My Congressman Cares More About Big Business Than The People Who Elected Him.
On Thursday the US House voted against
the amendment that would guarantee Net Neutrality.Once again we are witness
to the multi-million dollar lobby efforts of Fortune 500 companies taking precedence over the will of the people.It would seem the only hope to preserve the internet as a medium which allows the free flow of ideas and
commerce lies within the hands of the Senate.In case you are unfamiliar with
the issue, Mega-Communications giants like Bell South, AT&T and Verizon want to decide, base on the highest bidding, what
services and content will be available on the internet.The legislation in question
was to ensure that the large phone companies would not be allowed to act as a gateway to your web browser restricting your
searches so that their preferred customers would receive preference on
your inquiries.Every single business and consumer that uses the internet should
be concerned about what these phone giants are trying to do.I urge you to follow
this link: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2006-241 to see how your elected official voted.I will make you aware when the bill
comes before the Senate and would ask that you contact them when the time is right.If the person that was elected to represent you voted for H.R. 5252 you may wish to send them a letter at this link:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ with a letter similar to what I sent Jim Leach of Iowa on Friday.
To:
The Honorable Jim Leach,
I am writing to express my heartfelt displeasure with your vote on H.R. 5252: Communications
Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006. It would have been my hope that you would have voted against the
bill as it lacked the important Network Neutrality amendment which is so popular with your constituents. Perhaps we
did not do a good enough job of letting you know how we feel.
Supporters of net neutrality include the Christian Coalition of America,
the Service Employees International Union, the American Library Association, AARP and most every major consumer group in the
nation. Over 800,000 citizens have signed a petition at www.savethenet.com in an attempt to let congress know
that we do not want the big phone companies playing gatekeeper while restricting innovation and hindering the free market
which is the internet.
It is my hope that the Senate will put forth a stronger bi-partisan bill more in tune with
the people of the United States and include
language to insure net neutrality. Once the House and Senate come up with final legislation to protect consumers, your
constituency, I hope to count on your support. Can I count on you Congressman Leach?
My Congressman Cares More About AT&T Than The People Who Elected Him To Office!
On Thursday the US House voted against the amendment that
would guarantee Net Neutrality.Once again we are witness to the multi-million
dollar lobby efforts of Fortune 500 companies taking precedence over the will of the people.It would seem the only hope to preserve the internet as a medium which allows the free flow of ideas and commerce lies
within the hands of the Senate.In case you are unfamiliar with the issue, Mega-Communications
giants like Bell South, AT&T and Verizon want to decide, base on the highest bidding, what services and content will be
available on the internet.The legislation
in question was to ensure that the large phone companies would not be allowed to act as a gateway to your web browser restricting
your searches so that their preferred customers would receive preference on your inquiries.Every single business and consumer that uses the internet should be concerned about what these phone giants are trying
to do.I urge you to follow this link: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2006-241 to see how your elected official voted.I will make you aware when the bill
comes before the Senate and would ask that you contact them when the time is right.If the person that was elected to represent you voted for H.R. 5252 you may wish to send them a letter at this link:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ with a letter similar to what I sent Jim Leach of Iowa on Friday.
To:
The Honorable Jim Leach,
I am writing to express my heartfelt displeasure with your vote on H.R. 5252: Communications
Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006. It would have been my hope that you would have voted against the
bill as it lacked the important Network Neutrality amendment which is so popular with your constituents. Perhaps we
did not do a good enough job of letting you know how we feel.
Supporters of net neutrality include the Christian Coalition of America,
the Service Employees International Union, the American Library Association, AARP and most every major consumer group in the
nation. Over 800,000 citizens have signed a petition at www.savethenet.com in an attempt to let congress know that we do not want the big phone companies
playing gatekeeper while restricting innovation and hindering the free market which is the internet.
It is my hope that the Senate will put forth a stronger bi-partisan bill more in tune with
the people of the United States and include
language to insure net neutrality. Once the House and Senate come up with legislation to protect consumers, your constituency,
I hope to count on your support. Can I count on you Congressman Leach?
I started
out to write about the elimination of Al-Zarqawi by United States efforts in the war on
terror but have decided against that.AP News reported that Al-Zarqawi was killed
at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday after an intense two-week hunt that U.S. officials said first led to the terror leader's spiritual
adviser and then to him. He was one of the most wanted figures in the war on terror as a result of his barbaric tactics.His history of violence included hostage taking, the murder
of civilians and beheading of hostages in Iraq.While I am relieved that Al-Zarqawi will no longer be able to export his brand of
terror upon the world I am not compelled to celebrate his death.I celebrate
the lives that he will not be able to end prematurely while I pray that his death is not a rallying point for those who identify
with his blood lust cause.
Newsday reported
that Robert F. Weiler Jr. was arrested Thursday for building and planning to use a pipe bomb to destroy an abortion clinic
in GreenbeltVA.When arrested Weiler was in possession of a stolen .40 caliber handgun which he was going to use to shoot
the doctors who perform abortions at the clinic.Hey Robert, what about the workers
and visitors of that clinics right to life?
Geno’s,
one of South Philly’s most famous cheesesteak restaurants has adopted an English only policy for customers to receive service
at their eatery.The neighborhood that Geno’s is located in has seen an expansive
influx of Asian and Latin American immigrants in recent years and Vento, the owner of Geno’s, figures he is doing the neighborhood
a favor by encouraging them to learn to Speak English.One local resident pointed
out that Vento’s Grandparent’s, immigrants from Sicily encountered similar xenophobia when
they first arrived in the United States
and wonder’s why Vento “would want to begin that process over again?” The only
example of a Philadelphian that comes to my mind is Rocky Balboa.If Vento thinks
that English only is required to order food from his restaurant it would seem the old Italian Stallion would be out of luck
when attempting to nosh at Geno’s.While I am sure they could understand the
language that Rocky spoke, English it ain’t!http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-english-only-cheesesteaks,0,4988224.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
Reuter’s news
reported that police in Amsterdam confiscated the car of a
27 year old driver for speeding at a speed of 108 kph in a 50 kph speed zone.The
driver claimed he had just washed his car and was trying to dry it.While the
Dutch police are to be commended for their diligence in upholding the law I have to wonder, how the hell else was the guy
supposed to avoid those ugly little water spots?
AFP News
reported that a Missouri woman was arrested after becoming upset that a Chihuahua she had purchased died and went to the breeder’s home and beat the breeder repeatedly
over the head with the dead puppy. The woman then went back to her car and waved
the puppy back and forth out her sun roof as she yelled further threats at the breeder. That has got me to thinking.I bought a refrigerator this spring and the ice maker has never really worked right.I’m thinking of taking it back to the salesman in the morning. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/uscrimeanimaloffbeat
This world
can be a really whacko place some times.I’m glad I’m normal.
My Co-workers Were All Beginning To Look A Little Ill In My Presence.
I have a fan it seems.Today I got an email claiming that liberals all talk out of both sides of their mouth. It
seems that one can not be a Christian and support a liberal philosophy because liberals historically have supported abortion
rights.Evidently the reader missed my point when I said I felt it was my responsibility
to look out for the spiritual welfare of my children.Am I, as a liberal, pro
abortion?NO!Yet I do not believe
abortion should be outlawed. As long as people are going to have sex outside of marriage and as long as sexual predators
exist in our society I believe there must be an option for those who would have an abortion to have one safely.I would counsel my children that abortion is not an option I would ever wish to see them even consider.Yet, if they were compelled to do that I would want it to be safe.I hope it would never be so but if the critic of my post were ever to be in a position where someone in
his family were in a difficult position that they would be able to hold onto their ideals.There is no way anybody will ever convince me that only liberals and non-Christians ever seek an abortion.I don’t think that is true now nor do I think it was true when abortion was illegal.
And now for something completely different.I had mentioned that you should never eat Chinese food in Niagara Falls.I
still support that statement because the order I had sucked. Now, however, I have reason to believe that it was not
the Canadian prepared Chinese food that made me sick.After five days of no relief
from my gastro-intestinal discomforts I finally went to see the family doctor.I
was growing weary of wondering if relief were going to come from the next belch or fart and my co-workers were all beginning
to look a little ill in my presence.HEY! I’m just kidding about that!They were running from me every time I came down the hall so they have not actually been “in” my presence
for most of the week.
What was troubling to me was the fact that this stomach discomfort
was working its way into my back.At first I thought they were separate symptoms.The back problems were thought to be from the 3,400 mile ride I took last week.I hated the thought of that because in late July I plan to ride nearly 5,000 miles.The good doctor eased my anxiety, however, when he told me I need to get an appointment
for a gall stone ultra-sound as soon as possible.When I returned to work I was
talking with the mortgage department ladies and they did an even more thorough diagnosis of my condition.It seems both have been through gall stone episodes and their descriptions of what I may have to look forward
to made me a little weak in the knees.When I look back on that conversation
it bothers me that both of them had big grins on their faces and they were very animated as they described the pain and suffering
that was in store for me.Surly they were just relieved to know that I had closure
to the uncertainties of my uncomfortable ailment.
I have been riding the bike to work everyday this week in
spite of the fact that it is covered with the road grime of 3,400 miles in and out of rain and up and down dirt and gravel
roads on my trip.I normally keep my scoot pretty pristine but this accumulation
of road film, dead bugs and mud I wore like a badge of honor.It finally got
to be too much for me, however, and I broke down and washed it tonight.I think
I embarrassed my son because I went out to wash the bike in my riding boots, a pair of baggy old shorts and a sleeveless Harley
T-shirt.Quite the fashion plate, I am.We have relatively new neighbors to the north.God only knows what they
must think they have gotten themselves into.One of the benefits of being Mexican-American
is that I have a propensity to get very dark on those parts of my body that see sunlight in the summer months.I mean really dark.My legs just happen to be one
of those parts, of many you may be relieved to know, that rarely have the opportunity to see the sun. I am sure
I looked like quite the two tone marvel out there in the driveway.So it goes.
Song Credit: Bonnie Raitt, You're
Gonna Get What's Coming
Today was the day Iowans went to the polls for the primary election which would determine
the Democratic Candidate that would run in this falls election against unopposed Gubernatorial Republican candidate Jim
Nussle, the one eyed muscle.I refer to Mr. Nussle as the one eyed muscle because
I think he is kind of a dick.(Sorry Mom, hope you aren’t reading today.)The Democratic Party offered three qualified candidates: Chet Culver, Mike Blouin
and Ed Fallon.Each man brought a decent amount of public service experience
to the race and it was difficult to differentiate between them on the issues. I cast
my vote for Mike Blouin. I'll let you know how that came out tomorrow.
For the record, I did vote.I always vote.Voting is one of my favorite things to do.I have never gotten over the sense of privilege I felt the first time I had the opportunity to vote in
1978.That isn’t a very popular passion it would seem.I stopped to vote on my way home from work and my precinct had only registered 53 voters by 5:45 P.M.My precinct is the home of thousands of voters.My only hope is that everyone decided that anybody could beat Nussle but I know that is not the case.We are in fact a red state.I apologize for that.I don’t quite understand how that could be when you consider the demographics that define red and blue
states.
After the last general election there was an unconfirmed
correlation between state average IQ levels and the propensity of the population to favor Bush or Kerry.The results were not favorable for the assumption that sharper minds were inclined to support the GOP.While the results were not verifiable it is of little significance.Some of the rhetoric which came out of those arguments suggested that if blue state citizens were so unhappy
with the results they should secede from the Union.In my mind that more or less proved
that red states were of inferior intelligence.If you look at the map you can
see that the indignant red states were willing to give up the most significant artistic, financial and industrial sections
of the nation.Iowa
was a very close race that had supported Bill Clinton in both of his candidacies.We
voted for Gore in 2000.I’m not sure what happened to us in 2004.Perhaps our lovely winter climate was enticing to a large influx of gulf state residents.
Ann Coulter release her new book, “Godless” The Church of
Liberalism” today.Ann is hysterical.She
recently claimed “one of the main goals of the American public education system
is to force small school children to become atheists.”* She also said, “my Christianity
is somewhat more explicit in this book, Christianity fuels everything I write. Being a Christian means that I am called upon
to do battle against lies, injustice, cruelty, hypocrisy—you know, all the virtues in the church of liberalism.”**Yep, we liberals, we believe children should have health care, nutritional meals and
a decent education which for some reason sounds Godless to Ann.As a liberal
I believe it is my responsibility to look out for my children’s spiritual
well being.
We liberals
must be liars when we point out that George Bush lied to get us in the war in Iraq.We do not support the torture of prisoners so therefore we liberals are proponents
of injustice.Hey, they must deserve their torture, right?We are cruel because we believe it is important to protect the environment that God’s creatures depend
on for their very survival.Liberals are hypocrites because our leaders have
actually been to war as soldiers and therefore lack the credibility of being an AWOL aviator who declares “Mission Accomplished”
in one of the most premature ejaculatory comments in the history of the United
States.The
liberal commitment to feed the hungry, tend to the sick, help the poor and champion the oppressed are the tenets of the church
of liberalism.Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,starting wars to feed the military industrial complex, failed energy policies to drive up the profits of
energy companies and the deregulation of corporations at the expense of the environment, labor and consumer protection are
the tenets of Ann Coulters church.One day there will be a reckoning, with that
in mind,I don’t think I am about to change churchs.
Tonight’s episode of the Andy Griffith Show on TV-Land had
Opie getting his first job at the Mayberry soda fountain and drug store.After
performing well in his new position Opie was given additional responsibilities while the owner ran some errands.Sheriff Taylor stopped in to look at a gift for Helen’s upcoming birthday and examined a bottle of $64
Blue Moon perfume.After Andy left Opie placed the expensive perfume precariously
on the shelf behind him and as he turned it fell and shattered on the floor.Opie
then had the moral dilemma of telling his boss or replacing the frilly fragrance out of his hard earned savings.He opted to replace the product only to be discovered later after Andy returned to make the purchase.I can’t help but wonder how that script would be written to fit a current day sitcom.
Tonight’s episode of The Go
It Alone Dad had Bucky getting fired after his first day on the job at the Grande Coffee Hut for showing the tribal art tattoo
on his rear to the local Sheriff’s wife when she came in for her daily Vente Organic Arabian Mocha Espresso Roast Light with
whipped crème and almond sprinkles.Bucky ran home to tell his unemployed Pa
who immediately called his attorney to file a lawsuit against the Grande Coffee Hut for denying Bucky’s First Amendment Right
to show his artistic rear to anybody anytime he wanted.The Sheriff found out
about it and had his deputies beat the crap out of the boy’s Pa on a routine traffic stop but they were caught on video tape
and featured on 43 cable news networks for the better part of a month.The store
owner ended up settling out of court to avoid the publicity of a trial.
I’m not really so jaded but watching that episode of Andy
had me longing for the simpler days of my youth.Those classic TV shows represent
a different way of living that I don’t think my kids are really able to understand.They have a feel for it and the principles of living with integrity are constant but they would be hard pressed to
view sitting on the porch drinking lemonade as the climatic event of an evening.As
a guy just returning home from a vacation I think I owe it to myself to try to tap into a more focused effort of living in
the moment and relaxing when there is time.Well, the relaxing part will be no
problem; I have always been good at that.The living in the moment thing will
require a bit more discipline.On the road out East I was able to do that most
of the time because each turn brought a new panorama of natural beauty.In a
more routine environment living in the moment will present a fuller opportunity for meaningful introspection.
It is always good to get home from a long trip.There is something very comforting about familiar faces in familiar places.I must admit that I found it hard to be motivated this morning. That ended
up working out well because I had been anxiously anticipating hooking back up with my son, Clayton and we used the time to
talk about our week.I had left him home alone and it was his first time home
alone overnight, let alone eight in a row.He seems to have managed well; the
house was at least in relatively good shape.I had to keep reminding myself that
at 17 he is now a young man but a parent always thinks of their kids as needing them.He confessed that it was hard for him when I called from DC and he thought of the family being reunited while he was
alone.I know it was because it was hard for me too.
I am on a bit of a people high in my post traveling state
of mind.Meeting people, whether you establish any significant rapport or just
get a snapshot into their lives is something I really groove on.Seeing my wife
and Courtney and Carter was just great for my soul.We are now more than half
way done with this one year work induced family separation.I think I have learned
all I can learn from the lessons of family separation and I am now ready to be done with it.It is comforting to know that there is less time remaining than has passed so I got that going for me.
Clayton will be joining the rest of the family in July and
that will be a difficult time in most respects but it will be a unique opportunity to live without the responsibilities of
another for a period of approximately six weeks.I hope I don’t learn to enjoy
that too much!My wife will get a similar opportunity for the final 10 weeks
of her duty in DC.I am certain she sees that time alone as bitter sweet as well.I worry some about that but will have experience to draw upon if she has a rough time
of it.Hell, who knows, she may like it so much that we have to beg her to come
home.
During the six weeks I lack familial responsibilities I will be spending
two on my West Coast Blog Tour.I have mentioned several times in this space
my plans to do a solo ride to California and up Coastal Highway 1.I learned a lot on this trip about what I want to accomplish with that trip.The East Coast Tour was primarily about spending some quality time with some friends doing what we love, riding our
Harleys.My entries from the road were more narrative than I would have liked
because of time constraints but I hope you enjoyed the commentary.Out west I
plan to try to obtain some insight into people I meet along the way.Like Alvin and Dale, the Connecticut Trooper, Chrissy the bartender in Peekskill
and Kara the server at Gilberts in Portland everyone has a
story to tell.I hope to collect some stories of people I meet along the way
and share them with you.I am also looking forward to spending a little time
with my sister blogger on that West Coast trip.She has agreed to show me around
San Francisco, Wine Country and the Redwood forest.I’m not sure what I am in store for in the Castro district of San Francisco but I am confident it will
make for wonderful grist for the blog.
Clayton and I enjoyed our day of reunification Sunday.He was kind enough to allow me to leave the Harley in the garage when we ventured out for lunch and a movie.We went to one of his favorite restaurants and then to see the The Da Vinci Code.After seeing the movie I am not sure what the critics didn’t like about the movie.It did a good enough job of grasping the main parts of the book and was suspenseful
and well acted.I give it a thumbs up and don’t regret the second mortgage I
nearly required to afford tickets with the soda and popcorn that are requisite to my seeing a movie in the theatre.
Day Nine.768
miles in fourteen hours.We managed to do that with six gas stops, 3 toll booths,
a roadside puking (avoid the Chinese food in Niagara Falls), and a traffic jam in Chicago.Anyway you figure it we flat out flew.I
love a good power ride now and then but I wouldn’t want to do that for a living.Well,
Okay, if it actually paid well enough I would love it.Well save for the Chinese
food portion of it all.
It would be hard to define a single highlight on a trip like
that.I will never forget Alvin and Dale at Alice’s
Restaurant in Crawfordsville Indiana and their reminder that people are more important than money.It was a simple message of profound practicality presented in the form of pie.Life just doesn’t get any better than that.
Rick’s
sliding down the off ramp into the guard rail insured that it would be a trip of adventure.We were so fortunate that he wasn’t hurt and the bike was put back on the road with minimal expense.Making it pretty again will cost a couple thousand dollars but like Rick said, “That’s why we have insurance.”Once we entered DC the bike traffic really began to pick up and the Rolling Thunder
rally truly lived up to its name.The important reminder that our freedom is
protected by courageous and selfless individuals weighed heavy on my mind and was consummated as I walked hand in hand with
my daughter Courtney and son Carter on the beautiful spring day in DC.We were
able to stroll under a bright sun and clear blue sky on the picturesque Capital Mall without worry of oppression or danger.“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” ~William
Faulkner.
Rolling into Manhattan
as the clouds darkened, lightning flashed, thunder erupted and the rains washed over us was a moment I will never forget.It seems almost appropriate as a rite of initiation, our baptism into one of the most
vibrant places on the planet.Standing in Grand Central Station, walking up and
down Times Square and riding the boat around the Statue of Liberty were events that dreams
are made of.Those sites are all familiar images of our lives and
being there, well, being there was priceless!With all of the grandeur of the
city the most impressive thing about the city to me was the mass humanity.It
is inconceivable to me that that many people can receive the daily services required for daily living.All of those people hustling about, doing their thing that makes that city and in a large part the world
economically viable, is inspiring.
Chrissy the bartender at Henry’s on the Hudson will live long in our memories.She served
the perfect amount of bantering, wit and sarcasm with our spirits and made us feel welcome as we relaxed on the beautiful
bluff overlooking the Hudson.If you ever get the opportunity I recommend you make the stop.Tell her
the Red Hog sent you and I am sure you will be treated to a wonderful eye rolling with your order!It is a shame that she confused my cape wielding imitation of Super Man with Wonder Woman but other than
that she was a hoot!
Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont offered
unmatchable natural beauty and impeccable charming communities.The Christian
motorcycle riding State Trooper got us off to a good start.The greatest gift
of traveling is the memories that are created.I did this entire trip for around
five hundred bucks.While I enjoy vacations that include spectacular shows, events
and entertainment it is rarely the commercial events that create the fond memories so much as the lives that touch yours along
the way.Perhaps the most serendipitous event of the trip was our hook up with
the Canadians.The shared passion
for motorcycling transcended all barriers of unfamiliarity and we were soon a group of seven sharing the scenery and speeding
through S-curves.I’m thinking of sending a letter to WashingtonDC outlining my plans for world peace by shared
scenic motorcycling.
Back to work on Monday.Funny, but in spite of all the adventure of the last nine days I am actually looking forward to it.For today I will be in search of that much needed ass rub and a good bike wash.Catch ya later.
This web site contains
copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such
material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy,
scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes.For more information go to: www.law.cornell.edu If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain
permission from the copyright owner.
![[Valid
RSS]](valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
