"Last week was free love"

The NY Post talks about some problems at the good ol' #OWS gatherings that we didn't really see so much at the Tea Parties.

A volunteer at the park admitted concern among protesters about STDs.

“We give directions to clinics if people ask for information regarding STDs,” said the volunteer, who identified himself only as “Captain” and added that pregnancy tests are also a hot item.

“Like anything else, it happens. People ask, and we do the best we can for them.”

Volunteers at the medical tent hand out cash, usually $15 or $20, so the randy radicals can visit clinics that cater to a low-income clientele, the source said.

Experts said it’s the right thing to do.

“My advice for the protesters would be to practice safer sex. It’s a lot cheaper to buy a condom than get treated for an STD,” said Dr. Lisa Oldson, medical director of Chicago-based Analyte Health, which provides testing services for labs nationwide, including STD Test Express New York.

This reminds me of a friend of mine who is a registered independent and what I describe as a Radical Moderate, i.e., someone who thinks the conservatives and liberals are all a bunch of asses. He is smart and working on his doctorate, but he worked construction for many years with older guys who came of age in the sixties. His contention is that the vast majority of men in all the protest movements of the sixties were really just about scoring sex with as many women as possible, and that was an integral part of the energy of the movement. He said that this is evident from the way that so many of them remembered all the political upheaval that went on from the peace movement to civil rights.

So nothing has changed. I suppose this week will be Free Love Week as well, and Analyte Health will be raking in even more dough for their services.

"But maybe in the next world, maybe in the next world"

A major fracture in the Occupy movement? Say it isn't so! Major down twinkles, man. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. All honeymoons end. Here's the full article, and here's a highlights piece from Verum Serum. Excerpt:

Because even by the time the General Assembly was ready to meet at 7:30 p.m., things were unraveling. A large group, made up almost entirely of men, stood in a circle denouncing the General Assembly and their efforts to "police" the camp, particularly regarding drinking or smoking weed. Anyone who spoke in favor of a code of conduct was aggressively booed. Adding to the morass were four different men looping in and out of the circle, each armed with his own megaphone, shouting their own grievances and rhetoric. When a runner from the General Assembly made the announcement that they would begin the meeting, he was thunderously shouted down, then someone yelled out “The GA is dead!” and the crowd erupted in both celebration and shock: "We don’t want you or your fucking procedure!" One male protester, in an army helmet and no shirt, cried out as shoving matches erupted between several groups of men. The young man who was leading the informal group yelled: "This is the People’s Forum! There are no committees, there are no rules, everyone gets to speak. Get in a circle! GET IN A CIRCLE!" A majority of the crowd abided, although they were openly chastised when the circle took on non-circle shapes.

If there are no rules, then what is the next statement when he says "Everyone gets to speak"? Sounds like a rule to me, albeit a dumb rule. There's an old proverb, something like "Anarchists should be seen and not heard" which I think is mainly based on the content of their blather and not the threatening tone or the megaphonic volume.

The next paragraph mentions how everything eventually degenerated into "spastic dancing and primal bellowing". This is the most consistent thing to do shortly after denouncing rules, authority and order of any kind.

Reminds me of the lyrics to Death of a Disco Dancer by the Smiths:

Love, peace and harmony ?
Love, peace and harmony ?
Oh, very nice
Very nice
Very nice
Very nice
...but maybe in the next world

Funny new Twitter tag: #YouMightBeAFleabagger

I'm digging the new hash tag on Twitter, #YouMightBeAFleabagger. Here are some highlights:

OldBob47: If your Mom urges you go out & protest so she can have a chance to clean the basement #YouMightBeAFleabagger

Iowa Hawk: If you think you're cleaning up Wall Street by taking a dump in the middle of it, #YouMightBeAFleabagger

And my favorite...

Nick_Rizzuto: If you think the 90% unemployment rate amongst post-modern, bi-sexual haiku majors was caused by Goldman Sachs #YouMightBeAFleabagger

I guess if I really thought this movement was going anywhere I wouldn't be laughing at it so much. And I suppose that some bad things might come out of it. But these people are the types who are easily distracted by shiny objects, and they don't have Barack Obama's ability to jive talk. Plus I think shitting on police cars is a warm-up act compared to what we'll see these people doing if they aren't given enough bread and circuses to occupy them. So negative public opinion is right around the corner.

This is real. This is not a "mockumentary"

If you don't find this hilarious, it's probable that we cannot be friends. Sorry.

Wonder if Mr. Roberts of Robert's Rules of Order fame was wearing facial hardware when he first explained the rules.



OK, so wrap it up, idiots.