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

Beautiful

Simply beautiful, that's what it is...

You nave mini trial and error sessions with it when you're a kid.

In your adolescence you believe you know what it is, then you feel the real heartbreak.

It is insanity.

You keep chasing it, even when it drives you crazy.

You keep looking for it, even when you claim you're not

When it calls your name, it's your time

You can't capture the essence of it's true feeling in one line

It evolves and changes over time

This ain't what you feel for your brothers and sisters

It's what what you built with partners

Failure to communicate can turn to hate

Doing it too hard can force you to rehabilitate

Either way you look at it, it's a battle of give & take

The levels of it vary, and whether you admit or not

It's unconditional

Love is hindsight, Is simply beautiful

The Soul of the City

Just my appreciation of music in it's finest hour. Marvin in my opinion changed the landscape of music. He's one of the most sampled musicians ever, was one of the first to be provocative as well. The whole talking over the track thing, he changed that too. He also wrote & produced most of his own. Just an all-around classic. You can feel his passion through his music.

Raheem is underrated as a musician. He's one of the best in the game right now, and his small body of work is already amongst the all-time greats to me. I'm just an advocate of timeless, truthful music. Raheem Devaughn does it with the best.

They both hail from the Nation's Capital, DC, my hometown. With all the stereotypes out here about dudes from my city; these types are overlooked. Their music can be political, provocative, catchy, sexual, all while it's timeless. It never gets old. Their love for music cannot be topped.

Food for thought:

Desire- Raheem Devaughn/ I Want You-Marvin Gaye

Bulletproof- Raheem/ What's going On?- Marvin

Sweet Tooth- Raheem/ Feel All My Love Inside- Marvin

Guess Who Loves You-Raheem/ Soon I'll Be Loving You- Marvin

Customer- Raheem/ Sexual Healing- Marvin

SN: Raheem did a cover to Marvin's "Pieces of Clay"

Daydreams

Found myself in a daydream,

the subject was you

I thought of your smile

what a blessing to look at

I thought of our walks,

I replayed your mannerism from how you sleep to how you talk

You are......

I wanna say beautiful but....

That word is too often used in vain

You're better than that

More than the word

You're more than beautiful

More than the words I can find to describe you

you're more than pleasant

More than lovely

More than beautiful

I'm glad my heart values quality over quantity

You are the best quality of love

Never Felt This Way

He opened her car doors

Spoke to in her simply, minus the metaphors

She never felt this way before

He gave her insight on her favorite movie;

And broke her favorite songs down in detail

She never felt this way before

He did more than the average wine & dine

He rolled his sleeves up, went in the kitchen, took his time

She never felt this way before

When they danced, he did it face to face

Instead from behind pushing her head the other way

She never felt this way before

He saw that she was vulnerable,

So he wouldn't let his ego penetrate her soul,

She never felt this way before

He related to her mentally,

Made his presence felt in her core

She never felt this way before.

They built chemistry neither could ignore

Never felt this way before

Plus 1 = 0

I'm entering the prime of life. I'm supposed to experience and explore as many women as possible. I tried, but I aint' got much to show. I got one girl, laugh and joke around all day. I got another with a boyfriend, he's boring; I'm excitement. I got one that's the perfect freak; I only call when I had too much to drink. I know one that's cool; but we never find time for each other. Had another one, but I was too messy. I had a thing with her bff. I had a real bad exotic looking one, we just couldn't vibe. Had one with a vicious body, but she was just too ghetto. Got one with beautiful locks, but she so self-conscious that she's insecure. Met another one, she was easy on the eyes; but she wanted to change me. Said I was li'l rough around the edge. Had one with the innocent look, she was too good. I felt bad cursing around her. Figuring this shit out is confusing. I got all these counterparts, but they don't add mean nothing. With women, if you have more than one then you have nothing.