Tonight on Free Talk Live Jason Osborne of Sakai/CAI called in toward the end of the show to report that earlier today a trap setup for local police was sprung. According to Jason, himself, Sam Dodson and Barry Cooper had rented a house in which they instrumented with audio and video recording equipment, created a faux marijuana growing environment and waited. They placed heat lamps in the home but instead of marijuana they had Christmas trees. The feeds from the multiple cameras were apparently fed into one or more DVRs and also streamed to an external site over the internet. The police got a search warrant (illegally according to Jason who said they had attorneys on hand) and raided the home. Jason was manning and controlling the cameras and mics and after the cops realized what happened Barry and Sam went in with camera rolling to ask them what they were doing. The cops threatened to confiscate the cameras and at some point went back into the home to talk about what was occurring. Jason reported that they started commenting on the cameras and how they would just take them when they noticed a router near the DVRs and realized the data was being stored remotely too. They then unplugged some of the equipment but apparently some of it was running on battery backup so footage was still gotten after they tried to disable it.

Jason said that the footage would likely be the pilot to a reality TV show they are working on called “Cop Busters” or the like. You can hear the info first hand on the 2008-12-04 podcast available here. It’s at the end of the show at 1 hour 56 minutes in. He also said it was to be on the 11PM news in the local TV station. I suspect they will be recording the segment and I will post it when and if it becomes available.

This is really interesting stuff. Makes me proud to be partnering with Sam on the Civil Disobediance Evolution Fund.

http://libertyconspiracy.com/

“Against the Grain” was canceled yesterday by WTPL. The general manager, for whom I hold no animosity, explained to me that the show was just “too intellectual and too controversial” to attract advertisers. There will be a longer explanation on tonight’s podcast, but essentially he said that my program is trapped in a small market, and the kind of thing that sells in a small market is non-controversy. As an example, he told me that for a week, the morning team tried to talk about the View Tax, and got no calls. Then, at the end of the week, they happened to ask “where is the best coleslaw in the area?” and the phones lit up. Jim Whedon is the GM, and he’s a nice guy. He thought that I needed to get to a larger market.

This comes at a time when the podcasts for the program have become very popular, reaching number 4 among political podcasts at Podomatic, and acquiring 1700 subscribers on Podomatic alone in just three months. Over that period, the global internet reach has brought in 18,000 non-subscriber “listens”, in addition to the subscribers. This is remarkable to see in a few months time.

Given the rise in awareness of the show, I’ve spoken to some good friends and fellow liberty-lovers, and have decided to continue, to expand the shows intellectual content and intensity and spread the program on the web.

Here is what will happen, and I’ll need help from you, if you want to join in:

Tonight’s program will be the last copy of a “broadcast” program. Next will be the internet-only shows for members of and visitors to the Libertyconspiracy. On the website, we have a link that allows people to contribute to the Conspiracy. There, people can offer monthly subscriptions that help pay for hosting of the audios. Starting now, we will begin creating material not only for the visitors to the site, but even more for the supporters. With these funds, we can create a true free market audio-visual think tank, with material that can be downloaded that one cannot find on the regular site — sent out to personal e-mail addresses of contributors — (including written material, non-fiction on political philosophy and political economy, as well as fiction, and extra audio files). All of the information will soon be posted on the site for everyone to see.

Right now, consider hitting the contributions link and getting involved. The website will expand into more homes and onto more iPods with more contributors, and we’ll strengthen our influence in the US and around the world. It’s pretty interesting to see how people all over have been listening to the show, and now, since I won’t be constrained, I can go full bore with freedom and not worry about offending any politician who is a neighbor of the station! (Not that that ever stopped me, but it probably affected sales!)

Talk to you soon, I hope! — G!

I’ve met Gardner several times. He’s a really great guy and I’m saddened to see him lose the position at WTPL but it looks like he and  Jason Osborne of Sakal/CAI have completely taken advantage of the new situation. For those who enjoy Free Talk Live I highly recommend checking out the Gardner Goldsmith experience if you’ve not already. I also recommend AMPing FTL and becoming a co-conspiritor of the Liberty Conspiracy. You’ll get misc perks and help some of the biggest media personalities reach out to more and more people.

You can hear more about what happened and what is planned on the Friday 19th, 2008 Free Talk Live show. Gardner was on at the beginning of the show.

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I just got back from the Free State Project’s 2008 Porcfest. It was extremely enjoyable. Rich Goldman did a wonderful job setting things up and I have to also thank Jason Osborne of Sakal/CAI for sponsoring the fest and providing the Fun tent. Free Talk Live broadcast live Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There was a lot of open carrying going on, a lot of Ron Paul signs and a lot of good people having a great time. The vendors included the likes of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, the Republican Liberty Caucus,  Anarchy in Your Head, and BureauCrash.com. I picked up the Real Rebels t-shirt and bosco got the FREEDOM: My Anti-Government tee.

I strongly suggest anyone who enjoys camping and supports freedom to consider attending next year’s Porcfest. If you can’t wait I also recommend FSP’s Liberty Forum in January. bosco, xyz, etc. feel free to add your opinions of the weekend.