In The Mix with Joe Schafer

To Tap or Not to Tap? That is the Question for Fighters Only

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:34:03 -0600

The question of tapping to submissions and maintaining fighters’ safety is an exclusive responsibility of the one stepping into the cage to do battle. Of course the referee is professionally obligated to prevent excessive damage to a fighter’s health, to make sure nobody gets permanently disabled. But, the line needs to be drawn somewhere in the sand to preserve the spirit of competition.

That line was drawn all over former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate’s dislocated elbow over the weekend when raising star Ronda Rousey decided to take Tate’s arm places no human arm wants to follow. Rousey, now the women’s Strikeforce bantamweight (135lbs) title holder, took home Tate’s arm as a mangled mantle piece via her eighth consecutive first round armbar victory, totaling both her amateur and professional career.

In what was a highly anticipated bout between two of the most talented females in MMA, Tate ended months of trash talk and pre-fight speculation by simply becoming another victim etched in Rousey’s growing portfolio. To her credit, she stubbornly hung in the hold without tapping until her arm was a popped pretzel, making the ref stop the match before blowing chunks.

As a result, this graphic victory has begged the question: what is considered toughness and what is deemed stupidity. Granted, like previously mentioned, the ref did his part by giving Tate plenty of time to escape and turn her fortunes around before finally stopping the contest, saving whatever intact ligaments were left.

At that point, there were no decisions left for the ref to make because Tate refused to give Rousey the pleasure of yet another opponent tapping to her vicious armbars. She instead decided to violently squirm beneath Rousey’s legs, scream in pain as her arm got torqued, and ultimately extend her medical suspension—essentially a unpaid vacation from competition—by taking more damage than what was necessary.

Was Tate displaying the tenacity of a courageous champion refusing defeat? Unfortunately, as the results have proven, the answer is no.

Whenever an officiator extends a fighter’s chances of surviving bad positions, it then becomes the fighter or their corner’s responsibility to know when the fat lady has sung their song of defeat.

Furthermore, there is nothing glorious or notable in the fight game about masochistic thickheaded-ness, longer leave of absences, sustaining preventable injuries, fighting emotionally, and most importantly, tapping. Graciously bowing out in defeat is a natural part of not only sporting competitions—a bitter pill to swallow for the Antonio Nogueiras and Miesha Tates of the world—but life too.

Let Miesha Tate’s inability to know when to quit during a combative sporting competition be a lesson to all those fighters who value working limbs. Live to get paid another day.

UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann Highlights The Most Stacked Division

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:39:00 -0600

60 plus days into 2012, barely scratching the surface of the new year, and the UFC has two of their stand-up powerhouse welterweights headlining the second FX offering this Friday night. Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves have become household names at 170lbs, having fought an impressive list of peers, in a division where the talent runs extremely deep in the pool.

In fact, aside from the lightweight division, the UFC’s welterweight class in by far their most stacked. There are a steady amount of guys with enough drawing power to go along with skill to shoulder any type of event in need of top slot quality. The same can’t be said about the other divisions and it has shown throughout the last couple of years, leaving matchmaker Joe Silva with the headache of constantly rotating through the same few guys at any given weight.

Go beyond the ticket selling names of Dominic Cruz, Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo, Kenny Florian (who barely counts because he has only fought at 145lbs twice) at both bantamweight and featherweight and you’re left rummaging through two whole divisions filled with a magnitude of talent, but nobody who can successfully hold down a co and main event on a sizable card.

Even with a champion at the ripe old fighting age of 36—knocking on the door of 37 come April—the middleweight division has a fairly healthy lineup of contenders with names like Mark Munoz, Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami, Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Alan Belcher, Tim Boetsch and Chris Weidman. But, nobody comes close to having what it takes to emulate what Silva has accomplished as the kingpin of the division.

Moving on up, the light-heavyweight division plays host to a champion who is only 23 years old, has incredible fighting confidence and finishing skills, is a role model to future generations of prospective fighters and has dominated top 10 competition in his last four fights.

In addition, there are a few guys on the verge of transitioning into the lime light to fill potential top 10 slots like Ryan Bader, Phil Davis and Alexander Gustafsson. Even Rashad Evans is within the most formidable years of his career, fighting for the title in a few months.

Though, over the years this division has slowly corroded away from being the most sought after, having seen nearly all its marque names reach that inevitable stage of their careers that starts begging the obvious question of retirement.

Forrest Griffin, Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson are old souls with rough mileage from an already long career in the game. Dan Henderson is clearly riding high on a second peaking period in his career—undeniably rare in mixed martial arts—but at 41, his time is around the corner. Rich Franklin, Lyoto Machida, Tito Ortiz and Lil Nog Nogueira are all well into their 30’s. They are a wildly popular generation headed towards the exit without a plentiful group of tantamount competitors to fill their void.

That leaves us with the heavyweights, which are scheduled to get an influx of talent from absorbing Strikeforce’s big boys later this year. After adding faces like Antonio Silva, Josh Barnett, and Daniel Cormier to the likes of Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum, this historically swallow division will have greatly improved its intrigue to fans. Unfortunately during any given year, this unstable roster is always a few guys short of being filled long standing contenders—clearly not an issue with the welterweights.

In contrast to every division—aside from lightweight—the 170 pounders swim in the deepest waters. There are simply more contenders at this weight than any other in the UFC. Just look at the welterweight battles that have taken place already this year. Johny Hendricks ended Jon Fitch’s night with one thunderous right hand in the first round, Carlos Condit edged Nick Diaz in an interim title fight, Josh Koscheck narrowly got past a very game Mike Pierce, Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger put each other through a three round dog fight for a chance to become a top contender and fan favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama locked horns with former Strikeforce and EliteXC champ Jake Shields.

Despite already having a good portion of their top welterweights in action within the first two months of 2012, the UFC still has an equal amount of untapped talent ready to compete. There is such a rich diversity of fighters too—every corner is filled with capable guys. Aside from the belt holders and contenders, the division boasts crafty veterans like Brian Ebersole, Mike Pyle, Matt Sera and young studs looking to claim the torch in the coming years like Rory MacDonald, Stephen Thompson, Charlie Brenneman, John Hathaway, Che Mills, Erick Silva, and Rick Story.

And let’s not forget about BJ Penn and Matt Hughes, lingering legends with a few more octagon cameos left up their sleeves and arguably the most popular face of MMA the undisputed champ Georges St-Pierre.

Even bottom wrung warriors like Dan Hardy and Akiyama, both struggling with unheard of UFC losing streaks, have notable fan bases and remain exciting to watch.

Needless to say, the trend continues with a barn-burning display of the division’s best all around strikers in Kampmann and Alves tomorrow night on FX. This fight will no doubt produce a landscape for these guys to test each other’s technical prowess, determination, and power. If by chance, either guy decides to take the contest to the ground, fans keep winning because both the Dane and Brazilian have very unassuming skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rarely seen in the cage—both having brown belts in the discipline.

Tomorrow’s main event is yet another example of two quality 170lbs fighters headlining the action with an intriguing balance of star power and skill.

Surely a few guys went unmentioned, but the general point stands—no other division is equally concentrated with so much active talent. It’s a dream scenario for both promoters and fans to have a surplus of names that can be shuffled around for high ticket main events.

The UFC welterweight division is setting the bar pretty high this year; time for the others to catch up.

Letting Go

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:35:50 -0600

Let’s leave together!
Side by side, we can share the inevitable.
My last breathe outlines the silhouette of the world.
Thumping blinks of lashes, rotten beds and gashes,
I hide behind the curtains, starring in the masquerade.

And now you care for me!
Oh, foresight is the righteous sibling of hindsight.

Why is your hand moisturized with regret?
Our forgiveness is in the clouds above.
So unchain me from my earthly pain of love.
How selfish is expectation and fear?
I can’t help quitting before you,
These storm clouds have swallowed me whole.

Push forward young life.
Your vitality will justify my absence.
The Promised Land seems unhinged on a whim.
Now I’m transparently yearning for touch.
Focus, loved one!
We’ve given up, forged by lust on the cusp.

We will once again meet beautiful night.

Photo

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:18:19 -0600

Quotes: OG Tweets Before Tweeting was Cool

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:15:37 -0600

“Like with anything worthwhile in life, find something you truly enjoy and kill it with enough practice until you hate it and hate it enough to unconditionally love it. The rest is easy.”

-Me

If UFC's Nick Diaz Tests Positive for Pot, Who Cares?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:51:00 -0600

After last Saturday night’s UFC 143, Carlos Condit edged out Nick Diaz in a close and controversial decision for the interim welterweight belt. The MMA Twitter-verse imploded with a black hole of opinions from insiders who scored the fight for each guy, writers and bloggers rewarding Condit’s surprisingly elusive—yet counter intuitive to the dogfight he was selling on the UFC’s Primetime series leading up to the event—strategy, to fellow fighters giving Diaz the nod.

A few days later and that black hole has now transformed into gamma rays of speculation after Diaz’ trainer Cesar Gracie rained down a black cloud of rematch denial along side a surfaced emailed from the Nevada’s State Athletic Commissioner stating a positive test result from UFC 143.

Due to Diaz’ triathlon record with marijuana and a couple positive testings from it, people are starting to put the pieces together, worrying the past will rear its ugly head once more to spoil everybody’s rematch party.

Should it really be a big deal though?

Unfortunately, we live a country of stubborn black and whites, the backbone to many illogical and superficial consistencies that influence the way a lot of people make choices. We’re a country of cheerleaders routing for polarizing “teams” to win; whether it’s red or blue, urban or rural, religious or atheist, socialist or libertarian, the Cubs or Cardinals, the Bears or Packers, etc.

People are lazy thinkers these days. Drugs are bad; so therefore we should be fine with Barry the stoner sharing a cell with Bobby the heroin addict, serving out the same sentence. Rules are rules, which should be enforced on a basic, yet consistent, level, but different levels of severity shouldn’t be discounted by a simple judgement.

So when an athletic commission gives drug tests to athletes, shouldn’t the results pertain more to the competitive impact of said sport than the participants recreational use of non-performance related substances? The whole intuitive purpose of athletic commissions is to regulate rules and to prevent people from cheating. There just happens to be an additional judicial obligation to test illegal drugs along with performance enhancing drugs.

Now that today’s results have confirmed Twitter’s widespread speculation, Diaz will be suspended for up to 12 months for inhaling a drug that has been erroneously classified by law and offers no obvious sporting advantages.

To make matters worse, there’s no evidence when he smoked. Maybe the relaxing anxiety killer was lit up with a fit of emotion straight after losing to Condit, a result that pushed Diaz to proclaimed retirement. If that is the case (because why would he knowingly blast a doobie prior to the fight and lose a belt), this test could literally have no sporting jurisdiction—equivalent to Diaz getting caught holding on a corner in Stockton.

Yet, it could jeopardize an exciting—and depending on who you ask, deserving—rematch if the UFC upholds the commission’s suspension. They have done it in the past with guys like Chael Sonnen, Thiago Silva, and Sean Sherk. But let’s not forget, these fighters—along with many who I omitted—were caught cheating with substances which clearly gave them an edge over their clean opponents.

Rightfully so, the UFC responded to each of these cases, as they normally do, by upholding the decision of the state governing body. If a fighter smears the sanctity of fighting and tested positive for PED’s, they are banned from applying for a license in that state and usually anywhere else, if they fight for the UFC.

On principle alone, I’m sure we all agree that cheaters should have to sleep in the bed they make. Back in the more conservative days, society shamed those who abused trust, be it in the bedroom or workplace. That shame was a stain you would carry down the driveway or into the locker room.

Sadly, the latter location is the last pillar of purity upheld by the mass majority today. Swindle tax payers by tanking their national economy and get occupational bonuses without penalty. Nosedive into a stripper’s silicon valley instead of being a faithful dishwasher and the automatic “bye” from your buddies might even extend to forgiveness from your wife (unless your Anthony Weiner) and social acceptance shortly after.

But, break some baseball records while on steroids, you might be thrown in jail for lying during a CONGRESSIONAL HEARING and spark jersey burnings with your name and number across the country. Sports tend to be even more sacred to the less fortunate portions of the population because it helps them get excited about something positive, it helps them escape the dreadful drudgery of being poor. Obviously, times are tough now.

Conversely, this diehard approach to sports tends to be the only thing most people worry about outside the day-to-day. On any given weekday, you can find people misplacing their principles and priorities up their own asses, but come a Sunday, those same people wouldn’t miss a game or risk not emoting their team colors in the stands for anything.

Regardless how lopsided society’s moral structure seems, cheating is a main component in our society. It’s wrong, but it happens and judgement will come at the hands of those who decide if the time is fitting for the crime. Typically, those who judge harshest end up being the sleaziest hypocrites.

At the end of the day, as far as the UFC is concerned, Nick Diaz did not compromise his athletic integrity at UFC 143. He is not a cheater for having strains of THC on his fat cells.

Where is the competitive advantage in such an act? Where is the foul play?

If Diaz wants to retire, fine. But, the UFC shouldn’t suspend him from the octagon for up to a year. Dana White, join me in my logical, case-by-case bubble of gray!

For as thick headed as the UFC brass can be at times, he has consistently surprised his critics by being open to what the fans and fighters say and want. Cool heads have prevailed on more than one occasion.

In regards to this case, there’s not much pressure for systematic change the public can apply towards a governmental sporting body like the NSAC. They will hand down Diaz’ suspension regardless if it’s based in broken legalities. Fundamental change is slow and painful. All in all, marijuana’s status as a Class A drug will have to be decided on a national level by voters (ideally).

Hopefully the UFC can avoid the NSAC’s authoritarian recommendations enough to buck the trend though and make an exception for the purest fighter they have the pleasure of paying.

All Dana’s options are plentiful too. Diaz vs. Condit 2 would do great business on cable or even on a Canadian Pay-Per-View—a fun way to ruffle the feathers of the Georges St-Pierre loyalists before a potentially huge battle with their hero. The fighters want the rematch, the fans want the rematch and after all the drama and interest garnered from the first bout, I’m sure the UFC wants it too.

Awesome Shit Germans Say

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:45:59 -0600

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Be somebody’s why…

-Joe Schafer

Questioning the Answers

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:38:00 -0600

What do you want from me?
I thought it was clear to see
The forest would be nothing without the trees.

Where do we go from here?
Keep shaking the hands of fear,
Hoping a new day will make the old disappear.

When is enough more than enough?
Quit pretending to be tough
The shoe doesn’t fit and your skin’s not that rough.

Why do you keep forcing the lies?
You and I both know time flies
Making room for a new soul once yours dies.

How did I not see it coming?
The bright light was too blinding
For my broken heart to find the end charming.

Awesome Shit Germans Say

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:43:30 -0600

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

UFC on FOX 2 in the Windy City Blew

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:22:00 -0600

Okay, let me be clear about which part of the night I feel failed to meet expectations. It was the most important segment of the event, the three final fights, which aired on FOX as the “tripleheader”. Fortunately, the seven odd preliminary bouts on Fuel TV delivered for the most part, saving the entire night from mediocrity.

In an effort to put my criticism into perspective, last night officially marked the UFC’s inagural showcase on FOX for millions of viewer—loyal fans and those looking to be converted—and the fights underwhelmed in many ways. All three matches were concluded by decisions, largely due to the fact that nearly all the participants fought too cautiously and/or sloppy to make the affairs exciting.

It was as if the fighters had too much on the line or not enough time to properly prepare. Chris Weidman took the fight with Demian Maia, by far the most important of his career on the biggest stage, on 11 days notice. I’m not sure what Maia’s excuse was though. After the first round, both men were running—or hobbling—on mere fumes and laboring their punches almost on an amateur level.

Following that bump in the road, Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping, arguably the most intriguing and hyped fight on the entire card, ended in a controversial decision victory for Sonnen, a 5-1 favorite, who looked out of sorts from start to finish. A convincing argument can be made that Bisping’s takedown defense and striking won him the first two rounds.

Similar to all UFC events though, there was that infamous “WTF” moment after hearing Bruce Buffer read the scorecards, from one judge in particular who gave Sonnen all three rounds (Since when does hair buoyancy get you points? That would have been the only mathematical way he won all three rounds).

Not only did Sonnen vs. Bisping have title implications, but so did the main event between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, the winner getting a shot at Jon Jones’ gold strap. Quickly speaking of Jones, his commentary for FOX was beyond awkward. He was clearly wearing his nerves on his sleeves, stammering over his points and creating dead air. It was Brock Lesnar at the first Fox event all over again; leave the oratory skills to the retired fighters.

Anyways, instead of 15 uneventful minutes of battle, fans were treated to a main event filled with 25 uneventful minutes. Davis seemed overwhelmed by Rashad’s ability to change levels and land strikes first with his superior hand speed. To make matters worse, Davis looked like he was fighting on ice skates, slipping and sliding on the mat at every turn. The young prospect never really looked comfortable enough to make the most of his opportunity to fight an experienced and elite guy like Rashad.

As Davis’ chances of finishing the fight dwindled with every passing second, Rashad threw his opportunities out the window as well by failing to capitalize on a lesser opponent. There were plenty of chances for Rashad to be more aggressive had he not been thinking about Jones the entire fight. This lackluster main event closed out the evening how it started: boring (yes I said it).

As a result, I fear the product missed the mark of displaying what makes the sport of mixed martial arts intoxicating. If one of the essential goals of being on primetime television is to convince an untapped slice of the sporting fan market why they should watch MMA or the UFC, UFC on FOX 2 produced dull results.

To truly appreciate the intrinsic value of the sport, you can’t expect a thrilling knockout or limb shattering submission every time the bell rings. But, there is a certain level of entertainment and unpredictability that is required to sell the sport’s legitimacy and longevity to casual fans. The FOX partnership is a perfect tool for the UFC execute those strategies; they should couldn’t get it done last night.

I’m a forgiving MMA loyalist and I thought the card was barely sub par. I can’t imagine what the naysayers or more importantly the fringe fans had to say about the night.

To be somewhat fair, there were obstacles out of the gate for the UFC to overcome.

From the beginning of the match making process, these top three billings started off in a bad way. Originally, Mark Munoz was slated to face Sonnen and Bisping was put up against Maia. But after Munoz pulled out due to injury, the lineup was shuffled around. Bisping and Sonnen both had little time to prepare for their new, drastically different, opponents and stand in up-and-comer Weidman got threw on the card to face Maia 11 days before the big event.

Whatever the reasons—preventable or not—the show did not produce the results I’m sure the UFC was hoping for. Luckily, they have plenty of chances to get it right. On the brighter side of things, the host city showed its appreciation by packing pre-fight events and proving to the organization that it is a great sporting town with unique venues for future shows.

Despite poor fight results, it’s fair to say UFC on FOX 2 was a local success.

Huge success or not, nationally, as a Chicago local I was thrilled to have the UFC return after a long three year absence (though also irate that Dana White opted to open up more tickets for sale rather than continue his tradition of tweeting complimentary ones to the public).

Hopefully, the third largest market in the country doesn’t have to wait another three years for the UFC to bring the octagon back to the Windy City.

Slate: How Long Does it Take Mitt Romney to Make your Salary?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:05:17 -0600

SLATE

He makes my salary in roughly 12 hours. It would take me 724 YEARS to make what he did in 2010. I’m not saying he doesn’t “deserve” his wealth, but let’s not pretend he has the interest of the 99% within his agenda either. Hypothetically, he would be a President working with a Congress that already gives all their favoritism to the 1%. Say what you will about Obama, I’m still going to roll my working class dice with him.

Quote: The ancient tweet

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:22:00 -0600

“There’s plenty of good to be done in politics, just not enough good men to do it.”

-Joe Schafer

In Flight, Out of Sight

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:31:16 -0600

My naive flower, beware of those so willing to feed.
Your beauty intrigues and excites
The Samaritan and entrepreneur, both willing to lead
Unspoiled hearts to artificial lights.

Think of me as one who appreciates and protects
Your innocent wool in a pool of shears
From gold-toothed priests and social rejects.
I’m your sanctuary from outwardly fears.

Follow my footprints to the forest’s cool shade,
Away from the sun that feeds us all.
There, share your inner light before it fades
Into a masquerade of monetary gall.

With me, we shall blaze the trails of gloom,
Past the ghastly serpents in stilettos.
Enter my haven, embrace my virtue’s bloom,
Against their cold putrid wind which blows.

Our rations now depleted, our fortress has been breached.
Be weary of those hellish helping hands,
Leasing your dreams to the nearest Wall Street leech.
In my eyes, float upon clouds never to land

Your heart in mine would be the next appropriate line,
Furthering our ascend above the winds of manipulation.
As your saintly guide to the gates of time
I was left behind, wingless and yearning for exoneration.

Humanity is ungrateful of his protection and tears,
But it will be us laughing at Gomorrah’s return.
This revelation has left me contemplating dares
Of my own, sheading my holy halo for a mortal burn.

Holy Scripture has deemed me a coward by human nature
Cause by the majestic movements of this journey.
Complications aside, we spiral in the cosmos and endure
The eternal outburst of heavenly expedition together…

Quotes: OG Tweets Before Tweeting was Cool

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:40:00 -0600

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”

-Bob Marley

My PIPA Letter to My Senator

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:03:59 -0600

There is nothing in this letter specific to my Senator and state other than their names. Feel free to use this as a template for a letter to your own representation asking for their reconsideration of their support for PIPA.

Here is a link to a very useful website that will tell you where your Senator stands on this issue and how much contribution dollars he or she has received from the entertainment industry.

As opposition continues to surge, PIPA is still scheduled for a vote in February. It’s not too late to write or call those whose job it is to preserve the public’s (your!) interest.

Propublica

Keep our sacred internet out of the hands of plutocratic corruption!

Hello Senator Durbin,

It pains me to find out you are a co-sponsor for PIPA, an audacious piece of legislation that would certainly impede on the freedoms and expressions afforded to the public by the internet. PIPA in the wrong hands—by wrong hands, I mean hands filled with six figure contributions from the industry in question—could easily be used as a damning tool of censorship.

More and more average people are opening their eyes to how their Congress bends over backwards, hand in partisan hand, to pass legislation that ultimately preserves the Plutocracy that truly governs our country. Sadly, when the challenging opportunity presents itself to American lawmakers to produce meaningful regulatory or reformative legislation in the areas of environment, economic or healthcare, the best we get is months of squabbling and then a doomsday scenario followed by some diluted solution.

On the other hand, when a campaign contributor scraps their knee, Democrats and Republicans bury the hatchet to create an unholy alliance aimed at getting favorable bills voted on and passed.

Unfortunately, human nature seems to express a despicable quality within people in powerful positions. This only makes it that much easier to succumb to the temptations that inherently follow your type of work. Some might be able to sympathize, but for once, the public wants real electoral options, real change and favorable results for the middle class.

I digress, this letter wasn’t meant to express my overall disgust for Congress’s inefficiencies (or selective efficiencies).

As a voting Illinois constituent, I have a proposition for you. Publicly withdraw your support for PIPA to reflect what we want in my state and country or make a public statement explaining the relationship behind your support for PIPA and the entertainment industry’s contributions to your campaigns (a mere coincidence I’m sure).

Otherwise, I will recant all my personal support and votes for you in the future. I’m sure I won’t be the only one either. The internet is man’s purest source of information and expression; it’s too sacred for politicians to ruin because their relationships to media lobbyists.

Preserve my past support and future votes for your political ambitions by supporting what the people really want from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill: protection under the First Amendment under any and all circumstances.

I’m sure there is a solution to online piracy, but bills like SOPA and PIPA are not the answer.

Thank you for your time (or whoever’s job it is to read this letter). Please reconsider your position on PIPA and any similar bills that come across your desk.

Sincerely,

Joseph Schafer

Chicago, IL

Stop SOPA and PIPA: Time to Save the Internet Dummy

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:55:41 -0600

Here we go again. Time to rally up some gusto in order to protect society from those who were elected to work for the general good of the ones living in it.

We the public have been the butt end of too many jokes. Granted, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to voting. It seems the only people who bombard the polling places are the ones who know very little about how the system really works.

Screw up our healthcare, fine we’re used to it. Screw up the financial stability of about five future generations, fine maybe this mystical deity called the “free market” will magical right our wrongs. Keep waves of college graduates in massive debt by cutting federal funding during a time when tuition never goes down and sleep with the private lending sector to hinder our young peoples’ ability to escape indentured servitude, fine it’s a necessary evil in order to get a high level degree (though I could easily argue against that sentiment, but for the sake of my point, it’ll work).

Obstruct our unfiltered liberties from a free vast world of information, social connection, freedom of expression and speech (and porn!) because a band of rogue web surfers are sharing copyrighted entertainment?! I think not.

In all seriously, who do these Congressman think they are? Do they EVER resemble the person you voted for? Forgive my rhetorical questions, but I think not.

But hey, we’re still in election season right? If you do nothing, you become part of the status quo and you should be asking yourselves: Who will the lobbyists vote into power this year?

Remember that whole by the people for the people idea our political institution was built on and our representation was meant to preserve and protect? Everybody loves a good soundbite. Congress is a spoiled, scared little child working only for its allowance from the corporate conglomerate teat. And to guarantee direct excess to the greed jugs, we the people historically retain our position as the golden egg that keeps on giving to those in power by shortchanging ourselves come election time. We have been the dunce in the equation for some time now.

Capitol Hill is stockpiled with empty suits and buffoons slaving away for the plutocratic ventriloquists who make up the 1% in this country. They never earn the votes we’re forced—due to a lack of reasonable options on ballot forms—to give them. In a basic sense, your vote is their ticket to ride to all the luxuries of being in Congress.

I’m not sure they do enough to show us their gratitude for helping get them into those nice leather upholstered seats. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking our holy senators do their merciful work for peanuts. The Congressional fruits, for the amount of labor we get in return, are some of the ripest in God’s green Earth.

If you don’t believe me, Google it…while you still can.

And yet, they have the audacity to rub our faces in the hindering shit they produce within Congressional walls like SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act). These bills were written with very empowering, yet vague and broad, propositions that could promote internet censorship and create a slippery slope that would undermine the internet’s liberating framework.

This is supposed to represent our interests, this is our “money’s worth” from Congress?

As far as I’m concerned, the portion of the governmental well set aside for the people, has ran dry. The Congress we have today will go down as one of the most ineffective, incompetent and shameful assembly of self-centered politicians in our history.

While important domestic issues go unresolved, their stifling bipartisan hurricane of party posturing and finger pointing has been at an all-time high, preventing any real progress from getting done. SOPA/PIPA and starting a war with Iraq is as close as both parties get to acting like a partisan government.

Any “reform” that gets pushed through is too lackluster to break the surface and strike at the caustic roots of the problem. Time and time again, we’ve seen failed attempts to pass anything monumental in the important areas of environment, economics or entitlements.

But to be fair or rather sarcastic, our brothers and sisters in the US Senate are banding together in an attempt to rid the world’s internet shores of those pesky pirates, who are making it easier to watch box office dog piles like Alvin and the Chipmunks and Joyful Noise—which has a combined artistic value of free anyways—without the shame of going to the movie theater or cluttering up your Netflix queue.

Of course the one piece of legislation that gets both parties past their crippling partisan mechanics, also endangers the core principle of the internet. I can’t say that I’m completely surprised; plutocratic trickery is an American past time and a predictable one at that.

Instead of reevaluating their products or business models, prominent industry moguls unleash their blood sucking lobbyist hounds upon our spineless leaders for change that exclusively reflects their own interests. Once the appropriate forms of bribery are in place, Congress sells us under the bus and pretends their new fallible bills are something they clearly are not.

The Patriot Act was jammed down our throats as a solution to a national security epidemic that didn’t exist. SOPA and PIPA are meant to be calculated responses to virtual thievery, not the Big Brother attack on the last freedom frontier available to the public that it really is. How’s that old saying go? You can paint rust any color, but it’s still rust. Or did it go like this: you can paint a politician blue or red, but he’s still a green crook at heart?

This formula tastes way too stale and deserves the current backlash—regardless of ideology, luckily we have some big business agendas on our side for once. People are tired of conceding their few liberties for security or corporate censorship.

Furthermore, Congress lacks the intellectual and compassionate depth to solve the country’s pitfalls in innovative ways; they always opt out for the easiest solution or directive from their highest campaign contributors.

Hackers are always a potential threat to online shoppers, does that mean Congress should limit our access to certain online stores? If there is a slight increase in stolen Lexus cars, should the public have limited access to Toyota dealerships?

Regardless, the preservation of open access to the internet for everybody is one of the last things worth fighting for in modern society. Without it, we know nearly nothing about our surroundings and our scheming leaders—only what would be reported by the corrupted TV and print media. Our last pipeline of freelance information, which virtually travels to nearly all corners of the globe, allows us to learn whatever and express ourselves however.

Take ten minutes out of your day to write to your incompetent representative and threaten to withhold any and all future votes. At least bring to their attention you are aware of this foul play; let them know you’re not the mindless sheep they prefer you to be.

Consequently, the ironic optimism lays in what makes our politicians unbearable: their easily influenced self preservation. They consistently buckle from pressure like a horde of cowardly snails trying to keep an anvil of expectations from crashing down on their cushy jobs.

Stay a leg up, keep yourself informed and be heard. Sure, that sounds cliche, but by being an isolationist or a pessimist, you’re just making it that much easier for the poisonous plutocrats to rob us blind.

Obviously, it’s always a long shot. But, look at the successes constituents in Wisconsin are having in their efforts to oust Governor Scott Walker over bargaining rights. Their petition included over a million signatures in a state of only 5.5 million. That is a perfect example of what can happen when the well-informed shoulder the burden and spread what they’ve learned to the less fortunate—whether they’re poor or just disabled from the neck up when it comes to current events and politics—even your asshole uncle who swears by FOX News deserves to be saved.

Just today, news has been breaking about Congressman recanting their support for SOPA and PIPA. In fact, SOPA is now on ice in the House and the President has declared he will not support either bill. PIPA does remain in full swing for a future vote in the Senate. Rome wasn’t built in a day nor was it toppled in a day.

People are being heard (I’m thinking more a Clint Eastwood voice from Gran Torino, “get off my internet”). Let’s see how well we’ll be understood.

Mark Munoz Out: Chael Sonnen's Return to Glory Just Got Easier

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:28:14 -0600

News was confirmed by UFC president Dana White today that Mark Munoz is out of his No. 1 middleweight contender bout with Chael Sonnen on January 28th for UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago.

The octagon head honcho also made it clear on his twitter account who was going to try their luck against reigning 185lbs champ Anderson Silva later this year: the winner of Sonnen and his replacement opponent Michael Bisping.

This co-main event slot, anticipated only second on the card only to Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis (which coincidently could crown another divisional No. 1 contender), was always understood by fans and pundits as an “unofficial” contender bout. Now all of us Sonnen fans will be short of guaranteed to see our anti-hero once again in the cage with his arachnid arch-nemesis “The Spider”—the man who spun together Sonnen’s arm and neck into a last minute fight ending victory.

Frankly, Bisping is a much easier fight for Sonnen than Munoz would have been. There’s no denying Bisping’s rightful place in the middleweight heirachy as a Top 5 divisional competitor. He has proven himself consistently against decent opponents, only losing three times out of his total 15 appearances in the octagon, won season three of the Ultimate Fighter and participated in three “Fight of the Night” performances.

This British bad boy is no slouch and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Unfortunately for him and his past accolades, Sonnen is a terrible opponent stylistically.

At first glance, this is a classic wrestler vs striker match. From a technical standpoint, each man is far superior than the other when it comes to their own advantageous discipline.

Bisping’s kickboxing is too accurate and technical for Sonnen’s to be considered in the same league. On the flip side, the “American Gangster’s” wrestling is too relentless and effective for Bisping to even dream about throwing a singlet on in training leading up to this bout.

The problem for Bisping is Sonnen possesses enough answers and tools to overcompensate his own striking deficit while concurrently nullifying the Brit’s one chance of winning. Sonnen has a better chance of surviving on his feet in the world of striking—just look how well he hung with Silva, who is clearly a more notable striker than Bisping—than his opponent has against the take down.

That’s not to discredit Bisping’s takedown defense, it’s some of the best in the division, just not at the level where it will need to be to stop some of the sport’s best takedowns.

To make matters worse, Bisping’s mediocre power won’t be enough to threaten Sonnen’s battled tested chin either. So there goes his chances of putting Sonnen to sleep.

All of these factors would be missing from the table if Munoz could somehow stand across from Sonnen in Chicago. Unlike the Brit, Munoz has comparable wrestling and enough dynamite power to really even out the odds.

If the undisputed divisional and pound-for-pound champ had issues knocking Sonnen down and defending his takedown, the chances of Bisping being able to do so are slim to none.

It’s going to be a long, ugly and painful night for the Brit as soon as his legs get tied together by Chael’s God-fearing American arms.

The Red Coat is choking, the Red Coat is choking!

Episode 5: UFC 142 Rio Results

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:27:45 -0600

In The Mix with Joe Schafer: Episode 5

Tom Brady made it a personal quest to pull the curtain down on the Teblow Show by throwing 50 TD passes for about 10K yards.
The UFC returned to Rio
Edson Barbosa performs possibly the greatest knockout in UFC history
Leg lock finishes are still hot…at least for one fighter
The fans were going apeshit at 1-3am Brazil time
A ref completely blows a call and screws a deserving Erick Silva from his win
Anthony Johnson will have to find somewhere else to fight at Rumbleweight
Vitor Belfort has the perfect homecoming fight
Jose Aldo continues to destroy whatever is in front of him, especially fighters from Team Alpha Male

Next episode will feature chemicals found in bathroom products

Memory is a Blessing and a Curse

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:02:00 -0600

My sweet nurse, my blood explodes like Buckingham fountain.

Allow this moment to stain your clothes and heart

At this interjection, not even death can lead us apart.

Before you knew what you knew as a child, I was there

I was the frightened lover that would brush and pull your hair

How did we miss each other from the beginning?

I returned to you in my mind during the explosions

While Death consumed my comrades to no end

Your charred wings helped me pretend

Consciousness is an eager fool destined for failure

Our voices were separated by the wind and war

All my letters to you, minus the love, were a bore.

Finally face to face with my creator and destroyer

My final seconds lasting a lifetime with you

Hold me close until my heart turns blue.

Oh agony! Where is my loving mother?

You, yes you, I remember your embrace

This devilish map has brought us to this place.

No more pain please my caring mother! Lights flash nonstop.

Foolish to deny what brought us together in this moment

You came back to me my sweet angel of atonement.

Podcast and Blog: Getting My Shit in Order...Again

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:53:58 -0600

Once your life has been shoved head first into the continuous rigors of modern day indentured servitude (slavery if you despise your day job) and responsibility, success or even creative fulfillment on a personal level becomes increasingly difficult to initiate—almost impossible to maintain.

Between sleep and work throughout the week, all that is left to divide between all your ambitions and leisure time is a small single sliver of free time. It’s easy to fall victim to the relentless stresses of living. Unless you were born with a righteous silver spoon up your ass and have a complete ambivalence to the same society that facilitates the greedy lifestyle you lead, avoiding that feeling of being downtrodden after work is a constant battle.

A friend, whose opinions and perspective I respect, once told me, “The world owes you nothing. In fact, the world does everything in its power to fight your existence—fight back.”

In a grander sense, this advice was a call to action. Do not waste the precious time you were accidentally allotted in this life because as soon as you enviably clock out for the last time and succumb to the downside of mortality, life will continue down its trajectory without a second to grieve for your absence. It will ultimately barrel along as it did before you were spat out onto this rock.

You see, no matter how special or indispensable you hope your life is to those who love you—or even to yourself—there are astronomical forces in the universe unaffected, uninterrupted, unimpressed by your existence or lack there of.

There is no validation at the end of the road. Black holes will continue to devourer its surroundings, the Earth will continue to spin, jackasses will continue to upheaval social etiquette with their smartphones and a new carbon replacement will be darting out into the world, at the same moment you die, ready to consume your portion of air and space.

If the paramount objective in life is to find personal meaning—which it isn’t for everybody because so many are happily content wasting away day to day—live in the now, learn from the past and brand the future with what you accomplish in the present.

Carpe Diem is a played out Latin phrase, but there is undeniable truth to the intended point that is trying to be made by saying it. Your time here is as meaningful or meaningless as you want it to be.

Believe me, I’m not preaching from a soap box here. This epiphany finally breached the petrified wood that makes up my skull throughout a long journey of poor decisions and the painful regret that followed. I’ve been too careless with my opportunities, the ones who love me and my health during my most vibrant period of youth.

After waking up on the wrong side of 25 long enough, I’ve realized my collective life experience is a tarnished gold, something in my arsenal aimed at redemption—the true neosporin for any and all life altering, earth-shattering mistakes.

It’s never too late to strike back—turn the tides in your favor. Get busy (like right now…after you finish reading this of course), find some purpose—I finally have.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve come to reasonable terms with my demons—my selfish blunders and mistakes from the past that I lack the power to reverse.

Now, I’ve decided to adjust my expectations, bunker down in my foxhole and start down a path of communication, entertainment and discovery through writing and podcasting.

Despite how unprepared or amateur the products seem now, I have settled on this path and will dedicate the rest of my little blip in the universe to progressing my craft.

Go out and do the same! Or don’t; the universe couldn’t give two shits either way.

As for me, my focus will be thrown upon this blog and my podcast: In the Mix with Joe Schafer. All my writing efforts will find a home on this blog; be it poems, short stories, quotes, articles on mixed martial arts, current events, pop culture, podcast episode reviews or philosophic editorials.

On the other hand, my podcast of the same name can be described as a “hit it and quit it show of useful shit.” Episodes will be in the ballpark of 15-30 minutes and uploaded numerous times a week. The main theme is powered by the idea of taking a headline and/or topic and dissecting the useful stuff while maintaining a casual and candid presentation.

Regardless of the amount of notoriety, there will be no rest or furloughs for my keyboard and mic.

So if you read the blog and listen to the podcast, awesome. If you don’t, politely go fuck yourself (FTW).

In The Mix with Joe Schafer podcast

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Follow on Twitter @inthemixpodcast and @joeschafer84