Ah how I long to rant and rave about nutrition, exercise, travel, government, politics, guns, and freedom.

That time is soon coming, but right now it’s crunch time for The 21 Convention. As such, I have managed to push through a first run production of The Community Tapes on DVD that is being manufactured as we speak by the DVD elves of Orlando.

Above is the graphic art for the cover produced by a one Matthew Macar. Matthew is new to still graphic work for T21C (he did not produce the previous event DVD artwork), but he is familar with the convention.

• He worked heavily on the event trailer for T21C 2009.
• He worked as an assisant on the live event for 2009.
• He single handedly filmed The 21 Convention 2010 of Stockholm Sweden.
• And he filmed the first three episodes of The Community Tapes [Volume 2].

The DVDs will be shipping off this week, and a few dozen copies will be available at the live event in Orlando no later than Friday.

The cost online is $30 plus shipping/handling. At the live event they will be available for a flat rate of $25.

As you guys know the production quality of The Community Tapes is astounding. Total run time of all six episodes is about 3 hours. Not bad for the first volume.

If you’d like to own a copy of the footage, this is your chance to do so.

In other news, today is the last day for tickets to The 21 Convention 2010 of Orlando Florida.

Full access tickets are $400 online, and $500 at the door. There is also a limited access ticket available for $200 online, and $250 at the door. That special access ticket grants you entrance for all health, fitness, and business related presentations (total of 5).

Both tickets grant you advanced free access to all event footage that corresponds with your ticket.

You can sign up for the main event here, and the special access ticket here.

The line up for both tickets is … well, pretty bad ass no matter what your interests are.

Today is also the first day tickets are available for The 21 Convention 2011 (North America). This will be the final “21 Convention” held in Orlando next summer. After that we will be moving to another major North American city. Mega early bird tickets are available here, and a full post on The21Convention.com will be released later today regarding the event.

And in case you missed it, we’re heading to London June 2011.

On the fourth of July 2010 I spent my night writing a post for this blog.

Why did I not spend my time consuming alcohol, watching fireworks explode, and wishing “America” a “happy birthday” along with many of my peers?

The answer to this question is complex, so complex in fact, that I have chosen to weave the core of that night’s blog post into an answer for this question.

The title of that post being “I Carry a Gun: Here’s How and Why”.

The core?

Well at first it was only a technical post about carrying a firearm (concealed), and self defense. As my writing efforts carried on, the research to support my ideas rapidly expanded – coincidentally parallel with the increasing amount of fireworks blasting off outside as the night wore on.

Long story short, I finished the majority of the post that night, but not all of it.

Why?

I had a deep sense that there was a lot more to this post than “guns” and self defense, and I knew better than to stay up all night trying to wrap it up. Upon reviewing it the following morning, I realized I was dead right.

The core of what I had written was not about guns and self defense, it was a declaration of independence.

An individual and direct response to the injustices and wrong doings of a deeply broken, and collapsing as we speak, union of the States of America.

The abomination that is the current federal government of the united States of America.

At the same time, there was a frustrated, if not angry over tone to the entire post. As such, I have decided to reorganize my thoughts into something more intellectually provoking, and at the same time perhaps, uplifting.

Sounds great on paper, but before doing so, let us examine why I have chosen and taken the time to do this, for if we don’t know why we are doing what we are doing … well, we don’t know a whole lot of anything.

I have made this decision – to write an individual declaration of independence – because the world is starved of leaders at present.

In fact, the world has been starved for leadership for some time now. Our saving grace has been the men (and women) that have come before us.

Men and women who were willing, able, and not afraid to rise to their potential, and push humanity forward.

…

Recently in an e-mail sent to me by Dr. Doug McGuff regarding his presentation at The 21 Convention this year, Doug mentioned the following

“Yours is the first generation that has been metabolically poisoned starting en utero which is why most college age guys look soft and estrogenic.  It takes a powerful combo of diet and exercise to reverse a process that began in the womb.”

Translation: not only were my parents consuming what amounts to poison before and directly preceding my birth, but I was also raised from that day until about ~20 years of age, on that same poison.

Copious amounts of sugar, polyunsaturated fat, grains (and corresponding oils), legumes (and corresponding oils), heavily processed foods, and animal products nearly 100% sourced from animals raised on the same “poison”.

By the same token, I believe our generation is the first in the modern era to not only be raised from birth on “intellectual poison”, but also come from parents fed that same poison.

Consecutive generations raised without morality and guiding principles … on a foundation of shame, guilt, anti-individual, and anti-freedom propaganda.

We are now seeing the consequences of such a “society” revealing themselves. “Revealing” in the form of rapidly deteriorating economic health (domestically and abroad), and outright misery.

If it is accepted that misery and tyranny are the normal state of humanity throughout history, then I would go so far as to assume that misery precedes tyranny.

Tyranny to whom?

Tyranny can come in many forms. It can come from a king, from a totalitarian government … and even democracy (eg lynch mob).

Kings are a thing of the past. Dictatorships are failures as well.

What we have left for potential tyranny, is democracy.

Now, this is not a post meant to discuss democracy, I would only like to stress the point that you can not only be a slave or serf to an individual or select group of individuals, but you can also be the slave of everyone.

And with that said, everyone can be the slave of everyone.

This is perhaps the worst form of tyranny, where the individual is suppressed the most – where humanity is suppressed the most.

If this ever takes complete root in our culture, we are in for the next “dark age”. This is where collectivism finally collapses in on itself, and perpetuates exactly what it sets out to prevent – anarchy – and destroys what it set out to improve, “the collective good”.

All in good intention of course.

And as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.

…

What does any of this have to do with a declaration of independence?

Well my friends, I sincerely believe we are at a turning point in our history as a species.

We can choose to rise up as individuals, reach our peak potential, and change the world the best way we know how – or we can watch it crumble, and continue it’s slow descent into the normal state of humanity, misery and tyranny.

This decision lies primarily with men. Women have the same ability to act rationally and rightly, but it is not their inherent role to lead.

It is ours.

And this is me, as a young man, and a citizen of the State of Florida, leading, the best way I know how.

What follows is both a declaration of independence, as well as a list of actions I am willing to back my words with, in addition to a redress of grievances from the current (broken in every way) federal government of the united States of America.

A Declaration of Independence and a Petition for a Redress of Grievances from the current union of the States of America

I, Anthony Paul Johnson, was born free.

I have a natural right – protected, not created, under the current constitution of the united States of America – to my life, my liberty, and the pursuit of my own happiness.

I think freely and independently, and do not need anyone to do my thinking for me (I am mentally healthy).

I do not need anyone to live my life for me. It is best lived as I see fit, without intruding on the right of others to do the same.

I am my own person. I am free, and no one individual, or collective organization of any kind, owns me.

I am a citizen of the State of Florida and the united States of America – not a subject, not a serf, and not a slave – to any degree, and in any way, shape, or form.

I am willing to back up the right to my life, with my life, with my born freedom, with my mind, and with my reason.

More specifically, I declare the following.

I declare any form of forced military conscription or “draft” to be out of place in the free society that is the united State of America, unconstitutional by it’s supreme law, and therefore, illegal.

It is unconstitutional – and therefore illegal – because our country was founded on the premise that individuals have the right to their life, liberty, and pursuit of their own happiness.

It is impossible for a document that was founded to protect these rights to authorize any government to perform such action.

For if I, Anthony Paul Johnson, could be forcibly sent many thousands of miles from home, and my life endangered, on the whim of a politician, what kind of man am I?

What kind of citizen would I be?

No citizen at all. In fact, I would be a subject stripped of the right to his life, freedom, and pursuit of his own happiness.

Should the country I am a citizen of ever be under imminent threat of attack, I would immediately consider volunteering for the defense of my country. But I will never be forced to join the military, or watched my loved ones fall victim to the same force.

As such, if an illegal military draft is ever implemented in my life time, I will support and uphold the supreme law of the land over the whims of the latest politician, and ignore the draft, and aid my loved ones in doing so should they request help.

By the same token, if ignoring a military drafts fails, I will avoid attempts to be conscripted, and aid my loved ones in doing so, should they request my help.

Finally, should ignoring and avoiding military conscription fail, I will defend myself, and my loved ones, from any such force upon their lives and liberty.

Force will be met with force.

I am an able bodied young male, and I am equipped to defend myself from any individual under the impression that they have the legal and moral authority to force me, or my loved ones, into military servitude, and deprive me or my loved ones of our natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of our own happiness.

…

I, Anthony Paul Johnson, declare any attempt to force extraction of a private product from the result of my efforts and reason – my wealth – to be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal.

Unconstitutional because I have a right to my life, liberty, and the pursuit of my own happiness. This nation, and the corresponding supreme law under which it’s government is currently restrained, was created to protect these rights.

If I do not own the fruits of my labor, and the sweat of my brow … then I own nothing, as I would be little more than a serf at that point, working hard, and keeping only what I was allowed, at the barrel of a gun.

This is beyond disgusting, and has no place in the free society that is the united States of America.

Perhaps more disgusting, is the idea that not only I am only allowed to keep whatever portion of the result of my labor that others decide, but that I must use that remaining portion as others see fit.

The federal government of the united States of America has no authority to perform such action, other than it’s monopoly on force.

Should the State of Florida not move to nullify such federal efforts, I will ignore all unconstitutional (illegal) attempts in forcing me, or my loved ones, to purchase a private product (or pay corresponding fines for not purchasing such product).

If ignoring such actions does not prevail, I will avoid them.

If avoiding such actions fails, as a last resort and in the defense of my self or my loved ones, force will be met with force.

I am a young, able bodied, mentally and physically equipped male, ready and willing to perform such action.

Redress of Grievances

The wrong doings of the broken in every way federal government of the united States of America, are limitless. It is likely we as a people will never know the full extent of the damages done by such government, domestically, and abroad – especially those in the name of imperialism and empire, hiding under the guise of patriotism, democracy, and freedom, wrapped in a flag no less.

As such, I humbly request every living member of the federal government – past and present – that has ever voted for or taken such action as to officially support undeclared, unconstitutional, and therefore illegal war, to face trial for the crimes that support generated – including murder and genocide – and be punished as the courts see fit.

Everyone one of these individuals swore an oath to uphold the constitution, and the majority have failed, miserably. Their failure resulted in the deaths of millions of people world wide, and thousands of American men and women – in the past decade alone.

Among these individuals are current members of the legislative branch of government, and the person currently acting as President of the united States of America.

While the current chief administrator of our union did not start such illegal wars, he has continued them, and in some cases, amplified them further.

He swore an oath to uphold the constitution the day he took office, and in light of his decision to continue undeclared, unconstitutional, and therefore illegal war, has failed to uphold the constitution since the day he took office.

Illegal wars are certainly on the list of “things to take responsibility for” upon taking such an oath, and residing upon such office, and as such, he should be removed from office immediately along with various members of the legislative branch, and face trial for the crimes he has perpetuated and/or committed.

…

While the crimes of the federal government of my country are numerous and potentially indefinite, this would be a good start for a redress of grievances.

From this, further positive changes could spring.

Or perhaps, from the idea and education of what I have sincerely written above, positive changes could spring world wide, starting with individuals willing to stand up for what they believe in, and willing to reach their potential as men and women.

-Anthony ‘Dream’ Johnson

July 12^th, 2010

Central Florida

I’ve blogged about congressman Ron Paul before.

Long story short…

• If you love The United States of America, you should watch this documentary.
• If you hate The United States of America, you should watch this documentary.
• If you support Ron Paul, you should watch this documentary.
• If you don’t support Ron Paul, or have no idea who he is, you should definitely watch this documentary.

If there’s any chance for The United States of America not to experience a soviet style collapse, it’s with Ron in the 2012 presidential election.

Watch closely.

-Anthony ‘Dream’ Johnson

ps- I finally got a response from Ron Paul’s secretary today regarding his invitation to speak at The 21 Convention 2010 in Orlando Florida. He’s busy, but they do thank me for the invitation. This isn’t surprising, but a genuine response is inspiring =).

The title of my speech in Stockholm this year was “Becoming a Stronger Person”. In it I detailed what I saw as 4 key elements to becoming a stronger person – a focus on the process, not the end result, which differs from individual to individual.

One of the elements I identified was “be willing to sacrifice everything for something you believe in”, which in my case, is The 21 Convention.

Emphasis is added both here and in the speech on “willing”.

Why?

Well, the purpose of this post is much more than detailing that emphasis, but for our purposes, it is a demonstration of just how far you are willing to go to back up your words, with action.

It is an ANNOUNCEMENT to the world of your intentions, and more often than not, from my experience, that’s all that is necessary to achieve what you set out to do. Case in point, I sacrificed a lot to pull off Sweden, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

But I still have a bed. A nice place to live. An Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii, and a bunch of guns with accompanying ammunition.

What I want to get into in today’s post however is not “sacrificing” anything, but isolating out exactly what I believe in when I say “I believe in The 21 Convention” – because I now realize, what I truly believe in is myself, and the other individuals involved in The 21 Convention.

That, is ultimately, in a nutshell, what I learned in Europe.

I learned that by believing in something “greater than myself”, I was merely expressing belief in my own self, my own work ethic, and my own fortitude to get shit done.

Not some pie in the sky collective concept - but myself.

This may sound like semantics, but I assure you this is the single greatest realization I could and will ever have as a direct result of The 21 Convention – self awareness through brutally hard work on a specific and defined event/project.

At the same time, I now appreciate more than ever the individuals involved with The 21 Convention, as I believe in them, not the collective expression of them which is The 21 Convention.

I’ll still use the expression of course, that I believe in The 21 Convention, but at the end of the day, that’s merely a short handed way of saying

I believe in Jonas Sandstrom

I believe in Doug McGuff

I believe Mark Sisson

I believe in Steve Mayeda

I believe in Tim

in Patrick

in Drew

in Bill

in Peter

in Dj Fuji

in Dodger

and on, and on, and on.

The individual has been shit all over for the past few decades by relentless propaganda, but never the less, individuals standing up for what they believe is right, is exactly what this world needs right now, more than ever.

Governments, corporations, and other collective organizations don’t change the world, individuals do, and the ideas they advance. The field is entirely irrelevant, from nutrition and exercise, to politics and war, it comes down to the individual every, single, time.

After a soul purging tour of Europe, I finally believe in my self, and my own abilities. Do you? Serious question, because you can.

-Anthony ‘Dream’ Johnson

President, CEO & Founder: The 21 Convention

This is a free talk I did in Stockholm for a little over 20 people on Wednesday right after my friend and fellow convention speaker Dejan. I talk about my history with women, how I began my “personal journey”, some realizations I have had along the way thus far, and how you can begin yours.

All in all an informal talk I think most will enjoy, despite a fair bit of profanity (you’ve been warned!), and a side of myself many TDL readers are probably not so familar with – until now =).

Cheers guys.

-Anthony

ps- there’s about a minute of footage missing in the middle where I talk about losing my butt financially with the 2008 convention and then my best friend dieing immediately after that. Unfortunately I simply don’t have the footage, but another person does, so I may swap the videos out in the near future if I can get a hold of a copy.

Drew Baye: easily one of the most knowledgeable exercise authorities on the planet; has extensive experience training clients one on one, and is the author of the world’s most popular high intensity training blog. Drew has had the opportunity to meet and learn from the some of the most knowledgeable people in history regarding exercise, including Nautilus inventor Arthur Jones, Ellington Darden, Ken Hutchins, Jim Flanagan, Joe Mullen, John Little, Greg Anderson, Doug McGuff, Ryan Hall and others.

Drew was interviewed at his current training facility near his home in Altamonte Springs, FL and is on the verge of completing his first book. Visit his blog at Baye.com, and see his free ~2 hour presentation at The 21 Convention 2009 here (or buy the DVD).

Drew Baye is also confirmed to speak at The 21 Convention 2010 of Orlando Florida. Sign up here for a full access ticket, and here for a limited access ticket to health/fitness presentations only.