I have to admit, Ford's presidency was before I was politically aware. I mean, unlike most Americans today, I knew who the president was -- I just didn't know anything about him. I often wonder if part of the reason is that in the 1970s the president didn't make daily decisions that affected my personal life -- like today's presidents do.

Words that people would do well to remember today, in this country of bigger and bigger government:

"A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."

Posted by: Ogre at 01:45 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 106 words, total size 1 kb.

Malcolm Graham is the (super-liberal) Democrat who is running for election for mayor in Charlotte in 2007. The Ogre has personally met and talked with Mr. Graham. He is very socialist and unapologetically liberal. Here's a few other early thoughts on him by some others:

This manÂ’s a fraud! He criticizes Mayor McCrory for supporting NASCAR Museums and arts and science projects at the expense of poor people. Mr. Graham, while on City Council, supported every big expenditure uptown and since heÂ’s been in Raleigh was a ringleader in getting approval for new hotel-motel taxes and car rental taxes to build the uptown projects----the very things for which he chastises our Mayor.

In addition Graham, both as a City Councilman and Representative in Raleigh was a strong advocate for our light rail boondoogle, money for Johnson and Wales, the Whitewater project, the Arts and Science project and the NASCAR Museum. As for helping the poor, thereÂ’s probably not a city in the U.S. that has spent more money per capita for neighborhood development, public housing, counseling, loans and affirmative actions-----all to help needy people.

In addition, since going to Raleigh, Graham has discovered that Charlotte has a crime problem! What did he do about crime while a member of the City Council? Nothing. His statement that the South light rail line will “have a tremendous impact in taking cars off the road” shows a total lack of understanding of light rail and its impacts. No one in Charlotte, politician, transit official or bureaucrat believes that light rail will reduce congestion on South Boulevard.

Finally, Graham attacks the development community with the threat of impact fees, etc., as he says “it’s time for you (development community), to pay your fair share” to offset development’s impact on roads, schools etc. In other words, Graham wants to increase the tax burden on Charlotteans who already pay the highest taxes in the state.

My friends, Malcolm Graham wants one thingÂ….he wants to climb the political ladder and will do whatever it takes to get there, including raising your taxes and being a phony. LetÂ’s hope he finds this a difficult task once he gets outside the gerrymandered districts that have placed him on City Council and sent him to Raleigh.

Posted by: Ogre at 12:08 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 380 words, total size 2 kb.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 8 words, total size 1 kb.

I'd like to take a quick moment to point out this week's new advertiser and renter. This week it's YouTube Karaoke. This site is

a collection of YouTube music videos and lyrics. The idea is that you press play, scroll to the lyrics, sing and be merry. Alcohol and audience are optional!

Posted by: Ogre at 06:06 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 93 words, total size 1 kb.

I've spent more than a few hours today going through the blogrolls on the right side there, mostly cleaning out the dead links. The good news is that if you're looking for somewhere new to check out, all those links should lead you somewhere.

However, if you were on the list and your blog moved and I couldn't find it, sorry, but it's gone. If you have a blog over there that hasn't posted in more than 2 months, sorry, but I dropped those as well.

On the other hand, if you're reading this and you're NOT on any of those lists, drop me a line, I'd love to add your blog!

Posted by: Ogre at 05:02 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 116 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Cool, I made the cut!!

Posted by: Echo Zoe at December 27, 2006 03:02 AM (8POA1)

2 Without a doubt!

Posted by: Ogre at December 27, 2006 01:25 PM (pxfSw)

3 Umm, I don't even see the blogroll...

Posted by: Phoenix at December 27, 2006 09:49 PM (4N2f4)

4 Well, on the main page, it's over there on the right column, up near the top. Click on "Blogroll" and you'll see the list appear underneath it. If you're on a post page (where at the top and the bottom you see a link to the main page), then you need to head back to the main page to see it.

Posted by: Ogre at December 27, 2006 10:09 PM (hjufk)

5 When viewing it on my widescreen laptop I can't check because your posts (middle) column overextends and covers 3/4 of the right/ blogroll column. I wonder if I still rate a link?

Posted by: Michele at December 28, 2006 06:28 PM (vMvlg)

6 But of course you do! And I'm working on setting up 4 layouts right now so it will auto-detect your screen width and hopefully adjust everything to fit on your screen (wide, narrow, pda/phone, and printer). I've got a few days left before that's done.

Posted by: Ogre at December 28, 2006 09:56 PM (TNHaE)

7 You forgot to cut me. I haven't posted anything in MONTHS. Well... haven't posted anything GOOD... :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 29, 2006 01:59 PM (L7a63)

8 Well, I didn't say "good" was a requirement now, did I?

Posted by: Ogre at December 29, 2006 04:07 PM (TNHaE)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Have you heard any of the recent news about Somalia and Ethiopia? In case you missed it, well, the two countries are at war. Somalia has a government "recognized" by the UN, but which has very little actual power. Instead, most of the country in in chaos and rebels continue to attack the "UN Recognized" government.

The fighting appears to be quite intense, but no terrorist reporters (AP) have been found on the ground for reliable reports. You can be sure there will be reports from that organization soon, as there are various large factions of terrorists in the country that will welcome their allies in the AP.

For those who don't want all the details, I'll just give you the driving force behind the current battles: Islam. Seriously. Christians are the ones who have the "UN Recognized" government. The terrorists who are trying to kill and overthrow the government are ALL Muslims. Ethiopia, who is trying to help the "UN Recognized" government is mostly Christian. All the resistance to the organization and laws are Islamic terrorists. It doesn't really matter if you don't like it, that's the truth. Muslims continue their worldwide war against ANYONE who is non-Muslim with violence.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:07 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 207 words, total size 1 kb.

Well, okay, there's hundreds of reasons I could put here, couldn't I? But this one I was railing against from the start. Federal investigators are now reporting over $2,000,000,000.00 (that's two billion) in government WASTE over Hurricane Katrina. In case you're not aware of how government works, that was two BILLION dollars of taxpayer money that was wasted. That was two BILLION dollars that could have been kept by the people who earned it.

In case you missed my various posts during that natural (not Bush-made) disaster, government should NEVER have gotten involved. Government is absolutely, completely, totally incapable of being compassionate -- it's not possible because it's not their money. The ONLY way government can give away money is for them first to take it, by force, from people who work for it.

That's wrong, plain and simple. I don't care how many people vote for it -- it's still wrong. If 51% today voted to make all black people slaves, would that be right because the majority wanted it? No. There is an absolute right and wrong, and government charity is completely wrong -- every time. And the utter incomprehensible amount of waste is only part of it.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:03 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 206 words, total size 1 kb.

In North Carolina, the lawsuits that pit government against taxpayer continue. Now if there were a truly representative government -- if the government were "of the people, by the people, and for the people," such things couldn't even possibly exist. But this is North Carolina. In North Carolina, the government is the enemy of the people. The government is all-powerful and will stand challenges from the scum people who don't know better. Here, the legislators pick their constituents, rather than the other way around.

Right now, there's some citizens who had the gall to sue the government for openly and blatantly breaking the law. I mean, there's not even any question that the law was broken. However, the government doesn't care. You see, in the minds of the Democrats who rule North Carolina with an iron fist, the government MAKES the rules, but does not have to follow them.

At issue in this case is governor Easley (D) and the legislature (D) who have, in open defiance of written law, taken tens of millions of dollars from a fund where the taxpayers paid money for roads. The money was collected specifically as taxes for building roads. However, the Democrats didn't want roads and wanted social programs, so they simply took the money from the road funds. They have been sued. They have not actually denied that they broke the law -- instead they are arguing that the taxpayers cannot sue them because, basically, they're above the law.

Fortunately, so far, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the Democrats are not above the law. The dissenting opinion in the case actually said that the people do not have standing to challenge any legislation. Better hope she (Chief Justice Sarah Parker) doesn't get some friends on the bench.

Posted by: Ogre at 12:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 304 words, total size 2 kb.

So this year Christmas falls on a Monday. That was quite obvious if, like me, you worked on Friday and had to drive home. 33 miles in 3 hours is not the longest time I've ever taken, but it was getting close.

For those who consider Christmas a holy day, it will make Sunday rather interesting. There was much discussion last year about "having church" on Sunday/Christmas. Well, that 7-year discussion is over, now how about this year?

From what I'm seeing, you can get to church in the morning, like usual, and most churches are having their traditional Christmas eve services just a few hours later! So if you've not a church goer, you've got a whole TON of times that you can head out to church on Sunday -- whatever time fits in your schedule.

And if you've never been and you're anywhere near Mooresville, NC, just drop me a line -- we'd love to have you join us at our church -- at any of the services.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:39 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 174 words, total size 1 kb.

Well, it's Saturday morning and time for the daily update of news and politics from North Carolina...but it's also quite the holiday weekend around the world. I'm sure more than a few people, likely many of my regular readers (thank you each and every one for stopping by) are not actually here this weekend, instead traveling to be with friends and family, or even not traveling and still spending time with friends and family.

Therefore, take today, enjoy the holiday weekend. No NC political news today.

On the off chance that you are reading this, do come back over the next few days and week, even if you're on vacation. There will be lots of news, commentary, and updates from and about North Carolina, the US, and lots of other fun stuff. And over the next week I think there will be a rather drastic redesign of the site coming as well.

So go right now and tell someone you love them and come back here later for more good stuff. And if you missed yesterday, be sure and scroll down for a few funny pictures that should be good for a smile.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 197 words, total size 1 kb.

Be careful!

Posted by: Ogre at 11:03 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 6 words, total size 1 kb.

For those who want to work out -- but not too much.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 20 words, total size 1 kb.

This could be VERY DANGEROUS posting this knowing Quality Weenie's potential mindset, but I'm betting on the good hormones at the moment. This one's for you, QW!

Posted by: Ogre at 09:06 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 33 words, total size 1 kb.

1 LOL

Posted by: vw bug at December 22, 2006 11:55 PM (ZbLU8)

2 When did you visit my office? I didn't see you!

Posted by: Sissy at December 23, 2006 03:05 PM (CaFxV)

3 And you know the managements pee hole is right over where the employee stands. Some days your pissed on, somedays you piss on others ... so goes life ...

Posted by: Quality Weenie at December 23, 2006 06:48 PM (BksWB)

4 Sissy? Yeah, that was me going up the stairs, so ya might have missed me... And QW, if you can't laugh, what's the point, right? If'n ya need anything, you know where to find me!

Posted by: Ogre at December 23, 2006 07:19 PM (5n/mm)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

I can SO see this happening at the house of One Happy Dog:

Posted by: Ogre at 08:02 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 19 words, total size 1 kb.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:05 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 6 words, total size 1 kb.

1 LOL

Posted by: vw bug at December 22, 2006 10:06 PM (ZbLU8)

2 I don't know, I have found plenty of religion while in bed!!!!!!

Posted by: Quality Weenie at December 23, 2006 06:49 PM (BksWB)

3 I think we just found who the sign was made for...

Posted by: Ogre at December 23, 2006 07:19 PM (5n/mm)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

It's Friday, it's a holiday weekend, I know you're stressed -- so let the silliness commence! Silly stuff all afternoon right here.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:02 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 26 words, total size 1 kb.

You Should Rule Mars

Mars is a planet that shines brightly and loops wildly around the solar system. You are perfect to rule Mars, because you are both energetic and independent. Like Mars, you seems attractive and bright to others - but you're difficult to pin down. You are a great thinker, but you only think in the present and ignore the future. Full of enthusiasm and inspiration, you are into your own thing... and rather insensitive to others.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:02 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 92 words, total size 1 kb.

If you've been reading here for any length of time, you know my position on state-sponsored gambling, or the lottery. As it was sold to the suckers public, it was, and still remains, called the "North Carolina Education Lottery." They are very careful to insert that word "education" so you will feel good and think you're helping people. So, how did the lottery do when it was audited by an independent auditing firm?

The state law that (questionably) passed the legislature specifically says that 35% of all revenues are to be transferred to education. For the fiscal year ending June 30th, only 27% ($63.5 million) was transferred. Another part of the law states that the lottery must transfer $1 million per year to health and human services to treatment of addicted gamblers. Since the lottery was running for 1/4 of the year, you might expect somewhere between $250,000 and $1 million to have been transferred. Instead, only $2,274 was transferred. Yes, that's two THOUSAND instead of two-hundred and fifty thousand.

So, lottery officials are blatantly and clearly breaking the law. What will happen to them? Well, let's see, the person responsible for enforcing the law is a Democrat who actually appointed Democrats to the lottery commission. What do you think will happen?

Posted by: Ogre at 04:04 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 216 words, total size 1 kb.

By now I'm sure you've heard of VA Representative Virgil Goode's letter to his constituents. Now, of course, CAIR (Council on destroying America and Replacing it with Islam) is wetting it's pants, but that's their purpose. They are, after all, members of the religion of perpetual outrage. But the question I ask, is what did he say that was so offensive?

He said that he didn't want to use the Koran. He said that he wanted to use the Bible. He complained about immigration law. He complained that there would be more Muslims in America if his immigration position is not adopted (while that may be factually inaccurate, is that the offensive part?) Or is the offensive part where he writes that he told a Muslim student that he doesn't want the Koran on the wall of his office?

Seriously, what did he say that was so offensive? It sounds like the offensive part is either that he believes in the Bible or that he doesn't like the Koran. Well, at least he's not apologizing. At least not yet. But he's being called an "Islamophobe," and "bigot." Why? It appears that it's only because he doesn't like the Koran.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:07 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 207 words, total size 1 kb.

So, for the last few years, we've had to put up with the half-truths, whining and complaining from the Gay Lobby who wanted special rights, while they called them "equal rights." They claimed they only wanted

the same rights as other married couples

the same benefits and rights as every other family

"it's not true equality"
" they're disappointed"
"they want more"

Posted by: Ogre at 02:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 110 words, total size 1 kb.