Can I negotiate my Cable bill, I would like to pay less too?

Maybe I am an anomaly, because I am amazed about this Fox (News Corporation) and Cablevision dispute that has been unfolding publicly the last two weeks. With Fox pulling FX, and Fox channels from cablevision right before NFL football they effectively drew a line n the proverbial sand by restricting internet and television content for all customers in NJ & NY (Variety.com). That inst even the part of this entire negotiation that surprises me. It is how Cablevision has almost exclusively vilified the network for asking for more money on their next contract.

“It is outrageous and wrong for Fox to use baseball and football games to hold viewers hostage and extract tens of millions of dollars from Cablevision customers,” the Cablevision spokesman Charles Schueler said in a statement. (New York Times)

While the the fact that FOX is asking for a 100% ($150m)more then their current contract ($70m), It is hard for me to consider or give a Cable provider the benefit of the doubt in this fight. Especially considering CableVision is the same company that is restricting the 1st NY governor debates to exclusivity their broadcast this week. Leaving every other Citizen who doesnt have a cable contract with Cablevision ignorant of what is being said in a the Gubernatorial DEBATE.

"Verizon FiOS TV customers and millions of other viewers served by other providers across the state have essentially been blacked out of the debate, denying them their rights as citizens and voters, since Cablevision is the sole broadcaster of the event," (Michelle Webb PRnewswire)

That being read, I guess I can find the Irony in Cablevision Petitioning the FCC for forced binding arbitration. Especially being that Cablevision denotes

"Cablevision is willing to accept binding arbitration from an independent 3rd party to settle this dispute. We call on News Corp to accept binding arbitration, Cablevision.com"

I am not a fan of Fox News for obvious reason, yet I dont see Mr. Murdochs argument to be unreasonable with the amount for programing NewsCorp provides. Cablevison argues on their page that

"Cablevision has reached agreement with every other major broadcast station, including CBS, NBC, ABC and Univision. But News Corp is demanding more in fees for FOX 5 and My9 than Cablevision and our customers pay for all of the other broadcast stations combined!"

I refuse to believe that cablevision is being entirely truthful, because I couldn't imagine the amount they fork over to Disney every year for the right to transport ABC/Disney channels. while Fox has tried to make a stronger programing line-up everyear. In the last 10 years Fox has secured the rights to broadcast the College Football bowl championship until 2011 at the rate of $20 million a year for 4 games, AFC and NFC championship games as well as the superbowl for a little under 1 billion dollars a year at $4.27B (one billion more than CBS, NBC, ABC pay for their broadcast rights), the MLB NLCS & ALCS as well as the World Series is also exclusively broadcasting on FOX as well as some of the highest rated shows ever in TV history "

1. American Idol
2. House
3. X-Files
4. The Simpson (Longest running series in TV history)
5. Family Guy
6. Animaniacs
7. The OC
8. 24
9. Arrested Development
10. Nascar -left turn league(Came to the current prominence when Fox picked up their rights in the early 90's)
    

To name a few, and that doesnt include the programming Fox has developed on their other stations such as FX, or Fox News. Which has high rated shows such as

1. Always Sunny in Philadelphia (its not)
2. The League (Best Comedy on TV)
3. DVD on TV
4. Rescue Me (6 seasons)
5. Terriers
6. The Shield
7. Nip/Tuck
8. Sons of Anarchy (FX highest rated series ever 4.9m viewers per week)
9. Bill Orielly
10. Glen Beck
11. Tea Party (I blame you Rupert)
    

All of those points being made, I do question with the complaints surrounding the NLCS and football this weekend being blacked out this week of FOX affiliates. Why don't you all just use an anttena, do they not realize that fox broadcast over the air too? Some New Yorkers really are just f'n idiots, or lazy. Maybe you do deserve to pay more if you are to lazy to walk to your tv and plug in bunny ears if you want to see the games or shows. Yet Fox asking for $150m to broadcast their stations seems reasonable, however ridiculous that might sound. Because not once has my cable company allowed me to negotiate rates of what I believe is fair. Is their arbitration for that timewarner, cox, or suddenlink? Cablevision I just see is being unreasonable. Fox clearly has great programing or people wouldn't be so riled up about this issue. MLB, NFL, CFB, simpsons, nascar, can all be seen on fox, do that ABC, NBC, or CBS, SMH.
PAY THEM!

Music Monday

I haven't logged in for a while, but since this is a week of change. I guess i can log in to write is a lot more productive then logging onto facebook; which doesn't say much except status's. With a month full of stories, there are so many topics I could cover, but why. Its time for some new music, at least new to me. If you are expecting Reggae this time, I am sorry I disappointed you before you even made it to the music. I do recommend you give it a chance, because you will probably like it.

A couple years ago Child Rebel Soldier a group consisting of producers/rappers Kanye West and Pharrell Williams as well as the rapper Lupe Fiasco released the song US Placers under the name CRS to critical acclaim. The song utilized the sample from Radiohead's song Eraser and lead singer Thom Yorke's chorus. The Song got many fans like me excited about the possibility of hearing a full length album from the trio but gave up as news about the album seemed to be hinting that they just didn't have time to pull themselves away from their own independent projects. No worries though because two weeks ago Child Rebel Soldier had a new song (Dont Stop) released on one of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Friday's. I would like to thank Kanye for being a temporary pariah to the industry, because it gave him time to work on other stuff than his own album. This is one of the fruits of his labor the last few months, though Will start by the Radiohead song, then CRS usplacers, and then their G.O.O.D. Friday release "Don't Stop"







I had to go a little classic on the next selection, due to Outkast being the best! I might be one of few people that ranks the Grammy winning double album "The Love below & Speakerbox" lower then Aquemini and ATLiens but as i have been listening to Big Boi's Speakerbox a lot lately. I realize he was 4 years ahead of its time. Which might explain why alot of the songs never emerged on the radio. The cut with Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga and Jay-z titled Flip Flop Rock has been one of my long time favorites, but recently have been playing it non stop so enjoy! Thats a me telling, not asking.

Its as if there is a physical calender that denotes a chapter of life is finally reaching its conclusion while at the same time starting anew. The where, the what is for the future to find out with a little circumstance mixed in.
sosiAT

What about everyone else?

It is estimated that BP has set up a 20 billion dollar fund (Rueters.com) to pay out those "Damaged" on the coast by the the most epic oil disaster in history.

Under the agreement, BP committed to pay $20 billion into an independently managed fund over four years, suspend dividend payments for the rest of the year and pay $100 million to workers idled by the six-month moratorium on deep-sea drilling that the Obama administration imposed after the spill.

Outside of the fact that President Obama has set up a oil spill Czar (Kenneth Feinberg), who suppose to be the administrator of the 20 billion dollar fund that wont be in his control until the end of the month. (Day 97) 3 months and a couple days, a whole f'n season of resource destruction. This isn't even my point, since there are plenty of hippies to cry about the cranes, ducks, and animals that hunters in the south either hunt or hit with their truck.





To make sure I am not removing the culpability of Halliburtton and their rig or BP and their operation here is a time line of the events that have destroyed a really large body of water.
Timeline via treehugger


WTF is with all these people on the coast acting like they are the only victims of this whole fiasco.

"BP should be dedicating its resources to compensating the residents of the Gulf Coast who are the victims of this tragedy, not handing out multi-million dollar golden parachutes." Rep. Markey

"BP did this," said one fisherman. "They destroyed us."CBS

“Clearly not enough information is being released to adequately allow the public and their attorneys to independently analyze what happened and what the potential public health and environmental consequences are going to be,” says Stuart Smith, a New Orleans-based attorney who is the lead counsel for the coalition." CS Moniter

Always thinking about lawsuits, hasn't Louisiana received enough free money and a Superbowl. There is no way Louisiana's economy is that integral to Americas nor do they provide the tax base to justify billion of dollars in oil cleanup on top of their 15 billion plus they received after Katrina. The only focus is making the gulf coast residents whole like they lost a lot, and no one else lost anything. What about the cost in seafood that will increase by this time next year, or the cost of gas which is conveniently been stable despite the fact Millions of gallons of oil is wasted. Does no one remember two years ago when gas hit 5 dollars per gallon and the common explanation was "We have one refinery down and demand is high" This is a whole mf'n rig that has lost Millions of gallons into the ocean and gas is stable even through the holiday's, i.e. July 4th or labor day. The American population will have the pay the true cost of this disasiter yet only people who live in the gulf coast get compensated.

The head of the U.S. Travel Association is proposing that BP set aside $500 million for a marketing campaign to help draw tourists to the Gulf Coast...Dow says in his remarks that a study his group commissioned found the spill could result in lost tourism in coastal areas to the tune of $22.7 billion over three years. He says the $500 million could come from either $20 billion BP has set aside to pay for economic damages or could be added to it. (Associated Press)

GTFOH, 22.7 billion in three years. You know you on some shit you should be sharing to the world, if that is the number you came up with to account for loss of tourism. SEC football is not going to be affected by oil, and lets be honest how many people go to LA, AL, MS, other than for football season or Mardi Gras. It sure isn't the racist ass culture people enjoy, nor the mosquitoes, the architecture, or vacationing that make people visit, how in the fuck do you estimate that much money. Cleveland and Detroit are hoping for an oil spill to get some settlement money for their economically destroyed cities. (Point of fact: Detroit will be back on its feet in 10 years) OH shit Michigan has broken an oil pipeline for attention. Long Island Press

A Michigan pipeline company says 840,000 gallons of oil leaked Monday into a creek that feeds into the Kalamazoo River.

This might be the best thing to ever happen to the coast tourism wide with the influx of hippie gulf clean up crews who want to feel like they are saving the world.
BP spokesman Jason French says some 1,800 workers from around the country report to Grand Isle at least once a day, including almost 300 who clean the town's beaches. FOX NEWS
That is just one area, not suprisingly the area that gets the most news coverage due to it actually looking somewhat enjoyable. If you read the rest of the article, you can see why no one wants to help these gulf coast assholes.

Now, a waitress won't let her 14-year-old daughter stroll to the store for a Coke, a souvenir shop owner is afraid to sit on her porch after dark and a bartender deadbolts her door, a newly purchased gun nearby.FOX NEWS

A BP official says some culture clash is understandable, though he's occasionally seen outright racial bias at work. But talk to some of the mostly white residents, and they don't directly mention the skin color of the workers, most of whom are black. The workers, they say, just act different. And that makes some people uneasy, even though the vast majority of the workers pose no threat. FOX NEWS

"This little town is just like any little town in the country," said one, who identified himself only as Daryl. "A bunch of strangers are going to scare them. A bunch of black strangers are going to scare them even more... "People treat you OK," he said. "But they haven't put any picnics on for us."FOX NEWs

Fuck these jack Ass gulf residents, guess they saw the Fox News truck and knew their medium has arrived. Please help as our beaches are covered with oil, there are to many black people, stay away from us but clean up faster give us more money Obama and BP. Quit your bitching gulf coast residents, you have told the world through your elections and fight against civil rights reform. "Tough shit that your in your predicament, but pull yourself up by your boot straps and quit looking for a hand up" What does Snoop Dogg use to wash his whites? BLEOOCH! thats karma bitch

The Roots ft. Phonte, Blu & Patty Crash


Little Brother(Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, 9th Wonder) - Hiding Place



The Roots - Now Or Never (Feat. Phonte & Dice Raw)'


Ive been listening to Curren$y as of late and come across some solid tracks with some ridicolous verses like this song.
I'd rather be with you Wale, J.Cole, & Curren$y

Take what you need

For years conspiracy theorist have been talking about the new world order when in reality its not N.O.W. or Illuminati or masons. It is the global elite understanding unbridled capitalism. You can see it in the trend of commoditzation whether it be drugs, food, water, land, or natural resources.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines capitalism as

“a man economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market”

I had a friend tell me years ago “He who makes the gold, makes the golden rules” Ive heard all the shit about the NOW, Illuminati, Free Masons but they are not running the world. Now, can these organizations exist in reality or in loosely tied relationships? Absolutely! The framing every world problem in the context of the Illuminati or shaping the situation that the only way a visible minority can be successful is by joining one of these organizations (Kanye West, Jay-Z (Shawn Carter)). I think that is a little racist or loaded with racist thoughts. Powerful people (The Wealthy, not rich), rich you can run out of money the wealthy cant. I wont put anti society notions past the wealthy decision makers in this world but there not part of any society that sets the world rules. I do imagine that they communicate their desires and decisions to each other in attempt to set up the most profitable situation for them, but that is capitalism right?

I am no economic theorist but what I get out of capitalism from a entrepreneur or business standpoint is, “If you can make money off of something find out how to control it own it, privatize it and sell your product or service for the most money possible.” Coca-Cola owner of Dasani water figured this out years ago to increase their portfolio, and are very successful due to branding marketing and the cultural idiots who pay for it. All bottled water sold is required to indicate their water source for their bottled water. Fiji water is from the artesin springs of FIJI, Evian is from some spring overseas, Nestle water is from the Dallas Municipal water source, Ozarka is from some place in Arkansas, and for Dasani water Coca-Cola uses tap water from local municipal water supplies, streams, and meadows from the natural piped in for the longest capitalist . In my case Dallas, TX who is known for their pristine water supply.

"The drinking water in Dallas has been tested, but officials are awaiting results. Arlington, Texas, acknowledged that traces of a pharmaceutical were detected in its drinking water but cited post-9/11 security concerns in refusing to identify the drug." AP

Bottled water isn't the only the commidization of the public resource water. Take a moment and consider the ways that water has been privatized. Water parks, Swimming Pools, Surf Parks, Artificial beaches, which are all well and good. The owners of the preceding properties are well in then right to own all of this and I fault them not. My problem begins when I observe the manipulation of natural resources to increase or manipulate the supply to increase your demand. the possibility exist that it can be just plain ignorance on the consumers part on their indirect effect on the world.

With the over fishing of the oceans the last 30 years, which has led to great prices on seafood and and canned tuna, it has lead to a decrease in fish density. Which in turn has lead to an explosion in the jellyfish population, who and lead to an explosion of jellyfish who breed in barren waters which attack the shore line leaving the ocean un-enjoyable. It is not only that they breed, but jellyfish produce based on the amount of space available in the ecological chain and in warm water temperatures. They are also one of the few species that are as close to immortal as possible.

"They [Jellyfish] can reproduce to an almost infinite degree, even from relatively small populations, let alone huge swarms. These guys revert to a juvenile form after reproduction, so it means the survey stats on populations could have been quite misleading, for decades, if “juveniles” were post reproductive forms. The ocean ecology could hit a tipping point very rapidly." Chris V. Thangham Digital Journal

This isnt so big of a problem if you do not have an affinity for seafood, but with the increase and Jellyfish ashore of the united states and is devastating economies completely. Below are stories about jellyfish attacks published in the last 24 hrs.

How one jelly fish stung 100 people [msnbc]
Bonnie Bringing 'Sting' To Brevard Beaches [Orlando news 9]
storm's winds are also pushing both jellyfish and Portuguese Man o’ War on shore
Moon jellyfish 'invade' Doctor Who beach at Porthcawl [BBC]
When Jelly Goes Bad: 6 Recent Jellyfish Attacks[AOL news]
Rare jellyfish appears in San Diego Bay [LA Times]

As the human population grows one of the top topics when it comes to international affairs and human rights is the lack food or water in certain regions. Everyone has seen the commercial, for some international organization which shows snap shots of children with rags for clothes, emaciated and dirty as hell with soft music and a number. "for 20 dollars a month you can help (kid name here) eat for a year and go to school for the next year." I'm not criticizing the organization for doing what they can I am criticizing world policy that allows this to happen. We wast tons of food every year in this country alone, enough to feed to the whole world. Why would it be in grain suppliers benefit to give free food and feed the world when they can make little change.

Its not only the food supply that greed is destroying but also Fresh drinking water supply. From supporting farmers who grow ridiculous shit and use tons of fresh water to do it (American Cotton), or the destruction of fresh water lakes when corporations go in looking for minerals and leave it polluted as hell, or even the change in weather patterns that have been attributed for H.A.R.P.. Why are there still thirsty people or areas with droughts, its not like we don't have technology to support this.
Aqua Sun international
Moringa Trees
Dean Kamen Purifier
Dean Kamen on Colbert Report
KlarAqua

Even for US regions that have droughts purifiers and desalination plants could solve that problem. Dust Belt, GA, Steepe climate, we can pipe oil why not water. Its ridiculous for a state that borders the ocean to have a drought. GE in 2007 installed a Desalination plant in Algeria (that's is the north coast of Africa) which makes their company $30 million dollars a year. to turn salt water to fresh water through reverse osmosis. Why inst there one of these in the Continental US where GE is located? MONEY the recent oil spill just complicates matters and sets these companies up to make a lot of money the next 20 years including new or emerging industries that has had their historical imprint and impact discounted for so long




The Epic British Petroleum halliburtion subsidiary horizon platform oil spill of 2010 in the gulf of Mexico will destroy the gulf coast and cause irreparable harm for at the very least 20 year. Increase in Jellyfish, decrease in actual edible fish, Increase in water temperatures, decrease in gulf coast economies. With that shortage fish, suppliers (fisheries on the other coast, or farm raised fish source) will now go to fish farms and fresh water sources to get overpriced fish to the population (you, me & Papadeux). FISH! which should be an abundant source of free food. It swims in an expansive body of water, it has no owners and no human encroachment for the most part. People should be able to survive of of fishing, maybe not eat as much as they want until they get iodine or mercury poisoning yet enough to survive. Now as humans go out of our way to fuck up the world food supply to a point where it can be privatized then the world population will either die from malnutrition or starvation. Or have to depend on the power that be the .01% of the world population who on 99% of the wealth. Keep your eyes opening its happening, use your senses and the tool between your two shoulders. Destroy the environment = Lands unfarm-able, Harp=Change weather patterns to countries who dont really need the extra weather help. destroy the oceans=cultures that traditionally eat fish have to change their whole diet to American grain and farmed animals which are genetically altered to kill us. This BP is some devious shit, or maybe im over analyzing this? tell me what yall think....

Music Wednsday

Some of the realest shit I have ever heard, Murs Speak on em.