Do Neo-Nazi's Have Rights?

For a lot of reasons, this is a really weird thing for me to actually write about. Not so much because I'm discussing Nazi's, or the fact that I'm dealing with a really odd topic.

No, its because I'm asking if a group of American's actually do have rights.

Now, let me set something straight now: I'm not a fan of Neo-Nazi's. In my personal experience with them, they tend to be quiet. The last time I encountered one was at Ozzfest in 2008. One thing was clear; we both were there because of our love of the music, so personal hatreds and differences aside, that's all that mattered.

That being said, Neo-Nazi's still have rights... right?

On April 23rd, Murphy's Law played the Khyber here in Philly. On Tuesday the word was out around town that 3 men dressed in Nazi attire went to the show. Now, mind you, Murphy's Law has played around with Nazi imagery in the past, but they haven't touched it in a long time. They show up to the show, and the crowd largely ignored them, periodically making fun of them. They wound up leaving the show and going down 2nd Street.

A crowd of 50 people attacked the 3 men.

Straight from Philly.com:

He said the crowd kicked and punched the Nazi-wannabes and used weapons that included beer bottles and cue balls, although postings on other online- message boards describe the attack as more tame.

The only information police have on the incident is that they responded to a report of a disturbance on 2nd Street at 11:33 p.m. No arrests, hospitalizations or assaults were reported, a police spokeswoman said.

That's pretty interesting to hear. Post and comments on Philebrity say the guys basically got their asses kicked and left with bloody noses. The photos and police reports say otherwise, and the entire thing amounted to people stealing their hats.

But as you can see from the comments, the sentiment is that they deserved what they got.

Did they?

The reports indicated that the men didn't do anything during or after the show other than to wear what they wanted. One account says they wore "camouflaged combat pants; woolen, WWII-era coats adorned with SS emblems and authentic Third Reich hats with Nazi insignias emblazoned atop them." Other than that, they were basically just going to a concert to have a good time. Once they leave the place, they're attacked by 50 people.

So, lets go over this again: 3 men were attacked for no reason by a crowd of 50 people simply for standing at 2nd and Chestnut.

In this country, everyone has the right to do and say whatever they want as long as they don't interfere with your rights. To be clear, no, you do not have the right to not be offended. If anything, it's a right to be allowed to be offended. If these guys wanted to stand around and look like SS troopers, they have every right in the world to do so. If you want to stand across the street from them, give them the finger, and tell them to fuck off, you have every right in the world to do that, too. You don't have the right to physically harm someone, though, unless they're actively are trying to kill you.

Isn't going around and beating people who look, act, or think differently than you a Nazi-esq thing to do?

Again, I don't like Neo-Nazi's that much. I also hate racist pricks in general. There's a group of black men who stand on Market Street every Saturday preaching hatred and racism, about how "white people are evil". Yet I'm not allowed to hurt them, no matter how much I want to. These guys are actively preaching hate, but all I can do is fight back by yelling at them and flipping them off. And, in the end, sometimes that's all you can do to stay a little ahead morally.

Photo courtesy of The Fifth Column.

Why VERIZON is One of the WORST Companies in America!

Yesterday I wrote about how Comcast was named the worst company in America and mentioned that my pick for second-worst (behind Goldman Sachs) is Verizon.

So why? Why do I think Verizon sucks so much?
Their DSL SUCKS!!!!!!!

Every single person I know who has Verizon DSL service hate it. They're stuck with something that only seems to work half the time, and calling up tech support means talking to someone in India who troubleshoots you through the dumbest crap possible that you've already tried!

Their Customer Service SUCKS!

It really, really does. Not too long ago I called them up about a tree branch that was about to take down the phone line and they wouldn't come out and cut it down. It get's better: A co-worker called them up because a tree actually took out his phone line, which he could see outside his window. The woman in India still tested to see if the phone line worked. I'm not kidding.

There's NO face-to-face customer service!!!!

This doesn't apply to their wireless service, mind you, but it's true. If you have a problem with Verizon, you can't talk to a human being face-to-face. There are two different Verizon headquarters in Philadelphia and after trying to go to one of them to talk to a person about the problems with my service, I was finally told by someone that Verizon no longer has any customer service centers, it was all exported to call centers.

And all the call centers seem t be in India.


FiOS? What FiOS?

This is, for me, the catch-22 of Verizon; I hate them, but they seem to have a really good television service called FiOS. I would LOVE to at least try it, but they've done everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen. Like what? Well, for starters, it isn't available in Philadelphia. That, despite the fact they've been showing the ads here FOR FOUR FUCKING YEARS!!!!!! Mailers have come in, newspaper ads... and no one who lives in the city can buy it!

Not only that, but you have to sign a two-year contract off the bat to get it! You're stuck paying a ton of fees to have it installed, and if you cancel your contract early you face heavy fines! So no chance negotiating for a lower bill, or even calling about it; you're under contract.

Why DO So Many People Hate Comcast?

Comcast was named the worst company in America last week, and I have no idea why.

I never understood why people hate Comcast. For years online, I've seen a constant flow of posts from people about how "Comcast Sucks", but NEVER have I seen a reason that was actually decent.

"They're expensive!" Well, yeah, I don't doubt that. For my expanded cable package and internet, it's about $135+ a month. If you call them up and ask them to lower your bill, they will. In fact, my bill is down to $80 a month until September. In September, I'll call and ask them to lower it again and, you guessed it, they will.

"Their customer service sucks!" ...um, NO? In the many years I've been a customer, the only time I've complained about their customer service is when I have to deal with someone face-to-face, and even then its about once out of 10 times I've gone. They actually have some of the nicest reps I've ever talked to, and as long as you're nice to them, they tend to be incredibly nice to you.

In fact, I'll tell you a quick story: My internet went out once in 2008 and I had to call tech support. After being put on hold for 30 minutes I finally got to talk to someone for some help. I asked why the wait was so long... turns out she was the only rep in my area at the time. I told here what I had tried, and we had it fixed in 5 minutes. Really nice, didn't make me jump through hoops... I was pleased.

"Their service sucks!" I guess that one literally depends on where you live. I live in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia and have cable and internet with them. In the nearly 5 years I've had their internet service, it has gone out a grand total of 3 times. I was with Verizon before, and that was a monthly average. Same deal with the cable.



Personally, I don't get why people hate Comcast. They tend to be nice, kind, polite, offer great service and even if you hate the price they're willing to LOWER THEIR PRICE IF YOU ASK.

Now, that's not to say it's been great, there have been problems. I don't like the fact that it is so expensive to have cable ($75+ for expanded basic, which is a little more than 100 channels [but a TON of movies]). It took about 3-4 different boxes to get one to work when I had to get a new digital receiver in 2008. I don't like the fact that they have throttled people's internet service, or the fact that they want to buy NBC (which I'm 100% against).

Are they perfect? God no. Are they pretty damn good on a whole? Yes.


If I could take my pick for worst company, it would be Goldman Sachs, but that's for another day. But to me, a close second is Verizon. Why? Find out tomorrow.

The Dumbest Ad Ever - New Tiger Nike Ad

Why does this ad fail? Why is it, without a doubt, the dumbest ad I've ever seen?

Easy: When it was over, what was the point?

This doesn't make me want to buy Nike products, it doesn't highlight crap. It's basically Tiger standing there for 30 seconds being scolded by his dad. I don't want to see that! I don't fucking care about this!

To the idiots who made this, I hope someone kicks you in the ass!!!

ELECTRONIC SAVIORS - NEW DATE!!! - April 3rd 2010!

Digital Ferret Records, your local home for industrial and metal music, will be holding an art and music show on Friday, April 2nd to help raise money to fight cancer.

There will also be a CD Release Party with TERRORFAKT, REIN[Forced], and PATRICIA WAKE! Not to mention a group art show with a ton of local artists.

Please bring money for artwork to support cancer research!

Digital Ferret 4th Friday Event Series Metropolis Records Present: “Electronic Saviors”: Industrial Music To Cure Cancer

LINEUP:
+ Terrorfakt (NYC)
+ Rein[Forced] (Pittsburgh)
+ Patricia Wake (Pittsburgh)
+ Group Art show w/ 20 Artists
+ DJ's Isaac Cesium 137 & Mighty Mike Saga
+ Q & A with Jim Semonik

Make sure you come out! SHOW GOES FROM 6PM to 10PM!

Digital Ferret is located at 732 S 4th St in Philadelphia, PA.

New Computers: They Make Me Happy and Sad

By it's nature (or lack thereof), all technology has a short lifespan to certain degrees. When it comes to computers, its not very long at all. Yet, at the same time, its a virtual lifetime.

This week I'm updating the computers in my house. That involves a new desktop for my art, moving the old one to another room, and getting a new laptop as well. The old computers were purchased in 2007.

To some people it may seem relatively soon and still others not soon enough.

I originally bought them with the hope of simply updating them to Windows Vista since I was offered a free upgrade because I bought them so close to the launch date of the OS. As you may have guessed, I'm glad I never did it. Windows XP has been the OS of choice until yesterday when my laptop arrived and I set it up.

It was actually kinda heartbreaking. Think about it like this; you spend virtually every day and night with these items and they become vital parts of your life. Then the day comes when you must get rid of them and... well, improve. My laptop was with me when I redid my house, I did all my radio shows on it. Now its heading over to my friends house for a new life where it'll be put to better use.

Downstairs is the computer I got in 2004. It was actually the first new computer I ever got, and it was a gift from my mom a week before she went into the hospital never to return. I've used it for my artwork to this very day. To be honest, I don't know what I'll do with it when I finally let it retire this weekend... it has such a long and meaningful history to it. Its where I learned how to draw digitally, where I did my first few radio shows, where I learned how to REALLY use a computer (you know, stay away from this, download this anti-spyware program)....

Finally, there's my current bedroom computer. Oddly enough, there isn't much to say. It's where I designed and built the majority of my best artwork and websites, and I've become a much better designer and artist thanks to it.

Tomorrow I start my Windows 7 Journey full-force. The new desktop comes with a massive 21.5" screen, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB Hard Drive. To say I'm excited is an understatement! New day, new possibilities, and the start of a new era of art, design, music, and more for me! But I'm still going to miss my old hardware, all of it, and all the good times we had.

Except for the printer. It's going down. OFFICE SPACE STYLE!

The "Flash Mob" of 40th and Market: Media-Generated Hype?

Wow, that was fast.

At 11:30AM, Nutter spoke how the city would not tolerate "Flash Mobs".

By Noon, word already went around Philebrity and Twitter of a plan to have another one TODAY at 40th and Market.

Before 1PM, Penn University already found out and warned everyone.

Personally? I actually want to go now. The fact that the media, the city, and civil leaders are saying this is a problem is actually THE problem now. All the reports, discussion, even telling people HOW to organize these things... well, it's pretty cool. The entire point of the Flash Mob when they were created was to create something fun, interesting, and semi-spontaneous.

So, how about this: You turn down the coverage and ignore it to some degree instead of making it the biggest news possible?

OR someone organize a "nice" one to counter it...

Anti-Soda Tax Rally Today

This just came in:

RALLY SET TO OPPOSE BEVERAGE TAX

Hundreds to gather at City Hall to oppose what would be nation’s highest beverage tax

WHAT: “Philly Jobs. Not Taxes” Coalition members will hold a rally against the city’s unprecedented 2-cents-per-ounce tax proposal on sugary drinks. The growing coalition is composed of concerned union workers, businesses, community organizations and individuals that strongly oppose the beverage tax. The coalition believes the tax unfairly burdens consumers, targets one component of the business community and is illegal under State law. The tax would more than double the cost of some beverages and put Philadelphia jobs at risk.

WHO: Danny Grace, Teamsters Local Union 830

Rushdi Mohamed, Owner, Cousin’s Market, North Philadelphia

Philly Jobs. Not Taxes Coalition members

Pete Ciarrocchi, President of Chickie’s & Pete’s and Co-Chairman of Philly Jobs. Not Taxes. (Available for morning interviews only.)

WHEN: Wednesday, March 24

12:00 PM

WHERE: Dilworth Plaza

City Hall (Northwest side)

SOURCE: PhillyClout

Now, I'm not happy that the movement to oppose this tax seems to be centered around union leaders and soda companies, and it actually hurts the movement in and of itself. What we need is a rally of the people, by the people to happen instead. More on that later, as well as possibly footage of the rally itself.

The South Street "Riots": The REAL Solution

Last Saturday, 3000 teenagers descended on South Street. No one knows why, no one has any answers, and since we don't have any answers, I can only assume either no one bothered to ASK the teenagers why they were there or they aren't talking (save the inane answer, "I saw a post on Twitter, so I came down." Sheep).

The dumbest things to come out of this have been either stupid, clueless, or harmful to everyone. Oddly enough, its the adults who are doing the damage.


STUPID IDEA 1: Councilman Kenny, apparently thinking the Internet IS "a series of tubes", is trying to sue social networking sites for not policing their sites and is demanding that they do something when they see something like this happen.

THE PROBLEM: The problem is actually pretty big.

For starters, that's impossible to actually do. Google can barely keep out pedophiles, so what chance does Facebook or Twitter have of finding what most likely would amount to .2% of their overall traffic and making an educated guess that, yes, it could mean a possible "flash mob"?

The next problem is that this begins to create a problem with policing the internet that can hurt everyone in the end. Remember how the Iranian government DEMANDED that Twitter shut down because the people opposing the government were using it to organize and protest peacefully against the rigged elections there?

-Not pictured: The Iranian Government going crazy

Are these kids trying to do anything like this? NOT EVEN CLOSE, but if the government sued and won, it would mean that social networking sites would immediately become another weapon the government could use against its people.


STUPID IDEA 2: The other idea is raising the curfew for people under 18. Currently, it's 10:30pm Sunday - Thursday, and 12:01AM on Fridays and Saturdays. If the parents and certain groups get their way, they want it as early as 9:30PM.

THE PROBLEM: It ignores the actual problems.

As I wrote before, if this is happening for a reason, its most likely because they're young and want SOMETHING to do. If you have 3000 people hanging out, being peaceful (on a whole), and shopping, it isn't a problem. Its a problem when there is violence, but its almost like pure statistics; Out of 3000 people, there is bound to be some problems. Everything in this city seems to close down at 7PM, and if you're young, poor, and don't drink, there isn't much to do.

Look at New York City, where crime has gone down over the last 20 years and they aren't facing these same problems. Don't you think it makes sense to keep businesses open later and encourage people to, well, shop and have fun?

The other problem lies in concerts. We already have a problem in this city with getting concerts in this city, and the new curfew isn't going to help at all.

Not only that, but it also doesn't do anything about the only random gatherings around Center City that happen after school, before even 6PM.


THE FINAL PROBLEM: People don't want these people to gather... but that's against the constitution. As American's, we have the right to Freedom of Assembly, and as such the right to gather in a peaceful matter. In these incidents, we're not seeing the right abused; we're seeing it used right, and only a select few abusing it. In fact, even with the events on video taken into account, there were, out of 3000 people, a total of 4 incidents.

More and more, people seem to take it like A Clockwork Orange is coming to life.

"Real Horrorshow, the sight of the red red kroovy on the ground!"

THE SOLUTION:

Wouldn't it make more sense to just have something to do?

Look, I've been saying for years that the city needs to have stores open later, and no one has listened. It isn't a great solution, but its also not my only one. It may sound out, but midnight basketball programs during the 90's also helped to reduce on this type of behavior, and crime as a whole. The concept was simple; give kids something to do.

The South Street "Riots" - Update: The Reason This is Stupid

The best way to sum up the general reaction to this is simple:

HOLY CRAP! TEENAGERS ARE GETTING TOGETHER AT ONCE TO JUST HANG OUT!



<--- This is how you and many others are reacting



Now, I'm just as guilty. A year ago, I was actually semi-headlining the group of people who thought this was the start of something big and horrible. That was actually as late as May of last year. Since then, the groups have come and gone.

So this past Saturday, on the first nice Saturday of the year, after a long , cold, snowy winter, the weather was awesome and people did what they normally do on those days: they go out and have fun. In this case, it was 3000 teenagers doing the same thing at the same time; going down to South Street to hang out.

I'm not going to hold back and I'm not going to be elegant: The fact that this is a crowd of basically over 3000 black teenagers is a little unsettling to a lot of people in this city. In fact, its unsettling to... everyone. White, black, hispanic, etc... its a pretty insane thing to witness and be stuck in the middle of. Would it be different if the skin color was different? I doubt it. Its still a large group of teenagers descending on a single area for seemingly no reason.

One thing I saw tossed around was "how is this different than when people go out after the Phillies win"? You basically just answered your own question. It's different for two key reasons: First, its about celebrating after a team basically everyone in the city loves win the biggest game in their career, and the city goes nuts. The second is that said reaction in understood, properly prepared for, and actually has a point.

So, these gatherings... what are we missing here? Easy: They're young. Look, if you grew up in this city during the last 25 years, you know that EVERYTHING shuts down in this city at 7PM, and there isn't anything interesting to do here unless you either have money or drink. Otherwise, your options are limited. So what you did was go down to South Street because it was the only place around where there was anything cool to do. Well, WAS, but you get the point.

Brian Sweeny of Philebrtiy said it best:

But have you noticed that both of the big flash mob incidents lately — the one at Macy’s earlier this month and the one on South Street on Saturday — have occurred in places that, not so very long ago, were vibrant hubs of the city but are now retail dead zones, symbols of civic failure?

God bless, you hit the nail on the head!