A bit dated, but still true
May 28, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKtEqVVlVZs&search=Stephen%20Colbert
It’s getting hot in here….
May 26, 2006
I wish this Al Gore movie would come to this town 
An Inconvenient Truth
In the meantime… gas has reached $4 a gallon in some parts of the country http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0526/p03s03-ussc.html?s=itmthumb
I nervously watch the gas pumps around here. Although it's down to $2.65 a gallon here (which still isn't cheap), it won't take much to shoot back up to the near $3 it loomed at for months. http://www.illinoisgasprices.com
Big Telco Propaganda Masked as Grassroots campaign!
May 25, 2006
Don't be fooled!
DontRegulate.org and hands off the internet are advocating anti-net neutrality. They claim to be "nationwide coalition of Internet users." However, it appears to be just a ploy from the big telecommunication companies.
Dontregulate.org claims that YOU will have to pay for the internet instead of big companies like Google and Yahoo with net-neutrality laws. I find this to be highly deceiving. Google and Yahoo, etc already pay for the internet. They pay for servers and BANDWITH! Consumers then pay to access the internet. Net Neutrality won't make consumers pay more, it just makes big business pay more for services they already use. If they don't pay the extra charges, then SBC and the big telcos just slow down their services (or don't deliver them at all). This is totally unfair.
Bloggers and individuals will then be forced to pay for the amount of bandwidth they use for their person sites in addition to the fees and hosting charges they already pay (for bandwidth).
These "grassroot" campaigns against net neutrality make it seem like the government will be controling the internet, incorrect. It is just keeping big telephone companies from controling the internet. The government will not control anything, other than the amount of power the telephone companies have (which is plenty as it is). Don't be fooled. Advocate FOR net neutrality!
It comes down to this:
Big telco wants to get paid twice for their services. Net neutrality laws will stop them from forcing websites and other companies to pay more. This will prevent telecommunication companies from slowing down or limiting access for those who don't pay more. Net neutrality means freedom on the internet, without having to pay double (or more) for your content to get through.
Net neutrality laws are probably not enough. Big Telcos need breaking up, but this can be a start to controlling their power.
Some Justice
May 25, 2006
Sorry.
May 23, 2006
I'll post more entries soon.
I saw The DaVinci Code Friday. It was almost like the book. Pretty good. If you haven't heard of the Gnostic Gospels or other things like that, then you'll find it interesting.
In the meantime, check out http://www.nationstates.net/ and make a nation
You can even visit my nation: http://www.nationstates.net/chlamydia_rash
While you're out on the net, check out the band Chumbawamba at http://www.chumba.com/
Watch their video in the download section: "Homophobia"
I'll blog at ya later!
Phone Companies Should be Scared…
May 17, 2006
Phone Companies Distance Themselves from NSA
Having to confess to being one of the companies that gave the NSA everyone's phone logs is a PR nightmare… but I don't think PR problems is all they should be worrying about.
They should have to deal with every angry customer. They owe it to every one of them whose records they just handed over. As customers, we should demand retribution and make these companies more responsible. They were too willing to give up personal data. I wouldn't mind free service for a while. I really wouldn't mind if some of these big telco companies could possibly split up.
Who you gonna call?
Trustbusters!
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=239
This house produces as much energy as it consumes in a year and combines "renewable energy technologies with advanced energy-efficient construction."
Everything from solar power, to ground source heat pumps, to a tankless water heater. It's designed to be efficient and use natural resources to draw power.
If modern houses could use just some of the techniques used to make this house efficient, we'd be saving a ton of energy.
I can't say that I use too many energy saving techniques, but I do use flouresent light bulbs and don't really use all that much energy. My laptop only draws as much power as a regular light bulb. But, it's not like I can buy solar panels and a ground heat pump because I rent. However, it is something I'd consider for when I do have a house. Sometimes small things like good insulation and turning lights out when you aren't using them save lots of energy and money! With rising gas and energy prices, it pays to be a little more conservative (environmentally, not politically).
I’m a Socialist
May 15, 2006
| You are a Social Liberal (73% permissive) and an… Economic Liberal (11% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness. lo Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating |
That sounds about right.
It had a little diagram of where I fall on the chart, but that didn't render for whatever reason.
I'll have more great posts coming soon!
Good-bye checks and balances- People OK with that!
May 12, 2006
Well, according to this article on Wired, it looks like the NSA won't let the Department of Justice have access to the clearance it needs to do some investigating.
Apparently this doesn't concern most citizens, because a recent poll shows that Americans support NSA's efforts.
It looks like the constitution has become optional now a days… and all America can do is shrug its shoulders! Meh.
It's time to stand up and tell them that this is unacceptable!
Do what you can- vote, petition, inform others!
Life of a Law Student
May 11, 2006
Tomorrow I will be taking my last final and subsequently celebrating/mourning the completion of my first year of law school.
While I'm away, please send story ideas/links/news to me through the comments. I'm looking to do a story on the environment soon. 
I'll have some new material for the weekend.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the week!
You probably already know that Fox news is a lapdog for the Bush administration, but is CNN just as unwilling to report a story when it may be critical of the US?
This report thinks so:
[Post 9-11 press coverage was quite factual.] But, alas, that was not to last. Researchers found that as the months went by, analysis and opinion gradually crept back in, and the proportion of fact fell from 75 percent of the news to 69 percent. "The level of factualness declined to levels lower than those seen in the middle of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal," says the report. The other trend that showed up was a distinct unwillingness to challenge or criticize U.S. policy or the Bush Administration. In September, 71 percent of news stories were classified as entirely or predominantly pro-U.S. That figure fell to 50 percent in December. It is here that the gulf between CNN and Fox News Channel turns out to be nonexistent. Much has been made in recent weeks of the unabashedly pro-American stance taken by Fox News with regard to the terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan. Sure enough, 78 percent of the relevant stories on "Special Report with Brit Hume" were all or mostly supportive of the White House’s actions. But wait: On CNN's "NewsNight with Aaron Brown," 77 percent of the relevant stories were entirely supportive of the Bush Administration. "Looking at the two signature evening newscasts of the two cable networks over nine days, there was no appreciable difference," says the study.
I don't think the media is getting to the hard hitting questions and doing its job as a governmental watch dog. The first amendment is supposed to protect the media and allow it to keep the government in check by reporting on it.
That is not happening now. Without this function, the government can go unchecked. This is dangerous. I think that we are already feeling its effects, but it's going to get worse.
Blogging and the internet can't keep the balance alone. YOU CAN HELP! How can we stop this? Show the media you want fair coverage. Read stories that are factual and critical of the government when it has done wrong (or could do better). The news agencies can tell what stories you read on the internet! Pass along stories that are intersting, not just fluff. Keep a blog or just tell others about what you've read. Also, comment on news pages that allow for comments. There's so much you can do, just let the media know what you want. They want ratings, reward them when they do good.
The constitution gives us this right. Let's use it, before the media completely abuse it.
Windows Withdrawl
May 9, 2006
Windows Xp has been around since 2001. I was a freshman in undergrad. Five years later, Microsoft has decided to innovate (very slightly) with Vista, which won't emerge until at least January of next year.
They scaled back all their major changes, and now we're left something that's not quite all that amazing. The system mainly tries to catch up with the upcoming popularity of Apple's OSX.
Microsoft's new browser, just as overdue, is Internet Explorer 7. It's far behind times, and struggling hard to catch up with the popular Firefox browser. (If you aren't using Firefox by now, you've got to change. Especially since IE7 won't be out until next year either!)
Maybe this is a chance for people to try Linux. Here's an article about switching.
I have tried knoppix and Ubuntu. It's different from Windows. It's even a little harder to learn and use, but Linux is advancing at amazing rates. Especially since Windows has been stuck in the mud for so long.
Linux might be worth a try. The least it can do is make Microsoft more innovative and competitive, if not give them a run for their money. 
Goals
May 9, 2006
Here are some of my goals in making this blog,
And, in general, this is what every citizen should strive to do:
- Advance a government works for the people;
- ensure our freedoms;
- protect our environment;
- make corporations accountable, competitive and innovative;
- reduce corruption;
- establish security;
- encourage diversity and acceptance;
- eradicate ignorance;
- promote open discussion of important issues; and
- enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It’s gotta be first for a reason…
May 9, 2006
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
With Bush's approval rating at 31%, all I can ask is:
Who are these 31% that are approving of him?
Let's see, apparently they:
- want to lose most of their privacy and freedoms in the name of (false) security
- love spending exorbitant amounts of money on fuel and energy
- support putting our troops in danger for no good reason
- don't value clean air, lush forests, or nature, unless we can get oil from any of them
- enjoy a monarchy/dictatorship instead of a representative democracy with checks and balances
- support massive, omnipresent, monopolistic and corrupt corporations
- want the richest, most greedy and powerful white conservative christian men running the world.
Sounds like a wonderful country!
Right?
A Perfect place to live, like in the movies…
Run by the most caring of men…
There's never any oppression or hostile control…
Why resist?
