Tijuana Donkey Show : Newly independent politicians drop party baggage.
Written by Me, for Me.
In response to: California GOP Sinking into Third-Party Status .
One could argue that constituents are shifting from traditional bi-partisan politics to more independent leaning politicians. According to George Skelton article, California GOP Sinking into Third-Party Status, California Politicians are dropping the GOP baggage for non-party affiliation. This shift however does not signify a change in future political decisions.
“The candidates’ (Bruce McPherson) actions may have been self-serving, but it’s an ugly mark on the GOP that they felt better served not being burdened by the party,” Skelton article read.
Skelton brings up McPherson, 68 — former California Secretary of State and Centrist Legislator and current candidate for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors—who re-registered his political affiliation to “no party preference.” Skelton notes the move could have been made to attract independent voters not willing to vote for a bi-partisan candidate.
I call this the Tijuana Donkey Show (painting a donkey with white & black stripes to call it a zebra). Sure McPherson belonged to the Republican Party at one point, but does he — and his colleagues — departure signify the GOP’s attempt to secretly take over the 99%?
I believe it is. The minute we accept the premises that politicians can and do accept large contributions, we can start to suspect politicians such as McPherson who switch parties — possibly to “represent” voters — could still have partisan connections. And according to the California Secretary of State, independent voters Occupied 23 percent, a two percent rise from 2008, of total voters. What is even more ironic is that GOP lost two percent of their voter base between the 2008 and 2012 California Primaries. This two percent of increase in voters went to the No Party and or Other preference. Attracting this kind of voter could be interpreted as sleazy, meaningless, or blatantly integral in making sure that the people voice is empty.
Currently there are 15 Republican and 25 Democratic State Senate Members in the California State Legislate. A shift in the Democratically controlled Senate into more Independent politicians could result in the same agenda we have today. Just because a politician withdrew from a partisan party, does not mean that their former relationship and policies will dissolve into thin air. So don’t be fooled by newly independent candidates aka, the Tijuana Donkey Show.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Firefox will never die part two.
Written by Me.
I was Tumbling through the internet when I came across something that caught my eye. It was Firefox’s right click function being integrated with Twitter, whereas Chrome’s is not. I discovered this when visiting Benjamin Tseng blog about why he switched from Firefox to Chrome. He articulates that Chrome has more credible advantages over Firefox. I however, still remain true to The Firefox browser for the same reason I introduced it, Firefox will always be easier to use than Chrome!
Okay, maybe not always. Everything in technology does have a finite point of competence, but that does not mean Firefox’s will be anytime soon. The Fox Legacy is a resilient creature in nature and on the web. And in reference to Chrome, are like two competitive brothers. Chrome, the younger of the two, is just now starting to gain its sense of personal accomplishment and popularity. Google for some time now has launched online office-applications that work flawlessly. Whereas Firefox—the older and a more mature sibling—is simply maintaining its pervious accomplishments and global outreach.
Never the less, Firefox is an entirely different animal compared to the Chrome-Google Dynasty. The Firefox Legacy is, by now relatively; smaller, comparatively more; loyal, developed and convenient. While Chrome is still in its annoying, immature, young, figuring shit out, phase.
Google does however have the funding and age to develop a web-browser-following comparable to Mozilla’s Firefox. To me, Chrome is that once familiar floating orb—343 Guilty Spark. Am I the only who remembers Halo? Chrome is an Orb, giving you nonsensical suggestions you really don’t need anyway. I constantly find myself battling against; confirmatory suggestions, famous people I don’t care about, and common misspellings/phrases. Whereas in my Firefox web-browsing experience, there are tools I want—thesaurus, dictionary and Encarta integrated search engines—when I need them. The Firefox web-browsing experience feels like it just makes sense.
On the other hand, there are a few more upgrades that will further my commitment to the Firefox platform. For starters, as mentioned before, the built-in right-click menus extensively handy and light. They only appear when you right-click on a specifically integrated URLs and not all URLs. For example a Twitter-URL-right-click-menu allows user to tweet, tag or respond to specific usernames displaying a URL address. Some would say, functions like these are built for people who use the internet on their desktops / laptops extensively. Firefox users—such as me—dig, dig and dig, into the web for whatever their research priorities may be. Whereas Chrome, atleast in my opinion, puts a smartphone like experience on the desktop. Firefox has the seasoned use to develop extremely handy menus. For a majority of the time that I see a Chrome Web Browser open, it’s usually opened to; Facebook, Wikipedia and, or, Gmail. Whereas my internet browsing experience is committed to semi-landlocked laptops, dictionary.com and stacks of library books.
Another plus that affirms my commitment to the Firefox platform, is the multi-manageable search-engine functions. These functions allow users to search websites from within the browser and not the web-page itself. Users can press “Alt + down” at the same time, to change what websites to search. This is convenient for switching between different search results on various social media websites—Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook. For example, if I am searching a person on Twitter, I can search that same person on Tumblr without having to go to Tumblr’s webpage first. I just enter their name in the search field at the top right hand corner of the browser, change it from Twitter to Tumblr and press enter. I can also search between various websites, search engines (such as Bing, Yahoo and AVG Secure), as well as online thesauruses and dictionaries. Firefox simply has something Chrome doesn’t, experience. When I use Firefox, my shortcuts blast through the internet, whereas my “chromium platform” slugs along like molasses. Firefox was designed for people who need the internet whereas; Chrome was designed for people who love the internet. Chrome is light, poppy and fun. Whereas my beloved Firefox is; heavy, deep, caring, integrated, functional and everything else an internet explorer could dream desire.
Having a personal relationship with the Fox is now no longer a personal secret of mine. But I know I am not alone when I see fellow geeks—not hipsters—rock the “Firefox t-shirt” to class daily. I understand. Firefox is awesome. Does not matter what the statics say, those who are still using the Firefox will continue to use it, whereas; those who are new to the web-browsing experience are more likely to be referenced to Chrome for a first time internet experience.
But as more people join the internet the decline in Firefox’s popularity may not be a bad thing after all. It just means that The Firefox Team has; attracted an audience (at one time the majority), learned from them and produced a free web-browser that some people—diehards include—will continue to always use. The Firefox team has accomplished what almost all software engineers ever dream of. Firefox’s departure from a top leading spot means nothing, if anything symbolic of an unexpected success. Firefox software engineers has accomplished everything they wanted from the internet—a web-browsing internet following—diehards included.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi.
Girls got gear too
Written by Me, for the Southbay Nightlife Magazine.
A local women’s football team maintains their success, as they head towards a perfect season. One of the San Diego’s two Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) teams, The San Diego Surge, defeated the Bay Area Bandits last Saturday, May 19, 2012. Their victory was a landslide, defeating the Bandits 57-0. This is the team’s fifth winning of the season, averaging 57.5 points a game.
The San Diego Surge (SDS) has a 40-50 person team, complete with team members specifically for; offensive, defensive and special-teams roles. According to SDS Offensive Line / Special Teams Coordinator—Mark Ring—team expertise is an attractive element for players.
“These ladies are an elite group of athletes, who come together to play with other elite athletes,” said Ring at a bi-weekly practice.
The team’s practice is similar to other practices witnessed in the college and professional divisions. The team’s practices with, full pads—not the ones with wings—full contact, eighty percent speed and one hundred percent heart. The ladies commit to two and half hours of practice, where; The Team divides itself into smaller groups and then scrimmages at Scripps Ranch High School, Monday and Thursday nights.
“We have enough coaches that players can get specialized attention but, still learn as a group. Some of the teams we have played have 27 players, you can’t specialize anyone that way,” Ring said.
The San Diego Surge is so committed to victory that at last week’s practice; they annexed a softball field that was across the street because their field’s lights did not turn on in time. Some teams would have taken this time of transition as an opportunity to, “lolled-gag.” But not the Surge, they hustled across four lanes of traffic and one parking lot, to continue practice, in the light, on an abandoned softball field. The Team is in their sophomore year of ownership, but so far has been successful. Last year, The Team played at the WFA Super Bowl, but lost to now rivals, The Boston Militia.
The Surge’s record season is much like last years. They are defeating teams like; The Silver State Legacy and the Pacific Warriors for a second time around. The San Diego Bay Area Nightlife Magazine asked the Team’s, Head Coach, Chris Suggett, “What do you think is responsible for the team’s success?”
“It’s the professional staff and committed athletes. The people who play and work here, really want to be here. We even have a group of ladies that pass three other teams and drive 120 miles just to be a part of this team,” said Suggett.
They call themselves the “120 Crew, because its 120 miles each way,” San Diego Surges Head Coach said. Ashley Moody (DB), Holly Peterson (WR), Melissa Strother (WR), Cassey Brick (RB), Deana Guidry (RB), Tarrah Philpott (LB) and Tanya Paaluhi (OL) are all members of The 120 Crew, who live in or near the county of Los Angeles (LA). From there, the Linebackers Coach – Will Harris leaves at 3:00 p.m. to pick up seven girls from the Los Angeles county and surrounding areas. They drive all the way down from LA twice a week for practices and sometimes a third for games. According to one 120 crew members, the girls are not in bed from practice till midnight.
The San Diego Surge is made up of women with various backgrounds and upbringings, all brought together for the love of full contact football. Team members do not belong to a single “category” or universal “body type.” Maybe a size awesome would do. Some are tall, some are short and some paint their nails, while the others want to break them. They are in every sense womanly football players who train, play and develop bond similar to those found of an all-male professional team.
With an entire winning record, the San Diego Surge truly is the best and the only undefeated team in the WFA’s 17th Division. Teams within WFA’s 17th Division are; the Silver State Legacy (3 wins, 2 losses), the Arizona Assassins (0 wins, 5 losses) and the Pacific Warriors (3 wins, 2 losses). The San Diego Surge plays each division team twice, as well as; two non-division teams—the West Coast Lighting and the Bay Area Bandits—once a season.
The San Diego Surge plays such a limited range of teams compared to the National Football League (NFL), for two reasons. The first being, the teams within the WFA’s have less funding then teams in the NFL. Who do not “pay to play” said, Nathan Benjamin, The San Diego Surge’s Defensive Coordinator. According to him, almost all games are kept in-budget and local.
“I would like to play The Boston Militia again. But there is no-way, that’s thousands of dollars. Just one trip would wipe out our entire budget,” said Benjamin.
In the NFL, owners can afford to ship a team all the way across the country. Whereas in the WFA, team owners, such Christina Carrillo of the Surge, must use their proceeds’ to break even. The Team does sell apparel and charges a nominal ten dollar game entrance fee, but there is still not enough revenue in these sources of income to afford weekly team travel. Other than the ability to play all across the United States, the games and championship brackets are identical of those in the NFL.
The second reason why the Surge plays such a limited number of teams is because, “they (Surge) are so damn good,” said Benjamin, that, “it wouldn’t be fair to play some of the teams,” out of their league or affordability to travel. For example, San Diego’s second WFA team, The San Diego Sting, has been scored upon an average 78 points per game. Whereas the Surge has only allowed their opponents to average 12 points a game. According to Ring, if lower-ranking teams where to play The Surge, it would be a blow out.
The end of May and the beginning of June, mark San Diego Surge’s, “bi-week,” where players and coaches get time to, “rest hearts, bones and muscles,” said Sugget. “This is the time to regenerate, re-focus and re-commit,” he added, at the end of Monday’s practice. After the break, The Team has an opportunity to continue their winning streak and move hire up within WFA rankings. The women will have to prove themselves and the San Diego City, June 2. 2012. in Las Vegas against the Silver State Legacy for a second time around.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Review: “Bark at the Park.” Poway community raises 1,000 dollars for kids education and health.
Written for Me.
May 19, 2012. The Poway News Chieftain, The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation, The Poway High School Key Club, along with 20 other estimated vendors, hosted this summer’s dog-fundraising event focused on kids in need.
The Event tilted, “Bark at the Park,” was at the Community Park in Poway. Here local dog lovers and tail wagers alike conjugated for a day of, “puppy-pageantry.” Proceeds from the events, 1,000 dollar estimate, will go to local education scholarships at Poway & Abraxas High Schools; as well as grant to Rady’s Children Hospital.
Only Poway’s Community Park could complete a true, “Bark at the Park,” for education event. From a dog’s perspective, there was probably nothing better than The Park, treats the San Diegan Sun, dogs and their dog-loving people.
According to one attendee and local writer for “Zoo News,” Peggy Scott, there is no better place for her and her dog, Tiki.
“No one can really know what he (Tiki) is thinking. But I would imagine that he is very happy puppy sitting here under this tree,” Scott said. Her dog Tiki, is a 115 pound St. Bernard with paws the size of five half-dollars. Tiki and her mother sat under a tree in the corner of Poway’s Community Dog Park.
From there, they could see the agility course, three fields of interconnected grass and hundreds of dogs and their perspective owners. The day was a little warmer than expected. But temperatures of 78 degrees ferinheight did not stop dogs and their overlords, from enjoying a, “Puppy-pageantry” for kids in need.
Crowds were estimated to have peaked and declined somewhere in between the 70’s and 80’s. Whereas in the more popular hours of the morning, crowds reached up to 100. According to one attendee, “It is the best place for dog watching and socializing.” Judging by the number of tail wags, The Event made many pups pleasantly pleased.
“Dogs and people like to see other dogs and people. Poway is such a small town that, when I go out people say, ‘Your Tiki’s mom!’” said Scott.
People who attended The Event, often found themselves in the same circles of local community dog clubs. Some of these official and unofficial, “clubs,” meet at a public area such as Dog Park, and other parks located around San Diego. According to Scott, this local dog event attracted crowds of other, “dog watchers” that live within North County it-self. What separates, “Bark at the Park,” from pervious regional meetings, is the number of people brining their dogs is greater and the support from local neighborhood business.
The park was lined with vendors such as, “Because We Care Dog & Cat Grooming,” “Company Pub and Kitchen,” “JenLovesPets,” “Barons Market,” and many more. These vendors passed out promotional flyers, discount coupons and treats. The raffle ticket operation, event mastering of ceremonies, and gift-bag distributions were managed by volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Poway (KCP). According to the Poway High School Key Club Event Coordinator Delanie Hausner, “Key Club members earned volunteer credit for operating the event.”
Poway High School Key Club, the Kiwanis of Poway are a part of Kiwanis larger International Organization. They and 20 other vendor’s came together to, raised an estimated 1,000 dollars for a variety of children’s educational and health goals.
Preview: Poway’s classics in the park: “Community Band Festival Event.”
Written for Me.
Ditch the horse buggy and revive your inner-renaissance-being, by driving your fine automobile to the Old Poway Park for fine dining and varieties of classical play. This Saturday and Sunday, Old Poway Park Action Committee Members: the Pomerado Community Band and the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild (PACG) and the City of Poway invite the public to this year’s annual, “Community Band Festival Event,” at Old Poway Park from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. May 19-20, 2012.
Band players will include the Pomerado Community Band, San Diego City Guard, San Diego Concert Band, First Kearny Mesa Concert Band, and many more. Fine arts will be available to the public, sponsored by the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild.
“It is a time where people can sit back and enjoy the “Good old times.” A place where people can come to the park on a nice sunny day, eat food, listen to great music and meet great people,” Dean Hickman, Pomerado Community Band Conductor and Community Band Festival Event Coordinator, said.
This weekend’s event will attract 12 local bands as well as two military ensembles—the Southwest Navy Band and the First Marine Division. The Community Festival will also attract various other cultural groups including, the El Cajon German Band and opening ceremonies performed by the Boy Scout Troop 608.
According to Keith Seguine, tuba player of five other bands including the Pomerado Group, festivals are important because they make classical musical more visible and accessible to the public and players alike.
“It works out for everyone, we get to see what other bands are playing, and the community gets to see what we are playing,” Seguine said.
This weekend’s music festival provides the community an opportunity to see spring’s musical and artistic community is doing at the Old Poway Park. During the, “Community Band Festival Event,” music enthusiasts, weekly park strollers and the public can meander around the Old Poway Park for a day of classic relaxation.
This theme is authenticated by the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild which members produce, “Jewelry, art, plates, pots, photography and cloths from the late 1800’s to early 1920’s, Donald Leo, photography member of PACG, said.
People like Leo come from all over the county to participate, ”In the finer arts once practiced before,” Hickman said. For example of Hick mans students travels all the way from La Mesa, to Mira Mesa once a week to be a part of the recreational program hosted by The Community Band.
“Music sharpens the mind like homework, it makes one concentrated and accomplished,” Gyle Botteger said.
Botteger concentrates in a way, in which he uses three different trumpets for the same practice. One trumpet has a grip on all primary valves, while the others are variously muted. He openly celebrates the rebirth of brass instrumental play. According to Botteger, “it revives” the brain.
As we progress into more digital forms of entertainment, the popularity of classical bands and music remains uncertain. Hope still does remain, as crowds nearing the thousands are predicted for Saturdays and Sundays performances. To refine the cultural understandings of a simpler time, hear the trumpets play, the flutes whistle and the horns blare at The Old Poway Park this weekend starting May 19, 2012. at 11:00 a.m.
For a follow up story read, “Community Band Festival Review.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Preview: The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation and the Poway News Chieftain will be hosting, “Bark at the Park,” to benefit local education and Rady’s Childrens Hospital.
Written for Me.
The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation (KCPF) and the Poway News Chieftain will be hosting, “Bark at the Park,” to benefit local education and Rady’s Childrens Hospital. On May 19, 2012, the public is welcome to the Poway Dog Park for, “Puppy Pageantry.”
“They [judges] will evaluate the dogs on a very friendly basis for ribbons,” David McKenzie, Poway Kiwanis Club (KPC) member, said. The dogs at Saturday’s event will compete for best trick, costume, and cutest overall dog. Proceeds from the competition will go to local kids in need. The event is open to the public but, there is a ten dollar competition fee for owners submitting pets into, “Puppy-Pageantry.”
“Bark at the Park,” is just one of the many fundraising events held and spent by the Kiwanis of Poway. Their foundations primary focus is, “Assisting individuals, families and organizations in need, particularly those involving or associated with children helping in the aid of childern,” KCFP’s website said.
According to Jeff Wilson, Club Membership Administrator, proceeds from, “Bark at the Park,” are planned to for a local children’s hospital and Abraxas / Poway High Schools.
“Though a variety of fundraising mechanisms, we are able to give significant sums of money to scholarships programs and places like, “Rady’s Children’s Hospital,” Wilson said over a phone interview. Kiwanis of Poway hosts other events such as, “‘The Padre: Spring Kick-Off Lunch-In’ and the, “Tour de Poway’ bicycle event,” said Wilson.
This years, “Bark at the Bark,” was co-hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation and The Poway News Chieftain. The Chieftains editor, Steve Dreyer, is also PKC’s secretary. The event will host, “twenty-three vendors,” Pomerado News Chieftain Inside Sales Representatives, Katy Hoke, said. Altogether, The Pomerado News Chieftain was able to assist The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation’s mission of fundraising by, providing advertisement and event staff. The events vendors will include; private retailers, animal rescue foundations, the Police Department and several more.
For more information about the Poway Kiwanis Club or “Bark in the Park,” visit their website at, powaykiwanis.org or the Poway Dog Park on May 19, 2012.
For a follow-up story read, “Review: ‘Bark at the Park’— A hound of a time.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Written by, Me.
Competitive Scratching Presents, “Itching Their Hearts Out.”
To promote the release of “The Avengers,” the Idaho Lottery, held a scratcher competition attracting “the best,” of Boise. Attendees included but were not limited to, the unshaven, the tattered, the elderly, the fully costumed Tony Stark, a few normal people, an obese Captain America and three Boise State students—sophomores, Michael Ewing, Tim Scott, Mark Wilkstrom and junior, Joseph Parra.
About thirty people gathered in the ExxonMobile at W. Franklin Rd. & W. Franklin Rd. on May 3, 2012. Here the attendees competed in a “scratch off”—where two competitors raced against each other in a scratch off, of the values and winning numbers on multiple “Avengers,” scratch-card.
The tournament was held at a gas station including staff, lack of seating and free hamburger samples. People stood around and shared conversations while purchasing, scratch-cards and affiliated materials. To determine the ordering of players, each person was given a timed practiced round. David Workman, the Idaho Lottery Information Specialist, organized these attendees by speed—fastest in the front and slowest in the back.
Our Boise State students were somewhere in the middle of the pack. Ewing, studying marketing, completed his scratch-card in the practice round in less than eight seconds, whereas Scott, studying chemistry, finished his practice sheet in seven, leaving Parra, third of the group, completing his preliminary in eight. Attendees at the end of their line; completed theirs in 12- 15seconds.
Elimination rounds proceeded as the fastest scratch-card competitor versed the slowest scratch-card competitor. Each player scratched as if there were a gun to their head or had a chance of winning 300 more scratchers. The crowds cheered, disputed victories and stood eagerly.
There were upsets of course; some of the slower competitors did beat the faster. Some, such as Parra, blame this on completive sandbagging. According to one of the Boise State students, one lady dropped eight seconds between heats, as if she strategically lost the first round. All but one of the Boise State students—Parra, studying political science, Wilkstrom and Ewing—lost their competitive heats, leaving them a dollar down in terms of gambling.
Scott however won his first round but lost the second to Kallie Synder. “Did you see that lady?! We started and then it was like, Boom! Done” Scott said.
For the most part; the crowd was cheery, supportive and hopeful of winning more “Avengers,” scratch-cards. Approximately one and three cards have the possibility of winning a prize. These prizes vary from 1 and, two top earning prizes of, five thousand dollars. But those win one and every 386,000 where as there being an 11 percent chance of winning a two dollar prize.
There was one final winner, the lady from Caldwell—Synder. Defeating multiple opponents, Synder won 300 “Avengers,” scratch-cards. She did walk away with another prize, being the “fastest scratcher in Boise, Idaho.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
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
Boise State Students discover the “first-eco” movements prevalent within the English Romanticism Literary period in the Simplot Ballroom.
Written for, Me on May 2, 2012. 
The Boise State Arts and Humanities Institute completed their three part lecture series “Interdisciplinary Explorations-The Idea of Nature Public Lecture Series,” with Kevin Hutching’s presenting; “Romanticism, Blake, and the Politics of Nature.”
From 6 to 7pm Aug. 30, Hutchinson’s presentation reviewed in delicate grace, the “first-eco” movements prevalent within the English Romanticism Literary period; including paranoid schizophrenic ecologist-William Blake and with poise, the politics of preserving nature as life.
Hutchinson is also the Research Chair of the Literature, Culture and Environmental Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia. His lecture, included three live renditions of Blake’s ecologically-based songs. In between of which, he explained how the first ecological movements expressed their discontent with, “killing of green things that were in the way.” Hutchison’s voice only cracked once, infecting the audience with a nugget of humility.
Politics is a distinctly human activity, we often think of nature as something that exists apart from the political realm, Hutchings said. However, in an era of revolutionary turmoil, William Blake, who championed “England’s green and pleasant land” against industrialism’s “dark Satanic mills,” understood better than any other romantic poet that nature was subject to myriad political uses. By showing how cultural institutions invoke nature to “naturalize” their authority, Blake reveals that nature can be thoroughly political—The Update reports.
It was interesting to hear ecologist from centuries ago discus the dark implications of capitalism. Writers such as Blake, express the importance of considering ecology as “political” movement and not just as an un-popular green philosophy. Blake believed that man belonged to nature and not nature belonging to man. He argued against the “Satanic Mills,” destroying the English country side during the Romantics-areas industrial revolution. During this time period, and todays, trees are considered “green objects that simply get in the way of man.” It is important for ideals like these to be addressed, because if we don’t, the globe will ruin the opportunity to create a sustainable future viable for later generations.
Written May 6th, 2012
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
The College Republicans attendance at CPAC, combine conservative logic with a gay faction of the Republican party and a surprise visit from Occupy D.C.
Written for, Me on May 1, 2012.
Boise State University College Republicans (BSUCR) attends the 39th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. on the second weekend of February 2012. The College Republicans meeting at CPAC, combined conservative logic with a gay faction of the Republican party and a surprise visit from Occupy D.C.
According to sophomore, Dominic Gelsomino, “(CPAC) signifies a call to action,” said the Idaho College Republican Chairman.
This, “call to action” is focused on reforming the Grand Old Party (GOP) back to, “the original platform of the Republican.” According to the Boise State College Republicans (BSCRs) the yearly conservative convention assembly was initiated by, a conservative “youth-activism” group founded in 1960.
At the first CPAC convention, “Grand Master Republican” Roland Regan spoke. Later assemblies (such as the one in 2012) included, Former Arkansas Gov.—Mike Huckabee, Texas Gov.—Rick Perry and Republican Sen. From South Carolina—Jim DeMint.
According to Gelsomino, todays, “Young Republican Convention” focused on; limited government which uses lower taxes and regulation to promote business growth and free market economics. Gelsomino added this campaign was prominently based around “Goldwater and Regan” economics.
Some of this year’s, “economic” speakers included, Wayne LaPierre—CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Herman Cain— from Godfather Pizza. The convention that was planned to foster young-conservative values also attracted the members of the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-Sexual political community—The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR).
According to the LCR website, the party works to build a stronger, more inclusive Republican Party by promoting the core values of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free markets and a strong national defense while advocating for the freedom and equality of gay and lesbian Americans.
When asked, “If the Log Cabin Republicans had, a candidate at the convention running for presidential election?” The Idaho College Republican Chairmen responded candidly, “Yes they do, they have Fred Karger, the first openly gay presidential-candidate to run in the Republican Party.”
This year’s CPAC held the biggest gathering of young conservatives in its history. The group was also visited by a slightly less popular group-Occupy D.C. According to Gelsomino, this newly-young concentration of conservatism attracted guests what were, “escorted out of the building” by security.
The Huffington Post reports, “(CPAC) drew crowds of protesters on (Feb. 10), as members of the Occupy Wall Street movement and labor groups demonstrated against the annual confab as, “a powwow for the 1 percent.”
The D.C Occupiers attend CPAC, bringing their fight against the one percent with them. The Idaho College Republican Chairmen explained that some of the protesters broke in and chanted, “CPAC you have been “occupied” while releasing balloons and “glitter-bombs.”
The interesting thing about the protesters presence at CPAC—is that, their presence is somewhat appropriate considering the theory of some republican authors mentioned by Gelsomino, mainly Goldwater.
Goldwater is very consistent conservative writer ran against Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 Republican Primary. His book, “The Conscience of a Conservative” expresses some of the most core Republican values: small government, freedom and locally controlled politics. Within—Goldwaters philosophy—in the context of labor unions and corporations—is that piles of money designed to make more money should not have the right to dominate politics, exactly what some of D.C. protesters are trying to prove.
“I see no reason for labor unions—and corporations—to participate in politics. Both their activities should be restricted accordingly,” Goldwater, page 55.
The protesters presence at CPAC means that there is some validity in a connection between the GOP and the Occupy Together (including Occupy D.C.) movement. At some point in time, one conservative political philosopher—Goldwater –spoke very loudly against lobbying and so did the protesters at CPAC.
In the end the protesters where, “boo-ed” out of the convention by a unified, “Go get a job” cheer on behalf of young conservatives everywhere, College Republican, Gelsomino said.
For more information about CPAC and the conservative party, visit their website.
-Thank you for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
