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3/5/10 04:11 pm
Please show your support for MGM
Bill:
Comment to the online articles in the links
below
Help enlighten the masses by speaking
in favour of Massachusetts Senate Bill 1777 and against infant
circumcision! Login daily
(or more often if you can) to the websites below have 'comment' sections
and NEED your input! The
alarm has been sounded on some of the pro-circ sites -- the MGM
Bill's day in the State House is truly "the shot heard 'round the
world" for intactivists!!! You can bet the people that believe
it's a parent's right to mutilate and maim their children will be
speaking out -- and those that already have harmed their children will
defend their decision, as not to admit any possible wrong doing.
I know you can't possibly reply to each and every
message, but please tick the "LIKE" or "thumbs up" buttons (or 'report
abuse' for off-topic/hurtful messages or click the "thumbs down"
button). An influential voting member
of the committee COULD be reading and may vote upon what they perceive as
"public opinion"!
In order
of highest reader/viewership:
NEWS SOURCES
WELL-READ
BLOGS
RELIGIOUS NEWS/WEBSITES AGAINST THE
BILL
Write to the Massachusetts Joint Committee
on the Judiciary:
When you write them, please carbon copy me,
so I can pass the letter onto Matthew Hess.
Also, be sure to spread this
message to your family and friends, you need not be a U.S. citizen nor a
Massachusetts resident to speak
out!!
Like I've said in several interviews: At the very least this is raising awareness
of the issue and getting parents and people to discuss it before signing consent
for a procedure that could harm their child. As for passing a law to
banish the procedure, even I said in the Worcester Telegram, “Our bill doesn’t
stand a snowball’s chance in hell of getting passed”; however, criminalizing
circumcision by making it illegal (MBM Bill) is only ONE
avenue intactivists are pursuing. Others
actions include:
- Getting circumcision de-funded by many health
insurance companies and Medicaid (14 states do far!)
- Educating the masses online, in print, on
television, on billboards and more -- making parents aware of the consequences
of their actions and making those injured by circumcision also aware.
- The pièce de résistance will take
place in 2014 when males circumcised after September 30, 1996 (when the
U.S. FEDERAL FGM law went into effect) will become adults. With the
help of our agencies, there will be a LOT of angry, educated, circumcised
18 year old men who will sue individual States and the United States
Government for not enforcing the law protecting their genitals from mutilation
without gender bias under the 14th amendment to the United States
Constitution. If that's not good enough, with circumcision rates
estimated to go below 50% by 2014, circumcised men will become
"the odd man out" and we'll see more charges of assault against
doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and parents! (They love to
sue in the United States.)
The saturation of information about circumcision,
as facilitated by the uncensored internet is helping to get the word out
avoiding religious/zionist censorship in the mainstream United States
media. People are learning. Comments can be seen from
people from the rest of the civilized world, calling infant circumcision
barbaric. People are questioning tradition, religion, their health care
providers and circumcision.
I can pretty much assure that there will be a
recommendation for circumcision from the CDC soon. We need to be ready for
this. It will feel to be a crushing defeat.
.
Sincerely, Charles A.
Antonelli,
47 Washington St, Box 690762, Quincy, MA
02269-0762
It is ILLEGAL in the United States
to circumcise girls. Therefore, according to the 14th amendment, boys are
guaranteed equal protection under the law. One of the problems with
that is that many people see female and male circumcision as totally different
things. Many people who view female circumcision as barbaric, but view male circumcision as perfectly acceptable.
Current Music: Britney Spears - If You Seek Amy
3/5/10 04:09 pm
I honestly expected a tsunami of commentary from my last blog entry, but I guess that everyone realizes that forced circumcision to anyone, boy or girl, whether or not allowed by their parents or not, should be a crime against humanity.
Due to the press we're getting, online discussion/commentary sections connected to them reveal the true pulse of the public, even when the article is clearly not in favour of the MGM Bill! I'll have more on the MGM Bill in my next post... until then, allow me to tell you about something else going on:
Empire City, M.C. News
The NEW Empire City Motorcycle Club website is now online! Check it out http://EmpireCityMC.com/ and let me know if you notice any errors please!
Starting 7th April 2010, Empire City, M.C. will resume meeting at "The Centre", 208 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011 from 8pm-9pm. All bikers & prospects are welcome! There are many events and rides in our "Rides & Events" calendar - if you're a safe rider, you're welcome to join us for them! Contact our Road Captain for information about any of the events in our calendar. Spring is coming! I intend to be on my bike again this weekend!
Current Music: Denis Leary - Traditional Irish Folk Song
3/3/10 01:59 pm
Yeah -- I've been quiet the past few days -- a lot has been going on. Suddenly I'm getting job interview requests like crazy -- and at the same time, the Male Genital Mutilation bill (MA-Senate Bill 1777) got it's moment in the spotlight at the Massachusetts State House (it only took FOUR years).
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary listened to public testimony yesterday (2 March 2010) in a public hearing forum. The room was literally standing room only from the sheer number of people that came. The committee heard from almost two dozen people who clearly stated their support for the bill and gave detailed information why they supported it. (A special thank you needs to go out to Chairperson O'Flaherty for 'burning the midnight oil', keeping the hearing going into the night, allowing everyone to testify!) You can read my personal testimony here. Senator Cindy Creem (1st Middlesex and Norfolk) who is the senate's chairperson for the joint committee (and allegedly Jewish) was absent more than 50% of the hearing, and when present, seemed more interested in whispering in the ear of the house chairperson, Eugene O'Flaherty (Ward 2, of Boston, and Wards 1 and 2, precincts 1 and 3 of ward 3, and precincts 1 and 4 of ward 4, of Chelsea, Suffolk County) than listening to the heartfelt testimony from citizens. My hat's off to the Honourable Chairperson Eugene O'Flaherty who appeared truly interested and sympathetic to the persons testifying (following recovery the of initial shock that we all felt then the words "penis", "foreskin", "circumcision" and so on were being spoken in the State House!) Various Senators and House Members on the committee came in and left throughout the hearing. Written testimony was submitted by all speakers to the secretary for dissemination to all committee members. We were assured that each written testimony submitted would be read (yeah, right)... We were featured on FOX25 Boston (WFXT) (see the clip below). As you can see from the on-the-street interviews, everyone (bar one person) agreed that a person should have their own choice when it comes to circumcision! Peter W. Adler, MA, JD has written a summary of the testimonies. There were a total of three people opposed to S 1777, believing it was their right to have healthy body parts amputated from their children. All three quoted religious freedom, health "benefits" and various references to their own version of the bible/torah.  Of the three testifying against the MGM Bill, one was male , wearing ceremonial robes and a yamaka and was viably very upset at he was awaiting his turn to speak, while each person in favor of S 1777 received rousing applause (which is uncommon in these sort of formal proceedings). The other two were female, one spurted quotes from the bible's chapter of genesiss. She looked a lot like "the cat lady" from the Simpson's television show (photo: right), obviously without the cats -- but just as loony -- spouting biblical quotes. The other lady looked, sounded and acted a lot like Beth Grant's character Kitty Farmer from the movie Donnie Darko. If you've seen Donnie Darko, Kitty the side character that was producing the dance troupe "Sparkle Motion!" with the young daughters. If you you haven't seen Donnie Darko, think of any over-zealous mother living their live vicariously through their daughter by pushing them hard in contests, pageants, etc. -- you get the idea.  So, the three opposing views were quite radical, while the SEVENTEEN that testified on our side were doctors, lawyers, publishers, parents, professionals and stated our case quite eloquently, calmly and rationally. Senator Creem appeared shocked, then disgusted when several of our testifiers that were Jewish publicly denounced what most Jews consider a "birthright". One, a Jewish mother who refused to have her boys circumcised, testified which caught Senator Creem's attention for a moment, then as if to shun the testifier, spun her chair around and proceeded to apparently ignore the rest of what she had to say. Separation of State and religion does not exist. A Physician Associate/PA testified that he encourages his colleagues not to circumcise babies, after taking the time to learn more about circumcision. He made a compelling speech about the serious damage he saw in adult men caused by neonatal circumcision. A summary of the testimonies has been written by Peter W. Adler, MA, JD and can be seen here.The result (vote) from this hearing is due from the committee by 17 March 2010. Until that time, we will continue to pressure the committee members (below) to read our testimony and research the subject for themselves. The Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Michael Avitzur, Legislative Counsel to Senator Creem (Michael.Avitzur@state.ma.us) Rep. Eugene O’ Flaherty, House Judiciary Chair (Rep.GeneOFlaherty@hou.state.ma.us)
Senator Cynthia Creem, Senate Judiciary Chair (Cynthia.Creem@state.ma.us) Senator Steven Baddour, Senate Judiciary Vice-Chair (Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us) Senator Gale Candaras (Gale.Candaras@State.MA.US) Senator Jack Hart (John.Hart@state.ma.us) Senator Thomas McGee (Thomas.McGee@state.ma.us) Senator Bruce Tarr (Bruce.Tarr@state.ma.us)
Rep. Christopher Speranzo, House Judiciary Vice-Chair (Rep.ChristopherSperanzo@Hou.State.MA.US) Rep. James Fagan (Rep.JamesFagan@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. Colleen Garry (Rep.ColleenGarry@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. Marie St. Fleur (Rep.MarieSt.Fleur@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. John Fernandes (Rep.JohnFernandes@Hou.State.MA.US) Rep. Katherine Clark (Rep.KatherineClark@HOU.State.MA.US) Rep. James Dwyer (Rep.JamesJDwyer@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. Danielle Gregoire (Rep.DanielleGregoire@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. Lewis Evangelidis (Rep.LewisEvangelidis@hou.state.ma.us) Rep. Daniel Webster (Rep.DanielWebster@hou.state.ma.us) Until then, please thank Matt Hess, head of MBMbill.org and Intact America for making this event a resounding success for genital integrity for everyone! More news coming -- but if you're a supporter of our bill and a resident of Massachusetts, won't you consider joining our MGMbill-MA Yahoo group so we can keep in touch with breaking news?
Current Music: Animusic - Pipe Dream
2/26/10 10:13 pm
Go ahead... Try to resist the urge to play!
Current Music: Gomez - Girlshapedlovedrug
2/26/10 11:18 am
It was like taking a double-dose of Prozac on
Wednesday with I uncovered Sabados (my motorcycle), cleaned, washed, polished
did some routine maintenance then went out for a ride! I knew the snow was
coming -- and it was my last opportunity to do this for a while. Folks on
the street when I was stopped at traffic lights smiled and chatted with me
freely about how near the spring was! It was glorious.
I'm missing
my bike something fierce -- and fierce is a very good word to describe my mood
when I don't have access to ride.
In gay
bike club news:
- The Pocono Warriors are celebrating their
anniversary this (snowy) weekend in Philadelphia, PA. Congrats
boys! I think they're 32 years old now!
- The Long Island Raven's celebrate their 19th
anniversary March 19th-20th with their annual RUN and DINNER.
Information is at http://www.liravensmc.org/
- Empire City has some great rides and events coming
up this spring and summer, including our 46th annual free Biker's Picnic and
Bike Blessing (which will be the weekend following Memorial Day) --
information is in the club's calendar at http://www.empirecitymc.com/
- The Rochester Rams, M.C. have secured their
traditional weekend for their 35th Anniversary at their private campground --
it'll be the weekend before Labour Day. Information coming to http://www.rochesterrams.com/
soon.
Biker's rights
news:
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (a non-gay
lobbying group) has won two major battles for all biker's rights:
#1) The
Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) reported to its membership that
“Motorcycle Only” checkpoints [like we had in New York in the
spring in 2009!] were initiated in the small Town of Sterling, MA last July 15th
stopping any and all Motorcycles without probable cause for “safety
checks”. These stops resulted in numerous citations issued for a range of
violations including non-functioning lights, tire tread depth, helmets and
exhaust systems. In October, 15 of those riders stood up for their rights
and yours in front of a Magistrate and today, 4 more riders went before a MA
District Court Judge and were found “Not Responsible” for all 6 charges.
Read more at http://www.massmotorcycle.org/#2) New Hampshire's "Anti-Motorcycle" bills were successfully
defeated: The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) was in attendance to
represent the Motorcyclists of Massachusetts at the New Hampshire State House on
January 28th in opposition to 2 bills – NH HB 1162 and NH HB 1261 which would
have respectively required all riders to wear
helmets and all motorcycles to have EPA-stamped exhaust
systems. Both bills were subsequently voted “Inexpedient to
Legislate” (ITL) unanimously by the NH House Transportation Committee, and last
week the MMA reported to our members that NH HB 1261 had been successfully
defeated. The MMA is pleased to report that the NH House today voted to
also defeat NH HB 1162. Read more at http://www.massmotorcycle.org/
(Yeah, these are New England news items, but it
affects all riders!)
Biker's
education:
- If you were riding this season and came
across an accident scene, would you know what to
do?
- If you were riding this season and you
or someone in your group were in an accident, would you be
prepared?
The Massachusetts
Motorcycle Association takes Motorcycle Safety very seriously and with
the help of Accident
Scene Management, Inc (ASMI - http://www.accidentscene.net ), developed the
following low-cost classes:
I am
interested in pursuing the
creation of similar classes here in New York City.
There are two instructors (below) in the New York
area.
I need to know: Is anyone
interested in these potentially life-saving classes? If so, please
e-mail me today!! I'm guessing we'll need
10-30 people to hold classes; furthermore, I feel it would be a rewarding activity for bikers in the NYC area us to do
during our winter "down time". Please let
your mates know about my idea -- I really would like to see this
happen!

Joe “Stormin” Norman - Assistant
Instructor
I work for the NYC Dept. of
Transportation. I have been riding motorcycles for over 35 years. I am a
co-founder of the Staten Island Bikers Association and co-founder of the Low
Riders Motorcycle Club. I belong to ABATE of NY, H.O.G., AMA and am a Rider
Coach for the MSF and MANYS. I became interested in teaching this program out of
my desire to teach my fellow bikers how to be safe through proper riding skills.
My goal is not to attend another friend’s funeral over something that could have
been prevented. To schedule a class, contact me at ASMINYC@aol.com
John Colandrea, Paramedic - Lead
Instructor
Having been
around the fire service since his dad was a fire chief and EMT back in the 70’s
John learned early on the importance of “Knowing what to do”. Having been
an EMT and Paramedic since the early 90’s, most of what he has encountered was
completely preventable. He became a motorcycling instructor to help put
himself out of business as a paramedic. His ultimate goal is for you to
NEVER use the first aid skills or collision avoidance techniques he teaches, but
statistics show that this is not reality. Therefore, we must all become
part of the solution. TRAINING is the BEST accessory you can buy for your
bike and your life! John and his mother operate Capital Area Motorcycling
School, Inc. in Troy, NY which trains nearly 1300 students each year in basic,
intermediate and advanced riding. He is an MSF RiderCoach and
ScooterCoach, Total Control ARC instructor, EVOC instructor and USCA Curling
Instructor. Besides his family, his vices are trackdays and curling. Info
and schedules at www.hvcc.edu/rider To schedule as
ASMI class, contact John at CAMSTraining@nycap.rr.com www.hvcc.edu/rider To schedule as
ASMI class, contact John at CAMSTraining@nycap.rr.com
In Brotherhood,
Chaz
Antonelli.,
Vice President, Empire City Motorcycle
Club
Current Music: Howard Jones - New Song (12'' Mix)
2/26/10 09:55 am
Patcick's up to no good in China! Oh what will Spongebob do?
Current Music: Rocky Horror Picture Show - Super Heroes
2/25/10 12:23 pm
I was chatting with a mate about how useful the imagination was... needles to say, the conversation went away. Here's an excerpt: All too often, people dismiss their imagination at an early age. Imagination is a good thing. For example, a good imagination allows development and progression (but not necessarily progress) to this extent:
Step 1) Someone watches "Will It Blend?" <-- at the very least, you must click on this site, it's so you!!!
Step 2) As the ''someone ''in step 1 is male, sex immediately enters the brain, creating the "A10 Cyclone" in Japan (NSFW). Note: This device also makes awesome coleslaw -- be sure you wash thoroughly between the two processes!
Step 3) Mark Silverman performs his foretelling and cautionary song, "Don't Stick Your Dick in a Blender" at Burning Man (preserved for posterity on YouTube).
Step 4) Oh dear, someone ignores Mark's song (NSFW) and rapidly changes their religion. I hear some Rabbi in the world saying "Oi Vay! I'm out of a job!"
Step 5) (and to carry this issue to ad nauseam) in Wiki Answers, someone asks "Should you stick your penis in a blender?", to which someone replies: "YES!!! DO IT DO IT DO IT!! Research has found blender sex makes your penis bigger!"
Or, I could have used ITIL as an example, but it wouldn't be as funny... or would it?
Current Music: Mark Silverman - Don't Stick Your Dick in a Blender
2/23/10 02:15 pm
(Insert freaky girlish scream from a full-grown adult male here!)
There will be a Doctor Who Bonhams Auction tomorrow, 24 Feb 2010 at 14:00 in Knightsbridge!! Costumes and Props from the BBC Archive all up on the block! Things like: - The Torchwood SUV - 2002 Land Rover - Range Rover, Vogue V8 Auto (estimate: £10,000 - 15,000) - Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) complete broken down costume (estimate: £300 - 400) - A Vacform/Steel frame section of Tardis - Astrid Peth (Kylie Minogue), a complete waitress costume, comprising (estimate: £2,000 - 3,000) - November 1989 A complete Cheetah Person costume (Old Series) (estimate: £800 - 1,200) - A Haemovore head from "The Curse of Fenric", 1989 (estimate: £200 - 300) ...and more!! Check it out here - -yes, you can BID ONLINE as well!
Current Music: Mickey Avalon - My Dick
2/20/10 02:01 pm


A less cotly, more fun alternative to IML! Announcing a full-on dungeon party for SERIOUS players. This PRIVATE event will be held in a convenient midtown New York location. The location will be disclosed ONLY to ticket holders, and only a few days prior to the event. In the spirit of our infamous Fort Troff Maneuvers, we will have all of the components you have come to expect from us. We are supplying ALL of the equipment including 12 Slings, Fuck Benches, and a Bondage Cross. And as if that wasn't enuff, there will be a watersports room, SM Demos, and a dark n sleazy room. Like all Maneuvers parties, we will have a strict Dress Code. We are STOKED. This promises to be pig mayhem, in the finest Fort Troff tradition. We will have a limited number of tickets that we will be offering.
  There's been more chatter about about IML (Chuck Renslow's leather beauty pageant) -- but, many of the folk I've been chatting with (business owners, leather community, other bloggers and such) for the most part felt that Chuck's micro-management of the event and the people attending had gone too far last year when he announced that merchants who had anything to do with supporting "bareback" materials would be banished ( see my blog entry about it here). Many of us have felt the only way to get the message across that we're not going to take it it to vote with our feet. Boycott IML. Boycott the leather marketplace. Although I don't personally agree with barebacking/barebackers, outlawing the sale of bareback media at IML is unconscionable. He's not going to stop nor prevent barebacking, just as he didn't stop the use/sale of methamphetamines in the leather community three years ago with his little speech about the evils of them. He's only going to push the barebacking community deeper underground. It's virtually the same as when Rudy Giulian closed all the bath-houses in NYC when the AIDS epidemic started. It didn't stop sex from happening -- it just pushed it underground. When something is underground and hidden from view, there's no way to easily educate men who are partaking in such events... Barebacking videos, photos and stories provide a safe alternative to the real thing. Any adult (and only adults are allowed into the marketplace) knows the risks of barebacking. Censoring barebacking media from IML is NOT the answer!! If Chuck succeeds in getting his way, what's next? No fisting or watersports? No bondage or S&M? This is a slippery slope, Chuck. Who are you to dictate to the leather community what they can buy, watch or do behind closed doors? IML ALTERNATIVES: Looking for consensual man-on-man sex? Come to the Fort Troff parties instead! Looking for a fun time in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend? Go to Bear Pride, Chicago (which also has a marketplace which isn't censored!)
Whatever you want, just remember that Chuck Renslow isn't "old guard" by any means. He's only looking for profit and power at the expense of what used to be an honourable community.
Current Music: Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall Part 1
2/20/10 11:30 am
I don't know why Joe Stack's suicide note was taken offline as quickly as it was, he was a very disturbed, frustrated and angry man -- his last request was that he have the opportunity to share his last message with anyone that wanted to read it. So, for those that care... here's his FULL suicide note for your reading enjoyment:
If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.
While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.
Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.
And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!
How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.
How did I get here?
My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.
The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.
That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.
Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.
On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.
The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.
In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.
Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer… and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.
For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).
SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.
Note:
· “another person” is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship. · “taxpayer” is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop. · “individual”, “employee”, or “worker” is you.
Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.
During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.
After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.
Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.
Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.
Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.
By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.
To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.
So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.
When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.
This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.
I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.
As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.
I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.
I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.
I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.
The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.
Joe Stack (1956-2010)
02/18/2010 If you're wondering WHO is Joe Stack, he's the guy that federal authorities are investigating who was the pilot of the single-engine plane that crashed into an Austin, Texas, office building that housed IRS offices of 18 FEB 2010. A Facebook group supported Stack, saying "Joe Stack is a 'True American Hero'". "His sacrifice was for all of us," wrote Texan Tyler Britten on Facebook. Facebook has deleted the "Joe Stack" fan page. Over on Twitter, Greg Lenihan of San Diego writes: "Joe Stack, you are a true American Hero and we need more of you to make a stand" What a crazy world....
Current Music: Three O'Clock - Jet Fighter
2/17/10 04:16 pm
... be sure to use your dad's good, expensive toner -- not the cheap stuff. Make a BIG batch for even more fun! You can play with it on your dad's cherry wood or mahogany desk or table. He'll thank you later!
Seriously though, this is pretty cool. If I were a kid, I'd do it!
Current Music: Kylie Minogue - Your Disco Needs You (Casino Radio & Club Mix)
2/17/10 12:27 pm
The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would make non-therapeutic
genital cutting (i.e. circumcision) on healthy minors illegal.
...
(a) For the purpose of this section, the term “genital
mutilation” shall mean the removal or cutting or both of the whole or part of
the clitoris, labia minora, labia majora, vulva, breast, nipple, foreskin,
glans, testicle, penis, ambiguous genitalia, hermaphroditic genitalia, or any
genital organ. ...
Reading the bill in its entirety shows that the author(s)
shaped it directly from the Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation
Act, while correctly updating the text to
remove the federal law's gender discrimination. It includes protection for
females, which is useful (if likely redundant) since Massachusetts does not have
a state law prohibiting female genital mutilation. The Massachusetts bill is
reasonable and should move out of committee, where it's scheduled for a
public
hearing on March 2nd, and pass into law.
It won't, of course. I'm hopeful it will at least get an
honest hearing, but I've worked on this topic too long to be that naive. Too
many people are unwilling to consider all facts, particularly those detrimental
to their status quo preferences.
For example, this editorial from Massachusetts, from
Wicked Local, reveals that its authors fail to understand even the actual
text of the bill.
Thumbs Down:
Circumcision is a crime? Through state Sen. Michael W.
Morrissey, Charles Antonelli of Quincy has decided to waste the Senate’s time
with a bill that would ban male circumcision of anyone under the age of 18 in
Massachusetts unless medically necessary. The measure would get right in the
way of parental rights, imposing a fine and/or up to 14 years in prison on
people who violate this ban. Antonelli is the Massachusetts director of
MGMbill.org — a group of “we know better than the majority of doctors” nuts
working to ban what it calls “male genital mutilation.”
Is it a waste of time to get in the way of parental rights
to alter a daughter's genitals? Because the bill does that, as the excerpt above
proves. The federal Anti-FGM act does the same. So, the question here is what is
the full list of plenary parental 'rights' that require only that the child have
a penis?
For what it's worth, if a doctor believe a healthy child
needs surgery, yes, I'm more informed than he or she is. And he or she violates
the Hippocratic Oath when recommending genital cutting, regardless of the
healthy patient's gender.
This group shoves aside the belief held by most of the
medical community that circumcision reduces susceptibility to HIV and other
sexually transmitted diseases as well as urinary tract infections and penile
cancer. The anti-circumcision group declares “those findings are not a valid
reason to amputate a healthy, functioning body part of a
child.”
I won't speak for those involved with MGMBill.org, but for
me, I shove nothing aside. Prophylactic circumcision has the potential to
achieve those results, statistically. So what? Because, somehow, possessing an
objectively healthy, functioning body part does not indicate that surgery is not
valid for that healthy, functioning body part. There are apparently no ethical
considerations involved. There is apparently no need for an objective look at
the relative and absolute risks involved. There is apparently no need to
question whether or not the child might want his normal, healthy
foreskin.
It's frustrating that Wicked Local defiantly states
that circumcision reduces susceptibility to HIV without also noting that every
study showing this risk reduction involved only adult volunteers, not
non-consenting children. Note, too, that the studies only found a reduction in
female-to-male transmission through vaginal intercourse, a significantly smaller
problem in the United States than in Africa.
But Wicked Local seems to perceive the issue to be
about only potential benefits, no matter how trivial or easily avoided with
lesser methods the risks posed by the foreskin. So surely we are failing all
children by not proactively removing dangerous body parts from their bodies. To
avoid getting in the way of parental 'rights', when do we start studies to
determine whether or not there is a potential medical benefit to be achieved
from prophylactic breast tissue removal? Although, since some adult women are
already voluntarily having their breasts removed pre-emptively, we can assume
that a plenary parental 'right' to remove the healthy, functioning breast tissue
from daughters exists. What's good enough for the parents is good enough for the
children. Right?
That's all intentionally absurd, of course. But without a
boundary, there is nowhere to end the madness. The subjective boundary Wicked
Local establishes here is arbitrary and based on its editors personal
preferences. The law cannot be based on such whim. For proxy consent, the
child's objective needs matter first. Where there is no objective need for
intervention, there is no parental 'right' to intervene. Surgery must be
prohibited. That is a clear standard that applies to males and females, genitals
and not genitals.
Also ignored is Jewish and Muslim tradition in which all
males are usually circumcised as part of their faith.
Passive voice, males are circumcised. They do not choose.
Indeed. But this bill does not seek to prohibit religious circumcision. Adult
males may still choose circumcision for themselves if they believe their God
demands it. This bill focuses is on minors, where civil law must take precedent
over religious texts. It codifies that the human rights of every individual
exist first, and no amount of parental preference can supersede that in the
pursuit of subjective, unprovable spiritual or cultural benefits. Unless we're
opening the law books to strike any law that violates a religious dictate
governing what one person may do to another, there is nothing objectionable on
this front. Are we opening the law books in this manner for a purge of
religiously objectionable civil laws?
The bill has not yet been assigned to committee. It would
be best to see this ridiculous waste of government time sniped from the
legislative agenda and left discarded on the Senate clerk’s floor. Parents and
doctors, not legislators, should decide the merits of whether a male child
should or should not have a circumcision.
Parents and doctors, not legislators, should decide the
merits of whether a female child should or should not have genital cutting?
Again, if we're saying that parents have a plenary 'right' to alter their sons
for subjective reasons, the same plenary 'right' must exist for their daughters.
Or we could consider the importance of the omitted word, a healthy child,
and recognize that the answer is irrefutable because it is illegal (and immoral)
to discriminate based on gender alone. Either all children have the same right
to bodily integrity or no children have that right. The former breaks our
current ignorance, while the latter turns children into property.
And here’s a tip for the angry anti-circumcision group —
you would do a lot better with an informative public education campaign and
debate rather than going state-to-state trying to shove your will on everyone
and toss parents who don’t agree with you into jail for up to 14 years — a
tact that so far has not seen even one state go along with this
nonsense.
I agree, an informative public education campaign and debate
is the best way to go. We shouldn't need to legislate against something unjust.
But we do, because the rights of boys in America (and Massachusetts, in this
case) are violated every day. I can explain how male circumcision is egregious
because it violates human rights. I can explain how male circumcision is
egregious because it is not the least invasive solution for every perceived
benefit. But the Wicked Local editors haven't even bothered to understand
the text of the bill. I can overcome ignorance. I cannot overcome willful
ignorance.
source: http://www.rollingdoughnut.com/2010/02/massachusetts_will_debate_the.html
Current Music: LTJ Bukem, Journey Inwards - Undress Your Mind
2/11/10 09:25 am
After
years of fighting to keep the bill alive, I’m pleased to tell you that the
Massachusetts MGM bill will be heard by the committee at a public hearing on
March 2nd, at 1 PM in Room A-1 of the State House. This is a major
accomplishment for MGM bill and men's rights to choose circumcision (or not) for
themselves! If you are pro-choice, please consider attending this public
hearing on Tuesday, March 2nd, at 1 PM in Room A-1 of the State
House.
|
The chart below tracks the current status
of the Massachusetts MGM Bill (S. 1777) sponsored by Senator Michael
Morrissey on behalf of Charles A.
Antonelli as it moves through the state legislative
process.
For a brief history of the Massachusetts
MGM Bill, please visit our history
page. |
|
| |
January 9,
2007
Amended
bill proposal is resubmitted to each member of the Massachusetts
185th General Court by Charles A.
Antonelli. |
|
| |

|
|
|
|
|
| |

|
|
| |
March 4,
2008
Joint
Committee on the Judiciary holds public
hearing on Senate,
No. 966 and issues a
follow-up study order on May 1st to allow more time for
study. |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
January 14,
2009
Bill is refiled for the 2009-10
session, renumbered (Senate,
No. 1777), retitled, and is again referred
to the Joint
Committee on the Judiciary.

The Massachusetts MGM Bill is now in
the hands of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, where it will be
scheduled for a public hearing and committee
vote. |

|
| |

|
|
| |
House and Senate
Floor
If the Joint Committee on the Judiciary approves
the bill by majority vote, it will proceed to the House and Senate floor for a
debate and vote by all sitting members. Differing versions will be
resolved by a Conference Committee and the process will
repeat. |
|
| |

|
|
| |
Governor's
Signature
If both the House and Senate approve the bill by
majority vote, it will be forwarded to Governor
Deval Patrick for
signature. |
|
| |

|
|
| |
Enactment, Implementation, and
Enforcement
If the Governor signs the bill, it will be implemented
by the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health and enforced by local
police. |
|
|
Current Music: Dirty Vegas - Don't Throw It Away!
2/11/10 09:11 am
On Thursday, January 28th, representatives from the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) joined their counterparts from the New Hampshire Motorcycle Rights Organization (NHMRO), the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), and Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) at the New Hampshire State House in opposition to NH House Bills 1162 and 1262 pertaining to Helmet Use and Motorcycle Sound Emissions. See “MMA joins NHMRO in their fight against anti-Motorcyclist Bills” on the MMA website for more information: http://www.massmotorcycle.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=769540&item_id=12037
As previously reported, both bills were marked “Inexpedient to Legislate” in Executive Session unanimously by the NH House Transportation Committee. The next step in the NH Legislative Process is to add the recommendation to the “Consent Calendar” for vote by the full NH House of Representatives. Unfortunately, any member of the NH Legislature can “pull” a bill from the Consent Calendar and call for a full vote, which is what was done in these cases.
The NH House met on Wednesday, February 10th to vote on HB 1261 – concerning Motorcycle Sound Emissions. The vote was 267 to 28 in opposition of the bill, effectively killing it for this Legislative Session. If passed, this would have required all Motorcycles to be equipped with OEM exhaust systems bearing an EPA stamp, detailed opposition to which was outlined in the MMA testimony (see the MMA Update Link above).
Remaining for vote is NH HB 1161, which would require Motorcyclists in NH to wear Helmets. This has not yet been voted upon by the NH House, and we expect that to occur when the House is in session, next Wednesday.
The MMA will report further when NH NB 1161 has been voted upon.
For More Information, see http://www.massmotorcycle.org or contact LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org
Current Music: Katy Perry Vs. Bloc Party - I Kissed A Banquet
2/10/10 08:49 pm
In the recent
Wired article "Taxicabs 2.0, by and for New Yorkers", a reader comments about the TX4, a spacious, wheelchair accessible, fuel
efficient and reliable vehicle. The reader goes
on to say that it's street
legal in the U.S. and the
only reason we don't have tons of them in NYC already is that the mandatory
retirement rules for NYC cabs make the built-to-last TX4 too expensive for the
short time it can legally be used.
~ The
TX4 ~
I can't say much about New
York City's mandatory retirement rules for taxis, but there's one huge thing I
can say: The TX4 could kill several birds with one stone, including
helping the MTA out of their budget deficit! The MTA (Metropolitan Transit
Authority), the overseers of New York City's Subways, Busses and a program known
as ACCESS-A-RIDE.
ACCESS-A-RIDE
Access-A-Ride is expensive
and generally mismanaged. It uses huge vans which have to be
reserved by persons needing handicapped-accessible rides before 5:00pm
the day before by making a telephone to a special operator.
A co-pay is expected to be paid by the passenger (I think it's the same as
a subway fare of $2.25). There are all sorts of restrictions based on the
individual needs of the Access-A-Ride user and accessibility of the nearby
busses, subway stations and/or handicapped-accessible subway stations.
Generally, most people can use Access-A-Ride for door-to-door service for
inter-borough transit (i.e. Manhattan to the Bronx). To add further complications
to this set-up, Access-A-Ride vans are known to sometimes be hours late for
pick-up or drop-off. Imagine if you were dependant upon
Access-A-Ride to get you to a Doctor's appointment! Quite frustrating and
expensive for the city to operate!
If we were to change a good
percentage of NYC Taxis over to the TX4, this would enable a regular taxi to
chauffer around persons of special needs (pushchairs, wheelchairs, etc.) -- now
take the idea a little further and consider replacing Access-A-Ride with a
voucher system in where anyone with special needs (and on an Access-A-Ride
budget) could use their vouchers to pay for reduced, negotiated fares in regular
taxis whenever they like, on-the-fly!
I'm sure there are a few
bugs in my idea, as I am not an Access-A-Ride user, but I think something like
this would be a win-win for many New Yorkers and for the
MTA!
</html>
Current Music: Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi
2/8/10 02:22 pm
I've been working to assemble all 'classic episodes' of Doctor Who onto my FTP server. Although I've featured a "Dr Who - Classic" folder in my "Science Fiction & Fantasy" section for some time, many single episodes were either missing or were of poor quality. I'm happy to report that as of today, I'm half way through getting the classic episodes online! All episodes of the following reincarnations of the doctor, in their original quality, sequencing and order are now online Chazhome.com!  I have yet to set up a special website for the 'classic' episodes, as I have with the new episodes, but you can access it by web browser by clicking here and to download an episode, right click on the filename and save the file to your system. Remember: Please download only ONE at a time, or the server will block you from future connections. Technical notes: I recommend you download CCCP (the Combined Community Codec Pack) to ensure full compatibility with Xvid, DivX and other video codecs. CCCP is the best! (A video codec is a device or software that enables video compression and/or decompression for digital video.) If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this, or just take my word for it.
Current Music: The Orb - For Penny And Alexis
2/8/10 12:56 pm
Chris Elliott
(who authors a very popular and
wide-read travel bog) has apologized for making the connection between a
TSA Officer accused of molesting a minor and his S&M lifestyle (excerpt
below).
In one short week, it seems I’ve offended
sadomasochists and great white sharks with my commentary. I feel an apology
is in order.
Let’s start with the S&M
practitioners. In a post about the recent problems of the TSA in
Orlando, I made an offhanded reference to the
those who derive pleasure from pain.
Earlier this week, a TSA officer at Orlando
International Airport was arrested on charges of molesting a minor. Turns
out he was reportedly a fan of bondage and
sadomasochism.
The “turns out” section was actually a link to a
follow-up story, and I didn’t really give it a second thought. Perhaps I
should have.
Charles Henry Bennett’s MySpace profile identifies
him as “Master Charles or Sir.” The online page shows the 57-year-old
airport security guard has “many years experience” as a bondage and
sadomasochism master and is looking to meet people, especially “submissive
females.” The TSA’s blog said the agency was “deeply saddened and
disgusted” by its employees actions. Bennett resigned on
Monday.
The unfortunate juxtaposition of the TSA officer’s
alleged crime and his sexual preferences drew an immediate response in the
comments and in the blogosphere. In a post entitled, S&M
practitioner = Minor molesting paedophile? NOT!! (warning: adult content) Chaz Antonelli commented, “The sort
of discrimination expressed below could have been aimed in another direction
(i.e. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, etc.) — we need to be ever vigilant to the
subtle ‘joining’ of one lifestyle to another.”
Another reader demanded,
What does being a fan of bondage have to do with
molesting a child? Are you trying to say that if you are into bdsm that
makes you a molester?
As I clarified in the comments, I didn’t mean to
imply a link. What you do in the privacy of your bedroom, or kitchen — as
long as it’s legal, or course — is your
business.
It was nice for
Chris to apologize, although the comment linking the two separate issues
was originally made in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, not by Chris
directly.
One thing that
should be mentioned is that readers
of Chris' travel blog have been anything but sympathetic as to the nature
of my complaint of linking S&M to child molestation charges.
They're saying things in the "comments section" of Chris' blog such as
"These people need to get some thicker skin!" and "Oy! If sadomasochists like
pain, why are you apologizing for offending them???".
One
comment from "Steve" reads: "You should NOT have to apologize for the few
idiotic, interpreting everything literally, PC people out there. It’s time
political correctness went the way of the dinosaur. These people need to get
some thicker skin!"
The important
factor? Chris' blog is completely moderated, which means
all of these comments were approved by Chris Elliott
before able to be seen by the public. So, is Chris' apology truly
sincere when he allows this sort of torch-wielding mob-mentality to
verbally abuse the S&M community?
While I agree that
some levels of "political correctness" (i.e. nice manners) are extreme, I
do believe in any case where a minority is singled out and mass-ridiculed by a
majority, I feel some level of sensevity is warranted. Don't
you?
Add you two cents to
the comments section of Chris Elliott's blog here.
Current Music: Electronic - Disappointed (Hot Tracks Mix)
2/5/10 11:15 am
Although I'm very aware most of the readers of my blog
are not into S&M, the sort of discrimination expressed below could have
been aimed in another direction (i.e. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, etc.) -- we need
to be ever vigilant to the subtle 'joining' of one lifestyle to another.
Thanks for taking the time to read and take action to this post.
In Chris Elliott's very popular and wide-read travel
bog, he writes:
What the heck is going on
with the TSA in Orlando?
Maybe there’s something in the water in Orlando, but
the Transportation Security Administration just can’t stay out of the news
there.
Charles Henry Bennett’s MySpace profile identifies
him as “Master Charles or Sir.” The online page shows the 57-year-old airport
security guard has “many years experience” as a bondage and sadomasochism
master and is looking to meet people, especially “submissive females.” The
TSA’s blog said the agency was
“deeply saddened and disgusted” by its employees actions. Bennett resigned on
Monday.
Last week, CNN reported that the TSA had
launched an internal investigation into an air marshal field office in Orlando where supervisors
are alleged to have used a crew assignment board to ridicule and keep score on
women, gays and minorities.
The board, resembling the TV game show “Jeopardy,”
included categories such as “pickle smokers,” “our gang” and “creatures,”
which sources said were names used by managers for gay men, African-Americans
and lesbians, according to the report.
And, of course, there’s my little TSA incident, which was
handled out of the Orlando office, too. (I live in Winter Springs, Fla., a
suburb of Orlando.) Orlando Weekly just published an interview with me in which I
revealed new details about the standoff between the Department of Homeland
Security and yours truly.
Why is this happening? It could have something to do
with TSA’s leadership crisis. On Jan. 20., Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent
and homeland security specialist, withdrew his name from
consideration as head of the TSA. The move came just a few weeks after
revelations that he had provided misleading information to Congress, which
prompted several Republicans to suggest that his nomination would not move
forward without a fight.
I’d like to think that this isn’t an Orlando problem.
After all, I live near Orlando, and I want my TSA team here to be as
effective as possible. But news of child molesters and racists and my own
experience tell me otherwise.
I wrote the comment below in response to his
story:
Chaz Antonelli posted on
February 5, 2010 at 10:45 am (awaiting moderation):
In your story, you
say: “Earlier this week, a TSA officer at Orlando International Airport was
arrested on charges of molesting a minor. Turns out he was reportedly a fan of
bondage and sadomasochism.”
I want to know: What’s the connection
between “molesting a minor” and his S&M fetish? — NOTHING!
Why do
people feel the need to bring someone’s personal (and legal) sex life into
this sort of story? If he’s a paedophile, then he’s a paedophile — period. His
predilection with “S&M” has nothing to do with it!
I know several
commercial pilots and flight crew that are S&M practitioners (sometimes it
helps to have the skills of an S&M submissive when dealing with
passengers) — should they be fired and be humiliated by making their kinky
(yet private) sex lives be made public?
Please explain why you felt it
was necessary to mention the TSA agent’s S&M habits, when it has nothing
to do with the story.
I don't know if my comment will
be approved, as it does not fit the mainstream view (that all S&M
practitioners are paedophiles and/or mentally ill). Perhaps
YOU could chime in as well?
Current Music: Lords Of Acid - Rough Sex
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