Let the School Year Commence

[Allanea]

[OOC: This is an IC media response to the events here.]


IC:

PANTOCRATORIAN INSANITY IS ON THE MARCH
NEW OPPRESSIVE MEASURES STARK REMINDER OF THE BRUTALITY OF THE PANTOCRATORIAN STATE
Sandra Worthy, Liberty Times

As the academic year begins, civics teachers and homeschool parents seeking to introduce the next generation to the dangers of out-of-control government need only look at Pantocratoria for an example. The country has never been a civil rights leader - in Pantocratoria, female land holders can have their legal minority extended indefinitely (until their marriage naturally) at the discretion of their legal guardians. But even for a country where a young woman unlucky enough to own land can be considered legally a child until the age of fifty, the Pantocratorians never cease to amaze us.

The most recent act of Pantocratorian insanity was designated, the Public Schools Act Amendment 2011 (the full title, for those of you interested in Pantocratorian 'law', is 'An Act to Amend the Act known as The Public Schools Act so as to Require Certain Reforms to the Dress and Conduct of Pupils and Teachers'). It of course comes up with the usual oppression we have come to expect from public-schooling systems - school uniforms, prohibitions on public displays of affection between pupils (as of press time, we are not clear if this will be only enforced on school grounds).

Moreover, school classes will be forced to segregate pupils by gender, redesign school classes to include items such as crosses and portraits of the Emperor, and so on, and so forth. However, the most terrible notion of this program was "at risk programs" for various students, including transgender, sexually active, and even the depressed. These programs, of course, turned out to be exactly what the reader already imagines - compulsory 'boot camp' prorams for those students classified as 'at-risk'.

The second shoe had now dropped. Hundreds of young men and women are being arrested in Pantocratoria on charges of child pornography - in Pantocratoria, this stands for distributing sexual images... of themselves. No pedophile rings with children locked up in basements here - simply take a picture of yourself and it's handcuffs time. Worse yet, the Pantocratorian enforcement program is biased against young girls and the poor. Already there is discussion of sentencing, of trials, etc. - but it is likely now that the young men and women of Pantocratoria will experience the same boot camps.

At press time, the Department of State has made the following statement on the situation in Pantocratoria: "We are closely following and monitoring the situation. Let us be clear: the United States of Allanea condemns all forms of censorship. Putting a man or woman in prison - even for a single day - for making a photograph of their own body is never morally acceptable. Putting people in camps - even if they are called 'boot camps' or 'health camps' or 'joy camps' over the content of their speech is morally wrong. While we call on the Pantocratorian legislature to abolish these oppressive laws, we realize this is unlikely to happen.

Therefore, we would like to make the following statement to any Pantocratorians who are threatened by these laws, or who have participated in sexting activities, or are under threat of being placed in any of the 'at risk programs' for transgender or sexually active students: as of this moment, the Department of State is authorizing a refugee status for a limited amount of Pantocratorians who are under the threat of state persecution. We wish to remind you also that Allanea recognizes a state of maturity beginning with the age of sixteen (for homo sapiens sapiens), and also allows earlier recognition of maturity in certain cases. This is equal for both male and female Pantocratorians, as well as Pantocratorians of any other gender.

We call on the world community to condemn the behavior of the Pantocratorian authorities, and can only express our sincere hope hope that one day, all Pantocratorians will be free."

Perhaps one day they will. But today is not that day.

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
Names of Sexting Accused Leaked, Published

The names of teenagers arrested in the recent "sexting" crackdown have been obtained and published on the website WekeLeaks, despite laws which exist to protect the identities of underage defendants and victims alike.

The list, which appeared on the WekeLeaks website last night, details the name, age, address and school of each teenager arrested under laws prohibiting the production and distribution of child pornography.

The Attorney-General was said to be "furious" at the leak, according to anonymous sources in the department, who also told the Monitor that an investigation of the police departments and Crown Prosecutor offices involved to find the leaker has already begun.

The civil rights group Liberté condemned the leak, describing it as a subversion of justice which will have an "enormous impact" on the lives of the young people involved.

In a press release, Liberté also said that the Attorney-General had to shoulder some of the blame for the leaked list, on the basis that "if these young people were not arrested on such spurious grounds in the first place... simply to make a point about adolescent sexual morality" then there would be no list for WekeLeaks to publish.

Controversial community group Action-Nationale welcomed the news, however, stating on their website that "Pantocratorian society is now empowered to send a clear message" to the defendants "that sexual promiscuity, sins against nature, and pornography are utterly unacceptable in our society", and called upon "parents, educators, and future employers" to "rebuke appropriately" those named on the list.

[Allanea]

Liberty Times
As Pantocratorian Repressions Rise, Online Activists React

As the repressions of sexually-active young adults in Pantocratoria continue, the United States Government has not been forthcoming with a reaction. On the other hand, Allanean online activists and civil rights activists have come up with innovative ways to help Pantocratorian youn men and women to avoid the tyranny of their elders.

An Internet user known only as AbramGannibal_86 has made available an open-source application named 'Rod of Justice', named after Maven Auryn's mythical sword, which allows the users of common cellphone brands to encrypt image files with RSA encryption. Liberty Times' internet security expert assures us this encryption is nearly impossible to break even with the use of supercomputers. AbramGannibal_86 had not responded to any of our queries on this top.

Another group of users, operating under the names 'Pink Dawn', have launched a 'botnet' type program, which embeds itself in users' computers and uses them to message randomly-selected Pantocratorian phones or email addresses with erotic images of Allanean professional adult actors and actresses aged under 21, images that constitute 'child pornography' in Pantocratorian law. The Liberty-City Police Department had already condemned the group for its invasion of users' privacy. In part, the head of the Department's Computer Crimes Division had said: "Whatever political cause you have, it is not worth invading the computers of people who have nothing to do with it. We call on members of the Pink Dawn activist organization to cease their lawbreaking activities immediately and cease spreading their botnets."

[Pantocratoria]

Adrienople Times

Sexting Schoolgirls Shorn, Assaulted
Three teenage girls whose names appear on the WekeLeaks list of accused sexters were allegedly attacked by a group of citizen vigilantes at the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall after school this afternoon, according to police.

The girls aged between 13 and 15, whose names, schools and addresses appeared on the WekeLeaks list, but whose identities cannot be revealed by this newspaper due to laws protecting the privacy of underage victims and offenders, were set upon by assailants police described as "three women in their late middle age, four women in their mid-thirties, and one heavyset man in his mid-thirties with a beard" in the crowded mall.

The older women abused and restrained the girls, and the bearded man allegedly shaved their heads with electric clippers.

The victims claim that they were identified by their school uniforms and by a folder carried by the man with print-outs of Friendface profiles of accused sexters who attended their Adrienople public school.

Police have warned the other students of the same school who were arrested in Monday's raids that they may face similar vigilante action and have advised them to remove their public Friendface profiles and other social media accounts which may allow vigilante groups to link the details from WekeLeaks to photographs.

Despite the attacks occurring in a public place over a period of approximately twenty minutes, in the middle of Christmas shopping season, the Adrienople Police say that there has not yet been adequate witness testimony to identify any of the alleged assailants, and have appealed to members of the public present at the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall between 3pm and 4pm this afternoon to come forward and make witness statements to police.

The police spokesman further appealed to the public not to engage in vigilantism "especially against the children whose names appear on the WekeLeaks list", whom he described as "misguided youth who will already have their day in court, but deserving of their privacy and the right to go about their business without being interfered with and assaulted like these girls".

[Allanea]

Hedonist Online

Allaneans Stare in Amazement as Pantocratorians Devour Own Young

As if the dangers of a sex-negative, punitarian society were not already clear to any informed citizen, the Adrienople Monthly provides us with a sterling example. Some Pantocratorians, not satisfied with arresting 15-year-old girls on 'child pornography' charges (that is, for those of us keeping score at home, taking photos of themselves and sending them to their boyfriends), are now taking matters into their own hands - into the world of vigilante justice.

We are told four individuals (whose names are not published) assaulted several 'pornographers' aged 13 to 15, 'abused them' and then forcibly cut their hair with electric clippers. One of them was carrying a folder with personal data of various accused 'sexters'.

Rarely has the hypocrisy of the sexting laws been exposed so openly - Pantocratorians are now attempting to protect their young men and women from child pornography by not only imprisoning them, but by having vigilantes assault them in the streets!

Dr. Philip Wild is a policy advisor with the Hedonist Institute. He blogs regularly for Hedonist Online.

Comments:

UrbanCommando: Look people: if I saw four adults attack and beat a girl that age, I'd give the EMTs some extra work that day.

ArchNemesis666: The EMTs? Surely you mean the morgue! Go for slide lock!

KotTimofey: The fact there was an attack is not that enlightening - bad things happen anywhere. The bad part is discovered when you get to the original article our Dr. Wild links to: Despite the attacks occurring in a public place over a period of approximately twenty minutes, in the middle of Christmas shopping season, the Adrienople Police say that there has not yet been adequate witness testimony to identify any of the alleged assailants, and have appealed to members of the public present at the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall between 3pm and 4pm this afternoon to come forward and make witness statements to police.. Think of it - in the middle of the shopping season, there's nobody to even take a smartphone video of this event - for social network uploads if not for civic responsibility. It seems these people hate 13-year-old girl even more than they like their likes & shares!

KoscheiImmortal That's really amazing. Do they value their likes and shares that little?!

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
Tech News
Peacock Computer bans 'Secure Sexting' App from PeacockPhone AppStore
IN news sure to disappoint some PeacockPhone users, the Rod of Justice open source app has been banned from the PeacockPhone AppStore by Peacock Computer.

The application, which uses high-grade encryption to encrypt image files before allowing the user to send them to their intended recipient, has been pulled from the AppStore by Peacock Computer after the developer, working under the Internet pseudonym "AbramGannibal_86", refused to modify his software to share the cryptographic keys with law enforcement agencies.

In response to customer criticism, Peacock Computer has directed users towards several other applications, free and paid, which encrypt communications (including picture messages) between PeacockPhone users.

The Foundation for Free Software (FFS) has criticised Peacock Computer for the decision, and has warned PeacockPhone users that the alternative software available in the AppStore automatically shared cryptographic keys with the Ministry for Public Safety, meaning that police would be able to monitor unencrypted versions of the secret messages if they chose.

The Ministry for Public Safety and Department of the Attorney General declined to comment.

[New Edom]

FINEBERG TIMES

Will "Sexting" Be the New Immorality?
Life in the New Blackboard Jungle
Written by Annabelle Barca

ADRIENOPLE, Pantocratoria

According to an article in the Imperial Monitor:

The Public Schools Act Amendment 2011 (full title: An Act to Amend the Act known as The Public Schools Act so as to Require Certain Reforms to the Dress and Conduct of Pupils and Teachers) introduced the requirement that all public school pupils wear a uniform, the details to be determined by their local school board, from the resumption of classes after the 2012 Summer holidays.

Among the new restrictions are that religious iconography must be displayed in classrooms at all times. According to observation by Ministry of Education officials in New Edom, it is a case of too little too late. In a later article, the plague of 'sexting' (which is the act of sending sexually provocative material via cell phones, an obscene version of 'texting') is part of the reason why the new Public Schools Act Amendment was voted in favour of in the Pantocratorian Parliament.

New Edomite young people want cell phones, they want easy communication, and they are being told that it is the best thing for them in order for our culture to fully modernize. But is it the best way? Can we not learn from Pantocratoria, which is now forced to draconian measures that remove the so called freedoms that the cell phone is supposed to create?

On the other hand a recent incident of vigilantism against three girls who were already facing charges for obscene use of communications suggests that it is not merely the Pantocratorian government and business community that are at fault for lack of regulation, but rather that of the community. If parents and relations have the greatest amount of direct influence in the school system and with their own children, then surely it is not the government regulation which is to blame, but Pantocratorian society itself that is, for laxity and lack of supervision of young people growing into adulthood.

"At the end of the day," said Foreign Minister Thaddeus Burden, "It is not a matter for our direct concern, but a warning to us: that we should be careful to maintain our moral practices in the face of swift change, however tempting those changes might be."

[Allanea]

Message to Pantocratorian Youth Dissidents from AbramGannibal_86

My dear friends!

I know you have already heard of the banning of my app, Rod of Justice. On my site you will find instructions on how to circumvent the ban by downloading the app files directly to your device. Those of you not using PeacockPhone can simply still use your ordinary appstore. But really, remember this: this idea of mine is not a cure for what ails your society. It is only a little tiny bit of help, and really the problems will only end when you, and your parents, and your loved ones stand up for yourselves. Only freedom can make you safe. No technological solution, no matter how advanced, can secure your rights.

There already are groups in your country that struggle to keep you free - the Foundation for Free Software, Liberte, or any other groups. Help them if you can. If you can't - keep your head down and stay safe!

Over and out, Abram

[Pantocratoria]

Adrienople Times
Family Christmas near-tragedy
"Sexting" teen suicide attempt
The tale of the recent "shaving attacks" on teenagers accused of sexting in Adrienople late last week took a near tragic twist today when one of the vigilante victims and sexting accused, a 15 year old girl, apparently attempted suicide in her bedroom in her family home in Mt Croissade, Adrienople after Christmas lunch.

After a large family lunch involving four generations of the victim's family, the girl locked herself in her room and consumed a near fatal dosage of her mother's sleeping pills, Adrienople Police said.

On Saturday, the girl was one of three teenage girls attacked in the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall by a group of older women and one man armed with electric hair clippers.

The girls were assaulted and restrained by the women, before their hair was shaved off by the man, according to statements made to Adrienople Police by the victims and by witnesses, but no charges have yet been laid as police have yet to identify suspects.

The attack suspects were acting on information published on the WekeLeaks website detailing the names and addresses of teenagers recently arrested on child pornography charges over "sexting" allegations, supplemented with FriendFace profiles of the girls which allowed the assailants to identify their appearances and after-school habits, Adrienople Police say.

An ambulance was called to the scene of the 15 year old girl's home by her father, after he discovered her unconscious in her bedroom after a prolonged absence from the family's celebrations.

Although Adrienople Police suspect a suicide attempt, a police spokesman informed the Times that no additional charges would be laid against the girl at this time.

The girl's family called upon the Imperial Government to "provide counselling" to sexting accused rather than prosecute them.

No ministers were available for comment during the holiday.

[Allanea]

Hedonist Online

After Suicide Attempt, Pantocratorian Police Show Unexpected Mercy

Now the story of the young girl that has been attacked by Pantocratorian religious vigilantes has reached some form of crescendo. It appears that this young lady, having been viciously attacked by a gang of puritan bandits, had been having a Christmas meal with four generations of the family, when she ecided to lock herself in her room and attempt to commit suicide with, ' near fatal dosage of her mother's sleeping pills'.

Nobody is coming forward on what her family said to her during this meal -but somehow, given the previous news reports from Pantocratoria, I doubt that they were the most loving, caring family on Earth. Perhaps I am wrong. What is certain is that when the young lady was recovered by EMTs - who proceeded to save her life - in what is nothing short of a Christmas miracle, Pantocratorian police have so far declined to file charges for the suicide attempt!

Perhaps you have misunderstood: I do not mean that they suspected that her parents have driven her to suicide. I do not mean that they suspected that the lynch mob had somehow tracked her down and tried to do her in. No, in Pantocratoria, the suicide itself is the crime. Imagine - you have just lost the love of your life, or dishonored yourself with a terrible misdeed, or - as the case may be - have been prosecuted by the welfare/police state and attacked by lynch mobs. You seek to end all - and even this last bit of freedom is outlawed in Pantocratoria. If you survive your attempt, the police will empowered - should they choose to - to file charged against you!

Frankly, I have no pity for anyone in this situation. Only this young lady, which had apparently been persecuted innocently, and has now nearly taken her own life. I suggest, however, that we take up a collection. The institute pays me enough I can spare five hundred credits. Ladies and gentlemen, since we know that this girl's photo is already published online, can we not find her? And can we not raise some money to get her a Christmas gift that she will never forget?

Dr. Philip Wild is a policy advisor with the Hedonist Institute. He blogs regularly for Hedonist Online.

UrbanCommando: I'm putting up ten Decasheep.

ArchNemesis666: Twenty on my end.

KotTimofey: "The coming together of the Western Atlantic powers is evidence, not just of regional solidarity, but also of a shared commitment to universal human rights that permeates the Western Atlantic region. " I am putting up one tenth of a gold ounce.

Samantha_Succubus: A tenth of a gold ounce here too, and also a free treatment at my beauty salon if she ever ends up visiting Allanea. I'll send in a gift card to any address.

RioRita: I say we send Samantha to deliver the gifts!

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
Feminist Student Radicals shave heads in "Solidarity" protest

Female university students from the Adrienople Young Socialists, a regional youth affiliate of the Pantocratorian Socialist Alliance, have publicly shaved their heads at the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall in a protest today.

Spokesperson for group, Mlle Louise Meurchamps, told the press that the protest showed the "solidarity" of the Adrienople Young Socialists with the three local teenage girls who were arrested on charges of child pornography relating to sexting and were subsequently attacked by an apparent vigilante group when shopping at the mall after school on Friday afternoon.

One of the victims of Friday afternoon's attack, a 15 year old girl whose identity cannot be disclosed due to the nature of the charges against her, apparently attempted to commit suicide on Christmas Day.

Mlle Meurchamps led a protest of twenty four young women, who each had her hair voluntarily shaved with electric clippers much like those used in the attack on the teenagers, wielded by the only male involved in the protest.

The event drew television cameras and reporters from the local press in Adrienople, along with a large crowd of onlookers, and the protesters used the opportunity to call on members of the public who had witnessed Friday afternoon's attacks to come forward - suggesting that if their protest had this many witnesses, somebody had to see the attacks and maybe even photograph them or video them on their smartphone.

In the meantime, unconfirmed reports of "copycat" attacks in other towns and cities about the country are appearing on social media.

When asked to comment on the attacks, Mlle Meurchamps was quick to point out to journalists that all of the (unconfirmed) victims of these vigilante attacks have been teenage girls, although many of the sexting accused were male, and blamed the attacks on "the thuggish enforcers of the patriarchy".

[New Edom]

FINEBERG TIMES

FEMINIST RADICALS SHOW THEIR FANGS!
Is Pantocratoria the New Haven for Feminism?
Written by Annabelle Barca

ADRIENOPLE, Pantocratoria

Patriarchy. Socialism. Oppression of women. Watchwords of the Feminist movement.

International Feminism, which is considered by the Council of Five Churches and the Government of New Edom to be one of the scourges of humanity, now rears its ugly head in Pantocratoria, supposedly a Christian nation, revealing once again how it insidiously attacks social order, according to Bishop Zecharias, the Chairman of New Edom's Supreme Court.

"We can see how how International Feminism shamelessly puts women in harm's way in order to establish their propaganda. There is no step too low for Feminists when it comes to attacking the foundation of family and moral social order. As a personal message: I urge the Pantocratorian people to continue to do their best to curb the excesses of their young people. Feminism is not an ideology devoted to equality, but to atheist communist disdain for morality and our basic humanity. Do not listen to this voice of anarchy and unreason."

Earlier this year the New Edomite Government banned all Feminist political groups, gatherings, and publications, and arrested all members of the Feminist Party and any groups or political organizers who supported them. Many were exiled to the matriarchal Shrailleeni Empire, while others remain in prison or are doing hard labour pending recanting of their political crimes.

[Pantocratoria]

www.an.po - Official Site of Action-Nationale, the Patriotic Christian People's Movement of Pantocratoria

Press Release

Citizens urged to dress appropriately
In 1993, the previous United Christian Front Government had the wisdom and forethought to legislate a mandatory dresscode for Pantocratoria which helped enforced our moral values and set a standard for what was acceptable in a properly-ordered, Christian society. Regrettably, the current United Christian Front Government has failed to bring back the dresscode in any sort of meaningful way, and has therefore abjectly failed to undo the damage of six years of Socialist rampage against the moral order. In particular, our youth, especially those educated in Dr Drapeur's public schools, have been corrupted and routinely make exhibitions of themselves as uncouth ruffians or objects of the most obscene sexuality. Action-Nationale is leading the fight to do what our politicians lack the courage to do - to save the souls of our young people by decently covering their bodies.

ALL CITIZENS ARE REMINDED:
-To wear modest clothing.
-That men and women were created by God with clear differences between them, and should dress accordingly. In particularly, men should not dress as women and women should not dress as men, nor should either dress in foreign "androgynous" fashions.
-That hair dye and excessive make-up is vanity.
-That piercings belong only in the ears of women.

IN PARTICULAR, MEN MUST NOT WEAR:
-Make-up, including nail varnish.
-Earrings.
-Tight fitting jeans or pants which reveal the outline of the flesh between the waist and knee.
-Shorts which end above the knee, except when engaged in athletic activity, and even there, never tight fitting.
-Excessively tight fitting shirts.
-Singlets as the outer layer of garment, revealing bare shoulders.
-Effeminate colours, hair styles, or shoes.
-Turbans or other pagan head covering.

IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN MUST NOT WEAR:
-Shorts, dresses or skirts which end above the knee.
-Longer skirts or dresses with slits running up high above the knee.
-Tight fitting jeans or pants which reveal the outline of the flesh between the waist and knee.
-Close fitting t-shirts.
-Low cut tops revealing cleavage.
-Tops revealing the midsection or lower back.
-Excessively bright and unnatural make-up colours, such as fluorescent shades.
-Platform shoes or shoes with heels higher than three inches.
-Visible tattoos.
-Masculine hair styles and clothing which makes them appear to be male.

Further, women are asked to prefer:
-Dresses or long skirts to trousers or pants.
-Modest necklines to strapless tops.
-Sleeves to sleeveless tops.

All citizens are asked to enforce this dresscode, even if the Ministry for Cultural Development refuses to do so.

[Allanea]

At the Headquarters of the Hedonist Instute, Liberty-City, Allanea

These shoes were made for walking, so that's just what they'll do... - Samantha Franks whistled as she laid out a large, heavy black bag onto the table. It was made of heavy, resilient fabric and covered with dozens of pockets - pockets into which the beautician soon began to stuff numerous objects.

"The flashlight, Phil?"

"Here it is," - smiled Dr. Wild, and a small flashlight rolled across the table. Samantha placed it into an external pocket on the bag. Other items followed soon after - a smartphone, a set of headphones, and a large make-up kit.

"She's going to love that one, I think." - Philip Wild said.

"She's going to love that one more after I show her how to use it," - Samantha replied, tossing a large, gleaming leather cap into the bag - "And she's going to need a decent hat since she's not got any hair right at this moment."

"And these are going to be the killer," - Philip said, handing the beautician a neatly folded skirt. - "It will end... just below here knee. Good thing we found out her measurements from her friend."

"But there should be pants, too," - Samantha nodded. The next order of business was a pair of sturdy, heavy-duty pants covered in pockets, and printed with a pattern of owls and several T-shirts - one bright-yellow, with a hissing rattlesnake curling on the front, another with a logo of a popular Pantocratorian band - "I knew it was a good idea to check with her family about her size - it's still a surprise, right?"

"Unless the parents told her," - Philip nodded. - "Here's the socks... and here's the final item."

These shoes were made for walking, so that's just what they'll do... - Samantha hummed as she lowered a pair of high, bright-red boots - like military boots, but bright red - into the package.

*

Thus it was - after some bureaucracy with visas and other items - that, a few days later, a large van pulled up to the lynching victim's Adrienople home. Samantha and Philip were inside, accompanied by a cameraman.

[Knootoss]

From 'Trouw', a Knootian daily:

WA: "PANTOCRATORIAN EMPIRE 'UNFREE STATE'"

Click to enlarge

HARTSTAD - A survey taken by the World Assembly reveals that the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria, Knootoss' closest ally, has backslided significantly on civil liberties during the administration of the United Christian Front. Moralistic legislation, including an abortion ban, restricted the civil liberties of all Pantocratorians. When the same survey was taken during December of 2011, the Franco-Byzantine Empire was still regarded as 'partially free'. Now, with a score of only 25 out of a possible 100 points, few civil rights remain. The repressive mood in the country was poignantly illustrated by the recent 'sexting' arrests.

--> FULL ARTICLE HERE <--

[Pantocratoria]

14 St Germanus Street
Mt Croissade, Adrienople

The parents of 15 year-old Eugenie Aprene nervously surveilled the van outside through the curtains of their quiet suburban home. Christmas decorations were still up everywhere, and many people had family visiting them for the holidays, so the Aprenes did not think their neighbours would notice an unusual van and think much of it. This was not the source of their anxiety.

Instead, they were concerned about how a television appearance would impact upon their daughter's unfolding "situation", as they had come to call it. They were not thrilled in the first place that their daughter had taken naked pictures of herself on her PeacockPhone and sent them to some pimply-faced twerp at her school for whom she professed undying love, but they were even less impressed by the overreaction that had followed. The Adrienople Police had arrested Eugenie, taken her off to the police station in the back of a police cruiser in handcuffs (her father, Jacques, had been allowed to accompany her in his own car following behind), fingerprinted and photographed her like a common criminal, and marched her before a judge who had set a trial date six months hence and then (at least) released her without bail. In the minds of M and Mme Aprene, it had been an excessive exercise, but the worst was still to come.

Eugenie went off to school as if everything was normal, and that Friday she and her friends had gone to the mall, as they did every Friday after school. It had to be those two friends, too - that trashy half-Indian girl Maria and her almost as trashy little sister. Maria had been, in the judgement of M and Mme Aprene, such a bad influence on young Eugenie - and everyone could plainly see what influence she had had on her little sister. Maria had a boyfriend and suddenly all the other girls who longed to be cool like Maria just had to have a boyfriend too. Irrespective, they were still just children, and when the three of them were set upon by Action-Nationale thugs, woman-handled and shaved bald, that was nothing less than assault. Once again an Adrienople Police car showed up at their door, but this time the police officers took statements. Eugenie might have taken a photograph of her assailants, she unhelpfully pointed out to the police officers, had the police not already confiscated her PeacockPhone as evidence to be used against her in the sexting charge. The police looked sheepish and hadn't had a reply to that one. Over a week later and there had still been no arrests.

Christmas Day was a nightmare. It was Helene Aprene's turn to play hostess to the entire family, and her mother was such a bitch at the best of times, in Jacques' estimation, that they really should have had the foresight to call the Christmas lunch off at the last minute. His mother-in-law had chastised Eugenie in the most judgmental and personal of ways that it made the trauma of being arrested and arraigned seem minor by comparison. Worse still, it had started a conversational snowball which revolved around Eugenie's inappropriate conduct and the overreactions to it by the police and the muggers. The younger members of the family tended to side with Eugenie, but Grandma and several of the aunts and uncles on both sides were unsympathetic, to say the least. When Grandma suggested to Helene that she ought to consider pulling Eugenie "out of that dreadful public school" and putting her into the strictest convent school in Adrienople, the Carmelite School of St Teresa of Avila, and that Eugenie herself should pray for a vocation as a nun, that was about all Eugenie could take. She left the table, half way through lunch, and went running to her room. A large family fight ensued, which Helene was eventually able to calm down, before disappearing to the kitchen to busy herself to prepare for dessert.

When the pudding and custard was ready to be served, Jacques ventured upstairs to see if Eugenie could bring herself to join them on the precondition that Grandma not bring the topic up again, and that is when he discovered his daughter unconscious, with an empty bottle of Helene's sleeping pills in hand. Ambulance, hospital, lecturing by the doctor about not putting medicines where children can reach them (where can an adult still reach their medicine that a 15 year old cannot, anyway?), and an overnight stay later, and Eugenie was back at home, but in the deepest of winter depressions.

It had been that depression which had motivated them when contacted by Samantha Franks, wanting to deliver some sort of Christmas care package to Eugenie. Now that the van was parked outside, however, Jacques and Helene Aprene wondered whether appearing on Allanean television would make the "situation" worse or better for Eugenie. They were about to find out.

[Diopolis]

[OOC: This is an IC media response to the events here.]


IC:

PANTOCRATORIAN INSANITY IS ON THE MARCH
NEW OPPRESSIVE MEASURES STARK REMINDER OF THE BRUTALITY OF THE PANTOCRATORIAN STATE
Sandra Worthy, Liberty Times

As the academic year begins, civics teachers and homeschool parents seeking to introduce the next generation to the dangers of out-of-control government need only look at Pantocratoria for an example. The country has never been a civil rights leader - in Pantocratoria, female land holders can have their legal minority extended indefinitely (until their marriage naturally) at the discretion of their legal guardians. But even for a country where a young woman unlucky enough to own land can be considered legally a child until the age of fifty, the Pantocratorians never cease to amaze us.

The most recent act of Pantocratorian insanity was designated, the Public Schools Act Amendment 2011 (the full title, for those of you interested in Pantocratorian 'law', is 'An Act to Amend the Act known as The Public Schools Act so as to Require Certain Reforms to the Dress and Conduct of Pupils and Teachers'). It of course comes up with the usual oppression we have come to expect from public-schooling systems - school uniforms, prohibitions on public displays of affection between pupils (as of press time, we are not clear if this will be only enforced on school grounds).

Moreover, school classes will be forced to segregate pupils by gender, redesign school classes to include items such as crosses and portraits of the Emperor, and so on, and so forth. However, the most terrible notion of this program was "at risk programs" for various students, including transgender, sexually active, and even the depressed. These programs, of course, turned out to be exactly what the reader already imagines - compulsory 'boot camp' prorams for those students classified as 'at-risk'.

The second shoe had now dropped. Hundreds of young men and women are being arrested in Pantocratoria on charges of child pornography - in Pantocratoria, this stands for distributing sexual images... of themselves. No pedophile rings with children locked up in basements here - simply take a picture of yourself and it's handcuffs time. Worse yet, the Pantocratorian enforcement program is biased against young girls and the poor. Already there is discussion of sentencing, of trials, etc. - but it is likely now that the young men and women of Pantocratoria will experience the same boot camps.

At press time, the Department of State has made the following statement on the situation in Pantocratoria: "We are closely following and monitoring the situation. Let us be clear: the United States of Allanea condemns all forms of censorship. Putting a man or woman in prison - even for a single day - for making a photograph of their own body is never morally acceptable. Putting people in camps - even if they are called 'boot camps' or 'health camps' or 'joy camps' over the content of their speech is morally wrong. While we call on the Pantocratorian legislature to abolish these oppressive laws, we realize this is unlikely to happen.

Therefore, we would like to make the following statement to any Pantocratorians who are threatened by these laws, or who have participated in sexting activities, or are under threat of being placed in any of the 'at risk programs' for transgender or sexually active students: as of this moment, the Department of State is authorizing a refugee status for a limited amount of Pantocratorians who are under the threat of state persecution. We wish to remind you also that Allanea recognizes a state of maturity beginning with the age of sixteen (for homo sapiens sapiens), and also allows earlier recognition of maturity in certain cases. This is equal for both male and female Pantocratorians, as well as Pantocratorians of any other gender.

We call on the world community to condemn the behavior of the Pantocratorian authorities, and can only express our sincere hope hope that one day, all Pantocratorians will be free."

Perhaps one day they will. But today is not that day.

So where exactly is the bad part again.

[Allanea]

The van's side door slid open, and Philip Wild emerged out into the winter air. He was well-dressed - a dark-blue suit, a light-beige shirt, a pair of black boots - the only things identifying him as an Allanean were the lack of a tie, and a gleaming lapel pin in the shape of a tiny flag. On his shoulder, he carried the heavy black bag full of gifts.

Following him was Samantha Franks. She was elegance itself - a long fur-trimmed coat trailing off her shoulders, her eyelashes long and black, her nails fashioned into perfect shape and painted in a deep bordeaux-red, light and comfortable shoes on her feet - she was after all a professional beautician and therefore dressed accordingly. On her head, she wore a gray hat, with lengths of fur covering her ears.

The final man to leave the car was an operator carrying a small, light camera. He was the only man fitting the Allanean stereotype - wearing a heavy leather jacket studded with metal pins, his hair a blazing orange, and his pants a pair of ordinary jeans. His work boots were studded with several multicolored lights that blinked as he stepped gingerly behind his bosses.

Samantha Franks was the first to begin walking towards the house. As they approached, she braved the winter cold and removed her hat, making it evident that the fashionista had made a simple, yet very unsubtle gesture of solidarity - she had shaved her head clean.

[Pantocratoria]

Jacques Aprene opened the door and greeted Wild, Franks and the cameraman. Quickly ushering them in from the cold winter air, he then proceeded with the customary introductions, shook the hands of Wild and the cameraman (and confusedly held rather than shook Franks' hand if she offered it), and then asked his wife to go upstairs and fetch Eugenie. Helene Aprene obliged and disappeared upstairs.

A few moments later she re-appeared on the stairs with Eugenie in tow. Eugenie was wearing a white cardigan (it was still a little cool for her comfort inside the house even with the heat on), and an unwilling expression on her face. Her skalp was not shaven smooth like Franks' - it had been closely shaved initially but was already showing evidence of some regrowth. She was complaining to her mother as she was very nearly dragged downstairs by her wrist.

"It isn't the police again, is it maman?" Eugenie sulked. "What do they want this time?"

"Not exactly." answered Helene Aprene, shooting a smile in the direction of the visitors.

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
FOLQUET: Back off on sexters!

Opposition Leader Isabelle Folquet has taken time out from her Christmas/New Year vacation to give a press conference in her electorate in northern Adrienople today, in which she condemned the recent vigilante attacks across town in Mt Croissade, and urged the Government to take action to prevent similar attacks nationwide.

Mme Folquet described the mass arrests of accused "sexting" teenagers as a "overreaction from a reactionary Government" to social problems "best dealt with within the family, between the children concerned and their parents" at the press conference in her electorate of St Marc in Adrienople.

Folquet accused the Government of creating a circumstance where it was socially acceptable to victimise the children accused of sexting, through vigilante attacks such as those seen in the Mt Croissade Peacock MegaMall last week.

"Now that the Government has created this problem, it must do something to stop it." Folquet said, referring to reports on social media of other attacks across the nation which, if true, indicate a pattern of attacks.

When asked for specific details about what the Government should do, Folquet did not reply directly, but said that under a Socialist-led Coalition Government, the arrests would never have happened in the first place.

The Acting Chancellor, Sir Isaac Comnenus, accused the Opposition Leader of grandstanding on the issue, and noted that only one alleged vigilante attack had been reported to police thus far.

Sir Isaac said that "the Imperial Government believes strongly in our criminal justice system and calls upon angry citizens to let the Court do its job" rather than take things into their own hands, but rejected the suggestion that the Government had erred in arresting the sexting-accused teenagers.

"The United Christian Front is very proud to stand up for Christian values in Pantocratoria, very proud to stand up for our children." Sir Isaac said. "If the Opposition seriously wants to defend child pornography, we will happily fight them in Parliament and on the campaign trail on that issue."

[Allanea]

"Happy New Year, Mademoiselle Aprene," Samantha spoke - "My name is Samantha Franks, and this is Dr. Philip Wild." - the Dr. gave a brief, but respectful bow - "And this is John Rearden, from ANN International. We are from Liberty-City, in Allanea. We have decided that we would come down and help you with your holiday celebrations."

Wild flashed his best smile - naturally as a Hedonist Institute he benefited from magnificent dental care - and spoke: "I am pleased to meet you, Mademoiselle Aprene, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year!" - cheered John from behind his camera.

"Now, dear Mademoiselle Aprene, me and my friend Philip have heard of your misfortune, and we have decided to raise some money and get you some excellent Christmas gifts you might have missed out on," - Samantha said, unslinging the heavy black bag. - "We have taken the liberty of making some inquiries with your family and friends, of course, and put together one amazing care package."

[Allanea]

THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BOGEYMAN STRIKES AGAIN
Sandra Worthy, Liberty Times

The Pantocratorian government - condemned now even by Knootians for its regressive attitudes, as World Assembly ratings show a decline of the  Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria to a "mostly not free" status - now once more accuses its critics of 'supporting child pornography'. To paraphrase a fascist playwright, whenever I hear the words 'child pornography', I remove the safety from my Equinox.

It should not be doubted that there is a serious and distinct crime involved in actual, real child pornography. There are individuals who really do kidnap, or manipulate chilren into performing in disgusting films - and a child pornographer is a creature that abuses children for profit. Often the children are also enslaved, and in these cases, slavery charges are appropriate, and sometimes brought.

But the main reason we have child pornography laws and age of consent laws is because we believe - correctly, most of the time - that individuals below a certain age cannot properly consent to sex acts. Its purpose is to protect children from exploitation by adults. To argue that an individual can be charged with producing child pornography of his own body is to argue that an individual can be unable to take responsibility for their own sexual decisions, and therefore he should be forced to answer for them in a court of law!

So now we have the full apparatus of the modern welfare-state - with its compulsory schooling, state-operated boot camps, and so on, in its full disgusting glory - turned against the very 'children' it is designed to protect. This seems like it doesn't make sense (especially if you contemplate the fact that in Pantocratoria, a man can be considered a child until he's 21, and a woman - possibly as long as her dying day) - but only if you buy into the notion that it is intended to stop child pornography.

If it is intended to police other people's sexuality, the pieces do start to fall into place rather quickly.

[Vakolic]

Joint declaration of the Greater Vakolicci haven:
In association with the 'Free the web' campaign.
Composed by Alena Darenen
((summary: Alena Darenen, co-chairman of the 'free the web,' campaign, has been at the forefront of international anti-censorship campaigns for the past 12 years. Her work as part of Free the Web have lead to her being regarded as one of the finest free speech advocates in the greater Vakolicci Haven))

Peoples of the world,
I am writing this communication in order to assure your awareness of the unfolding situation in the barbaric, theocratic nation of pantocratoria, which, in an effort to maintain some shred of decensy for its people, has in doing this stripped its own government of decensy.

The tyranical, discriminatory laws include the institution that, even if past the age of 21 (an age of majority which in itself is obserdly high), a woman may be considered a minor, if her legal guardians will it, until the date of marriage.
As is obvious, this in itself makes very little logical sense, depriving the nation of a valuable part of its contributing adult community, and depriving the female population of their dignity.
In addition to this rather disturbing breech of gender equality, the over-religious pantocratorians have, to tackle what they claim to be 'child pornography,' decided upon new laws that would make it a criminal offense for persons under the legal age of majority to take photographs of themselves, and send them to the people that they love.
As this is a clear violation of digital rights, 'free the web,' and the Greater Vakolicci Haven ministry for foreign affairs have set up numerous proxy servers, and even a fully-functional satelite phone service provider (operating at: http://www.fixtheweb.pl.vk soley for the use of persons under the age of majority in cases similar to this.

Furthermore, word has escaped pantocratoria that roving gangs of vigilanti 'moralists' have set about attacking and shaving the heads of young women who have aparently been caught distributing illegal 'child pornography.'

Although I know that I am currently speaking from a nation of legalised child pornography, I know that the people of the greater vakolicci haven will join me in saying that the actions undertaken by various elements within pantocratorian society are inherently, no matter of religion or ideology, wrong. The very fact that the pantocratorian government is not cracking down on these groups of criminals is shocking and must be braught to justice via the swiftest means possible.

I urge the people, the governments and corporations of the world to join me in solidarity, to stand against the non-interventionism of the pantocratorian government as members of its own community, who it is swarn to protect, are brutally attacked. The greater Vakolicci Haven and Free the web would also like to urge pantocratoria to stop this oppressive action that stifles the emotions of its own cevillians, to institute gender equality, and to clamp down on overbearing mauralists who seek to overwhealm the free-thinking people of the nation.

[Pantocratoria]

WEKEPEDIA - Age of Consent in Pantocratoria
There is no legal age of consent to sexual acts in Pantocratoria. The equivalent charge to statutory rape is brought when the underage partner is deemed to young to be married. The State does not legislate or police marriage - it recognises marriages contracted by the Church. A rough rule of thumb here would be about 16 in practice but the question as to whether the younger partner would be legally regarded as underage is an open one left to the court (defence counsel may call priests as witnesses who would testify that they would perform a marriage between the parties).

The age of consent should be differentiated from the age of legal majority, which is also misunderstood.

WEKEPEDIA - Age of Legal Majority in Pantocratoria
In Pantocratoria the age at which a child becomes an adult is determined by their satisfaction of one or more conditions, although this is subject to misconception and often mis-stated to simply be the age of 21. A child becomes a legal adult when they demonstrate by some change in their status that they have ceased to be children dependent on their parents and are now legally responsible for themselves. For legal purposes (e.g. contracts, guardianship, adoption, criminal charges, etc) a child becomes an adult when they satisfy any of the following conditions:

-Marriage (see "Age of Consent in Pantocratoria").
-At the completion of their education (at any level), they become regularly employed (defined in legislation as working, on average, more than 20 hours per week for paid remuneration for a period of 3 consecutive months).
-They complete a degree, diploma, or other tertiary studies certificate (e.g. Associate's or Bachelor's degree).
-They complete an apprenticeship under the guidance of an accredited tradesman.
-They gain a profession (defined in legislation as obtaining membership in a professional organisation established by Imperial Charter, such as becoming a chartered accountant).
-They take the bar.
-They enlist in the Imperial Army Legions, Imperial Navy, Imperial Air Force, or a city police force.
-They accept the Emperor's commission as an officer in any of the above.
-They are knighted.
-They enter a seminary, take holy orders, become a missionary, or accept a religious vocation.
-They can otherwise demonstrate equivalent responsibility to the above (e.g. leadership in a well-recognised community organisation).
-Failing any of the above conditions, they reach the age of 21.

In the normal course of events, a young person's legal majority would be established by enrolling to vote in elections for the Imperial Parliament, filling in a tax declaration, applying for some social support payment or status, or by filing with a court, or occasionally by the Imperial Government directly (e.g. in the case of enlisting or being commissioned in the defence forces). In the rare event that a young person reaches the age of 21 before being recognised as a legal adult, their legal majority begins automatically at 21 and no establishment or recognition is required.

The one exception to this rule is in the case of landholding ladies who inherited their holdings as a minor child, where a legal guardian who has cause to believe that the young lady lacks the capacity to administer her holdings may apply to the court (prior to the child's 21st birthday) for exemption from this condition. If the young lady meets any of the other conditions, her legal majority may still be established. This rule is established in an Act of Parliament from the late 17th Century, when it was feared that the large estates of noblemen being inherited by their daughters would lead to significant parts of Pantocratoria "falling to the distaff", threatening the food supply through poor agricultural administration, and generally weakening the Empire. Since the daughters of the Pantocratorian aristocracy tend to marry younger than the general population, the rule is rarely necessary.

[Pantocratoria]

"Happy New Year, Mademoiselle Aprene," Samantha spoke - "My name is Samantha Franks, and this is Dr. Philip Wild." - the Dr. gave a brief, but respectful bow - "And this is John Rearden, from ANN International. We are from Liberty-City, in Allanea. We have decided that we would come down and help you with your holiday celebrations."

Wild flashed his best smile - naturally as a Hedonist Institute he benefited from magnificent dental care - and spoke: "I am pleased to meet you, Mademoiselle Aprene, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year!" - cheered John from behind his camera.

"Now, dear Mademoiselle Aprene, me and my friend Philip have heard of your misfortune, and we have decided to raise some money and get you some excellent Christmas gifts you might have missed out on," - Samantha said, unslinging the heavy black bag. - "We have taken the liberty of making some inquiries with your family and friends, of course, and put together one amazing care package."

"Uhh..." Eugenie began, a little shocked by the strangers and the camera. She continued tentatively. "Happy New Year?"

Jacques and Helene Aprene, perhaps more out of hope than anything else, smiled broadly. Helene let go of her daughter's hand and both finished descending the stairs, and then Helene got out of the way to stand by Jacques' side. Eugenie hesitantly approached Samatha and the black bag.

"Erm, hi... erm... Madame Franks." Eugenie continued. "Are you from some sort of reality TV show?"