Real World Event Discussions

The "Black Bloc", and where do we go from here?

POSTED BY: Niki2
UPDATED: Monday, June 17, 2024 21:43
VIEWED: 2957
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Friday, November 11, 2011 6:55 PM

As I just posted to Riona, I find myself on the fence right now, and it appears I'm not the only one. Doing things by the book didn't work for the Tea Party, so I'm not sure what the answer IS, but I may be beginning to get a hint. This article speaks to the "black bloc", the group of self-proclaimed "anarchists" who created all the problems in Oakland, and their effect on the Occupy movement there. They've finally been recognized, locally at least, whether the national media wants to continue to say their violence was done by regular protesters. But...well, here:

Quote:

Since last week, the conventional wisdom among progressives has been that Occupy Oakland needs to condemn and expel the black-clad vandals who seek out violent clashes with police. The morning after last week's general strike turned into a night of chaos, many liberals showed up at Occupy Oakland urging demonstrators to embrace nonviolence, and some protesters responded in kind, by helping clean up debris and graffiti in downtown Oakland.



But over the past week, the Occupy Oakland General Assembly has stopped short of denouncing violence, even though many occupiers have distanced themselves from what happened last Thursday morning. At times, calls for peace have been shouted down by the more militant members of the movement. In fact, since last week's events, there appears to be a contingent at Occupy Oakland that is openly embracing violent tactics.

Oft called "The Black Bloc," or "the anarchist wing" of Occupy Oakland (even though many anarchists scorn them), the small group who turned last week's protest into chaos uses a methodology that gained currency after the 1999 World Trade Organization demonstrations in Seattle. They dress in black and obscure their faces with ski masks or bandanas, both to conceal individual identities, promote "solidarity" (i.e., the group looks like one autonomous bloc), and make it difficult for police to apprehend the protesters who throw rocks or light trash cans on fire.

Not all Black Bloc protesters are violent; some merely wear the uniform as a fashion statement, or to show sympathy for their counterparts. One occupier said the black dress helped prevent mass arrests and persecution of individuals. He emphasized that Black Bloc protesters don't subscribe to any uniform political ideology — meaning that not all believe in violent revolution.

But prior to last week, the Black Bloc didn't seem to play a strong part in Occupy Oakland. When a group called the Oakland Liberation Front distributed "anti-peace brigade" fliers a couple days before the general strike, its members were largely denounced. When angry protesters advanced toward a line of cops during the October 29 march against police brutality, peaceful demonstrators intervened. In fact, the Black Bloc was a very small minority on the morning of the general strike. Wednesday's peaceful protest was dominated by union members and progressives who had not been camping out at City Hall.

Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had marching orders to help direct traffic, diffuse conflicts, and keep the peace as large groups of people disrupted service at each of the big banks downtown. For the most part, the peace-keepers were successful. Even after a group of Black Bloc rogues broke off from the main protest to vandalize Whole Foods, the strike remained largely nonviolent. At 4 p.m., a giant group of strikers marched through West Oakland, en route to shut down the port. A couple people in front wheeled a life-size Gandhi float. People held signs that criticized bank bailouts and reframed the protest in economic terms. For a time, it looked as if the general strike would be wildly successful.

But then as the evening wore on, the Black Bloc grabbed control. A group of thirty to fifty suc

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Friday, November 11, 2011 6:58 PM

And there's another aspect to this. The Oakland police are having more and more difficulty getting the numbers they want to go after the protesters. Given that all localities are suffering from budget cuts, is this a time when an uprising of the people, should it happen nationwide, BE controllable?

Quote:

Shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday, a man was shot and killed at Frank Ogawa Plaza, feet away from the Occupy Oakland encampment. Almost immediately after the shooting, the protesters tweeted, "This was unrelated to the occupation."

Members of Occupy Oakland may have been concerned that the shooting could precipitate a police raid, something they have been bracing for, as City Council members have demanded the immediate closure of the camp. Even Mayor Jean Quan, who allowed protesters to set up another encampment soon after authorizing a raid on the encampment last month, is calling for protesters to leave peacefully.

"Tonight’s incident underscores the reason why the encampment must end. The risks are too great," the mayor said in a statement Thursday night.

Oakland police have begun to plan another eviction operation, but it appears that this time, they may not be able to rely on other law enforcement agencies. Quan's indecisiveness has frustrated many agencies that provided mutual aid during the eviction and two subsequent demonstrations. Some of the agencies say they cannot afford to send more police to Oakland, when their own departments are understaffed.

“There are some chiefs and some city councils that I think are upset with having to keep sending officers to Oakland,” said Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. “And their point is: ‘Why are we sending people there when their own mayor can’t make a decision on what to do?’”

The Sheriff’s Department told Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan Wednesday they will charge $1,000 per deputy for a 12-hour shift. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said his deputies would only come in for free if the situation prompted an emergency.

“After we assisted Oakland in removing the occupiers who were unlawfully camping in Frank Ogawa Plaza, the government officials allowed them back into the plaza and allowed them to resume camping,” said Ahern. “They're trying to allow people the right to free speech and it's a very difficult line that we're dealing with here. But once they allow it, then they have to understand . . . it’s no longer an emergency.”

Oakland police officers say they understand why other departments are reluctant to help. During a confrontation Nov. 3, demonstrators dressed in black clothing, wearing masks and bandanas, set fire to homemade barricades, threw firecrackers at police and smashed the windows of downtown businesses.

"No one wants to come back," said one police supervisor. "They sustained injuries, they spent all this money on overtime. We used them for nothing."

Oakland police officers, unsure of which agencies they can rely on, are bracing for what they believe will be an inevitable showdown with protesters, who are preparing for a fight.

“We’re going to defend the camp,” said protester Brooke Anderson, who was arrested during an Oct. 25 confrontation with police.

As the encampment enters its second month and the city's costs rise, Quan is facing more pressure to take action.

On Wednesday, City Council President Larry Reid and four other council members, along with business and religious leaders, attempted to stage a news conference at Lake Merritt to call for the immediate closure of the tent city. A swarm of protesters chanting, "We are the 99 percent" interrupted the event. The council members yelled back, "Occupy Oakland must go."

On Thursday, Reid said some council members wanted to schedule a "no confidence vote" in the mayor, but it's unclear whether such a vote, which has no legal impact, will make it onto the council's

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Friday, November 11, 2011 7:36 PM

I recall a pro-Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) march in 1978... 100,000+ supporters marching in Washington. They picketed, picked up their trash on the way out and ... nothing happened. The only coverage it got in my city's newspaper was a picture on the back page of two women cooling their feet in a fountain.

"Move your money" was a good idea, and it should continue. I would suggest a nationwide general strike. Also, the pressure needs to be on Washington, since they make the rules. Occupy DC should be much, much bigger. Let's start by trying something specific: getting rid of corporate personhood, or getting rid of NAFTA, or requiring the government to directly offer loans to homeowners.

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Friday, November 11, 2011 7:52 PM

Occupy Oakland is, as you say, at a crossroads as a group. And it's a numbers game.

If you REALLY BELIEVE you have 99% of the people behind you, you don't need violence. For all their organizational power and resources, 1% simply can't control the other 99% if the 99% refuse to go along. It's that old Vietnam War saying - what if they called a war, and nobody came?

So, what if OWS was able to call for a genuine nationwide general strike? Of some significant time frame, like 3 days. There is nothing like power in numbers.

But if you don't have the numbers, then violence becomes a potential tool. They are the "and if you don't ..." arm of the movement.

Personally, I think it would be a mistake for Occupy Oakland AT THIS TIME. I think they SHOULD espouse non-violence. I think it would be a great teaching tool, and a way to bring people along into the movement. I think they should condemn violence as being 'not us'. Otherwise, they (and I understand this means you as well) are the Tea Party.

But then, you can't control everyone. And some people will be violent. That's OK. OA can't stop them. As long as you are clear - THEY are NOT US. And violence is a good reminder of the 'or else' side of the equation.

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Friday, November 11, 2011 7:53 PM

Yes to everything you said, Sig. There are lots of other things out there, closing loopholes being an obvious (and probably impossible) one; getting rid of the cap on SSI taxes, taxing derivatives (since we can't seem to stop them...). Move your money IS continuing, and one of the things we're working hardest on here in Marin. At least THAT has been having a nationawide impact, of sorts.

One of the things that bothers me most is that it shouldn't BE "OccupyWallStreet", since Wall Street just did what Washington made it possible for them to do (and probably wanted them to do), and it's not really about Wall Street, so I'm wondering why they focused on that. It's Washington that's the problem, and I'm not sure how it gets turned to focusing on what it SHOULD be focusing on. "Occupy Wall Street" is too much class warfare-ish and doesn't begin to solve the problem. Someone said they should have called it the "99%ers" to start with, and I think that would have been a better idea.

I'm way too tiny a cog in the wheel to accomplishing much of anything on my own, and WE'RE waaaaay too tiny compared to SF, Oakland, Berserkeley and San Jose, much less the really big guys, to have much of an impact. It's just very frustrating.

I dunno I dunno I dunno...having a bad brain day. Need to do some PHYSICAL stuff, like brush the dogs and wash my hair, and leave my brain alone for the rest of the day, I think. But you're certainly on the right track!


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Friday, November 11, 2011 7:59 PM

Ooops, cross-posted with you, Kiki. Yes to everything you said, too, with a caveat. We know we're not the whole 99%, obviously, and I see there's now a group starting up calling itself the "53%"--as in the 53% that pay income taxes (and I notice nowhere are they saying "income", just "taxes"). I don't know how we increase our numbers to a sufficient point where we can be a power, and I know the camps aren't the answer, I just don't know what the answer IS. The camps were a good starting point, but, as Riona mentioned, they get dirty, violence and non-protesters come in, so it's got to GO somewhere from the starting point that got attention. And so far it's not, from what I see, and frustration will turn people to violence if something doesn't happen. Gawd KNOWS I pray we can accomplish something without violence, I just don't know what, and WHEN, if a direction doesn't come along before frustration gets too big. If I'M feeling it...well...

Also, Oakland's strike got attention, but did turn violent. Dunno what Berserkeley's will do, but if we can't manage little one-city strikes, what happens if they call a nationwide one? I think it would be a fantastic idea in SOME ways, but in others it would hurt people financially, and violence would be more bad press...

Like I said, I dunno...just been doing far too much thinking in the last 48, so time to take a break I guess.


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Friday, November 11, 2011 9:33 PM

Anyone who needs to wear a mask to exercise his right of free speech is a coward, probably an agent provocateur (in the employ of whom I won't predict.) and possibly a terrorist. You will note that terrorist cowards in the IRA and Hamas always wear masks. And the KKK wore hoods.

No excuse. NONE.

Dunno how they could be removed-- if by the cops, it does come very close to infringing on the right of free speech. The Occupy movement itself is too disorganized, too leaderless, not strong enough to do it. Maybe those Occupy Marines from the other thread could step up and do it.

But it needs to be done.

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Saturday, November 12, 2011 2:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
So, what if OWS was able to call for a genuine nationwide general strike? Of some significant time frame, like 3 days. There is nothing like power in numbers.



Given the response to the strike call in Oakland, where only 15% of the teachers - supposedly a big player in the movement - took one day off, and not too many other folks went out, I'd think that if a call for a nationwide strike showed few numbers it would look like a weakening of support for the Occupy movement.

Recent polling seems to indicate a lessening of support as problems in Occupy camps occur and no defined goals are being developed. Violence or property damage by folks associated with Occupy aren't going to help these numbers.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, November 12, 2011 3:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Anyone who needs to wear a mask to exercise his right of free speech is a coward, probably an agent provocateur (in the employ of whom I won't predict.) and possibly a terrorist. You will note that terrorist cowards in the IRA and Hamas always wear masks. And the KKK wore hoods.

No excuse. NONE.

Dunno how they could be removed-- if by the cops, it does come very close to infringing on the right of free speech. The Occupy movement itself is too disorganized, too leaderless, not strong enough to do it. Maybe those Occupy Marines from the other thread could step up and do it.

But it needs to be done.



Hello,

I do not think the desire to remain anonymous, by itself, is the mark of a coward or a criminal.

It is important to remember that all of us here on Fireflyfans (and much of the internet) exercise our Free Speech while wearing a Mask.

I consider that to be a sacred right.

--Anthony



_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Saturday, November 12, 2011 3:15 PM

I'm amazed; this is the second time someone's claimed the OWS movement is down in the polls...why is that? Four days ago:

Quote:

Poll: Occupy Wall Street Is More Popular Than Wall Street Or Washington | A new poll released today by Knowledge Networks finds that protesters on Wall Street are winning over the public more than two of their chief targets: Wall Street and Washington. Thirty-five percent of respondents “had a favorable impression of the protest movement that began in New York City and gained support worldwide,” while the government in Washington, DC netted 21 percent. Only 16 percent of respondents had a favorable impression of Wall Street. http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/07/362842/poll-occupy-wall-st
reet-is-more-popular-than-wall-street-or-washington/
say much, of course, given how people feel about the Tea Party and Wall Street, and the source is ThinkProgress, so will be immediately dismissed. Nonetheless, last week:
Quote:

Support for the tea party has cooled while Occupy Wall Street is showing an early burst of popularity in Pennsylvania, a Daily News/Franklin & Marshall College Poll released Thursday shows. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/133128223.html, I'm sure we're losing support on the news of violence...in the past week or so. But that's right NOW, and as we know, immediacy in polling changes by the day.

There's no doubt people don't like violence. I don't either. But that doesn't mean it's over...by a long shot.




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Saturday, November 12, 2011 4:15 PM

People are really tired of being screwed over. Really tired.

The OWS needs to pick a goal which is meaningful and understandable (can be expressed in ten words or less). "We need a people's bank", or "Where are our jobs?" or "Jobs for people, not for profit" or "Screw NAFTA" or ""End war. Spend here"

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Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:59 PM

How about "Workers control and management of the means of production" ?

It seems to me that there are a lot of disperate groups all clawing towards a Socialist perspective and just not realising it (possibly because your idea of "socialist" has become a corrupt anachronism).

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Saturday, November 12, 2011 7:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Niki2:
I'm amazed; this is the second time someone's claimed the OWS movement is down in the polls...why is that?



Because they are?

Quote:


The Occupy Wall Street movement may be starting to lose its luster with the American public, with four in ten now saying they have an unfavorable view of the protests, a new nationwide UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll shows.

The online poll of 1,005 American adults reveals that 35 percent still have a positive impression of the Occupy movement, but 40 percent now say they have an unfavorable opinion. About one quarter of the poll respondents had no opinion or were unsure.

The UMass Lowell/Herald poll, conducted Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, is the first to show negative sentiment tilting against the Occupy movement, which has now spread to hundreds of cities, including Boston. Several other comparable national polls conducted earlier in October showed slightly more positive than negative views of the protests.


http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1378932

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Sunday, November 13, 2011 2:58 AM

(Smile)Let's see: 40% negative, 35% positive, 25% neither. I'm shaking in my boots.

Then there's "the first to show negative sentiments". Not terribly impressive. But please, DO enjoy your beliefs, we understand the need.

Gawd, what would happen if one of these guys ever dared see any positive, or even neutral, opinion on anything qirh which they don't agree? Would the world collapse, do you think? Or everyone just fall over dead from shock?

Talk about blinders and desperate need to be "right" (double entendre entendred). AWfully sad...


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Sunday, November 13, 2011 6:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Niki2:
(Smile)Let's see: 40% negative, 35% positive, 25% neither. I'm shaking in my boots.

Then there's "the first to show negative sentiments". Not terribly impressive. But please, DO enjoy your beliefs, we understand the need.



Niki, you yourself express concern over what's gonna happen to OWS if the more violent elements start taking action. I'm just noting that, per a good bit of stuff I've read or heard on NPR, support is already starting to soften among independents and folks not in the more active percents of Liberals.

If OWS either calls a nationwide strike that's poorly acted upon, or the "Black Bloc" starts assaults or property damage on a larger scale, I think support will really start to disappear.

If you (the Occupy "you") want to keep being more than a sideshow, you need to figure out a course of action before the folks who want just to break things co-opt your platform.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Sunday, November 13, 2011 6:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
It is important to remember that all of us here on Fireflyfans (and much of the internet) exercise our Free Speech while wearing a Mask.

SUCH a good point.

Let's hear your real name, Newoldbrowncoat.

-----
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942, labor activist and anarcho-communist)

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Monday, November 14, 2011 5:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by canttakesky:
Quote:

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
It is important to remember that all of us here on Fireflyfans (and much of the internet) exercise our Free Speech while wearing a Mask.

SUCH a good point.

Let's hear your real name, Newoldbrowncoat.

-----
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942, labor activist and anarcho-communist)



Lawrence H Studer, Long Beach, California. Not afraid of nobody or nothin' I don't brag about how much I support the Second Amendment. I judt do it in practice, quietly and discretely.

Your turn.

Whose sock puppet are you?

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Monday, November 14, 2011 6:56 AM


Are you nuts ?

Seriously, having seen quite well for yourself just how whistleblowers and those who speak truth to power get treated in our current society and culture, KNOWING that we're pitiful few steps even now from dragging them out back and having them shot, or sent off to be re-educated...
(Although with the hellcamp infrastructure destroyed the latter isn't so likely any more! )

And there you are advocating making that EASIER ?
Shilling the "if you have nothing to hide" argument to people who a lot of em, fought for your right to fuckin privacy ?
Does the complete, blistering hypocrisy of this not even occur to you ?

And you, NOBC - That whole "how dare you actually stand up for your rights" attitude, suggesting one do so quietly in the dark where it's meaningless, as if ashamed to do even that...
Man, what the hell is wrong with you people ?

One of the reasons many attempts to stop tyranny, to bring positive social change, FAILS - is that the identities of those behind it become public, from The White Rose Society to Julian Assange, it's always and ever the same, hell for a fact *I* would NEVER have been able to stick it to WWASPS had I handed them an easy target like that, and I've seen what happens to folk who try to "Go Public" without massive political, financial, or military force to stand behind - Luther and The-Underground being but one tiny example none of you even likely remember despite his appearance on 20/20.

When someone dons a mask to commit an act, be that deed noble or heinous, it MEANS that the act itself is far more important than exactly who gets the credit or the blame for it, and I can respect that far, far more than pathetic little gits who manage to claim a few crumbs from the tables of the masters, who make some offensive thing 1/10000th less offensive and then go on to crow about it on and on like they actually did something other than token effort (talkin to you, Michael Moore!) cause it means that they actually CARE enough to discard the notion of ever taking real credit for it in favor of getting the job done.

And in a world where doing anything but laying down and begging for more abuse at the hands of the powers that be can get your life and the lives of all you care about fucked over, in an age where being a decent human being is practically a goddamn CRIME - then we're all criminals, and some of us aren't complete fucking tools about it!

Seeing how so many are oughta tell you why so many efforts are doomed from the very start, too.

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

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Monday, November 14, 2011 7:42 AM

Hey NOBC, I'm just up the freeway from ya, in Downey!

But I gotta say, you got some heuvos, man.

Arguing on a website much like this one got me tailed by the FBI for a couple of days (long story). The Securicrats have far too much time on their hands.

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Monday, November 14, 2011 8:57 AM

Hey, Sig, my wife came from there!

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Monday, November 14, 2011 1:33 PM

Hello Mr. Studer,

If your information is accurate, and you are the relative of the fine Margaret Studer who writes for the National Tea Examiner, I commend you for your courage.

However, when enjoying our freedom of speech and our right to choose anonymity, it is important to remember that there is more at stake for many people than our own personal sense of bravery. When people come knocking at Apartment 4, they may not come for us.

They may come for Margaret, Helena, or Diana. Or they may come for any of the people connected to them or us. The folks who might seek to harm you are not restricted to breaking down your door and accosting you personally. They can hurt people you know who did not volunteer to speak so bravely. They can even eschew direct violence and destroy finances, personal relationships, and all manner of indirect valuables.

They certainly aren't restricted to conventional web searches as a means of getting to you and your loved ones.

I understand that there are some people who aren't quite ready to endanger not only themselves, but everyone they know and love. I hope you can make the logic leap necessary to see this point of view. Not everyone who wears a mask is a coward or a criminal.

There is often much more at stake than your own face.

--Anthony



_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Monday, November 14, 2011 8:33 PM

Never thought of myself as a man with huevos, just a simple honest man.
Not afraid of nobody or nothin'. Said I was, so I am. Always prepared to do what must be done. Ask me a question, challenge me, I respond, with truth. Come looking for those other folks around here, you will no longer find any of them.

An actor leaving the stage should have a simple speech to exit with.
Willie Shakespeare has some good words:

Quote:



I cannot hide what I am; I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests, eat when I have stomach and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry and claw no man in his humour. I had rather be a canker in my own hedge than a rose in his grace: and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any.
I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get what I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other man's good, content with my harm. I have no more philosophy in me but that I know the more one sickens, the worse at ease he is, and he that wants money, means and content is without three good friends; that the property of rain is to wet and fire to burn; that a great cause of the night is lack of the sun; and that he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may complain of good breeding or comes of a very dull kindred.
If I be foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that is willing to be so. I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing: only in the world I fill up a place which may be better supplied when I have made it empty.




Fare you all well, and may we meet again in a better time and place.


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Monday, November 14, 2011 8:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:

Fare you all well, and may we meet again in a better time and place.



Eh? You can't leave now... you can never leave the Forum!

(don't let the others freak you out)

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Monday, November 14, 2011 9:04 PM

"Fare you all well, and may we meet again in a better time and place."

Well drat, that sounds like a goodbye. I have friends down that way so I was curious if we know anyone in common.

Anyway - I'm from 'excellent adventure' San Dimas.

But respecting the privacy of my family, I'm not going to post my name. It's for that reason that I don't talk about them much either. I figure their stories are not mine to tell.

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Monday, November 14, 2011 11:34 PM

Oh, jeez, NewOld, that DOES sound like a farewell! I sure hope it's not, I'd hate to lose a good voice like yours! I'm like you, I don't care who knows who I am or where I live or anything...it's easy enough to find out all about me from just my name if anyone cares to hunt the internet. It's gotten me two painful experiences, but they were soon over and there's no pain in the memories, and I'm not interested in protecting myself against people without cause. I long ago made up my mind about that. My choices are to be open and know I'll get hurt one way or another, or guard myself with everyone, which would be a terrible loss. I'd rather take my chances.

I hope you're not going; if you feel you need a break (who doesn't, after this place!), at least please DO come back, sooner or later. Until then, you will be missed.


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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 12:51 AM

First off, NOBC, don't leave! Your presence is welcomed here, and needed.

Second, this is why I'm not too keen on posting my real name here:

http://www.pixiq.com/article/oakland-pd-covers-nametags

If they can cover up who they are while attacking those like me, I figure we can cover up our identities as best we can, too.

Although there are more than a few around these parts who know where and how to find me.



"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 5:37 AM

I posite that NewOld was still quoting Shakespeare there? Maybe that's part of the quote? I don't think he's really leaving, and if he is I'm perplexed as to why?

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 3:14 PM


Feh, the Baltimore City PD is where the notion of covering name/badge numbers with black electrical tape first caught on, really - under the lameass excuse of "honoring fallen officers", yeah, right, sure...

Oh, and they DID pull out them fuckin L-Rad cannons, against which our car mounted counter-weapon was less effective than expected both since it's mounted lower (being a trunk-foldout stealth mount) and because the damn cops were using multiple units from several angles.

It WILL dampen the wave, but it's still quite unpleasant to be in the contact zone of the L-Rads effect when our damper hits it - the damping effect will preserve your eardrums/sanity enough to get clear (particularly if you move towards of the damper and GET BEHIND IT) but nothin is going to make that less than really unpleasant...

Side note to that, apparently there's some concept with these damn less-lethal devices or at least in-service, the notion that they make the victims UNABLE TO FLEE, and thus pin them to be "worked over" much to the amusement of the goddamn jackboots - no sign of the ADS units yet, but given how fragile and unreliable they were at the G20, plus how expensive repairs are, didn't expect em to be.

-F

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:49 PM

So the leeches are having fits that anarchists are starting shit?

lol

Zombies, zombies... aim for the head.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"


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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:28 PM

Frem, something that might unnerve the hell out of you, stripped down versions of ADS are being installed in jail cells in Los Angeles.

Sad to hear that your counter for the LRAD isn't as effective as you hoped, but perhaps it's a start. The idea is valid, it might be deploying the counter in the open air that's the problem. But in the very least it offers people a chance to make it to shelter. Perhaps you need to combine two different schematics and functions into one.

Also bounce back, fighting with fire, etc.

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:09 PM


Ayep, on it, but jeeeperrrsss, herding geeks is worse than herding cats!

-F

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:20 PM


" So the leeches are having fits that anarchists are starting shit?
lol
Zombies, zombies... aim for the head."

Hello Wulf,

Please explain how the idea of shooting zombies in the head has anything to do with the protesters or the anarchists. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, so I invite you to explain the mundane relationship between the two ideas.

--Anthony


_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:22 PM

Acknowledged. Good luck on the next field test.

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Monday, June 17, 2024 9:43 PM

Kangz and Queenz of Wakanda
https://vidmax.com/video/228135-something-tells-me-this-is-a-very-toxi
c-relationship

Something Tells Me This Is A Very Toxic Relationship

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