Comcast attempts to build muscle

By Melvin Ward

Comcast is slowly but surely taking steps to become the ultimate media giant; and regulating simple media functions that the public uses on a day-to-day basis.

Comcast Corp., the nations leading cable provider, is in negotiations to buy a majority of NBC Universal Studios from General Electric for reportedly $30 billion. Under the proposed deal Comcast would own 51 percent of NBC Universal with General Electric owning the remaining 49 percent. On January 28, Comcast submitted a 145-page application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval of the merger.

The problem with this merger is Comcast’s request for the FCC not to consider the Internet and broadband aspects of the merger before approval. Critics think that Comcast would try to abuse its power by limiting or controlling over which NBC Universal content appears on the Internet. Internet viewing is a popular and growing industry in the media; and with this merger Comcast would acquire 32 percent of zulu.com. Zulu.com is one of the leading providing services of viewing show or programs on the Internet. Critics think that Comcast would limit the content available and charge customers for things that were once free or of minimal cost. This point feeds into the notion that companies are looking to gain ownership over the Internet, instead of just being Internet providers. Comcast refutes claims that they will become an Internet gatekeeper for viewing videos with this statement, "To the extent that any one company maintains a substantial advantage in attracting online video viewers, that company is Google -- not Comcast or NBC Universal.

If this merger is approved, Comcast would acquire more than 30 cable channels, including USA, E!, CNBC, and MSNBC along with the broadcast

networks and Universal studios. Many critics of the media industry argue that a company that provides cable and Internet, yet alone the number one provider in the country; does not need control over all of these entities. This will give Comcast more than enough power to change the cable and Internet industries. They will be able to control prices that many already argue are too high. They would also make their products and channel the premium products to increase their revenue.

This deal is dangerous on so many levels, programming will be more censored than ever as Comcast seeks to make more money and limit their competition. They will still have competition amongst the 5 other media giants, but companies on the lower level will be limited. Comcast having power over programming just is not right. They will have the power to place content where they please and at the company’s discretion. Things like public TV and news coverage can be greatly affected. They will have the power to oversee everything and dictate which news is reported to the public. The fact that Comcast has asked the Internet not be considered for the approval of this merger just looks like something tricky is going on here. They have plans up their sleeve to be the ultimate monsters and giants of the media.

March Madness

By Melvin Ward

The ides of March is the beginning of the best time of the year hands down.

The NCAA also known as March Madness is the greatest sports event in America; and the brackets are set. All of the Division I conference tournaments are done and it is time for the Big Dance. Kansas enters the tournament as the overall number one seed; Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke are the other number one seeds.

No other sporting event compares to the joy that March Madness brings. The month of March starts off with conference tournaments and talk about teams that are in or out of the tournament. They are often referred to as bubble teams, so they start off the month with their seasons on the line and it is wonderful watching teams playing each and every game as if it were the last.

Every fan is looking for the Cinderella team (George Mason, 2005) or the next player to put their name on the map (Stephon Curry, 2008). Eyes are glued to television sets to watch clutch moments and potential buzzer beaters.

March Madness just would not be March Madness without the office pools and bracket competition. It every fan’s chance to prove their basketball prowess and knowledge be filling out a bracket better than anyone else in their pools. Winners of these pools range from $5 gift cards to $1 million. Some people with little to no knowledge may win the pool; some pick their brackets based on color and mascots alone. March Madness brings everyone together.

This time of the year has become a trademark in American culture. The will not be many empty sports bars across the country on March 18 at noon. There will be men and women that take extra long lunch breaks to watch the games; there will be children to fake sick just to stay home and watch the opening round of the tournament. It does not matter if the first round is full of David vs. Goliath match-ups. There is always the potential of an upset. Sports fans love nothing more than the underdog winning.

This is a three-weekend event that captivates the minds and attention of people all over the nation, college dorms, bars, etc. March Madness is an event like no other. It starts off as a field of 65 with two rounds each weekend until there is a champion. Every week of the tournament is full of jubilation and “madness” for pure basketball fans. The absence of an absolute dominant team this year makes the tournament even more intriguing. Let the madness begin!

Thought of You

When I get you I'm gonna cherish you one second at a time, cause if I mess up I aint guaranteed a second time...

Greatness

In the moments of greatness people want the moment to last forever. When greatness wears off, people want to recapture old moments. I wanna keep creating moments of greatness with you. I wanna be great with you...

Cherish The Women

"He has no right to tell a woman when or where to create one."-Tupac

Pac couldn't have said it better. Not long ago, my ex had an abortion without consulting me. Hurt deep, but I was not in a position of power. I planted the seed, she had to carry, she chose otherwise. The reality of the matter is that women bare a big responsibility in this world and are not given the proper respect in return. I've had my share of women bashing moments and realize that I could not have been more wrong. Women are strong, precious, and one of kind. Too often, they sell themselves short because they've been belittled by the male species. What a shame, the egos of men. I possess one, I've made my mistakes. Wish I could carry the burden of apologizing for all of us. Throughout time woman have been told their place, and they are not a man's equal. They cannot be sexually liberated, they have to bite their tongue, they can only achieve so much. They can be great, but they have their restrictions. It was an insecure man's idea, but he knew how much power women possessed. In their sex, there is magic. Just look at men. They are why men strive to be rich, they are why we appear the way we do, we all want a woman's approval. Straight or gay, we all want a woman's approval. The gay dudes love them so much they want to be one or hang with them. We, the straight guys, do not like the ones with uber-confidence. It's something about their natural grace. We should love them, we should love their ambition to be independent. We should love the fact that they are outspoken. We should want them to be sexually free, that makes the sex conversation more fun. Demonstrating what you do with other men is elementary. I give women their credit, they feed into our egos. They forgive, forgive, and forgive; sometimes for the same thing. They loves us more than we love them; we make them compromise and they do. Some of the women are beaten into submission and never reach their full potential. The potential of being one of the most beautiful creations on this earth. Yes, women were the Creator's gift and most valuable resource on this Earth. Women are more than what meets the eye. I adore women, I need a partner. I won't degrade her by calling her my baby, boo, or even my woman. She's her own woman, she can be my partner in life.

Consumers Pt. I

Valentine's Day is around the corner, a consumer's holiday. Romance huh? A lot of people live consumer's lives. A lot of females want to wined and dined on Valentine's Day. What happens if you're not? A bad year? Are you less of a woman? All my guy friends got to have sex. All that for some sex? It's just dressed payment, paying too much if you will. People buy jewelry, chocolates, flowers, candles, lingerie, etc. trying to set the mood. Those are the same chocolates she eats when she's mad at the dude. The flowers die and the candle flame out just like this whole Valentine Day act will. Valentine's Day is just an easy target for my thoughts on consumers.

The thing with consumers, they are driven by commercial and mainstream opinions. Consumers have to go out and buy "swag." They have to have "it." Materialistic people driven by commercials and music. Most music that generates huge revenues, especially in my circle of society, is commercial consumer music. The music consumes the consumers and forces the consumer to conform. Music I prefer, inspires the soul, music on the radio lends the soul to the mainstream.

Be

"I'm trying to find myself, that's all." That's some ole bullshit. Really, it doesn't make sense. You know yourself from the time that you have a concept of yourself. Yes, you grow; but that comes from learning. Maturing & learning is the process of growing as a person. Finding yourself is an excuse people use when they're too weak to be who they are. That's the result of trying to be something you are not, a facade. You want to be something that you think is better than self instead of embracing self. I love me, a lot of times I hear too much or it's arrogance. Call it what you may, at the end of the day I am going to be comfortable with the person that I am. I can look in the mirror without bowing my head in shame. I make decisions knowing that my soul will oblige, it won't be left behind. I always strive to move forward. I evaluate the past, embrace it, but I do not live in it. Living in the past accomplishes nothing. That's my beef with historians, some of them too focused on making people pay for the past. How you going to hold people accountable for the actions of their ancestors? You learn people's tendencies, but you move on. Progress is good. Trust someone until they deserve to lose your trust. Every moment or experience is something we all can learn from. Trust your word above others, you have to live with the consequences. Another person's experience is not your experience, because you only have one life to live. Be yourself, be free. Be free in the essence of being yourself without guilt or restrictions. Be