Researchers have uncovered evidence that teachers are routinely under-estimating the abilities of some black pupils, suggesting that assumptions about behavioural problems are overshadowing their academic talents.
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Saturday, September 06, 2008
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION RATINGS FIXED BY NETWORKS TO BEAT OBAMA
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION RATINGS FIXED BY NETWORKS
Check this out by Media Matters...
Summary: On September 2 and September 3, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News each dedicated more on-air time -- significantly more in most cases -- to official Republican convention programming during the most-watched portions of their coverage than each channel dedicated to official convention programming during the same times on comparable nights of the Democratic National Convention.
Findings for Tuesday, September 2, coverage of the Republican National Convention and Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26, coverage of the Democratic National Convention are as follows:
MSNBC dedicated 1 hour, 19 minutes, 52 seconds to scheduled convention programming during the 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET hours of its September 2 Republican National Convention coverage; by contrast, MSNBC dedicated 56 minutes, 13 seconds to scheduled convention programming during the same hours during its August 25 coverage of the Democratic National Convention, and 59 minutes, 28 seconds during its August 26 coverage.
CNN dedicated 1 hour, 23 minutes, 36 seconds to scheduled convention programming during the 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET hours of its September 2 Republican National Convention coverage; by contrast, CNN dedicated 1 hour, 3 minutes, 58 seconds to scheduled convention programming during the same hours during its August 25 coverage of the Democratic National Convention, and 1 hour, 10 minutes, 45 seconds during its August 26 coverage.
Fox News dedicated 1 hour, 16 minutes, 30 seconds to scheduled convention programming, including convention speeches, during the 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET hours of its September 2 Republican National Convention coverage; by contrast, Fox News dedicated 56 minutes, 25 seconds to scheduled convention programming during the same hours during its August 25 coverage of the Democratic National Convention, and 38 minutes, 51 seconds during its August 26 coverage.
It means the convention coverage was fixed to counter the ratings that Obama got the week before. The networks -- MSNBC, CNN, and FOX -- worked to fix coverage to draw more ratings for the Republicans.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! IS NOTHING SACRED? The networks are in the tank for the Republican Party.
Fight them. Fight the Republican Party, too.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Will Obama or McCain raise taxes more?
Let’s not dither: we’re all in favor of lowering taxes and cutting federal spending, we’d all like to have more to spend on what we enjoy. 
McCain and his team have avoided releasing many specifics, but they rely on the old school attack that Obama will surely raise them on the middle class.
Fact check reveals: Obama will champion tax policies that will impact those who earn a quarter million dollars or more in any single year, while lowering taxes on those below $250,000 substantially. McCain will lower taxes on the top earners, and raise them for the middle-class.
Both candidates need money to fix the economy, and pay for the war Bush conducted without paying for yet, so even on the surface McCain's claim to lower taxes is, at best, the path to economic chaos in the USA.
McCain and his team have avoided releasing many specifics, but they rely on the old school attack that Obama will surely raise them on the middle class.Fact check reveals: Obama will champion tax policies that will impact those who earn a quarter million dollars or more in any single year, while lowering taxes on those below $250,000 substantially. McCain will lower taxes on the top earners, and raise them for the middle-class.
Both candidates need money to fix the economy, and pay for the war Bush conducted without paying for yet, so even on the surface McCain's claim to lower taxes is, at best, the path to economic chaos in the USA.
Gavin Newsom - SF Mayor On GOP, Sarah Palin, John McCain
http://zennie2005.blogspot.com -- This presents SF Mayor Gavin Newsom at a rally for Barack Obama in Berkeley on September 4th, 2008, and an interview given just after his speech before the crowd.
Wasilla City Hall Where Sarah Palin Got Her VP-Ready Experience
Ok. This is the only photo anyone could find of the City Hall of Wasilla, Alaska. It explains that Wasilla really is a small town and not the big little city some may think. The problem is not that I am putting down the town, but putting matters in perspective. This does not give a person Senate-level training.
Sarah Palin, Jesus Christ Was A Community Organizer
In her speech last night, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's comments insulting community organizers as not having responsiblilty, or at least enough to demand respect, upset a great many people I know. From elected officials to students.
To mothers and sons and fathers. The people I talked to expressed an almost singular dislike for what Palin said, and in some cases Palin herself.
I'll not go there.
I will only remind Gov. Palin that there was one person who did work to serve the needs of those who had nothing and lost there way. A man who showed all of us in the World that we could be forgiven for our sins. A person who did instruct us in the ways of the Lord.
That person is the greatest community organizer ever.
We know him as Jesus Christ.
To mothers and sons and fathers. The people I talked to expressed an almost singular dislike for what Palin said, and in some cases Palin herself.
I'll not go there.
I will only remind Gov. Palin that there was one person who did work to serve the needs of those who had nothing and lost there way. A man who showed all of us in the World that we could be forgiven for our sins. A person who did instruct us in the ways of the Lord.
That person is the greatest community organizer ever.
We know him as Jesus Christ.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Obama / Palin? 37 Million Tune In To See Palin Fail A Speech She Gave Well
37 Million people -- almost as many people as tuned in to see Senator Barack Obama's historic speech -- went to a television to see Alaska Governor Sarah Palin give her Vice Presidential acceptance speech. But I think the reasons why people tuned in were vastly different than those for Senator Obama.
They tuned in expecting to see her fail, even though I don't know what that definition is. I mean what was she supposed to do, cry? Hickup? Get stage fright? She's the Governor of Alaska. She's suppose to be able to give a basic speech. That's what she did.
What's sexist about all of this is how America seems to have "lowered the bar" for her and made it so it's ok that she' just "shows" rather than a "place" or a "win." If a man gave that speech, he'd have been held to a higher standard.
My point is that there should be a vice presidential standard, not a mass-culture standard.
Now, if John McCain gets fewer ratings then we've got a scoop for the ages. Maybe things are all turned around. Perhaps the ticket should be "Obama / Palin."
Just a thought.
They tuned in expecting to see her fail, even though I don't know what that definition is. I mean what was she supposed to do, cry? Hickup? Get stage fright? She's the Governor of Alaska. She's suppose to be able to give a basic speech. That's what she did.
What's sexist about all of this is how America seems to have "lowered the bar" for her and made it so it's ok that she' just "shows" rather than a "place" or a "win." If a man gave that speech, he'd have been held to a higher standard.
My point is that there should be a vice presidential standard, not a mass-culture standard.
Now, if John McCain gets fewer ratings then we've got a scoop for the ages. Maybe things are all turned around. Perhaps the ticket should be "Obama / Palin."
Just a thought.
Kevin On YouTube Video Claims To Be Bristol Palin's Daughter's Father
I just happened on a video that, if true -- and I stress if true -- could be very damaging to the crediblity of Alaska Governor and now Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin.
In the video, Kevin sits down on a couch and says that he met Bristol Palin because his uncle worked on the pipeline and got to know Bristol for "the couple of months I was there" and that they conceived a child while he was there. He says she's a nice young lady and that he wants to be a part of the child's life.
Kevin, who's Black and an Obama supporter, also reports that the parents -- Governor Palin and her husband -- have said that they do not want him near their daughter or associated with her. Kevin says, again on video, that he wants to be a part of the child's life. He also says that he does not want to play the "race card" but that the family may have some problem with the public knowing that Palin's daughter had a Black boyfriend.
(Frankly, no one cares about that.)
I sent a message for Kevin to call me to get to the bottom of this.
Watch the video. He certainly seems like he's serious and he explains that he's a musician, gives his contact at his MySpace page, and I'm sure is aware of what could happen to him if he's caught lying, so he must be telling the truth otherwise, why stick his neck out? At first, I thought it was a way for him to promote his songs, but that would be stupid. And given the affinity young teenage white girls have for Black rappers, it's well within possibility they could have hooked up.
The first order of business is to determine if his uncle really works up there. If that's the case, then there's smoke. And where there's smoke, there's fire.
Here's the video. You decide:
In the video, Kevin sits down on a couch and says that he met Bristol Palin because his uncle worked on the pipeline and got to know Bristol for "the couple of months I was there" and that they conceived a child while he was there. He says she's a nice young lady and that he wants to be a part of the child's life.
Kevin, who's Black and an Obama supporter, also reports that the parents -- Governor Palin and her husband -- have said that they do not want him near their daughter or associated with her. Kevin says, again on video, that he wants to be a part of the child's life. He also says that he does not want to play the "race card" but that the family may have some problem with the public knowing that Palin's daughter had a Black boyfriend.
(Frankly, no one cares about that.)
I sent a message for Kevin to call me to get to the bottom of this.
Watch the video. He certainly seems like he's serious and he explains that he's a musician, gives his contact at his MySpace page, and I'm sure is aware of what could happen to him if he's caught lying, so he must be telling the truth otherwise, why stick his neck out? At first, I thought it was a way for him to promote his songs, but that would be stupid. And given the affinity young teenage white girls have for Black rappers, it's well within possibility they could have hooked up.
The first order of business is to determine if his uncle really works up there. If that's the case, then there's smoke. And where there's smoke, there's fire.
Here's the video. You decide:
Palin No Impact On Poll: Obama Ahead By Seven Points 49 to 42 Percent
The speech by Alaska Governor and now GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin had no impact on Senator Barack Obama's lead in the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll for September 4th 2008. Obama still leads by seven points today, 49 percent to 42 percent.
Palin Angers Community Organizers, Who Ask For Applogy
A new blog expresses how much community organizers are upset with the speech of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Here's some of the text from a new blog called "Community Organizers Fight Back":
I'll say it again: attacking community organizers, some of whom register people to vote, was just plain dumb.
Organizers demand apology from Alaska governor, say “we’re working to clean up your mess!”
Community organizers across America, taken aback by a series of attacks from Republican leaders at the GOP convention in St. Paul, came together today to defend their work organizing Americans who have been left behind by unemployment, lack of health insurance and the national housing crisis. The organizers demanded an apology from Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for her statement that community organizers have no “actual responsibilities” and launched a web site, http://organizersfightback.wordpress.com, to defend themselves against Republican attacks.
I'll say it again: attacking community organizers, some of whom register people to vote, was just plain dumb.
NFL KICKOFF WEEKEND - REDSKINS v. GIANTS TODAY
A bit of a look to the NFL for a bit as today is NFL Kickoff Weekend. More at NFL Business Blog.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – NFL KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND
SUPER STARTERS: There are never any guarantees in the NFL, but there are trends. And they start as early as Kickoff Weekend. History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive towards a possible Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.
The 42 Super Bowl winners have a 34-7-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. However, as the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants proved, a loss on Kickoff Weekend can still lead to a championship season.
Since 1978, when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on Kickoff Weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:
Of the 426 teams which won openers…225 went to the playoffs (130 won division titles).
Of the 426 teams which lost openers…99 went to the playoffs (55 won division titles).
In 2007, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.
“Season openers,” says Washington Redskins tight end CHRIS COOLEY, “set a standard for your team.”
KICKOFF WINNERS: The season kicks off on Thursday night when the Super Bowl XLII champion NEW YORK GIANTS host the WASHINGTON REDSKINS. The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers. The Giants rank second in history with 46 Kickoff Weekend victories and the Redskins tie for sixth with 37 wins.
The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:
TEAM
KICKOFF-WEEKEND WINS
Chicago
49
Green Bay
48
New York Giants
46
Detroit
42
St. Louis
38
Pittsburgh
37
Washington
37
-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --
STREAKING INTO HISTORY: The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS became the first team in NFL history with a perfect 16-0 regular-season record last year. Dating back to the last three weeks of 2006, New England has won 19 consecutive regular-season games, the longest streak in league annals.
The Patriots, who also have the second-longest such streak in history (18 games, 2003-04), will seek to reach 20 in a row on Sunday when they host Kansas City.
Following are the teams with the longest regular-season winning streaks in NFL history:
TEAM
YEARS
STREAK
New England
2006-07
19*
New England
2003-04
18
Chicago Bears
1933-34
17
Chicago Bears
1941-42
16
Miami Dolphins
1971-73
16
Miami Dolphins
1983-84
16
Pittsburgh Steelers
2004-05
16
*Active streak
MVP QBs: Last season, New England quarterback TOM BRADY was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player after setting an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes. Brady, who led New England to Super Bowl XLII, hopes to continue the success of MVP quarterbacks this Sunday. The past 10 QBs to be named the NFL MVP have posted a passer rating of at least 88.5 on Kickoff Weekend the following season.
The past 10 MVP quarterbacks and their performances on Kickoff Weekend the following season:
NAME
TEAM
DATE
ATT.
COMP.
PCT.
YARDS
TD
INT
RATING
Steve Young
SF
9/3/95
27
21
77.8
260
2
0
131.5
Brett Favre
GB
9/1/96
27
20
74.1
247
4
0
141.5
Brett Favre
GB
9/1/97
22
15
68.2
226
2
1
113.1
Brett Favre
GB
9/6/98
32
24
75.0
277
2
0
121.5
Kurt Warner
StL
9/4/00
35
25
71.4
441
3
3
106.5
Kurt Warner
StL
9/8/02
41
32
78.0
315
0
1
88.5
Rich Gannon
Oak.
9/7/03
38
24
63.2
264
2
0
101.2
Peyton Manning
Ind.
9/9/04
29
16
55.2
256
2
1
93.5
Steve McNair
Ten.
9/11/04
14
9
64.3
73
1
0
101.2
Peyton Manning
Ind.
9/11/05
36
21
58.3
254
2
0
98.6
-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --
THANK DEVIN: Chicago Bears return specialist DEVIN HESTER has scored 14 touchdowns (seven punt-return TDs, four kickoff-return TDs, two receiving TDs and a missed-FG return TD) in his first two NFL seasons. The two-time All Star averages 80.9 yards per touchdown, the highest such mark in NFL history (minimum 10 touchdowns).
The players with the highest yards-per-touchdown average in history (minimum 10 TDs):
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
TDs
YARDS
AVG.
Devin Hester
Chicago
14
1,132
80.9*
Mel Gray
NO, Detroit, Hou./Tenn., Philadelphia
10
781
78.1
Tamarick Vanover
Kansas City, San Diego
11
757
68.8
Dante Hall
Kansas City, St. Louis
21
1,438
68.5*
Deion Sanders
Atlanta, SF, Dallas, Washington, Baltimore
22
1,461
66.4
*Active
Hester’s 11 combined kick-return touchdowns (seven PR-TDs, four KR-TDs) already rank as the third most in history. With another kick-return touchdown, Hester will tie DANTE HALL and ERIC METCALF (12) for second all-time, one behind BRIAN MITCHELL’s NFL mark (13).
The players with the most combined kick-return touchdowns in history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
YEARS
PR-TDs
KR-TDs
COMBINED TDs
Brian Mitchell
Washington, Philadelphia, NY Giants
1990-03
9
4
13
Dante Hall
Kansas City, St. Louis
2000-07
6
6
12*
Eric Metcalf
Cle., Atl., SD, Ari., Car., Was., GB
1989-02
10
2
12
Devin Hester
Chicago
2006-07
7
4
11*
Three Tied
--
--
--
--
9
*Active
TDs FOR T.O.: Entering his 13th NFL season, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver TERRELL OWENS has 129 receiving touchdowns, the third most in history. With two touchdowns this Sunday against Cleveland, Owens will move past CRIS CARTER (130) into second place all-time in the category. Owens had two touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend last year and has six receiving TDs in his past four openers.
The players with the most receiving touchdowns in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
YEARS
REC. TDs
Jerry Rice
SF, Oak., Sea.
1985-2004
197
Cris Carter
Phi., Min., Mia.
1987-2002
130
Terrell Owens
SF, Phi., Dal.
1996-Present
129*
Randy Moss
Min., Oak., NE
1998-Present
124*
Marvin Harrison
Indianapolis
1996-Present
123*
*Active
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – NFL KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND
SUPER STARTERS: There are never any guarantees in the NFL, but there are trends. And they start as early as Kickoff Weekend. History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive towards a possible Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.
The 42 Super Bowl winners have a 34-7-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. However, as the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants proved, a loss on Kickoff Weekend can still lead to a championship season.
Since 1978, when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on Kickoff Weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:
Of the 426 teams which won openers…225 went to the playoffs (130 won division titles).
Of the 426 teams which lost openers…99 went to the playoffs (55 won division titles).
In 2007, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.
“Season openers,” says Washington Redskins tight end CHRIS COOLEY, “set a standard for your team.”
KICKOFF WINNERS: The season kicks off on Thursday night when the Super Bowl XLII champion NEW YORK GIANTS host the WASHINGTON REDSKINS. The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers. The Giants rank second in history with 46 Kickoff Weekend victories and the Redskins tie for sixth with 37 wins.
The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:
TEAM
KICKOFF-WEEKEND WINS
Chicago
49
Green Bay
48
New York Giants
46
Detroit
42
St. Louis
38
Pittsburgh
37
Washington
37
-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --
STREAKING INTO HISTORY: The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS became the first team in NFL history with a perfect 16-0 regular-season record last year. Dating back to the last three weeks of 2006, New England has won 19 consecutive regular-season games, the longest streak in league annals.
The Patriots, who also have the second-longest such streak in history (18 games, 2003-04), will seek to reach 20 in a row on Sunday when they host Kansas City.
Following are the teams with the longest regular-season winning streaks in NFL history:
TEAM
YEARS
STREAK
New England
2006-07
19*
New England
2003-04
18
Chicago Bears
1933-34
17
Chicago Bears
1941-42
16
Miami Dolphins
1971-73
16
Miami Dolphins
1983-84
16
Pittsburgh Steelers
2004-05
16
*Active streak
MVP QBs: Last season, New England quarterback TOM BRADY was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player after setting an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes. Brady, who led New England to Super Bowl XLII, hopes to continue the success of MVP quarterbacks this Sunday. The past 10 QBs to be named the NFL MVP have posted a passer rating of at least 88.5 on Kickoff Weekend the following season.
The past 10 MVP quarterbacks and their performances on Kickoff Weekend the following season:
NAME
TEAM
DATE
ATT.
COMP.
PCT.
YARDS
TD
INT
RATING
Steve Young
SF
9/3/95
27
21
77.8
260
2
0
131.5
Brett Favre
GB
9/1/96
27
20
74.1
247
4
0
141.5
Brett Favre
GB
9/1/97
22
15
68.2
226
2
1
113.1
Brett Favre
GB
9/6/98
32
24
75.0
277
2
0
121.5
Kurt Warner
StL
9/4/00
35
25
71.4
441
3
3
106.5
Kurt Warner
StL
9/8/02
41
32
78.0
315
0
1
88.5
Rich Gannon
Oak.
9/7/03
38
24
63.2
264
2
0
101.2
Peyton Manning
Ind.
9/9/04
29
16
55.2
256
2
1
93.5
Steve McNair
Ten.
9/11/04
14
9
64.3
73
1
0
101.2
Peyton Manning
Ind.
9/11/05
36
21
58.3
254
2
0
98.6
-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --
THANK DEVIN: Chicago Bears return specialist DEVIN HESTER has scored 14 touchdowns (seven punt-return TDs, four kickoff-return TDs, two receiving TDs and a missed-FG return TD) in his first two NFL seasons. The two-time All Star averages 80.9 yards per touchdown, the highest such mark in NFL history (minimum 10 touchdowns).
The players with the highest yards-per-touchdown average in history (minimum 10 TDs):
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
TDs
YARDS
AVG.
Devin Hester
Chicago
14
1,132
80.9*
Mel Gray
NO, Detroit, Hou./Tenn., Philadelphia
10
781
78.1
Tamarick Vanover
Kansas City, San Diego
11
757
68.8
Dante Hall
Kansas City, St. Louis
21
1,438
68.5*
Deion Sanders
Atlanta, SF, Dallas, Washington, Baltimore
22
1,461
66.4
*Active
Hester’s 11 combined kick-return touchdowns (seven PR-TDs, four KR-TDs) already rank as the third most in history. With another kick-return touchdown, Hester will tie DANTE HALL and ERIC METCALF (12) for second all-time, one behind BRIAN MITCHELL’s NFL mark (13).
The players with the most combined kick-return touchdowns in history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
YEARS
PR-TDs
KR-TDs
COMBINED TDs
Brian Mitchell
Washington, Philadelphia, NY Giants
1990-03
9
4
13
Dante Hall
Kansas City, St. Louis
2000-07
6
6
12*
Eric Metcalf
Cle., Atl., SD, Ari., Car., Was., GB
1989-02
10
2
12
Devin Hester
Chicago
2006-07
7
4
11*
Three Tied
--
--
--
--
9
*Active
TDs FOR T.O.: Entering his 13th NFL season, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver TERRELL OWENS has 129 receiving touchdowns, the third most in history. With two touchdowns this Sunday against Cleveland, Owens will move past CRIS CARTER (130) into second place all-time in the category. Owens had two touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend last year and has six receiving TDs in his past four openers.
The players with the most receiving touchdowns in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
YEARS
REC. TDs
Jerry Rice
SF, Oak., Sea.
1985-2004
197
Cris Carter
Phi., Min., Mia.
1987-2002
130
Terrell Owens
SF, Phi., Dal.
1996-Present
129*
Randy Moss
Min., Oak., NE
1998-Present
124*
Marvin Harrison
Indianapolis
1996-Present
123*
*Active
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