No pleasure philosophy, no sensuality, no place nor power, no
material success can for a moment give such inner satisfaction as the
sense of living for good purposes, for maintenance of integrity, for
the preservation of self-approval.

– Minot Simons

from blog at: http://www.myspace.com/savetheinternet
_____________________________________________________
Commerce Committee Tie - What it Means For Internet Freedom
Category: News and Politics

On the Net Neutrality Commerce Committee Tie
In terms of the vote, well, we pretty much expected this, though we weren’t sure whether we could keep the Dems unified. They held under intense lobbying pressure from the telecoms. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve reversed the momentum on this issue, turning it from a little noticed 23-8 subcommittee vote in the House on April 5 to today’s 11-11 tie in Commerce Committee and clearly what will be a contentious floor fight. There’s now a primary challenger against Al Wynn in MD-04, Donna Edwards, and the Verizon/AT&T/Comcast/Cox giants are in the process of turning their brand names into Walmart level territory.

George Allen, maverick McCain, and Conrad Burns all voted against a free internet. Here’s the amount of money they took from telecom PACs and associated individuals:

George Allen: $72,000
John McCain: $44,250
Conrad Burns: $162,600

Of course McCain sold out the goo goo groups when it mattered, and went with the corporate wing of the party. No surprise there.

It’s important to keep the pressure up prior to the floor fight. If you live in one of these states, call your Senator and thank them/chide them for their vote on Snowe-Dorgan. I’ve bolded the good guys.

Chairman Ted Stevens (AK): (202) 224-3004; (202) 224-2354 FAX
John McCain (AZ): (202) 224-2235; Fax: (202) 228-2862
Conrad Burns (MT): 202-224-2644; Fax: 202-224-8594
Trent Lott (MS): (202) 224-6253; Fax: (202) 224-2262
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX): 202-224-5922; 202-224-0776 (FAX)
Olympia J. Snowe (ME): (202) 224-5344; FAX (202) 224-1946
Gordon H. Smith (OR): 202.224.3753; Fax: 202.228.3997
John Ensign (NV): (202) 224-6244; Fax: (202) 228-2193
George Allen (VA): (202) 224-4024; Fax: (202) 224-5432
John E. Sununu (NH): (202) 224-2841; FAX (202) 228-4131
Jim DeMint (SC): 202-224-6121; Fax: 202-228-5143
David Vitter (LA): (202) 224-4623; Fax: (202) 228-5061

Co-Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (HI): 202-224-3934; Fax: 202-224-6747
John D. Rockefeller (WV): (202) 224-6472; (202) 224-7665 Fax
John F. Kerry (MA): (202) 224-2742 - Phone; (202) 224-8525 - Fax
Byron L. Dorgan (ND): 202-224-2551; Fax: 202-224-1193
Barbara Boxer (CA): 202-224-3553
Bill Nelson (FL): 202-224-5274; Fax: 202-228-2183
Maria Cantwell (WA): 202-224-3441; 202-228-0514 - FAX
Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ): (202) 224-3224; Fax: (202) 228-4054
E. Benjamin Nelson (NE): Tel: (202) 224-6551; Fax: (202) 228-0012
Mark Pryor (AR): (202) 224-2353; Fax: (202) 228-0908

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Update - Reuters News Reports - We are Close in The Battle!
Category: News and Politics

Read attached reuters article - than dial 202-224-3121 and ask for your US Senator - than Demand Net Neutrality!

Senate’s Stevens short on votes for telco bill!

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=2006-06-27T220433Z_01_N27281122_RTRIDST_0_TELECOMS-CONGRESS.XML

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Tuesday he does not yet have the necessary votes to get legislation to overhaul communications laws through the full Senate.

A primary objective of the legislation is to make it easier for big telephone companies such as AT&T Inc. (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Verizon Communications (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to get a national license for offering subscription television service to compete with cable. Typically they must apply to thousands of local cities.

Stevens told reporters he had not yet secured the 60 votes needed to end debate on the Senate floor, known as cloture, and set the measure for a final vote by the lawmakers.

“We have to get 60 votes, we don’t have them right now,” the Alaska Republican said after a daylong committee session for amending his proposed legislation. He has predicted the panel would pass the bill.

Stevens said he would not likely get a commitment from Senate leaders to bring the measure to the floor until there was greater support and that the toughest issue facing senators was Internet service, known as Net neutrality.

“They’re not going to take a month on the floor on this bill,” Stevens said. “Unless we can define a period of time that we get it done, we’ll not get it up (on the Senate floor) and that’s defined by 60 votes.”

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks,
breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

I just wrote a poem.
I call it “Licorice”.
Here it is:

licorice
———-
come here baby
under the covers
snuggle forever
reach the stars
don’t ever leave
the vacation is our connection
we’re gonna ride it so high
we’re never coming down
only to say goodbye
i wanna hold you and kiss you
and squeeze you tight
your lips my dish of pure delight
your body my sanctuary of lust and unity
stay near to me
i can hardly see
without you next to my body
you are my sanctuary
let’s hibernate together
and leave this place
this dusty world of nothing
is an utter disgrace
let’s connect our minds
and connect our souls
i breath you in
and you complete me
two and one are the same exact thing
i wanna give you sweet nothings when you least expect it
i wanna caress your soul with a tender love
i wanna pull you into delightful fantasy
escape the reality with me
let’s go on a journey
frolic with me in heaven, right here right now
talk to me about nothing
and tell me everything
your eyes my soul
our bodies are consequences
a coincidence is everything
be my bodyguard and i’ll be your sugar
happiness forever
i & i
there is no you between us
because we are one
number one we won everything
close your eyes
in a silent room
as i pull you closer to me
i’ll tease you and play with you
until you tell me to stop
but the fun will never end, my friend
it’s only just begun.

Thank you birthday
——————-

like a dusty feather being wisked away

in the perfect breeze of enchantment

life is the surreality of all imagination

a toast to nothing and everything at once

the subliminal echoes of love love love

in an empty hallway

moistens the driest desert, if the sand chooses a beach

cleans the dirtiest waste basket, if the garbage chooses to be an antibacterial commodity

dancing on cotton ball cloud tops with angels in hand

a delicate, intricate, and beautiful oasis of purity and soul

visions uniting in an virtual playground

twirling teardrops of joy

forever grateful

forever blessed

forever in awe and wonder

like a child in a candy shop

this is all there is and all there ever will be

until eternity.

sonic spew
————
words are timekillers
they only eat memories of space
hungry for your love
she waits in vain
twisted soldiers marching
along a runway of destruction
fear not, for the knight in shining armour awaits
dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight
the clock ticks half past death
inhale, exhale
as she casually strolls by
longing for your embrace
like that one time….back in the day…
age and distance speak a common tongue
aliens in a common universe
behold young jedi, for your sword come hither
she marches along now
drum roll please
do not sneeze
cash bar only. no credit cards accepted. sorry.
please bring coins for the jukebox…
buy one song get one free
she dances in pure glee
happily
stupidly
little drummer girl
silly little girl
do a little twirl
and in the morning the sun rises blinding the vampires of the night
the sweatbox sauna of juice and jelly
butters her eggs and toasts her belly
a very merry unbirthday to you.

I haven’t played in a while, but here’s a little clip of song or two that I taught myself years ago: