“Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.” – Ronald Reagan

Information is the Oxygen of the Modern Age.

Long before there was Google, Twitter, Facebook, Napster, a dot com bubble and even Al Gore claiming to have created the Internet, there were a couple of smart guys with a crazy idea of connecting a few computers, which at the time were the size of an average-sized living room. The first data packets were sent from UCLA to Stanford Research Institute on Oct. 29, 1969, and voilà – the Internet was born! Unfortunately, it wasn’t user friendly and it took years of headache and development to come up with the Internet we all know and love today. Even my parents, who have about a 3.5-second attention span when I talk internet jargon, could feasibly create their own blog with pictures of their grandchildren in less than an hour. Never in the history of mankind have people had such power at their finger tips.

During the Internets early development, its backbone was funded by the government and largely used by various government organizations, along with educational and research institutions. Commercial uses on that backbone were mostly prohibited, with a few rare exceptions. But the free market couldn’t be held back and eventually commercial servers and Internet Service Providers (ISP) sprung up, leading to the dot com bubble. During that time, anyone with a few dollars and a good idea could have become a millionaire over night.

It is hard for me to remember life without Internet. I have become more and more reliant on the Internet as my sole source of news, entertainment and much of my communication over the years. I eventually got rid of my Directv altogether and the only thing I really miss is the History Channel.

I say all this to warn of a pending storm that could jeopardize the Internet we have come to depend on. We as a society could potentially lose Net Neutrality, a concept that has been a part of the Internet from its inception. Net Neutrality means all data flowing through the internet is equal. This means a person’s e-mail or online banking gets the same network bandwidth and priority as the most ridiculous forwarded viral internet video. The computers and networks that run the Internet do not show bandwidth preferential treatment for a site like CNN.com while throttling down bandwidth on my parents’ blog of their grandchildren.

After Comcast allegedly began to hinder Internet telephone or Voice Over IP (VOIP) services like Skype and Vonage, the company, according to an article in The Register, attempted to curb file sharing by initiating a download limit that could result in a customer losing his or her internet subscription [*]. The FCC stepped in to protect the rights of the consumers and initiate regulations to insure all consumers to have access to an unhindered Internet. This is important for Internet users since the top five Internet providers control almost 60 percent of Internet subscribers’ accounts in the United States. Four of those five are public-utility companies that have a vested interest in hindering services like Hulu and Skype, which are free internet alternatives to services they provide.

Published In the Signal | March 13th

Unfortunately for us little guys, the public-utility companies aren’t taking this lying down. They began campaigning using disinformation and playing on public ignorance in an attempt to stir up knee-jerk reactions from scary words like “government regulation” or attributing net neutrality as some kind of socialist plot. They even got tech savvy John McCain to introduce a clever but misleadingly titled bill called “Freedom of Internet Act 2009,” which would give these hand full of big utility companies – which already enjoy many anti-trust exemptions – almost unchecked power to control consumer-internet use. Net neutrality is essential because it insures a company like Timewarner (owner of CNN) or Comcast (owner of MSNBC) can’t throttle back bandwidth to their competition… say Foxnews.com.

Net neutrality isn’t about government regulating the Internet but about regulating the large companies controlling our gateway to all the wonders of the World Wide Web. Don’t let the big utilities turn this into a Democrat vs. Republican issue, either. This should be a bipartisan no brainer. When has the National Organization of Woman (NOW) and the Christian Coalition of America ever been on the same page on any issue? They are on the same page when it comes to Net Neutrality. Whether you are a liberal feminist or a Christian homeschooling mother, net neutrality should matter to everyone. Let me encourage everyone to log on to savetheinternet.com and join the 1.7 million people who have already signed the petition to Congress saying we want to keep the internet free.

Big Thanks

to the MUSE for the great film work.

Ted "Epic Failure" Hayes

The anti-immigration rally held this past Saturday provided me with 2 hours of flavorful entertainment. None of the acts performed by the clowns who participated in the rally were more entertaining than that of Theodore Hayes.

Researching and reading about Hayes’ previous work, the 58-year-old has an impressive resume. Since the 1980s, he has centered most of his energies as a homeless activist. One of his biggest achievements was founding Dome Village, a project to reduce homelessness in L.A. while at the same time offering a community for people to “learn how to live in the real world.” [*]

But when he took the microphone at the rally, you wouldn’t think he was, according to The Wall Street Journal, “a totemic figure in L.A. who has long emphasized problem-solving and individual responsibility.” [*]

He was an unfocused, incoherent, inarticulate, barren and futile speaker who was apparently only invited to speak because of the color of his skin. After listening to his speech, the only reason I can think of why the Minutemen and the Save Our State folks invited this guy out was to prove to everyone that they truly aren’t racists. This effort failed since the majority of Hayes’ speech – if you want to call it that – was focused on the issue of race. Was this necessary after the Minutemen, Save Our State folks, Councilman Bob Kellar and other supporters spent the past few weeks defending that their cause has nothing to do with race?

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but the purpose of speaking at any rally is to address the issue at hand. Speakers should offer an argument pertaining to the rally, supported by facts, data and evidence.

Hayes’ lacked every thing the Minutemen/SOS needed to help their cause. Hayes essentially went on an incoherent rant for about 10 minutes just to hear himself through the PA system.

After thinking about how to respond to Hayes, I decided that he could do most of the talking, which he probably prefers anyway:

Fail #1

Wrong vocabulary: After a brief introduction of him and his friends, he thanks the March and Shaw family for attending and supporting the anti-illegal immigration rally, claiming that the loss of their loved ones has grown life.

Wait, what?

“Yet out of their loss, has grown life. Many more people have been helped now because of what happened to David March. They are exporting, deporting – what do you call it? –extraditing criminals, murderers back to the U.S. for justice. Because of the Shaw family, more people are more aware.”

So, the deaths of two individuals at the hands of illegal immigrants have grown life in the way that more people are now aware of the illegal immigrant problem? That’s an interesting way of putting it. I also loved how he started with David March and then ended the same story referring to the Shay family. Way to be focused, Hayes.

Fail #2

Someone didn’t do his homework: I have a suggestion for those organizing any future rallies (no matter what they’re protesting): Make sure your speakers are familiar with prominent individuals involved in your protest.

“I want to also acknowledge the councilman.” (a man in the crowd yells “Yea!”) “Mr. Sellars. David Sellars. Mr. Selars. White dude. The white dude. Hey white man. They say you are a racist, Mr. White Man, because you said – (various people scream out “Bob Kellar”) BOB KELLAR! BOB KELLAR. Yea, the white guy. Bob Kellar.”

David Sellars? Who the hell is David Sellars? This is why you don’t invite people who do not live in the Santa Clarita Valley to speak at rallies in my town. They don’t understand the community. They don’t understand who is who. And they don’t deserve to have a voice on a podium.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that no one knew who Hayes was referring to until he said, “They say you are a racist.” Then everyone in the crowd yelled out Bob Keller’s name. Seems to me the term “racist” and “Bob Keller” are now synonymous. His mother should be proud.

“They said that Bob Kellar is a racist because he stands against illegal immigration. Because he stands for the truth. He stands for our country. He stands under the flag, they call him a racist. From what I heard … if standing for the truth, standing for my country, standing against illegality makes me a racist, then I am a proud racist. Well guess what Bob Kellar, I’m with you! I’m a proud racist too!”

Well, there goes the past few weeks of Bob Kellar supporters claiming he’s truly not a racist.

Fail #3

You can’t rewrite Webster’s Dictionary: Hayes, who is a self-proclaimed “Western Ghandi,” also apparently feels like he has the authority to redefine words.

“I am against illegal immigration. Let me tell you who the racists are. The racists are people who call themselves, these so called, (ugh ugh ugh) what we call illegal aliens. So called immigrants. They are not immigrants, they are criminals. They are breaking the law. And anyone, particularly socialists and Marxists, who are behind that movement and using those people, those people, they are the racists. They are the racists.”

So, you’re telling me that all the businesses and corporations that hire illegal immigrants for cheap labor are racist? That socialists and Marxists are racists? And illegal immigrants themselves are racists, too?

According to Dictionary.com, racism is “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” Looks like the only racist here is Hayes himself.

Fail #4

Lack of manners: But to further prove his new definition of a racist, he graces those in attendance with a personal story:

“Do you know how many times – now I am going to use some words up here that you may not appreciate, but they’re the truth. When we marched on Broadway … (and Hollywood? It was hard for me to understand him here) and when those people (who?) came out to protest, they had a right to protest. But what did they call us? Niggers! Honkies! Crackers! Every derogatory word in the book, they used those names against us!”

First of all, screaming the word “nigger” on a speaker system … in front of a library… in public … is never appropriate. I don’t care if you invented the word (which he didn’t), there is no place for that word, especially during a rally. I don’t care what the context is.

Fail #5

Wrong vocabulary. Again. The terms “honkie” and “cracker” are disparaging terms used for white people.

Fail #6

Lack of a coherent argument.

“I grew up in Jim Crow, Maryland … Where blacks and whites were separated by law. … In my whole life time I’ve been called a nigger 10 times to my face, whole lifetime. … (He then raised his voice) In one day alone, by these so called immigrants, I was called a nigger over a 100 times!”

Can someone please tell me what his point was here? How does this support the idea behind the rally? How does this support any idea, really?

Fail #7

Lack of focus:

“I found out, in Mexico, black people are not appreciated (light laughter from crowd). If you are black and get caught in Mexico, you will probably go to jail.”

How did this turn into a black thing? And again, what is the point? He continues to run his mouth about how his son went to Tijuana, got arrested, and then got robbed. They didn’t arrest him and rob him because he was black. The first mistake that was made was going to Tijuana. Everyone knows that place is shady. I could pull a hundred stories of people I know who have had bad experiences in Tijuana. How does this have anything to do with illegal immigrants in the United States? Hayes is simply being a racist and spreading negative propaganda about Mexico and the people that live there.

What happened to attacking policy and not individuals?

Fail #8

Unpatriotic Patriot: The following concludes his speech. I apologize in advance if it’s hard to understand. His stream of consciousness was hard to transcribe and I tried to distinguish his sentences as best I could. (Note: There are no spelling errors in the following paragraph either. I phonetically spelled out words the way he pronounced them.)

“Illegal immigrants are taking away my civil rights. That white people gave their lives for to free my people from slavery, and then thought that we may have equal footing in this country as citizens. These folks are coming and taking that away from me. That is racism (there he goes redefining the definition again). According to the Constitution of the United States, anything that denies the emancipated slaves to full equal opportunity at the bounties of America is racism. That’s not you. (I’m assuming he’s referring to us white people) That’s them (I’m assuming he’s referring to illegal immigrants). I’m calling on my white brothers and sisters. I’m calling on my brothers and sister, my patriotic brothers and sisters. Please get the attitude of David Kellar. No longer be intimidated because of the color of the wonderful color of your skin (multiple people trying to correct him on the name. He doesn’t even notice). White is beautiful. Stand for who you are. Stop being guilt tricked. Guilt tricking you, and me, and our country will get us nowhere. That’s why we got Barack Obama in The White House as President. Because white Americans were guilt trip-ted. It’s time we stop that. (In July 2007, he wrote: “I tend to be supportive of all Presidents despite their party affiliation” on his Myspace.) And I’m here to let you know that, as a black man, dressed in my white (laughter from crowd), I’m with you. Not because you’re white. Not because I’m black. Not because she’s brown or red or yellow, but because we are red, white and blue! We are the United States of America! We are Americans! I am not an African American. I am an American who happens to be from Africa… exiled out of Africa by West Africas. I am Americas (?) God bless America. God bless you. God bless the rain. God bless America.”

Fail #9

And then, to top it all off, he busted out singing the National Anthem.

Some call him a character. Some call him a great man with a great personality who has a refreshing approach to problems.

I prefer to call him an embarrassment.

Pastor Audie Yancy

This old school fire and brimestone Baptist preacher set off a little firestorm after the January 16th SOS rally when he prayed

First of all asking forgiveness. Forgiveness for the way we have allowed our country to be overtaken by those who are evil, those who would ruin our country rather than raise it.[*]

Pastor Yancy was up to his old tricks this last Saturday when he began yelling at the opposition from Answersla.org, at one point tell them to shut up. This caused their featured speaker George Runner to walk away from the event.

Frank Jorge

George Runner leaving caused Frank Jorge to once again blow is his stack and give this tongue lashing about George Runner. Frank Jorge temper tantrum at me.

Sam Ziselman

I don’t mind Sam, It is his site that is the problem.

Ray Herrera

This guy is looney, he just rambles about everything from WWII to the Pilgrims.

Mark Reed

Reed is a small time politician just looking for a platform.

Lupe Moreno

This lady is usually bonkers, She was on her best behavior this day.  I think she broke my ear drum with the shouting into the microphone.

Bill Reynolds

I am not a fan of Bill Reynolds as he isn’t a fan of me.  I have tried to have conversation with on SCVtalk before and he just resorts to name calling.

Roger Gitlin

Giltin and I have a history.  That doesn’t mean that I don’t think Gitlin isn’t a reasonable guy.  What frustrated me most was his associations with extremist like Frank Jorge.  I was glad to hear he is starting to see the need for another method in the Anti-Illegal Immigration movement. [*]

David Gauny

Bob Kellar

Barbara March

John March

Ted Hayes

the Muse, Blazingmonk’s newest writer, wrote up a play by play on Ted Hayes who was probably the most animated and clown like of all the speakers. Click here

Robin Goodston

Amir Raheem

“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” — Noam Chomsky

Samual Johnson | Patriotism is the Last Refugee of a Scoundrel

While observing all the talking, shouting and letters written to the editor in recent days on the topic of free speech, I was reminded of the many chats I had with Dad in our family garage while I was growing up. One particular discussion stuck with me where he explained his service in the Marines protected people’s freedom to burn the America flag, but also protected his right to tell them they are wrong. My dad understood that anyone can support speech they like, but it takes a real man or woman to support speech you hate. What an amazing country we live in, allowing its citizens the freedom of thought and expression.

Roger Gitlin and the Save our State crowd are prime examples of what Samuel Johnson so eloquently stated: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Even 200 years ago, Johnson saw right though the manipulation of these self proclaimed plastic patriots who believe that dressing in red, white and blue waving American flags automatically makes their position somehow more American than others.

I never expected Gitlin or his people to understand the satire in my Feb. 6 column. I did however find it hilarious that he took my comments so literally that he felt compelled to address them individually. It was odd however when he publicly claimed not to engage in a war of words and instead enticed his followers to do his dirty work of sending in letters complaining to our friends at The Signal for him. This is not the first time Mr. Gitlin has played puppet master, either. Just a few days before the publishing of his Feb. 14 column, Save Our State launched a campaign to harass The Signal and hinder its freedom of press, not to mention attempt to get the “little bias SOB” Jonathan Randles fired. One would think self proclaimed patriots like Gitlin and the rest of his rodeo clowns believe in Jonathan Randles’ freedom of speech and The Signal’s freedom of press, but apparently Mr. Gitlin and his posse missed that day in patriot school.

I couldn’t help but think of John Locke’s gem, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts” after observing Roger Gitlin the past few days. I think he missed his calling as a used car salesman as he attempts to sell the clunker of another Minutemen rally to the fair citizens of Santa Clarita. Mr. Gitlin does his best to paint his beloved Minutemen as boy scouts claiming they are a “multinational group that abides by the rule of law and whose members pledge a code of conduct.” Big surprise, this all powerful code of conduct didn’t stop the various documented physical threats various Santa Clarita citizen’s received did it Mr. Gitlin? It also didn’t stop Frank Jorge from making a sexually discriminating rant which was removed from The-Signal.com because of its vulgarity and content. And I hate to burst Mr. Gitlin’s bubble, but even the bankrupt energy juggernaut Enron had a code of conduct stating, “We are dedicated to conducting business according to all applicable local and international laws and regulations …” Just a guess, but I doubt they went with the “we have a code of conduct” defense in court. Mr. Gitlin goes further to say, “that no participant shall spew or act out any racially derogatory sentiment.” I am beginning to question whether he is aware people are videoing these rallies and putting them on the Internet.

Published In The Signal | February 26th

Mr. Gitlin and the “Save Our State” Minutemen crowd have a history of blowing into peaceful communities like Santa Clarita and bringing with them other unwanted outside extremist group opposition creating a spectacular three ring circus full of clowns pointing video cameras at each other, screaming emotional, irrational nonsense. Just ask the small town of Ojai off of Highway 126 whose residents eventually got fed-up and showed these guys the door. This is why I found Gitlin’s criticism of the wingnuts at Full Rights for Immigration Coalition busing in their bleeding heart from Los Angeles particularly rich, considering he has been working overtime to build his own plastic patriot brigade. Yeeehaaw!

Fact of the matter is The Signal has shown great maturity in handling the attacks which Roger Gitlin has provoked against it. It has shown immense grace in allowing Gitlin to publish an extra large, 1000-word column which came up just as empty as all the other letters to editor offering no viable solutions. He just echoed all the same illogical “Red Herring” fallacies which criticize people in the community who are powerless to do anything about the illegal immigration problems here in the SCV. If the state of California is powerless to enact its own solution, what makes him think small communities like Santa Clarita have an Ice Cube’s chance in hell? How about more solutions and less bullhorns, Mr. Gitlin?

“In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost.  The only weapon against bad ideas is better ideas.”  ~Alfred Whitney Griswold, New York Times