by Ian | Feb 8, 2012 |
UPDATE – Nov 2018 – Due to LENCO’s takedowns and their likely unauthorized use of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, this video is gone from YouTube. However, it has been now uploaded to LBRY.IO and will be protected by the blockchain. Watch it here after you download the free LBRY.io app.
As you saw in my last post, LENCO, the manufacturer of the BEARCAT pulled their militaristic, violence-fetishizing promo video down from their youtube channel, but not before someone ripped it down to MP4. Now the folks at Copblock have uploaded it to their channel and word is other people are uploading it to their channels. Here’s the video again, for those who haven’t seen it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tx-oRkQnr0
by Ian | Feb 8, 2012 |
Sign the online petition to keep Keene Bearcat-free!
LENCO’s head salesman, Jim Massery admitted on the phone today that he didn’t think it should be shown to the council as it’s intended to market to the police.
Of course, that’s the point. LENCO is not marketing the BEARCAT to police as a rescue vehicle, as the council has been told. The councilors should see how this monstrosity is being promoted. If you haven’t, please watch the video that the city attorney doesn’t want you or the city commission to see. (Also, note that LENCO changed the permissions on their video to make it so it is not searchable and also so it can’t be embedded on other websites…like this one.) Then come out on Thursday evening and speak out against it. It’s our chance to reverse the deal and say, “Thanks but no tanks!”
LENCO’s head of sales also said he’d be attending the Keene committee meeting, which tells me LENCO doesn’t quite think they have this sale in-the-bag.
by Ian | Feb 7, 2012 |
Kudos to Keene police’s chief Ken Meola for being able to admit he was wrong. In a letter to the FOP committee and city boss John MacLean, Meola states (see the letter on page 27 of this PDF):
Since implementation, the following observations/feedback has been noted:
– Numerous mechanical difficulties have arisen with the machines and they continue to present.
– The public is finding the technology difficult to operate.
– The technology is not conducive to customers of the downtown businesses.
– Downtown merchants have reported constant complaints about the new kiosks and have reported down-turns in business as a result. (more…)
by Ian | Feb 4, 2012 |
Radio Free Keene News is a five minute newscast which is available as a podcast and also will air at the top of some hours on LRN.FM.
You can download the edition for this week here. Topics covered include the latest on the BEARCAT, Kelly Voluntaryist’s return to the Manchester airport, and the Free State Project reaching 1,000 participants in New Hampshire.
You can add Radio Free Keene News to your podcast client via this RSS feed.
by Ian | Feb 3, 2012 |
Sign the online petition to keep Keene Bearcat-free!
The public will have an opportunity next week to speak about the Keene Police Department’s acquisition of a new grant-funded armored vehicle.
Last month, the Keene City Council approved the acceptance of a $285,933 federal Homeland Security grant to purchase a LENCO BearCat Special Missions Vehicle. But some residents questioned (more…)
by Garret Ean | Feb 2, 2012 |
Photo journalism activist Carlos Miller was arrested Tuesday evening while he was attempting to cover the police’s eviction of Occupy Miami. Carlos is no stranger to arrest for photography. He has beaten two separate prior charges for photographing police. This most recent arrest sounds very similar to what occurred during the Chalking 8 incident in Manchester, in which the police criminalize a group and then arrest all those they associate with the group. In my case, though it came up at one point, I did not need to address whether I was acting as press at the time of my arrest to demonstrate that the seizure was unfounded. In this case, protesters were ordered away from an area where press were allowed to remained. Carlos was swept up after the protesters had already been cleared despite identifying himself as press when addressed and being near other reporters.
Photo: Carlos Miller
The police have deleted the footage he had taken in the moments leading up to his arrest. Another journalist is believed to have captured footage of (more…)
