The 12-step BP Deepwater Disaster-inspired Program

We can't change overnight, but if the 20th century U.S. reliance on gas-guzzling automobiles remains the pattern for economic growth then money just keeps flowing to big oil companies even faster than the crude oil is spewing into the Gulf of Mexico today (while BP attempts to put a better cap on the gusher.) They spend nearly incredible amounts of money convincing consumers how "green" they are with slick ad campaigns The reality is hidden, but it's there despite the wizards of Madison Avenue.

So what's to do?

We have to approach it in several ways, because oil-consumption is woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. No single action will solve this, it's too big. It's likely to take longer to fix than it did to create.


First and foremost we have to admit that we have an oil problem.
Next we resolve to restore sanity to our decisions rather than letting massive multi-national corporations continue to exploit our oil habit.
Join those who have to decided to prioritize our decisions on what's best for our planet, family, and neighbors.
To move forward, we have to understand why we rely on oil - we have to consider our past decisions as objectively as possible.
Like any other addict, we must admit we got it wrong - we may have been duped, but we own the decisions we made regardless.
We have to decide to change - we have to be ready to give up these dangerous habits. To do otherwise feeds both the oil pushers and others who haven't yet come to understand just how big the problem really is.
We have to be willing to lead in progressively reducing and surrendering our reliance on oil-fueled existence.
Think of all the people harmed by our cars, trucks, and other petroleum-based self-indulgences such as plastic shopping bags and bottles, and admit that it's not just BP and their peers that should make amends for the problem.
We have to actually make amends, not just think and talk; Boycotts alone won't solve the problem, and we can't wait for BP, Exxon, or governments to fix our demand, which is the real problem, when they can barely figure out how to contain the leaks from a single well.
We can't stop thinking. We have to consider that no matter how big it is, and how we continue to drive up the demand for petroleum, we must consciously act to reduce our own use over the days, months, and decades ahead while working to mitigate and remediate the effects as we find our way forward to new approaches that reflect our need to thrive in balance with the planet.
Deliberately improve our contact with nature. Nobody who has ever fished or been a bird-watcher can fail to be moved by the images from the Gulf; only by insulating ourselves from the environment can we pretend our petroleum consumption might not matter. We have had our heads in the sand so long even it has become oil-soaked.
Lastly, we must spread the word to practice this awareness and perspective to others, as Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) did in his commentary on the the BP oil spill and the need for transportation reform at dc.streetsblog.org - it's a start.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, political staffer on the Madore For Congress campaign, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community. He drives an efficient flex-fuel vehicle and scoffs at plastic grocery bags.

Oscar Grant verdict, Oakland riot: Oriana Bolden video is key

Today, Oriana Bolden, someone not known to this space, sent a video she created in downtown Oakland on Thursday that gives a very comprehensive view of the reactions of the crowd after the Oscar Grant / Johannes Mehserle verdict, and the events leading up to the Oakland riot.

It opens with comments from some of the mass of people that gathered at Oakland City Hall Plaza. I was there, but was struck by the number of personal media members there. About one-fifth of the crowd had video cameras of some kind. We also see a silent Councilmember Nancy Nadel as the camera pans through the crowd.

Here's the video:


Reaction to Mehserle Verdict: Oakland, CA: 8 July 2010 from Oriana Bolden on Vimeo.

The video has some shocking events, foremost being how a deaf woman was ran over by a police car. It was not clear where at all the police car was going. We see the angry crowd decent on the police car after it ran over the deaf woman. Also, the crowd tries to make room for an ambulance to get in to where the deaf woman lay at the time.

What's really good about the video is how it reveals what young black men think about the verdict and in being (in some cases) terrorized by the police. (There's no other way to describe how a number of black men feel.) It also has comments that, in this space' view, show how too many of "us" as black men give power to someone because they're white.

Thus, we have some in Oakland who refer to America as being a collection of laws "by and for white people" when in point of fact, anyone can get an initiative process going today and change the laws.  That idea of the racial bias of the system is expressed in the video.

What I'm saying is that the people pointing to racism, and rightly so, seem to let the idea that they're oppressed consume them and so they don't take meaningful action, like changing laws.

The video also has the police giving clear, loud, orders for the crowd to go home. Oriana Bolden also asserts that Old Media reports of looting were made up or exagerated. That's a bit questionable because there was damage done to property, although not anywhere near the scale of last year.

In all, it's a good video that cries for an ending. It just stops in the middle of Lindsey Comey's testimonial. Still, it's the best video of what happened after the Oscar Grant verdict that I've yet seen.

Yet.

Comic Con 2010: Danny Elfman celebrates 25 years with Tim Burton

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman's a movie composer who first gained critical acclaim with his soundtrack for Batman, starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger. He's known for his over two-decades-long friendship with Movie Producer and Director Tim Burton: Batman was one of Burton's creations.

It was a relationship that started when Burton and Paul Reubens went to Elfman with the assignment writing the score for their first movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

Overall, the four-time-Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Elfman has scored Burton films such as Beetle Juice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Danny Elfman will celebrate a 25-year collaboration with Tim Burton at Comic Con 2010. On his relationship with Elfman, Burton said "We don't even have to talk about the music. We don't even have to intellectualize - which is good for both of us, we're both similar that way. We're very lucky to connect."

The event will be held Thursday, July 23rd at Comic Comic San Diego's space called Rom 137 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.

Comic Con 2010: Harry Potter cast not coming to Comic Con

Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes

Countering buzz that the cast of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows would attend Comic Con 2010, Warner Bros. has told Harry Potter fansite Mugglenet.com that the cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Ralph Fiennes, will not be attending Comic Con due to schedule conflicts.

However Warner Bros. reports the Comic Con Saturday schedule for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is on and attendees will see all new "never before seen" clips, props, and some "special" opportunity for Comic Con attendees.

The news that the cast of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows would attend Comic Con, and if they did it would be a first in Comic Con history, came as a Twitter rumor by SD Comic Con Expert:

#SDCC Rumor Patrol: Let Me In WILL have a panel. Harry Potter cast/crew MIGHT be there. All of WB's talent at the con is purposely secret.

But then, anything can happen, and who's to say that the reported "schedule conflict" will remain? And what about that "special" opportunity?

Stay tuned.

Full Tilt Poker's Newest Promotion - Rush Week by Josh Grattan

Full Tilt Poker is one of the largest applications for online poker gameplay. The Full Tilt Team is always introducing new promotions and types of gameplay in order to reel in new players to choose them over competitors.

Full Tilt in the past few months invented an entirely new way to play poker called Rush Poker and it took the poker world by storm. Rush Poker is only available on Full Tilt and with its new enhanced features are drawing in new players daily.

In Rush Poker there is no longer a delay between hands, instead of folding and waiting for the current hand to finish you are instantly moved to a new table with new players and dealt another hand instantly. So this means a lot more action, a lot more hands, and a lot more fun with no wait time in between.

Everyday players and pros alike are raving about Rush Poker, everyone seems to love that all the wait time is gone and the action is faster and more frequent. Here is what the Full Tilt Pros had to say:

Howard Lederer

"Rush Poker is a great way to learn the game of poker."

Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson

"Rush Poker is the greatest innovation since poker started on the Internet."

Andy Bloch

"This is what poker should be: a game of action."

Gus Hansen

"Lots of hands, lots of action; I'm going to be playing a lot of Rush Poker."

Patrik Antonius



"Rush Poker is a grinder's paradise. It's a totally new way to play poker."

And to get even more attention and players for Rush Poker, Full Tilt is about to begin their newest promotion, Rush Week.

Rush Week begins on Monday July 12 and ends Sunday July 18th and during this period players will be earning FTPs (Full Tilt Points) based on their gameplay on the Rush Poker cash tables. And depending on how many FTPs they collect daily will determine how much bonus money they will collect at the weeks end, ranges from $5 to $250 shown below.

Level 1 Bronze (10 FTPs)

• Earn at least 10 FTPs per day for four days to receive $5
• Earn at least 10 FTP's per day for all seven days to receive $10

Level 2 Silver (100 FTPs)

• Earn at least 100 FTP's per day for four days to receive $25
• Earn at least 100 FTP's per day for all seven days to receive $50

Level 3 Gold (1,000 FTPs)

• Earn at least 1,000 FTP's per day for four days to receive $125
• Earn at least 1,000 FTP's per day for all seven days to receive $250
  

In addition to these great rewards there are more revolving around the new Rush Poker Tournaments and more specifications and rewards that can be found HERE. For more information visit the links provided in this blog post and see you at the tables.

All images and quotes courtesy of FullTiltPoker.com

Megan Avalon shows FBB female muscle before next contest

San Francisco Bay Area Female Bodybuilder and Personal Trainer Megan Avalon has a growing fan base to go with her growing muscle size and shape.

Fresh from her sports model division win at the Oakland Silver and Black bodybuilding contest, Megan Avalon shows how she's worked on her body even more by adding an inch to her already impressive biceps and worked to develop her calves and hamstrings.



The Marin-based woman who calls herself "Barbie with Muscles" has also served as a spokesperson for websites like Zennie62.com and bikini fashion companies. But Megan's focus is on serving her personal training clients and building her body to its ultimate potential.

Watch for Megan Avalon in more contests, this fall 2010 bodybuilding season.

Oscar Grant verdict, Oakland riot: two view of police conduct

Just after 9 PM on the Thursday night after the involuntary manslaughter verdict in the Oscar Grant / Johannes Mehserle trial, this blogger got off at 12th Street, Oakland City Center BART Station after uploading the first set of videos of the peaceful protest at 14th and Broadway, and expecting more of the calm that existed around 8 PM. That was not the case.

Instead, the police, from not just Oakland, but the California Highway Patrol, and cities like Fremont, had closed into the once safe intersection of 14th and Broadway and had been in the process of carrying out orders to have the crowd leave the area.

The result was more police than people, and who did I run into but Oakland lawyer Dan Siegel and two of his friends, who complained in detail about what they saw as runaway police misconduct. One friend said "OPD (Oakland Police Department) had to put us in this vice. (Councilmembers) Jean Quan, Rebecca Kaplan, and I decided we were going to be the police line. We linked arms. So they kept marching, marching, pushing us, pushing us. They grabbed some kids and beat them to the ground, and they wouldn't listen to reason. These automatons. These androids, you know?"

Dan Siegel, who takes on police brutality cases, said "You know what I think. I think the police totally overreacted, provoked the people who were demonstrating. About 7:30, people were leaving. It was very peaceful. It was very quiet. They (the police) decided they were going to push people up Broadway from 12th to 14th. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and clubbing. Some of the cops take the ends of their clubs and jam them in the back or the kidneys and ribs. And it kinda started to get a little crazy. And some of the people in the street got rowdy and broke windows out. Some people decided to steal some shoes and all that kind of stuff. But the police just totally went off, and made a peaceful demonstration chaotic and rowdy."

Rebecca Kaplan in the makeshift police line

The video below, found on Flickr, has Councilmember Kaplan explaining that they're trying to keep the peace as the police behind her work to sweep the street of people who were told to disperse. It's the same line that Councilmember Quan had joined.



The other view of police conduct

A number of people, most who did not want to be quoted, said the police acted with restraint. Phil Tagami of California Capital Group observed the scene from the roof of The Rotunda Building and then on the ground later and said that the police had "bottles thrown at them and didn't even react."

Early on, as the police were massing at 14th and Franklin, they were being taunted by some observers and when one person moved close to them, they moved back out of that person's way. So, it seemed to this observer that they weren't going to take any action until they were under orders to do so. Until then, they were working to stay out of the way.

Media and police are to blame

What happened Thursday night that resulted in 78 arrests and damage to an estimated 100 businesses was something we seemed to want to have happen. From the talk about a riot before the verdict to the allowance of a peaceful protest at City Hall, when really that entire part of downtown should have been shut down for the night, to the rabble rousers who wanted to make something happen, to the hundreds of people with cell phone cameras, video camcorders, and all types of recording devices - what I call the "personal media brigade" - to the police themselves, all combined to cause the result.

But with all that, it wasn't nearly as bad as last year, when rioting carried on for days and BART had a Sunday community meeting. But with all that, it's not over: Johannes Mehserle will be sentenced on August 6th. There's still a chance he may not have anything other than probation.

Stay tuned.

Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables coming to Comic Con 2010

Action hero Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo: First Blood) returns in an exciting new movie that brings together some of Hollywood's most well-known action heros in a movie called The Expendables.

The Expendables is attacking Comic Con 2010 in an autograph signing featuring Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin and Terry Crews from the movie on Friday, July 23rd.



Here's the press release description:

Stallone gives it to The Governor of California

The only life they’ve known is war. The only loyalty they have is to each other.
They are the Expendables: leader and mastermind Barney Ross (Stallone), former SAS blade expert Lee Christmas (Statham), hand-to-hand combat specialist Yin Yang (Li), long barrel weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Crews), demolitions expert Toll Road (Couture), and precision sniper Gunnar Jensen (Lundgren). Living life in the fringes of the law, these hardened mercenaries take on what appears to be a routine assignment: a covert, CIA - funded operation to infiltrate the South American country of Vilena and overthrow its ruthless dictator General Garza (David Zayas). But when their job is revealed to be a suicide mission, the men are faced with a deadly choice, one that might redeem their souls...or destroy their brotherhood forever.
Writer, director and star Sylvester Stallone brings together a powerhouse cast of action superstars - never before seen together in one film - in Lionsgate’s hard-hitting action thriller, THE EXPENDABLES. The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas with Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke. THE EXPENDABLES is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay by David Callahan and Sylvester Stallone and story by David Callaham, and produced by Avi Lerner, John Thompson and Kevin King Templeton.

I'm quite excited to be able to cover The Expendables event at Comic Con. Make sure you follow Zennie62 on Twitter and subscribe to Zennie62 on YouTube to get the tweets and videos from Comic Con 2010, July 21st - July 25th.

LeBron James to Miami Heat - Chicago Bulls better choice

LeBron James, the now-former Cleveland Cavaliers player, joined the Miami Heat, in what this space views as a terrible mistake. LeBron James should have stood up to the questions if he was ready to fill Michael Jordan's shoes and went with the Chicago Bulls.

Joining the Chicago Bulls not only would have given the Bulls a powerful combination of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, the newly signed Carlos Boozer, and James, but also placed LRMR Marketing, LeBron James' fledgling marketing company is the big city where marketing talent is pervasive. LRMR Marketing would have grown by leaps and bounds.

But for Maverick Carter to skip out on New York because of the New York Knicks management, and let that news get out was not smart. If the issue was racism, Carter should have said so. But if not - if it was a style issue - it was better to work through that to form a good relationship.

LRMR has not signed a single company; what they have LeBron James former agent, Aaron Goodwin of Oakland, CA, got for LeBron, including the $90 million Nike Deal. But being in Chicago, with its marketing community and sports-sponsorship-oriented corporate base, combined with the buzz that LeBron brings, would have been formidable.

Instead, James has the Sun of Miami Beach, but not enough to put LRMR Marketing over the top.

Mean Girls 2...It's official! By Sierra Blanchard

Mean Girls 2 is officially happening. So exciting!! Meaghan Martin, Maiara Walsh, Jennifer Stone and Nicole Anderson have been cast to become the new plastics. The first movie was great...these disney darlings have a lot of work ahead of them on this straight to television sequal!

Just Jared got the scoop on who will play who in the second installment of Mean Girls. Walsh is set to play the lead plastic opposite JONAS L.A. Star Nichole Anderson as Hope(another plastic), Camp Rocks very own mean girl Meaghan Martin as the lead Jo, and Wizards of Waverly place's mortal Jennifer Stone as Abby (the target and subject of ultimate plastic Meanness).

The story line is based around the new girl Jo who befriends an outcast Abby in exchange for Abby's wealthy father paying for the college of Jo's dreams. They team up to take on the mean girls. Who will come out victorious? Friendship or popularity? I know that I will be watching to find out! Will you?

Lindsay Lohan: Stick close to Kim Kardashian by Nikky Raney

The recent news regarding Lindsay Lohan makes it even more important that she sticks by a close friend, and Kim Kardashian is a great friend to Lohan to have during this tough time.

Christine Quinn corrupt NYC by Suzannah B. Troy

The New York Daily News editorial section has a scathing piece exposing Christine Quinn finding any way possible to grab power, abuse power and the piece exposes a list of shameful City Council Members who claim they are against "lulus" -- extra pay and take the money anyway.   Lulus like slush money  is not kosher and leaves a lot of room for abuse of power.

Christine Quinn belongs in jail for aiding and abetting Mike Bloomberg in denying us a referendum and pushing through a 3rd term.  Read Benjamin Lesser's powerful piece on her and other city council members getting what sounds like kick backs for tax payer money they allotted to shady developers.

Read the last 2 paragraphs which expose corrupt Christine Quinn.  How much money has she and her staff burned through - tax payer money hiring top defense lawyers that specialize in White Collar Crime including Sullivan & Cromwell, same firms as Goldman Sachs hired. I called John Liu's office and asked him to please put the costs on NYC gov website or his comptroller website and asked if we can have an APP for our Iphones on NYC gov "spending" or I prefer another term re: tax payer money.

The powerful editorial by The New York Daily News also points out the fake hypocrites -- all talk saying the right thing but  their actions prove they are full of -- insincerity.

From The New York Daily News article:

"Ten members told Citizens Union they support an end to lulus but took the money anyhow. They are Fernando Cabrera, Margaret Chin, Daniel Dromm, Julissa Ferreras, Helen Foster, Sara Gonzalez, Karen Koslowitz, Darlene Mealy, Rosie Mendez and Diana Reyna. They are hypocrites."

I went to the Jane Jacobs Street Signing where I caught the corrupt Christine Quinn passing herself off as Jane Jacobs and I protested her corrupt dealings.  It was almost one year ago and I was about to turn 47 and I was wearing a recession bikini top.  If you go to the YouTube link of me protesting Quinn in the text portion you can find a series of articles I posted that expose Christine Quinn's corrupt dealings.  There are so many I probably don't have Jim Dwyer's piece and The Village Voice's expose.

Now I am about to turn 48 years old and NY may be heading in to a depression as the clowns of Albany have refused to get the budget gap closed.  The budget was suppose to be balanced April 1st of this year and again we are moving towards a government shut down.

I wish we could throw all these politicos in jail and as New York sinks further in to a an economic crisis that many rich won't feel the same is true for corrupt politicians who find every possible way to give themselves money for all their hard work.

From Albany to City Hall, for politicos, denial is the new crack cocaine.

Oscar Grant verdict: Mehserle involuntary manslaughter sparks protest

Oakland, California is now what it hates most: the center of attention in America for a reason it does not want: the Oscar Grant verdict.

Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not 2nd degree murder, or 1st degree murder as many had desired.

The announcement of the ruling had many looking for Oakland to erupt in a wave of violence and property damage that didn't happen while the Sun was up.

These three videos below show the giant, peaceful protest, which started on the corner of 14th and Broadway and with one-fifth of its ranks being members of the media, and was moved into the middle of 14th and Broadway. The result was the largest peaceful, traffic-stopping protest ever held in downtown Oakland.

This first video shows what happened just before the street protest:



The second video is from the middle of the protest at 14th and Broadway:



The third video features a the dramatic raising of an enormous flag on the street pole at the Northeast corner of 14th and Broadway that reads "Oakland Says Guilty."



The general view shared was many were proud of Oakland for having a protest without violence. That was until the Oakland Police and The California Highway Patrol got antsy and decided to do something.

That something was to move in and essentially work to compress the crowd, with predictably ugly results. This blogger went to upload the first set of videos, which is why that chaos is not represented in the videos you will see. And with that, what happened was not on the scale of 2009. The question many are asking is why did the police take violent action when it wasn't necessary?

As I write this, I'm in a new bar called Geisha about three blocks away from 14th and Broadway. It's at 316 14th Street in Downtown Oakland.

San Francisco's Traffic Tickets Helping with Budget Problems

A recent spike in traffic tickets issued by the San Francisco Police Department, has added more than $1 million to the city’s coffers and is obviously a significant help to the budget deficit. Still, city officials claim that one thing has nothing to do with the other. “Was that some kind of plot to increase revenue for the city? I can sit here and say, absolutely not,” SFPD Deputy Chief John Murphy said. Some local residents disagree. “I think it’s out of control. It’s criminal,” said a man who works on the Broadway strip. According to Deputy Chief Murphy, the SFPD deployed a “violence reduction unit” two years ago – and that is the reason for the uptick in tickets. “So the officers were stopping the vehicles, they’re talking the conveyance away and by taking that conveyance away, they were preventing drive-by shootings.”

Journalism 101: Photo Credit & Watermarking by Nikky Raney

x-posted at NikkyRaney.com

Episode 1: Take your own photos & do not watermark a photo that you did not take yourself. Watermarking is for photographers that do not want someone else to take credit for their images, and websites may also have watermarking for the same purpose. Always credit where you got your photo & who took it. If you cannot take the photo yourself then maybe make an infographic, graphic, or a chart of some sort to go alongside the story.

Academy (AMPAS) News: Academy expands Special or "Visual" Effects category to five

The AMPAS Building

For decades the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has presented three films for consideration for Best Special or "Visual" Effects at the Academy Awards. But that will change for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards; now there will be five nominees.

In finalizing the rules for the 2011 Oscar event and telecast at its June 22nd meeting, the AMPAS Board of Governors elected to expand the list from three to five, the most significant rule change to come out of that meeting.

Even when it was possible to have up to five Oscar nominees for Visual Effects between 1977 and 1979, only once, in 1979, were five movies actually recognized. Between 1980 and 1995, two or three films could be nominated. But by 1996, rules were changed so that exactly three could be nominated.

Why the change now? While that was not determined as of this writing, Leslie Unger, The Academy's Director of Communications, explained the process:

Each year, the various branch executive committees review the rules that govern the relevant categories. So in this case, that would be the Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee. The discussion within that committee led to a recommendation to the Awards Rules Committee, which endorsed the change and subsequently recommended it to the Board of Governors.

But the new Visual Effects nomination number is not the only change to come out of the June 22nd meeting. AMPAS also elected to make the rules for for entries in the Animated Feature Film category uniform with the "greater than 40 minutes" rule that applies to the other film award areas, and the overall language was changed to read as follows:

An animated feature film is defined as a motion picture with a running time of greater than 40 minutes, in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. Motion capture by itself is not an animation technique. In addition, a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.

Unger says the other rules changes added up to "housekeeping." The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 83rd Annual Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network.

Mel Gibson admits to hitting ex by Suzannah B. Troy

Mel Gibson, low life, anti-semite, racist, misogynist admits to hitting ex-girlfriend and when she was holding the baby. She caught the conversation on tape and he says as all men-hating abusers do that it was her fault and that she deserved it.

Misogyny 101: Cowardly men and their female supporters always blame the people they victimize.


Mel Gibson besides being Hollywoods most famous anti-semite, racist, misogynist is now my official choice for the head of the Hollywood Misogynist Club and that club is a big, big club.

He has also been exposed making racist comments about Hispanics.

Folks do you think this is the first time that Mel Gibson has hit a woman?  I agree.  I do not think any of this awful behavior is a first for Mel Gibson and while the victim is holding their child.   TMZ reports that his ex-said it was not the first time he hit her but I believe the behavior started a long time ago.

Mel Gibson made an anti-semitic film blaming the Jews for the murder of Christ which is not true and he refused to acknowledge that an estimated quarter of a million Jews were murdered via crucification by the Romans.  Mel Gibson is rotten to the core and he needs scapegoats to off-load his own very dark side and who is easier to scapegoat than minorities including Jews, African Americans, Women, anyone he can get away with dumping is own violent and extremely cowardly impulses on.

More on this later.

Lindsay Lohan should not get jail; Johannes Mehserle of Oscar Grant murder should

That Lindsay Lohan should go to jail for 90 days and Johannes Mehserle, who shot an unarmed Oscar Grant in the back while on top of him, should face the possibility of walking free is an outrage. Lindsay Lohan's probation violation related to so-called drug and alcohol abuse is more about Judge Marsha Revel getting more attention for herself and a lousy lawyer in Shawn Chapman Holley who seemed more intent on throwing her famous client under the bus than helping her.

While Lindsay was in France for The Cannes Film Festival, her lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, got before the cameras and said that her client was partying, that it's what girls her age do, and that its something that she herself would not do. Talk about tossing your own client to the wolves! Anyone in the entertainment industry knows that its at events like Cannes that relationships are made that enhance current contracts and make new deals. Yes, that's Lindsay's world.

And this social desire to see someone famous placed behind bars when it's obvious to anyone that she was making her court dates and markedly improving her path, is nothing more than the bloodlust of a loser, slacker society that thinks the everyone should be treated exactly the same way for the same thing.

No. A person like Lil Wayne should not be in jail. He should have been sentenced to make an anti-gun song and video and album.



Lindsay's punishment should be an anti-drug PSA, not this ball-and-chain public flogging crap, where she's punished for missing a deadline she really tried to make. Please hurry up and legalize Marijuana so this silly hook-em-and-book-em can stop. If Lindsay Lohan wants to get high and drink, let her do it so she can learn a real lesson.

Complaints about racist or sexist treatment aside, it's awful to see how America has embraced not getting ahead. Our high unemployment rate is due to Americans not forming their own businesses and teaming up with people and just wanting someone to give them a check for little work, as much as it is to the off-shoring of jobs.

Don't complain about Lindsay because she's a celebrity - stop whining and fearing success; work to become known yourself.

To the extent my view pisses off America, I'm delighted. What this country needs is a swift kick in the collective pants, anyway.

Lebron James to NY Knicks, then to Chicago, then to Miami Heat

LeBron James 

Where is Lebron James going? Yesterday, it was the New York Knicks because they got Amare Stoudomire. Then Chicago got Carlos Boozer and it was LeBron taking his 23 to The Bulls. Then, overnight, the pendulum swung over to The Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Kevin Blackistone, Jason Whitlock, Ian Thomsen, good friend Monte Poole, and all the other Old Media brothers should relax. It's not Lebron James's fault everyone's interested in what team The Chosen One (let's face it, the media branded him that) is going to.

It's an Internet age, and James would be totally foolish if he wasted the eyeball opportunity on this moment. And let's face it, it's a moment we've all waited for. As this is written, LeBron's still one of the top Twitter trends. Not bad to stick there for 24 hours.

That's what life's all about: your first kiss, the prom, college parties and sex, big basketball games, getting married, your first child, and watching LeBron select his next team. Right now, it looks like that team's going to be The Miami Heat, but it seems a bit, well, stupid to take his marketing company LRMR Marketing to Miami and not New York City.

But, if US Magazine is to be believed, James is planning a big party at South Beach at the W Hotel South Beach this weekend. But for a pay cut?

The Miami Heat would reportedly pay him just $99 million and that's less than the $100 million Amare Stoudomire's getting from the New York Knicks and far less than he would get if he remained with the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron can fly to Miami and live in South Beach and still play and live in New York City with the money he makes.

LeBron James to Miami? I'm not sold on that one.

Can Democrats swing a district in MN?

The FEC Quarterly reports reveal that lots of money on both sides of the Bachmann-Clark race in Minnesota's 6th District came from outside the state. Tarryl Clark raised a nearly mind-blowing $910,000 in the second quarter. But if it's all about money Michelle Bachmann's evidently got the election in hand, since she raised $2,000,000 (more than double Clark) in the same period.

Democrats better hope it's not all about money in the Minnesota 6th; they certainly know the census-based redistricting can't come in time to change the 2010 election.

Is there hope in MN?

The other side of the Twin Cities metro might be the Democrat's real hope for a pickup. GOP U.S. Representative John Kline's a low-profile guy who simply votes the party line. He has nowhere near the war-chest that Bachmann does despite the nearly identical voting record, and the MN Second District is not the Bachmann's Sixth in terms of voter demographics.

But there are rumors (in blog comments at MN Publius about the fund-raising in the 6th) Republicans had a subtle ace in the hole more effective than Bachmann's high-profile fund-raising in the 6th -- that they slipped a former Republican who voted for Bush and allegedly recently "fell into politics" past the DFL/Democrat's vetting in the 2nd, resulting in an easy opponent for Kline (if Dan Powers clears the primary.)

If Minnesota Democrats sleep through the August primary despite the real contest for the Governor's race, even Kline is safe in a district considerably more likely to swing than the sixth, and Obama will have to look elsewhere to balance the seats the GOP is likely to pick up nationwide in the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

Let's face it, with Bachmann getting national press coverage and raising twice the money?  The complaints the GOP made about Al Franken getting money from outside Minnesota will be forgotten, and her media success will have let Kline stay beneath the radar yet again, while Tarryl Clark fights the good fight in a solidly Republican district against increasingly greater focus by major GOP money.

Rumors?
What else have you got?

I'm doing what I can to raise the profile of former State Representative Shelley Madore prior to the primary in the Second District - she's a proven leader with a lot more in her repertoire than talking points. Madore, with endorsements by the NEA, the American Federation of Teachers, and Education Minnesota, brought common sense solutions that fostered job creation and transportation improvements to the entire region.  She's got the drive and experience to go to D.C., but thus far the media and donors are distracted by the lop-sided, quixotic drama in MN's gerry-mandered Sixth.

The Bottom Line

Just as with the Franken-Coleman Senate race, it's arguable interest from outside Minnesota dwarfs the in-state enthusiasm for political fights yet again. Even with a remarkable 24,000 donors Clark obviously isn't getting financial support from the vast majority of Minnesotans.

In the name of full disclosure I should state that I have donated to the Clark campaign even though she's not in my district (I live in the MN Second) and to both the Madore and Powers campaigns.  But the numbers show I'm not representative in that way.

I'm also not a non-partisan striving for utterly objective reporting.  I'm opinionated. I don't think Kline represents my district neighbors well enough, so I joined Madore's staff even though she got in the race late and isn't blessed by the party insiders.

Donors control who makes it onto the ballot, because without visibility the voters don't bother. That's why special interest money happens. Now, I may or may not have persuaded you Madore's chances against Kline are better than Clark's against Bachmann, but let me be totally clear about one thing.  The bottom line really is that campaigns need money, so here's a grassroots-style idea for those of you who made it this far in my long-winded post:  Donate $10 to my favorite underdog, and $25 to another campaign you care about. That's how you make your voice matter. If not now, when? 

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, political staffer, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Amanda the peoples' Burden by Suzannah B. Troy

Amanda Burden is a socialite, mega millionaire with a forty million dollar trust fund for her kids and mayor Mike Bloomberg's partner in the mass displacement of what may be a record by a mayor. Amanda the peoples' Burden is city planner and the way she helps her rich developer friends it is clear this job is a hobby.

Denial is the new crack cocaine for corrupt politicos here in New York from Albany to City hall. One example is Amanda the peoples' Burden is going to speak at The American Indian Museum this morning. Let us rewind. She pushed through mass displacement of entire neighborhoods, shady zone busting deals including one with Cooper Union that even Rudy Giuliani's city planner said no, this is a shell game and she is going to pat herself on the back at The American Indian Museum?

Joining her this morning is Howard Wolfson, originally a critic of Mike Bloomberg's until Mike bought him to run his campaign and deliver the most humiliating and expensive win in NYC's history.

Mike Bloomberg than decided he would hire a group of his campaign staff with 6 figure salaries at the tax payers expensive when these vanity hires should not have happened or if Mike needed their presence so badly he should have paid out of pocket.

Denial is the new crack cocaine for politicos from Albany to NY.

I think Errol Louis wrote  piece about corruption here in NYC politics being like the United Nations in term of the diversity.

Errol Louis  has a piece today on Andrew Cuomo investigating what sounds like racism -- housing bias against blacks.

There is so much corruption being reported in both The NY Daily News  and The New York Post today here are just a few examples and one from me.  A request that the FBI investigate all 110 million dollars Mike Bloomberg spent on his campaign rather than Cy Vance, the Manhattan DA investigate just one million that Haggerty allegedly stole and by the way Mike Bloomberg wired out of his personal account instead of his campaign.  You see I believe that someone has been paid to harass me and others on YouTube by the Bloomberg campaign.  It may have started out with an intern but this guy has harassed me and others non-stop and even stole a city council member's identity as well as stealing YouTubers' identities as well.  Harassing someone on the computer is aggravated harassment and carries jail time.


The NY Daily News reports the FBI is investigating 40,000 loans to Meeks.

Fred Dicker has an exclusive on John Sampson and his $49,000 "Bruno-mobile".

NY1 reports a possible move to prevent city council from extending term limits yet again.

A new website on pension padding and folks I haven't even covered much....there is so much more corruption...so much it makes it even easier to get away with....

Oh and Steve Rattner, Mike Bloomberg's money manager may be banned by the SEC for 3 years 

Here is one of my most favorite YouTube of tenants protesting the embattled Pedro Espada who by the way is being investigated for stealing mega millions.

"Justin Bieber hates Koreans" another 4chan Internet forum trick

Bieber 

Where did the newest Internet smear game "Justin Bieber hates Koreans" come from? The same place used to work to game the Oprah Winfrey Network TV Show competition: 4chan. The previously not well-known message board has, in two weeks, been used behind both vote-fixing campaigns.

In the case of Justin Bieber, 4chan-based hacking was behind a vote to send Bieber to North Korea as part of his "My World Tour."

PopCrunch.com reports that North Korea was the largest vote getter with 625,000 votes, followed by Israel and Poland with 608,000 and 513, 073 votes respectively.

But the vote-getting effort has morphed into a more mean-spritted smear campaign. The truth is, Justin Bieber does not hate Koreans or Korea.

Will.I.Am dissed by Chelsea Handler; T.I. asked "How was prison?"

Chelsea Handler of Chelsea Lately never stops being a wonder to this space...

T.I. and Chelsea 

Chelsea Handler, not one to shy away from expressing her view, although this space still wonders what the fuss about her is for (except for the fact that she does have a great set of legs and her arms have added more muscle and less giggle), dissed Black Eye Peas Star Wil.I.Am, saying he was a "douche" and an "awful person" on a rerun of her June 28th that aired show Wednesday night.

What Handler bases her opinion on was never stated. Still, she and her comedian guests piled on with word after insulting word about Will.I.Am.

Then T.I. came on for his first visit with her since his stint in jail. Handler said T.I. makes her "so horny" and her first question to him was "How was prison?" which was totally hilarious. Their exchange was so natural it was hard to tell if they really did date or not, as Chelsea's constant flirting implied. T.I. gave her a large bottle of Remy Martin and said he was coming out with his own label. The news prompted Chelsea to say "A black guy coming out with his own bottle label. Now that's new."

Ok, that was funny; so what was their last exchange like, the one before T.I. went to prison? On his YouTube channel T.I. wrote "This is my interview with Chelsea Lately. Yeah I know she touched my ass. Damn this girl is funny!"



What's interesting is that T.I. was a bit more guarded and tight with her the first time; on Wednesday he was lose and relaxed - almost a different person.

You know, I have to agree with T.I., Chelsea Handler is funny. She's got a very quick wit. I have to admit, the first time I saw her show, I wasn't impressed, but she's gotten a lot better at it.

Chelsea's growing on me, as long as she stays in the gym and wears the skirts, she's just fine.

AC Transit: Mary King explains why union asked to take cut

AC Transit Zero Emission Bus 

In Monday's Bay Area News Group websites The San Jose Mercury News and the Tri Valley Herald
in San Jose, California and Southern Alameda County, AC Transit Interim General Manager Mary King explained why the East Bay California public transit service provider is asking the 1,750 member Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) to accept a contract it imposed on them.

King starts by explaining that "Our future — and the future of affordable and environmentally sound transportation for Alameda and Contra Costa counties' riders — is in jeopardy," then tells the reader what this space has been trying to drill into the collective heads of many for some time: revenue froms sales and property taxes has decreased.

But what King does not explain in numbers is that AC Transit's total operating revenues have dropped by $12 million in one year, and all one has to do to understand this is download and read the AC Transit budget here: BUDGET.

Only service cut-backs and labor costs reductions can make up the $56 million deficit this revenue problem has, in part, caused.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Terrance Candell crushes Jean Quan, he says

Terrance Candell

Oaklander and St. Mary's graduate, Director of Candell's College Preparatory Academy, and CNN Roland Martin look-alike Dr. Terrance Candell, smarting from what he views as an apparent slight on the part of The Oakland Tribune, and regarding the Oakland Seen-produced Mayoral Forum of three weeks ago, issued a provocative video entitled "Candell Crushes Quan & Kaplan At Mayoral Forum pt.1."

While this blogger attended the San Francisco Dress for Success event that evening, there was a hired video spy in the building. From the video of the forum, Terrance Candell was the crowd favorite, even as the Oakland Tribune failed to note that fact until down in the depths of the page, and even then giving the appearance that it wasn't real but planted by him.

So, since Candell and company thinks he wasn't well-reported by the Oakland Tribune, they issued this video:



Candell's style is a crowd pleaser if you're looking for spice in the Oakland Mayor's Race. At turns pleading to make a better Oakland in an emotive style that reminds this blogger of one of those YouTube Hitler parodies, and at other times rightly chiding Oakland's current leadership, Candell is the cattle prod Oakland politics needs. Say what you will, Candell's energy and his hands on commitment to Oakland's youth is to be noted and praised, even by the media.

On the Oakland media, it must be said that it's really shameful that some blogs and Oakland news websites try to ignore candidates like Candell, in effect trying to pick who wins the Mayor's race. It's also idiotic, because the organizations that do it don't have enough juice to make their efforts stick. But mostly, it's unfair to Oaklanders, who deserve a place to go to be able to evaluate the candidates in a way that's fair.

Video's the best tool to use, yet the vast majority of media organizations are still totally out to lunch in its use.  Waaaayyy out to lunch.

Oakland Journalists pride themselves on the self-absorbed idea that they "can write," but who the hell cares if few see the finished work?

The Oakland Mayor's Race and the City Council race, too, deserves better, and this space is going to give it to both and to Oakland.

Stay tuned.

Carlos Boozer to Chicago Bulls cloud LeBron James to Knicks leaks

Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls, who looked all but out of the running for LeBron James, have just improved their stock in the arms race to land The Chosen One. While Phoenix Suns Forward Jared Dudley's Twitter tweet sends James to the New York Knicks, much of that idea was supported by the fact that the Knicks got Amare Stoudemire for $100 million over five years.

Moreover, Amare was told the Knicks would work to add the one player he wanted to be with, LeBron James, if he joined the Knicks. He did.

But that was before Carlos Boozer joined the Chicago Bulls for $80 million Wednesday. And the fact the Cleveland Cavaliers let the now-ex Utah Jazz star get away means they're not as into the arms race for their own player as one would think.

Now, it's the Bulls, who reportedly still have enough cap space to sign James, who have the star power. Boozer teams with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to provide a forward-point guard-center combination that's formidable. Adding James could produce the championship stew the Chicago Bulls have been trying to mix since the Michael Jordan years.

Stay tuned. This is fun.

World Cup Soccer 2010: Spain beats Germany 1-0, World happy

Calming fears of a Germany World Cup Soccer victory and possible rekindled urges toward World domination, Spain beat Germany 1-0 in semi-finals match competition Wednesday.

Now, Spain will play The Netherlands as for the first time, two European countries play for, the Cup outside Europe; in this the 2010 World Cup.

Germany's athletic prowess was no match for the precision passing of Spain. But with that, Germany's smothering defense kept it close until the 73rd minute, when Spain's Carles Puyol hit goal paydirt:



Still, Germany pressed and pressed, but lacking their scoring star Thomas Muller, who was banned from play for penalties in the previous two matches, failed to break the Spain defense.

Some of Germany's players fail to sing anthem

A small controversy started when it was noted that not all of Germany's ethnically-diverse squad sang the German National Anthem.

German and World Cup soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer, who's called "The Emperor" in Germany, or "Der Kaiser", which conjures up visions of Star Wars in this space...



Got drunk with nationalistic pride and said "All of them should sing the anthem. It can't be that the fans in the stands or watching at home sing along but those on the field don't."

It was really cool to witness the obvious ethnic diversity of German fans in watching Germany pley World Cup Soccer. Though, this space did wonder if some of the black Germans not far from Chancellor Angela Merkel during their victory against Argentina were specially, er, planted there not far from Merkel, but the preference is to give Germany's first female leader and Germany itself credit.

After all, you've got to love a country that turned out 200,000 strong in Berlin for then-Senator Barack Obama, as he ran for President of The United States.



Ok. Germany's back. Spain won today. But Germany...the country...is back and better than ever in the way that's most important: harmony with the rest of the World. Let's hope it stays that way.

LeBron James to Knicks: Chad Ochocinco twitter matches Jared Dudley leak

Beating the Jared Dudley Twitter leak by three hours, Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco also tweeted that Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Star LeBron James was headed to the New York Knicks. Here's his tweet:

#OCNNBREAKINGNEWS *Empire State of Mind* *wink* *wink*only the smart folk will put this together and figure out what i am talking about #6
about 7 hours ago via web

This space thinks Chad Ochocinco's leak would have more legs if he used "New York State of Mind" and included a link to this Billy Joel song:

At any rate, the Internet's hot with the idea that The Chosen One is headed for The Big Apple. But the one caveat is that LRMR Marketing head and LeBron James' friend Maverick Carter did not have kind words about the New York Knicks, reportedly saying he wanted nothing to do with them. Here's the quote from New York Newsday:

If you ask those close to James ' inner circle, the Knicks need to be aware that they shouldn't spend too much time trying to convince the two-time MVP to leave Cleveland for the big city. One person with close ties to James ' "team" said the person with the most influence on James - his longtime friend and business manager, Maverick Carter - wants nothing to do with the Knicks and views remaining with the Cavs or going to Chicago to join Derrick Rose as the better options.

The Knicks have been desperately working William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley, a well-connected NBA (man) who has close ties to James but doesn't nearly have the influence that Carter does.

Still here's the problem: LRMR Marketing is reportedly financially floundering as LeBron was its only client according to Yahoo! Sports, and just signed NBA 1st Round Pick John Wall. A move to New York City for LeBron could mean a new home for LRMR and a new start at landing high-profile athletic clients in the World's largest media market outside LA.

So, Carter should think twice before dissing the New York Knicks, if the story is true. Personally it seems questionable that Carter would turn away New York.

Stay tuned.

Jared Dudley on Twitter: LeBron James to NY Knicks

LeBron James 

Phoenix Suns Forward Jared Dudley got on Twitter to announce that LeBron James would elect to go to the NY Knicks! That's right. The Chosen One, called "King James" by some and "Queen James" by others is reportedly set to become a New York Knicks player. Here's Jared Dudley on Twitter:

Breaking News!!! My sources tell me Lebron will announce that he will be goin to the NY KNICKS tomorrow on ESPN.. This is serious.. WOW!!!!
about 4 hours ago via Echofon

Then Jared followed that up with this tweet:

That's what I'm hearing.. I don't care where he goes lol.. I personally thought he would stay in Cleveland..
about 4 hours ago via Echofon

That LeBron would pick the Knicks over his current team the Cleveland Cavaliers comes as no surprise since the NY Knicks added Amare Stoudemire Monday. Stoudemire, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal, is a now-former teammate with Jared Dudley and may have been his source for the LeBron to New York news.

But the Knicks having Amare Stoudemire would seem to cancel the need for LeBron. Indeed, according to ESPN, James' representatives were seeking "clarity" on what the Knicks intended to do just before they signed Amare. Last Thursday, the Knicks told LeBron James he could pick the big man he wanted to team with should he come to New York; one of those players was LeBron James.

Whatever the case, LeBron James will make an announcement Thursday.  Stay tuned.

Lindsey Lohan in denial by Suzannah B. Troy

I find myself tuning in to TMZ and Harry Levin's insight and I have to go with him saying she is in denial.

I find myself describing many NY politicos as in denial -- in fact I say something like...denial is the new crack cocaine for corrupt politicians and I include Bloomberg's money manager Steve Rattner who may be banned by the SEC for 3 years.

Lindsey Lohan does according to TMZ have drugs in her system but she says she has been on them always...something like that.

I do write about celebrities and people like to hear what I have to say but I don't find them interesting and I am far more concerned about the oil spill that is killing off innocent sea life and destroying lives and in some ways we yet don't understand our future on this planet.

Back to celebrity train wrecks because I guess they are a vacation from real world problems.

Lindsey Lohan burst in to tears when she was sentenced to jail for 90 days.   I guess the judge did not notice her nails were painted with a message "F" you.  Here is ABC news coverage on Lindsey's FU message.

I do think she has talent but she has bigger problems including denial and an attitude problem.  Her father is a cross between a walking disaster and her stalker.   For more information,  I recommend tooling around TMZ and by the way, when she gets done with jail and rehab she will begin work on the film about Linda Lovelace the porn star who had a hellish life.  She claimed she was beaten and brutalized and made to perform in porn films.