be the rare happening it has been in the past.
But that will come in the future. Today is the Colts day. More on how the Colts did it later.
The way the Colts earned their second trip to the Super Bowl in three years was with a strong defense to go with their quick-strike offense, as they marched back from 11 points down in the first half of the game. The Colts held the NY Jets , the NFL rushing leader, to an average of under three yards per carry.
But it was a story of Quarterback Peyton Manning.
After solving the riddle of the Jets overload blitz by using "three-and-one formations" and taking advantage of key Jets defensive losses, the Colts' Manning threw for 377 yards, and was 26 for 39 and three touchdowns for a passer rating of 123.55. The key was his rookie receivers: Pierre Garcon and Austin Colley. They combined for 274 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
As successful as the Colts were, it didn't start out well. The NY Jets came out to a 17-6 lead with a mix of power running and play-action passing. Mark Sanchez didn't look like the rookie he was here at the 2009 NFL Draft:
His success is a tribute not just to his New York Jets coaches, but to former-USC Coach Pete Carroll and his staff where Sanchez was signal-caller in college. Sanchez was well-prepared for the systems and speed of the NFL. Sanchez' advance to the AFC Championship game as a rookie will not be the rare happening it has been in the past.
But that will come in the future. Today is the Colts day. More on how the Colts did it later.
Johnny Depp on Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
While the "Johnny Depp dead" (or "RIP Johnny Depp", "Johnny Depp died") hoax is still flying around the Internet, Johnny Depp himself, found by Crispin Glover to be in France, has issued his thoughts on the hyper-celebrity life of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
Once the favorite to win Oscar Best Actor for Public Enemies, Johnny Depp hates the spotlight. He hates it so much so that he lives on a private island with his partner Vanessa Paradis, and their children ten-year-old Lily-Rose, and seven year old Jack. He loves being an actor, but hates being a celebrity. (And with a reported $30 million take from Pirates 4, Johnny Depp can afford the island.)
According to Hollyscop.com Johnny Depp said:
In related news, Johnny Depp is set to film The Tourist with Angelina Jolie. According to PopEater, the script calls for the two to be in a "steamy sex scene."
Stay tuned.
Johnny Depp
Once the favorite to win Oscar Best Actor for Public Enemies, Johnny Depp hates the spotlight. He hates it so much so that he lives on a private island with his partner Vanessa Paradis, and their children ten-year-old Lily-Rose, and seven year old Jack. He loves being an actor, but hates being a celebrity. (And with a reported $30 million take from Pirates 4, Johnny Depp can afford the island.)
According to Hollyscop.com Johnny Depp said:
“I don’t leave the house anymore. If it isn’t necessary I don’t go anywhere. I stay at home. I’m adamant when it comes to that. I will never get used to it. If you do, you must be insane.
"I’m thankful for everything, but there’s a limit to what a person can endure. I don’t know how Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie can bear that kind of life, because personally it’s an issue for me.”
He adds, “Because I never leave the house I live outside society. But I’m a witness of my children’s lives. I see how they’re doing at school and how they treat their friends. My kids are a lot smarter than me. When I watch them I learn a lot. I don’t think there’s anything they could learn from me.”
In related news, Johnny Depp is set to film The Tourist with Angelina Jolie. According to PopEater, the script calls for the two to be in a "steamy sex scene."
Stay tuned.
Johnny Depp died in car crash? NO Depp's in France
Johnny Depp died in car crash? The Internet is, once again, swirling with the kind of false information that drives Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark nuts. In this video interview, Craig Newmark talked about the false information that's consistently issued. This story of "Johnny Depp, died in car crash" is a good example.
This started on Twitter and as of this writing continues with the hashtag "RIP Johnny Depp", but the vast majority of tweets report that the story is a hoax. But even with that, a website URL www.angelfire.com has a fake CNN webpage that reports Johnny Depp died in a car crash in...2004.
This is a terrible hoax on Johnny Depp and CNN. Johnny Depp was very much alive and about to film Pirates of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest, which was released in 2006. Angelfire is a web hosting service. It's hard to tell just who made the fake CNN page, which is so detailed that if you click on the CNN logo, it takes you to the CNN home page, just as a regular CNN webpage would do.
But the question is who and why?
Regardless, Crispin Glover reportedly ended the talk by calling Johnny Depp via cell. Depp responded: Nope. In France, according to NBC Chicago's Courtney Hazlett, who issued the news last Monday.
Stay tuned.
Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland
This started on Twitter and as of this writing continues with the hashtag "RIP Johnny Depp", but the vast majority of tweets report that the story is a hoax. But even with that, a website URL www.angelfire.com has a fake CNN webpage that reports Johnny Depp died in a car crash in...2004.
This is a terrible hoax on Johnny Depp and CNN. Johnny Depp was very much alive and about to film Pirates of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest, which was released in 2006. Angelfire is a web hosting service. It's hard to tell just who made the fake CNN page, which is so detailed that if you click on the CNN logo, it takes you to the CNN home page, just as a regular CNN webpage would do.
But the question is who and why?
Regardless, Crispin Glover reportedly ended the talk by calling Johnny Depp via cell. Depp responded: Nope. In France, according to NBC Chicago's Courtney Hazlett, who issued the news last Monday.
Stay tuned.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split news not new
The rumors that super celeb couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting a divorce are not new; In April of 2009, Blogger Ian Halperin reported that Brad and Angelina split and were trying to work out custody of their children, according to ShowBiz Spy:
At his blog, Halperin says he was roundly criticized for the blog post, which he removed, but now he says he's vindicated.
Stay tuned.
Brad has told pals that he “can’t take Angie’s volatile temper anymore” and recently met up with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston to seek advice...According to blogger Ian Halperin, a vicious custody battle has started, with Jolie seeking full custody of all the couple’s children — adopted kids Maddox, Pax, and Zahara; and biological children Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.. The Changeling actress has apparently hired a top lawyer and plans to seek a restraining order against Pitt until the case is resolved.
“At one point she was considering moving to Washington but in the past few days she’s changed her mind. She thinks Brads become an old coot.
At his blog, Halperin says he was roundly criticized for the blog post, which he removed, but now he says he's vindicated.
Stay tuned.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie break up rumors swirl
The rumors are all over that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will break up. The basis for them is an "exclusive" report by the Sunday, January 24th UK publication called News of The World. It claims that "Bradgelina" have hired divorce lawyers to split their $205 million wealth.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, actor and actress, have been a Hollywood gossip stable as publications have hired paparazzi to follow their every move, paying as much as $1 million for a photo. As their fame has grown, the couple have taken on various charitable causes, from famine relief to the rebuilding of New Orleans. In all of this, there was no outward sign of marital trouble. The grew a family of six kids and settled in New Orleans. After Katrina, Brad Pitt started a rebuilding effort. Eventually, Brad Pitt was honored for his work in New Orleans:
Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie has traveled around the World for the past eight years as the Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. Here she talks about her experiences, particularly in Darfur.
The details of their rumored breakup aside, it will be a shame to see them not working together on their projects. But perhaps they're so busy saving the World, they forgot to save their relationship. That's only if this rumor is true. What is true, is that Pitt was seen backstage at the Hope for Haiti benefit without Angelina Jolie. However, his ex-wife Jennifer Anniston was there, but not with Pitt.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston were married for four years until their breakup in 2005. Pitt left Jennifer Anniston for Angelina Jolie. Jolie was married to Jonny Lee Miller and then Billy Bob Thornton before Brad Pitt.
Stay tuned.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, actor and actress, have been a Hollywood gossip stable as publications have hired paparazzi to follow their every move, paying as much as $1 million for a photo. As their fame has grown, the couple have taken on various charitable causes, from famine relief to the rebuilding of New Orleans. In all of this, there was no outward sign of marital trouble. The grew a family of six kids and settled in New Orleans. After Katrina, Brad Pitt started a rebuilding effort. Eventually, Brad Pitt was honored for his work in New Orleans:
Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie has traveled around the World for the past eight years as the Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. Here she talks about her experiences, particularly in Darfur.
The details of their rumored breakup aside, it will be a shame to see them not working together on their projects. But perhaps they're so busy saving the World, they forgot to save their relationship. That's only if this rumor is true. What is true, is that Pitt was seen backstage at the Hope for Haiti benefit without Angelina Jolie. However, his ex-wife Jennifer Anniston was there, but not with Pitt.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston were married for four years until their breakup in 2005. Pitt left Jennifer Anniston for Angelina Jolie. Jolie was married to Jonny Lee Miller and then Billy Bob Thornton before Brad Pitt.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Oakland's Lake Chalet reviewed by NY Times
In what's supposed to be a restaurant review, but comes off as more of a general commentary, the New York Times reviewed my favorite Oakland Restaurant, Lake Chalet. (As a note, Lake Chalet was where I had the Oakland YouTube Meetup and I've served as spokesperson which started because I just plain love the place.)
I had to read the review in an effort to get out of my Oscar funk in the wake of the very weird treatment by their communications staff, but I digress. I don't understand what the reviewer means by "inconsistent menu" because the food's quite the same and I might add the menu's new. They changed it about a month ago. The new Half Chicken is fantastic.
What I'm wanting and waiting for is the Zennie62 Burger. It's my dream burger and would consist of:
That's the Zennie62 Burger! Great with a glass of Merlot!
I had to read the review in an effort to get out of my Oscar funk in the wake of the very weird treatment by their communications staff, but I digress. I don't understand what the reviewer means by "inconsistent menu" because the food's quite the same and I might add the menu's new. They changed it about a month ago. The new Half Chicken is fantastic.
What I'm wanting and waiting for is the Zennie62 Burger. It's my dream burger and would consist of:
1 lb. ground italian sausage
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper
sliced mushrooms, drained
sloppy joe and salsa sauce
kaiser rolls, toasted
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
Then...
In a large skillet saute sausage and onion, and bell peppers, then drain.
Then stir in mushrooms and special sloppy joe and salsa sauce
Heat until almost hot
Place mixture on rolls and top each with 1/4 cup cheese
That's the Zennie62 Burger! Great with a glass of Merlot!
Jeff Bridges wins SAG Best Actor Award for Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges just won the SAG Best Actor Award for Crazy Heart. It's his first SAG Award. He took the stage to accept his award to a standing ovation. And is now congratulating the actors he competed against, including "My buddy George (Clooney)." Jeff Bridges mentioned his co-workers, his teachers in life, and his wife Sue. "Thank you guys!" Bridges said. "I love playing with you!'
Here's a scene with Jeff Bridges from Crazy Heart:
Stay tuned.
Here's a scene with Jeff Bridges from Crazy Heart:
Stay tuned.
Sandra Bullock wins SAG Best Actress Award for The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock just won the SAG Best Actress Award for her role in The Blind Side. It was her first SAG Award, and led to a very deep and heartfelt explanation that she thanked her friends for sticking with her during a time when she quit acting and elected to go back and start all over again. She auditioned for Crash and was nominated for her role in it.
The Blind Side is an amazing departure for an actress once known for ditzy, pretty woman roles. The Blind Side is the story of now-Baltimore Ravens Offensive Lineman Michael Oher, and the family that takes the homeless Oher in, led by Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock.
Bullock won the Golden Globes Best Actress Award last Sunday.
Here's Sandra Bullock, in The Blind Side:
Stay tuned.
The Blind Side is an amazing departure for an actress once known for ditzy, pretty woman roles. The Blind Side is the story of now-Baltimore Ravens Offensive Lineman Michael Oher, and the family that takes the homeless Oher in, led by Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock.
Bullock won the Golden Globes Best Actress Award last Sunday.
Here's Sandra Bullock, in The Blind Side:
Stay tuned.
Saints v. Vikings: NFC Championship game preview
The 2010 NFC Championship Game is the Saints v. Viking on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in this battle to determine which team will represent the NFL's National Football Conference in the Super Bowl in Miami. The game will be a battle of quarterbacks: The Vikings' Brett Favre v. The Saints' Drew Brees.
Brett Favre is coming off what many are saying is the best year in his history. Brett Favre's thrown 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Drew Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Both offenses are potent, but the Saint's Offense is the league's 3rd best; the Vikings have the league's 2nd best defense.
The Saints Offense is indeed potent, but the key is not just in Drew Brees' passing, but the game planning and play calling of Head Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton has not only developed an offense that consists of a plays that he uses as tools to attack a defense' weaknesses in formation structure, he and his staff do a great job of changing their game plan to adjust to a defenses approach.
The Saints did this in their game against The Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when, down 24 to 7 in the third quarter, the Saints went to a hybrid four-receiver set to march back, only to lose 24 to 7. The the one factor of that contest which also works in the Vikings favor is the rush of the Cowboys' front four when they used a four-man rush, which harassed and hurried Brees all evening long.
The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48, and have a defensive line paced by Defensive End Jarod Allen, which is every bit as physical as that of the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to use more play-action against the Vikings, but if the Vikings scout well and pass rush and blitz when the Saints line up in single back sets, it could be a long day for Drew Brees.
The Vikings Offense consist of Favre, second-year Runing Back Adrian Peterson, and a set of excellent wide receivers paced by Sidney Rice (with 1,312 yards on 83 catches, and 8 touchdowns). But Percy Harvin, who was not expected to play, practiced with the team Saturday. Harvin has 790 yards on six touchdowns and 60 receptions. Percy Harvin is the Vikings weapon, used in reverses, and even as a running back.
Adrian Peterson is incomparable. He's good for 4.4 yard a carry, has 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adrian Peterson hasn't had a breakout 100-yard game since earlier this year when he went crazy against the Cleveland Browns. Adrian Peterson is the key in this entire game; if the Saints can't stop him, they'll lose.
The other factor here is the emerging talent that is the Saints' Reggie Bush. The man who should have been drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006, is finally seeing the field and as a result has become a better running back. His pair of long-distance touchdown runs against the Arizona Cardinals helped them when their NFC Divisional Playoff game 45 to 14.
But that was against Arizona. The Vikings have a better defense. The one question is their ability to craft an offensive game plan that takes the pressure off Brett Favre and keeps the Saints Offense off the field. The key is Adrian Peterson. The Saints' Defense is ranked 25th in the NFL and has given up 400 yards in six games this season.
The other key is the desire of New Orleans itself to escape the shadow of Katrina. That's hard to quantify.
Score: Vikings 24, Saints 21, OT.
Brett Favre is coming off what many are saying is the best year in his history. Brett Favre's thrown 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Drew Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Both offenses are potent, but the Saint's Offense is the league's 3rd best; the Vikings have the league's 2nd best defense.
The Saints Offense is indeed potent, but the key is not just in Drew Brees' passing, but the game planning and play calling of Head Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton has not only developed an offense that consists of a plays that he uses as tools to attack a defense' weaknesses in formation structure, he and his staff do a great job of changing their game plan to adjust to a defenses approach.
The Saints did this in their game against The Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when, down 24 to 7 in the third quarter, the Saints went to a hybrid four-receiver set to march back, only to lose 24 to 7. The the one factor of that contest which also works in the Vikings favor is the rush of the Cowboys' front four when they used a four-man rush, which harassed and hurried Brees all evening long.
The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48, and have a defensive line paced by Defensive End Jarod Allen, which is every bit as physical as that of the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to use more play-action against the Vikings, but if the Vikings scout well and pass rush and blitz when the Saints line up in single back sets, it could be a long day for Drew Brees.
The Vikings Offense consist of Favre, second-year Runing Back Adrian Peterson, and a set of excellent wide receivers paced by Sidney Rice (with 1,312 yards on 83 catches, and 8 touchdowns). But Percy Harvin, who was not expected to play, practiced with the team Saturday. Harvin has 790 yards on six touchdowns and 60 receptions. Percy Harvin is the Vikings weapon, used in reverses, and even as a running back.
Adrian Peterson is incomparable. He's good for 4.4 yard a carry, has 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adrian Peterson hasn't had a breakout 100-yard game since earlier this year when he went crazy against the Cleveland Browns. Adrian Peterson is the key in this entire game; if the Saints can't stop him, they'll lose.
The other factor here is the emerging talent that is the Saints' Reggie Bush. The man who should have been drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006, is finally seeing the field and as a result has become a better running back. His pair of long-distance touchdown runs against the Arizona Cardinals helped them when their NFC Divisional Playoff game 45 to 14.
But that was against Arizona. The Vikings have a better defense. The one question is their ability to craft an offensive game plan that takes the pressure off Brett Favre and keeps the Saints Offense off the field. The key is Adrian Peterson. The Saints' Defense is ranked 25th in the NFL and has given up 400 yards in six games this season.
The other key is the desire of New Orleans itself to escape the shadow of Katrina. That's hard to quantify.
Score: Vikings 24, Saints 21, OT.
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards tonight
The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild is tonight at 7:30 PM / 6:30 PM CST, and presents an interesting battle between Jeff Bridges from Crazy Heart and George Clooney who starred in Up in the Air. Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor at The Golden Globe Awards last Sunday, so he's seen as having the edge over the often-decorated George Clooney. The winner of the award has the inside track to Best Actor at The Oscars, although there have been some exceptions to this in the past.
Best Actress has Golden Globes winner Meryl Streep from Julie & Julia up against Sandra Bullock's against-type performance in The Blind Side, and Gabourey Sidibe, the first-time actress who took the World by storm in Precious.
Lori Bergamotto of People Magazine describes the behind the scenes effort needed to bring the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild / People Magazine after party to life:
Betty White is the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Here's we spend a moment with Betty White as she answers questions from fans who submitted questions on the SAG website:
Here's the full list of SAG Nominees from The Screen Actors Guild:
MOVIES
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
TELEVISION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
The Closer
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
True Blood
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Cuba Gooding, Jr., Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O'Keeffe
Kevin Kline, Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac
Tom Wilkinson, A Number
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Joan Allen, Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Ruby Dee, America
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby
STUNT ENSEMBLES
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Public Enemies
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
24
The Closer
Dexter
Heroes
The Unit
Best Actress has Golden Globes winner Meryl Streep from Julie & Julia up against Sandra Bullock's against-type performance in The Blind Side, and Gabourey Sidibe, the first-time actress who took the World by storm in Precious.
A Big Party
Lori Bergamotto of People Magazine describes the behind the scenes effort needed to bring the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild / People Magazine after party to life:
Betty White is the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Here's we spend a moment with Betty White as she answers questions from fans who submitted questions on the SAG website:
Here's the full list of SAG Nominees from The Screen Actors Guild:
MOVIES
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
TELEVISION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
The Closer
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
True Blood
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Cuba Gooding, Jr., Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O'Keeffe
Kevin Kline, Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac
Tom Wilkinson, A Number
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Joan Allen, Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Ruby Dee, America
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby
STUNT ENSEMBLES
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Public Enemies
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
24
The Closer
Dexter
Heroes
The Unit
Hope for Haiti Now raised estimated $9.5 million so far
According to this new report, the concert Hope for Haiti Now raised an estimated $9.5 million. According to the Daily World Buzz, the concert telethon established by George Clooney with MTV and what became perhaps the most televised and media exposed event in history, there were several country-based versions of the telecast: $9.4 million came from English based Canada for Haiti and French-based Ensemble for Haiti gave another $6.8 million.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada would match the Hope for Haiti Telethon "dollar for dollar."
There's no word on the donations from the U.S. based telecast as of this writing because they're still accepting donation. The site is Hope For Haiti.org.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada would match the Hope for Haiti Telethon "dollar for dollar."
There's no word on the donations from the U.S. based telecast as of this writing because they're still accepting donation. The site is Hope For Haiti.org.
Haiti Earthquake update: cardboard communities, man rescued
In this Haiti Earthquake update, The Christian Science Monitor reports that Haitians are building new homes after the earthquake with little more than cardboard and plastic in refugee camps. It's estimated that there are 250 such camps in existence.
The rich have left Haiti's capital city of Port-Au-Prince, leaving the poor to fend for themselves. Haiti Earthquake relief efforts are building, but with 3 million people in need of aide and a crumbled infrastructure, it's a challenge.
Meanwhile, a man was rescued from rubble by an international rescue team after being trapped for 11 days after the Haiti Earthquake. The 23-year old man was under the remains of a crumpled hotel in Port-Au-Prince.
But all of the news is not bad, Haitians have lined up as private banks have reopened. Security forces have been on hand, and bank customers have been allowed to draw a limit of the equivalent of $2,500 to prevent a run on the banks.
And click here for more on the Hope for Haiti Now concert from Friday night.
Stay tuned.
The rich have left Haiti's capital city of Port-Au-Prince, leaving the poor to fend for themselves. Haiti Earthquake relief efforts are building, but with 3 million people in need of aide and a crumbled infrastructure, it's a challenge.
Meanwhile, a man was rescued from rubble by an international rescue team after being trapped for 11 days after the Haiti Earthquake. The 23-year old man was under the remains of a crumpled hotel in Port-Au-Prince.
But all of the news is not bad, Haitians have lined up as private banks have reopened. Security forces have been on hand, and bank customers have been allowed to draw a limit of the equivalent of $2,500 to prevent a run on the banks.
And click here for more on the Hope for Haiti Now concert from Friday night.
Stay tuned.
Hope for Haiti Now concert performances and update
Last night's Hope for Haiti Now concert featured 19 performances from artists like Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, U2, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and Kid Rock Jennifer Hudson, Emeline Michel, The Edge, Dave Matthews and Neil Young.
Here's the AP's video summary:
And Hope for Haiti Now attracted stars who worked the phones like Colin Farrell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Charlize Theron, Steven Spielberg, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood, Halle Berry, and Ben Stiller.
Bill Clinton, United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti, and head of the Bush / Clinton Haiti Fund, gave this speech:
The Hope for Haiti Now concert event was in Los Angeles, New York, and Haiti, where CNN's Anderson Cooper is working to report on the country's effort to recover from the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake. Hope for Haiti Now was organized by Up In The Air star George Clooney, who said to MTV, "I think it's the same message that everybody does, that churches do, that communities do — which is everybody participate, help out, whatever way you can."
Hope For Haiti Now as event planning was put together very rapidly, about the same time as the Haiti Earthquake itself ended. George Clooney explained to MTV how he came to be involved in forming Help For Haiti Now:
The list of participating networks was vast: CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, CENTRIC, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, CNN en Español, HBO Latino and Canadian networks, including CBC Television, CTV, Global Television and MuchMusic. As of this writing, there's no official estimate of the television viewer count; that should come next week.
Hope for Haiti Now may have been the most media-exposed event in history; it was also streamed online at MTV.com, YouTube.com, VH1, and MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo!, Bing.com, BET.com, CNN.com and Rhapsody, and on cell phones by way of Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and FloTV.
You can still help now by going to www.HopeforHaitinow.org or calling by phone at 877-99-HAITI. You can even text "GIVE" to 50555.
Here are some of the 19 performances from Hope for Haiti Now, Friday night:
Alicia Keys (video link):
Stevie Wonder: (video link)
Shakira (video link):
Coldplay (video link):
Taylor Swift (video link)
Stay tuned.
Here's the AP's video summary:
And Hope for Haiti Now attracted stars who worked the phones like Colin Farrell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Charlize Theron, Steven Spielberg, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood, Halle Berry, and Ben Stiller.
Bill Clinton, United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti, and head of the Bush / Clinton Haiti Fund, gave this speech:
The Hope for Haiti Now concert event was in Los Angeles, New York, and Haiti, where CNN's Anderson Cooper is working to report on the country's effort to recover from the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake. Hope for Haiti Now was organized by Up In The Air star George Clooney, who said to MTV, "I think it's the same message that everybody does, that churches do, that communities do — which is everybody participate, help out, whatever way you can."
Hope For Haiti Now as event planning was put together very rapidly, about the same time as the Haiti Earthquake itself ended. George Clooney explained to MTV how he came to be involved in forming Help For Haiti Now:
"I was in New York the evening it (the Haiti Earthquake) happened. It happened at four or five o'clock, and I got a message from Wyclef that he's gonna go into the Dominican Republic and that it was much worse than what's initially been reported," Clooney explained. "We knew it was bad, but who knew how bad. And he said, 'Is there anything you can do?' So the next morning, I woke up and called (MTV CEO) Judy McGrath at MTV, and Judy said, 'We were thinking about doing something too,' so I said, 'Let's do it.' And I flew back to L.A., and as soon as I landed we got the other networks involved. And now it's every major network, every single one. At some point, it got to a place [when] you couldn't be the network that didn't [join in]."
The list of participating networks was vast: CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, CENTRIC, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, CNN en Español, HBO Latino and Canadian networks, including CBC Television, CTV, Global Television and MuchMusic. As of this writing, there's no official estimate of the television viewer count; that should come next week.
Hope for Haiti Now may have been the most media-exposed event in history; it was also streamed online at MTV.com, YouTube.com, VH1, and MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo!, Bing.com, BET.com, CNN.com and Rhapsody, and on cell phones by way of Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and FloTV.
Hope for Haiti Now
You can still help now by going to www.HopeforHaitinow.org or calling by phone at 877-99-HAITI. You can even text "GIVE" to 50555.
Here are some of the 19 performances from Hope for Haiti Now, Friday night:
Alicia Keys (video link):
Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Stevie Wonder: (video link)
Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Shakira (video link):
Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Coldplay (video link):
Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Taylor Swift (video link)
Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Stay tuned.
Oscar Nominations Ballots due today, Saturday; and note of protest
AMPAS, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the 5,777 voting members of the Academy are to return their completed Oscar nominations ballots to to PricewaterhouseCoopers not later than 5 PM today, Saturday January 23rd. If they are returned by any time after 5 PM today, they will not be counted.
UPDATE: AMPAS did not state if the 5 PM time was eastern or Pacific in the press release; since it's on the West Coast, Pacific time (PST) should be used.
Apparently the presence of this video-blogger will not be counted either. After being invited by AMPAS to submit a press credential application for the Oscar and Oscar-related events, the result was three successive rejection emails without a reason other than "lack of space".
Again, I was invited. I would think AMPAS understood their space needs ahead of time, before invitations to apply for The Academy Awards were sent out. But even more disturbing is that there's not one set of metrics that's used to determine who gets an invite or who gets admitted.
This kind of 1960s gate keeping in the 21st Century is awful. Below is the email letter of protest of their decision that I wrote to Leslie Unger, the Director of Communications at AMPAS:
Stay tuned for my video version.
UPDATE: AMPAS did not state if the 5 PM time was eastern or Pacific in the press release; since it's on the West Coast, Pacific time (PST) should be used.
Apparently the presence of this video-blogger will not be counted either. After being invited by AMPAS to submit a press credential application for the Oscar and Oscar-related events, the result was three successive rejection emails without a reason other than "lack of space".
Again, I was invited. I would think AMPAS understood their space needs ahead of time, before invitations to apply for The Academy Awards were sent out. But even more disturbing is that there's not one set of metrics that's used to determine who gets an invite or who gets admitted.
This kind of 1960s gate keeping in the 21st Century is awful. Below is the email letter of protest of their decision that I wrote to Leslie Unger, the Director of Communications at AMPAS:
Hi
With all due respect, I really must protest AMPAS decision not to grant a press credential to me for The Academy Awards and its related Nominations Events and on a wide scale.
First, I was invited to apply by AMPAS last year and because I'm on the AMPAS press list. Second, I met all of the necessary application document criteria as per AMPAS instructions. Third, I have regularly covered the Oscars and film via my blogs and videos and have an online reach that's better than the vast majority of media outlets you have credentialed (including an average of 26,000 video views a day on YouTube alone). Fourth, my overall reach is much greater than it was even when I was granted an Exterior Pass last year as my blog is on Zennie62.com and I own 100 blogs, and blog at SFGate.com and The Examiner and I'm syndicated by Newstex. Fifth, AMPAS has no - zero - set of metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of media that's asked to apply for credentials before an application is submitted.
That's really not the way to set up a system. By contrast, the Democratic National Committee had a clear set of metrics for the 2008 Democratic National Convention: Technorati authority rating, minimum number of blog posts, minimum number years that the blog was in existence.
I knew what the metrics were and determined that I met them, so I applied. The result was that my blog was one of 124 that was credentialed for the DNC in 2008.
Please note the word "number" - that's the expression of a "metric" or a way of measuring.
See:
http://demconvention.wordpress.com/blogger-credentaling-process/
And this is the list of credentialed blogs (mine is at the bottom of the list):
http://bloggers4obama.com/2008/05/30/dallas-south-credentialed-for-2008-democratic-national-convention/
There were thousands of blog that did not make the cut, but they knew the metrics going in. They could have chosen not to apply if they just looked at where their blog was compared to the metrics, but some people did not do that. But they knew and the process itself was easy. And to help those blogs that did not make the cut, The Daily Kos and YouTube created something called "The Big Tent" at the DNC.
That was and has been missing in the Oscar Press Credential process and it's really unbelievable that an organization like AMPAS would have such loose system. Your system must be numerically based so that people like myself know the rules of the game. That's a rule that's as old as discrimination law itself. Otherwise, how does one know if they're not being discriminated against racially or in any other kind of way?
I am not concerned about AMPAS tradition here; the 21st Century, technology, and American History have changed our culture such that it's a meritocracy. "If I achieve X level or number, then I get Y" is the way now and it's at the center of New Media. AMPAS must reflect the expectations of media in the 21st Century.
All of this has been most upsetting to me because it's not right. Moreover, I'm of the opinion now that AMPAS thinks I'm someone without any reach, say, or influence, thus this treatment. I remain a fan of AMPAS and of OSCAR, so it's in that sprit that I embark on my quest for change.
I understand that your office deals with many people who "want in" and claim to be press. But I am on the press list, was invited to apply for credentials, put a lot of people through their paces to meet the application document requirements, waited for the result because I would then get a sponsor for my trip on that basis, and this.
Basically, AMPAS has harmed my ability to achieve my professional objectives; given how this happened I'm deeply saddened and upset with AMPAS. The only way I know how to explain to the World what's happened is by using New Media. It just happens to be a powerful tool. Maybe then AMPAS will understand and at least work to set criteria or for that matter ask me.
That would be a good idea.
Best,
Zennie Abraham
Stay tuned for my video version.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Scott Brown win upsets Hitler; same as Sarah Palin, Megan Fox news
A couple of days ago, Hitler learned that Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown won, but his reaction was the same as for the news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigned last year. Well, there's one twist: Hitler blames Scott Brown's victory on President Obama. Of course, Hitler gets upset about a lot of things, like Sarah Palin resigning or Megan Fox rejecting him.
At the time of the report on Scott Brown, Hitler was in a meeting explaining he needed 60 votes to pass Health Care Reform.
Then on the news of Scott Brown's win, he gets pissed, saying that Obama was supposed to be a genius, the Republicans were supposed to be finished, "a regional party confined to the South", and he had a Supermajority. "Coakley had a 30-point margin!", Hitler screamed. Hitler became so upset over the news that Scott Brown won, he kicked all of the Blue Dog Democrats out of the room!
"Health Care was supposed to be done by August!", Hitler screamed. "Now it drags on forever, like Stalingrad!" Then later Hitler says he should have "stuck with Hillary."
Now, for those who have been paying attention, Hitler is supposed to be Nevada Senator and Democratic leader Harry Reid, he of the recent "Obama Negroid" controversy.
Here's the video:
And here's Hitler's response to the Sarah Palin news of last year:
And this is Hitler's reaction over the news that Megan Fox dumped him:
It's not over. We'll hear more about Hitler as 2010 drags on (film clip from the 2004 German film Downfall).
Stay tuned.
At the time of the report on Scott Brown, Hitler was in a meeting explaining he needed 60 votes to pass Health Care Reform.
Then on the news of Scott Brown's win, he gets pissed, saying that Obama was supposed to be a genius, the Republicans were supposed to be finished, "a regional party confined to the South", and he had a Supermajority. "Coakley had a 30-point margin!", Hitler screamed. Hitler became so upset over the news that Scott Brown won, he kicked all of the Blue Dog Democrats out of the room!
"Health Care was supposed to be done by August!", Hitler screamed. "Now it drags on forever, like Stalingrad!" Then later Hitler says he should have "stuck with Hillary."
Now, for those who have been paying attention, Hitler is supposed to be Nevada Senator and Democratic leader Harry Reid, he of the recent "Obama Negroid" controversy.
Here's the video:
And here's Hitler's response to the Sarah Palin news of last year:
And this is Hitler's reaction over the news that Megan Fox dumped him:
It's not over. We'll hear more about Hitler as 2010 drags on (film clip from the 2004 German film Downfall).
Stay tuned.
Oakland Parking Problem causes Don Macleay for Mayor
The Oakland Parking Problem has a number of Oaklanders upset, yet the City of Oakland just doesn't seem to get it. The Oakland Parking Problem has its second political reaction: Green Party Member Don Macleay is running for Mayor. Don Macleay was one of the first to start working on an Oakland Parking Initiative, but like this blogger feels the City of Oakland just doesn't care.
For example, an Oakland Councilmember with an affinity for cocktails yelled in the year of this blogger at a downtown Oakland restaurant recently only because of the mention of the Oakland Parking Initiative and the desire to lower parking rates to more reasonable and affordable levels.
When this was said, the Oakland Councilmember turned and gestured with the cocktail glass with "IF YOU DON'T EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT, YOU'RE A LIAR!! A LIAR!!! I'LL CALL YOU THAT TO YOUR FACE!!! LIAR!!!
Yes. Yelling really loud in the establishment , and just as it was wrote. When the concern for Oakland's unemployed and poor was expressed, there was no response from the Oakland Councilmember. The name is withheld with the hope that the Oakland Councilmember gets the message and stops that kind of behavior in the future.
Oaklanders should be able to talk about policy differences without yelling at each other. But it's really disheartening to see someone that one supported turn around and yell at them for no reason at all, really.
This blogger never attempted to match the Oakland Councilmember's voice level; listening was the objective. The only concern here is that the Oakland Councilmember forgets that she represents the people of Oakland, first, not the maintenance of City of Oakland salary levels in a recession. Don Macleay says he will not be bound by any special interest:
On his website, currently at OaklandGreens.org, Don Macleay writes:
The email from his supporters reveals Don Macleay as a kind of "working class hero":
Don Macleay has what was reported to be a well-attended campaign kickoff of about 50 people, which isn't bad considering that he's as of this writing unknown. That's certainly about to change.
Oakland's Mayor's Race did not have a Green Party Candidate who officially announced his or her candidacy. Now it does. Give the political unrest both nationally and locally, Don Macleay just may find himself with more support for his mayoral run than he dreamed of.
But where Don Macleay could fail in his run is in the New Media area. Right now, when one types "Don for Mayor" they don't get Don Macleay on the first page of the search result, they get Don Perata. As is true for many people over 40, Don Macleay's misunderstanding of the importance of New Media could be his failure.
Few people read newspapers any more and the Oakland Tribune's parent company filed for bankruptcy protection.
Stay tuned.
For example, an Oakland Councilmember with an affinity for cocktails yelled in the year of this blogger at a downtown Oakland restaurant recently only because of the mention of the Oakland Parking Initiative and the desire to lower parking rates to more reasonable and affordable levels.
When this was said, the Oakland Councilmember turned and gestured with the cocktail glass with "IF YOU DON'T EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT, YOU'RE A LIAR!! A LIAR!!! I'LL CALL YOU THAT TO YOUR FACE!!! LIAR!!!
Yes. Yelling really loud in the establishment , and just as it was wrote. When the concern for Oakland's unemployed and poor was expressed, there was no response from the Oakland Councilmember. The name is withheld with the hope that the Oakland Councilmember gets the message and stops that kind of behavior in the future.
Oaklanders should be able to talk about policy differences without yelling at each other. But it's really disheartening to see someone that one supported turn around and yell at them for no reason at all, really.
This blogger never attempted to match the Oakland Councilmember's voice level; listening was the objective. The only concern here is that the Oakland Councilmember forgets that she represents the people of Oakland, first, not the maintenance of City of Oakland salary levels in a recession. Don Macleay says he will not be bound by any special interest:
On his website, currently at OaklandGreens.org, Don Macleay writes:
Oakland deserves a Mayor who works for citizens first. I want a city that serves all citizens with compassion, advocacy, and action.
The email from his supporters reveals Don Macleay as a kind of "working class hero":
Working-class, non-politician Don Macleay announced his intention to run for Mayor of Oakland earlier this week, urging Oakland voters to reject entrenched insider politicians and instead vote for a progressive advocate for people and policies that would serve the real majority in Oakland, not special interests.
Calling his campaign “Integrity and Vision for Progressive Change,” Mr. Macleay is a former machinist, current small business owner, father and progressive community and environmental advocate.
Mr. Macleay said he is an “insider” only to grassroots, community-based Oakland, and will put the “people first.” Mr. Macleay’s goal, as he will outline Monday, is to end the systemic
mediocrity that is Oakland's City government.
Don Macleay has what was reported to be a well-attended campaign kickoff of about 50 people, which isn't bad considering that he's as of this writing unknown. That's certainly about to change.
Oakland's Mayor's Race did not have a Green Party Candidate who officially announced his or her candidacy. Now it does. Give the political unrest both nationally and locally, Don Macleay just may find himself with more support for his mayoral run than he dreamed of.
But where Don Macleay could fail in his run is in the New Media area. Right now, when one types "Don for Mayor" they don't get Don Macleay on the first page of the search result, they get Don Perata. As is true for many people over 40, Don Macleay's misunderstanding of the importance of New Media could be his failure.
Few people read newspapers any more and the Oakland Tribune's parent company filed for bankruptcy protection.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Artie Lange predicted Conan O'Brien's NBC demise - 11/11/08
Artie Lange, the great sidekick to Howard Stern, predicted Conan O'Brien's NBC demise when he appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on November 11, 2008.
Artie Lange, who recently survived a suicide attempt and will be back on The Howard Stern Show at a date in the future, made a statement that painted a future Conan O'Brien didn't see coming; but is now upon him:
This is probably my eighteenth appearance and I'm very sentimental about this," Lange said. "You're leavin' You're going out to do The Tonight Show." Conan responded with "I'm going out to Los Angeles, yeah," which ignited Lange's response: "It sucks. What am I supposed to do, have witty conversations with Jimmy Fallon? What the hell.."
The deal that Conan O'Brien agreed to will pay him $45 million, $12 million of which will go to his executive producer and his staff as severance. Artie Lange was right: Conan O'Brien's getting $40 million for not working.
Stay tuned.
Artie Lange, who recently survived a suicide attempt and will be back on The Howard Stern Show at a date in the future, made a statement that painted a future Conan O'Brien didn't see coming; but is now upon him:
This is probably my eighteenth appearance and I'm very sentimental about this," Lange said. "You're leavin' You're going out to do The Tonight Show." Conan responded with "I'm going out to Los Angeles, yeah," which ignited Lange's response: "It sucks. What am I supposed to do, have witty conversations with Jimmy Fallon? What the hell.."
Conan: "Yeah. He's very funny. You're gonna love him."
Artie Lange: "I love Jimmy; he's not you. You're a writer..I'll just totally throw you under the bus. Good luck man. I don't know. I think it's a bad move."
Conan: "Well. What are you gonna do.?"
Artie Lange: "I would have rooted for that bobblehead (Jay) Leno to stay (on The Tonight Show) and you could have got, what? $40 million? Right? Wasn't that the deal? You would have got $40 million dollars?
Conan: "No, I don't think so."
Artie Lange: "Yeah"
Conan: "$40 million not to work? Sweet. I gotta look into that. Is that a possibility?"
Artie Lange: "I read it in the TV Guide."
Conan: "You read it in the TV Guide!"
Artie Lange: "Cheers to Conan!"
Conan: "Cheers to Conan."
Artie Lange: Cheers to Conan for taking the $40 million and not working."
Conan: "Let's get that deal!"
The deal that Conan O'Brien agreed to will pay him $45 million, $12 million of which will go to his executive producer and his staff as severance. Artie Lange was right: Conan O'Brien's getting $40 million for not working.
Stay tuned.
All White Basketball Team idea upsets Augusta, Georgia
Two days ago a man by the name of Don “Moose” Lewis announced the formation of an "All White Basketball Team" because he didn't like the recent trend of criminal acts on the part of some black NBS Basketball players like Gilbert Arenas, who brandished a gun in the Washington Wizards' locker room and pointed it at a teammate. The antic cost Arenas his NBA job and may land him in jail.
The fact that white NBA referee Tim Donaghy pled guilty to federal felony conspiracy charges seems to have escaped Don “Moose” Lewis, who says he's not racist.
Lewis has it in his mind that he wants to not only exclude black players, but players of color and even the white European basketball players who's ranks have swelled in the NBA. Don “Moose” Lewis wants a "White American Legue" and for reasons not clear to Augusta, Georgia's residents, has it in his mind that Augusta's the perfect place.
WJBF in Georgia conducted a poll on this matter: of 695 respondents, 53 percent said "No" and 47 percent said "yes". Why that close a vote may very well show why Don “Moose” Lewis picked Augusta in the first place: racism - a massive mental illness - still appears to be a big problem, if the comments below the poll are any gauge of what's happening there:
The silliness of the whole idea rests in the fact that the reason there are so many good black basketball players is they work at it. A whole subculture that was the result of blacks being discrminated in so many areas of American life gave rise to the Great Black Athlete. For Don Moose Lewis to not understand that would seem to prove Mr. Lewis does not understand the "Hard facts that created America" as President Lincoln said.
A terrible statement on the South.
Stay tuned.
The fact that white NBA referee Tim Donaghy pled guilty to federal felony conspiracy charges seems to have escaped Don “Moose” Lewis, who says he's not racist.
Lewis has it in his mind that he wants to not only exclude black players, but players of color and even the white European basketball players who's ranks have swelled in the NBA. Don “Moose” Lewis wants a "White American Legue" and for reasons not clear to Augusta, Georgia's residents, has it in his mind that Augusta's the perfect place.
WJBF in Georgia conducted a poll on this matter: of 695 respondents, 53 percent said "No" and 47 percent said "yes". Why that close a vote may very well show why Don “Moose” Lewis picked Augusta in the first place: racism - a massive mental illness - still appears to be a big problem, if the comments below the poll are any gauge of what's happening there:
I believe there should be an all white basketball team.. I mean shoot look at the basketball teams that we have now they are either all black or have 1 white person on the team..I’m not racist by any means I just think its time we got some equality in the sport..We have some what of equality in the other sports yes there are more blacks on the team but who gives a crap right theres whites too…so unless you wanna sit there and do 50%white and 50%black on a basketball team let em have it…
The silliness of the whole idea rests in the fact that the reason there are so many good black basketball players is they work at it. A whole subculture that was the result of blacks being discrminated in so many areas of American life gave rise to the Great Black Athlete. For Don Moose Lewis to not understand that would seem to prove Mr. Lewis does not understand the "Hard facts that created America" as President Lincoln said.
A terrible statement on the South.
Stay tuned.
Ayla Brown online hit after Scott Brown says she's "available"
The number two search on Yahoo Buzz at 9:20 PM is for "Ayla Brown" after her father, new Senator-Elect Scott Brown, said that she was available. Now, searches for "Ayla Brown bikini" and "Ayla Brown American Idol" are dominating the Internet.
During his Tuesday night acceptance speech, Senator-Elect Brown said told the country via television his two daughters Arianna Brown and Ayla Brown were "available".
Suddenly millions of men (and perhaps some women) were interested in learning all about Ayla Brown, much to the shock of her mother, Gail Huff (who could be heard saying "Oh no" when Brown went on a rant about his daughters.
Ayla Brown is not without some star power. At 17, she was a contestant on American Idol, who auditioned in Boston, and made it to Hollywood, as one of 24 semi-finalists.
Here's the video of Ayla Brown singing "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera in 2006:
American Idol launched her singing career, as Ayla Brown made various singing appearances around Massachusetts, including appearing with The Boston Pops and singing the National Anthem at a Red Sox game.
After American Idol, Ayla Brown continued to pursue her other passion, basketball, and became the highest highest scorer on the Boston College team in the 2006-2007 season.
Ayla Brown the vlogger
Ayla Brown's website is a collection of her social network pages and latest videos on a YouTube channel ran by "Double Deal Records". She made this one to thank her friends and supporters after her father's Massachusetts Senate race win over Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley:
After the party, Ayla told the New York post she was mortified over what her father said, and that she was getting requests to go out for coffee or drinks.
Stay tuned.
During his Tuesday night acceptance speech, Senator-Elect Brown said told the country via television his two daughters Arianna Brown and Ayla Brown were "available".
Ayla Brown
Suddenly millions of men (and perhaps some women) were interested in learning all about Ayla Brown, much to the shock of her mother, Gail Huff (who could be heard saying "Oh no" when Brown went on a rant about his daughters.
Ayla Brown is not without some star power. At 17, she was a contestant on American Idol, who auditioned in Boston, and made it to Hollywood, as one of 24 semi-finalists.
Here's the video of Ayla Brown singing "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera in 2006:
American Idol launched her singing career, as Ayla Brown made various singing appearances around Massachusetts, including appearing with The Boston Pops and singing the National Anthem at a Red Sox game.
After American Idol, Ayla Brown continued to pursue her other passion, basketball, and became the highest highest scorer on the Boston College team in the 2006-2007 season.
Ayla Brown the vlogger
Ayla Brown's website is a collection of her social network pages and latest videos on a YouTube channel ran by "Double Deal Records". She made this one to thank her friends and supporters after her father's Massachusetts Senate race win over Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley:
After the party, Ayla told the New York post she was mortified over what her father said, and that she was getting requests to go out for coffee or drinks.
Stay tuned.
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