Published on
August 11, 2010 in
Articles.
A glimpse into the future? Click and see.
I was ranting and raving all day on Twitter in regard to the proposed Google/Verizon net neutrality deal announced today. The Internet as expected is up in arms as they should be. Google and Verizon are effectively attempting to limit the Internet. They would feed the Internet to big business and let them decide what sites you can see, use, and sign up with. So what to do?
People are quick to beg and plead with the government to step in and stop this but the government is the reason this is an issue. Verizon and Google would have no way to monopolize the Internet so long as the government doesn’t grant them the exclusive right to do so! Think about electric companies where you live. How many can you choose from? In most cases only one! Why is that? Nine times out of ten it is because those companies have contracts with the government to monopolize a certain area. Same goes for cable tv, gas, and oil companies. Government is in fact granting these monopoly contracts that completely remove the free market competition and pander to big business. It is *illegal* for another company to provide energy or cable television in those areas. This is precisely what would happen in the event the Internet is more or less “given” to Verizon and Google. We now know that the government is not the answer to the net neutrality problem.
What we need is a market response. Should these policies be enacted one would hope that the market response would be negative. This would bring about a large spike in DSL service. Independent companies that provide Internet service that don’t piggy back from Verizon or Google equipment would see a huge spike in subscribers. As the old saying goes “necessity is the mother of invention” and in this event much like the early 90′s cable and satellite battles, and the current telecom battles which saw a rise in VOIP services (Vonage, Skype, Fring). One would be safe in assuming that new technology would naturally arise to combat these corporatist evils. Keeping all of this in mind it leads us to one natural conclusion and battle plan.
Do nothing. Let Google and Verizon attempt to corner the Internet, their fate will be worse than anything they could propose. Their fate will see market shares disappear. They are doing more harm than good. I for one (and I know there are many more like me) would refuse to use such a service. I would no longer remain a patron of Google, simple as that. I don’t use Verizon so I am already all set with that. As they lose users they lose profits. These companies will suffer the same fate that any corporation which doesn’t respect the free market suffers. They will simply be replaced by a new Google and a new Verizon.
Allow them to alienate themselves to their entire user base and just hope a pray that big nanny government doesn’t grant them these exclusive monopolies! That is the true evil and the true danger. Trust the market.
To jump-start your Anti-Google movement start using http://www.startpage.com and have your privacy protected!
Published on
March 17, 2010 in
Articles.
The country is so scattered on the health care issue. I am so tired of every news network spinning it to seem like it is the problem that is plaguing America at every turn. Ever since President Obama took office he has made it his goal to reform the system, but looking deeper what exactly is he trying to reform? At a glance we need to define some terms here, we don’t have a health care problem… our health care is for better or worse excellent. We have great advancements in medicine and medical practice, I am the first to admit it’s not perfect but if you are sick there are treatments. Taking that into consideration and redefining the terms, we don’t have a health care problem, we have a health cost problem. Our issue is not with quality, it is with price. That simple understanding moves this from a medical and government issue to an economics issue. With that said, what is the answer?
<!–more–>Well first and foremost getting government out of the entire process is crucial. Government subsidizes the system which causes prices to skyrocket. Government intervention and meddling with insurance agencies is the reason prices are through the roof! They are hindering free market forces, not encouraging them. If there was true competition between agencies we would see prices decrease country wide.
Speaking of country wide and government intervention… why is it that if I am shopping for insurance and I find a great policy from a smaller agency in Montana it is illegal for me to purchase it? That’s right, I cannot cross state borders. Why? The government said so. What a great little corporatism we have going on. Government setting laws to help exploit citizens. Forcing them to buy insurance they may not want. That leads me to another issue, I am a 26 year old guy, do I really need my policy to cover pregnancy? What about other illnesses I don’t have a history of? I am being forced to buy into plans that cover me and 80% of things I will never need coverage on.
So what do we see here, we see that we need to let the free market reign. Deregulate the system and stop government subsidy. Let people buy insurance at their ease. Insurance shouldn’t be tied to jobs, it should be something you sign up for and it moves with you. Following some of these simple ideas coupled with tax deduction of emergency care and we might see a great turn around. Government intervention must be avoided at all cost. Government can’t micro-manage anything and that won’t change with health care. If and when Obamacare becomes policy we will quickly see the destruction of American currency. Inflation will explode at an out of control rate. Simple economics states that the more of something we have, the less valuable it is. Such is the case with currency. We simply can’t afford it. You can’t “lower taxes” and spend more money. It doesn’t make sense.
In the world of MMA the name Fedor Emilianenko needs no introduction. The man is and has been the top ranked heavyweight fighter throughout the world. His dominance extends through atleast three companies and his undefeated streak leaves every challenger wondering if they will be able to stand a chance. So why then do people question Fedor’s dominance? Why is it that a man who has gone undefeated for his last 26 fights is being doubted. The reason, Fedor has not stepped up to the plate and entered the #1 MMA organization in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Fedor and the UFC has a checkered past. Nearly every meeting has ended in no deal being agreed upon, and relationships more strained. Just when there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel some new rogue element enters the picture and the deal is subsequently blown. If it’s not Fedor’s manager then it is M1 Global (the current organization Fedor is signed to) and if it’s not M1 then it seems to be something awkward like agreement to appear for interviews and promotional work. The biggest hurdle seems to be M1. A self proclaimed world wide promotion company that feels it has the right to demand co-promotion with the UFC for an exclusive Fedor fight. So UFC does all of this work for the last decade or more to establish itself as the premier fighting organization, and M1 shows up and thinks it should be allowed to ride UFC’s coat tails because they have an exclusive contract with one fighter? Where is that proper? So then, what does this have anything to do with a man who has not lost a fight in over 8 years? Everything. The best fighter in the world should know enough to know he should be fighting for the best company in the business.
Fedor is and has been ranked the number 1 heavyweight fighter in the world. His dominance in Pride is unquestioned but since Pride’s purchase by UFC parent company Zuffa, Fedor has really not had a challenging fight. Not to say the fights are easy, however they are not world class. His track record since Pride’s purchase include a few UFC rejects, some gimmick matches against giants, and his most difficult challenges stemming from ex UFC champions way past their prime. Fedor simply has not fought a man of his caliber since 2005. Critics and fans have a right to question if this man is THE best fighter in the world if he does not fight the best challengers to his crown.
I am one of Fedor’s biggest fans. I will defend him until the bitter end. However, if Fedor does not step up to the plate and fight world class athletes, his claims to be the best in the world do not hold water. Fighters like Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar are foaming at the mouth to get a piece of the world’s best. To protect his legacy and his credibility he must bend for contractual purposes and enter the octagon. If Fedor does not answer all challengers he simply cannot retain the title of #1. Love him or hate him a fighter like Brock Lesnar who will only get better from this point on will in fact give Fedor a run for his money. Time will only tell if Fedor puts aside these minuscule details and answers the cries of his fans and silences his critics once and for all. I believe he will, I believe he is the greatest fighter of all time. But I also believe he is surrounded by a team with too much to say. The only one who seems to want to push Fedor to enter the UFC ring is his brother Aleks. Perhaps he should listen. The Last Emperor has an obligation to defend his throne.
Small Update: Here is a list of things the UFC offered Fedor in their latest contract. Fedor will NEVER see 5 million a fight with any other organization.
- The UFC offered Fedor a 6 fight, 30 million dollar contract. That’s 5 mil a fight
- The UFC offered Fedor an immediate title shot
- Lesnar/Fedor would be the biggest PPV in MMA history, the UFC offered M-1 Global a cut of the PPV on top of Fedor’s purse.
- Fedor was free to wear as many M-1 logoed items as he wished.
- The UFC also relented on allowing Fedor to compete in combat sambo.
Apparently, for good or bad, M-1 refuses to sign a deal unless the UFC agrees to co-promote.
Published on
July 5, 2009 in
Blurbs.
During the fourth of July it is a tradition to catch as much Twilight Zone as possible. I love all of the episodes, cheesy or not. However if there is one thing I can’t stand it’s the episodes shot on video tape. For example episode “Twenty Two”
I guess as an experiment to try and save money CBS decided to shoot 6 episodes on VHS. The problem with this is when the episodes air they are without depth. The show looks bland and has the same feel as a crappy soap opera. Film even then had its deep definition.
I included some screen caps but I doubt you can tell when it’s captured as an image. In any event atleast I got to type a long post with an iPhone. This was more of a test than anything but please feel free to share in my fanboy-ness and comment with your favorite Twlight Zone episode.
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