You all have the right to know this

I didn't intend this to be a political thread but I feel this is something we all need to know about, and voice your concern to the appropriate public officials.

Mmh if that's true, that can kinda lick my nuts.

Chowderboots wrote:

Mmh if that's true, that can kinda lick my nuts.

Kinda......................

What cha mean, man?

Chowderboots wrote:

What cha mean, man?

Just something I imagine you can't just "kinda" do, seems an all or nothing deal......

Yeah...I guess that kinda is a bit of an extraneous part of the sentence.

While it's true that I don't want this place to be a sounding board for things of a political nature, there are things that are important enough to be brought up.

You have to remember that every government pretty much makes up their own rules and laws, and there isn't much that can be done about it. No matter what, if they want to watch us "Big Brother" style, they're going to do so. I don't care how many rally's you attend, or petitions you sign. Government will do whatever they see fit, and we really don't have much control over that. Maybe they are trying to legitimize the practice, but even if they don't, they will still do whatever it is they want to.

Bear in mind that it isn't just Obama, or the US in general. The story stated that this is a multi-nation effort, and they even name the EU directly. That being said, it does bother me that they would do something like this, because it violates all sorts of things related to a person's right to privacy.

i'm gonna keep this in regards to americans ... thats where i live and most of my interactions are with americans.

americans seem to be sleeping.

this is a prime example.

i remember back in 1984 (back when they invented sticks!) it was a popular thing in school to read 1984. does anyone remember reading 1984? aparently not ... because in our lacluster approach to our cushy, safety padded and pc society, we have created a 1984 type society. i remember discussions in school about how horrible that society was insofar as the government controls whay people say, what they see and even what they think.

there are tv cameras everywhere. traffic cams. internet watchdogs. cell phone monitoring. gps chips. etc. etc.

i really dont think government orginizations are monitoring peoples internet and cell phone usage to infringe upon the rights to buy pot (they really dont have the right ... its illegal) or download porn, but besides the monitoring of terrorists ... how far does it really go?????

it keeps getting more and more like 1984 ... george orwell was only off by about 25 years.

EricHaven wrote:

Bear in mind that it isn't just Obama, or the US in general. The story stated that this is a multi-nation effort, and they even name the EU directly. That being said, it does bother me that they would do something like this, because it violates all sorts of things related to a person's right to privacy.

You have to keep in mind there are politicians that want us to be just like other countries, that want the UN to have more control over what we do, and even have a say in our Constitution. All of this goes against what we're all about.

I do agree, Jeff.

madmike wrote:

i'm gonna keep this in regards to americans ... thats where i live and most of my interactions are with americans.

americans seem to be sleeping.

this is a prime example.

i remember back in 1984 (back when they invented sticks!) it was a popular thing in school to read 1984. does anyone remember reading 1984? aparently not ... because in our lacluster approach to our cushy, safety padded and pc society, we have created a 1984 type society. i remember discussions in school about how horrible that society was insofar as the government controls whay people say, what they see and even what they think.

there are tv cameras everywhere. traffic cams. internet watchdogs. cell phone monitoring. gps chips. etc. etc.

i really dont think government orginizations are monitoring peoples internet and cell phone usage to infringe upon the rights to buy pot (they really dont have the right ... its illegal) or download porn, but besides the monitoring of terrorists ... how far does it really go?????

it keeps getting more and more like 1984 ... george orwell was only off by about 25 years.

This reminds me of my school about six months ago. I had started carpooling with a guy who had just turned 31 and (as we soon found out) our political views could hardly be further apart. One thing that always cracked me up was that he was a big fan of the book 1984, but he totally bought into everything that the society around him told him to buy into. He practically had a microchip from CNN in his brain, broadcasting instructions on how to go about his day. We both feel sorry about how blind the other is.

This reminds me of back when I turned 18, coincidentally in 1984, when we had to register for Selective Service. The government tried to make it sound like it was simply a way for young men to record where they were, but we all knew better. It was a precursor to a military draft, since the Cold War was still very much alive and well. It was a way of the government forcing control.

Anyone remember Tipper Gore and the PMRC? This was the attempt by "those who knew better" at labeling offensive music albums that contained profanity and/or violence. The thought was that youth violence could be stemmed by giving parents a guide to which albums might contain controversial material that could influence young minds. This, you may recall, was right about the time that a young man had committed suicide, and his mother wanted to sue Ozzy Osbourne for his song Suicide Solution, claiming that it contained subliminal messages that caused her son to kill himself. Ozzy himself said that since he made his living by selling albums, why would he put something in them that killed his target audience? And in fact, the song was written for his friend, AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott as a message against the evils of doing yourself in with alcohol. Granted, I feel badly for her loss, but the fault didn't lie with any rock album. It came from her son having problems that no one was able to help him overcome. The suit was dropped.

I mention this because this goes back to the same theme that Jeff began. The fact that our government feels it has the right getting into the business of it's private citizens. Telling us what we can and cannot do, and even going so far as to monitor the activities of the people in some attempt at "keeping control". This gets us dangerously close to a police state, which is contrary to what this nation was founded upon. This is the United States of America, not North Korea.

My original response was more about the fact that it isn't just us doing these sorts of things. But it's still wrong, no matter who orchestrates it.

I served from 81-85 and can't think of any reason they would have drafted anyone. Under Reagan our military was already huge and there were no wars. But having a huge military is exactly why there weren't any wars

Oh, and as the son of a former Marine, I fully support our troops! What got my goat was the fact that the government tried to take the choice away, and I have some very strong issues with that. If I serve, it should be my choice. Just as I don't want someone telling me what books I can and cannot read, what things I can and cannot put into my body, what entertainment I can and cannot enjoy. And in fact, I did at one time want to serve, but my vision and other health issues made it so that wasn't a choice.

What branch did you serve in, Jeff? Can you tell us more about your experience?

thank you for your service jeff.

i'm a bit envyous ... i really wanted to serve ... military doesnt want diabetics. as a young man i really could have benefitted from the dicipline, the honor and the feeling of self respect. plus ... i had to learn to qualify the hard way ... 10mm acp.

i really like what eric was saying about the pmrc ... yeah; orwell's 1984 in action. tipper gore ... what an ignorant ninny.

funny how ozzy, judas priest and wasp were singled out. this was the music that kept me from killing myself and others. these were my people! these were the people that got it!

also funny how dee snyder just put tipper in her place with the s+m comments ... ha!

dee did a great job at those hearings.

again funny how john denver showed up to defend the music ... go john denver!

still funny how michael bolton and coldplay instills visions of destructiveness in my mind.

always funny are those who try to control or contain the thing that they demonize are the ones who are the most ignorant about it.

You mentioned the court preceding for the PMRC hearings, and it made me think that it might well be the only time in history that an event could bring together Dee Snider, John Denver, and Frank Zappa into the same room!

F***! I hate the PMRC. Gotta love Dee Snider, Frank Zappa, John Denver, and everyone else who stood up for our rights!

I especially loved Dee Snider's "contribution"



BTW, anyone else seen Metal: A Headbanger's Journey?

And about the Patriot Act thing, I, as a libertarian and a strong believer in personal liberties and freedom, am against it, but I'm not too worried. For one thing, I'm not an Arab. I'm not being racist, I know the vast majority are not terrorists, but it still makes you exponentially more likely to be monitored. I have a history teach who's a big conspiracy nut. He is absoletly convince the JFK assassination is a conspiracy, and has read, cover to cover, the 6000 (or whatever) page report done by the US government on it. He's always complaining about domestic spying, and just how extensively the goverment can monitor everything you do. But really, there's a HUGE difference between being able to do something and actually doing it.

I love A Headbanger's Journey.

i look at the control having the opportunity to go 2 ways ..........

even tho something like the patriot act infringes upon our rights and freedoms as americans, i believe and hope for it to be a good thing. i really dont think the fbi or cia are using what minimal resources they have (in comparison to the volume) to monitor what kinda porn jimmy is downloading on his dads computer. they use the resources to follow leads that may be a threat to national security (or at least i really hope so).

i need to have some faith that these agencies know what they are doing. minimal, but faith none the less.

and it still doesnt make me ok with americans rights and privacies being infringed upon ... it sux. stoopid terrorists.

then theres control from the ignorant who happen to end up being a voice that can be heard ... like tipper gore. she deterimened ozzy osbourne was bad for us. she could be heard. she tried to control it. now we got little black stickers on cds that mean absolutely nothing. dummy!

EricHaven wrote:

What branch did you serve in, Jeff? Can you tell us more about your experience?

Navy, basic fleet duty and saw a ton of the world. A couple visits to Lebanon were probably the highlites of my short career. One to escort the PLO out and a 2nd time after the barracks bombing.

Wow, Jeff. It would be amazing to hear some of your stories, as I can only imagine the things you've experienced. Again, thank you for your service, Bro. You guys are far and away the bravest souls on the planet!

And one thing I do recall about the whole PMRC/black labeling thing, in that it actually ended up having the opposite effect. All the kids buying albums knew which ones were the ones to get!

I've heard that too. Irony's a b****, ain't it?

Indeed!

Man, being in the military sounds crazy. I hope I never get drafted

Chowderboots wrote:

Man, being in the military sounds crazy. I hope I never get drafted

It's not that bad.

For those who will fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know-Lance Corporal Tim Craft, Vietnam 1968

I'm sure it isn't...but I don't think it's right for me.

Mainly, I don't want to have to chop off my hair...and seeing that long hair is pretty impractical, I have the feeling that I'd have to do that.

Chowderboots wrote:

I'm sure it isn't...but I don't think it's right for me.

Mainly, I don't want to have to chop off my hair...and seeing that long hair is pretty impractical, I have the feeling that I'd have to do that.

haha UNLIKE us old farts, yours would grow back quickly

Aah, true...but it's already getting closer to my elbows. Haven't gotten it cut, except for the maintenance of a 1 to 1/2" trim every three months or so and it's taken me something like 3 or 4 years to get from above shoulder-length to where I'm at. Not in the mood to see that go. I am not always very patient...I'm just seeing it start to pay off

Chowderboots wrote:

Aah, true...but it's already getting closer to my elbows. Haven't gotten it cut, except for the maintenance of a 1 to 1/2" trim every three months or so and it's taken me something like 3 or 4 years to get from above shoulder-length to where I'm at. Not in the mood to see that go. I am not always very patient...I'm just seeing it start to pay off

Man it just take me 6 month to have it to the shoulders!!! Your hair don't grow fast

NoobOnRoad wrote:

Man it just take me 6 month to have it to the shoulders!!! Your hair don't grow fast

well at least it STILL grows ---hahaha

May not grow fast, but it does look thick and silky *tosses flaxen locks in cool breeze*

In all of my days, I would have never imagined that this group would be having such an endearing conversation about hair!

OK, I will admit that I hacked mine off so as to better my chances of finding a job. And lo and behold, I find out that the length of my hair would not have been an issue where I work now. So I am growing it back. And mine grows WAY too slowly.

And once I start to lose it to my advanced age, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll become the poster child for Rogaine!

EricHaven wrote:

In all of my days, I would have never imagined that this group would be having such an endearing conversation about hair!

Not only that, but one that started out as a Rant Room thread about domestic spying

I love you guys...

Kugelspot wrote:

Not only that, but one that started out as a Rant Room thread about domestic spying

I love you guys...

Boy, no kidding! We really went way off topic with this one!

We love you, too, KS.

Now then...can we talk about rainbows and puppies?

I've got puppies (OK, fully grown dogs)!!! And it was raining today, but I didn't see any rainbows...

Hahahahaha

So Eric, it's not like it was it was in all those photos we've seen of you. That sucks. May it grow back fast and thick, man!

Chowderboots wrote:

Hahahahaha

So Eric, it's not like it was it was in all those photos we've seen of you. That sucks. May it grow back fast and thick, man!

(ahem!) It's not like it was it was?

I think the record's stuck, the record's stuck, the record's stuck, the record's stuck!

Thank you, Martin. I'm doing everything short of tying lead weights to my hair!

I kn- I kn- I kn- kn- kn- kn- kn- know...does that sometimes.

That's why what I wrote wasn't making much sense when I went back and read over it.

Hair 'n' nails vitamin pills!