It Can't Happen Here, Continued

Thanks to Paul Joseph Watson over at Prisonplanet.com for the heads up. Hat tip to you, sir.

I'm not going to say much about the following South Carolina Law, you can read what Mr. Watson has to say about it. I'm just going to let you read it (and weep). I will however, suggest you remember this while reading it: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."

A little disclaimer here, as well. I do not advocate the repeal of the U.S. government. I certainly do not subscribe to 99% of the "conspiracies" espoused by Alex Jones, et al. But this is NOT a conspiracy, this is the law--a law I ripped verbatim from the S.C. Code of Laws:

Title 23 - Law Enforcement and Public Safety

CHAPTER 29.

SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES REGISTRATION ACT

SECTION 23-29-10. Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the "Subversive Activities Registration Act."

SECTION 23-29-20. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter the following words, phrases and terms are defined as follows:

(1) "Subversive organization" means every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or organization, composed of two or more persons, which directly or indirectly advocates, advises, teaches or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means;

(2) "Organization subject to foreign control" means every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or other organization, composed of two or more persons, which comes within either of the following:

(a) it solicits or accepts financial contributions, loans or support of any kind directly or indirectly from, or is affiliated directly or indirectly with, a foreign government or a political subdivision thereof, an agent, agency or instrumentality of a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, a political party in a foreign country or an international political organization or

(b) its policies, or any of them, are determined by or at the suggestion of, or in collaboration with, a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, an agent, agency or instrumentality of a foreign government or a political subdivision thereof, a political party in a foreign country or an international political organization;

(3) "Foreign agent" means any person whose actions, or any of them, are determined by or at the suggestion of, or in collaboration with, a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, an instrumentality or agency of a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, a political party in a foreign country or an international political organization; and

(4) "Business" includes, but is not limited to, speaking engagements.

SECTION 23-29-30. Effect on freedom of press or speech.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize, require or establish censorship or to limit in any way or infringe upon freedom of the press or of speech as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and no regulation shall be promulgated hereunder having that effect.

SECTION 23-29-40. Organizations exempt from application of chapter.

The terms of this chapter do not apply to any labor union or religious, fraternal or patriotic organization, society or association, or their members, whose objectives and aims do not contemplate the overthrow of the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means.

SECTION 23-29-50. Registration by subversive and foreign-controlled organizations.

Every subversive organization and organization subject to foreign control shall register with the Secretary of State on forms prescribed by him within thirty days after coming into existence in this State.

SECTION 23-29-60. Registration of members of subversive and foreign-controlled organizations.

Every member of a subversive organization, or an organization subject to foreign control, every foreign agent and every person who advocates, teaches, advises or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means, who resides, transacts any business or attempts to influence political action in this State, shall register with the Secretary of State on the forms and at the times prescribed by him.

SECTION 23-29-70. Forms and schedule for filing information.

Every organization or person coming within the provisions of this chapter shall file with the Secretary of State all information which he may request, on the forms and at the times he may prescribe.

SECTION 23-29-80. Promulgation of rules and regulations.

The Secretary of State may adopt and promulgate any rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the terms of this chapter, which may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and may alter or repeal such rules and regulations.

SECTION 23-29-90. Penalties.

Any organization or person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or by both fine and imprisonment.

Cocaine For Kids

Ever want to browse an educational manual rife with a befuddling array of intentionally confusing semi-factoids and half-truths? Look no further: Here it is.

This manual is a handbook for teachers and parents who are participating in a Portland, OR, program aimed at "problem children." My daughter goes to one of the schools participating in this farcical nonsense...I digress.

No I don't.

This manual, if you don't care to read it (who can blame you?), is littered with what I like to call: "The Birkenstock Academician's Solutions for Resolving a Problem brought about by Birkenstock Academicians".

I can think of other names for it as well, but they don't include the Birkenstock bash, so why bother?

Here are a few talking points the manual attempts to outline:

Social Competence is Essential for School Readiness.

What the flying frog is "Social Competence" and who the funk gets to decide the competency standard? (Hint: think tan leather sandals that only 1970's throwbacks with Marxist tendencies still wear).

Or this sparkling gem of an "educational tool":

The Teaching Pyramid; Promoting Social Competence and Addressing Challenging Behavior.

So...by default any behavior that doesn't meet the standard of "competency" is automatically labelled: "Challenging". And to whit, requires an entire program and teacher training regimen to address...

And here I thought they wanted us to believe--for decades now--that only home-schooled children were automatically socially deficient...

I think I see a pattern here, correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Kids traditionally had been taught by their parents, clergy or people close to the family in skills and trades they could USE when the got out of school. Rich kids had the better deal here, for sure because a lot of them (not all) were afforded standard educations in math, science, law and so on.
2. Around 1840, someone (Mr. Mann), somewhere (Massachusetts) decided American kids should be subjected to a "German" style education that would include poor kids and emphasize math and science and all the other stuff most kids tend to exhibit all the signs of ADHD while studying.
3. Other states tagged along until about 1918 when every state had laws mandating primary education for all kids.
3. Everything went raggedly along until about midway through the last century when kids in school started developing behavior "disorders".
4. In the 1960's, this disorder was labeled as ADHD (and a plethora of other pseudo-scientific terms such as: Hyperkinetic Disorder of Childhood, Defect of Moral Control, and my personal favorite: Post-Encephalitic Behavior Disorder) and was treated with Methylphenidate (Nicknamed: Cocaine for Kids, due to it's similar molecular structure and effects to cocaine) which instantly stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain, which leads to "better" behavior patterns in problem children.
5. In the 1970's Ritalin (Methylphenidate's brand name) is mass produced, marketed and distributed.
6. In 1979 the Education Department is created. No connection between this cabinet entity and the mass dopings of children is made...
7. Starting in the 1980's, parents start questioning the affect and effectiveness and ethical implications of administering psychotropic drugs to kids.
8. In the 1990's doctors start questioning, on large scale, the validity of treating behavioral problems with psychotropic drugs, some go so far as to state that the root of the problem is in the home and stems from bad parenting--not from a chemical insufficiency. But the common consensus was that there wasn't a stable base of data collection to rule out the effectiveness of psychotropic applications...which is a weird way of saying: 35 years of using our kids as guinea pigs is insufficient...we need more lab brats.
9. Certain shrinks and head doctors come to the absurd conclusion that the time kids spend away from parents could be leading to these behavior "disorders" and that returning the kids to home space during school time actually improves their social interaction level and ability to hold attention as well as actually, uh, learn stuff. They are laughed off college campuses and ridiculed on nationally syndicated radio and television shows.

10. Regardless, in the '90's home school enrollment skyrockets.
11. In 2000, the FDA approves a sustained release version of Ritalin.
12. In 2003, we learn what the government knew all along, that Cocaine and Ritalin "compete for the same binding sites on neurons" which essentially means that the rash of Cocaine addictions (Remember Miami Vice?) in the 80's and 90's was quite probably linked to the over prescription of Ritalin in the 70's and 80's.
13. No one cares about these findings. Ritalin prescription remains rampant.
14. In 2008 a transdermal patch which intermittently spits Ritalin into the subjects body is introduced and approved. Now YOU can "Stick it to ADHD!"
15. In 2009, academics and school administrators approve Sek-Pac's behavioral training system to enhance and supplement the already over proscribed doping of our kids in school.
16. In 2010 more students are being taught at home, by clergy or by close family members than since 1918, when elementary education was mandated en masse.
17. In 2020 the U.S. government realizes that public education is ridiculous and endeavorless and privatizes all aspects of education. The government relinquishes control of the Education Department, discontinues it's support for Ritalin and behavioral modification programs, admits the mistake was theirs from the beginning and recognizes that the education template they had initiated 100 plus years ago was the real culprit and that parents, clergy and personal tutors really do have a better idea of how to educate kids than bureaucrats and lame-brained PhD's. Millions of kids are freed from their dopamine laden nightmares and allowed to...well, be kids again for Christ's sake. Oh, and, Birkenstock's are outlawed on college campuses.

Bah. What can I say? I dabble in sci-fi and speculative fiction.

A blast from the past

My wife pointed out that one of my favorite songs is actually a "remake" of a very old song her parents used to play when she was a wee lass...garsh, the things you learn every day, eh?



If you're interested, the original was done by Bobby Vinton back in 1542 or something like that...this band here is one of my faves, Royksopp. I did not put the Mononuke vid to this music, credit for that goes to Diore...thanks bro!

Harry Reid about to get violent with spouse

According to the Nevada Senator and Senate majority leader, Harry Reid (D) men who are out of work are more inclined toward domestic violence.

One can only assume the distinguished Mr. Reid is having an intrapersonal intervention of sorts, seeing how he is about to be dislocated from his position in public service.

What's more, is that it probably won't be Reid's wife that takes the beating. According to Brad Coker of Mason-Dixon, Reid is trying his damnedest to get through anything and everything he can before November's election. So it's power Mr. Reid is wont to abuse. Whodathunkit?

Coker suggests that Reid might not even get 40% of the vote if he chooses to run for re-election.

Arrogance, Harry, is self abuse.

Taking the "Great" out of Britain

Britain's Anti-Terrorism act of 2000 and it's section 44 in action:







I don't even know where to begin...

The land of CCTV disallows their own citizenry from filming in open spaces? What the...

And after all the moaning about the U.S. Patriot Act (which I find violates or has the potential to violate the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth amendments to our Constitution and possibly the tenth and fourteenth as well) the fact is, American law enforcement is smart enough to know not to try this shit on us. But...

Was it Sinclair Lewis that said "it can't happen here"?

Hmph.

I often view quizzically at our brothers across the ocean. How did they get like this? They don't even agree on what makes them Great. Well, it's not that they can't agree, heck we'll never have a common consensus on what makes America great. The problem is that none of the answers to the question "What makes Great Britain, Great" can include the following as an answer:

The Bill of Rights.

It's a Jeep Baby!

It’s a Jeep! Baby.

The Lostaglia family had all their bases covered that Saturday morning. Brendan, the oldest was away for the weekend. Two year old Sara, had just ran into the house, thrown her coat on the floor as usual and had just sat down for her daily regimen of ‘tea-time with dolly’. Karey, the mother—and expecting mother—had just gone in to deal with the normal after-breakfast mess. Chris, the father, had just sat down at his computer with a cup of coffee. An uneventful, lazy weekend morning was about to creep by without notice.
But, as is the case in stories about babies...and Jeeps, the serenity turned to chaos and bewilderment in split second.
Chris heard an expletive from the kitchen. Karey was in trouble, he knew that, but he paused for a second—he wasn’t used to hearing his wife swear. He motioned to his daughter to stay where she was--she had heard the shout too--and ran toward the kitchen.
Upon entering the kitchen he saw Karey standing in a pool of water. The sink was filling up with water, but it was nowhere near full. Karey’s look said it all. It was a look that said, all in one swift transference: get the keys, grab Sara, call parents, pull the car up, turn off the sink, help me to a chair and don’t forget the insurance papers. It was up to Chris to figure out the proper order.
This certainly wasn’t expected. Karey’s due date was close, but this was early. When Sara was born they had to walk around the hospital for ten hours before labor was finally induced. This new baby wanted out, and it wanted out quick.
Chris ran to the table, grabbed the keys, barked an order at Sara, took two swift strides to the door, remembered his wife was still standing, ran to the kitchen, apologized, helped her as slowly as he could to a chair, barked another order (this one to himself), hurried out the door, started up the Jeep Cherokee, pulled it up to the kitchen door, sprinted inside, scooped up his daughter…
It was like a fire drill. Under two minutes. Not bad. Needs improvement. But, Chris thought he had remembered just about everything. And hey, he consoled himself, this only seems weird because it’s a rare occasion, it is actually quite normal. People have babies every day. Everything's normal. Normal, it turns out, has a profane sense of humor.

A Little Irony

The Lostaglia’s lived right next door to a hospital. Providence Milwaukie was a thirty second drive from their house on Llewellyn Street. But the doctor Karey had been seeing was at OHSU, a good fifteen minute drive if the traffic was good. Chris said he didn’t expect traffic on Saturday morning, and Karey thought she could make it, so they tried.
It was probably a combination of an over anxious baby and speed bumps that did it. Whatever the reason, at the end of 32nd street, right before they got onto McGloughlin blvd. Karey insisted they turn around and immediately head back for Providence.
She was squirming on the floor of the Cherokee. She eventually got herself turned around in a praying position in front of the seat. She was breathing, heavy and hard. She put her hand out, toward the back seat, to calm little Sara down, who was quiet, but most obviously concerned.
“Are you having a baby, mommy?”
“Yes honey, mommy’s having a baby.” Chris replied for Karey who was now punching the seat in pain.
“In the car?”
“No!” Karey yelled.
The car went over a speed bump. Karey sucked in air and probably every swear word she ever heard came back out in the exhale.
Chris kept asking her if she was ok. Habit. But she hadn’t answered the last few times. She was a little busy.
Another speed bump.
“I’m gonna sue somebody!” She finally mustered enough wind to manage a sentence. Well, that was good.
They were only three or four blocks from the emergency room now. Chris looked down the road. “Two speed bumps left.”
Karey wriggled and squirmed as the car was meticulously navigated over the remaining obstacles. No matter how cautious the driver, it was like having a baby in a motor derby.
But they made it to the Hospital parking lot; only a couple hundred feet from the emergency room exit.
Unfortunately, there was one speed bump they hadn’t anticipated: the one in the parking lot.
He saw it—but not in time enough to swerve around it entirely. The driver’s side of the Jeep leaped up and over the bump. Chris stretched out his arm to act as a seat belt for Karey who was now chanting: “Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.”
The Cherokee came to a halt at the emergency room door. Chris jumped out and did a Starsky and Hutch over the hood to the passenger side of the car. He thought about running in for help, but he knew it was too late.
He pulled opened the door just in time to catch Emily before she hit the floor.

All’s well…

The automatic doors flew open briskly, as if they knew someone was coming who needed help. Chris ran down the well-lit, yet seemingly empty hall.
“I need a doctor!” he yelled at a woman, “Are you a doctor?”
She wasn’t a doctor. She was a nurse. Perfect.
He started leading her out into the parking lot.
“My wife had a baby!” He informed her.
The woman was walking at first but when she heard the word ‘baby’, she ran past him and bolted for the forest-green Jeep Cherokee.
The door was open and Karey had her new baby wrapped up in her own coat. The nurse called for more help. Other nurses came. And doctors. And soon other people, patients and visitors were gathered around side of the Jeep.

The world's youngest celebrity and most relieved mother were both going to be just fine.

Emily Rachel Lostaglia was born on Saturday, February 20, 1999. She came into the world at light speed and if you ask anyone that knows the eleven year-old today, they’ll say she has never slowed down. The place of birth on her certificate reads: “Milwaukie Providence Hospital”. But that’s not entirely true.