ShootBackTV

“Every year there are thousands of reports of police brutality, out of control bureaucrats, and state agents abusing their power. Many more instances go unreported out of fear, indifference, or the feeling that nothing will be done about it, after all, it’s their word against yours, the word of an assumed hero, the state agent, and a supposed criminal to trouble maker, you. ShootBackTV encourages people to change the balance of power, resist, and fight back, but not with their weapons of force, our power is information and our weapon is the video camera. They can argue with your version of a story, they can call you a liar or even lie themselves, they can’t argue with evidence, a video can’t lie.
Grab your camera, it’s time to ShootBack” ShootBackTV is an idea I came up with last July 4th, and shared with a few friends, with the help of Jason and Erin at Bureaucrash the idea grew, a video commercial was made, and a youtube playlist was created.  Unfortunately we ran into a few snags along the way, and have decided to go independent with the project.  At Jason’s suggestion I have created a group page on tumblr, and ShootBack has come alive.  It is still in it’s infancy, and the group is currently Jason and myself, but it is still worth checking out.   ShootBackTV on Tumblr.

See the video behind the cut

More Dancysteria!

The Wall Street Journal Reports that a popular new dance craze, called “Tektonic” has been copyrighted as a brand in France by Alexandre Barouzdin, “a 31-year-old party promoter who used to work in the finance industry.”   He has created a record label, a clothing line, and owns the right for any use of the word in marketing materials.

This is pissing off many fans, DJs, and even Tektonic dancers themselves, who pioneered thee mix of rave and break dancing.  One dancer, made famous by YouTube has signed a DVD deal with Sony BMG, but cannot use the term “tektonic” without paying royalties to Mr. Barouzdin.  A swiss company has already been sent 2 cease and desist letters for their sales of a shirt featuring the tektonics eagle logo.

Owning a genre may seem a little weird, I mean no one owns Rock and Roll (although it may have a king) or Pop (which has a prince, and a guy named Prince.) but this is not the first time, even in dance music, that the genre name has been owned.  DJ/Producer/Promoter, who coined the term Electroclash, also trademarked it after throwing his first Electroclash Festival.

I wonder if anyone owns Bopping (which is not a crime)

Defense Fund: Free The Jefferson 1!

As most you you already know the Jefferson 1 was charged with “interfering with an agency function” and has a court date set for April 29th and lawyers are expensive. Please take a minute and consider giving to the defense fund. There has been alot of debate, and, thankfully, press coverage, of the event which helps raise awareness, but doesn’t help pay the court cost.

Here is Jason Talley care of NBC4…

Jason says:

One clarification on the following:

“They arrested one woman when they said she would not stop dancing and became resistant.”

The Jefferson 1 stopped dancing when talking to the police, as the video clearly shows. If the U.S. Park Police is the “they” NBC 4 is referring to they are spreading disinformation to cover up their overzealous officers. She simply stood there and asked “why?” we were told to leave. Instead of answering her she was handcuffed and detained for five hours. Our video shows this and when the U.S. Park Service finally releases their surveillance video it will show this also.

My Advice for those who die, declare the pennies on your eyes

I sent off my ounce of flesh (the other 15 ounces were taken throughout last year.)

More Jefferson 1 coverage.

Check out one of the best post so far on the Jefferson 1 incident over at Liberty is my Homie.

Feel free to copy this image and use it all over, myspace, facebook, your blog, etc. and link to FreeTheJefferson1.com

The Jefferson 1 has been freed.

The Jefferson1 has been freed after being charged with “interfering with an agency function,” which Radley Balko describes as “a catch-all they can trot out that means, “she pissed off a cop.”“

Here is Jason’s video interview with 2 of the witnesses:

More Coverage:

Free the Jefferson 1! (Jason Talley) – Official Blog

Flying Hedgehogs – illegal peaceful assembly

Below the Beltway – Jack-Booted Thugs At The Jefferson Memorial

Outside the Beltway – DC Police Arrest Dancing Libertarians

New Business Venture

As some of you already know in the next few months, I will be opening a screen printing business with my wife, Garland, and one of our roommates, Austin Caine.  As such, we have been researching skills and equipment needed to actually amke this happen, already lining up investment capital to get us started.  We hope to be taking our first orders in June.

Yesterday Caine and I hit the NBM Printwear show in Charlotte yesterday, hoping to check out some screen printing equipment and supply manufacturers, and to find a few sources for wholesale shirts.  While we were there we also checked out the Sign Business and Digital graphics show, and the Awards and Custom Gifts show.  It was a big success, not only did we find the company (RYONET) we are looking at buying our equipment from, we actually got to use the system we plan on buying.  I had went in expecting to drop $50 on a DVD set they offer on techniques and skills, but was given a copy for free along with their advanced printing techniques DVD.  As they also got us into the show for free (just a promo code on their site) they saved us $80 bucks

Quiet Booty Shakin is a Threat to the Citizens of DC

About half my blogroll (Liberty is my Homie, JDTalley, The Agitator) and about 20 other libertarians were celebrating Jefferson’s birthday by having an ipod dance party, where everyone listens to their own tunes, on headphones and dances the night away. This is, apprently, not cool with the DC Police, who ordered the party to disperse and arrested one person for “Disturbing the Peace.” According to the various accounts of the nights events, “disturbing the peace” is cop-talk for “asking the police questions.” The police involved refused to give their badge numbers, which is against department policy, and after cursing and being verbally abusive, even threatened to arrest Pete of Liberty is my Homie. In a move that makes me and my “Shoot Back” ethic proud, there is video which I will add once someone who was actually there uploads it.

Here are several accounts from the Libertarian Booty Shakers.

Julian Sanchez - Hijinks Ensue

Megan McArdle (The Atlantic) – Dancing Fools

Radley Balko (The Agitator) – So About That Tree of Liberty…

Pete Eyere (Liberty is my Homie) - Arrest at Jefferson Memorial for Dancing with Headphones

Facebook – Free the Jefferson 1

UPDATES:

Jason Talley (JDTalley) – Free the Jefferson 1

Freedom And Shit – Midnight Dance Party Arrest (note: I have no idea who is behind Freedom and Shit.)

Can you hear me now?

U.S. Reps. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., and Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., are sponsors of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, a bill designed to test and set requirements for MINIMUM sound levles for cars. Hybrid and Electric cars are much quiter than standard gas powered cars and supposedly present a risk to pedestrians, espicially blind pedestrians trying to cross the street.

Many cities have limits on how loud your car can be, from stereos to glass packs, and now the feds are wanting to enforce how quiet it can be as well?

Maryland has already passed a similar law. Read more here.

Stop Mortgage Seeking!

We bought a house, we went it at a slighty higher rate because we didn’t want an ARM. I don’t shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s bad decisions, and neither should you.

Don’t support a tax payer bail out for risky loans. If the government wants to help, how about cutting spending, cutting taxes, leaving people more of their money to get and keep themselves out of trouble. If people still wish to live beyond their means, let them suffer the consequences or seek private, voluntary help.

(Hat tip: CEI’s Open Market.)