Virgin Megatore SF Car Crash Update

On Wednesday, a car crashed into the former but still "marked" Virgin Megastore at the corner of Market and Stockton near San Francisco's Union Square. If you missed it, here's my video (I was the first to break the story as I was on the scene) which was made just about 10 minutes after the crash happened:



According to KGO, the driver of the car that wound up in what used to be the entrance lobby of the record and video store said she was trying to avoid a big rig truck as she was heading down Stockton. Then, she lost control of her car and went right into the front door on the building.

As you can see, she hit it perfectly.

What's confusing to this blogger is the driver had to be going down Stockton Street, which would have had her driving next to the building and well past the front door. Why? Because Stockton crosses Market Street and the Virgin Megastore's front door - where she crashed - is on Market.

The only way she could have hit that door was to have made a u-turn coming down Stockton, turned the wrong way along Market, and then hit the door. That also means the "big rig" would have had to have moved up, not down, Stockton. If that's the case, it was going the wrong way.

Or, the woman was going the wrong way up Stockton herself, and turned to avoid the truck going down Stockton, along with what certainly was a flood of car traffic.

The things that make you go "hmmm."

Unemployed Americans - Especially 99ers Got Scrooged!

There is so much confusion over this “so called” 13 month UI extension President signed into law yesterday, I thought I would help sort things out for the American Jobless masses - 1 thing is for certain: Unemployed Americans - Especially the 99ers Got Scrooged!

First get this straight: you will NOT be getting a 13 month extension of additional UI benefits and there is a better than 50% chance that you will not be getting anything at all, ZERO - ZIP - not 1 dime. Let me explain.

With well over 18 million unemployed in this country, the DOL will admit to 15.8 million (a figure which has remained magically unchanged since the beginning of 2010 - even as they - the DOL - continues to report new jobless claims each week of 2010 between 423,000 and 576,000. Since you cannot put in a new jobless claim unless you have recently lost your job - then I say just do the math. Obviously the DOL thinks Americans are very stupid!)

But let’s use their 15.8 million for argument sake and their 7 million estimate of jobless Americans currently collecting UI benefits. That would mean 8.8 million unemployed are NOT collecting any UI at present for a variety of reasons. Of that 8.8 million amount it is estimated over 5.8 million are UI exhaustees with many more to join their ranks in the first 3 months of 2011 - despite this “so called 13 month UI extension the Obama administration seems so proud of negotiating.

Now here are some cold hard facts about the BIG tax break / UI Extension trade off:

$25 Extra UI compensation (or FAC) is OUT! Federal Additional Compensation is a temporary, federally funded program that adds a supplemental $25 payment to each week of unemployment compensation benefits. To be eligible, an individual must have established a new Unemployment Insurance claim with an effective date on or before 5/23/10. The statutory end date of the FAC program is December 7, 2010, therefore, FAC cannot be added to any payment for week ending December 18, 2010 or later. FAC WAS NOT RENEWED in HR4853! [Source: Federal Additional Compensation UPDATED DECEMBER 17, 2010]

So billionaires and millionaires get everything they wanted and more (The death Tax expanded in their favor) and the poorest unemployed get HOSED out of an additional $25.00 bucks a week. Un-frigging believable!

Extended Benefits or EB (the 20 weeks that are NOT given as a TIER) has a UI% rate trigger (unless you are lucky enough to live in 1 of 13 states who have their own EB program -check with your state’s UI office).

The EB trigger for federally funded states is as follows: The High EB program ends if the total unemployment insurance rate averages less than 8.0% in any three-month period.

So according to Nov. 2010 figures that leaves out:
Oklahoma, Minnesota, Montana, Maine, Maryland, Arkansas, Alaska, Wisconsin, Utah, Iowa, Wyoming, Kansas, Virginia, Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

The way the Government is playing fast and phony with the UI % rates - it is highly likely that your state, if not listed above - soon will be!

Now let’s get to the Tiers 3 & 4:

Your state’s total unemployment insurance rate must average 6.0% for a three-month period before you will qualify for 13 weeks of Tier 3 EUC.

Using Nov. 2010 figures again, the following states are out of luck for a Tier 3: Vermont, New Hampshire, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

And these states may soon join the NON - Tier 3 eligible states above: Oklahoma, Iowa, Wyoming, Kansas, Virginia and Hawaii.

As far as Tier 4 goes, your state’s total unemployment insurance rate must average 8.5% for a three-month period before the 6 weeks of Tier 4 will “trigger-on.”

Currently that leaves out: Oklahoma, Minnesota, Montana, Maine, Maryland, Arkansas, Alaska, Wisconsin, Utah, Iowa, Wyoming, Kansas, Virginia, Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Colorado, New Mexico and Delaware.

And leaves the following states between 0.1 and 1% of being in jeopardy of getting “down graded” to NON - Tier 4 qualified very soon: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Alabama, Arizona, West Virginia, Washington, Missouri, Idaho and Tennessee.

Remember no matter what you read about UI exhaustees being counted in your State wide or National UI rates - THAT IS NOT TRUE! If you do not believe me then do the math yourself. But I’ll let you comb through the monthly DOL reports to get that info, after all WHY should I do all the work?

Hello Washington - poverty is not some disease you are going to catch just by helping someone in desperate need. After all, it is YOU, your policies and FAILURES which put America in this untenable situation.

For Congress and the President to falsely tout this as a 13 month extension for the long term unemployed is a flat out lie that distorts the truth in an unconscionable manner, as MOST of the people on at least their 1st Tier of EUC by about September this year WILL NOT GET anywhere near 13 months AND this bill actually EXTENDED NOTHING but dates for the more recently unemployed Americans to file for what will amount to far less that the max 99 weeks - as they continue to mislead the Jobless with false UI % rates in all states!!!

For those of you who feel I am not happy with our president of late, how very perceptive of you! Was always a strong supporter of Obama and I am as patriotic as any American. I am just heart broken and disgusted that my president would turn his back on millions of jobless Americans hurting the worst and borrow money from foreign nations to make sure the wealthiest in this country can keep their gardeners and pool boys without liquidating a few stocks.

And if that angers you - the fact that I speak out when Obama does something I clearly believe is WRONG - then I refer you to the following quote by one of our GREATEST presidents EVER:

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."- Teddy Roosevelt

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National Candlelight Vigil for 99ers, December 20th

A National Candlelight Vigil for 99ers will be held at City Halls across America at between 6-7PM, December 20, 2010.

Please join local 99ers and supporters for this first national 99er event:

ONE FLAME LIGHTS THE WAY...

99ers and their supporters will join together at your local City Hall to remember the forgotten, respect the suffering and rejuvenate our souls by coming together as Americans. Bring your candle and stand with your neighbors and other 99ers. Many are suffering today, not just 99ers. Many need to see a light at the end of this dark tunnel. Many need to feel hope. Connect with 99ers and supporters in your area and show There IS Hope, There Is Light. One Flame Lights the Way. Please RSVP today.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFdqZGpUaVdUMmlHM1lScFNyWW5MMmc6MQ

There is also a Facebook Event page for this event:

LET THE FLAME LIGHT THE WAY facebook event

Please RSVP and get out there to let America know what is happening to millions of 99ers and their families. Let the 99er Nation know they have your support and this fight to survive is not over by a long shot! www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154561994589952

AND PLEASE do NOT forget to invite your local MEDIA!!!!

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TRON Movie Review At The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, CA.

The first review of TRON from this space was more about its similarities with 2001 A Space Odyssey, and called Tron Legacy: 2010: A Digital Odyssey, and why it was disturbing to this blogger.  

But this is to explain that TRON is a good movie, not a great one, but good, and that you should see it at The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, CA.

The Grand Lake Theater, at Grand Avenue and Lake Park Ave near Oakland's Lake Merritt, has existed since 1926 and features an enormous main viewing room that represents the best of the old theaters.

The friends I saw it with thought TRON was outstanding and, as the video shows, would definitely see it again. However, the 3D element was disappointing. Again, converting a 2D movie to 3D is something that should be done with care and consideration. It had to add something to the film experience.

The TRON 3D effects don't add much to the film. I was constantly moving my 3D glasses up and off and back over my eyes again to tell the difference; it was negligible.

TRON could have done just as well without the 3D element. Unfortunately, because of the box office success of Avatar and new televisions and broadcasting systems, we're going to see more, not less of movies with poor 3D effects, like TRON.

UNEMPLOYMENT NEWS: A 99er Christmas Reality Check - NO Hyperbole

With all the misconceptions today on the unemployment news, this is a 99er reality check. No frills, no whining and most of all no hyperbole - I leave that to Washington.

Today The Obama “Bend Over” became law, making it an official eternal and undeniable truth that our President and the majority of Congress care more about Rich Americans - even the Dead ones - than they do about hurting, living but soon to be dead impoverished Americans. Basically the Unemployed got scrooged!!!!

More about this terrible tax extension bill in tomorrow's blog articles, but today I wanted to convey this travesty from one 99ers' perspective - My own!

You see, I happen to be one of the very luckiest of the long term unemployed. I have a great family who has helped me survive this wilderness. Unfortunately their coffers have greatly dwindled because my need has been so great -- especially this year when my UI ended in March. I have made it a full time job for the past 2 years plus looking to land a job (good or otherwise) and at the same time dedicate an additional 55 hours per week to advocating for the 99ers.

I cannot afford a nice Christmas dinner or even a tree for this the 3rd Christmas in a row - but I am most fortunate to still be here at all - after brain surgery, being run over by a drunk truck driver and a host of other maladies in the recent years. God must certainly have a plan for me and I am content to abide in an attitude of profound gratitude.

You see I refuse to allow 536 jerks in Washington DC to dictate my happiness. God keeps me going even when things look their darkest. The method (My sister, benefactor, UI benefits) are all just the conduit through which the good Lord provides me sustenance, sort of like Manna from Heaven in the good book.

Still I do long for the days when I could buy just the right little something nice for all the people in my life. I often fantasize about winning the lotto and just how many people I could bless with that money. I remember when my Holiday decorations were the talk of the block in my neighborhood and I could give a $10 bill in a small bible to every homeless person I met with a sign on the streets that said "Please Help!"

99er Reality Check 2010

This is the extent of my christmas decorations this year and last year as well:



It may not be elaborate but with this and a manger scene, I manage to remind myself daily the joy and true meaning of this season.

My family all live very far away but we are close despite the miles that separate us geographically. They understand that family, kindness to all, a good heart and a great sense of humor are the keys to a life of victory - no matter your humble (even dire) circumstances.

The joy of this season will NOT be spoiled by the fact My government is populated by heartless cretins and complete, mindless idiots like Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) who went on Fox News this week with host Greta Van Susteren and falsely claimed Jobless Benefits Last ‘Well Over 100 Weeks’ - with the passage of the tax bill extension for the rich.

My rebuttal to Hatch and morons like him is put to rhyme in the video below.

Yes I am blessed, as earlier this month it looked as though I was losing what little I had left, when out of the blue a benefactor came forward to actually pay me a modest stipend over the next 6 months to keep fighting for the 99ers. GOD bless you!!!

Now, FINALLY for the first time in nearly a year -- not every waking moment of my life is filled with the terror of wondering how I am going to survive yet another month of futile job search. (and I will not be bleeding my relatives dry anymore either -UGH the guilt!) That guilt is now turned into relief and fortitude to continue to fight for those not as fortunate as I am now.

One of those I am desperately trying to find help for is a 99er named Debbie S. who was recently featured on CNN Money Reports, who will be homeless again before Christmas. Any donations that are made to my website Jobless Unite will go directly to help this NYC woman.

Yes I am just 1 poor 99er myself, but I am willing to help in any way I can. It is in being a blessing to our neighbors in need that we make our world a better place. A concept much too complicated for Congress and even our President too understand and fully grasp -- it would seem.

So here is the 99ers Christmas video. It really says it all and in rhyme!! Enjoy!



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Oscar Best Song Candidate: "Despicable Me" By Pharrell Williams

Of the 41 songs competing for Best Original Song for the 83rd Academy Awards, this one, Despicable Me by three-time Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D, is one you just can't get out of your head. The buzz may be about Justin Bieber's possible Oscar nod, but Despicable Me the song is something to hear.

The song plays to open the hit animated film starring Steve Carrell as the wanna-be-evil Gru, who's hard exterior is softened by the entry of three orphaned girls into his life.

The movie played on United Airlines westbound flights in November; that's when I first heard the unforgettable opening song.

In an interview with ArtistsDirect.com, Pharrell said that he came up with the song just on watching the movie: "Honestly, the music is dictated by what you're seeing in the film. The movie tells you where to go and what to do. Despicable Me inspired the music moment-for-moment. Basically, what you watch is what's in there. For Despicable Me, I knew I definitely wanted some Steely Dan-sounding moments in there so I shot for that a lot [Laughs]."

Take a listen for yourself:

Giants need to make a statement that lasts beyond this weekend: an editorial commentary….

Giants need to make a statement that lasts beyond this weekend: an editorial commentary….
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online-Special Contributor-Pro Football NYC

Everyone knows the Giants have had their “moments” this year, both high and low. Although they have already managed to win more then they have lost, it seems to be a very fragile success that they have enjoyed since the “comeback” win over the Bears by the score of 17-3 early in the season. By “comeback” I mean it was the comeback game of the year for the defense. If anything is clearly evident about the 2010 NY Giants, they are not without fault or weakness. Losses to the Cowboys and Eagles have shown that in recent weeks. But this team is not without heart and soul. The offense may put the points on the board, but as Coach Parcells used to say, as many coaches before him, “the defense has to drive the truck here. Defense wins championships.” No truer words were ever spoken on the game.

Several of my fellow writers and reporters both on this group of websites and elsewhere will fill you with stats, most about the resurgence of the defense under coach Fewell. It’s the defensive assistants here that fly under the radar net, kind of like the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter during the opening minutes of the first gulf war. Shock and awe is an understatement when discussing the Giants defense, and it’s defensive backs.

It’s my learned opinion that Coach Dave Merritt and Coach Peter Giunta, are two of the best in the business. You might remember Coach “G” as the defensive coordinator of the 1999 Rams that outlasted the Titans on the last play of the game for one of the most exciting game in Super Bowl history, until the Giants topped New England in the Arizona Desert in Super Bowl 42. It’s what these coaches are doing for the Giants defense that goes far beyond the stats culled each week.

This summer I watched intently as Coach Merritt ran a tip drill for the defensive backs the first few days of training camp. Clearly the defensive backfield has become the most improved unit on the team this year under their combined watch. Ronnie Lott told us on a conference call not long ago that he’s hard pressed to identify a better group of defensive backs. High praise from one of the game’s all time greats.

As great a compliment as that is, the Giants got here on total team effort. Clearly the whole is greater then the sum of it's parts and that’s the way it needs to be on this team. Visions of last years collapse are almost as far behind in the rear view mirror of our minds as the mundane and listless play that was the hallmark of the end of the 2009 season. It’s time for this defense and this entire team to make a final statement going into the home stretch of the 2010 season that makes their faithful fans forget the pasting the team took through the middle and end of 2009.

I personally don’t attend every game anymore as I did for many years, but I have been there enough the last two plus seasons to continue to know the pain the fans feel after a loss, as well as 25 plus years of joy and adulation after countless victories. If it is truly “all clicking at the right time” as many of the players suggest, even through another rough spate of injuries, then you will see this team finish off each of their last three opponents, starting this week against the dreaded Eagles.

Offensive Lineman David Diehl, when interviewed by John Fennelly and myself several weeks back, said that this team is indeed a big extended family, as coach Coughlin often suggests. Then it’s time for the “family” to pull together as hard as they can once again, as they did late in the 2007 season.

This is the moment, this Sunday, and the next two after this, to show the NFC East and the NFL, that “The NY Giants” are back, truly back, and they are taking no prisoners in their quest for the division title, and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Tony Romo Pops the Question to Candice Crawford

CNN reported this morning that Candice Crawford was proposed to by Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo.

Crawford works as a reporter for KDAF TV and as the two celebrated her birthday at Five Sixty in Dallas Romo popped the question to the 24-year-old. Romo is 30-years-old and well known for being Jessica Simpson's ex-boyfriend.

As well as being a reporter, Crawford is known for being the sister of 'Gossip Girl' star Chase Crawford.

Tron Legacy: 2010: A Digital Odyssey

Tron Legacy is best seen at The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. That's where this blogger saw it just over an hour ago. The grand space with it's indirect lighting is the perfect backdrop for a most unsettling movie.

Tron Legacy is so because it's a cross between the 1982 Tron and 1968's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In fact, you should see both of those movies before you set foot into the Grand Lake to see Tron Legacy. The Jeff Bridges-starring flick makes you think about the meaning of your own existence. It's also yet another story featuring White Guy Playing God While Not Mentioning God.   That was the unsettling part: the man-replace-God theme, again.

Yep. The "White Guy Playing God While Not Mentioning God" theme is hammered into us everyday.  Be it Stephen Hawking working to say God doesn't exist, and trying to make himself look like one in the process, or some Atheist like Christopher Hitchens asserting his all-knowing self into your life, telling you there is no God to trust in him, Christopher.

This happens so much so I view it as part of The Matrix. And in order to avoid being brainwashed by The Matrix you have to question of frequency of what you see. How many times have you seen the "Black Guy Playing God While Not Mentioning God" theme in a movie? How about in life? Hard to find an example, eh?   And frankly, I find that idea just as unsettling as the "White Male God" message.

But I digress.

Everything about Tron Legacy is 2001 A Space Odyssey, all the way down to these connections: Hal 9000 is Clu, the program-human created by Kevin Flynn (Bridges) that becomes all too self-aware. Kevin Flynn and Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) are Dave in 2001: the person we take the journey with to where he eventually becomes the star-child, the entity around which a new life form is born. That life form is represented by Quorra (Olivia Wilde), who was created by Kevin Flynn and is the last of her kind.

Ultimately, it's left to the elder Flynn as Dave to take down Clu as Hal 9000.

While I've given away the central theme of Tron Legacy, that doesn't mean it's not a film worth $11 and 3D glasses to see. It's worth every penny.  Even if the 3D wasn't really all that necessary.  In fact, there's a disclaimer at the start of the movie that some parts of it are presented in 2D, not 3D.  But I found myself pulling up my 3D glasses to get a view of Tron Legacy without them.   What I saw wasn't too bad.   Yes, 3D added something, but it wasn't the WOW factor we've come to expect from movies like Avatar, the Gold Standard for 3D to date.

Jeff Bridges Was OK

Jeff Bridges was just OK in his role as Kevin Flynn.  His flip 1960s hipster / LA Lakers Coach Phil Jackson-esque style injected just the right amont of humor into tense moments, though I can see how some would be annoyed with the act.

Garrett Hedlund was a little too action frat boyish to be believed, but we accept him as Sam Flynn, Kevin's son.

But where Garrett Hedlund was subpar, and that's due to the way the character of Sam was written, not to his acting skills, Olivia Wilde as Quorra was awesome.  She was, of all of the characters, the one you rooted for the most.  Quorra, a digital creation, was the most human of all entities in Tron Legacy.  Seeing her escape the digital world feel the sunlight at Tron's end, made up for whatever discomfort I had with the whole "White Man God" thing.

And why the discomfort?  Regardless of who does the God thing, human's aren't ready to be God, let alone play God.  Our idea of God as expressed in movies and books has little to do with being good, and everything to do with lording over other people, against their will.  

Lord, help us.

Burlesque Leads Pack Of Oscar Original Song Contenders, 41 In All

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) reports that 41 songs have made the list of contenders for the "Original Song" category for the 83rd Academy Awards.

Of them, the musical Burlesque leads all movies with 3 songs in the hunt: Bound to You, Welcome to Burlesque, and You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me.

Following Burlesque in songs on the list are several films with two songs in the competition: Black Tulip, Despicable Me, and Country Strong. Below is the entire list provided by AMAPAS:

Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Forever One Love from Black Tulip
Freedom Song from Black Tulip
Bound to You from Burlesque
Welcome to Burlesque from Burlesque
You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me from Burlesque
There’s a Place for Us from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Coming Home from Country Strong
Me and Tennessee from Country Strong
Despicable Me from Despicable Me
Prettiest Girls from Despicable Me
Dear Laughing Doubters from Dinner for Schmucks
Better Days from Eat Pray Love
If You Run from Going the Distance
Darkness before the Dawn from Holy Rollers
Sticks & Stones from How to Train Your Dragon
Le Gris from Idiots and Angels
Chanson Illusionist from The Illusionist
Never Say Never from The Karate Kid
To the Sky from Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
What If from Letters to Juliet
Life during Wartime from Life during Wartime
Made in Dagenham from Made in Dagenham
Little One from Mother and Child
Be the One from The Next Three Days
If I Rise from 127 Hours
When You See Forever from The Perfect Game
I Remain from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Dream Big from Pure Country 2: The Gift
How I Love You from Ramona and Beezus
Darling I Do from Shrek Forever After
Noka Oi from Six Days in Paradise
This Is a Low from Tamara Drewe
I See the Light from Tangled
Rise from 3 Billion and Counting
We Belong Together from Toy Story 3
Eclipse: All Yours from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Nothing from Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too
A Better Life from Unbeaten
Shine from Waiting for ‘Superman’
The Reasons Why from Wretches & Jabberers


The Academy's Teni Melidonian explains:

On Thursday, January 6, the Academy will screen clips featuring each song, in random order, for voting members of the Music Branch in Los Angeles. Following the screenings, members will determine the nominees by an averaged point system vote. If no song receives an average score of 8.25 or more, there will be no nominees in the category. If only one song achieves that score, it and the song receiving the next highest score shall be the two nominees. If two or more songs (up to five) achieve that score, they shall be the nominees. A DVD copy of the song clips will be made available to those branch members who are unable to attend the screening and who request it for home viewing. A mail-in ballot will be provided.


Under Academy rules, a maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film. If more than two songs from a film are in contention, the two songs with the most votes will be the nominees.


To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

The Academy will announce the winning nominations on Tuesday, January 25th at 5:30 AM, in the in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards will be held Sunday, February 27th on the ABC Television Network.

Shelley Malil: 40 Year Old Virgin Actor Sentenced to Life For Attempted Murder

Shelley Malil was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 12 years for stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Kendra Beebe, over 20 times.  The actor broke down in the courtroom as he apologized for his actions.

The stabbing took place in Kendra Beebe's home in San Diego, California, when Malil came over unannounced and found her drinking wine with another man. Malil grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen and stabbed Beebe repeatedly.  Beebe had wounds on her back, arms, chest and neck, as well as two punctured lungs by the time the attack was over.  Malil fled the scene when neighbors heard Beebe's screams and was caught the next day at an Amtrak station in Oceanside.

Malil was convicted 3 months ago after only 4 hours of deliberation.  He may be eligible for parole in 9 years for time served and good behavior.  After the trial Beebe stated that “During the course of the trial it became clear he was an actor, but not a very good actor at that. His testimony was lie after lie after lie.”


John Bobst aka The Force of Nature

Check me out on www.theforceofnature.net

Morgan Freeman: Hoax Tweet That Actor Died

The rumor that Morgan Freeman passed away today made it's way through the twitter universe. The tweet purportedly came from CNN's twitter account. The network has clarified this though saying that "CNN did not report Morgan Freeman death. Rumor is false. CNN will aggressively investigate this hoax."

The hoax fooled many people though as it was re-tweeted throughout the web. I've noticed that celebrity death's seem to happen pretty often on the internet. I remember awhile back there was a rumor that Zach Braff had passed away.

I'm not sure how these things spread so quickly, or why they get started in the first place. Maybe it's that thing we have inside of us that makes us want to be the first to tell our friends about something, that makes us jump to pass along news like this. You know the urge I'm talking about, the one that makes you send out Youtube links to people in hopes that you'll be the first to introduce them to some hilarious video. We always want to be one of the first to know, or tell, about something, and so things like this spread like wildfire through the interweb.

And I'm not really sure about the people who actually start these rumors. As far as their motivation is concerned I mean. We all know that one person who does things just to see what happens. Maybe this is the same mentality behind spreading around fake celebrity death reports. I remember in the case of Zach Braff the guy who started it was dubbed, "douchebag" of the day by Zach Braff himself, for making his mother cry.

I think in the end people just want to feel special and get attention. The person who started today's rumor is anonymous for now, but he's still getting attention. Attention by people like me who write about this stuff, and people like you who read about it.

The point is, don't believe everything you read on twitter and people are attention whores, and hopefully the guy who started today's rumor didn't make anyone in Morgan Freeman's family cry.

John Bobst aka The Force of Nature

Check out my other work at www.theforceofnature.net