After writing an analysis of the poem "The Little Black Boy," by William Blake, I learned that The English Department of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) was seeking proposals for their Second Annual Conference On Writing and Social Justice: Language and Racism. Since my creative juices had been piqued by my analysis of Blake, and I didn’t feel that I was done with the topic, I decided to submit a proposal to present.

My proposal has been accepted, and I will present at the conference on 19 April 2008 at the South City Campus of (SLCC). The conference runs from 9 am. until 3pm. I don’t know at what time I will present. I will edit this post to reflect any new information.

Check out the SLCC English Department webpage

"Thank you all for being here today. Keep raising your voices and DON'T EVER LET DOWN. Today as we come together once again in this great city, we raise our voices in unison, to say to President Bush, to Vice-president Cheney, to other members of the Bush Administration past and present, to a majority of Congress (including Utah's entire Congressional delegation), and to much of the mainstream media, "YOU HAVE FAILED US MISERABLY AND WE WON'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!" Let's here it. We won't take it any more! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!

(crowd: "We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

So we say to them... well if we say to them, "Well, we had every reason to expect far more from you. You have been pompous, greedy, cruel, and incompetent. It's you who've led this great nation to a moral, military, and national security abyss.

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

You have breached trust with the American people in the most egregious ways. You have utterly failed in the performance of your jobs. You, you have undermined our Constitution, prevented the the violation of the most fundamental treaty obligations, and betrayed the rule of law. You have engaged in or permitted heinous human rights abuses of the sort never before countenanced in our nation's history as a matter of official policy. You have sent American men and women to kill and be killed on the basis of lies, on the basis of shifting justifications, withOUT competent leadership, and without EVEN a coherent plan for this monumental blunder.

So we today to say: "We WON'T take it anymore!"

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

We say to them (and including our mainstream media in this country), that you have acted in direct contravention of values that we as Americans (who love our country) hold dear. You have deceived us. You have deceived us in the most cynical, outrageous ways. You have undermined, or allowed the undermining of our Constitutional system of checks and balances, among the three presumed co-equal branches of government. You have helped lead our nation to the brink of fascism, of a dictatorship contemptuous, of our nations' treaty obligations, federal statutory laws, our Constitution, AND the rule of law. Because of you, and because of your jingoistic FALSE patriotism, our world is far more dangerous. Our nation is far more dispised, and the threat of terrorism is far greater than EVER before.

It has been absolutely outstanding, (Anderson stammers: outsuh hisbuh) has been absolutely astounding how you have committed the most horrendous acts, causing such needles tradgedy in the lives of millions of people, yet you wear your so-called religeon on your sleeves, asserting your "God is on my side" nonsense...

(applause)

When what you have done flies in the face of any religeous or humanitarian tradition. Your hipocracy is mindboggling and disgraceful. What part of "Thou shalt not kill," do you not understand? What part of the Golden Rule do you not understand? What part of "Be honest, be responsible, and be accountable," do you not understand? And what part of "Blessed are the peacekeepers," do you not understand?

(applause. crowd: "We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

Because of you hundred of thousands of people have been killed. Many thousands of people have suffered horrendous lifetime injuries, and millions have been run off from their homes. For the sake of our nation, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of OUR brothers and sisters around the world, WE are morally compelled to say as loudly as we can: "We WON'T take it anymore!

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

As United States agents kidnap, dissapear and torture human beings around the world, you justify, you deceive, and you cover up. We find what you have done to men, women, and children, to the good name and reputation of the United States, so appalling, so unconscionable, and so outrageous, as to compel US to call upon YOU to step aside and allow other men and women, who are competent, true to our nations values, and with high moral principles, to stand in your places, for the good of our nation, FOR the good of our children, and for the GOOD of our world.

In the case of the President and Vice-president, this means impeachment and removal from office...

(applause)

And it means impeachement, removal from office without any further delay from a complacent, complicit Congress. The democratic majority, of which apparently cares more about political gain in 2008 than it does about the vindication of our Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic accountability. It means the election of people as President and Vice-president, who unlike MOST of the presidential candidates from BOTH major political parties, have not aided and abbedded in the perpetration in the illegal, tragic, devastating invasion and occupation of Iraq. And it means the election of people as President and Vice-president who will commit to return our nation to the moral and strategic imperative of always refraining from torturing human beings.

(applause)

In the case of the majority of Congress, it means electing people who are diligent enough to learn the facts including reading the available national intelligence estimates BEFORE VOTING to go to war.

(applause)

It means electing people to Congress who will jealously guard Congress's SOLE PREROGATIVE to declare war. It means electing to Congress men who will not submit like bathed lapdogs to Presidential requests for blank cheques to engage in so-called pre-emptive wars, or legislation permitting warrantless wiretapping, in communications involving U.S. Citizens, and for dangerous, irresponsible sabre-ratteling legislation like the recent Kyl-Lieberman Amendment.

(applause)

We must avoid the trap power of focusing the blame solely upon President Bush and Vice-president Cheney. This is not just about a few people who have wronged our country, and our world. They were ENABLED by members of BOTH parties in Congress. They were ENABLED! They were enabled by the pathetic mainstream newsmedia throughout this country.

(applause)

And ultimately they have been enabled by the American people, fourty percent of whom are so illinformed, they still think Iraq was behind behind the 9/11 attacks. A people... A people who know and care more about baseball statistics, and which drunken starlets are wearing underwear, than they know and care about the attrocities being committed every single day in their name, by a government, of which WE NEED to take responsibilty.

(applause)

As loyal Americans without regard to political partisanship, as veterans (WE HAVE a lot of veterans here with us today. Thank you for speaking up.)...

(applause)

And we support our veterans. We are grateful for what they've done for our country. And we support our troops. But we're saying, "We support our troops. Bring them THE HELL home!"

(applause)

And, as you look around here today, we speak as teachers, as religeous leaders, as working men and women, as students, as professionals, as business leaders, as public servants, as retirees, as people of all ages, races, ethnic origins, sexual orientations, and FAITHS! WE ARE HERE TO SAY to the Bush Administration, to the majority of Congress, AND to the mainstream media: "YOU have violated your solemn responsibilities TO us. YOU, you have undermined our democracy, SPAT upon our Constitution, and engaged in the most outrageous, dispicable acts. YOU have brought our nation to a point of immorality, inhumanity, and illegality of immense, tragic, unprecendented proportions.

(applause)

So let US pledge that WE will live up to OUR responsibilities as citizens, as brothers and sisters of those who have suffered (as a result of the imperial bullwink of the United States government), and as moral actors who must take a stand, and we will and must MEAN IT every single day when we say: "We won't take it anymore!"

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

If we want principled courageous elected officials, WE need to be principled, courageous, and tenacious. History has demonstrated that our elected officials are NOT usually the leaders. The leadership HAS to come from us. If we don't insist, if WE don't PERsist, then we're not living up to OUR responsibilities, as citizens in a democracy, and our responsibilities as moral human beings. If we remain silent, we signal the Congress and the bush administration and the candidates running for office, and to the world, that we support the status quo. Silence IS complicity. Only by standing up for what is right and never letting down, can we say that WE are doing OUR part.

Our government on the basis of the campaign we now know is entirely fraudulent, attacked and militarily occupied a nation that posed no danger to the United States. Our government acting in our name has caused immense unjustified death and destruction. It ALL started five years ago. Yet what have WE, the American people BEEN DOING? WHERE have we BEEN. Because at this point, we just can't point the finger at others. WE are responsible.

We get together once in a while at demonstrations and complain about Bush and Cheney, about Congress, and about the pathetic News Media. We point fingers and we yell a lot. Then most of us go away quietly until another demonstration a few months later. How many people can say they have spent as much time learning about and opposing the outrages of the Bush administration as they have spent watching sports or mindless television programs during the past five years. Escapist time sapping sports and insipid entertainment have indeed become the opiate of the masses.

Why is this country SO SOUND ASLEEP? Why do we abide? What is happening to our nation, to our Constitution, to the cause of peace and international law and order? Why do we not have these grounds full of people who will stand up and say: "No more!" to the immorality, to the illegality, to the outrages being committed in our name?

We should all be in the streets regularly and students should be raising hell on our campuses. We should be making it clear in every way possible. Your apologies, your convoluted disengenous explanations just don't cut it...

(applause)

when presidential candidates and so many others voted to authorize George Bush and his neo-con buddies to send American men and women to attack and occupy Iraq. So here today, let us awaken, and let us wake up the country, by committing here and now to do EVERYTHING each of us can do to take our nation back.

On August 30th, from right HERE the world was listening to us here in Salt Lake City. Well today let them hear us across the country as we ask others to join us in saying, "We WON'T take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it..." Louder, everybody! Let'em hear us."

(Crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

Anderson rejoins: We won't take it anymore! I EMPLORE...

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

Anderson: I emplore everyone. DRAW a line. Figure out exactly where your OWN moral breaking point is. And by this I am not only speaking to those that are here today, who had the courage, who had the audacity, who had the... the integrity to speak out, Let us ask of everyone: "Draw your line." Determine for yourselves where your moral breaking point is. How much will every single one of you put up with before you say, "No More!" and really mean it? I have drawn my line as a matter of simple personal morality. I cannot and WILL not support ANY candidate who has voted to fund the atrocities in Iraq. I CANNOT and WILL not support any candidate who will not commit unequivicably to remove all U. S. troops as soon as possible from Iraq. I will not and cannot support any candidate who has supported legislation that takes us one step closer to attacking Iran. And I cannot and will not support any candidate who has not fought in every way to stop the kidnapping, disappearances, and torture being carried on in our name.

If we expect our nations elected officials to take us seriously, let us send a powerful message they will never misunderstand. Let them know that we really do have our moral breaking point. Let them know that WE HAVE drawn a bright line. Let them know that they cannot take our support for granted, irregardless of their party, irregardless of the other political considerations, they will NOT have our support if they cannot provide and have not provided principled leadership. The people in this nation have certainly been too quiet through FIVE years, but let us pledge that it will not go on one more day. That we will do ALL we can to put an end to the illegalities, the moral degradation, and the disintigration of our nations' reputation around the world.

Let us be unified in drawing the line, in declaring that we DO have a moral breaking point. Let us insist together, in supporting our troops, and in gratitude for the freedoms which our veterans gave so much, that we bring our troops home from Iraq, that we return our government to a Constitutional democracy, and that we commit to honoring the fundamental principles of human rights. In the defense of our country, in defense of our Constitution, in defense of OUR SHARED VALUES, as Americans, and as moral human beings, we declare today that we will fight in every possible way, to stop the insanity, to stop the continued military occupation of Iraq, and to stop the moral depravity reflected by the kidnapping, disappearing, and torture of people around the world. Join me please in shouting out relentlessly and keeping up the message: "We WON'T, we won't, we won't take it anymore!

(crowd: We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore! We won't take it anymore!)

Anderson rejoins: We won't take it ANYMORE! Let's HEAR it! Let Jim Matthesson, let Senator Hatch, let Senator Barrick?, let the other Congressional delegates from this state here it everytime they show up in our state. We're going to be there telling them, "We won't take it anymore!" Let the President, his administration, these cowardly people in Congress, these Democrats who think they can count on our support, let us tell them in every way possible, they're not gonna have our support. We're going to replace them with people that have the moral bearing, who understand what our nation...

[END CLIP]

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy!



Since my last entry I took my final exams. I did great in two of my classes, but will repeat Algebra. I'll do better this time, but it really is going to negatively affect my GPA. I'll do better this time around for sure. I'm very greatful to Hass Baraki, my algebra teacher, for being so helpful. Things were really clicking on all cylinders at the end of the semester. My thanks also goes out to Dr. Michael White, who was instrumental in the advancement of my study skills. To Paula, my yoga instructor, that weight training make up yoga class killed me for almost a week. Maybe I can audit it this semester.

Now, I participated in another record breaking fund raiser for Ron Paul. He raised $6.4 million in one day, and only got a 15 second mention on the 5:00 news on our local NBC affiliate. Erstwhile, Rudy McRomney and Hillary recieved like 10 fucking minutes of airtime for a few newspaper endorsements they received. That frosted my nuts big time. Which is bigger news, the endorsement of over 200,000 donors (see link) or a couple of old media newspapers' editorial boards giving the nod to two people that will use the constitution like I use yankee's toilet paper.




All that inspired me to do something that will get some attention for this deserving candidate. I want to get Ron Paul's book onto the New York Times Best Seller List the week of Super Duper Tuesday (05 February 2008). As far as I can figure, this is best done by getting a whole lot of people to purchase the book from independent and retail book sellers the week ending 26 January 2008. I created something that will help this dream of mine becoming a reality. Click on this picture to get to it:



For the video of the week, I have never included a Ron Paul type video, but this has been a special week for me, and I 'm sure the rest of the rEVOLution. So in honor of the record breaking tea party '07, here is a fun news clip.

It is 6:12 am and I just woke up after having an intense dream.

Here is a picture of me doing something called bookcrossing. I am releasing a Doctor Who book out into the confines of a T.A.R.D.I.S.



In my dream I had become friends with a young woman named McCall. She was having a party at an apartment building that was still under construction. Whilst there, I met my friends Sam and Casey (Casey, Sam and McCall are classmates of mine). Casey and I were drinking (which I don't, but used to) Alabama Slammers and having a nice chat with Sam.

Suddenly some threatening men come upon us. Casey and Sam were being held by these men, who were holding their mouths with one hand, with one of their respective arms being held behind their backs (in a stressed position). Anyways, they were coming after me, but I had been sitting on these unfinished steps in the apartment building construction site. I had taken a few steps backwards up the stairs, and so had an advantage over my would be assailant. I was confronted by this young man that was part of the nerdowells that were attacking my friends. I took out my butterfly knife and drove it down hard into his throat, and he died nearly instantly.

Later I was in police custody, where it was determined that I acted in self defense. After being released from the jail, I was carrying a huge glass jar. It was like a huge olive jar, that is just a straight glass tube with a lid on it. I was walking down Interstate 89 (where I had once picked up a hitch-hiker) just north (). In my dream the highway is pretty curvy and there is a weigh station. It is on the bank of a river. It is dark, and I am carrying this down the highway, hoping not to get into another incident with the police, when up ahead I see the emergency lights of a state police vehicle.

I thought to myself, uh-oh. This is what happened next. The officer (who was named Officer Varrin Swearingen, is a member of the free state project, whom I don't believe I have ever had occasion to meet). Anyways, Officer Swearingen is running towards me yelling: "Did you ring this bell? DID you ring this BELL?!" I answer in the negative.

All of sudden there is a loud bang, and the sound of scraping metal and the smell of burning rubber. I look to my right and there is an 18 wheeler on it's side and jackknifed. I look back at the state trooper. His back is to me, and he has got a huge whole in the back of his shirt and he's bleeding. He is now being held by men wearing balaclavas with guns drawn. I look back over to the semi, and it just happens to be from the Remington firearms company. I decide to run for it, abandoning my very large glass container.

I am trying to hide from the people that evidently were stealing guns. I run into the river, but it is to shallow to dive under and hide. One of the truck hijackers is trying to get me. It is now dawn, and everything that was dark is now becoming visible. I find some low overhanging vegetation, which I am hiding in. The hijacker is looking for me, with his glock poised and ready to kill. My heart is racing. He's about to come under the canopy in which I am hiding.

That is where I woke up. It was a really scary dream.

Now for the video of the week. I needed something that was mega-chill, so I found this video.

The Orb: "Oxbow Lakes"

I found this really funny picture of myself tonight. I think it is from 2004. Thought you might like it.






When I was a boy, I used to walk all over the town I lived in. There were many "open" spaces for an energetic boy to walk to. One of my favorite places to walk to, was down an old (abandoned dirt road) and I would end up in a sand pit, near wear Hokum Rock Road intersects with Bass River Road. The sand pit was awesome. It had a 20 foot (or greater) cliff from which you could jump into sublimely soft sand. It was great. There was also this great huge pile of topsoil that P.J. Nyberg (a real estate developer, and general scumbag [according to some]) had dredged from Simmons Pond. I used to go there, sometimes with friends. It was so tall that you could see the bay and the sound just by turning around.

In the sand pit, my friends and I would collect shotgun shell casings, sometimes selling the ones in good condition to a neighbor that was a sportsman. It always amazed me the different colors and designs of the shell casings.

There was an abandoned Datsun at the bottom of one of the sand pits in the area. One time, my brother, Nate Griffin, Steve Jackson and I had a B-B gun fight in this pit. My brother and Nate were up on the top of the pit, and Steve and I ended up pinned down inside this abandoned car. We put of one of our shirts in the window, and when Nate and Shawn shot the B-B's at us, we caught them, and loaded our own gun with the B-B's.

I can not tell you how much fun it was going down to the pits. I would walk for miles in the sand pits, and the woods around our town. I would get home and my feet would really hurt, because I had neglected to empty my shoes out.

Sometimes I would ride my bike on paths in the woods to the pits. But once I got into the sand, I would have to walk my bike, due to the soft sand. I would often go bouldering on Hokum Rock. It was a great time to be a kid on Cape Cod.

Now all that area that I used to have adventures in is developed into housing units. I'm sure the kids in the neighborhood are bored out of their heads, and want something fun to do. But they won't be able to go jump in a sand pit, cuz PJ Nyberg was proabably forced to fence them all off with razor wire.

Anyways, since I'm flashing the peace sign in the image taken of me in 2004, I thought that I would post this video. If it were my video, I would entitle it "Rubber Bisquit?"




Keep in mind, this is in Tacoma, Washington, USA. This is NOT Tieneman, Venezuala, or the west bank.

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Gramma Bubbles and Aunt Maggie came to Utah for a few days. The only thing I had to cook was green beans. I miss New Hampshire this time of year, when the first snow has fallen, or it's just darn cold, and the leaves are crunchy under your feet. My wife mad this kick-ass strawberry pie with a whole wheat crust. We had dinner over at my in-laws house, which was very nice. Lots of people were there, and the kids had a great time.

We took the white van up to Brighton Ski Area for a look around. It was cold up there, and they were blowing snow. Most of the peaks are barren, but I'm sure there will be some snow soon. My kids are really looking forward to playing in it.

I found this great picture of myself on an old photo cd.





This is of me during Christmas 2001. By my surroundings and hairstyle it might as well have been 1971.

Of course I remember those that I could not share Thanksgiving with. I really missed my brother rolling his eyes at my outrageous statements. I missed my Nana and Bubba. I also have been giving quite a bit of thought to my friends and associates incarcerated in Federal and State penitentiaries. Mostly I miss my family, and Murphy's On the Green, which is seeking a buyer.

For the video of the week, consider using this technique when next you cook a turkey.


Stuffing and Trussing a Turkey

This week in my myspace world, I reached two milestones. I have added my 100th friend, and surpassed the 2000 profile view mark. I can't remember how long I've been doing this for, but I enjoy it (minus the occasional password hack giving y'all some vile images as comments). I also have had over 1300 people view the FURBlog. Those are the good milestones.

Here is a bad milestone:

Although politics and government permeate almost every thought that I have, I try not to permeate the FURBlog with too much content of a political nature. It is increasingly difficult for me to post anything BUT political content lately. This week is no exception. In fact, I am SO unbelievably ANGRY, and enraged, I am ABSOLUTELY serious when I say I am looking to move out of the United States of America.

You ask: "Why so FURB?"

Well, as my past posts have indicated, many of my friends and associates are being incarcerated. I fear that I will be next. Also, the government has seized about $1600 worth of my assets (which were being held in an armored warehouse in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) having been seized by the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. This is an abrogation of my right to legally trade gold and silver for goods and services. My property has been seized. What recourse do I have?

Well, me and other people that barter gold and silver for goods and services are filing a class action lawsuit against the United States, to get my property back (less legal fees). I'm not a rich man, I just want to exercise my rights as they are guaranteed by the United States Consitution. This barbarity (????) being perpetrated upon me in intolerable. I simply want to live with as little involvement with those perpetrating tyranny and legal plunder as possible.

Here is link to the Liberty Dollar of Evansville myspace page and blogs, detailing the indefensible actions of the United States Government.

The Liberty Dollar of Evansville myspace profile

Now for the video of the week.


Let's Go Camping in Beach Grove, Indiana

This computer, that I use regularly, will be going in for a much needed overhaul. It has been acting buggy, so I am posting a day earlier to the FURBlog, to keep up with my goal of one post per week. There's not much new happening here. I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my mother and aunt for Thanksgiving. I found my iPod which had been missing for a few weeks, so I can get back to my audio book. That is the main reason for updating this computer anyways, since we are having trouble with itunes. I'm not a big mac fan, personally, their OS is just not what I am used to. I don't think I'll ever buy one. I look forward to the day I am finally brave enough to go to an open source operating system.

I opened up a new gallery of post cards which either me or my children made (or collaborated on). You can check out the gallery of postcards here!
If you would like us to send one to you, please send me a message with your mailing address.

I found a really funny video today, which I will share with you. It is entitled "communist monopoly."

Yesterday I received a reply to a letter I had written to my former dentist, Dr. Elaine Brown, DMD. I had written to her a week or so previously. I am very concerned about her. She's 65 years old, and serving a 63 month prison term. Her hand writing was very shaky.

I've heard reports that her husband was being subjected to freezing cold temperatures while naked. I wonder what kind of treatment SHE is receiving.



If you have read my previous post on the Browns, you know that they did not get a fair trial in their criminal federal tax evasion lawsuit. If you are so inclined, please write an ENCOURAGING letter to her especially.

Here are the addresses:

Ed Brown 03923-049
FCI ELKTON
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 10
LISBON,OH 44432

Elaine Brown 03924-049
FCI DANBURY
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
ROUTE 37
DANBURY, CT 06811

This weeks video is in honor of Daisuke Matsusaka, without whom the Red Sox would NOT have been able to sweep the Rockies in the 2007 World Series.


Daisuke No Hits Opponent In High School Championship Game

Later on today, my children and I are participating in an antiwar rally in downtown Salt Lake City. I saw something on the news last week about an antiwar protest where people were being taken away in zip-tie handcuffs for protesting against the war here in Salt Lake City.

The thing that really pisses me off about the war is that it really isn't a war at all. This is an unconstitutional military operation. This war is illegal, and all those congress critters that abdicated their responsibility of keeping the executive branch in check should be at the very least, voted out of office. It should be seriously considered whether or not they should be tried for treason. Those that voted in favor of granting the executive branch failed to live up to their oath of office, which states: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

How in the world do these cretins keep getting elected! Wake up America! Dual impeachment of Bush and CHAINey is definitely warranted. Then most of the U. S. House and Senate need to be incarcerated.

I don't want my kids growing up in a police state.

Now, for the video of the week. Watch it! It speaks for itself!