The New York Post reports Lindsey Lohan may get sprung early from rehab. Why use the word "sprung"? To underscore she was not there of her own choice. Lindsey Lohan had not hit bottom and decided she must enter rehab. It was part of a prison sentence of which she did not have to fully serve and if she gets out early with rehab there is not doubt she will fall back to her old destructive ways. Why? She continues to get the message she is special and therefore does not have to talk responsibility.
Besides the many legally prescribed drugs she is alleged to be taking she has been abusing other substances at least according to rumors as well as booze. Who knows if she was allowed to take prescription drugs in rehab? Who cares? Well her family and friends will if she ends up being another young celebrity that dies of a drug over dose or accidentally murders an innocent person while driving drunk.
Lindsey Lohan getting out early for a rehab she was sentenced to is a wrong message to send out to the public and most of all it is the wrong message to be sending to Lindsey Lohan herself. Keeping her there is the right thing to do. First it was part of her sentence and secondly doing so may say her life and innocent lives of potential victims she could kill accidentally of course while driving drunk.
My newest question is why has Bloomberg pushed expansion of this Orwellian Time clock that does not work when he should not have allowed any expansion until the bugs are ironed out and they are many. CityTime should not be expanded, renewed in Sept. but investigated because of all the convenient consultants w/close to half a million dollar paychecks or more A MILLION dollars for consulting. CityTime is the tax payers Titanic!!!!
Dear Blog Readers: I have done a long series on CityTime. You have to go to my blog search engine to read all the postings. www.suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com
CityTime must not be expanded and yet they have been stealthily do so all summer even though the program does not work. There are so many glitches that the disaster causes more work and has cost NYC a mega fortune when it was suppose to save money. Even mayor Bloomberg admits CityTime is a disaster.
Why would Bloomberg and pals not want to stop the bleeding and expansion until this Tax Payers Titanic can be investigated? Because they are way too many fat cats with deep pockets making big bucks off of this disaster. CityTime may have set a NYC record for the most highly paid consultants ever and for a failed project.
The mayor would say we have invested so much money we can't back out right now but than I would respond YOU CAN'T EXPAND A PROGRAM that does not work and is gobbling up more of city workers time and is a black hole to the tax payers especially when NYC is heading for tougher economic times. Bloomberg brings in a republican deputy mayor Stephen Goldsmith to save us money but yet Bloomberg has been pushing the wrongful expansion of citytime all summer further entrenching the program making it even harder for the right thing to be done which is no to a renewal and yes to an investigation of CityTime.
Please make sure to go to my blog to see my many blog postings and also The New York Daily News to read the many articles all excellent investigative reporting by Juan Gonzalez. In my postings you will find a link to a very important piece by Ali Winston from City Limits which exposes SAIC and federal level scandals leaving me to wonder why they were called in in the first place.
No to an extension of CityTime and yes to an investigation.
For the second time in as many 2010 NFL Preseason games, the Dallas Cowboys go without a touchdown.
The Cowboys have failed to get into the end zone against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Hall of Fame Game Sunday evening, and again against the Oakland Raiders Thursday night. This even as the team's been able to move the ball smartly between the 20s; but once in the red zone, the Cowboys can't pull it together to score.
Why?
Because the Dallas Cowboys passing game is sloppy.
That's not blogged for shock value; it's a fact. The Cowboys, regardless of quarterback, coach their passers such that they throw the short flare passes to the backs out of the backfield well, as well as throws to fade patterns.
But when the quarterback's called to read a defense downfield, where the passer has to look to find the open receiver, that's where the Cowboys fall apart. The quarterbacks, and especially Tony Romo, seem to have tunnel vision.
It's as if they're told to wait for a certain receiver the clear a level of the defense before throwing to that person.
That explains the "happy feet" that Romo exhibits during downfield throws calling for him to survey the middle of the field. That's also why the passes are almost always late, or rushed. That is the reason why the Cowboys don't get into the end zone.
Jason Garrett needs to go short
This blogger has never been a fan of Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, but was pleased when Garrett exhibited more play design imagination and flexibility in 2009 than ever before.
But variety and cosmetics aside, the basic approach of the Cowboys passing game just isn't sound. The Cowboys must have more timed passes and get out of the habit of "levels" passing. It ends with Tony Romo and Dallas quarterbacks looking as if they've got tunnel vision, when it's all by design.
If the Cowboys don't adjust their passing game, and soon, it's going to be a long year. Their running game might save them, but I doubt it.
This blog post was written in the head of this blogger before it was obvious the Oakland Raiders were going to win their first 2010 NFL Preseason game, 17 to 9, against the Dallas Cowboys under the Hue Jackson / Jason Campbell offensive regime. Because, even with dropped and tipped passes, what was most interesting and pleasing about the Oakland Raiders, was the real, timed, precision passing attack.
What was impressive was that from the snap of the football, to the quarterback's footwork, to the quarterback's hitch step, to the throw, to the receiver's routes, the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks are obviously drilled in the classic Bill Walsh fashion, with the objective of getting the ball out of the quarterback's hands and to the receiver as quickly as possible as part of a timed set of movements between passer and catcher.
Yes, Jason Campbell completed 7 of 13 passes. Yes, Darrius Heyward-Bey didn't have a catch. But the passes got out of the quarterback's hands with remarkable quickness, and little wasted movement.
It didn't matter if it was Campbell or Carrie Prejean's husband Kyle Boller at the helm, the passing personality was the same. Once the little things like the kind of pass thrown and how high it's delivered are worked out, the Raiders will be ready for what's going to be a good year.
Jamarcus Russell's not the issue
But the entire difference in the Oakland Raiders offense is that it's the most efficient in the passing game it's been since the John Gruden / Bill Callahan era. It's not that Jamarcus Russell isn't there, because if Russell's head was in the game, as some claim it was not, he too would have been part of this new approach for the Oakland Raiders' offense.
What you will pay attention to is what happens when the ball gets to the receiver; what I'm paying attention to is what happens to cause the ball to get to the receiver; that's the big difference in this 2010 team.
Oakland Raiders fans should be excited for what's to come, because with more practice and a clear offensive game plan (it was preseason) the Raiders' passing game will be so hard to defense, it will be lethal.
For some reason, these events go together: today's the 71st Anniversary of The Wizard of OZ and on Sunday, August 15th, at 7:30 PM PDT at The Herbst Theater in San Francisco, REAF, The Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation holds its 16th annual presentation of "Help Is On The Way" called Help Is On The Way XVI.
Melissa Manchester
It's hard to believe The Wizard of OZ is a full 71 years young. In fact, it seems timeless. Music and songs from The Wizard of OZ are etched into my brain, in part because one of my favorite songs to sing at The Alley in Oakland, is If I Only Had A Brain.
But it is 71 years yound, so it's important to stop
and consider the impact this awesome musical movie has had on American Culture. It has been translated in 40 languages, and been the basis for scores of reinterpretations, including the popular musical, The Wiz.
Which reminds this blogger why the link with Help Is On The Way XVI was made in my pea brain!
Over it history, REAF's Help Is On The Way has featured performers from plays, movies, and musicals like The Wiz.
Here's a video from 2008's pre-event, which includes an auction. But the real story is of the performers and character that are part of Help Is On The Way:
This year Leanne Borghesi, Carol Channing, Davis Gaines, La Toya London, Carole Cook, James Darren, Paula West, Bruce Vilanch, Kimberley Locke, and Melissa Manchester headline the performers as of this writing. And that list expands as we get closer to Sunday.
You can get tickets for Help Is On The Way XVI at 415-273-1620.
Mitrice Richardson went missing nearly a year ago. A skull and bones were found near Malibu and are the remains of Mitrice according to officials.
The 25-year-old's father, Michael Richardson, is displeased with the way the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials handled his daughter's case.
Mitrice was arrested a year ago after she was unable to pay $89 for her dinner at a restaurant. She was released September 17, 2010 without a car, purse or cell phone. She later went missing, and speculations on her mental health have been made.
Mitrice's mother Latice Sutton along with Michael have filed separate lawsuits against the Sheriff's Department alleging negligence.
Her father is still fighting for her according to LA Times Blog:
"This book is not close. More chapters need to be written. We are going to hold people accountable.… I will continue to fight for her."
The actions taken when releasing Mitrice seem very questionable - only time will tell what happens next.
Governor Paterson's best friend and aide, oops, now ex-aide was forced or should I say voluntarily turned himself in today. David Johnson has been accused of spousal abuse by his girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend Sherr-una Booker but that was quiet a while ago. She called 911 when he allegedly got physical and he fled the scene. Of course he denies everything but just for good measure Dave Paterson got involved, got his aides involved who did not know they were being used and manipulated by the accidental governor to in a quiet and gentle way encourage her to shut up and make like it never happened. How I see it is Dave Paterson being part of the "rich and or connected. politicos, party -- above the law crowd" was able to remain in office even though many of his aides resigned disgusted with his inappropriate behavior and abuse of power.
In my opinion, Dave Patterson is guiltier than sin for ever so gently and politely intimidating Sherr-una, the victim of his long time friend in to silence. Judge Judy Kayne, sell-out, is part of Misogynist NYC which has too many female club members. I am stunned that Dave's good friend was even arrested and he and Dave have other scandals they have to wiggle out of including Yankee tickets and an alleged forged check by Johnson signing Dave Paterson's name. Dave Paterson is rumored have a problem with telling the truth and is alleged to have perjured himself over baseball tickets. The accidental governor is still in office and he does not belong there. New Yorkers have just set a very low bar for him and understand he is a screw up and talks the talk but his actions including his intimidation of Booker areproof he does not belong in office. It is New York so he has lots of company. Dave Paterson is truly handicapped "ethically" and he can't rise above it because he would have to get honest and take responsibility. Please see "Paterson Report by The New York Commission on Public Integrity".
Paterson really needs to spend the majority of his time with defense attorneys and he has good ones. He is embattled and Albany has still not balanced it's 9.2 billion dollar deficit due April 1 and it is almost Sept. which could mean an economic crisis something a kin to a terror attack in terms of hurting NY not that the polticos seem to care. It is like the State and City of NY are one collosal victim of spousal abuse by politicians ineffectual and unable to serve the public's best interest but excellent at serving their own.
The same Federal Judge who declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional eight days ago, just lifted the stay blocking legal same sex marriages from taking place in California.
Judge Vaughn Walker, U.S. District Judge for The Northern District of California in San Francisco, just lifted the stay minutes ago.
But same-sex marriages can't start until August 18th. That's an adjustment of sorts to California Attorney General Jerry Brown's tweet:
JerryBrown2010
Hoping Judge Walker will allow same-sex couples in CA to marry while the Prop 8 case appeal is pending. We should find out before noon.
The problem, it would seem, is that an appeal can be filed during that gap in time before same sex marriages can commence. Why that gap exists is a mystery, other than that Judge Walker's giving opponents time to file an appeal.
Sports 2.0? Sports Marketing 2.0 Summit SF? No thanks.
The slow death of traditional media is chasing a whole group of people to the online space, who have no idea what the hell they're doing. This video-blogger refers to sports marketing workers, that particular breed of person who hawks everything from "We're Number One" giant hands, to whatever kind of hat they can stick a logo on. The vast majority of sports marketing workers are totally out to lunch when it comes to New Media, and the Sports 2.0, Sports Marketing 2.0...whatever..is an example.
This all started when this blogger happened upon a tweet about a planned San Francisco sports marketing summit called Sports 2.0 by Sports Marketing 2.0.
The San Francisco event seemed interesting enough to cover, because I wanted to see what they were talking about with respect to New Media. After all, it's good to have one's perspectives challenged.
The view this blogger holds of sports marketing and sports marketers is that it and they are trapped by an outdated culture. Sports marketing is not a tech-dominated profession; it's ruled by sales people, many of which have no understanding of the Internet and are so impatient, they don't seem to want to learn what they're doing wrong. That's my experience with most sports marketers. Maybe Sports 2.0 was different.
Ha.
There's a rule in New Media; one I created. It goes like this: online, everyone matters at every time. Thus, if you're trying to sell something and happen to be communicating with a blogger, especially on Twitter, you encourage the blogger to blog something positive about your product, because you know that blog post is going to come up under a search for your product or event.
Right? Well, check this out.
First, i inquired about attending the Sports 2.0 after accidentally learning about the event on Twitter, with this tweet:
This was their response:
sports20 - @zennie62 I think we're covered as far as sports media is concerned. Let me know who wants a credential. Needs to be sizable audience.
8:21 AM Aug 9th via web in reply to zennie62
Me - @sports20 Me. I'm at SFGate.com, Zennie62.com, YouTube.com, and reach an average of over 60,000 people each day.
sports20 - @zennie62 pardon my ignorance. Is your focus on business side of sports? We are a rather narrow niche...need help pre show, not post
10:20 AM Aug 9th via UberTwitter in reply to zennie62
Me - @sports20 Yes. Attended every NFL Draft as press since 2005.
11:38 AM Aug 9th via web in reply to sports20
(I forgot to mention that my Zennie62 blog network has six sports-related blogs, including our NFL Business Blog.)
So I figured that this was all a no-brainer. I wasn't hyped about going to this deal, but it seemed interesting, that is until things got weird:
sports20 @zennie62 just seems like your audience is much broader (not targeted for what we do). Maybe I'm missing the fit? http://myloc.me/an6HJ
My response:
@sports20 Never knew a organization that claimed to be digital marketers to turn away online media; that will make a good blog post.
@sports20 Or to clarify, good luck, but I'm not interested in it after this. But I will blog about it as a "don't do."
August 10, 2010 12:25:33 PM PDT via web in reply to sports20
@sports20 I mean. First you tweet the audience has to be sizable, then when I prove it is, you say "seems audience is broader".. I punt.
So this other guy chimes in, Mike Mahoney, also a sports marketer, more specifically a sports sponsorship sales person, and apparently connected with the event. Out of the blue, Mike Mahoney sends a set of tweets that's telling.
mmahoney13 - Methinks @zennie62 protests too much re: not getting free pass to the @sports20 conference. Someone's trying to make a living. #buyaticket
So. Let me get this straight. This blogger's supposed to pay $250 for some garbage sports summit just because some guy in Indianapolis, Indiana needs the money? Oh, and then I'm supposed to blog and video-blog about it?
No thanks.
Readers of this space know how I've been on a rant against these "panels on pedestals" of people who are presented as if they know more than the people in the audience. In a New Media culture, often the most-informed person's watching the panel either in person, via live stream, or as a video-viewer. Here's my SXSW rant asking why I should attend:
I then followed up with this tweet:
@mmahoney13 Methinks too many "expert" sports marketers just take the patrons money #dontbuyaticket - media should not pay period.
Now, if you're about to respond in the negative, before you do consider that this blog post hit the very keywords that the Sports 2.0 summit is concerned about.
The problem with sports marketers and marketers in general who don't have a digitally-emerced background and practice, is they think they can control their message. Because of this, they miss the number one fact that whatever's written about what they do comes up under the keyword they're involved in.
But what gets me, beyond the lack of knowledge of New Media, is this explosion of conferences on PR, media, and marketing by people who have no demonstrable platform of performance online, yet claim to tell you how to be more effective online.
It's really disturbing because many people don't know how to evaluate what's presented to them because they know they need to be in the Internet space, and will listen to anyone. So, that's the climate that allows someone who's New Media expertise is questionable to dare charge $250 per head for a sports marketing "summit."
Moreover, this idea of the expert-on-a-pedestal is not only just ego-stroking but a way to make money off the ill-informed in a bad economy. $250 for a sports marketing summit? That's highway robbery. Pat Coyle, who's formed the Sports 2.0 event, and has the website Sports Marketing, should know better.
One thing this blog post will do is bring attention to his event. It's not the kind of attention he wanted, but then he totally belittled the impact of a blogger.
I didn't think anyone would make that mistake in the year 2010.
Apparently, the City of Oakland's going to great lengths, almost neurotic, to alter the street culture of Downtown Oakland, but this bit of news is really disturbing. It rests in a Facebook message I just received, and part of which is posted here:
have you heard about some of the ambitious plans of the Downtown and Lake Merritt Business Improvements District boards? Take a look, they want to pipe in shitty soft country musak 24 hours a day at all the corners of 13th and Broadway to drive away "undesireables"
So a visit to this link reveals a Wikepedia page which reads:
In July 2008, landlords in the district voted a parcel tax upon themselves to fund the "Downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt/Uptown Community Benefit Districts" to provide "special security services, cleaning of sidewalks, beautification, marketing and improvement of district identity and organizational services for businesses in the downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt/Uptown neighborhoods." Since early 2009, the districts have provided roving private security “ambassadors” to sweep up litter, help visitors with directions, and provide security support in Oakland’s downtown.[49]
The districts are governed by advisory boards which have discussed plans and desires to displace political demonstrations following the BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant away from Oakland's downtown center of civic life, and an actual change of venue for the murder trial of former BART police officer Johannes Meserle.[50] The board has also discussed plans to spend district treasury funds to erect a permanent memorial for four slain Oakland police officers at 14th and Broadway, and $10,000 dollars per year for a subscription to "round the clock" Muzak to "immediately drive away undesirable people from" three street corners at 13th and Broadway.
The district boards have public relations committees to "feed stories to the press." The committees have recommended "pitching stories to entertainment, business, and real estate journalist (sic), that way crime would not even be part of the scope." The committee also recommended "inviting select reporters to cover the story" of the "Uptown Unveiled" street festival.[50]
[edit]
OK. "$10,000 dollars per year for a subscription to "round the clock" Muzak to "immediately drive away undesirable people from" three street corners at 13th and Broadway."
What?
That's the idea of a racist. That point of view is that, the "undesirables" are the black teenagers who hang out down there, who, because they're black teenagers can't possible enjoy Muzak, so they would not hang out there.
Stupid.
Some of the Downtown Oakland kids are so creative, they'd sample the Muzak with their iPhones, fuse it with E-40 or Eminem, and create a new Oakland music sound. After a time, that part of Downtown Oakland would be a hip place to hang.
Whoever allowed that idea to get out into the open should be fired. Well, on second thought, they should be made to hang out on the corner overnight. It's not as bad as people think; I catch cabs there frequently.
Rather than "chasing away" so-called undesirables, Oakland should spend time getting to know its talented youth culture.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity since Super Bowl XLIV, the 2010 NFL Football Season is here. The teams this space is watching for this week are the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans.
(Well, in truth, this space is going to watch them all to some degree.)
The Oakland Raiders come into the 2010 NFL Season a completely new team. Gone is Jamarcus Russell, who was such a promising talent at quarterback, but for a host of reasons, just didn't make it happen.
Instead, we have new Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson, who this blogger's a big fan of. Jackson is an excellent teacher, who's focus on football basics is well-meshed with his understanding of the best passing attacks ever. Hue Jackson may be the best teacher of the passing game, other than Andy Reid in Philadelphia, Mike Martz at Chicago and the Colts Peyton Manning and Tom Moore, in the NFL. It's going to be exciting to see what Jackson does with new Raiders Quarterback Jason Campbell.
In Seattle, former USC Head Coach Pete Carroll steps onto the field to coach the Seattle Seahawks. Say what you will about Coach Carroll, he's a legend, and what he does in the NFL at every facet of the game will be studied.
Mike Martz in Chicago
What will Mike Martz do for the Chicago Bears, is the other question of interest to this blogger. Of late, Martz has become a bit lazy in scheme development. His shifting of the tight end and flanker from one side of the formation to the other is expected. The misdirection routes are nothing new, any more.
But that's to this blogger; will NFL defenses be ready for the routine at Martz level? And has Martz been able to end some of Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler's bad habits, like aiming his long passes to a spot, thus always overthrowing his receivers? We shall see.
NFL Media has provided a great press release of the action to look forward to, starting tonight:
PRESEASON IN FULL SWING AS ALL CLUBS SEE ACTION THIS WEEK;
SEVEN GAMES ON NATIONAL TV
NEW MEADOWLANDS STADIUM OPENS MONDAY NIGHT WITH GIANTS FACING JETS (That's huge)
(Here's the rest from the NFL..)
PRESEASON IN FULL SWING AS ALL CLUBS SEE ACTION THIS WEEK;
SEVEN GAMES ON NATIONAL TV
-- NEW MEADOWLANDS STADIUM OPENS MONDAY NIGHT WITH GIANTS FACING JETS --
Everybody's playing!
All 32 NFL clubs will hit the field this week as the first full slate of NFL preseason action takes place, bookended by nationally televised games on ESPN on Thursday and Monday nights and five nationally televised games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on NFL Network.
"The preseason is an important time for us to evaluate players," says head coach SEAN PAYTON of the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints. "We have a lot of players that we need to see in live action, so number one is evaluation. The number two thing is that it’s the first chance we get to play a game against another opponent. That carries a lot of weight."
A look at a few of the matchups in Preseason Week 1:
NEW YORK GIANTS AT NEW YORK JETS (Monday, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET): New Meadowlands Stadium will host its first football game when the stadium's two tenants - the New York Giants and New York Jets - face one another on Monday night, August 16, on ESPN.
Covering 13.5 acres, the 82,500-seat stadium is the only current facility to house two NFL teams. It offers an impressive array of amenities, including four massive HD video display boards, wider concourses, a myriad of food and shopping options, and the closest seats to the action in the entire NFL. The exterior of the stadium bowl, comprised of louvers and lights, will have the capability to change colors to reflect the home teams’ colors on gameday.
"With this stadium, we think that those on the field, and in the stands, will have the greatest place to play and watch the game in the country," says Giants President and CEO JOHN MARA. "It will be an extraordinary facility with a stadium design that will reward our fans for their enthusiasm, support and loyalty."
"Every aspect of a Sunday at the stadium will be radically different before fans even step foot inside," says Jets Chairman and CEO WOODY JOHNSON. "Once at the stadium, fans will enjoy enhanced tailgating opportunities and a new plaza filled with activities for fans of all ages."
The Giants and Jets will meet for the 42nd consecutive preseason. Last season, the Jets, who advanced to the AFC Championship Game, defeated the Giants 27-25.
This year's contest will feature the New York debuts of several players from both teams, including the Jets' LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, SANTONIO HOLMES, ANTONIO CROMARTIE and JASON TAYLOR and the Giants’ ANTREL ROLLE and KEITH BULLUCK.
"I always wanted to live in New York and have the opportunity to play on this wonderful stage," says Tomlinson. "Obviously, now I have the opportunity and I’m excited about it."
CAROLINA at BALTIMORE (Thursday, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET): ESPN’s preseason schedule will kick off on Thursday night, August 12, when the Baltimore Ravens host the Carolina Panthers in a contest featuring two teams that love to pound the ball on the ground.
Last year, the Panthers led the NFC and ranked third in the NFL averaging 156.1 rushing yards per game. Led by running backs JONATHAN STEWART (1,133 yards) and All - Star DE ANGELO WILLIAMS (1,117), the team became the first in NFL history with two 1,100-yard rushers in the same season.
"There are a lot of football teams in the National Football League that would love to have the luxury that we have," says Williams. "Having two guys puts pressure on defenses and keeps them from knowing what to expect. The ability to keep defenses on their heels is something everyone wants."
The Ravens, who finished 9-7 and advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoffs a year ago, have also enjoyed success using multiple running backs. In 2009, Pro Bowl running back RAY RICE rushed for a career-high 1,339 yards and WILLIS MC GAHEE led the club with 12 rushing touchdowns. Led by All-Star fullback LE’RON MC CLAIN’s blocking, the Ravens ranked fifth in the NFL with 137.5 rushing yards per game.
"Willis, Le'Ron and I are not identical runners," says Rice. "We can all do things but we're different. The more good guys you have, the better it is."
NEW ORLEANS at NEW ENGLAND (Thursday, 7:30 PM ET): The New Orleans Saints take the field for the first time as Super Bowl champions when they visit the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Thursday.
"Each year you always look to improve," says Payton about the upcoming 2010 season. "There are benchmarks you look to accomplish and certainly all of us want to win another Super Bowl title. Those are goals that you set. You set those for your team. You also recognize how difficult the challenge is, especially having gone through that experience in the playoffs and Super Bowl. The goal is always to win."
Success has been no stranger to the Patriots, who won the AFC East last year. The club has won 112 regular-season games since 2000, the second-most in the NFL, and leads the league with four Super Bowl berths and three Super Bowl championships in the past decade.
"The Patriots are one of the teams of the decade," says Saints quarterback DREW BREES. "They've won three Super Bowls and they've been to the playoffs just about every year. Some would say they're a dynasty. That’s the type of organization that we're aspiring to be. We want to be a championship contender every year."
BUFFALO AT WASHINGTON (Friday, NFL Network, 7:30 PM ET): Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN and quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB will make their Redskins debuts on Friday night when Washington hosts the Buffalo Bills at FedExField.
"I'm looking forward to getting started, that's for sure." says Shanahan. "After being here for over six months and putting a football team together, you've got the draft, you've got free agency, evaluating your own football team, you're always waiting for the season. And now it's time to go."
For Buffalo, it will mark the first game as a Bill for head coach CHAN GAILEY.
"He's won everywhere he's been, and there's a good chance he'll do it again," says Buffalo general manager BUDDY NIX of Gailey. "This guy is the guy to get us back to winning and get us where we want to go."
AMONG OTHER INTERESTING GAMES THIS WEEK:
TAMPA BAY at MIAMI (Saturday, NFL Network, 7:00 PM ET): DT GERALD MC COY, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 draft, will see his first NFL action as part of the Bucs defense, facing off against a Miami offense led by QB CHAD HENNE and WR BRANDON MARSHALL, who was acquired via trade this offseason.
TENNESSEE at SEATTLE (Saturday, NFL Network, 10:00 PM ET): PETE CARROLL returns to the NFL sidelines as Seahawks head coach, hosting QB VINCE YOUNG and the Tennessee Titans, who won eight of their last 10 games to close out the 2009 season.
SAN FRANCISCO at INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, NFL Network, 1:00 PM ET): MIKE SINGLETARY and JIM CALDWELL begin their sophomore seasons with their respective teams. Singletary's 49ers feature a talented defense including All - Star LB PATRICK WILLIS and rookie S TAYLOR MAYS, while four - time AP NFL MVP QB PEYTON MANNING begins his 13th season with the defending AFC champion Colts.
DENVER at CINCINNATI (Sunday, NFL Network, 7:00 PM ET): Broncos head coach JOSH
MC DANIELS will continue to evaluate his trio of young QBs as KYLE ORTON, BRADY QUINN and rookie TIM TEBOW battle for a starting job against the Bengals defense (fourth in the NFL in 2009).
Thanks to Kate, who worked as my waitress and actress for the video. Frankly, Kate's a ham; she only needed a little coaxing to do the video with this blogger.
If you're ever in San Diego, The Kings Inn Hotel San Diego is worth the stay just for the food at The Waffle Spot. Also make sure you have the Waffles Benedict.
If you follow this space, you recall the long process of working to get a final design for the new San Francisco Transbay Terminal.
The old terminal, slated for demolition, was the hub of trains into San Francisco from the East Bay and using the San Francisco / Oakland Bay Bridge. Then, after trains gave way to cars and buses, it was the terminus of AC Transit Bus Service and San Mateo Transit Service for the East Bay and the North Bay. But with all of that, it had still fallen into a state of deterioration such that it became a blight in the South of Market area of downtown San Francisco.
After the establishment of the Redevelopment Plan in 2005 and a competition, a design created by Pelli Clarke Pelli emerged as the unanimous winner. Here's this blogger's video from the competition and the presentation in San Francisco City Hall in 2007:
Ground breaking marks new beginning
The plan is to take shape over the next seven years and be complete in 2017. I'm certain the vast majority of San Franciscans, let alone people in the Bay Area, have no idea what dramatic change is about to take place in what was once the place that was known as the unofficial parking and transit hub for SOMA's nightlife.
It will consist of a large, 1,000 ft skyscraper, 2,600 housing units, and a giant, elevated urban park unlike anything experienced in America. Indeed, the six-acre park is so large given where it's located, it's more like a much smaller version of Golden Gate Park, but for Downtown San Francisco.
The structure that supports the park will also serve to connect various forms of transit, including the planned extension of CalTrain from next to AT&T Park, and become - this space' prediction - the new place for Bay Area teenagers to hang out. (Try taking a cyber walk around to see what I mean.)
Grand Central Station
"Today, in breaking ground on the Transbay Transit Center, we are opening a new chapter in that history of progress," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "We are coming together to create jobs and revitalize our economy, and we are laying the first building blocks of a new 'Grand Central Station of the West.'"
Speaker Pelosi's right. The SF Transbay Terminal project will create 48,000 new jobs during its construction phase, but once finished, will transform Downtown San Francisco in a way that perhaps has not been fully considered.
"This is one of the most important and transformational public transportation projects in America. Once the dust has settled, San Francisco’s skyline will be transformed - as will transportation, housing, and employment choices for people across the Bay area and beyond," said United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration are proud to contribute to the first phase of this effort."
"This is a historic day for San Francisco and for the entire State," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "History will write that High-Speed Rail and a new engine for job creation and economic growth in California began today, with the groundbreaking of this project. It is a culmination of decades of planning to fulfill our City's vision of leading the nation as a transit - first City and a hub of a modern High - Speed Rail system."
The sad story of Oakland Raiders 2007 NFL 1st Round Draft Pick Quarterback Jamarcus Russell continues. Jamarcus Russell appeared in court Wednesday, in Mobile, Alabama. According to WKRG via Pro Football Talk, a friend, Marcus Stevenson, tried to take the fall for Russell.
When he did that, Stevenson was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, as PFT reports. But the WKRG report is more interesting:
Stevenson, when questioned by prosecutors, said he and Russell had partied at clubs the night before and returned home around 7:00 am on July 5th. "We were still hanging out," said Stevenson, who told the judge that Russell took a woman to his bedroom when he went to sleep in the early hours of the morning. The woman was gone before police arrived that afternoon, according to the testimony.
If you're reading that, are you thinking perhaps the woman had something to do with the police bust? Also, it's obvious Jamarcus Russell was in a state of denial about his future, electing to party like a rock star after his ouster by the Oakland Raiders.
Additionally, Jamarcus Russell seems to have talked one of his friends into taking the fall for him. Jamarcus Russell pleaded not guilty last month to one count of possession of a controlled substance.
And regarding his NFL and pro football career, Russell rejected an offer from the UFL to join a team in that league. Instead, another former Raider Jeff Garcia, will join the UFL.
And American Idol contestant Asia'h Epperson is in jail as this is written, for allegedly beating up a woman in a club in Hollywood called Colony Club. That's on the heels of Fantasia Barrino, the American Idol winner who suffered from an overdose on Monday.
Jennifer Lopez called Diva
Reportedly, Jennifer Lopez was being too much the bitch diva for Fox, so not wanting to deal with a formula that may have worked for the show, she was written off. A source told People Magazine Her demands got out of hand. Fox had just had enough."
What those "damands" were is not known, but it's too bad. J-Lo would have been fun to watch. But one thing's for sure, American Idol's still in a state of flux that should have sponsors very concerned.
Asia'h Epperson in jail
According to TMZ.com, which broke the story, Asia'h Epperson, who should spend more time on her blog as it showed promise, was the focus of a citizen's arrest at the club by the beating victim.
That's sad news because, in just reading her few blog posts about Google SERP, she's obviously really bright. Whatever happened, it's a sure bet alcohol was involved in it.
Actress Jennifer Freeman who plays Claire Kyle in the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids is accused of biting her husband, Indiana Pacers NBA Star Earl Watson, who first said he was going to file for divorce and seek custody of their 10-month-old daughter, but now has a change of heart and is going to try and work out their issues.
But that was after Earl Watson filed papers in LA County Superior Court.
Earl Watson reported, according to TMZ, that the 24-year-old My Wife and Kids star bit him in a rage after he tried to check her cell phone after she received a call at 11 PM. (Er, that reads like a booty call to this blogger.)
Watson said that Jennifer Freeman bit him at night on August 1st.
Jennifer Freeman and Earl Watson got married on May 17, 2009.
It's hard to believe it until you see her, but Jackie Evancho's a 10-year old Opera soprano from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who sounds like someone much older. You have to look and listen twice, and then again a third time, to believe what you're seeing and hearing. This YouTube talent that is Jackie Evancho is the Susan Boyle of 2010.
Why Susan Boyle?
Because like Susan Boyle, Jackie Evancho delivers the unexpected. Once again, we're wowed by someone who doesn't look like they can do what they do. Even Howie Mandel said that people could not believe it was Jackie Evancho doing the singing for Jackie Evancho. But it was.
The only place Jackie Evancho falls just short of being the exact match of Susan Boyle is that she's singing Opera. If the 10-year old were singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," the Internet would explode in response to her.
Still, let's see what happens over the next few days as Jackie Evancho advances in America's Got Talent.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown should look into this. According to The Associated Press via The Huffington Post, Wells Fargo was ordered to pay $205 million to its customers as part of a successful class-action lawsuit.
What Wells Fargo was doing was allowing debit purchases to go through when a customer's account was overdrawn. But Bank of America has the same practice, and this blogger experienced it after a client bounced a check.
What Bank of America does is pile on one payment when you're overdrawn, thus triggering another overdraft charge and making more money from it. Then, when the non-paid vendor tries to collect again, the Bank of America issues a second overdraft charge!
My sources in and out of Bank of America have confirmed this problem. In other words, Bank of America has practiced the same process Wells Fargo was accused of and is now ordered to pay its customers back to settle.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup accused Wells Fargo of profiteering
According to the AP, U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who's in the Northern District Court of California in San Francisco, accused Wells Fargo of profiteering, specifically "Internal bank memos and e-mails leave no doubt that, overdraft revenue being a big profit center, the bank's dominant, indeed sole, motive was to maximize the number of overdrafts."
In this blogger's experience with his Bank of America account, there were as many as not one, but three overdraft penalties drawn in one day, and four in two days, separated by the weekend, from two vendors!
What should happen is simple: one overdraft penalty for one charge unpaid. That's it. Bank of America should be the focus of California Attorney General Jerry Brown's gaze, and sooner rather than later.
Steve Slater's name has been in the news and all over headlines for the past couple days for quitting his job as a flight attendant after arguing with a rude passenger. Slater decided to slide down JetBlue's plane emergency chute.
Slater was sent to jail for his dramatic exit which also doubled as his resignation from his job as a flight attendant. Some people are calling Slater a hero, but it's hard to understand how causing a scene publicly can be considered heroic behavior.
Paris Hilton has grown a gut! Paris's party ways this summer have caught up to her and she proves - for once - that she is truly human! She wears a tight dress that shows off how much of a pauch belly she has. The Daily Mail agrees:
And it appears as though her month of hard partying may be wreaking havoc on Paris' figure, as despite being stick thin, the tight dress showed off an unfortunately obvious paunch, likely the result of the magnums of champagne she was seen downing on holiday.
I cannot believe Paris or even her people let her step out looking like that! Paris could pass for being a few months pregnant with how much her gut sticks outs. That or she's got bad bloat because she is starving herself! What do you think it is - beer belly or bloat? Oh, she would never drink beer, I meant champagne gut! Only us mere mortals would get beer gut!
Victoria Beckham is the latest high profile star to fall to the pregnancy rumors. Some people are so sure of this pregnancy - like Famous Magazine in Australia - that they are running the news on the cover of their magazine! With the Beckham's - Victoria and superstar soccer player husband David - suing several tabloids for false stories, you'd think that Famous must have a credible source in order to even think about a cover with this topic!
Posh and Becks are expanding their family. Romeo, Brooklyn and Cruz will have either a brother or sister, Posh must be wishing for a little girl by now! It's a new beginning for the couple, this week we reveal the pact that saved their marriage.
Victoria and David's youngest is already five or six years old. I wonder how they would feel about another sibling? We'll wait until some pictures emerge of Victoria looking heavy until we decide if we think she is truly pregnant or not. She's so thin, it won't take long to notice. What's your guess as to her pregnancy status?
Been there, endured that and my loyal blog readers on my main blog Suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com read my line "New Yorkers threshold for corruption is higher than our tallest sky scrapers." Well the same for misogynist, hateful, hostile, down right creepy unwanted sexual behavior towards women and way too young girls.
The USA has a long way too go with regard to acceptable treatment of it's women. Sadly compared to other countries we are light years ahead. I have nine letters published in The New York Times and they are hard to find. You have to go The New York Times website, put my name in the search engine and than hit since 1851, I know I look great for my age and than hit advance search.
Here is my letter on Women and Porn. Many years ago I made up the term "geo-sexual politics" and it means we women have come a long way but we still ain't equal. For Mae West lovers check out the double entendre I snuck into that letter!
Could the NBA be called the Misogynist Club? Yes. I am blocking out the name of the Knick player that coerced a young intern to give him oral sex and she did not want to do it. I really can't remember his name and I thought he should be punished and censured. What a disgusting guy. His behavior was exposed in the entire scandal that broke when the Isiah Thomas scandal broke. I do not go to basketball games anymore. I would never buy a Knick anything. I don't want to support a club that is so abusive and exploitive of women.
The Oakland Mayor's Race is not without its share of groups who think they can influence the race by excluding certain candidates. The Oakland SEIU 1021 Union Organization is just one of them.
As this is written, the Oakland SEIU 1021 is about to hold its interviews of candidates for the Oakland Mayor's Race. From many conversations held Tuesday, it appears the SEIU finally got its act together and contacted all of the candidates, instead of just three: Former State Senator Don Perata, and Oakland Councilmembers Jean Quan and Rebecca Kaplan (District Four and At-Large, respectively.)
Now, from the information communicated to this blogger, the SEIU's talking to more than just the three, although as of this writing the Joe Tuman for Mayor campaign was left out of the SEIU process.
UPDATE: a text from the Joe Tuman Campaign explains that after "several phone calls" they were invited for later tonight.
In all, it was an awful state of affairs punctuated by this email letter to Ariana Casanova, the event organizer with the Oakland SEIU from the "Friends of Terrance Candell for Mayor" campaign (paragraphs broken by this blogger):
Dr. Terrance Candell calls out other candidates
Dear Ariana,
You met with our candidate on February 3rd, 2010. Other unions have met with him and are close to endorsement. How, then, can you act as if he does not exist. Our constituents within your union have told us that you intended to discriminate against Terence Candell. We hope that this is not evidence of that. Our campaign never received any notice of Wednesday's interviews of Oakland Mayoral Candidates.
We assume that means that we will be allowed participation without having to render advance questions, since you never advanced them to us. Do not misunderstand. Our candidate is the frontrunner in this race. The rest just have KTVU, who has ignored him since he paid them $10,000 for airtime for his campaign.
Dr. Candell was the first Oakland Mayoral Candidate on the ballot. Don MacCleay and Greg Harland are also on the ballot. Terence Candell has a regular show on local Channel 78 Comcast. You might want to check that out. Your membership deserves a chance to hear him.
We understand that you don't like him. However, you cannot deceive the people and your membership by denying him due process. That is very unprofessional.
Dyra - Campaign Chair
Friends of Candell
Green Party Candidate Don Macleay was also not contacted, so he sent this email to Ariana:
I am also asking to attend and particpate requesting the SEIU 1021 endorsment in the Mayor's race.
Please let me know how to proceed.
Is there a questionaire?
What time should we arrive?
What else should I know or do?
Don Macleay
Who's Ariana Casanova?
Ariana Casanova's an organizer with the Oakland SEIU and an activist involved in several issues from the Nik Nak Liquor Store to protests against banks during the financial crisis, and who this blogger called three times without a single return phone call. I've never seen or met Ariana Casanova and I had a lot of questions for her after my conversations.
According to several sources, Ariana Casanova's not shy about telling Oakland Mayor's Race candidates if they're even worth paying attention to. The woman with the cool-sounding name allegedly told one candidate he needed to raise $325,000 and that he should not even try because he was not going to win.
That unguarded view is what started the problem where candidates were excluded.
When this space got word of the problem, a text was sent to Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan who was set to participate in the SEIU event. The text communicated the intention of exposing the SEIU game playing and encouraged her to back out.
After a time, the problem, at least for Dr. Terrance Candell, was solved. He's part of the SEIU process as is Don Macleay.
Oakland Mayor's Race candidate Greg Harland, who doesn't want union backing, said he rejected the SEIU's last minute invitation.
However it turns out, if the SEIU handled its interview process the way it's explained here, and by all accounts this is accurate, their final recommendation for the Oakland Mayor's Race is not worth paying attention to. That's also true for The League of Women Voters.
After writing a 26 page long research paper about Fox News' conservative bias for my college English Composition class it's simple to explain why Fox News is known as the "most popular" or "most watched" news station.
Doing the research paper involved actually watching programs such as The O'Reilly Factorand viewing segments on the show. Along with comparing the headlines and online content of Fox News as opposed to CNN's online content.
Instead of posting the 26 page long paper - this post will just be a simply explanation as to why Fox News gets the most views.
Fox News is the only news source of its kind. Fox News is where all the conservatives go to watch their news primarily. Fox News viewership is primarily white older males on the conservative sides.
On the opposite side of the spectrum there are news stations such as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, etc. All the aforementioned stations are not conservative. Some may argue that the stations are not unbiased and objective - and most will say that most those stations lean to the left.
So, there is ONE station that leans to the right, but many stations that seem to lean toward the left.
The people who enjoy the news that leans to the left are all going to go to each of those stations. So all of those "left leaning" stations are competing for the views of those who watch those stations.
Fox News has no competition when it comes to news that leans far to the right and is sensationalistic. Now, conservatives and liberals alike will skim and view a variety of news stations and liberals will sometimes watch Fox and conservatives will watch CNN - but the majority of conservatives stick to Fox News. There are not a bunch of conservative news stations fighting for viewership of the conservatives.
The other news stations ARE competing for those viewers.
So. Let's say there are 50 conservatives and 50 liberals. All 50 conservatives are going to watch Fox News, but 20 liberals might watch CNN, another 20 might watch MSNBC, and 10 of them might watch CBS.
In that case the reason that Fox News is getting the most viewers is because it is the only station of its kind.
Now, there is much more that can be said about Fox News. Lots of time and research has gone into explaining and proving the conservative bias of Fox News, but for now that is all that needs to be explained.
Former JetBlue Flight Attendant Steven Slater may have lost his job, and shown the worst behavior of a stewart in history, but he's considered a hero by many. In fact, the Zennie62 Poll revealed that almost 60 percent of 472 voters polled online as of this writing think he's a hero.
Did you see that mark on his forehead? Then being accosted by that passenger. I hear it cost him 25,000 for deploying that escape ramp. There was no real harm done,he lost his job.Let it go,lesson learned.
Of the now, 480 votes (the poll results change every minute), 57.92 percent think Steven Slater's a hero, 21.04 percent think he should have kept his cool, 12.71 percent blame JetBlue's working conditions, but think Slater should have kept his cool, 6.25 percent think he endangered lives, and 2.08 percent think he should have not taken the job in the first place.
Slater jumped ship
Steve Slater got into an argument with a passenger over an overhead bag that fell out of the bin hit him on the head. After the passenger called him names, he fired back with some of his own, then got on the PA system and said he had enough, went into the galley and got a beer, then activated the emergency chute, slid down it, went home and screwed his partner. When the police came, Slater was caught in the act.
Too funny.
Now, Slater's out of jail and a Facebook page has been put up to help raise money for his defense. This space disagrees with NewsOne, but can see understand the frustration with uncivil passengers. Still, here's the Facebook page: Steven Slater Facebook.
What do you think about Steven Slater? Take my poll:
Shouldn't the Academy Awards have a metric-based way of giving out press credentials?
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited this blogger to apply for credentials for The Academy Awards, then rejected him for no clear reason. By contrast, the DNC Convention had clear metrics for who should apply: Technorati ranking, etc. The Academy should have that metric-based system, if only to avoid the appearance of discrimination, but also to know what it's PR reach would be.
Build PNR/Confirmation - ABRAHAMYERGER/PATRICIA E
Confirmation # JPW6HY Successful completion!
SFO - ORD Sunday, May 10, 2009
Flight Info Dates Misc. Booking Class Confirm Status
UA 54
Boeing 777 Departure: SFO
Sun May 10 2009 6:17
Arrival: ORD
Sun May 10 2009 12:25 Non-stop First Class - F Stand-By
ORD - ATL Sunday, May 10, 2009
Flight Info Dates Misc. Booking Class Confirm Status
UA 554
Boeing 733 Departure: ORD
Sun May 10 2009 13:16
Arrival: ATL
Sun May 10 2009 16:14 Non-stop First Class - F Stand-By
ATL - DEN Saturday, May 16, 2009
Flight Info Dates Misc. Booking Class Confirm Status
United Express
UA 7703
EMB Departure: ATL
Sat May 16 2009 8:55
Arrival: DEN
Sat May 16 2009 10:18 Non-stop First Class - F Stand-By
DEN - SFO Saturday, May 16, 2009
Flight Info Dates Misc. Booking Class Confirm Status
UA 123
Boeing 752 Departure: DEN
Sat May 16 2009 11:15
