I stopped by the Hilsborough Superior Court today in downtown Manchester to inquire about the jury cases being tried in Nashua now rather than Manch.
Going through security I asked one of the guards what was happening with the building itself and he said they'll be there until the first of the year. Then the city will begin the process of having asbestos removed which they were told would take a year but he says, you know it'll take two to three. I joked and asked him if I get a respirator to conduct my business. He laughed and said nobody's said they've died yet. Good guys.
My next encounter started out OK with an exchange of pleasantries with a receptionist in the clerk's office and gradual went down hill after saying hello.
I asked if they were still performing jury trials in that location or had they moved to Nashua already. With hesitation and a look of confusion she said they were still happening there to her knowledge.
I asked if there was a way to find out when jury selection day took place and she said it's random. I asked if that information was posted online or made available in some way...
***Bureaucrat Defensive Mode Activated***
"I'm uncomfortable answering that. What is this in regards to?"
I tell her that there will be a group of people showing up on those days to perform an outreach service for potential jurors. We'll be standing around the courthouse distributing pamphlets.
She proceeds to tell me I'll have to talk to the jury clerk who won't be available until Monday morning. I ask for the jury clerk's name and she tells me to just ask for the jury clerk.
I was polite, didn't allow something so trivial to get me frustrated. But I have a feeling this may have to escalate in order to get anything from them. Maybe not, I'll call on Monday. If they refuse to answer my questions and provide me with the information I'm looking for we may have to round up the Manch-Vegas posse and run up in there on Tuesday, armed with smiles and video cameras and prepared to deliver devastatingly comfortable hugs :)
way to go, mike ! If they obstruct , that makes this a better story. If you can send me some numbers for the people who should know dates and times...maybe i can call them too. Or just numbers for whoever is in charge down there.
Quote from: DadaOrwell on August 22, 2009, 12:25 AM NHFT
way to go, mike ! If they obstruct , that makes this a better story. If you can send me some numbers for the people who should know dates and times...maybe i can call them too. Or just numbers for whoever is in charge down there.
I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a complex issue. After all, didn't you and some other activists to FIJA outreach here before?
I couldn't get a name from the defensive bureaucrat lady of who was in charge. She said just ask for the jury clerk on Monday when I call. The number I found online was 603-669-7410. If I don't get the info I could possibly try to get it through a FOIA request which I'd have to learn how to do, but these people are going to have to get to know me and my standards for transparency and openness at some point ^-^
I spoke with Paulette Asselin the Jury Clerk at Superior Court in Manchester. She was extremely helpful, pleasant and even a little curious to know more about juror's rights.
The next jury selection date is August 31st. The potential jurors are supposed to arrive by 8:30 and it takes place every other week. I'll add to calendar.
Also, for those reading in Nashua they will be combining the two courts to your location in December and staggering jury selection. One Monday will be for the Manch superior court cases, the following Monday will be for the Nashua superior court cases.
I went to fija.org to get the printable pamphlet but they've changed the format and it doesn't appear to be on their site anymore. If someone could post the link or email me a copy I would appreciate it. And how many should I take out there?
Manch Vegans, I look forward to seeing you out there Monday morning's at 8am.
Mike.
Here is the link to pamphlet on the FIJA website that we use in Keene.
http://fija.org/download/35/ (http://fija.org/download/35/)
I usually print up around 100 copies to bring with me & wind up giving out around 50-60.
Thank you for spreading the word on Jury Nullification to other parts of the state.
If we keep this up, New Hampshire will have the best informed jurors of any state!
Chris
Big Mike should win Manchester Activist of the Year...
Of course, he had no competition, so it was easy. Keep it up, Big Mike!
Quote from: COG on August 24, 2009, 08:46 PM NHFT
Mike.
Here is the link to pamphlet on the FIJA website that we use in Keene.
http://fija.org/download/35/ (http://fija.org/download/35/)
I usually print up around 100 copies to bring with me & wind up giving out around 50-60.
Thank you for spreading the word on Jury Nullification to other parts of the state.
If we keep this up, New Hampshire will have the best informed jurors of any state!
Chris
Thanks Chris. I was worried if I had to buy them they might not get here in time.
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on August 24, 2009, 09:11 PM NHFT
Big Mike should win Manchester Activist of the Year...
Of course, he had no competition, so it was easy. Keep it up, Big Mike!
I haven't even gotten started dude ;)
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on August 24, 2009, 09:11 PM NHFT
Big Mike should win Manchester Activist of the Year...
Of course, he had no competition, so it was easy. Keep it up, Big Mike!
You must be kidding. Sure, on a per day basis, he is Manchester activist of the year but there are folks that have worked very hard this year. For example, Cassidy.
Cassidy did her awesome event in the geopolitical designation of Keene. Doesn't count toward Manchester Activist of the Year. I know, because I made it up. :icon_pirat:
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on August 24, 2009, 10:15 PM NHFT
Cassidy did her awesome event in the geopolitical designation of Keene. Doesn't count toward Manchester Activist of the Year. I know, because I made it up. :icon_pirat:
Well, she did spend quite a bit of time promote FTL in the area at the recent Tool concert (and got two other folks to show up). Promoting FTL has to count for something ;D
Biker Bill's video of the event is finished.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9N0ZEemXZI&eurl=https%3A%2F%2Ffreemanch.com%2Fmessages&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Thanks again to everyone who showed up and made the event a success.
Awesome job, guys!
Now, keep it up!
I wonder what area will be next doing this?
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on September 01, 2009, 08:18 PM NHFT
Awesome job, guys!
Now, keep it up!
I wonder what area will be next doing this?
It should happen in Keene and Dover on 9-14-09.
Quote from: bigmike on September 01, 2009, 05:57 PM NHFT
Biker Bill's video of the event is finished.
...
Thanks again to everyone who showed up and made the event a success.
Thanks for the long video. I noticed people open carrying weapons. If the goal of such an event is to encourage everyone entering the court to take a tri-fold, it seems like open carry wouldn't be a good choice.
maybe the more people see the guns the less scared they'll be of them. Official type people wear guns don't they? Maybe the potential jurors will stop quicker if they are scared that the person handing these things out are officials.
I'm of the opinion that activists should open carry at all times, but thanks for your input Fluff
does anyone have photos we can use for the Kira Report?
Not to minimize Big Mike's activism in anyway, but I think it's unfair, Ian, to claim that merely because other folk's activism is not of the high-publicity sort, that it is non-existent. There are a lot of folks in places like Manchester and Concord and such that engage in a lot of hard work that is effective, but just isn't directed towards garnering the publicity for the activist themselves.
For example, all the folks who work so hard to organize big events like PorcFest and the Liberty Forum.
The folks who are doing the work behind the scenes to make things like the NHLA happen.
The folks who are working on economic activism, by providing goods and services outside the government system.
The folks who are working to recruit more movers, and the folks who are trying to help those new movers out with housing and jobs and such.
The folks who are trying to start businesses here.
The folks who are quietly volunteering and building community "cred" for the FSP in little towns all over the state, so that when some pro-government media "organ" tries to paint us all with the "crazy right-wing conspiracy nut" brush, folks can say "But I know Porcupines, and they aren't really like that!"
And so forth.
Excellent points, Ancapagency.
Russell I don't remember anyone taking still shots, just video, but I'll keep that in mind for other events.
AnCap, I think you're right. There are a lot of hard workers in the liberty movement doing things behind the scenes that aren't credited enough. My hat goes off to all of their dedication toward making New Hampshire a state where we can all have liberty in our lifetime.
Good point, AnCap. Though, I never said it was nonexistant, just that Big Mike had no competition in the area of visible activism. Those other folks are doing good things, no doubt. It's just their efforts are largely off-the-radar, and therefore not in the same ballpark as Big Mike's work.
Another video of the Manchester FIJA outreach on Monday.
Thanks for posting the new video. It was very good. I made sure to give it 5 stars and comment on it.
Quote from: bigmike on September 02, 2009, 11:25 AM NHFT
Russell I don't remember anyone taking still shots, just video, but I'll keep that in mind for other events.
Ridley and I are wishing there were more photos to show the events and activism in nh and Kira is running her own report using people's photos and some she takes herself. You can send them by email to her or me or post them somewhere we can grab them. :)
good video
Quote from: Fluff and Stuff on September 02, 2009, 03:53 PM NHFT
Thanks for posting the new video. It was very good. I made sure to give it 5 stars and comment on it.
I think Bill and Mike did a great job editing the videos but I'm a little disappointed that I didn't explain the concept of jury nullification and juror's rights and why what we were doing there is a good idea.
I'll be sure to do it if I can get an on-camera interview with Paulette the jury clerk.
Quote from: bigmike on September 02, 2009, 06:33 PM NHFT
Quote from: Fluff and Stuff on September 02, 2009, 03:53 PM NHFT
Thanks for posting the new video. It was very good. I made sure to give it 5 stars and comment on it.
I think Bill and Mike did a great job editing the videos but I'm a little disappointed that I didn't explain the concept of jury nullification and juror's rights and why what we were doing there is a good idea.
I'll be sure to do it if I can get an on-camera interview with Paulette the jury clerk.
Do it in the video description or if it is too late for that, in the comments section. It's all good. Make another video next time. Remember, shorter is usually better when it comes to Youtube videos.
Quote from: bigmike on September 02, 2009, 06:33 PM NHFT
I think Bill and Mike did a great job editing the videos but I'm a little disappointed that I didn't explain the concept of jury nullification and juror's rights and why what we were doing there is a good idea.
if you do a short explanation we can add it to the Kira Report and like fluff said ... to a video description :)
This is great activism!
Quote from: Russell Kanning on September 03, 2009, 06:39 AM NHFT
Quote from: bigmike on September 02, 2009, 06:33 PM NHFT
I think Bill and Mike did a great job editing the videos but I'm a little disappointed that I didn't explain the concept of jury nullification and juror's rights and why what we were doing there is a good idea.
if you do a short explanation we can add it to the Kira Report and like fluff said ... to a video description :)
You want something to quote me from? I can put something together pretty quick if that's what you're looking for.
Is the Kira Report a news piece done by Kat's daughter? I haven't seen it before. If it's online can you post a link for me to check out?
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on September 02, 2009, 11:35 AM NHFT
Good point, AnCap. Though, I never said it was nonexistant, just that Big Mike had no competition in the area of visible activism. Those other folks are doing good things, no doubt. It's just their efforts are largely off-the-radar, and therefore not in the same ballpark as Big Mike's work.
I don't quite get the "ballpark" comment, Ian.
Your work gets people to NH; is that off-the-radar? My FSP work gets people here too. We have had hundreds over the years pave the way for bigmike and others. Maybe we should have our own ballpark if you don't think we belong in his.
Cathleen
I wouldn't put my media work in Mike's ballpark, no.
Activism like what Mike (and other civil disobedients) have done has an element of risk that is not present in other behind-the-scenes activism or in media production.
Civil disobedients do have their own ballpark. They are willing to risk more than the average activist. To me, that makes what they do more valuable. You may find more value in the off-the-radar action, and that is fine, but it is my opinion that things like what Mike and Cassidy have done are more motivating to potential movers.
Hope that helps explain my comment!
Further explanation from a different perspective: Another aspect that Mike has that most activists do not is that he is an instigator whereas most activists are joiners. (You can also be an instigator and a joiner, depending on your role in each activism.) We need more instigators. I think the instigators are in their own ballpark as well.
This is not a critique of the joiners, but merely an observation. If everyone were instigating, no one would be joining. So, joiners are needed too and perhaps they will someday be inspired to instigate their own activity.
Quote from: bigmike on September 03, 2009, 01:31 PM NHFT
You want something to quote me from? I can put something together pretty quick if that's what you're looking for.
Is the Kira Report a news piece done by Kat's daughter? I haven't seen it before. If it's online can you post a link for me to check out?
sure
yes ... with help from all of the people taking pictures in NH
Kira Report
http://newhampshirefreepress.com/taxonomy/term/31
yea ... gang!
the Kira report is an A+ so far!
Quote from: FreeKeene.com's Ian on September 03, 2009, 02:27 PM NHFT
I wouldn't put my media work in Mike's ballpark, no.
Activism like what Mike (and other civil disobedients) have done has an element of risk that is not present in other behind-the-scenes activism or in media production.
Civil disobedients do have their own ballpark. They are willing to risk more than the average activist. To me, that makes what they do more valuable. You may find more value in the off-the-radar action, and that is fine, but it is my opinion that things like what Mike and Cassidy have done are more motivating to potential movers.
Hope that helps explain my comment!
I question the value of attracting more 'kids' to move to Keene just to stand around and watch a small percentage of each other get arrested and tried.
I question the value of sitting around in the backwoods smoking pot.
Kat. What happened to my Picnic Tables?
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 04, 2009, 06:37 AM NHFT
Kat. What happened to my Picnic Tables?
you mean the 2 we worked on together?
i have sold them and replaced only 1 so far
were you needing to use them this week?
No. I meant the two that I made with perhaps a little help with one of them, with my fasteners, out of lumber I pulled from a pile you were gong to burn.
I made them for the Burning Porcupine Festival grounds and you had no business selling them.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on September 04, 2009, 06:27 AM NHFT
I question the value of sitting around in the backwoods smoking pot.
Not that I admit to this or, otherwise recognize this as completely accurate, but if it were, I could be 'protest'in' standing and Pot laws
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 04, 2009, 06:56 AM NHFT
you had no business selling them.
Dang it they needed to be signed... Tables by Lllloyd
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 04, 2009, 06:37 AM NHFT
Kat. What happened to my Picnic Tables?
Why the fuck are you asking me? I had nothing to do with your picnic tables.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on September 04, 2009, 08:50 AM NHFT
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 04, 2009, 06:37 AM NHFT
Kat. What happened to my Picnic Tables?
Why the fuck are you asking me?
Because I left them in your front yard. As I had been meaning to ask one of you what happened to them, thought that your ad hominen attack on me for my commenting on Ian complaints about political types in Manchester, was a good time. I knew that the decision to dispose of the tables was Russel's.
Hey now, I wasn't complaining about the politicos- I was praising Big Mike's activism. :P
My Bad! The curmudgeon in me made me think you were slapping Manchester while slapping BigMike on the back :P
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 04, 2009, 06:56 AM NHFT
No. I meant the two that I made with perhaps a little help with one of them, with my fasteners, out of lumber I pulled from a pile you were gong to burn.
I made them for the Burning Porcupine Festival grounds and you had no business selling them.
lots of people help you build them both .... with wood that me and my friends processed and handed to you .... remember those 2 huge piles of wood that we processed and you used to come by and "shop" from last summer? i have decided you should pay me for that. :P
we ended up burning hardly any of it ... some it is still being stored and will be used
since then I have rebuilt one of the tables out of the wood that was processed and stored by me
until i build the second one .... should I pay you for your half? ..... or should I just take it off your bill?
You can rationalize this anyway you want. The fact remains that the Burning Porcupine Festival Grounds is missing two donated attractive tables. I don't care about the ugly one. I think everyone here would like an explanation why you felt it necessary that those two tables had to go........anywhere else. I know I would.
I've been wondering what happened to them since this spring. I thought maybe they would show up down at the amphitheater. They didn't. I kept thinking I would hear an explanation. I didn't. I would suggest to people that perhaps you burned them for heat. Interestingly enough, nobody questioned the suggestion.
Whatever you may think about me, half the people you know in your own community didn't question that you might have burned two perfectly good Picnic Tables.
I guess you're looking better having merely turned them into money.
why on earth would i burn furniture? we used the tables to cut our firewood on
i have salvaged wood that many others would consider unfit to pick up to burn
remember .... we were going to sell picnic tables? when someone asked to buy them .... i said "yes" .... then i built one to replace it
btw .... the current table kicks butt on your design .... I will stop telling people that it was inspired by you ... I will tell them that you think it sucks
Wow, this conflict sounds like it's no picnic! :o
What is with you people and outdoor furniture!!! ;D
Couches, tables...
Build it like the man table, so heavy no one wants to move it.
Children,
run along and play nice.
When your all grown up y'all will look back at this and giggle over warm cider.
fuck,
I thought this was a Liberty forum.
Im lost.
back to the backwoods to smoke pot.
Quote from: Tom Sawyer on September 04, 2009, 10:16 PM NHFT
What is with you people and outdoor furniture!!! ;D
Couches, tables...
Build it like the man table, so heavy no one wants to move it.
;D
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on September 06, 2009, 07:59 AM NHFT
Quote from: Tom Sawyer on September 04, 2009, 10:16 PM NHFT
What is with you people and outdoor furniture!!! ;D
Couches, tables...
Build it like the man table, so heavy no one wants to move it.
;D
So heavy you get a hernia