I think I'm going to have to make what appears to me to be a minor change, but may affect you, the good reader. Currently, this site actually appears with two completely different layouts. There is the wide, light-green, 3 column layout (triad) that has the flag on the pole, the yellow text menu on the left, and the ice border along the top.

There is also the "Drainpipe" layout -- with a dark green background for the text, the steel tile background, and a drainpipe leading from one post to the next.

As the site is currently set up, you do not get to select the layout -- it is chosen for you depending on the width of your screen. If your screen is too narrow to effectively display the triad 3-column layout, you are redirected to the drainpipe layout. If you view this site with the same size browser, it's likely you've never seen the difference.

However, as I make small adjustments and changes, I update the triad site, and the drainpipe layout doesn't get updated -- so I'm going to have to do something. I'm thinking of just cutting out the code that does the redirect -- but that would mean if you have a narrow browser, you're either going to have to scroll right, or the layout will be odd.

I'm considering making a new layout for the narrow browsers. If I do that this time, I'm going to have to make the whole site modular so that I can display all the items I add and change on both layouts. Of course, that makes even more of a challenge, because I have to take ALL the items I want to display and figure out where to put them on both a wide layout AND a narrow layout.

What this means to you, the good reader (and thank you so much for stopping by) is that over this weekend you might see some odd layouts as I experiment with different layouts and designs.

Does anyone use that left menu on the wide screen layout (the Site Navigation links to the left)?

Posted by: Ogre at 08:04 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 To be honest, I don't use any of your menus/sidebars. I just want you to create a template that doesn't take 5-10 minutes to load.

Posted by: Contagion at February 10, 2006 09:56 PM (e8b4J)

2 The only place this one is slow is the blogrolling section -- and it intentionally loads last so you can read the main posts while (if) you're waiting! Now get a high speed connection, and you won't have these problems...

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 10:38 PM (+Gl1m)

3 Hey! That's with a T1 line. Slowest loading blog in the 'sphere!

Posted by: Contagion at February 10, 2006 11:18 PM (e8b4J)

4 Bah. It's your imagination! I'm using a cable modem, and not counting the Blogrolls, it's 4 seconds, tops...at least it is for me. Maybe I'll have to look at what I can do to speed it up...

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 11:39 PM (+Gl1m)

5 I have a wide screen - when I happen on you in FireFox, I get the light green. When I'm in IE, which I happen to prefer, I get the drainpipe. I don't know if that's helpful or not. I've always kinda LIKED the drainpipe.

Posted by: Peter Porcupine at February 11, 2006 07:56 PM (GtwbP)

6 Thanks -- I think the drainpipe only shows up with a narrow screen -- do you still get it when your browser is maximized in IE? Thanks! I liked the drainpipe, too -- there's some really neat technical stuff behind it -- if you look closely, you'll notice the transition from one entry to the next is random...but it's a really slow-loading setup, so I need to make that faster.

Posted by: Ogre at February 11, 2006 09:38 PM (+Gl1m)

7 "Slowest loading blog in the 'sphere!" Apparently *someone* never goes to IMAO :-) My suggestion for narrowing is just have the right sidebar appear directly underneath the left sidebar, but otherwise keep the design unchanged. Anyway, any time I go to a site that's too wide, I just center the slider so that I can read the center column content and just scroll through the posts. I rarely look at sidebar content.

Posted by: Harvey at February 16, 2006 03:59 AM (ubhj8)

8 And I wonder how many people do that -- completely ignore sidebar stuff. I bet most people who read a lot of blogs do, but the "new" folks probably read every inch...thanks for that input...

Posted by: Ogre at February 16, 2006 11:01 AM (2IrwV)

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It must be hunting season...although I'm not sure how many targets are going to come out of the swamp. Can you spot both cats on the prowl?

Posted by: Ogre at 06:09 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Nope, can't see em.

Posted by: oddybobo at February 10, 2006 06:40 PM (6Gm0j)

2 Yeah, they are above the log in the center.

Posted by: Arbitratorofall at February 10, 2006 08:07 PM (5+Jvh)

3 Click to enlarge, Oddy! Click to enlarge! (I wonder if that's going to count as spam...)

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 09:44 PM (+Gl1m)

4 Are you sure they are hunting, and aren't being hunted? They sure look like targets to me.

Posted by: Contagion at February 10, 2006 11:20 PM (e8b4J)

5 We're not in Wisconsin!

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 11:39 PM (+Gl1m)

6 Just a note, I don't like cats, therefore the fact that they are hiding from the camera seems to indicate they do not like people, which means my allergies will be less of a problem, since (at least some) cats don't like people, and will therefore STAY THE HELL AWAY!

Posted by: Smoke Eater at February 11, 2006 07:30 PM (qfAcB)

7 You're strange, Smokey...but you knew that, didn't you?

Posted by: Ogre at February 11, 2006 09:36 PM (+Gl1m)

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This week's Tarheel Tavern is hosted over at Captivated by Mandie. The suggested topic is "winter." I could only think of what I think about when I think winter in Carolina:

(click to enlarge)

It's nearly always that blue sky. There very little snow or ice in the winter here in the Piedmont, so you just get bare trees all winter -- but still that sun and sky. I think that's the #1 reason why people move here.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:06 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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It's time! The opening ceremonies for The Winter Olympics is today at 2pm EST! Yes, that's 8pm Italy time (I think), but they're starting! I wonder if there's a tape-delay so I can see it when I'm not working...

I like winter sports. Of course, the Olympics pretty much stinks since they allowed pro athletes in, but many of the winter games don't have professionals, so I still like them a lot. And these worldwide games were designed to promote global harmony and a spirit of global peace. Let's see how many countries use this time for peace, shall we?

Posted by: Ogre at 03:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Never one to disappoint my good readers, I'd like to repond to a request. It seems that Steven of Moby Shtick wanted me to post a picture up a llama's nose. I don't really know why, but that's what I thought he posted.

I got a picture up a llama's nose, but it really just came out too dark. It seems that when I shoved the lens up there, the flash really wouldn't work too well. I even tried doing it upside-down so the light from the flash might flash into his mouth and provide some light. It didn't work too well.

So, after I cleaned the llama snot off the camera, this was all that I was left with:

Enjoy, Stevin!

Posted by: Ogre at 02:04 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Guess you'll just have to buy one of those fancy iNose digital cameras if you want that shot.

Posted by: Harvey at February 10, 2006 04:58 PM (ubhj8)

2 That's terrific. Thanks much, Ogre. Ogre wanders through the petting farm gates with a camera slung around his neck, and a spam sandwich in his hand. "Excuse me," he says to the old animal Keeper in green overalls. "I'd like to shoot a few pictures of your nicest llama." The Keeper nods. "No problem. You with National Geographic? Studying the migrating habits of llamas?" Ogre starts. "Migrating habits? Uh, nope. Just here to take some pictures." "Just some pictures?" the Keeper says suspiciously, removing the alfalfa stalk from his mouth. "Of what, exactly?" "Well, see, I need to get a shot of a llama's nose. Um, nostril, actually. I'd like to take a picture of a llama's nostril." "A llama's nostril? Now, Son, I've heard many requests in my day, but, a nostril? You're joking, right?" "No, Sir, a nostril." "Well, I'll be. Son, you won't be putting that on the internet, now, will you?" "Uh, eh, nossir. No internet."

Posted by: Stevin at February 10, 2006 06:51 PM (LfL8N)

3 ooOooo! Do you have the iNose, Harvey? I've on the waiting list, but I don't have one yet! And Stevin -- who do you think held that bugger down whilest I focused?

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 09:41 PM (+Gl1m)

4 Hi, Would you let me use that awesome pic? My nick is llama and it would be really fun to use. llama llama at midgard dot net

Posted by: llama at February 13, 2006 05:44 AM (U7B1J)

5 Sure, go right ahead, llama!

Posted by: Ogre at February 13, 2006 11:00 AM (+Gl1m)

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Hey! I almost missed the plug for this wonderful advertiser this week! And it's a GOOD one!

Over there on the left, at the top, you should see a small box that's an ad for I am!. This is a fun blog, let me tell you! And I'm not just saying that because they're advertising here, I assure you.

There's this great picture from Jellystone Yellowstone National Park -- and another picture, this one of Old Faithful. There's also an interesting tidbit about Las Vegas.

Go on over and take a peek! Why not?

Posted by: Ogre at 01:01 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This has got to really confuse liberals. They've got to be utterly dumbfounded with no clue whether to be happy or sad. South Carolina has created a new toll road to pay for another road.

Now, on one hand, the liberals will be utterly overjoyed -- INCOME! ANY time that there is increased money from people to government, Democrats and liberals are happy. The more money they can get their hands on (without actually WORKING for it), the happier they are.

On the other hand, they're going to build an evil road with it! They're going to crush the environment, kill billions of animals, and polar bears will die from all the carbon released into the air from the evil cars that will drive on the road! (And irony of ironies, the road goes to the beach that won't exist because of the cars increasing the ocean levels).

So what are they to do?

I think overall, liberals will be happy because they're patient. They know that the road will only take so long to build, but the new income stream will last forever. They will likely use some of the money taken in by the toll road to enforce obscure, useless environmental regulations to obtain even MORE money (in fines). So they'll have more (of MY) money and more control (over everyone) -- yes, the liberals will be happy.

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I just read an excellent analysis by Yet another John over at Wizbang. It's a very analytical, mathematical analysis of the electoral college and the 2008 presidential election. I find the reference (just one) to NC as interesting.

North Carolina is listed as one of seven states the Republicans need to win (TX, FL, OH, NC, GA, VA, any one of MO, TN, or IN) to ensure victory in 2008. That's pretty reliable, considering past presidential election results for NC:
2004: Bush (R) - 56%; Kerry (D) - 44%
2000: Bush (R) - 56%; Gore (D) - 43%
1996: Dole (R) - 48%; Clinton (D) - 44%; Perot (Looney) - 7%
1992: Bush (R) - 43%; Clinton (D) - 42%; Perot (L) - 14%
1988: Bush (R) - 58%; Dukakis (D) - 42%
1984: Reagan (R) - 62%; Mondale (D) - 38%
1980: Reagan (R) - 49%; Carter (D) - 47%; Anderson (I) - 3%
1976: Carter (D) - 55%; Ford (R) - 44%
1972: Nixon (R) - 69%; McGovern (D) - 29%; Schmitz (American) - 2%
1968: Nixon (R) - 40%; Wallace (A) - 31%; Humphrey (D) - 29%
1964: Johnson (D) - 56%; Goldwater (R) - 43%

Now I know today's political parties have very little in common with some of those folks above, but it really does point out that North Carolina is pretty reliable to vote Republican for president -- 9 out of the last 10 times, and the last 7 consecutive times.

What's even more interesting is that the Republican Party has NEVER had a majority in the North Carolina Senate. How is it that the Democrats have retained control over so many years, with so many people voting Republican? Gerrymandering.

The Democrats get to draw the lines to determine which districts will select which Senators. They draw very large Republican districts, and a larger number of smaller Democrat-majority districts. And unfortunately, that's legal. Sure, it's immoral and wrong, but that doesn't matter when Democrats get to retain power -- at least not to Democrats.

So, to Wizbang's suggestion that those in states not competitive in 2008 (NC) "you may want to turn your energies to building the local republican party."

That's not going to make much difference here -- unless you can actually convert and convince registered Democrats to vote against their handouts from their party. Well, we're not allowed to shoot them, so that's the only hope for North Carolina -- actually convert Democrats and welcome them to the real world and Republican politics.

I wonder -- should I stop calling them idiots to convert them?

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Well, finally someone in the U.S. who claims to support free speech is actually supporting freedom of speech. The Daily Illini has printed the "offensive" cartoons. And yes, there's reaction all over the place.

You can follow the news updates on the beehive of activity that this horrid act of offensiveness has generated. They're making national headlines rather quickly -- and I think the other, larger newspaper suddenly have egg on their face.

As might be expected, the Chancellor of the school is disappointed. Wah. And you know what? I bet if his letter looked like this one, in response to the newspaper publishing pornographic stories, no one would be surprised (be sure to read his response linked above, this is his letter with some satirical modifications):

I was excited to see that the Daily Illini elected to highlight on its editorial page a collection of the perverse cartoons and raw, homosexual acts that have so offended Christians around the world. I do not find the cartoons personally offensive and so would never have taken the position of numerous respected news organizations in America--including The Washington Times--and censored them. I'm not sure that the DI could have engaged its readers in legitimate debate about the issues surrounding the cartoons' publication in Denmark without publishing them, so I applaud their efforts. It just isn't possible, for instance, to editorialize about pornography without publishing pornographic pictures.

The right of free speech and a free press are core values in American society, and I believe in them wholeheartedly. That is why the right to publish incendiary material means a publication must publish that incendiary material -- the public has a right to know. Editors and journalists have forever struggled with balancing the good that publishing a story will do for the public versus the harm it might cause. I believe the DI editors could not have found another way to meet their responsibility to inform the public, even by giving readers a web link to cartoons, as one news organization has done.

It is the DI's right to publish what its editors believe to be news. The DI is not a University-owned publication, and I would not want it to be. The DI is a real-world institution, and I only hope that its editors always seriously consider the real-world impact their decisions have on their many diverse readers and their community.

That said, I believe that the appropriate response to free speech that offends us is more free speech. As British philosopher John Milton said about truth in 1644, "Let her and Falsehood grapple: who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?"

Speech alone is our weapon. Expression is our right. When viewpoints are debated openly and civilly, truth will eventually emerge. I am sure that the DI's decision to publish will stir considerable debate. Although I strongly agree with the DI's decision, I am confident that we as individuals and as a university will always be made wiser and stronger by debate.

Sincerely,

Not Richard Herman

Chancellor

Be sure to support those who the muslims are attacking: Buy Danish!

Posted by: Ogre at 11:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I think the blog quizzes have really gone too far this time. It's one thing to have quizzes about your personality, political position, color, animal, etc. -- but this one help you, the blogger, determine what part of the blog you are? What's the next quiz -- which blog quiz are you?

If I Were a Blog Component,
I would be the MAIN BODY ENTRY.
I love living life - and blogging - to the fullest!Which Blog Component Are You?
Take This Blog Quiz at About Web Logs!

Posted by: Ogre at 09:01 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 I got Date/Time Stamp. I don't know why, but I find that rather depressing...

Posted by: Bou at February 10, 2006 02:52 AM (iHxT3)

2 But that's so... well... Yeah, I guess you're right there. Sorry about that...

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 11:04 AM (+Gl1m)

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Everyone knows there's pork in every single government budget. And you might even think that all the OTHER representatives and senators are creating pork, just not YOUR representative and senators. Well, open your eyes, it's damn near all of them. And do you know HOW it gets there? Take a look at this memo.

The memo is sent out by the appropriates committee, just begging each member to send in their pork projects. Of particular note is this line from the memo:

Please be realistic regarding your project priority list. You should not have 50 project priorities. Remember, these lists will be held confidential by the committee.

What a pile of crap. And it's tax time, so I get to muddle through the myriad miles of tax forms so I can fund this B.S. Crap like this really makes me want to be an anarchist. Then maybe when it's time to compromise, I can meet these morons in the middle -- with a small, republican, limited form of government.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 See, more proof that pork is not kosher.

Posted by: Stevin at February 10, 2006 03:49 AM (LfL8N)

2 And it never will be!

Posted by: Ogre at February 10, 2006 11:04 AM (+Gl1m)

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Did you know that the Florida State government has a "House Select Committee to Protect Private Property Rights?" Why? Because of Riviera Beach, FL, where there very clearly are NO property rights.

The House panel really blasted the city of Riviera Beach for their handling of the situation there. In short, the city council has decided that they own every inch of land inside the city limits, and they're going to build whatever they want, and they're going to take whatever land they want and give it to whoever they want. That IS the view of most governments in America today, and it's totally wrong.

One of the leading opponents of that land grab recently was shut up -- with cash. Martha Babson agreed to sell her house -- before the city took it from her -- to a developer for three times it's value. Folks, that's how it's supposed to work. If a developer wants land, BUY IT! Don't get the city to condemn it and take it from one person to give to another.

One House member actually has proposed a constitutional amendment to the Florida Constitution that would protect property rights. I question why in the heck that's needed? By admitting that's needed, it clearly says that there ARE NO PROPERTY RIGHTS in Florida now. And therefore, there is zero freedom -- without property rights, you cannot have any other rights -- it's impossible.

Yet the people involved, like Floyd Johnson, executive director of the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (super bureaucrat scum), believe they are doing good -- because they're increasing the tax base. The idea that government exists only to increase the tax base is so foreign to me, I doubt I will ever understand it -- and that's what hurts conservatives so much.

Conservatives take the attitude of "leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone." But today, that's no longer good enough. If you sit back and leave everyone else alone, they ARE going to take away everything from you. ANY government who takes ANY action to increase income, tax base, jobs, or anything like that is STRONGLY OPPOSED to freedom -- and they're wrong.

OH, how I yearn for freedom.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:06 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The investigation continues into the finances of Jim Black, king lord sovereign leader speaker of the NC House, and titular head of the Democrat Party in North Carolina. This is a separate investigation by the state board of elections (D) -- not the same as the federal investigation.

Don't look for much to come out of this investigation. The state board of elections is very strongly partisan -- it consists of very loyal Democrats appointed to the board by the governor. In order for them to find any evidence of wrongdoing, there's going to have to be actual photographs of people committing murder.

Now, do you see anything wrong with this:

A parade of N.C. optometrists testified Wednesday that they gave political donations without knowing who got them -- and acknowledged that some appeared to end up in the personal bank accounts of former Rep. Mike Decker and at least two other lawmakers.

Mr. Black just "reached out and asked his supporters to support the new member of his team."

N.C. law says it's illegal for anyone to solicit donations "without first clearly advising those solicited ... (t)he name of the candidate(s) for whom the contribution will be used; or the name of the political committee or party for which the funds will be used."

But, as I mentioned at the start of this post, the board of elections is appointed by the governor and expected to do his bidding. I will be surprised if anyone, especially Jim Black, is actually held accountable. Look for more "integrity rules" to be proposed by Black in the House.

Oh, and they might slap Mike Decker (Turncoat Party) with a small fine, just so they have a fall guy -- and he runs on the Republican ticket, so if they fine him, the Democrats can run around saying it's the Republicans who are corrupt. For those who don't know Mike Decker, he won election as a Republican, but once elected changed his affiliation to Democrat in exchange for cash bribes from Black, but then changed back to Republican when election time came around again.

Go ahead, try and convince me NC state-level politics aren't the filthiest in the country.

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Well, they're claiming they are. The North Carolina Legislature appointed a commission that actually met -- and if they're not solving global warming, why would they possibly be meeting? Oh, right, because the meeting, the rooms, the food, and everything else is paid for by the taxpayer.

The commission is preparing to make suggestions that include forcing the state to reduce emissions, forcing companies that do business in the state to reduce emissions, and possibly raising the price of energy substantially by requiring a certain minimum amount of electricity to be generated by a "renewable" source.

Folks, I'm addicted to oil. And know what? I'm also addicted to oxygen, water, and other comforts. That's NOT a bad thing. Why is oil evil? Even Bush weighed in last week, declaring that oil is bad. It's NOT. I LIKE my standard of living. If YOU don't like things that oil brings about, feel free not to use them.

Oil is good. We have plenty of oil, if we'd just explore placed like Canada. There may be TRILLIONS of barrels of oil there in the shale. To assume that MAN is so powerful as to change the climate of the planet is incredibly self-centered and prideful. We can't even exterminate a damn cockroach, but we can affect the global weather? Damn, aren't you scientists full of yourselves?

But hey, in North Carolina, the Legislature might actually decide that they can stop global warming simply by making you pay more for your electricity. See? Money can solve everything -- at least according to the Democrat-controlled NC Legislature.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:08 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Last week, Ogre had the honor of hosting the Tarheel Tavern, the weekly blog carnival of NC Bloggers. This coming week it will be at Capitvated by Mandie, and it will be a VISUAL carnival about winter!

So if you are blogging in or about NC, you need to participate this week! I'm talking to you, Teach...

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So, I'll ask you folks, my good readers, for input on a question I have.

I know many people blog different ways and for different reasons. I just realized that I've gone over 1,000 posts on this blog, and that's only since moving to mu.nu -- about 7 months. I'm not really sure if that's a lot or a little -- and I'll leave calculating the averages to other math folks.

I used to have a schedule of featured items each day -- Homespun bloggers, Christian Views, etc. However, most of those have gone away. So I try to make 4-6 posts a day. I always start out the morning with NC politics and government -- because that's where I am, and I want to give others information about that subject.

The rest of the day is a grab bag. But I try to get some varied topics up and always try for at least one silly post a day -- if you can't laugh, what's the point?

So the question is -- do you think there's too many posts here each day? I know the real answer is to do whatever I want because it's my blog, but I'm wondering -- are there so many posts that you, the good reader, cannot read them all?

I try to post them throughout the day, so each time you visit (as long as it's been a couple hours), there will be new content. Fresh and new, right? But is that too much? Do you come and read everything since the last time you read? Do you look for my "regular" topics?

What do you think?

Posted by: Ogre at 04:03 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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This week's New Blog Showcase Carnival has been posted at Dave's Not Here. Be sure and stop by and visit all the new blogs -- new blogs ALWAYS appreciate the comments, and you might find a lifelong read.

Next week, the Carnival will be hosted HERE! So, if you've got a new blog, or know any German girls or other new people that have a new blog (less than3 months old), be sure and get them to submit it at the carnival submission page.

This week's Carnival of Liberty is up, too -- lots of GREAT liberty-related stuff there. Please read it.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:05 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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You see this headline:

Thousands of Katrina Evacuees Booted From Hotels,

Hauling everything he owned in a plastic garbage bag, Darryl Travis walked out of the chandeliered lobby of the Crowne Plaza, joining the exodus of Hurricane Katrina refugees evicted from their hotel rooms across the country Tuesday.

Taxpayers no longer have to pay the bills for incurably lazy bums who absolutely refuse to work

And I *DO* know of what I speak. At one time in my life I had nothing. I had a bag of clothes and that's it. No job, no education, no help from family, nothing. Know what I did? In less than a week I had a job. I slept outside until I earned enough to rent an apartment. Then I got a better job.

So no, I do NOT feel sorry for this money-grubbing, lazy, good-for-nothing leeches that only want me to pay for their life. Screw 'em and the horse they rode in on. Personally, *I* am more than willing to help them -- but the government stealing my money is not help. If they need a job, tell them to come see me -- I'll get them a job. I'll hire them to work in my yard if I have to, but I'll give them dignity -- if they'll take it. I'm betting they won't.

Posted by: Ogre at 12:08 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Ok, this one isn't really North Carolina government, but it's close. The folks on the border of North Carolina, in Virginia, want to charge a toll to enter their state. While in the past, most tolls, especially over bridges, have been sold as a way to pay for the bridge, these people are coming right out and saying it isn't. Their toll is to build a landfill.

This shows how far government has gone from where it's supposed to be. Government in this country was not created to raise money -- but so many of those who are career politicians seems to think that is their primary purpose.

I remember the Newburg-Beacon bridge over the Hudson River in New York. It was widened in about 1979 or 1980. They put a toll on the bridge, just to pay for that widening. The toll is still in place.

Now these politicians admit they are not putting a toll in place to build roads or bridges. They are actually make people who drive through their town pay for the town to build a dump. That's just insanely wrong. Times like this I seriously wonder if a free republic has a chance of surviving.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:03 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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