San Francisco Neo-Nazi Girl upsets Marina District

Related searches: neo-nazi, san francisco nazi, marina district, sf marina district, chestnut and pierce, sf nazi party

Does San Francisco have a Nazi problem? Why does it seem like there's a rise in the number of white people who claim to be Nazi, or more accurately Neo-Nazi and young people regardless of color who don't know how awful Nazi symbols are or why?

The most famous example of the latter was the Taylor Swift Swastika photo scandal where Taylor Swift's representative claimed Taylor Swift did not know that A.J. English's t-shirt (English is the man who took the photo with Swift) had a Swastika symbol on it, and English himself said that people at the party just painted it that way!

Then there was the more recent photo of Jesse James wearing a Nazi Waffen SS hat, and giving the "Heil Hitler" salute. And of course, there was his alleged first mistress Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, who posed in a Nazi bikini and worked as a model for the "Angry White Boy" clothing website.

Whatever's going on, this disturbing trend has hit San Francisco.

Two of this blogger's best friends sent a Facebook note today, Thursday, about a woman who's reportedly on the corner of Chestnut and Pierce in the Marina District and who they describe as a "Nazi." One friend wrote:

If you see this crazy gal who thinks She can do Nazism in SF. Report her! She almost got beaten by ppl on the street....she has to live with Hitler and not in the US!

The other friend was even more upset, writing this:

unreal situation at chestnut and pierce SF. Woman with nazi lit and promoting obama impeachment. get a life outside US. almost got n fight!

According to the photos - I just learned about the Nazi chic this evening - she's connected with the Lyndon LaRouche effort. Lyndon LaRouche is a political activist who this blogger has always considered something of a nutcase who thinks he should be President of The United States.

Lyndon LaRouche is considered to be an anti-Semite, who in the past has made comments against Jewish faith and Jewish culture. LaRouche has also allegedly attacked efforts to expose and prosecute Nazi war criminals. So, Lyndon LaRouche has apparently become the intellectual foundation for the ideas of the "San Francisco Nazi Girl."

The San Francisco Neo-Nazi Girl can express her view and it's good to offer disagreement. But threatening her with violence is really not a good thing to do. I personally ask people to avoid such actions. If they can't calmly talk with her, just keep walking.

For those who want to talk to San Francisco Neo-Nazi Girl, just explain that the reason people are upset with her is that she's backing an idea that at its very heart is designed to hurt someone else just because they're different. The fear is that people who think like her may try to kill someone who's not like them. There's certainly enough evidence to back that claim.

But threatening to hurt San Francisco Neo-Nazi Girl is just not right.

Stay tuned.

The Masters draws edgy Tiger Woods Ad by Nike Golf

Related searches: tiger woods, nike golf, phil bronstein, san francisco chronicle, the masters, wieden kennedy

Phil Bronstein, SF Chronicle Editor-at-Large wrote a funny blog post about the new Tiger Woods Ad by Nike Golf shown during The Masters Golf Tournament. The Tiger Woods Nike Golf Ad, which is already over 1 million views on YouTube as of this writing, features Tiger looking straight ahead, almost frozen, but eyes blinking. As he looks - and he appears tired, with bags under his eyes - a voice, that of his father Earl Woods says "Tiger. I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. Did you learn anything?"

Here's the video:



Bronstein wonders who's voice was actually used in the ad. According to ABC News, the ad, created by the ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, uses the actual voice of Earl Woods. The people who came up with the idea of using Earl Woods' voice, then finding it, was a genius team team headed by Creative Director Hal Curtis at Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, according to an email sent from the firm's PR rep.   Hats off to them; they've created a classic.

And the classic ad's getting a lot of buzz and reaction. Phil Bronstein says of the Tiger Woods Ad "I guess it's kind of brilliant, if shameless, though I haven't run out yet and bought a new Nike product." Greg Couch, National Columnist with AOL angrily writes "Disgusting. Woods is using his dead father to bail him out of his image problem. Nike has dropped to a new low, too."

Personally, this blogger likes the commercial. A lot. It's the latest in a long line of Nike Commercials that tap into the American cultural conversation of the Zeitgeist and essentially asks a question we've all thought at one point or another during the Tiger Woods Sex Scandal: "What would Earl Woods Think?" Bravo for Nike presenting a believable answer.

Bronstein and I want to know what you think of the Tiger Woods Ad by Nike Golf. Take the poll below:

More on pollsb.com

Watch The Masters and Tiger Woods online live here

Related searches: watch masters online, watch masters live, watch the masters live, masters odds, 2010 masters favorites

Thanks to ESPN and a some simple coding by this blogger, you can watch the 2010 Masters live online below. All you have to do is click on the image of Tiger Woods at The Masters Press Conference and since this post goes to Facebook, it should work there as well:






As of this writing, 67-year-old Tom Watson heads the leaderboard at The Masters. Watson is followed by Lee Westerwood and Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods, once even, then 2 under par a moment ago, is now 3 under par and just 7 shots back of Watson with 9 holes to go. Here's the leaderboard (you need a frames capable browser to see this, otherwise click here).



Stay tuned. And let me know what you think; I'm trying to make my blog posts more multimedia.

Tiger Woods at The Masters - are you rooting for him? A poll

Related searches: tiger woods, the masters, masters tv schedule, masters golf tournament 2010, masters leaderboard, tiger woods ad, tiger woods commercial nike

On The Dan Patrick Show, with which this blogger has a running feud regarding their ill-considered blast at President Obama on The White Sox issue (more later), the question is "Will you root for Tiger Woods to win or lose?"

What's interesting is that some people are playing a new mind game with respect to Tiger Woods: if he wins, it means he's really not a good person because he has no conscience. Someone I will not mention from The Golf Channel said on The Dan Patrick Show that he wants Tiger Woods to lose, then crafted a rationale for why he should lose and how it would not be "good for Golf."

Oh, brother.

I'm rooting for Tiger Woods to win. Why? Because Tiger Woods has been talked about, made fun of, skewered, and even criticized by a black Associated Press writer because none of his mistresses were black. Boo Hoo. Everyone's had their turn at Tiger Woods; now it's his turn. He's apologized and is ready to move on with his life, which has always been Golf.

Even through all of this, Tiger Woods is a role model. He's the first black guy to be publicly skewered around the World for cheating on his wife. Don't tell me some kid isn't thinking "You know, if I'm really good at some sport, as good as Tiger Woods at Golf, I can get all the chicks and not be married." Don't tell me that idea's not rolling around some kid's head.

Hey, Tiger Woods even has copycats: Jesse James comes to mind.

Tiger Woods is a role model for anyone of color who wants to be successful, and legions of white kids who don't care what color he is. The fact that the whole World is focusing on this man playing a sport that was believed to be for white guys, and kicking butt, is amazing.

Tiger Woods is so good at Golf, some people were wishing for some bad news, like his many affairs, to happen, thinking that would derail him. It did happen. But Tiger Woods rolls on, still on the rails. That's why I root for him to win.

Tiger Woods winning The Maters is the ultimate middle finger to society. And people will love it. What do you think? Take my poll:

add an online poll on pollsb.com

NFL Draft: Tim Tebow an Oakland Raider? Why not Jimmy Clausen?

This NFL Draft news. The word is traveling fast that the Oakland Raiders are interested in Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow. Jerry McDonald of what I still call The Oakland Tribune passed along that NFL legend and NFL Analyst Gil Brandt (formerly the personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys), said that the Oakland Raiders were interested in Tebow in the 2010 NFL Draft, and were impressed with his knoweldge of football.

Nothing against Tim Tebow, but this corner's not sold on Tebow's new shot-put-style passing delivery. Yes, Tebow gets rid of the ball faster, but he has to literally heave his body to do it. It's just painful to watch because it takes him a long time to wind up and throw. It's as if he transfered the long-wind-up problem from his left arm to his entire body.

Check out the video Tim Tebow Throws at Pro Day:



Meanwhile, Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is available and while some have pointed again and again to an allegation that Clausen's hard to get along with in the locker room, no one can doubt that Jimmy Clausen was well-trained (by now-former Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis), is a masterful competitor who arguably almost single-handedly beat USC in 2010, and is well-coached int the modern NFL passing game.

Jimmy Clausen's a better quarterback to join a team like the Oakland Raiders, but only just so much. There's no discounting Tim Tebow's leadership, role-model demeanor, and desire to win. I just believe Clausen's a bit better to build a passing game around.

Does that mean I've given up on Jamarcus Russell? No. In fact, I really don't think the Raiders need a quarterback. The Raiders need to focus on how they coach their current signal callers.

Stay tuned.

Traci Lynn Johnson pictures surface on Tiki Barber's 35th birthday

Traci Lynn Johnson 

Related searches: ginny barber, traci lynn johnson tiki barber, tiki barber, traci lynn johnson pictures, tiki and ginny barber, tiki barber affair

As of the news that former New York Giants Running Back and NBC Sports anchor and Today Show Correspondent Tiki Barber was cheating on his wife of 11 years, Ginny Barber while she was three months pregnant wasn't enough, all of this comes today, on his 35th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Tiki Barber.

That's right. Tiki Barber turns 35 years old today, the very same day The New York Post went public with allegations that Barber was cheating on his wife Ginny with a former intern, 23-year-old Traci Lynn Johnson.

Tracy Johnson

Meanwhile, website after blog site is claiming to have 'photos,' of Traci Lynn Johnson from her MySpace page, causing yet another online free for all not seen in a since, well, Sandra Bullock and Jesse James and the alleged mistresses James had, or Tiger Woods 12 to 14 mistresses (which means that Raychel Coudriet is allegedly the 14th or 15h mistress) .

In other words, this process has become all too common.

And Ginny Barber, formally Ginny Cha who dated Tiki when they met in college at The University of Virginia, has not issued a statement as of this writing.

Traci Lynn Johnson: Tiki Barber leaves hot wife for Johnson

Traci Lynn Johnson 

The title says it all: Traci Lynn Johnson: Tiki Barber leaves hot wife for Johnson. Tiki Barber's the former standout New York Giants running back was profiled with his beautiful wife Ginny on NFL Network a few years back. 

At that point, this blogger was thinking "What a lucky man. He's got a Manhattan dwelling, a new start in broadcasting, a totally hot wife, and lovely kids." It was easy to be jealous of Tiki Barber.

Now, this space is wondering if Ginny's available for a date. According to The New York Post, Tiki Barber "dumps pregnant wife for hot blonde", but The New York Post got it wrong. The title should have read "Tiki Barber dumps hot pregnant wife for normal looking blonde."

Tiki Barber issued this statement in The New York Post today:

After 11 years of marriage, Ginny and I have decided to separate. This decision was a painful one, but we are moving forward amicably and will continue to work together to raise our children with the love and dedication they have always known

Ginny Barber 

What's wrong with him and why would The New York Post brand Traci Lynn Johnson as a "hot blonde" without even seeing a full body photo?

Not every blonde is hot, but I digress.

Ok. Maybe Traci is hot, after all we're talking about Tiki Barber, but Ginny's hotter.  

Whatever happened to cause the separation of Tiki and Ginny Barber, it's unfortunate to see a couple that was at one point the toast of New York City split.

Moreover, it's sad to see Tiki Barber allegedly skip out on Ginny while she's three months pregnant with twins, again, according to The New York Post, who broke the story!  

Sad.

Stay tuned.

The Masters will be the second most popular TV event in history

Related searches: Tiger Woods, Woods sex scandal, Masters golf, tv ratings history



With Tiger Woods return to The Masters Golf Tournament after his sex scandal involving as many as 14 different women, and the subsequent daily media attention between the Friday after Thanksgiving and all the way to today, the stage is set. The prediction in this space is the Masters will be the second most watched television event in TV ratings history, second only to Super Bowl XLIV this year, which drew 106.5 million viewers.

People will watch this event everywhere. From places like The Beach Chalet in San Francisco and bars like The Balboa Cafe and The Alley in Oakland and Max Laeger's in Atlanta, to homes and house parties, it will seem as if everyone's tuned in to The Masters.

As sports agent Leigh Steinberg noted last year in December, now that Tiger Woods has suffered from the constant media blogs that have damaged his career, America's hungry to see Tiger Woods come back.

The bet in this space is that Tiger Woods will win The Masters.

Stay tuned.

AC Transit Bus Rapid Transit - Oakland and San Leandro should approve it

Related searches: Bus Rapid Transit, City of Oakland, City of San Leandro, AC Transit, BRT, Oakland transit, City of Berkeley transit

Bus Rapid Transit in St. Louis

AC Transit needs our help. Yes, this blogger has been critical of the AC Transit Bus Fight, but maintaining service for those who can't afford private transit is critical. For those of you who have followed the issue, AC Transit has been working with San Leandro, Oakland and Berkeley in developing a rapid bus system that will significantly improve transit operations from Berkeley to San Leandro.

The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is particularly important to the Oakland area as it is one of the densest urban population centers in the country and most definitely the densest along the proposed dedicated lane for rapid bus service.

That is why the upcoming planning and approval meeting on April 19 is so important to the future of transportation in San Leandro, Oakland and Berkeley.  BRT is an idea who's time has come.

Already in use and popular in major cities around the world like Jakarta, Bus Rapid Transit can speed up travel times at a low cost according to Mass Transit. BRT is much cheaper than heavy or light rail, BRT would simply dedicate a lane for high-efficiency buses along the Berkeley – Oakland – San Leandro corridor. Riders would be taken along at speeds much faster than normal buses and would be unimpeded by traffic due to the use of dedicated lanes. It’s also much quicker to implement and really is a cool, futuristic approach.

At its City Council meeting on Monday, April 19, the City of San Leandro will decide if it wants to be included in this progress that could be in operation by 2015. If the San Leandro City Council follows the advice of the city’s planning commission, it will pass up this project and lose the opportunity to improve transportation for its residents and bring new customers to local businesses.

Hopefully, for the benefit of smart planning, the San Leandro City Council will re-think the recommendation and employ BRT in its City to improve commuter access and reduce vehicle trips.

Regardless of how San Leandro plans for its future, BRT is a must for Berkeley and Oakland and—in many ways—is just as effective and viable without them. In fact, San Leandro’s loss may mean Oakland’s win. Without having to build the San Leandro stop, the cost of the overall project would decrease, and thus save taxpayer money.

In this blogger's view, BRT is the fastest, cheapest way to get much needed improvements to our transit infrastructure in the heart of an urban corridor that so urgently needs it. With or without San Leandro, Oakland must approve if we're to secure a transit system that serves our residents for the future.

Stay tuned.

Dan Patrick is wrong about President Obama and The White Sox

On his Tuesday show, former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick, who helms The Dan Patrick Show on DirecTV, took an awful shot at President Obama for telling baseball sportscaster Rod Dibble the truth about his love for The Chicago White Sox.

Dibble asked the President - who threw out a not-great first pitch to open The Washington Nationals 2010 Season but did so while wearing a Chicago White Sox hat - who his favorite White Sox player was growing up.

Now anyone who knows Obama's background is aware that he grew up in Hawaii, and not Chicago, and did not move to my hometown until after college. But Dibble didn't seem to think about that, and Dan Patrick apparently didn't know it.

President Obama remarked that he was growing up in Hawaii and was more of an Oakland A's fan at the time, not the White Sox. OK, honest answer.

But that wasn't enough for Dan Patrick, who uncharacteristically went into a low-IQ moment and laughed and howled at the replay of the video tape of Obama's conversation with Dibble, then got after the President for not naming a White Sox player!

Dan Patrick and the Danettes really looked not smart here. They're not obviously not Chicagoans. Chicagoans chose a team without having a favorite player. It's all about place: Southside or Northside. If you're living on Chicago's Southside, you pick The White Sox, period.  The South Side of Chicago has a brand that reads tough, blue collar, working class, and minority.  If you live on the Northside of Chicago, you go with the Cubs.

The Northside of Chicago is white collar, better-off, and mostly white.  It's only a weird, nerdy Chicago guy like me who goes with both the Cubs and The White Sox, and I have favorite Cubs players even though I grew up on The Southside, but I don't know the whole damn team or its history.

(And really, my favorite Cub wasn't a player, he was a broadcaster: the late, great Jack Brickhouse.)

And I don't have to know. That's not the point. Dan. Get it?

Dan Patrick doesn't "get" Chicago. If he did, Patrick would have left the President alone. Instead, Patrick's rant about Obama's reasons for backing The Chicago White Sox were a low intellectual point in Patrick's career.

Stay tuned.  Next, we turn to The Erin Andrews situation.

Star Trek's Denise Crosby at WonderCon SF

Denise Crosby was at WonderCon SF 2010 last weekend, and talking with this blogger about how she lands so many of her strong, smart female roles. From Lt. Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation, to her current role as Capt. Susan Salinger on the TV show Southland, Denise Crosby has a long string - a tradition, really - of playing such television roles. Was it by design? In other words, did she insist on that kind of role?

"I never make those kind of demands," Crosby said. "Actors are kind of subject to the work available, you know?" I think I often get cast in those roles because there's a certain kind of energy I put out there."

But Crosby, in San Francisco to sign autographs as part of WonderCon SF, said she does play the vulnerable female roles, too. She just finished Orpheus Descending on the LA Stage where she played "Lady Torrance", ever the vulnerable woman if there was one.

Denise Crosby is part of what's commonly referred to as "The Crosby Family Dynasty" as she's the granddaughter of Bing Crosby, the daughter of actor and singer Dennis Crosby, and the nice of Mary Crosby.

Even with all that Hollywood royalty, Denise is nice, centered, and approachable. A very good conversationalist, she met her fans at WonderCon SF with a sincere kindness that wasn't always the norm during the event. That speaks volumes for her as a person.

What is a Didgeridoo?

As reported, the Didgeridoo was used by American Idol contestant Crystal Bowersox and played by Ernie Fields, Jr as part of her performance. Crystal Bowersox wowed the American Idol judges, but ahat is a Didgeridoo?


A Didgeridoo is an instrument with a unique kind of sound like something rubbing along a thin wire. It's said to evoke" reverence and oneness with nature. The deep drone of the didjeridoo allows us to relax and to reconnect with mother earth," according to the The Didgeridoo Specialists shop, where one can buy Didgeridoos.

There are a number of places where you can learn to play the Digeridoo.  Here's one online directory - Digeridoos in SF - with an extensive store listing.

Didgeridoo featured on American Idol as Crystal Bowersox shines again

Related searches: Crystal Bowersox, American Idol, Ellen Degeneres, Katy Perry, Randy Johnson, Simon Cowell

What's a Didgeridoo? It's a kind of wind instrument created by "Indigenous Australians of northern Australia" according to Wikipedia. In this video, famed Didgeridoo player Larry 'Winiwini' Gurruwiwi shows us how it's done"...



And in this video, the Digerridoo on Tuesday's telecast of American Idol (appears after Crystal Bowersox is interviewed by Ryan Seacrest):



The American Idol judges were, as Ellen Degeneres put it trying to find "a new way to tell you how great you are." Randy Johnson said "you're in the zone." Simon Cowell said "That's a song I could hear on the radio." and Katy Perry said the song was "Slinky. It was sexy. You were playful."

Then Ernie Fields Jr, the player of the Didgeridoo, was introduced and said "I'm the contractor. I got a call and I said 'I'll do it.'"

She wowed'em, with Ernie and the Didgeridoo's help.

Comics News: Captain America on "Captain America" at WonderCon SF

Related searches: Captain America, First Avenger, Captain America, WonderCon SF, The Fantastic Four, Chris Evans, Jon Hamm, Marvel Comics



WonderCon SF was held last weekend and from all accounts it was not only a blast, it may have set an attendance record. With the wave of movies based on popular comic book characters, there were more costumes of those characters in movies slated for release, like The First Avenger: Captain America.

As reported in this space, The First Avenger: Captain America is a movie based on the Marvel Comics hero of the same name. The First Avenger: Captain America, to be produced by Marvel Entertainment and directed by Joe Johnston (The Wolfman) has a release date is July 22, 2011, as of this writing. Chris Evans, "The Human Torch" from The Fantastic Four movie series is signed to play the government-serum-enhanced WWII soldier Steve Rogers.

But what do fans think of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers? I asked that of a number of fans at WonderCon SF, including one who had no problem being on video. That Captain America said he liked the choice of Chris Evans, who "was the only good part about The Fantastic Four."

But what about Jon Hamm, the star of the TV series Mad Men, which has developed a cult following? "I think Chris Evans adds a certain amount of youth to it. Because if you think about it, a soldier on the battle field is going to be pretty young" (Evans is 30 and Jon Hamm is 40). I didn't find anyone who disagreed with "Captain America" on Chris Evans, so it seems like fans are now ready to give Evans the thumbs up.

Stay tuned.

More big earthquakes projected for 2010 than 2009, 2008, and 2007

As reported in the blog post on the 7.7 Indonesian earthquake of today, an analysis of online information published by the US Geological Survey revealed this information:

In all there have been 23 "significant earthquakes" of above 4 on the Richter Scale in 2010 thus far, according to the US Geological Survey. And of those, 17 have been over 6 on the scale. There were 72 "significant earthquakes" in all of 2009 and 58 in 2008, and 56 in 2007.

If this rate continues according to this blogger's calculations, there will be 92 "significant earthquakes" for 2010, 20 more than in 2009 and 44 more than for all of 2008, and 46 more than in all of 2007.

The skeptic would offer that this current trend of "significant earthquakes" could be slowed by a lull, but even excluding 2010, the number of "significant earthquakes" has increased from 56 in 2007 to 72 in 2009 in looking at the USGS information.

One reason for this increase in number may be improved earthquake sensing technology. Indeed, the USGS reports that this is the case. But there's a problem in the basic logic presented by the USGS, a large earthquake has damaging impacts such that more sensitive technology would make no difference, a large quake is just that: big. People know when an earthquake larger than 6 on the Richter Scale strikes. Moreover the USGS points to improved technology between 1931 and today, not within the last decade.

So we come back to the apparent fact that we have more earthquakes of significant (read: large) size projected for 2010 than in over the last four years.

Stay tuned.

Sumatra Indonesia Earthquake 7.7 on Richter Scale

Continuing what has been an incredible and incredibly horrifying string of large earthquakes starting with the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake, then earthquakes in Guatemala, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, and just this week the 7.2 Southern California Earthquake and now the Sumatra Indonesia Earthquake at 7.7 on Richter Scale, and it's just the first week of April.

This is the second time in 2010 Indonesia has suffered from a "significant earthquake."

In all there have been 23 "significant earthquakes" of above 4 on the Richter Scale in 2010 thus far, according to the US Geological Survey. And of those, 17 have been over 6 on the scale. There were 72 "significant earthquakes" in all of 2009 and 58 in 2008, and 56 in 2007.

If this rate continues according to this blogger's calculations, there will be 92 "significant earthquakes" for 2010, 20 more than in 2009 and 44 more than for all of 2008, and 46 more than in all of 2007.

According to The Times Online UK, the Sumatra Indonesia Earthquake struck at 5:15 AM or 22:15 GMT, 125 miles away from the coast of the city of Sibolga and 29 miles below the surface of The Earth. As of this writing there were no reports of major damage or casualties, and tsunami warnings were stopped.

Stay tuned.

Google can fix News Media's big Internet problem

Related searches: MSM, news media, Google, Google AdSense, Google news, blogger, youtube, youtube partner, Rupert Murdoch, New York Times, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.

At times it's good to take a step back and look at how news media's changing. Yes, it's done everyday, but I'm referring to this blogger pulling away from what I now call "The systems approach to blogging" for a moment to reflect on the changes in media I've seen. While there are many small news media developments that are really interesting, the one large one that bugs me is what I've referred to before: the fragmentation of news media and the involvement of Google.

Again, the "fragmentation of media" is news media created by many individuals and groups, often for niche markets or interests. What's happening is that as more people discover blogs and how to use them, as well as social networks and mobile social networks, it's harder for any one news outlet, individual, group, or company to make money. And Google's adding to this problem.

In protecting one news media group, Google's making it harder for other news media organizations and individuals to make money online. Google is protecting established news organizations online at the expense of smaller and newer ones. How? With Google News.

Google News favors established news websites. But what if it didn't do that. What if what was posted was the result of a pure automated content analysis, and whatever was posted first that met the criteria was listed? That would open up more media platforms and push out established media. It would force larger media organizations to partner with existing blogs and perhaps buy them, or vice-versa.

Why? Because smaller but smarter media publishers would have a fighting chance to generate traffic and earn ad dollars from that volume.

Why Google and not Bing or Yahoo for this approach? For several reasons. First, Google still controls, as of this writing, Google controls approximately 70 percent of the search engine market. And even with the advent of Bing, Google's search engine share doesn't seem to be threatened one bit.

Google also owns Blogger and has Google Adsense, the online advertising platform that's almost symbiotically linked to Blogger. Google could actually increase its own ad revenue base by leveling the news playing field. And it could give Google News placement priority to content that was created by Google account holders who were YouTube Partners. That program is also part of Google AdSense, go Google wins again.

While Google takes full advantage of its integrated web systems in this way, bloggers win by being able to see a simple reward for hard work and teaming up. The bigger the blog staff and the more active the blog, the more traffic it draws.

Who loses? Established news websites that do not understand how to write for the Internet, that's who. Google has been protecting and coddling these news organizations for far too long, and in the process slowing their growth in the Internet business.

The problem is too many journalists and news organizations don't understand that when they're writing online, they are in effect creating a new web page. The basic rules of web site design for search are consistently violated and so often that it's criminal. Titles have nothing to do with the subject of the article post. The subject name, the primary keyword, at times doesn't appear in the first paragraph and it it does, it's there only once.

I could go on and on.

Google leveling the playing field would force old media organizations to ship up or get out. And it would work as a breakwater against media fragmentation by essentially rewarding teams of bloggers.

What would Rupert Murdoch think about this? Not much, probably. What about Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., the publisher of the New York Times? Can't imagine he would be thrilled with the change. But it would force those organizations, and others, to produce better content that can be found on the Internet.

Over time, it would also force media consolidation, and help smaller media teams to actually have a better chance be rewarded for being competitive, and that reward is to earn a living.

Nicollette Sheridan's One Shining Moment 2010 with Marc Cherry

Related searches: Nicollette Sheridan, One Shining Moment 2010, Marc Cherry, ABC Studios, Jennifer Hudson

Nicollette Sheridan, who's famous for being on Desperate Housewives is getting her "One Shining Moment 2010" with Marc Cherry. Nicollette Sheridan is suing Marc Cherry, the creator of Desperate Housewives for $20 million in a wrongful termination claim.

Sheridan charges that Marc Cherry hit her and then killed off her character "Edie Britt", thus getting rid of her, when she tried to complain about it.

Whatever the case, ABC Studios is standing behind Marc Cherry according to EOnline: "While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms. Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit."

The lawsuit covers assault, wrongful termination, and gender violence. It reads that Cherry hit her across the head and face. Yikes. Here's a copy of the lawsuit you can read: LAWSUIT.

I'll post another blog on this after reading the suit in depth. Meanwhile, here's the video of Jennifer Hudson singing One Shining Moment as part of CBS' video to end the amazing 2010 NCAA Championship and Duke v. Butler, a game for the ages.



Stay tuned.

Tiger Woods Press Conference doesn't register on Twitter

The now completed Tiger Woods Press Conference held in Augusta, Georgia is the top search in both Google Trend areas, but it did not cause "Tiger Woods" to break into the top tag area of Twitter. A reason for this may be that Twitter top tags are generally reached whenever a news story is covered by more than one television channel at the same time.

The exceptions to the rule are large scale sports and entertainment events like the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl. But in the case of the Tiger Woods Press Conference, one channel, the niche Golf Channel, had the entire press conference, and not everyone gets the Golf Channel.

But now that television news programs are reporting on the Tiger Woods Press Conference, perhaps Tiger Woods will break the Twitter top tags today. But if these tweets are any indication, probably not:

HARLAND_1 RT @ImsoExotic #WhatsThePoint in Tiger Woods Still explaining his self to the World who are we to Judge #He-IS-talking-TO-sponsers #NotUS
half a minute ago from Twitterrific

thegolfblog 3 female reporters make Tiger Woods squirm. male reporters lie down. full video of Tiger Woods presser: http://bit.ly/aMRIBe
half a minute ago from web

And then there are tweets that communicate my feelings:

bestnewactress I hope Tiger Woods wins the Masters...and instead of giving a speech, throws up his middle finger and walks off the green.
less than a minute ago from web

Amen.

Stay tuned.

Did lawyers suing Chevron in Ecuador case file fraudulent reports?

What does Ecuador President Rafael Correa think?

Related searches: Amazon Defense Coalition, Chevron ecuador, American oil company news, steven donziger, Charles Calmbacher, environmental law news

In a blockbuster development that could effectively crash Ecuador's entire case against Chevron (or as the plaintiffs claim, the Ecuadorian indigenous groups even though President Rafael Correa is reported to pay close attention to the case) - the charge that Chevron failed to clean up alleged environmental damage made during oil production operations during Chevron / Texaco operation in Ecuador until 1992 - fraudulent reports were filed claiming dangerous contamination was found at Amazon oil well sites.

The person who's signature is on the report and said to be its author, Dr. Charles Calmbacher, gave sworn testimony made in a deposition released by Chevron today that he did not sign or write the report that was used as a major arguing case by The Amazon Defense Coalition against Chevron.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Charles Calmbacher's name was misspelled on the very same report that lawyers suing Chevron said was written by him, and Calmbacher said his report exonerated Chevron - that "I concluded that I did not see significant contamination that posed immediate threat to the environment or to humans or wildlife around it," in a statement provided to the WSJ by Chevron.

According to an email from Karen Hinton, a spokesperson for the Amazon Defense Coalition, which serves as the "fiscal agent" for the lawsuit and organizational home for the plaintiff's legal work in Ecuador...

"Dr. Calmbacher clearly agreed to have his signature placed on materials, including reports, that were to be submitted to the court, and he acknowledged he was actively reviewing the reports with out local, technical team. We are bewildered, frankly, at his testimony"

Hinton points to comments made by Dr. Calmbacher on August 27th, 2004, when the New York Times quoted him as saying "Their defense is a lot like the tobacco industry saying there is no evidence linking smoking and lung cancer." However, according to a news post on Chevron's website, the statement was made before Calmbacher started the work and finished the report.

The Chevron website press release explains...

After the lawsuit was filed against Chevron in 2003, the plaintiffs' lawyers nominated Dr. Calmbacher, and the court appointed him to conduct judicial inspections of oil well sites in the former Petroecuador-Texaco Petroleum Co. concession area to assess alleged environmental damage. Dr. Calmbacher led those inspections for the plaintiffs, supervising the taking of soil and water samples, from August to October 2004.

The fraudulent reports were filed in February and March 2005, and later used by Lago Agrio court appointee Richard Cabrera in his $27 billion damage assessment against Chevron. Cabrera never investigated Sacha 94 or Shushufindi 48, yet specified more than $101 million damages based on the fabricated findings. Dr. Calmbacher also inspected Sacha 6 and Sacha 21, yet the plaintiffs' lawyers failed to submit reports containing his conclusions regarding those well sites. Dr. Calmbacher testified that he did not find a risk to human health or the environment, or a need for further clean-up, at any of the Texaco Petroleum-remediated sites he inspected. He also said he never concluded that Texaco Petroleum's remediation in Ecuador in the 1990's was not successful.

So, the Amazon Defense Coalition's leaving out a key detail regarding who filed the report. The person all of this falls on is Steven Donziger, the lead lawyer on this case, who's made a name for himself and admitted that he would make billions from a win against Chevron as I explained in this video in 2008:



Hinton of the Amazon Defense Coalition was contacted for a response on the disconnect between the statement she pointed to from the New York Times in 2004 and the completion and filing of the Calmbacher report in 2005.

The main question is who falsified and filed that report?

Stay tuned.

Tiger Woods Press Conference - Woods gives 35 minute talk

Tiger Woods, The World's Greatest Golfer, just finished his longest press conference, and his first real one, since that infamous Thanksgiving night when he crashed his Cadillac, and the subsequent revelation that Woods had affairs with as many as 14 women. The Tiger Woods of the 35 minute press conference is getting an A-plus on the Golf Channel; this blogger will give him an A.

Tiger Woods, while still obviously a rash of emotions, took every question - 39 in all - given to him head on. He was asked about steroid allegations four times and surrounding the fact that Dr. Anthony Galea did visit Woods home in the past. Tiger Woods said that Anthony Galea did not give him steroids or Human Growth Hormone (HGH).

Woods said he felt comfortable working with Dr. Galea, but that the doctor did not give him HGH or mention it. Woods said that he was ready to cooperate with any investigation, but that he was not asked to appear for questioning as of that time.

In all Tiger Woods did an incredible job of "manning up" to what happened and admitted that he still has "a long way to go." He's rediscovered meditation and says he does it with his Mom as part of his effort to "keep centered." But what was interesting was this comment:

"Winning Golf Championships is not what life is all about."

Tiger Woods said he's at The Maters "to win it", but again family is now more important to him and he says the period of telling lies and feeling the need to tell a lie is behind him.

While a number of questions were asked, no one asked questions about the allegations that came out in various gossip publications, from the alleged $10 million he gave to Rachel Uchitel to the public requests for specific apology by some of Tiger Woods mistresses.

On the matter of Tiger Woods on the Golf course for The Masters and the idea that he needs to be more "under control", Tiger said, "I'm actually going to try to not get as hot when I play. But when I'm not as hot I'm not as exuberant either."

That part, I really don't care about. Frankly, and no disrespect to the great Tom Watson, who made the observations about Tiger Woods on course behavior and how it could be better, that's Tiger. It's part of the man who became the World's Greatest Golfer. I hope he keeps the fist-pump in his game, but not the four-letter words. Well, OK. One or two.

People are ready to see Tiger Woods play Golf.

More on this today and through an incredible week in sports.

Stay tuned.

NCAA Championship Game 2010 time is 9:21 PM ET (CBS)

NCAA Championship Game 2010 game time is 9:21 PM EST, 6:21 PM PST on CBS. It's Duke v. Butler. Who will win? This corner's going for the upset in picking the Butler University Bulldogs to beat the Duke Blue Devils for the NCAA Championship Title.

The reason is that we're not about to watch a seven-game series, or even the best of five-games, as is done in the NBA. We're watching one game for all the marbles. Butler may not be the better team than Duke in a series stretch, but Butler just has to be better than Duke for one game and for 40 minutes. That's it.

It really is the ultimate David v. Goliath story. But what's interesting is Duke winning seem to be such a forgone conclusion, even teenagers are picking Duke. I was watching the Red Sox / Yankees game at Jillian's Restaurant after WonderCon on Easter Sunday (yes, I stayed here while Mom went on a well-deserved trip), and a family from New York sat next to me while the game was on. Their two teenagers were massive Yankees fans, but also major Duke backers. They even want to attend Duke!

How about that? 13 years old, and already they've picked the college and the position: small forward.

Who do you think will win?

Take the poll:

More fun polls on pollsb.com

Facebook: how our patterns of social networking can reflect one's psychological functioning

If you’ve ever felt annoyed, amused, baffled, or disturbed by the various ways people use social networking sites such as Facebook, this article is for you.

“Can you believe she posted that status update/picture?” “Why would he write that on my wall, where everyone can see it?” “Why do people do that on Facebook, with no concern for how awkward or irritating it is for other people to see?” “I can’t take it anymore. I’m unfriending this person!”

These are actual statements I’ve heard from people, in frustration towards others’ differences in personal boundaries on social networking sites such as Facebook. Quite often we see stark contrasts in the social judgment of our friends, family members, co-workers and acquaintances as they reveal themselves in various ways on Facebook. If we look closely, we can begin to understand these differences in social judgment (as well as our responses to them) as a reflection of our psychological functioning. The following list serves to capture a just few of the ways people behave and react to differences in social networking patterns.


Actual example from a Facebook user*:

Status update: “I’m sorry FB…but I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be having multiple orgasms instead of having to fake it like my girlfriends…” (boyfriend chimes in with a response post, stating “I bring my A-game for you baby”) (*source is confidential)

How much do we share? Facebook is essentially a place to share- what we do, how we look, what we like/dislike, etc. If you’re not comfortable with learning personal details about someone else’s life online, then Facebook is likely not for you. Yet the degree to which an average Facebook user observes private matters via posts and pictures can vary from an enjoyable opportunity to catch up with others, to unsettling, or even offensive. Facebook users that push the boundaries of social etiquette are particularly controversial. When people share highly intimate or sensationalized information on Facebook, they may revel in shocking their audience and crave attention from others, whether good or bad. This may come from an underlying need to ‘stand out’ as special and different. Or perhaps it is an unwillingness to recognize that others might be offended by their display of private details in a widely public arena.

How much do we observe? Most of us have probably spent more time than we’d like to admit looking at others’ pictures, or perusing through someone’s wall on Facebook. In some instances, we may not know all of our Facebook friends in such a way that would afford this much access to their personal information. Yet our curiosity compels us to peek, perhaps as a means to increase feeling connected, or closer to people. Or in some cases, we feel compelled to pry in order to compare ourselves to others (regardless of how well we know someone) as a way to judge our own success or happiness. This addictive quality keeps Facebook's typical user on the site for an average of 169 minutes a month according to ComScore. Compare that with Google News, where the average reader spends 13 minutes a month checking up on the world, or the New York Times website, which holds on to readers for a mere ten minutes a month.

How much space do we take up? We’ve all had the experience of opening up our Facebook News Feed, and found that certain people take up an exorbitant amount of space through higher frequencies of sharing. Some of us perceive this as social entitlement, which can drive us to feel annoyed, resentful and even superior to those who openly ‘ask for our attention.’ This can feel especially irritating when other people share strong opinions or make lifestyle choices that are different from our own. How much space we take (or don’t take) on Facebook may reflect our expectation of the attention we feel we deserve from others.

Does Facebook allow us to be someone different than in our everyday life? Online interactions, as opposed to face-to-face interactions may allow or encourage some people to be more confrontational, racier, sexier, more militant, or melodramatic than might be acceptable in their daily life. Adopting new behaviors or personas via Facebook can feel liberating, without the discomfort of facing people’s immediate reactions to a stronger display of personality. We may gain the sympathy and/or support that we may not have (but want) in our everyday lives.

At it’s best, Facebook is a social opportunity that allows us to share our lives with others, support our friends, family and acquaintances with the happenings of their daily experiences, and actively expand our social connections. Yet, to others it can feel like a chaotic free-for-all that invites people to bend social rules of etiquette.

When it comes to Facebook, everyone seems to have an opinion. What’s yours? Leave comments on my page, Dr. Christina Villarreal with anecdotes that capture your experience of Facebook. I, for one, would love to read them!

Donovan McNabb traded: did Eagles get Michael Vick as racial cover-up?

The Philadelphia Eagles trading Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins is still a head-scratcher as he's in the same division.

But now that Donovan McNabb is gone so soon after the Eagles worked to get Quarterback Michael Vick on the field after Vick's release from prison after his illegal dog fighting work, this blogger has to ask the question:

Was the Philadelphia Eagles effort to get Michael Vick a plan to have a black quarterback on staff then trade Donovan McNabb, who's black, just so no one can say "The Eagles trade of Donovan McNabb was racist; they just didn't want a black star in Philadelphia?" If that was the case, here's betting Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who's also black, would stop going to the games, and Philadelphia would be a racially divided town.

As wild as the idea seems, the more I wrap my mind around how the Eagles think and the "cover-up" needed to cleanly pull off a dumb trade like sending Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, the more it is logical that this was their thinking.

The Eagles trading McNabb has been in the public conversation for about a year, but no one thought they would actually do it. And just two months ago, Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid said McNabb was their quarterback.

But when Vick came in last year, the questions started about McNabb's future, and added to the trade talks. But again, no one believed the Eagles would get rid of a winner like McNabb and the face of the franchise.

But they did, and no one claimed it was due to race because the Eagles could then point to Michael Vick.

I'm willing to bet I'm right.

Stay tuned.

Donovan McNabb to Redskins trade gauche for Philadelphia Eagles

Related searches: mcnabb, donovan mcnabb, mcnabb trade, mcnabb traded to redskins, mcnabb trade rumors, andy reid mcnabb, Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shanahan, gauche, Easter Sunday

Now former Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb goes to a Washington Redskins team that got him for a steal and just may have got itself a ticket to Super Bowl XXXXV In Dallas in 2011. In obtaining Donovan McNabb without having to part with its 4th pick in the first round, the Washington Redskins can now add two more playmakers to a team that was sorely in need of new ones.

But the Philadelphia Eagles trade of Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins was called the dumbest in NFL history  in this space by a team with a quarterback of that level of talent. Let's return to those reasons stated, and add some more.

Let's now say it's gauche. That's French for lacking in social graces, and crudely made and done.

The McNabb trade is gauche for several reasons: first, the Eagles traded their six-time pro-bowl quarterback to a team they play twice each year, and did it on Easter Sunday. That's a holy day of giving thanks for the return of Jesus Christ. It's also a day not to release news that one's going to get rid of someone.

Second, the Eagles sent McNabb to a team that will play an offense almost like the one he played in for 11 years. new Washington Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan knows the same Bill Walsh West Coast Offense that Andy Reid coached to Donovan McNabb for all those years.

Donovan McNabb will have no "adjustment" time to worry about on the field. He can just step in and play.

Third, Donovan McNabb knows the Philadelphia Eagles Defense like the back of his hand because he practiced against them for over a decade. On other other hand, the Eagles have no idea what the Washington Redskins will do on offense because they're a new organization.

In other words, there's no tape on the Washington Redskins offense under Mike Shanahan and his son and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Yes, Kyle Shanahan comes from the Houston Texans, but that does not translate to predictable offensive tendencies because he's got different personnel to work with at Washington.

Fourth, the Eagles insulted Donovan by trading him for a second round pick to a division rival that plays the same offensive design, in effect saying "We don't think you're good. In fact, you're so bad we'll send you to our division rival because we know you can't beat us."

That's just plain stupid.

The Eagles just penciled in two losses for the 2010 season at the hands of The Washington Redskins. Kevin Kolb is not the Eagles quarterback of the future, even if Andy Reid says he is. Michael Vick, who's an even better passer, will press Kolb for the starting job because he has something to prove.

If Andy Reid doesn't start Vick, people will wonder what's wrong with Coach Reid.

Donovan McNabb to Redskins trade steal for Washington

Related searches:
mcnabb, donovan mcnabb, mcnabb trade, mcnabb traded to redskins, mcnabb trade rumors, andy reid mcnabb

Now former Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb goes to a Washington Redskins team that got him for a steal and just may have got itself a ticket to Super Bowl XXXXV In Dallas in 2011. In obtaining Donovan McNabb without having to part with its 4th pick in the first round, the Washington Redskins can now add two more playmakers to a team that was sorely in need of new ones.

With the 4th pick, the Redskins are in perfect position to draft Clemson Running Back CJ Spiller, who blazed in the 40-yard dash posting a 4.27 time. He's widely touted as the 2010 NFL Draft's version of Tennessee Titans Running Back Chris Johnson: a game breaker and a back that can spell Clinton Portis, who played just eight games in 2009, or be part of a dangerous one-two punch with Portis.

At wide receiver she The skins do lack depth, but can fill that with the draft and free agency. On defense they got Cornerback Philip Buchanon and last year landed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

The Washington Redskins offensive blocking problems were more an issue of scheme and coaching than personnel. They'll be better in 2010, but also unpredicatable. There's no book on this new team and that gives Donovan McNabb a massive advantage.

Stay tuned.

Eagles trade of Donovan McNabb to Redskins dumbest in NFL history

Related searches:
mcnabb, donovan mcnabb, mcnabb trade, mcnabb traded to redskins, mcnabb trade rumors, andy reid mcnabb

The Philadelphia Eagles traded their legendary Quarterback Donovan McNabb to their NFL NFC East Division rival Washington Redskins for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft depending on how well Donovan McNabb does. He will do well.

The Philadelphia Eagles trade of Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins is the dumbest in NFL history. The McNabb trade is dumb for several reasons: first, the Eagles traded their six-time pro-bowl quarterback to a team they play twice each year.

Second, the Eagles sent McNabb to a team that will play an offense almost like the one he played in for 11 years. new Washington Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan knows the same Bill Walsh West Coast Offense that Andy Reid coached to Donovan McNabb for all those years.

McNabb will have zero "adjustment" period on the field.

Third, Donovan McNabb knows the Philadelphia Eagles Defense like the back of his hand because he practiced against them. On other other hand, the Eagles have no idea what the Washington Redskins will do on offense because they're a new organization.

Fourth, the Eagles insulted Donovan by trading him for a second round pick to a division rival that plays the same offensive design, in effect saying "We don't think you're good. In fact, you're so bad we'll send you to our division rival because we know you can't beat us."

That's stupid.

The Eagles just penciled in two losses for the 2010 season at the hands of The Washington Redskins. Kevin Kolb is not the Eagles quarterback of the future, even if Andy Reid says he is. Michael Vick, who's an even better passer, will press Kolb for the starting job because he has something to prove. If Andy Reid doesn't start Vick, people will wonder what's wrong with him.

On Easter Sunday, don't forget Children's Hospital in Oakland

Related searches: Easter Sunday, Children's Hospital, Oakland news, City of Oakland, easter egg archive, Bert Lubin,

Happy Easter Sunday! There will be happier blog posts to report, but the matter of the fiscal problems of Children's Hospital in Oakland (or "Children’s Hospital Oakland") are as important as an easter egg archive, how to tie a tie, Rachel Ray's Deviled Eggs Recipe, or the iPad 3g.

Children’s Hospital Oakland is Northern California’s only independent non-profit regional medical center for children, a national leader in many pediatric specialties, and an Oakland treasure. "Children's" is also a designated Level 1 pediatric trauma center with the largest pediatric critical care unit in Northern California.

Children's Hospital, suffering from California's terrible economy, a poor national economy, low government and private reimbursement rates, increasing healthcare costs and what it says is a "lack of public hospitals with pediatric inpatient beds," lost $26 million last year alone and $80 million over the last four years.

Children's reports that California’s high annual unemployment rate has increased the number of families covered by Medi-Cal and other government assisted programs from 60 percent to 71 percent in one year; an all time high for the facility. Children’s claims Medi-Cal reimbursement are "among the lowest in the nation" and does not cover the cost of service provided to patients.

According to Children’s Hospital Oakland President and CEO Bert Lubin, the fiscal loss has grown at "at an unsustainable rate." In the hopes of stopping a projected $15 million 2010 loss, Lupin and his staff have created a three-year plan that will reduce costs and increase revenues. Here are the plan's actions that are "under consideration":

Partnering with community clinics
Supporting existing and new programs that have the financial capability of
helping support the hospital
Renegotiating contracts with public and private insurers to get higher rates, comparable to what other local medical centers receive
Reducing the workforce, with as few layoffs as possible
Reducing the annual costs by streamlining some service lines
Seeking more state and federal funding

Children's Hospital Oakland currently employs 2,600 people and has an annual operating budget of $350 million.

It's not clear how the new Obama Health Care plan will impact Children's Hospital Oakland as of this writing, but if the comments of Dr. George Phillips, a pediatrics doctor at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital in the Iowa Independent, are any indication, it can do nothing but help:

"This new law sets the benchmark for coverage for all preventive care that all children should receive. We've seen so many children in the hospital, whose medical conditions have reached an acute stage that could have either been prevented or addressed earlier in the process, had they had wellness checks."

Help Children's Hospital

Children’s Hospital Oakland is an international treasure that everyone in the California should be proud of. Oaklanders see it as children’s hospital, but equally if not more important, it is an internationally renowned research center that is creating cures for kids. We need to support this hospital for the groundbreaking work it does in discovering new treatments to prevent and to heal children here and around the World.

You can help by calling your Senator and Congressperson and asking them to help find federal funds to support Children's Hospital. You can do this regardless of where you live because of Children's Hospital Oakland's unique regional role.

Happy Easter!

WonderCon SF Zennie62 Media Preview

Related searches: Jackie Earl Haley, Katie Cassidy, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Denise Crosby Lou Ferrigno, Erin Gray, Marina Sirtis, Lindsay Wagner, Helen Slater, Malachi Throne, Star Trek, Dante's Inferno, Jim Kelly, Enter The Dragon



Jackie Earl Haley, Katie Cassidy, and the cast of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Denise Crosby Lou Ferrigno, Erin Gray, Lindsay Wagner, Helen Slater, Marina Sirtis, Malachi Throne from Star Trek, Dante's Inferno, and Jim Kelly from Enter The Dragon all have one thing in common, they're at Moscone Center for The 2010 WonderCon.

WonderCon is the annual comic book convention that was originally held in Oakland in 2001, but outgrew the Oakland Convention Center and is now in San Francisco. This blogger has spent more time making video interviews with many of the actors listed above (and one of the producers of the game Dante's Inferno), and in the case of A Nightmare on Elm Street, was in a giant panel meeting with about 3,000 other people to hear Jackie Earl Haley explain how he wanted to put his own unique stamp on the Freddy Krueger character.

But WonderCon is focused on the comic book industry just slightly more than the entertainment industry. In this space on Easter Sunday evening there will be probably more videos from WonderCon than you'd expect.

Meanwhile, back to the fun of meeting and talking to people at Wonder Con.

Stay tuned.

Sanjiv Handa - the sad attack on an Oakland institution

Sanjiv Handa is a name unknown to many in America, and really even in Oakland unless you pay attention to Oakland Politics, where he's well known. But by mentioning Sanjiv Handa in the same sentence as Sandra Bullock, Jesse James, Santonio Holmes, Howard Stern, Artie Lange, and President Obama, Sanjiv Handa's now as of this publication more in the Internet zeitgeist than ever before.

All to the point introducing him briefly to all. Sanjiv Handa is a person who, from the view of this blogger, cares about Oakland. Sanjiv Handa's the guy that pops up at seemingly almost every meeting at Oakland City Hall, and understand City of Oakland rules and procedures as much or more than many City of Oakland executives as this video will show:


Watch Sanjiv Handa lectures the Council about justice in News  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com


I've known Sanjiv since 1993 when I was a columnist with The Montclarion. Then, Sanjiv was more prosperous, and owned a condo in the Emeryville Towers complex. Since those heady days, something - I do not know what - happened. Sanjiv Handa allowed himself to become obsessed with the City of Oakland to a degree that at times is not healthy. But the simple fact Sanjiv Handa has become almost a cartoon character of sorts, points to the overall stupidly and juvenile behavior that at times passes for Oakland's City Hall culture.

When I created the Oakland-Alameda County Sports Commission in 1999, one of my first actions was to bring Sanjiv Handa in as an advisor. Why? Not just for the reasons I stated regarding his talent, but because few talked to him. Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris always talked to Sanjiv, and felt the same as I did and still does today. Sanjiv's a person you want in your tent throwing darts out of it, not out of your tent throwing darts into it.

Sanjiv Handa was at asset to me. So why in hell can't anyone else in Oakland bring him in? Part of the reason is this "group think" that stops people from doing it who should know better. But regardless of the reasons, and they are legion, it's the norm. He's cast as an outsider.

Yes, Sanjiv Handa brings on these problems himself, particularly with a kind of lack of patience at times, but that's a byproduct of being ignored.

Someone wrote a terrible email about him that I decided to ignore. I hope the people within Oakland City Hall rise to a higher standard and stop being so childish where Sanjiv Handa is concerned. For all of his faults, the man cares about Oakland.

Stay tuned.

Good Friday is Autism Awareness Day

Easter Sunday is just two days away; today, Good Friday, is Autism Awareness Day. But what's Autism?

According to Google Health,..

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills.

A child who is Autistic has problems interacting in society, can handle changes in routine,and communicates with gestures rather than words, and repetitive behavior, to list some of the main symptoms. Autism Awareness Day is to bring more attention to this affliction and hopefully cause better efforts to find a cure - it's said to be "uncurable."

Autism Awareness Day was created by The United Nations. On April 2, 2007, the day was dedicated "to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives." This video by Ultrawellness in 2007 explains why Austism can be cured:



The assertion is that the "core abnormalities" in the body are caused by fixable biological disorders. Stem cell treatment - Adult stem cell therapy - reportedly can also be helpful, as this video shows:



Autism Awareness Day. Spread the word.

Libby Schaaf's running for Mayor of Oakland with Lirpa Sloof's help

Libby Schaaf

Oakland has a new candidate for Mayor of Oakland: Libby Schaaf.

Last night, at a well-attended kickoff party for what was to be Libby Schaaf's run for the Oakland City Council District 4 seat currently held by Councilmember Jean Quan, Libby Schaaf shocked and surprised almost everyone in the room save her campaign assistants, when she announced that she was running for Mayor of Oakland.

Libby stood on a make-shift pedestal and said "I really gave this a lot of thought as I'm concerned about the state of education in Oakland, and I consulted with my wonderful husband; I'm running for Mayor of Oakland." Oakland Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente (District 5 - Fruitvale), for whom Libby gives credit for her political growth, reacted with his mouth agape, then spontaneous applause. Asked for a reaction after her speech, De La Fuente said "I'm speechless. That's all I can say."

The new of Oakland's new candidate throws a curve into a race that had become staid and predictable. Libby Schaaf takes on Mayor Ron Dellums, Don Perata, Councilmember Jean Quan, and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan for Mayor of Oakland. With her vast network of friends, Oakland roots, and supporters and involvement with the City of Oakland, Libby Schaaf will take votes away from all of the candidates, from the incumbent Mayor Ron Dellums to At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who reportedly went on a East Coast trip to secure backers for her own planned run for Mayor.

The Legendary At-Large Councilmember-emeritus Henry Chang was present and smiling from ear-to-ear, saying "Only in Oakland. Libby could win."

After her speech, the room, filled with many Oaklanders who've been involved in helping to make a better city of Oakland, was buzzing. When asked what the next steps were, Libby said "I have to sit down with my advisors, and my new staff member Lirpa Sloof and we'll roll out our vision and plans for Oaklanders to see and get behind.

Mayor Libby Schaaf. It has a nice ring. I can't wait to see what Lirpa Sloof comes up with.

Stay tuned.

Google 2010 April Fools jokes are ok, but not effective

Happy April Fools Day! Google's famous for April Fool's Day jokes, as noted by PC World, but the one executed today, April 1st, 2010, is not one of the best.

Google announced it was changing its name to Topeka, reverse echoing the move by Topeka, Kansas' mayor to change that town's name to Google on a temporary basis. NeonCloud7's video presents the joke:



But that April Fools Joke was all too obvious. Reall good April Fools jokes are suppose to be so rooted in actual possibility, they can change behavior, gain reaction, or move markets.

April Fools' Day is still with us as of this writing; anything can happen.

Stay tuned.

Bank of America no longer NFL sponsor

According to a tweet without a link and from Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal (@dkaplanSBJ) and confirmed by National Football League (NFL) Spokesperson Brian McCarthy, Bank of America is no longer an NFL Sponsor.

The NFL sponsorship ended March 31st after talks between the NFL and Bank of America failed to yield a deal either side was happy.

Asked if the NFL planned to seek a new bank sponsor, Brian McCarthy said the NFL is "exploring what's out there," and suggested a call to Bank of America was best to get their point of view.

Jon Schwartz of Bank of America Global Media Relations explained that "After many months of negotiations, Bank of America and the NFL could not arrive at a mutually beneficial set of terms for the sponsorship."

But a parting of the ways with the NFL does not mean Bank of America will seek to terminate its NFL team sponsor relationships. "While we couldn’t reach an agreement with the League,"Schwartz said via email. "It is our intent to continue to reach their large and highly-engaged fan base through our existing NFL team sponsorships, which we’re excited about.

While it's not crystal clear that the economy is hampering sports sponsorship across the board, the hypothesis here is that corporate sponsors want to know they're getting a better bang for their sponsor buck.

Stay tuned.

YouTube's new video page is great..but

YouTube, the company where this video-blogger is a partner, or "YouTube Partner", rolled out its redesigned video page on the evening of March 31st and to some fanfare. A select group of YouTube Partners were given the corporate "heads up" at a YouTube Partners and Management Meeting held last Thursday, March 26th at YouTube Headquarters and the focus of this video:



The new YouTube video page is a welcome change from the previous version, but the problem for the everyday user like this blogger is that elements like the video embed code are now hidden and have to be accessed via a kind of drop down button that works with the strength of the Internet connection. In other words, if the Internet connection is weak, that area of the page will present a note "loading" and seems to be stuck in that position.

The older model Video Page had the embed code ready for copy; it wasn't hidden behind a drop down access system. I'd prefer to see the embed code right on the page, and as little "load-wait" drop downs as possible, preferably none.

What I do like about the new YouTube video page design is that videos listed on the right start with my videos just after the featured video. The old design was such that one had to push an arrow button to see my videos, but videos from other channels were openly displayed on my page.

I'd prefer a video page design such that more of my videos were shows and not one that gave the viewer so many chances to leave it. As a YouTube Partner that features ads on the site, YouTube's setting it up for a person to go to non-add-supported pages.

Hopefully, YouTube solves that problem, and soon.

Stay tuned.

Whole Foods Oakland employees bring sexy back to work

Whole Foods 50,000-plus square foot food store has become a major place to be in Oakland. It's large, airy space contains the kind of good, fresh and yes, trendy food people want in Oakland and in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you're reading this and have never seen Whole Food Oakland, here's a video tour from opening day September 26, 2007:



The employees who work there are a young, diverse and good-looking group that from all accounts gets along with each other really well. Perhaps too well. Several sources who work there have told this blogger that it's common for Whole Foods employees to hook up for sex, sometimes while at work at the facility.

Whole Foods environment is fun for workers

The news of this scandalous level of sex between employees was shared with this blogger during chance conversations this week at different bars in Oakland. Because many of Whole Foods employees have so much in common, and as was said "work long hours at the store" that leads to the dates and random flirtations that lead to sex on a common basis and sometimes at Whole Foods Oakland.

One source said that there's a "kind of break room" room in the back that serves as a hook up place, but it's not the only area of the store.

Some of the employees are in local bands that play around the Bay Area, or have the same interest in music. Others share that, and I'm told an interest in the same drugs, generally marijuana, but that's not to present the idea that it's a rampant drug culture or that drugs are done at work. That activity happens off-site.

The point is, the sources identified music and drugs as the common elements and part of a large Whole Foods employee culture.  Some employees help their friends land jobs at Whole Foods Oakland, and that contributes to the almost college-like atmosphere and the dating activity that springs from it.

But apparently the stress of the Whole Foods work hours leads to high turn over, and for those who do last they have different ways of coping. It's also the reason for the level of flirting, dating and sexual activity between employees. (For the record, there was no report or indication of incidents of sexual harrassment in any of the conversations with sources.)

What's wrong with all of this? Well, the employees see it as no big deal. "You see someone. There's a flirtation. Then one day it's 'Hey, you and me'" was how one source put it. The source said "There's one person who just started a few weeks ago and they've already scored." The source also said there's are others who have "been with almost every girl there it seems."

The revolving door nature of employment also seems to contribute to the activity: the idea that people don't have those jobs for a long time is reportedly connected to the kind of "free sprit" that pervades the Whole Foods Oakland culture.

The next time you visit Whole Foods Oakland and notice smiling employees, you now know it's not by accident. As long as my food is well-prepared and my change is counted correctly, it's no big deal to this blogger.

Stay tuned.

Tiger Woods gave Rachel Uchitel 10 million; why not Haiti?

If the TMZ.com story that Tiger Woods gave nightclub executive Rachel Uchitel $10 million, to avoid the tell-all press conference Uchitel was planning with LA lawyer Gloria Allred last December.

If that's the case, Tiger Woods, in the opinion of this blogger, is the dumbest man in the World. If Tiger Woods did not fear the truth so much, he could have kept that money and sent it to Haiti in the wake of that awful 7.0 Richter Scale Earthquake.

Need a Rachel Uchitel refresher? This video should help:




But for some reason Tiger Woods has to keep secrets. Tiger Woods can't seem to tell a straight story. There's nothing Rachel Uchitel would have on Tiger Woods that cost 10 million, unless Tiger Woods did something that was criminal in nature. Fooling around on one's wife is wrong, but it does not produce jail time.

What's galling is that Tiger Woods would allow his reputation to be even more sullied by these new accusations and say nothing to deny them or affirm them.

In a way it's "here we go again" but worse for Tiger Woods. Tiger's talking now, so attention is drawn to him, so the media that "get" the Internet and its relationship to television are producing new content from the women he was allegedly involved with; and Tiger's saying nothing about it.

What this all points to, once again, is that Tiger Woods needs to just come clean to end what seems to be and endless process with a number of permutations.

Tiger Woods needs to be comfortable with looking someone in the eye and telling the truth, not looking someone in the eye and telling them it's none of their business. If the story of Tiger Woods giving Rachel Uchitel $10 million that could provide food, medical, and shelter for Haitians, something's wrong with that guy. It's not something one would expect from a Stanford student.

Of course, I could be wrong. After all, we are talking about Stanford, now.

Stay tuned.

Sandra Bullock news: Jesse James into dogfighting like Michael Vick?

The latest Sandra Bullock news is even more sad than the Nazi picture of Jesse James giving a salute and wearing a Nazi hat: Jesse James is now into dogfighting like Michael Vick? That's the news that was mentioned on Entertaiment Tonight and all over the Internet, and it's placing Jesse James image in an even darker place.

Darker than this:



While the truth of the story is in question, it's out there. Reportedly, Jesse James allowed two of his pit bulls to fight to the death. But while one blog claims Jesse James took them to a dog fighting ring, another says that's not true and that James' dogs Cisco and Rudy got into a fight while James was not present.

The unsupervised battle cost Rudy his life, and happened "years ago". The other blog called Celebrity Smack Blog.com charges that Jesse James never engaged in illegal dog fighting.

Regardless of this matter, it seems the release of the Nazi photo broke the dam holding back awful information, true or false, about Jesse James.

Stay tuned, but there will be happier stories to tell.