Free Keene

Dear Mikaela,

I forgive you. You probably never realized, perhaps until now, that government hurts people. I do not know you, but from listening to what you’ve said on the radio and reading about you on the Internet, I imagine that like many people, you believe that government is a handy tool you can use to make life better for people. While your intentions may be pure, the method is not. Government is force. Were you oblivious to that fact? After all, you are one of the people calling themselves part of the “City of Keene”, so whether you knew or not, that’s the tool you advocate. I’m guessing you didn’t know, as you did say on 08/09/08’s “Talkback”:

“I wouldn’t advise aggressing against anybody.”

I really appreciated when you said that! I think people working together voluntarily is a great thing. However, threatening people with violence is not a nice way to build a community with mutual respect. Based on your statement on Talkback, I thought you understood that. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was you who snitched me out to the “code enforcers” over my tenants’ couch. You said you wouldn’t advise aggressing against your neighbor, then the very same week you initiated aggression against me! (Read on …)

If you’ve been following this blog within the past few months, you’re well aware of the situation wherein the people calling themselves the “City of Keene” have been threatening me over a couch in my tenants yard. In case you need to catch up, here are the two most recent posts on the issue prior to this one: post 1, post 2. The current situation is that they are demanding I come to their “trial” about this issue on November 14th at 1:30 PM in Keene “district court”.

“Why don’t you just move the couch?”, you might ask. The answer is it’s my tenants’ lawn, they utilize the couch for Halloween decorations, in the other seasons of the year it’s relatively unobtrusive, plus no one has ever complained, until recently. The people calling themselves the “city” claim that there is a complainant who lives down the street, however this person allegedly refuses to meet me and talk to me like an adult. Instead, the alleged neighbor calls the Blue Light Gang to try to intimidate me into disposing of the couch. (Read on …)

For the latest on my meeting with Keene’s head “enforcer”, please listen to last night’s Free Talk Live. The discussion starts at about 74 minutes into the show.

For the time being, you can only listen to Free Talk Live on the radio in Keene on Saturday nights from 7 to 10p, and that’s only if the Red Sox aren’t playing. However, when it does actually air, you can now hear Keene’s own internationally syndicated talk radio program on four FM and AM frequencies: the “conservative” talker WKBK 104.1 FM and 1290 AM and the new “progressive” talker WZBK 103.1 FM and 1220 AM. (1220 is also in HD.)

If you would like to hear the show all six nights a week please get in touch with Dan Mitchell at WKBK or Peter Case at WZBK. The business lines for both stations are 603-352-9230 and 802-254-2343, respectively. Also, the General Manager is Bob Cox, and I’m sure he’d appreciate hearing from you as well. Please only contact these gentlemen if you live within the Keene listening area!

Today’s triple civil disobedience was a triple success! Watch here at FreeKeene.com for video later, but here’s a quick summary:

• RidleyReport.com’s Dave Ridley was informed before the trial that the “judge”, Mr. Burke had reviewed his ordinances and determined his earlier interpretation had been incorrect and that cameras may now be panned by their operator while in Keene “district court”.
• Additionally, the man in the robe did not publicly acknowledge another major change that occurred today. All entrants are now allowed recording devices. Four video cameras were operational today, as compared to Mr. Burke’s earlier commandment of one camera per court.
• Free Keene blogger Nick Ryder had an apparent victory in his refusal to pay a speeding ticket. Mr. Burke heard the case, and after Nick made his final statement, Burke said he’d take it under advisement and ended the “trial”. If he were going to pronounce Nick guilty, he’d have done it then.
• NH Free Press publisher Russell Kanning appeared in front of Mr. Burke to update the “city” on their demand he perform 30 hours community service. Kanning has completed 0 hours and Burke extended the due date out 60 more days.

This morning’s multiple success is still more proof that noncooperation and civil disobedience result in immediate, tangible changes with a large return on investment. Compare this to how difficult achieving today’s successes would have been “working inside the system” by running campaigns and contacting “representatives”, and begging they change the system. How much time and effort would that have taken? Noncooperative activists achieved their goals with a total turnout of 12 activists, a couple hours of time, a few press releases, and some courage.

Please join the peaceful evolution here in Keene. The fun is just beginning! Also, join our discussion on the Free Keene Forum!

My tenant just came by to tell me she saw Couch Enforcer Carl Patten Jr. taking photos of their couch in my yard from inside his car across the street. She pulled out her digital camera and snapped a quick picture of him. (YES the couch is visible in the picture - can you see it? No? Well that’s because it’s actually pretty well camouflaged until you’re right across from it where Carl’s car is.) Remember, Carl’s last known appearance at my property was on 8/26/08. It’s now 9/17/08. What happened to the weekly follow-up increased fine ($200, $400) tickets he threatened me with? I don’t know, but it appears he’s not done with me yet and is using his “investigative skills” to perhaps “build a case”.

Additionally, according to my tenants, they know the across the street neighbors well and if the neighbors had a problem with the couch, they are certain that something would have been said as opposed to them calling the Blue Light Gang. That plus the fact that the couch has been there for a long time tells me this is clearly the government people targeting me. Stay tuned to the blog here at FreeKeene.com for the latest and feel free to discuss on the Forum.