Today's Occupy protest rained out but a goodbye press conference

I attended the last day of the Occupy Nashville camp out today. The protest of the day was supposed to be the International Women’s Day Celebration with a 11:30 march from the War Memorial Plaza to the Broadway Bridge. It didn't happen. I arrived in a light drizzle about 11:40 and wondered if I had missed it. There were about a dozen people milling around the Plaza. I was assured I hadn't missed it but no one knew if the march would be taking place or not. While waiting for something to happen, I spoke to several members of Occupy and one thing I asked was if they were camping out and none of the ones I spoke to were campers. I also asked them if they planned to get arrested and none of them did.

The Occupy camp looked really pitiful in the rain. I counted nine pitched tents and about three or four more that were either tents not pitched or tarps. It was hard to tell. The camp out did not have the feel of a community. Along the west side of the plaza were three tents and a collapsed tent or a tarp, and some distance away in the northeast corner of the plaza were four tents and far to the south of the plaza was another tent. They were widely scattered.

Gradually more members of the press arrived and joined the press already milling about and the group moved to the War Memorial Building portico where the protesters held a press conference. By this time there were about 15 members of Occupy and about twice that many members of the press and the drizzle had turned into a heavy rain.

Jason Steen plans to be arrested

Several speakers spoke, each attacking the bill that makes it illegal to camp in places not dedicated as camping places. The attack on the legislation was focused on the impact it would have on the homeless. A lengthy statement was read which said that instead of punishing people for "experiencing homelessness" by such acts as sleeping, eating or camping, that government should end homelessness. The letter had been signed by several prominent homeless advocates. Little was said about the legislation being an attempt to silence protesters; almost all the comments addressed homelessness.  Jason Steen spoke and said he would be camping tonight and was planning on being arrested.

Elizabeth Barger, the Tennessee organizer of  Code Pink, was going to take part in the Women's Event which was to include some dancing. She said it would have to be postponed. "We couldn't dance in this rain," she said. "We would break our neck."  She said she had not camped out saying she was getting to old for that.

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Occupy degenerate remnant are turning on each other

As Occupy Nashville's last hours camping on the Plaza slip by, the degenerate remnant are turning on each other. Two leaders of the leaderless Occupy Nashville, Andrew Henry and Jason Steen, got into a fist fight one night last week, sending one to jail and one to the hospital.

Various factions within Occupy Nashville (ON) have emerged, each trying to take Occupy in a different direction. Prominent spokesmen have taken to denouncing each other and denying the other has authority to speak for the group.  Those who are still sleeping on the cold marble of War Memorial Plaza have taken to denouncing those who have abandoned the camp out.  Some occupiers are denouncing others as "provocateurs" for their more aggressive activism that has cast the occupiers in a bad light. 

One leader posted a picture of himself on a street light pole stealing some juice. Others denounce him for doing so. One leader denounced another leader as one who "often conducts himself much like an adolescent who got into his parent's liquor cabinet and now doesn't know what to do with his drunk self."  "His lack of self control while in the spotlight for ON does damage to ON's image to the public at a time when it needs all the support it can get."

 

Like the stranded British boys stuck on a deserted island in Lord of the Flies who try to govern themselves and it ends in disaster, Occupy Nashville could not govern itself and the movement participants ended up turning on each other.  They are now spending more time fighting each other than the "1%." For all practical purposes, Occupy Nashville is over. It is just a matter of cleaning up the mess.

To learn more about the demise of Occupy and see how the remnant are turning on each other read here, here, here and here.

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'Occupy Nashville' Bill Passes Senate 20-10 - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal aimed at stopping Occupy Nashville protesters from staying overnight at the Capitol complex has passed the Senate.
The measure was approved 20-10 on Thursday. The companion bill passed the House 70-26 last week. The legislation will now return to the lower chamber for concurrence after an amendment was added. 'Occupy Nashville' Bill Passes Senate 20-10 - NewsChannel5.com

The Occupation is almost over! The seige is to be lifted! The War Memorial Plaza to be liberated! I hope our Govenor does not dissapoint by stalling. Governor Haslam, Sign it now and clean the plaza tommorrow!

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What is the Full Story about Helen Bailey's Pending Foreclosure?

Occupy Nashville has come to the assistance of 78-year-old Helen Bailey trying to prevent Chase Bank from foreclosing on her home. The story has gained national attention. Over 40,000 people have signed an on-line petition protesting the pending foreclosure including notable civil rights activist Cornel West.

This is a sad story. No one wants to see a 78 year old women be put out on the streets. However, before we jump to the conclusion that Chase should just write off $9000 in debt and let Ms Bailey stay in her home, pause and think about this situation.

What is the full story? 
The newspaper article says Ms Bailey has lived in the home for 28 years. There are some details that may not be relevant, but they very well may be. I don’t think we are getting the full story. There were two recent quit claim deeds filed on the property where other parties gave up an ownership interest in the property. I would be curious why there were two quit claims filed on the property. One quit claim was from Meriel Bailey dated 5/9/2011. The original warranty deed dated April 1999 transferred the property to Kimberly F. Bailey, Helen Bailey, and Meriel Fulton. Also the newspaper says her two daughters recently moved out of the property. Were the parties giving a quit claim her daughters? Did someone give up their ownership interest in the property so Ms Bailey could qualify for a reverse mortgage? Is Ms Bailey the only person on her mortgage? If other parties are on the mortgage they are still responsible for this debt. When one gives up an ownership interest in a property, they do not escape their obligation to pay the debt. I don’t know the facts. I am only asking questions but I think these questions need to be asked. (For property information see here and here.) 

Can Chase forgive $9000?
Ms Bailey is trying to get a reverse mortgage and the reverse mortgage is $9,000 short of the amount needed to pay off the existing mortgage. Occupy is asking Chase to take a short pay-off of $9000. While I do not know that Chase cannot do that, it may very well be that they cannot. Mortgage companies often cannot just write off a debt. When a mortgage company makes a loan, the loan is bundled and sold with similar type loans. The investor in these securitised debt instruments could be Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or any of about 4000 other investors. Chase is no longer the owner of the debt. The debt instruments which secure the bundled mortgages often contain language that prohibits writing down any of the principle. So even if Chase wanted to write off $9000 they may be prohibited from doing so.


If Chase could write down the debt would it be good policy?
If Chase does a write off of debt for one person so they may get a reverse mortgage then others will have a similar expectation. What is the limit on how much debt a mortgage company should write off in order to accommodate someone in getting a reverse mortgage? Believe me, people will figure out how to make the system work for them. If it becomes Chase policy to write down debt in order for a party to get a reverse mortgage one may see situations in which people purposely modify their circumstances in order to qualify for such a write down. Wives may quit claim their interest in the property to their husband in order to let an older husband get a reverse mortgage and then they may expect the mortgage company to just forgive any shortage necessary to get the reverse mortgage. All of this money that is being written off is someone's money.  Part of it may be the tax payers money and contribute to the $14 trillion deficit.  If you own a share in a mutual fund in an IRA, you may experience a loss in your retirement account when an investor writes off a debt. There are consequences to debt forgiveness programs.

If Chase does write down the debt, can indeed Ms. Bailey get a Reverse Mortgage?
Reverse mortgages are not as automatic as they once were. Reverse mortgage companies have been having a problem with borrowers who would get a reverse mortgage and then still not be able to keep up the home, keep it insured, and pay the taxes. The newspaper story says Ms Bailey only has $700 a month income. In considering Ms. Bailey for a reverse mortgage, the reverse mortgage company would have to be assured that she is financially able to provide for home upkeep, taxes and insurance and still have money to live. I am not so sure she can qualify for a reverse mortgage. Does she have a conditional approval from a reverse mortgage lender?


Why did the daughters abandon their mother?
The Tennessean report says, “She fell behind on her mortgage in April after her two daughters moved out, leaving her with a mortgage just under $1,000 to pay alone.” Why did her two daughters move out? If everything was OK prior to the two daughters moving out, do the two daughters not have the obligation to help their mother? Are either or both of the daughters on the mortgage note? Can the two daughters raise the $9000 shortage? Are the two daughters not more responsible for their mother’s well-being than Chase? What is the story?


Is keeping this home in Ms Bailey’s best interest?
The newspaper story says, “She receives less than $700 a month in Social Security.” Think about that. Even if Chase writes off the $9000 and Ms Bailey is able to get a reverse mortgage, can she stay in her house on $700 a month? The home is a 4-bedroom, three-bath, 2720 square foot house. That is a lot of house to heat and maintain.  If she is only $9000 short on getting a reverse mortgage then my best wild guess is that she owes about $128,000 on the home and it is worth about $176,000. (See value estimates click here.) It is probably in Ms Bailey’s best interest to sell the home and downsize.


Why not let Occupy pay the $9000 shortage?
If 40,000 people think Chase should forgive the $9000 in order for Ms Bailey to stay in her home, then do the math: $9000/40,000= 22.5 cents each. If each of the 40,000 people who signed the petition would send Ms Bailey a quarter her problem would be solved. Maybe Cornel West could send a dollar.

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Occupy a year in jail or a $2,500 fine

"A committee of the state House of Representative sent a bill to remove Occupy Nashville protesters from the state Capitol to the House floor after increasing the bill’s penalty to nearly a year in jail or a $2,500 fine." (link)

Ok, Occupy! Don't be intimidated! Resist the effort to be moved. Lock arms and sing together, "I shall not be, I shall not be moved, I shall not be, I shall not be moved."  Wiggle your little fingers in a message of consensus to not be moved. You can continue your occupation in jail for up to one year! Do it! Don't fade away! Show 'em what your made of. Occupy the jail! Occupy the jail!

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"Occupy" Scumbags Burn Flag

Photo credit: AP Photo | Occupy Oakland protestors burn an American flag found inside Oakland City Hall during an Occupy Oakland protest on the steps of City Hall. (Jan. 28, 2012)

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I am Thankful for the 1%

I am Thankful for the 1%, and I wish I was one of them.

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Stephen Colbert Occupies Occupy Wall Street

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Colbert Super PAC - Stephen Colbert Occupies Occupy Wall Street Pt. 1
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

I assume this is a comedy routine and these are not "real" people but I don't know. Anyway, it is insightful and very, very funny.

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'The Daily Show' Takes On Occupy Wall Street's Own Class Warfare

I seldom watch the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. Unfortunately, a lot of young people who think they are informed get a lot of their "news" from these two programs, along with SNL. This shows are so significant in shaping public opinion that they cannot be ignored. All of them definitely have a liberal slant, however occasionally the left is so ridiculous that even liberal comics cannot help poke fun. This is funny and insightful. (Unfortunately, you have to watch a short capitalist advertisement before you get to the good stuff.)
 

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Teach-in Reveals How the Left Thinks

As reported in this article about a "teach-in" at Florida International University, the speaker had ten chairs brought to the front of the stage and a person set in each chair, he then moved nine of the students to share three of the chairs to illustrate how wealth is distributed in the US.

This teach-in illustrates how the left thinks. They think there is only ten chairs. They think that if someone else has more, you have less. They are obsessed about distribution of wealth. The left thinks the economic pie is fixed and the slices should be of equal proportions. They see the economy as a zero-sum game. In America and in much of the world, we have always baked a bigger pie or added more chairs. If I can get enough, I don't care that someone else has more.  As long as we can add more chairs, I am OK if someone else has more than one chair. That is not my chair they have.

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Attention Nashville Homeless! Help Occupy Nashville!

Attention Nashville Homeless!

Join the party!

Free Stuff!

Help Occupy Nashville!

Legislative Plaza- 24 hours a day!

Free Food! Free blankets! Free winter clothing.

(Also, some have found unattended lap top computers and cell phones on the mall and that they have been able to claim and sell. Some protestors have abandoned their tents and belongings and they are now free for the taking. )

Companionship and all night conversation!

Join generous people who advocate sharing the wealth, who do not like authority or conformity. Like you, they feel "the man" has screwed them. They hate the rich; they love the poor. 

They will share their donated food and blankets and money with you and they most likely will invite you to share their tents and other belongings. They advocate sharing the wealth and believe in economic justice.

Don't worry about the police arresting you for loitering or sleeping in the park or urinating in public. The laws are no longer in effect. 

Enjoy all night guitar playing and conversation and camaraderie. Bring your booze and drugs. They won’t mind. These are very non-judgmental, tolerant, and loving folks who share your values.

Most of them or what you might think of as rich privileged kids but they are doing their protest for everyone except the very, very, very rich.  

Their movement is for everyone except the top 1%.  
That means you!  

Many of them don't really know any real poor people and they will be excited to hear you stories. Also, some of these folks have never spent the night out before when it is cold and rainy. You can help them by showing them how to do it. They will appreciate the help. You will be welcomed with open arms! They would find it hypocritical to turn away the homeless.

They are waiting for you to Join the movement!

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Banks Drop Debit Fee because the Market Works, not due to Occupy.

When the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank bill passed limiting the amount of money banks collect from merchants each time a customer uses their debit card, it was inevitable that banks would try to figure out a way to make up the lost revenue. The result was the $5 a month debit card fee. Although as a result of Dodd-Frank, I was expecting higher bank fees, like everyone else I was unhappy when I received notice from my bank that they would be charging a monthly debit card fee.

I am so entangled with Union Planters and value the personal relationship with my banker that I was not going to switch banks. However, I did express my displeasure to my banker and I was going to maneuver around the fee. On one of my accounts I almost never use the card anyway. I use a credit card that gives me points toward cash-back, and then monthly I automatically pay the card in full. There is an annual fee for having this card, but I still come out ahead. To avoid the fee on my and Louella’s joint account I was planning to get a second card and do the same thing on that account. In the meantime, on this second account, we were using checks and cash.

A dear friend of ours who we know very well was very upset about this new fee and she closed her Union Planters account and opened an account with the Old Hickory Credit Union. Many people I encountered were upset about this new fee. Despite it being the result of government action that caused banks to impose this fee, the banks would have been wiser to just eat part of the loss and make up part of the lost revenue in a less transparent manner such as reducing the interest rate on cash balances in checking accounts, raising fees for overdrafts and increasing interest rates.


The Occupy movement and their friends in the mainstream media have been spinning this story of consumer discontent with this new bank fees and the banks dropping the fees as if it is the result of political pressure and a victory for Occupy. It is not. My friend who switched banks did not do so out of any left-wing affiliation or political motivation. I was not going to take actions to avoid this fee because I was motivated by Occupy or any other political movement. The result would have been the same without the Occupy movement. Consumers have power. The banks dropping this new bank fee is much like Coke backing off of New Coke and Ford dropping the Edsel. The market works.

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Hero of the Day: Phil Tagami, Oakland Developer who Defended his Property

Phil Tagami

In Oakland California where the Occupy movement went on a rioting rampage, spray painting buildings. smashing windows, sitting fires and looting, Oakland developer Phil Tagami did not sit idly by and let it happen to his property. He took a shotgun, which he usually keeps at home, to his downtown landmark office building and stood inside in view holding the gun. While the building did get minor spray painting, it was otherwise undamaged. For daring to stand up to a mob and defend his property, Phil Tagami is my hero of the day.

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The truth about our counter-protest (and what the Tennessean got wrong!)

From: Stephen Siao

Friends,

By now, I'm sure most of you have heard of our counter-protest of Occupy Nashville last night. However, if you read the Tennessean today, you definitely did not get the true story (which is, I suppose, expected). It was definitely not a kum-ba-ya moment like the Tennessean spinned it as. In fact, several of our members were called racists by Occupiers with the Tennessean reporter standing right next to them (she proceeded to interviewing them but made no mention of them being called racists!)

Here is our video response to the Tennessean's misleading article: http://www.youtube.com

I encourage you to check out WSMV, News Channel 5, WKRN, or TN Report's coverage of it, which were all accurate and fair (is that really too much to ask for nowadays??).

We went for two reasons. First, we wanted to show them that not all college students supported the movement, in fact many are actually against it. Their demands will do nothing but add to the burgeoning debt already on each of my generation's shoulders. Second, we believe their protest is fraudulent and misguided. They should be at the White House--not the State Capitol or Wall Street.

Though the some of the media (and bloggers) chew us up, at the end of the day, I am so proud of each of the 22 students who courageously took the stand against this movement. We thought when it started raining, surely we'd lose half the group--but no, everyone came!

Also, the media's take about how they graciously invited us to speak to them is misleading as well - they invited us, then pressured us, into speaking to their group. We declined their first few offers, and then two reporters came up with voice recorders asking why we were refusing to speak to them and whether we were just there to cause trouble. At that moment, maybe against better judgment, we decided we didn't want them to spin that, so we took the floor and gave them a piece of our mind!

All the best,

stephen

Stephen Siao

State Chairman, Tennessee College Republican Committee

President, Vanderbilt College Republicans

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Occupy Nashville's "We Love You."

“We Love You” yelled the Occupy Nashville protestors as the Vandy College Republican counter protestors approached the Legislative Plaza.

“From the first moment Occupy Nashville protesters heard about the Vanderbilt students’ counterprotest, they had planned a warm welcome. Promises of cookies were made early on and actually carried out,” reports The Tennessean.

Isn’t that sweet? I mean, it really is nice that people who disagree with each other can express their points of view and it not resort to angry shouting or violence.

However, I would still urge caution. When the Occupiers scream “We Love You,” they may be talking about Che Guevara’s Revolutionary Love. Last week we saw a picture of an Occupy protestor whose tent featured a posted sign that quoted Che Guevara saying, "The True Revolutionary is guided by feelings of Love."

That revolutionary love involves lining up suspected enemies of the revolution and putting a bullet through their head. It was Che who said, "If any person has a good word for the previous government that is good enough for me to have him shot."  And, "What we affirm is that we must proceed along the path of liberation even if this costs millions of atomic victims." 

If an Occupier says, "I love You," you may want to ask, "what do you mean by that?"

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Occupy: Have we created a generation of self-entitled cry babies?

This is a excellent analysis of the Occupy movement from Bill Whittle! I think he hits the nail on the head.

The Occupy Wall Street protesters are complaining about everything from corporations to having to repay student loans. Is America the victim of its own success? Have we created a generation of self-entitled cry babies?  Has everything been so easy for so long that people expect to always have everything handed to them on a silver platter?  Is Occupy the result of ingratitude, an entitlement mentality and utter lack of perspective? What the protestors need is to grow up!

Bill Whittle is a screenwriter, editor and director. He has written for National Review Online and is a regular commentator at PJTV.com.

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Who Supports Occupy Wall Street?

 Communist Party USA
 The American Nazi Party
 Revolutionary Communist Party
 Black Panthers
 Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan
 CAIR

For a list of other supporters, click here. 

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Democrats Shamefully support Occupy Wall Street

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Nazi Party Endorces The Occupy Wall Street Movement

Ok, Not a lot of weight should be given in judging a person or a movement by who endorses that person or movement.  On the other hand, you are judged by the company you keep and by who considers you their friend.With some of the antisemitism coming out of the Occupy Wall Street movement, one can understand why the Nazis think they have found an ally who shares their values. Also, the term "international bankers" has often been, or alleged to have been,  a racist code word for "Jews."  One can understand the attraction of the Occupy Wall Street movement to the Nazis. The American Nazi Movement is probably no more than three lonely guys with mental illness blogging out of their mothers basement anyway, but below is the American Nazi Party press release. 

ANP Report for October 16, 2011

Racial Comrades: I am going to address the issue of this "Occupy Wall Street" fervor that has been sweeping the land like a breath of cleansing air!

THE NATIVES ARE GETTING RESTLESS, AND ZOG FEARS IT MIGHT HAVE A POPULAR UPRISING ON ITS HANDS - finally!

This issue is TAYLOR MADE for National Socialists, as well as WN who are serious about DOING SOMETHING - MORE - than shouting "racial slurs" and acting like "poster boys of hate" loons.

After all - JUST WHO - are the WALL STREET BANKERS? The vast majority are JEWS - and the others are SPIRITUAL JEW materialists, who would sell their own mother's gold teeth for a PROFIT. And MORE and MORE people are AWARE of this truth, are not only NOT afraid to TALK ABOUT IT - they're shouting it on WALL STREET!

I urgently URGE all of you to TAKE PART and JOIN IN when these protests hit your neck of the woods. Produce some flyers EXPLAINING the "JEW BANKER" influence - DON'T wear anything marking you as an "evil racist" - and GET OUT THERE and SPREAD the WORD! Put as a "contact point" on your literature, our www.ANP14.com address - it won't immediately "scare off" some of these scaredy-cats for even looking at our FACTS - for FACTS they ARE!

If you are unable to produce your own leaflets - check out the "support" section of our website - there are a LOT of good flyers there to utilize.

This issue reminds me a LOT of the "GASOLINE SHORTAGE" of the 1970's - where National Socialists found a HUGE receptive audience, for our viewpoints - per the JEWISH CONTROL of OUR GOVERNMENT and its insane support for Zionist Israel, and the Arab Oil Boycott that hit OUR people so hard.

As I have so often in the past spoke on - the White Working Class - is going PAST, the BOILING POINT, and is quickly reaching ULTIMATE EXPLOSION! THEY want ANSWERS! THEY want RESULTS! All of which this evil corrupt, decadent JUDEO-CAPITALIST SYSTEM is incapable of giving them. WHY? Because its BOUGHT and SOLD to the CORPORATE ELITISTS who are fast turning America into a "South American" style - THIRD WORLD WAGE-SLAVE STATE - ( complete with MILLIONS of BROWN illegal aliens willing to ACCEPT YOUR JOB for LOW WAGES and NO BENEFITS ) where, currently 3% of the population CONTROL 85% of the nation’s WEALTH! And the "GREAT DIVIDE" is GROWING each and every year that passes.

WE - the WHITE WORKING CLASS - have been LIED TO and totally DECIEVED - just the other day, the system APPROVED THREE MORE so-called "Free-Trade" deals. ALL of which mean that MORE JOBS are going to be SENT OVERSEAS - YOUR JOBS! Don't you CARE? Enough to DO SOMETHING?

NOW is the TIME! GET INVOLVED! IT’S YOUR FUTURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU can DO - ONE of TWO THINGS - SUBMIT to the uncaring GREED of these CORORATE, WALL STREET THUGS and their SOCK-PUPPETS in GOVERNMENT. OR, - YOU can RESIST! I CHOOSE RESISTANCE for MY FAMILY and MYSELF!(link)

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I don't know if this kid is to be feared or pitied

The Occupy Wall Street Freak Show is certainly entertaining. It is like passing a car wreck on the interstate; you know you should look but but can't help yourself.

I don't know if this kid is to be feared: He can vote and that is scary. He can be used as cannon fodder by the left wing manipulators. He is the future of our country?

On the other hand, I kind of feel sorry for this kid. He may have just had too much meth. Maybe his parents will come get him before he does something really stupid.

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