The passing of CISPA will result in a dark implication; George Orwell’s dystopian reality “1984” is much closer to reality than fiction.
Written for, Me on Aug 30, 2012.
America’s paranoid feelings related to the prevention of terrorism have already led to a comprehensive surveillance of the internet, mail and telecommunications. From the tracking of what books you check out to data mining, bills such as the Patriot Act imply—big brother is watching.
But the Patriot Act is not alone, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) is now another tool for the all seeing eye viewing the American public. The bill was just passed by House of Representatives but has yet to beat the Senate or see Obama’s approval. The passing of CISPA will invoke dark implication; George Orwell’s dystopian reality “1984” is much closer to reality than fiction.
In Orwell’s book, government tracks every part of your life, including your emotions and thoughts.
“It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away,” on page 55 of “1984”.
Although CSIAP is not a fully functional telescreen—a tool used to monitor civilians emotions and thoughts—the bill will defiantly take a step in “Orwellian” direction. It opens the door to a dangerous hall where, the “encouragement” of sharing—Google Documents, instant messaging records and emails—could be later interrupted as, “The Federal Governments and corporations have the right to monitor and act upon, all information stored online.”
“So if they (corporations) see the slightest bit that they think is odd in your email, they can hand it over to the government. And if the government says it has something to do with national security – it is very easy to say that, whether it’s true or not – then the government can study it for any purpose,” Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation, said in an RT interview.
The bill reads, information which “degrades or disrupts” government and corporate entities, can be searched, seized, and shared within the “cybersecurity” community. The bills voluntarily statues do not justify America’s loosing their online privacy for “national security.”
President Obama has threatened to veto CISPA if passed by the Senate, but these views do not reflect his pervious decisions such as his renewal of the Patriot Act, which I believe are counterintuitive to civil rights.
ACLU legislative counsel Michelle Richardson stated, “CISPA goes too far for little reason. Cybersecurity does not have to mean (the) abdication of Americans’ online privacy. As we’ve seen repeatedly, once the government gets expansive national security authorities, there’s no going back.”
If the bill is passed by the Senate and The President does not veto it, CISPA will destroy any impression of previously conjured ideas of online confidentiality. It will give the government—including the military—and private companies, comprehensive tools to spy on innocent Americans. We say the terrorist didn’t win, but it sure does seem like their actions are bringing us closer to “1984” and not a prosperous future.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
We must raise awareness to the psychological effects of sexual assault and domestic violence in America or things will never change.
Written for The Arbiter.
America needs to adapt cultural responsibility. We must raise awareness to the psychological effects of sexual assault and domestic violence in America or things will never change.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that more than 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men have experienced sexual assault during their lifetime; 25 percent of women and 7 percent of men said they “experienced violence from an intimate partner.” It is hard to understand the psychological effects of sexual assault and domestic violence until you have experienced it yourself.
But society should try its best to understand for the sake of those who are victims and to bring awareness to the issue in hopes of prevention.
My insight was provided by Boise State University’s Coalition Against the Abuse of Women (BSUCAAW) and their play, “V-Day Boise State 2012.” The play shared stories from people who had been sexually and/or domestically assaulted. The plays flier read, “Raw voices of fierceness and honesty (about) the deep connection between women in prison and the violence that often brings them there.”
Experiencing sexual violence changes a person’s life forever. According to Danielle Lyon, a junior studying theater and BSUCAAW member, the psychological effects of sexual assault can be felt immediately and all throughout life.
“The very first thing they are going to go through is shame and guilt, right away they will think they caused and it’s their fault. They will later experience sadness, loneliness and anger,” Lyon said.
We can recognize sexual assault if a person is unusually angry, vulnerable, feeling hopeless or show changes in their daily habits and routines for no reason. These emotions and actions can linger in a victim’s heart for days, months, years and even a lifetime. Domestic violence is a mental cage for victims and a physical and metaphorical entrapment of the soul.
Some domestic violence survivors feel obligated to their perpetrator for financial, social or domestic stability. After the play, one domestic survivor explained, the daily beating and ridicule from her aggressor motivated her departure. But she couldn’t leave her relationship because of the dilemma caused by choosing between her kids or her health—choosing between having a dysfunctional family or none at all.
The U.S. Department of Justice predicts 4.5 million physical assaults against women and 2.9 million cases of violence against men will be committed by an intimate partner within the next year—clearly there is a need to change the way our culture operates.
If we are not aware of the psychological effects of sexual assault and domestic violence, there is no way to stop it from continuing. Get involved and be aware. It just might help prevent further acts of assault. America needs adapt cultural responsibility. We must raise awareness to the psychological effects of sexual assault and domestic violence in America or things are never going to change.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Corporate interests influence two extremes of energy subsidies.
Written for The Arbiter.
Democratic and Republican parties try to fund energy companies through government subsidies, representing how corporate interests can dominate the entire legislative cultural. Subsidies range from leasing The Continental Shelf and oil companies to the extension of tax credit and renewable energy corporations.
One example of this is, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) receiving $10,000 from ExxonMobile and later introduced a yet-to-be-passed bill—The Offshore Production Safety Act of 2011 (S.953). McConnell’s circumstances not only reflect the tendencies of big oil and the Republican party but also reflects our legislative system as whole. Both Democratic and Republican parties are financed by multinational corporations.
In the words of Dr. Cornel West, it’s as if the best and brightest citizens boycott elected public office while the most ambitious go into the private sector. Energy companies are filled with lobbyists, who solely operate for corporate profit.
Within the science of business, a bi-monthly meeting with legislators like McConnell and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) is well worth the investment. This access influences offshore drilling and government contracts/tax incentives. The Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act, introduced by Menendez, is trying to move traditional oil subsidiaries and tax breaks to companies who emphasize renewable energy.
The bill (S.2204) reads, “striking ($2.3 billion) and inserting ($4.6 billion),” for expanding qualifying credit to advanced energy projects.
Menendez is also financed by several renewable energy companies. These tax breaks are more for green energy than for oil companies.
These subsidies would go to renewable energy companies like Everpower Wind Holdings—who, in 2012, donated to the Menendez campaign, reported Opensecerts.org.
The strength of lobbying is shown by ideologically opposing energy company’s having an influence on legislation. The actions of ExxonMobile are similar to the actions of EverPower.
These corporations are funding two extremes of the spectrum, leaving the average American at a loss when it comes to cheaper gas. If the goal of these subsidies and tax breaks are to make the cost of gasoline cheaper for the average American, then Congress should consider investing energy subsidies into individual taxpayers, not corporations.
Whereas current subsidies and tax breaks are recycled into more subsidies and tax breaks.
-Thanks for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Websites that help college students
Written for The Arbiter.
As technology grows, new activities are invented. One example of these activities is surfing the internet.
Ever since Wikipedia and Google, students have been clicking through domains to find relevant and new information.
Scouring the internet, The Arbiter has found a handful of websites that students may find useful.
1. Reddit.com
A source for categorizing popular and relevant information. Users submit themed articles to a specific sub reddit community, where that reddit community rates up or down the relevance and popularity of submitted articles.
2. TheUniversityBlog.uk
TheUniversityBlog.uk is an inspirational blog that gives a plethora of advice from studying tips to socializing. Blogs are humorous, light and clever. The blogger has a passion for higher education and wants to improve the life of collegiate students.
3. BrokeGradStudent.com
Self-explanatory blog where a grad student attempts to repays $ 20,000 in student loans by blogging. Archived blogs come in a variety of themes including college life and weekly roundups. BrokeGradStudent.com has repaid $ 8,680.91 dollars.
4. HackCollege.com
A website designed for the “Web 2.0” student. The website’s approach to higher education is to provide open-source advice. Students can get advice on almost anything from Windows and Mac tips to packing tips.
5. SuperCook.com
A website, slash, super-food collider. Users input various ingredients and SuperCook recalls recipes with those only. Munchie curator galore.
6. Cramster.com
Procrastination is like the flu—it comes out once a year and it’s never expected or convenient. Cramster.com provides a remedy for the overwhelmed brain. Students add homework questions to a database of students who are on the Cramster.
7. Prezi.com
An online graphic presentation generator that interacts with the user’s ability to create graphically engaging presentations. Users can create an account or login with Facebook.
8. LaL.com
Website for students who had a missed an encounter and want to establish a missed connection. Users submit comments detailing the hair color and sex of the person their looking for. According to the website, LAL.com, is a flirting-facilitator platform.
9. CollegeWallOfShame.com
Self-explanatory website that publishes shameful user-submitted photos that a majority of students experience but would not normally publish on Facebook. Boise State does not have a page but the two photos under the University of Idaho link are tilted “Toilet Dreams” and “Mattress Mummy.”
10. ZimRide.com Websites that connects passenger with drivers who are traveling to the same location across long distances. Popular routes from Boise often lead to Moscow, Pullman and Mt. Home.
To add additional websites to this list, copy and paste the URL in the comment box bellow, followed by a short description.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
MLK’s message continues at Boise Capitol Building
Written for The Arbiter.
Four score and two years ago, (Jan. 15, 1929) an icon was born. Today, Martin Luther King Jr.’s message inspires Boise natives to celebrate diversity and accrue new civil rights for those who have yet to obtain full protection under the law. The demonstration began Monday in the Student Union Building where activists gathered with kindled spirits and colorful signs. The day’s brisk, snowy air did not discourage protesters, as University Drive soon filled with the warm possibility for complete equality of all peoples.
Boise State students played an integral part of Monday’s rally. The event was organized by junior Ashley Magin, co-chair of the MLK Living Legacy Committee. Several students also spoke at the rally.
“It (MLK demonstration) is something that really brings the community together, as you can here, there are so many different people here of all shapes and sizes, of all different organizations coming together for a common purpose,” Magin, a biology
major, said.
Along the march, protesters chanted, “Two, four, six, eight, Idaho is too great for hate.”
Kerri McCanna, 37, marched along holding a rainbow-striped flag with a peace sign affixed in the center.
“Unless we can work together and treat everyone as though they are an equal creation, we will not survive this adolescent stage our country is in,” McCanna said.
King preached this: society cannot thrive when the lie of inferiority is accepted as truth in society. To King and his followers, everyone is equal, no matter how “inferior” a person is deemed.
Protester Ashley Dowdle from Phi Alpha honor society and a senior studying social work, explained why this march is so important to her.
“It’s about rights, not beliefs. There is used to be the belief that blacks were inferior … there were Jim Crow Laws. That’s a society I wouldn’t want to live in, that’s why I’m here,” Dowdle said.
Students and community members alike then took a right on Capitol Boulevard where the movement gathered for a succession of like-minded speakers advocating King’s spirit.
Senior Nathan Eggleston, member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, spoke at Monday’s rally.
“Live that you might be judged not by the color of your skin, the language you might speak, your class, your caste, your gender or gender identity, your religion, your nationality, your intellectual or physical disability, your creed, your tribe, your sexual orientation, your age, your family status, your access to education, your employment or lack thereof,” Eggleston said. “Live that you might be judged solely by the content of your character.”
Civil rights have come a long way since the time of racially segregated buses and schools. But as King once said, “Progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.”
According to Eggleston, there are more individual rights that have yet to be obtained.
“Human rights and equality might visit us for a brief moment but there is still work to be done,” Eggleston said.
Sophomore Shaila Schmidt held a sign reflecting uncompleted civil rights: “Add the words Idaho” is in reference to Idaho’s lack of civil rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) community.
“It’s telling representatives to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the Idaho Bill of Rights,” Schmidt said. In some states constitution like California, a line has been added to that states Bill of Rights to protect gender identity and sexual orientation from discrimination.
The spirit of activism reminded participants to speak up. According to King, “A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Price checking college necessities
Written for The Arbiter.
Students need food for all sorts of reasons: football games, daily groceries, late night munchies, etc. Albertsons on Broadway Ave. and WinCo Foods on Myrtle St. are two likely last-minute grocers for students.
A recent comparison of identical items between Albertsons and WinCo Foods store suggests Albertsons is a generally more expensive grocer.
According to Google Maps, WinCo Foods is exactly one mile away from Chaffee Hall, whereas Albertsons is .70 miles away.
On a 10-item sample receipt, with identical items and brands, WinCo Foods totaled $45.66. When compared to Albertsons’ total of $58.51, there was a 22 percent savings.
Keep it fresh
An 800-ml of Febreze Odor Eliminator costs $11.99 at Albertsons, the same bottle costs $5.99 at WinCo Foods.
Down delicious damnation
A 30-pack of Bud Light costs $18.99 at the Albertsons, while WinCo Foods charges $18.98.
Wonderfully warm wieners
The cost of Ball Park Frank Hot Dogs is $3.99 at Albertsons. WinCo Foods charges significantly less at $1.86.
I like big buns and I cannot lie
An eight-pack of Franz Hot Dog Buns at Albertsons costs $1.99 whereas the same eight pack costs $2.62 at WinCo Foods.
This is the result of Albertsons’ “weekly sale” that reduced its price from $2.79 to $1.99.
Live large
A 10-pack of Trojan Ecstasy Condoms costs $9.40 at WinCo Foods whereas the same box at Albertsons costs $11.59.
“We routinely check competitors prices and set our prices lower than theirs in order to be the low-price leader in that area,” WinCo Foods Vice President of Public and Legal Affairs Michael Read said.
WinCo Foods and Albertsons will always share the market for students on or near campus. It is up to students to chose whether or not they want to travel further to save more.
Representatives from Albertsons were not available for immediate comment.
-Thank you for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Candidates join constituents to discuss issues
Candidates spent the evening of Oct. 25 discussing their platforms with potential voters. ALX GEORGE/THE ARBITERWritten for The Arbiter.
On Oct. 25, members of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Democracy Matters of Boise State, in partnership with Associated Students of Boise State University, hosted a public forum and inquiry that introduced Boise mayoral and city council candidates to voters. The event allowed Boise City Council and mayoral candidates to discuss contemporary social issues with their constituents.
Candidates David Hall, Lauren McLean, Ben Quintana, Michael Cunningham and Lawrence Johnson cycled through tables in rapid succession filled with curious voters. Every seven minutes candidates were asked to move to a new table where a fresh set of voters sat.
“This platform was a great example of how the students of Boise State want to be involved in our community. Not only were we able to show that we are interested in local politics and contributing socially, but we were also able to gain important information about the candidates and their platforms,” Delta Upsilon Vice President Jesse Rosenthal said.
Hall is running against current eight-year incumbent David Bieter and fellow candidate Tom Kettwig. Hall spent some of his time criticizing Bieter for being an incumbent and not attending the forum.
“If incumbents are not participating in the way you’re asking them too, then vote for Mickey Mouse—vote them out,” Hall said.
Term limits do not exist for the mayor, making voters a fail-safe in case incumbents no longer participate in civic discourse.
McLean’s re-election is unopposed for city council member seat one. During the interviews, McLean spent some of her time discussing responses to the recession.
“We’re going to get tech companies, we’re going to build transit, we’re going to attract knowledge workers, those will give Boiseans a high quality of life we all deserve,” McLean said.
Quintana, Cunningham and Johnson are competing for city council member seat two.
Quintana and Cunningham are both Boise State alumni. Johnson did not complete his business degree from Boise State, but instead started his own construction company.
Quintana, a 2004 Boise State communication alumnus, spent some of his time explaining methods that would resolve unemployment.
“Boise can recruit ‘our kind of business’ that are innovative, recreationally focused and also high tech. I will build an economy that fits with those businesses, recruit people, help them to start and help them grow,” Quintana said.
Fixing qualities in public transit, high energy costs and education investment, could potentially make Boise City more marketable to employers, according to Quintana.
Cunningham is the current Capital High area director and a 1978 elementary education alumnus. He took his time with constituents to address their concerns.
One community member asked, “How do you justify cutting $22 million from the Boise school district without creating larger classrooms?”
“We looked at the inefficiencies, we instituted a new energy policies as far as the heat and the cooling goes. We shut some of our buildings down during the summer when certain buildings were not being used,” Cunningham responded.
Johnson is owner and president of L.W. Johnson, a construction and development company. Johnson said he intends to promote city construction as a city council member.
“If we bring formal bidding to the informal bidding process, we can not only make a more competitive market place for construction companies, but we could save hundreds of thousands of dollars as well,” Johnson said.
Direct contact between voters and candidates is intended to allow representatives to reveal their intentions and agenda.
Eberle is this year’s incumbent for City council member seat three. He also runs unopposed. Eberle spent six minutes condoning activist social justice.
“One (Occupy Wall Street movement) believes the conspiracy is in big business, the other (Tea Party movement) believes the conspiracy is big government. Both believe there is a collision between the two. And if you are not mad, you should be, get out into the streets,” Eberle said. According to their perspective websites, economic disfranchisement can be found in the Occupy Boise movement, whereas government disfranchisement can be found in the Boise Tea Party movement. Eberle has yet to publicly endorse either one.
Civic engagement almost became a lost democratic process until it was revived it in Simplot C by three Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Democracy Matters and the ASBSU. According to Nathan Eggleston, a senior majoring in French, this will not be the last Boise Votes.
-Thanks for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Occupy Boise accomplishes their mission through various working groups
Written for The Arbiter.
In the words of Buffalo Springfield, “There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.”
The 1967 song, “For What it’s Worth,” discusses the political diversities and struggles of the Vietnam War. Today a similar protest has been born, taking the American conscience in a new direction.
Whether it’s called Occupy Boise, Occupy Wall Street, or Occupy Together, the movement and supporters still represent the same thing: the 99 percent.
The Occupy Together movement is growing at an alarming rate; according to its website, there are assemblies in cities from coast to coast showing support for the movement.
Skeptics argue the movement is disorganized and lacks structure.
“I see mass chaos, I see a band of rightfully angry American citizens who are so chaotic because they do not have a unifying message,” Dominic Gelsomino, Boise State College Republican chairman, said. “A mob of people, with one sect arguing affirmative action, one sect arguing climate change, one sect arguing anti-capitalism and one sect arguing social redistribution. It is just confusing that’s all.”
While each participant has their own reason for protesting, they are all a part of a larger movement. In order for the organization to run smoothly, assemblies have structured themselves in a way that works for them.
Occupy Boise is divided into five categories that work together to maintain the movement. Each working group is an independent finger that creates the movement’s collective fist and overall message.
The five working groups are the Public Education Working Group, the Media Working Group, the General Assembly Planning Working Group, the Legal Working Group and the Direct Action Working Group, according to Alex Neiwirth, an Occupy Boise orientation instructor.
Each group is responsible for different aspects of Occupy Boise from website management to assembly moderation, an indication Occupy Boise is in for the long haul.
Public Education Working Group
If the Public Education Work Group were to be a finger, it would be the biggest one. Gus Voss, co-coordinator of the group and senior political science major, would be public enemy number one to the one percent.
Voss uses his understanding of politics to invoke the principles of democracy.
The group says it understands no war can be lost so long as the idea never dies. Their goal is to create messages about the one percent and then distribute them to the 99 percent.
This can be accomplished by “teach-ins” and mass pamphlet distribution, according to Voss.
“The Public Education Working Group’s purpose is three pronged: first is to communicate with Idahoans about Occupy Together, then to expose the influence of Wall Street in Idaho and lastly to expose the power of the 99 percent,” Voss said.
Media Working Group
The Media Working Group is the primary coordinator of media for Occupy Boise, such as the website, flyer printing and the welcome table.
The group primarily works with the Public Education Working Group, according to Joshua Christopher, a 23-year-old Media Working Group member. The Media Working Group prints the actual information the Public Education Working Group distributes.
The first press release was written Oct. 11, giving Occupy Boise its first official “collective message.”
The Public Education Working Group wrote it and the Media Working Group published it online.
Legal Working Group
What would the world be without lawyers? Yes, Occupy Boise has them, too. The group monitors Occupy Boise’s legal stability, according to Robert Stevahn, a 51-year-old Legal Working Group co-coordinator.
“The Legal Working Group provides legal support for the rest of the organizations. Really, we act as a legal liaison between legal counsel and the other working groups,” Stevahn said.
The group is responsible for obtaining necessary permits and offering legal advice to the other working groups.
“We don’t tell them no. We just tell them what is legal and what is not legal and tell them if they (other working groups) might have a problem doing something,” Stevahn said.
The other groups, however, are free to ignore the advice. In other words, the Legal Working Group can point the gun but can never really pull the trigger.
Direct Action Working Group
The Direct Action Working Group is the thumb of the Occupy Boise fist. It has the most dexterity in the sense that it guides the marches like a thumb does a joystick. The group plans the marches, according to a Direct Action co-coordinator Sara Cramer.
“The Direct Action Working Group plans, organizes and participates in public direct actions related to our movement, including demonstrations, general assemblies and bazaars so far,” Cramer said.
The marches are too big to go unmanaged.
“The Direct Action Working Group handles logistics of the marches route, we work with the legal team as far legality and their permitting process with the city,” Cramer said.
Attendees of the Oct. 12 march were unable to walk on the streets and were forced to the sidewalks because of a disagreement between the Direct Action Working Group and Boise City Police, according to Alexis Pickering. Pickering is double majoring in political science and English at Boise State.
General Assembly Planning Working Group
“The General Assembly (GA) Planning Working Group’s purpose is to draft agendas, assign roles, such as facilitators, legal watchers, note takers and all additional roles necessary,” said Matt Haga, a 25-year-old member speaking on behalf of the GA Planning Working Group. “All with the one purpose of shooting for smooth running general assemble where all working groups are on the same page.”
Let’s talk
Occupy Boise meetings, such as the one on Oct. 11 at Capitol Park, are held in a circle where participants sit together, occasionally hug and use jazz hands to vote. These meetings are used to discuss how the assembly can work more efficiently.
The GA Planning Working Group collects proposals from the other groups to present to the general assembly. Proposals can be anything from ideas for streamlining the Occupy Boise movement to demographic surveys.
The proposed ideas from the Oct. 11 general assembly meeting ranged from American flag bearers at the upcoming march to who will operate the welcome tent.
“Within Occupy Boise, anybody can propose an idea. And then that (proposed idea) is presented to the general assembly. From then on we (GA Planning Working Group) test for a consensus,” Haga said.
Decisions regarding proposals are made by using an unanimous consensus decision-making model. Proposals are brought to the general assembly attendees, where everyone votes and addresses concerns before a proposal is passed.
“A test for consensus requires that we ask for clarifying questions or comments so everything is understood with every individual at the GA (general assembly),” Haga said.
Consent is shown by two raised hands and wiggling fingers. Members can address their concerns, by issuing a verbal “stand aside.”
“Stand asides are for people to say, essentially ‘I do not feel comfortable with this proposal, this is why, but I am not going to stop this proposal from going
through,’ ” Haga said.
Proposals are brought into discussion so no member feels left out. And those detrimental to the movement can be stopped with a block—a last resort deal-breaker used to contain radicalism.
“The block is the deal-ender. It is where the proposal at hand cannot go further anymore, cannot be agreed upon, until the block can be resolved,” Haga said.
Blocks force the proposal to be rewritten until the next meeting where another consensus can be drawn.
Whether it’s the Occupy Boise, Occupy Wall Street, or Occupy Together movement, cities such as Boise are setting up the ground work to sustain a 24/7 protest of Wall Street lobbying.
Their most ambitious goal is to have a living encampment at the end of November, Voss said.
For more information, visit the Occupy Boise page on Facebook.
-Thank you for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Community service reality show seeks talent from BSU
Written for The Arbiter.
A new reality show, LifeCHANGE came to campus last Tuesday to cast students to for a community service web-based reality show. The show came here to find one of six, 18-25 year old students who will participate. They want to represent a wide range of students from all across the world.
Jason Cook, 30, from Somerdale, New Jersey and Ari Zucker, 37, from Chatsworth, California, are both co-producers for the reality show LifeCHANGE.
The pilot episode will air June, 2012.
LifeCHANGE will provide travel around the United States and abroad, where students will participate in various community service projects. Participants will not only have a camera crew but they will have their own handy-cams for quick personal journals as well. Their aim is to record the process in which students mature while working for a plethora of organizations like the ASPCA and Habit for Humanity.
Zucker and Cook are looking for students who have yet to unleash all of their inner talents. They are looking for highly skilled and motivated people but a good resume and a pretty head shot won’t necessarily land you a spot on the show.
“The people that do want to be a part of it are looking for something different in their lives,” Zucker said. “The vision for LifeCHANGE is to build confidence, responsibility, goals and self-esteem to young adults and help them discover a future without limits.”
They will pick one student from Boise, New Orleans, London and possibly New York. The remaining applicants will be selected from user submissions at lifechangetheshow.com.
“We are just people who want to help people. We are trying to make a movement not just a TV show,” Zucker said. She was inspired by her visit to the 9th Ward in New Orleans, where she witnessed 2,000 people displaced seven years after hurricane Katrina.
“I felt I had a responsibility to use my name and what I do to for the positive, to be proactive and get people involved with their communities,” Zucker said.
Cook became interested in the campaign when Zucker approached him in September of 2007. He said he is excited to be a part of a show that focuses on positive change and not just profits.
“I want to impact adult’s lives and spread the word while showing the importance of paying it forward,” Cook said.
The goal of the show is to ”… challenge (participants) themselves and each other to the highest possible degree. To test their inner soul and human strength by working toward changing the lives of others, all while changing their own,” Zucker said.
The show will not only be about community development, but mental development as well.
-Thank you for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
Occupy Boise crowds Capitol
Written for The Arbiter.
Bryce Dunham-Zemberi/The ArbiterThe crowd gathered, drums were beaten and little deodorant was worn.
Protesters came with signs stating, “Human Needs Not Corporate Greed.”
A solidarity march hit Boise on Oct. 5. Protesters gathered at Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial where they seemed cheerful, despite shivering rains, and had marched all the way to the capitol building steps by five p.m.
Participants such as Travis Kail, a junior philosophy major, held a cardboard sign that read “Ethics not profits.”
Occupy Wall Street is a leaderless effort that appeared on Wall Street in New York City, Sept. 17.
The movement’s goal is to protest corporate greed in today’s democratic republic; more specifically constituency-based lobbying, according to the Occupy Wall Street Movement website.
Constituency-based lobbying is legal in the United States, as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court case Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission. On Jan. 10, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled corporations, unions and political action committees (PACS) have no limitations on monies donated toward political causes.
“They (political representatives) are helping themselves out because the banks fund them. It happens all through the government, not just with banks but with the auto and energy industries as well,”
Kail said.
Proponents such as Boise State College Republican chairman Domenic Gelsomino believe the Occupy Boise assembly was part of a more socialist movement.
“The majority of things, such as class warfare, economic redistribution, overtaxing people who have worked their entire lives to be successful, I do not believe in that, I do not agree with that,” Gelsomino said.
Democracy Matters President and Occupy Boise protester Guss Voss said it is nothing of the sort.
“One popular phrasing of our group is ‘We are the 99 percent’ which obviously puts us in opposition to the top one percent. (It is) not that we think that the 1 percent does not have a right to participate in politics, but rather they (the 1 percent) do not have a right to dominate politics,”
Voss said.
According to Voss, the Occupy Wall Street movement is about ending the 1 percent’s profit gain from lobbying representatives at the detriment of the public.
The Occupy Boise movement brings attention to corporations, PACS and the top 1 percent donating more money to representatives than actual voters ever could donate.
To emphasize this, the Occupy Boise participants chanted on the capitol steps, “We are the 99 percent, our voice shall be heard.”
One main idea of the Occupy Wall Street movement is the richest 1 percent of the nation should not influence politics the way the other 99 percent could never afford.
Gelsomino said he disagrees, supporting more laissez faire economics.
“The donators make their own limit; it’s their money and it’s their choice. That is true economic freedom and
liberty,” Gelsomino said.
Owners of corporations have the right to support democratic or republican representatives who best align with the companies’ ability to make profits, according to Gelsomino.
Corporate lobbying of congressional representatives doesn’t just happen in Washington, D.C.
Constituency-based lobbying has its place in Idaho too, according to Voss who is a senior political science major.
“Even wind and geothermal energy in Idaho is basically being avoided as a policy option, because the amount of money and influence Idaho Power has,” Voss said. “They (Idaho Power) have worked with a number of organizations in Idaho to lobby the legislature to make sure there is no way to incentivize wind or geothermal energy. This way they (Idaho Power) can stay in coalescence with coal and their very lucrative power regime.”
Occupy Wall Street plans on addressing constituency-based lobbying and the movement is growing to more and more cities. For more information about the movement in Boise, visit their page on Facebook.
Thank you for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Source: arbiteronline.com
