Haiti to Monsanto: F*** You

In the hit documentary Food Inc., seed company Monsanto was vilified (and rightly so) for their legal attacks on farmers and seed harvesters for infringing their patent rights. Now, not only does Monsanto have to deal with problems like its public image, weeds becoming resistant to its weed-killer Roundup, and their general dislike by environmentalists; their gift to Haiti, 475 tons of hybrid seeds, will most likely not be accepted, and probably burned. Haitians see the move as an attack on their sustainable farming lifestyle, or as Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, spokesperson for the National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay put it, "a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds ... and on what is left our environment in Haiti."
Kudos to the poor Haitians, who, even after their nation was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year, still resist the Americanized notion of letting corporations take care of you, if only for their future benefit. I can't imagine the difficulties they currently face, so compound that in five or ten years when Monsanto holds farmers liable for using their seeds, forcing them to buy them and suing them if they happen to drift into their field, since Monsanto can't seem to be held responsible for their own wayward seeds.

Beck Shows His Stripes

Although a tiger never changes his stripes, he may be able to cover them, possibly from the mounds of muck he has raked up over the years. In fact, some might even mistake a tiger for a completely different animal, and shower it with praise. Such an animal is Glenn Beck. This former morning zoo reject turned Mormon and conservative talk sweetheart/poster-boy admitted in an interview that appeared in Forbes magazine that, "I could give a flying crap about the political process...we're an entertainment company." I doubt that many of his die-hard followers would read such a hoity-toity elitist rag like Forbes, and would notice this. All the hateful ideological drivel he spouts is nothing more than a method for raking in substantial amounts of cash, the smallest fraction of which (a modest $2 million a year) from his popular 'entertainment' show, on which he constantly sheds tears and uses some of the most amazingly backwards, circular logic to make his famous (and famously parodied (2)) assumptions and connections. At first I wasn't able to figure out why people adore Beck so much, but it finally came to me. He's the Larry the Cable Guy of punditry. A pudgy, white, average-looking guy who wears a persona and a button-up shirt. Like a buttoned up shirt. He's not business-like as Hannity prefers to appear, or a cranky old fart like O'Reilly. He's the pale, religious guy that cries a lot, loves his country, and is just like you, but just happened to make 32 million dollars last year.
Good job turning all that fear-mongering into cold, hard cash, Beck.

Genetics vs. Capitalism

I'm not going to give a score on this, because the battle is far from over, and has possibly just begun. Although, humanity has made a small win over a corporation who had patented a pair of genes used to detect cancers. Therefore, only this company could run tests on these genes, and charged handsomely for it. The judge said no, agreeing with the ACLU that DNA is a besic part of everyone's individuality. This opens up the possibility for the 2,000 or so other patents on genes to be questioned, and should. Human genes should not be patented by anyone, it is the fundamental 'open source' material.

Red-faced Redbox

Continually proving the movie industry is going to attempt to maintain a dying business model as long as possible, Warner blue-balled Redbox into accepting a wait period of 28 days on new-releases, a little over a month after forcing Netflix into the same submission hold. Most smart individuals realize this is a complete dick move that does nothing but hurt everyone involved, and only increases the potential for piracy.
Many people who aren't willing to fork out 4 bucks plus tax to watch a shitty new-release and would prefer to pay a dollar, but now can't, will inevitably download a pirated copy, watch it, and forget about it, feeling only slightly soiled at wasting 90 minutes of their life on a piece of poorly-executed tripe. Therefore the production company loses. The occasional not-so-shitty release may get burned, passed around, re-watched and eventually lost in the backseat of someones Toyota, which may accelerate out of control and crash, violently exploding, destroying the disc no one paid for. Just kidding, Toyota.
Redbox also has to drop a lawsuit against Warner Bros. for trying to prevent them from getting their movies, so they lose double. Pirates have to work extra hard to keep up with the releases, and the quality of their work will suffer, so everyone else loses. Maybe everyone is losing more than Warner in this deal, so they're content.

Nuclear Winter Wear

Doomsday Sale!!
Everything Must Go!!
Need to make room for our
Nuclear Winter Wear!!
No cash, no gold, no problem,
barter your child for a better
post-apocalypse lifestyle.

Wise businessmen never miss a beat
an opening or an opportunity
some will always seek t
make a profit—even after
the illusions of safety
and peace in our world end.

Coming to you this January, be sure
not to miss this season's
hottest Geiger Gear;
and wait until you see our
Functional Fabulous February
Fallout Fashions!!

Traders become militant millionaires
banking on Cadillac survivalists
wanting custom handmade
Gucci gun-cases in their
Wasteland Edition H2
with bullet-proof glass
puncture-proof tires
and spill-proof cup-holders.

Nothing Held Back!!
We'll ignore rationing edicts
this weekend only,
just for our customers!
Bring your cash, but
leave your guns at home!
We Must Be Crazy!!
Or at Least Slightly Irradiated!!

Soon as televisions work again,
business will flourish;
the faithful line up silent
wallets and purses in hand
at fallout-shelter mega-stores
smiling in satisfaction knowing
they were right; the End is Nigh--
of high prices.

(Government) News Corporation

I've talked before about how terrible our newspaper industry is doing, in the face of the immediate availability of information on the Internet and the convenience of 24/7 cable news channels. You had to know that someone in the government would find a way to step in and help out. Reuters reports that the idea of a bailout of sorts is cooking within the creaky, dirty walls of the Congress.
The last thing the government should step in and help out is the media. Mass media has already skewed the idea of freedom of speech. However, Henry Waxman, a Dem Chairman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee thinks differently. Complaining of a failing business model, he warns that, "Eventually government is going to have to be responsible to help and resolve these issues." Despite how terrible the media is right now, letting the government step in and take the reins is a terrible, aside from concerns over censorship. With a bailout comes restrictions, like in the case of the government bailout of the auto industry; salary caps, concessions, streamlining, trimming the corporate fat, basically. Restrictions on how they functioned and what they could and couldn't do also applied. An auto company that should have been left to implode is one thing, a struggling but evolving thing such as media is another. I don't fear so much what would happen to the massive, lumbering conglomerates that haven't been able to keep up with the changing nature of media, but how the smaller, moderate news outlets and such would be affected. Once politics collides head on with free speech and the free press, there's no telling what could happen, particularly when there are large sums of money involved. Case in point, FOX News has pretty much become the speaking arm of the Republican party, as 'fair and balanced' as they would like to appear. Thomas Paine must be spinning in his grave.

Don't censor us, censor that!

The GOP keeps creating proof that they will oppose anything the Democrats believe in or support, including Freedom of Speech, particularly via the Internets. Obama has shown support for net neutrality and recently spoke to the Chinese leader about limiting their notorious Internet censorship, nicknamed the Great Firewall. From the very beginning of his presidency, even before he was sworn in, groups like the MPAA have tried to pressure Obama and the FCC to censor the Internet and the RIAA would love to turn it into a virtual police state where nothing is free or easily accessible.
Showing their love and consideration for big business ahead of the actual citizens of this country, Republicans in congress introduced legislation months ago to appease the big ISP's to stymie efforts by the FCC to enforce neutrality and ban restricting or slowing certain types of information sent over the Internet. More recently, AT&T got its shorts in a wad over comments the Obama admin has made concerning any regulations on Internet access. Basically, Republicans are taking sides with companies and media groups over the rights of its own constituents, since they must not pad their pockets as well as the corporations do.
Censoring or filtering the Internet in any way is another step toward limiting our right to freedom of speech and the press, as is done in countries like China, Iran and North Korea, you know, Communist and dictatorship countries. The ones we get along with so well. I guess it really doesn't surprise me much, since conservatives are more likely to ask books to be banned or burned since they don't agree with their set of values, the only ones that matter.

Whining and Dining

Here is an excerpt of a great conversation I had this morning with a friend of mine.

Xavier said (10:25 AM):
http://www.winechateau.com/
this is awesome
and shipping is often freeeee
danithius says:
oh ho? Online wine? Are they even allowed to ship to Utah?
Xavier says:
yeah
I can get a case of this really good Zinfandel I like for 65 bucks, free shipping
danithius says:
wow. How much in a case?
Xavier says:
12
danithius says:
holy wow
Xavier says:
about 5.39 a bottle
danithius says:
of that Gallo (sic?) stuff you were talking about?
Xavier says:
yeah
danithius says:
nice man
Xavier says:
oooh, spirits too
danithius says:
circumvent the Utah liquor conglomerate altogether, I dig
Xavier says:
yeah
wait
Domestic State Restrictions
Currently, we are NOT shipping to: Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah.
must be why the shipping was free
danithius says:
arrrg I knew it
hmm or those states are all the ones with puritan alcohol laws
Xavier says:
http://wi.shipcompliant.com/StateDetail.aspx?StateId=65
I got all excited for nothing
danithius says:
felony state?? geez
you can bring in up to a quart, "if all taxes and markups have been paid and clearance is received from the liquor control commission."
you've got to be kidding
Xavier says:
yeah, I learned that in my paper research
you have to file paperwork to bring a bottle of anything back with you, and pay taxes
danithius says:
I do remember... it's just so... what's the word
Machiavellian? no...
Xavier says:
ridiculous?
danithius says:
heh that works
just like they've gone to every possible extent to put a giant wet blanket upon its citizens...
Xavier says:
or perhaps, a dry blanket
danithius says:
heh touche
but seriously, I bet the people on the liquor commission point to that stipulation and go, "look, we're making every effort to accommodate our citizens"
"we're being reasonable" or something like that
Xavier says:
as long as they don't enjoy themselves
too much
danithius says:
oh of course, that goes without saying
of course you can bring in outside spirits! You simply have to visit your local liquor commission, pay the necessary markup and taxes, and fill out some paperwork to receive proper clearance
Xavier says:
and that's only because they hold a monopoly on liquor inside the state, they don't want anyone cutting in on their business
I mean their love and concern for Utah's citizens
danithius says:
uh huh
it's suffocation by bureaucracy
kind of like how the green card application process deters a lot of (legal) immigration
Xavier says:
not to mention citizenship
danithius says:
but honestly I don't think it decreases the number of immigrants much, just legal ones. You're basically forcing people to break the law
Xavier says:
anyone up for a run to Wyoming?
danithius says:
lol exactly

I may actually need to go up there this winter. Anyone need anything?

LDS WTF

As someone who grew up religiously, I learned all the cute, kitschy little catch phrases and mnemonic devices that helped you remember certain things about your faith, and being Mormon, we have our fair share. Latter Day Saints is LDS. Choose The Right, CTR. YM/YW, PEC, the Y, NCMO . Trials and Tribulations. The Word of Wisdom. Hold to the Rod. Articles of Faith. Bear your Testimony. Families are Forever. Called to Serve. Milk before meat. Isn't it about . . . time? They go on and on.
I have come to see my former faith, Mormonism, turned into easily repeatable bumper-sticker quotes. I saw one car just the other day with at least three. One CTR sticker, one R U LDS ? sticker, and those goddamn omnipresent stick figure people, used by Mormon soccer-moms to proclaim their penchant and proclivity for procreation, which is apparently their only other purpose after gossiping about other church members behind their backs and taking anti-depressants by the handful. I saw one minivan with eleven people on the back window. That means nine kids. NINE. From one woman. Why would anyone put themselves through that? If you asked Mrs. Duggar, she would probably give you some bullshit answer about them being gifts from God, when in reality, she just can't seem to keep her legs closed. But I digress.
You know that your religion has become mainstreamed when you have stores dedicated to selling accessories and other crap specifically for your religion. I always thought that CTR rings had a purpose, to be an ever present reminder for you to 'choose the right.' It's more of a useless symbol to me now, just a sign to inform potential suitors that you still think you're twelve and believe a ring will keep you from doing something you aren't supposed to. Purity rings? Wedding rings? Never mind.
All the religious paraphernalia I see just comes off as an attempt at trying to disguise a love of material things behind the mask of faith. Certain clothes are required for a person to enter the Mormon temples, and to be seen as true, faithful members. You have to buy stuff to prove your faithfulness. Sounds more like brand loyalty than faith to me. "Yes, I have my quad and my brand-new leather carrying case, with my gold-embossed name on both of them. I just bought this new church-bag for my mom with Relief Society Mom embroidered on it, and a Christus replica for dad. Isn't that so fetchin' awesome?"
There is an entire bookstore chain dedicated to selling literature to Mormons, covering all genres, including fiction, ironically. Living in Utah Valley as I do, I get to see a local culture that is so saturated with religion that it cannot separate itself from consumerism. Most business is geared toward serving those individuals who love to proclaim their religious status while proclaiming their financial one as well. "Yes, I have Lexus and I drive like a sleepy, drunk, angry twelve-year-old, but I'm LDS and God has blessed me so it's okay." So NOT okay. There is a very bold and obvious contradiction here, where members of a religion that seems to motivate frugality and humility breeds a society of zealous, prideful, want-driven hypocrites who desire to make every effort the show that they are better than--whoever. Add young marriage and rabbit-like breeding to the equation and it's no surprise that Utah consistently leads the nation in bankruptcy filings.
Think about it. Utah is about 50% Mormon, give or take. Mormons are required to give 10% of their gross income to their church to remain in good standing. Then there is the American desire to display your social rank with 'things.' New cars, big house with a maintained lawn, and any combination of 4-wheelers, dirt-bikes, jet-skies and snowmobiles. Then, fill that hole in your soul with more, religious goods, like multiple pictures of a very white Jesus, prophets living and dead, and temples you've seen either never or dozens of times; religious jewelry, books, crafts, and oh-my-god Christmas decorations. That's one for another post.
What it all comes down to in my angry little mind is that Mormons don't really feel fulfilled by their religion, they need stuff to fill that hole, be it religious or otherwise. What would Jesus do? Buy more! I can walk through my neighborhood and count SUV's that cost more than 30K and run out of fingers before I circle the block, and this is a very religious neighborhood. I'm no different, when it comes to wanting. I'd like a nice big house and a new car and all the toys, but I know I can't afford them. And I don't try and hide me desires behind my bumper-sticker religion, they're my selfish desires to have things. But I don't really feel it necessary to try and keep up with the Johnson's. I have my shitty apartment, my cars, paid off, and my motorcycle, not paid off, and that's enough for me right now. God wont provide more for me if I start believing in him again, just the banks and the credit card companies with their cash advances and Annual Percentage Rates. Thanks, but no thanks.
Well, maybe just a few small things. Could I possibly get a set of those blood-red undergarments and a Jupiter talisman so I can be more like Joseph Smith? A couple young wives would be nice too.

Is a Public Option That Hard to Swallow?

A month ago, Obama declared that the public option was 'not essential' to the health care reform bill, mostly because the Repubs were fighting against it so heartily. Even a few 'blue dog' Democrats were against it. It seemed like the health care reformation would come without a government run insurance program. Fast forward to this week.
It seems that all of a sudden everyone but Dems are coming out in favor of a public option, including 73% of doctors, labor groups, and even Bill O'Reilly. Yeah, that shocked the hell out of me too.
So whether those in Congress fighting against it like it or not, it looks like the public option is back on the table. The insurance companies are going to fight it every way they can, and not because it means a poorer health coverage, but because they don't want the competition. Anything that will force them to be more honest, lose customers and profits, they are definitely going to be against. Do they really care that 45,000 people die every year because they don't have health insurance? Actually, yes, because that's 45,000 premiums they didn't collect before they canceled the policy for some obscure reason.
Insurance companies are not in the business to save lives, they are in it to profit off of healthy people as long as it is convenient for them, and dropping them as soon as possible when something crops up. I'm sure there a re a few smaller insurance companies that might actually give a damn about their customers, but I'm not aware of any. This fight against health care reform is getting ridiculous, and is led my stubborn conservative politicians who wont even bother to read bills they come out against. Maybe if someone tossed a hefty raise for Congress into the bill it might get passed in record time.
Until then, I just hope that I don't get seriously ill or injured in any way and cripple myself financially.

Hollywood Hates the Free Market

If there is one thing that Hollywood hates more than anything, it's people enjoying their movies for free--or as close to it as possible. One of the foundations of a free-market is that consumers decide how much they are willing to pay for something, and only the companies that can provide that service/object for that price cost-effectively will stay in business.
For far too long, Hollywood has decided how much we will pay to watch the garbage that sweep out into the theaters and video stores across this country, and has reaped huge sums of money. Since the advent of faster, more widespread Internet service has become popular, their revenue has been dropping, since people suddenly realized that they don't have to pay to watch some trite piece of crap in a theater or rent the DVD for $4-6 bucks. Multiple suits and harassment of the ISP's by organizations such as the MPAA has done very little to stem the tide of recorded or ripped videos making their way into millions of hard drives around the world. And that wont change anytime soon. But something else is agitating Hollywood these days.
There are these soda-machine sized boxes springing up everywhere around the country, in WalMart's, gas stations and fast-food joints. From them, you can rent a DVD for about a dollar a night, no questions asked. There's no one to ask them, the machines simply vend your disk and and transmit your cash into some large bank account somewhere. The most popular and easy to find is RedBox. McDonalds jumped on the RedBox wagon big time, even giving away free rentals with meals. They are simple, convenient, and most of all, cheap. Movie studios do not like this.
RedBox has proven to Hollywood that consumers are tired of getting raped every time they go to the theater, paying upwards of ten dollars, per person, to sit through two hours of nonsense, when they can just do it at home for a buck and change for the whole family. A weak economy and high unemployment rate have added to the problem, people are diverting their shrinking entertainment funds to cheaper sources. Mint.com has a great visual breakdown of the comparison between the most popular video rental chains. Basically, they're kicking some major ass, as I'm sure any customers of the machines are well-aware, the lines get annoyingly long, especially when that damn guy has no idea what he wants to rent. Asshole, they're the same ones in there no matter what screen you look at!
Anyway, Hollywood hates RedBox. So much so that they are trying to, and succeeding in, getting video stores and unions in on the game, claiming they're running ma and pa video stores out of business. Bullshit, Hollywood and and Blockbuster ran most of them out within the past few decades. Times are changing, and so are the ways we watch movies. Even NetFlix, although not demonized by Hollywood quite so much as the little video kiosks, are still on their shitlist, stymieing them whenever they can. Hollywood is not ready to change, and will fight, like the music recording industry, until they have to change to stay viable.
Here's a deal I'll make with you, Hollywood: how about you start making some better movies, something worth my time and money to watch, and I'll start going back to the theater again. Deal? Want me and millions of other Americans back in your sticky, overpriced seats? Stop pumping out the garbage and actually take some pride in what you do. Until then, I'll be at the 'Box more often than not.

Covert Geek Weekend

I spent the weekend in Seattle, attending the Penny Arcade Expo at the behest of my significant other, and driven by my desire to visit this part of the country. Seattle lived up to its reputation as gloomy and wet, and PAX came through with a wild assortment of one of the nation's (and some of the world's) most poorly understood and highly exploited demographics: the Gamer.
Those of you familiar with the 'scene' may already know what I'm talking about, as I mixed with the pale, portly and petulant segment of our society that only seems to get a face when comic-book-store-type stereotypes are used on TV or when some psychopath kid shoots up a school and someone shoves his copy of GTA under the media's nose.
I've never been an avid gamer myself, I'm more what you might call a casual gamer. It is more of a social event for me, unless I get some goal in mind, like trying to beat Halo II alone--on legendary. Still working on that, and if you have ever tried, you know why. I can pretend to play with the veterans, but my skills are always lacking, particularly in anything head-to-head.
There are as many types of gamers as there are games, with various levels of commitment to the way of life. That IS what it is, a way of life. The hardcore gamer can give you a rundown of his gaming experience starting with the first time he/she picked up a controller or grabbed a joystick. They usually immerse themselves into gaming, it is their life's work. Clothes, friends, conversation, they all revolve around gaming. They understand why it's still okay to play Pokemon when you are in your thirties. And don't get them started on console vs. PC gaming.
During this convention, I constantly made snide comments and wisecracks about the other attendees, much to the annoyance of the gf. Being the smartass that I am, it's hard not to say something when you see a 250 lb Princess Peach. Or the six-four, 150 lb guy ogling the booth models. And can I really be blamed when I wonder out loud who is manning the West's comic-book stores, drive-thru's and IT help lines?
I did manage to somehow fit in despite my relative physical fitness, relationship status and inability to finish most games. My scruffy beard and Threadless t-shirts definitely helped. Since Due to my ability to infiltrate, I was able to observe the various geeks and gamers in as close to their natural habitat as you can get without spooking them. Black clothes, white skin, immaturity and acne abounded, with a pervasive awe and general lack of concern for personal hygiene. Seriously, one guy smelled like cat food. However, all these people had managed to leave their basements across the nation and congregate in one place, all drawn by their passion for gaming. The lines to test some of the most anticipated games of the year never abated, and the wait was up to one and a half hours just for a few minutes of gameplay.
I must had it to these people, they really do enjoy what they do, which is hard to say for most people. They may lack in areas such as refined social skills and ability to play actual sports, but they could sure kick your ass in the digital version, and make jokes at the expense of your sexuality and your mother while doing it. I even managed to enjoy myself, although I really didn't get to play anything but Plants vs. Zombies, a relatively simple game.
The market that gamers represent is huge, and gets bigger every year. People will eventually quit making fun of or worrying about people that play way too many video games, as they realize the power that they wield as a consumer and social group. No longer is a gamer a kid who wastes quarters on Pac-Man, but someone who invests hundreds of dollars yearly into something they are passionate about, even to the extent of dressing up as characters in games, something called costume-play or cosplay, and it has nothing to do with Halloween. It's a type of commitment that goes beyond Star Wars/Trek geeks. Way beyond.
Gamers are becoming more omnipresent, powerful and mainstream, and for a weekend, I was one.

You Know, Our Children Are Learning From You . . .

I've been seeing previews for this new Disney Princess movie, another raping of another old Grimm Brothers' tale, and I'm reminded again why I despise this particular corporation so thoroughly. The original story is quite ridiculous, in which a snotty princess is forced to abide by a promise she made to get her golden ball back. After her disgust toward the frog, he turns into a prince and yay! they get married and live happily ever after.
The moral of the story is that even the most unworthy, ungrateful and spoiled will reap great benefits if they put up with the ugliness of the world. That frog should have slapped her and walked out the door after he turned into a prince. It is only completely befitting of Disney to take such an atrocious story and twist it into a romantic comedy that panders to minorities and is insensitive to the painful black history surrounding New Orleans. And there will be a game too on several platforms and a full product line as well! I feel a little sick.
Disney has such a perverse way of doing business it's sickening to me that so many parents blindly let themselves be party to it. They are using their children against them, teaching kids to want this or want that so they beg and cry and scream until they cave and buy the brat a Happy Meal so they can get the toy they want and the DVD they will watch 76 times in a row and drive you to drink, only after they finally run out of sugar and crash into their cartoon-character adorned beds. And don't forget about Disney's long and storied history of horribleness. They made propaganda films for the government during the Cold War, 'nuff said.
Moving on, although I'm not not finished with you yet, Disney. This is just the foundation for letting our children be raised by Hollywood, barring any form of religious crap parents put them through. For the first decade of their developing lives, the average child will spend up to two and a half years in front of one screen or another. Six hours a day, letting companies and products train children to want. The more they watch, the worse it gets. Consumerism is what is turning America's kids into overweight, greedy, ignorant little brats, and we're letting it happen because it's just easier to park the little rug-rats in front of the TV instead of playing with them. Parenting sure seems to have taken a nosedive the past couple decades. Two generations of children raised on movies, TV and video games that will be running the world in a short time.
Having no children, can I honestly say I would be any better at parenting? I can at least hope so. If I do ever happen to raise a child, I would use my experiences in life to set them on the right path. My children will learn the cold, hard realities of life early on, hopefully gaining an acute sense of cynicism and disillusionment that may protect them from the world, along with a healthy mistrust for authority and an ability to think for themselves. They will expect nothing from the world, but appreciate what they have. If I succeed at this, I will create a commune attracting like-minded individuals, and we will barricade ourselves from, at the very least, the degrading effects of things like Disney franchises and their banal attempts at morality.
If I never see another film by them (Pixar and Buena Vista excluded), it will be far too soon. I still have a childhood's worth of memories to dredge up at any moment, bringing with it the shame and self-humiliation from what I have seen. The least I can do is to try and keep other young minds from being ruined by such tripe. Ramen.

Not Music to Their Ears

The idea of ownership in our country was brought over by the Europeans, and has been the framework for 90% of our legal system. We took the land from the natives who had no concept of property, and created an entire institution, capitalism, around this idea. It evolved into consumerism, wanting more stuff, having what others have, getting something better than the neighbors. And in the Information Age, this want has turned digital. Now you could buy anything, anywhere in the world, instantly, and have it shipped to your home within weeks. But something happened. People began to realize that they didn't have to pay for things, things they wanted, particularly things they weren't willing--or able--to pay for.
Media and information began to be traded freely, swapping tracks, photos and articles over the vast, blossoming network of copper wires that has connected the world together. Napster unified those seeking free music, pictures and videos until it was shut down and turned into a pay service. Many others have come and gone in the years since, and currently torrents are more popular than P2P programs like Kazaa and Limewire. What people, particularly the younger generation, are willing to pay for has changed; and we just don't want to pay for music anymore.
For decades we were raped by the recording industry, convinced we need to pay upwards of $20 for a new album. One with one or two goods songs, and the rest, crap. Sometimes we just wanted that one song, or a few, or to try the album out and see if we like it before we spend the money. So now we download it, burn it, copy it, mp3 it, delete it and forget it. We don't have a stack of cd's worth $200 that we never listen to anymore. We find new bands and discover old favorites online and for free, a majority of the time.
But there are hazards to this. The RIAA, major labels and some big bands don't like it. Especially if you share what you have with others. Your mother was wrong. Do not share anything; use it once, destroy it and get the next thing. If you want to get it again, pay for it again and never borrow. If you do, you could end up being charged $1.92 mil for sharing.
Radio has been a thorn in the side of corporate music's side for years, letting just anyone listen to the music they send them for a nominal fee. Bastards. If I hear that 3oh!3 song one more time, I might just sue them myself.
I'm fairly certain that what this industry is doing to itself is cutting the leg off to spite the foot. They spend millions prosecuting offenders for, often, just a handful of songs. Thus alienated, many fans buy less music than before. In my case, I purchase maybe 2-3 albums a year, which was about 10 or more a decade ago. I just don't want to pay for music anymore. I still am willing to pay to watch bands play live, which is how they actually get money, since royalties are a mere pittance compared to the cash raked in by the labels for their music. I want my money to go to the musicians who deserve it, not the suits who sit around giant tables deciding what's going to be 'hot' this fall. I would rather pay for new amps and better guitars, not yachts and Armani suits.

Like I needed another reason to hate Fox

When I nominated Nadya Suleman (the 'Octomom') for douchebaggery about four months ago, I was hoping that the horrible person she seems to truly be would preclude any major networks wanting anything to do with her, since they have so much integrity. I almost wrote that with a straight face. It turns out, Fox has ordered a 'documentary' on this icon of excess and neurosis, a two hour view into the life of this headcase mother of 14 children, (including never-before-seen footage!) which was even admitted to be a 'train-wreck' by Mike Darnell, Fox's president of alternative. Nice title, bro.
Normally, such a steaming pile of digital puke wouldn't bother me anymore than anything else I hear about or had the misfortune to actually see on television. I mean, I have weathered eight seasons of American Idol, Fear Factor, World's Most Eye-poppingly Horrific Car Crashes, and I actually watched Celebrity Boxing, but this is just going too far. Fox is trotting out nothing actually unique here, she is just a sideshow, a freak that they hope to make a few bills on. And dumbass, vicariously-living Americans will watch it. If I hear that Ashton Kutcher appears during the show to 'punk' her, I swear to whatever god is listening that I will murder something.

The Uninsured and the Helpless

When I think about having to go to the hospital, I get anxious. Not out of fear of needles, knives or doctors, but out of the consternation that I, like 45 million other Americans, have no health insurance. Sure, I could buy into a plan that barely fits my budget, and hope I don't have to go to an out-of-network hospital, need a non-covered procedure, or just get a claim flat-out denied. There's also the possibility that I get sick, something horrible that doesn't go away. Cancer, for example. Insurance companies are known for trying to cancel the coverage of sick people, occasionally this is due to attempted fraud, but can be because you simply forgot to write down a medication you took a decade ago. Logic would say that is because they aren't going to make money off of them anymore.
In the Micheal Moore (I do not invoke this name lightly) movie 'Sicko,' you meet a person who worked for insurance companies whose sole job was to find ways and reasons to deny people coverage. So, let's assume that I an able to clear these hurdles. I acquire an insurance plan, avoid being denied because I forgot that I had a morphine shot before a minor surgery, and I file a claim for a routine procedure that should be covered by my plan. I should be golden, right? Not quite. The Washington Post reported that during a Senate hearing that the insurance companies routinely under-reimburse their policy holders, to the tune of billions.
But why would an insurance company do such things? Isn't their purpose to hedge against personal illness with a low, monthly payment that shows how much they truly care about the average American? Not at all. An insurance company is a BUSINESS, whose sole motivation is to maximize profits while minimizing liability. As medical costs have soared, so have insurer profits. The doctors, insurers and pharmaceutical companies are all highly overcharging, and reaping all the benefits. It's no big surprise that these bloated corporations pulling in billions every year at the expense of the getting-by masses are almost all completely against any overhaul to the American health care system. Although, not all companies are fighting it, some are aligning with the push because it is politically sensible.
The fight for cheap, public or (gasp) universal health care isn't going to be an easy one, someone somewhere along the line is going to end up losing money. Many someones, I predict. But if the American public wins, the losses in corporations quarterly profits will just have to happen. Times are changing, and so is our health care.
I stumbled onto this, and I'm totally going to get one. Get one yourselves, those of you that are Uninsured as well, and let everyone start seeing the reality of the problem.

Corporate Responsibilty

Corporate responsibility covers more ares than just choosing what goes into your product, which is mainly what I expound on here. It also has a lot to do with what you do with your profits. Many companies reward their CEO's, managers, and often their employees. Many also donate to various charities and causes. Why would they do such a thing? Tax write-offs, mainly. Occasionally, there is some altruistic motive behind these donations, but I believe that is consistently rare. What do you do when you find out a company you purchase goods from supports causes that you don't? What would you do, ignore this indirect funding or stop purchasing? Companies pay taxes. Should they be able to support whatever causes, ideas or legislation they want? Should these causes, politics or religion color their business?

This post began about a year ago when, in the midst of reviewing a product by Bolthouse Farms, I ran across some information that disturbed me. Apparently, the former owner donated money to causes support fundamental Christianity and hinder or fight against gay rights. In fact, their mission statement used to mirror the beliefs of the Bolthouse Foundation, which was founded and is currently run by William Bolthouse, former owner of BF. The company itself was not necessarily directly supporting causes like the National Christian Foundation and the Alliance Defense Fund, but William owned the company and donated much of his money to these causes. And although the company was bought out in 2005 by an investment firm, it still remains partially family owned. William's son-in-law is currently the chairman of the board.

The company seems to want us to believe that they no longer have anything to do with William Bolthouse of the Bolthouse foundation. The current CEO of Bolthouse Farms released a letter that says:

The Bolthouse Foundation is a private foundation funded by some of the former owners of Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. The foundation is a separate entity and is not connected to Bolthouse Farms in any way. Furthermore, they do not receive financial support or benefit from the profits of Bolthouse Farms. We appreciate your concern and apologize for the confusion.

The bulk of the scandal surrounding this company erupted in June of last year, but has since then tapered off quite a bit. Even the boycott that was sparked by the actions of William was called off in October. However, Alex Blaze of Bilerico dug up a lot of information that seems a bit contrary, to put it lightly. But I could find no articles or blogs about William or the Farms published this year. So maybe they have taken up some responsibility and cast off the weight of the homophobic former owner, and are striving to remain an unbiased company, or maybe the higher-ups are still covertly funding there negative causes through William. Until I see proof either way, I'm going to hold off judgement, but I'm also going to hold off purchasing any Bolthouse or Bom Dia products, aside from my latest review. Consider it me being fair-and-balanced (Oh please, don't sue me, FOX!).

Whether or not what a company supports is a 'good cause' in your eyes, think about it this way. Business, religion and politics are three things that need to to stay as far away form each other as possible. When one begins to taint the other, nothing but problems arise. I hope Bolthouse Farms and all the other companies whose products we review try to maintain some level of corporate responsibility, both with their products and their profits.

*Note: This post was borrowed from my other blog contribution at Better Libations.*

*Irony Alert*

'Shopaholic Dies in Avalanche of Clothing' sounds just too amusing to actually be true, right? Not according to a story picked up from the UK, where an old-maid shopaholic was found buried under three feet of unopened goods in her home, after being reported missing. She had so much stuff here garage was apparently filled to the rafters. Why would someone buy so much stuff they didn't use or even really need? Well, it appears that 'compulsive spending' is actually an addiction, which is usually classified as a mental disease. People spend money and acquire goods to fill some hole in their being, or as a temporary cure for another problem. For these people, spending money feels good, relieves stress and temporarily fills whatever void is in their life.
This can lead to other obvious problems, among the more obvious is massive debt and the ruination of personal relationships. We all like spending a little money now and then, usually to get something we desire, or to achieve some arbitrary goal that boosts our self-esteem or confidence a degree. But where do we draw the line? How do we draw ourselves out of a spending addiction? I'll be damned if I know, I just re-post and comment on this stuff, I don't have all the answers. Join Shopaholics Anonymous or something.

American Sin

Once again, the scourge against music known as "American Idol" has returned fro it's eighth season, and people once again lined up, so desperate for their fifteen minutes of fame (or infamy) that I an again reminded why I believe this show is a condensed and apt epitome for much of what is wrong with America.
There is this idea that something in American culture must be like a shooting star (although far too often it turns out to be a comet, returning periodically), brilliant and shining for a few minutes, then dissipates and vanishes, leaving public consciousness forever. This disposable idea of our culture is what churns out these top-forty one-time wonders, who change as often as their styles. The music is banal and uninteresting, recycles top hits from past decades and creating more safe, non-thought provoking tunes to be heard for the next six to eight months, only to end up in rotation on the budget pop radio stations for the rest of their miserable lives, perfect for people who have no taste in music and don't care to develop it.
It's always the next new thing, leaving nothing to chance, crafting an image they can sell instead of letting creativity flourish naturally. Many talented singers/musicians/songwriters carved out a piece of popularity for themselves, it wasn't given to them on a Primetime platter. And they have staying power. The Rolling Stones and AC/DC still rock (and are still rocking) today, decades after they began. Does anyone remember what happened to the first winner of American Idol? The second? Last year's? The only reason Claiken is still in the news is because he finally came out of the closet, and now he will wash away into the sewers of has-been's and disposable stars.
The only thing sadder than the people who become obsessed with this show are the ones who try out, so deluded with the belief that they belong on the show that they will risk mass public humiliation at the hands of Cowell and his talentless cronies for a chance at some invisible means of success.
The only reason me or anyone I know watches the show is for the morbid curiosity of the impending train wrecks of the first episode. After that, it's all a pointless joke, a bunch of basically talentless ids with stars in their eyes ruining classic songs for the sake of FOX's ratings and some royalties for aging musicians, if they ever own the rights to their songs anymore.
And now I will have to avoid our local FOX affiliates almost daily story's about Idol and "Idol Mania," a nefariously bad term and idea. With so much going on in the world, is it truly necessary to have weekly segments about a popular TV show? Is it so important that we can put off talking about the important, harder things in life to expend time and energy on a fluff piece that makes me feel ill just thinking about it? Apparently so, when you feel you need something safe to draw in viewers.
I really hope that and fence-sitters on the Idol 'phenom' will please consider this and not waste another moment of your life on such a waste of airtime. There is nothing I would like more than to see this thing go away, resigned to the annals of TV history as another pop show finally deemed boring and useless by the American public. I better hope I live a long, long time.

The Living Dead Economy

The way I see it, Capitalist Consumerism is like a terminally ill cancer patient who enjoys decade long spans of health and vitality, who has regular relapses, occasionally sudden and life-threatening enough to have the need to be hooked up to life support, the Federal Government. His body is constantly feeding on itself, and when it looses it's vigor, the feeding becomes worse, sometimes catastrophic, as is being seen right now.
The value of our dollar has dropped significantly, millions of homes have been foreclosed on or are in the process, our own automobile industry is crashing because no one can afford new cars, unemployment is at a near two-decade high, two million jobs disappeared this year, and many more are expected to vanish next year, and businesses are vanishing nearly as fast.
Bailouts and economic revitalization packages are the common lexicon going into the new year. I know our patient will still put out of this--for now--but how long can be keep this up? Our economy will crash again and many, mostly the poor will continue to suffer the fallout. I am by no means an economist, but I am intelligent enough to know when something is amiss, and CEO's getting paid millions for running their company and our country into the ground is a sure sign something isn't right.
The only way I can see that our ailing economy may be revived (although not necessarily cured), is by some serious government regulation of the potential problems that can cause situations like this, currently the unmonitored and de-regulated lending practices in America. Consumers overall are too stupid to monitor their own own spending practices, so you must guide them into the necessary avenues for responsible use of their paychecks, whether they like it or not. Mortgaging a 250 k house, two vehicles and other toys on a 60 grand salary is asking for trouble. But they think they 'deserve' it, giving the illusion of freedom of choice, believing they are free because they can decide between a grande latte or a mochachinno. Hint: not the same as the choice between oppression and tyranny and a truly democratic nation with laws that protect ALL our citizens.
But isn't this leaning toward *gasp* fascism? Isn't socialism a virulent evil that needs to be stamped out before it ruins our beautiful nation? Not if you still have a free, open market, where the choices are not controlled by the government, and credit is monitored, not given freely with pages of fine print really to destroy your economic life with the first slip up. And we need to get rid of those pesky paycheck advance services with their 400% interest rates. Not even the mob does that to people, however uninformed and desperate enough to believe such a service is going to save you in the long term from the financial practices that got you into the mess in the first place. I'm sorry, consumers, but you're not smart enough to spend your own paychecks, and the companies you give it to are too greedy to be trusted with it. Something must be done, before our patient, currently in the throes of impending death, isn't able to be revived.