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  • Thomas L. Knapp

Grinds My Gears: “Work” Mar 23, 2016

I subscribe to Writer's Digest magazine. If you write, and especially if you write for money, doing so is a worthwhile investment (about ten bucks a year for the digital edition) in maintaining and improving your craft.Like most publications, Writer's Digest has "partners." That is, advertisers. And in the information age that means more than just each page consisting of 3/4 content and 1/4 display ads. It means I get email.In particular I get email -- nearly, if not actually, every day -- from something called American Writers & Artists, Inc.  AWAI constantly tries to sell me their magazine (Barefoot Writer), their...

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Thanks For Asking! — 03/23/16 Mar 23, 2016

This week's AMA thread, and the podcast to follow, are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:How it works:Got a question? Ask me! Just ask anything (anything!) in the comment thread below this post.I'll answer your question in the comment thread, or on this weekend's podcast, or both.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Cool Show, But a Bit of Disinformation Mar 22, 2016

On yesterday's "Freedom Works" -- the Paul Molloy Show, on WTAN 1340 AM in Tampa, Florida, Libertarian National Committee political director Carla Howell appears and discusses the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination race with Paul. Nicely done, and you should give it a listen.But there is one problem with one piece of information Carla shares.In describing the nomination process, she says that delegates to the Libertarian National Convention are free to vote their conscience -- that is, to support whichever candidate they think best -- unless their state parties have passed measures requiring them to support a particular candidate on the...

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The Question That REALLY Bugs Me Mar 22, 2016

I've had no fewer than two people suggest to me today that if anyone did indeed access the dark web child porn site "Play Pen" from the Free Talk Live studio's computers, the claim used to justify a raid on said studio, their prime suspect is Christopher Cantwell.I can't say I disagree. That's the first name that popped into my head, too.But if so, I'm wondering whether he did it because he's a perv, or because he works for someone. Perhaps someone in Washington. Because I've heard both those things suggested, too. And not just lately.I suppose it could be both.Like KN@PPSTER?...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 4

My Presidential Endorsement: The Text Version Mar 21, 2016

Heavily edited and cleaned up from the audio version (beginning at about 12 minutes in to this week's podcast):I admit that I was first stuck on None of the Above in my preferences for the 2016 Libertarian presidential nomination, primarily because I expected a "coronation" of Gary Johnson. I didn't necessarily believe that NOTA could win, but I thought that we could get more media coverage of the opposition to Johnson by having NOTA pull 30-35% of the delegate vote than by having some other candidate lose to Johnson.I've become convinced that NOTA does not and will not enjoy that level...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 71: My Presidential Endorsement, Among Other Things Mar 21, 2016

This episode of the KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode:Thanks for Asking! (libraries, journalism credentials, Libertarian Party stuff, Tom Paine and Hulk Hogan);Why I Support Darryl W. Perry for President;The FBI raids Free Talk Live's studio.Show Notes:This week's Thanks for Asking! thread had a lot more stuff in it than I really had time to talk about.Here's the Free Keene post on the FBI's raid of Free Talk Live's studio.I've donated $5 to a GoFundMe drive to help replace Free Talk Live's stolen gear. Please support this cause!Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's...

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Podcast Delays Mar 21, 2016

I seem to be having Internet issues tonight. That doesn't mean skipping this week's podcast entirely (at least I don't think it does), but it's just not quite coming together tonight. Sorry about that.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Got to Admit It’s Getting Better Mar 20, 2016

I'm watching the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania's presidential candidate debate via livestream. Something happened a few minutes ago that I don't think I've ever seen before:The candidates were asked to state their opinions on "intellectual property."Of the four candidates participating, two -- Darryl W. Perry and Dr. Marc Allan Feldman -- came out as opposed to the whole stupid idea.One -- Gary Johnson -- waffled but at least called for cutting down on the practice of the state granting monopoly privileges over ideas.Only one of the four actually supported "intellectual property." Unsurprisingly, that one was patent attorney Derrick Michael Reid, who...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Thanks For Asking! — 03/16/16 Mar 17, 2016

This week's AMA thread, and the podcast to follow, are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:Ask me anything -- ANYTHING! -- in the comment thread below this post and I'll answer in comments, on this weekend's podcast, or both.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Grinds My Gears Mar 16, 2016

Lots of similar headlines, all with the one word in them:Hacker Pleads Guilty to Stealing Celebrity Nude PhotosNope nope nope nope nope.He actually pleaded guilty to "a felony violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and to one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information."And he didn't STEAL anything. He COPIED some stuff. There's a difference.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis? Mar 15, 2016

Today, US Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (with help from some other members of their club) are attempting to figuratively do unto Donald Trump in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio what Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger et. al literally did unto Julius Caesar in Rome 1,972 years ago.It occurs to me that in a more sane world, the Ides of March would be a beloved international holiday and that consequently there might be fewer aspirants to such power.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 1

PSA: Why the Fight Over Encryption is Important Mar 14, 2016

Not that I have to tell you ("you" being the probably incredibly technologically competent average KN@PPSTER reader) that.But still, on the off chance that you just don't really GET the whole FBI vs. Apple thing, I think John Oliver does a pretty damn good job of explaining it while keeping it all funny and interesting. And hey, it can't hurt my traffic to have John Oliver hanging about. So:Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Preach it, Brother Caplan! Mar 14, 2016

Bryan Caplan on "The Microaggressions of Immigration":The microaggression label is narrowly tied to leftist identity politics. Support for the concept, however, is far broader. With the possible exception of Mormons, what group doesn't leap at the chance to decry the slightest of slights? On-campus, of course, we usually hear about straight cisgendered white males committing racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic microaggressions. Off-campus, however, I see a totally different pattern: Natives lamenting the microaggressions immigrants commit against our national identity.The most obvious case: Americans routinely grouse when immigrants publicly speak languages other than English. They get even more annoyed when they...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 70: The Libertarian Party Can’t Afford Gary Johnson Again Mar 14, 2016

This episode of the KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode:Thanks For Asking! (does Nick Gillespie support free speech zones?);Why the Libertarian Party can't afford to nominate Gary Johnson for president again.Show notes:This week's Thanks For Asking thread/segment refers to an article by Nick Gillespie in Reason: "The Main Casualty of Canceled Trump Rally Is The *Idea* of Free Speech."The basis piece from which I launch this week's attack on Gary Johnson can be found here.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Some Thoughts on Traveling Mar 11, 2016

The 2004 election cycle burned me out on doing a lot of travel. Tamara was running for the LP's vice-presidential nomination and for Congress, which meant going to a number of state conventions, the national convention, campaign events, working for the Badnarik campaign even after she was defeated for VP, etc.In our old Ford Aerostar van, we traveled with a five-year-old and a three-year old from St. Louis to (I'm going by memory here and may miss some spots) Kansas City, Tulsa, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Hot Springs, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Hannibal (Missouri), Hermann (Missouri), other spots in Missouri, and Austin. All...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Thanks For Asking! — 03/11/16 Mar 11, 2016

This AMA thread (and the podcast to follow) are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:Yes, the thread is up two days late. Why? I was traveling on Tuesday and Wednesday and just spaced it. I have an email reminder sent to me each week, and I did get it, but I got it while using a little laptop over a spotty wi-fi connection on a bumpy bus ride and did the whole sad "mental note to self to do this as soon as I get off to the bus and to my desktop machine at home" thing. Which, of...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 2

I’m Not Really Watching the Republican Debate Mar 11, 2016

Just catching bits and pieces here and there.Why is it that in every debate they all seem to want to spend at least 15 minutes running for president of Israel?Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Gary Johnson 2012 Inc.: Mere Financial Irresponsibility … or Criminal Fraud? Mar 10, 2016

Gary Johnson waiting to speak at a Campaign for Liberty event at CPAC. (Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia)Disclaimer #1: I am not an accountant, let alone a forensic accountant, nor am I an expert on campaign finance law.Disclaimer #2: I've discussed what I'm about to tell you with at least two people who take an ongoing interest in campaign finance, especially with respect to third party politics. Those two people are George Phillies, a long-time Libertarian Party activist, author of a book  (Funding Liberty) about the finances of Harry Browne's presidential campaigns and a forthcoming book on the finances of Bob...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Nil Sine Troglodytarum? Mar 7, 2016

Every four years, the Libertarian Party chooses a presidential candidate. And every four years a boatload of candidates show up looking for the party's presidential nomination. Some of those candidates are "serious" candidates, and some of them are, well, somewhat less "serious."The $64 question for the people and organizations whose actions and events feed into the nomination process is: Which candidate is which kind of candidate? Which candidates should we pay attention to, invite to state party conventions and candidate debates, and otherwise offer a little bit of limelight (such as it is in LP circles) to?Answers to that question...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 69: Yes, This is my Favorite Number Mar 7, 2016

This episode of the KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode:Hey, I'm "on tour" this week!;Thanks For Asking! (headline hots and nots; Joel keeps picking at the C4SS scab; don't look, Ethel! No, really, don't look, Ethel; Adam Kokesh, Larken Rose, Donald Boudreaux and JD Rockefeller);My vice-presidential non-announcement, a question for John McAfee, and an endorsement for Libertarian Party chair.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

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