The Curator, chapter one

“Well private collections are a problem, certainly. We have no idea how many are out there. What constitutes a collection, also, is a legitimate question.”

Jonathan perked up at this.
“Yeah, that’s what I was wondering about. Say someone has, in the classic example, an old newspaper announcing the moon landing–“

Earl looked at him with sly sympathy.
“Well, if this friend of yours had only that, and just that, while he’d be in clear violation, it’s not like they’re going to come busting down his door. As long as it doesn’t circulate, he’s not going to get into trouble.”

“But he could be arrested.”
“Yes. Of course.  But if he did nothing to draw attention to it, by, say, showing it to someone–who would then become legally complicit if failing to report it–and if he didn’t draw attention for some other reason, he’s safe”.

“Look what they got that last one for, the director of the International Reparations Program, I don’t recall his name, and obviously you can’t find it anywhere; it was a stack of old pornographic magazines. Obviously the pornography itself isn’t the problem, but everything dating from before 2030 is banned outright, even content clearly bearing no political or social effect, as a catch-all.” 

“Really?” Jonathan regretted the intrigue in his voice. “It’s just that his project, well, it would really help if I could see for myself some of the material.” He hesitated. “Not the reactionary stuff, but the original sources. Don’t get me wrong, the licensed historians are excellent, but–“

“You’d like a look at the source material.”

“Yes.” Jonathan said with a hint of apology. “Otherwise I’m just reassembling work already done. I’m not sure, I don’t see the point in my work, what it adds.”

“Jonathan, you’re the only person I know who’d look a gift horse like this commission in the mouth. I’m afraid it’s out of the question for anyone who hasn’t been admitted to the bar. Sorry. To open the past back up and release those demons after struggling for generations to put them down is out of the question I’m afraid.

“There’s still some very dangerous stuff, not just in your theoretical newspaper. Even the sort of material in the chairman’s pornography collection, there’s to be found all manner of misinformation contradicting established truth. Anything of a political nature dating from before the 2030 law would be a stew of such unmetered narrative it would curl your toes. Anything touching on what used to be called “social issues” for instance–from that chaotic time when people still were allowed all manner of theresy–no matter how innocuous it was at the time. Even in casual, thoroughly non-political material the very language reveals, via its assumptions and references–to an astute reader such as yourself for instance–the extent to which misinformation was not only allowed to circulate, but held as true by many. That revelation alone is as dangerous as any content, and if broadly understood by the masses would be very dangerous indeed.

“Still, I noted the IRP director’s arrest only because they had some other reason to come after him and the collection was a pretext.”

“What was that?”

“Who knows? Obviously this is all between me and you, as is what I’m about to tell you. As you know President Feltyear He-Him said just the other night, the International Convention on Historical Accuracy is moving toward the gradual elimination of visual art from the Pre-Awakening period.”

Jonathan could feel the expression on his face resisting his efforts to conceal it.

“Well they’re finishing up the law right now that will add to the 2030 restrictions imagery, to include photographs, paintings, statuary, so-called abstract–“

” ‘Nothing is abstract’ “. Jonathan quoted the president.

“Yes.” Earl smiled.

“So, with the inclusion of imagery, a great many, maybe most people will be in violation, at least until they’ve turned in any objectionable material. I assume there’ll be a buyback program?”

“No. It’s been determined we were too generous before. Giving as much as 1000 social character points to people, for possessing dangerous material they should have turned over already, has been deemed short-sighted, and has resulted in a degradation of the social character points system.”

“And with a high level of non-compliance that means many more people will find themselves in criminal non-compliance. ” Jonathan spoke without thinking. “You’ll have expanded the category of social criminals.”

“That isn’t such a bad thing. It would be better if everyone was vulnerable by virtue of being in violation. The more people have a stake in avoiding corruption or incompetence the better. Just imagine: if everyone knew he could be arrested at any time, the more incentive he has to work hard to make things work. It’s okay if even most people don’t comply. The population will be divided between the compliant and the always vulnerable non-compliant.”

“Sword of Damocles” Jonathan said.

“Careful.”

“What, are old expressions included?”

“Some will be. We’re working on it. But the reason I brought this all up in the first place is because I have an interesting opportunity for you. The rest of what I tell is entirely confidential, needless to say, and you should be very careful with it whatever you decide. The Department has acquired its own collection, you see, and it’s neither small nor in the category of mere curiosities.”

“Really?” Again he regretted the interest in his voice. “Why?”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re establishing a collection of our own. It’s already quite large, and we expect it to grow with the mass confiscations that will occur with the new law.”

“It won’t all be destroyed?” Now it was hopefulness in his voice which Jonathan regretted.

“No. Some of it will be preserved. Don’t ask me the criteria by which it will be; I don’t know. But we expect to have a vast collection that will stored and preserved in the Capitol, in secret.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, Jonathan. Forget the commission; you’re right, it’s pointless. What I want you to curate our secret collection, so to speak.”

Livestream with Tom Kawczynski

Tomorrow (Thursday September 5) author, scourge of right-thinking rural Maine and presidential candidate Tom Kawczynski will join me for a livestream at 4PM Pacific, 7 Eastern Time on my YouTube channel.

Tom’s running for president. His campaign website is here: End the Con.

Tom’s a prolific author. His most recent book is The Coming Civil War.

Tom was fired as Town Manager of tiny Jackman Maine when he was “exposed” for espousing pro-white and segregationist views in 2018:

Leaders in a Maine town said Sunday they will meet with their town manager, who has come under fire for espousing white separatist views. Jackman Town Manager Tom Kawczynski recently made public comments bashing Islam and calling for preservation of white European heritage in northern New England.

Local officials are scheduled to meet with him on Tuesday. Town lawyer Warren Shay said Sunday the town manager’s beliefs aren’t shared by Jackman officials, who intend to meet with him at Jackman Town Office at 8:30 a.m.

“The meeting is to talk with the town manager about comments attributed to him in a number of newspapers and other media outlets around the state,” Shay said. “The beliefs reflected in those comments are not shared by any of the select persons or the Town of Jackman.”

Kawczynski didn’t return phone calls from The Associated Press. He moved to Maine a year ago and launched a group called “New Albion” to promote what he calls “the positive aspects of our European heritage” in northern New England and Atlantic Canada.

Kawczynski has said he expects to be fired over his actions, but he doesn’t intend to quit, and he doesn’t feel that his views on race interfere with his work as town manager. His website states that its purpose is “defending the people and culture of New England.”

The website includes essays that make the case for a voluntary separation of races, and identifies Kawczynski as “steward for New Albion.” 

And, of course:

He has also identified as a supporter of President Donald Trump.

Tom on gab and Twitter.
Tom is also something of a Medievalist as well I understand. Tune in if you can.

Bicycle Thieves

Rex is a big guy, maybe six foot five. He works around town for some app delivery service or other. He has the nervous energy of a smaller person and an undercurrent of rage I think I see behind his default expression, which is the sort of smile you would present to a savage encountered in the jungle, to show you mean no harm. He’s often coming into conflict with the local homeless. (I hesitated over writing the phrase “homeless community”, before realizing it is apt; in some ways they have more community than us)

Rex is unwilling to ignore the homeless and is often in conflict with them.

He bounded over, phone drawn, and, as he does, began as if in the middle of a conversation:
“So these two guys? I don’t think I told you about these guys. They were prowling cars over at the plaza” he pointed off in the direction of what I think is a retirement home, “and I told the security guard you know?”
His smile lapsed into a genuine expression as he became enthusiastic.
“So I see them again. Look at this shit.”

On his phone I see the homeless combatant coming at him from across the street and slashing at him with a tiny knife as he fends him off with, I think, a hot bag for carrying food.
“Whoa dude.” I say (I have to be honest, this is what I said). “Did you call the cops?”
“Yeah. They’re not going to do anything about it.”
“No shit?”
“They’re not sure any law’s been broken, I guess.”
“What the hell?”
“But I told them about their chop shop.”
“Their what?”
“Their camp between the freeway and Fourth over there. They take stolen bikes there and do whatever. I told those fuckers ‘I know about your chop shop!’ “, that’s when they came after me.”
“Jesus dude, be careful.” I say.

The next day I see the police clearing out the camp he talked about, taking all day to fill a truck with their abandoned gear.

“That’s not their only shop.” Rex tells me when I give him the news the next day.
“Have you seen those guys again?”
“Oh yeah. They’re over on Fourth and Jefferson right now. I just saw them.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. I’m going to bail on downtown Portland for a while. It’s too bad; it makes it harder to make money doing this shit if I have to avoid the city.”
“That sucks.”
“I saw a guy coming down Broadway Drive, not one of the guys who attacked me but an associate, I’ve seen him with them, and he’s coming down the steep part full speed like a daredevil, like he’s got no brakes, on an expensive-looking bike.”
“No bike is safe.”
“It’s true.” He laughs.
“They’re making their way higher up into the hills. Used to be they’re weren’t that determined.”
Rex nods.
“Yeah. They’re getting way more aggressive all around. And they’ll steal anything. But they love bikes and breaking into cars.”

Yesterday I saw him again, and he bounded over, phone drawn, and resumed the conversation:
“So I saw this video ‘attempted stabbing of US Marine’ and you’re in it.”

It’s a video of protesters chasing a man with a bicycle off the street, heaping various indignities on him before the scene breaks down into chaos.

In the 360 degree video we see a masked man with another tiny knife, this time out for the Marine bicyclist. He gets close, but, probably because the crowd wasn’t thick enough to hide his actions from view, he withdraws.

The Marine, at least, kept his bike. But more importantly, he kept his dignity.

Rules of Distraction

I asked James Lafond about surviving the urban riot environment as an undocumented journalist:

Dennis Dale
Tue, Aug 20, 5:58 PM (1 day ago)

Portland had another to-do this weekend as a small right wing protest drew over a thousand angry “antifascists” who spent the day hunting out and harassing anyone they thought in sympathy with them and journalists (for exposing potential crimes).

Other than stay away, what can I do to avoid getting the bike lock to the head when I’m not looking? What are my legal concerns? Is protective gear an invite to violence?

James responds: 

Dennis, advising readers and friends on how not to reach assisted vegetative nirvana in my home away from home, must be my number 2 priority, just behind bedding half-blind slave girls.

If you are covering such an event, realize that press protection will not be forthcoming. Sitting judges have been ruling that only employees of mass media companies should enjoy protection of speech for years. It is also explicitly not the responsibility of any police department to protect citizens, but only to round up and kill enemies of the sate involved in drugs, violence or free thought.

This is true. I can also attest police openly resent bystanders–“looky-loos” was the phrase I once heard a cop use on a detainee complaining he’d just come to watch. The camera-wielding amateur media represents a two-fold problem for police: we encourage mayhem by turning cameras on people looking for attention, many of them mentally unbalanced, but they must also hate us for the same reason antifa does–the potential we have to document misdeeds. And that raises the question: on net do we increase or decrease mayhem?

People are encouraged to perform for the camera, but they also can’t escape it. There might be a metaphor in here.

1. You should not go alone. Hire a teen age POC as your security guard. A six of malt liquor and the street cred he’ll get for saving your honky ass will do.
2. Wear safety glasses or sunglasses.

3. Wear a cap, a ski cap in cold weather or a tactical cap with plexi-insert during hot months. I would wear a pit helmet. But without a Swahili bodyguard you might wish to stop short of a display of moral supremacy.

Yes, the pith helmet sounds very practical for the environment, and I might even be able to pull it off sartorially, but with the left’s current state of wokeness I don’t trust it won’t be received as the colonialist equivalent of a KKK hood. And combined it with the Swahili bodyguard (sorry, James, quick hard-pass on that)? Just imagine me walking about in a pith helmet with a dindu guard. I could dress him in animal skins and give him a spear. It would tear a hole in Portland’s space/time/justice continuum.

4. Wearing a BLM or No Nations No Borders shirt is highly recommended, because the guys on the Right are going to have their hands full surviving and won’t have excess resources to secure the perimeter against thought criminals and witnesses.

I’ve considered disguise but decided against it. If antia identifies me as a enemy it will be because I’m filming. If they see I’m wearing their gear, they’ll hold the subterfuge against me, and my defense–I’m a journalist, fuck off–is weakened. My strategy thus far has been to dress like a middle-aged suburbanite. A friend emailed the other day that he got a good laugh out of seeing me in the background–like Waldo–in various videos, in my bright orange-striped shirt.

5. Keep a pole or wall to your back and skirt the perimeter. Do not take up an obvious viewing position, but play it like a bystander as much as possible.

6. When people approach walk off obliquely rather than retreat. Making them change directions is more discouraging than asking them to speed up their pursuit.

7. Practice rolling with punches for when you get hit.

8. Use no type of defensive weapon more lethal than an umbrella, pen or rolled up magazine. Umbrellas are great because they can be used as shields against chemical attacks or as bayonets or clubs depending on the design.

Great advice. And I figure an umbrella is also one of the deadlier things you can carry without getting arrested for it. Some antifa I saw last weekend were masked head to toe in black and carrying black umbrellas; I fear they’re training with them.

9. Remember that the cops are your enemy and if they think you are involved they might attack you, so clearly separate from others, seeking the view with the maximum distance from the belligerents and the pigs.

Police above all view you as a nuisance, a significant part of the massive nuisance that is the demonstration, which with some reason they see as a farce, so their attitude toward you will not be generous.
But your attitude toward them is crucial. If they give an order at least be seen as responding right away. Half the crowd is there to harangue them. When interacting signal that this isn’t you by being polite and keeping your distance. The individual police in a line are, I imagine, identifying individuals in the crowd and rating them as threats. When the shit hits the fan they’re coming after those guys first. In ambiguous situations later better if that individual cop has identified you as non-hostile already.

10. Any of the three parties that approach you should be greeted by your declaration of support for their causes, all of which are evil or misguided but all of which deserve the same praise. “You guys are doing good work—thank you!”

Remember, Dennis, as a journalist with your own mind, even though you may sympathize with the Right, all three parties, Left, Right and Police all have one goal, which is to silence dissent, and any independent journalist is by definition a dissident and will be targeted for violence by all of these parties in good time—first by the Left, then by the police and in the end by the radicalized Right—so trust none of them, especially when it comes to this street theater.

Thanks James, but I fear I’m a journalist in my own mind. That’s probably how the police would put it. Street theater it very much is; sometimes I think the fundamental dynamic of these demonstrations is between performance journalists and performance artists.

The two guys in the video window below have head protection. The helmet is going to draw fire, so stick with a cap.

I really like the idea of a ballcap with lining. I think I’ll fashion one out of aluminum, then when I’m captured I’ll play crazy. Maybe even infiltrate my captors’ cell as a mascot.

Thanks James. Portland is in a state of disorder since you left, as you see.