Eli Manning gets 12 stitches By Nikky Raney

Eli Manning, New York Giants quarterback, was crushed by Jets Linebacker, Calvin Pace on Monday, August 16.

Pace somehow managed to get Manning's helmet taken off. Manning's head bounced off Jim Leonhard's face mask which resulted in a lost of bleeding from Manning's head.

The bloody three-inch gash on Manning's head required 12 stitches.

Manning tells NY Times, "It’s not really an injury. Nothing serious. I feel like I could go back out and play right now if I had to."

Tom Coughlin, Giants coach, gives his explanation on what happened:

"There was a run called and Eli just went for the fade ball with the wide receiver without really making any type of an alert or changing the play so he was just going to go ahead and communicate with the receiver and throw the ball. The only problem was that the play that had been called was a middle burst by Brandon Jacobs and Brandon thought he was getting the ball."

The Giants beat the Jets 31 to 16 in the preseason game at New Jersey stadium.

Video: Dr. Christina Villarreal discusses educational steps in becoming a Clinical Psychologist

Ever thought about going back to school to become a therapist? Psychologist?

Part 2 of a 3 part series featuring Dr. Christina Villarreal, a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Oakland, CA. In this segment, Dr. Villarreal discusses her drive and passion for psychology, and her road map for pursuing a career in clinical psychology. She discusses how she overcame the academic hurdles of pursuing a doctorate, how she utilized other professional Latinas and African American women as mentors. Dr. Villarreal outlines the various aspects of her private practice which include providing psychotherapy, cognitive and personality assessment in a forensic capacity, and teaching doctoral students in clinical psychology. Further, she breaks down the specific, individual steps it takes to acquire a doctorate in this field.

The show host is Bay Area native Kymm Wilson of Ground Level Perspective, which he began as an online radio show based out of Oakland, CA, which he expanded into a television series broadcast on U-Verse channel 99, Comcast East Bay channel 7/28 featuring Peralta TV. The producer/director is James Calhoun, a former producer of R&B/Hip-Hop music. James is a prominent producer in the video/film industry earning local Emmy nominations in 2009.

WE.G.I brings positivity back to rap By Nikky Raney

WE.G.I brings positivity back to rap

Article by: Nikky Raney

WE.G.I is a New York rap group determined to bring positivity and motivation back to rap.

WE.G.I stands for "we go in." When brothers Rico Brown and Black Magic sat down with their sister Storm they figured the name fit well since they "go in and go hard."

The rap trio has been inspired by their family to continue working hard to get their music heard.

"Music has always been in my family, and my parent's didn't get their chance to shine," Black Magic says.

The members of WE.G.I want to bring rap and hip-hop back to the way it was during LL Cool J and Tupac's time.

"If you listen to the industry you will see it. You can tell it's really poisoned and negative right now. When you turn on the radio and hear the songs there's too much promotion of negativity. You got females that want to be other females and it isn't even about music anymore," Brown explains.

The rap group is currently unsigned, but they hope to get a deal with Shady records; if that does not work out they will try to start their own record label with the rest of their family. The group would also love to have their own reality TV show.

"My Business" is their latest single and the group members are trying to get a ring tone deal so that the song can be appreciated nationally. They really want their music to be heard all over.

"We want to bring it back to talent and motivation - not about money and fame. It's dark in the industry - we are trying to give it some fresh air," Brown continues. "We perform at many open mic shows. I was in a group with my cousins and we opened in Atlanta for T.I, but I left because I didn't have the drive and dedication I do now."

Storm is currently in the Dominican Republic promoting WE.G.I. She sees a bright future ahead for the group.

"[The] goal is to be known worldwide for our unique sound; make WE.G.I a brand," she says. "We have ideas for reality TV shows, a clothing line, cartoons etc. We are all versatile and different, but when fused together we're unstoppable."

WE.G.I has been compared to the Black Eyed Peas, according to the members.

The group has performed for Source Magazine, Thisis50.com, and has an upcoming performance on August 29, 2010 for underground artists that are unsigned.

WE.G.I. has been nominated "Respect Da Grind" award at the Indie Elite Artist Awards 2010 in Brooklyn NY, August 29, 2010.

An album for WE.G.I will be coming out in the near future; right now they are waiting for their single to be up on iTunes.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Sierra Club sends awful email to Zennie

Sierra Club thinks Joe Tuman isn't "viable"

The Oakland Mayor's Race just gets more interesting. As a reminder, before we continue, The Oakland Mayor's Race has thirteen candidates: Tim Brown, Terrance Candell, Arnold Fields, Sharika Gregory, Greg Harland, Marcie Hodge, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Don Macleay, Niki Okuk, Don Macleay, Councilmember Jean Quan, Joe Tuman, and Larry Lionel Young Jr.

Got that?  Ok.

In all of the years this blogger has lived in and been involved in politics in Oakland California, there has never been an email sent that was as awful as the one you're about to see, by the Volunteer Chairperson of Northern Alameda County Group, Sierra Club, San Francisco Bay Chapter, Kent Lewandowski.

It's the Sierra Club's way of saying they just see three Oakland Mayor's Race candidates - Rebecca Kaplan, Jean Quan, and Don Perata,  when there are 13 candidates:

Apparently assuming that Zennie Abraham's running for Mayor of Oakland, which is not the case, Kent Lewandowski, sent this email to several Oakland Mayor's Race candidates - and to me - on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 12:41 AM PST, which reads:

Kent
to candell1@yahoo.com,
dluvcan@yahoo.com,
candidate@macleay4mayor.org,
info@arniefields.org,
info@harland4mayor.com,
mhodge@peralta.edu,
LL.Young@prurealty.com
cc zennie@zennie62.com
date Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 12:41 AM
subject Green Oakland Mayoral Forum - Sierra Club
signed-by gmail.com
hide details 12:41 AM (3 hours ago)
Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in participating in the "Green Oakland"
forum sponsored by the Sierra Club. We made the decision to invite
the 3 candidates who are considered by all accounts as the "most
viable" in the race. The decision which candidates are considered
"viable" has to do with a number of factors, which includes the
elected office they may have held in the past (if any), their ability
to raise money for the campaign, and the level of organization of
their campaign.

We have only 90 minutes of time to discuss our issues, and hope to
include members of the community in the discussion. Thus there simply
isn't enough time to incorporate all 10 or more mayoral candidates in
this forum.

We understand your disappointment, but felt this was the best decision
in the interest of having a productive and informative event.

Sincerely,

Kent Lewandowski, volunteer Chairperson
Northern Alameda County Group
Sierra Club, San Francisco Bay Chapter

Thinking this was a prank, the first move was to Google the name "Kent Lewandowski" and the email kentlewan@gmail.com. The results revealed that the person indeed was Kent Lewandowski, of the San Francisco Bay Chapter of The Sierra Club.

So, this email reply was sent and to Mr. Lewandowski and all of the candidates:

Hello,

Kent, is this really you? Or someone else?

Zennie

Then this follow-up was sent:

Hello Kent,

This is, if it's real, without a doubt the most awful email I've ever seen in Oakland politics. First, I'm not running for Mayor of Oakland. Second, I'm a video-blogger, which means I intend to make the transmission public. Third, do you realize that the reasons stated for having just three candidates at the "Green Forum" add up to a silly, giant, unfunny joke on the people of Oakland?

The Sierra Club has no business sticking its nose in Oakland politics to try and rig an election. Oaklanders deserve to see and hear from each person running for Mayor of Oakland.

Those persons have taken the time and gotten the signatures to file to run for the office. In an Internet age, "money" is not the powerful political element needed, and in an economy so bad it's compared to The Great Depression by some, with people losing jobs and an Oakland unemployment rate that's over 20 percent (that's one of every five people), for the Sierra Club to send the kind of message communicated in this email - that money is all that matters - is both awful, insulting to the other candidates, and completely stupid.

Sorry to be insulting of the Sierra Club's business practices, but that's my view. I'm sure you, yourself, are a decent person. The email does not reflect what you're capable of, I'm certain.

It is possible to have a forum that's two hours long and gives 13 candidates an ability to present their case to be Mayor of Oakland.

That The Sierra Club, that great organization that seems to pride itself on intellect or at least has cultivated such a brand identity, can't solve this math and logistics problem presented is both hilarious and sad.

It's your duty as a so-called non-profit organization to figure out a solution to the problem. It's not your duty or obligation to dictate who Oaklanders should vote for at any level of office.

This blogger certainly has his favorite candidates in some races (not this one), but never deliberately refuses to talk to another candidate or give them exposure. It's not fair and its not right for organizations or people who have communicative reach to do that.

The best move for The Sierra Club is to cancel the ironically titled "Green Oakland Mayoral Forum " - ironic, because the only "green" is in the implication that it takes "green" to win the Mayor's race - as planned and rethink the idea. Or, if The Sierra Club is not intellectually capable of solving the riddle of hosting a comprehensive forum for the people of Oakland, just don't do one.

This video - blogger will close by saying he knows the answer, and, no, it's got nothing to do with video. 

Best,

Zennie Abraham

Then, as it was sent late at night and I'm three-hours ahead, I went back to sleep.

Stay tuned, Zennisters. There's more.

NYers Ticket Terrorism to higher taxes? by Suzannah B. Troy

I don't know what budget crisis hell you are going through in California but the forecast here in NYC is things are going to get worse.

I wrote this blog posting this morning...

Thanks to Mark for sending me this article on how the State of New York are ripping off dead people from The New York Daily News.

Dear New Yorkers:

Get ready to be ripped off some more....

City of New York

1) Mike Bloomberg has kicked off the "ticket terrorism" program

If our local head king Mike can find a way to unfairly and wrongly ticket the middle and working class and small businesses the king will find away...after all he has to subsidize the infrastructure expansion for all his rich ruling party class including developers like Donald Trump, NYU and Cooper Union supersizing busting through zoning and weighing heavy on our old infrastructure -- plus the zone busting hotels that followed the mega dorms down 3rd avenue in to the Bowery....

Also don't forget Columbia University abusing eminent domain and forcing an entire neighborhood Manhattanville for their expansion!!!!

Here is a hint for you Mike --- the people of New York are furious about the excessive and wrongful ticketing and maybe this will be the last straw that causes a revolution here since 1776.

A word to the wise -- lighten up because Suzannah B. Troy is hearing lots of complaints from all over NYC about this.

the East Village lower East Side looks like a bomb was dropped thanks to Bloomberg's reckless expansion.

2) Higher taxes...?

3) Fire houses shutter

4) Lay-offs and pay cuts...?

5) City Council votes themselves a raise, accepts lulus and steals tax payer money and appoints there wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, mistresses, sisters, life time partners -- yes Christine Quinn gave slush money to an org that her partner sits on as I recall.....but who cares -- no one is paying attention....

But maybe they will when crime rises, the street condition and sidewalks grow even worse, even more people lose their jobs....

By the way last time I check Albany still has not balanced the budget....9.2 billion dollars and every day they do not -- it was do April 1st - the budget crisis becomes a great catastrophe.....not that anyone seems to be worried but at this rate if these clowns do not do something than we can expect a budget crisis a kin to a terrorist attack.

*Any loyal blog readers know I believe Dave Paterson rumored to be a habitual liar is guilty of intimidating a victim of spousal abuse in to silence.  It is a no brainer.  What was he doing having staff, state troopers etc. contacting her?

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/17/hearing-set-on-alleged-ethics-violations-by-gov-paterson/

Honesty and integrity are not his strong points...

we have such lousy leadership...we are doomed.

Note:  Suzannah B. Troy's theory on while your Con Ed bills are so darn high....Con Ed forcing you to pay for all the massive infrastructure expansion they can't even keep up with -- part of the Bloomberg reckless tsunami of development that crushed and displaced our communities.... Pox on socialite mega millionaire Amanda the people's Burden the worse city planner ever.

A revolution is highly recommended....

It is a beautiful day....enjoy the day... pray for miracles of all kinds, all sizes and shapes welcomed.

Tila Tequila attacked - Tila and Juggalos cult get attention

Tila Tequila via last.fm

It's now day four in the wake of the episode that saw Tila Tequila attacked by a mob of angry people who call themselves Juggalos at the Gathering of The Juggalos festival in Illinois Saturday morning, and still it's one of the hottest topics of Internet conversation.

Certainly, for all of the things she's done to gain attention, Tila Tequila didn't think - could not have thought - it was going to happen like this. (Of course, a contrarian view is she did plan it, but even if that were the case, it's hard to think she would want that level of harm to come to her.)

Now, the Internet video this blogger created has gained 285 comments, and about 40,000 views. Some of them pro-Juggalos and not Tila, and many the opposite. But it's something drawing attention:



Why? Because, in part, and sadly, some people want to see Tila harmed. The same people don't stop to think of what their reaction would be if harm cam to them. Some of the videos express a level of hatred for Tila Tequila that's almost psychotic.

The Juggalos are not beyond blame here, either. And in that case, some Juggalos were written to have been attacking others, if only to show that their behavior is not desirable.

Stay tuned.

Oakland Cleveland Heights neighbors consider private security

In the wake of Oakland police budget cuts and crime rate that's not adjusting for the city's dismal budget, the City of Oakland and neighbors in Cleveland Heights, also known as Haddon Hill, consider private security as a solution.

But first, what's Cleveland Heights / Haddon Hill?

It's a neighborhood bordered by Park Boulevard, E 18th Street, Lakeshore, and The Mac Arthur Freeway, and contains the now-closed Parkway Theater and The Merritt Bakery. It has an estimated population of over 7,400 people according to City-Data.com.

Oakland Coucilmember Pat Kernighan issued this email to the Cleveland Heights Yahoo Group:

Dear Cleveland Heights neighbors,

I am writing to ask for your input to help out the residents in a nearby area. The north part of Beat 17Y has been hit hard in the last month by very brazen robbers. The neighbors there are interested in hiring a private security patrol. I recall that during one of the earlier crime waves on Haddon Hill, some of you had investigated and hired one of the companies who have cars that drive around the neighborhood. Can you tell me if that worked out and what the company was? I will share that with the Bayview folks. Thanks.

Pat Kernighan
City Councilmember,District 2
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 2d Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
510-238-7002
pkernighan@...
www.patkernighan.com

The listed answer was for an alarm and patrol firm called Safety Dynamics listed at 4663 Harbord Dr in Oakland, but it's not know what experience anyone has had with them.

Other than Safety Dynamics, it's hard to find another Oakland-based private service. There's the Guardian Angels and San Francisco Security Guard, which isn't in Oakland.

Cleveland Heights neighbors must get to know each other

Even with National Night Out, there are not a lot of people in the Cleveland Heights / Haddon Hill area who really know each other on a first name basis and feel free to call out a problem as it unfolds. Knowing each other well is the best security there is.

Victor Cruz shocks NY Giants, NY Jets, and Monday Night Football

Image via Wikipedia

Victor Cruz, a little-known 6-1 200 pound free agent from Massachusetts reportedly said this before the Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets, to open the New Meadowlands Stadium:

"There's definitely a rivalry. You always want to beat them…actually you kind of always want to beat the crap out of them."

Then Victor Cruz went out and did it. Shocking the New York Jets, The New York Gisnts he plays for and the ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast crew, not to mention the crowd, Cruz six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Cruz first touchdown catch was a circus one-handed grab for a 64-yard score (from Giants.com):



Now, the New York Giants, who won the game 31 to 16, are rich at wide receiver and have to figure out who they're going to get rid of to make sure the free agent trash-talker who can back it up stays on the team.

Michael Douglas has Throat Cancer; Wall Street star optimistic

Michael Douglas 

Hollywood Legend Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with throat cancer. The 65-year old star actor, who won the 1988 Oscar Best Actor in A Leading Role for his performance as Wall Street Investment Banker Gordon Gekko in Wall Street 1987, and is set to star in the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, is confident that eight weeks of treatment including radiation and chemotherapy will eliminate the tumor found in his throat.

Douglas told People Magazine "I am very optimistic," regarding the chances for complete recovery.

Douglas has busy fall

Michael Douglas has two movies he's got to finish work on in the fall. He's got to help market the upcoming Wall Street sequel, then he's in Steven Soderberg's action film Knockout

Douglas Wall Street performance was classic

Michael Douglas is one of this blogger's favorite actors for his no-holds-barred portrail of the hard-driving Wall Street investment banker of the 80s in the form of a character called Gordon Gekko. Here's part of the famous "Greed is Good" scene that won Michael the Oscar, a segment done with one speech, and no break. And for some reason this video starts where Douglas says "Greed is Good," when it point of fact, that starts about two-thirds of the way into his dramatic statement. It's hard to find a video of Douglas' full speech. But here is the most famous part of it:



That speech game to define the 80s, and even my relationship with my then girlfriend, such that our plan was, if we hit it big, for one of us to take the other to the 21 Club for dinner.

As readers of this space know, this blogger makes an annual trip to New York for The NFL Draft, which always includes dinner at 21.

What started all of that was Michael Douglas in Wall Street.

May he recover quickly.

Brian Westbrook to SF 49ers gets Twitter trash from Darnell Dockett

Image via Wikipedia

Brian Westbrook should look for #90 

After eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Running Back Brian Westbrook was released seven weeks ago. Westbrook, who's well-decorated career was marred by concussion problems last year, joined the San Francisco 49ers for a one year, $1.25 million deal.

And upon news of the transaction, Arizona Cardinals Defensive Lineman Darnell Dockett, number 90, who will play Westbrook and the 49ers twice this year, took to Twitter to welcome Westbrook with some trash talking:

Ahhhhh hell naw Brian westbrook one of my best friends !! This is BS! Oh well I hope he know its not personal! but fuck it! #MNF #HITSTICK
about 3 hours ago via ÜberTwitter

And Darnell Dockett wasn't done with his trash tweets of the 49ers. His next target was linebacker Takeo Spikes:

@TakeoSpikes51 *cough * *cough* hmmmmm!
about 3 hours ago via ÜberTwitter in reply to TakeoSpikes51

It wasn't the first time Darnell Dockett took off after the San Francisco 49ers on Twitter. He saved from choice tweets for Glen Coffee when the Niners running back announced his retirement:

Dear: Glen Coffee, don't retire just yet! just wait till after the MNF game then you will have a legit reason to retire!! #EVL
4:14 PM Aug 15th via ÜberTwitter

In all, Darnell Dockett uses Twitter as an extension of his mouth, sparing no one from NFL players on enemy teams to friends. But some of his tweets are cool. Like the one about the Houston Texans Antonio Smith:

It was good playing against my brother from another mother @antoniosmith94 yesterday, I wish him success and a healthy winning season!
10:06 AM Aug 15th via ÜberTwitter

The San Francisco 49ers play the Arizona Cardinals Monday Night November 29th in San Francisco. It's a sure bet Darnell Dockett will have sent out more trash tweets by then.

Rooney Mara Lisbeth Sanders"The Girl with Dragon Tattoo" by Suzannah B. Troy

Rooney Mara is to play Lisbeth Sanders in the Americanized, "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo".

Why do I care?  BECAUSE I LOVE THE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!  The Swedish actors are superb and I do not think the Americanization of it will be as good....it was as if the Swedes were born to play the role and I keep dreaming they will take on the role and do a TV series -- a long extended one with all the details.  I tell you why in YouTubeland I love Lisbeth Sanders so much!!!!!

That being said, I will run not walk to see David Fincher's film version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  Original title:  The Men Who Hate Women" which is a powerful true theme as are all of messages Stieg Larsson was sharing with his audience.  Sad and shocking he died not knowing what a success his books are and that his live-in love who has book 4 on her computer has been cut out of the royalties by his father and brother who treat her like some of the bad asses in the book treat Lisbeth!

I have a YouTube series on the book and movie but here is just one!  The rest you can look up in YouTubeland.  Thanks for tuning in.

Mel Gibson hits Malibu w/ Maserati does not blame Jews! by Suzannah B. Troy

Mel Gibson hit Malibu (actually some big rocks) in Malibu with his Maserati but it least he did not hit a woman so again Mel is making progress.


TMZ my favorite celebrity tv show  (and that is because of Harvey Levin- the old guy on the show) has an exclusive on Mel Gibson driving his Maserati into some major rock....why?  No real answer but here is Suzannah B. Troy's exclusive live from New York.  He did not blame the Jews, African Americans, Hispanics, Gays or Women for his mistakes and inadequacies so he is making some progress!

Was he drug tested or given a breathalyzer ?  I have no idea.

I could see his ex-girlfriend, what's her name...oh, Osanka running to the  judge and demanding their child not be allowed in a car Mel Gibson is driving!

Do you think Mel Gibson told LAPD it was Malibu's fault.

Well Mel Gibson hit some rocks but when is he going to hit bottom?   He needs a strait jacket not a Maserati!

Tune in to TMZ later to learn more!