The Non Aggression Principle

The Non Aggression Principle is very simple: don’t coerce. Aggression and coercion are ways of those that have ill will towards others and covets what others have, be it money, property, even life. Do not allow the Non Aggression Principle to be confused with pacifism as Non Aggressionists will protect what is rightfully theirs. So basically, if you try to attack, steal from or kill a Non Aggressionist then you get will it right back. Mal, Captain of the Firefly class ship, Serenity, would appear to be someone that adheres to this idea. He tells Saffron in one episode (before realizing she was a cold, hard killer and thief and not the sweet, innocent lil’ thing that Jayne was willing to trade his beloved ‘Vera’ for) that if someone were to try and kill her, then she should try and kill them right back.

I wanted to clarify that after a troll on Twitter tried to get my goat. I wouldn’t fall for her attempt at smearing someone that I like and apparently blocked me and deleted the conversation – good riddance I say. But seriously, why do people automatically go into this aggressive mode and expect to win people over to their side of the argument? It’s not going to work. An honest and open dialogue is how people can get their view across. It doesn’t mean others will see eye to eye but it’s the type of environment that creates the atmosphere that would encourage active listening and it’s a voluntary arrangement where anyone can join in if they wish, and leave if they wish. It’s a complicated, but yet still very simple dance – a beautiful dance when done properly.

At any rate, I just felt the need to clarify that. Please do not come at me aggressively. It turns people off and no one will want to listen. If one wishes to truly try and get others to see their point of view, they need to keep the Non Aggression Principle in the back of their mind. And if that is too complicated for them, the old adage “you can attract more flies with honey than vinegar” comes to mind.

The sun can burn, but it also opens flowers…

The sun may scorch, but a plant cannot flower if it blocks the sun’s rays for fear of a burn.  -me

In a Twitter chat today, someone was discussing with me about how our lives are built upon our experiences but also input from other people – family, friends, people we look up to and tend to give some kind of extra status to for whatever reason. I had the above sudden analogy spring into mind because someone else I was talking to this morning, someone I *still* look up to and will not bash, ever, blocked me when our political debate went towards Iran. So I was shut out from further talk/debate when this person said that a totalitarian state like Iran has to have their “bogeyman” (this was in regards to Ron Paul’s statement about Iran in the debates last night). I laughed when I read it because to me, that is the way it is here as well. So I mentioned that… in fact I said:

LOL you took the words out of my mouth – how exactly is America different there? They always have a bogeyman as well.

Okay, so I  might have crossed a line there with this person. My approach was wrong. My ability to debate has come a very long way but there is always room for improvement, I just really wished it didn’t go this way with this particular person. He has a very different viewpoint than I do and words like this, usually won’t keep a debate going for long. I want to learn from him and, hopefully, vice versa. I won’t go into why I said that, as this isn’t about why I believe what I do, just about talking and remaining open. I realize now that by saying that, I wasn’t truly being as open as I wanted this person to be with me and for that, the responsibility lies solely with me.

Again, I won’t go into how I came to the position I have now in regard to politics, that is not the point of this post. The point of this post is to suggest that we should encourage real talk and real debate or we aren’t going to encourage knowledge to grow. I try to not shut out others because I want their point of view on things. Being human, we should always want to be in a state of discovery and learning; so what happens when you turn off that ability or start to put filters on it? We don’t always like hearing other points of view because they will always differ – even people that you are perfectly getting along with at some point you will clash with them because we are different people. And having a smart ass remark or blocking will not encourage real talk. We have free will and the ability to see things in different ways, put different and new and changing perspectives on what we see through our own field of view and we should be open to new information from different people.

And this applies to EVERYONE! There is another situation where some idiot troll decided to make a lame attempt at insulting someone’s wife and kids because they just wanted to be mean I guess. That’s absurd and it really muddies the waters for those of us that WANT to talk. Other people won’t listen to me if trolls are out there trying to make it sound like they are of the same political/philosophical path as me. I assure you that is NOT the case! I adhere to the non-aggression principle (no, it isn’t pacifism) and know that ridiculous insults like that serve no one but the troll – when it comes to trolls, my motto is don’t feed them. Ignore them, don’t respond. Like a bully in elementary school, they will go away when they know they can’t get a rise out of you.

So, in conclusion if I’m engaged in talk or debate, I will really try to remain open and carefully think each response, leaving jokes or banter (or what, for me, passes as banter and jokes) aside.

And if by some strange, but beautiful twist, the person I mentioned above that I *still* look up to is reading this, please consider opening up that line of communication again. I know there is more of a chance of a snowball surviving hell than my hope that this person is reading this right now but, I thought I’d put it out there anyway…

Thanks for reading <3

Self defense begins with knowledge

A thread on Facebook has inspired this and I will post it on at least three of my blogs, so don’t be surprised to see it repeat itself. I am a woman and will speak mostly of women in this, but, guys, this is for you too! Please, everyone, share this, comment, expand on it, add to it, offer different views – the more we know, the less we fear. Another related thread also went as follows:

Axxx Xxxxx Being prepared is the antidote for fear.

35 minutes ago •

You and 2 others like this.
Rxxxx Dxxxx (me) indeed, fear is usually caused by ignorance of what is feared… if you are educated in whatever that is, then you don’t fear, doesn’t mean one will not be afraid, but fear will no longer be part of that equation. ♥

For my Firefly/Serenity blogs, I’ll intro simply… Most of the crew of Serenity can handle themselves. Self defense is vitally important to their survival. It’s vital to yours as well, so let’s start today!

Both women and men can become prey to any criminal. I want to discuss ways and ideas of dealing with it.

FIRST: AWARENESS

You must constantly be aware of your surroundings. As hard as it might be, do NOT walk around with you cell phone to your ear, or even using a bluetooth device. When you are talking, your attention is diverted. It may not be completely diverted, but even the smallest lapse in your focus and attention can be what a potential assailant uses to get to you. However, if you are alert, watching your surrounds and LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE EYE then you will not pose as an easy target for anyone. The vast majority of thugs are not interested in confrontation – they want easy prey. So don’t be easy prey because you are distracted.

Here is a fantastic story shared on the aforementioned Facebook posting on how awareness saved Kim’s life:

Here is one example of what I saw, I am always alert. It was very late at night so I had parked over in a lighted area at Walmart. I was done and came out, glanced around and spotted a pickup more out, and a guy standing and talking in the driver’s window to the driver. I keep my car key in my pocket and always have it in my hand before I step out the doors. As I walk, out the guy leaning against the truck heads off in the direction I am going, perfect line so he will get to my car just after I do. I sped up just a little. I see another buggy against my car. I used my anger at that; no one near me, and a buggy against my car. I stopped my buggy behind my car and watch the guy still headed my way. I put my hands on my hips and step so I am beside the buggy, I look at the design and decide where I think the sweet spot will be. I kick up and out to just below and behind where the kid would normally sit. The buggy flipped over almost 2 and a half times before falling back and landing on it side. It went a good 15 foot from where it started. Then I looked straight at the guy headed my way with my whole body, I wanted him to know, I see you and you are next! I turned my back to him as he was a good 30 foot away and walked behind my car opened the hatch (I was facing his way again) and started loading it and keeping an eye on him, the tire iron in reach every second. I saw him change his direction and headed out of the parking lot and when he got to the outter loop the guy in the pickup stopped and picked him up. They left. It did not hit me until later that I saw no security that night. I put on a big enough show that I was not an easy target, that I knew he was there, and then they left me alone. When loading my stuff in the trunk I put my purse in the trunk, remember key in my pocket or in my hand so I dont lock myself out. I have a couple sprays for door locks… Cap off standing in a tote so I can grab and use now, I have my tire iron right there… I am always aware. When all is loaded I can pickup my purse and take it up front with me. But I dont need the distraction of it being on my arm or worse sitting in the buggy where they can grab it to easy. My key in my hand can do some damage, even if nothing more than taking out an eye or marking there face really good.

Kim made it obvious to her would-be attacker that she was no one to mess with. By being aware, she avoided a confrontation from the start.

SECOND: SCARE AND EVADE

Okay, so what if you are caught off guard. Occasionally, I find myself on the phone when I really shouldn’t be or my kids are distracting me, it happens. Suppose someone does approach you and grab you or one of your kids or something, what then? MOST of the time, screaming “FIRE!” or just screaming will do the trick. Again, the average thug wants an easy target. But are some other methods that can be employed to help you get to the point, where you are released, even if only for brief moment, so you can run?

I was witness to a near-kidnapping. When I was a single mom, I lived in a really bad part of town in some crime ridden apartments. I never went out at night. Just too dangerous. However, one night (and my son was with his dad so I was alone) I heard a scream. I ran outside, as well as some other folks, and I saw a car speeding off; however, the potential victim was running in the opposite direction. Even with a car, when she screamed, she spooked her assailant and he, probably instinctively, let go for a brief moment, which she used as her chance to escape.

Evasion also require training so try to get to your optimum health. I myself am training in cardio and once I’m good at running again, I will train in some free running techniques. Not required but urban evasion is a big interest of mine!

THIRD: SCAR AND EVADE

Okay so you’re screaming and they are not letting go… something you can do in the awareness stage is to put your keys in between each finger and walk with your hand in a fist – kind of like the keys acting like brass knuckles. Scratch, pull hair, bite, kick… most women are not very strong with their arms and upper bodies, however, our legs are pretty damn strong (carrying kids on your hip and chasing after them is hard work after all! Hahahaha!). So DROP, become dead weight and start kicking furiously… DON’T STOP KICKING once you are on the ground. Continue screaming throughout this. The moment you get to run – DO IT!

FOURTH: SELF DEFENSE

Once an attack has ensued, having some methods of self defense will obviously raise the chance of survival. I know some women that carry mace or pepper spray, but others that don’t because they fear it either being used on them or fear that it might blow back onto them (like if it’s windy). Some women carry a small taser. Others want something more significant like knives and/or firearms. I full on support Constitutional carry of weapons – concealed, unconcealed – doesn’t matter to me. You have a right, given to you at birth, to defend yourself. No man or paper can take it away from you. Period. However, you must realize that with that right comes responsibility. If you do carry a weapon, you must be WELL AND PROPERLY TRAINED! Please, please, please! I beg of you to follow through with this! Most Americans are woefully unarmed and if they did pick up a knife or gun, not being properly trained, then they risk not only being unable to thwart the attack, but also of hurting or killing themself or an innocent bystander.

Fighting skills are also important. When you learn them (as you can learn on your own if you cannot afford classes of any kind) practice it until it is second nature! Those fighting skills will do you no good if you have to think about each move before executing it! My favs are Krav Maga, Wu Su, and Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee’s fighting method – free downloads here http://jeetkunedoindonesia.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-e-book-bruce-lees-fighting-method.html). The reason I love these is they are more about fighting than martial “arts”, which can sometimes be more about art than fighting – what I mean is that it doesn’t use the least amount of moves and motion to execute a defensive move.

I’m into preparedness but it’s something that people tend to overlook. There was a GREAT show once on SpikeTV called Surviving Disaster with Cade Courtley as it’s host. I HIGHLY recommend watching the entire series as it deals only with URBAN survival and average people. Two of the episodes are relavant to this blog so here are the links:

Mall Shooting

Home Invasion

even some things in Pandemic are very useful (like using a shopping cart to maintain perimeter, like Kim did above)

Yes, these techniques can be somewhat advanced but as I said, practice them regularly.

I hope that this blog will inspire and inform its readers and that more discussion and education ensues… please comment, add your ideas and advice and share! Thank you!!!

Why Agorism?

Any questions?

Let’s face it, all us Browncoats know that Zoe managed to get herself pregnant before Wash’s tragic death, you think this would be her???  Didn’t think so…

Science Fiction or Science Fact? repost

First published on my other blog at http://capntightpants.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/science-fiction-or-science-fact/ - thought it would belong in this blog as well:
I’m amazed at how much art really does imitate life and Firefly and Serenity are no exceptions. I will not say what was in Joss Whedon’s mind for these shows and subsequent movie but I know what I see that parallels real life. I’ll pass on the topic of politics for now because there is a very disturbing reality in that movie that needs to be addressed (and usually government is involved in these terrible acts) and that experimentation and mass population control. There are two glaring examples of cruelty and it’s all in the name of “science”, “self-defense”, and a very perverse view of peace and stability.

The first and most obvious from the very first episode is the suffering that River endured in lab experiments and the continued effects of those experiments. She was being stripped down mentally and there was an attempt at conditioning her to be a super soldier. She suffers from mental instability, emotional break downs, hallucinations and delusions, and is even considered to be schizophrenic.

The second was the use of a chemical, PAX (G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate) while creating the atmosphere on the planet Miranda. Serenity fans know the scene well where it is revealed that people were mass medicated through the air with a chemical to suppress them – in the name of “peace” and “safety”. It worked to the point of people just laying down in apathy and wasting away, with the exception of 0.1% of the planet’s population. That small sect became violent and aggressive, later to be labeled as Reavers. When the government (the Alliance) found out about it, they let the planet die, they buried the evidence and denied the existence of the Reavers.

So, how does this reflect real life? It’s disturbingly real… Off the top of my head I can name a few cases of unethical experiments done in the name of “science” and with the government’s stamp of approval: the Tuskegee Experiement, the recently revealed Guatemalan STD experiments, military experiments with radiation, LSD, and other biological and chemical agents… the list sadly goes on and on while the majority of the civilized world moves forward with blissful ignorance, even hailing some of these as necessary and their perpetrators as heroes. NaturalNews.com has done a timeline of medical experiments in two articles (http://www.naturalnews.com/019189.html and http://www.naturalnews.com/019187.html). I wish I had the time to go into details of these disgusting yet “approved” practices but I will let that NaturalNews.com time line serve that purpose. We need to realize that cruel and dangerous experiments are not some distant, medieval practice. No, they are unfortunately very real and very often occur without consent.

Even with consent, are we fully informed? No way! America is one of the most medicated countries on the planet but are we the healthiest? Not by a long shot! Instead, we just keep piling and piling more and more medications that, at best are a synthetic version of their natural counterpart (which can impede proper absorption and use) and at worst are an attempt to make people conform and comply… you disagree? Think about the vast amounts of drugs now available for “mood disorders” and “attention disorders”. I have no doubts there are real cases of some of these and that medication may be warranted ALONG WITH OTHER THERAPIES; however, these drugs, which are quite dangerous, are handed out like candy in the search for a quick fix in dealing with the disconnect this so-called “civilized” country has.

Look back at violent children and teens and I bet you will see psychiatric “care” and a history of medicine after medicine being tried. Some children are okay and can deal with it (and I bet the families are more involved and there are other therapies involved) and some cannot. Out of those that cannot, there are some that commit suicide, even at an age still in the single digits (analogy to Miranda’s mass die off). And for the rest that cannot deal with it, they become further disconnected and some become very violent indeed… perhaps not Reaver-level violent, but violent nonetheless. All these mood and attention medications attempt to do is quell emotion and increased activity… as the holographic message from the reseacher, Dr. Caron stated, “It was supposed to calm the population, weed out aggression.” That is exactly the purpose of these drugs… calm people, control people…

How many get vaccines without knowing all the ingredients? How about implants? What about food products, especially high processed food like sugary cereals, which the government allows to advertise added “benefits” because of having some sythetic nutrient added (but natural supplements can be shut down or classified as “drug” if they state health benefits)? How about the unquestioned practice of putting a toxin in the public water (fluoride)? There is a pattern here and it’s a disturbing one.

We are somewhat like the inhabitants of Miranda… we are laying down… It is now a ripe time for us to awaken and stand up! Do your own research and introspection on current events. Come to your own conclusions instead of blindly trusting those that would rather suppress and control us. Otherwise, we too may become either so apathetic that it leads us to our early death or become like Reavers, driven insane by such a disconnect from ourselves, each other and our Creator.

“Bad Guy Activity of the Week” – Free Speech

So, what are bad guys up to this week?  Robbing, assualting, killing – I’m sure that’s true, however, as we know, this blog isn’t about people that create victims. This blog is about people doing normal everyday things that have no victims whatsoever, but they are still labeled as “bad” guys because of the laws that restrict freedom (as witnessed in hit series Firefly and subsequent movie Serenity). Today, I was reminded of something that will definitely earn you the label of a “bad guy” in the eyes of lawmakers and enforcers: Free Speech!

Yes, free speech will make you a bad guy in the eyes of some folks. Don’t agree?  Ask John Bush, Chanda Seymour and Dan McCarthy. They were arrested on the campus of U.T. at Austin when Obama was there speaking because they would not stay in the “Free Speech Zone”. Yup! That’s right! There was a “Free Speech Zone” far removed from the building where Obama was giving his speech. Some may think that this is a university and that they have the right to say where people assemble on their property, right? Wrong! Being a public university, that property is owned by the taxpayers, which these people are. They were not violent or disruptive and were not blocking pathways or causing other trouble. They were there to speak out against Obama and the government.

Watch these videos:

John and a lot of the people there that day are members of TAG (Texans for Accountable Government) and regular spearhead actions to change the laws that trample natural-born human rights. This is proof of one such violation. *see discussion on this THREAD on John’s Facebook page*  John also states that they were being discriminated against as those that were pro-Obama were not being asked to comply and even leave, only those against Obama. He now faces a plea bargain and with a baby on the way and a potential civil law suit, he’s debating (at this very moment) what to do. John, if you are reading this, don’t feel too bad if you plea bargain this one – even Mal was “bound by law”.

I could go on all day long listing event after event after event where free speech wasn’t just squashed by arrest, but by more violent means from all over the world.  This one right, the right of all sentient beings from birth (not granted by any law or constitution) is essential to freedom and liberty. We must not only protect it ourselves (not expect politicians – who have a conflict of interest – to protect it) but we must exercise it – REGULARLY!

There are a lot of ways to exercise your right to free speech so find what you are comfortable with and fill that niche! Go out there and proudly announce, “Shiny! Let’s be bad guys – and speak freely!” Otherwise, we can kiss our liberty good bye…

This art is free to use for "non-profit" individual purposes, blogs, and websites. I encourage you to openly distribute to others with the hope it will educate, enlighten, deprogram, and at least, entertain. For "profit" magazine, book, or websites use please inquire at davodees at hotmail dot com.

“Bowker: A Monopoly on Stifling Free Speech”

I felt I needed to repost an article that I originally wrote for the USPP (United States Pirate Party) that got picked up by Free Patriot Press and one or two other sites.

USPP Archive
Free Patriot Press Archive
Smashwords Version 

**********************************************************************************************
One of many examples of how the government can destroy and contain creativity and lively cultural interaction is by granting a monopoly to one company for a high demand product in an industry where people are bursting at the seams to be heard. As an emerging author and a consultant and publisher for other authors, this became starkly real for me when looking to acquire International Standard Book Numbers, also known as ISBNs, for my books and others looking to publish.

Bowker, the only place that is allowed to sell and maintain ISBNs, has a monopoly that stifles culture and creativity and, whether intended or not, censors. Yes, you can buy ISBNs when you self publish from where ever you are publishing from (like CreateSpace or Smashwords) but they limit where and how you can sell your books. And for those that want to use their own publishing imprint, it costs a small fortune to purchase numbers directly from Bowker. The more you buy, the lower the cost of each number, but if you don’t have enough money to buy in bulk, you’re looking at paying $125 for only one number! There are also your printing costs, costs of illustrating and editing and publishing layout not to mention if you print and release ebooks, the ebooks require a separate ISBN. Is it any wonder that people get discouraged?

I was told by another published author that if I couldn’t afford all that, then I needed to find another business to get into. Well, that made me more determined to press forward. I have an amazing network of friends willing to help, even bartering for what I need or agreeing to profits instead of asking for money up front. This includes the ISBN. I work with self-published author Tarrin P. Lupo, and his publishing imprint name, Porcupine Publications, and self-published author Darryl W. Perry, and is publishing imprint name, Free Patriot Press. Both of them have been able to invest in ISBNs and will offer them at a very low rate. Because of Bowker’s rules, if you do purchase an ISBN from them, you have to use their publishing imprint name, just as an author publishing through a major firm would.

This, I don’t mind, however, I’m still left feeling cheated by a system that can even shut down an entire publishing firm if they publish an author with controversial literature to their credit. This is, obviously, absurd. This is also an infringement of the First Amendment which says:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

As a person that believes wholeheartedly in true freedom and liberty, this is an issue that needs to be heard. Imagine, if there were no limitations to the amount of books and literature you could write and publish, how many people could you reach? I love helping others publish because I feel like I’m not only doing something worthwhile, but something that will change this broken political paradigm this country is stuck in.

So I say write! Everyone, write! You can self publish and if you need help along the way, there are those available, such as me, Tarrin and Darryl, with a large number of affordable resources to do it. Hopefully, someday, we can break these chains and make real again the very First Amendment our forefathers cherished so.

Author bio:

Reagen Dandridge Desilets began consulting with author and activist Tarrin P. Lupo in 2010 and since then has grown. She is currently having her first completed book, a children’s book titled The Adventures of Abbie, illustrated. She has worked with Tarrin on all of his books which can be found at www.LupoLit.com and was recently a judge for LAVA Book Awards at www.lava-apa.org.
********************************************************************************************

My Facebook page for such topics is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shiny-lets-be-bad-guys/214732501911773 and my Twitter is @redd4a3.