NCBlogs

I took this picture at the Orlando Magic game Monday night.I didn't notice until I got back and loaded it on my computer but the title of this blog-post immediately came to mind.

The following video is perhaps one of the most compelling videos I ever seen, let alone one of the more though provoking public service announcements. I like the approach it takes in using visuals to reinforce a positive message on wearing your seatbelt rather than hitting you over the head with it.

The 2010 campaign season formally opened at noon Monday as several incumbents and a few challengers lined up at Twin Counties boards of elections offices to pay their filing fees. Nash County Sheriff Dick Jenkins and Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight each filed for re-election early in the day. (Read more @ The Rocky Mount Telegram) Filed [...]

Our nation's leaders may be up to their rhetoric in freshly fallen snow - but here in the Piedmont, we're moving on. You know what that means: Pothole Watch. Seems those jagged gaps in the blacktop are of towering import these days, what with the Superbowl over. Actually the smotherage of said pavement patches are as much as winter tradition as riots in the bread aisle. I don't know how you news crew roll in Buffalo, but here in the contiguous Southeast, we top off a good snowstorm with two or three days of intense hand-wringing... Will the Earth open up and swallow our city whole? Could your kids school bus get sucked into a crevasse? How DO you get drive-thru coffee out of real Corinthian Leather? Yes, it's a veritable telethon, but reporting on Pavement Quake 2010 is about as earth-shattering as covering a hole in the ground.

Not that your average news crew craves excitement. We get plenty of that. It's just pointing lenses at a future mud puddle carries with it a certain indignity. Don't believe me? Bum-rush an asphalt patch crew and tell them you need to shoot video of them working. They'll let you, but it's awfully hard to feel good about your career path when the guy with the bucket of highway sludge thinks your job is stupid. Still, ours is not to judge, so Emmy Award winning Chad Tucker and I tried to give it our finest effort - it being Monday and all. First we hunted down the City Worker in Charge of Filling Potholes and Fending Off News Crew. I'm not sure if that's what his business card say, but a guy I know only as Dwight spent much of the morning answering our questions, wrangling work crews and rolling his eyes. Not always in that order. Then again, when you have a half dozen journalists phoning you with breathless queries about crumbles in the infrastructure, a little sarcasm is all but required.

Undue confession: Chad and I bagged on our assignment too. It's hard not to when your utilizing thousands of dollars in electronic equipment to get to the bottom of a four inch ditch. And while I'd like to apologize to the minivan mom who found my roadside presence so distracting (Eyes on the road, lady!) and to that pedestrian who asked me what was going on (Foghat is NOT reuniting), I for one harbor no remorse towards the gang-bangers who nearly stopped my heart with their ill-timed horn blast and indecipherable knuckle language (Hey, I don't roll up in your workspace and spotlight the bodybags... Oh wait -- I do!) Hmmm, where was I? Oh yeah, complaining about Pothole Watch. Wouldn't my talents be better served examining the human condition or at least chasing a dog in a funny hat? I mean, c'mon producers, who really gives a rip about some hole in the road anyway?

What's that? Folks are flocking to our website to report their own potholes? Newsrooms phones are ringing? In-boxes are flooding? Servers are crashing? Rating diaries are being rewritten?

Forget I mentioned it...

Prepare to be amazed!!
Do yourself a favor and click that link!

District Attorney Robert Evans officially started his election campaign Monday, calling for stronger community involvement and transparency from his district attorney’s office. (Read more @ The Rocky Mount Telegram) Filed under: District Attorney Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson Counties, District Attorney Robert A. Evans

An Edgecombe County funeral director has been named president of the state board that regulates the funeral and cremation industries. J.T. Willoughby III recently was elected president of the N.C. Board of Funeral Service by his fellow board members. He was appointed to the board by former Gov. Mike Easley in 2007. (Read more @ The [...]

I don't know if they were the Alabamian paddlers that Commissioner Cowan warned us about, but sure enough the whitewater crowd descended on the remains of the Dillsboro Dam quicker than flies on a cow pile.With the water flowing at a decent clip, it looked like they were having a lot of fun paddling through the notch that was cut out of the dam last week.Pretty cool.A hearty "Paddle or Die!" (or

I received an e-mail from Matt Lojko.  He provides a summary of the city of Greensboro's website links in connection with the GPD fiasco.  He points out that the website contains ample information that points a finger at David Wray and all his men; but it contains none of the exculpatory information that has since arisen:

I thought you might find this interesting.  I know I did.

The following is a listing of all records and media reports copied directly
from the City of Greensboro's Website that pertain to the allegations and
investigations surrounding the Wray Administration.  I hope you find it as
strange as I do that there are no documents listed on the City's Website
that indicate that all criminal and administrative investigations have been
completed and no wrongdoing was found, other than one detective not
completing a report and using inappropriate language in an interview.

The City was quick to make the allegations public.  However, when all the
allegations were determined to be unfounded, they say nothing.  

Portions of Risk Management Associations' 2005 Report
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8C9ACB2A-B6B2-4882-B091-051664422
3F9/0/RMAReport.pdf>  on the City of Greensboro Police Department (Posted
March 17, 2009)
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0D41FE32-C111-4924-B026-56F1F6054
FA7/0/memoreinterrogatories081107.pdf>

City's Response to Interrogatories in Roch Smith Jr. and Samuel S. Spagnola
v. City of Greensboro (Posted November 10, 2008)
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/3F54585D-9A6B-433D-ABE2-F822F8B0D
7A8/0/answerstointerrogatories.pdf>

Defendant's Answers to Plaintiffs' First Set of Interrogatories in Roch
Smith Jr. and Samuel S. Spagnola v. City of Greensboro (Posted November 4,
2008)

Recent
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/PublicAffairs/mediacenter/policeno
tebook.htm>  compilation of media reports and City information related to
the police investigation.

Documents Released on February 12, 2008

Statement regarding the following documents from former City Manager
Mitchell Johnson:
These documents, per request from Councilmember Robbie Perkins, were
provided to City Council in an IFYI at the end of last week. We have now
received approval to release them to the public, which may be helpful since
they are the basis upon which we made many of our decisions concerning
release of documents.

Letter from Thomas L. Eckert to Allison O. Van Laningham
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/15304D79-D0CE-4682-A2AE-4DC138703
3BA/0/lettereckerttovanlangingham.pdf> , February 6, 2007
Re: Public records request to the City of Greensboro

Letter from Seth R. Cohen to Martin N. Erwin
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/FCBCF915-DD3E-4BAF-88A2-62BB5163A
9E1/0/lettercohentoerwin.pdf> , February 17, 2007
Re: Randall Brady and Scott Sanders

Letter from Seth R. Cohen to Martin N. Erwin
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C5B0F7E6-E9FE-4FFC-9287-A7DE8DC04
227/0/lettercohentoerwin070220.pdf> , February 20, 2007
Re: Randall Brady and Scott Sanders

Letter from Martin N. Erwin to Seth Cohen
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/73CFD792-C344-4CF1-A163-4AA8577F4
470/0/lettererwintocohen.pdf> , February 22, 2007
Re: Brady v. City of Greensboro

Email from James Coman to Martin Erwin
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5A6B70E0-B64C-47BC-9F38-AEECCDC54
68F/0/memocomantoerwin.pdf> , January 14, 2008
Subject: Phone conversation of January 10, 2008

Memo from Capt. Jane Allen to City Council and City Manager
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C606550A-C309-401A-85EE-E2FBF8307
531/0/memoallentocouncilmanager.pdf> , February 8, 2008
Subject: Release of Internal Affairs Information

Documents / Recordings Released on October 2, 2007

* City Manager's Statement
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F5A2FD8F-A2D3-46F7-AB20-1C7305D8C
27F/0/100207johnsonstatement.pdf>  (PDF)
* Allegations by Officers and Others
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E0EBD04A-5396-44B5-9693-DC3D0CEE1
717/0/100207officerallegations.pdf>  (PDF) 
* Conversation between Scott Sanders and Neighbor -- Recording 1,
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2F94C8D7-DDF6-4711-9FEE-23892883A
892/0/100207RecordingSandersNeighborredacted.wav>  Recording 2
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/18EAC694-9032-4714-92B9-A6A446201
C57/0/100207RecordingSandersNeighborredacted2.wav> ,
Recording 3
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/28721944-21DB-4D93-965E-C89CC04FD
80C/0/100207RecordingSandersredacted3.wav> , Transcript of Recordings
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/FB0C3818-790F-423D-92FC-FA6944C60
D2C/0/100207transcriptsandersneighbor.pdf>  (PDF)
* Conversation between Randall Brady and Detective -- Recording 1
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/EAB196E8-7381-4370-8BDD-F22AD29A2
483/0/100207BradyExcerpt1.wav> , Recording 2
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6733B6E9-07CF-4019-923C-9D9EDDA0D
F9E/0/100207BradyExcerpt2.wav> ,
Transcript of Recordings
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/EC350748-E337-4EFF-BD3F-457C3E93D
51F/0/100207bradytranscript.pdf>  (PDF)
* Memo: Inquiry Regarding Lieutenant J.E. Hinson
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/08395411-5C7A-46C4-8838-98D477C80
6BE/0/100207waltonmemoredacted.pdf>  (PDF)
* Report: Conclusions of Investigation
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/85215EF8-B2FC-4CA3-81F7-DFD46A90E
AE0/0/100207conclusionhinsoninvestigations.pdf>  (PDF)
* Hinson Timeline
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E19023F3-CA29-456B-932D-864B1C497
4BF/0/100207hinsontimelinefindings.pdf>  and Findings (PDF)

News Conference, September 21, 2007

* Video of news conference
<http://greensboro.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=170> 
* Memo from David Wray to Mitchell Johnson re: Review
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B4082BCC-926D-4504-8A83-9681BD307
566/0/wraybradymemo051024.pdf>  of Internal Police Administrative
Investigations (with copy of Randall Brady memo re: Case Review), October
24, 2005 (PDF)
* Letter
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2AE49B2F-881A-492C-8436-162DDA4A8
6D1/0/longmirelettertomiles051111.pdf>  from Michael Longmire of RMA to
Linda Miles, November 11, 2005 (PDF)
* GPD Operational Action Plan
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/3EAB95D3-DD63-43AC-8760-13F0B2E27
7CD/0/operationalactionplan060201.pdf> (PDF)
* Tim Bellamy Memo to Mitchell Johnson re:
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E28F373B-6FF5-4435-8FDA-83F17437E
50F/0/bellamymemotojohnson060228.pdf>  Greensboro Police Department Employee
Concerns (PDF)
* Items for Your Information memo from Mitchell Johnson to City
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/745C8054-880D-4091-AE4A-6F2EF6D75
313/0/ifyiresponsetokeller070921.pdf>  Council, September 21, 2007 (with
City response to editorial column by Ken Keller) (PDF)

* Proposed Public Statement for Chief
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/49C9DB98-C2FC-4E98-BCF7-24E2C6D02
B13/0/proposedpublicstatementforchief.pdf>  (PDF)
* Memo from Mitchell Johnson to David Wray re:
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/82B420F0-D944-4242-863C-893E56B80
814/0/johnsonmemotowray061215.pdf>  Administrative Employment Decisions,
December 15, 2006, (PDF)

* News conference statement by Mitchell
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/11770DC6-922D-4B8D-A456-30F5A4E9F
3F8/0/johnsonstatement070921.pdf>  Johnson (PDF)

News Conference, September 17, 2007

* Audio recording of January 6,
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/CC676115-6999-48EF-BA2E-B853245F8
AC0/0/johnsonwrayinterview20060106.wav>  2006 meeting between Mitch Johnson
and David Wray (.wav) (Transcript - PDF
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0BD3D38B-BD7D-4498-AEDD-BFF9318E4
232/0/johnsonwraytranscript20060106.pdf> )
* Grand Jury indictments for Tom Fox
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D07C8D40-483D-41F7-920D-DED0D463B
0BD/0/foxindictment.pdf>  and Scott Sanders
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5D77EA5E-6B10-4E71-89B2-DC9E7BFCE
93B/0/sandersindictment.pdf> , September 17, 2007 (PDFs)
* Statement from
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/PublicAffairs/mediacenter/ag-relea
se.htm>  Attorney General's Office
* Mayor Keith Holliday's Statement to
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/88F7EDFE-CB6B-450F-864E-3EB026F98
C53/0/mayorsaddress070917.pdf>  the Media (PDF) -- Watch the video
<http://greensboro.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=168>

Audio Recordings 

* Excerpt
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/23C0D4D4-0347-4B33-8E1D-4FEDFD251
49B/0/Audio1.wav>  of interview with Deputy Chief Randall Brady regarding
the "black book"  (audio file)
* Excerpt
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/876FA7BF-5B63-4A8F-9810-28302ECBE
D36/0/Audio2.wav>  of interview with Deputy Chief Randall Brady regarding an
investigation into the "black book" (audio file)
* Complete interview:  Part 1
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6C017C30-2C3A-4517-8368-868D74DB7
F81/0/BlairBrady1.mp3>   Part 2
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/94BB8C20-D3E7-4A11-9693-4082A3FB5
414/0/Brady2.mp3> 
* Excerpt
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/263D9EAF-8486-4E42-B5B6-EDC2F421C
523/0/Audio3.wav>  of conversation between Deputy Chief Brady and an officer
regarding a neighbor of Chief David Wray (audio file) Complete
conversation
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C1C4E7C4-BB2D-4521-A593-72D90B334
849/0/Neighbor_Full_Redacted.mp3>  (audio file)

Additional Documents

* Documents from City Manager's presentation to
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/439B0D2C-586F-42DD-B468-9B4E83E3A
74B/0/CouncilPresentationredacted.pdf>  City Council, February 20, 2007
(PDF)
* Affidavit of James Coman in Brady v. Greensboro
<http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B8FB2C2F-B718-4EBC-9F40-3003C1834
94C/0/bradycomanaffidavit.pdf>  (PDF)

 

Inside Scoop:

Meanwhile, the stacks of e-mails also revealed what money or power gets you in city government: easy access to top officials.

Based on the e-mails, it’s clear both Melvin “Skip” Alston and Bridget Chisholm — proponents of the Ole Asheboro Hotel — had access to City Manager Rashad Young to discuss the project.

Young said he spoke with Chisholm over the phone during the holidays and met with hotel proponents and city staff at a meeting to discuss the public parking garage portion of the proposal.

This exhibition is on display at the North Carolina Pottery Center. The reception is this coming Friday, Feb. 12th at 5:30pm. I will post tomorrow the images of my pieces that are part of the show. The receptions at the Pottery Center are fun and it is great to check out what is new, and what is old. We always like to take a stroll through the North Carolina Pottery Center's Museum. Hope to see you there.

Hour 1 Tex- Mex Mile / KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17 [Disc 1] / The Gourds / 3:19 Stop The World And Let Me Off / Country Club / John Doe & The Sadies / 3:42 Positive Friction / Positive Friction / Donna The Buffalo / 4:07 Sea Of Tears / Sea Of Tears / Eilen Jewell / 2:46 On Your Way Down / The River In Reverse / Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint / 4:55 And The Band Played Om / Before The Frost...Until

One thing I like about spending time outside with my dog each day is that the dog and the trees and the water and the sky are not made of pixels, and a lot of the information processing that goes...

Judge overturns McLeansville annexationsThree McLeansville subdivisions are no longer a part of the city…Four McLeansville residents sued Greensboro last year to stop the planned July 1 annexation. Late last week Judge Edwin Wilson sided with residents, who argued the city could not hold them to agreements made with the subdivisions developers.Wilson’s means that the three subdivision — including

Dan Collins uses a little blog space to look at how Wake Forest is doing at the halfway point of the ACC conference schedule.  His tool to measure them is the ACC Stats page and I agree with his assessment:

This is not a pretty team. Teams that miss a bunch of shots and turn the ball over rarely look good, at least not until the game is over.

But defense and rebounding statistics reveal effort. And it’s hard to argue that any team in the ACC has given more effort so far this season than Wake Forest.

Dan doesn't dig into the other ACC teams, but after watching UNC the last couple of weeks I'll offer one observation that I think the stats clearly back up: right now the young Tarheels can't guard their own shadows.  That's not really shocking given their relative youth (most young college players don't defend well), but they better learn how to defend soon or it won't just be a long season, it will be a long couple of seasons.

In the mist of all this rain, snow storm, and cold weather...we all just want to stay in and do nothing. I can't blame any one for that, at all. However, if you forgot to register for this event, don't worry you can check the dates for other job fairs.

Tomorrow is the big day...Greensboro Job Fair at: Clarion Hotel Greensboro Airport 415 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you there and help you land a job!

By SouthernFriedInfidel
Staff Writer

Normally, I like reading Penn Gillette's comments. More often than not, he hit the nail on the head. On this occasion, complaining about Obama using Las Vegas metaphorically, I think this is one of hot "not" instances.

At one point, he asks (rhetorically, I HOPE) how many people ask the President for travel advice. Next, he says that Obama's comment would be expected to cut down on tourism traffic. I think he's lost track of what he wants to say.

The bottom line should be that his personal bottom line should not be affected. I seriously doubt that Las Vegas will have any trouble keeping busy, any more than it already has been. And for sure, no one will drop out from the line to get Penn and Teller tickets.

But the comment that he objects to, about the difference between going to Vegas or sending their kids to college, was a metaphor that all Americans can relate to. The President could have as readily said "Jersey City." Everyone knows that both places are the prime gambling spots in the country; Obama wasn't joking, and he wasn't telling people not to go to Vegas. Gillette needs to thicken up that skin of his in the area of his home-town's reputation.

At this time, some House members are supporting more stringent regulations on coal ash ponds. In a letter to EPA officials Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and a number of his colleagues, including North Carolina's David Price called for the EPA to take a number of steps that would ensure the safety of our citizens. The letter requests that the EPA halt the construction of new impoundments and equip existing ponds with appropriate liners, while also mandating groundwater monitoring for each site. We hope that Senator Burr will follow the lead of Rep. Price and recommend strict regulations on coal ash. Since North Carolina has the most ash ponds rated "high hazard", it's a shame Senator Burr is not more concerned with this issue.

Gate City for Haiti will feature live music, djs, and a silent auction. $5 (or $3 with two cans of food) gets you in the door. 8PM Tues Feb 9, Studio B, 520 S. Elm St., GSO.

Old SalemI love the way they're just sort of wandering about. BeeVee would be a million times more awesome with meandering poultry.

What Are You Reading?I hear many stories from various people about the latest novel by some author I’ve never heard of or about a subject I’m not aware of. Admittedly my reading habits need improvement. I’ve lapsed into an old habit of reading in spurts. I tend to read voraciously for a couple or three weeks and then read nothing for months. At the moment though I’m too distracted to be remotely

I think many of the Teabaggers, especially the elder ones, will be surprised to learn that it isn't the Democrats who want to take away Social Security, Medicare, and the other programs of FDR.  It's the Republicans...

...and they're starting to talk openly about it.

Yes, everyone is talking about them.

For those in a cave this weekend, the issue is Sarah Palin at the Tea Party convention a few days ago.  She gave a speech, and then there was a Q&A with a moderator.  She clearly had something on her hand, which she referred to (subtly, she thought) in the course of answering questions.

A close-up of the hand reveals what her notes were:

 

The first word is "Energy".

The second part is the phrase "Budget Cuts" with the word "budget" crossed out, and the word "tax" written underneath to replace it.

And the final part is "Life American Spirits". 

Why does this matter?

Well, for one thing, it comes after over a year of conservatives making fun of Obama because he uses -- shocker -- a teleprompter.  This has to be one of the stupidest Obama criticisms ever (and there are plenty of stupid ones out there).  After all, every President has used a teleprompter since the technology was available.  Yes, even Reagan.  But the whole point of the "teleprompter" criticism is to create the underlying (and somewhat racist) perception that Obama simply isn't all that smart, and that he is a prop for someone else pulling the strings.

Now comes Sarah Palin with her tele-palm-ter, and suddenly, conservatives don't get what the fuss is about.  But clearly, they should be embarrassed.  Sure, Sarah isn't the first politician to carry around notes.  They might not remember the latest projected federal deficit projections, and they might keep that number handy (although most politicians would probably put it on a notecard because, you know, they aren't in high school anymore).

And, as Huffington Post’s Stefan Sirucek points out, Palin’s “extra help” in front of a friendly crowd is especially ironic because Obama wasn’t using notes of any kind during a recent unscripted Q & A with House Republicans. Obama has also recently held several town halls, where he took questions from the audience and spoke at length without notes.

But more to the point, Sarah's "hand job", as it's being called now, isn't the same thing as Obama's non-controversial use of a teleprompter.  I mean, what kind of conservative has to make notes to remind herself that the right is in favor of tax cuts?  Can you imagine the mockery if Hillary Clinton, while running for President, had to write on her palm "Pro-choice", just to remind herself of her position, or to remind herself to talk about her position? 

Aside from that, Sarah's appearance at the Tea Party rally, was pretty much as you expected.  For me, the best part was when she said to a roomful of people who paid $500 a ticket:

"It's so inspiring to see real people -- not politicos, inside-the-beltway professionals -- come out, stand up and speak out for common sense conservative principles."

Unfortunately, many "real people" of the Tea Party movement couldn't afford the $500 per person ticket fee, and have soured against the movement -- and Palin -- altogether.  600 people showed up for the event altogether -- they had room for many more.  An auspicious beginning to a political movement.

North Carolina Toyota dealers among those pulling ads from ABC stations "as punishment for the reporting" on recall issues. The move against ABC affiliates in the Southeast came as Toyota launched a new media campaign aimed to "regain the trust"...

Why does Danica Patrick do those heinous Go Daddy commercials? For the money, obviously. But can't she find a better sponsor, or steer the campaign in less-awful direction? I think the level of contempt for men was pretty high last...

I'm not entirely clear on how the CRA led to so many folks taking out jumbo mortgages they can't pay, but it must be true.

Wildfire invites the community and avid readers to join author John Fenzel for a reading and signing of The Lazarus Covenant on Monday, February 15 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at Wildfire's corporate office located at 709 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Wildfire, a local integrated marketing communications agency designed the dust jacket for the October 2009 release of Fenzel’s international suspense thriller, The Lazarus Covenant. Wildfire also created the book’s trailer which can be seen at: http://www.johnfenzel.com/lazarus.html . There is no cost to attend the event and the book will be for sale. Interested guests are encouraged to please RSVP via email to ciri@breathesolutions.com

 We own two wonderful dogs who are considered seniors, and we're not alone. In the U.S., about 40 percent of households with dogs have at least one that is considered a senior, aged seven or older. Senior dogs make great pets -- they tend to be laid back, know and accept the routine, and always provide unconditional love.

If you have a senior dog, you'll be interested in a new website called SeniorDogs.com. You'll find articles and resources for senior dog owners all in one place, covering medications, health insurance, nutrition, financial assistance and more. The site provides a full spectrum of pertinent information, as well as message boards where owners can find support and guidance from others who are experiencing the same challenges and joys of caring for an older dog.

To receive a free e-book entitled "A Guide to Caring for Your Aging Companion," simply send an email to: info@seniordogs.com and put in the subject line: FREE E-BOOK.

By A Person
Staff Writer

A soldier waterboarded his four-year-old daughter because she was unable to recite her alphabet.

Good to see him using his military training for civilian purposes.

Joshua Tabor admitted to police he had used the CIA torture technique because he was so angry.
As his daughter 'squirmed' to get away, Tabor said he submerged her face three or four times until the water was lapping around her forehead and jawline.
Tabor, 27, who had won custody of his daughter only four weeks earlier, admitted choosing the punishment because the girl was terrified of water.
...
Tabor, a soldier at the Lewis-McChord base in Tacoma, Washington, was arrested after being seen walking around his neighbourhood wearing a Kevlar military helmet and threatening to break windows.
Police discovered the alleged waterboarding when they went to his home in the Tacoma suburb of Yelm and spoke to his girlfriend.
She told them about the alleged torture and the terrified girl was found hiding in a closet, with bruising on her back and scratch marks on her neck and throat.
Asked how she got the bruises, the girl is said to have replied: 'Daddy did it.'

See, it's not torture, not according to O'Reily, Hannity and Beck

The Giraffe's Feet are Muddy

Really, this began as a hippopotamus but I saw the giraffe on the canvas and radically changed the composition. That is one of the things I like best about painting.

Mark

Scott Lee Cohen won the Democratic primary for Lt Gov in Illinois, but last night he dropped out of the race: The pawn broker and owner of a cleaning supplies company won the nomination Tuesday. Since then, it has become...

{summary}You know, I mentioned before that the dreams I had early on in this pregnancy were downright whimsical.  Well, there seems to be a hormonal shift happening and that’s all changing. Now I’m finding that I wake up feeling like I haven’t slept because I wake up during the night to end nightmares.  I won’t elaborate much because they’re basically about the worst thing a pregnant woman could dream about.  I wake up clutching my belly and poking myself to make the baby move. July 2nd can’t come soon enough.

City Council member Dan Besse periodically sends out these amazingly informative emails to interested peeps. For example, during last week's Great Blizzard of The! Year! Twenty! Ten!, he was the go-to guy for the poop scoop on why trash trucks were seen a day earlier than expected in some areas.Want to have some Dantasticness in your inbox? Send a subscription-request email to danbesse@

“The new owners of The Park condo project want to turn the unfinished uptown tower into a hotel.

Naples, Fla.-based Small Brothers filed a rezoning petition with the city to allow 148 hotel rooms alongside 74 residential condo units.

(…) According to a site plan filed with the city, Small Brothers also proposes adding a rooftop restaurant and garden to the tower.”

Read more by Susan Stabley at the Charlotte Business Journal.

Apparently WGFA is now used as the theme song for one of the CSIs, but some of us remember it as the intro music for the Dean Smith show. UPDATE: Some of us may have faulty memories -- I've heard...

Breast cancer patients are needed for a senior research thesis and is looking at the effect of yoga on the immune system of breast cancer patients.  Patients are recruited on a rolling basis in both the yoga and non yoga groups.

If you are receiving chemotherapy or have received it in the past two years you may be eligible for this study. The study lasts approximately four months from the period of enrollment and those who enroll in the Yoga group are asked to participate in yoga at least twice a week.

For more information contact Laura at ltb5@georgetown.edu.


For further information about the study there is an article here.

“What a Wonderful World”

I have Esbette about 99% convinced to do a post-wedding Trash The Dress photoshoot at the Dixie Classic, scheduled this year for October 1-10.Dixie Classic Fair

Care is something other than cure. Cure means “change.” A doctor, a lawyer, a minister, a social worker-they all want to use their professional skills to bring about changes in people’s lives. They get paid for whatever kind of cure they can bring about. But cure, desirable as it may be, can easily become violent, manipulative, and even destructive if it does not grow out of care. Care is being with, crying out with, suffering with, feeling with. Care is compassion. It is claiming the truth that the other person is my brother or sister, human, mortal, vulnerable, like I am.

When care is our first concern, cure can be received as a gift. Often we are not able to cure, but we are always able to care. To care is to be human.

emphasis mine

"Why does Rep. Foxx tell us we now need to hand over what little we have left of our hard-earned money to Wall Street?" A letter, complete with footnotes, from Watauga County Democratic Party chair Diane Tilson. Virginia Foxx Is...

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

An old pair of log grabs hang from the grainery wall on our farm in Randolph County, North Carolina.

3RD ANNUAL SCOTTCARES FOUNDATION STEP SHOWFriday, February 12thDoors open at 6:30 pmShow starts at 7:30 pmSalem College Fine Arts Center - Hanes AuditoriumChange begins with "One Small Step", Local Greek Letter Organizations and High School students are stepping up to the plate to recognize small contributions in history at the 3rd Annual Scott Cares Foundation Step Show. These groups will do so

A feature on UNC Greensboro prof Nadja Cech and her research on nature's medicines, in the Charlotte Observer.

[I]ndustry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street "fat cats,' they may fight back by withholding their cash. If the Democrats let Wall Street buy its way out of reform, they deserve to...

Our Super Bowl party was disappointed that the old guy who played Pete Townshend's part during the halftime show did not smash his guitar.

By Liv
Staff Writer


So Shannon wakes up this morning to tell me about a dream in which I'm pregnant. Apparently for months it doesn't move and then we discover it's a calcified piece of pizza. She woke up laughing so hard she started crying. She says she felt sorry for me, all the while apparently I had miscarried my lunch.

On the other side of the coin I had a dream I was sleeping on a plane bound for London, and I was making plans for what I'd do when I landed. I was so excited when I woke up to get through customs I made it half way down the hall before I tripped over the dog and realized I'm actually waking up in my house... not a plane.

...but what I really don't get is these people who have 12 miscarriages yet are starkly against abortion. I'm not anyone to tell anybody what to do with their body, but after 3 or 4 times shouldn't you give up and adopt? More importantly by their own definition, if abortions are killing itty bitty babies, isn't your miscarriage making your little children suffer their deaths over and over again? Isn't it the same thing? How can these fruity mothers who apparently just didn't win the evolutionary lotto of reproduction able to justify a decade long attempt at arguing with the obvious: they're not going to reproduce, just continue to abort/miscarriage. I mean, I get it. You want kids. You want them to be yours. But how do you stand and say abortion is killing babies, when you're doing the same thing over and over, and over, and over?

What is happening in North Carolina Public Education is inexcusable! For Tar Heels to sit on their hands, and do nothing to stop it is even worse. North Carolinians should be contacting their state representatives and state senators about this issue by personal contact, letters, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail -- any way they can -- to make sure the General Assembly KNOWS, without a shadow of a doubt, that Tar Heels want their kids left alone! We do not want our children indoctrinated in leftist politics while spending those precious hours in an attempt to gain, at least, a rudimentary education!

The Department of Public Instruction should understand that we want our children taught the true, un-revised, history of the North Carolina, of the United States of America -- and of Western Civilization. We want our children to know WHO they are, and WHERE their ancestors came from, and WHY. We want them to understand their TRUE culture -- and just as important -- we want our children to know and understand their true HERITAGE!

If you wish to control a people, any people, these are the things from which you isolate them. You cut them off from any ties to their history, their culture, and their heritage -- and you do it FIRST and you do it EARLY in their development.

It is not difficult to see and understand what is happening in North Carolina. It is happening all over the United States. Americans are watching a coup de tat take place right before our eyes!

Americans have lost their government to socialism/Marxism. The country is on its knees economically. It is weakened, humbled, and very, very, vulnerable. The enemies of freedom, within our country, know this and they are striking now to take advantage of America's preoccupation with its current economic woes. We cannot allow them to win. We cannot allow them to crush, to destroy, the experiment in freedom that was America.

We can, and we must, begin the struggle to fight back right here in North Carolina.

The state motto of North Carolina is: "To BE rather than to SEEM." There is a reason that phrase was chosen as our state motto.

The tenacity of North Carolina’s Confederate troops is still extolled where real history is taught. During America's War Between the States North Carolina Troops were known to be "FIRST at Bethel, FARTHEST at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, and LAST to surrender at Appomattox." The bravery of Tar Heels is legendary. North Carolina actually declared its independence from Great Britain BEFORE the other colonies. THIS is only a tiny fraction of the history Tar Heel students should be taught. No matter if the history is good, bad, or even ugly, our students should know it. It is THEIR Story. It is from their history they draw when developing their own personal identity.

We urge you to contact your North Carolina state representative and state senator and demand they step in and stop this move to "dumb down" North Carolina's students. Do it for the sake of the students, for the sake of North Carolina, and for the sake of America.

J. D. Longstreet

After taking this feature off at the genesis of creating this blog, management has decided to add it back. Please scroll down on the right side banner and become a follower of The Downtown Blog.

In a shameless act of self-obsession, I googled the name of this blog and found a couple of interesting references. Well. Interesting to me.Of course.Remember those blog posts about the promotional literature created for the River Rock resort development disaster, and specifically the strategic storytelling of elizabeth adams?Eventually, I managed to establish contact with elizabeth adams, which

A very humorous and revealing story is told about a group of white people who were fed up with African Americans, so they joined together and wished themselves away. They passed through a deep dark tunnel and emerged in sort of a twilight zone where there is an America without black people. (Read more @ [...]

The recession was supposed to slow down white-hot renewable energy growth. A lack of financing and tax equity was to reduce the wind and solar markets as much as 50% in 2009. Instead, last year brought new records in capacity additions. Wind power in the US grew 9.9 GW (almost 40%) to extend the US lead as top producer of wind power globally. And while robust solar numbers won’t be available until March, many analysts predict that the solar market definitely grew in the US and probably throughout the world.

Global Growth Shines

The global wind power market also grew at an astounding rate — clocking a 37.5% growth rate in its annual market (37 GW vs. 27 GW in 2008). China’s annual growth became the biggest in the world at 13 GW, which makes sense due to their larger electricity demand growth. At the end of 2009, China became the 3rd largest wind energy producer after the US and Germany (35.1 GW, 25.8 GW, and 25.1 GW). China will become the 2nd biggest wind producer in 2010 and may challenge the US by 2011.

The global solar market didn’t grow as quickly due to the collapse of its top market of 2008 — Spain (~50% of the world market that year). But Germany rode to the rescue and extended its lead as the biggest solar power producer in the world (it may have passed 8 GW). Germans took advantage of a 40+% decrease in solar module prices and had record growth (becoming ~50% of the global market themselves).

In the US

As I wrote last year, wind was already replacing oil-fired electricity in 2008. In 2009, wind took some market share from the most polluting power source, coal. In the years ahead, wind and solar can provide for new electricity demand growth and then begin to take significant bites out of the market for the leading electricity sources, coal and natural gas.

At 35 GW, wind now produces ~2% of US electricity demand. At almost 2 GW, solar produces ~.1% of US electricity demand. Biomass and geothermal produce ~1.5% and hydro almost 7%. The big three power sources today are nuclear (~20%), natural gas (~23%), and coal (~45%). When you look at particular states, it is exciting to see that wind power already provides three states with more than 20% of their power needs (Wyoming, Iowa, and North Dakota). By 2023, wind could provide 20% of the whole country’s electricity and solar another 12.5% (based on growth rates of 17.6% per year for wind – half the recent rate – and 40.4% for solar – a slight pickup from the last few years).

The US Energy Information Administration predicts US demand growth for electricity at a rate of 1% per year through 2035. I personally think that rate is higher than necessary as electricity demand growth has fallen every decade since the 1950s and it only grew .4% per year in the ’00s. Increased efficiency efforts can help electricity demand stay flat or even fall, as Google presents in its Clean Energy 2030 Plan.

Trends in Europe as a Glimpse at Our Future?

Europe installed over 10 GW of wind power capacity in 2009. The continent now gets ~9% of its electricity from wind and wind was the top source of of new electrical capacity at 39%. Solar power was third at 16% after natural gas which supplied 26%. Adding hydro and biomass, renewable energy provided 61% of new capacity. Meanwhile, coal is on the decline, as over 3 GW were decommissioned. The US can accomplish this same feat of most new demand coming from renewables in 2010 and beyond.

Price Curves Favorable for Wind & Solar

The prices of wind and solar should continue to drop in 2010, as opposed to an increase in the price of oil, natural gas, and coal. This trend should help maintain swift growth from these sources and make them the new energy titans within a few more years.

The Human Toll of Fossil Fuels

As I discussed a few months back, our addiction to fossil fuels has a serious human toll (on top of inducing global warming and hurting air quality). The tragic blast at a Connecticut power plant that killed at least five people today is a grim reminder of this. Our transition to an efficient reliance on renewable energy will help to reduce such accidents in the future.

Nuclear & “Clean Coal” Not a Near-term Remedy

While Obama has been trumpeting nuclear and “clean coal” as a necessary bridge to a renewable energy future that he thinks is decades away, renewables are actually better situated to provide for us. It takes ten years to commission and build a new nuclear power plant. And carbon sequestration coal is not market-ready yet. In contrast, wind and solar are growing quickly, proven technologies, and falling in cost. Here’s to further record growth for wind and solar in 2010 — finally putting to rest any doubts that they can lead us to a new climate-friendly energy future.

Onwards in the Sustainable Energy Transition-

Dennis Markatos-Soriano

Regular Meeting of the Edgecombe County Board of Education Edgecombe County Board Rooms 412 Pearl Street Tarboro, NC 27886 February 8, 2010 AGENDA 6:30 P.M. (OPEN SESSION) (1) Call to Order of [...]

Filing for the 2010 primary elections begins today throughout the state. As candidates prepare to announce their campaigns for a handful of open positions in Nashville, Tarboro, Raleigh and Washington, a few races already have grabbed headlines in the Twin Counties. (Read more @ The Rocky Mount Telegram) Filed under: Elections 2010 [...]

The previous song was Diva inspired, accident related or  just making the best of a bad situation. Filed under: Entertainment, Media, Music, Opinion, Video Tagged: Judy Hyman, The Horse Flies

This is fascinating - the Stewart / O'Reilly clips that Fox cut from the broadcast but graciously left on the full, uncut interview on their website. Stewart really has this whole thing down, and he describes it all SO WELL, and his theory about the Fox narrative is just so on point that I wonder if he's not being wasted at Comedy Central at this point.

Here's one example. I feel dirty linking to Fox, but here's the full interview, and it's really worth the time.


&&

Tags: dirtygreek

What do the names King Justice Allah Wray and Dominique Menser mean to you?

Back in August, they were charged with several crimes including "armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and breaking and entering". 

Guess what? 

These same two young men made the news again today.  There was no mention of the prior incident in the press report.  This time they were charged with "robbery with a dangerous weapon".

Do Greensboro residents and business owners have reason to feel confident regarding our criminal justice system? 

I wonder how these two criminals evaded a long criminal sentence the first time.  Who is at fault for this situation? 

It seems the public would be well served if the press were to investigate how their initial case failed to result in long-term imprisonment.  (HT: Jerry)

I WAS JUST WATCHING the Indianapolis Colts run onto the field before the Super Bowl, and it was easy to pick out quarterback Peyton Manning. Even from the side (so you can't see his number), his awkward running style is easy to pick out.

I don't know who to root for. I rooted for the Saints when Archie Manning was their quarterback (back in the '70s), and I've rooted for Peyton Manning since he was a sophomore at the University of Tennessee. Yes, there's a huge Manning connection from each side.

I think Archie played a college bowl game with a broken arm in a sling. He had more than 140 yards from both passing and rushing. Tough guy.

Queen Latifah is doing a nice version of "America the Beautiful," but it sounds even better when the choir kicks in behind her.

I liked the McDonald's commercial with Dwight Howard, LeBron James and Larry Bird. It reminded me of the commercials with Jordan, Bird and, occasionally, Charles "I can make that shot" Barkley.

It looks like Dwight Freeney, even with an ankle injury, is putting pressure on Drew Brees and the Saints offense.

The commercial with Betty White is surprising. You don't expect to see her (and later the old man) getting knocked into the mud during a pickup football game.

(These Doritos commercials are irritating.)

Nice play by Manning and Pierre Garcon for a 10-0 lead. That caps a 96-yard drive.

Drew Brees has been playing well, but Freeney just sacked him. And the Saints kicked the field goal (10-3).

The Colts pretty much went away in the second quarter, and the halftime score (10-6) is really low. I wonder if Freeney's ankle injury was overstated in the first place. He looks good to me.

I would expect the Colts offense to be better than this. Jeremy Shockey just scored for the Saints. That two-point conversion almost looked good (22-17). They're reviewing the call. It still looks good to me. It IS good (24-17).

The interception off Manning for a touchdown was shocking. Peyton doesn't do that often. (31-17)

Sean Payton just got the Gatorade shower. I have to admit that I didn't expect the Saints to win.

That's one fewer team that had never won the Super Bowl. The Bills, Seahawks, Texans, Panthers, Jags, Bengals, Titans, Chargers, Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Eagles and Vikings quickly come to mind as non-Super Bowl winners.

More later (after I think about it).