Ok, now this is just getting ridiculous

How long????!!!!!

...


Sheesh!!!!

Later,

So where the Aitch have I been? Well...

It's not like I intended to be away for 6 months. I've been here, I haven't been on vacation or lost power or living in a cave all this time.

It's just that, when you start to fall out of a habit, unless you really buckle down and work at it, you'll lose it. And that's how things were with me and blogging.

Although, the last couple of weeks, I have been trying to login, but I had forgotten my username and password for Blogger.

Yeah, I'm that pathetic.

Another factor I think is that, the last couple of times I tried to step up the number of posts per day/week, I felt like I had to try to catch up on all the previous topics that had been of iterest at the time.

Well, trying to catch up on 6 months of news and comment on it? Ain't gonna happen.

So, I'm just going to post when I feel the urge, about topics that interest me. Just like everyone else, really. And not worry if I haven't commented about the hot-button issue of the minute. Or day. Or even week.

Just go with the flow.

Hope you'll be here.

Later,

Hey, what's this?

Hmm... Why, it looks like my old blog page!

Sure seems to be a lot of dust around here. Hello?

Where's the light switch, it's awfully dark here too.

(Blunder, fumble, crash!)

Oww!

Jeeze, what a mess. Been away for a damn long time.

Guess I'll have to start cleaning up around here...

Later,

Happy Easter

I hope everyone is enjoying the Easter holiday.

I've been really busy the past couple of months, and there have been some new developments. I'll have more details soon.

Later,

Weird stuff: Copernicus was wrong?

Normally, when traipsing through the fever swamps of Daily Kos, I normally find it difficult to find topics where I agree with the posters. But here's one that left me scratching my head and saying, "WTF?"

Wow. Just when you think Republicans can't get any crazier, we find out that the powerful chairman of the Texas House Appropriations Committee, Warren Chisum, doesn't even believe that the earth revolves around the sun.

Still, it's enough to set the world a-spinning that the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the most powerful committee in the House, distributed to legislators a memo pitching crazed wingers who believe the earth stands still -- doesn't spin on its axis or revolve around the Sun -- that Copernicus was part of a Jewish conspiracy to undermine the Old Testament.

If you end up going to the Fixed Earth website, well, just be ready for an anti-science nutball screed that constantly references itself for proof of its rantings, then pats itself on the back for exposing the big conspiracy against God and the Bible. Simply unbelieveable.

But be forewarned. Trying to make sense of all the contradictory claims and circular references is enough to make a saint swear. My eyes started crossing after just a few minutes...

Later,

Duke rape case being buried by the media

No, not the one you think. Another rape case, but this time, with the races reversed.

Off-East rape investigation continues

University officials said Monday that they had met with members of the fraternity after the report was filed by the alleged victim, who Wasiolek confirmed is white.

...

The alleged victim told police she was raped in the bathroom by a black man in his late teens or early 20s, 6-foot-1 and wearing a black do-rag, gray sweatshirt and jeans, according to a DPD statement released Sunday.

One really interesting item. Both the Chronicle (above) and the Charlotte Observer mention the race of the accused rapist, but what about the Raleigh News & Observer?

Charlote Observer article:

Police had not charged anyone late Sunday in connection with the allegations but released a description of a suspect: a black male, in his late teens or early 20s, about 6-feet-1-inch tall and wearing a black do-rag, a gray sweat shirt and blue jeans, according to the news release.

Raliegh News & Observer article:

Police had not charged anyone but released a description of a suspect. The man is described as being in his late teens or early 20s, about 6-foot-1 and wearing a black do-rag, a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans, according to a police news release.

Makes you go, "Hmmm."

(h/t: Townhall.com)

Later,

Former Speaker Black to resign and plead GUILTY to felony charge

I first heard the story on WBT-1110AM this evening.

Former State House Speaker Jim Black will resign from office and plead guilty to a federal corruption charge, The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday night.

The newspaper said on its Web site that Black's attorney, Ken Bell, confirmed that Black will plead guilty on Thursday to one count of accepting illegal gratuities. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

``Since somebody is talking who shouldn't have and has leaked what's happened, I will confirm that Dr. Black will enter a guilty plea to accepting illegal gratuities in federal court on Thursday,'' Bell said.

Because state law bans felons from holding office, Black will have to resign his seat in the House representing a suburban Charlotte district.

Later,

A Letter from a Blogger that Mr. Edwards Probably Won't Hire

Confederate Yankee has posted an open letter to John Edwards:

Part of me admires you for sticking to your guns and keeping Amanda Marcotte and Melissia McEwan on staff despite their obvious and long-standing hatred of Christians--Marcotte alone has referred to Christians derisively at least 114 times, as "godbags"--but I don't think too many of my fellow North Carolina Christians are going to recognize your political courage, in which you bravely responded to radical left-wing astrology site's IMPORTANT ACTION ALERTS by doing exactly as they wanted.

Most of these folks could care less about Marcotte's thoughts about what would have happened if the Virgin Mary had aborted Jesus as an independent blogger, but they are concerned, because you don't seem to much care about the image that gives your campaign. Some might just get the sneaking suspicion that you might feel the same way.

Now, I know you're simply pandering to the left wing base to give yourself some fleeting hope of being able to parley your campaign into the Number Two slot behind Hillary! or Barack Obama, but that's because I'm a political blogger myself. But I'm not everybody, and you never had a chance at my vote.

Read the whole thing.

Later,

iWalk, iPod... iGetFined?

Bill Banning iPods In Crosswalks Slated For Albany

State Sen. Kruger: Electronic Devices Put Many In Danger

Lou Young

Reporting

(CBS) NEW YORK First it was cell phones in cars, then trans fats. Now, a new plan is on the table to ban gadget use while crossing city streets.

We all seem to have one -- an iPod, a BlackBerry, a cell phone -- taking up more and more of our time, but can they make us too distracted to walk safely? Some people think so.

If you use them in the crosswalk, your favorite electronic devices could be in the crosshairs.

Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what State Sen. Carl Kruger calls iPod oblivion.

...

What's next, banning walking and chewing gum at the same time? Patting your head and rubbing your tummy?

Later,

Switching over to new Blogger

You may in the next few weeks see some changes as I get used to the new features.

Later,

Local Libertarian speaks out against proposed S.C. car smoking ban

Just got an email on one of the mailing lists I subscribe to. Our own Chris Cole was interviewed on News 14 Carolina about the proposed bill in S.C. to ban smoking in your own car if there is a child under 10 also in that car.

You can read the story and also watch the video here.

One of the replies to that email made an interesting point: (Slightly edited for spelling)

Something I'd like to see is someone ask this Darrell Jackson fellow if it occured to him to go up to the woman who made him cringe by smoking in a car with a child and simply *ask* that she stop smoking. These people want to make legislation substitute for real person-to-person connection. They want to busybody and bully from behind a desk, in other words. Did Jackson stand up for *that* child? Or did he simply ignore that *victim* and walk away dreaming up legislation that would make him feel better about what he saw without actually having to get involved with his fellow people?

Later,

Forging Alliances?

Interesting article over at TCSDaily, Why Be a Conservative Libertarian?

Briefly, my answer boils down to two points.

1) The Republican base is more naturally favorable toward limited government than is the Democratic base.

2) I find it a challenge trying to persuade religious conservatives to loosen the relationship between their religious beliefs and their political agenda. However, I find it even more of a challenge to deal with the Left, where their political agenda is their religion.

(h/t Instapundit)

Later,

Guns and the Democratic Party

One thing I noticed about the 2006 election was how the issue of gun control just never really seemed to come up. Is it possible that the Democrats (oh, sorry, Democratics) have realized that support for gun control is one of the best ways to NOT get elected?

Guns & Politics, 2008

Read the whole thing.

Later,

Monday Night Dog VIDEO Blogging #1

That's right, this is a first. When we had that snowstorm last Thursday, I stayed home and worked online. I had to take the dogs out, so I decided to bring my cell phone with me and take a video. Here's the result; I call it Scruffy's First Snow:



Let me know what you think!

Later,

Long Time Gone

What with an increased workload at my job, tasks to take care of around the house, and plus just plain slackerhood on my part a good part of the time, I haven't been keeping up with the blog as much as I would like. I've come to the conclusion that I'm just going to have to knuckle down and, by hook or by crook, carve out at least a few minutes a day, and get some new posts up. I owe it to my loyal devoted readership (yes, both of you).

Later,

Monday Night Dog Blogging #22

Goober says hello to our newest addition, Pumpkin the bunny.

Later,

Have a Happy New Year!

Been away for a while. Personal reasons and work all conspired against me, and to top it all off, a nasty cold I've been fighting the past few weeks.

Hopefully the new year will see me bringing you new posts on a more frequent basis.

Later,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope ya'll are enjoying the holiday.

I'd like to pass along a link, as well. It tells the story of the origins of Thanksgiving, but fom an angle that most people never consider.

Later,

Operation Ten Thousand Tuesday

LPNC Announcements: Election Day Ballot Petitioning for LPNC
By Bob Richie, Ballot Access Director

As we all know the election season is well underway and we still can't run a Libertarian candidate in this state! That's what I call "stacking the deck". How are the citizens of this state going to be able to enjoy all of the freedoms that we as Libertarians have to offer them if we can't get on the ballot, run for office, win the office and bring liberty back to this State?

Well, the first thing is to get back on the ballot. We have an unequalled opportunity just ahead of us. It's called ELECTION DAY. At no other time is there as many guaranteed registered voters gathered in one place. That place is at the polls. This opportunity is fast approaching and is on November 7, 2006. It is time for dedicated Libertarians across the state to take just a little time and do the work that we must do. I am asking all Libertarians to at least try to collect as many signatures as you can when you go to the polls to cast your own ballot. Signatures collected at the polls are almost guaranteed to be valid.

Every volunteer signature saves the state party about one dollar and that's a conservative estimate. If you are able to collect just 10 signatures that saves our party $10-25 that otherwise would go to pay a petitioner.

Now is the time for you to step forward and do your part to put us back on the ballot. If you are able to spend time at the polls - over your lunch hour, or even two or three hours during peak voter turn out times (morning and evening) - you can be an integral part of the action that puts us back on the ballot.

There has been a tremendous amount time and energy already spent on this ballot petition drive but we are only about half of the way home. Please start making preparations to step up to the plate on Election Day and help put us over the top on this drive. We have had this fight with the state before and won, we must now have this battle again and without near the amount of resources that we have enjoyed in past victories.

I will be glad to help in anyway that I can. If you need petition forms or information on polling places or contact information for others who may want to help in your area, please feel free to contact me via email.

Thank you in advance for the work I know you are about to undertake.

Sincerely,
Bob Ritchie
LPNC Ballot Access Director

P.S. Let's show the state that Libertarians aren't just "white noise" behind the lies and rhetoric perpetuated by the monopoly of the "R's" and "D's". Get out and petition on Election Day!

Carolina Libertarian Candidate Profile - Michael Carmany

What's your name?

Michael Carmany

How old are you?

53

Where do you live (City, County, State)?

Anderson, South Carolina

Which office are you running for?

State House of Representatives District Eight

Is this a partisan race?

Yes

Who are your opponents?

Republican challenger Don Bowen

Why did you make the decision to run for office?

I ran in 2004 and took 15% of the vote. In 2004 I decided to run to grow the Libertarian Party And be a true representative of the citizens of District Eight and South Carolina.

Give at least three specific issues you want to address in your campaign:

I am proposing the ELIMINATION of Property tax and conversion to a Consumption tax base by changing the SC constitution to only allow taxation by sales tax. This will create One tax system under voter control. Reduce tax burden on everyone and provide sufficient, equal funding to operate governments and schools. Reduction of spending and Government size is a must and can be done by consolidating departments and privatizing wherever possible.

I want to force Educational improvement, not more spending but improving the Quality of Education. The first step is to unify the structure of all districts to 46 county districts to get more money to the classroom. Also open up the options for parents by allowing equality among Home, Private, Charter and government schools.

Emanate Domain needs to be limited in conditions of seizure. Improve methods of compensation and implement an effective and equal appeals process for both seizure and compensation.

Give an example of the kind of reactions you get from potential voters when you present your ideas:

I get a positive response on Property tax elimination; in fact it has been so good the legislature has passed a “supposed tax swap”. But this tax swap works best for the upper income people and actually creates more income for the state by increasing the tax burden of middle and lower income. As far as Education everyone realizes we are at the bottom and need improvement. All land owners are upset about the Supreme Court ruling, that’s why we need to improve the SC constitution to better control seizures and protect property owners.

Give any additional thoughts you wish to convey:

Our Election process is being improved, but we need to continue this improvement by having a perminate paper trail and voter receipts of who the voted for when requested. We also need to create a Quorum requirement when taxes or land use issues are decided. A minimum of registered voters should decide these issues not the few that will turn out for special elections.

Recall and Referendum needs to be an option available to SC voters.

States need to retake their constitutional guaranteed authority by controlling the pay and benefits of our Federal legislature, they do work for us.

Gun rights guaranteed by the constitution need to be re-established. Right to carry laws should be automatic for legal citizens and reciprocity should be allowed in all states.

How can people get in touch with you to volunteer/contribute?

You can go online to www.aclp.us and get all my links and contribution information. My phone is 864-287-4030.