Check out this Good Band!

Here is an article I wrote about a band I hold near and dear to my heart and i wanted to share it with you all...

The Moss Landing evening-fog ventured south-west into Castroville, shielding the Artichoke Capitol of the World from the afternoon sunrays. Thick, salty, moist fog strolled past an open two-car garage echoing an acoustic guitar, bass ridden, Congo drum, beat-boxin’, freestyle melody.

Far from being a conventional garage, the concrete floor, masked by a throw rug, was littered with cigarette butts and empty 40-ounce beer bottles. The walls served as creative outlets for colorful graffiti-art, poems and lyrical freestyles. In one corner of the Castroville garage was a chair for tattooing, while another served as a plant-growing area. Surfboards and damp wetsuits surrounded couches that acted as the epicenter for the happenings of the garage.

The beginnings of the Hallway Ballers happened anywhere with these kinds of impromptu gatherings of friends and family, perhaps after an evening surf session in Moss Landing, over ice-cold beer and some smoke. Even the band’s name was discovered on a rainy day at church. “We were over at Harbor Chapel after a night of jamming,” said bassist Nate Hydie, “and we went outside in the hallway and started kind of juggling and dancing with this child-sized basketball, passing it around in a circle like the Globe Trotters. Hallway Ballin.”

At this time, the band was a loosely formed group consisting of Hydie, Brothers Raphael and Dave Grijalva, and whatever friends they could find to fill in at the time. In 1999, a Big Sur party hosted their first show as the Hallway Ballers. Tuning their instruments before the show, the group of blue collar surfers was enthusiastically told by the crowd they sucked. “Back then we didn’t have a drummer,” said acoustic guitarist Raphael. Grijalva. “I was on Bass, Nate was on the turntables, my brother was on lead guitar and [a friend] filled in on Congos.”

The four of them played one song –for a half-an-hour– and walked off stage. After being told they suck and jamming for 30-minutes at this party, the vibe of the crowd just wasn’t there, said Hydie.

While the free arrangement of instruments and band members fit the spontaneous garage gatherings, backyard barbeques and parties of Hallway Ballers and friends, it didn’t lend itself to an evolution of the music.

Six-years after Big Sur, in 2005, the Ballers welcomed drummer Adam Huntress into their family. “Nate told us about this guy in Santa Cruz who played drums,” said lead singer/guitarist Dave, “and me and Raph said, ‘yeah, have him come jam, see if he fits.’”

The first time Huntress was able to escape Santa Cruz was to be the first show for the complete band. “Our first show was at Steinbeck,” Dave said, referring to Steinbeck Country Mortgage behind the bowling alley in Salinas, as he playfully backhanded Raphael in the chest. “That was the first time we had drums in the Hallway Ballers. It was cool to hear some drums in our music.”

The band’s variety of musical influences range from Jimi Hendrix, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Smashing Pumpkins, Dead Kennedys, Pennywise, Bob Marley and Bradley Nowell to Outkast, Lauren Hill, Flipsyde and TuPac. “Every one of us has a deep vain where we come from in music,” said Huntress, “and we just kind of roll with that. The experience of being in this band and each of our influences, combined with everyday life, shapes the way that influence is played out in our music.”

Along with musical influence, the Ballers allow their love of life to play a major role in the crafting of their tunes. Making sure to make light of life and have fun with it is their goal. “We’re serious, but really try to enjoy life,” said Hydie. “Our avenues for this happen to be skateboarding and surfing – we came up like that.”

The surf, skate, snowboarding, and fishing lifestyles of this laidback foursome inspire their mellow reggae, rock, hip-hop, funk sound. With Dave controlling the electric guitar, Raphael strumming the acoustic, Hydie wielding the bass and now Huntress carrying the beat on drums, the Ballers effectively draw upon their musical heroes as well as their lives to create a unique, hodgepodge musical style of their own. “It’s everything from when you grow up all in one,” said Dave, “roots music.”

Since that first Salinas show in 2005, the Hallway Ballers have rocked venues like Santa Cruz’s Vets’ Hall, High Times Cannabis Cup, Moe’s Alley and Monterey Live, while sharing the stage with big name bands like Rebelution, Natural Incense, The Mermen, The Expendables, and legendary Fishbone.

Over time, the band has succeeded in playing with noteworthy bands, traveling the state doing what they love and producing their first self-titled album. Such success, however, does not come without adversity. The biggest challenge for the Ballers thus far has been staying together. Spending three or four days with the same people can be trying for anyone. Add being cooped up in a vehicle with toxic farts, lingering body odor and the smell of dog shit from someone’s shoe. “You have to live in everyone else’s world,” said Raphael. “Everyone has their own opinion, not just with music, but with the way they live. When you go out living with them for three or four days, some people can be hard to get along with.”

In addition to quarrels on the road, Dave and Hydie struggle with being away from family. Both fathers of two, the musicians are forced to go on the road for days and leave loved ones behind. “My biggest struggle is being away from my wife and kids,” said Dave. “That’s the thing with the band, but I got a pretty supporting family.”

Hydie, who is forced to commute from San Francisco to meet with fellow Ballers, said being away from his sons is difficult. “I come home a few days later and I’ve seen a huge growth spurt –like ‘Wow, he’s grown in just two or three days.’”

Finding time for the four working-class Monterey Bay area natives to meet up to practice is near impossible. Earning a living and paying the bills conflicts with band practice. Because of the current economy, Hydie, a former real estate consultant, is working long hours in construction. Dave sometimes has to do side jobs to earn a little extra on top of his working with autistic children. Even when practice is scheduled, sometimes Raphael, who makes his living with graphic design, painting murals, selling paintings and tattooing, has to cancel because he has random tattoo appointments. “Working is an obstacle,” said Huntress. “If we were all rich we would buy a jam studio with a wave pool and a half pipe.”

Hydie living two-hours away and employment, hinder their practice time together. The Hallway Ballers still manage to turn heads. With their self-titled album for sale on iTunes, and CD Baby, they have attracted sponsorships from Fender and aerial clothing company AZHIAZIAM. “It is frustrating,” said Dave. “But we all know that no matter what we do, we’re all going to do music. Just when we think it’s over, something else comes up.”

Scheduled to play at the 2009 Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, the Ballers were on-call for the event. Unfortunately unworthy surf conditions prevented the contest from being held this year. The group will trudge-on and continue their grassroots effort of promoting their music. “We are just trying to make a living with our music,” said Dave. “But we’re trying to do something we love, so, it’s a different path. In the mean time we still have to work hard to make our dreams happen.”

If you’re lucky, you will run into one or all of the Hallway Ballers free stylin’, beat boxin’ or playing at a local party. Until then you can find them and their music at www.MySpace.com/HallwayBallers.

Ready for the summer to be here already!

The only final i have during finals weeks is this one. It is take home and we are allowed a few days to complete it. All my other classes require portfolios or final projects. In all actuality, I only have 1.5 weeks of school remaining for the 2008-09 school year.

One would think that news like that would drive me to study and get all of my work done. On the contrary, i am procrastinating worse than ever. i waited until 1:15 to start the second half of my cover essay for my portfolio that was due today. I did underestimate the time it would take me and I did do a little more work than was do but would have had to do it anyway because it would be due with the final portfolio. So I got done eating dinner around 8pm. I sat on the couch until 10:15. Then i sat in my room browsing the Internet, talking to friends i hadn't heard form in a while, and downloading music. By the time I actually started writing the essay, it was 1:15am. I didn't turn off my light and go to sleep until 5:30 am. Managing an amazing three hours of sleep, here I sit having just turned in the rough draft of my Otter Realm article.

I know I have already blogged about why I think I procrastinate. But if I know why, then why am i still doing it. It is okay to do it a little bit. I sat and watched TV for two hours after dinner. Ok fine, no big deal. Had i began my HW then, I could have been in bed by 2am and earned approximately seven hours of sleep.

Well here it is. This is my proclamation to stop procrastinating for the next 2 weeks. That isn't that long. i am sure I can manage some self discipline for just 2 weeks. Funny thing is as i write this i am already laughing inside because i know this little pledge to be studious is bullshit. I am procrastinating as i write this. i have a million other things i could be doing. I have to make a portfolio for Otter Realm Workshop, I have to Revise my Creative work for 339S, i need to make up work in my reporting class, I have a final project i haven't even started in reporting...and yet i am finding time to blog about what a bad time manager I am. Well i better get back to what is pressing, assignments that are due.....take care, good luck with finals and capstones you all and see you on Thursday......Peace be da journey...

USA PRIDE!

The pictures i took from some other website and make no claims to having taken them myself.

Iraq, what a horrible place to live. Extreme highs and lows in temperature, sand storms and shitty infrastructure. My brother has been there since February.

Its funny, with all the violence and terror occurring in that native land, i never really worry about any towel heads taking him out. I mean he's my older brother. Something like that cannot happen to me, to us, to this family. Its funny you just can't think like that. You have to assume nothing will happen, otherwise you worry all the time.

No Haji will put an end to his wife's happiness. She toils in loneliness every time he is deployed to defend this country. As a result when he IS home he spends most of his time with his wife. People don't seem to understand the sacrifices made by soldiers who give up their lives to protect this country. I would love to see the pussy totin' liberals I see walking around our campus who complain of recruiters taking advantage of poor minorities volunteer and sign up their life to protect what they take for granted every day.

My brother and his wife have been married for 7 years. You know how much of those 7-years the two of them have spent living together. Three. Three years they have spent together in a house living with one another. Otherwise my brother has been in Virginia, Pensacola, Fl, Meridian Mississippi. When he wasn't training within the united states, he was busy being deployed landing and talking off of air craft carriers all over the world.

Now he sits in a shit hole in Iraq. While i agree that the war in Iraq is bullshit, lets hope that since we are already there something good comes of it. And lets alienate people who put us there but not alienate the military. They are not evil. It is because of the military that we have this country today and it isn't in the hands of the United Kingdom. Our first president was the General of the Continental Army.

While you sit there and bad mouth our service men and call them gullible and stupid for signing up to serve this country, maybe you should get the fuck out!!!...I hear the Canadians are a bunch of pussies, go join them.

Crap

Sometimes it think my girlfriend is crazy. And then sometimes i think it is just me.

I'm sure you guys have been there. And i used to be looking for that one girl that wasn't nuts. I had sampled quite a variety and found that most of them had issues, were annoying, or were only good for one thing to me. Then, since I had participated in such experiments as to figure out what kinds of girl i wanted, I decided to stop being a whore and look for "The One."

Finally i found a girl who is cool. If she is the one or not remains to be seen. There are so many things about her I really like. she's a dork like me, she likes to do a lot of the same things as me, she's funny, has a great sense of humor, my family loves her, and she is smart. There are also a few things that really piss me off about her. She won't admit it but she always has to be in control, of everything.

Anyway, I guess I am just writing all this because I don't know what to do. I like her a lot. I was looking forward to spending the entire weekend with her, and we got in a fight last night. Of course when she gets mad at me its all my fault, but some how when i get mad at her, it is still all my fault, What the is that?

Anyway my conclusion is that there are no girls out there without issues. Also, i think us guys have our share as well. I guess it is just about finding the "the one" who compliments that craziness in a positive way...

Holy Moly

The weather here was fabulous this weekend and through Tuesday. I love it when the sun is out all day, not a cloud pollutes the bright blue sky and the warm breeze relaxes the most stressful situations like a sauna.

On Saturday I went dirt bike riding for the first time. Well not the very first time. Lets put it this way i had been on a dirt bike 3 times before and they were all at my friend Jarod's house. The first time I rode his Kawasaki 220cc 2-stroke and wheelied it twice in a row. I down shifted to first and released the clutch suddenly having never gotten off the throttle. Wheelie number one. It scared the shit out of me but I managed to bring the front wheel down to the dirt. As the front tire pounded to the grounded, the impact cause my throttle hand to twist down. The front end violently bucked up like a horse and my legs dangled off the foot pegs like super man flying in the sky. Again, somehow I managed to bring the front end down.

The other two times were on a Suzuki 250cc 4-stroke and i just putted around never getting out of 2nd gear or loosing traction. On Saturday, however, I ventured to Hollister Hills. not only did i have to worry about man handling the bike, i also had to worry about other traffic. My girlfriend grew up riding dirt bikes and has a 150. We picked up a 250 2 stroke from her parents for me to ride. She wanted me to start off on her little 150, so i did. after about an hour we were gonna switch and i would ride the 250. I have my motorcycle license and we figured i would pick it up rather quickly.

If you thought motorcycles and dirt bikes were the same, let me be the first to tell you, They are COMPLETELY different! You you have to constantly downshift, upshift, break gas, stand up, sit down. While all of this is going on you have to watch for other riders and maneuver the bike in muddy, sandy, and hard concrete-like terrain.

I think it was a wise choice but I stayed on the 150cc all day and we ended up having to leave because i slide out and punctured the radiator hose and bent the gear shifter so that it wouldn't shift up because it was hitting the engine. Until I do not have to think about what i am doing at every turn, clutch, shift, decelerate, front brake, back brake, turn, tire traction, accelerate, I will probably stay on that 150cc, as pussy as it looks. I would rather look like a pussy than break my neck. I will be on that bigger bike soon enough.

All in all it was a fun day at the trails and we capped the day off with a birthday party in Scotts Valley.

94-year-old Ft Ord Resident

This is Interesting


I am writing an article for the Otter Realm this week about the deconstruction of the old Barracks on Division Hill located second st and Divarty. Curious as to what the history of these five buildings were, i sought out an army historian. He told me about the rock wall around the building that was built by POW's from either Germany or Italy during WWII. 94-year-old Retired Army Major Lee Stickler informed me that the barracks were done being built in September 1940 or 41. He was shipped up to Ft. Ord in June of 1940. The first tow buildings built were the division hill barracks and the horse stables.

Stickler was a member of the 76th field artillery during world war two. This was Horse drawn artillery. The unit was later broken up to the 74th, 75th, and 76th Field/Mechanized artillery unit. It was very interesting to hear from someone that had been here since the begging of Fort Ord. Now everyone seems to be consumed with tearing down the old buildings. making a beautiful college campus. But what about the history of the old military base? What about our past? Shouldn't we remember what went on here?

Stickler said it was sad to see something from his past be demolished. At the same time, he he acknowledged the importance of education and admitted the importance of CSUMB.

All in all i found it very amazing to talk to a man that has been breathing for 94 years. A man who served his country and fought in Europe during World War II. One of the first group of soldiers to stay at ft Ord in the division hill barracks. So my perspective had changed. what i once say as eye sores on this campus, i now see as a part of our states and country's history that to some extent should be preserved and shown off for generations.

Schoolhouse Rock -Procrastination-ation

CHECK THIS OUT
Here I sit in the famed TANIMURA & ANTEL MEMORIAL FAMILY LIBRARY, laptop in front of me and an endless list of assignments on top of me. Instead of completing, finishing, or even starting this work, I choose to procrastinate, and no that is the similar to Masturbate. Getting out minds out of the gutter, Lets try to find the reasoning behind my procrastination.

I have always linked my procrastination to ADD, a disorder I doubt I have or have ever been diagnosed with. However, if I don't wanna get started in work its because I get distracted too easily. The solution to this problem was to go to a library and then I would be forced to complete my work or I would sit in a boring library. Nowadays, libraries aren't boring anymore. They have coffee houses, free internet access, tons of computers, and with the advent of WI-FI and laptops, I can find procrastination at the push of a button in the entire library.

So I can conclude that I do not have ADD and that my options for procrastinating are limitless, from the internet, to television, to eating food or sleeping, it surrounds my very existence. This rules out the solution of riding the world of appealing modes of procrastinating. The next angle I must look at this pedantic problem from is my self. If it isn't something outside, it must be something inside myself.

The reasons I have found for procrastinating that are legitimate are few. However they run deep. the first I choose to look at is the Fear of Failure. If I approach an assignment with %110 and do not receive an A or B then in my eyes I have FAILED. Therefore if I put this assignment off until the very last minute, I will be satisfied with a C because I didn't even try on it. It is a way to validate myself and know that if I fail or am rejected in sense that it is because I didn't give it an honest effort-just a last minute one.

Next is the fear of Success. Afraid to be successful because of the failure that might ensue, the added responsibility of reaching one's potential, and the expectations others and the self will put on you. This is a complicate one. I mean don't we all strive for success? I do, but not because I care so much. more so because that is what I am supposed to do right?

Finally we fucking procrastinate because we just don't want to do the god damn fucking assignment. It was a long day at work, on my feet for 10 hours or a tiring, long day on campus from 8am to 6pm and the article or short story due tomorrow is the farthest thing from my mind. What I want is to turn on the TV, lay on the couch and pass the fuck out!

Whatever the reasoning for my delay of the inevitable, it seems that no matter what I do, I still procrastinate. I have accepted it, which is bad, because I know that I am doing it, that I shouldn't, and that the end result is mediocre work, a runny nose from lack of sleep and added stress that is unnecessary.

Maybe one day when $ is on the line I will act more responsibly, but until then I will strive for excellence and see what happens...you know what they don't say, "You can teach an old dog new tricks."

This old dog has yet to open his bag of tricks...

Hallway Ballin'

M,O to the S, S moss alright, what you talkin' about willis?

The fog approaches the Moss Landing harbor only to be faced with the tunes of the Hallway Ballers who magnificently reverse the direction of the winds, causing it to glow offshore for the entire evening causing for epic barrel rides at killer peaks. The acoustic, reggae infused bass lead, funk beats that are music from what you know growing up rolled into one.

This band keeps me company through everything. Makes me feel like going down to a fishin' hole, drink a 40 of some old E. In the car, at the beach even in the water i be signing some Hallway Ballers status. But what is a Hallway Baller? that is the question that remains shall you wonder this as well?

Well lets see at a time stamped in the past i discovered the answer to this interesting question....it involves a group of guys who make you laugh and chill no matter what. Enjoy life through any means you can, because it is too precious to let go, a child-sized basket ball, and a hallway. Then the Baller must roll the ball around his body and pass it around until everyone is Hallway Ballin...so much so that they are too busy hallway ball' to drink at parties...and don't forget the organic cheese wafers.

What is it all about?

So what is up with people? People who have to have things there way. People who want you to be thoughtful about there needs but then turnaround and slap you in the face when they seldom think about yours? Something about always having to be in control i think. I don't give a shit what is what. I know one thing I don't like to be told what to do, how to do it or what i SHOULD do.

Then the thought is, maybe to get along in this chaotic world we live in i have to make some sacrifices. I get so angry and pissed off and I hold it all in so at to not upset people, but then i get over it because i would rather not loose them then yell at them and be searching for them later.

I guess it goes to the fact that I have a hard time letting things go. Today i got pissed from the moment I woke up and i couldn't let it go all day. I finally got over it like 8 hours later, but still when i think about it i get that feeling in my gut. That feeling that makes you want to pick up a fucking pick axe and take it to every window in the house. Then once all the anger and rage is gone it is disgraceful to go around the house and see all the money you are going to have to spend replacing the windows and how much time you spent having to clean up the broken glass. Worst of all is the blood dripping down the wall from the cat that mistakenly ran between the pointy end of the pick-ax and the wall...oops. Anyway i have found, even though i don't do it hardly at all, that writing is the best way for me to displace my frustrations about people and life.

There is no cure however for the morons on the road. I get so enraged driving among idiots and having to weave in and out of traffic because no body understands the concept of the left lane being a passing lane not a "fast" lane. Anyway i can't wait for summer where hopefully i have a job and all i have to worry about it going to work , surfing, going to shows, and hanging with my girlfriend. well till next time see you later, if you cut me off on the road i might break all your car windows, so sorry in advance.

Sunny Days

As I sit here I think
Think about this page that fills with the thoughts that are not mine. Thoughts I am forced to conceive due to the pressures of the world and the man. The man who keeps us down but yet still keeps us up. Where it is not broke to be a crime but it's a crime to be broke(HALLWAYBALLERS). Where all mankind is not created equal. This man and now woman requires those who want to be successful to first graduate college having obtained a bachelors degree that means what they want it to mean. Used to be that the be all was high school and that was the end all. For who are they to tell we what we need to make money. Oh but money makes the world go round. I'm sick, sick of all this monotonous shit, that consumes my brain but what do I do but procrastinate. Then I turn the work in and for some reason the teachers seldom tell me its too late.

What I can't figure is how this piece of paper is going to help me. I can write and I can be responsible. People in life find fun and pleasure in irresponsibility to a degree. so let me be me and fuck yourself. Take this education and tell me what it is we have learned. What is it I know now that I didn't before that can possible help me move forward in my life and career? I don't know what the reer is, so how the fuck you expect to help me?

Here we sit, head to head, I’d really like to take off your clothes and fuck you on the bed, from behind raw and dirty, now take off your mask and see thing clearly. Money is the essence of all this shit. so don't ask questions and just shit and listen to what it is I’m going to tell you. Education is what is needed to get ahead, You just created another business, it will help civilization prospers and benefit mankind, we can make lots of money off if your tuition, Whites only, blacks and browns- they can't learn, wait yes they can and we can tap another market, make even more money---hell we can offer them financial aide- this way we can make interest on what they pay, so now we all go to school because Undergrad is the new Secondary institute and PHD is the real degree.

With the facade of racism vanished and equality of all, schools accept everyone, devaluing the strength of that degree, making it more popular to whoop out that cash, loan, grant, financial aid to attain that masters or PHD. Wait wait wait, step back from this greed filled money making scheme. The state of California is getting rich but what’s this I hear about a deficit, $42 billion since last year, what the fuck Arnold, what about this year. Cut education and screw the teachers…..whatever, one more year and I’m out, PEACE…

MARY JANE

(photo Credit: rbtvanhorn)
On Monday, FEB 23, 2009 Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced "The Marijuana Control, regulation and education act (AB 390)" as a simple matter of fiscal common sense. If you believe Ammiano and his straitlaced panel, it is. In a nutshell, here's what the bill would do: "Remove all penalties under California law for the cultivation, transportation, sale, purchase, possession, and use of marijuana, natural THC and paraphernalia by persons over the age of 21," according to the SF Weekly.

The bill is supposed to generate an estimated 1.3 billion dollars for the state of California. My initial response to this was excitement. This bill has been a a long time coming. As Peter Tosh has been preaching for years, "Legalize it."

Not only would legalizing it help rectify the state's budget problem and perhaps keep tuition down at state education facilities, it could also alleviate some of the public education cuts being implemented. I will be interested to discover what the Governator's stand on AB390 is.

My initial excitement quickly turned to pessimism. I remembered the large conservative population in southern California that will probably do all they can to fight this bill. Maybe the Mormon church will raise another $15 million to fight it like they did with Prop. 8.

To my surprise one of the bills most public supporters is retired Judge, James Gray. Notoriously conservative, according to the SF Weekly article, Judge Gray said, "I served 25 years on the bench and I've seen the results of this attempted prohibition. It doesn't make marijuana less available, but it does clog the court system."

The harsher we enforce marijuana laws, the less time there is to spend enforcing other more serious crimes. "We [only have] so many resources. And we at this moment," said Judge Gray, "have thousands of people in state prisons right this minute who did nothing but smoke marijuana."

Not only would this bill generate money for California, but it would also lower the amount of taxpayer money that is spent trying Marijuana related cases in court and housing Marijuana convicts in state and local correctional facilities.

I am in full support of this bill. The idea that a plant which grows naturally is considered a drug and is illegal is preposterous. Alcohol is a far more dangerous drug. Alcohol is man-made and leads to far worse societal problems compared to cannabis.

Now i know what the argument is for people out there. If we make it legal, then everyone will do it and our society will fail.

The second argument is, What's next? Once we legalize Pot, then next it will be cocaine, heroin and LSD.

REALLY?

C'mon now people. One, being stoned and lazy is better than getting behind the wheel when you are seeing double and leaving the bar at 2 am. Two, just because its legal doesn't mean everyone is going to do it. Hell not everyone drinks alcohol and smokes cigarettes, of course they are both legal.

I will leave you with one quote from Conservative Judge Gray, "You and I as adults can go home tonight and drink 10 martinis. It's not a healthy thing to do, but it's not illegal. Someone who smokes marijuana and goes to bed risks jail."

"I don't smoke marijuana and if you legalized it today and gave it away at every street corner I'm still not going to," said Judge Gray. "But the most harmful thing about marijuana today is prison - and also the most expensive. I take President Obama at his word - he said let's look at what's working and what is not, and jettison those programs that are not working."

Whats your Opinion?

Founding of a Country

The United States had defeated the British and sent the aristocratic monarchy back to Europe. Since Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence the country had been run according to the Articles of Confederation (AOC), the 13 colonies’ constitution if you will. Being the first attempt at formulating a national government, there were obviously certain flaws. In the 1780’s the ideals of 1776 were seriously threatened not by the government, but by the people. The founders’ articles, in an attempt to make sure the tyranny of Britain never showed up in America, made the central government far too weak, and delegated far too much power to the state governments.

During the Revolutionary War, most states had been solidifying their governmental practices with written constitutions. These constitutions demonstrated the ideas of the era: term limits, equal suffrage among men, and a bill of rights. The states wanted to make sure the people’s liberties were protected under the newly formed governments. With this degree of self preservation in mind, the states could not anticipate a new kind of tyranny caused by too much power in the hands of the people.

Under the AOC, the central government was so weak in comparison to the state-run governments, it could not impose taxes or regulate commerce between colonies, had no executive branch or national court system, and could only amend the Articles of Confederation with unanimous consent of all the states.

The straw that broke the camel’s back came in 1786, when Daniel Shays led an armed rebellion of nearly 2000 farmers in Massachusetts and closed the courts in three counties preventing creditors from collection debts. This violent action sealed the deal for the founders and in 1787, after delegates from five states met in Annapolis, MD, the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia to revise and amend the AOC. However, all at the convention decided a new Constitution was needed.

In the United States Constitution, the founders needed to develop a strong central government that could unify the colonies into united states. Drawing from the experience of the state governments and constitutions, those attending the closed-door convention were able to hypothesize what kind of governmental structure would work best. What they came up with was a three branch system consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The most powerful branch, the legislative, dealt with representation of the people. As a compromise of the Virginia and New Jersey plans, Article One of the U.S. Constitution allowed for a bi-cameral Congress. In the House of Representative, representation is based on population. In the Senate, however, each state is given 2 votes. This way the large states felt they were represented fairly in the house, and the smaller states still believed their interests could be represented in the senate. Article Two asserts, “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” The job of the President it to execute the laws of congress, lead the government, interface with foreign leaders, and is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Military. And last but not least, Article Three states, “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme court and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish” Their main function is that of judicial review where they review the state and federal laws if they are challenged and deem them constitutional or not.

The new government was set up with three branches to keep the powers separate. This separation of powers was to be maintained with a system of checks and balances where each branch has a role in the actions of the other. With this system, however, some people still felt that the new constitution gave too much power to the central government, and thought the AOC were fine as they were. These people became known as Antifederalists. Although Antifederalists conceded that some reforms in the AOC were needed, they denied that there was a crisis that necessitated a new constitution. They saw this new government as a threat to liberty. The Antifederalists, not an organized group, but a diverse assortment of individuals who opposed ratification, felt that a government so far removed from the people could not accurately represent them. For this reason they thought the only way to have liberty, was for people to feel connected to their government—hence strong local and state governments.

On the other side of the coin, the Federalists, those in favor of ratification of the new constitution, conversely felt that with an increasingly heterogeneous culture, the only way to protect liberty was with the expansion of a single republican government to cover a large area with a diverse population. The Federalist, 85 essays published in New York newspapers to convince New York to ratify the constitution, exhibited the views of federalists James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and George Clinton.

James Madison, in his Federalist paper #10, spoke out on the issue of factions, the principle cause for trouble in a democratic society. Madison said the only way to get rid of factions was to either destroy liberty or force citizens to all have the same ideals and interests. According to Madison, a faction is, a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united by some common impulse of passion adverse to the rights of other citizens or interests of the community. He is saying that a faction is any group of people who have similar ideals, goals, and interests who band together to achieve those goals.

These factions, with their desire to achieve theirs goals, are proven harmful to government and liberty when they taint public administrations. The U.S. was becoming more heterogeneous. There is no way to force all people to share interests, and Madison in no way believes destroying liberty would be wise. Therefore the solution he offers in regards to factions is to control the effects of factions. The way to control factions, according to Madison, is under the constitution, “I may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution.”

Antifederalists felt the country needed to stay small and homogeneous in demographic. They sought to protect the values the country against what they perceived as an attack by the Federalists. The only way for equality and liberty to live, they thought, was for people to participate directly in government. The Constitution was a shift away from civic humanism. The Lockean ideals adhered to were the spark for the revolution, but the community effort of the colonies, civic humanism, is what kept the fire burning. Once the British were gone, people wanted their personal rights—their individual freedoms. Therefore, in a large republican government people did not share either concerns or customs…the public good would be lost in all the conflicting interests.

Antifederalists and Federalists could be considered polar opposites. When analyzing which view is better, however, one must realize that weather liberty is more stable in a small government close to the people or in a large, powerful, distant government depends on the society being governed. For instance, the position of the Antifederalists, who felt liberty would only be secure if government were kept small, close to the people, and under their control. In their culture, a direct democracy form of government would work because most everyone would be striving for the public good. The closest actual example in America was seen post Revolutionary War, under the AOC, where the states were not looking out for the good of the nation but only the individuals within their borders, creating less stability as a whole. Therefore the republican government established in the U.S. Constitution allowed for more stable United States governed by a more powerful central government able to withstand the tests of time.

Jefferson and Hamilton present two extremes, where one “dreamt” property ownership could create a feeling of community and values. The other “dreamt” capitalism should prevail appealing to the individual, analogous with Lockean ideals. Then there was Madison, who had no dream. That is what the U.S. Constitution brought to the United States, a middle ground between public good and individual values, where natural rights are upheld.

California Legislator Slumber Party

The metallic, overhead projector looking droid known as Johnny-5 bulldozed his way through the overcrowded streets of Sacramento on his way to the state capitol. His Daunting task, assigned by the enraged California Teachers Association (CTA), was to infiltrate the Capitol Building, holding every pretentious California legislator hostage until they agreed on a budget plan for 2009. Johnny-5 was to use any force necessary to achieve his objective: to ensure a budget was signed into legislation within 48 hours of his outrageously violent takeover, including the use of the cruel and torturous method known as water boarding.

Arriving at the gold domed capitol building to a barrage of television news reporters, the determined android located his bullshit seeking missiles and pointed them in the direction of the mostly white news vans with telescopic satellites protruding from their flat roofs. After broadcasting a preemptive strike warning to all of the reporters' PDAs, Johnny-5 proceeded to arm the missiles. Like the swish of a basketball through a net, the 2 foot long slender missiles left Johnny-5's metal, square, army-green shoulder holster that brandished bright yellow, stenciled writing that read, "Explosives!"

As the missiles soared low to the ground, the reporters were discussing the message they all received on their coveted PDAs. "Is this some kind of joke?" a CNN reporter asked.

"I bet it's Al Qaeda. They've teamed up with Ralph Nader and are conquering the US one state at a time, starting with California," feared a Fox News reporter.

As heat seeking missiles track heat signatures, the Bullshit seeking missiles began to detect more and more Bullshit from the reporters in their path. The more bullshit that is discovered, the faster and more accurately the weapons travel.

Johnny-5's megaphone/bullhorn, now being controlled temporarily by the CTA, was activated. Another message was relayed to the ornery reporters, "Report objectively and truthfully without bias or you will be killed!"

Standing around with their pencils up their asses, the group of journalists, as they like to be called, stood scratching their heads. As they simultaneously turned around to see four sets of Bullshit seeking missiles headed for them at an alarming speed, they aslo noticed the red eyed, 5 foot tall android operating on tractor-like tracks not far behind...(more to come next time)

CSUMB?

BULLSHIT!
Yes that is right. I call Bullshit on CSUMB. I am done with the requirements that no other school enforces on their students. I have heard so many stories of students who were mislead in their academic plans. Then at the last minute it is discovered that they are missing one class and must stay for another six months in order to fulfil "culture and equity" or some other shit. What the fuck is that anyway? Culture and equity. I'm sure there are some people at this school that know more about culture and the lack of equity in the country than any of those classes will ever teach them.
This brings me to Multi-culturalism. How the fuck are we going to incorporate multiculturalism into every fucking goddamn class there is on campus? Hell make it a goddamn major for christsake. We can call multicultural studies. It can even be part of HCOM. The concentrations for the major can be one from Chicano studies, one from African-American studies and the third, hmm, well there doesn't seem to be another type of culture concentrated on in the HCom Major. Isn't that strange? Well i guess we will just throw Women's studies into that new concentration then. I mean multiculturalism is good right? it doesn't form any kind of stereotypes or anything right? I mean a class called "Relating to Whiteness" is productive right?
Think about that. This class is saying that all white people have it easy. well i can see the perspective thatthis concept comes from because in the bigoted society we live in it is probably true. The problem i have with this class, however, is that it isn't breaking down any stereotypes or enlightening white people to start treating other races and cultures differently. All it does is reinforce societal stereotypes and teach people to point fingers and say, "See its all your fault, I'm the victim."

While i am grateful for the opportunity to earn my undergraduate degree from this institution, i would much rather be some other place because of all the hypocritical and benign bullshit......

I'm Out.

What to Wear to The Airport when Flying

Raed Jarrar's trial, which i had heard about prior to viewing the above linked ACLU video, made me think about what i could wear to the airport that would cause such an eruptive response from the neurotic passengers that are either flying stand-by, have missed their connecting flight, are sitting three hours prior to their flight for fear of being stuck in long security lines, or businessmen reading about rampant criticisms of the newly formed Obama administration. The first thing that comes to mind is some clothing my brother gave me that he bought when he was in port at the United Arab Emirates. It is a traditional Muslim get-up, one might say. It is a long pajama looking shirt with a doily type beanie and then a Yasar Arafat head dress with a black rope that ties around the head. I think that would help me to experience the wrath of profiling at airport security.
Otherwise i could not shower for an entire week while participating in a rigorous daily workout routine and then visit the airport. This idea wouldn't be complete, however, without a few other items. For instance i will need to invest in some patchouli oil, Birkenstocks, a Rastafarian beanie, some hemp jewelery, and finally a VW bus. After acquiring this costume all that is left is to park the rusted, green and red 1960's VW bus in long term parking. Before exiting the vehicle it will be imperative to invite a few "hippies," if you will, to join me in a circle with the windows and doors shut tight, so as to acquire the proper fragrance for the costume and hopefully set off the vicious German Shepherd waiting for me at the security check point. I could say to the guard, "I take it you've never been a fan of Cheech and Chong eh?" as he slides his hand into a blue rubber examination glove instructing me to drop my pants and bend over. As he searches for herbal contraband, his K9 sparky is thinking, " here we go again, I dunno what it is with Jack and his love for full cavity searches."
And finally the last idea i will bore you with is to dress up like a paramilitary militia man straight out of the Montana Wilderness. Stopping by my local Army Surplus store would be beneficial for arriving to TSA officials in full camouflage fatigues, face paint, black steeltoe boots, which i would of course refuse to take off, and if I am feeling crazy that particular day, i might even incorporate a utility knife or BIC lighter into the ensemble.
As much as I would love to indulge every one of these scenarios, except perhaps the full cavity search, when I fly, my goal is to get through security with as little hassle as possible. This way my ass I can sit at the airport bar long enough to get buzzed before the most boring, cramped, and uncomfortable thing ever: Flying with a bunch of strangers in a long hallway with wings, sharing the same recycled air over and over just so I can reach a new destination. On second thought maybe a full cavity search would be more enjoyable.