Save the Oakland A's - send an email to MLB Commissioner Selig

On the matter of retaining the Oakland A's in Oakland, an email was just released as part of an effort to have Oakland A's supporters contact MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Here's what it reads:

We're at a critical point in our fight to keep the A's in Oakland.

Very soon, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will review the City of Oakland's proposal to partner with the Oakland A's to build a world class baseball-only ballpark near Jack London Square. In the coming days or weeks, the Commissioner will decide whether to keep the A's in Oakland.

At this crucial time, we need to make sure that Commissioner Selig sees and understands the incredible level of support of tens of thousands of fans like you who have signed our online petition or joined us on Facebook

Can you take just a few seconds, right now, to help?

Click here to forward Commissioner Selig an email today: Tell him you want him to keep the A's in Oakland and that you would support the team at their new waterfront stadium!

We all know that a new waterfront ballpark in Oakland would be a boon for the city, for the team, and for the fans -- further revitalizing the neighborhoods around Jack London Square by drawing fans and business support from all over the region.

This is our chance to stand up and show the Commissioner our commitment to getting this done. Please speak out now.

Click here to send your message to Commissioner Selig now!

This week, we are sending the Commissioner a copy of the Let's Go Oakland! online petition, signed by more than 9,300 A's fans. But we hope you'll take a moment, right now, to send your own personal message directly to Commissioner Selig, too.

By sharing your thoughts, you can help us demonstrate the depth of support for the A's here in Oakland.

The time for action is now. We appreciate and need your support.

Best,

Doug Boxer & Marty Glick
Lets Go Oakland!

The next step? Click here - Save the Oakland A's - and get started.

My one question is why isn't Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' name on this? What about any of the other Oakland City Councilmembers? Where's the Oakland leadership?  What about the Oakland Chamber of Commerce?

Hello?

It looks like the Super Bowl: Oakland effort all over again but worse: at least we had some elected officials willing to put their name on something. This ...it is terrible. But sign the petition, anyway. Please.

Go Oakland!  Do something.

Brooklyn Decker photos move over for Megan Avalon photos

Brooklyn Decker is the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Cover Girl, and Brooklyn Decker photos are the Internet's hot item as of this writing. It's an amazing step for someone not known to the general public as anyone but the girlfriend and now wife of Tennis Star Andy Roddick.

Now, Brooklyn Decker has come into her own. As S.I.'s cover model, Decker has been on The David Letterman show and Dan Patrick can't get enough of her.

But Brooklyn Decker represents the classic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition look: tall, blonde, skinny, and white. (And since all of the 2010 ports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models look like Brooklyn Decker, it's time to ask why not have black, white, Asian, and Hispanic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models?)

After decades of the same look, with a break to fit in the lovely Tyra Banks, in the 21st Century it's time for a change: presenting Megan Avalon and Megan Avalon photos for consideration in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

Unlike the rail thin Brooklyn Decker, Megan Avalon presents a new look: fit, athletic, and buffed. In an era where the strong woman is prized and it's considered sexy for women to have toned or muscular arms, Megan Avalon has all of that in a package right for Sports Illustrated. Here's a video interview with Megan Avalon:



Sports Illustrated has to come into the 21st Century. It's a time where top modeling agencies like Wilhelmina are hiring women who look more like Megan Avalon than Brooklyn Decker. It's also time to stop sending young women the message that they have to be so thin that they take on unhealthy eating practices can be fatal. It's time for a change, and Megan Avalon represents the future.

Alexander McQueen dead at 40 - celebration of genius

Alexander McQueen, the famous British fashion designer who's creations were worn by Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, and others, apparently committed suicide in London, on the same day that Fashion Week started in New York.

Alexander McQueen's website has this statement:

ON BEHALF OF LEE MCQUEEN'S FAMILY, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TODAY ANNOUNCES THE TRAGIC NEWS THAT LEE MCQUEEN, THE FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF THE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BRAND HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME. AT THIS STAGE IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON THIS TRAGIC NEWS BEYOND SAYING THAT WE ARE DEVASTATED AND ARE SHARING A SENSE OF SHOCK AND GRIEF WITH LEE'S FAMILY.

LEE'S FAMILY HAS ASKED FOR PRIVACY IN ORDER TO COME TO TERMS WITH THIS TERRIBLE NEWS AND WE HOPE THE MEDIA WILL RESPECT THIS.

On February 2nd, just 9 days ago, Alexander McQueen's mother passed way.

Alexander McQueen, at just 40 years old, was described as a fashion design "genius". McQueen won the award of British Fashion Designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003. In 2000 Alexander became 51 percent owner of Gucci Group. The Gucci Group's role was to "provide the managerial talent and infrastructure necessary to develop the brand" of Alexander McQueen.

By 2005, Alexander McQueen, the brand, extended to stores in the World Cities of New York, London, Los Angeles, Milan, and Las Vegas. McQueen had perfume lines and even worked with Puma to design and develop an athletic training shoe.

Rather than dwell on McQueen's unfortunate losses, it's best to celebrate his terrific achievements in video:

Alexander McQueen Spring 2010, Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Atlantis Show Part 1:



Alexander McQueen: Fall 2009 RTW




Alexander McQueen Retrospective - 2009

Draeger Construction FBI Haiti Program

Draeger Construction with Zennie62 launch an initiative called Draeger Construction FBI Haiti Program for education on the need for quake-safe construction worldwide.

This video from Marc Zboch (not affiliated with Draeger) shows how Haiti buildings were built and why so much quake damage happened:

Private companies look to Haiti for opportunities

In the wake of the Haiti Earthquake, there are opportunities for private construction companies. As this YouTube video explains...

Private companies are looking to Haiti for upcoming job opportunities. These organizations are offering a range of services, from rapid housing construction to emergency relief shelters and even transportation. After the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, several companies posted websites for future clients. Private organizations in Afghanistan and Iraq are also seeing dollar signs in the catastrophe. RTs Lauren Lyster talked with investigation journalist, Wayne Madsen about this issue facing Haiti.

Taylor Lautner turns 18, jail-bait no more, Happy Birthday

Taylor Lautner, who hit mega-stardom fast with his role in Twilight: New Moon, and has a giant entourage of young women following his every move (should have seen them at the Super Bowl Celebrity Beach Volleyball game)  turns 18 today.

The Twitterverse (that's Twitter account holders) celebrated Taylor Lautner's coming-of-age by stating..

SuzyVolturi LMAOOO, happy birthday Taylor Lautner, how old is he again? xDD
less than 10 seconds ago from web

jennykate77 Jacob is no longer jail-bait! WOOT! Happy 18th Birthday to Taylor Lautner!!
less than 20 seconds ago from web

AdoringRPattz LMAO RT @UntrueTweets: Taylor Lautner's birthday wish is for Catherine Hardwicke to stop calling him and go back to Rob.
less than 20 seconds ago from UberTwitter

Esmeralda16 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR LAUTNER = P
less than 20 seconds ago from Sidekick

analuisabilega #HappyBDayTaylor Taylor Lautner!!
half a minute ago from web

leeannie12 @msgedang but it's Taylor Lautner's birthday! That should be motivation! ;)
half a minute ago from TweetDeck

When Taylor Lautner was dating or hanging-out with Taylor Swift, much was made of their age difference: Taylor Swift at 20 and Taylor Lautner at 17. Now that Lautner's 18, he can be assured that such issues will be a thing of the past because he's "legal"...

ItsStephannie YAY! TAYLOR LAUTNER IS LEGAL TODAY!!!! HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY BABY!
half a minute ago from web

Yes, Happy Birthday to Taylor Lautner, who reminds us all of the joy of turning 18.. And all the crap that comes after it.

Stay tuned.

Snowing in Dallas, Delaware state of emergency

The snowy winter weather is terrible. According to Twitter, it's snowing in Dallas; meanwhile Delaware is in a state of emergency. The National Weather Service reports this for Dallas, Texas:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
7:41 am CST, Thu., Feb. 11, 2010

... WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... ... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AREAS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS NORTH TEXAS TODAY AS A SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE BY THIS EVENING... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. THE PRECIPITATION WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT.

ROAD CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN SLICK AND HAZARDOUS THROUGH THE DAY AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING AND SNOW CONTINUES TO FALL. SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AFTER THE PRECIPITATION ENDS AND INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AS TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE UPPER 20S TO AROUND 30.

Dallas is known for many things, including hosting the 2011 Super Bowl, but snow? Moreover, this report calls into question Dallas Super Bowl preparations in case it snows next year. The balmy Florida weather is ideal for getting around Super Bowl parties. But if snow plows are needed for the 2011 Super Bowl, NFL owners will not be happy.

Meanwhile, Delaware is in a state of emergency and has been since Wednesday. Roofs and trees are covered with snow and some roads are almost impassible. It's reported to be the worst snowfall since 1976, with over 21 inches of snow.

Stay tuned.