Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	6/2/2006

N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L Spelling Bee

"At least the drama was compelling. Katharine and runner-up Finola Mei Hwa Hackett, a 14-year-old Canadian, were the last two standing for seven rounds, both confidently spelling words such as "maieutic," "poiesis" and "tmesis."

Finally, Finola, from Edmonton, Alberta, stumbled on the intriguing word "weltschmerz," which essentially means a kind of sentimental pessimism."

And it is surprising that Canada, Mexico and the United States are being merged before our eyes into the North American version of the EU?

The White House - March 30, 2006 (pdf): "Smart, Secure Borders - Leaders agreed to complete the following activities, to contribute to smart and secure borders, over the next twenty-four months:

� Collaborate to establish risk-based screening standards for goods and people that rely on technology, information sharing and biometrics..."

10:23:02 PM

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John Blust on Video Poker

(another thread gem via the LPNC newsgroup)

On 6/2/06, Ray Ubinger <ubing001@notes.duke.edu> wrote:

Don't be so fast to congratulate Blust on voting against the vid poker ban.

NC Now, a UNC TV series, reported that the only reason he did so was because it didn't IMMEDIATELY ban ALL the machines.

On 6/2/06, Susan Hogarth <SusanHogarth@colliething.com> wrote:

Notice how eager those guys were to pass a GAMBLING OPERATION that they are RUNNING (lottery). Just goes to demonstrate the essential mob nature of government.

Wait three years and we'll have 'video poker for education'. Just
wait. You'll see.

In fact, I think someone ought to introduce 'video poker for
education'. Have there been any statewide polls showing approval or
disapproval of vid poker at the voter level?

9:03:11 PM

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Your Chance to actually Change NC Politics

(via Susan Hogarth LPNC political activist)

"With no third parties certified in North Carolina, more than half of all state legislative races will have only one candidate on the ballot in November, 2006. This may be one of the reasons why less than half of eligible adults in North Carolina vote."

editor's note: If we let it get much worse than this we can start calling our state the New Carolina Soviet: "Any candidate you want as long as it's the one provided on the ballot." Fortunately there is now relief on the horizon that you can help bring about...

H88 - The Electoral Fairness Act

H88 was filed last session by Rep Paul Miller of Durham and co-sponsors Paul Luebke of Durham, John M. Rayfield of Gaston, Paul Stam of Wake, and Jennifer Weiss of Wake. As written, H88 would have reduced North Carolina's signature requirement (to gain ballot access) by three-fourths and the vote threshold (to retain ballot access) by four-fifths, easing the ballot access burden while still leaving North Carolina in the top twenty most restrictive states.

H88 passed out of two committees intact last year but was amended on the floor of the House to leave the state's signature requirement unchanged (69,734 verified signatures) and to shorten the signature deadline by four months, changes that would make ballot access even more difficult in North Carolina. Fortunately, this amended version never got to the Senate.

During this year's 'short session', H88 started off in the Senate's Judiciary I (JI) committee. The committee chair, Sen. Clodfelter, is sympathetic to the original version and has indicated that he intends to make sure the bill is taken up by the committee and restored to its original form. If H88 passes this session, the Libertarian Party (and other political parties in NC) will have a much easier time getting and staying on the ballot.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PASS THE ELECTORAL FAIRNESS ACT:

8:40:27 PM

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