Attendee Posts Epic Journal From Keenevention 2014

by | Nov 24, 2014 | 5 comments

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HALLOWKEENE 2014

“Keenevention was definitely the place to be if you have any interest in discussing productive ways to protest, work around, or blatantly disregard the State.” -Blogger Richard Masta

Most of Saturday and Sunday from Keenevention 2014 are described in detail on Richard Masta’s excellent blog, “Dispatches from Keenevention 2014“. The investigative journalist raves about the event and includes in-depth reviews of multiple panels and speeches, various encounters and conversations, and lots of photos from the panels as well as the HALLOWKEENE costume dance party.

The first person I noticed in the lobby was also wearing a stand-out hat. This fellow was Hunter S. Thompson — he had the cigarette, the Hawaiian shirt, the glasses, you name it. Oh, this was going to be a fun weekend…

If you missed Keenevention this year or you attended and wanted to know another attendee’s perspective, this article won’t disappoint.

Shire Sharing Distributes Thanksgiving Dinners to Over 330 NH Households

by | Nov 23, 2014 | 0 comments

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Shire Sharing Foundress Amanda Bouldin and Chris Lopez help facilitate today’s deliveries.

Now in its fourth year, the charity created by Free State Project early mover Amanda Bouldin, Shire Sharing, has this year alone provided Thanksgiving dinner for over 330 families across New Hampshire!

Of those 330+ meals, the newly-formed Shire Sharing Keene presided over the delivery of nearly two dozen bags of food and turkeys across the Monadnock region. Outside of the Monadnock region, hundreds of families received the meals, in an amazing fourth-year effort. Though the main Shire Sharing organization made its fundraising goal of feeding 500 families, sadly one of the agencies from which family addresses were supplied apparently dropped the ball, leaving extra funds and supplies.  Amanda says Shire Sharing will be distributing those extra supplies to Liberty House homeless shelter in Manchester.

Yesterday, Free Keene blogger Rob Mathias documented the massive bag-assembly process that happened in Manchester.

Free Keene’s Darryl W. Perry released this video today which complied some scenes from the Keene-area bag assembly and the subsequent deliveries to happy recipients:

Misleading Headlines Adorn AP Robin Hooding Story

by | Nov 23, 2014 | 6 comments

Robin Hood of KeeneThis piece by AP reporter Lynne Tuohy is being published all over and the headlines vary from misleading to acceptable.

For instance, the worst headline of them all is WCVB‘s, which says, “Keene’s parking meter ‘Robin Hooders’ must back off.” When the people calling themselves “the city” tell you you must do something, generally that means it must be done, or else violence will be used against you. In this case, that’s not at all what has happened. The city of Keene folks WANT Robin Hooders to “back off” and they’ve filed a lawsuit to try to force us to. “We want” is very different from “You must”.

The article itself is more honest, and reveals that in fact the city lost their case at superior court and is appealing to the NH supreme court. Obviously, the author of the article does not choose the headlines, that would be one of the editors of the paper. Thanks to Lynne and the AP for the coverage, despite the awful, seemingly default headline.

Here’s a sampling of headlines that various news outlets chose for this story:

You can see even more here, y mas en Español aquí. Looks like the story was printed in several dozen outlets. Thanks especially to those with more honest headlines.

Video of the Cop Block Panel @ Keenevention 2014

by | Nov 23, 2014 | 0 comments

Keene and Manchester have long been hotspots for copblocking and especially so in 2014. Manchester has had regular DUI checkpoints that have been blocked by 30-40 activists throughout the Summer. Keene Cop Block has generated huge positive name recognition with their regular know-your-rights outreach & copblocking in the college neighborhood on weekend nights. Learn about what’s happening in the Shire from some of the key activists involved in Keenevention‘s first-ever Cop Block panel. Presented by Cop Block’s Eric Freerock. Panelists included Joël Valenzuela, Centurion, and Christopher Cantwell.

More video will be released every week! Stay tuned to the Keenevention blog, Free Keene, the Free Keene Youtube Channel or the Keenevention Facebook page for the next video release.