Jason Taylor Named Walter Payton Man Of The Year

Moments before the kickoff of Super Bowl 42 between the Giants and Patriots, Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor was presented with the Walton Payton Man of the Year award for his substantial contribution in the community and off the field.

Taylor, the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becomes the third Dolphin to be honored with the Walton Payton award. Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson (1985) and quarterback Dan Marino (1998)were the first two fins to receive the recognition for their hard work when away from the field.

Maria Shriver Endorses Barack Obama

Maria Shriver, wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who recently endorsed Republican John McCain, pledged her support for Democrat Barack Obama this afternoon at an event in Los Angeles that featured Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.

According to Shriver, "I'm proud to be standing here not just with these women, but with all of you -- different races, different age groups I'm sure, Democrats and independents alike -- because you believe," she said. "You believe in each and every one of yourselves, most importantly. And you believe that you have found someone who believes in you."

California's first lady is the niece of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy who endorsed Obama last week at an event at American University in Washington D.C.

Barack Obama "Yes We Can" Will-I-Am Video A Hit!

Will-I-Am of the Black Eyed Peas has created a beautiful video around Senator Barack Obama's words "Yes We Can". I don't yet know how the video came to be reality -- in other words, when Will-I-Am decided to pull the trigger and make it -- but it's out now and deserves a look. I can't remember when a group of artists have gotten together in this way before.

Here's the video:

7 Crazy Superbowl Predictions that could happen

7 Crazy Super bowl Predictions that could happen
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-NFL Draft Bible.com

7- Patriots WR Randy Moss will be assaulted by a group from the women's anti-defamation league as he leaves a party Saturday Night. He will need a restraining order and a police escort in order to play the game Sunday.

6- Coach Bill Belichick will have his entire coaching wardrobe of 27 Hoodies and two pullover hats stolen by a group of 12 year olds from the Ravenswood Housing Projects In Astoria NY called the "little Giants Mafia".

5- Dallas owner Jerry Jones, still distraught over the Cowboys early exit from the Playoffs, will try to get a new playoff system passed that eliminates the wild card round of the playoffs. He will then take a 4 day skiing trip to Utah with Jeff Lurie, and Dan Snyder. He will break his hand on a fall on the slopes, and Snyder will have him airlifted out by a Fedex copter. Lurie will then try to Rush release a movie epic based on the trip ahead of Steve Tisch's release of the same movie.

4- Jessicia Simpson will break up with Tony Romo and Profess her love for Eli Manning. Her father Joe will throw himself at Archie and Olivia Manning, begging them for a chance at their son. Archie will offer Joe a case of Double Stuff Oreos and a case of Hershey's Chocolate milk and tell him to go home.

3- Tom Petty's Tour Bus will burn down at a Roadside diner in Black Canyon City Arizona the day before the game. No one will be hurt, but Petty will have to borrow Prince's purple guitar to play the halftime show. Gene Simmons from Kiss will tell everyone he could have played a better show. By himself.

2- Tom Brady will throw 7 interceptions in the game, and retire from football in the post game press conference. He will break up with the pinup girlfriend and join a religious cult, giving all his net worth to them.

And the #1 Wacky Super Bowl Prediction is:
The Giants will win 24-21 on a last second Field Goal by Tynes again. Both Scotland and Milton Fl. will claim Tynes a Native son, causing a Lawsuit over both's use of his name on a welcome sign. Tynes will accept a free agent offer to play for the new NFL expansion team in Fairbanks Alaska….

Phil The Groundhog's Day Groundhog Says "Six More Weeks Of Summer"

Well, at least I thought it was funny. The annual tradition of Phil The Groundhog coming out of his hole and telling us how long winter's going to last is upon us once again. This year, Phil says it's six more weeks of winter!

Heath Ledger | Ledger Video Claims To Show Drug Use

I'm not sure what the purpose of making and releasing this video is, but it's out there and claims to show Heath Ledger using and talking about using drugs. Again, I don't know what the reason for this video is, but I also think it's not a good idea to have made it. But that written, it's news..

Kofi Bonner | Candlestick Point Plan For Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco

Kofi Bonner | Candlestick Point Plan For Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco

Kofi Bonner Shows New Homes, Open Space and Jobs Are Part of Transit-Oriented Project to Open Up Southeast S.F. Waterfront

SAN FRANCISCO -- Plans were unveiled by Kofi Bonner of Lennar Corporation at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for an innovative new Candlestick Point neighborhood that would feature as its centerpiece a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers and include an 8,000-10,000 seat arena, new market rate and affordable housing, retail and entertainment uses, public parks and open space, and improved access to the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

The presentation was the first public viewing of the mixed-use/stadium development that was created as part of the 49ers stadium project. "We strongly believe that our proposed plan for Candlestick Point serves both the 49ers and the community of Bayview Hunters Point and we look forward to making refinements to the plan that inevitably occur as a result of the public review process," said Kofi Bonner, president of Lennar Communities Bay Area Urban Division, the company selected by the 49ers and The City to create a new home for the NFL team as well as bring new housing and job opportunities to San Francisco.

On Nov. 8, 49ers co-owner John York surprised the City of San Francisco, Lennar, football fans and the public when he announced that the York family was making Santa Clara their first choice for a new football stadium after almost a decade of team efforts to build a stadium in San Francisco and almost a year of meetings on this specific plan. Mayor Gavin Newsom requested the Board of Supervisors call today's hearing to view and evaluate the various elements of the plan.

The Candlestick Point plan will create a new transit-oriented neighborhood within the existing Bayview Hunters Point community that provides football fans, current and future residents with improved connections to Caltrain, Light Rail Transit, and bus service and provides improved traffic flow, parking and day-of-game experience for 49ers fans traveling to and from the new stadium.

The proposed plan will create 6,500 new homes, a new 8,000-10,000 seat arena, approximately 400,000 sq. ft of retail and entertainment uses, 150,000 sq. ft. of office space, a new 200 room hotel, and over 150 acres of parks and open space. In addition, the new development is expected to provide approximately 3,000 new permanent jobs and preserve the 2,000 day-of-game jobs.

"We created this development with three objectives," said Bonner. "To create a memorable and exciting fan experience for the 49ers faithful, to transform Candlestick Point into a vibrant and viable mixed-use sustainable community that will appeal to our home buyers, and at the same time provide much needed jobs and housing."

At the heart of the game day experience are the new "urban tailgating


" opportunities provided by the various sports bars, restaurants and live music venues clustered along the retail street leading to the stadium plaza. For the traditional tailgaters, the plan includes approximately 3,500 spaces to tailgate -- ranging from the roof of the new parking structure to one of the most beautiful tailgating venues in the world, a revitalized State Park along the San Francisco shoreline.

The plan includes new recreational opportunities for the public through improvements to the Candlestick Point State Park, the creation of walking paths, the expansion of the Bay Trail, new bike paths and water-oriented activities. In addition, the plan also meets one of the City's key objectives for the project - the provision of a significant number of affordable housing units and the replacement of the Alice Griffith Housing Project - also known as "Double Rock".

In preparing the plan, Lennar worked closely with the 49ers to create a phasing plan that would allow the 49ers to play continuously at Candlestick Point and to provide the necessary fan parking. At the opening of the new stadium, Lennar expects to have a significant portion of the development complete, including the main retail and entertainment uses that allow for the "urban tailgate" experience.

"Although the new 49ers stadium is a significant component of a new Candlestick Point neighborhood, it's important to note that even if the stadium is not built, the development stands on its own," Bonner said. "With or without a new stadium, the creation of new homes, parks and transportation will benefit the existing neighborhood and future residents." Lennar is expected to provide the entire infrastructure necessary to support development at Candlestick Point and the revenues from the project are expected to provide a portion of the funding for the construction of the new stadium.

Lennar said the company will work closely with the Mayor's office, Board of Supervisors and other community leaders to help make the project a reality.

Barack Obama Endorsed By MoveOn.Org | Obama Wins In Landslide!

Senator Barack Obama won the endorsement of the liberal activist group MoveOn.org and by a landslide. And in the process became the standard bearer of John Edwards' agenda. Eli Pariser, the Executive Director of MoveOn.org, wrote this email that I just received:

Dear MoveOn member,

With hundreds of thousands of ballots cast across the country, for the first time in MoveOn's history, we've voted together to endorse a presidential candidate in the primary. That candidate is Barack Obama.

Something big is clearly happening. A few weeks ago, MoveOn members we surveyed were split. But with John Edwards bowing out, progressives are coming together. Obama won over 70% of the vote yesterday, and he's moving up in polls nationwide.1 As comments poured in from MoveOn members across the country, the sense of hope was inspiring. Here's how Christine Y. in New Jersey put it:

"I've never felt so strongly about any one candidate in my entire life. He's truly an inspiration to all of us—especially the younger generation. I will stand by him 100% for as long as he's willing to stand up and fight for this country!"

What does MoveOn's endorsement mean? People-power. Together, we are 3.2 million Americans who care about our country and want change. Half of us live in states with primaries or caucuses this coming "Super Tuesday."

We know how to roll up our sleeves and win elections, and if we all pitch in together between now and Tuesday, we can help Sen. Obama win the biggest primary day in American history. Think about it: volunteering during the next four days could mean four years of a progressive president. Can you sign up right now to volunteer for Obama's campaign? Click here:

http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-8429903-L.Zt9K&t=535

There are lots of ways to help. You can call voters from home, go door-to-door with others in your community, travel to "Super Tuesday" states, donate, put up a yard sign, volunteer in a campaign office, or join a local meetup. Senator Obama is running a grassroots campaign, and there's a role for everyone.

Many of us feel like change is within reach for the first time in years. Here's some more of what MoveOn members see in Obama:

"This country needs real, progressive transformation. Barack Obama is the candidate who gives us the best hope of uniting and inspiring the nation to move in that direction, while also restoring America's dignity and standing as a member of the global community."—James M., Connecticut

"While I'm impressed with Clinton and believe she would make a very good president, I'm actually MOVED by Obama. In the end, I believe if Obama is elected he has the potential to bring the country together behind him."—Patricia S., Wisconsin

"He was right on the biggest question of the era—opposing the war from the start."—Jacob S., Washington, D.C.

"I support Barack Obama for the same reasons I support MoveOn.org: the more people are inspired to get involved, the better the outcome for our country. Senator Obama has demonstrated a unique capacity to inspire participation and to make public service 'cool' again. He is also sound on all the issues that matter to me and my family."—Liz B., New York

"I live in a red state, and I see my conservative neighbors and friends showing a positive interest in Barack. They like him. They are ready to be swayed. And I see my Democratic friends and family members getting excited like never before...With Barack as our candidate, I am convinced that we can win in a landslide in 2008 and usher in a new era of progressive politics."—Desirina B., Georgia

To be clear, we won't always agree with all of Obama's positions. And MoveOn members said overwhelmingly that, regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination, we'll work hard to win the White House in 2008. Whatever happens in the primary, we'll push the Democratic nominee to campaign progressively and then we'll push them to fulfill their promises after they win.

The building of a progressive consensus around Senator Obama is tangible. Earlier this week, John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy said Obama is the first presidential candidate to be as inspirational as her father.2 Yesterday, progressive magazine The Nation said that electing Obama is "a chance we can't pass up."3 And then DailyKos.com, the most widely read progressive blog, announced Obama won 76% in a reader poll this week.4

It's time to get to work electing a president who is inspiring a nation and is talking about big, progressive change. Click here to volunteer in these next crucial days:

http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-8429903-L.Zt9K&t=536

This is just the beginning of a long road to victory in November. Thanks for all you do, and will do to change our country for the better in 2008.

–Eli, Wes, Joan, Justin, Adam G., Adam R., Ilyse, Karin, Nita, Noah, Marika, Laura, Peter, Anna, Matt, Daniel, Carrie, Tanya, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Friday, February 1st, 2008

P.S. As we were about to click "send" we received the following response from Senator Obama. We wanted to share it with you: "In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up. From their principled opposition to the Iraq war—a war I also opposed from the start—to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change. I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead."

MoveOn.Org To Endorse Barack Obama

MoveOn.org, the premier liberal website and political action committee, has officially endorsed Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president.

In an innovative way to determine who to support, the website sent out ballots to more than three million of its members. Whichever candidate received the majority of votes would be the individual the website endorses.

According to the website,''MoveOn is already working hard to build the biggest, most sophisticated progressive-voter turnout effort ever. Starting early is the key to winning—but it means we need resources right now.''

Unquestionably, their overpowering voice will be heard on television and the internet as the race to the White House heats up.

Additionally, the California Service Employees, that boasts a membership of over 600,000, has officially endorsed Obama as well.

The Well-Established Fundraiser- Barack Obama

The momentum and fervor continues to escalate for Barack Obama's Presidential bid as he raised an awe-inspiring $32 million in the 31 days of January.

Propelled by a monumental victory in the Iowa caucus and rapid success in primary states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire, the Democratic hopeful added 177,000new donors during the first month of 2008.

Obama's strong financial position will enable him to increase ads in many Super Tuesday states and ensure he has the much needed monetary support as the race for the White House heats up.

Paul Volcker, Former Fed Chairman, Endorses Obama

This is an amazing development given the respect former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker still commands in financial markets. Here's part of the rest of the story...

Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won the endorsement of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

``It is only Barack Obama, in his person, in his ideas, in his ability to understand and to articulate both our needs and our hopes that provide the potential for strong and fresh leadership,'' Volcker said in an e-mailed statement today.

Obama, 46, an Illinois senator, is locked in a tight race with New York Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. The two will meet head-to-head in more than 20 state primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5 after yesterday's withdrawal of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards from the race. More...

Barack Obama And Hillary Clinton Have Peaceful, Historic Debate

I'm in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLII, but that did not stop me from paying attention to this historic debate. I'll give more detail later, but it was a great American moment to see both of them on stage together. In my view, Obama looks read to be President of The United States and the campaign has $32 million from January alone to help him get there, an amazing earnings statistic.