The Charlotte Observer posts a question in their opinionated section:

What if there was a way to boost voter participation significantly and make it easier to vote? What if it required fewer paid workers and fewer poll watchers, and saved taxpayers money, too?

I'd say pfft. I don't think it should be easier to vote! I don't want uninformed idiots voting! I don't want 100% voter participation because too many people do not know who they are voting for. I don't want fewer poll watchers, I want MORE poll watchers to make sure the elections are fair.

The Observer here supports a system started in Colorado called "universal vote centers" where "any registered voter in a county can vote, regardless of the precinct where the voter lives."

Sorry, that's not allowed in North Carolina. The law clearly states, as the North Carolina Supreme Court has upheld, that voters MUST vote in the precinct in which they live. Early voting is crap and rife with fraud and abuse. Motor voter registration artificially inflates numbers.

The Observer finishes with a line that really shows you where they are in today's society:

We'd rather vote nearby than rush across town to do it.

Lazy, sorry, no-good, illegal-supporting good-for-nothings. What's wrong with simply telling people they have to vote in person? If you're too dammed lazy to get up off your butt on election day and head to the polling place in your precinct, which IS WHERE YOU LIVE, then you don't get to vote. See how easy that is?

Posted by: Ogre at 05:15 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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As some of my good readers know by now, I'm on vacation this week. Only through the magic of computers can you read these post I actually wrote before I went on vacation. oooOOOoooo, scary, eh?

Ok, maybe not.

By today I've gotten the campsite setup and am enjoying Williamsburg, VA. I'm hoping that it's not raining there because that makes things just less fun. I think today I'll be visiting colonial Williamsburg or the tiny, tiny ships (that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean). While I'm gone, why don't you check out some of my favorite carnivals?

The New Blog Showcase Carnival should be up by now at Not Exactly Rocket Science. See the main page for details on how you can participate or host.

The Tarheel Tavern should also be posted. This week it's at Mister Sugar.

So what are you still doing here? Go read!

Posted by: Ogre at 01:15 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I don't know how taxes are where you live, but I'd bet they're better than those who live in Charlotte. For the record, I saw this happening years ago, and I took my money and got the heck out. Many others are doing the same. Some people, like Andy are working to reclaim Charlotte. I think it's too far gone. For example:

From 1995 to 2006, COUNTY property taxes have increased 116%. Yes, just the property tax in Mecklenburg County (nearly synonymous with Charlotte) has really increased that much. Their budget went from $820 million to $1.2 billion. In 1996 they collected $322 million in property taxes. In 2006 it will be $697 million.

On top of all this, the school board is trying hard, including heavy lobbying from local media outlets, to obtain another massive bond "for the children." If you vote for the bonds for the reasons given, you are a complete and total fool. These bonds are passed every time "for the children." Each any every time they are sold over and over again with the line "It won't cause any increase in taxes."

That is a total lie. You remember the mortgage on your house? If you don't have one, think about your car loan. That's a friggin' bond! That's right, a bond is BORROWING money. And yes, the county has to actually PAY THE MONEY BACK. Right now almost 20% of the budget is being used TO PAY BACK PREVIOUS BONDS!

Then again, if you're one of the fools supporting these bonds, you probably don't care about facts or reality, as you just see it as using someone else's money. Hey, since I don't live there any more, maybe I'll support the bonds, too. After all, it's not my money they're using, right?

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It's Sunday again, and once again it's time to introduce a new neighbor. Now I don't want you to think I just pick a name out of a hat and slap a link up here -- I read through a number of the blogs over there on the Evangelical until I find one that I really like. This week it's

Coffee Swirls

Coffee Swirls is...

the minty fresh blog of Doug McHone, which snaps back wash after wash!

The blog has been around since...well, I can't really tell how long. Oddly enough, despite an excellent design and clean layout, I can't find any links to any archives -- just links to recent posts (note to self: add archive links to own site layout). Aha - the archive links can be found on individual post pages. The earliest of those goes all the way back to January, 2002.

The blog has varied topics and is generally quite silly. There's a post that shows the absolute need for a coffee press. Not being a coffee drinker, I don't think I've ever even heard of one of those things. If you do drink coffee, however, you apparently have to have one of these nifty things.

He's got some entries regarding Daily Bible Reading, which is always a good place to start your day (Note to self: neat way he put the category for each post in the header section for each post without losing the Title or being too cluttered), and book reviews and silly stuff.

So, on this Day of Rest, head on over and have a read!

Posted by: Ogre at 11:57 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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As you read this, I have started the drive on my vacation. Yes, gentle readers, I will be absent from you for a period of about two weeks. I know some of you will likely be depressed and lost. Others of you will already be planning parties of excitement. But never fear, it will be almost as if I am still here!

Thanks to the wizardry of Pixy Misa, I can write posts and have them automatically posted to the blog at any time and date I desire. So, over the past week, I've been working frantically, trying to write timely posts that would not be out of date in a week, in preparation for my vacation.

So, for the next couple weeks, you will see posts appear as always, but I won't be around to watch them Feel free to comment on them and talk amongst yourselves. I'll be back about July 5th or 6th. If you've got something that I absolutely MUST see...tough. You can email me through the link over there on the left, but I won't get it until I return -- for most of the time I'm gone, I'll have no access to electricity, much less the internet. And during this time I declare myself 100% immune to all tagging by any and all memes!

The posting will be a little lighter, simply because there's no way I could type that much quality stuff two weeks in advance. If anyone wants to submit any of my posts to carnivals for me, if you think they apply, feel free to, I won't mind at all!

As usual, each weekday morning, a post should appear regarding North Carolina State government from a conservative point of view. I think I've got enough good material up to have at least one other post appear each day, so keep coming back and see what's here. I might even have a made-up Alliance assignment slipped in...

I will read all your comments when I can...but again, that's unlikely before July 5th or 6th. So cross your fingers, hope I did this all right, and enjoy the automated posting for the next couple weeks. I'll apologize in advance for not responding to your comments right away.

And for those wondering where I'm going, I'll be in Williamsburg, VA for a week, then up to New Hampshire and hopefully a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine for a few (dozen) cases of fresh Blueberry Beer.

Have fun and try not to wreck the place!

And one final note for those who are tired of the horizontal scrolling -- one of the first things I'll do when I return is switch the layout over to the new layout, currently titled the "Drainpipe" layout...

Posted by: Ogre at 12:15 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Yay and Hooray!

Blogless Tomslick pointed me to this news story in the comments. The story starts out with standard fear and scare tactics:

Kansas schools now face an almost unthinkable possibility: They might not reopen in the fall because of a political and legal battle over education funding.

Instead of being depressed or scared, I'm excited! That would be incredibly awesome! Can you image a court ordering the government-run monopolistic schools to stay closed because of funding arguments? That would be so good, there's no way it would happen. It would be a huge blow to the monopoly and a massive step towards freedom! Seriously!

Think about it -- what would happen? The parents would get together, hopefully without any government interference. The teachers, now unemployed, should join with them. They could simply agree to hold classes at different people's houses on different days. The teachers could trade their skills at teaching for money that the parents would earn working. Some parents might even stop working to teach their own children and those of others.

People would be free to teach and learn whatever things they wanted. Some children might even join their parents at their places of work and learn trades and skills. Some might be apprenticed to other workers. The poor would not suffer, because the churches and other groups would join together to ensure their children were schooled as well.

Wow.

This would be a wonderful thing.

Which means there's no way the self-centered, non-people-driven, non-self-government government would let it happen. Darn.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Alliance wants to know, "What will Evil Glenn be doing for Father's Day?."

I have to wonder about the question itself this week. I wonder what The Alliance could have been thinking. Why would Father's Day be any different at all to an evil genius like Evil Glennn? He's EVIL!

So what he be doing? The same thing he does every day:

Meeting with pure evil, re-living his past war exploits, designing software, planning television shows, visiting the zoo, and, of course, with Evil Glennn, no day would be completely with some puppy blending.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Have you ever seen one of these fellows up close?

They are quite impressive. The small zoo on Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC always has a few on hand. You can get pretty close to them -- and by "pretty close," I mean about 20 feet above them. You can see their massive claws pretty well, and the ones at Grandfather Mountain are quite playful.

It's very entertaining to see them playing with a giant ball, but I'll tell you, those zoo handlers INSIDE the enclosed area sure look nervous...

Posted by: Ogre at 02:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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A group in North Carolina called "Take Back Our State" is having a rally on Wednesday, June 22nd at 5:30pm at the Bicentennial Mall in Raleigh, NC.

The coalition of groups include Americans for Prosperity Foundation, Called 2 Action, Institute for Constitutional Law, John Locke Foundation, John W. Pope Civitas Institute, NC 100, North Carolina Family Policy Council, and Wake County Taxpayers Association.

If you're in the area, why not head on by? They're advertising free t-shirt and FREE FOOD! If I weren't packing for vacation (departing Saturday am), I'd be there. They'd like you to register, but I'm sure you can just show up if you don't get time to register.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:15 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Apparently we're not taxing enough in North Carolina. Despite dozens and dozens of new taxes being introduced by Democrats in the Legislature, including brand new taxes on labor, and candy; and raising the sales tax rate and the income tax rate, the Winston-Salem Journal wants even MORE taxes -- on non-profit hospitals.

The Journal is complaining that too many hospitals with valuable land that could be taxes are not paying taxes. Now these aren't the evil capitalist hospitals, but the non-profit hospitals that provide services to charity cases as part of their mission.

Even worse -- this opinion article was written by a Senator, Senator Hamilton Horton. He bemoans the fact that $984 million is tax-exempt in Forsyth county, and he could be getting cash from the hospital for that real estate. Of course, he conveniently leaves out that fact that everything to do with hospitals and medicine are already insanely expensive and making the hospitals pay more WILL increase the cost to consumers -- but then we have a 3rd-party payer system, so no one really knows or cares how much the hospital costs.

Hey Ham, instead of trying to get more money from taxpayers and businesses, how about you work on SPENDING LESS MONEY?

Posted by: Ogre at 05:15 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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This post is going to be rather difficult to read. I assure you it is difficult to write. But I think those who support the ACLU and send their money to the ACLU need to know what they are supporting and what their money is being used for. Please don't read on if you have a weak stomach, as this is really rough stuff.

The ACLU honestly supports child pornography. In New York Vs Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, the ACLU (AntiAmerican Communist Lawyer's Union) claims that people should be able to freely trade, distribute, buy and sell graphic sexual photographs of anyone, including very young children (no age limit at all). They honestly argue for this. I know anyone who is a parent cannot even imagine how any group can actually make this argument. The ACLU can.

Free speech has it's limits. Everyone who's taken even a basic class on Constitutional Law (well, that may not be many any more) knows that -- the classic "yelling fire in a crowded theater" always comes to mind. Taking graphic pictures and movies of such things is beyond free speech rights...way beyond.

The ACLU also argues that producers of such filth should not be forced to maintain age records of their "performers." In their world, this is a violation of the (non-existent) right to privacy.

The ACLU actually argues (presumably with a straight face) that the production of vile sex acts with children under the age of 10 should be outlaws, but once the production is complete, anyone and everyone should have the right to view, buy, and sell such crap.

Why does anyone support the ACLU? If you donate to them, this is the sort of thing that your money is used for. If you support this position, then you've got serious mental issues -- please stay away from my family.

This post is part of the Stop the ACLU Blogburst.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:38 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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From World Net Daily, via Vox Day:

Whereas, The public school system does not offer a Christian education, but officially claims to be "neutral" with regard to Christ, a position that Christ Himself said was impossible (Luke 11:23), and

Whereas, The public schools are by law humanistic and secular in their instruction, and as a result the attending children receive an education without positive reference to the Triune God, and

...

Therefore, be it resolved that the 33rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America encourages all her officers and members to remove their children from the public schools and see to it that they receive a thoroughly Christian education, for the glory of God and the good of Christ's church.

That's a proposed resolution of the Presbyterian Church in America, much like the one attempted at the Southern Baptist Convention. It's pretty unlikely that this will pass, but it certainly should. As Vox mentions, it's certainly a good sign that Christians are starting to wake up.

If you're Christian, read that first paragraph again. The school claims to be neutral, which is impossible.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
-- Ephesians 6:4

You can't have it both ways. Luke 11:23 says "He that is not with me is against me."

So no, I cannot see any way a Bible-believing Christian can associate, attend, or support public schools for their children.

Posted by: Ogre at 09:15 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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What a shocker, eh? The Raleigh News and Observer wants more taxes and higher taxes. No, they won't come right out and admit it in their editorial, but that's what they're clamoring for in the opinion piece.

They claim that "taxes and revenues are a big problem in North Carolina," but then assert that "advantages cannot be created or cultivated without adequate tax revenues and prudent public investment."

"Public Investment" means taxes -- and lots of them. Don't buy that crap about investment, it's higher taxes for all, no matter what alleged "public" use these "public investments" are supposed to be used for.

This article even goes on to say that since "Seven of the top 10 states in per capita income, such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Minnesota, are also in the top 10 in per capita taxes," the only way to increase per capita income is to increase taxes! Well hell's bells, let's just raise the income tax in North Carolina to 75% and everyone will be millionaires!

That fantasy-based article concludes:

We can have a moderately burdensome tax code with increased fairness, lower rates and a broader base, more adequate and predictable revenues and more transparency and accountability. And these changes can be accompanied by sustained economic growth.

So there you have it. According to the Raleigh News and Observer, we need more taxes and higher taxes, including business taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes, so that we can have growth. The more you tax everyone and everything, the more rich everyone becomes. I guess that's right -- if by "everyone" you mean the government.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:55 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Our crack research team was stumbling down a back alley the other night, I mean, doing some discovery reconnaissance, when they came upon a dumpster that was fresh from the DNC headquarters. The team dove in and started looking. After getting past the perfectly good internal combustion engines that had been discarded and the well-used nap pillows, they discovered some documents. Most of them were documents outlining how to take over the America by dividing and conquering, but underneath some old sandals, they found a notebook full of speech drafts for Howard Howie Dean. Posted below are exact quotes from that notebook:

"Republicans are the spawn of Satan."

"The Republican National Headquarters is like a bag of unpopped popcorn -- nothing missing but hot air."

"What ever happened to the Klan, anyway? Can't we get some more of those good old boys elected to the Senate?"

"And after the Democrats invented the internets, we're going to go up to Canada and win up there, too!"

"Of course Bush is going to North Dakota -- he named them as part of the Axis of evil before he invaded Iraq."

"Look, I'm no theologian, but I know that oil comes from Caribou in Alaska that are dying because of Big Republican Oil."

"I'd like to announce my new executive assistant to my assistant adviser, Evil Glennn."

"No, I don't want Americans to have health care because only Democrats can provide it for them if they need it."

"Why is Bush going to down to Florida? He's only going to Florida because he's trying to steal the next election!"

I wonder why they threw that notebook away?

Posted by: Ogre at 08:23 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Sometimes you just need to post something a little lighter. Things have been much too serious so far this week, so I now present you with weird auctions.

Yes, two loons with way too much time on their hands have created a web site with one purpose: to track and watch weird things being acutioned on eBay.

Some things featured there today:

The republicansfordean.org web domain name.

29 magical wish bones.

Lucky magic shoes (size unknown).

Isn't freedom and capitalism great?

Posted by: Ogre at 04:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I recently was introduced to a print publication that you should be reading. Note I did not mention anything about Republican or Democrat here, just conservative. If you label yourself a Conservative Democrat, this paper is for you, too.

The newspaper is The North Carolina Conservative. They've got a web site (but it's kind of scary when viewed from a usability standpoint), but their primary purpose is to publish a paper filled with conservative news in North Carolina.

The newspaper is filled with articles about what's really going on in Raleigh, including what's happening behind the scenes -- what's NOT reported in the FMSM (formerly mainstream media).

The paper is published out of Linville, NC and is a monthly paper. According to the paper:

The North Carolina Conservative is a monthly newspaper serving conservative North Carolinians. The North Carolina Conservative is boldly patriotic and committed to promoting the Christian values upon which our nation was founded. The North Carolina Conservative is a private, for-profit journalistic entity, not affiliated with any political party or religious organization.

You can subscribe for only $40 a year. Mail payments to:

The North Carolina Conservative
PO Box 305
Linville, NC 28646

Posted by: Ogre at 02:53 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Bunker Mulligan.

I am quite embarrassed to say it, but I did not know him. This week the Homespun Bloggers are asking, in their weekly Homespun Symposium,

In honor of Mike, who was laid to rest today in his native Texas soil, this week's symposium asks that you reflect on Bunker as you...a fellow blogger knew him, how did he make an impact in your life, and how did he play a part in your blog career?

I am embarrassed because I read so many good things said by so many people regarding his passing. I see in various corners of the blogosphere many people who were heavily influenced by him, and I only now wish I could have known him. I had read his blog only a few times in the past, and only now and I coming to see what I had been missing.

So I guess Mike is now having an influence on me. I have been reading all the tributes to him. I now find myself reading his archives on various different days, learning about him only now, after he is gone. I see what a good man he was and how strongly he influenced so many through his blogging and his blog.

I am sure that he will rest in peace and be sorely missed by all.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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You may have heard it said before that if you don't like the rules or something about a place, that you should just move. Heck, I've been known to say that a time or two. However, in this case, it is the elected Democrats of the kingdom ofMecklenburg County who are saying it.

If you voted for Democrats in Mecklenburg County, you knew your taxes were going up. If you bothered to view people's records, you also knew that you were going to get more crime, worse schools, and worse roads with that tax increase. Recently the county Democrats voted to raise county taxes by 10.6%, while increasing spending by 13.5%.

Elected Democrat Comissioner Mitchell says that if you don't like the tax increase, you should go:

"If residents want to leave, he said, they should go. You can be sure that as soon as you leave, there will be someone there to take your place"

That's right, don't let the door hit you.

I've been trying to tell you residents of Mecklenburg County that you should get out for years. I've been telling others not to move there. They are doing all they can to drive productive citizens from the county, and now the Democrat elected officials are joining the chorus telling people to leave the county.

Just two budgets ago, the same Democrats increased taxes by 15%. Last budget it was only increased 9%. They will not stop. Get out now, Mecklenburg is beyond hope for productive citizens.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:00 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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I, Ogre, today, make this pledge:

I will link to MoveOn.org, Kicking A$$ (DNC blog), and the Huffington Report for a week but only if 7 of the munificent 7 Democratic Senators will agree to quit filibustering John Bolton and vote for Cloture.

Per Suitably Flip

Join the so-called moderates and make a meaningless, pointless pledge of your own!

Posted by: Ogre at 08:30 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Ok Moveon.org? DNC starring Howard Dean? That is more partisan childish game playing, the kind that is totally destroying our unity and keeping us from accomplishing anything real and important,therefore, I'll be blocking this blog

Posted by: Carla at June 14, 2005 08:56 PM (Kl5kb)

2 Sorry you don't like...well, I'm not really sure what you don't like. The idea that others can play silly games that the Democrats play? That Howard Dean runs the DNC? The idea that the US Senate can only accomplish anything "real and important" when it's what Democrats think? Oh well. Sorry you think Democrats are childish, even if they are.

Posted by: Ogre at June 14, 2005 09:25 PM (i5VG6)

3 Carla, I don't understand what you're trying to say. And your link tells me it's going to Blogger but takes me to Paternity Testing. What is that about? You're not spamming here are you?

Posted by: Raven at June 14, 2005 09:59 PM (8fMpB)

4 I suspect that's Carla from Preemptive Karma who like to post the "Slaughterhouse 5" posts (weekly I think) in honor of their friends the terrorists who bind people by the hands and feet and like to have 5 or 6 guys stand over them with guns...and slit their throats while they're helpless and crying for their lives. This is the kind of courage THEY display: a link back to a paternity testing site. She could at least have the courage to leave Preemptive Karma's link there if she was REALLY interested in something other than partisan stonewalling.

Posted by: Cao at June 15, 2005 04:49 AM (RyucI)

5 Now y'all be nice. Carla's just looking for somebody to pay for a paternity test so she'll know who her daddy is.

Posted by: basil at June 15, 2005 07:00 AM (4Ek1C)

6 Um, since she(?) is "blocking this blog" (assuming she(?) is telling the truth, that is) I suspect she(?) would never see these responses ... /TJ PS - continuing Basil's comment ... maybe she(?) just wants someone to say "Who's yer daddy" to her(?) ...

Posted by: TJ at June 15, 2005 07:50 AM (6k3z1)

7 Bye Bye Carla. Sorry we won't miss you.

Posted by: Bou at June 15, 2005 02:34 PM (z7nbM)

8 Carla! bravo for blocking Ogre's blog. That means we won't have to read any more of your drivel. Only intelligent persons should get to comment here as Ogre has the power to turn people like you into llamas to use for his evil deeds. P.S. Did ya ever find out who yer daddy is?

Posted by: Oddybobo at June 15, 2005 03:12 PM (6Gm0j)

9 ROFL Oddybobo! Nice one!

Posted by: Ogre at June 15, 2005 03:18 PM (/k+l4)

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Don Danz, of Danz Family has started a new project in honor of flag day. He's collecting photos of flags flying in front of homes. He will post all the flags in his online collection.

He says:

I am not interested in any flag other than Old Glory. I am also not interested in American flags flying just anywhere. I want a picture of your flag, flying in front of where you live.

If you feel like sending in your picture, send it to him at the email address provided on the flag site!

I'm going to search through my pictures and send him one tonight.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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