This Memorial Day Honor the Troops by bringing them Home: Our Intv w/ Iraq War Vet Matt Howard

Hard Knock Radio 94.1 FM: This Memorial Day we can best honor our troops by working our butts off to make sure they are returned home.. We should work to get our soldiers out of Afghanistan, out of Iraq and out of various countries in Africa..ala Africom… We should also be making sure our soldiers are nowhere near Iran…

In honor of Memorial Day we dropped a nice Memorial Day Mix that features everyone from Paris to Digital Underground to Goapele to Gil Scott-Heron just to name a few.. Click the link below to listen…

We can spend trillions of dollars on making weapons and coming up w/ advanced military strategies, but we can’t seem to put all those resources and bright minds to work toward finding peaceful and diplomatic solutions..

We currently have in our military divisions that work on psychological profiling and manipulation.. it’s a Psy Ops division that recently deployed its methods on US senators including Al Franken to extend the war in Afghanistan.. You can read about that HERE . If we can do that why not use those methods to have lasting peace?

A few days ago we sat down with Iraqi Vet (Iraq Veterans Against the War) Matt Howard who along with hundreds of his fellow soldiers showed in Chicago at the NATO Summit and gave back their medals. He saw the futility of War and how the Military Industrial Complex is working overtime to tank the economy and keep the world upended. And when I say tank the economy, that’s no exaggeration.. Today the military is a major economic windfall for all these private companies who make billions of everything from providing meals where they charge $30 a plate, per meal person to charging $50 per load of laundry..

This is our tax dollars going into the coffers of companies like Halliburton, Boeing and Bechtel.. Not much of that money comes back to our community in reinvestment or even jobs above the few they hire as contractors.  Here’s our insightful interview w/ Matt Howard

Below is a classic cut from the late Gil Scott heron that sums it all up..The Military and the Monetary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCb7YKqQUq4

is Miltary using Mind Control Tactics on lawmakers? How widespread is this?

Was Al Franken subjected to mind control techniques to get him to support the war in Afghanistan?

This story about the army using mind control techniques on unsuspecting lawmakers including Senators Al Franken and John McCain is serious and should not be swept under the rug. Many of us have no idea how advanced such techniques are and how often and pervasive the practice is within the general population.

Sure we know its illegal, but so were many of the tactics used during the hey day of  FBI director J Edgar Hoover when they unleashed Cointel-pro tactics on Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, Anti-War activists, Puerto Rican and Chicano nationalist to name a few. The end result was putting many of those organizations is disarray and in some cases lietrally driving some of its members ‘crazy’.

We do know Cointel-pro relied heavily on running mind games on organization leaders.. We have to ask, ‘what has our government learned over the past 30 years?’

With so much of our military be outsourced to private mercenary firms who are also used by big corporations i.e Blackwater, one has to ask what sort of tactics are being used via Television? newspapers? and other forms of mass communication. What are corporations unleashing on us to get us to be consumers forever beholden to products they are offering?

Is Fox News a big giant mind control outlet? Don’t act surprised. We do know that its routine for large media outlets to do extensive psychological profiling on targeted demographics within their audience. It’s done to develop the correct sales approach for advertisers. Why would it not be done with political agendas in mind? We call it propaganda?

Read this explosive Rolling Stone story and ask yourself why we’re not talking about this more? Mmmm Maybe such tactics are being used to temper down the discussion.

Why aren’t more people upset? Why are we seeing our news dominated with stories about a royal wedding in England and not the potential damage done with using Psych ops to extend a war in Afghanistan? We have to wonder why the lead story today is actor  Charlie Sheen having his TV show cut short and not the push to do a full scale top to bottom investigation…

I gotta ask myself.. Has President Obama been subjected to these mind control techniques?

Maybe these mind control tactics were used on journalist who visited the war zone which is why we saw progressive folks like Rachel Maddow who on her visit a few months ago was criticized for taking what some described as a softer stance.. Gotta wonder if the whole concept of embedding reporters was done with the goal of using psych op tactics on them.. We need to find out who was escorting reporters? No wonder so many were cheerleading the war..

As you read the Rollingstone article listen to this mix we did a few years ago about Mind control being used on urban audiences.  There was no mention of this on this mornings newscast here in the Bay Area.

-Davey D-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Yv1ay0CmM

Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/another-runaway-general-army-deploys-psy-ops-on-u-s-senators-20110223

The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in “psychological operations” to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war, Rolling Stone has learned – and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators.

The Runaway General: The  Rolling Stone Profile of Stanley McChrystal That Changed History

The orders came from the command of Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three-star general in charge of training Afghan troops – the linchpin of U.S. strategy in the war. Over a four-month period last year, a military cell devoted to what is known as “information operations” at Camp Eggers in Kabul was repeatedly pressured to target visiting senators and other VIPs who met with Caldwell. When the unit resisted the order, arguing that it violated U.S. laws prohibiting the use of propaganda against American citizens, it was subjected to a campaign of retaliation.

“My job in psy-ops is to play with people’s heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave,” says Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, the leader of the IO unit, who received an official reprimand after bucking orders. “I’m prohibited from doing that to our own people. When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you’re crossing a line.”

King David’s War: How Gen. Petraeus Is Doubling Down on a Failed Strategy

The list of targeted visitors was long, according to interviews with members of the IO team and internal documents obtained by Rolling Stone. Those singled out in the campaign included senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Al Franken and Carl Levin; Rep. Steve Israel of the House Appropriations Committee; Adm. Mike Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Czech ambassador to Afghanistan; the German interior minister, and a host of influential think-tank analysts.

The incident offers an indication of just how desperate the U.S. command in Afghanistan is to spin American civilian leaders into supporting an increasingly unpopular war. According to the Defense Department’s own definition, psy-ops – the use of propaganda and psychological tactics to influence emotions and behaviors – are supposed to be used exclusively on “hostile foreign groups.” Federal law forbids the military from practicing psy-ops on Americans, and each defense authorization bill comes with a “propaganda rider” that also prohibits such manipulation. “Everyone in the psy-ops, intel, and IO community knows you’re not supposed to target Americans,” says a veteran member of another psy-ops team who has run operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It’s what you learn on day one.”

continue reading story HERE at Rollingstone Magazine

Google and Verizon Issue a Joint Statement About Net Neutrality Deal

So last week when we first got word about Google and Verizon cutting a deal to sidestep Net Neutrality protections, Google issued a statement saying everyone got it wrong and they weren’t doing nothing of a sort..You’ll can check out their statements HERE.

We come to find out that they were lying. That’s not a good look at all.. Here’s the deal the two companies crafted.  Now as you read this statement here’s what you need to pay attention to: First, everything we ever needed and wanted with respect to Net Neutrality protections is in place for a PC or wired device.. But as more and more communities in particular communities of color are moving onto wireless and mobile spheres, all those protections are out the window…That is not a good look..

People who like to scream about regulations are 1-Not looking at this as a utility and 2-Don’t care that prices are likely to go up significantly unless you decide to scale back on doing what many of us have grown  accustomed in terms of usage. When AT&T dropped their unlimited data plan, that was the first warning shot. Watching videos and and all that are not clogging up no one’s band width. That’s the story they tell to an unknowing public with the end game being to nickle and dime us for every little thing. The incentive is not just to make money, but to keep larger media corporations ahead of the all the little guys who are catching up and in many cases surpassing them.

From here on out this is gonna be a PR war with crazy Tea Party types yelling they hate socialism and communism with no true understanding of what those two words mean and how they apply to making sure we all have equal platforms to speak.. The ones yelling the loudest are usually shields for the telecoms deliberately trying to cause confusion.They are also corporate mouthpieces who work for media outlets who want to remain on top.

On the other hand, because Google is such a giant and has scared us half to death by hinting they might dead Net Neutrality, this ‘compromise’ which is NOT good now looks good when you consider how gully they could’ve gotten. Keep in mind they still can..

Our best bet is to yell loud and clear to our reps that you want Net Neutrality.. Please sign Al Franken’ s petition and don’t take no shorts on this issue. Don’t let Net Neutrality get compromised away they way we did public options in health care. There’s a reason these large telecoms have spent over a billion dollars in lobbying money. Lastly don’t be falling for the BS about we don’t need Net Neutrality that some Civil Rights org or leader like Jesse Jackson pushes. They sadly aligned themselves with the telecoms for a hefty fee.

Here’s Al Franken’s petition

http://www.alfranken.com/index.php/splash/netneutrality

-Davey D-

A joint policy proposal for an open Internet

Monday, August 9, 2010 at 1:38 PM ET

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2010/08/joint-policy-proposal-for-open-internet.html

Posted by Alan Davidson, Google director of public policy and Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy, and communications

The original architects of the Internet got the big things right. By making the network open, they enabled the greatest exchange of ideas in history. By making the Internet scalable, they enabled explosive innovation in the infrastructure.

It is imperative that we find ways to protect the future openness of the Internet and encourage the rapid deployment of broadband. Verizon and Google are pleased to discuss the principled compromise our companies have developed over the last year concerning the thorny issue of “network neutrality.”

In October, our two companies issued a shared statement of principles on network neutrality. A few months later we submitted a joint filing to the FCC, and in an April joint op-ed our CEOs discussed their common interest in an open Internet. Since that time, we have listened to all sides of the debate, engaged in good faith with policy makers in multiple venues, and challenged each other to craft a balanced policy framework. We have been guided by the two main goals:

1. Users should choose what content, applications, or devices they use, since openness has been central to the explosive innovation that has made the Internet a transformative medium.

2. America must continue to encourage both investment and innovation to support the underlying broadband infrastructure; it is imperative for our global competitiveness.

Today our CEOs will announce a proposal that we hope will make a constructive contribution to the dialogue. Our joint proposal takes the form of a suggested legislative framework for consideration by lawmakers, and is laid out here. Below we discuss the seven key elements:

First, both companies have long been proponents of the FCC’s current wireline broadband openness principles, which ensure that consumers have access to all legal content on the Internet, and can use what applications, services, and devices they choose. The enforceability of those principles was called into serious question by the recent Comcast court decision. Our proposal would now make those principles fully enforceable at the FCC.

Second, we agree that in addition to these existing principles there should be a new, enforceable prohibition against discriminatory practices. This means that for the first time, wireline broadband providers would not be able to discriminate against or prioritize lawful Internet content, applications or services in a way that causes harm to users or competition.

Importantly, this new nondiscrimination principle includes a presumption against prioritization of Internet traffic – including paid prioritization. So, in addition to not blocking or degrading of Internet content and applications, wireline broadband providers also could not favor particular Internet traffic over other traffic.

Third, it’s important that the consumer be fully informed about their Internet experiences. Our proposal would create enforceable transparency rules, for both wireline and wireless services. Broadband providers would be required to give consumers clear, understandable information about the services they offer and their capabilities. Broadband providers would also provide to application and content providers information about network management practices and any other information they need to ensure that they can reach consumers.

Fourth, because of the confusion about the FCC’s authority following the Comcast court decision, our proposal spells out the FCC’s role and authority in the broadband space. In addition to creating enforceable consumer protection and nondiscrimination standards that go beyond the FCC’s preexisting consumer safeguards, the proposal also provides for a new enforcement mechanism for the FCC to use. Specifically, the FCC would enforce these openness policies on a case-by-case basis, using a complaint-driven process. The FCC could move swiftly to stop a practice that violates these safeguards, and it could impose a penalty of up to $2 million on bad actors.

Fifth, we want the broadband infrastructure to be a platform for innovation. Therefore, our proposal would allow broadband providers to offer additional, differentiated online services, in addition to the Internet access and video services (such as Verizon’s FIOS TV) offered today. This means that broadband providers can work with other players to develop new services. It is too soon to predict how these new services will develop, but examples might include health care monitoring, the smart grid, advanced educational services, or new entertainment and gaming options. Our proposal also includes safeguards to ensure that such online services must be distinguishable from traditional broadband Internet access services and are not designed to circumvent the rules. The FCC would also monitor the development of these services to make sure they don’t interfere with the continued development of Internet access services.

Sixth, we both recognize that wireless broadband is different from the traditional wireline world, in part because the mobile marketplace is more competitive and changing rapidly. In recognition of the still-nascent nature of the wireless broadband marketplace, under this proposal we would not now apply most of the wireline principles to wireless, except for the transparency requirement. In addition, the Government Accountability Office would be required to report to Congress annually on developments in the wireless broadband marketplace, and whether or not current policies are working to protect consumers.

Seventh, and finally, we strongly believe that it is in the national interest for all Americans to have broadband access to the Internet. Therefore, we support reform of the Federal Universal Service Fund, so that it is focused on deploying broadband in areas where it is not now available.

We believe this policy framework properly empowers consumers and gives the FCC a role carefully tailored for the new world of broadband, while also allowing broadband providers the flexibility to manage their networks and provide new types of online services.

Ultimately, we think this proposal provides the certainty that allows both web startups to bring their novel ideas to users, and broadband providers to invest in their networks.

Crafting a compromise proposal has not been an easy process, and we have certainly had our differences along the way. But what has kept us moving forward is our mutual interest in a healthy and growing Internet that can continue to be a laboratory for innovation. As policy makers continue to formulate the rules of the road, we hope that other stakeholders will join with us in providing constructive ideas for an open Internet policy that puts consumers in charge and enhances America’s leadership in the broadband world. We stand ready to work with the Congress, the FCC and all interested parties to do just that.

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Google Sells Out to Cut Deal w/ Telecom Giant Verizon Over Net Neutrality-How Will This Impact You?

The internet and telecom giants Verizon and Google have reportedly reached an agreement to impose a tiered system for accessing the internet. The deal would enable Verizon to charge for quicker access to online content over wireless devices, a violation of the concept of net neutrality that calls for equal access to all services. The deal comes amidst closed-door meetings between the Federal Communications Commission and major telecom giants on crafting new regulations. In a statement, the media reform group Free Press criticized the Google-Verizon deal, saying, “The financial interests of Google appear to have finally trumped its belief in policies to preserve the open Internet…The Federal Communications Commission cannot stand by and allow the biggest market players to create two Internets.”

-Reported on Democracy Now-

Update: Aug 5 2010.. Google has responded to all the headlines and reports about their conversations w/ Verizon.. They are saying they still back Net Neutrality , however, they are still in talks with Verizon… I encourage folks to follow all this carefully and read the articles below to familiarize yourself with Net Neutrality…

Here’s Googles response.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180192/Google_We_still_back_Net_neutrality

I can’t even began to tell you how troubling this is.. Its been all but absent on the morning newscasts who seem more enamored with a man we don’t know being discovered he was married on Facebook. Meanwhile I feel bad for artists who found the Net to be saving grace. Its just a matter of time before corporate backed major labels start following suit thus relegating indy artist to the slow lanes of the internet.. Remember we been speaking on this for a minute. With Google throwing down the gauntlet to cut a deal with telecoms versus continue fighting to protect Net Neutrality, one can see that day looming. I encourage folks to call their congress people and push them hard..And if Net Neutrality falls by the wayside be sure to blame all those Civil Right orgs who lined up with AT&T to help kill it in return for sponsorship of events and perceived HNIC status

He who controls the flow of information sets the tone..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt0XUocViE

Please pay attention to what Senator Al Franken is saying Net Neutrality is the First Amendment Right of our Time..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LncSB5pMBU

Reported Verizon-Google Deal Means FCC Must Act to Set Public Interest Policy

R.I.P. Google ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Policy

WASHINGTON – Reports today indicate that a deal between Verizon and Google on Internet traffic management is forthcoming, and could be announced as early as Monday. According to Bloomberg News, the companies have agreed to abandon Net Neutrality protections on the mobile Internet. It remains unclear what the terms are for wired services.

At the same time, the Federal Communications Commission is convening closed-door meeting with companies to determine policies for the Internet.

Free Press president and CEO Josh Silver made the following statement:

“Two of the largest companies – Google and Verizon – have reportedly agreed to abandon consumer protections, filter content and limit choice and free speech on the mobile Internet. If true, the deal is a bold grab for market power by two monopolistic players. Such abuse of the open Internet would put to final rest the Google mandate to ‘don’t be evil.’

“If reports are accurate, such a deal would effectively create two Internets where application and content innovators have to ask Verizon and Google for permission to reach mobile Internet customers. Such a deal would make it more difficult for independent and diverse speakers to reach a broad audience and diminish the value of the mobile Internet as a new marketplace for ideas. It would mean that mobile consumers would no longer be able to access the same websites, applications and software as anyone else on the Internet.

“The financial interests of Google appear to have finally trumped its belief in policies to preserve the open Internet. A deal with Verizon cements its market power, and could make it more difficult for new app developers and software entrepreneurs to reach consumers.

“Congress and the FCC must act now to put consumers, entrepreneurs and the public interest ahead of the interests of these individual corporations. The agency must reject this framework and end the closed-door stakeholder negotiations it is now holding. The FCC cannot stand by and allow the biggest market players to create two Internets, it must enact real Net Neutrality protections that preserve openness for all Internet users, regardless of technology. We look to the FCC and Congress to deliver on President Obama’s pledge to protect Net Neutrality and promote universal access to broadband.”

Earlier I mentioned a mjor death blow was Traditional Civil Rights groups getting snookered , caving in or selling out to AT&T and Big telecoms. Here is a list of some of them..

Urban League Chapter

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408309

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400790

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400568

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408157

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400510

National Lesbian and Gay Chamber of Commerce

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408718

Hispanic Federation

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408716

LISTA

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408720

Latino community Foundation in San Francisco

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408354

Native Americans

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408711

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408291

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408712

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408704

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408709

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408717

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408708

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408713

NAACP in California

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408307

Jesse Jackson Rainbow Push

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408211

Texas State Rep. Robert Alonzo

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020408179

MANA, A National Latino Organization

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400566

100 Black Men of South Metro

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400798

100 Black Men of Mobile

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401015

100 Black Men of Greater Mobile

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401015

ASPIRA

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400339

100 Black Men of Tennessee

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400506

100 Black Men of Orlando

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400502

HTTP

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400970

Hispanic Interests Coalition of Alabama

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020401020

SER: Jobs for Progress

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020400060

NAACP Mar-Saline Branch

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399888

Japanese American Citizens League

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399819

Organization of Chinese Americans

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399334

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

Rep. Yvette Clarke

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020399667

Minnesota court rules Democrat Al Franken won Senate seat

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Minnesota court rules Democrat Al Franken won Senate seat

Al Franken

Al Franken

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) – The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of a tight U.S. Senate race over Republican Norm Coleman, which should give Democrats the 60-seat majority they need to overcome procedural obstacles and push through their agenda.

Coleman has said in published reports he is unlikely to appeal the state court’s decision to the federal courts. Under state law, the court’s decision gives Franken the right to occupy the seat, which has been up for grabs since last November’s election.

Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has said he will certify the election winner based on what the state court decides.

If the decision holds up, Democrats will control 60 of the 100 Senate seats — enough to overcome Republican procedural roadblocks in a clear boost to President Barack Obama‘s agenda.

Democrats hold a solid majority in the U.S. House.

However, Senate Democrats may not be able to count on Arlen Specter’s vote. Specter, a former Republican from Pennsylvania, switched parties in April but has said he will vote his own way and not necessarily along party lines.

The Minnesota contest has seen several switches. Coleman, seeking a second term, held a razor-thin lead after the November 4 election over Franken, a well known satirist and a former writer and actor for the popular Saturday Night Live television show.

But the close vote triggered an automatic recount of the 2.4 million ballots cast for the two men, and Franken edged to a 225-vote lead. That result was challenged by Coleman, and a judicial panel agreed to add only a few hundred previously rejected absentee ballots. That tally expanded Franken’s lead to 312 votes.

(Reporting by Todd Melby and Andrew Stern)

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