Serfdom (not surfdom - not at all)

The people that run this world don't care how you or I live, they just care that we help make them richer.

I remember, in high school, learning about impoverished people in England and on mainland Europe who were called 'serfs'. They worked for a very selfish few - the king, his family, his lackies, his governments, and the local governments - without hope of cessation or a better future. And I also remember feeling superior to these serfs, thinking "Oh hell no, this would never happen today! We have rights and freedom and we're not stupid enough to let a few people have control of the rest of us!"

I also remember learning about Russia and the USSR. I always had the thought that those people just quit trying - maybe based on the stories of high alcoholism, or the pictures of very sad people. Or maybe those feelings were based on the Home Team propaganda of my teachers, parents and media. "Hey, look at them! They're weak and can't even buy blue jeans! If they cared, why would they just let things like this happen?"

And now, where are Americans? We are slowly losing our rights. We are losing our houses. We are losing our money. We are losing our self-respect. We are becoming serfs. We are becoming the masses that toil against their will under a select few. It's shameful.

Nothing short of a revolution will change anything. But as we become a more censored, more surveilled people, we're too afraid to lose the little that we have in order to fight. At this time, we have no one to blame but ourselves. 'They' are corrupt and should never have been tolerated or put in charge - we acquiesced to their corruption by ignoring it and following their political theater with rapt attention, as if it were real.

It's up to us, now. Wake up...please.

Occupy the Oakland

I think the dude that's livestreaming the video for Occupy Oakland's Port Shutdown is just trying to pick up chicks. I mean, he's still capturing the action so it's cool, but it's just a little bizarre. And kind of makes it look more like Occupy is the way that kids these days are meeting each other (seriously, some of these folks can't answer the question: "So, why did you come out to Occupy today?" If you can't tell someone why you are where you are, you're either part of some great SciFi mystery, you have amnesia, or you're an airhead.), which is cool, but not really...well, yeah, whatever. If you're there with the same zeal as someone else, fighting for the same cause, but you mostly just want to get laid...I love you, you're awesome. You're making the system work FOR you and I respect and admire that. It kinda turns me on...a little. Forget that bullshit I was spewing earlier, you win, man. I should try to be more like you.

Also, Mr. Stampypants upstairs, will you PLEASE take off your BOOTS MADE OF ANVILS?!

Know your rights, so you can easily identify the moment they've been abolished.

The news is never good these days. More liberties being violated. Less respect for The People.

Internet freedom is on the table (thanks, Obama) for restriction. (http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/hillary_clinton_and_internet_freedom/singleton/) As a publicly-educated citizen of this country, I interpret the 4th amendment to include internet communications. It's doesn't say "a person's papers must be in that persons house" which, in modern terms, can be read as "the person's emails must be on a person's server, hosted by that person, in that person's house". 4th Amendment is below, enjoy.

Citizen's rights to liberty are on the table (thanks Senate! Thanks Obama!) for restriction. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473.html It's a really good read - I'm less and less shocked at the fact that I agree with Ron and Rand more and more. I've included a copy of the 5th amendment below, just in case you're not familiar with it.

Finally, a story on Russia today - a peaceful protest with between 25,000 and 100,000 people (BBC estimates at 50,000) is matched with 50,000 cops, to "protect the peace". Of course, they'll be ignored because Government Knows Propaganda Best. Eerily, this is #Occupy. It's clear that our government is no better than Russia's, and Russia's government is fucking frightening.

I wasn't really familiar with ANY of these Amendments before this year, aside from "Yeah, I have the right to yell FUCK YOU ALL in public" cuz of free speech or something. Like most Americans, I've been complacent in my ignorance, assuming that "these unalienable rights" were sacred forever and were to be taken for granted, so that I could just live my life and enjoy it.

#ows #occupyBoston #occupyLA #occupyDC #occupyWallStreet #occupyEverwhere

4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

5th Amendment
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Occupy structure battle

Occupy, occupied, occupying.

I don't know how I feel about yesterday's occupation thing. So...some folks built the skeleton of a wooden shelter overnight. The next morning, the park police asked them to remove it or get a permit for it. They gave them an hour to decide and start to remove it. A General Assembly was held, with some agreeing to dismantle the structure to preserve the wood and slow down a bit and the other arguing that this was baseless intimidation as they had erected a structure that was, to the letter, impermanent.

Anyway, I get there as the police have already roped off the area surrounding the structure with police tape and had just begun to push back further. 3 Mounted cops restlessly rearranged themselves constantly, which were keeping people alert while keeping their horses calm. It was a long, boring event. We all stood there (to make sure that the police weren't going to hurt anyone, to show support and to stand with the civilly disobedient) for hours. Eventually, barricades were set up (any who crossed were arrested), a police building inspector declared the structure to be "Dangerous" and, with the help of an armored personnel carrier and a cherry-picker, the group in and on the structure was arrested. Many arrested that day were released fairly quickly.

I don't know whether I agreed with the occupiers reasons for their stand. I agree that the police presence was disturbing and uncalled for. I agree that the subsequent blocking of many tents by the police was an infringement on the rights of those living in them. I agree that much of the police actions so far are ridiculous and that the ideals of the protesters are more than valid. I don't know, however, if I think that this was a fight worth fighting for. Regardless of whether we agree with a policy like this, it seemed to be a waste of a struggle. If we had deconstructed the building in compliance with the park police, would that not have shown our point of it's 'temporary-ness'? If we tried to work with police and waited until the park police denied us permits would that not have only strengthened our cause?

I just feel that there are going to be a lot of struggles against personalities in a group like this. There have been many people shut out by the government in one form or another and this seems like the best forum to them for airing their grievances. What's next? What do we do?

Dumbemployment - Day....?

I think I'm slowly getting stupider. It took me three days to construct that sentence. And I think there's no more popsicle sticks so I think I'm out of ideas of things to do. Seriously. Dummer.

And I have a sudden and annoying interest in our energy bill. I look at the meter every time I leave and every time I get back. 1. Why can't I just relax at home and 2. Wtf. That's like the least interesting thing I could spend my brainpower thinking about or doing.

I am reading more books, but it's kind of..fluffy. I don't know. It's like...reading Jurassic Park - it's fun to read about dinosaurs going crazy and chasing people down and eating them, but it also feels good to read books with big words cuz it makes ya feel smart. But, it's kind of fluffy.

Also, my English is not so good anymore. I am proooobably talking with people more frequently during the day, but it's kind of longer and less directional and I don't feel like I put much effort into forming sentences correctly and comprehenisbly.

Dumberemployment. Here's a picture - go here:

Upstairs knows no socks

A certain Republican Representative from Louisiana who lives above my head does not take his shoes off in his own home. And I saw him the other day and he called me "downstairs." It's funny cuz it's not my name. Ass doesn't even know socks.

Funemployment - day 7?

Who the hell knows anymore? I don't even know what day it is...oh, it's Tuesday. Happy Tuesday.

I feel the loneliness, futility and sadness starting to creep in. I feel alone in this, which is not good. I feel sort-of supported, but only in the superficial things. "Hey there...it'll be ok, you'll get a job and feel like you have purpose again, don't worry!" I guess it's probably hard for people to deal with - survivor's guilt or something. Don't know. Don't care.

Also, I've been on the phone with the Department of Unemployment for 49 minutes and 46 seconds...now. Just to confirm some information. This is bullshit.

Who am I in this city, in this society, without my job? What defines me? I'm trying to stay happy, trying to keep people happy, but it's not working out. I just feel more alone for trying. So, SCREW IT.

The world is bullshit. All of it. And if anyone tells you differently, kick them in the shin and they will understand the truth.