April 24, 2006
The couple who lived there are living on a prayer -- literally. They say that the city has promised to pay for repairs and to pay for their stay in a hotel until the repairs are complete -- but they don't have a written promise from the city. The city refuses to comment or discuss whether they will pay.
My advice, Mac and Meg McCormick -- hire a lawyer now. I wouldn't trust the city of Charlotte as far as I could throw it or the people running it.
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April 22, 2006
(And I have to go cast my ballot for mayor).
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A drawback of Catawba County's growing economy and declining unemployment is an increased demand for child-care subsidies.
Oh, that wasn't on the editorial opinion page? I guess that publication just doesn't label it's opinion pieces. They've even set up the fear factor -- interviewing a "single mom" who "doesn't want to be forced to leave her 11-year-old child at home alone" this summer. Hello, it's months before summer -- how about some planning NOW?
Sorry. I didn't mean to offend the lazy by suggesting that people take responsibility for their actions. But you have to be careful. Did you know that "Last week, the state suspended day-care financing for children age 9 and older?" In other words, if you have a 10-year old, YOU have to take care of them! Oh, the horror! What is this state coming to when parents have to be responsible for their children!
Don't worry, lazy and irresponsible people. I'm sure the government will be more than happy to take my labor and use it for your benefit. The legislature is sure to spend another couple hundred million so that you don't have to be responsible for your own damn children -- I will. Either that, or we'll just do what we can to reduce that pesky employment number and kill the economy so this problem will go away.
But hey, since I'm paying for these damn children, why can't I get some say in how they're raised? I want the kids over to my house. At age 8, they can do some cleaning. They can be raking up grass and leaves. Heck, I'll just take a couple to fetch me a beer from the fridge when I need one -- after all, *I* am paying to raise them, why not?
(Featured at The Scratching Post).
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April 21, 2006
Some people have taken oaths to never cat-blog. Some religiously cat-blog every Friday and beyond. The Ogre takes the middle ground (no, really!) -- sometimes there's some cat blogging and sometimes there's not. I've got 3 cats, so there's plenty of picture opportunities...but I'm not sure if this actually counts as cat blogging:
What do you think?
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And Angel -- you bet!
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People who are paying more than 30 percent of their income for the roof over their heads also have a problem, and there may be as many as 2 million of the state's residents living in such households.
That's the opening paragraph in their editorial -- and it's right out of the socialist handbook: "Step 1: Create a life-threatening, emotional, heart-wrenching crisis." The clear and obvious intent here is to make you, the reader, feel bad, right away, about these "poor people" -- 2 million of them -- who are in trouble.
What's left out, of course, is any concept of responsibility. The editors have absolutely no interest in why those people are in that situation. The fact that some might have VOLUNTARILY decided to choose that home does not matter to the editors. They try to claim that all people in that situation are there because of "pay cuts."
Now that they've set the reader up to feel bad for 2 million people who, through absolutely no fault of their own (Socialist Handbook Step 2: Be sure that nothing is the victim's fault), the News and Observer provides the solution. If you know socialists, the solution is always the same, no matter what the problem is, no matter who caused problem -- even if there isn't really any problem at all -- government.
With a commitment of $50 million in state money proposed last week, North Carolina can put a dent in the problem by making more affordable housing available.
There you go. If you want a low housing payment in North Carolina, you do not have to earn it. You do not have to work. All you need is government to take from those who work and give to you. It's only fair -- at least in the eyes of the News and Observer. And if that doesn't convince you, socialist handbook step #3 follows in the next sentence:
more importantly, the state can improve prospects for the children of those families. For their sake, and everybody's, this should be a priority for state leaders.
There you go. It's just not a complete socialist sell if you don't put in "For The Children(TM)." You see, then the setup is complete -- if you oppose them, you're against the children.
Folks, these people are socialist scum. Their goal is to take from people who work, plain and simple. They don't want to give the money themselves because they're selfish bastards. Instead, they want to use the force of government to steal the labor of those who are responsible. That is the clear and stated goal, and primary purpose for publishing, the Raleigh News and Observer.
Oppose them. Stop them. Speak up and let them know that you know their goal -- because they're not going to admit it.
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April 20, 2006
You Belong in Dublin |
 Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town. |
Nice. I do want to visit there some time in my life.
Found at And Rightly So.
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As Representative Myrick told President Bush during the ports discussion, not only No, but Hell NO to amnesty. Please do not support any amnesty for criminals.
I received a written response from him the other day (I'll be sure and let you, the good reader know if I get a response to the bricks I send, too). It's probably a form letter, and I can understand that. In it, he says that he is a co-sponsor of S.1438. I think I'll go take a peek...
Gee, only 70 pages long. I wonder what's hidden inside (my comments in parenthesis):
Sec 101a: A whopping 250 extra border patrol agents per year. (Well that's a good start.)
Sec 101c: Roads and barriers needed to "achieve operational control of the borders of the United States"
Sec 103: Training so border agents can recognize forged documents.
Sec 104: Requires biometric portions of ID accepted
Sec 201: Authorize funds to detain criminal aliens
Sec 203: Increase penalties for drug and people smuggling
Sec 207: More cash to deport aliens
Sec 208: More cash to hire people in immigration positions
Sec 210: Allows (but does not require) federal department to deny benefits to criminal aliens
Sec 220: Grants states the authority to enforce immigration laws (they already can if they want to).
Sec 222: Requires state to inform DHS about aliens apprehended
Sec 225: Requires the feds to take control of aliens transferred to them by states
Sec 227: Requires the feds to pay for state costs associated with criminal prosecution of aliens
Sec 301: Hire 3,000 federal union thugs employees to enforce workplace laws regarding illegals
Sec 302: Increases fines for those who knowingly hire aliens
Sec 311: Improves social security cards (tamper resistant)
Sec 501: Creates guest worker program
Sec 218A: Details guest worker program -- requires a fee from worker, requires job offer, application, medical form. Maximum duration of guest worker: 6 years -- unless they're a migrant worker (<6 mos per year). Families of guest workers could only visit for 30 days. If unemployed for 30 days, must depart.
Sec 218B: Allows anyone already in the US to stay -- if they admit, in writing, that they're illegal; give up all their forged documents; and agrees to leave within 5 years unless they become legal during that time. If they agree to leave and do not, they're fined.
Sec 801: Give piles of money -- $120 million -- to organizations who help illegals.
Sec 901: Give these "temporary workers" their own social security accounts called "temporary worker investment accounts" -- including taking anything they might have put into social security already.
And lots of other technical changes.
Well, it's not too bad, but it sure isn't good. I don't see a wall there, do you? I don't see anything about getting the illegals already here out, do you? I'm not impressed.
My Senator's letter also says
I support a comprehensive approach
Ah, crap. That's the Republican code word for amnesty.
Well, at least one of my senators responded.
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1. Communist, Anti-American ADULTS violently threatened and even attacked military recruiters at UC Santa Cruz. You may see them referred to as "kids" and "students," but they're over 18, legally adults. They threw rocks, slashed tires, and physically blocked people from moving through public areas. Due to fear of a riot and kindness on the part of the military, only one adult was arrested.
2. The group that supported this action, SAW, consisting of more adults, published a press release. The press release celebrated the group's ability to physically block access to movement of people in public areas. That press release included contact information (as most do) including emails and phone numbers of people to contact for more information about the event or the group.
3. Michelle Malkin linked to the press release and provided her comments about it. This is, or so I thought, the purpose of press releases -- to get people information about an event.
4. The anti-American thugs who rely on intimidation to crush freedom of speech (that's the SAW members) apparently got some phone calls from their press release -- people actually contacted the people listed in the public press release. It's not clear whether the people who called got the numbers from the initial press release, Michelle Malkin's copy, or any of the other millions of places on the internet to which things released into the internet go.
5. The aforementioned intimidating thugs decided to "get back" at Michelle Malkin. Using their usual tactics, they decided to try and intimidate her by publishing her home phone number and satellite maps of her house.
Those who support the anti-Americans on the left claim they're just dishing out what she's giving. Of course, that's completely untrue, as the press release is what included the phone numbers. A press release is DESIGNED to be read and spread far and wide. Those who are posing her information had to dig to find it.
But, it is what this is. Who knows where it will be going. While the "poor kids" are supposedly scared by the reaction of America to their hatred, Michelle is not.
It's causing wide ripples in the blogosphere. Rick Moran is de-linking anyone who decides to participate in such skulduggery. Don Surber is annoyed at Michelle. And, as I mentioned, there's thousands of posts about this topic.
Me? I just wonder if that's what passes for political discourse today. Have the people of this country become so divided that the only way to get your message across is to rely on physical or violent intimidation? It sure seems that way -- and it's a logical progression, if you ask me.
You see, the left has had one primary way to get their message through: crisis. Seriously. Every single "issue" that the left brings up is wrapped in a crisis. This has worked well for them for a long time, but people are getting weary of it. People just aren't believing there IS a crisis. So the next logical step needed to convince people of their side is threats and intimidation.
That's how the environmentalists have been getting their point across for years. Now look at the criminal invaders -- their actions are nothing BUT intimidation -- and there's NO repercussions for the lawbreaking or the intimidation, so why not continue it?
Apparently there's no room for peaceful protest nor logical discussions in this country. You have two options today for political discussion:
1. Violent intimidation, as successfully used by criminal aliens (aka illegal immigrants) and the taxpayer-funded students at UC Santa Cruz.
2. Nothing. Sit back and ignore it all and hope it goes away. Take little Johnny to soccer practice and ignore the news networks. Pay your taxes and hope that nothing bad happens to you.
What other options are left? Serious discussion and discourse is simply not an option in today's environment.
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Why? Because the Democrat-led legislature continues to tax the highest gas taxes in the southeast and use them for other things. Seriously. The state collects billions of dollars in gas taxes, but that money is NOT being used for roads. Each year the Democrats in the legislature introduce a bill to take money from the highway trust fund and plop that money in the general fund. This has been happening for the past 16 years, so the roads are literally billions of dollars short money.
This has resulted in massive congestion and delays in completing road projects. It has resulted in roads that are so full of potholes that it is difficult to drive on them in a car (as opposed to a 4WD). People are finally speaking up about the roads. However, the legislature will not admit they did anything wrong.
Now, a group with a MASSIVE vested interest (they would get enormous piles of cash) has come up with a solution. No, the solution isn't to stop taking money from the trust fund -- that will continue as long as there is a Democrat majority in the legislature. Their solution is to BORROW A BILLION DOLLARS!
Yes, that's right. Since the legislature already spent well over a billion dollars that was supposed to be used for roads, we should just borrow the money. After all, it's government, and they don't have to actually pay back that money, right? And, well, if they do, it's at a good rate, right?
That's okay, the vested-interest group has a way to pay for the loan -- by using more of the money that's already being taken from the highway trust fund! Instead of actually supporting using gas taxes for roads, they suggest diverting it to pay off the loan instead of putting it in the general fund. Great. Then the legislature will take EVEN MORE from the highway "trust" fund.
And if that's not enough money, this group also suggests continuing to raise even more money by raising taxes on gasoline and on car sales and on auto title transfers.
The group, NC GO! is nothing more than yet another interest group that seeks to gain gigantic piles of cash from the working people of North Carolina. Don't listen to them, they have ONE interest in mind -- taking YOUR money and YOUR labor by using the force of government. These kind of people used to be considered criminals. Now they're "coalitions." Maybe I can form a "coalition" and "raise" money from the bank where I don't have an account. If I call myself government, it would be legal.
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In her final session with the N.C. Legislature, Sherrill says she will work on getting more money to Buncombe County
It's not about doing what's right or what's good, it's ONLY about getting money. That sucks.
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April 19, 2006
| Guinness (66% dark & bitter, 66% working class, 100% genuine) |
 Okay, we all know Guinness is the best possible score on any "What Kind Of Beer Are You" test, so you can just go on and pat yourself on the back now. Like the world's most famous brew, you're genuine, you've got good taste, and you're sophisticated. What else can I say, except congratulations? If your friends didn't score the same way, get ready for them to say: Guinness is too heavy; it's an acquired taste; it's too serious--and they probably think those things about you at times. But just brush 'em off. Everybody knows Guinness is the best. Cheers.
|
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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| Link: The If You Were A Beer Test written by gwendolynbooks on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
(New readers, never fear -- we just have to have some lighter topics around here now and then -- too much of anything, especially politics -- is bad for ya!)
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I found a reference to a printed letter to the editor in the Raleigh News and Observer. If you've followed politics in NC at all and know the politics behind the current Duke Lacrosse team, you'll get a kick out of the letter.
Nice one, Mike!
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The idea of a blog carnival is for one post to contain links to writings of many other people on a given subject (usually). The Carnival of Liberty provides weekly links to writings of wonderful and thoughtful people regarding, well, liberty. If you're interested in liberty, this is THE carnival you should be reading. Head on over and take a peek!
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In honor of everyone's favorite day of the year, Terry and I decided to grab his camcorder and catch up with some of the foot soldiers in the Fair Tax campaign. Of course, April 17th was D-Day since April 15th fell on a Saturday, so we ventured to the main U.S. Post Office for Birmingham, Alabama, camcorder in hand. If you are one of the prudent souls who actually plans ahead in their preparation, watching your fellow denizen is quite comical on Tax Day. A post office branch is no less similar to that of a colony of ants as they scurry about battling their fellow procrastinators. more...
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As a note: this is the blog of a private citizen who is in no way affiliated with, nor working for, nor paid by any candidate or political party. This is simple freedom of speech by a citizen.
Recently I've been handed a few of the campaign brochures for both campaigns. Interestingly enough, both campaigns heavily emphasize that the candidate is a conservative. In fact, Karen Ray's ad says that Karen Ray is
Recognized as one of the General Assembly's most fiscally conservative representatives
(Emphasis NOT added by me -- it was on the ad.) Well, I know the North Carolina General Assembly is relatively transparent in some issues -- such as how members vote and what bills they support -- so I went and had a peek.
Looking at the bills that Karen Ray sponsored her last year (51 of them), I just checked the ones that dealt with spending. Here's what I found:
H1794 Supported spending more than $10 TRILLION passenger trains.
H1724 Give $5,000,000 to Nascar Museum
H1718 Give $1,125,000 (new money) to Nursing Schools
H1717 Give $4,000,000 to "Arts"
H1614 Spend $50,000 on "Study committee" to study the Dept of Public Instruction
H662 Takes $1,019,336 FROM THE HIGHWAY FUNDS and authorizes their use TO CATCH TAX EVADERS
H575 Give $51,740,554 (new money) to Community Colleges
H574 Give $11,000,000 to Community Colleges as RESERVE funds
H573 Give $42,000,000 to Community Colleges for new health systems
What? That's called "one of the most fiscally conservative?" Holy spending spree, Batman. That's over $115 million dollars of MY tax money being spent on seriously questionable (to me) issues (AND a resolution supporting $10 TRILLION of my tax money on damn passenger trains! Hello?!? Can we join the 21st century now?)
The WORST one of the bunch is H662 -- taking money OUT OF the gas tax revenue, that is supposed to be used for BUILDING ROADS that we very sorely need, and using it to catch tax cheats! That's unconsitutional because money raised for one purpose is supposed to be used for that purpose.
I'm sorry, that is NOT fiscally conservative -- that's spending money like it's going out of style.
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Now keep in mind that one of the primary purposes of government is to protect citizens. That's why government exists. However, that's not a valid reason to spend money, according to the City of Charlotte -- they're more concerned with spending money on building arenas, trains, and museums -- that IS their priority, whether they admit it or not.
So, when homeowners associations are spending money to hire private security forces to protect their property, clearly something is wrong -- what's wrong is that the police are not doing their job. But the Observer, in true socialist style, can't bring themselves to say that's the problem!
Instead, the Observer editors complain that since people are hiring private security that people are perceiving a problem where there may not be one! Yes, even if the facts prove that there IS more crime, the CRIME itself is not the problem, the problem is that people are SEEING the crime and pointing it out! Just ignore it and say nothing, and IT'S NOT A PROBLEM -- according to the Observer and those who run the city.
In addition, the Observer whines that it's not fair! Yes, that's right, if you work hard and earn money and buy things, it's simply not fair that you should be able to protect what you've earned! Seriously, that IS what they argue! They think that if there's going to be crime, it's only fair if EVERYONE is equally affected. Folks, I can't make up garbage like this.
And yes, they do complain that public streets should not be made private, too. You see, if someone wants to walk through your neighborhood and examine what's there to steal, even if they have no business in your neighborhood, they should be allowed to -- that's the Observer's position. I wonder if they would apply that policy to their newsrooms -- oh, guess not -- their offices are all guarded by security cards and armed guards.
Finally, the biggest complaint from the Observer is that people who are spending money on their own security because the city won't provide it might not support tax increases. That's right, the idea that cars are being stolen doesn't matter -- all that matters to the Observer is that the city get more tax revenue to spend on anything BUT crime control.
These editors are gone. They have no clue what the word "freedom" even means. I bet they're gone to that point that they don't know what a free election is. I know they don't like them. I know they hate capitalism and freedom in all forms -- but this attack on people who want to protect their OWN property is just amazing.
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Because we've never been fully funded
So what would be considered "fully funded?" More. No dollar amount will ever be enough, only MORE.
Community college officials said they would prefer to keep tuition affordable for working people, so the extra money needs to come from taxpayers.
Nope, can't have those people who will actually BENEFIT from something have to pay for it. What ever happened to the concept of people working and earning things for themselves? Nice job, community colleges -- you're teaching that people should NOT rely on themselves, but instead suck working people dry. The concept of responsibility is completely dead in "higher" education today.
The theory is that the students will get higher-paying jobs and generate more state tax revenue in the future to ease the burden on the taxpayers who now being asked to foot the bill.
Holy crap. Are people really that utterly stupid? Is there anyone who actually believes that lie, even for a second? Well, I suppose the people who are being educated at such institutions at MY expense might.
If that theory is so true, can anyone tell me the last time that ANY education system EVER asked for less? At what point will there be a reduction in burdens on the taxpayer? In North Carolina? The morons who run this state can't even make do with cost of living increases -- they're asking for THIRTY PERCENT MORE. No, that's not a theory, that's a blatant lie.
The Community College system might have a purpose, but it's no longer being used to educate -- it's being used to redistribute wealth from those who work and earn money to those who do not. It's wrong -- but the Socialist Democrats running the state disagree. As long as you support Democrats in North Carolina, they will continue to spend and waste money taken from those who work.
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April 18, 2006
Illegal immigration is something that many of my readers are concerned with. As a candidate to the United States House of Representatives, it is an issue that you will have to face.1. Do you think that illegal immigration is a problem today? If so, how much of a problem?
2. What specific, concrete laws would you support or introduce regarding immigration?
Stay tuned for the candidate responses.
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