"V For Vendetta" - I've Got To See This Movie

Once in a while comes a flick that you've just got to see and believe it's going to be good even befire you've seen it. For me, that movie's "V for Vendetta," the new movie by the creators of the Matrix that features a revenge story by a refugee from a state concentration camp in a "future" view of Britain I hope we never see, and who's objective is to blow up Parlament to establish a new World Order.

Wow.

"People should not fear their governments," V says, "Governments should fear people." I think Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown now understands that with respect to me and my blog. My experience with him should serve as a warning to any elected official who thinks they can treat staffers and employees with extreme disrespect: don't do it, as it will come back to haunt you.

I only hope the movie's as good as real life. We'll see.

A Great St. Patty's Day, Except For Cal Basketball

I'm writing to report I had a terrific St. Patty's Day. I got some work out of the way, not much. I went to San Francisco to meet my long time friend Mike Silver, who brought members of Cal's Women's Swimming Team with him. This isn't the first time I've met them; the first was actually my first Cal Women's Swim Meet where I watched them battle Staford last year. The second time was "The 2005 Little Game" but it also wasn't the greatest episode for me personally as it was very close to the time of the passing of my father, Zenophon Abraham Sr, and so I didn' realize how sensitive I was.

But I can say I was much better Friday night. But as much fun as I had, the one damper was that we watched Cal Basketball's loss to North Carolina State in the NCAA First Round Tournament Game. There are some of my friends who want Cal Head Coach Ben Braun to be replaced by someone who has a better offensive plan for us. While I agree with this on emotional grounds, I don't have an alternative coach to suggest and I don't know enough basketball strategy to say what the best course of action is. (That's a weakness I have to eliminate, as it's not a hard game to understand.)

Aside from the game, I did have a great time with everyone, and even my friends Monte Poole and Renaldo Wanso were there. I have to admit that it's fun to watch the dynamics of the relationships of all of these friends. The women were really nice and fun to be with. I just couldn't stick around because I promised my friend Damon Connolly -- who's running for Assembly -- that I'd attend his fund-raiser in Mill Valley. I hate to tell a friend I'm not going to be somewhere and not arrive.

So, I left everyone right after the game and drove up to Mill Valley, to Wilderness Trial Bikes. There, in a special tent, was the group of Damon's friends. I showed up late, and in obvious "You're a Cal Grad" garb. Plus, yes, I was the only black guy, but unlike other examples in my past, that wasn't even an issue. In other words, I felt zero weird vibes. Zero. That was nice, and make me think that the problem may have been one centered more in the culture of San Francisco. Marin County actually seems to have a society where people mix better and on a more casual level, less tied to business and work.

At any rate, after his event, Damon, his friend Woody, and I had dinner with one of Damon's supporters, a wonderful couple. He white; she black. He about 15 years older than she; they married for 20 years. The place we ate at is one that my dear friend and business partner Kristin Herrera and I have had many lunches at; it's called Rafters in San Rafael. I really recommend this lively joint if you're up there.

While we were eating, this lovely woman walked past my table and had such a great beauty and presence I almost gagged on my food. Wow. She saw me look at her and my reaction and just laughed. It turned out she knew Woody and was the base player in the band at the St. Patty's day party that was going on as we were eating. Nice person -- married, though. Damon and everyone else totally cracked up over my response to her. I couldn't help it. It's me.

I really do hope Damon wins. He's worked really hard and made all the right contacts. Plus, he's a person of integrity and a true believer -- almost like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton." He'll do a great job in the California Legislature.

T.O. to The Dallas Cowboys - An "In Your Face" To The Eagles

This is tbe best deal of its kind since free agency was established in the NFL. The kind of deal one always feared. The one that sends a disgruntled, unwanted, but very, very good player to a rival organization.

That deal just happened as Terrell Owens signs a three year contract with The Dallas Cowboys-- read below.


Owens joins Cowboys, signs three-year deal
NFL.com wire reports
IRVING, Texas (March 18, 2006) -- Terrell Owens has gone from stomping on the Dallas Cowboys' star logo to wearing it on his helmet.

The reviled receiver joined the Cowboys, signing a contract to play for Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells in what promises to be an interesting combination of strong personalities.

There's no questioning his talent -- Owens has consistently put up numbers the Cowboys have lacked since Michael Irvin was in the prime of his career a decade ago.

It's his attitude that prompted the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles to get rid of Owens. His relationship with the Eagles soured only months after he led them to the Super Bowl, finally ending with his release March 14.

Details of his contract weren't immediately available, but it was likely to include behavior-related provisions. His blowup with Philadelphia last season even led to new rules regarding punishment being written into the NFL's latest collective-bargaining agreement.

Jones, who built a billion-dollar fortune by taking big risks, is willing to take this one because the Cowboys have gone nine years without winning a playoff game.

Part of the gamble is that fans will warm up to Owens, who launched his flamboyant persona in September 2000 when as a member of the 49ers he celebrated each of two touchdown catches at Texas Stadium by running to the team's star logo at midfield. Safety George Teague secured a spot in team lore by decking Owens after the second one.

On a Monday night game in 2004 best remembered for his pregame skit with a Desperate Housewives actress, Owens celebrated another score by tapping on a logo in the end zone.

Until his behavior limited him to nine games last season, Owens had at least 75 receptions and 1,100 yards receiving in five consecutive seasons. The last time a Cowboys receiver hit both figures in one season was Irvin in 1997.

But Owens also has alienated teammates, coaches and the front office with the things he says and does.

In Dallas, Owens joins a team coming off a 9-7 season that included a 2-4 finish, keeping them from making the playoffs for a second successive season. The Cowboys seem to need more than a star receiver to get over the hump, but do need a main threat after releasing Keyshawn Johnson on March 14.

The team lacks veteran leaders, with captains Dan Campbell and Dat Nguyen already gone, as is La'Roi Glover, another calming influence. Dallas also is in a tough division that includes T.O.-less Philadelphia, the New York Giants hoping to improve as quarterback Eli Manning develops and the Washington Redskins, who have been big spenders in free agency.

The Eagles gave up on Owens only months after he helped them reach the Super Bowl. He demanded a new contract one year into a seven-year deal, then squabbled with quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Before that, Owens forced his way out of San Francisco with repeated hijinks on the field and through disparaging comments about teammates, including quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Jones is no stranger to unpopular moves.

After winning big gambles in real estate and digging for oil wells, he put it all on the line to buy the Cowboys in 1989. Since then, he has fired Tom Landry, forced out Jimmy Johnson, entrusted a championship club to Barry Switzer and given Deion Sanders a $13 million signing bonus.

Jones felt pretty good about his choices when the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl in a four-year span. But that was 1995; Dallas has won only one playoff game since.

He has lost other big gambles along the way, from sticking with Switzer to hiring Chan Gailey, then Dave Campo as head coaches. He also has risked public scorn by releasing franchise icons Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.

Irvin's off-field woes are the local precedent for taking on Owens. However, while Irvin might have tarnished the team's image, he was a devoted teammate and fan favorite.

When Irvin was returning from a five-game suspension in 1996, he was asked how he expected fans to treat him. Irvin said he only had to score a touchdown to win them back -- and he was right.

Could it be that easy for Owens?


AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Brianna Keilar's Now CNN Anchor / Reporter! YIPPEE!!

Flash! New news on Brianna! Click here!

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Brianna Keilar at the 2005 NFL Draft. We had a great, great conversation and stayed in touch, emailing back and forth.

As the link showed, I included her in my account of my NFL Draft trip. As is common with many of SBS' pages, they are highly ranked in particular keyword categories, so the page with her on it was seen quite a bit.

Last fall, some fellow from a New York-based television talent agency contacted me repeatedly asking how he could get in touch with Brianna. I told her about him and she gave me the green light to have him contact her.

Well, she's now anchor on CNN! It could not have happened to a nicer person!

Brianna Keilar Gets More Airtime | Brianna Keilar and Kyra Phillips | Brianna Keilar On CNN Saturday | Brianna Keilar Now CNN Anchor | Brianna Keilar At 2005 NFL Draft

Bush Called "Incompetent" In Recent Poll

I didn't vote for President Bush, but I do feel sorry for him as a man who's clearly on the wrong path. Here's the article, with a link to the orginal work.

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent Thu Mar 16, 12:32 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deep doubts about the Iraq war and pessimism about America's future have shattered public confidence in President George W. Bush and helped drive his approval ratings to their lowest level ever, pollsters say.

As Bush launched a series of speeches to drum up support for the war, a new round of opinion polls found growing skepticism about Iraq and distrust of Bush. His image declined sharply, with one poll finding "incompetent" to be the most frequent description of his leadership.

Bush's approval rating dipped as low as 33 percent in one recent poll after a string of bad news for the White House, including uproars over a now-dead Arab port deal, a secret eavesdropping program, a series of ethics scandals involving high-profile Republicans and a bungled response to Hurricane Katrina.

The political storm has left Bush's second-term legislative agenda in tatters, threatened Republican control of the U.S. Congress in November's elections and shredded his personal image as an effective leader.

"His strong points as a president were being seen as personally credible, as a strong leader. That has all but disappeared," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, whose latest independent poll found a dramatic decline in Bush's credibility.

A majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe Bush is "out of touch," the poll found. When asked for a one-word description of Bush, the most frequent response was "incompetent," followed by "good," "idiot" and "liar." In February 2005, the most frequent reply was "honest."

"The transformation from being seen as honest to being seen as incompetent is an extraordinary indicator of how far he has fallen," Kohut said.

Bush's slump is deep enough to put Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives at risk, pollsters said. Democrats must gain 15 House seats and six Senate seats to regain power in each chamber.

"It's not the environment that we want to be running in," Republican pollster David Winston said. "Republicans can still hold the House and the Senate, but it's becoming increasingly more complicated."

In a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 61 percent said the Iraq war would be a very important or the most important issue in deciding their vote for Congress. As the third anniversary of the invasion approaches, they preferred Democrats over Republicans in handling Iraq by 48 to 40 percent.

WAR 'A BIG ISSUE'

"I think it is a big issue," House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said. "When the country is at war there is a certain unsettling that occurs with people around the country, as you might expect."

Boehner said the anxiety over Iraq was coloring the public's view on other issues like the economy, which he said is performing well.

"People don't look at the president's handling of the economy very well, and frankly I think it is a result of this anxiety over the fact that we are at war," he said.

A recent CBS poll found 66 percent of the public believed the country was headed down the wrong track, while a Harris Interactive poll put the number at 60 percent.

Views on Iraq and the war on terrorism were equally pessimistic, with 67 percent of respondents in the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll saying Bush did not have a clear plan for handling Iraq.

Independent pollster Dick Bennett of American Research Group said Bush's failure to acknowledge public anxieties added to his troubles.

"The biggest problem the White House faces is reconnecting with people. People simply aren't buying it anymore," Bennett said. "People can see for themselves that things actually are not fine."

Bush's ratings are still above historical lows recorded since Gallup started presidential polling after World War Two.

The approval ratings for Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and the first George Bush, the current president's father, all dropped into the 20s.

Pats Cut Wille McGinest; Browns Pick Him Up

Pats Lineman and USC Trojan Willie McGinest was reunited with his old defensive coach Romeo Crenel today. It's a great move for the Browns as he knows the defense the Browns run -- it was the same as that he played within in New England. The Pats, on the other hand, lose a great team leader.

The Browns are on a serious free agency tear. They've got DT Ted Washington, WR Joe Juervicious, to name some of the more famous names. Let's see how this impacts their draft postion. Will they trade down?

Tammy NYP Sex Video, Bukit Batok Video, and The Paris Hilton View - Wow

It seems that we get constant reminders that the first use of the Internet is for the communication of sex. The latest proof of this is in the massive person-hunt for the unseen Bukit Batok Video, which reportedly shows a couple having sex in a park withing that region of Singapore. Before that, it was the Paris Hilton Sex Video, which is all over the Internet.

Look, I'm not interested in watching two people get it on. I'm far more interested in being one of the two and the other's got to be female. You can also leave the video camera at home.

I'm sorry. But I've never been turned on by the standard couple sex in porn movies. It's another way of saying that porn movies don't do a thing for me -- unless it's just the woman. And I mean a full blown adult woman. Someone like Christine Roth, a female bodybuilder.

Ok. The only time I'd watch a video is if it were just the woman. But I told you that.

And beyond all that, I can't show those tapes on this site, anyway!

"Beth's Oscar Party" - A Video Of Our Trip To "The Academy of Friends" Oscar Party in San Francisco For The Academy Awards

My great friend Beth Schnitzer throws the best parties. One of them is an annual gathering of friends to watch the Academy Awards, and where this author has served as ballot scorer and three-time first prize winner (in six years!)

This year, Beth wanted to try something different, and with that decided to arrange for us to attend the San Francisco Academy of Friends Benefit Party. Held at the Concourse Exhibition Center, this emormous event drew an estimated 2,500 people. It features food and drink from 32 San Francisco Restaurants, an auction, and just plain fun all to raise money to attack AIDS.

A good portion of the attendees are Gay (maybe the majority), and so it presents a great slice of San Francisco life. And candidly I write that it's an event everyone should attend at least once and if only to just get over whatever "stuff" they may be dealing with and learn to just plain enjoy people. Everyone's very nice and funny, and if you're a single straight guy like me there's loads of attractive women. But that written, our group was full of beautiful, smart women so there was no real need to go elsewhere.

The video I took (which you can see with a click here or on the title of this post and with the QuickTime application) presents Beth at her best: always with a smile, introducing us not just to anyone, but heavy-hitters, energetic, lively, fun, and yet very professional all at the same time. I keep telling her she should run for office, as I think she'd make an excellent San Francisco Supervisor--or Mayor!

The video is also a celebration of our friends, including the very talkative and expressive Mr. Abraham (that's me). I don't resist a time to get my face in the video as you're going to see. And even when I'm not in the picture, you can hear my voice and that cacaling laugh of mine.

Also, listen for the Oscar picts of our friends. It's interesting to see who picked what and their inflections of confidence that "Brokeback Mountain" was going to take the best picture award.

The flick itself has parts where it seems like the camera's on while being carried in a rush. It is. I started to edit out that part but as I watched it, I felt just like I did at the time when the camcoder was on: in a chaotic, fun rush. I know you'll feel the same way!

Sports Illustrated's Mike Silver Sheds Light on The Edgerrin James Deal Sending Him to Arizona

Mike Silver's got a knack for getting to the real story behind NFL players. He does that here with Edgerrin James, the former Indy Colt who's now running back for the Arizona Cardinals.

But knowing Mike, he may have even hit a bar in South Beach while on the story! (Click on this post's title to read it.)

A Nice Day, But A Mean Guy At The Grove on Chestnut

Today was one of those great days Ice Cube rapped about, but I didn't see the need for an AK. It was nice, even though I was sick for much of it.

I've got a kind of cold bug that will not let go of me for whatever reason. So, I've got Vitamin C, B-6 which is what my late Dad told me to take a lot of, and asprin and zinc. Plus, I've got other medicine, too.

With all that, I tried to work out today, and do webwork too. Ouch.

To get myself in the mood, I drove over to The Grove on Chesnut in SF, and was fortunate to get a good place at one of those tables with the pillow seating and the electric power pluggins. As I did, I sat next to A VERY MEAN MAN.

He was not mean to me, but to some defenseless old woman who -- I don't know what happened -- but he YELLED at her in the cafe, and as others (even the people she was talking to) said nothing to him.

Something about her seemingly not wanting him to sit there. The guy told me he "threw" her umbrella at her -- the one she use to save the table. I don't know.

All I know is he was trying to bully her. He was also buying his weak-ass male friend as they were playing Backgamon. Yelling at him not to make another mistake, and learning forward and pointing his finger in the guy's face.

He was really pissing me off. After holding my mouth, I did tell him he should appologize to the lady. Of course, he objected and explained what she did. I told him he should have taken it up with the manager of the cafe. He agreed.

But after some talking, he fell back into his normal ass-hole mode: "It's not my job to make others happy," he said in response to my call for him to "Make others happy." He seemed to delight in being mean, making snide remarks about the lady to his friend.

I finally left, but not before telling the manager -- who knew of the lady's problem with the man -- that if that guy did that again, I'd send him to jail myself.

So, I came back to Oakland and went to The Alley to sing.

NFL Free Agency Roundup

Man. Gone a few days and the NFL turns upside down. To find out who-went-where at a glance, I went to NFL.com. This is what I learned:

Mike Anderson signed with Baltimore away from Denver.

Egderin James is now with the Arizona Cardinals! (I guess he doesn't want a Super Bowl ring after all!)

John Kitna bolted Cincinnati for The Detroit Lions, leaving the Bengals in the hunt for a quaterback to spell the healing Carson Palmer.

The Bengals signed Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Defensive Back Dexter Jackson away from the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Drew Brees is now a New Orleans Saint, which eliminates their need to draft a quarterback.

The Oakland Raiders have done nothing on the free agency market -- yet.

Why Am I Readng About Clay Aiken?

I noticed this over at Technorati today. What's the deal? As I read the psts, he's done nothing newsworthy at all! Someone tell me?

San Francisco Station KGO's TalkGuy Ronn Owens Gets Award For "News/Talk Local Personality of the Year"

Yep. He was awarded this at the R&R 2006 News/Talk Industry Achievement Awards on March 4, in Washington D.C.

Ya know, since I've got the entire press release, and I'm not feeling well, here it is:

San Francisco, CA – March 7 2006 – KGO NEWSTALK AM 810 made a clean sweep at the R&R 2006 News/Talk Industry Achievement Awards on March 4, in Washington D.C. KGO Radio was honored with News/Talk Station of the Year, KGO's Ronn Owens was awarded News/Talk Local Personality of the Year, tied with a Los Angles Station and KGO's Jack Swanson was awarded News/Talk Program Director of the Year. Radio and Records Inc. is a radio broadcast industry magazine.

Ronn Owens' exceptional interviewing skills have made him one of the best in the business. Ronn recently celebrated 30 years at KGO Radio. Owens' unique style, contemporary approach and wide-ranging knowledge on local, national and international issues has additionally won him the prestigious Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year by the 2003 National Association of Broadcasters, recognizing the most outstanding radio personality in the country. The Ronn Owens Program can be heard 9am-Noon, weekdays on KGO AM 810.

Jack Swanson joined KGO Radio in 1979 as News Director. He later became Program Director for eight years maintaining KGO's top-rated status. Jack's second stint at KGO Radio as Program Director began in 1994 and his reign continues today preserving KGO's 107+ consecutive #1 Arbitron surveys. Jack has enjoyed a tremendous run of success and recognition having been voted the #1 Program Director several times by industry organizations and has been the recipient of this R&R award in 2001, 2002 and 2006.


As Mickey Luckoff, President and General Manger, accepted the Station of the Year award, he stated, "It is the personnel past and present that makes KGO great. That is why we have won this award 3 times over the past 6 years."

Vanity Fair: Bush Had Ties to Abramoff

Here's the report on what Vanity Fair's releasing next Month. Wow.

"Janitor Jack" Spills The Beans in The April Vanity Fair

Wow. I've got to get a copy of the April Vanity Fair. Jack Abrimoff's ratting on everyone in the GOP, according to Arriana Huffington.

Another "Tapestry" Episode Tonight

Without going into length or detail, I'll explain that I went out to work at this cafe and in the process of getting dressed after my gym visit Saturday, realized I was wearing basically the same combination of clothes I had on when I went to that party I blogged about.

I thought, I'd I run into the people from that party.

Well, I did. All the ones I wrote about.

There was one person I sent the link to the blog to, and I did it in part because I knew he'd pass the information on one way or another. He played true to form, and I know this without physical evidence, just my hyper-sensitive feelings.

Part of me feels good this happened-- very good -- the other part of me is puzzled why this weird combination of interwined events and people keeps happening each day. I mean, Wednesday I meet a person -- the African American woman who seemed just plain not interested in meeting the only other black man in a group of people we both knew -- who's at the event I attend the next day , and who knows other people that I know through different people. But all in the same room.

There's also some reason for the occurence of actions that cause me to know more about some people than I really wish to know.

There's some reason for it. This "tapestry" event happens and lasts sometimes for days, or with breaks, or in 2004 it was 60 unbroken days long. 60 days where I met someone one day who knew someone I knew and that person came up in conversation and then I saw that person or the person we were talking about the very next day in another setting where I didn't plan to see them, and with yet another person I knew that they didn't know I was acquainted with.

60 straight days.

But for the first time I think I may be aware of how to get at the reason. I will have to pray more to get it, but I feel I know that some message is being sent to me. Either from my late father and stepfather and God -- something.

I think what gets me is that after years on Earth of really doing a lot of interesting things, there's this spritual push that is telling those who would cause me to feel "invisible" that I'm here.

But also it's a push that says "These folks may not be the people who will be friends to you." It goes with the overall lesson I've gained since the death of my father and stepfather last year. It's this:

There are two kinds of people: the ones you want to be your friends, and those who really are your friends. Sometimes, the people who are your friends may not look the way you want them to, or have this or that, but they do possess kind hearts and are there for you. That's what matters the most.

Cherish them.

This is something my mother has been trying to tell me as well. I hear it loud and clear.

Three Kinds of Macs At The Same Time

I'm working here at a San Francisco cafe called The Grove -- on Filmore Street -- and I was sharing a big table with two nice women (students at the Academy of Art College) who happened to have Macs, like mine. Only one was 17-inches and the other 15-inches. Mine's 12-inches.

The place is dimly lighted, so the site of three backlit Apple logos was strangely interesting to those who walked in. It would have made a great commercial.

Former Bush Aide Accused of Scamming Retailer....I Hope It's Not True

You wonder if he was actually doing this or set up. It doens't make sense that a top Bush aide would do this, but maybe he wasn't making enough money. Or, perhaps he was spending too much of it. It's too bad in that he's also black, and regardless of party, I root for anyone who's able to score a good occupation.

Colorado Representative Writes Racist E-Mail Assailing "Welfafe Pampered Blacks" Suffering From Katrina

Boy, this guy -- Rep. Jim Welker, a Republican -- really put his foot in it. According to the Rocky Mountain News of Colorado, He wrote a racist email that (I think) he felt was justified because it was based on an article that was insulting toward African American, yet written by a black minister.

Hey, Rep., there are a lot of blacks who hate themselves for being, well, black. It's a kind of sickness; check out what Bell Hooks said.

My guess is Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, the black minister who wrote the crap you're about to see and who's pictured here, has that problem. But it doesn't make it OK for someone else to pass on his garbage.

Still, it happens.

The increasingly and wonderfully complex society that is America shines through in this story, however, because someone else white exposed the World to Welker's email.

Well, read on for yourself:

Rep. Welker cites his 'poor judgment' in forwarding essay

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
March 10, 2006

A Loveland lawmaker has been blasted by his colleagues for e-mailing an essay written by someone else that accused "welfare-pampered blacks" of waiting for the government to save them from Hurricane Katrina.
Rep. Jim Welker, a Republican, said Thursday morning that he forwarded the article because of its message about society victimizing people by making them dependent on government programs.

He said he didn't agree with everything in the essay.

One passage says, "President Bush is not to blame for the rampant immorality of blacks."

House lawmakers - black and white, Republican and Democrat - expressed outrage that Welker would forward such an essay.

Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, who worked with Katrina evacuees when they came to Colorado, said she was "appalled and sickened."

"These (were) poor people. Many of them were senior citizens and had no way to escape the hurricane," said Stafford, who is white.

Rep. Terrence Carroll, D-Denver, called it "one one of the most irresponsible e-mails someone in this chamber has sent out."

"It shows (Welker's) complete and utter disregard, at worst, and the misunderstanding, at best, of the lives of people of color," said Carroll, who is black.

After the uproar, Welker issued the following statement late in the afternoon:

"Forwarding this e-mail, particularly without comment, showed poor judgment on my part. I found the opinions expressed by this individual, especially if taken literally, to be offensive and inappropriate. I should not have assumed that this would be clear when received by others."

He earlier said he should have put a disclaimer on the e-mail, and will do so in future e-mails of other writers' material.

Welker said he forwarded the e-mail over the weekend on his own computer.

But Democratic lawmakers have asked the legislature's technical staff to determine why copies of the e-mails forwarded to them by people who were upset with the content bear a time stamp of Monday afternoon, when Welker was in a committee hearing with his laptop computer.

Welker, who is white, said he wasn't implying anything about blacks by forwarding the essay.

"Some of my best friends are of different skin color, like Ed Jones," said Welker, referring to Sen. Jones, a Colorado Springs Republican who is black.

Jones said that he and Welker are friends, but not best friends.

Jones said it was wrong for the author to accuse New Orleans blacks of being immoral, but he agreed with Peterson that there is a problem in New Orleans with generational welfare.

Essay author Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, who is black, is praised on one Web site for taking on the NAACP, a "tool of the largely 'elite, socialist' Democratic Party."

Carroll said Peterson has "made his whole career shilling for the hard right."

Welker last year took heat from his own caucus for saying he feared that if gays were allowed to marry, then people might eventually marry their animals. Republicans said they were embarrassed by his comments.

On blacks, Katrina

Excerpts from an essay by the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson posted Sept. 21, 2005, on WorldNetDaily.com:

- "Say a hurricane is about to destroy the city you live in. What would you do?

If you're black . . . you'll probably wait for the government to save you."

- "When 75 percent of New Orleans residents had left the city, it was primarily immoral, welfare-pampered blacks that stayed behind and waited for the government to bail them out."

- "About five years ago, in a debate before the National Association of Black Journalists, I stated that if whites were to just leave the United States and let blacks run the country, they would turn America into a ghetto within 10 years. (But) I gave blacks too much credit. It took a mere three days for blacks to turn the Superdome and the convention center into ghettos, rampant with theft, rape and murder."

- "Had New Orleans' black community taken action, most would have been out of harm's way. But most were too lazy, immoral and trifling to do anything productive for themselves."

- "Blacks are obligated to help themselves and not depend on the government to care for them. We are all obligated to tell them so."

- The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is a conservative black evangelical minister from Los Angeles and host of a nationally syndicated radio show.

The New Community Centers: The Gym and The Farmers Market

On this lovely Saturday, I went to the great Lake Merrtt Farmers Market on Grand Avenue, then put my food in the car and went to Gold's Gym for a good, long workout.

I like people. What I most enjoy about meeting others is they're a window to another world. A different way of seeing, heck, just by the fact that they occupy different places in space than I do. But that's not what this is about.

I see so many people I know at both places that for me the market and the gym are community centers. Then, I overheard two women talking:

Tall Black Woman: "Do you work out at Club One, still?"
Short White Woman: "Not as much; say, there's something I need to ask you."

And I realized that the same is true for other people too. In an Internet world, it's great to still have places where you can meet people: the market, the gym, and the cafe and bar too.

Don't forget the bar!

The Hypocracy of Sexual Relations in San Francisco -- Or At Least The Marina District

I'm writing this having just arrived from a weird fund-raiser in the Marina District. Well, I came from having coffee and talking at The Balboa Cafe after attending the event nearby on Broadway.

I was invited by a woman I met at Bix about two months ago, and with her friend, who was also at the party. As it turns out both know folks I know who were also there. Plus there was a black woman I just met the night before at the Balboa, but who seems to have some problem with talking to any other black person in a mostly-white audience. I experienced this the night before, as she and I were sitting with another group of people, but had never met before. At the Balboa this seemingly nice woman got drunk and told off some guy who was uneventfully talking to her other women friends -- and did so with such anger she both revealed inner problems she had and nearly got tossed out of the bar.

So, to my surprise, I saw her the next day -- today -- at this event.

What got me about the entire night was how -- once again -- I'm made to feel like some alien amoung white women who don't want black guys (and in this case a black woman who had obvously terrible problems that led to anxieties about black men). These women have certain ways they communicate this, and that's fine with me, but it also is tiresome.

It hit home with me when the person who invited me made a comment that I should be able to see some mark on a man's lower chin after kissing him.

Hey, I'm totally straight and love women. But it's one of those weird signals a white woman who's not interested in black men will send to a black man. (Most black men try to ignore this, but there's this caste system in place I'm totally tired of. I told her "I'm straight. What are you talking about?")

As the evening progressed, her friend who likes her cocktails had a few and got what she normally gets -- horny for someone white regardless of age. (I've seen it before.) This led her to basically have some form of boring "hidden" sex at the bar of the host who owned the place and with the host -- a nice upper-middle aged and pauchy Caucasian fellow who complained earlier of not being able to meet anyone -- in full view of everyone else.

What cracked me up was how her other friends were both upset and yet pretending like they didn't know what was going on -- except me. I pointed it out, and asked if they were using a condom. Moreover, I wasn't even aroused. Why? My enormous ego, which said "If that chick's going to go for someone who's not as good-looking and nice as me, no way am I gonna want her."

Aside from that, was going through my mind was this: she's way, way drunk and not only letting this happen, but her friends are too. So what happens when everyone's sober? Why the act of blindness? I didn't get it.

As for why I wasn't agressive? Simple. Given that she was drunk, I'm not going to be tricked or teased into an action that could get me in trouble later.

Patriots cut LB McGinest after 12 seasons

NFL.com wire reports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (March 9, 2006) -- The New England Patriots released linebacker Willie McGinest in a salary-cap move, ending a 12-year relationship with the NFL's all-time postseason sack leader.

The release of the two-time Pro Bowler was announced March 9, the day after the NFL owners voted 30-2 at their meeting in Grapevine, Texas, to extend the collective bargaining agreement with the players for six more years, resulting in a new salary cap figure of $102 million.

The 34-year-old McGinest carried a salary cap figure of more than $7 million for next season. The veteran linebacker is now a free agent and can sign with any team, including New England.

NFL Adopts "Baseball Style" Revenue Sharing Adjustment - Observation

The new NFL CBA includes and adjustment where the richest revenue teams place a portion of their revenues into a pool which is then used by the smaller revenue organizations. This is very much like the system in the current Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement, but the percentage of the top-tier-teams revenue gotten is not as great.

Commissioner Tagliabue Press Conference, Special League Meeting, Dallas Texas, March 8, 2006

This from NFL Media.com today

Commissioner Tagliabue:

We just concluded two long days of meetings. Last night we went until about 1 a.m., and this morning we started around 7 a.m. and finished at about 6:59 and 59 seconds before the 7 p.m. deadline. The membership approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement and accepted the offer of the Players Association for the six-year extension of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement by a vote of 30 in favor and two voting against.

It was really a tremendous effort by owners across the entire spectrum of the league, no matter how you define the spectrum – whether it's in terms of longevity, whether it's in terms of big-market, small-market or high-revenue, low-revenue. Everyone came together after these two full days of discussions and reached a consensus not only on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but on some major new revenue-sharing features to support the ability of all teams to function well under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The consensus was forged really by all 32, but nine teams worked this afternoon to take two different concepts that had evolved over the last two days and meld it into one concept. The first concept had been developed in the last two days by the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, Woody Johnson and Jonathan Kraft. The second concept had been developed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, particularly Art Rooney and Ravens President Dick Cass. Then over the luncheon hour, three other owners spoke with me about a concept for putting together the two proposals, the two
different sets of ideas, and a process to take the Jets-Patriots concept and the Ravens-Steelers concept and blend it into one.

Those three owners were John Mara, Jerry Richardson and Pat Bowlen. Then when we resumed this afternoon, all of those owners plus Jerry Jones and Arthur Blank played a critical role. We ended up with one single resolution that brought all of the different ideas together. It was sponsored by the nine teams that I just mentioned: Giants, Steelers, Patriots, Ravens, Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Jets and Cowboys. And that's what we presented to the membership and explained it. Once it was all explained, we had the vote and it was adopted without any changes. The blending of the two proposals into one, which was developed this afternoon between 3:15 and 6 p.m., was accepted on the basis that it was presented and developed by those nine teams. In addition to Art Rooney, Dan Rooney was involved in that process. In addition to Arthur Blank, Rich McKay was involved in that process, plus all the owners I've already mentioned. I'll be glad to take questions.

Q: Can you discuss the new revenue sharing agreement?

PT: The revenue sharing basically is a commitment of almost $500 million over the first four years of the deal and then several hundred million additional dollars over the last two years of the deal. I think the total amount over the life of the deal gets to over $850 or $900 million of incremental revenue sharing to be funded in some significant degree by the high-revenue clubs. "High-revenue" includes the top five, the next group, six through 10, and to a lesser degree the clubs who rank 11 through 15. All of those clubs in differing proportions ended up making the alliance or the commitment to fund the
revenue sharing.

Q: How will those funds be redistributed among the membership?

PT: The lower-revenue teams will draw from that fund. The overall concept was geared to the idea that when a team spends to the midpoint between the salary cap and cash over the cap on an average basis, to spend to that level a team should not have to spend more than a specified percentage of its own revenue. So there is an objective standard in there.

Q: What number, percentage-wise, is fair or equitable?

PT: The target in this concept was 65 percent maximum, as a percentage of your own revenues. Of course, the players are getting an unprecedented high level of total revenue, approaching 60 percent of the total.

Q: What will the salary cap be for the 2006 season?

PT: The salary cap for 2006 will $102 million and for 2007 be $109 million.

Q: When will the free agency period begin?

PT: Free agency is going to begin after a 48-hour hiatus, so that clubs can use the additional funding within this cap to re-sign players rather than release players, if that's the way they choose to proceed.

Q: Can you describe some of the other landmark changes that are included in this new CBA?

PT: There are several major features, a lot of major features. There is a significantly expanded post-career medical coverage for players. They already have five years postcareer. There is a healthcare-IRA-type element set aside that the players will get funded in proportion to the length of their career. It's quite a significant improvement in benefits.

The franchise player rules basically stay as they are with some minor tweaking. For the first time a player is tagged and the second time a player is tagged, then in the eventuality, which is very rare, that a player would be tagged a third time, the structure has been modified so as to virtually ensure that in the future there would not be any three time tags, that players and clubs would be able to work out multi-year agreements, including signing bonuses, either the first time a player was tagged or the second time a player was tagged.

Another change is that drafted players in rounds two through seven will have a maximum contract length of four years. Someclubs have been signing players to five and six-year contracts. That had become an issue with the Players Association in this negotiation relative to the concept of free agency after four years. We agreed there would be a maximum contract length of four years for players drafted in rounds two through seven. The first round can still be negotiated with longer deals.

Q: Any changes in terms of club disciplinary procedures and forfeiting signing bonus?

PT: Yes. There are also provisions in there that modify the ground rules in terms of forfeiture of signing bonuses. There are also a number of areas that the discipline provided at the league level for the most part becomes the exclusive form of discipline, whether its suspension or fines, such as with the drug program and with other areas. League discipline would become exclusive.

Q: Any changes in the amount of the rookie salary pool?

PT: No. We had a lot of discussions about the rookie pool, but in the end I don't think we've made any changes.

Q: On the discipline aspect, you're saying that what Philadelphia did to Terrell Owens could no longer be an option?

PT: I'm not saying that. I'm saying that in certain areas we've modified what teams can negotiate. In certain other areas, we agreed that league discipline would be exclusive and that individual club contracts would not be individually negotiated departures from the league disciplinary pattern. That would not be permitted.

Q: You've said all along that this would get done at the 11th hour and 59th minute. It almost sounds like it was orchestrated.

PT: Do you have another question? Harold Henderson heads our Management Council and he had been hearing me say for several years that this would get done at the 11th hour and 59th minute. Frequently over dinner he'd say, "11th hour and 59th minute before what?" And I would say, "I don't know. It's just going to be at the 11th hour and the 59th minute."

Then the other night on Sunday when we had the second break off of negotiations and we were able to talk to Gene Upshaw late at night that his proposal would be presented, I think we got it done after 11 p.m. Then Harold finally said to me, "Now I know what you mean when you talk about the 11th hour and the 59th minute. We're now at the 11th hour and the 24th minute." So I say, "Wait until we get to Dallas. If we have more than 60 seconds to spare, it will be a miracle." And that's the way it turned out.

Q: How important is this new agreement to game of football and the league?

PT: I think it is important. Time will tell how important it is, but it was certainly an opportunity to continue building what we've been building. I think it's great for the fans. I think the quality of the game is at a tremendous level. The spread of talent around the league, the ability of teams to become competitive relatively quickly and to do what Marvin Lewis has done and what other coaches have done, it's a great thing. This preserves all of that. It continues with the elements that we have with the Players Association on the shared cost of constructing new stadiums. It continues a lot of our initiatives, Youth Football and other areas. So I think it's a very positive thing for the fans and the league generally even though it's a stretch from a financial standpoint for many, many teams in terms of the cost.

Q: Does this agreement affect the G-3 funding program for new stadiums?

PT: There are some changes in the G-3 funding program, yes. Basically it's an improvement.

Q: Are debts of some of the high-revenue teams addressed in this agreement?

PT: Not in any way that I could explain right now. We didn't get to the point of micromanaging the way teams operate. We set targets in terms of what should be a reasonable target that a club would have to spend on players to be competitive relative to its own revenues. Once we had that target agreed to, then we did a calculation, or thousands of calculations. Once you translated that target and tried to figure out how it would play out over the next six seasons, the question was, "What is the resulting revenue-sharing obligation that had to be funded?"

And that is what we funded. But we didn't get into micromanaging what teams do in order to generate revenue or to
figure out how to net out the costs of stadium construction, except in some of the structural elements of the agreement. There is a concept of TFR, which takes account of stadium construction costs, there's a G-3 credit that takes account of that, but we didn't micromanage what teams do. We want to have the right incentives for teams at every level, the right support through the league and to give great incentives for low-revenue teams to pick their revenue up, be it through new stadiums or other things. But it's not micromanaging.

Q: Beforehand, you had thought that revenue sharing did not necessarily have to be a part of this deal, but it is now part of the package. Can you discuss that?

PT: I always thought it would be part of the package. That was always my expectation.

Q: How pleased are you that this is done?

PT: I'm pleased, and more than pleased, I'm relieved.
###

Dubai Ports World Proves Their Smart Business People - Sell Rights for Cash Now; Get More Cash Later

While Dems and Repubs are happy over the annouced deal that DPW was to give up stake in the operation of American Ports, I applaud their business intellect. They've gotten so much attention from this that their rights have skyrocketed in value. So selling was the right thing to do.

Bit of History - Byron Price (1891-1981)

(From The Dish List)

Born in Topeka, Indiana on March 25, 1891, Byron Price graduated from Topeka High School (1908). While his father, John Price, was a farmer, Bryon Price chose to be a reporter. As a student at Wabash College, Price worked as cub reporter for the Crawfordsville Journal and Review and Indianapolis Star and News. After earning his B.A. degree, he joined the United Press staff and worked as a reporter and editor for the Chicago and Omaha bureaus before joining the Associated Press (AP) staff in 1912.

With the AP, Price served as a day editor for the Atlanta Bureau, acting correspondent and bureau chief in New Orleans, before being transferred to Washington, D.C. During WWI, Price took a leave of absence from the AP and enlisted in the Army (1917). At the end of his service (1919), Price returned to AP's Washington Bureau; the following year, he married Priscilla
Alden.

In 1922, Price was promoted to news editor of the Washington Bureau and bureau chief in 1927. Ten years later, he became executive news editor, a position he held until December 16, 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped him to head the newly created Office of Censorship.

On January 15, 1942, Price's office issued the Code of Wartime Practices for the American Press. While the code had no built-in legal penalties, the media were urged to avoid printing information deemed national security interests or demoralizing, such as troop and ship movements and photographs of dead American soldiers.

Reporters continued to seek out their usual sources, and government departments and agencies still issued press releases, but each department had a list of things that could not be published. Price's voluntary self-censorship program worked well. With the single exception of a Chicago Tribune 1942 report of the battle of Midway, no code violation was considered severe enough to warrant prosecution under the Espionage Act. Thus, wartime reporting tended to run heavily toward human-interest stories.

Price's office employed 14,462 people between 1942 and 1945. Weekly, these civil servants read and censored a million pieces of mail. US soldiers, subject to censorship by officers, were prohibited from mentioning anything about the surrounding military situation when writing home. US soldiers' families were encouraged to write light, happy, non-specific letters. The Office of Censorship kept records of every telephone, mail and telegraph inquiry it received between mid-January 1942 and August 1945.

The Office of Censorship was closed down on August 14, 1945. Price received numerous awards for his work, including an honorary LL.D. degree (1943) from Wabash College, a special Pulitzer citation (1944) for the creation and administration of the newspaper and radio censorship codes from Columbia University, an honorary M.A. from Harvard University (1946) and the Medal for Merit (1946) presented by President Harry Truman. The American Society of Newspaper Editors and ten other associations of the press, radio and photographers awarded Price special commendatory citations in 1945 and 1946.

After closing the Office of Censorship, Price served as President Truman's representative to occupied Germany. Appointed vice president of the Motion Picture Association of America (1945), he became chairman of the board for the Association of Motion Picture Productions, president of the Central Casting Corporation, first vice president of the Educational Films Research Corporation, and director of the Hollywood Coordinating Committee (1946).

In 1947, Price became Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Administrative and Financial Affairs. The only American among eight assistant secretary-generals, he supervised arrangements for construction of the new UN building in New York City. Price died August 6, 1981, at his Hendersonville, N.C. home; Price was 90.

(Sources: www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWpriceB.htm, www.depauw.edu/library/archives/ijhof/inductees/priceb.htm,
http://uncpress.unc.edu/chapters/sweeney_secrets.html, and www.cameron.edu/~johnh/defpg2.html)

NFL and Players Union Reach Agreement

And Raiders QB Kerry Collins remains with the Silver and Black. We''ll find out who's going where starting Friday.

NFL.com wire reports

GRAPEVINE, Texas (March 8, 2006) -- Labor peace was restored to the NFL when the owners agreed to the players union's proposal, extending the collective bargaining agreement for six years.

There were no further details on the agreement, or whether it includes expanded revenue sharing.

The vote was 30-2, with Buffalo and Cincinnati, two low-revenue teams, voting against the extension.

Free agency, put off twice by the protracted negotiations between the owners and players, now will start at 12:01 a.m. March 10.

"It was a good compromise," said Jim Irsay, owner of low-revenue Indianapolis. "We're happy with it -- 30-2 is a good vote."

The agreement comes after a week of on-again, off-again negotiations, culminating in a two-day owners meeting.

No agreement wouldn't have meant a work stoppage -- at least not for the next two years -- but it would have sent teams scrambling to get under a $94.5 million salary cap. That would have put a number of veterans on the street and it would've also limited the amount of money available for other free agents. And it would've led to an uncapped year in 2007.

Now the cap is expected to go up by as much as $10 million with an extension of the CBA in place.

The real debate was between the owners themselves on the important issue of expanded revenue sharing.

The revenue debate involves low-income teams such as Buffalo, Cincinnati and Indianapolis who say high-revenue teams -- Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia, for instance -- should contribute proportionately to the player pool because they can earn far more in nonfootball income such as advertising and local radio rights.

Those high-revenue teams might contribute only 10 percent of their outside money compared with 50 percent or more for low-revenue teams.

"Some teams are contributing a little more than others," Redskins owner Dan Synder said. "This is really a win-win."

Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has insisted throughout more than a year of negotiations that the division between owners must be resolved before agreement could be reached on a contract extension.

Barry Bonds: SF Chronicle Reporters' Attempt at Dismissing Bonds Comments About Racism are Culturally Insensitive

The news about the new book "Game of Shadows," which reportedly presents evidence of San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds use of steroids includes some comments that should be reviewed and removed. The one I'm focused on now is this excerpt from the book, and which I obtained at www.cnnsi.com

"As he sometimes did when he was in a particularly bleak mood, Bonds was channeling racial attitudes picked up from his father, the former Giants star Bobby Bonds, and his godfather, the great Willie Mays, both African-American ballplayers who had experienced virulent racism while starting their professional careers in the Jim Crow South. Barry Bonds himself had never seen anything remotely like that: He had grown up in an affluent white suburb of San Francisco, and his best boyhood friend, his first wife and his present girlfriend all were white. When Bonds railed about McGwire, he didn't articulate who "they" were, or how the supposed conspiracy to rig the home run record was being carried out. "

This underscores what I think is the real motivating factor behind the production of the book: a dislike for Barry as one who's "arrogantly black." Just because the reporters -- Mark Fairanu-Wada and Lance Williams -- are both not black, is no real excuse for them to write that garbage above.

I, like many African Americans, have grown up in schools that were mostly white, dated European American women, and have friends who are not black. But that does not mean we don't experience racism. Racism is a form of rejection. It doesn't have to be expressed by someone calling a black person a name, but by simply being excluded. It could come in the form of someone walking past you to ask somone white for directions. It could rise when a person moves away from you immediately as you sit down next to them at a public transit stop.

There are countless examples.

That may have been what Barry was trying to explain to his girlfriend, who may have been too culturally immature to understand what he was explaining. Moreover, the Chronicle's reporters didn't bother to report that his girlfriend was white, and they didn't attempt to dig to determine her understanding of what he was saying. This reads like a smear job.

But what hurts so much is to see the reporters obvious insentivity toward the problems faced by African American placed in the black and white of a major book.

For me, it further taints their work.

Houston Texans Sign G Steve Mc Kinney and Plan To Go After Rams Isaac Bruce

This is from the Houston Chronicle's John Mc Clain. It also explains that The Texans will use the same zone blocking system that Denver used.

Here's the article, in case the Chron fails to maintain the link:

Although the start of free agency has been delayed a second time as owners and the NFL Players Association try to extend the collective bargaining agreement, it has not kept the Texans from doing business.

Although the Texans had no problem getting under the $94.5 million salary cap, general manager Charley Casserly will enter free agency with more revenue to spend because of the cap dollars freed up Tuesday by guard Steve McKinney's deal.

McKinney agreed on a four-year extension worth $9 million, including a $2 million bonus. It saves the Texans $2.2 million.

Meanwhile, the Texans are one of many teams interested in former St. Louis receiver Isaac Bruce, who was waived by the Rams when he declined to take a pay cut.

Although the Rams are hoping to re-sign Bruce, 33, he's going to test the market once the NFL allows free agency.

Because Jabar Gaffney and Corey Bradford will be unrestricted free agents, receiver is one of the Texans' priority positions this offseason. Without an extension of the CBA that would increase the salary cap at least another $10 million, it might be a long shot for the Texans to sign Bruce, who was limited to 36 catches for 525 yards and three touchdowns last season.

If the owners, who are meeting in a Dallas suburb, reject the union's latest proposal today, free agency will begin and teams can start bringing in players on Thursday.

Casserly and coach Gary Kubiak will be looking for help at receiver, tight end, defensive end, offensive line and linebacker.

The Texans tore up the last year of the five-year contract McKinney signed when he left Indianapolis for Houston in 2002 and gave him a new four-year deal. He was scheduled to make a base salary of almost $4 million.

"I was happy to do it, and it worked out to where it was fair to both sides," McKinney said. "I'm glad it's over so I can concentrate on football. I'm excited about our new coaches, and I'm fired up to start playing again and helping this team make the playoffs."

McKinney has two new offensive line coaches in Mike Sherman and John Benton. The Texans will play the same zone blocking scheme that Denver has made successful.

"I can't tell you how much it means to a new staff to have a veteran like Steve," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He was very unselfish last season when he moved from center to guard. We watched film of every play last season, and he just played so darn hard on all of them. Steve means a lot to what we hope to accomplish this season."

NFL Considering Union's Revenue Sharing Proposal In Dallas Now

After what was reported by ESPN's John Clayton to be a stirring speech by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the NFL's 32 owners are discussing the revenue sharing proposal presented by NFL PA Exec Director Gene Upshaw. The deadline for a deal is today.

More later.

The Balboa Theatre in San Francisco Showing All Oscar-Nom Documentary Shorts

The Balboa Theatre (www.BalboaMovies.com ) is showing all the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts through Thursday. Our own Dan Krauss and Steve Okazaki will be speaking after select screenings.

Through Thursday, March 9:

THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT DOCUMENTARIES

The rarely seen short documentary category hits the big screen. All 4 nominated shorts on one program. Filmakers in person. Details below.

The Mushroom Club -Steve Okazaki examines the terrible personal toll that followed the bombing of Hiroshima 60 years ago; 10 people whose lives were marked by the explosion are profiled. 35min.

A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin -Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson explore the lasting impact of radio broadcasting legend Norman Corwin's work focusing on his landmark "On a Note of Triumph," which aired on the evening of VE Day. 40min. OSCAR WINNER (2:55), 5:45, 8:35

The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club -Dan Krauss- After shooting an award-winning photograph that captured the full horror of starvation in the Sudan, South African photojournalist Kevin Carter found himself tormented by doubts about the ethical implication of his work. 27 min

God Sleeps in Rwanda - Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman - The genocide that devastated Rwanda in 1994 also left in its wake a population that was suddenly 70% female. Five courageous women struggle to rebuild their lives in a society still reeling from its bloody recent history. 30min. (1:40), 4:30, 7:20

Intermission between each pairing. -
One admission price for all 4 films.

DIRECTORS IN PERSON:
Dan Krauss, director of THE DEATH OF KEVIN CARTER
will speak Wednesday after the 7:20 showing.

Steve Okazaki, director of THE MUSHROOM CLUB,
will speak Thursday after 8:35 showing.

More information on the nominees:
Oscar.com

BALBOA THEATRE
3630 Balboa Street at 37th Avenue.
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 221-8184
http://www.BalboaMovies.com

"24" Clobbering "The Apprentice" in The Monday Ratings Race

Monday, I watched the terrific episode of "24" and didn't even realize "The Apprentice" was on the other channel -- and I'm an Apprentice fan! I just realized I missed it today, and decided to check to determine how "The Apprentice" performed in the ratings against "24."

As I suspected, it got clobbered.

I think the problem is that Apprentice fans are used to seeing the show on Thursdays, and it's been this way since it first aired. Changing this pattern was a big mistake for NBC. If a popular show is just that, and it's held a particular day and time slot for several years, then moving it may kill it.

Look, the Winter Olympics weren't big in the ratings, so a lot of Apprentice fans may have missed the memo that the show was coming on Monday and not Thursday.

Move it back. I like "24."

Natalie Portman Rap: It's Hard To Be Natalie

This video of an SNL skit's all over the place and was even removed from YouTube for copywrite violations! Click here to see Natalie Portman bust out a rap to make Ice Cube proud. It's totally funny.

The Book on Barry Bonds

Click here to read SBS Baseball Business Blog's take on the new book and allegations about Barry Bonds and steriods.

STATEMENT BY NFL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF LABOR RELATIONS HAROLD HENDERSON

From NFL Media.com. In the photo, Henderson is between NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the left and NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw on the right.

"The union rejected a proposal that would have increased player
compensation to unprecedented levels. Our offer would have added a minimum
of $1.5 billion in new dollars for players over the six years of the extension. It is
an unfortunate situation for the players, the fans, and the league."

In addition, Henderson noted that the NFL's offer would have increased
player compensation in 2006 by $577 million over 2005 and that there was no
discussion of revenue sharing with the union during today's negotiations, which
were broken off by the union.

Dana Reeve 1960-2006

This is too sad for words. She was just 44 years old -- I'm 43 years old -- and she didn't even smoke at all. I feel for her teenage son, who's lost two parents before he's even an adult. She's reunited with Chris in Heaven, and maybe ---perhaps this was all because he needed her there. I don't know.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock's "Vince Young Two Step" - Make Up Your Mind Dude

NFL Network's Mike Mayock says on the one hand that he doesn't care about Vince Young's Wonderlic score, which means he's not going to use it to question the Texas QB's learing ablity. But then he says "How many GMs are going to bet millions on a guy that may not become a sophistocated NFL quarterback."

Well, others are using his Wonderlic score to make the same statement.

When it comes to black QBs, Mayock seems to have a terrible bias which reads "He should be a wide receiver."

I will say this: the ability to teach is the measure of the football knoweldge of any coach. If they can't teach a talent -- a proven talent -- like Vince Young, then they're not good coaches. Period.

Remember, the Wonderlic does not deal with job-related questions in this case. There's not one football related question on it.