Just like the good ol' days.

The hose of Congresspersons being above the law is, of course, a sham, but this is smeggin' awesome, anyway. Wish I could have seen it. Now, if we can only get Representative Ron Paul to knock a couple of JBT's around.

Reminds me of a story about Andrew Jackson thumping a would-be assassin unconscious with his cane.

AH, the good ol' days. Thank you, Representative McKinney.

-Brenn

OHH, and tomorrow night is the last night you can smoke in St Paul without getting beat down by the shock troops. Small smokers' meetup at FabFern's, if we can find a table.

MacKinney's criminal camera.

More photos...ones previously elusive. Attachment payloads that crashed my damned Outlook, and overclocked my computer.

Small fiestas, from 02/26 and 02/25 (in that order, yes.)

Pokah, maybe later to book.

-Brenn

Please have fare ready.

Go Dance the Carmagnole with the Jacobins.

Stephen Gordon signed me up for LLS Campaign Management 201. I don't know what the heck imma do!

Got a voicemail from Ken Pentel (who has not put in a 2006 bid. You're voting for Sue anyway, aren't you?) this afternoon--I suppose I need to call him back. Someone from the House has agreed to author the bill, and the new corresponding House file is 3909. I still recommend canvassing the members of the Civil Laws Committee, in addition to Steve Sviggum, Speaker of the House--especially if you haven't already. We need to demand that this bill get a Hearing, that it be Considered, and ask for support in the measure. If it is going to be heard, it needs to meet Committee deadline of April 4th. For those of you who do not recall two posts ago, independent municipalities in Minnesota should have every right to use alternative voting methods such as Instant Runoff Voting in electing their councilpersons and mayors.

Though RollerGirls bouts are always a blast, last evening's had its hindrances. Nik, Kari and I stepped out of FabFern's, and in the order of lighting a motherland cigarette, I trusted my camera and two rinkside tickets to Kari's care. Unfortunately, the tickets did not survive the trip, and were nowhere to be found when arrived at the gate. Nik, unenthusiastic about attending the bout in the first place, ended up giving me his, and departed after the ticket ended up being undiscovered in his vehicle. Through this course, I had a hard time enjoying the first half of the Garda Belts versus Dagger Dolls match, and on the verge of packing up to silently march back up Cathedral Hill in disappointed silence, Kari managed to sob her way into access to the floor, and we were lucky enough to catch the rest of the bout from our usual season rinkside seats. After half time, though, and ninety seconds from the close of the GB vs DD matchup, the score was somewhere close to 91/97. The Garda's jammer (I regret not taking note of who it was, though it wasn't Mitzi) sliced through the pack and was about to make a second clean run through to bring the match that much closer, but one of the Dolls took an on-rink tumble and didn't get up--on-rink injuries call off the jam.

The Gardas were robbed of their win. SOPPING BALLS!

Anyhow, we caught a ride up the hill with Corey Sax and Britt (who also designed this bout's wonderful poster), had a nibble (back at Fern's, no less), yukked it up, and sang sea shanties with Rex back at the apartment for the remainder of the evening.

Next on the docket, calling back Ken, pestering committeepersons, waiting for Kari to get outta work, and for Matt to come by for libations and subversive method.

please use exact change,
-Brenn
aim: hadesraze
yim: hadesrazeus

The week will not survive!

I'm not going to up and cut-and-paste an article, but for those who don't, you should always be visiting Alex Jones at infowars.com.

Allwhile, a high-count weekend closes in, between the RollerGirls bout, and some a'drinkin' with the skirt and Matt Saturday evening. No fear!

"Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories." - George W. Bush

don't strain yourselves, now,
-Brenn

down on the PS, @#$%$#@ing cops. Anybody else caught doing it is night-sticked, at best.

The Heavy Hand of the State (shadows, too?)

Friends in Liberty,

I received a call from a frustrated Mr. Ken Pentel of the Green Party on Sunday evening, who relayed an upsetting story to me. Educating me of Minnesota State Senate File 642, some seemingly renegade State legislators are plotting to allow Minnesota cities to adopt alternative voting methods, such as Instant Runoff Voting, or Approval Voting. The powers behind the two-party system will not let this stand! The bill has passed Senate Committee, and may very well meet its fate in the House Civil Laws Committee.

In all seriousness, I wasn’t even aware that the State of Minnesota could prevent a municipality from holding city elections by means of voting methods clearly superior to plurality voting. I’d ponder as to why this law exists, but I’d be kidding myself. But, as an occasional light of logic and reason goes, some Senator or Representative has to get the crazy idea in his head of deregulation.

You hear that?! There is hope!

Unfortunately, among the entities that do not believe a city should be allowed to elect its own mayor by their own, more fair voting method, is the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). Being pro-life or pro-choice is a serious and often personal matter; the MCCL often serves a noble cause, regardless of opinion. But I am sure all of you will fail to see what abortion has to do with an independent city choosing to elect its city council by means of Instant Runoff Voting or Approval Voting. So do I. Yet the MCCL does not hide its opposition to SF642, and may very well be misusing its well-earned, respected clout to bully and coerce members of the Minnesota State Legislature into opposing this legislation at all costs. The pressure against it right now is even holding the bill back from being considered in committee.

Now I am upset, too.

Like (but less so than) individuals, a city’s government is sovereign from, and should not be dictated by The State. It is time for us to be heard. Libertarians, Greens, Constitution, Independence, Republicans, DFL, and independents alike—this is not, and should not be a partisan issue.

Most of you know the drill: write a letter to every committee member--especially the chair, make phone calls, send emails, tell your friends, family, and colleagues. Feel free to forward this email on. In either case, endorse it! I’ve provided a list of the committee members and their contact information, to make it a bit easier.

Chair: Jeff Johnson (R) 296-5511 rep.jeff.johnson@house.mn

Vice Chair: Chris DeLaForest (R) 296-4231 rep.chris.delaforest@house.mn

Lead-DFL: Nora Slawik (DFL) 296-7807 rep.nora.slawik@house.mn

Laura Brod (R) 296-4229 rep.laura.brod@house.mn

Matt Dean (R) 296-3018 rep.matt.dean@house.mn

Keith Ellison (DFL) 296-8659 rep.keith.ellison@house.mn

Tom Emmer (R) 296-4336 rep.tom.emmer@house.mn

Bill Hilty (DFL) 296-4308 rep.bill.hilty@house.mn

John Lesch (DFL) 296-4224 rep.john.lesch@house.mn

Peter Nelson (R) 296-5377 rep.peter.nelson@house.mn

Steve Simon (DFL) 296-9889 rep.steve.simon@house.mn

Torrey Westrom (R) 296-4929 rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn

The Civil Laws Committee: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=4
State Senate File 642: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0642.1&session=ls84
More information on alternative voting methods: http://www.votebuddy.com/votemeth.htm

If you want more specifics regarding the contacts and specifics behind this bill, please contact myself, or Ken Pentel (kenpentel-at-yahoo-dot-com)--though due to much involvement, he is more familiar with the issue at this time than I am. Thank you all for giving me your precious consideration!

In Liberty,

Lee R. Brennise
State Chair
Libertarian Party of Minnesota

Again with the messes!

Apologies for yet another folder of debauchery, but here is Saturday night's pictorial. Having foregone the common consumption, we found that shots of Evan Williams bourbon would taste good with morsels of chocolate cake floating in it. Luke made the mistake of giddily adding frosting to MacKinney's and his.

noop command successful,
-Brenn

You may be experiencing delays.

Tuesday?! Whoops.

Again, as always, the Dream Theater show was superb. I don't know if they'll ever top their performance at the Quest from '99 for me, though. Dropped $105 Federal Reserve Notes at the merch table, including their live cover of "Master of Puppets" in its entirety, and the "When Dream and Day Reunite" DVD. JimJohns even had a super time, his first Dream Theater show.

For the first time in many moons, I wasn't the butt-of-all-jokes at poker night. It was Rex's birthday, and he likes Bob Seger, so everything just fell into place from there. Toast him, next drink you have!

And in a short while, another week of drumming up the campaign, and never forgetting the RollerGirls bout on Friday the 24th.

For anybody interested, an ol' pal of mine, Andy Oltmann's, is the bassist for Cold Colours--opening for Impaler at Station 4 on Friday, also. Sorry I can't be there, pally--never pass up trackside seating.

robots, zombies, and Bob Seger,
-Brenn

...last call?

Smoke 'em while you've got your greasy digits on 'em, cuz the St Paul City Fuehrers' icy fist is gripped on the 31st. No Smoking in New Amerika.

I am shaking my rump all about this weekend. St Patrick's Day/Dream Theater on Friday, poker on Saturday, and if I can muster up the time and nerve, the long-anticipated V for Vendetta. While not completely Irish, I feel the need to listen to The Tossers and Jethro Tull all weekend...

...perpend! For the interim, I listen to the Magenta cee-dees I got from Europe today.

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've traveled a hundred miles or more
But tobacco in a tin whistle sure I never saw before

ah, yes,
-Brenn

Tonight we sail for Singapore!

...don't fall asleep while you're ashore.

Two evenings ago was the peak of the Global Struggle Against Finding a Table at Fern's on a Friday Night. Due to a smidge of luck and time-tested elbow rubbing, the waitresses often tip the scale in our favor. It'd been awhile since we'd had a three-layered party, so we fled the Friday Fern's bustle and made for the apartment. What the group discussed is sketchy or entirely missing from recollection, but after the earlygoers took their leave, and to much ad-hoc, MacKinney, Rex, Chopsy, Luke, Kari and I played poker. She did pretty well, for a girl. I suppose that's why she's mine. No, still no skirts allowed at poker night. Coming to a Saturday near you!

Planning of the 2006 LPMN State Convention has been creaking. I think Nik is getting a speaking slot for the FSP, too. Who's gonna be there?

Oh, dreadful--they're going to have to move the massive, beastly snowman from alongside of 36 in St Paul! I recall the first time I was accosted by its imposing shadow: I was riding to X-Fest with dorkNate, Brother Jorges, and Emily in 2000. Nate, driving, was the first to sight it, jaw unhatched and silent. I took my take, curling into a little ball in the bucket seat, a few seconds passing while I recovered from the shock, just to shriek like a tentacle-chased cartoon schoolgirl. Poor big, dumb snowman.

one more evening of shore leave,
-Brenn

What men of dogs are these?

Tonight is the last monthly Smoker's Meetup at FabFern's. Everybody take your hat off and lugubriously gaze to the ground. I am going to come around and make sure you are. Don't worry about being graded--this is participation-based.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the Sue Jeffers campaign, and help us raise our seismic count however you can.

There has been an anti-cop party in MacKinney's comment box--hope all you've been reading. If not, always time to catch up and post your own.

Aaron Russo, Hollywood producer and 2004 contender for the Libertarian Party presidential endorsement, has a documentary coming out later in the year-- "America: From Freedom to Fascism". Looks brilliant, my knuckles are shaking and white with fistipitation.

"...nobody can know what the law is, because the law is what judges say what the law is...!"


I'll show *you* a Constitutional Amendment,
-Brenn

Go back to the past.

Little Girl: "Are you Little Caesar?"
Old Man: "No, kid. I'm George Burns."
Little Girl: *disappointed* "Oh."

There is a Little Caesar's opening on the Midway. Some things are better left for dead.

Hit it a bit too hard on Thursday and Friday night, which didn't synergize well with being otherwise ill all day Saturday. Probably the first poker night I didn't touch a drop of swill. Hey--I don't know how I did it, either.

My company is buying BellSouth, now. Two Bells down, two to go.

No nap for you. Go listen to this band that found me on Saturday--Magenta. I am newly obsessed.

work on, work off,
-Brenn

Will the author yield?

I think Reg got pinched this week. Dee-dubbed, probably. He isn't a libertarian or anarchocapitalist yet, though. Usually, being fucked over by the ham-fisted gubba-mint does the trick.

Kari and I raided the Jacobins' practice space last night and Nate, myself, and one-half of Dan finished a .750 of Jameson in an hour and a half (two new songs on their site). We decided to evade after there was broken glass all over the hallway and furniture outside that needed a breaking. There I sat, first on the waiting list to have today off of work (intent to get caught up in my LLS course) but I was DENIED. Cod.

Silver closed at 10.18 today. What'd I tell you jerks?


Wiped out from the week, and a Friday night Fern's visit is well in the air. Nik and MacKinney dropped out of the running, despite there only being four Fridays left before the City of St Paul takes a wrecking-bawl to the idea of sovereignty. May stay here and order out. Don't poll over it.

My pal 'tempus' has himself a blog! He/She likes me so much, he/she registered for a blogger account so he/she could leave me comments! Make sure to visit his/her site.

silver for Jesus,
-Brenn