It's No Long "Fu** the Police": Technology introduces "Film the Police"

2011 is right in the middle of the golden age of technology.


Social networking sites have revolutionized how news is reported in an attempt to make governments accountable.


Revolutions now start on Facebook and Twitter. 


The Egyptian revolution started with the tweets talking about democracy in Egypt for example.


And the recent Occupy movement worldwide is also another great example of technology changing the news.

The footage from Occupy UC Davis was taken by citizens, and is a great way to hold police accountable for their actions. 

There is now a rap video that parodies N.W.A's controversial "Fuck the Police", and turns it into "Film the Police" by B. Dolan and a variety of other rappers. 

So, next time you feel threatened by a cop for whatever reason, pull out that cell phone, or camera, because the video will be proof.

I leave you with a video that is not about the police, but still applies to our lives. The educational rap made me think of a video my A.P. economics teacher showed my class. Sit back, and enjoy the laughs.

Fox vs The Muppets: Red, Green, and Ridiculous.

Spoof Poster of Twilight for the new Muppet Movie.

Do you want your kids to believe in communism? Well, that's what a Fox Business anchor thinks the new Muppets movie is out to do. 

Fox Business anchor Eric Bolling insists that Disney's newest edition to Jim Henson's long loved muppet series is the newest edition of Hollywood propaganda against consumerism and capitalism because the film's antagonist is an oil baron. 

Collection of Muppet action figures.

"It's amazing how far the left will go just to manipulate your kids, to convince them, give the anti-corporate message," he said. 

Personally, I find that to be totally ridiculous since 1) Disney is one of the largest examples of consumerism and capitalism, and 2) it's a children's movie for goodness sake. That's like saying Beauty and the Beast is promoting Stockholm Syndrome rather than being for pure entertainment purposes. 

It's the entertainment industry. They pick up themes from news around them, because that's what draws sales. Bolling obviously never took that into account. 

Apparently the film does not hit on the good that has come from oil use and drilling, but again IT'S A CHILDREN'S MOVIE. The demographic for the movie is probably between the ages of three and 10. Not everything is made for adults, or is it possible that he thought "The Muppets" were growing up when he did? 


**Images found on Google Images**

Has the War on Drugs Gone too Far?

This is in response to many articles that I have read, but the two (1 link and 2 link ) that were read most recently have me incensed. 

                                                    Illicit Drugs  (Weed, hash,
                                                  acid, coke, and some other drug)


150 drug raids are made every day in the United States.

People's houses are invaded that do not know anyone who does drugs of any kind.

Houses with children present are shot up while police look for the contraband materials, and only enough drugs are found for personal use.

Sound like a 1984, big brother state yet?

America had prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s. Gangs organized, and crime skyrocketed with the introduction of alcohol to the black market.

So who thought it was a good idea to make even MORE substances illegal?

I certainly don't know why we would continue to enforce a policy that creates unnessecary violence, and imprisions millions of Americans on nothing more than the personal use of a substance while on their own time. And to even CONSIDER taking away someone's LIFE for carrying more than 100 doses of a drug is out right crazy.


First off, Say WHAT?! Newt Gingrich, a presidential candidate, signed onto this idea. 


What made him think he has the right to tell adults how to live when it is the government prohibition that started the violence to begin with. 


If there is no embargo, there is no reason for the violence associated with illegal activities. 


Secondly, who decides what a "dose" is? And what IS a dose?  Especially since users have different tolerances and preferences.


I'm very vocal about this cause, because the government is treating adults like they are children by enforcing policies like drug laws, and I personally find it insulting that they believe that they can enforce a moral code that is detrimental to personal freedom. Especially since it is supposedly based in religious doctrine, because not every American is Christian, and not every Christian believes in the drug war. 

Plus, how many billions of dollars does the government spend on the enforcement and imprisionment of citizens? How much money would we actually GAIN if: we legalized; let prisioners with nonviolent "drug crimes" free(i.e. no theft, murder, or any other crime beyond their use); and we sold the drugs and EDUCATED people instead of outlawing it?

Doesn't that make more sense? especially since the US has budget problems since it has been running without a blannaced budget for so long. 

Conflict Diamonds: Americans and the Outside Word

CNN posted an article recently on conflict diamonds that made me think back to my international studies courses and model U.N. conferences.


Before I started participating in those activities, I was unaware of what confict diamonds were. But what I came to learn was terrible.


Many African nations have some form of conflict funding item (whether it's diamonds, mineral ores, wood, guns, etc.), and with every form comes human rights violations.


Sierra Leon is the most infamous case of what has come to also be known as "Blood Diamonds", and has a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that is loosly based around events that took place during the civil war in Sierra Leon,  many of the same human rights abuses exist to this day.

An oversight process, called the Kimberly Process, was put in place in Kimberly, South Africa to help end the bloody treatment of men and women in these diamond mining facilities (It is located here because it is funded by the De Beers Diamond company who holds a large percentage of the diamond market).


But it has not worked out as hoped.


The numbers still don't add up with as many diamonds in the market, because the diamonds are easily smuggled into other countries by lack of police oversight and police corruption.


These smugglers can then sell the diamonds, and return with money to fund their activities.

                                           Enslaved workers using primitive
                                           techniques to mine diamonds. 




Did you know that people have been enslaved and forced to work as a diamond worker? and if they don't work as fast as the foreman wants they are either beaten, or physically maimed. 

                                                        A person who has had their 
                                                       hands cut off, because they 
                                                       did not work fast enough.


Unfortunately, most Americans know nothing about these conflict items that help fuel human rights abuse in Africa.


So tell that friend you have that is getting engaged, or your mother who wants a new ring for your parent's 30th anniversary.


It's estimated that even today, with the Kimberly Process in place, that 4% of the world's diamond market is made up of blood diamonds.


Don't help to fuel the fire, and consider other less expensive options for jewelry.


For example, cubic zirconia costs less than a diamond; doesn't look like cut-glass; and, is really just a diamond made in a lab.


So think before you buy this holiday season.


May your breaks be pleasantly warm.


And if you want to know about the declaration of human rights.