Wed, Sept. 27

Sat, Sept. 29
Battle of the Dua

Tues, Oct 2
First General Meeting, 6PM @ HH 254

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September 2007 October 2007

Monday, October 22, 2007
Net Neutrality
posted by PizzaB0ii

(taken from AP - full report here)

Comcast blocks some Internet traffic

Tests confirm data discrimination by number 2 U.S. service provider

NEW YORK - Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally.

The interference, which The Associated Press confirmed through nationwide tests, is the most drastic example yet of data discrimination by a U.S. Internet service provider. It involves company computers masquerading as those of its users.

If widely applied by other ISPs, the technology Comcast is using would be a crippling blow to the BitTorrent, eDonkey and Gnutella file-sharing networks. While these are mainly known as sources of copyright music, software and movies, BitTorrent in particular is emerging as a legitimate tool for quickly disseminating legal content.

The principle of equal treatment of traffic, called "Net Neutrality" by proponents, is not enshrined in law but supported by some regulations. Most of the debate around the issue has centered on tentative plans, now postponed, by large Internet carriers to offer preferential treatment of traffic from certain content providers for a fee.

Comcast's interference, on the other hand, appears to be an aggressive way of managing its network to keep file-sharing traffic from swallowing too much bandwidth and affecting the Internet speeds of other subscribers.

- AP


I have two papers due tomorrow, and I'm frantically working on them (i.e. not). Regardless, this is just the first five paragraphs of a recent report. Net censorship has already begun. Time to rally, people, and stop the monopolies from dictating their will to the masses.

http://savetheinternet.com/- the site I was talking about at meeting.

I'll have a full post here sometime in the near future. Hopefully after midterms.

- Ton

Saturday, October 20, 2007
To those who say that petitions don't do anything...
posted by PizzaB0ii

Go screw yourselves.

View Video Here.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
George Carlin - Political, Yet, Not Political
posted by PizzaB0ii

View Video Here.

Ok, this just sums up everything about me, political advocate of VAC. While I may espouse political ideologies, moral philosophies, and determinant humanism, I am very aware of my limits as an individual within a conformist corporate society.

Corporate society you say? Isn't this and individualistic society?

Well, yes and no. Yeah, we have choices. But what kinds of choices do we really have? Like the video kinda states--we're all kinda screwed. It just depends on how hard you want to get screwed.

Hence, true individualism--you know, the ability to form your own educated and well-thought out opinions--is something I greatly respect and admire. And double hence, I respect George Carlin.

So while I may advocate political discourse, be well aware that I may from time to time (maybe all the time) distance myself from such heyday theatrics. I see myself more as an intermediary to enlightened thinking and education (real education, not the filling your heads with knowledge crap). A commentator if you will.

Because sometimes, when you can see two trains about to collide, all you can really do is watch.

Addressing Political Apathy (ie. Irvine sucks)
posted by PizzaB0ii

So I've noticed something semi-consistent about my short time on this earth thus far. That every now and then (and especially since high school) I have sat down and seriously questioned the meaning of life. If you think there is something wrong with thinking about life, the future, our existence, or that this impression of self-inquisitive philosophical thought presents itself as "emo," then by all means, go screw yourself.

By the way, I'm speaking for myself (not for VAC), and since they have equipped me this forum as a means to propagate my political agenda, you are stuck with the random musings of one helluva intelligent "emo" student.

I guess this occurs semi-randomly because I try very, very hard to avoid shallow people. But since we live in IRVINE, home of fake intellectuals, Berkeley rejects, "admire me because I look pretty," and "look how macho I am because I take steroids and drive a car worth my entire 4-year tuition" people, this event is all but inevitable.

In short: Irvine sucks. The environment sucks. The people (while I admit, there are occasional rarities) suck. No, this is not coming from some forced social outcast who lives in contempt of an unfair, unbalanced, and overly superficial society--this is coming from a voluntary social outcast who lives in contempt of an unfair, unbalanced, and overly superficial society.

I have seen the edges of human selfishness existent only in the eyes of the inhumane. I have witnessed the blatant disregard of other human beings for the sole purpose of personal advancement. I have analyzed the inner workings of the human mind, came up with the conclusion that there are a whole lot of extremely messed up people in the world, and continue to offer the benefit of the doubt.

And continually, I am disappointed.

We live in this bubble where any semblance of true independent thought is marginalized and ridiculed. Conformity, with all its negative intonations, is exemplified by our perfect, perfect school. A perfect circle with a pretty park that no one uses. Our perfectly paved streets turns walking to class into a workout. Our perfectly fake people with their social networks of outwardly eccentric impressionism.

In short, we live in this world dominated by such immature attitudes towards life. "Fun" dominates. It matters not the ends of such careless action, it only matters in the means and production of "fun." Pretty things, with pretty colors, especially on pretty looking people, are just oh-so attractive. And the dominance of grown men to ignore the responsibilities of maturity to chase such pretty looking, and oh-so attractive people, is primarily the reason this campus is just so damn apathetic.

UCI is one of those social experiments you wish was just bad T.V. The Real World, where real people live... keeping it real...yo.

Interrupt the above commercial with random clips of pretty looking, and oh-so attractive people, screaming and yelling "wooooooo!...!!!" and you get an idea of what I'm talking about.

This is COLLEGE. And it's great that many more people are going. But sometimes, I really wish there weren't. Because in the process, a lot of really, really stupid people make it through the gaps. The "oh noes! my grandmother died!" sob storied idiots who by resume manipu--I mean, resume enhancement, make it through the loopholes. This is no longer about the elite students learning, understanding, and questioning at an elite level. This is about blatant self-conscious fulfillment of desires.

Freud would have a field day. So would Kinsey.

Alas, I admit the world, as do many of you (i hope, at least secretly anyways) that our community is something hard-pressed to change. And regarding society as a whole (not just Irvine), there are very obvious and very relevant trends in the works.

Intelligence is no longer admired. Social discourse is frowned upon. Activism, hardcore beliefs held and upheld in face of tremendous adversity, is substituted for a pacifist "well...I don't want to because we can't do anything about it" attitude that reflects upon the mores of our time. For certain situations, that may be true. But when it comes to personal identity, that type of mentality becomes a fast track to mediocrity.

Seriously, what kind of crap is this? People shaped by their environment are the worst kind of conformists available. That, my friend, is the textbook definition of "tool."

I can go on and on and on. I can spiel about how American individualism (what a farce) has been taken over by commercialism. I can spiel about how I, too, have been swept up by this wave of inherent apathy to a point of cognitive dissonance. And yet, I can also spiel about human progress in the face of adversity--all kinds.

Life ain't simple. Life ain't fun. And life is diverse, not just the "diversity" crap the UC is trying to sell us--but TRUE diversity that crosses class, gender, and racial boundaries. These are things I have witnessed, experienced, and taken to heart. Because we only have one shot at life. Why waste it trying to be one of those bland, but oh-so attractive, people? (I'm speaking, I hope you understand, about the superficiality of Irvine).

I understand that fun is necessary to maintain sanity (especially here, if not anywhere else). But it should not take priority over life and meaning. I borrow from the philosophy of many different people, namely Nietzsche, Vonnegut, and Hume. If that makes me "emo," then screw it, I am emo. Becuase sometimes, it's a perfectly natural human response to environmental stress.

Screw it. It's late. Tomorrow I will wake up, and it'll be just like it says on the shampoo bottle: lather, rinse, repeat.

Labels: apathy, irvine, political, sucks

Thursday, October 11, 2007
I Drink This...Everyday
posted by PizzaB0ii

View Video Here.

It's energy for men! MENERGY!!!! These aren't your dad's old puns. These are TURBOPUNS!!! You'll be power spawning babies. 400 BABIES!! They'll be fast as KENYANS!!! Hahaha.

My friend showed me this yesterday and I couldn't stop laughing. There's a followup if you guys are interested. Just sharing these random bits of humor that makes life better.

VAC: not just about politics. We're about good college living too.

Sunday, October 7, 2007
Spiders + Drugs + Commentary = Hilarity
posted by PizzaB0ii

When I think of VAC, I'd like to think that we're not always all-business all the time. I'd like to think that we're a bunch of chill, relaxed people who enjoy political debate and philosophical discourse.

And we enjoy watching stupid/random videos like this one. Enjoy!

The Future of Civlization by Michio Kaku
posted by PizzaB0ii

Just a little background: Michio Kaku is one of the most respected theoretical physicists in the whole world. His opinion probably counts for more than all of us--combined. So check it out a little, it's pretty fascinating stuff.

So this is the future of civilization, and it is happening now. Watch the whole thing, and it will explain why this time is perhaps the greatest time to be alive. It also touches on all the different topics we will (try to) address this year.

Multiculturalism
Trade Unions
Net Neutrality
Terrorism
Global Warming
Natural Resources
Future of Human Race
Philosophical Inquiry
International Government

So there you go. VAC isn't just exclusively about Vietnamese issues (though it is our predominant agenda). We are also concerned about other political issues both local, national, and international. We are about advancement through education (ie. raising awareness) and addressing issues that are shadowed by other more trivial issues (Britney's new baby, Paris Hilton's new tape, etc...).

Let me go into first person mode for a sec--this is what I personally wish to bring up in future VAC discussions. To inform--and respond--to issues concerning the future of our fragile civilization.

To paraphrase Carl Jung (at least I think it was Carl Jung): we all exist on this pale blue dot floating in the middle of nothingness. This is the only home we have ever known. We must tread carefully, else we'll destroy the only place we know to exist life.

Labels: civilization, future, kaku, michio

Monday, October 1, 2007
Bill Maher >> John Stewart, Stephen Colbert
posted by PizzaB0ii

Respectively, John Stewart and Stephen Colbert are political celebrities in their own right. They have made politics something it hasn't been in a while: interesting. But this is where you take the next step.

You might remember Bill Maher from his late night "Politically Incorrect" from a few years back. You may also remember he got canned for saying some controversial things in the wake of 9/11 (regardless of the said statement's legitimacy). I've said it once, I'll say it again: broadcast TV is meant to nullify the masses.

Well, fast forward a few years (and now on cable), you get "New Rules." Give it a shot. I think he does one of the best jobs around of combining witty humor, insight, and gravitas into a very unique political tone. This clip is from last week, but after watching this week's clip (...eh), I think this one's a better example.



To be posted: George Carlin (a living legend among stand up comics), some more political music videos (Great Britain's The Streets, Immortal Technique, Rise Against, etc), and things that are just too damn interesting to pass up (size of earth relative to other celestial spheres).

Seriously, I have great faith in the ability of the internet to educate, inform, and entertain--all at the same time. This is a new medium that needs to be explored to achieve its maximum potential. You know the cliche...about bringing a horse to water and what not. I guess the point is lost on the cowboy to make his horse work its ass off so it can appreciate the water when it gets to. But seriously, it's late, I'm tired, grouchy, and my room still looks like the afternath of some biohazard spill. I'll get more into ranting about random shit later.

Til then, que sera sera bitches.

Labels: Bill, Maher, New, Rules