Monthly Archives: September 2002

Short entry

I've got a pile of things I have to do today, so this is a short entry.

Apparently the “debate” about going with war with Iraq is over, as the US is now “on a path to war” that can't be stopped (Toronto Star) — even though most Americans are more concerned about the failing economy in this upcoming election (USA Today) and a war will drive the economy even more into the hole. That said, nearly half of all Americans say that the first ammendment (free speech) should be overturned as “people have gone too far” (CBS).

The last story is the scary one, and the last story is the one that shows that the monsters that run the country have the power to do whatever the hell they want — because, on the whole, the people not only allow it, but really believe they want it. Ken Paulson of the First Ammendment Center in Arlington that did the study says, “Many Americans view these fundamental freedoms as possible obstacles in the war on terrorism.”

I'd like to know what kind of doublethink allows people to believe that freedom of the press is somehow linked to terrorism. In addition, 48% of people believe that religious freedom should be infringed upon, and 43% of people have said that newspapers should not even be allowed to criticize the government. 40% even cast votes to punish university professors who spoke out against the military.

Let's take a quick a quick look at the Declaration of Independence. Most importantly, let's look at the list of facts that were presented as a proof of Britain's tyranny, and the reason for separating. When you do, you'll see that nearly every claim can be applied by the individual states to the federal government.

I have one word for you: secede.

"If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left to combat it."
- Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address

"If any state in the Union will declare that it prefers separation ... to a continuance in the union .... I have no hesitation in saying, 'Let us separate.'"

- Thomas Jefferson, Fifteen years later

"['We the people' refers to 'people'] not as individuals composing one entire nation, but as composing the distinct and independent States to which they respectively belong."

- James Madison

"Any attempt to preserve the Union between the States of this Confederacy by force would be impractical, and destructive of republican liberty."

- Jacob Kunkel, Maryland

"If tyranny and despotism justified the Revolution of 1776, then we do not see why it would not justify the secession of Five Millions of Southrons from the Federal Union in 1861."

- New York Tribune, 1860

"An attempt to subjugate the seceded States, even if successful could produce nothing but evil -- evil unmitigated in character and appalling in content."

- Detroit Free Press, 1861

"Any people whatsoever have the right to abolish the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right -- a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world."

- Abraham Lincoln, 1848

Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed”. That is no longer the case in America — which means, you no longer live in the free republic of the United States any more. You live in some totalitarian bastard mutation thereof.

Again. One word: secede.

BBQ Pix 5/5


Well that sucks!

Just spent the last hour outside with the neighbors and with some really bitchy lawyers. Apparently when these houses were built, they were built on the right-of-way as well as on their own legal land. Now finally a contract has been landed for the empty lot — they went to the city and said, “we want to build sixty townhomes.”

“We can't give you a permit to build sixty,” the city said. “We can however give you a permit to build eighty.”

To build eighty townhomes they had to compact them together and push the designs right out to the edge of the lot. As such, the edge comes about six feet past the concrete wall that currently serves as divider, and about three feet away from the buildings here. And today they tell me they're building a concrete wall along that line.

The end result of that is that no cars can be parked anywhere here. They all have to be moved elsewhere in the next couple of hours. Not only that, but all the neighbors' garages must be demolished, including the concrete one on the corner, since it sits on right-of-way land.

So…

Porsche: Ryan can take it for now.
Van: Dave can take it.
Audi: Has to go back to the dealership anyway.
Corvette: Park in a nearby lot I guess.

That said, I might stop them from building the fence. I suspect that if I call the police when they start building that it'll at least stall it for a week or two, by which point I'll be gone anyway. I'm not convinced that it's legal for them to blockade me in with only about three hours notice when I've been parking here for five years.

PS. This doesn't affect the BBQ in any way.

7:30 AM and all is… well…

First of all, I should let everyone know that if you want a swanky Texas BBQ shirt there are still a few left — you can go to Allen's page and get one now. They're pretty cool, and there are even two styles. And hey, he has to sell the shirts to break even, so help him out if you can!

Anyway, on to my story.

So at about 7:30 AM this morning there's a knock on my door telling me to move the car. As soon as I do, they start dropping one ton concrete blocks. I call it “The Wall Of Spite” — there's absolutely no need for it other than to be bastards. It doesn't do anything but send a big “fuck you” to the owners of these five houses.

Anyway, I think we all know that this represents the final gentrification death of this community. The Bamboo has closed, the Duke of Connaught either just closed or is about to, and all the other old Queen West SoHo bars and restaurants are being chased out to make way for upscale yuppie eateries. The old residents are being chased west to make way for the townhomes with Jaguars.

I have to admit I thought it was really funny. They walled in my neighbor's car, and they actually had the gall to knock over my hippie neighbor's fence and wreck her garden (the parts that were not “legally” hers) and spray painted a fluorescent pink line across it and told her “no trespassing!”

Fame and Fortune aka. HEIL GLIDER

It's so funny — a few of you have mentioned that my obsessed super-fans (anti-fans I guess) are planning a new anti-Shannon, anti-IAM, anti-BME, and anti-iWasCured shirt (and judging by the tattoo, anti-Martini as well — but Marty's like a brother and I don't mind if they get us mixed up!).

For those that don't know, here's the quick version of the story. About seven years ago, yttrx made fun of “Rave”'s implant on #bodyart (irc). Rave thought it was me that had made fun of him (even though at this point he must realize it was not me, but I guess he doesn't want to lose face by admitting he spent seven years obsessed over the wrong person), and started to become obsessed (eventually dragging along his girlfriend who's website that shirt page is on).

Then a few years later, he spent a while dating an ex of mine who spent their entire relationship telling him how much smaller his penis was, and I guess that twisted his head up in a knot that a sort of black-hole-of-anger radiated out from around him. Then my leaving the CoBM was the final straw I suppose and they both lost it. Funny from an objective point of view, but sort of sad and pathetic at the same time.

In any case, I think it's hilarious. That said, on a purely humanitarian level I hope [y] and Rave grow out of it one day — they're both intelligent people that have things to offer the world, and it's too bad they're just wrapped up with obsessing over me instead of going on with their own lives.

Now to start the actual editing on the video — five hours of raw footage, ack! I have to bring the footage down to about forty minutes tops I figure to make it fit nicely on a widescreen DVD (along with the 8/11/02 BBQ). I'm going to try and squeeze on as many of the older videos on as possible (they can be overcompressed I figure). The work will be totally worth it though — the footage is beautiful (thanks to the subject matter).