I've recently found a few blogs (mainly from tips from others), and thought I'd point them out for you here, to do with as you please (that means go visit).

First up is Kea Blog. Out of the blue he dropped me a line in email, asking me to check out his blog. Well, other than the fact I don't have enough time to do much of anything, I thought, "why not?" So I did. He's from New Zealand. It's a nice, clean layout with all sorts of different thoughts and ideas. Head on over!

Continuing the international theme, Nickie Goomba points out Free Thoughts. It's run by a citizen of Italy and is an awesome showcase for freedom and free ideas in Europe. The page takes some time to load, but get on over there and read it-- it's rather inspiring and uplifting.

Lastly, I'd like to point you to Crosses Across America. It's a new group blog that's "dedicated to promoting faith in God and in our country and the freedom to practice it." There's not much there yet, but it certainly looks promising.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:14 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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In case you're still counting, it's now up to seven months after the election and North Carolina continues to have the only race in the country that has not yet been decided. However, if you read any news reports about it, you will be misled.

The current news reports claim that a battle rages over 11,000 provisional ballots in a statewide race where one person leads by about 8,500 ballots. But there really is no question about the ballots -- the North Carolina Supreme Court has alread ruled that those ballots were cast illegally.

At issue is whether the Democrat-controlled legislature will abide by that decision. To all outward appearances, they are going to simply ignore the Supreme Court ruling and claim those votes were legal simply because they were cast for a Democrat. This should start a constitutional crisis in North Carolina, but it will simply be ignored as politics as usual.

Personally, I think that since we've made it an entire 7 months without a Superintendent of Public instruction that we should simply do away with the position. Obviously it's not that important now, is it? Yes, the position was filled with a "temporary" appointee of the governor, but still...

I'll keep you updated as the Democrat Legislature continues their charade and ignores the ruling of the State Supreme Court in proclaiming their own candidate ruler, against the wishes of the people who actually voted. And you thought that your vote only didn't count in Florida. In North Carolina, the Democrats are openly ignoring legally cast ballots -- but it's OK because no one really cares.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:58 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Yes, it's summertime in North Carolina. I don't know how weather forecasters stay employed over the summer. Today's forecast:

High in the low 90s, sunny, humid, chance of afternoon Thunderstorms

This seems appropriate:

What a day for a daydream
What a day for a daydreamin' boy
And I'm lost in a daydream
Dreamin' 'bout my bundle of joy

And even if time ain't really on my side
It's one of those days for taking a walk outside
I'm blowing the day to take a walk in the sun
And fall on my face on somebody's new-mown lawn

I've been having a sweet dream
I been dreaming since I woke up today
It's starring me and my sweet thing
'Cause she's the one makes me feel this way

And even if time is passing me by a lot
I couldn't care less about the dues you say I got
Tomorrow I'll pay the dues for dropping my load
A pie in the face for being a sleepy bull toad

{Whistle}

And you can be sure that if you're feeling right
A daydream will last long into the night
Tomorrow at breakfast you may prick up your ears
Or you may be daydreaming for a thousand years

What a day for a daydream
Custom made for a daydreaming boy
And now I'm lost in a daydream
Dreaming 'bout my bundle of joy

Posted by: Ogre at 05:10 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Hope you are enjoying the weather. Hey, I have a post up that I think needs YOUR perspective.

Posted by: Jay at June 07, 2005 05:45 PM (qyd+U)

2 Hmm, we had severe t-storms and flooding in Raleigh. Power out all over the place.

Posted by: William Teach at June 07, 2005 08:34 PM (HxpPK)

3 Hunh. I had no idea your weather forecast was the same exact one as ours until September. Do any outside stuff early in the day, 'cause come 2:00 the thunderstorms roll in... every... day.

Posted by: Boudicca at June 07, 2005 10:30 PM (z7nbM)

4 Urgh... Reading your posts has me reconsidering my move back to NC, but then you remind me of one of the reasons I loved it. Why do you do this to me??

Posted by: Ashley at June 07, 2005 11:03 PM (g7rdQ)

5 I spent the entire month of July @UNC Chapel Hill in '96 and it only rained twice. I kept wishing it would rain because I thought it would get cooler afterwards....boy was I wrong! Still, it's a very beautiful state.

Posted by: michele at June 07, 2005 11:53 PM (ht2RK)

6 The big difference, Bou, is that you can't set your clock here by the storms. Sometimes they show up, sometimes they don't. And usually when they show up, they're tremendous storms -- 40-60mph winds, sometimes hail in the middle of summer. Like FL, they're often very localized. Just last night it was raining so hard at my house I couldn't see across the street. I called a guy who lives nearer to the softball field than me, and he wondered why I was calling -- it wasn't raining at his house, about 1.5 miles away. Michele -- twice? In July? That's pretty darn rare -- it must have been in one of our so-called drought years.

Posted by: Ogre at June 08, 2005 05:26 AM (YgrHs)

7 God, that sounds like weather hell! too hot! Way too hot. We are currently in a heat wave here, upper 80's low 90's... I'm ready to move to Alaska.

Posted by: Contagion at June 08, 2005 08:44 AM (Q5WxB)

8 That is the same forcast for SC too. When we visit MIL in the summer it's the same forcast every.single.day. I would love it! We are getting 90 degree days here and I am in heaven!! For me, it's not even warm until 85 degrees.

Posted by: Machelle at June 08, 2005 09:08 AM (ZAyoW)

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In case you missed it, GM announced it is cutting 25,000 jobs and closing plants in North America. It should save the company about $2.5 billion a year, just after the company announced a $1.1 billion dollar loss for the first quarter of 2005, it's worst since 1992.

In case you missed the math on that one, the company is on pace to lose $4.4 billion this year, and the reduction in workforce and plant closings will only save them $2.5 billion. Not good.

I haven't seen the Unions reactions yet, but I'm sure they will be annoyed. Can you blame them? I can -- but then I approach life with the view of freedom where no one has a right to a job, while the union leadership believes differently.

Buried in the story is the real reason for the job cuts -- $1,500 per worker health care expenses. Companies CANNOT afford to pay that much money for every worker for insurance! And no, before you liberals try to provide the answer, the answer is NOT to get government to cover health care!

Third-party payer systems do not work. When you have a system that costs the end user zero dollars, they will use the system, especially when a third party pays for their use of the system. It is wrong.

This is a major crisis in America that the media does not want to touch -- why should they? The formerly mainstream media (FMM) WANTS insurance to be too expensive for businesses -- so they can support a government-run socialist medicine system.

The proper solution? Get government out of the way. Remove all government regulations on insurance and let workers buy their own. If a company wants to provide it as a benefit, let them -- without any government conditions. It worked in the past, and socialized medicine has NOT worked everywhere it's tried.

No government agency should have anything to do with medical insurance -- at all. When they do, they destroy freedom and destroy businesses -- like they are doing to General Motors right now.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:55 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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A quote that truly lets you know the world is not what you think:

In regards to the lies about abuses of the Koran in Gitmo*:

"It doesn't matter whether it actually took place or not, what matters is the perception of what took place."

I perceive that the Muslim religion is a religion of war and evil. I perceive that they want me converted or dead, just like their holy book says. And following the example of those who are honored above all by the media today, a leader in the Arab community, it doesnÂ’t matter if that statement is true, what matters is the perception of that religion.

Of course the difference is that my statement is based on facts while Mr. ShoraÂ’s is based on anti-Americanism does make my statement a whole lot more valid.

*Note: Of thousands and thousands of interviews of terrorists at Gitmo, there have only been FIVE actual substantiated cases of "abuse" of the Koran.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:18 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The death penalty moratorium bill still lurks in the shadows. In North Carolina, normally a bill that does not pass one of the two chambers by the crossover date that relates to spending, cannot be considered. However, Jim Black, the liberal Democrat leader of the House, since he hasn't bribed enough people to vote for it, has exempted that bill from the rules. Imagine that -- rules are there to serve at the pleasure of the House leader and he violates them whenever he wants.

The House did pass a bill to increase the number of toll roads in North Carolina from zero to nine. You see, the General Assembly steals $10 million a year in taxes collected for road use to spend on their own projects, so they donÂ’t have enough money to actually build the roads. Instead of spending the money for the purpose collected, they just want to collect more money.

Three foolish bills appear dead for the year: one would have banned cell phone use while driving, while still allowing people to put on makeup and eat French fries. The bill to reduce jobs and punish business owners in Charlotte, forcing all private businesses to prohibit smoking also appears dead.

The House also killed a bill that would have subsidized education for criminals while fining American citizens – the bill to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants while forcing all other law-abiding states’ residents to pay higher fees – has also apparently died.

The Senate also squashed a bill to allow the People of North Carolina to vote on defining marriage.

In case youÂ’re scoring at home, tracking for the next election:

NC Democrats support abolition of the death penalty, charging you even more money to build roads (for which youÂ’ve already paid for once), banning cell phones, zero freedom for private, personal business, giving criminals low-cost education while forcing law-abiding to pay more, and gay marriage.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:52 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The Supreme Court today decided , while they were clearly smoking large amounts of marijuana, that the federal government has the right to overrule individual states by applying laws that pertain to interstate actions to individual states who want to set their own rules and have self government.

The decision was an appeal by the federal government. California passed a law saying that pot was legal in some instances. The federal government didn't like it. The drugs in question NEVER crossed any state lines at any time from the time it was grown until it was used. The supreme court ruled:

Congress' Commerce Clause authority includes the power to prohibit the local cultivation and use of marijuana in compliance with California law

So, in other words, the supreme court does not care in the least what any state law is -- they have just decided that the federal government can decide every law for every state they want to. State governments officially have no purpose, according to the supreme court.

You see, the "Commerce Clause" is supposed to be used to regulate INTERSTATE commerce -- providing regulation for the transport of goods and services between states, ensuring that states don't set up barriers to trade and the like within the borders of America.

Each state used to be able to have self-government and The People of each state could pass laws that would apply to themselves. However, with this very overly broad application of the commerce clause, applying it to a situation that has absolutely ZERO to do with anything remotely related to interstate traffic, transportation, or anything else, with NO exaggeration, the Supreme Court has decided that the federal government has NO limits on it's power.

I don't know about you, but I am ready for a revolution. I'd like to have a country based on freedom, with individual states who have the power of self-government and a weak central government. You might have heard of one of these governments -- they had one back in the late 1700s. I wonder where I could go to find such a place.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:41 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Two nicely done carnivals for your viewing pleasure this Monday:

First is the Tarheel Tavern. This is a weekly carnival of bloggers from, or sometimes in, North Carolina. This week's host is Billy the Blogging Poet who used aliens as the theme for this week's carnival. It's a good one!

If you're blogging in or about North Carolina, head on over to the Tavern's main site and read about the Tavern. Next week it will be hosted by A Sort of Notebook. You can host, too, if you're in the Turpentine State (NC).

Next up is one of my favorites -- the New Blog Showcase. This is a carnival of new blogs -- less than 3 months old. You can head over and read some new people, give them loads of advice, and then sit back and watch while they...uh... I mean, meet the new people!

This week it is at Common Sense Runs Wild. Go read and comment. Next will it will be hosted by 21st Century Paladin. It's easy to host, and it gets you links and traffic. Read the main site to see how you can host it next!

Posted by: Ogre at 11:34 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I often hear it proclaimed that the Democrats are the party of the people and that they support the "working man," while the Republicans support "big business" and the rich. As can be seen by the actions of the North Carolina General Assembly, that is not the case with Democrats in North Carolina.

The budget that passed the Liberal Democrat-led North Carolina Senate raises taxes by $1.7 billion on the people of North Carolina (not including things like the 13% Mecklenburg County Democrat property tax increase). In the past 5 years, the Democrats in the General Assembly have increased spending over 31%!

Corporations and individuals making over $200,000 will see DECREASES in their tax bills. Everyone else will see increases. The biggest tax increases? The lottery, the cigarette tax, and the sales tax -- all which will hit those who have less money even harder.

If you're in North Carolina, and you've voted for Democrats all your life, please take a close look at the party and the people you're supporting. They do NOT support you -- they are raising YOUR taxes on everything (including newspapers, telephones, cable TV, cigarettes, sales tax, property taxes, income taxes, etc). They are NOT your father's Democratic Party. They are NOT the party of the "working man."

Posted by: Ogre at 05:42 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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I would like to continue my Sunday afternoon tradition. Each Sunday I'll introduce a new neighbor from the massive Evangelicals blogroll. There's often not a lot of things going on Sunday evenings, so take a moment and visit the new neighbor. I'm sure in many cases, it's a blog you've never seen before. This week's new neighbor is

Echo Zoe

I've been reading Echo's site for a long time. I'm not sure if I started reading him before I started blogging myself, but I remember I found him in the comments at Vox Day's.

In case you're wondering what Echo Zoe means, from his site:

έχω (echo) v. - greek "to have" first person singular. Literally "I Have" (Strongs #2192)

ζωη (zoe) n. - greek "life". Life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself (Strongs #2222)

He posts every day with a daily devotional. I read it every day, and it wouldn't hurt you to read it, too.

He's also got various commentary and thoughts on various topics. His last post asks for your most annoying catch phrase. Without a doubt, I'm going with "My Bad." Ugh.

So head on over, have a read!

Posted by: Ogre at 09:11 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A quote I heard today:

Life is not about being easy.

Life is about doing what is right.

Think about it.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:11 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I'm sure if you were truly interested in news about the Michael Jackson case that you would be somewhere else. I haven't followed this case at all, but I have been attacked with news from it at various times from various locations. News about this case always seems to make the cut with every single radio station, so I hear about it anyway.

What I find most interesting is that this one is not quite as big as the recent California cases. Sure, it's plastered all over the place, but I don't hear anyone talking about this case. With the Peterson case, there were always people talking about it here and there. With this one, it seems forced -- no one wants to know, but the media is going to report it anyway.

The case has gone to trial. This week even the Homespun Bloggers are asking about it. Their question for this week:

What's the verdict going to be? And why?

Posted by: Ogre at 09:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Just a quick note to any liberals who were "outraged" at the Enron scandals, convinced that the actions of Enron showed that all big businesses are evil, corrupt, and Republican -- the ACLU is taking action the exact same way Enron did, strangely shredding large numbers of documents against legal advice, against internal management advice, and without any tracking or apparent reason.

Now will those who screamed about Enron come out and scream the same way about the American Communist Lawyer's Union? Gribbit's got more details.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:54 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Found at Phin's Blog, and he found it at The horrible, evil llama butchers. It's two tests to measure your brain.

Test #1 is the "Empathy Quotient" Test. I scored a 4. Yes, 4 measley points. According to that test, it means I have a "lower than average ability for understanding how other people feel and responding appropriately. Most people with Asperger Syndrone or high-functioning autism score about 20. On average, most women score about 47 and most men about 42."

Well what does that make me? Oh, right, an Ogre! My response: It's not that I don't understand your feelings, I just really don't care!

Test #2 is the "Systemizing Quotient" Test. I scored 65. According to the test, it claims I have "a very high ability for analysing and exploring a system. On average women score about 24 and men score about 30. Three times as many people with Asperger Syndrome score in this range, compared to typical men, and almost no women score this high."

Now isn't that interesting. more...

Posted by: Ogre at 11:18 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 I need to take this test. Last BE Reunion, we were all sitting around talking and something came up about certain foods I cannot eat due to consistency issues. (Marshmallows, whipped cream, etc.) _Jon said something like, 'You know, that is a characteristic of autism..." Heh. I have a few from thst list you went through, but I don't have Aspergers. Not even close. I have questioned, however, the men I work with in the engineering field... I feel certain a lot of them do. ;-) BTW, A-6's are still one of my fave's.

Posted by: Boudicca at June 04, 2005 01:49 PM (z7nbM)

2 I'm in trouble, I scored a 23 on the Empathy Quotient. Just not a 'sensitive/feeling' kind of gal. Ok, Bou... I bet you score about a 10. ;-) And Ogre, I'm scared that I'm right there with you. Sigh.

Posted by: VW Bug at June 06, 2005 10:58 AM (5b1PM)

3 forgot to add I got 49 on the Systemizing.

Posted by: VW Bug at June 06, 2005 11:13 AM (5b1PM)

4 Damn, I make you look down right empathic. You did twice as well as I did. No wonder people try to avoid me!

Posted by: Contagion at June 06, 2005 01:16 PM (Q5WxB)

5 Shut up, you, what makes you think I care what YOU scored, you insensitive, 2-scoring... oh, um. I mean, Hey, great! Thanks for stopping by!

Posted by: Ogre at June 06, 2005 02:06 PM (/k+l4)

6 I'm more insulted because I thought I was more personable then you!

Posted by: Contagion at June 06, 2005 02:20 PM (Q5WxB)

7 Oh that's real nice, VW! Heh! I'll have you know, I scored a 30 on empathy. So there! I scored a 40 on that other one, that systematic thing. I think I got dinged for not giving a crap how my house is wired.

Posted by: Boudicca at June 06, 2005 02:26 PM (z7nbM)

8 I scored 26 on Empathy and 57 on Systematic. Man Bou, I'm disappointed in you. I thought for sure you would score higher on the systematic quiz. Excuse me while I go drool in the corner while rocking back and forth.

Posted by: Machelle at June 06, 2005 02:40 PM (ZAyoW)

9 Drool wherever you want, clearly Contagion and I don't care in the least...we just want to do drool in an orderly manner.

Posted by: Ogre at June 06, 2005 02:46 PM (/k+l4)

10 Honestly, I think I scored so low on the systematic stuff because... ready? I truly don't give a crap about all that stuff anymore. 10 years ago I wanted to know how everything worked. Now I have three kids. I'm in full survival mode. I only want the facts I need. Period.

Posted by: Boudicca at June 06, 2005 11:17 PM (z7nbM)

11 True, the kids will find out how it works, anyway. That's what boys do.

Posted by: Ogre at June 07, 2005 05:37 AM (YgrHs)

12 True and I bet, like me, she is constantly putting things back together.

Posted by: VW Bug at June 07, 2005 11:58 AM (t8+yq)

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I try to take it a bit easier on the weekend, as I've not completely figured out how traffic flows on the internet on the weekends. Some weekends it seems that there's more people with time to surf on the weekend, while other weekends, especially here in North Carolina, people tend to go outside and do things.

However, today I'd like to announce that I found out yesterday that I got a 4.9% raise! Isn't that awesome? How many of you, my good readers, can say that you got a 4.9% raise this year? Pretty cool, huh? So, what I am I going to do with my raise? more...

Posted by: Ogre at 08:53 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This week, The Alliance discovered some pictures of Evil Glennn, and was wondering what the REAL story was behind the pictures.

I examined one of the pictures and found that it had been altered, so our crack team went to work to determine the original picture. We found it and posted it here. I don't think there needs to be any story to go with it, the picture speaks for itself:

And yes, those ARE puppies.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:47 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Provide your own caption. I think everyone, including you, know who's in charge in this picture:

Posted by: Ogre at 05:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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So what's your battle cry?

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I have noticed that some people are not seeing the blog as it should be. Of course, if you don't know what it's SUPPOSED to look like, you don't know if you're seeing it correctly. Here is a screenshot of what the page should look like to you:

(click to view larger) more...

Posted by: Ogre at 11:53 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The first reviews are trickling in regarding the new site design. I have to say it's really about what I expected. A few people really like it, some think it's real neat, and others absolutely hate it.

I've done a bit of high-level educational research (doctoral-level at a research institution) regarding human-computer interaction, especially as it relates to the internet. The biggest thing related to design and the internet (and computers) is user expectations.

When viewing a blog, you, the good reader, EXPECT to be able to read from top-to-bottom and scroll down. When you're confronted with something else, your natural reaction is to rebel. more...

Posted by: Ogre at 10:34 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 I love it! Welcome to Mu.Nu. I should be up shortly as well

Posted by: Oddybobo at June 03, 2005 10:39 AM (6Gm0j)

2 I like the horizontal thing, it's fine, but the wallpaper and color scheme seems to be making me somewhat queeeeasy.

Posted by: Oorgo at June 03, 2005 01:48 PM (lM0qs)

3 Yes! Now if I can just get someone to lose their lunch, I'll consider myself a success! No, I'm kidding. I was just trying to go with a bunch of blues this month, since last month was green. Then the left side I was working on a cave, but that just didn't work out, so I got left with the cavewall and nothing else.

Posted by: Ogre at June 03, 2005 02:02 PM (/k+l4)

4 I don't know why I've not had a problem with it. It's like reading a book... kind of like flipping a page. I'm bummed you're changing it back.

Posted by: Boudicca at June 03, 2005 11:02 PM (z7nbM)

5 Well it's pretty definite that it will stay this way for the month of June. After that, we'll see. Some people like it a lot, but there's a lot of strong dislike for it, too. I'll wait and see until the end of the month and see if people adjust to it at all.

Posted by: Ogre at June 04, 2005 08:16 AM (YgrHs)

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