I discovered this wonderful corporate outreach by Starbuck’s on World AIDS Day through Facebook. It appears that Starbuck’s is going to oh-so-generously donate 5 cents when you buy one of their beverages. Well, not any beverage of course. It has to be one of three holiday specials, so they won’t be sacrificing 5 cents on their less exorbitantly-priced beverages. It’s not just people dying in Africa depending on them, after all. They have shareholders dependent on them as well.
I know that reads sarcastically, but I’m actually one of the last people to complain about someone making money by providing a product people like. In fact, kudos to them for some brilliant marketing. That’s what it is, after all. I’d be willing to bet they’ll spend more on the ad campaign promoting their “charity” than they will actually end up donating. Let’s be real. Starbuck’s is not a charity. It’s a business.
Larry Kane of the Keene District Court today reported that Ian Freeman’s time for contempt of court is being suspended, and he is scheduled to be released. Watch FreeKeene.com and NHFree.com forums for critical updates.
I was leaving my political science class today, and my professor – NH State representative Charles Weed – had commented on his frustrations with a one Barack Obama. This sparked a conversation that, as we walked, got quite heated as it ran the gamut from national socialism to the legitimacy of a social contract which he seemed to suggest was not only acknowledged by using the roads, but that that act became my signature on it. We departed on the topic of public schools. The following is a response for Professor Weed articulating some points about libertarianism it was apparent he either did not understand or could not see.
Professor Weed,
I’ve been having a tough time in class, as evidenced in my brief and sputtering tirade today. I feel the need to explain what the political landscape looks like to a large amount of people in this country (numbering in millions) that have no voice in the pageantry called democracy. These people, myself included, can no longer turn a blind eye nor participate in, nor give our sanction to a system that has perpetrated the greatest evils the world has known. It has empowered and enabled the kinds of dictators around the world that it itself claims to protect us from.
On August 19th, Russell Kanning told the Keene District court that he would perform community service in lieu of a fine for driving without a license. Almost three weeks later, he gives viewers an update on his status and plans.
This was originally posted at the Anarchy In Your Head comic and blog website on 8/18/2008.
“If your art can get more press for anarchy, I won’t have to get arrested so often.”
– Lauren Canario
I got what I consider a very good comment on a recent comic strip- I Aim to Misbehave, that deserves a proper response. The comic focuses on a controversial activist, Lauren Canario, known for refusing to participate in driver licensing and car registrations, among other things, to the point of being arrested. It brought up some very good points about how we communicate our ideas. The videos of Lauren embedded with that entry get quite a lot of views and some of the YouTube comments responding to the videos make it clear that many people just don’t get it. Obviously she’s trying to make a powerful statement with her actions and it’s important that people get the message.
Yesterday marked the beginning of what I hope becomes a monthly reoccurring event: Keene FIJA Outreach.
In the morning, four area activist and myself, gathered in front of the Cheshire County Court house in Keene to hand out Fully Informed Jury fliers to people entering the court house. The reception seemed (more…)