The City By the Bay

I'm sitting in the Long Beach airport with nothing to do. It's a problem when you spend more time traveling then at your destination.

I spent yesterday night and a few hours this morning in San Francisco. I was there to audition for a spot in The New School's MFA drama program. I had to do a couple monologues for the DEAN of the program. That was nerve-wracking! But I survived. Let's just hope I impressed them enough to get a callback.

The city itself wasn't bad. It kind of reminded me of NYC. If New York was built in the middle of some hills and had a really crappy subway system.

The food was fab! Last night I went to Pier 39 and had some traditional sourdough at the Boudin Cafe. This afternoon I had some of the best curry of my life!

So overall a good trip just promise me that I will never have to spend another second at the Long Beach Airport.

SOPA, Blackouts, and Pirates, Oh My!

(I just have a lot of feelings! Also, this sucker got published in Rexburg Idaho's most trusted news source. Want proof? Find yourself a copy of the Jan. 24th Standard Journal, turn to the Opinion page, and read for your self.)

Millions of people all over the world heaved a collective sigh of relief on the morning of Jan. 20^th. A day after the single largest internet strike in history,  Rep. Lamar Smith withdrew the controversial SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) from legislative consideration. Just an hour later, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that a vote on SOPA’s sister bill, PIPA (Protect IP Act), would be put on hold indefinitely. This was seen as a great victory for all of us who see freedom of information as the basis for a strong and stable democracy. I want you to imagine a world without the internet. I know for some of you that won’t be that difficult. But for those of my generation and younger who have come to depend on that soft glow of the computer screen, this world is unacceptable. The internet has reshaped the very fabric of the world. It has changed the way we interact with each other and the way we teach and learn.

What SOPA would have done is cut off access to millions of webpages that are found to be hosting or providing access to copyrighted material. This means that if you put a link on your Facebook page to a YouTube video for your new favorite Lady Gaga song, Facebook would be obligated to cut off all access to your page. This has massive implications for continued net neutrality and creative commons use. The public has a fundamental right to use and access this information on the internet. There are countless underground communities of incredibly creative individuals that use copyrighted material to create everything from art to literature to music. Anyone who doesn’t believe me needs to spend 15 min. scrolling though Tumblr and you will see what I mean. Draconian copyright laws have the power to crush these thriving communities. You have these multi-billion corporations crying foul when 13 year olds and grandmothers download the newest episode of Community or make a video of themselves dancing to a Michael Jackson song. What we really need is to experience a fundamental paradigm shift –freedom of speech must begin to incorporate ideas of fair use.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. SOPA (and PIPA) were originally created to put an end to the reign of digital pirates illegally downloading and sharing copyrighted material. This is a real problem! Or is it? Proponents of these types of laws point to the millions of dollars in decreased CD sales since the advent of digital music sharing. But, according to an International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) study published in 2009, music sharers (pirates) are 64% more likely than regular music buyers to purchase music online. These so called "freeloaders" simply have a greater demand for music than the average person, one that their limited budgets can't deal with. This goes the same for other forms of digital media. People who are labeled pirates buy the majority of movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and computer/video games but don't have the means to fulfill their demand and so they supplement their purchases with free material.


The real problem is the entertainment industry’s refusal to change their business model. They need to rethink the way the distribute their products. Record companies, TV networks, and the film industry want to cut down on illegal downloading? I’ve got five pretty simple solutions that don’t require government censorship. 1) Make your TV show/music/movie/whatever available online; 2) put ads on it so you can make money off of it, or (even better) sell the viewing rights to a video streaming service, like Netflix or Hulu; 3) make it available everywhere not just the country of origin; 4) make is available as soon as it airs/becomes legally offered—not  the next day or the next week, literally as soon as physically possible; and finally 5) realize that the old primary methods of distribution (CDs, theatres, cable TV, etc.) are premium services and are just way too expensive to rely on any longer especially in a world of  internet streaming. 

Yes, I know. I just saved the entertainment industry. You’re welcome. I’ll be expecting a check in the mail. 

Class of 2011

I am officially a college graduate. Four and a half years of frustration and headaches and I finally have something to show for it. Sort of.

I don't know which is more terrifying; never finding a job or working somewhere I hate. My parents would claim it is the first one. They think I'm some privileged person with an inflated sense of her own place in the world when I don't want to take a minimum wage job at McDonalds.

It is really tough to reconcile the fact that I need a job with the story I've been told my whole life: "If you want a good job than go to college!" I don't think it is picky to expect a decent job since I've got a degree. Maybe I'm delusional.

It would be really nice to get some sort of proof that I'm not.

Occupy the World

So with all these Occupy Wall Street protest happening all over the country you'd think I would have made some comments about the whole situation. That's how busy I've been.

All I know is that we created the situation the Occupy people are protesting. 30 years of deregulated, neo-liberal, crony capitalism destroyed the middle class; the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran (just to name a few) have a more equitable income distribution than the United States.

There is nothing new I can really add to conversation but I do know that I am sick and tired of disgusting amount of police brutality that is occurring in connection with OWS. The people are peaceful. They do not need to be bludgeoned and beaten and pepper-sprayed. New York, Oakland, Denver, and now the students at UC Davis. This is unacceptable. I don't care how you feel about the protests in general, police para-military action is unacceptable 

This is wrong.

This is unnecessary.

This is supposed to be the United States.

This shouldn't be happening.

10 Years Later

I still remember where I was when I first heard the news. It was a normal day. I had just started 7^th grade and was still getting used to my new homeroom. When the principle started morning announcements there was something different in his voice. He then explained the tragedy that was currently unfolding in New York City. My teacher quickly turned on the television. All day we just sat and watched the news and stared in horror. No one could believe what was happening. 


I remember sitting in gym talking with a friend. Even then we both knew this was huge. It would change the face of not only the United States but also the world. This would be in history books. This was going to be our generations Vietnam. 


It was this day that ultimately lead to my decision to be involved with politics. It was the day I decided I must stand up for human decency and freedom all across the global. There is enough fighting and contention in the world. Hate only breeds hate. Injustice only breeds injustice. In those few days and weeks after 9/11 this country came together in a way that had never been seen. There is no reason why we cannot have that spirit with us all the time. To not remember is a mockery to those who died that day.


I found this article (Our Post 9/11 Failures) today I think it says it better than I ever could...

We failed the biggest test posed by the 9/11 outrage: In our anger and dismay we failed to recognize our common humanity, that we are made for love and that acts such as those committed on that day are an aberration. When we looked at the terrorists we did not see ourselves, we did not consider how our actions and posturing in the world may have contributed to the crime. No. We saw “others,” and we demonized them. (Archbishop Desmond Tutu)

Class Warfare?

I was watching the Daily Show last night, like I do. And this little magical thing happened:

Part 1:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
World of Class Warfare - Warren Buffett vs. Wealthy Conservatives
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Part 2:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is Over
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

This basically sums up all of my problems with the "Modern American" economic model; tax-cuts for the wealthiest individuals that leave the bottom 51% of the population to shoulder the burden. That income inequality chart really gets to me every time I see it. This site has some pretty cool infographics explaining the state of US incomes.

And then take a look at the actual distribution of wealth and American citizen's perception of that distribution:

92% of the 5000 polled said they would prefer the more equitable distribution. You notice the rich people still have more money than everyone else in that option. It's just not so much that it excludes the bottom 50% from having a piece of the pie.

Also here is the Warren Buffet Op-Ed that started it all: Stop Coddling the Super-Rich

Back Home and Away

I feel bad I don't update more often but I seriously have nothing to talk about. At this point in my life I am uber-boring.

I finished up Spring Semester. Considering the amount of work I put in to it (and the amount of class I went to [re: almost none]) I think I did pretty well.

I have one semester left of my undergraduate education; which is absolutely insane. I am starting my grad school applications and that is going to put me in an early grave. Who knew personal statements where so incredibly frustrating to write. I will keep everyone updated on my progress.

In other news, I am currently babysitting my cousins two dogs; Ruby and Max. That's been an adventure.