Voices

Foodie on the Half Shell: Cooking for loved ones

chathamcommunique

Fall is my birthday season, and I turned 21. It is like the missing piece to my being a real food and drink connoisseur has been put into place. Fall rocks for so many different reasons–those mainly having to do with food. On my birthday, my family takes me out to one of my favorite restaurants, and I get to eat (and drink) all of my favorite things.

It is also party season, and all of the goodies come out to play such as warm dips, candy, nachos, baked goods with cute Halloween sprinkles, and hot cider. The goodies are pretty much impossible to ignore, and thus far I have had at least one piece of candy a day since two weeks ago…oops. Candy isn’t even that good, but when Kit Kats are just sitting out, how am I not suppose to snack on them?

For my birthday, my partner made me an amazing dinner as a surprise for me. I had no idea what he was making, but I wasn’t expecting anything too fancy. His specialty is French toast, so I was prepared to eat some breakfast for dinner. That being said, I was still rooting for a serious dinner, so I handed him one of my favorite cookbooks for him to get some great ideas.

The cookbook is actually called “Intercourses,” by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge. Yes, “Intercourses.”

It is a cookbook full of “aphrodisiac” recipes, but that’s not why I love the cookbook so much. The recipes are amazing, aphrodisiac or not. Each recipe comes with it’s own love story that inspired it. I encourage anyone who loves to cook to invest in this book; it is a classic in the cookbook realm.

Photo Credit: Olivia Beals

Photo Credit: Olivia Beals

When I got home, I was so happy and relieved to find a very confident and rather handsome cook in my kitchen. Thick cuts of bright pink salmon were marinating in a honey pepper sauce that ended up being baked; Moroccan couscous had been made already; and there was roasted asparagus.

Before we had even begun to eat dinner, we learned how to shuck oysters, and then we got to enjoy them. Wholey’s Fish Market in the Strip District has great oysters. They look intimidating and a little creepy, but they are fresh and great to eat raw.

The dinner itself was delicious, and the pepper and honey salmon was extremely flavorful. For dessert, Ben went to Priory Bakery in North Side to pick up some delicious cupcakes. The ladies at Priory are awesome and very talented.

Ben isn’t a natural cook, but that’s the cool thing about recipes—you don’t have to be. All cooks start out with a recipe, and that is how they learn what works and what doesn’t.

Ben was daunted by the idea of cooking for me, but following the steps was easy for him. We all like to be cooked for at least once in a while, and if you have a significant other or friend that you want to cook for you, guide them in the right direction by giving them a cookbook or website.

It will be fun for them to decide what to cook, especially if the recipes are intriguing and tasty. They will end up feeling really proud of themselves for what they have accomplished, and your encouraging words and reaction may contribute to them doing it again for you!

Little Red Riding Vogue: Singing in the rain

chathamcommunique

Without a doubt, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I’ve always been a sucker for adventurous fashion, and Halloween is the one day when you can really let your freak flag fly.

The only problem I have with Halloween is the constant struggle to settle on only one costume. As someone who loves any excuse to dress up or pull together an interesting outfit, Halloween can be torture. It’s the one day a year when I can wear absolutely whatever I want–or be whoever I want to be–and not be judged, and I’m expected to choose only one outfit?

In high school I used to dress up the entire week of Halloween, or sometimes even the whole month of October. I love to express myself, and I figured that was the one time I could get away with it.

Now that I’m older, I’m a little less adventurous with how many costumes I pull together, but it does give me more time to dedicate to each costume.

Last year I was Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid as she turned to foam. It was inspired by runway makeup I had seen where they used small rhinestones dripping down the face like tears. I decided to mix that with a flowing white dress, a sea-foam green wig, and lots of glitter and face paint. I put fishnets over my arms and used a sponge and body paint to dab color onto my skin in a scaly pattern. I topped it off with a layer of white glitter.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the costume. Most people had no idea who I was until I told them, but the reception was pretty good after I explained the concept more. As a joke I went around saying it was, “the ultimate ‘forever alone’ costume.”

Still, it rained a lot last Halloween and it completely killed my costume and my spirits. That’s why this year I decided to try being more practical.

This year I wanted to go for something a little darker, and went dressed as Alex from Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” movie.

Photo Credit: Indigo Baloch

Photo Credit: Indigo Baloch

I started by going out and buying a simple white dress shirt and white skinny jeans from Target. I wanted something nice, but not too expensive since I probably wouldn’t wear them again. Then I got white suspenders from Hot Topic, eyeball ping-pong balls from Spirit, and fake blood and false eyelashes from Target. I already had black Dr. Martens and a bowler cap.

The only part I had to make was the cufflinks. Alex has these great bloody eyeball cufflinks that I pulled together by cutting the ping-pong balls in half, gluing them to the cuffs of the shirt, and then painting around them with fake blood.

Unfortunately, the fake blood took forever to dry and, when they were still wet the next morning, I took a hairdryer to them. It partially melted one of the eyes, but I figured it just made it extra creepy—which is never a bad thing for a costume like that.

Compared to the mermaid costume, the makeup was a piece of cake. I just got false eyelashes that looked like the ones Alex wore, turned one upside down, and glued it right under my lower lash. It felt uncomfortable at first, but by the end of the night, I had all but forgotten it.

It rained a bit and was pretty cold on Halloween night so I was grateful to have a relatively warm costume. Also, the rain wasn’t all bad as it gave me a chance to run around singing “Singing in the Rain.”

All told, I had a pretty successful Halloween, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with my costume. It wasn’t so elaborate that I stressed myself out, but it looked good and authentic, and I got tons of compliments from “A Clockwork Orange” fans!

Diseases, illnesses, and infections, oh my!

chathamcommunique

Since the end of September, the only thing on peoples’ minds is Ebola, and whether or not they’ll catch it. Stories are flooding the media about how someone coming from Africa will bring Ebola with them and infect everyone who lives in the United States.

That being said, there is one concrete fact for everyone living in the United States: the best chance you have for catching Ebola while living stateside is breaking into the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and licking a petri dish with an Ebola culture on it.

With that in mind, here are five diseases, illnesses and infections deadlier than Ebola that you can catch at home.

Bubonic Plague: Over the past thirty years, somewhere between one- and two-thousand cases of Bubonic Plague (one of the diseases associated with the Black Death) have been reported every year. In that same timeframe, only 56 people have died from this disease.  Recent discoveries by the CDC have led to the information that the plague is, in fact, carried by rodents currently living in the United States. If you plan on going camping in the Midwest at any point, avoid the chipmunks. Other animals to avoid include marmots, groundhogs, woodchucks, and anything in the Family Sciuridae.

Seasonal Influenza: Over the past decade (2003-2013), the CDC has reported somewhere around 55,065 deaths from the seasonal flu. This is mostly due to the fact that people in the United States aren’t taking precautions like staying away from people when they’re sick or getting a vaccine (for those who can get one without risking serious harm to themselves). Due to the nature of the flu, the number of cases reported is not recorded on the CDC website, but it probably numbers in the high millions. Yes, you are more likely to catch the flu and die than to have the same thing happen with Ebola.

Whooping Cough: According to the CDC website, somewhere between 10 and 40 thousand new cases of whooping cough are reported each year, contributing to the 16 million cases a year reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s figures also put the death toll per year at somewhere around 195,000 people. In 2010, over 27,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in the United States. Most of the cases reported in the United States were due to the fact that some people refuse to vaccinate their children for the basic things like the flu, whooping cough, scarlet fever, and other easily preventable diseases and illnesses.

Tuberculosis (TB): In 2013, 9,852 verified cases of TB were reported in the United States.  Around the world, nine million cases are reported a year, and about 1.3 million people die.  Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world (the CDC and WHO estimate that about one-third of the world’s population has or has had TB). There are currently two categories of TB–latent and disease (one is incubating in a host body, and the other is an active agent)–active around the world. Both categories have drug treatment programs that can prevent the spread of the disease or kill it before it becomes active. However, if not treated, TB will be fatal and spread.

Malaria: Malaria is currently one of the deadliest illnesses in the world, caused by a parasitic infection of a Plasmodium parasite (transmitted by mosquitos). The WHO estimates that approximately 207 million cases of malaria exist around the world, and roughly 627,000 deaths occurred. The CDC reports that 97 cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria have occurred in the United States between 1963 and 2011, although there was a 40-year high reported in 2011, topping out at 1925 reported cases. The CDC also reports that somewhere between 1,500-2,000 people, mostly travelers, have caught malaria while abroad.

Now, about Ebola…

Foodie on the Half Shell: Perfect pasta

chathamcommunique

Pasta Carbonara is a decadent and delicious dish that is made from cream, egg, cheese, black pepper, and bacon, but it is not especially great for your arteries.

I don’t eat bacon, but I love the heartiness and warmth of the dish. The smokiness of the lox–which is a fancy way of saying smoked salmon–is a perfect substitute for bacon, and you still get the salty and meaty taste. I was inspired to do a lighter version of pasta carbonara since I wasn’t going to use the fatty bacon, and I used Greek yogurt instead of cream.

I take dinner very seriously, and I cook most nights of the week. Dinner is my time to shine, practice cooking, and to explore different ideas and flavors. I look at dinner as my main meal of the day, and I make sure that it’s healthful roots shine through.

Cooking with fresh produce and fish is very important to me, and it is a sure way to spruce the nutrients up in your cooking. I am the only one who cooks in my house (out of the two of us), and I feel a certain responsibility to provide my partner with foods that will enhance his life and health.

That may sound dramatic, but food is a huge part of who we are and what we become. I want to be healthy, innovative, and a little bit spicy–so I try and eat that way, too! I see that my partner has good eating habits that he has learned from me, and I feel really proud that I gave him those skills and values. That is a big part of why I love to cook and why I love to write about cooking–I want others to have a great relationship with food, like I do. My relationship with food is getting pretty serious!

This recipe is filling and tasty. With the substitution of smoked salmon and Greek yogurt, the dish is transformed into a lighter alternative with a lot less fat. This dish is tangy from the yogurt, salty from the lox, and a little spicy from the black pepper and cayenne. Even people who don’t like to eat fish will love this dish.

What you will need for two people:

1 cup of orzo al dente

1 package of smoked salmon, chopped

1 small red onion

3 cloves of garlic minced ( I love a lot of garlic. Feel free to use less)

1/3 cup of Greek yogurt

1 egg whisked

3/4 cup grated parmesan

a bunch of basil chopped

1 tsp of cayenne pepper

tons of black pepper

Saute the garlic and onion with olive oil until the onion is translucent. Add the chopped salmon. When the salmon’s color turns a lighter pink, add the orzo into the pan. Mix the greek yogurt in until it is well-incorporated. Add the whisked egg and the parmesan and mix. Add the cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Don’t worry about overdoing it on the black pepper, it is a key ingredient. The consistency should not be too creamy or saucy, but a little dryer than you might expect. Top with parmesan and fresh basil and enjoy.

 

A letter from the editor: On the topic of going coed

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Last year, when Esther Barazzone, president of Chatham University, announced that the Board of Trustees was considering going coeducational, there was outrage and heartbreak and confusion. There was a flood of complaints and protests. Friends and colleagues were torn apart by differing opinions.

As a journalist, I have an inherent excitement that comes with big news. This was the biggest news of my Chatham generation—and also just the biggest news in years. Chatham was about to be in headlines everywhere and I could not have been more eager to be at the center of it.

However, that does not mean that the announcement did not rattle or upset me.

I never had any particular interest in women’s colleges. That is not what drew me to Chatham at all. But after being here for a while, I had changed my mind. I had never felt safer walking alone at night. I loved that I could walk from the theater to Fickes at midnight, and not be afraid that somebody might assault me in the dark. I loved that I could be part of a learning environment where my opinion was always valued and seen as equally important.

When President Barazzone made this announcement, I felt betrayed. I felt that I had signed up for four years at a women’s college, and this was a breach of contract. They had promised me that experience for four years, and instead I would only get two.

Being at a women’s college had changed me. If I told my pre-Chatham self all of the things I could accomplish after finding my voice at Chatham, the old me never would have believed it.

I was afraid that bringing more men onto campus would snuff out my voice, and the voices of my fellow Chatham women. I had fears that they would come tearing onto campus and demand leadership positions—or take them by force. The thought of losing the Communiqué terrified me. I had put my heart and soul into this paper, and by my junior year, a man could rip it from my hands.

But we cannot lose our voices. We cannot let them quiet us. Feminism is not the idea that women should be more important than men—it is the idea that we are all equal and deserve equal opportunities.

I am a feminist.

Chatham has always been a place where feminists could find justice, and there is no reason why it should not continue to stay that way. The introduction of men should never stop us from fighting for equality; fighting for things like equal pay and respect.

Although I sincerely wish that Chatham would take more time with the transition to make sure that it goes more smoothly, I understand the time crunch. And I agree that I would rather see Chatham transform than disappear.

My hope is that in the big picture of things, Chatham will never change. We may introduce men, but they will be feminists. I hope that Chatham will remain a unique environment: a coed campus that is still safe, a school that makes an effort to teach feminism in everything it does, and a school that fosters empowered women no matter the circumstances.

Chatham may be changing, but my only concern at this point is that Chatham maintains its dignity and history. Just because men are coming does not mean that we can no longer be a proponent for change and equality. We have an incredible opportunity to educate men, and we cannot be afraid to take that first step.

Foodie on the Half Shell: Come as you are

chathamcommunique

I love Highland Park in Pittsburgh. It is a cozy neighborhood with beautiful houses and a sleepy vibe. It is quiet, and you will most likely see at least five people walking their well behaved dogs. Not only is it lovely, but it is beginning to develop boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Looking adorable on the corner is our main attraction in Highland Park, which is Park Bruges (not to be mistaken with Point Brugge, their sister).

Park Bruges has its own dining experience different from that of their café sibling. Park serves fresh comfort food with affordable prices. It is family friendly, and the wait is never too long. Come and enjoy their service during brunch, lunch, or dinner. It is no wonder why Park Brugge was voted one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants in Pittsburgh Magazine.

Park Bruges has a very “come as you are” feel to it. You have the option to sit outside when the weather is nice, sit indoors, or sit at their small, but well stocked bar. Their cocktails are inventive, especially their own “Pathogin.” It is a twist on a gin and tonic, except their gin is infused with kaffir lime leaves. It gives the entire libation a tart and herbal flavor.

After you try one of their cocktails, start with either their mussels or their Mediterranean Platter. Although these dishes are under “small plates,” they are not small. They are big enough to share with about three people.

If you try the pound of mussels ($12), definitely try it with their curry sauce. It is beautifully flavored, with a perfect amount of spice. This comes with four big pieces of crusty baguette.

Their Mediterranean Platter ($14) comes with an array of delicious foods that include hummus, walnut dip, greek salad with salty olives, bread, and warm pita chips. This can be shared with up to four people. It is large and delicious. The last time I was there I even considered making it my entree it was so tasty!

They have all types of food when it comes to considering an entree. If you want fish, order their special of the night or their fresh fish of the day which comes with Moroccan style veggies and couscous ($27).

My mom got their special salmon when she was there, and she had mainly good things to say about it. She mentioned that some of their compositional elements were a little off, and that their fish was a little dry. You need to ask for the salmon cooked medium rare to get that moist piece of fish that you want.

I ordered their Bruges salad with salmon ($16) before, and the fish was cooked to order, and the fresh veggies were delicious. An element that really added pizazz to a simple salad were their “dilly beans.” A great component that made the salad taste a little more like a Nicoise salad with the salmon.

The time before that, I ordered the Moules Frites ($18) as an entree. This time it was a pound and a half of mussels that came with crispy french fries. It was so good, but I would have to say the mussels were not properly cleaned during my first experience, which left them gritty. The second time, though, absolutely no grit. I was happy I gave them a second chance.

Another option that you can add as either an appetizer to share or an entree is their Tarte Flambee ($11-14), which is pretty much a flatbread. It is nice and crispy, and there are options to what type of flatbread you can order.

Little Red Riding Vogue: Think Globally, Shop Locally

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While working for WHIRL this summer, one of my favorite parts of the internship was familiarizing myself with local shops. These were stores that I must have walked past a million times in my life, but had never really seen. And not only did the internship get me into the shops; it also got me acquainted with the store owners and employees—considering you wouldn’t really trust a stranger to come in, take whatever they like, and leave.

Now, of course, I do have my own particular tastes, and so not every store’s style matched up with my own. It doesn’t mean they weren’t great—it just means that I’m very particular. Also, some of the stores would be geared towards an older generation so their styles did not work for a younger person.

One of my favorite stores was Kristi Boutique in Aspinwall. Although I cannot remember seeing it before in passing, I’m sure I must have. And now, whenever I head down to the Waterworks Mall, I can’t help but notice it.

Kristi Boutique boasts a great selection of clothes and styles that can honestly work for any age group. Specifically, they have a denim “bar” with dozens upon dozens of jeans, shorts, and more. They also explicitly carry Project 11 belts and belt buckles that you can interchange for a unique look every time. They have an abundant supply of soft t-shirts for yoga and a great assortment of accessories—such as designer sunglasses that could make you swoon.

Being in the same building as a yoga studio, Kristi Boutique has a relaxing atmosphere to the point where you could lose hours in there, just checking out every intimate detail of the little store. Everyone that works there is a pocket full of sunshine and although the prices are pretty steep, I would absolutely recommend stopping in if you’re in the area.

Another store I was head over heels for was e.b. Pepper on Walnut Street in Shadyside. Although it’s a bit less relaxed than Kristi Boutique, e.b. Pepper has the most incredible clothes. Sure the atmosphere is a bit stuffy, and if you’re young and wild like I am, you constantly feel like they’re watching you like a shoplifter, but the fashion absolutely outweighs any negatives.

Much like its atmosphere, the fashion of e.b. Pepper is high class, but also charming. Once again, the prices are pretty intimidating, but definitely worth it. If you ever need an incredible dress for an important event, and you’ve got money to burn, go to e.b. Pepper. You’ll find something that no one else can top, and everyone can admire. If you want to look “Vogue”, shop at e.b. Pepper.

Finally, not far from e.b. Pepper is Roberta Weissburg Leathers. All I can say of Roberta is if you wish you were a celebrity, then just stop by her shop.

Being a boutique, Roberta likes to get to know her customers, and then be their personal shopper in a way. She buys her stock with you in mind, and takes note of the styles that you prefer—not to mention her store is always packed with gorgeous belts and fun, art-themed socks. She has an overwhelming collection of cowboy/cowgirl boots and a talent for personalizing leather that could knock your socks off. And as an added bonus, she’s extremely nice.

If you’re ever looking for something to do, and you’re near any of these shops, definitely stop inside. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for copies of WHIRL!

Foodie on the Half Shell: Everybody loves brunch

chathamcommunique

Brunch is one word with so many different meanings. It is the epitome of meals, encompassing sandwiches, waffles, eggs, potatoes, scones, mimosas, and bloody marys. It is a meal that is full of so many possibilities, and without any boundaries.

I love to go out for brunch. It is an event and party in itself. With the autumn coming, and the cool wind invading my home, I have the desire to go shopping in little boutiques for pumpkin scented stuff and blankets. To top it off, I want a chai tea with some inventive version of brunch. My ideal brunch involves smoked salmon, cheeses, potatoes, pickles, and spicy stuff. Bagels and lox with a spicy bloody mary fit that picture.

Whenever my partner, Ben, has a morning off during the weekend, we sleep in and end up starving when we wake up. It is around noon when we head out, but we still want breakfast. Pamela’s down in the Strip is a go-to, but we wanted to try something different recently.

Coca Café in Lawrenceville is a tiny café that doesn’t look like much from outside, but once you are inside it is a colorful blast from the past. The mix-matched furniture creates a home style from the 60’s feel. It isn’t a huge café, but it is big enough to keep a crowd moving. On a Sunday around one in the afternoon, we waited for about fifteen minutes for a table.
Coca Café only has brunch on Sundays, and their menu changes weekly. I ordered their house tea smoked salmon omelet. Their eggs were cooked perfectly, and it was stuffed with goat cheese, dill, grape tomatoes and salmon. It came with crunchy home fries.

It was delicious, and tasted very fresh. Ben got their–wait for it–herb goat cheese stuffed French toast, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with strawberries. It was good without syrup, but it was incredible with the syrup. The savory and salty of the goat cheese with the sweetness of the powdered sugar and fruit went together like brunch heaven.

This spot is perfect for a morning out with your friends or loved one. It has a large scope of foods, and they even have vegetarian sausages, which are super tasty. It is also in a part of town that is really hopping with fun shops, salons, restaurants and cafés.

It will fulfill all of your hipster needs, such as kosher pickles, barbershops, vintage clothes, and BPA-free toys. Head down to Lawrenceville and enjoy the tastiness Coca Café has in store for you.

How fair is Fair Trade?

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The fairness of Fair Trade coffee is debatable.

At the core of the Fair Trade ideal is the idea that coffee farmers should receive a fair price for the coffee they grow and export, without having to deal with shady middlemen or corporations that would exploit them.

The purpose of the various Fair Trade organizations around the world–the majority of which are part of Fairtrade International umbrella organization–is to ensure that growers are paid a fair market price for the goods they provide, along with ensuring that regulations against child and forced labor are followed.

Despite the alleged good that Fair Trade organizations do, there are major downsides present within the system itself, such as what the growers actually make, what the consumers are charged, and the fact that Fair Trade is, at its heart, a marketing organization with a good angle, among other problems too numerous to discuss in a short space.

The price of a bag of Fair Trade certified coffee can range as high as $30 a pound, while a pound of coffee from Maxwell House costs about $5 a pound after sales tax. The average subsidy for a grower in a Fair Trade certified commune per pound of coffee produced is about $2.35 ($1.50 on the general subsidy, plus an extra $0.80 for the market pricing).

For an $8 bag of Fair Trade coffee (one pound), this works out to a 3.4 percent mark-up. For a $30 bag of Fair Trade certified, the mark-up is closer to 13 percent.

While the markup on the price of coffee doesn’t sound like it’s too high, other costs have to be taken into consideration: Fair Trade co-ops need a lot of money to run smoothly; infrastructure to transport the coffee is a general requirement, and Fair Trade practices require adequate housing and other standards, all of which are outlined in Fairtrade International’s 31-page book of coffee-related and general standards.

All of this adds up to a large amount of money put towards development. At the end of the day, the average take per pound of coffee per farmer works out to be closer to $0.20 to $0.30 a pound in wages.

Mark-ups and price-wage discrepancies aside, the question still remains of impact and the efficacy of fair trade. According to Fairtrade International, Fair Trade practices reduce poverty among coffee growers and reduce the negative impact of growing coffee on the environment.

Looking at FTI financial records, though, brings more discrepancies to light: for each pound of Fair Trade certified coffee sold, Fair Trade International (or the organization under their umbrella) makes $0.10 in licensing fees.

Given the already-low wages, it starts to seem as though coffee growers would be better off working with companies not following Fair Trade standards, especially given that no impact studies have been conducted with enough conclusive evidence to prove that Fair Trade standards work in even the most basic terms.

How fair is Fair Trade?

Rest in peace, net neutrality

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Net neutrality is dead and Tom Wheeler killed it.

Since 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been in proceedings to discuss the issue of network neutrality–the principle that Internet Service Providers must treat all electronic data equally, without discrimination or different charges based on user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.

Corporations involved in the issue tend to lean towards the side of internet fast lanes–charging users more to use certain sites–and other methods of restricting the internet in violation of current net neutrality doctrine, which is covered by common carrier regulations.

Common carrier regulations are a previous FCC ruling that forced phone companies to treat all calls equally or without preference. Until September 10, 2014, communications providers were forced to treat the internet under common carrier regulations.

As the FCC has struck down prior rulings–one as recent as last year (“Verizon Communications, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission”)–on net neutrality with this new decision, drastic changes may be coming. The internet, predictably, did not respond well to the news of these happenings.

Over the course of the last year, internet users have broken the FCC website twice with the sheer volume of complaints filed on the subject of net neutrality.  Figures as recent as September 10 put the number of complaints in the area of 3.7 million.

Due to the volume of complaints, the original comment period of five months that the FCC had opened had to be extended for over a week due to server latency issues.  On September 10, over 220,000 complaints were registered on the site over the course of the day. The average number of calls to the FCC during the Day of Action was around 1,000 calls per minute.

Contributing actions in favor of continued net neutrality and the volume of complaints issued to the FCC were internet-wide blackouts and server slow-downs by various sites, including Tumblr, Netflix, Reddit, and other sources–including a widely viewed segment by John Oliver from “Last Week Tonight.”

One of the possible outcomes from this decision is that last year’s victory over Comcast–in which the company’s merger with Time Warner was only approved if they agreed to maintain net neutrality until 2018–may no longer be enforceable.

Comcast has since joined Team Cable, which comprises of Verizon, Time Warner, and AT&T; coincidentally, these are some of the most reviled companies in the United States.

However, this may not be the outcome as there does exist the grandfather clause in their original agreement on the Comcast-Time Warner merger wherein they will have to protect network neutrality for their users until 2018, barring renegotiation with the FCC.

Despite the rulings and possible outcomes of the rulings, organizations like Free Press and Battle for the Net are still running active campaigns and organizing petitions to keep the net neutral. Battle for the Net currently hosts downloadable code to make an artificial slowdown on websites and blogs, with links to more information.

It is still possible to crash the FCC servers and tie up their phone lines to express your displeasure with their ruling on net neutrality.

For Internet complaints, visit www.fcc.gov/comments.

For phone complaints, call 1-888-225-5322 or 1-888-835-5322.