First, I have to promo two AWESOME new products at BMEshop. We've got the rock-and-fucking-roll caps and toques in stock. Here are some photos (I've color corrected Ryan's photos so this is very close to what they look like):
I also got to see the prototypes for the new hoodies and the new vests… They're very slick. I can't wait to see what comes out of BMEshop in 2003.
Thanks to mal for this link:
A student at an Ohio highschool liked to wear a "Not My President" t-shirt (like perk900's). Because of the crosshairs on the photo, the situation was considered "a potential threat to the president". The Assistant Principal confiscated the student's clothing and called the FBI who sent in the secret service.The Secret Service has taken over the investigation and is taking it seriously. The AP has said that the students who reported the t-shirt should be commended for reporting their classmate, and WHIO-TV as well states they're proud that the students did their part protecting the nation.
Remember: if you don't like what people have to say, make sure you report them as terrorists! Sad because you were born too late to have your neighbor burned at the stake as a witch? Don't fear! Now we have terrorism, the modern day inquisition!
Get real. Only a fool would consider a t-shirt that's currently in mass production a serious threat to the presidency. This was a political statement, plain and simple. So let's look at two issues:
A. COST
How much money does it cost the FBI and the Secret Service to open an investigation, transport the agents out to interrogate the students, and then wrap up the investigation? I can't imagine that number is less than $5000. Even using that low estimate, you only have to have 200 such incidents to burn through one million dollars. Money well spent?B. FIRST AMMENDMENT
Courts have been very clear that students have the right to political protest at school, especially when it comes to clothing. And this was clearly a political statement, not a serious threat. Everyone knows that. So what we have here is a student being punished for free will. We are literally being told that “being politically opposed to the president” is the same as being “a danger to the presidency”. The logical conclusion to this line of thinking is that voting against the president is akin to treason.
Now, it's also important to realize that this was backed up by the government. This wasn't just some rogue schoolboard. I'll mention another story (thanks to jasonthe29th for reminding me of it):
A school in Georgia which was trying to win $500 from Coca-Cola for finding a good way to get students buying more Coke. When taking the class photo for the day to send to Coke, one of the students wore a Pepsi shirt. That student was suspended for it.
Now, that's clearly wrong as well, and even stupider than the first story, but the important distinction is that the second story was a screw up by a small-town principal, whereas the first story, while kickstarted by ignorant fools, was then “validated” by the government.
Other than that… My Jeep is still in pieces, but at least my Vette's engine work (added a supercharger, hello 700 HP) is done and I'll have it back in the next few days. Also, a friend of mine is looking to trade his 99 sled for a $1000 lift kit (dunno what he's thinking), so it looks like I'm getting a snowmobile for almost nothing. Yay!
Oh, and Kendrick Library at UCE has requested a copy of the ModCon book. Yes, of course we sent it to them. I figure the more serious libraries that carry the book, the better. I was thinking that on my next press run, I should start some kind of a fund to ensure that copies of the books end up in some of the bigger medical libraries as well…
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