Something Wrong With This Picture

Dick Ellis, a spokesman for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, said Nifong will still be eligible for his full retirement benefits — a pension and health care — that he accrued while working a state employee for nearly 30 years. But because he served fewer than five years as district attorney, he is not vested in a more lucrative retirement system for judges, prosecutors and the director of the courts office.

Restoring my faith in the system.

Reward an asshole.

The SOB ought to be locked up and the fu***ing keys thrown away.

What's With The News and Record?

A story about the tragic loss of four lives on Alamance Church Road Friday night and I guess they just had to get a shot in with this:

"Waddell said there was nothing to make him believe either party was coming from the Chris Daughtry concert."

Why question one event?

Why not cover all the bases like......

Waddell said there was nothing to make him believe either party was coming from.......

their friends house after watching Carolina mount a fierce comeback to beat USC...

the Red Lobster...

Christie's Cabaret...

the Blind Tiger....

Plum Crazy's...

Gate City Chop House..... etc., etc., etc., etc.

Why try to cast a black cloud over the Daughtry concert downtown by your insinuations??

It's not the first time its happened either. Remember the teenagers killed near Forest Oaks in 2005 and the big "Alcohol is a Factor in Crash" headlines that you blasted all over the paper----only to be recanted later because it wasn't true.

Dad

Well its been a hard year.

The one year anniversary of your leaving us and it is still not any easier.

You've had a grandson get married and expecting a child, you had a grandaughter go off to college, a son getting ready to graduate college with his second degree, another grandson soon to graduate with a degree, and Jessica. What can you say about Jessica except she's still kicking ass in those Karate tournaments.

Then there's the Tarheels. They've had an awesome season and are still in the tournament and the Dookies didn't make it past the first round.

Man, I would have given anything to watch Carolina basketball with you this season.

Why am I writing this? Hell, you've got courtside seats to the games, and know everything going on down here with the family.

You're just not here to share it.

And I miss that.

Who said it gets easier as time passes? They must have never lost anyone close.

New Chief in the 'boro

Tim Bellamy named new police chief in Greensboro.

Really not a surprise as Ben has been saying for months that he would be the new chief.

Maybe now Mitch has someone he can play in the sandbox with.

Beautification

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Was really nice to see all the orange bags on the side of the road on my way to school this afternoon.

The criminals, convicts, prisoners, inmates, or whatever is politically correct to call them these days, have done a superb job of cleaning the Business-85 corridor from Vickery Chapel Road to the I-85 interchange.

For a while there I thought High Point and Greensboro (since the White Street landfill closure), had decided to dump all of their trash on the sides of Business-85.

Kudos to our incarcerated.

No BALLS in Raleigh

Whoop de fuc***g doo!

A federal judge has ruled that a doctor must monitor the condemned for signs of PAIN during an execution.

"Death penalty foes and others worry that if the three-drug combination is administered improperly, the condemned could suffer excruciating pain while immobilized and unable to cry out. Some suspect that is what happened during a botched execution in Florida in December."

I figured this would happen about the time my favorite person was up for his time to "pay the piper". After all its been almost 15 years.

Picture this:
A FOUR year old girl, raped, strangled, run over with a pick up truck, STUFFED IN A GARBAGE BAG and hid in his closet until authorities found her, and the're worried whether he's gonna feel any fucking excruciating pain. Excuse the fuck out of me.

Where were all these bleeding hearts when all this happened to her?

Who's here to talk for her? She would have been 19 this year but no---some SOB scum of the earth wouldn't allow it and now we're worried about whether he will feel any pain when he's executed.

It would not bother me a bit for them to hook him up to the IV's and run battery acid through his veins, and as a matter of fact if they don't have the balls, I'll do it for them.

It would never equal the pain and terror my cousins daughter went through on the day this man took her life.

Bank of America and Their Wide Net

Bank of America doing this just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Cards for lawbreakers. 28 million eligible.

Sure, that 21.24% interest is gonna make 'em a lotta cash.

I'm no banker, but I think this will come back and bite us in the a**. In the end whose interest and costs are going to go up when they start defaulting? It sure ain't gonna be the bank.

I hope their net is big enough to reign 'em all in

Obit

Received this from a friend today. Made a lot of sense to me.

Obituary
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year- old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a Band Aid to a student but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

A Fitting Demise

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi still alive and mumbling after American airstrikes on his hideout--------I think a more fitting demise would have been to behead him a la Nick Berg style

Albert

Been waiting for this day.

Albert Cummings is coming to the Blue Bayou in Hillsborough tonight.

Missed him in Greensboro when he opened for Buddy Guy but will definitely be there tonight.

N&R Article

Bob Burchette has a very nice article in this mornings N&R on my Grandmother who recently passed away at 92.

To me it would take a whole edition to sum up all the good in that frail womans little body and all that she did for her friends, neighbors, church and family. If I could do 1/4 of what she did in her lifetime, I would consider it a life well lived.

Yes, the chess pies were good, but my favorite was her chicken pie.

A very special lady.

Thanks Mr. Burchette.

Hoggards at the Tournament

Final day at the Greensboro Chrysler Classic.

Great crowd, beautiful women, awesome weather, and cold beer.

What more could you ask for?

Followed Sergio Garcia on the front nine and decided to cop a seat at the 18th green and watch everybody come in.

Sitting in the bleachers and I look up to see someone who I thought was Jinni moving into the row in front of me. Thoughts confirmed when David moved in beside her a short time later.

Jinni looked hot in her brown hat and pink skirt. I can see why David married the lady.

Don't see why she married him though! (JK)

Not into men but I guess David looked O.K. too in his ensemble, but David, them sunglasses gotta go!

One of Greensboros' premier bloggers sitting in the row in front of me and three people to my left.

Wanted to say hi but my anoniminity has to be protected.

Anyway, David & Jinni, nice to almost meet you.

The Political Agitator and Skip

The Political Agitator:

"All real NAACP members ought to be pissed with the arrogance of Melvin "Skip" Alston as he is doing what many racist whites does and that is to mislead black folks when it comes to real black leadership."

He also talks about Skips' "behind the scenes fights."

Nail on the head??

Another Musical Weekend

Last weekends Blues Challenge was a huge success.

Mighty Lester of Raleigh were the winners and will represent the PBPS in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge in February 2006. They will also be on stage at next years Carolina Blues Festival and the Bull Durham Blues Festival.

Although not my choice for top band, the judges saw differently.

This Sunday, October 2, welcomes the Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.

70 bands performing in 12 different locations.

Buy a wristband for $10 and see any band at any of the venues for one donation of $10. Great way to spend a Sunday and for a great cause.

Details here.

Great Blues Weekend Ahead

The 19th Annual Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Blues Challenge (whew!) is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at the Lions Lair in High Point.

19 bands over 2 days competing for a chance to represent the PBPS in Memphis.

Always a good crowd and lots of fun.

Silent auction with 2 pairs of 4th row tickets to see Buddy Guy in Greensboro on Oct. 16, plus many other great items.

Click here for details and band schedule.

Road Trip

tonight to see Bernard Allison.

Singer, songwriter, and son of Luther Allison, Bernard will be playing at the Double Door Inn in Charlotte.

Bernards' first recording, at age 12 1/2 was playing guitar with his father on a live album called "Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight" in 1979.

Four days out of high school he joined Koko Taylors' band the Blues Machine. He has also played with Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughn, where he picked up his slide technique.

His latest album, Higher Power is a great mix of Blues, Soul, and Funk.

Should be a great show.

All I can say is I'm getting ready and looking forward to it.

The Big Link

Go visit The Big Link.

"Writing Spider" in the Garden

This little guy was hard at work in the garden yesterday afternoon. He had what looked to be a wasp in his clutches, spinning his web around it before..............

moving on to big and better things. It's really amazing to sit and watch these creatures do their handiwork.

Left all dressed up with no place to go.

Grandma

My grandmother passed away yesterday afternoon.

Nine days shy of her 93rd birthday, she had a long and fruitful life, but it’s still hard to let go of someone you cared so much for and who has had a great impact on who you are as a person.

Grandma was a great cook, caregiver, disiciplinarian, and friend. She was an avid churchgoer who often went out of her way to help other people.

I can remember a time at her house in High Point when I was young, seeing a total stranger come up to the house and knock on the door. Grandma answered the door, talked to the man for a minute, then walked off leaving me and him standing there. I must have been about 6 or 7 at the time but I can still remember him looking real dirty and with a scraggly beard.

A few minutes later Grandma came back and handed the man a couple of sandwiches she had made and a big glass of milk. He sat down on the front porch steps and proceeded to eat then he got up and left.

I asked Grandma who that was and she said she didn’t know. I asked her why she was giving him sandwiches and her answer has always stuck in my mind.

“Because he was hungry.”

That’s the way Grandma was. Whatever she had she was willing to share it with someone in need. I don’t know if it was just out of the goodness of her heart, or if she was trying to set an example, but it instilled in me that there are less fortunate people that do need help.

She also took care of my Grandfather who had Charcot Marie disease coupled with essential tremors. He also had a stroke a few years before he died, but there she was, always by his side and tending to his every need. Truly for better or worse. I think they were married about 65 years when Grandpa died.

As for the discipline part, Grandma would tear your butt up in a heartbeat. My sisters and I both learned that real quick. We learned right from wrong the old-fashioned way.

I went with Grandma and Grandpa to the Ellington family reunion in Oregon Hill when I was about 9 or 10. I don’t remember what happened but I do remember Grandma slapping me in the mouth and proceeding to get in Grandpa’s face.

Apparently I’d said “Good God Almighty” and she had heard me. She slapped me for it and then chastised Grandpa for saying it in front of me where I’d pick it up. That was Grandpa’s favorite saying when he was upset. Needless to say I didn’t say that anymore, at least not where she could hear me.

What can I say about Grandma’s cooking?

I used to go over and keep their yard mowed since Grandpa was unable, and she would always cook dinner for me and Jr. Jr always wanted to go help me because he knew that Grandma was cooking. He couldn’t do a lot being 6 yrs old, but he sure could eat. After Grandpa died he did get old enough to ride the mower and was there almost every time I mowed, just for the food.

My favorite dish was her chicken pie. Home made crust. Juicy. Cooked to perfection. I could eat a half one by myself and she made BIG chicken pies.

I haven’t found anyone, my mother, sisters, ex wife included, that could cook like Grandma. Probably never will. But they try and it is good. Just not Grandma’s.

It’s been tough on Grandma the past 12 years, but her and Grandpa are back together again. Probably doing the Charleston on a cloud somewhere watching over the family down here.

I know Heaven is a better place with you there. You are in a better place and the place you worked your whole life to get to. You suffer no more.

Grandma, I love you and miss you terribly. I will see you again………………..

keep a chicken pie in the oven for me.




When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.
- Old Indian Saying

Rehnquist Dead

Chief Justice William Rehnquist dead at 80.