The legendary and volitile coach of the Indiana Hoosiers and the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Bobby Knight has resigned, but for some reason I don't think he's going to stay away for long.
The only reason I have for writing that is my gut. I think the fire to win and to teach burns within him so hot that it will eventually prove uncontainable. He will be back.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Barack Obama Wins Vote Of Expatriate Americans In Indonesia
In what may be a bell-weather of things to come on Super Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama has won the vote of expatriate Americans in Indonesia. This information came from CNN , which speculates that the win has something to do with the fact that he spent four years of his childhood there.
I think that's B.S. They picked Barack Obama because they believe he's the better candidate. I agree.
I think that's B.S. They picked Barack Obama because they believe he's the better candidate. I agree.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Giants' staggering win over Patriots watched by record 97.5 million
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The 97.5 million viewers who saw the New York Giants' last-minute win over the New England Patriots made it the most-watched Super Bowl ever and second biggest event in American television history.
Only the "MASH" series finale in 1983, with 106 million viewers, was seen by more people, Nielsen Media Research said Monday. Sunday's game eclipsed the previous Super Bowl record of 94.08 million, set when Dallas defeated Pittsburgh in 1996.
This year's game had almost all the ingredients Fox could have hoped for: a tight contest with a thrilling finish involving a team that was attempting to make history as the NFL's first unbeaten team since 1972.
But the Giants ended New England's bid for perfection, 17-14. Throughout the game, the teams were never separated by more than a touchdown.
"You might like your equation going in, but you still need some breaks going your way," said Ed Goren, Fox sports president. The closeness of the game probably added a couple million viewers to the telecast's average; the audience peaked at 105.7 million viewers between 9:30 and 10 p.m. EST -- during the fourth quarter.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning won bragging rights over his brother: Last year's win by Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts was seen by 93.2 million people, now the third most popular Super Bowl. Manning was set to appear on David Letterman's "Late Show" on Monday, but travel delays in Arizona pushed his appearance back to Wednesday.
An eye-popping 81 percent of all TV sets on in the Boston area Sunday were tuned in to the game. In New York, the audience share was 67 percent.
There were signs even before game time that Fox could be headed for a record. The opportunity for a team to make history with football's first 19-0 record was a powerful draw. The Giants and Patriots also had a tight contest in late December that drew strong ratings.
The Giants' underdog run had also captivated the nation's largest media market, making up for the only potential weakness in the event as a drawing card: the lack of geographical diversity in the competing teams.
There were past Super Bowls with higher ratings, topped by the 1982 game between San Francisco and Cincinnati (49.1 rating, 73 share). That indicates a larger percentage of homes with televisions were watching the game. But since the American population has increased, along with the number of people with TVs, the actual number of people watching this year was higher.
The Giants-Patriots game's actual rating (43.2 rating, 65 share) was the highest for any Super Bowl since 2000. That means 43 percent of the nation's TV sets were tuned in to the game, and 65 percent of the TV sets that were turned on were watching football.
The 97.5 million figure represents the game's average viewership during any given minute. Nielsen said that a total of 148.3 million watched at least some part of the game.
Goren said ratings were stronger than usual for Fox's pregame show, crediting the decision to add a show biz element with Ryan Seacrest to a program often usually only hardcore football fans could love.
Fox, a division of News Corp., charged $2.7 million for 30 seconds of advertising time on the game, and that may have been a bargain.
This year's Super Bowl was one of the few -- if only -- television events where more people watched the commercials than the program itself, according to digital video recorder makers TiVo Inc.
By measuring live viewership, and the number of people who rewound their DVRs, the most-seen Super Bowl commercial was E-Trade's stock-talking baby, who ended a financial discussion by spitting up, TiVo said.
"I didn't see that punch line coming at all," said Todd Juenger, Tivo's research chief.
Pepsi's Justin Timberlake commercial was second, proving fans either like watching Timberlake, or like watching him sail into a mailbox post crotch-first. The Doritos "Mouse Trap" commercial, from an idea submitted by a viewer, was third.
In what may be a sign of the times, TiVo's top 10 commercials featured only one beer ad and four for either soft drinks or flavored water.
NEW YORK -- The 97.5 million viewers who saw the New York Giants' last-minute win over the New England Patriots made it the most-watched Super Bowl ever and second biggest event in American television history.
Only the "MASH" series finale in 1983, with 106 million viewers, was seen by more people, Nielsen Media Research said Monday. Sunday's game eclipsed the previous Super Bowl record of 94.08 million, set when Dallas defeated Pittsburgh in 1996.
This year's game had almost all the ingredients Fox could have hoped for: a tight contest with a thrilling finish involving a team that was attempting to make history as the NFL's first unbeaten team since 1972.
But the Giants ended New England's bid for perfection, 17-14. Throughout the game, the teams were never separated by more than a touchdown.
"You might like your equation going in, but you still need some breaks going your way," said Ed Goren, Fox sports president. The closeness of the game probably added a couple million viewers to the telecast's average; the audience peaked at 105.7 million viewers between 9:30 and 10 p.m. EST -- during the fourth quarter.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning won bragging rights over his brother: Last year's win by Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts was seen by 93.2 million people, now the third most popular Super Bowl. Manning was set to appear on David Letterman's "Late Show" on Monday, but travel delays in Arizona pushed his appearance back to Wednesday.
An eye-popping 81 percent of all TV sets on in the Boston area Sunday were tuned in to the game. In New York, the audience share was 67 percent.
There were signs even before game time that Fox could be headed for a record. The opportunity for a team to make history with football's first 19-0 record was a powerful draw. The Giants and Patriots also had a tight contest in late December that drew strong ratings.
The Giants' underdog run had also captivated the nation's largest media market, making up for the only potential weakness in the event as a drawing card: the lack of geographical diversity in the competing teams.
There were past Super Bowls with higher ratings, topped by the 1982 game between San Francisco and Cincinnati (49.1 rating, 73 share). That indicates a larger percentage of homes with televisions were watching the game. But since the American population has increased, along with the number of people with TVs, the actual number of people watching this year was higher.
The Giants-Patriots game's actual rating (43.2 rating, 65 share) was the highest for any Super Bowl since 2000. That means 43 percent of the nation's TV sets were tuned in to the game, and 65 percent of the TV sets that were turned on were watching football.
The 97.5 million figure represents the game's average viewership during any given minute. Nielsen said that a total of 148.3 million watched at least some part of the game.
Goren said ratings were stronger than usual for Fox's pregame show, crediting the decision to add a show biz element with Ryan Seacrest to a program often usually only hardcore football fans could love.
Fox, a division of News Corp., charged $2.7 million for 30 seconds of advertising time on the game, and that may have been a bargain.
This year's Super Bowl was one of the few -- if only -- television events where more people watched the commercials than the program itself, according to digital video recorder makers TiVo Inc.
By measuring live viewership, and the number of people who rewound their DVRs, the most-seen Super Bowl commercial was E-Trade's stock-talking baby, who ended a financial discussion by spitting up, TiVo said.
"I didn't see that punch line coming at all," said Todd Juenger, Tivo's research chief.
Pepsi's Justin Timberlake commercial was second, proving fans either like watching Timberlake, or like watching him sail into a mailbox post crotch-first. The Doritos "Mouse Trap" commercial, from an idea submitted by a viewer, was third.
In what may be a sign of the times, TiVo's top 10 commercials featured only one beer ad and four for either soft drinks or flavored water.
Mike Vick | Vick Keeps Signing Bonus; Judge David Doty Decision - Profootballtalk.com
This is a huge development as the Falcons believed the $20 million should have been returned, but there were many who disagreed and I personally thought the organization's move was vindictive.
VICK CAN KEEP HIS BONUS
Judge David Doty, who presided over the landmark litigation that resulted in free agency and still retains jurisdiction over certain aspects of the administration of the 15-year-old system, has ruled that Falcons quarterback Mike Vick may keep more than $20 million in bonuses paid to him as part of his December 2004 contract extension.
The decision reverses the ruling of Special Master Stephen Burbank, whose decision to allow the Falcons to pursue the money was regarded as a surprise in the wake of a prior decision from Burbank regarding former Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie.
The ruling arises from a conclusion that roster bonuses are money earned in the year in which they are paid. In contrast, a signing bonus is earned over the period of years in which the money is allocated under the salary cap.
The twist in the Vick case was that the team reserved the right to convert the roster bonus payments to guaranteed amounts, which then triggered proration. But the fact that the money was paid out as a roster bonus, according to Judge Doty, exempts it from forfeiture.
In the Lelie case, Burbank found that an option bonus was not subject to forfeiture, even though an option bonus is essentially a signing bonus that comes due at some date after signing. The second time around, Burbank focused on an argument that the league didn't make in the Lelie case in finding that a roster bonus is subject to forfeiture.
The Falcons have the ability to appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days. Thereafter, the appellate court would set a briefing schedule, and argument would follow several months later. Ultimately, the losing party may attempt to persuade the United States Supreme Court to take up the issue. However, the Supreme Court takes up only a small percentage of proposed appeals.
Vick currently is serving a prison term for violation of federal conspiracy laws relating to gambling and dog fighting.
VICK CAN KEEP HIS BONUS
Judge David Doty, who presided over the landmark litigation that resulted in free agency and still retains jurisdiction over certain aspects of the administration of the 15-year-old system, has ruled that Falcons quarterback Mike Vick may keep more than $20 million in bonuses paid to him as part of his December 2004 contract extension.
The decision reverses the ruling of Special Master Stephen Burbank, whose decision to allow the Falcons to pursue the money was regarded as a surprise in the wake of a prior decision from Burbank regarding former Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie.
The ruling arises from a conclusion that roster bonuses are money earned in the year in which they are paid. In contrast, a signing bonus is earned over the period of years in which the money is allocated under the salary cap.
The twist in the Vick case was that the team reserved the right to convert the roster bonus payments to guaranteed amounts, which then triggered proration. But the fact that the money was paid out as a roster bonus, according to Judge Doty, exempts it from forfeiture.
In the Lelie case, Burbank found that an option bonus was not subject to forfeiture, even though an option bonus is essentially a signing bonus that comes due at some date after signing. The second time around, Burbank focused on an argument that the league didn't make in the Lelie case in finding that a roster bonus is subject to forfeiture.
The Falcons have the ability to appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days. Thereafter, the appellate court would set a briefing schedule, and argument would follow several months later. Ultimately, the losing party may attempt to persuade the United States Supreme Court to take up the issue. However, the Supreme Court takes up only a small percentage of proposed appeals.
Vick currently is serving a prison term for violation of federal conspiracy laws relating to gambling and dog fighting.
Super Bowl XLII, NY Giants, Eli Manning Pass To Burress
This video is of the NY Giants final drive and Giants QB Eli Manning's TD pass to Plaxico Burress. You can hear Patriots fans taunting Manning yelling "Eli!". The drive led to the Giants win, 17 to 14 and ended the New England Patriots dream of a perfect season.
It's live from my trip to Super Bowl XLII (my sixth Super Bowl game) in Phoenix, AZ, Feb 3, 2008.
Super Bowl XLII, NY Giants, Eli Manning Pass to Dave Tyree and TD Pass to Plaxico Burress
This video is of the NY Giants final drive, Giants QB Eli Manning's dramatic throw to and catch by David Tyree, and his TD pass to Plaxico Burress. You can hear Patriots fans taunting Manning yelling "Eli!". It's live from Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, AZ, Feb 3, 2008
It's live from my trip to Super Bowl XLII (my sixth Super Bowl game) in Phoenix, AZ, Feb 3, 2008.
Clinton Health Care Plan To Garnish Wages - Yahoo.com
I was wondering how Senator Clinton was planning to make sure that every American had health care and now I know. According to this Yahoo.com account, Clinton plans to garnish wages to make sure a health care plan is adapted for that family.
This brings the Clinton plan into full focus and defines how it's different from the plan Senator Barack Obama has developed which is focused on reducing Health Care costs. The Clinton plan reads as if it's going to force a high health care cost on the American public and place money into the pockets of the drug companies.
This brings the Clinton plan into full focus and defines how it's different from the plan Senator Barack Obama has developed which is focused on reducing Health Care costs. The Clinton plan reads as if it's going to force a high health care cost on the American public and place money into the pockets of the drug companies.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Eli Manning Super Bowl 42 MVP
No longer will Eli Manning be referred to as Peyton's little brother. The sterotype of a soft,feeble, passive and inconsistent signal caller has been completely eradicated. Now his name has been entered into the ranks of the best players to every dawn an NFL uniform.
Last year, Peyton hoisted the MVP trophy in South Florida and furthered his legacy in the game of football. Plastered behind the shadows of his older brother and father, Eli never seemed willing or able to elevate from a grounded level of rapid disappoint to a level of excellence and accuracy.
Plagued by a propensity of throwing interceptions, 20 to be exact during the regular season, Manning restricted his number of errors in the playoffs to one. Smart, conscice, efficient and scrupulous, Manning played overwhelmingly reminiscent to his brother on many fronts.
Manning went 9-14 for 152 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter, a clear indication that he has gravitated to the level of supremacy that Hall of Fame quarterbacks play at.
The penchant to overcome adversity, media backlash, fan dissent and the tremors of constant negativity for his entire career, demonstrates Eli's true character and leadership skills. Naysayers transformed into believers and supporters reaffirmed their confidence in the Giants champion
Tonight, Eli Manning displayed that he is now his own Manning. After his epic performance in which he mustered together a game winning 83-yard drive with 35 seconds remaining, the comparisons to his big-brother can be terminated.
Last year, Peyton hoisted the MVP trophy in South Florida and furthered his legacy in the game of football. Plastered behind the shadows of his older brother and father, Eli never seemed willing or able to elevate from a grounded level of rapid disappoint to a level of excellence and accuracy.
Plagued by a propensity of throwing interceptions, 20 to be exact during the regular season, Manning restricted his number of errors in the playoffs to one. Smart, conscice, efficient and scrupulous, Manning played overwhelmingly reminiscent to his brother on many fronts.
Manning went 9-14 for 152 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter, a clear indication that he has gravitated to the level of supremacy that Hall of Fame quarterbacks play at.
The penchant to overcome adversity, media backlash, fan dissent and the tremors of constant negativity for his entire career, demonstrates Eli's true character and leadership skills. Naysayers transformed into believers and supporters reaffirmed their confidence in the Giants champion
Tonight, Eli Manning displayed that he is now his own Manning. After his epic performance in which he mustered together a game winning 83-yard drive with 35 seconds remaining, the comparisons to his big-brother can be terminated.
A Giant Upset: NY Prevails In SB 42, 17-14
Perfect no more. The dreams of a 19-0 season by the New England Patriots were fizzled tonight by one of the most unlikliest of teams in NFL history.
From Tampa Bay to Dallas, Green Bay to Arizona, the improbable story of the New York Giants persisted tonight in Super Bowl 42. Provided with a bleak opportunity to emerge victorious, the Giants demonstrated that no team is unbeatable, even the vaunted New England Patriots.
Equipped with the premier offense, fourth ranked defense, undefeated record and a margin of victory of twenty points, it was blatantly obvious to pundits, analysts, reporters and the majority of fans across the nation that the Patriots would cement their stamp in the record books and hoist their fourth Vince Lombardi trophy in the last seven years. Someone forgot to send the memo to the Giants players and coaches.
Throughout the week the teams demeanor was positive and optimistic, never doubting their ability to dethron the unstoppable Pats. Fortunately, their confidence enabled them to defeat the pre-eminent opponent of all.
After Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss to propel the Patriots to a four-point lead, 14-10, Eli Manning advanced his team down the field on a daunting 12-play, 83-yard drive highlighted by an insurmountable catch by David Tyree.
With 35 seconds remaining, Manning found Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard fade route in the corner of the endzone to ensure the Giants third Super Bowl victory and first since 1990.
In week 17 New England defeated New York by three points, but when it counted most on the grandest stage in football, the Giants prevailed by three points, shattering the Patriots flawless season.
From Tampa Bay to Dallas, Green Bay to Arizona, the improbable story of the New York Giants persisted tonight in Super Bowl 42. Provided with a bleak opportunity to emerge victorious, the Giants demonstrated that no team is unbeatable, even the vaunted New England Patriots.
Equipped with the premier offense, fourth ranked defense, undefeated record and a margin of victory of twenty points, it was blatantly obvious to pundits, analysts, reporters and the majority of fans across the nation that the Patriots would cement their stamp in the record books and hoist their fourth Vince Lombardi trophy in the last seven years. Someone forgot to send the memo to the Giants players and coaches.
Throughout the week the teams demeanor was positive and optimistic, never doubting their ability to dethron the unstoppable Pats. Fortunately, their confidence enabled them to defeat the pre-eminent opponent of all.
After Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss to propel the Patriots to a four-point lead, 14-10, Eli Manning advanced his team down the field on a daunting 12-play, 83-yard drive highlighted by an insurmountable catch by David Tyree.
With 35 seconds remaining, Manning found Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard fade route in the corner of the endzone to ensure the Giants third Super Bowl victory and first since 1990.
In week 17 New England defeated New York by three points, but when it counted most on the grandest stage in football, the Giants prevailed by three points, shattering the Patriots flawless season.
Patriots Lead Giants 7-3 At Halftime
Through the first half of Super Bowl 42, the Patriots have gained a slim lead over the NFC Champions.
Laurence Maroney's one-yard touchdown gave the undefeated patriots a four-point advantage at thr 14:57 mark of the second quarter after a Lawrence Tyne's 32-yard field goal propeled them to an early lead.
The Giants relentless pressure on Tom Brady enabled them to contain the NFL MVP to under 100 yards pasing and one completion to wide receiver Randy Moss. In addition, Brady was sacked three times, including twice on one series. The Patriots inability to find consistency and rhythm on both sides of the football have been the two central factors that have challenged them all game long.
Although Eli Manning turned the ball over for the first time this postseason (four games), he has performed exceedingly well through the first thirty minutes of this epic contest. The younger Manning directed the Giants on a 16 play, 9:59 drive that spanned 63 yards to start the game- most play attempts on an opening drive in Super Bowl history.
The expected offensive onslaught was not visible in the first half as the Giants were contained to 139 yards and the Patriots 81. Moreover, New York controlled the time of possession at 19:27.
Laurence Maroney's one-yard touchdown gave the undefeated patriots a four-point advantage at thr 14:57 mark of the second quarter after a Lawrence Tyne's 32-yard field goal propeled them to an early lead.
The Giants relentless pressure on Tom Brady enabled them to contain the NFL MVP to under 100 yards pasing and one completion to wide receiver Randy Moss. In addition, Brady was sacked three times, including twice on one series. The Patriots inability to find consistency and rhythm on both sides of the football have been the two central factors that have challenged them all game long.
Although Eli Manning turned the ball over for the first time this postseason (four games), he has performed exceedingly well through the first thirty minutes of this epic contest. The younger Manning directed the Giants on a 16 play, 9:59 drive that spanned 63 yards to start the game- most play attempts on an opening drive in Super Bowl history.
The expected offensive onslaught was not visible in the first half as the Giants were contained to 139 yards and the Patriots 81. Moreover, New York controlled the time of possession at 19:27.
Jason Taylor Named Walter Payton Man Of The Year
Moments before the kickoff of Super Bowl 42 between the Giants and Patriots, Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor was presented with the Walton Payton Man of the Year award for his substantial contribution in the community and off the field.
Taylor, the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becomes the third Dolphin to be honored with the Walton Payton award. Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson (1985) and quarterback Dan Marino (1998)were the first two fins to receive the recognition for their hard work when away from the field.
Taylor, the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becomes the third Dolphin to be honored with the Walton Payton award. Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson (1985) and quarterback Dan Marino (1998)were the first two fins to receive the recognition for their hard work when away from the field.
Maria Shriver Endorses Barack Obama
Maria Shriver, wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who recently endorsed Republican John McCain, pledged her support for Democrat Barack Obama this afternoon at an event in Los Angeles that featured Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
According to Shriver, "I'm proud to be standing here not just with these women, but with all of you -- different races, different age groups I'm sure, Democrats and independents alike -- because you believe," she said. "You believe in each and every one of yourselves, most importantly. And you believe that you have found someone who believes in you."
California's first lady is the niece of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy who endorsed Obama last week at an event at American University in Washington D.C.
According to Shriver, "I'm proud to be standing here not just with these women, but with all of you -- different races, different age groups I'm sure, Democrats and independents alike -- because you believe," she said. "You believe in each and every one of yourselves, most importantly. And you believe that you have found someone who believes in you."
California's first lady is the niece of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy who endorsed Obama last week at an event at American University in Washington D.C.
Barack Obama "Yes We Can" Will-I-Am Video A Hit!
Will-I-Am of the Black Eyed Peas has created a beautiful video around Senator Barack Obama's words "Yes We Can". I don't yet know how the video came to be reality -- in other words, when Will-I-Am decided to pull the trigger and make it -- but it's out now and deserves a look. I can't remember when a group of artists have gotten together in this way before.
Here's the video:
Here's the video:
7 Crazy Superbowl Predictions that could happen
7 Crazy Super bowl Predictions that could happen
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-NFL Draft Bible.com
7- Patriots WR Randy Moss will be assaulted by a group from the women's anti-defamation league as he leaves a party Saturday Night. He will need a restraining order and a police escort in order to play the game Sunday.
6- Coach Bill Belichick will have his entire coaching wardrobe of 27 Hoodies and two pullover hats stolen by a group of 12 year olds from the Ravenswood Housing Projects In Astoria NY called the "little Giants Mafia".
5- Dallas owner Jerry Jones, still distraught over the Cowboys early exit from the Playoffs, will try to get a new playoff system passed that eliminates the wild card round of the playoffs. He will then take a 4 day skiing trip to Utah with Jeff Lurie, and Dan Snyder. He will break his hand on a fall on the slopes, and Snyder will have him airlifted out by a Fedex copter. Lurie will then try to Rush release a movie epic based on the trip ahead of Steve Tisch's release of the same movie.
4- Jessicia Simpson will break up with Tony Romo and Profess her love for Eli Manning. Her father Joe will throw himself at Archie and Olivia Manning, begging them for a chance at their son. Archie will offer Joe a case of Double Stuff Oreos and a case of Hershey's Chocolate milk and tell him to go home.
3- Tom Petty's Tour Bus will burn down at a Roadside diner in Black Canyon City Arizona the day before the game. No one will be hurt, but Petty will have to borrow Prince's purple guitar to play the halftime show. Gene Simmons from Kiss will tell everyone he could have played a better show. By himself.
2- Tom Brady will throw 7 interceptions in the game, and retire from football in the post game press conference. He will break up with the pinup girlfriend and join a religious cult, giving all his net worth to them.
And the #1 Wacky Super Bowl Prediction is:
The Giants will win 24-21 on a last second Field Goal by Tynes again. Both Scotland and Milton Fl. will claim Tynes a Native son, causing a Lawsuit over both's use of his name on a welcome sign. Tynes will accept a free agent offer to play for the new NFL expansion team in Fairbanks Alaska….
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-NFL Draft Bible.com
7- Patriots WR Randy Moss will be assaulted by a group from the women's anti-defamation league as he leaves a party Saturday Night. He will need a restraining order and a police escort in order to play the game Sunday.
6- Coach Bill Belichick will have his entire coaching wardrobe of 27 Hoodies and two pullover hats stolen by a group of 12 year olds from the Ravenswood Housing Projects In Astoria NY called the "little Giants Mafia".
5- Dallas owner Jerry Jones, still distraught over the Cowboys early exit from the Playoffs, will try to get a new playoff system passed that eliminates the wild card round of the playoffs. He will then take a 4 day skiing trip to Utah with Jeff Lurie, and Dan Snyder. He will break his hand on a fall on the slopes, and Snyder will have him airlifted out by a Fedex copter. Lurie will then try to Rush release a movie epic based on the trip ahead of Steve Tisch's release of the same movie.
4- Jessicia Simpson will break up with Tony Romo and Profess her love for Eli Manning. Her father Joe will throw himself at Archie and Olivia Manning, begging them for a chance at their son. Archie will offer Joe a case of Double Stuff Oreos and a case of Hershey's Chocolate milk and tell him to go home.
3- Tom Petty's Tour Bus will burn down at a Roadside diner in Black Canyon City Arizona the day before the game. No one will be hurt, but Petty will have to borrow Prince's purple guitar to play the halftime show. Gene Simmons from Kiss will tell everyone he could have played a better show. By himself.
2- Tom Brady will throw 7 interceptions in the game, and retire from football in the post game press conference. He will break up with the pinup girlfriend and join a religious cult, giving all his net worth to them.
And the #1 Wacky Super Bowl Prediction is:
The Giants will win 24-21 on a last second Field Goal by Tynes again. Both Scotland and Milton Fl. will claim Tynes a Native son, causing a Lawsuit over both's use of his name on a welcome sign. Tynes will accept a free agent offer to play for the new NFL expansion team in Fairbanks Alaska….
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Phil The Groundhog's Day Groundhog Says "Six More Weeks Of Summer"
Well, at least I thought it was funny. The annual tradition of Phil The Groundhog coming out of his hole and telling us how long winter's going to last is upon us once again. This year, Phil says it's six more weeks of winter!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Heath Ledger | Ledger Video Claims To Show Drug Use
I'm not sure what the purpose of making and releasing this video is, but it's out there and claims to show Heath Ledger using and talking about using drugs. Again, I don't know what the reason for this video is, but I also think it's not a good idea to have made it. But that written, it's news..
Kofi Bonner | Candlestick Point Plan For Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco
Kofi Bonner | Candlestick Point Plan For Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco
Kofi Bonner Shows New Homes, Open Space and Jobs Are Part of Transit-Oriented Project to Open Up Southeast S.F. Waterfront
SAN FRANCISCO -- Plans were unveiled by Kofi Bonner of Lennar Corporation at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for an innovative new Candlestick Point neighborhood that would feature as its centerpiece a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers and include an 8,000-10,000 seat arena, new market rate and affordable housing, retail and entertainment uses, public parks and open space, and improved access to the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
The presentation was the first public viewing of the mixed-use/stadium development that was created as part of the 49ers stadium project. "We strongly believe that our proposed plan for Candlestick Point serves both the 49ers and the community of Bayview Hunters Point and we look forward to making refinements to the plan that inevitably occur as a result of the public review process," said Kofi Bonner, president of Lennar Communities Bay Area Urban Division, the company selected by the 49ers and The City to create a new home for the NFL team as well as bring new housing and job opportunities to San Francisco.
On Nov. 8, 49ers co-owner John York surprised the City of San Francisco, Lennar, football fans and the public when he announced that the York family was making Santa Clara their first choice for a new football stadium after almost a decade of team efforts to build a stadium in San Francisco and almost a year of meetings on this specific plan. Mayor Gavin Newsom requested the Board of Supervisors call today's hearing to view and evaluate the various elements of the plan.
The Candlestick Point plan will create a new transit-oriented neighborhood within the existing Bayview Hunters Point community that provides football fans, current and future residents with improved connections to Caltrain, Light Rail Transit, and bus service and provides improved traffic flow, parking and day-of-game experience for 49ers fans traveling to and from the new stadium.
The proposed plan will create 6,500 new homes, a new 8,000-10,000 seat arena, approximately 400,000 sq. ft of retail and entertainment uses, 150,000 sq. ft. of office space, a new 200 room hotel, and over 150 acres of parks and open space. In addition, the new development is expected to provide approximately 3,000 new permanent jobs and preserve the 2,000 day-of-game jobs.
"We created this development with three objectives," said Bonner. "To create a memorable and exciting fan experience for the 49ers faithful, to transform Candlestick Point into a vibrant and viable mixed-use sustainable community that will appeal to our home buyers, and at the same time provide much needed jobs and housing."
At the heart of the game day experience are the new "urban tailgating
" opportunities provided by the various sports bars, restaurants and live music venues clustered along the retail street leading to the stadium plaza. For the traditional tailgaters, the plan includes approximately 3,500 spaces to tailgate -- ranging from the roof of the new parking structure to one of the most beautiful tailgating venues in the world, a revitalized State Park along the San Francisco shoreline.
The plan includes new recreational opportunities for the public through improvements to the Candlestick Point State Park, the creation of walking paths, the expansion of the Bay Trail, new bike paths and water-oriented activities. In addition, the plan also meets one of the City's key objectives for the project - the provision of a significant number of affordable housing units and the replacement of the Alice Griffith Housing Project - also known as "Double Rock".
In preparing the plan, Lennar worked closely with the 49ers to create a phasing plan that would allow the 49ers to play continuously at Candlestick Point and to provide the necessary fan parking. At the opening of the new stadium, Lennar expects to have a significant portion of the development complete, including the main retail and entertainment uses that allow for the "urban tailgate" experience.
"Although the new 49ers stadium is a significant component of a new Candlestick Point neighborhood, it's important to note that even if the stadium is not built, the development stands on its own," Bonner said. "With or without a new stadium, the creation of new homes, parks and transportation will benefit the existing neighborhood and future residents." Lennar is expected to provide the entire infrastructure necessary to support development at Candlestick Point and the revenues from the project are expected to provide a portion of the funding for the construction of the new stadium.
Lennar said the company will work closely with the Mayor's office, Board of Supervisors and other community leaders to help make the project a reality.
Barack Obama Endorsed By MoveOn.Org | Obama Wins In Landslide!
Senator Barack Obama won the endorsement of the liberal activist group MoveOn.org and by a landslide. And in the process became the standard bearer of John Edwards' agenda. Eli Pariser, the Executive Director of MoveOn.org, wrote this email that I just received:
Dear MoveOn member,
With hundreds of thousands of ballots cast across the country, for the first time in MoveOn's history, we've voted together to endorse a presidential candidate in the primary. That candidate is Barack Obama.
Something big is clearly happening. A few weeks ago, MoveOn members we surveyed were split. But with John Edwards bowing out, progressives are coming together. Obama won over 70% of the vote yesterday, and he's moving up in polls nationwide.1 As comments poured in from MoveOn members across the country, the sense of hope was inspiring. Here's how Christine Y. in New Jersey put it:
"I've never felt so strongly about any one candidate in my entire life. He's truly an inspiration to all of us—especially the younger generation. I will stand by him 100% for as long as he's willing to stand up and fight for this country!"
What does MoveOn's endorsement mean? People-power. Together, we are 3.2 million Americans who care about our country and want change. Half of us live in states with primaries or caucuses this coming "Super Tuesday."
We know how to roll up our sleeves and win elections, and if we all pitch in together between now and Tuesday, we can help Sen. Obama win the biggest primary day in American history. Think about it: volunteering during the next four days could mean four years of a progressive president. Can you sign up right now to volunteer for Obama's campaign? Click here:
http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-8429903-L.Zt9K&t=535
There are lots of ways to help. You can call voters from home, go door-to-door with others in your community, travel to "Super Tuesday" states, donate, put up a yard sign, volunteer in a campaign office, or join a local meetup. Senator Obama is running a grassroots campaign, and there's a role for everyone.
Many of us feel like change is within reach for the first time in years. Here's some more of what MoveOn members see in Obama:
"This country needs real, progressive transformation. Barack Obama is the candidate who gives us the best hope of uniting and inspiring the nation to move in that direction, while also restoring America's dignity and standing as a member of the global community."—James M., Connecticut
"While I'm impressed with Clinton and believe she would make a very good president, I'm actually MOVED by Obama. In the end, I believe if Obama is elected he has the potential to bring the country together behind him."—Patricia S., Wisconsin
"He was right on the biggest question of the era—opposing the war from the start."—Jacob S., Washington, D.C.
"I support Barack Obama for the same reasons I support MoveOn.org: the more people are inspired to get involved, the better the outcome for our country. Senator Obama has demonstrated a unique capacity to inspire participation and to make public service 'cool' again. He is also sound on all the issues that matter to me and my family."—Liz B., New York
"I live in a red state, and I see my conservative neighbors and friends showing a positive interest in Barack. They like him. They are ready to be swayed. And I see my Democratic friends and family members getting excited like never before...With Barack as our candidate, I am convinced that we can win in a landslide in 2008 and usher in a new era of progressive politics."—Desirina B., Georgia
To be clear, we won't always agree with all of Obama's positions. And MoveOn members said overwhelmingly that, regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination, we'll work hard to win the White House in 2008. Whatever happens in the primary, we'll push the Democratic nominee to campaign progressively and then we'll push them to fulfill their promises after they win.
The building of a progressive consensus around Senator Obama is tangible. Earlier this week, John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy said Obama is the first presidential candidate to be as inspirational as her father.2 Yesterday, progressive magazine The Nation said that electing Obama is "a chance we can't pass up."3 And then DailyKos.com, the most widely read progressive blog, announced Obama won 76% in a reader poll this week.4
It's time to get to work electing a president who is inspiring a nation and is talking about big, progressive change. Click here to volunteer in these next crucial days:
http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-8429903-L.Zt9K&t=536
This is just the beginning of a long road to victory in November. Thanks for all you do, and will do to change our country for the better in 2008.
–Eli, Wes, Joan, Justin, Adam G., Adam R., Ilyse, Karin, Nita, Noah, Marika, Laura, Peter, Anna, Matt, Daniel, Carrie, Tanya, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Friday, February 1st, 2008
P.S. As we were about to click "send" we received the following response from Senator Obama. We wanted to share it with you: "In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up. From their principled opposition to the Iraq war—a war I also opposed from the start—to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change. I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead."
MoveOn.Org To Endorse Barack Obama
MoveOn.org, the premier liberal website and political action committee, has officially endorsed Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president.
In an innovative way to determine who to support, the website sent out ballots to more than three million of its members. Whichever candidate received the majority of votes would be the individual the website endorses.
According to the website,''MoveOn is already working hard to build the biggest, most sophisticated progressive-voter turnout effort ever. Starting early is the key to winning—but it means we need resources right now.''
Unquestionably, their overpowering voice will be heard on television and the internet as the race to the White House heats up.
Additionally, the California Service Employees, that boasts a membership of over 600,000, has officially endorsed Obama as well.
In an innovative way to determine who to support, the website sent out ballots to more than three million of its members. Whichever candidate received the majority of votes would be the individual the website endorses.
According to the website,''MoveOn is already working hard to build the biggest, most sophisticated progressive-voter turnout effort ever. Starting early is the key to winning—but it means we need resources right now.''
Unquestionably, their overpowering voice will be heard on television and the internet as the race to the White House heats up.
Additionally, the California Service Employees, that boasts a membership of over 600,000, has officially endorsed Obama as well.
The Well-Established Fundraiser- Barack Obama
The momentum and fervor continues to escalate for Barack Obama's Presidential bid as he raised an awe-inspiring $32 million in the 31 days of January.
Propelled by a monumental victory in the Iowa caucus and rapid success in primary states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire, the Democratic hopeful added 177,000new donors during the first month of 2008.
Obama's strong financial position will enable him to increase ads in many Super Tuesday states and ensure he has the much needed monetary support as the race for the White House heats up.
Propelled by a monumental victory in the Iowa caucus and rapid success in primary states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire, the Democratic hopeful added 177,000new donors during the first month of 2008.
Obama's strong financial position will enable him to increase ads in many Super Tuesday states and ensure he has the much needed monetary support as the race for the White House heats up.
Paul Volcker, Former Fed Chairman, Endorses Obama
This is an amazing development given the respect former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker still commands in financial markets. Here's part of the rest of the story...
Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won the endorsement of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.
``It is only Barack Obama, in his person, in his ideas, in his ability to understand and to articulate both our needs and our hopes that provide the potential for strong and fresh leadership,'' Volcker said in an e-mailed statement today.
Obama, 46, an Illinois senator, is locked in a tight race with New York Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. The two will meet head-to-head in more than 20 state primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5 after yesterday's withdrawal of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards from the race. More...
Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won the endorsement of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.
``It is only Barack Obama, in his person, in his ideas, in his ability to understand and to articulate both our needs and our hopes that provide the potential for strong and fresh leadership,'' Volcker said in an e-mailed statement today.
Obama, 46, an Illinois senator, is locked in a tight race with New York Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. The two will meet head-to-head in more than 20 state primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5 after yesterday's withdrawal of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards from the race. More...
Barack Obama And Hillary Clinton Have Peaceful, Historic Debate
I'm in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLII, but that did not stop me from paying attention to this historic debate. I'll give more detail later, but it was a great American moment to see both of them on stage together. In my view, Obama looks read to be President of The United States and the campaign has $32 million from January alone to help him get there, an amazing earnings statistic.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
NFL Draft Bible Football Friday Podcast
The NFL Draft Bible's Football Friday Podcast crew Welcome in Zennie Abraham and Mike Ingram Live from Arizona with our Superbowl XLII(42) Preview Show. We will get you up to speed on all the Football news this week plus other special guests. Besides podcasting LIVE on Blog Talk Radio, the show is now available on iTunes as well.
We air Live at 6:30 EST every Friday...
We air Live at 6:30 EST every Friday...
Bill Clinton Sells Out American Human Rights Interests For A Buck - Big Scandal In NYT
Bill Clinton Sells Out American Human Rights Interest For A Buck - Big Scandal In NYT
It seems that in 2007 former President Bill Clinton was so interested in scoring a big donation for The Clinton Foundation that he overlooked human right violations in the home country of the donor, Kazakhstan, just to score $31 million. What's the take away? Simple. It seems former President Clinton use the White House and the taxpayer to forge deals that run counter to American human rights interests; this is the most recent example and he may do it again. And does a person who falls asleep during a Martin Luther King day speech by none other than MLK III really care about human rights, anyway? Read the whole New York Times story below:
An Ex-President, a Mining Deal and a Big Donor
By JO BECKER and DON VAN NATTA Jr. - New York Times
Late on Sept. 6, 2005, a private plane carrying the Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra touched down in Almaty, a ruggedly picturesque city in southeast Kazakhstan. Several hundred miles to the west a fortune awaited: highly coveted deposits of uranium that could fuel nuclear reactors around the world. And Mr. Giustra was in hot pursuit of an exclusive deal to tap them.
Unlike more established competitors, Mr. Giustra was a newcomer to uranium mining in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic. But what his fledgling company lacked in experience, it made up for in connections. Accompanying Mr. Giustra on his luxuriously appointed MD-87 jet that day was a former president of the United States, Bill Clinton.
Upon landing on the first stop of a three-country philanthropic tour, the two men were whisked off to share a sumptuous midnight banquet with Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan A. Nazarbayev, whose 19-year stranglehold on the country has all but quashed political dissent.
Mr. Nazarbayev walked away from the table with a propaganda coup, after Mr. Clinton expressed enthusiastic support for the Kazakh leader’s bid to head an international organization that monitors elections and supports democracy. Mr. Clinton’s public declaration undercut both American foreign policy and sharp criticism of Kazakhstan’s poor human rights record by, among others, Mr. Clinton’s wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
Within two days, corporate records show that Mr. Giustra also came up a winner when his company signed preliminary agreements giving it the right to buy into three uranium projects controlled by Kazakhstan’s state-owned uranium agency, Kazatomprom.
The monster deal stunned the mining industry, turning an unknown shell company into one of the world’s largest uranium producers in a transaction ultimately worth tens of millions of dollars to Mr. Giustra, analysts said.
Just months after the Kazakh pact was finalized, Mr. Clinton’s charitable foundation received its own windfall: a $31.3 million donation from Mr. Giustra that had remained a secret until he acknowledged it last month. The gift, combined with Mr. Giustra’s more recent and public pledge to give the William J. Clinton Foundation an additional $100 million, secured Mr. Giustra a place in Mr. Clinton’s inner circle, an exclusive club of wealthy entrepreneurs in which friendship with the former president has its privileges.
Mr. Giustra was invited to accompany the former president to Almaty just as the financier was trying to seal a deal he had been negotiating for months.
In separate written responses, both men said Mr. Giustra traveled with Mr. Clinton to Kazakhstan, India and China to see first-hand the philanthropic work done by his foundation.
A spokesman for Mr. Clinton said the former president knew that Mr. Giustra had mining interests in Kazakhstan but was unaware of “any particular efforts” and did nothing to help. Mr. Giustra said he was there as an “observer only” and there was “no discussion” of the deal with Mr. Nazarbayev or Mr. Clinton.
But Moukhtar Dzhakishev, president of Kazatomprom, said in an interview that Mr. Giustra did discuss it, directly with the Kazakh president, and that his friendship with Mr. Clinton “of course made an impression.” Mr. Dzhakishev added that Kazatomprom chose to form a partnership with Mr. Giustra’s company based solely on the merits of its offer.
After The Times told Mr. Giustra that others said he had discussed the deal with Mr. Nazarbayev, Mr. Giustra responded that he “may well have mentioned my general interest in the Kazakhstan mining business to him, but I did not discuss the ongoing” efforts.
As Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign has intensified, Mr. Clinton has begun severing financial ties with Ronald W. Burkle, the supermarket magnate, and Vinod Gupta, the chairman of InfoUSA, to avoid any conflicts of interest. Those two men have harnessed the former president’s clout to expand their businesses while making the Clintons rich through partnership and consulting arrangements.
Mr. Clinton has vowed to continue raising money for his foundation if Mrs. Clinton is elected president, maintaining his connections with a wide network of philanthropic partners.
Mr. Giustra said that while his friendship with the former president “may have elevated my profile in the news media, it has not directly affected any of my business transactions.”
Mining colleagues and analysts agree it has not hurt. Neil MacDonald, the chief executive of a Canadian merchant bank that specializes in mining deals, said Mr. Giustra’s financial success was partly due to a “fantastic network” crowned by Mr. Clinton. “That’s a very solid relationship for him,” Mr. MacDonald said. “I’m sure it’s very much a two-way relationship because that’s the way Frank operates.”
Foreseeing Opportunities
Mr. Giustra made his fortune in mining ventures as a broker on the Vancouver Stock Exchange, raising billions of dollars and developing a loyal following of investors. Just as the mining sector collapsed, Mr. Giustra, a lifelong film buff, founded the Lion’s Gate Entertainment Corporation in 1997. But he sold the studio in 2003 and returned to mining.
Mr. Giustra foresaw a bull market in gold and began investing in mines in Argentina, Australia and Mexico. He turned a $20 million shell company into a powerhouse that, after a $2.4 billion merger with Goldcorp Inc., became Canada’s second-largest gold company.
With a net worth estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Mr. Giustra began looking for ways to put his wealth to good use. Meeting Mr. Clinton, and learning about the work his foundation was doing on issues like AIDS treatment in poor countries, “changed my life,” Mr. Giustra told The Vancouver Sun.
The two men were introduced in June 2005 at a fund-raiser for tsunami victims at Mr. Giustra’s Vancouver home and hit it off right away. They share a love of history, geopolitics and music — Mr. Giustra plays the trumpet to Mr. Clinton’s saxophone. Soon the dapper Canadian was a regular at Mr. Clinton’s side, as they flew around the world aboard Mr. Giustra’s plane.
Philanthropy may have become his passion, but Mr. Giustra, now 50, was still hunting for ways to make money.
Exploding demand for energy had helped revitalize the nuclear power industry, and uranium, the raw material for reactor fuel, was about to become a hot commodity. In late 2004, Mr. Giustra began talking to investors, and put together a company that would eventually be called UrAsia Energy Ltd.
Kazakhstan, which has about one-fifth of the world’s uranium reserves, was the place to be. But with plenty of suitors, Kazatomprom could be picky about its partners.
“Everyone was asking Kazatomprom to the dance,” said Fadi Shadid, a senior stock analyst covering the uranium industry for Friedman Billings Ramsey, an investment bank. “A second-tier junior player like UrAsia — you’d need all the help you could get.”
The Cameco Corporation, the world’s largest uranium producer, was already a partner of Kazatomprom. But when Cameco expressed interest in the properties Mr. Giustra was already eying, the government’s response was lukewarm. “The signals we were getting was, you’ve got your hands full,” said Gerald W. Grandey, Cameco president.
For Cameco, it took five years to “build the right connections” in Kazakhstan, Mr. Grandey said. UrAsia did not have that luxury. Profitability depended on striking before the price of uranium soared.
“Timing was everything,” said Sergey Kurzin, a Russian-born businessman whose London-based company was brought into the deal by UrAsia because of his connections in Kazakhstan. Even with those connections, Mr. Kurzin said, it took four months to arrange a meeting with Kazatomprom.
In August 2005, records show, the company sent an engineering consultant to Kazakhstan to assess the uranium properties. Less than four weeks later, Mr. Giustra arrived with Mr. Clinton.
Mr. Dzhakishev, the Kazatomprom chief, said an aide to Mr. Nazarbayev informed him that Mr. Giustra talked with Mr. Nazarbayev about the deal during the visit. “And when our president asked Giustra, ‘What do you do?’ he said, ‘I’m trying to do business with Kazatomprom,’ ” Mr. Dzhakishev said. He added that Mr. Nazarbayev replied, “Very good, go to it.”
Mr. Clinton’s Kazakhstan visit, the only one of his post-presidency, appears to have been arranged hastily. The United States Embassy got last-minute notice that the president would be making “a private visit,” said a State Department official, who said he was not authorized to speak on the record.
The publicly stated reason for the visit was to announce a Clinton Foundation agreement that enabled the government to buy discounted AIDS drugs. But during a news conference, Mr. Clinton wandered into delicate territory by commending Mr. Nazarbayev for “opening up the social and political life of your country.”
In a statement Kazakhstan would highlight in news releases, Mr. Clinton declared that he hoped it would achieve a top objective: leading the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which would confer legitimacy on Mr. Nazarbayev’s government.
“I think it’s time for that to happen, it’s an important step, and I’m glad you’re willing to undertake it,” Mr. Clinton said.
A Speedy Process
Mr. Clinton’s praise was odd, given that the United States did not support Mr. Nazarbayev’s bid. (Late last year, Kazakhstan finally won the chance to lead the security organization for one year, despite concerns raised by the Bush administration.) Moreover, Mr. Clinton’s wife, who sits on a Congressional commission with oversight of such matters, had also voiced skepticism.
Eleven months before Mr. Clinton’s statement, Mrs. Clinton co-signed a commission letter to the State Department that sounded “alarm bells” about the prospect that Kazakhstan might head the group. The letter stated that Kazakhstan’s bid “would not be acceptable,” citing “serious corruption,” canceled elections and government control of the news media.
In a written statement to The Times, Mr. Clinton’s spokesman said the former president saw “no contradiction” between his statements in Kazakhstan and the position of Mrs. Clinton, who said through a spokeswoman, “Senator Clinton’s position on Kazakhstan remains unchanged.”
Noting that the former president also met with opposition leaders in Almaty, Mr. Clinton’s spokesman said he was only “seeking to suggest that a commitment to political openness and to fair elections would reflect well on Kazakhstan’s efforts to chair the O.S.C.E.”
But Robert Herman, who worked for the State Department in the Clinton administration and is now at Freedom House, a human rights group, said the former president’s statement amounted to an endorsement of Kazakhstan’s readiness to lead the group, a position he called “patently absurd.”
“He was either going off his brief or he was sadly mistaken,” Mr. Herman said. “There was nothing in the record to suggest that they really wanted to move forward on democratic reform.”
Indeed, in December 2005, Mr. Nazarbayev won another election, which the security organization itself said was marred by an “atmosphere of intimidation” and “ballot-box stuffing.”
After Mr. Nazarbayev won with 91 percent of the vote, Mr. Clinton sent his congratulations. “Recognizing that your work has received an excellent grade is one of the most important rewards in life,” Mr. Clinton wrote in a letter released by the Kazakh embassy. Last September, just weeks after Kazakhstan held an election that once again failed to meet international standards, Mr. Clinton honored Mr. Nazarbayev by inviting him to his annual philanthropic conference.
Within 48 hours of Mr. Clinton’s departure from Almaty on Sept. 7, Mr. Giustra got his deal. UrAsia signed two memorandums of understanding that paved the way for the company to become partners with Kazatomprom in three mines.
The cost to UrAsia was more than $450 million, money the company did not have in hand and had only weeks to come up with. The transaction was finalized in November, after UrAsia raised the money through the largest initial public offering in the history of Canada’s Venture Exchange.
Mr. Giustra challenged the notion that UrAsia needed to court Kazatomprom’s favor to seal the deal, contending that the government agency’s approval was not required.
But Mr. Dzhakishev, analysts and Mr. Kurzin, one of Mr. Giustra’s own investors, said that approval was necessary. Mr. Dzhakishev, who said that the deal was almost done when Mr. Clinton arrived, said that Kazatomprom was impressed with the sum Mr. Giustra was willing to pay and his record of attracting investors. He said Mr. Nazarbayev himself ultimately signed off on the transaction.
Longtime market watchers were confounded. Kazatomprom’s choice of UrAsia was a “mystery,” said Gene Clark, the chief executive of Trade Tech, a uranium industry newsletter.
“UrAsia was able to jump-start the whole process somehow,” Mr. Clark said. The company became a “major uranium producer when it didn’t even exist before.”
A Profitable Sale
Records show that Mr. Giustra donated the $31.3 million to the Clinton Foundation in the months that followed in 2006, but neither he nor a spokesman for Mr. Clinton would say exactly when.
In September 2006, Mr. Giustra co-produced a gala 60th birthday for Mr. Clinton that featured stars like Jon Bon Jovi and raised about $21 million for the Clinton Foundation.
In February 2007, a company called Uranium One agreed to pay $3.1 billion to acquire UrAsia. Mr. Giustra, a director and major shareholder in UrAsia, would be paid $7.05 per share for a company that just two years earlier was trading at 10 cents per share.
That same month, Mr. Dzhakishev, the Kazatomprom chief, said he traveled to Chappaqua, N.Y., to meet with Mr. Clinton at his home. Mr. Dzhakishev said Mr. Giustra arranged the three-hour meeting. Mr. Dzhakishev said he wanted to discuss Kazakhstan’s intention — not publicly known at the time — to buy a 10 percent stake in Westinghouse, a United States supplier of nuclear technology.
Nearly a year earlier, Mr. Clinton had advised Dubai on how to handle the political furor after one of that nation’s companies attempted to take over several American ports. Mrs. Clinton was among those on Capitol Hill who raised the national security concerns that helped kill the deal.
Mr. Dzhakishev said he was worried the proposed Westinghouse investment could face similar objections. Mr. Clinton told him that he would not lobby for him, but Mr. Dzhakishev came away pleased by the chance to promote his nation’s proposal to a former president.
Mr. Clinton “said this was very important for America,” said Mr. Dzhakishev, who added that Mr. Giustra was present at Mr. Clinton’s home.
Both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Giustra at first denied that any such meeting occurred. Mr. Giustra also denied ever arranging for Kazakh officials to meet with Mr. Clinton. Wednesday, after The Times told them that others said a meeting, in Mr. Clinton’s home, had in fact taken place, both men acknowledged it.
“You are correct that I asked the president to meet with the head of Kazatomprom,” Mr. Giustra said. “Mr. Dzhakishev asked me in February 2007 to set up a meeting with former President Clinton to discuss the future of the nuclear energy industry.” Mr. Giustra said the meeting “escaped my memory until you raised it.”
Wednesday, Mr. Clinton’s spokesman, Ben Yarrow, issued what he called a “correction,” saying: “Today, Mr. Giustra told our office that in February 2007, he brought Mr. Dzhakishev from Kazatomprom to meet with President Clinton to discuss the future of nuclear energy.”
Mr. Yarrow said his earlier denial was based on the former president’s records, which he said “show a Feb. 27 meeting with Mr. Giustra; no other attendees are listed.”
Mr. Dzhakishev said he had a vivid memory of his Chappaqua visit, and a souvenir to prove it: a photograph of himself with the former president.
“I hung up the photograph of us and people ask me if I met with Clinton and I say, Yes, I met with Clinton,” he said, smiling proudly.
David L. Stern and Margot Williams contributed reporting.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
"Obama Snub / Clinton Snub" - AP Reporter LAURIE KELLMAN's Fixed Story Covers Up Truth
"Obama Snub / Clinton Snub" - AP Reporter LAURIE KELLMAN's Fixed Story Covers Up Truth
There's a photo going around that if you're in, or interested in politics, you've seen by now. It's this one on the left taken at Monday's State Of The Union Adress and appears to show Senator Barack Obama turning his back on Senator Clinton as she's shaking Senator Kennedy's hand. Now that photo was taken by J. Scott Applewhite of the Associated Press and was used as the focus of a "story" written by LAURIE KELLMAN of the same AP. The photos been copied again and again, and Obama accused of snubbing Hillary Clinton.
Well, there's two main problems. First, that's not the only photo and there's one with a different angle -- in fact several and all by Getty Images and not the Associated Press.
Second, when I called Laurie Kellman to ask her why she didn't look at photos that show a clapping Senator Obama in communication with Sen. Claire McKaskill, who endorsed him, she didn't return my calls, and I phoned her three times. On top of that, the AP reporter I did talk to seemed to think it was Kellman's right to tell the story the way she did, which is journalistically unprofessional.
Ok, now to the other photo.
This photo on the right shows Senator Obama clapping and looking at Claire McKaskill, who is also obviously turning and looking at Barack Obama, and this is while Senator Kennedy has reached over to Senator Clinton. So it's clear that Senator Obama was indeed distracted by Senator Claire McKaskill while Senator Clinton reached over.
Now, it's also clear that Senator Clinton didn't call to Senator Obama to get his attention, leaving one to wonder if Senator Clinton was actually seeing a chance to set up Senator Obama, an effort that actually proves right in line with other actions Senator Clinton has taken, but that's for another column. Why? Because there's more - yet another photo I want you to see.
This photo shows Senator Obama looking toward his right and our left and clearly at another person just half in and out of the screen -- a person wearing the same red suit and standing in the same area that Senator Clinton was in, and both Obama and the person are obviously engaged in a happy moment because he's grinning ear to ear.
Now, in all of the photos, Senator Clinton's the closest woman wearing red with respect to Senator Obama. She sat next to Senator Joe Biden, and both were only a few feet from Obama and Kennedy.
And in case you question if Barack Obama and Claire McKaskill were really talking, I offer you this photo for view, which also shows Obama, Kennedy, and McKaskill in deep conversation. And remember, both Kennedy and McKaskill have endorsed Obama. Why didn't Senator Clinton shake Claire McKaskill's hand?
Hmm??
I've asked this and I'll ask it again. With all of the well-wishers who came to Senator Obama, why would Kellman -- who was in the chamber -- seek to place the blame of rudeness on Senator Obama? It's a question that Kellman should answer, but she's not talking. Maybe this will draw her out of the shadows.
She has to answer why she ignore the other photos. Saying she didn't know about them is irresponsible to say the least and I'll bet she knew that there were other angles. I also wonder if her editor put her and the photog up to this. I'll lay a bet they cropped the photo to take Sen. Claire McKaskill out of it, thus leaving what looks like Obama just plain turning away.
He wasn't. And LAURIE KELLMAN should be taken to the journalistic woodshed for this unprofessional act. Plus, Senator Clinton also is to blame as she could have just made sure Barack saw her rather than play high school games. But that's Senator Clinton for ya, and she wants to be president.
Geez!
John Edwards To Drop Out Of Presidential Race At 1 PM EST Today
Wow. On the eve of Super Tuesday and Thursday's Democratic Presidential Debate we have this new bombshell: former Senator John Edwards is reportedly going to annouce that he's dropping out of the Democratic Presidential Race according to the Associated Press and the Washingon Post.
This move comes as a surprise as Edwards vowed to take his effort and his 53 delegates all the way to the Democratic Natonal Convention. It also effectively tosses out the polls taken of how candidates may perform on Super Tuesday and really gives Senator Barack Obama -- the person who's approach and policies were more closely matched with Edwards -- a clear and possible shot at beating Senator Clinton for the nomination.
The next question is this: will Edwards endorse Senator Obama for President? It seems the next logical move. It can also be considered as throwing a total monkey wrench into Senator Clinton's plans, because now there's no candidate to split the full anti-war vote. Obama stands alone.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Kofi Bonner | Lennar's Kofi Bonner Heads SF 49ers Stadium Project
My long-time Cal friend Kofi Bonner 's back in the SF Bay Area and has been working for Lennar Corporation on the matter of bring the San Francisco Bayview Hunter's Point area a new football stadium. Not a better guy to do the job! Kofi Bonner was the one who redeveloped Emeryville.
Monday, January 28, 2008
President Bush Gives Consumer Safety Job to Gail Charnley - Coal Industry Champion
Wow. This is a really controversial appointment. What was President Bush thinking in giving the consumer watchdog job to Gail Charnley, someone who protected firm that employ coal miners?
Clinton Snubs Obama In Greeting Ted Kennedy During State Of The Union
ALERT: AP's Laurie Kellman at center of fixed "snub" story - click here!
After a day which saw Senator Ted Kennedy endorse Senator Barack Obama for president, you'd think Senator Clinton would take time to avoid playing games with Senator Obama.
Not so.
Instead of directly congratulating Senator Obama, Senator Clinton reaches over and calls only to Ted Kennedy as if Barack wasn't even there! Insulted, and forced to give space to Ted Kennedy so he could reach Senator Clinton's hand Barack turned.
Frankly, I don't blame him. Senator Clinton can't be civil at all; she has to be "in-your-face" rude, which she was.
ValleyWag.com Happy Hour At Mooses In SF - ValleyWag.com
ValleyWag.com editor Owen Thomas graciously invited me to join him at Mooses for his firm's Friday Happy Hour. The star of this show was Laura Goldberg, the noted tech publicist who's currently with Ask.com, and we were joined by the founder of Lunch 2.0 and some other colorful people.
Fun times!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Montel: Talk About Troups Who Died & Heath Ledger
This is a great moment captured for YouTube. Montel Williams of the Montel show is a guest on Fox News to talk about Heath Ledger and his new book, but he throws Fox a curve by asking that they not talk about Heath Ledger and instead mention the Iraq War soldier who passed on the day before after being killed by a suicide bomber. Montel said that we've lost 28 American solidiers this year already -- that's more than one for each day of the month. Are we becoming too used to this? I'm not, but it seems Fox News is. Watch this video:
Super Bowl XXXII - Tom Brady And New England Patriots Leave for Arizona
After all of the talk about Tom Brady limping and not showing up at Pats practices, here we are with Brady as ESPN reports that he and the New England Patriots prepare to leave for Arizona.
Maybe it was a smoke-screen?
Maybe it was a smoke-screen?
Raiders Owner Al Davis Treating Head Coach Lane Kiffin Like Turd
Ok. You read the title and I'm standing by it. Oakland Raiders Manager of The General Partner Al Davis is reportedly treating his still-newly-hired Head Coach Lane Kiffin like a turd. It's a hard statement but look at the reports.
Apparently this all started because Kiffin wanted to replace Raiders Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan, who's leaky run defenses have cost the Silver and Black chances to win close games in 2007. But Lane Kiffin's actions were reportedly blocked by Davis himself. When Kiffin complained to Davis, the owner asked him to resign; he did not and for good reason: Kiffin would lose the salary he's due of $2 million annual for the rest of his contract.
More to come on this mess.
Regardless of the real truth, it's clear the Raiders are once again surrounded by soap-opera drama on the scale of a daytime show.
Ted Kennedy To Endorse Barack Obama | Obama, Kennedy Endorsement
Ted Kennedy To Endorse Barack Obama | Obama, Kennedy Endorsement
Sen. Obama with Sen John McCain, Sen. Joe Liberman, and Sen. Ted Kennedy
It's all over the Sunday talk shows. Just after a landslide victory in the South Carolina Primary, Senator Barack Obama scored another win of sorts with the annouced endorsement of Barack Obama for President by the Legendary "Liberal Lion" Ted Kennedy.
According to the Boston Globe, "Kennedy confidantes told the Globe today that the Bay State's senior senator will appear with Obama and Kennedy's niece, Caroline Kennedy, at a morning rally at American University in Washington tomorrow to announce his support."
The endorsement announcement comes right on the heels of Caroline Kennedy's sprited annoucement that after over 20 years of not backing a presidential candidate, she will support Barack Obama.
Senator Ted Kennedy To Endorse Barack Obama
First, it was Caroline Kennedy who declared her endorsement for Obama in a stirring Op-Ed piece in today's New York Times.
''Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible'', said Kennedy.
Now, legendary Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has made his indication as to who he believes is best to lead the Democratic party. The second most senior member of the Senate and a trailblazer who has represented his state since 1962, Kennedy is the epitomization of experience.
Although he's very close with the Clinton's and has worked tirelessly with Hillary in Washington for years, Kennedy was searching for hope and change, not the politics and polarization of old. If a well- established and respected Senator is endorsing a man who was born a year before he took office, Hillary's assertion of 35 years of experience is null and void.
Caroline and Ted Kennedy's endorsements of Barack Obama will inject a profound and vibrant life into the political race and ultimately transcend what takes place on Super Tuesday in all twenty-two states.
''Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible'', said Kennedy.
Now, legendary Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has made his indication as to who he believes is best to lead the Democratic party. The second most senior member of the Senate and a trailblazer who has represented his state since 1962, Kennedy is the epitomization of experience.
Although he's very close with the Clinton's and has worked tirelessly with Hillary in Washington for years, Kennedy was searching for hope and change, not the politics and polarization of old. If a well- established and respected Senator is endorsing a man who was born a year before he took office, Hillary's assertion of 35 years of experience is null and void.
Caroline and Ted Kennedy's endorsements of Barack Obama will inject a profound and vibrant life into the political race and ultimately transcend what takes place on Super Tuesday in all twenty-two states.
Andrew Sullivan's Moving Take On Barack Obama
I generally enjoy Andrew Sullivan's blog, even when I dont' agree with him. But this one in particular was very not usual. He wrote in a moving prose about Senator Barack Obama's candidacy and how it impacted him, especially after the South Carolina win. Sullivan wrote:
Because America still means something, and every now and again, a person captures it: the restless, liberal hope for a better future, under the sober constraints of a conservative constitution. That was Kennedy. It was also Reagan, as Bill Bennett gracefully recognized tonight. It's real. You can feel it. And who wants to win the presidency by defeating it?
Sometimes, things come together. Watching a black man win the South Carolina primary in a landslide by transcending race: I can't help be moved and inspired. Like so many of my generation and many, many more younger than me, Obama makes me believe in America again, after seven years of brutal, painful, searing disillusionment. I won't let that go. Neither, I have a feeling, will the American people.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Christian Brando Passes Away At 49 Of Pneumonia
Christian Brando passed on today.
On the heals of Heath Ledger's passing, this too is a shocker, but only because Brando had pneumonia. I wonder what the heck happened that he would be fell by pneumonia?
Brando died way too young.
On the heals of Heath Ledger's passing, this too is a shocker, but only because Brando had pneumonia. I wonder what the heck happened that he would be fell by pneumonia?
Brando died way too young.
Caroline Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama For President
"A President Like My Father"
The lengendary Caroline Kennedy stepped forward from an over-20-year silence in presidential endorsements -- her last being Senator Edward Kennedy in 1980 -- to back Senator Barack Obama for President.
Kennedy chose an op-ed in the New York Times to do this, which is interesting to me, as the same "Grey Lady" for some reason annouced the backing of Senator Clinton last week. Thus, the uninformed could see the NY Times itself as endorsing Obama!
Here's part of what Kennedy wrote:
"OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama."
Barack Obama Scores Big Win In South Carolina Primary
After a brusing, tough, hard-fought week of campaigning that seemed to split the Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama scored a big victory in taking the South Carolina Primary.
Senator Obama's win was absolute. He took 51 percent of the total votes, with the other half divided between Senator Clinton and Senator Edwards. It also comes as Senator Obama's scoring a huge number of endorsements in a single day.
Here's Senator Obama's rousing victory speech:
Senator Obama scored "a beat down" according to CNN's Roland Martin:
Here's a video from the victory party:
Senator Obama's win was absolute. He took 51 percent of the total votes, with the other half divided between Senator Clinton and Senator Edwards. It also comes as Senator Obama's scoring a huge number of endorsements in a single day.
Here's Senator Obama's rousing victory speech:
Senator Obama scored "a beat down" according to CNN's Roland Martin:
Here's a video from the victory party:
Barack Obama Scores Endorsement of Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and Philadelphia Enquirer
Wow, just after the SF Chroncle and San Jose Mercury News' endorsement annoucements, we learn that Obama has scored -- let's see -- the Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and Philadelphia Enquirer, and all on the same day that Obama won South Carolina! Talk about momentum!
According to the Huffington Post,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, the largest daily newspaper in Pennsylvania, and the Chicago Tribune, the largest paper in the Midwest, are both endorsing Barack Obama and John McCain in their parties' respective presidential primaries.
Although voters in The Keystone State don't go to the polls until April 22, the Inquirer also has a substantial readership base in southern New Jersey -- where voters cast their ballots as part of the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday round of primaries.
Illinois voters also go to the polls on Feb. 5. The Trib is Obama's hometown paper.
The Inquirer writes that:
BARACK OBAMA is the best Democrat to lead this nation past the nasty, partisan, Washington-as-usual politics that have blocked consensus on Iraq; politics that never blinked at the greedy, subprime mortgage schemes that could spawn a recession; politics that have greatly diminished our country's stature in the world.
Obama inspires people to action. And while inspiration alone isn't enough to get a job done, it's a necessary ingredient to begin the hard work.
Obama's appeal to Americans to have the audacity to hope, even in the face of tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, has fallen on fertile ground. Americans want desperately to believe they can overcome any difficulty - given the right leadership.
So it seems the New York Times is major-league outnumbered!
According to the Huffington Post,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, the largest daily newspaper in Pennsylvania, and the Chicago Tribune, the largest paper in the Midwest, are both endorsing Barack Obama and John McCain in their parties' respective presidential primaries.
Although voters in The Keystone State don't go to the polls until April 22, the Inquirer also has a substantial readership base in southern New Jersey -- where voters cast their ballots as part of the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday round of primaries.
Illinois voters also go to the polls on Feb. 5. The Trib is Obama's hometown paper.
The Inquirer writes that:
BARACK OBAMA is the best Democrat to lead this nation past the nasty, partisan, Washington-as-usual politics that have blocked consensus on Iraq; politics that never blinked at the greedy, subprime mortgage schemes that could spawn a recession; politics that have greatly diminished our country's stature in the world.
Obama inspires people to action. And while inspiration alone isn't enough to get a job done, it's a necessary ingredient to begin the hard work.
Obama's appeal to Americans to have the audacity to hope, even in the face of tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, has fallen on fertile ground. Americans want desperately to believe they can overcome any difficulty - given the right leadership.
So it seems the New York Times is major-league outnumbered!
Senator Barack Obama Wins SF Chronicle & San Jose Mercury News Endorsement, Guardian Too
After a great appearance before the Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle, Senator Barack Obama won the endorsement of the San Franciso Chronicle and backed that with the "thumbs-up" of the San Jose Mercury News in the South Bay, effectively blunting the New York Times' endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton of one week ago, and adding to a long string of newspapers backing Obama's run for president.
The SF Chronicle wrote a sprited explaination, highlighted by this paragraph:
He radiated the sense of possibility that has attracted the votes of independents and tapped into the idealism of young people during this campaign. He exuded the aura of a 46-year-old leader who could once again persuade the best and the brightest to forestall or pause their grand professional goals to serve in his administration.
Of all the candidates who talk about change, Barack Obama has made the case most forcefully and most convincingly. He gets our endorsement for the Democratic nomination.
The Chronicle's Editorial Board, paced by Opinion Page Editor John Diaz, Executive Editor Phil Bronstein, and Political Editor Carla Marinucci, asked tough questions of Senator Obama, and he came back with honest, thoughful answers. The Chronicle pointed to that in their account:
In a Jan. 17 meeting with our editorial board, Obama demonstrated an impressive command of a wide variety of issues. He listened intently to the questions. He responded with substance. He did not control a format without a stopwatch on answers or constraints on follow-up questions, yet he flourished in it.
The San Jose Mercury news also sits as the major information organ for Silicon Valley. Senator Obama's call for change was particularly attractive:
Obama would dramatically change the nation's approach to foreign policy and domestic issues. While the substance might not differ substantially from Clinton's in many areas, he would have more cross-over appeal to independents and Republicans, whose support will be needed to bring about significant change.
Obama is the only candidate who opposed the Iraq war from the outset. His ethnic background and his upbringing give him a unique world view. He has the best chance to change how the world looks at the United States and restore the respect it has squandered during the past eight years.
While Clinton has a deep understanding of health care issues, her failed attempt to reform the system during her husband's first term dogs her steps. She chose experts with similar views and did not broadly engage stakeholders, which made her end result easy to shoot down. Obama can start fresh, and seems to understand the urgency.
But beyond the Chronicle endorsement, Senator Obama also scored the support of the normally contrarian San Francisco Bay Guardian, long seen as the Bay Area's voice of the young. In short, Obama has scored a "hat trick" with three of the four major newspapers backing him, and with the Oakland Tribune still silent as of this writing.
The SF Chronicle wrote a sprited explaination, highlighted by this paragraph:
He radiated the sense of possibility that has attracted the votes of independents and tapped into the idealism of young people during this campaign. He exuded the aura of a 46-year-old leader who could once again persuade the best and the brightest to forestall or pause their grand professional goals to serve in his administration.
Of all the candidates who talk about change, Barack Obama has made the case most forcefully and most convincingly. He gets our endorsement for the Democratic nomination.
The Chronicle's Editorial Board, paced by Opinion Page Editor John Diaz, Executive Editor Phil Bronstein, and Political Editor Carla Marinucci, asked tough questions of Senator Obama, and he came back with honest, thoughful answers. The Chronicle pointed to that in their account:
In a Jan. 17 meeting with our editorial board, Obama demonstrated an impressive command of a wide variety of issues. He listened intently to the questions. He responded with substance. He did not control a format without a stopwatch on answers or constraints on follow-up questions, yet he flourished in it.
The San Jose Mercury news also sits as the major information organ for Silicon Valley. Senator Obama's call for change was particularly attractive:
Obama would dramatically change the nation's approach to foreign policy and domestic issues. While the substance might not differ substantially from Clinton's in many areas, he would have more cross-over appeal to independents and Republicans, whose support will be needed to bring about significant change.
Obama is the only candidate who opposed the Iraq war from the outset. His ethnic background and his upbringing give him a unique world view. He has the best chance to change how the world looks at the United States and restore the respect it has squandered during the past eight years.
While Clinton has a deep understanding of health care issues, her failed attempt to reform the system during her husband's first term dogs her steps. She chose experts with similar views and did not broadly engage stakeholders, which made her end result easy to shoot down. Obama can start fresh, and seems to understand the urgency.
But beyond the Chronicle endorsement, Senator Obama also scored the support of the normally contrarian San Francisco Bay Guardian, long seen as the Bay Area's voice of the young. In short, Obama has scored a "hat trick" with three of the four major newspapers backing him, and with the Oakland Tribune still silent as of this writing.
Emma Thompson @ Davos Forum replies to (My) Zennie62 Video On Racism
Readers of The Zeitgeist may remember the video I submitted to the Davos Forum in Switerland and as part of "The Davos Question" where YouTubers were asked to make videos that responded to the question: "What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?" The process set up by YouTube at Davos allows attendees to make video responses to the questions submitted.
Well, I got my video response to the Davos question in right under the time wire, but the effort was more than worth it! On Friday, January 25th award-winning actress Emma Thompson took time at Davos to make a video answering my own. Thompson said "I really loved your video...One of the greatest problems that we have is in receiving and tolerating anyone who is different from ourselves, and we have so many boundaries in the World. And I think the only way that we can melt those boundaries is in talking to each other. We need to listen to each others stories. I think art and culture can help a great deal and we need to encourage businesses and politicians to listen in a slightly different way."
She ends the video by saying that she hears my message and that one action all of us can take every day is to turn around the talk to someoe who is different from ourselves.
It's any honor to receive a response from Ms. Thompson because her humanitarian efforts have been inspirational, and in fact she received an awards at Davos for her work on that area. Here's the video she made:
I'll make a video that futher outlines my idea for a program to help in this area.
Well, I got my video response to the Davos question in right under the time wire, but the effort was more than worth it! On Friday, January 25th award-winning actress Emma Thompson took time at Davos to make a video answering my own. Thompson said "I really loved your video...One of the greatest problems that we have is in receiving and tolerating anyone who is different from ourselves, and we have so many boundaries in the World. And I think the only way that we can melt those boundaries is in talking to each other. We need to listen to each others stories. I think art and culture can help a great deal and we need to encourage businesses and politicians to listen in a slightly different way."
She ends the video by saying that she hears my message and that one action all of us can take every day is to turn around the talk to someoe who is different from ourselves.
It's any honor to receive a response from Ms. Thompson because her humanitarian efforts have been inspirational, and in fact she received an awards at Davos for her work on that area. Here's the video she made:
I'll make a video that futher outlines my idea for a program to help in this area.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Hillary Clinton and Tony Rezko Photo - Clinton Called Rezko "Slumlord"
At Monday's CNN Democratic Debate in South Carolina, Senator Hillary Clinton managed to get in a retailiatory "dig" at Senator Barack Obama regarding his alledged association with a real estate developer / broker named Tony Rezko, and Clinton referred to Rezko as a "slumlord."
Now, a photo has surfaced that's very embarassing to the Clintons. It has both Bill and Hillary standing with Tony Rezko and it's the pict you see here. Asked about this on the Today Show, Senator Clinton claimed she didn't know and had never met him.
Right. I mean come on. I've stood in lines to have my photo taken with a politician and I know for a fact that you make totally sure that person knows who you are, especially if you're contributing thousands of dollars to that candidate's campaign.
The Chicago Tribune reports , "According to a database of campaign contributions maintained by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, Rezko made a $15,000 contribution to the Democratic National Committee in March 2000, the last year of the Clinton presidency. Rezko also made a $1,250 contribution during the Clinton re-election campaign in 1996 to a Democratic party account that funded activities in Illinois to help win the election."
What this shows is that the Clinton's have been associated with so many people in rasing money they really can't cast a stone at Senator Obama. Rezko is a known fundraiser, who has hosted events for many politicians including the current President Bush.
The facts show that Senator Obama has been revealing in discussing his minor-at-best association with Rezko and there was no illegality or wrongdoing. But what's clear is the Clintons have an association with this "slumlord" too!
Obama Up By 16 - Clinton Losing Support to Edwards In South Carolina Poll
According to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire , the latest South Carolina poll shows that Senator Barack Obama is still the favorite, but this time by 16 points over Senator Clinton, 45 percent to 29 percent, with former Senator Edwards at 22 percent. This new poll is the first to reflect a shift of votes from Clinton to Edwards, as Obama remains steady above 40 percent.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Davos: Loic Lemeur Arrives At Davos, Talks Collaboration
Loic Lemeur arrives at Davos, Swizerland for the World Economic Forum and reports that the theme of the gathering this year is "collaborative thinking". Loic gives us a view of what the Forum's all about. Take a look:
Davos: Worldsourcing - Accessing Worldwide Resources
What is Worldsourcing? That's the question I had when I first saw the term and a hot topic at The Davos World Economic Forum. Worldsourcing is combing the world to find a person or thing that does what a corporation wants or needs to produce a something. To me, it seems like a no-brainer activity for a multinational corporation to do, but it seems that this corporation -- called Worldsourcing.net -- is necessary.
We shall see.
Corrupt PA Gov Ed Rendell Backs Ethically-Challenged Hillary Clinton
I thought that was too funny to not report. Ed Rendell, the former, controversial and corrupt Mayor of Philadelphia, who's now for some reason Governor of Pennsylvania has announced he's backing Hillary Clinton, who's not known for ethics either!
Why am I not surprised?! And I'm not the only one who thinks this is funny.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Heath Ledger | "Keith" Ledger Hung Self In Last Movie Roll
I'm not sure where the connection is exactly, but it's too interesting a matter to pass on.
Oh, some people refer to Heath as "Keith" so I thought I'd play along.
It seems that in playing his last movie roll, the uncompleted The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Heath Ledger was to hang himself, as these photos from Just Jared show, and was rescued. I know know if the preparation and execution of that role had anything to do with what happened to him, but it's a fair question to ask, indeed. There are more photos , and this one was the "tamest" of them all. Under the circumstances, I didn't want to post the others.
On the matter of his character, I don't know much, but Wikipedia reports...In the contemporary period, 1,000-year-old Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) leads a traveling theater troupe and offers audience members a chance to go beyond reality through a magical mirror in his possession.[1] Parnassus had been able to guide the imagination of others through a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits), who now comes to collect on the arrangement,[2] targeting the doctor's daughter (Lily Cole). The troupe, who is joined by a mysterious outsider (Heath Ledger), embark through parallel worlds to rescue the girl.[3]
More on all of this, soon -- now there are reports of drug use.
Obama Lawyer Claims Clinton Nevada Violations - Brietbart.com
These series of reports have come hot and heavy in emails and blogs, but this is the first report where a legal representative has gotten involved. According to Brietbart.com, Barack Obama's lawyer has sent a letter to the Nevada State Democratic Party head regarding alledged violation of election laws during the Nevada Primary. Brietbart reports ...
The letter to Nevada Democratic Chairwoman Jill Derby from Obama lawyer Robert Bauer lists instances of early door closings, obstruction of voters, and improper handling of voter preference cards. Obama aides said the campaign has received more than 1,600 complaints, including 300 that came in to a hotline at the time of the caucuses.
Bauer said the campaign is not challenging the outcome of the caucuses at the precinct level, but he asked Derby to conduct an inquiry into the Clinton campaign tactics during the caucuses. The campaign offered to provide the names and contact information of the individuals making the complaints as well as unedited copies of their accounts.
The Clinton campaign has also complained about behavior at the caucuses. On Sunday, Clinton senior adviser Dave Barnhart said he witnessed an enormous "gantlet" of Obama supporters at the Mirage casino-hotel caucus site who tried to intimidate Clinton backers.
Attached to the Obama complaint was an instruction sheet that Bauer's letter attributed to the Clinton campaign. The sheet offers guidance on how to persuade caucus goers to caucus for Clinton.
One line states: "It's not illegal unless they tell you so."
"This certainly suggests that, for the Clinton campaign, the operative standard was, simply and only, what it could get away with," Bauer wrote.
The letter complained that the Clinton camp distributed a caucus guide to supporters that said caucus site doors would close at 11:30 a.m. The party's rules stated that caucuses would be called to order at 11:30 a.m. but said attendees had to be signed in by noon.
Wow. From NH to Nevada and on, one pattern emerges: the Clinton's do not play fair.
The letter to Nevada Democratic Chairwoman Jill Derby from Obama lawyer Robert Bauer lists instances of early door closings, obstruction of voters, and improper handling of voter preference cards. Obama aides said the campaign has received more than 1,600 complaints, including 300 that came in to a hotline at the time of the caucuses.
Bauer said the campaign is not challenging the outcome of the caucuses at the precinct level, but he asked Derby to conduct an inquiry into the Clinton campaign tactics during the caucuses. The campaign offered to provide the names and contact information of the individuals making the complaints as well as unedited copies of their accounts.
The Clinton campaign has also complained about behavior at the caucuses. On Sunday, Clinton senior adviser Dave Barnhart said he witnessed an enormous "gantlet" of Obama supporters at the Mirage casino-hotel caucus site who tried to intimidate Clinton backers.
Attached to the Obama complaint was an instruction sheet that Bauer's letter attributed to the Clinton campaign. The sheet offers guidance on how to persuade caucus goers to caucus for Clinton.
One line states: "It's not illegal unless they tell you so."
"This certainly suggests that, for the Clinton campaign, the operative standard was, simply and only, what it could get away with," Bauer wrote.
The letter complained that the Clinton camp distributed a caucus guide to supporters that said caucus site doors would close at 11:30 a.m. The party's rules stated that caucuses would be called to order at 11:30 a.m. but said attendees had to be signed in by noon.
Wow. From NH to Nevada and on, one pattern emerges: the Clinton's do not play fair.
Amy Winehouse Smokes Crack Gets Drunk On Stage | Heath Ledger Should Be Key To Improvement
Folks, were' watching the complete meltdown of another gifted star, this person is Amy Winehouse and unlike Heath Ledger, she's still with us to kick the habit. But not before she and we see her smoking -- er, cracking -- it up in this video..
Or just plain drunk on stage in this video, below.
I do hope she gets better, before it's too late.
Or just plain drunk on stage in this video, below.
I do hope she gets better, before it's too late.
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