Duma and gloom

“State Duma deputies, Public Chamber members and social conservatives have hammered out legislation aimed at heading off the spread of emo culture, which they describe as a ‘dangerous teen trend’,” reads the www.sptimesrussia.com/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=26670 report. “The Duma last month held a parliamentary hearing on a raft of proposed amendments contained in a document called Government Strategy In The Sphere of Spiritual And Ethical Education. Among other measures, the proposed legislation calls for heavy regulation of emo websites and for banning young people dressed like emos from entering schools and government buildings.”
Who said that Russia is as lacking in genuine democracy as it was during Soviet times? Youth culture is also under attack in Baytown, Texas where local pastor Reverend Gregory Griffin is leading the campaign to ban hip hop-style trousers
“While I’m at the park, why should I have to watch somebody’s behind? Why should I have to do that? I shouldn’t have to do that,” he fumes. “When I go to the mall, it’s threatening. Women are threatened. Children are threatened by it.”
The Reverend may sound like he’s one sandwich short of a picnic, but anti-baggy pant legislation has already been introduced in nine American towns, with fines of between $1,000 and $3,000 for those who persist in displaying their undies.
Get the full story at abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6283860.
Which just leaves time for quick visits to www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm (turning the tables on Nigerian email scammers); www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZm32tpWY8 (Josh Homme throws onstage wobbler); www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpPymk3vZoU (spectacularly sad Jessica Alba fan); and www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92917937 (Paddy Casey American radio session).