On the Banks

Balloons for Daniel

This is the video I put together in honor of Daniel Rafferty, who died on January 10 at the age of seven.  Daniel had the same chromosomal anomaly our daughter has: IDIC(15), which can cause developmental and physical problems.  On Valentine's Day, members of Daniel's IDIC(15) "family" - other families of children and adults with IDIC(15) from around the world - released balloons in Daniel's honor.  

 

 

To learn more about IDIC(15), please visit: http://www.idic15.org/ See also:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isodicentric_15

 

 

Why to read "Why Peace" ...and how to pronounce my name

AntiWar.com's Scott Horton interviewed Marc Guttman about his recently released book "Why Peace", in which I have a chapter.  I've been remiss in not getting around to reading the other chapters, but this interview makes me eager to get started.  There are really some amazing stories in here: From victims of war, and from some of its perpetrators.  Most compelling, I think, is that many of the writers tell of their own transformations from once supporting war to now opposing it.

(And yes guys, it happens all the time.  People never know how to pronounce my name - Scott was right though, it's "Bret-nee".)

 

 

Why Peace?

 

This is the cover of the soon-to-be released book "Why Peace".  I've got a chapter in it, and can't wait to read the whole thing!

 

Bankster Flyer for the OWS Folk

 

I realized that I never did post a link to that flyer I was working on a few posts down.  Here it is.

 

 

 

Get Your Opt-Out-Day T-Shirts Here!

  

I've got some T-shirts up for sale on Zazzle.com.  I started making these with the idea that those participating in the National Opt Out Day next week might wear them to the airport.  Not only will you make your position known, but the more people who wear them -- or some other shirt, sign, etc. -- the more support you're giving to everyone else who is doing it.  How cool would it be if you walked into an airport and half of the passengers were wearing some kind of shirt like this?

Unfortunately, Zazzle doesn't have an option for selling these at cost or I would have done that.  What I'm doing instead is promising to donate 100% of what I make from these to pro-civil-liberties causes.  All royalties from this one, for example, will go to the legal defense fund of John Tyner, should he establish one.  I haven't decided which other causes I will be donating to but will post here when I have.

Anyway, please check them out!

 

CalPIRG Man is back!!!

Some of you have known me long enough to remember this guy.  Some are fortunate enough to have blocked him from your memories.  And if you don't know who I'm talking about, you can read all about him inthe first installment of The Return of CalPIRG Man!

Somebody Hates Mommy!

Oh no!  My new picture book "Why Mommy Loves the State" has only been on Amazon a few days and already someone hates it!  The first reviewer calls it "preposterous" and even "juvenile"!  How mean!  He even seems to think that Mommy doesn't love the state enough!

You can read the entire thing here (warning: the review contains SPOILERS). 

...and of course you can download the book itself for FREE here.

Howard County Schools Documentary is Up!

My documentary on the Howard County Public School System's ban on student transfers is now up!

The above description makes it sound a lot more dry than it is. What it's really about is the struggle of one family to have their five-year-old son transferred from the Title I school he is currently being bussed to, to one of the better elementary schools that is within walking distance of his home and that has plenty of capacity.

In navigating a maze of red tape and rejection, this family learned some surprising things about what makes a public school system tick. From the bizarre gerrymandering of school attendance areas, to preferential treatment for school system employees, to a policy that forces children to remain in underperforming schools, the incentives seem to be about everything but serving the needs of the children the schools were built for.

"Choice Denied: the Politics of Failure in Howard County Public Schools" challenges some fundamental beliefs about the benefits of public education -- about whose interests are served and whose are not.

You can also watch it on Break the Matrix TV.  Go to: Break the Matrix, click on "On Demand" and scroll down to "Choice Denied documentary"

"IT for Everyone" is here!

My short video decrying the silliness of our statist health care system is up now.  You can also see the commercial and the first and second teasers.

Students Against Gravity

So, after the dreadful yet not-entirely-unexpected letdown of the New Haven “Cherry Blossom Festival”, I was thrilled to see this banner hanging on an immense iron gate at Yale University. Only after getting home and back to my computer did I discover that the “Yale Anti-Gravity Society” is nothing but a bunch of jugglers.  Posers.  Running dogs of the lifted class.

In hunting down YAGS (please!!! You’re taking a stand against gravity and all you can come up with is YAGS??? I may have chosen the obvious acronym but at least it means something!) I did come across this . And can I just say “Oh. My. God.” I didn’t know these things still existed!!! Here’s the story: Some 20 years ago, I and my two friends Aaron and Wayne marched ourselves down to the official student organization office of UC Santa Cruz and registered “Students Against Gravity” as a student organization. I’d like to think we were the first ever to do so, and in fact, our manifesto is the first result to appear on a Google search of “Students Against Gravity” thank you very much.

Anyway, Aaron insists that we came up with the idea together while perusing the Communist Manifesto one day, but the truth is that I came up with it first and sketched out the manifesto before Aaron was even involved in the struggle. It was this seemingly minor clash that led to the Great Rift and the eventual decline and yes, fall, of the organization.

But today I learn that not only has the movement continued to flourish, it has grown!  Here is one site.  devoted to the cause.  And another.  Legions of proud supporters make mention of their SAG affiliation on personal websites and MySpace pages.  There’s even a theme song!

And no “Jeff” , I’m sorry but you and your friend Scott did not start the Students Against Gravity “club”. Please. I suspect this guy is actually a plant from the outside whose “club” is nothing more than an effort to discredit the entire movement and make us look silly. Well, go for it Jeff and Scott. We’ll see who’s left standing when it all comes crashing down.