The Rise and Fall of JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus at the 2007 NFL Draft Media Lunch-By Dr. Bill Chachkes

   The Rise and Fall of JaMarcus Russell-By J.P. Fox forFootball Reporters Online

    When people used to bring up the phrase “Draft Bust,” it used to signal the talk of Ryan Leaf. Nowadays, Leaf is basically an afterthought. There’s a new man holding down that crown of being the biggest draft bust in NFL History, and that man is JaMarcus Russell. Russell was just recently released by the Oakland Raiders, after playing only three seasons for the team. He was even shunned by “THE” Al Davis, the man who gave the go-ahead to draft him with the 1st pick in the 2007 draft. Davis is notorious for drafting players that have great speed, or had a great combine, or have many accolades. With this article, I’ll talk a little about what made Russell the 1st pick in the draft, and only three seasons later, being jobless.

    JaMarcus Russell went through his junior season at Louisiana State as a wonderkind. He was putting up unbelievable stats while leading the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a spot in the All-State Sugar Bowl game against Notre Dame. During the regular season, Russell threw for 3,129 yards 28 Touchdowns and 8 interceptions. In the bowl-game against Notre Dame, Russell accumulated 350 yards of total offense and had 3 touchdowns while being named the game’s MVP in  a 41-14 win. At LSU’s pro-day, Russell measured and weighed in at 6’5 ½ 265 pounds, and was throwing 60 yard bombs from his knees. When people heard of this, most of them were saying, “he did what?” Guys with that kind of arm-strength are basically not human. Can Chad Pennington throw the ball even 50 yards with a running start and full wind-up? I doubt it.

    But Russell was basically the topic of pre-draft chatter after what he did at the LSU pro-day. What puzzles me is that nobody was really talking too much about his weight. A quarterback coming in weighing 265 pounds….wouldn’t there be some concern over weight issues? In my mind, yes, there should have been. But the Raiders went ahead and drafted Russell with the 1st pick in the 2007 draft, over the likes of Calvin Johnson, who head coach Lane Kiffin wanted, Adrian Peterson, who is a perennial NFL rushing leader year in and year out, and even Patrick Willis, who just signed a 5 year extension with $29 million guaranteed with the 49ers because of how much of a beast he is. Passing on franchise WR’s, future hall-of-fame RB’s, and Brian Urlacher-type LB’s could set your franchise back years. In fact, in what is definitely a weird coincidence, in the next three drafts for the Raiders after Russell, they drafted a RB, WR, and LB. (Darren McFadden in ‘08, Darrius Heyward-Bey in ‘09, and Rolando McClain in ‘10, just for kicks)

    So back to JaMarcus Russell. He held out his rookie training camp before signing a huge contract in the range of 6 years for $68 million with $31.5 million guaranteed. Russell didn’t even take a snap from center until December 2, 2007 when he did so against the Denver Broncos. Russell went 4 of 7 for 56 yards. He didn’t play again until December 23 when he played against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a disastrous statistical game, Russell completed only 7 of 23 passes for 83 yards to go along with 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, and 1 lost fumble. OUCH. After that performance, and the Raiders only sporting a 4-11 record, Lane Kiffin decided to start Russell in the last game of the season against the San Diego Chargers.  On Russell’s first pass as a starting quarterback, he threw an interception. Russell couldn’t finish the game after leaving early in the third quarter after an apparent injury. He did, however, finish the game completing 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards and a TD. I failed to mention he had three turnovers which led to 17 Charger points in a 30-17 loss. Without those 17 points, the Raiders would have won that game 17-13.

    In the 2008 season, Russell was named the starting QB in training camp and ended up starting  15 games. In what was his best statistical season in the NFL thus far in a very short NFL career,  Russell threw for 2,423 yards, 13 TD and only 8 INT’s. That was not a bad year for a guy who is only starting his first full season in the league. The Raiders thought they had something now. They thought wrong. Coming into the 2009 season, Russell was again named the starting QB in training camp, which didn’t surprise anybody after the season he had in ‘08. Which would end up being the beginning of the downfall of JaMarcus Russell, he finished a horrible season completing 48.8 percent of his passes with an abysmal 3 TD’s and 11 INT’s in 9 starts. During the season, he was also benched for the likes of Bruce Gradkowski and journeyman Charlie Frye. Russell really soured in the Raiders’ front office with his mediocre play and nonchalant attitude. He was often seen on the sidelines looking not interested and non-caring. By the end of the ‘09 season, Russell was now the #3 QB on the Raiders depth chart.
   
    In the off season, Russell was criticized for his lack of conditioning and the talk was beginning that the Raiders front-office personnel was trying to convince Al Davis that they had to move on from Russell. Davis eventually agreed and on May 6, 2010, less than 3 years after drafting him #1 overall, JaMarcus Russell was released by the Oakland Raiders. With $36 million already collected in paychecks and guaranteed money, and another $3 million coming his way in the form of a guaranteed paycheck, Russell collected $39 million from the Raiders for completing 52% of his passes, a little over 4,000 yards passing with only 18 TD’s and 23 INT’s. Now, Russell is jobless. What a shame for a guy to have so much talent, make so much money, to just not care about his job and then subsequently be released so soon into his career.

    There was talk that the Cincinnati Bengals were interested in bringing him in as a backup, and there was also speculation some teams were interested in bringing him in and playing another position. Russell is not budging.  The New Orleans Saints have already said they are not interested in bringing Russell back to his home town to backup Drew Brees. Russell has said that he is not at all interested in signing with the Arena Football League or the Canadian Football League. I believe he should leave all doors open. Even if he tried to boost his stock in the newly developed United Football League, I think that’d be great for him. Daunte Culpepper has just signed with a team out in Sacramento. Having two big-name guys in the league would be good for exposure and be good for Russell. He shouldn’t say, “I’m only going to play in the NFL, or nothing.” I truly believe a team in the UFL should definitely try to woo him into playing a year or two with them. He is only 24 years old and doesn’t turn 25 until August. Playing a year in another league where he could work on his conditioning, keeping his weight under control, and even his skills, he could benefit in all aspects. But with that said, having $39 million in the bank is unreal, maybe he’ll just retire. Who knows? Only JaMarcus does.

Giuseppi Logan radio tomorrow, Birthday May 22 -- Suzannah B. Troy

For Giuseppi Logan fans -- He will be on the radio tomorrow WFMU 11am jersey city NJ tomorrow and his birthday is May 22! Below is & 1st installment of video documentary with text by Dan Orth Guiseppi And Jay Logan Reunited After 40 Years. Suzannah Troy is a New York City multi-media artist and journalist.She has played a very big part in breaking the news to the local, national,and international media about the discovery of jazz legend Guiseppi Logan being alive and well.Suzannah was walking throughTompkins Square Park in East Greenwich Village in New York City one day in 2007. She encountered an older black gentleman playing a saxophone. His playing was very passionate,breath-taking,and captivating. Suzannah was mesmerized and swept off her feet by the heavenly sounds coming out of his saxophone. When he stopped playing, Suzannah engaged him in conversation.This was the beginning of a wonderful friendship,and a big chapter in the Guiseppi Logan Story. Two famous musicians,an 80 year-old father and his 47 year-old son, were reunited in New York City,New York on April 13, 2010 after having not seen one another for 40 years.Guiseppi is a multi-instrumentalist who is a genuine living legend of the jazz world.During the 1960's Guiseppi performed with jazz heavy-weights Thelonious Monk,John Coltrane,Charlie Mingus,Pharoah Saunders,Dizzy Gillepsie,Miles Davis,Sun Ra,Milford Graves,etc.He also recorded with some of them.Guiseppi was missing-in-action for close to 30 years.Many people thought he was dead.The American and International jazz world was electrified by the news that Guiseppi Logan was discovered playing alto-saxophone in Tompkins Square Park in Greenwich Village,New York City,New York in 2007! Signals To Noise,Spring Issue 2009, a music magazine, did a lengthy photo filled story on Guiseppi's very distinguished career as a jazz musician. Jay Logan has been a working musician since he was a teenager when he played and toured in his first bands.He has supported himself and his family his entire life as a professional musician.Jay's favorite musical genre is main- stream-pop,but he can very easily diversify into jazz. Jay has had an outstanding career as a performing and studio musician,songwriter,arranger,producer,recording artist,musical director,etc.He is very much sought-after by other musicians,producers,and people in the music business. Jay was born and raised in New York City.He and his mother Dorothy moved to Oakland,California in 1970 when she and Guiseppi seperated.Guiseppi was adamant about his son becoming a musician.Guiseppi was a very strict musician father.Guiseppi gave Jay his first music lessons from ages 1-7.Jay played the piano,some other instruments,and learned musical scales.Those very early childhood lessons and all that practicing sure did pay off for Jay! Stay tuned. Written By Dan Orth Video by Bobby Paulino


p.s. Folks here is my playlist YouTube documentary series that started it all and became a YouTube miracle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTssjT9rAmQ&feature=PlayList&p=D1175469A77B9F2C&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1

Global Exchange' Chevron report lacks System Dynamics view

Stocks and Flows - System Dynamics basics

A number of people have contacted me about the Global Exchange report on Chevron's Oil Operations around the World called The True Cost of Chevron. There are two sides here: Chevron haters who want to make sure I see the report and then will salivate over what I blog, and Chevron itself who wants my view on the report because it's balanced.

It is so because when I was in Grad School at UC Berkeley in City and Regional Planning, what consistently angered me was how some third world countries failed to provide for the needs of their poorest citizens. Now, Chevron-haters fail to note the problems in those same countries that I paid attention to at Berkeley (and beyond to a degree.)

What's captured my interest on this for a while now is the pavlovian negative reaction of San Francisco Bay Area activists who work for non-profits or some alternative media types who know them to Chevron. It makes me wonder what trial lawyers, and I know a ton of them, are behind their work. It's so much of a one-sided view that one is compelled to look, and in this blogger's role as disrupter to just about any sacred cow, this issue is too juicy for this space to ignore. Especially considering the lack of a rigorous, System Dynamics perspective, which I will explain below.

First, I have to admit I love the comprehensive approach of the report. Done well, it could be used as a business plan for Chevron's future. But the problem is The True Cost of Chevron leaves out facts to make a negative point about Chevron, thus losing its value as a guide to corporate improvement. Let's take the case of Richmond.

Very recently, just last week, the City of Richmond and Chevron settled a long battle over tax payments and Gayle The Mayor of Richmond really came out looking good on that score. Here's what was decided:

- Chevron will pay an additional $114 million to The City of Richmond over the next 14 years.
- The City of Richmond will stop its ballot measure to change the Utility Tax and Chevron will remove its proposal.
- The City of Richmond will drop its appeal of the Measure T Ballot measure, which was ruled unconstitutional.
- Chevron would wave $1.2 million it sought from the City related to Measure T.
- Chevron will make community contributions totaling $8 million.

Again, I have been critical of Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin on this in the past, but frankly I like her as a person so I was waiting, looking, and hoping for this kind of news. It's with us. So we think that battle's over, right? On to the Richmond Refinery issue? Right?

Well, if you look at the Global Exchange report, and you should do so, it doesn't at all mention the agreement. In an Internet age, one would think an update, one paragraph or two, would be easy to add. Not there.

That's the rub with the Global Exchange report. It is a list of anecdotal stories and tales to paint one view of a firm.

What I would have done if I were Global Exchange is this:

1) Build a comprehensive System Dynamics model of Chevron and its operations around the World.

My expertise is in the area of System Dynamics and I've built almost 200 models over my time. The best example is my Oakland Baseball Simworld sim which I built using the Forio Business Simulations FML Programming Language, and where one can run the business of the Oakland Athletics over a 15 year period and make decisions that are realistic. The sims has over 2,000 variables grouped in 956 equation sets. You can run thousands of scenario permutations, and the sim is based on real legal systems, like Redevelopment, and fiscal methods like franchise valuation.

Another System Dynamics (or "SD") model I constructed was in 1994 and for The East Bay Express and of The University of California at Berkeley's impact on The City of Berkeley.  The East Bay Express' editor John Raeside contacted me about building an "SD" model because he was convinced the University's decision to drop salary payments by five percent was going to harm the City of Berkeley.

For that, I created a 900 variable SD model, ran it several times, and concluded that the real economic issue wasn't the salary decrease, because the vast majority of UC Berkeley employees lived outside of Berkeley.  The real problem was rising Cal-Berkeley tuition costs, which choked-off student spending in Berkeley (remember about 60 percent of students lived in Berkeley at the time) and harmed Berkeley's sales tax revenue.

(You'd think Raeside would have been happy? No.  He wanted his view in SD form; I said I go with what the model runs showed and no changes for emotionalism.  Period.  End of story.  We parted ways. The model was an honest representation of the socio-economic dynamics of Cal in Berkeley.  I even predicted student demographic growth changes!  Given what's happened with rising tuition today, that study is more relevant than ever. )

In Chevron's case, I want to know how the business is ran in terms of the process of A to Z: from planning and development to oil extraction and distribution and consumption. One of the reasons I became interested in System Dynamics was Royal Dutch Shell's work using "Scenario Planning," and that was how I came to know the Emeryville - based Global Business Network. Peter Schwartz, who is one of the founders of GBN, used Scenario PLanning when he worked with Royal Dutch Shell in the 70s. (On a side note, one of the original members of GBN was Bob Klein, the owner of the now-famous Olivetto's Restaurant in Oakland.)

I'm not a fan of Scenario Planning without System Dynamics, because the outcome of any story is some kind of numerical picture. I tried to explain that to Schwartz a while back, but it didn't take with him. Not to be mean, just honest. It's important to understand the dynamics of a system and to do that, one must build a System Dynamics model. It's in the rigor of thinking about a system and then trying to build a representation of it that we understand it.

My Chevron System Dynamics Model would also include representations of government structure and country industry and demographics as they impact oil operations. Finally we would have to add concerns such as weather and earthquakes, and plant and investment rates over time, and local political, socio-economic, and criminal issues (like terrorism).

The end result would be a System Dynamics model that then allows one to test different corporate approaches. From that we can see their impact on firm's revenues and expenses and value. The uneducated will immediately jump to the idea that "it's all about money" but really having built so many of these models, I can explain that political issues always impact the bottom line.

From that I would write my report.

2 - Write An "Alternative Business Plan" For Chevron

The Chevron business plan would come from the conclusions after running the model. What's exciting about this approach is it allows us to actually see how the issues raised in the Global Exchange report impact Chevron and how different approaches and also improvements in the political problems of some of the countries where Chevron does business, impact the firm.

What's most valuable is the Chevron business plan can capture the attention of Chevron execs, shareholders, and activists. Online versions of the model would be open for anyone to run. It would change the nature of the debate about Chevron from its current, combative, at times idiotic, and really very anti-intellectual approach, to one that's reasoned, intelligent, and well-considered.

Global Exchange could very well be the organization that takes the steps I'm advocating. It would result in the most path-breaking effort since the Club of Rome's program that led to the World Models developed by Dennis Meadows and his team at MIT in 1971, and based on the paradigm of System Dynamics, created by Jay Forrester at MIT.  (And which was updated in the book Beyond The Limits which was based on a new model called World 3.)

Stay tuned because this cries for more on System Dynamics and Scenario Planning.

Facebook Privacy: My love/hate relationship. by: Nikky Raney

When my Facebook was hacked I was asked to send an official government issued I.D. as well as bank statement (or anything else that comes in the mail that can show my proof of residence) to prove that the account truly was mine.

I have had my fair share of issues with Facebook. From disabled account, hacking, terminated accounts, fake profiles made of me, etc. So, for those who have been complaining and talking about Facebook privacy (read the policy) -- although that may be a big issues, there's a lot more to be worried about.

Facebook privacy has been a popular topic amongst many media outlets. It seems like I have read at least 57 different articles from different sources talking about Facebook privacy.

This entry is somewhat of a "prequel" (I can't think of a better word) to the blog entry I am planning for Friday/Saturday. I am planning on doing a "word of the week" blog entry dealing with Facebook Privacy issues, but I felt like I should discuss it a bit on this blog beforehand.

I am directing this at Facebook, but really this can be said for Internet privacy in general. If you don't want something to be seen - don't post it.

On Facebook users are given the option to choose what people searching for them are able to see. They are able to send and receive friend requests, and put different friends on lists that customizes what the friends in each list/group is able to see.

When posting a status update users can choose who will be able to view the update. The only thing that Facebook users do not have control over is what the people they allow to view their content will do with their content.

For example, if someone has a group specifically made for college friends and then a group made for family and makes it so family members are unable to view posts on walls, status updates, etc. then family members in that group will NOT be able to view those posts from their profile.

Facebook even lets you see how your profile is seen when someone searches for you.

Maybe the problem is that people don't know HOW to customize these privacy settings, because most of the settings need to be changed manually.

I am not trying to say that I am smarter than others, but I think that it is generally assumed that most people do not read the "terms of service" before accepting. I always read those.

If anyone has had issues with Facebook I am on the top of that list. My first Facebook account was terminated after being disabled four different occasions. Each time lasted less than 18 hours, and the reasons I got were that I was poking too frequently, sending too many messages, etc. The OVERUSE of my Facebook was the reason for the termination. I was 18 at the time and I was really upset by this, because I had my Facebook since I was 16. From December 2006 until November 2008 I had that Facebook account.

I was unable to obtain ANY of the photos I had saved on Facebook. I had to start over from scratch. I sent many e-mails offering to bake Mark Zuckerberg brownies if I could please get my Facebook account back. I was worried about what would happen to those photos, to the personal messages I had sent, and any other information I had. I tried to sign onto the account, and to this day if I try to sign on it says that it has been disabled by an administrator.

When I first created my new Facebook I got a warning from Facebook saying I was adding friends too quickly, and that I was being looked at as suspicious for spam. I was adding friends quickly so that I would be able to get the friends back that I had lost from my other account. My other account had over 1,000 friends, and it can be hard to remember the names. Many of the friends I had made were through networking, previous sources, etc. Starting over from scratch was a bummer.

But it's even harder when someone else claims to be you. I searched "Nikky Raney" on Facebook and saw five other accounts using MY photo, claiming to be me. If you want to complain about privacy issue, how about identity issues. I reported most of the accounts to Facebook, but there are still some existing. It was hard battling it out with my "fake accounts." I would message my friends to say "this is my real account, add this one." And the fake account would be sending out the same messages. I had to deal with a lot of stress and trying to prove my real identity.

Then, in fall of 2009 I had my Facebook hacked. I remember that this lasted for 13 days. It was an incredibly hard 13 days, because I realized how much I NEEDED Facebook. I had told people I would contact them via Facebook for interviews, and since I had them on Facebook I had not asked for a cell-phone number to contact in case. I did not think there was an "in case." I have learned since from that. I never conduct interviews via online, but I like to plan interviews and set up times to meet and talk prior via online.

While the hacker was on my account I was getting texts from my friends asking why I was sending them strange messages. I was concerned about the private information that I may have within my Facebook messages.

I felt so desperate. I felt pathetic for relying on Facebook so much. It was embarrassing. I sent numerous e-mails to Facebook. I read through the Privacy Guidelines, Help Center, Forums, etc. I had been e-mailing Facebook from a different e-mail than the e-mail address my account was registered with, because the hacker got to my e-mail too. That was the e-mail address I used to access MSN, and I had lost all those contacts as well.

Facebook officials e-mailed me asking for a copy of my government issued ID, and a piece of mail received that showed proof of residency. I wanted my Facebook back, and I followed the instructions.

I finally got my Facebook back, but they had linked the new password to my old e-mail address. I had to quickly sign on with that address and change the e-mail linked to my account so that the hacker would not be able to do it again.

I went through all this work just for my FACEBOOK account. With all the talk about Privacy, I started to wonder if I made the right choices. Or should I have made a THIRD Facebook account.

Does Zuckerberg still have a copy of my non-driver's license? Will Zuckerberg go on my previous & disabled Facebook account and find my information there. Does Mark Zuckerberg have access to all of our Facebook accounts?

I would advise you to read about the privacy on the web site and to do the research needed. To be safe, above all, I would advise that do not put anything on Facebook that could be used against you in the future. As much privacy and trust we have, there is always that chance that something bad could happen.

Before you jump down my throat about how stupid I was to give all that information out - I felt like it was something I needed to do, and I trusted that the information would be kept private. So far so good, I hope. I have learned to be smarter with my Facebook actions, and when I am setting up interviews and interactions I use my personal e-mail address as well as my phone. I still haven't been able to get Facebook to terminate the "fake Nikky Raney" accounts, but I have been able to make it clear to my friends that it's really me.

I am helping my mom a lot with her Facebook, and I have had to do lots of things with her privacy settings. I really hope that people getting into Facebook read all the fine print and do some fine-tuning.

I turn 20-years-old in 17 days, and I have come along way since first joining Facebook in 2006. Being put through the privacy tests, hacking, termination, and other situations has really gotten me to appreciate non-social media interaction a lot more. We rely so much on the site that we forget that Zuckerberg could decide he's sick of Facebook and delete the website entirely tomorrow (please don't!).

Always read the "terms and conditions" before accepting.

I still love Facebook, and I am glad that I got my account. I am using my account for networking and not getting tied into the applications like Farmville (I'll save my Farmville rant for another blog). I trust Zuckerberg to keep our stuff private, and I don't plan on leaving Facebook. And if I ever got my account disabled for overuse of the site, I would just keep coming back. I love my Facebook and there's nothing you can do about it!

P.S. And for all the people searching "HOW DO I DELETE MY FACEBOOK?!?" You can always get it terminated. Just send a lot of messages to your friends, send a lot of friend requests, poke everyone you know, and use the site 24/7. The over-use of Facebook got my first account terminated, so I am sure it will work for you.

I will be doing a follow up on this on Friday on my website/personal blog "The Future Of Journalism"

This blog entry was written by Nikky Raney

For questions or suggestions don't hesitate to e-mail me

(the links throughout this blog -the words with hyperlinks attached- link to web sites that will help anyone with privacy questions. Each link is DIFFERENT. I decided to spread them throughout the entry instead of just listening a list of privacy help links at the end. So if you are looking for links/articles about Facebook privacy, just click around at the links within this entry)

Zennie62 at TechCrunch Disrupt, New York, by Christine Smith Contractors

Next week Zennie62 will return to New York City for the first TechCrunch Disrupt conference.

The trip is sponsored by Christine Smith Associates, Inc., the Premier Female Contractor in NYC. (Christine Smith is probably the only New York Contractor to be featured, not just mentioned, in New York Post Page 6 by Cindy Adams.)

TechCrunch Disrupt (@TCDisrupt on Twitter) is a mating of media people and tech people in arguably the next tech center, New York City. TechCrunch Disrupt is an answer to the problem noted in this space where tech people talk to tech people and journalists talk to journalists about the future of media, but not to each other.

But TechCrunch Disrupt goes a massive step beyond that and ads the venture capitalist to the mix. The result is a stew of creative people and a presentation of startup companies that will drive the future of media and communications. It will have speakers like Jason Calacanis from Mahalo, and Charlie Rose will interview legendary Venture Capitalist John Doerr. But more important than names are firms; TechCrunch will have scores of new media and communications companies just getting off the ground.

TechCrunch Disrupt runs from May 24th to May 26th and will be held at an Merrill Lynch office at 570 Washington Street in Manhattan, where "SoHo Meets The Hudson" as the website reads. I'm honored and excited to have been invited to cover this event. I guess Hearst Corporation / SF Chronicle Executive Vice President of Content Development and Editor-at-Large Phil Bronstein was right when he referred to me as an insurgent: that's another term for disrupter.

I like that.

In fact, let's look at my video interview with Phil from earlier this year because it provides a good look at how the changing media landscape impacts The San Francisco Chronicle, and what's important in "new media tech" from Phil's perspective:



Join this space for a virtual trip to TechCruch Disrupt, but if you want to attend you can get tickets here: TICKETS.

See ya!

---

Christine Smith Associates, Inc. is Located and based out of Historic Gramercy Park has made construction dreams come true. She designs AND project manages - like having your own personal rep on the job! She takes care of it all from your voice thru the city agencies to gain all necessary approvals on and into the hands of the tradesmen.

Campbell Brown, Miley Cyrus, sex and hypocrisy

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YouTube, Yahoo, Metacafe, DailyMotion, Blip.tv and StupidVideos

Campbell Brown

Earlier today, Campbell Brown announced that she was resigning from CNN because of low ratings. Two years ago in 2008, this blogger asserted that CNN should follow Fox News' lead and have Brown use the legs, much as Fox News does. That in no way takes away from Campbell Brown's prowess as a news anchor, but still my take was considered sexist by some, yet others agreed with me that it wasn't. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus rakes in the cash, and sex sells in media.

But really, what's Sexism?

Sexism in its purest form is putting a person down because of their sex. Again, Campbell Brown's a top-flight news anchor who should have the position she had with CNN and more. CNN was right to work a deal to land Brown over two years ago.

But in 2008, CNN was being clobbered by Fox News in TV ratings. Fox News was known for its presentation of female anchors in short skirts. Weathering criticism, Fox News continues the practice to this day and has established a ratings lead over CNN that's horrifyingly large.

But sexist? Even the definitions of Sexism listed in Wikipedia explain only that one can argue that while using sex to cause people to watch a telecast may be sexist, it's not agreed that this is the case. The reason for this is the extreme levels of hypocrisy on display in this debate.

For example, had I said CNN's Anderson Cooper should wear a polo shirt to show his cut muscular body, no one would blog that was sexist and some women would click the "like" button on Facebook (heck, some guys too). The fact is, Anderson Cooper's not leaving his show as of this writing. But more to the point is it seems to be OK to point to male sexual assets on television but not to female sexual assets, yet, the patterns of viewing shows a desire to "see female skin."

Some bloggers are down right hypocritical in their criticism of the "sex sells" approach. Entertainment Tonight blogger Aly Semigran said that my take of Campbell Brown was sexist. But get this, Aly Semigran herself is known as a blogger who specializes in blogging about sex scandals according to NewsObserver.com. In her posts, she uses terms like "icky" to describe a sex scandal, yet is drawn to blog about it like a fish to water.

Using terms like "icky" is a way to wash out the guilt Aly feels from writing about sex scandals and also to mask the sheer enjoyment she undoubtedly gets from blogging about everything from Tiger Woods Mistresses and the Tiger Woods Text Messages, to John Edwards and Rielle Hunter, and of course Charlie Sheen.

In other words, Aly Semigran covers the same ground that this blogger walks, but does so with guilt; I have none. Aly knows sex sells, but she's conflicted. That's the worst place to be.

It's terrible because Aly dives down the sexual fox hole with gusto and is willing to get dirty but runs the risk of not knowing when the lines between what's acceptable taste and isn't are blurred. If a person has no fear of using sex in media they know when not to use it and why.

For example, Aly seems to write about every sex scandal there is. If God were involved in a sex scandal, she'd blog it.  Last month, Aly wrote about another sex scandal that I consider very low-level: it would never make the Google Trends list so why bother? Yet Aly did so, and repeats an email Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon wrote to CAA staff about her allegedly cheating husband that wasn't important to repost except for shock value and so you will not see here.

I could argue Aly was being sexist for, in her pursuit of sex scandal stories, presenting women in a certain light by presenting the same images of mistresses and hurt, angry, weathy wives over and over and over again. But because Aly has a fear of using sex that's masked with other reasons, blogging about a low-level story like that one becomes second nature, and the overall impact is lost on her. Makes me think of Desperate Housewives.

Yep, Desperate Housewives, which features the same story lines about, yep, cheating husbands and wives. Desperate Housewives proves that sex sells on television and was one of the most successful launches in television history in 2005.

That's the field Aly's playing in. A show that some call sexist and offensive. Yet here's Aly presenting the same kind of material to her audience and yet calling me sexist because I want a powerful female anchor and not a wife or a mistress to show some leg to get ratings. That's hypocrisy. Is Aly the kind who wears a cleavage showing blouse, dares a guy not to look down, then uses the same as an online profile picture? I wonder.

I will defend my point again and again. Sadly Campbell Brown's going to be off the air on CNN. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus remains not only on the air but bigger than ever in the wake of the Miley Cyrus Lap Dance Video scandal. Fox News continues its combination of angry white guys, lovely blonde women, and Sarah Palin. And Desperate Housewives is still one of the most popular shows on television.

Sex sells for men and women. It's not a put down of anyone, but a fact of life.

Sandra Bullock to adopt another baby? -- Suzannah B. Troy

I predicted right away that Sandra Bullock could be "going Angelina Jolie" and tonight on Extra (? - unless I am watching TMZ I flip fast)  it was mentioned people close to Bullock are saying she does want to adopt very soon so Louis has a younger sibling.

I made this prediction April 29 right here on this blog, Zennie62.com and now it seems I am one step closer to being proven right.  http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2010/04/sandra-bullock-angelina-jolie-adoption.html  

I mentioned it on the previous posting about Jesse James coming to tv to tell us his side on Nightline.  Good thing Nightline airs late at night so the kiddies will be in bed because anything he has to say is for an adult audience, at least right now.

There are stunning new photos of Louis being hugged tightly to Sandra Bullock in New Orleans as she goes shopping for him and he looks even more beautiful if that is possible.  He is a gorgeous baby.

Hollywood is in baby mode over time and I have to say I have late in life baby envy extra bad right now.

Kelly Preston is 3 months pregnant and she is the same age as me, 47.  This is not a surprise since she and John Travolta went through the trauma of losing their son.

It is also no surprise to me that Sandra Bullock is rumored to be adopting another child as soon as she can as discussed tonight on a celebrity tv show.   She doesn't want to be described as "going Angelina Jolie" I am sure but another People Magazine scoop maybe coming as soon as Sandra Bullock can work out an adoption...adopting a child isn' t like ordering fast food so be patient and stay tuned....