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July 10, 2008

DigTriad grammar

One can only shake his head at this:

"Reidsville ? Reidsville High School was recognized being recognized for their football team on a state level.

The RHS football team and coach Jim Teague was named "FootballCapital of NC" by the General Assembly in Raleigh, NC. The vote came in at an unanimous 118-0.

Reidsville High School has won more State Championships than any other high school in the state. They hold a total of 16 State Championships.

WFMY News 2"

Somebody needs to get Chelsi's back. 

Helpful. 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:39 PM | | Comments (0)

July 08, 2008

Synthesis with NC A&T moves horse park forward

County Manager Tom Robinson says building regional support for the Rockingham County equestrian center is what made the difference in receiving money this year from the General Assembly.

That and a sharp eye from state Rep. Nelson Cole.

The legislature approved $2.4 million to be spent on the Horse Park of the South, the name for a long sought equestrian center slated to be built near the intersection of U.S. 29 and Barnes Street in Reidsville.

Continue reading "Synthesis with NC A&T moves horse park forward" »

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 11:30 AM | | Comments (0)

July 04, 2008

"The Paradox of Tarheel Politics" : A book review with subjective commentary

In "The Paradox of Tarheel Politics", veteran reporter Rob Christensen, of the Raleigh News and Observer, provides a stellar addition to the pantheon of North Carolina political works.

This book is a must read for any politician, journalist, activist, observer or just plain interested party. Christensen deserves a medal for making the subject matter approachable to the layman. As an historical work, the book ranks among the most active and engaging stories in recent memory.

Perhaps a testament to the editors Christensen has had in his career, the prose is engaging and full of energy. There is hardly a weak spot in the entire book. Whether the reader is on vacation with hours on end or a casual nighttime bookworm reading a few pages a night, "The Paradox of Tarheel Politics" is sure to capture and hold their attention.

In this essay, I hope to capture the spirit of Christensen's work while at the same time examining and providing my own interpretations viewed from my personal foundation of conservative, post Reagan-era Republicanism.

I suppose Christensen's main thesis could be summed up, as has been stated in professional reviews, by saying that North Carolina political history in the 20th Century was a dichotomy of one party domination, based on the twin pillars of violence, bigotry and malice toward the aspirations of the state's black citizens and a dedication to otherwise "progressive" policies vis a vis business and education.

As one who grew up in post-integration North Carolina, I find it disgraceful that the state's Democratic Party owes its 110 years of unfettered dominance of the state's political machine to an 1898 white supremacy campaign executed on horseback with torchlight and gunfire.

Continue reading ""The Paradox of Tarheel Politics" : A book review with subjective commentary" »

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:33 AM | | Comments (0)

Berger stands against Democrats and $800 million in new state debt

I hope the rest of the state one day gets to know Sen. Phil Berger the way I have. Bright, kind, gentle, exact, but also strong, tough and a great strategist. Berger has been very patient with me, since I first called him to voice a concern I had about state government, to recent brief conversations at local political events. He is always willing to share insights and explain what goes into his actions at the legislature.

I've thought his leadership in the general assembly has been stellar. Republicans across the state would do well to look to Berger as one of the cornerstones to build a conservative legislature upon.

Take this quote for example, on the Democrat's budget, created in secret, closed door meetings, and dumped on the legislature with just hours to digest. The plan calls for more than $800 million in new debt.

AP:

*"Good gracious," said Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican. "I am just concerned about the level of debt -- just about a billion dollars in debt."

Berger said that much borrowing should require voters' approval, instead of letting lawmakers make the call when they vote on the $21.3 billion spending plan next week.

"If we are going to tie down the taxpayers' future, in terms of paying down the debt, we really ought to let them have a say," he said."*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:57 AM | | Comments (3)

June 30, 2008

What type of environment?

I really don't know what to say about this. It makes me very upset. I can't believe people like this exist on this planet, let alone in North Carolina. I think the first person to make a "product of their environment" excuse for Lovette and Attwater ought to be bitch slapped.

That's how I feel and that's putting it mildly. Very mildly.

AP:

"The report said Carson was shot five times, including once in the right cheek by a "full metal jacketed bullet" and in the right shoulder by a similar bullet that penetrated her right lung and traveled into her small intestine. She was also shot in the right upper arm and in the right buttock.

But the most vicious wound came from a shotgun blast that struck her right hand before hitting the right side of her head and brain, where the medical examiner recovered "numerous birdshot pellets and a plastic shot cup."

"These wounds most likely represent a single shot with the hand acting as an intermediate target," the report said."

That's not just some salacious report of how a vibrant young woman died. It means a man was standing over her armed with a firearm, pulling the trigger. Multiple times. Again and again. As she lay on the ground.

Animals.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:42 PM | | Comments (1)

When you need a center, why not take a point guard?

I've been holding off on this for a few days, but here goes. WTF IS MICHAEL JORDAN SMOKING?

How do you take a back-up point guard who is 5-11 with the ninth pick in the NBA draft when you need a freakin' center and the best center in the draft is still on the board? Brook Lopez was a top five pick and fell in your lap. Roy Hibbert was a lottery pick last year and was available.

You took a point guard with your first pick three years ago and have built a team around a dominant power forward and two swift slashers and all you need is a big man to take the pressure off Okafor and free up some lanes for Richardson and Wallace and you take a tiny back up point guard, followed by taking a seven-foot tall, 145 pound guy with the 20th pick who averaged FIVE points a game in the FRENCH LEAGUE!!!!

I try, I really do. But what is in the water in Charlotte? Next thing you know, the Panthers will take a running back with their first pick in next year's NFL draft.

You never can waste too many first round picks with a single-minded focus on one position.

RELATED: From Bill Simon at ESPN:

5:24: Our first stunner of the night: Charlotte reaching for D.J. Augustin at No. 9, followed by a shot of a devastated Brook Lopez in the stands. Hey, any time you have a chance to grab a career backup with the ninth pick, you gotta do it.

(Do you think Charlotte's war room is located on the ninth hole at MJ's golf course? Like, it's basically him on his cell phone and two other guys on Treos trying to rush the pick in before they sneak in nine more holes? The Bobcats might be the worst-run franchise in the league. And that's saying something. If MJ's Bulls career was like Ted Danson's run on "Cheers," then his Wizards comeback was "Becker," and this current Bobcats debacle is definitely "Help Me Help You.")

5:26: Stu explains Augustin is only 5-foot-11, but he has the wingspan of someone who's 6-3½. Well, that changes everything! At the very least, he's wearing the most interesting outfit tonight: a gray suit with a purple shirt and a pink tie. That will be a good look for him when he's Charlotte's 13th man next season.

5:28: New Jersey happily and graciously takes Brook Lopez with the 10th pick. Brook? Not so happy. He's still reeling from the past seven picks.

(Come on, Brook, look at the bright side -- you get to kick Chairman Yi's butt in practice every day for the next five years, and if that's not enough, you can learn how to fake injuries from Vince Carter and become teammates with LeBron James in two years. Things are looking up, buddy.)"

 

 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 07:06 AM | | Comments (0)

June 24, 2008

Perdue says government knows best

Bev Perdue on school choice:

“As governor, I will not be distracted by experiments like vouchers and private school tuition,” Perdue told several hundred attorneys at the N.C. Bar Association convention in the first debate of the governor's race. “Vouchers take money away from the public schools. I am not going to take my eye off the prize and allow vouchers to break the back of public schools.”

If we pay attention to the details, I think we will find that Bev Perdue is not the right choice to follow 16 years of Democratic control of the Governor's mansion.

Public schools are an abject failure. Since Terry Sanford, Democratic governors of this state have been pumping money into early childhood education. Sanford, Hunt and Easley have all made early childhood education a cornerstone of their tenures in office, yet that investment has not produced discernable improvement in the end result.

As with social security, the individual should be free to invest his critical tax dollars in more beneficial private sector institutions if he can afford it.

The strong arm tactics of the state teacher's union and the Democratic majority in the NC legislature have earned us a deplorable high school dropout rate.

It's time for new ideas. It's time to make teachers and schools compete with private institutions when it comes to delivering the public's most critical investment: educating future citizens.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:39 AM | | Comments (0)

Rockingham County Democratic Party snubs state election law

According to the NC Board of Elections, the Rockingham County Democratic Party failed to file a required campaign finance report by Friday's deadline as demanded in a warning letter dated May 16.

The report was due in April, and after the deadline was missed, the SBOE sent county Chairman Royce Richardson a warning letter demanding that he comply by June 20.

That was not done either, and so now the Rockingham County Democratic Party's active status has been suspended. *See update.

They will also be required to remit a previously waived $500 fine, and will likely be assessed another $500 fine if and when they do file the report that was due April 28.

Why regional and local media have failed to pick up on this story is beyond me. I guess if the local Democratic Party sent them a press release, like the sheriff does, and spoon fed them the information, it would make the paper.

Somehow, I doubt that will happen.

*UPDATED 11:35 a.m.:

I just received a call from Adam Reagan at 11:26 am. He said they received the RockCo Dems report in the mornings mail. He said, thus, they would recall the active status termination letter (since it would have been reactivated when the local party filed the report) but that since the local party already received a fine waiver this election cycle they would be issuing a fine assessment in a week or so. The local party will have to pay both the waived fine and the new fine.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:38 AM | | Comments (0)

Why are NC Democrats afraid of ideas?

Before you pull the level for that Democratic state legislator this fall, remember this:

*In the Senate, where Democrats have been the majority party for as long as anyone can remember, Republicans' ability to do much of anything meaningful has always been at the whim of the Democratic leadership. And running roughshod over budget amendments proposed by Republicans is nothing new.

Many state legislatures across the country aren't much different. It's why winning a majority of seats in any legislative body is a highly coveted prize.

But not even allow Republicans to weigh in, for the record, on the most important piece of legislation to be considered by the General Assembly?*

Related. Related.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 06:40 AM | | Comments (0)

June 18, 2008

Bigger trucks equals bad policy

This defies logic. A 47-0 senate vote on a bill with a mere 15 percent of public support and opposition from the highway patrol.

*"The state Senate on Tuesday passed and sent to the House a far-reaching measure to put longer trucks, wider boats and some heavier farm commodity trucks on North Carolina roads.

Trucking and business interests have pushed for the Senate proposal to let 53-foot tractor-trailers use all primary highways -- replacing a 48-foot limit on most roads."*

I spoke briefly to the reporter and he was very courteous in taking my call. The impetus for the proponents of the bill seems to be understandable, but I think my opposition is more in deference to public and family transportation safety.

Or perhaps like on the CAFE/drilling issue, I am in a mood for compromise. But it seems to me that unless the state is going to enforce a zero tolerance policy for CDL violations, allowing larger, wider and heavier trucks on our road is not in the safety interest of families using our state roadways.

Related: An N&O series "Pounding the Pavement" concerning the damage done to state roads by overweight vehicles.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:43 AM | | Comments (1)

June 17, 2008

Legislator calls for repeal of NC gift tax

See SB 1756 

From Rep. Paul Stam:

"The purpose of taxation should be to raise revenue to fund important government services. There are several taxes that are counterproductive to that purpose.  One is the vestigial North Carolina gift tax. North Carolina is one of only three states (Connecticut and Tennessee) with a state gift tax (and Connecticut taxes only very large gifts).

While the checks that come in labeled “gift tax” total $18 million dollars/year, this tax actually raises no money.  It is a trap for the unwary and serves no socially useful purpose. The Senate has voted to repeal the tax, effective January 1, 2008. I propose the House pass this bill effective for gifts made after July 1, 2009.

1. Without this tax we would receive more money in additional income tax, corporate tax, and other taxes.

I have spoken to CPA’s who had wealthy clients locate to other states in order not to pay our state gift tax. If they had established a residence here, they would have paid more in income tax per year than we collect from the entire state in gift taxes.  There is an inordinate waste of time and effort spent in order to avoid the gift tax. Finally, if the transfer is made at death, then the donee has a stepped-up basis. If it is given before death, there is a carry-over income tax basis, and the state receives additional income tax on that appreciation on sale - a substantial offset against the 18 million dollar nominal cost of repeal.

2. This tax is a trap for the unwary. The memorandum from the Gift Tax Subcommittee of the Estate Tax Section of the NC Bar Association gives seven examples of people from North Carolina who pay this tax. There are many financial professionals, including lawyers and CPA’s, who are focused on federal gift and estate tax. They often  don’t notice that the clients triggered a state gift tax.

3. There is no social purpose for the gift tax. The origin of the gift tax is a backstop to a death tax. But our death tax has been conformed to the federal law so there is no tax on the first 2 million dollars. Our gift tax allows only $100,000 in lifetime gifts and we are unique and have a different gift tax rate for Class B, and Class C beneficiaries so that the $100,000 lifetime exemption is not available for gifts to siblings and sons of law.

Why would we encourage people to hold onto property until their death to avoid a gift tax? Why? Siblings often want to make gifts to each other to equalize inheritances. Yet this triggers the gift tax without the lifetime exemption.

Existing federal law says that 2010 will be an unusual year.  The federal estate and gift unified credit will be unlimited and then go back up to prehistoric rates in 2011. There will be a huge need for tax planning by North Carolina families in 2009-2010. By making the effective date of the bill July 1, 2009 it would be in place for gifts when it is most necessary, there will be no reduction in tax for the gifts that have already been made thus far in 2008, and families planning to make gifts in the latter part of 2009 and in 2010 can do so. Under these circumstances, a real life fiscal note would be zero instead of $18 million for 2009-2010."

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:38 AM | | Comments (0)

June 16, 2008

Rockingham County Democrats ignore campaign finance laws

The Reidsville Review will tomorrow be publishing a letter I sent them last week.

It relates to the local Democratic Party's inability to abide by state campaign finance laws over the past 18 months.

Related links can be found here and here.

Interested parties can keep track of the Rockingham County Democratic Party's compliance via this link. 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 01:37 PM | | Comments (0)

June 04, 2008

Democratic state senator's bill another stab at social engineering

Via House Republican Leader Paul Stam:

*Under the bill every single freshman entering the UNC system this fall seeking a four-year bachelor’s degree would be integrated into this brand new program. Some will be working full time, and many will be working part-time in order to pay for their education. Many will have families, some will have disabilities, and all of them will have different strengths and gifts. Many will be members of religious, social or fraternal groups that already perform community services that would be crowded out by the time demands of the bill. If this bill is passed, all of them will be expected to give twenty additional hours each semester to a uniform task.

That in itself is problematic. Tutoring young students is an important skill, but every college student is not necessarily an effective tutor. The gifts and character necessary to succeed academically are not the same as those required to teach or nurture a child. At best, many such relationships would be forced and unsuccessful; at worst, some could be dangerous. Friendship, mentorship, learning, respect, and growth do not work that way.

The bill inconsistently combines volunteerism with curricular requirements. Can an act of service performed only as a means of receiving a diploma be considered “voluntary” at all? Or will this forced service encourage an attitude of resentment and negligence that will harm the children being tutored or mentored?*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:35 AM | | Comments (0)

May 23, 2008

Small donor Republicans need to get in the game

For what my small voice is worth, I am urging all Republicans to support local and state level candidates with their donations. I believe that our local and state candidates represent the best hope to improve the Republican Party. I am very excited about our candidate for governor and have sent him a small donation. I urge all working class Republicans and conservatives to send $25 or $50 to the candidate of your choice.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:49 PM | | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

A never ending story

I give the NCGOP props for using technology, but I kind of doubt it will change much. Probably about as much as my cost of war counter has changed. ($521 billion if you are scoring at home.)

When I heard that state revenues exceeded projections by about $100 million my first thought was that would be great to give it back to the counties for local projects. Wouldn't that be a great winfall for local capital projects.

I asked my local state senator if he thought that might happen. "Not hardly," he laughed.

My local state representative is already telling people there is an equal shortfall in the DOT trust fund account for the year.

I've become pretty determinist in my view of never ending increases in government.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:58 PM | | Comments (0)

April 24, 2008

Orr and the NCGOP ad

Crossposted from Dome:

The inability to recognize subtle intellectual arguments is a growing weakness among many conservatives.

As evidenced by the majority of posts on this thread, many of you would be content to wall off the GOP into a corner from which we would never escape.

Bob Orr's point is that this is the Democratic primary, why should we spend GOP money now undermining the Democrats?

*"We do not need to spend limited media dollars on some tenuous link between the two Democratic candidates for governor and Reverend Wright."*

Even Newt Gingrich has pointed out that conservatives lose when they continually shout "NO" from the top of their lungs with no real substance backing up their arguments.

I am all for pointing out the weaknesses of Democratic candidates for office, but the GOP is better served if we have substantive policy goals backing up our position on the moral high ground.

More of my thoughts, here. 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 06:28 AM | | Comments (2)

April 16, 2008

Orr endorsed by Winston-Salem Journal

"But one Republican, in our estimation, stands head and shoulders above the others, and among the best candidates of the last several decades. The Journal enthusiastically endorses former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr for his party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Orr is exactly the kind of moderately conservative leader North Carolina needs right now. In the wake of 16 years of activist Democratic leadership, Orr can be trusted to preserve the good done by Easley and his predecessor Jim Hunt. But he can also lead the state as it re-examines the priorities established over these past four terms, looking at what has worked, what hasn’t and what needs to be done next."

The Winston-Salem Journal, a newspaper which endorsed George W. Bush in 2004, has given the nod to Bob Orr in the GOP race for Governor nominee. Republicans would be wise to take this major endorsement to heart and give a fresh look at Orr's candidacy.

Orr has been elected statewide several times to the judiciary and will bring honesty and measured consideration to the state's top job.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 12:00 PM | | Comments (0)

April 10, 2008

Republicans should move toward Bob Orr

Please spend five good minutes with this man and then decide who is the best candidate to represent the GOP in the governor's race this fall.

(Note: The first link is to a video and may be initially slow to download. Be patient.) 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 06:32 AM | | Comments (2)

April 09, 2008

A challenge to local GOPers

I received a letter from Les Merritt this week in which he indicated a need for 750 small donations from across the state in order to qualify for public funding.

Merritt is participating in a pilot program passed by the state legislature last year, the Voter Owned Elections Pilot.

Because I believe Les Merritt has done a fine job as state auditor, and that a Republican serving as state auditor is a great safeguard against corruption and waste in state government, I have sent him a $25 donation.

I am urging all Republicans, and independents and Democrats who believe in efficient and accountable state government, to send Merritt a small donation of $10 to $50 this week.

Please do your part to help Merritt get reelected.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:31 AM | | Comments (1)

March 23, 2008

Skeeter Brandon passes away

Skeeter Brandon
North Carolina cultural icon, and quite bluesy musician, Skeeter Brandon passed away last week.

I saw Skeeter Brandon and Highway 61 in Winston many years back.

He was cool.

Funeral services begin tomorrow at 1pm in Roxboro, Skeeter's hometown.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:48 PM | | Comments (0)

March 20, 2008

Republicans who vote Fred Smith are wasting their vote

My impression that Fred Smith is an empty suit was confirmed today when he was quoted as criticizing Bob Orr for having too many details in his policy plans:

*One GOP opponent dismissed Orr’s plans for reshuffling the education and transportation bureaucracies. Smith said leadership quality trumps “process” questions like the size of the transportation board, which Orr wants to shrink.

“Bob Orr majors in the minor,” Smith said.*

Orr would be a much better candidate to win the election in November.

I think Fred Smith represents the past, one I don't long to return to.

Republicans would do well to nominate Orr to take the fight to Richard and Bev this fall.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 01:45 PM | | Comments (0)

February 29, 2008

What color is your district?

The Civitas Institute has a neat tool that rates the red-blue gradient of all the legislative districts in North Carolina (Hat tip: Dome):

*The NCPI was developed using adjusted 2004 data on the elections for governor and other council of state offices – Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioners of Agriculture, Labor, and Insurance, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is new this year, and will be updated after the 2008 elections.* 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 02:57 PM | | Comments (0)

February 24, 2008

"... (A)n abomination against humanity."

No, not the guy who is running as a Republican against Rep. Brad Miller (D-13).

It's how Hugh Webster describes his core issue, the federal tax structure, when describing the need for tax reform.

Game on in D13.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 01:00 PM | | Comments (0)

February 23, 2008

Trent charged with "continuous criminal enterprise"

GNR's Mark Binker pulls together the deep threads surrounding George "Butch" Trent's arrest this week in Reidsville on charges of running a "continuous criminal enterprise" involving illegal video poker machines.

I wonder which local news outlet will be first to get the search warrant and let us know why Trent, a well heeled, well connected Reidsville icon, was charged with felony criminal enterprise in addition to the simple misdemeanor of possession of video poker machines.

The affidavit of the search warrant normally lays out the investigators case in plain language, and that should be easy for any of the area's professional journalists to get their hands on.

It's unfortunate for Trent, a close friend of Reidsville City Councilman and former Mayor Clark Turner, to get caught up in this sweep. But his documented history of being a proponent of video poker puts him behind the eight ball off the bat in the eyes of public opinion.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:22 PM | | Comments (0)

February 19, 2008

Boycott Greensboro?

It's an idea whose time may have come?

Greensboro resident Billy Jones is fed up with the lack of transparency on the part of city leaders when it comes to certain aspects of the handling of complaints of racism and corruption on the part of former police chief David Wray.

Many feel Wray was railroaded on weak evidence in an effort to cover up larger corruption among the city's power elite.

Jones has called for a boycott of the city's Wyndham Championship Golf Tournament and other businesses related to power brokers Jim Melvin and Robbie Perkins.

It's a strategy long over due.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 12:43 PM | | Comments (1)

February 11, 2008

Where's yer treasure?

This is a random reminder that the cost of the War in Iraq will top $500 billion sometime this month. That is an estimated cost of $12 billion to taxpayers in North Carolina.

We could have provided more than 2.6 million scholarships to university students in this state for a like amount.

End of reminder.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:27 PM | | Comments (0)

February 09, 2008

Chick Corea coming to Greensboro?

My work life's been pretty good since my brother gave me the I-pod shuffle he found lying amidst the grass in his neatly tailored Charlotte neighborhood in late December. Between the podcasts and the music, the mindless work floats off in the distance.

Even more so since I've taken to exploring Return to Forever. I've been meaning to write a deep post about the used I-pod and the hours spent listening to Chick Corea and company, but I just haven't got around to it. Spending too much time reading the ever increasing Wray Fray drama.

But, see, I signed up for e-letters from chickcorea.com last month because I heard that RTF is gonna tour this summer.

Anyways, I got an email today that said Chick and Bela Fleck will play in Greensboro on March 17. The date has not been added to his tour list on the website, but it was on the email.

Does anyone know about this, or is it a recent addition.

Seeing Chick Corea live would be a dreamy experience.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:15 PM | | Comments (1)

February 06, 2008

Jim Neal is out of touch

Binker calls BS on a Village Voice feature that is bigoted against southern tradition and anti-family, not to mention serving as a vehicle to promote Jim Neal's ignorance of the state he wants to represent in the US Senate.

Here is the text of a comment I left on Capital Beat:

Neal is doing a great job of marginalizing himself by aligning with NYC's gay-elite scene. He doesn't have to make an issue of his sex life, nor do the millions of Tarheel voters who value their traditions, not the least of which is family over everthing, as opposed to someone like Neal who will dump his wife for a new lover and proudly claim in a magazine "I've been with him for five years." Talk about tradition!

But what is saddest about Neal is that his senate candidacy brings out the *best* in those who find bliss in the vulgar (from the V.V. article):

*So come on, everyone in North Carolina: Please vote for Jim Neal and help kill Jesse Helms! Better he goes than Joan Fontaine.*

And I can't help but notice the google ads around stories about Neal in these publications. Great, classy stuff.

And how about this article, the first Michael Musto article linked to below the piece on Neal:

*You happen to get that very taste of crass at two, count 'em two, weekly events these days: XES's Ass Circus Thursdays, where a young lady recently snuck in, bared her breasts, and startlingly came in second (the drunken audience probably thought they were butt cheeks), and Ass Wednesdays at Urge, with drag MC Rajene leading the parade of guys dropping trou for cash prizes, with no love jugs for miles. Two weeks ago, a guy there begged me to cheer for his boyfriend's fleshy goods as the beau bravely took the stage. But his heinie turned out to look like a Yahoo map of Sherwood Forest! "It's so hairy!" declared my new friend in horror. "Wait, you've never seen it before?" I wondered, confused. "Not in the light!" he moaned, looking for a vomit bag.*

Now I don't want to compare homosexuality to things of the ass, lest Matt Comer goes on a multi-year rampage, but for *crass* sake guys, give the rest of us a break.

Note to Neal: Please start making fun of Liz Dole's sex life or body parts. That will get you real far with the people you are asking to vote in your favor in the general.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 07:34 AM | | Comments (3)

February 01, 2008

State GOP should rise up

It's a sad commentary on the state GOP that they are not in a position to punish the Democrats at the polls and make gains in the state legislature in the wake of Jim Black. It's even sadder that the top Democrats in the state continue to dance on the edge of ethics. I guess they have no fear of the GOP's ability to make gains at the polls this fall.

N&O:

*The state auditor has found that the major Democrats running for governor have improperly used their state offices for political activity.*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:04 AM | | Comments (0)

January 12, 2008

The next governor of North Carolina?

I think I like Bill Graham.


Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 02:17 PM | | Comments (0)

January 10, 2008

Hooray!

GNR:

*A Florida development company is dropping its plan to build a golf-course community next to Haw River State Park and will sell the land to North Carolina's state park system.*


Congrats to John Young and all others who played a part in bringing attention to this matter.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 04:23 PM | | Comments (0)

January 08, 2008

As if hog lagoons weren't enough ...

This is an affront to the citizens of this state. Companies that want to turn huge tracks of our natural resources into trash dumps for New York and New Jersey should take their licks and move on to another state.

RNO:

*Four groups seeking to build large landfills in North Carolina have asked for nearly $25 million as compensation for the state's decision last year to bar landfills in certain areas.

State lawmakers allowed companies that had pending applications for landfills to recoup their costs, if their projects were derailed by an overhaul of the state's landfill regulations.

Waste Industries of Raleigh, which acquired a 1,000-acre site in Camden County to build the Black Bear landfill, is seeking $13.6 million. Waste Management of the Carolinas and Riegel Ridge Partners filed separate requests totalling $8.6 million for a landfill project proposed in Columbus County. And Alligator River Recycling sought $2.4 million to recoup its expenses for a proposed construction debris landfill in Hyde County.*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:17 AM | | Comments (1)

December 21, 2007

GSO's thirst pays for new Reidsville Market Park

Artist's rendering of new Market Park in Reidsville.
Via Reidsville Downtown Corp.:

*On Thursday, Nov. 29th, the Reidsville City Council, by a 6-0 vote, approved a budget ordinance amendment to appropriate the balance needed [to] begin construction of the new Market Park in downtown Reidsville. This funding will come from the city’s Water Reserve Fund based on higher than budgeted revenues, primarily from the sale of water to GSO, for last year and the current fiscal year. Architect Tom Moreau says he could have the plans “bid ready” by late January ‘08. Construction could begin as early as mid March.*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:34 PM | | Comments (0)

December 13, 2007

Still high and dry

State drought conditions as of Dec. 13

North Carolina's Environmental Review Commission and DENR to hold public meetings as part of an allocation study of the state's water resources.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 04:20 PM | | Comments (0)

December 05, 2007

Trying to do my part (or conservation at the Sykes house)

We've been trying to heed the governor's call to cut our water consumption here in the Sykes household. Despite the fact that we have Lake Reidsville here, my wife is big on stewardship and I guess I began to feel bad watering my lawn and washing my car all the time when I knew Atlanta and Raleigh were about to dry up.

Anyway, we cut our water usage to six units last month. I know in the past we've used 9-12 depending on how much I watered the grass and trees I've planted in the yard in the last two years.

In Reidsille, one unit of water equals 750 gallons. So, if we have averaged about 10 units and cut it down to six, that's doing all right, in my view.

At the same time, we have been trying to conserve energy. We are lucky with southern exposure and big windows to get daylight across the entire front to the house. In the spring we began switching out to 13 watt fluorescent bulbs. We've changed 12 so far.

I calculated our power bill for last month and we averaged about 19 kwh per day as opposed to 21 kwh per day for the same month last year. So a reduction of about 60 kwh for the month. That's not a whole lot, but a step in the right direction.

We also figured that replacing 12 60-watt bulbs (720 watts) with 12 13-watt bulbs (156 watts) is a 79 percent reduction in usage just for lighting.

That's nothing to sneeze at. Now multiply that by all the light bulbs in homes across America and you see how we can begin to make a dent.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:39 AM | | Comments (0)

December 04, 2007

Merritt to examine pass through grants

Red Clay points to this announcement from Les Merritt:

*State Auditor Leslie Merritt announced a new initiative to track State and federal “passthrough”
grants that go through local governments to non-profit entities. State Auditor
Leslie Merritt launched this new initiative based on two factors: (1) a new summary
report released by the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) in conjunction with the Local
Government Commission that revealed a total of $13 Billion going to local governments.
Of that $13 Billion some $180 Million goes to “sub-grantees” many of which are nonprofits;
and (2) a recent review of a non-profit where the local government is serving as
a pass through but is not actively monitoring the non-profit.*

Skip can't be too happy about that.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 02:38 PM | | Comments (0)

December 01, 2007

A question worth an answer

We're all in a tizzy over 340 students:

Politicians pounced on the issue when they learned that the top lawyer for the state's community college system told all 58 campuses in the system to admit illegal immigrants. Previously, the campuses set their own policies. There are only about 340 such students in the 270,000-student system, but the change has dumped fuel on an explosive debate across the state and nation.

But: 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that states and school districts could not deny education to illegal immigrant children from kindergarten to high school. Nothing guarantees access to higher education for undocumented students.

So if the Supremes ruled in 1982 that states must allow illegal immigrant children to attend public school from K-12, why not have citizenship and naturalization as part of their required curriculum and grant them citizenship upon graduation from high school? Then they can go to college as a citizen.

As my friends says, "Why not let them become productive members of society and contribute back to the system that educated them?"

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 02:18 PM | | Comments (0)

November 30, 2007

Perdue out front on combatting government waste

It's good to see them discussing trimming state government this early in the campaign. I had thought the "era of big government" was over.

*On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue proposed creating a commission that would recommend cuts to state government spending. The General Assembly would be prohibited from tampering with the commission's recommendations and would be required to vote them up or down. Perdue's plan calls for as much as $250 million in savings every legislative session.

The other major candidates attacked Perdue's plan Thursday as an abdication of the governor's responsibility to propose an efficient spending plan that eliminates duplication and waste.*

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:56 AM | | Comments (0)

November 28, 2007

Topping trees should be a crime



Winston-Salem officials are looking at tightening the city's zoning ordinance after someone hired a tree service to butcher 150 maple, oak and pear trees at a shopping center on the city's north side.

*The topping of more than 150 trees at a shopping center off University Parkway has some city officials contemplating the need for either stronger zoning rules or efforts to teach the proper way to care for trees planted in parking lots.

The trees in the parking lot at North Summit Square shopping center were topped last month. And the leaf-lined branches of oak, maple and pear trees that once reached nearly 20 feet tall were reduced to nubs.*

Nothing is more unsightly than a mature deciduous tree that has been topped. It is the worst thing you can do to the tree.

It is a plague here in Reidsville, I guess its easy for hucksters to go around making a few bucks here and there lopping healthy tree limbs to the ground.

I'd say we should have a tighter ordinance here in Reidsville, but I'm sure the natives would complain about somebody infringing on their right to make a buck or two if the idea was put forward.

At least one city in North Carolina has it figured out.

*Topping is believed to have started as a method of clearing utility lines. This practice was perceived by some as an appropriate way to reduce a tree’s height. (Possibly this was encouraged by line clearing employees who went on to become "tree experts" willing to do topping.) Thus topping jumped from industrial clearing to residential "care".*







graphic by Winston-Salem Journal

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 04:35 PM | | Comments (1)

November 21, 2007

Why do backers of the Civil Rights Museum think they are entitled to public money?

I don't live in GSO and as a self-respecting Forsyth County native, probably never would.

But juxtaposition has me interested in the issues that dominate the socio-political conversation in GSO and GuilCo.

That being said, citizens of Greensboro should be outraged that the city decided to give $750,000 in federal grant money intended for low income housing to the Civil Rights Museum.

Voters recently rejected a bond for the museum. Skip Alston, the biggest bigot I ever heard of, hasn't been able to raise the money in a decade.

If my aging memory serves me correct there have been questions about mishandling of money in the museum's accounts.

If Carolyn Coleman and Skip Alston want a place to go socialize and drink wine then they need to raise the money themselves.

I like this gem from the GNR story:

*The money will be distributed over three years and won't be funded by local property tax money.*

That's the type of thinking about tax money that gets us in trouble. Federal money comes from our pockets just as much as local property tax.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 11:57 AM | | Comments (1)

November 16, 2007

Mental health reform *failing* in Rockingham County

Now that the Reidsville Review online has caught up with the calendar, I can tell you about this seemingly important story.

Rockingham County Mental Health Director Robert Middleton calls the state's mental health reform "a failure" and says the crises and a lack of funding has caused turmoil.

*The turmoil at the department has led to 16 resignations in the past year, three in past month alone. Hardest hit are supervisory and experienced, licensed positions, Middleton said.
"It has been a steady flow out the door," he said.*

That's not good news for the state. It's also not a good reflection on the governor or the legislature, given that this reform was supposed to fix a broken system.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 06:48 PM | | Comments (1)

November 13, 2007

*People will do anything for them dead presidents*

Hi-tech robbers in GSO. Spread the word and catch the crooks.

Somewhat semi-related. 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:51 AM | | Comments (0)

Rural ISP, Netpath, shutting down Nov. 30

Netpath is one of the few providers of Internet service in rural parts of Rockingham and Alamance County. The company announced recently that is would cease operations on Nov. 30. That leaves thousands of homes in the area searching for a new provider.

"...economic changes in our market have made our business no longer economically sustainable.  Netpath will cease to offer all Internet connectivity services after Friday, November 30, 2007.  This means that you will need to find and put in place a new source for your email, your web browsing, your web site hosting, your DSL broadband connectivity, and your dialup connection…but we want to help you during this transition."


The company offers transition services here.

One of the company's cofounders passed away on Oct. 30.

A list of equipment for sale.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:21 AM | | Comments (0)

November 08, 2007

Gardner-Webb whips mighty Kentucky in Rupp Arena

Whoops.Man, what does it say about our small colleges when they continue to take out the largest and most succesful programs in the NCAA, and on their home courts at that.

I went to basketball camp at Gardner-Webb when I was a kid, so I'm extra happy about this.

Gardner-Webb coach Rick Scruggs had no idea what to expect from his players as he walked into the Rupp Arena halftime locker room up 11 points over mighty Kentucky.

Scruggs, a former coach at Pikeville College in the state, had always dreamed of playing against the 'Cats in Rupp.

Rick Scruggs used to coach at Pikeville College in Kentucky's shadow. Now he's masterminded a shocker in Lexington.

Still, he had nothing. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, that is, until his cell phone rang.

"I felt it buzz and vibrate and I started laughing," Scruggs said, speaking by phone at 1 a.m. on Thursday morning while still inside Rupp Arena. "I told our guys, 'Should I pick up the phone and say I'm too busy to talk right now because we're kicking Kentucky?' "

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:31 AM | | Comments (0)

November 01, 2007

Investors pushing Media General to split up its business units

Via The Street: 

With its stock down by more than 50% over the past three years and its industry in turmoil, Media General announced this week that it's considering the sale of five broadcast TV stations from its portfolio.

It's going to take more than that to generate any enthusiasm from Wall Street.

Investors want Media General to follow the example set by Belo Corp. and E.W. Scripps and separate its broadcasting business from its sluggish newspapers operations. 

The company has built its future around "convergence" of newspapers and tv stations in markets such as Bristol, Va., Tampa and the Roanoke/Lynchburg area. But hold up:

Ethan McAfee, director of research with former Media General shareholder Ramsey Asset Management, says he doesn't believe that substantial synergies between broadcast and newspapers really exist at Media General.

 "They can't come up with a number to quantify the synergies, which tells me they really haven't thought about it and this is just their excuse to not do something creative or outside the box," says McAfee.

"Any smart management team would do exactly what Belo did and realize the market is not paying at all for the hybrid strategy of owning both TV and newspapers and seriously consider breaking up the two," he adds. Media General's management team "has been around for ever, and they're not particularly savvy Wall Street people. It's a family-owned business and there was never much pushing for them to actually change anything."

Ouch.

Noch einmal.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:34 PM | | Comments (0)

Solutions or political grandstanding?

I got this dandy NCGOP e-newsletter today. It leads off with the headline "NC SENATORS REJECT DREAM ACT" (taken from here) accompanied by this neat pic of Dole and Burr posing with two black teens. Just a strange juxtaposition, in my mind.

Anyway, the Dream Act seems like sensible legislation that has been polluted by national politics. I think if a person can pay to get their education in this country, or serve in our military, we ought to open up the path to a green card.

I would oppose any federal financial aid for college tuition for a non-citizen, but if they can pay, let them play.

From the Rand Institute:

Because the DREAM Act would lead more immigrants to graduate from high school and
college, it would also increase tax revenues and reduce government expenses. This positive fiscal
impact is likely to be quite large. For example, based on estimates in a 1999 RAND study, an
average 30-year-old Mexican immigrant woman who has graduated from college will pay $5,300
more in taxes and cost $3,900 less in criminal justice and welfare expenses each year than if she
had dropped out of high school. This amounts to a total annual increased fiscal contribution of
more than $9,000 per person.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:58 AM | | Comments (0)

October 31, 2007

Why are students being attacked with knives at NCA&T?

This is real unfortunate and uncool.

I've been to NCA&T several times for events and have always found the students there friendly and welcoming.

I hope they catch the people that attacked these young men.

I hope the young men, twin brothers, can overcome this distraction and hurdle and move forward with their college education.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 09:29 AM | | Comments (0)

October 29, 2007

Help open up the ballot to more parties

Ed Cone wrote a column Sunday about the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor.

I probably wouldn't vote for him, but I firmly believe we need more parties on the ballot.

The DemoPublicans are just about as bankrupt as can be, with the exception of a couple of bright stars.

There is a petition available to get the LP back on the ballot.

I believe it is unfair to deny them ballot access based on percentage of votes received.

Democracy is not about popularity. It's about ideas and hard work.

Print out the petition and get some signatures. It's democracy in action.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:47 AM | | Comments (0)

October 25, 2007

Heels tightening up the laces for '07-'08

Something familiar is just around the corner in Chapel Hill this year. We all know about Tyler and Tywon and Wayne, but the smart money is on Deon and Alex having a coming out party this season.

Deon made news this summer averaging 6.1 boards and 1.4 block for the undefeated U19 Team USA, which won its world championship.

I've seen the Tar Heels ranked No. 1 in preseason polls and picked to win the ACC. Nothing new there. What is new is that Brandon Wright's early exit mean that Ol' Roy is left without any recruits this year. That means only 13 players on the roster, and extra scholarships for next year.

Bobby and Wayne will have to hold down the outside shooting, because, well, there is nobody else.

Note to Gerald Henderson: We haven't forgot about you.

Note to everybody else: If you think you can take out Tyler and beat the Heels think again. Deon and Alex are pretty big boys as well.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 06:57 AM | | Comments (0)

October 24, 2007

Billy Jones for Mayor of Greensboro

I get about 40 unique visits a day from Greensboro, so for those readers please take a look at the write-in campaign for Bill Jones for Mayor of Greensboro.

I've exchanged email with Mr. Jones a few times in the last couple of years and he seems to be a level-headed gentleman. He has a keen idea for energy conservation and he's a poet to boot.

Surely that's better than another developer or a 14-year veteran of your city council. 

Good luck Billy. 

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 07:01 PM | | Comments (2)

October 23, 2007

Rockingham County rivers flirt with record lows

Streamflows in Rockingham County are flirting with near record lows according to the US Geological Survey:

For the Mayo River near Price (West of Eden) the lowest recorded stream flow is 82 cubic feet per second (cfs) in 1932. The most recent rate recorded today was 91. The median is 179.

The Dan River near Wentworth is recording a current flow of 242 cfs. The record low is 226 set in 2002. The mean is 576.

More from the AP on the state's water crises.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:20 PM | | Comments (0)

October 21, 2007

Graham, Orr, Smith: What's a GOPer to do?

Binker has a splendid wrap up of the state GOPers vying to get trounced in the 2008 election for governor. (I doubt anybody stops the Richard Moore express)

Bob Orr comes across as thoughtful and someone to look at. He would likely get devoured by the state Dem legislative machine.

Graham and Smith, as Mark describes, come across as cliches.

I'm not real impressed with Smith's background as a businessman, lawyer or state senator. So I will be looking hard at Graham and Orr.

But if things keep going the way they have since Newt left congress, I'll likely be an independent by the time the general election rolls around.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 08:24 AM | | Comments (0)

October 18, 2007

Bond as punishment

Somebody help me out here.

This guy steals a weed eater from Stoneville and gets put under the jail with a $100,000 bond.

This guy robs a man in a park in High Point, chasing him down while brandishing a handgun, which he then uses to split the guys head open with after tackling him to the ground. The wound from the blow requires 12 staples and 12 stitches to close.

His bond?

Five-thousand dollars. Which means if his friends come up with $750 he can get a bondsman and walk.

WTF?

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 01:38 PM | | Comments (3)

October 11, 2007

How should we treat the foreigners among us?

A few bloggers have been detailing the rifts developing in the traditional Republican constituency. This recent court ruling on employing "illegal" immigrants further highlights that trend.

President Bush made the effort the centerpiece of a re-energized enforcement drive against illegal immigration in August after the Senate rejected his proposal to overhaul immigration laws. But the court ruling -- sought by major American labor, business and farm organizations -- highlighted the chasm that the issue has opened between the Republican Party and its traditional business allies.

The case also called attention to the gulf between Washington rhetoric about the need to curtail illegal immigration and the economic reality that many U.S. employers rely on illegal labor, as well as to the government's inability for nearly three decades to develop adequate tools for identifying undocumented workers.

When the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say something is bad for business, I think it's safe to say it is bad for business.

I also recently heard a knowledgeable man speak on Christian charity. He cited the passage in Leviticus where God commands that foreigners be treated with justice and "as one of you native born."

What was that about America being a Christian nation?

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 07:19 AM | | Comments (3)

October 09, 2007

Eden plant should survive Miller-Coors merger

Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel: 

None of Miller's six breweries, or the two breweries operated by Coors, will be closed as the result of this morning's surprise announcement, said Pete Marino, Miller spokesman.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 03:35 PM | | Comments (0)

October 04, 2007

More than one-third of NC under exceptional drought

Bad. Bad. Bad.

This just keeps getting worse.

The percent of North Carolina under D4 exceptional drought conditions jumped from 4 percent last week to 37.7 percent this week. Almost 80 percent of the state is under D3-D4 drought conditions.

National 12-week animation.

View Haw River stream flow data and think about what it would mean if someone upstream sucks 100k plus gpd out for a golf course.

Posted by Jeffrey Sykes at 10:27 AM | | Comments (0)

October 02, 2007

A persistent problem

Lingering drought

Persistent
Are we prepared to live with lingering drought conditions through the end of the year.

How will next year's crops be affected by a lack of replenishment this winter?

Are we headed down a similar path?

At least some people are starting to stand up and take notice.

UPDATE: GNR