Coming through an apartment's back door, an Ottawa County deputy allegedly shined a flashlight into the student's face, causing him to raise his right hand in front of his eyes. The officer, whose name was not released, fired a single bullet into Derek Copp's chest. The 20-year-old said he had no idea the man was an officer. -=W/ VIDEOS=-
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Small Banks Thrive As Giants Fall
Financial giants are wobbling. Lending is tight. The FDIC is murder on start-ups. But there's never been a better time for a small bank. Since last summer, at least 30 groups have filed to start new banks.
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Obama Orders Treasury Chief to Try to Block A.I.G. Bonuses
The president said that he has instructed Timothy F. Geithner to “pursue every single legal avenue” to block bonuses to the insurer’s top executives.
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Americans Are Rearing for a Fight with Corporate Power
3/4 of Americans want to see a huge worker protection bill pass through Congress, and corporate America is working up a feverish panic over the very notion of linking the term "employees" with the concept of free choice.
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Ten Ideas That Are Changing the World Right Now
In the face of economic contraction, we're rethinking things we used to take for granted. Amid all the anxiety out there, if there's a theme this year, it's renewal. This is not false hope or irrational optimism but the power of ideas and innovation to transform the world and us.
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Women in Congo Speak out about Brutal Rapes
Despite taboos, under a U.N. program women and girls in the Congo who have been viciously tortured and maimed have begun coming forward and naming what was done. One sign of success is that more men than women have volunteered for training to encourage victims to come forward and their communities to confront the issues.
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Americans Want Justice for Wall Street Crooks: Ralph Nader
Jailtime not bailtime! Here are seven avoidance indicators which outline what Washington is not doing to prevent another round of greed and misdeeds by the Wall Street few against the innocent many throughout the country.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders: Time to Prosecute Bank CEOs
I have introduced legislation calling for a thorough investigation of the financial meltdown and the prosecution of those CEOs who might be guilty of illegal behavior. The culture of greed, fraud and excessive speculation must come to an end.
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Atlantic City shows gambling isn't recession-proof
Business at Atlantic City's 11 casinos is falling at a record pace. Aggregate revenue plunged 19.2 percent in February from a year earlier, the sharpest decline in the 30 years since gambling was legalized in the city, according to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
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American Legion Opposes Obama Plan to Charge War Wounded
The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries.
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6 Year Old Boy with 176 IQ
"Pranav Veera, 6, can recite the names of the U.S. presidents in the order they served in office. He can say the alphabet backward. Give him a date back to 2000, and he'll tell you the day of the week . . ."
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Israel could use ballistic missiles against Iran
Ballistic missiles could be Israel's weapon of choice against Iranian nuclear facilities if it decides on a pre-emptive attack and deems air strikes too risky, according to a report by a Washington think-tank.
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Apple criticized for iPod shuffle's new 'authentication chip
Apple this weekend was hit with a media assault after reports suggested that a mysterious authentication chip in the third-generation iPod shuffle, responsible for supporting the player's new headphone-integrated playback controls, signaled a rogue attempt on the company's part to block third parties from developing their own replacement headphones
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AIG executives should take responsibility - Sen. Charles Grassley
Expressions of outrage across the political spectrum reached a new crescendo Tuesday when Sen. Charles Grassley suggested in an Iowa City radio interview that AIG executives should take a Japanese approach toward accepting responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by resigning or killing themselves.
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The 10 Best St. Patrick's Day Festivals in the U.S.
St. Patrick’s Day started out as a religious holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. Today “St. Paddy’s” in America has become a celebration of Irish food, culture, and drink, as well as anything having to do with the color green. Typically observed with loud music, dancing, parades and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day festivities...
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Family Guy Wins Court Battle Citing Fair Use
"Creators of the U.S. television show Family Guy did not infringe copyright when they transformed the song When You Wish Upon a Star for comical use in an episode, a U.S. judge ruled . . ."
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NFL Union Uses Background Check to Select New Leader
NFL Players elected DeMaurice Smith as their new union leader after a background check revealed that the front runner, former NFL Player Troy Vincent, had been involved in controversial business dealings. Congratulations to the union for making an informed decision based on a thorough employment background check.
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NFLPA Elects Smith, Potential NFL Work Stoppage On Horizon?
The NFLPA has elected DeMaurice Smith to serve as their new Executive Director. Smith wins based on vision on how he would plan to lead the NFLPA through the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL.
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Josh McDaniels part of Bill Belichick's evil plan
Bill Belichick is working to destroy all other competition in the NFL by tricking the other franchises into hiring his assistants, who promptly make these team uncompetitive and disfunctional. The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs are the latest victims of this cheating scandal which far surpasses the earlier spy-gate scandal in scope.
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Trauma Response Center grabs NFL star's heart
Albert Haynesworth, who recently signed with the Washington Redskins, tours the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, falls in love with the mission and the couseling center's therapy dog Courtney, opens up about his past and decides to chair a fundraising event, Survivor: Celebrate! Tampa Bay on March 21, to party for a purpose!
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Patriots close to acquiring defensive end Julius Peppers
NFL.com’s Vic Carucci is reporting that the Patriots are close to acquiring Panthers’ defensive end Julius Peppers for a second round draft pick.
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More Week 3 Pro Day Workouts From Top 10 Schools
Don’t be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers select an Ohio State player come April’s NFL Draft.
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NFL players may have died hours after boat toppled
The lone survivor, Nick Schuyler, told the Coast Guard that one by one, the other three men took off their life vests and disappeared during the ordeal that began the evening of Feb. 28, according to a 23-page report provided to The Associated Press Monday under a Freedom of Information Act request.
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Radio host Don Imus announces on air he has prostate cancer
More at Inside Bay Area: “Controversial radio host Don Imus announced on the air Monday morning that he has Stage 2 prostate cancer.
Colleagues said the cancer was considered treatable and that the prognosis was good.
"The day you find out is fine," Imus told his listeners on the "Imus in the Morning" show. "But the next morning when you get up, your knees are shaking. I didn't think I could make it to work."”
Colleagues said the cancer was considered treatable and that the prognosis was good.
"The day you find out is fine," Imus told his listeners on the "Imus in the Morning" show. "But the next morning when you get up, your knees are shaking. I didn't think I could make it to work."”
Israeli forces shoot American activist Tristan Anderson
IWant Democracy Now -- US Consul General Says Awaiting Israeli Report on IDF Shooting of American Citizen
An American activist from Oakland, California was critically injured Friday when Israeli soldiers fired a tear gas canister directly at his head at the close of a weekly nonviolent protest against the wall in the West Bank village of Nalin. Thirty-seven-year old Tristan Anderson underwent brain surgery on Saturday, and parts of his right frontal lobe and shattered bone fragments were removed. He remains in critical condition. We go to the hospital in Tel Aviv to speak with Andersons partner, Gabrielle Silverman, and to Andrew Parker, the US Consul General in Tel Aviv.
Chaos at 'America's Next Top Model' Audition in Manhattan
From NewsPoliticalNews - Pandemonium erupted outside of an "America's Next Top Model" casting call at CW Studios in midtown Saturday when an overheating car triggered a stampede of catwalk-craving cuties. Screaming as they ran for their lives, hundreds of hotties in heels toppled over barricades along W. 55th St. after several people in the crowd started yelling, "There's a bomb!"
Immigrants not welcome in the U.S.? The Irish weren't.
While the history of the "No Irish Need Apply" signs may have grown in the telling, there was resistance to Irish immigration to
the United States; the Ku Klux Klan greeted the newcomers (with their unpopular Christian religion and their strangely fair skin) with the intolerance, rumors about lifestyle, and prejudice previously reserved for non-white people. Perhaps the KKK was confused by the term "Black Irish." There is abundant evidence that such "NINA" signs were prevalent among a certain class in London in the early 1800s, (the British had famously broken away from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII) and scattered elsewhere throughout continental Europe, and no doubt they appeared in the USA as many Irish were fleeing violence and famine in their native land - arriving in America full of dreams and hope.
Regardless, today the President of the United States, Barack Obama, traces some of his ancestry to the Emerald Isle, and one of the better-known "ethnic" holidays in the USA is St. Patrick's Day, and people from all walks of life will take note of it today. Many will adopt caricatures of Irishness for the day, hats fit for a Leprechaun, green buttons and shirts saying "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" as they celebrate Irish culture, tradition, and people. Reporters and journalists across the country will cover people across the country enjoying parades and parties where people sing in faux accents, marvel about Irish jigs, drink beverages from Ireland, and put an O in front of their last name while overlooking the fact they'd never venture into a Catholic church and aren't quite sure how to pronounce shillelagh.This is a success Americans could do well to reflect on as they consider their current struggle with immigration laws and issues. More than a president noted for an ethnically rich heritage, the United States is a country strengthened by the nature of being an alloy of many cultures and philosophies. The Irish endured invasions over the centuries, yet retained a unique (albeit somewhat misunderstood) cultural identity: both unity and diversity persist proudly on that one smallish island. Surely there is room in the United States for all who dream of freedom and hope to improve their lives.
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the United States; the Ku Klux Klan greeted the newcomers (with their unpopular Christian religion and their strangely fair skin) with the intolerance, rumors about lifestyle, and prejudice previously reserved for non-white people. Perhaps the KKK was confused by the term "Black Irish." There is abundant evidence that such "NINA" signs were prevalent among a certain class in London in the early 1800s, (the British had famously broken away from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII) and scattered elsewhere throughout continental Europe, and no doubt they appeared in the USA as many Irish were fleeing violence and famine in their native land - arriving in America full of dreams and hope.Regardless, today the President of the United States, Barack Obama, traces some of his ancestry to the Emerald Isle, and one of the better-known "ethnic" holidays in the USA is St. Patrick's Day, and people from all walks of life will take note of it today. Many will adopt caricatures of Irishness for the day, hats fit for a Leprechaun, green buttons and shirts saying "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" as they celebrate Irish culture, tradition, and people. Reporters and journalists across the country will cover people across the country enjoying parades and parties where people sing in faux accents, marvel about Irish jigs, drink beverages from Ireland, and put an O in front of their last name while overlooking the fact they'd never venture into a Catholic church and aren't quite sure how to pronounce shillelagh.This is a success Americans could do well to reflect on as they consider their current struggle with immigration laws and issues. More than a president noted for an ethnically rich heritage, the United States is a country strengthened by the nature of being an alloy of many cultures and philosophies. The Irish endured invasions over the centuries, yet retained a unique (albeit somewhat misunderstood) cultural identity: both unity and diversity persist proudly on that one smallish island. Surely there is room in the United States for all who dream of freedom and hope to improve their lives.
It's time for the great minds of American leadership to embrace the American dream, to bring immigrants who treasure the opportunities embodied into our constitution into full participation in our way of life. They must be required to abide by our laws, to value their citizenship and patriotism as highly as their neighbors, to participate in our democracy in every way, and if they don't want to participate wearing green on St. Patrick's Day they must at least recognize that it's about more than a Catholic saint - it's about valuing diversity by walking a mile in somebody else's shoes for one day each year.Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
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Star Trek Movie: Where Are The Black Men?
There's a lack of Black men in the Star Trek trailers and director J.J. Abrams called and invited Tyler Perry to be in the movie to make up for the oversight
Star Trek Movie: Where Are The Black Men?
There's a lack of Black men in the Star Trek trailers and director J.J. Abrams called and invited Tyler Perry to be in the movie to make up for the oversight
Monday, March 16, 2009
Senator Barbara Boxer On The Oakland A's: "I Live In Oakland"
On the way to a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer on Sunday (March 15th 2009), I walked into the Four Seasons Residences on Market Street and boarded an elevator that was already to be occupied by two women just eight steps ahead of me, with their backs to me. When I boarded the elevator they both turned in conversation, the one closest to me was the person-of-the-hour, Senator Barbara Boxer.
Always gracious, Senator Boxer shook my hand, then after a few seconds on the elevator I asked her if she was "going to get involved in keeping the A's in Oakland." She immediate said "You know, I live in Oakland, and that's important to me." Boxer stopped short of stating what her action would be, but that response was all I needed to know that it's on her radar screen, and it doesn't spell good news for Lew Wolff because the rest of our talk consisted of me calmly but in cold detail explaining to her how Wolff had treated Oakland with great disrespect, making statements that he was "done with Oakland." I also shared that San Jose and Santa Clara County -- where Wolff seems to want to take the organization -- represented 47 percent of the San Francisco Giants fan base. She listened intently.
Remember, I'm a columnist: I state my opinion and advocate for a cause. That's still within the relm of journalism, but people forget that when they disagree with you. Still, it's important for readers to be reminded of the writer's position: I want Wolff to keep the A's in Oakland. Period.
The matter of the A's wasn't on the collective mind of the approximately 50 people that came to the home of planning consultants Lynn and Paul Sedway; the economy was. While only six questions were taken because of the Senator's schedule -- she was making a fundraising swing through San Francisco -- all except two which I'll get to concerned the matter of the economy. Some highlights:
• Boxer said that she thinks we've seen the "bottom" of the economy, at least from the stock market perspective, and that she expects to see a rebound. In other words, no more dramatic market dives below the level we saw last week.
• Boxer has had it with giving out Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) money. She reported Congress as a whole is (holding her hand over her head) "up-to-here" with giving out more TARP funds, and much of that distaste for the effort she explained is directly related to the matter of AIG's attempt to give out $165 million in bonuses. She said the Federal Reserve has a provision such that it can give our money if it has determined that such an expenditure would be in the best interest of national security. Now, be smart about what you just read. Boxer did not say she would not approve more stimulus money, but that's not TARP money. It's clear that Boxer wants to send a message that Congress is unhappy with Wall Street's behavior.
• Boxer did not know about the block-buster news released Wednesday March 11th by Seymore Hersh that there was a "secret executive assasination group" that flew around the World for the purpose of killing officials on a "hit list" and answered only to Vice President Dick Cheney, but she did say she would talk with Senator Pat Leahy, who's pushed for the formation of a commission to review the activities of the Bush Administration. This was my question to her, which caused a bit of an interesting response from her where she rose her brow in fear, and for good reason. The contract killing of people is not something anyone likes to know about, especially when our government is alledged to be involved in it.
• Boxer, in response to a question of when we (the USA) were going to get out of Afghanistan, supports President Obama's efforts there, because "The Taliban are terrible" to paraphrase Senator Boxer.
In all, Boxer stayed for a good while. The Sedways are long time friends of the Senator and gracious hosts in a place with a lovely view of San Francisco.
Always gracious, Senator Boxer shook my hand, then after a few seconds on the elevator I asked her if she was "going to get involved in keeping the A's in Oakland." She immediate said "You know, I live in Oakland, and that's important to me." Boxer stopped short of stating what her action would be, but that response was all I needed to know that it's on her radar screen, and it doesn't spell good news for Lew Wolff because the rest of our talk consisted of me calmly but in cold detail explaining to her how Wolff had treated Oakland with great disrespect, making statements that he was "done with Oakland." I also shared that San Jose and Santa Clara County -- where Wolff seems to want to take the organization -- represented 47 percent of the San Francisco Giants fan base. She listened intently.
Remember, I'm a columnist: I state my opinion and advocate for a cause. That's still within the relm of journalism, but people forget that when they disagree with you. Still, it's important for readers to be reminded of the writer's position: I want Wolff to keep the A's in Oakland. Period.
The matter of the A's wasn't on the collective mind of the approximately 50 people that came to the home of planning consultants Lynn and Paul Sedway; the economy was. While only six questions were taken because of the Senator's schedule -- she was making a fundraising swing through San Francisco -- all except two which I'll get to concerned the matter of the economy. Some highlights:
• Boxer said that she thinks we've seen the "bottom" of the economy, at least from the stock market perspective, and that she expects to see a rebound. In other words, no more dramatic market dives below the level we saw last week.
• Boxer has had it with giving out Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) money. She reported Congress as a whole is (holding her hand over her head) "up-to-here" with giving out more TARP funds, and much of that distaste for the effort she explained is directly related to the matter of AIG's attempt to give out $165 million in bonuses. She said the Federal Reserve has a provision such that it can give our money if it has determined that such an expenditure would be in the best interest of national security. Now, be smart about what you just read. Boxer did not say she would not approve more stimulus money, but that's not TARP money. It's clear that Boxer wants to send a message that Congress is unhappy with Wall Street's behavior.
• Boxer did not know about the block-buster news released Wednesday March 11th by Seymore Hersh that there was a "secret executive assasination group" that flew around the World for the purpose of killing officials on a "hit list" and answered only to Vice President Dick Cheney, but she did say she would talk with Senator Pat Leahy, who's pushed for the formation of a commission to review the activities of the Bush Administration. This was my question to her, which caused a bit of an interesting response from her where she rose her brow in fear, and for good reason. The contract killing of people is not something anyone likes to know about, especially when our government is alledged to be involved in it.
• Boxer, in response to a question of when we (the USA) were going to get out of Afghanistan, supports President Obama's efforts there, because "The Taliban are terrible" to paraphrase Senator Boxer.
In all, Boxer stayed for a good while. The Sedways are long time friends of the Senator and gracious hosts in a place with a lovely view of San Francisco.
TV Show Preview: "The Blog Report With Zennie62"
On May 1st 2009 CoLoursTV will launch "The Blog Report With Zennie62" nationwide on DISH Network channel 9407 and selected Comcast, Fox, and Insight cable channels, and on YouTube, Blip.tv, and 13 other channels online.
How Zennie62 (Zennie Abraham) Makes A Video-Blog
This is the companion video to my segment on "Why I Vlog" and shows the process I use to make a vlog: camcorder, computer, and software. I recommend a MacBook computer with iMovie, a Flip Video camera and a basic camcorder.
Why I Vlog Or Videoblog; Vlogging Reason For Being
Someone asked why anyone makes a video-blog, or "why I vlog" so I created this video to explain why I make video-blogs and what I get out of vlogging.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
President Barack Obama - 3/14/09: Your Weekly Address
From the White House:
President Obama makes key announcements regarding the safety of our nation's food.
(this video is public domain)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Stock Market Gained 700 Points This Week
Finally it seems the stock market hit bottom. After losing value since last fall, the market gained -- in fits and starts -- 700 points. To me, it means the market hits equilibrium where the total wealth spent in the market has matched the price level. Now, the President's policies have not entirely taken effect, but we can say that the efforts to save key Wall Street businesses set the ground work for this recovery. To me we're all the way there -- recovered -- when the market his 10,000 again and that can happen.
SXSW Has "Blacks in Tech Meetup Tonight at the Carver"
I saw this on the SXSW website, and would you believe I've still not been to a SXSW! Terrible me. But I'm happy to report SXSW is hosting the "Blacks in Tech Meetup Tonight at the Carver" as the decription reads, "this event celebrates our ongoing effort to bring a more diverse lineup of panelists to SXSW Interactive. The Blacks in Technology Meetup is open to new media professionals as well as those who are hoping to break into this industry. In other words, no badge required to attend."
That's awesome and worth more commentary. A great effort. I'm happy to see this and wish I was there.
That's awesome and worth more commentary. A great effort. I'm happy to see this and wish I was there.
Why Does Anti-Intellectualism Exist?
As an observer and student of pseudoscience for thirty years, I have long been puzzled as to why exactly this phenomenon exists at all. Why is anti-intellectualism so pervasive? What possible benefit do people get from clinging to demonstrably false ideas? Why are education and inquiry so grudgingly supported, and so often regarded with suspicion?
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AOL Gets A New CEO: Google's Tim Armstrong
Google(GOOG) sales chief Tim Armstrong becomes chairman and CEO of the troubled Web property, effective immediately.
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Did Britain have a black queen?
Queen Charlotte was the wife of George III and, like him, of German descent. But did she also have African ancestry?
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5 Facts About Friday the 13th
If Friday the 13th is unlucky, then 2009 is an unusually unlucky year. This week's Friday the 13th is one of three to endure this year.
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High IQ Linked to Reduced Risk of Death
A study of one million Swedish men has revealed a strong link between cognitive ability and the risk of death, suggesting that government initiatives to increase education opportunities may also have health benefits.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Newsom Oakland Town Hall Interrupted By Bayview Protester...
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom came to Oakland to give a town hall meeting on his plans for California as governor. The meeting went well, but it was interrupted by protestors from the Bayview Neighborhood.
Journalist Union End Game for Chronicle Could Be Purchase: News: SFAppeal
More at SFAppeal: “As the California Media Workers Guild at the San Francisco Chronicle prepare for a ratification vote on job and compensation concessions to Hearst Corp., the union leadership is exploring potential partnerships to eventually acquire the newspaper.
"In 16 months," said Carl Hall, local Guild representative at The Chronicle, "we should be talking about buy in and not buy-outs."
In an interview Tuesday, Hall was looking past the painful week of negotiations that produced the tentative agreement on concessions that Chronicle publisher Hearst had been demanding under threat of a sale or closure of the 144-year-old paper.
"We are working on it," Hall said. "We hope to form an investor group that would be prepared to step in."”
-- Can they come up with the money, that's the question? And can they generate enough revenue to operate it -- second question. They should team up with Craigslist.
"In 16 months," said Carl Hall, local Guild representative at The Chronicle, "we should be talking about buy in and not buy-outs."
In an interview Tuesday, Hall was looking past the painful week of negotiations that produced the tentative agreement on concessions that Chronicle publisher Hearst had been demanding under threat of a sale or closure of the 144-year-old paper.
"We are working on it," Hall said. "We hope to form an investor group that would be prepared to step in."”
-- Can they come up with the money, that's the question? And can they generate enough revenue to operate it -- second question. They should team up with Craigslist.
SF Chronicle Owned By Craigslist? A Possible Future
According to Real Clear Politics, The San Francisco Chronicle is one of ten newspapers in trouble. The total list in order from "still alive" to "almost passed on" is:
10. NY Daily News
9. LA Times
8. St. Paul Pioneer Press
7. Chicago Sun-Times
6. Detroit News
5. San Francisco Chronicle
4. Miami Herald
3. Philadelphia Daily News
2. Rocky Mountain News
1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The San Francisco Chronicle, at number five, may cease to exist if management and union can't get together on an adjustment to the collective bargaining agreement. (UPDATE: Seattle P-I reported close to closure). That did happen on Monday, with Thursday of this week set as the day for a large meeting for the Chronicle Guild to ratify the agreement. As of the making of the video, no place was secured but that was to happen today, Tuesday. It did according to Mediaworkers.org.
The day and time of the meeting is Thursday, March 12, 5-8 p.m respectively and the place is Cyril Magnin room, Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St in San Francisco (north from the Chronicle building on Fifth Street and across Market), and discussion will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. They expect to have the vote at 7:30 p.m.
The Chronicle is threatening to cut 225 or more guild positions if the union that represents journalists and other employees doesn’t meet the company’s demands, according to Mediaworkers.org.
The paper has about 500 total guild members, according to a source at the Chronicle.
If the union does agree to concessions, then the paper would cut at least 150 guild positions. The paper wants workers to give up senority rights, cut back vacation and sick leave. So the paper lays off employees, agreement or not.
While this is happening, people are steadily moving online to get news. The number of people visiting newspaper Web sites in January reached a new high, according to the Newspaper Association of America. During that month, 74.8 million unique visitors went to newspaper Web sites, an increase of
11% year-over-year and due to the interest in the Obama Inauguration. It is the highest number of unique users recorded since the association started tracking online industry stats in 2004.
Meanwhile, San Francisco-based social listing site Craigslist drew 26.7 million unique visitors in May 2008 alone according to Nielsen Online. That's just over one-third the total number of new visitors for all of the newspapers in their best month in history. Craigslist earned $81 million in 2008, $55 million in 2007, and could "easily top $200 million" with some small increase in fees. All of this with a staff of about 20 people.
Craiglist is a giant, dwarfing the New York Times and SFGate.com in unique visitors by a large margin claiming 60 percent of daily page view traffic in an Alexa comparison with the two sites. Why did the SF Chronicle not copy Craigslist?
Or more to another point, is the SF Chronicle going to merge with Craiglist? I can tell you from a good source that conversations have taken place on some kind of relationship. Will it lead to Craigslist
buying the Chronicle is anyone's guess, but it's a possible future.
YouTube, MySpace, Metacafe, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Crackle, Sclipo, Viddler and Howcast
10. NY Daily News
9. LA Times
8. St. Paul Pioneer Press
7. Chicago Sun-Times
6. Detroit News
5. San Francisco Chronicle
4. Miami Herald
3. Philadelphia Daily News
2. Rocky Mountain News
1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The San Francisco Chronicle, at number five, may cease to exist if management and union can't get together on an adjustment to the collective bargaining agreement. (UPDATE: Seattle P-I reported close to closure). That did happen on Monday, with Thursday of this week set as the day for a large meeting for the Chronicle Guild to ratify the agreement. As of the making of the video, no place was secured but that was to happen today, Tuesday. It did according to Mediaworkers.org.
The day and time of the meeting is Thursday, March 12, 5-8 p.m respectively and the place is Cyril Magnin room, Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St in San Francisco (north from the Chronicle building on Fifth Street and across Market), and discussion will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. They expect to have the vote at 7:30 p.m.
The Chronicle is threatening to cut 225 or more guild positions if the union that represents journalists and other employees doesn’t meet the company’s demands, according to Mediaworkers.org.
The paper has about 500 total guild members, according to a source at the Chronicle.
If the union does agree to concessions, then the paper would cut at least 150 guild positions. The paper wants workers to give up senority rights, cut back vacation and sick leave. So the paper lays off employees, agreement or not.
While this is happening, people are steadily moving online to get news. The number of people visiting newspaper Web sites in January reached a new high, according to the Newspaper Association of America. During that month, 74.8 million unique visitors went to newspaper Web sites, an increase of
11% year-over-year and due to the interest in the Obama Inauguration. It is the highest number of unique users recorded since the association started tracking online industry stats in 2004.
Meanwhile, San Francisco-based social listing site Craigslist drew 26.7 million unique visitors in May 2008 alone according to Nielsen Online. That's just over one-third the total number of new visitors for all of the newspapers in their best month in history. Craigslist earned $81 million in 2008, $55 million in 2007, and could "easily top $200 million" with some small increase in fees. All of this with a staff of about 20 people.
Craiglist is a giant, dwarfing the New York Times and SFGate.com in unique visitors by a large margin claiming 60 percent of daily page view traffic in an Alexa comparison with the two sites. Why did the SF Chronicle not copy Craigslist?
Or more to another point, is the SF Chronicle going to merge with Craiglist? I can tell you from a good source that conversations have taken place on some kind of relationship. Will it lead to Craigslist
buying the Chronicle is anyone's guess, but it's a possible future.
YouTube, MySpace, Metacafe, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Crackle, Sclipo, Viddler and Howcast
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Chevron: Ecuador Court Ordered Inspections To Resume Tuesday
More at CNN Moneyy: “QUITO -(Dow Jones)- After a nearly 10-month pause, judicial inspections will resume Tuesday in a lawsuit in Ecuador against Chevron Corp (CVX), the oil company said Monday.
Chevron said in a press release that presiding justice Juan Nunez of the Superior Court in Nueva Loja has ordered four of eight remaining judicial inspections to be carried out this week.
They are on oil well Auca-17, oil well Auca-19, Auca Central Station and Auca Sur Station.
Four remaining inspections are scheduled to be carried out by March 26.
"Judge Nunez ruled in response to a request by the plaintiffs' lawyers that he move quickly to issue a ruling in this case," Chevron said.”
-- I have to say I think this court's a total joke. It's in Ecuador, and the judge is under the influence of the President in a society not known for fair due process. While Chevron reportedly asked for the venue to be Ecuador, it would have been better here in America. We'll see, but I would be surprised if a fair ruling came out of this judicial system.
Chevron said in a press release that presiding justice Juan Nunez of the Superior Court in Nueva Loja has ordered four of eight remaining judicial inspections to be carried out this week.
They are on oil well Auca-17, oil well Auca-19, Auca Central Station and Auca Sur Station.
Four remaining inspections are scheduled to be carried out by March 26.
"Judge Nunez ruled in response to a request by the plaintiffs' lawyers that he move quickly to issue a ruling in this case," Chevron said.”
-- I have to say I think this court's a total joke. It's in Ecuador, and the judge is under the influence of the President in a society not known for fair due process. While Chevron reportedly asked for the venue to be Ecuador, it would have been better here in America. We'll see, but I would be surprised if a fair ruling came out of this judicial system.
Should Bloggers Have The Same Rights As Journalists?
There have been only a handful of cases in which courts have addressed whether bloggers should be treated as journalists for the purpose of considering the reporters’ privilege.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Oprah Calls on Viewers to Demand Action Against Child Abuse
On Monday, September 15, Oprah issues an urgent call to her viewers to take action against child predators in an all new episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. “What you are going to see is going to shock you to the core, but I'm asking you to please not turn away, because this is happening in our country to our children in the United States every day,
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
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