Spagnola: "It's time for John Robinson to go." He has a point.

From The Spagnola Report:

It was big, bold headlined front page news when Ahearn initially reported the alleged improper use of the “black book”. The fact that Johnson later admitted in his answers to us under penalty of perjury that he had no evidence to support the claim has yet to even be written about in the News and Record even though I have had this document since August and The Rhino made the story front page news after I made a copy available to John Hammer.

There is no excuse for this if the News and Record intends to be considered a credible news source. Just like Mitch Johnson, it is time for John Robinson to go.

Where Sam has a point is the fact that the (Greensboro, NC) News & Record has failed to report, since it first came to light in September of last year, that the City of Greensboro, sworn to by City Manager Mitch Johnson, admits that it has zero evidence of anything indicating any misuse whatsoever of the so-called "black book."

You will recall that the former police chief David Wray was driven from office in large part because of the purported misuse of this book. The News & Record previously reported city manager Mitch Johnson as saying that the former chief of police "knew the book was improper" and that the book was "shown to prostitutes and drug dealers across the county in an effort to get information on any officers who might be engaging in illegal activities."

None of these assertions has ever been substantiated and now that the City, through the sworn statement of the City Manager, says that they have zero indication that the book was improperly used, the best the N&R can muster is "The city manager recently said the city could not prove the black book was used inappropriately." [Emphasis added] Well, no. That misses the point and is journalistic prestidigitation intended to divert readers away from the truth and the News & Record's complicity in obfuscating it.

City Manager Mitch Johnson was not asked if he could prove that the black book was used inappropriately, he was asked to:

"State whehter there are any documents or recordings in the posession of the City that indicate any other use of the 'Black Book' other than to solve or prevent a violation of the law." [Emphasis added] [Source, p13 #10]

To this the City replied, with the notarized signature of City Manager Johnson:

"Based on information and belief, the City of Greensboro is not aware of any documents or recordings in the possession of the City that indicate any other use of the photo array, an original of which is currently in the possession of the State Bureau of Investigations (sic), other than to purportedly solve or prevent an alleged violation of the law." [Emphasis added] [Source, p13 #10]

The city manager was not asked to prove improper use of the line up book, he was asked if the city has anything at all that even indicated improper use. The City and City Manager say no.

This matters greatly. The N&R previously reported the City Manager as saying that the book was used improperly. Now the manager says he has nothing that would indicate that at all. Where did those previous assertions reported in the N&R come from? Was the City Manager lying or being misquoted by the media and why does the N&R seem hellbent on ignoring the now glaring contradictions, much less investigating the reason for the contradiction and setting the record straight?

Sam is right. If the N&R will not explain to the public why it reported the City Manager as saying something for which he now says he has no evidence, then the N&R is not merely tolerating but standing in defense of mendacity -- a stance that should lead to the editor's dismissal if the paper's owners have any concern for its credibility.

UPDATE: Ben Holder (at Guarino's blog) provides another example of the (Greensboro, NC) News & Record reporting City Manager Johnson implicating former Chief Wray with statements about the "Black Book" for which he says he now has no evidence:

"Wray countered in a written statement that the black three-ring binder had only been compiled and used to identify a suspect in a single case: A prostitute's complaint that a police officer groped and sexually assaulted her during a strip search last January.

But City Manager Mitchell Johnson said investigators concluded otherwise - that there were numerous instances of the book being shown to criminal defendants in an attempt to target black officers among the 19 pictured in the book. Defendants were told, in Johnson's words, 'If you ID an officer, we might help you out....' "

UPDATE II: Here's another example of how the (Greensboro, NC) News & Record has left standing inaccurate reporting about the black book:

The book in question includes head shots of 114 black males, including at least 19 city officers. Wray maintains that the photos were assembled for one purpose only: A woman reported that she was sexually assaulted by an unidentified black policeman, and the 19 photos were of the uniformed black officers working that particular shift.

However, Bellamy said Tuesday that he has found no record of such an assault, whether in the form of a police report, a tape of the woman's statement or any previous computer search of the black officers on that shift.

If one were to go by the "official paper of record" for Greensboro, one would believe that there were indications of misuse of the "black book" and no evidence of a legitimate purpose when, in fact, the exact opposite is true. There is only evidence of its proper use and zero indication of its misuse, but the N&R seems unable to make that known for some reason. A newspaper editor content to let such a gross distortion of the facts stand on the record may be acceptable to his corporate bosses, but Greensboro deserves better.

Court, public records and City Council polygraph tests

Sam Spagnola and I had our day in court today for our suit against the City of Greensboro regarding our public records request. Frankly, Sam and the city attorneys made some good arguments. The judge agreed to review the RMA report and minutes from closed City Council sessions in camera to see what may legally be released.

We had asked for the results of the polygraph tests taken by eight of nine City Council members in 2006 to ferret out the "leaker" of the RMA report. We were told that there were no written records to deliver. However, the polygraph examiner has agreed to write a report of each council person's results provided they agree. The News & Record's Amanda Lehmert reports:

"So far, three council members have agreed to sign -- Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Sandra Anderson Groat and Mike Barber. Other test takers said they would not sign, City Attorney Terry Wood said.

"The tests were taken by eight current and former council members, including Sandy Carmany, Florence Gatten, Keith Holiday, Tom Phillips and Goldie Wells."

It is really very strange, when you think about it: A polygraph was apparently necessary because council members wanted to "prove" their honesty about whether or not they "leaked" the RMA report. But if someone showed deception during their polygraph test, would they not also deceive in self-reporting their results? And if they honestly reported the results of their polygraph test, why would they now refuse to allow a written report to be provided to the public?

When we were verbally told by then-Mayor Keith Holliday that all eight members of the City Council who took the polygraph test reported to him that they "passed," we were left to draw our own conclusions about what it meant that one council person would not take the test. Now we are left to draw our own conclusions about what it means that some City Council members do not want a written report of their results.

So, what happened? Did the Supreme Court authenticate Obama's birth certificate?

Remember this?

The US Supreme Court has ordered Obama to submit his birth certificate by December 1st for review. -- Jaycee

And this?

If those challenging the citizenship are just crazed conspiracy theorists, why is the Supreme Court paying any attention to them? A response is due Dec. 1 and a hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5. It seems that at this point Obama would just send a copy of his birth certificate to the Supreme Court to settle the issue, but it seems like he would have done that a long time ago. -- Rhinoceros Times Editor, John Hammer

So, did Obama obey the order to turn over his birth certificate by December 1st and how did that hearing go? (If you prefer to answer the answerable, you might try "Was there ever an order for Obama to turn over his birth certificate and was there ever a hearing scheduled?")

Goa anybody?

The musak at the Y has a techno channel. I liked. I went searching for some and stumbled on Goa. Never heard of it before.

It's hard to find good music to listen to while programming. Most of what I like has lyrics and it's too easy to get distracted by words when trying to code. My default is usually classical, which can be sleepy. Goa though! Driving, electronic, distinctly layered -- seems to increase the motivation and concentration.

You can find plenty on Shoutcast or check out this guy.

The Way It's Done Now

Jason Barbour of Greensboro smears a UNCG professor in a letter to the editor. Said professor instantly appends his defense to Barbour's diatribe.

We suck, but look over there!

From Ben Holder's The Troublemaker today:

The most interesting part of this whole EEOC name game is that the city has never provided a law that proves the names on the EEOC complaint list is not a public record. The New and Record does not ask either because they suck at reporting.

The N&R totally side stepped and bullshitted their way past several stories about this issue recently. (They still refuse to clarify their Mitch Johnson black book reporting.) However, they turn a story quickly when it might make the Rhino look bad. Certainly, I am not the only one seeing this.

No, Ben. You are not alone.

Read Ben's entire post, it's important not only for understanding the EEOC complaint but also for understanding the sad state of affairs at Greensboro's paper of record.

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Greensboro City Council-banished Web Site Now on We101

Remember this, when Greensboro City Council got all atwitter over someone promoting a "porn" website during speakers from the floor at a council meeting?

Spence had just enough time left in his three minutes to ask the council and the audience watching from home to visit www.monkeywhale.com and www.artbeatgreensboro.org.

Somewhere around this time, City Manager Mitchell Johnson got the idea that Spence and his crew might be playing an April Fool's day joke. He asked Councilman Robbie Perkins to use his PDA to search for monkey whales on the internet. And Perkins finds an, a-hem, adults-only site.

Word spread. Later, after the council returned from a temporary break, they noted that folks shouldn't take Spence's advice, that those sites just aren't family-friendly. Even further, they asked the city staff to strike his comments from the video record, which is posted online after the meeting.

I see that the monkeywhale.com blog has now been added to We101.com. Welcome monkeywhale.

Hey, Editor Moonbeam

Rhinoceros Times editor John Hammer in his column this week: "If he [President-elect Obama] has a valid birth certificate with the seal and all of that, can the stupid thing be put on the web..."

Dude.

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Rethinking

Subject matter aside, this is a rarity: Someone reconsidering what was once a core position.

The Mountain Disappears

I read this last night.
--------------------------

The Mountain Disappears
By Leonard Bernstein

I believe in people. I feel, love, need and respect people above all else, including the arts, natural scenery, organized piety, or nationalistic superstructures. One human figure on the slope of a mountain can make the whole mountain disappear for me. One person fighting for the truth can disqualify for me the platitudes of centuries. And one human being who meets with injustice can render invalid the entire system which has dispensed it.

I believe that man's noblest endowment is his capacity to change. Armed with reason, he can see two sides and choose: he can be divinely wrong. I believe in man's right to be wrong. Out of this right he has built, laboriously and lovingly, something we reverently call democracy. He has done it the hard way and continues to do it the hard way--by reason, by choosing, by error and rectification, by the difficult, slow method in which the dignity of A is acknowledged by B, without impairing the dignity of C. Man cannot have dignity without loving the dignity of his fellow.

I believe in the potential of people. I cannot rest passively with those who give up in the name of "human nature." Human nature is only animal nature if it is obliged to remain static. Without growth, without metamorphosis, there is no godhead. If we believe that man can never achieve a society without wars, then we are condemned to wars forever. This is the easy way. But the laborious, loving way, the way of dignity and divinity, presupposes a belief in people and in their capacity to change, grow, communicate, and love.

I believe in man's unconscious mind, the deep spring from which comes his power to communicate and to love. For me, all art is a combination of these powers; for if love is the way we have of communicating personally in the deepest way, they what art can do is to extend this communication, magnify it, and carry it to vastly greater numbers of people. Therefore art is valid for the warmth and love it carries within it, even if it be the lightest entertainment, or the bitterest satire, or the most shattering tragedy.

I believe that my country is the place where all these things I have been speaking of are happening in the most manifest way. American is at the beginning of her greatest period in history--a period of leadership in science, art, and human progress toward the democratic ideal. I believe that she is at a critical point in this moment, and that she needs us to believe more strongly than ever before, in her and in one another, in our ability to grow and change, in our mutual dignity, in our democratic method. We must encourage thought, free and creative. We must respect privacy. We must observe taste by not exploiting our sorrows, successes, or passions. We must learn to know ourselves better through art. We must rely more on the unconscious, inspirational side of man. We must not enslave ourselves to dogma. We must believe in the attainability of good. We must believe, without fear, in people.

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Greensboro City Manager Johnson on 'black book' contradicts his previous statements as reported by WFMY, News & Record

City Manager Mitch Johnson, in explaining his sworn affirmation (p.15) of the City's claim (p.13 #10) that no evidence exists of the "black book" being misused writes: "I cannot conclusively say that the "Black Book' was not used in any way other than the officer described..." (i.e. as a legitimate investigative tool).

The question was not can Johnson conclusively say that the 'black book' was not misused. He was not asked to conclusively prove a negative. The question asked is does this City have ANY information AT ALL that "INDICATES" ANY misuse WHATSOEVER of the 'black book.' To that, Johnson says no. In fact, Johnson attests with his notarized signature that the city has not one shred, not one iota, not one scintilla of evidence that the 'black book' was misused.

• Why then did Frank Mickens of WFMY report: "City Manager Mitchell Johnson claims the special intelligence division used the book to conduct bogus investigations of black officers."
• Why then did Lorraine Ahearn report in the News & Record: "Wray said in his statement the book was kept because the sexual assault case was unresolved. Yet Johnson suggested the former chief knew the book was improper."
• Why then, did Margaret Moffet Banks report in the News & Record: "Internal investigators have said the book was shown to prostitutes and drug dealers across the county in an effort to get information on any officers who might be engaging in illegal activities."
• Why then did then-City Council person Sandy Carmany write on her blog: "However, there is ample evidence that the book was used in inappropriate ways several times in efforts to implicate black officers in exchange for favorable treatment for crime suspects."

The city has legally sworn, attested to with the notarized signature of City Manager Mitch Johnson, that it has zero evidence of misuse of the line up book. On what, then, were these allegations of improper use of the back book based?

Keeping campaign promises

Obama said he would and it was an important reason for my support.

"President-elect Barack Obama may undo about 200 Bush administration decisions and executive orders, officials in Washington said." [source]

Good news! Billy's stolen street plane recovered

Billy got his street plane back. Yeah!

Election Prediction Analysis

So, how did I do on my presidential election predictions?

Prediction: Obama wins national vote by 9 percentage points.
Actuality: Obama wins national vote by 7 percentage points.

Prediction: Obama wins 352 electoral votes.
Actuality: Obama wins 364 electoral votes.

Prediction: Obama wins North Carolina by 19.200 votes.
Actuality: Obama wins North Carolina by 13,690 votes.

Please post your contact information below to hire for political analysis, fortune telling or other prognostications.

Have you seen this plane?

Billy Jones, aka Billy the Blogging Poet, had is self-made "street plane" stolen yesterday. If you see it please call the Greensboro Police Department at 336-373-2222. ( Case # 2008-1104-252 ) And please help spread the word.

Viva La Vida

Eight years. I'm breathing again.

vid:


I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People could not believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

Hear Jerusalem bells are ringings
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh

Three the hard way

Thanks to the jerk who stole another Obama bumper sticker off our car this morning, I decided to do one more get out the vote effort for Barack Obama.

I went to the neighborhood outpost around five o'clock and was told our area was covered but that precinct G69 was "under performing" and I could head over there. I drove over to the Summit Avenue outpost, checked in, got a map, some door hangers and minimal instructions to just turn out anybody who hadn't voted yet.

Most of the people I spoke to had already voted, but there was one house where the door was answered by fifth grader Chris. His mom and dad were not home and his great grandmother was watching them. She came to the door. She hadn't voted, but she couldn't leave the kids. "Let's take them with us," I said, "I'll drive." So this seventy-five year old black woman said to the white, bald middle-aged stranger standing on her front porch, "OK."

Chris got the car seat for his toddler sister, he and I convinced his second grade brother Tony that he could watch cartoons another time and we loaded up the car and drove to Reid AME Church to vote. While great grandma voted, and little sister slept, Chris, Tony and I sat in the car, listened to Elton John and talked about elections and school.

After getting the family back home safe and sound, I continued with the door knocking. Again, much of the same story, everybody having already voted. At 7:22, I was thinking to myself, "Well, this is about it. One more door."

My knock was met with, "You better get away from my front door." "Barack Obama campaign," I said. The door opened. I introduced myself to a young woman and asked her if she had voted. She hadn't. Neither had her roommate. "There is still time," I said, "but you have to go now."

"But my hair is a mess, I don't have a bra on."

"Obama doesn't care about your hair. He needs your vote. I'll give you a ride, but we don't have time to discuss it. If you want to support Obama we have to go now. Right now."

The woman scooped up her child. Her roommate on her heels said, "I'm coming too." We got to the polling place at 7:29, just in time to have these two women be the last to vote at the precinct.

Thanks, whoever you are, for stealing my bumper sticker. Your antics got Obama another three votes in North Carolina.

North Carolina for Obama

Friends Harvey and Matty made this video to encourage people to come to North Carolina to volunteer for Obama. Too late for that now, but the video sure makes Greensboro look nice, gives a glimpse of the local Obama ground game, and Matty's music is purty.

I voted. No wait

Voted at 10:00 this morning at Lawndale Baptist Church. No line. About six people voting when I arrived. About six people voting when I left.

Cannot run on her record, thinks North Carolinians are Goobers. Dole deserves to lose

If you are an incumbent who has represented her constituents well, you run for reelection on your record. If your record is voting with a wildly unpopular president 88% of the time, you run against your opponent. If your opponent is respected and you have no integrity and you think the people you represent are goobers, you run a campaign of deceit, like Elizabeth Dole's.

In early September, Dole launched an ad campaign that said her opponent was known as "Fibber Kay." As the Dole campaign admitted, nobody could be brought forth who actually had taken to calling Kay Hagan "Fibber Kay" nor could they offer any reason why she might be a fibber. The Dole campaign just made it up, with enough disregard for the intelligence of North Carolina voters that they thought they could just fool people with fabrications. Dole thinks you are an idiot.

A few weeks later, Dole wanted you to think that Hagan supports doing away with laws that protect secret ballots for union organizing. So Dole posted an audio clip on her website of Hagan's answer to a question about the subject. Dole edited the clip so that we wouldn't hear the complete (and sensible) answer Hagan gave. The edited clip served Dole's purpose of distorting Hagan's position, but, once again, it showed complete disdain for any desire to actually inform the voters of North Carolina. Instead, the intent was to deceive. Dole thinks you won't notice. Dole thinks you are a nitwit.

And now we have the latest Dole ad where Dole claims Hagan attended a "secret meeting." The Dole campaign itself took note of this meeting before it happened in a public press release. But "secret" is scarier than "previously announced" and Dole doesn't care if you are deceived. She thinks you are a dolt. The ad ends with a picture of Kay Hagan on the screen and a voice that sounds a lot like Hagan (but is not) saying, "There is no God." Dole knows Hagan didn't say this, but Dole thinks she can get away with deceiving the people of North Carolina. Dole thinks you are a dimwit.

I am no fan of Kay Hagan. I've found plenty for which to be critical of Hagan. I had thought I would skip voting in this race or possibly vote for the Libertarian candidate. Not now. North Carolina has a choice between a newcomer who has some things to learn about preparation and effective communication or a politician who is so unsure of her accomplishments and so desperate that she resorts to deceiving the people she is supposed to represent, thinking them to be oblivious goobers. Hagan is the promise of something better. Dole is the guarantee of something contemptuous and despicable.

John Hammer off the rails: "Put on your tinfoil hat and vote for McCain"

Rhino Times editor John Hammer has been known to put together a strong argument from time to time, but every once in a while the Hammer train jumps the rails and Hammer writes something that is just completely at odds with reality here on Earth. I'm never really sure when he does this if it is just a lapse in reason or if he thinks his readers are dumb enough that he might just be able to put one over on them.

Hammer puts on his tinfoil hat again this week (previously) in his "Under the Hammer" column. Like a dutiful soldier of the right, Hammer takes up this year's theme of fear mongering and proceeds to write:

"He [Obama] hasn't even been required by the press to prove that he is a natural born citizen. There is evidence that he is not. If he was, in fact, born in Hawaii, why not simply produce a valid birth certificate?"

Hey Editor Moonbeam, he has. It has been examined by the non-partisan factcheck.org and anybody can even see a copy of it on the Intertubes.

Hammer adds:

"McCain's citizenship was questioned because he was born in Panama. McCain went to court, produced the required documents and a judge decided that he was, in fact, a natural born citizen."

Not exactly. McCain was sued to have his named removed from the California ballot on the grounds that he was not a citizen, but the suit was dismissed. In his dismissal, the judge said that it was "highly probable" that McCain is a natural borne citizen, but no definitive finding of McCain's citizenship the way Hammer would have his saps readers believe and we still cannot see a verified copy of McCain's birth certificate.

If you are still undecided about who to vote for for president, notice who is backed by kooky fear mongers who think made up stuff is good information.

Presidential Election Predictions

Obama wins nationwide popular vote by 9 percentage points. Obama wins 352 electoral votes. Obama wins North Carolina by 19,200 votes.

Local Media Falling Down

The Troublemaker: "There is a story here. There is a relevant and news worthy story here."

Ben lays out the long sad trail of deception regarding the "black book" and wonders why the local media, specifically, the News & Record (Greensboro, NC) hasn't moved to report developments that contradict their previous reporting on the Wray affair.

59 doors

I went door to door in a get out the vote effort on behalf of Barack Obama in my neighborhood yesterday. I started by picking up materials at Jennifer's house, a lovely home in the Kirkwood neighborhood, the downstairs temporarily turned into a war room with three computers, printers, a table for people making phone calls, snacks and drinks and a steady flow of volunteers coming and going.

After a brief orientation, I was given pamphlets and a list of people described as sporadic and newly registered voters in my neighborhood and sent on my way into the beautiful fall sunshine. From 1:30 to 5:00 I knocked on 59 doors. I left behind printed materials at those that did not answer. I talked to 23 people. Of those, 8 were people who were not those listed as living at the address. 1 said he was going to vote for McCain. 2 said they planned to vote for Obama, 1 was on her way out the door to vote for Obama and 10 said they had already voted -- all ten for Obama.

The most rewarding visit was to contact Sonya. Her fiancee answered the door and Sonya was taking a nap on the couch. It was about 3:45 -- a little more than an hour before the end of early voting. When I mentioned Obama, Sonya woke up and came to the door. She said she was going to vote for Obama. When I mentioned that there was still time to vote on Saturday and told her where she could vote early, she turned to her fiancee and said, "Come on, we're going to vote." The way I look at it, I spent a few hours to triple my vote -- at least.

Triad Watch takes candidate Proctor to task for incomplete finance reports

Keith at Triad Watch loves to examine campaign finance reports and he is perturbed by the latest filing by Larry Proctor for Guilford County Commissioner (ignore the irrelevant and distracting video at the top, scroll down for Keith's post). Rightly so. Contributions to a campaign are supposed to include the profession and employer of the contributor. Keith says Proctor's reports fail to provide this information for 56 contributors.

Did Yes!Weekly publisher nix paper's presidential endorsement?

From Ed Cone:
----------------

Yes! Weekly's endorsement issue does not endorse a presidential candidate. I received an anonymous email saying the presidential endorsement was spiked by publisher Charles Womack, allegedly because he is a McCain supporter and did not want his paper to endorse Obama. A subsequent, not-for-attribution interview with another source close to the weekly paper said the same thing.

I called Womack, who said he had "no comment." I asked him again if he had ordered the endorsement spiked, and if so, if that was because he supports McCain. Again, "no comment."

City Manager Mitch Johnson, liar or incompetent?

The Troublemaker looks at time line and documented record to expose more inconsistencies with Greensboro City Manager Mitch Johnson's statements about former Police Chief David Wray.

If Wray and Brady did attempt to hide the black book, they did a really shitty job at doing it. Members of City Legal as well as the City Manager knew of the existence of the black book as early as September 20, 2005. However, they claimed Wray tried to hide the book’s existence from them despite having in their possession a memo that described it perfectly.

On January 11, 2006 the News and Record published at story titled, “Official: Wray hid 'black book.'” The story claimed “…… Wray misled city leaders when he covered up the actions of a "secret police" unit that targeted black officers for unfair internal investigation, Greensboro officials said. Part of the cover-up included the hiding of a "black book" that contained photos of at least 19 African American officers, officials said late Tuesday.”

More reason for the News & Record to correct the record.

The Troublemaker also calls city leaders on their deception, including video of Mayor Yvonne Johnson expressing a gross misunderstanding of the nature of the "back book" and its handling.

The only evidence that is ample is that Greensboro's leaders seriously mislead the public they are sworn to serve.

My brother, product of Greensboro, to make "faux" conducting debut

My brother Paul, whose musical abilities were first nurtured in the Guilford County Public Schools and the Eastern Music Festival, will debut a live performance of his all-digital Fauxharmonic Orchestra with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.

From the Baltimore Sun (you may recognize Paul's "baton" as a Wii controller in the pic):

The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra's next program will let audiences hear the premiere of a new work for strings performed both by live musicians and a digitally created ensemble. The wryly named Fauxharmonic Orchestra uses digital versions of musical notes to replicate conventional instruments, a technology that may have applications in the future for bringing nearly real orchestral music to out-of-the-way places.

"It's not a question of 'Can you tell the difference, and what do you like better?' We'd win that," says the BCO's music director Markand Thakar. "People like human beings better. At least we hope so."

Paul Henry Smith, the Boston-based creator and "conductor" of the Fauxharmonic Orchestra, says that "the goal is not to fool anyone, but to see what sort of musical experience can emerge."
[more]

Listen to the Fauxharmonic Orchestra here.

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WFMY, News & Record, it is time to correct the record

Frank Mickens, WFMY, January 27, 2006: "Interim Chief: No Evidence Supporting Validity Of 'Black Book'"

Although a crappy web site keeps me from linking to similar News & Record articles, anybody paying attention will acknowledge that the narrative told by local media about the events surrounding stripping former Greensboro Police Chief David Wray of his authority and his subsequent resignation included as a central theme the existence of a "black book" -- a photo line up book illegitimately used to "target" black police officers.

It is time for local media to correct the record; to report with just as much attention as they originally did when painting the "black book" as an indictment of Wray that Greensboro City Manager Mitch Johnson has now acknowledged, in a sworn affidavit, that the "black book" was a legitimate investigative tool and that there is no indication that it was used for any other illicit purpose.

Jerry Bledsoe in this week's installment of his Rhinoceros Times series "Cops in Black and White" explains:

Earlier this year, Greensboro lawyer Samuel Spagnola and Roch Smith Jr., proprietor of the internet site We 101, filed suit against the city seeking public records about the police and the Project Homestead scandal of 2003. In August, Spagnola submitted to the city his first set of interrogatories as well as a request for admissions of fact. The city completed its responses on Sept. 16.

Number 11 in the request for admissions was this:

"Admit that the 'Black Book' was compiled for the purpose of solving or preventing a possible violation of the law.

"Response: It is admitted that the 'Black Book' requested by the Plaintiffs is a photo array or record compiled for the purpose of solving a violation of the law."

The city denied a request for an admission that there was no other use for the book, saying it was privileged under the law. But in the first set of interrogatories, number 10 is this:

"State whether there are any documents or recordings in the possession of the City that indicate any other use of the 'Black Book' other than to solve or prevent a violation of the law.

"Answer: Based on information and belief, the City of Greensboro is not aware of any documents or recordings in the possession of the City that indicate any other use of the photo array, an original of which is currently in possession of the State Bureau of Investigations, other than to purportedly solve or prevent an alleged violation of the law."

These documents are accompanied by a sworn deposition entitled "Verification," which is signed by Mitch Johnson. It states:

"I am the City Manager for the City of Greensboro, and I am authorized to make this verification on behalf of the City of Greensboro. I have read the foregoing Answers to Plaintiffs' First Set of Interrogatories, and know the contents thereof to be true of my own knowledge, except for those matters and things stated therein upon information and belief, and as to those things, I believe them to be true."

So, how about it News & Record and WFMY? Are you going to inform the public or are you going to consign Greensboro to yet another bit of racially tinged history clouded by innuendo and incomplete reporting of the facts? Will you capitulate to the mendacity and mediocrity that have damned our fair city in the past or will you step up, set the bar higher and do your part to allow Greensboro to move forward with an accurate understanding of its past?

News & Record history online goes "poof"

This morning I was trying to research some of the media coverage of the events surrounding stripping former Greensboro Police Chief David Wray of his authority and his subsequent resignation. I am frustrated and disappointed to find that search result links to News & Record articles lead to page after page of broken links: "Page not found. We're sorry, but the page you've requested does not exist."

This blog post by News & Record editor John Robinson about the N&R's reporting of the Wray affair has seven links to what the editor purports to be relevant News & Record articles. Each one is broken.

The local newspaper should serve as an historical record. It doesn't. It sucks. The whole enterprise should be gutted, torn down and rebuilt from the ground up with the goal of some modicum of competence; or someone should start a new media enterprise to replace the N&R. That could probably be done for a quarter of the rumored sale price of the N&R and without the drain of a legacy culture and financial overhead that weigh like an anchor of perpetual incompetence around the neck of the N&R.

My New Obama Sign

After having had two Obama yard signs stolen from our yard in as many days, and after having had an Obama bumper sticker removed from our car, I have made a new Obama yard sign:



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Yes, it's a double standard. Calling 'em as I see 'em

News & Record reporter Mark Binker writes on his blog that North Carolina candidate for US Senate Kay Hagan, is a member of Greensboro Country Club and was a member when the club, prior to 1995, excluded blacks as members.

Binker headlines his post with "Is this anything?" Joe Guarino and Tony Wilkins think it's a double standard; that, in the past, revealing membership to clubs that discriminate was considered legitimate reportage of political candidates. Joe and Tony are right, this is a double standard unless and until the media report this and get an explanation from Hagan.

Stifling dissent

Elon College student and Obama supporter Andy Milne was arrested for disturbing the peace at Thursday's Sarah Palin rally after he was accosted while holding up a sign.

A few years ago, a couple was arrested in West Virginia for wearing anti-Bush t-shirts to a Bush rally. They filed suit and, last year, the federal government agreed to settle, paying the couple $80,000.00.

Letter to the editor writer Larry Surber of Stoneville not up to speed.

Larry Surber of Stoneville had a letter to the editor published in today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC). Wondering where Sarah Palin has been on the Exon Valdez oil spill, he writes:

"But where is the 'populist' Palin? Has she been fighting for 19 years on behalf of the devastated Prince William folks? No, she is donning her old cheerleading outfit and waving pompoms and cheering, 'Drill, Baby, Drill!'"

I don't know that Sarah Palin has been fighting on behalf of the Prince William folks since she was twenty-five years old, nor have I seen her don a cheerleading outfit. She certainly seems to condone "Drill, baby, drill," but, under her administration as Governor, Alaska formally sided with the Prince William folks in the case before the Supreme Court earlier this year where Exxon successfully sought to have their monetary responsibility for the Valdez oil spill reduced.

No need to mislead, Larry.

Letter to the editor writer Lisa McCoy Reid of Greensboro gets her facts wrong

Lisa McCoy Reid of Greensboro had a letter to the editor published in today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC). She begins with:

"Barack Obama refers to Bill Ayers as just “some guy that I know.” Obama accepted a job from the unrepentant terrorist to head his Chicago foundation from 1995 to 2000. This position required a very close working relationship with Ayers."

Wrong. Ayers did not hire Obama. From an October 4th, 2008 article in the NY Times:

"[A]ccording to several people involved, Mr. Ayers played no role in Mr. Obama's appointment. Instead, it was suggested by Deborah Leff, then president of the Joyce Foundation, a Chicago-based group whose board Mr. Obama, a young lawyer, had joined the previous year." [See a complete debunking of the myth here.]

Reid then offers up this unsupportable nugget:

"Ayers avoided conviction for bombing places in the United States because the prosecutors failed to get a warrant before using wiretaps."

Not that this is relevant to Obama, but this serves as an example of the lack of critical thinking from the writer. The lack of warrants did not keep Ayers from being "convicted," they kept him from possibly being prosecuted.

Finally, Reid writes this:

"Those associated with ACORN have been convicted of mass voter-registration fraud in Ohio, Colorado, Mississippi and Washington."

This may be the smartest part of Reid's letter in that she carefully writes of "Those associated with ACORN," acknowledging that, where there have been such convictions, they were of people contracted by ACORN to register voters. Reid falls to mention that these convictions happened with the cooperation of ACORN. "Mass" fraud? Well, what's a little hyperbole when you have your facts wrong and can't think straight?

1 hour, 40 minutes to early vote

Just got a call from mom and dad who went to early vote this morning at the old courthouse. They report lines around the block, with an hour and forty minutes in line. They said they heard state senate candidate Don Vaughan (running against Joe Wilson) on the phone with the Board of Elections trying to convince them to set up more than the ten voting machines currently available.

Worthless McCain yard signs

Last night, someone stole my parent's Obama yard sign and replaced it with a McCain sign, which was promptly delivered to the garbage can. I guess there must be a shortage of people willing to put McCain signs in their yards and the landfill is the only place left for them.

She acted legally. Why is the Palin report newsworthy?

Three words for your elucidation:

Johnson fires Wray.

Is We101 faster?

I tried something today with We101.com that I should have done a long time ago (file caching* for you geeks). This should make We101 faster. What do you think? For those of you who are regular users, do you notice an improvement?

* Previously, We101 performed a database query every time a visitor loaded a page. For a city like Greensboro, with several hundreds (or more) of posts displayed by default, this was some substantial server overhead. It also was unnecessary.

The database of blog posts is only updated once an hour, so there really was nothing to be gained by querying the database with every page load. Now, with today's change, each time a visitor loads a page, the server will check the cache for a stored static (faster) HTML page. If there is such a page and it is no older than one hour, that page will be served to the visitor. If you are the lucky visitor who is the first to hit a page after the cache has expired, your page will query the database, you'll wait for the results, and the server will write a new page to the cache so all of the people who follow you for the next hour will get the speedy cached page.

Kathryn Mittelstadt: Triad Business Leader Spammer

The spam from Business Leader Media continues unabated. As I've previously noted, and Sue has reported to the FCC, Bob Kober's new endeavor is really pissing people off. Now Kathryn Mittelstadt, Vice President - Events, has joined the spamming efforts, also sending unwanted emails to "Dear Subscriber."

If Business Leader Media tries to sell you exposure through their email marketing and they tell you that the people who receive their emails have subscribed to them, don't do it. They are sending email to people who haven't subscribed and who don't want this spam. Associating your company with this public relations wreck would be a mistake.

More radical extremist links. We must not allow this to ascend to power.

Michelle Obama was revealed to have joined a race-centric nationalist party whose founder preached armed secession from the United States and who enlisted the government of Iran in his cause.

This is crazy. There is no way we can allow this kind of anti-American extremism to have a position of power. Surely we can all agree on this.

One more thing: This is not true of the Obamas, it describes the Palins.

Triad News Wire (a Bob Kober joint) getting a formal complaint to the FCC

"The spam they send is crap; the site owners are managing a crap “business;” their technology is crap. I’m reporting them to the FCC."

Sue is as perturbed as I am about Bob Kober's latest endeavor: Spam from Triad News Wire.

Bob, you are going to have a hard time selling your product to advertisers if they start to become aware that the audience you promise them is thoroughly pissed off with your product. My suggestion? Cull your email list down to only those who really have subscribed and stop sending email to people who never asked to receive it.

Messaging Service Unavailable

The result of trying to email my congressman today from his congressional web site:

"The House of Representatives is currently experiencing an extraordinarily high amount of email traffic. The Write Your Representative function is therefore intermittently available. While we realize communicating to your Members of Congress is critical, we suggest attempting to do so at a later time, when demand is not so high. System engineers are working to resolve this issue and we appreciate your patience."

Letter to the editor contradicts Palin in her defense

In a letter to the editor in today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC), writer Matthew P. Miller tries to take another writer to task for criticizing Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Miller says that we are not at war for oil:

"This isn’t about oil, and if that is what Barack Obama is selling, you better get your money back because you’ve been taken."

But....

Sarah Palin said:

"I say this while our nation is at war, while we're fighting in some sense over energy supplies."

Video here (at the 8:00 mark)

"We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources..." [Source]

I guess Mr. Miller will be wanting his money back.

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Free Speech Alive and Well in Greensboro

I inquired with the City of Greensboro about the Obama campaign's rule that signs and banners would not be allowed at tomorrow's rally. Here is the reply I received from the city Public Affairs Director, Pat Boswell:

"Roch: The Obama campaign issued the statement that signs and banners are not permitted. City Police Officers will not enforce this rule as stated. However, if a person at the event is carrying a sign that in the officer’s judgment poses a risk to public safety—for example, a sign attached to a heavy or pointed piece of wood—then the officer may require that the person remove it from the site."

[This straightforward answer required more research than may be apparent. I appreciate the effort Pat made to get me an answer in a day and half. Thanks, Pat.]

Update: I just spoke to City attorney Terry Wood, and, while he cautioned that he does not set policy, only advises, he concurs that this is the lawfully correct policy. He says he doesn't see how Greensboro police could arrest someone for peaceably standing at the rally with a sign without violating their First Amendment rights.

McCain: Flip-Flopper

Although Congress has yet to find a solution to the financial crisis, the clock ran out on McCain's gambit and he has come to realize that he made a bad decision and boxed himself into an impossible situation. So, he changes his mind and within 5 seconds, the spin starts on Fox Noise: "The McCain campaign never said he wouldn't attend the debate, just that he was suspending his campaign until we've taken action."

The McCain campaign was unequivocal that he wasn't coming to the debate unless there was a solution to the financial crisis first:

"Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., McCain's representative in debate negotiations, said McCain will not attend the debate "unless there is an agreement that would provide a solution" to the financial crisis. Graham said the agreement would have to be endorsed publicly by Obama, McCain, the White House and congressional leaders but not necessarily given final passage by the House and Senate."

McCain is a gambler, he rolled the dice and crapped out. Poor decision making.

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Rasmussen North Carolina Poll: Obama 49%, McCain 47%

"The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Tar Heel State shows Obama attracting 49% of the vote while McCain earns 47%. A week ago, McCain held a three-point edge. This is the first time in eight Rasmussen Reports polls that Obama has held any kind of a lead in North Carolina, though the candidates were tied once as well."

Source

Free Speech-Free Saturday?

How is it that the Obama campaign, using a publicly owned facility and, possibly, surrounding sidewalks and streets to accommodate the crowd, can issue announcements for Obama's Greensboro appearance that say "Signs and banners are not permitted?" If someone were to display a sign, would the GPD protect that person's First Amendment rights or assist with that person's removal?

News & Record accommodates plagiarist F.T. Greene of Greensboro

The News & Record (Greensboro, NC) published a nice little piece of Astroturf today: A letter from F. T. Greene of Greensboro. The letter was originally published in the Wall Street Journal on September 3, 2008 from Alec Ellison of Rye, NY. It was slightly modified to the version copied word-for-word by Greene and circulated on Free Republic and Rush Limbaugh's web site.

[Previous plagiarized letters in the N&R here and here.]

A public question for Kay Hagan on unions

Senator Hagan:

I can't figure out where you stand on unions. During an interview with the News & Record editorial staff you said that you favored allowing public employees the right to unionize. (Here.) The next day, you contacted N&R reporter Mark Binker and said that you misspoke, that you would never support federal law that would mandate that state public employees be allowed to unionize. You defended that position by saying you are "business-friendly." (Audio)

Last Friday, during an interview on radio station 680 WPTF (audio -- at the 7:30 mark), you said that you support the proposed federal legislation the Employee Free Choice Act. This act would make it easier for employees to unionize without employer interference.

These positions seem contradictory. How is it business-friendly to oppose federal law allowing public employees to unionize while supporting federal legislation that would make it easier for private-sector employees to unionize? Do you see why I'm confused? You say you are opposed to pro-union law that would not affect business and in favor of pro-union law that would affect business. Can you help me to understand?

You may answer in the comments below and I thank you in advance.

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You are a nitwit. I will deceive you. You will vote for me.

Local blogger Tony Wilkins cuts and pastes a press release from the Elizabeth Dole campaign waving a red flag for Kay Hagan's support of the Employee Free Choice Act. The post includes a link to a clip from a radio interview with Hagan where she expresses her support for the Act. Unfortunately, apparently assuming you are a bonehead and that they can put one over on you, the Dole campaign edits the audio clip so that you won't hear the part of the answer they don't want you to hear.

In response to a caller's question, where he asks if Hagan supports a repeal of the secret ballot option for forming a union, the edited audio clip on Dole's web site has Hagan saying this, and only this:

“There is something called EFCA – the Employees Free Choice Act, and I do support that.”

Hagan's complete answer to the question (at the 7:30 mark) also included her saying this:

"If you look back historically, there is a choice whether you can do a secret ballot or an employee... or a check. And those have been on the books for years [emphasis mine]. And I do support the right to have working families to have an opportunity to choose."

I am no great fan of the Hagan campaign and, in this interview, Hagan sounded more than unprepared, she sounded out of it -- evasive, unsteady and distracted. Nonetheless, she did manage to spit out the important factoid that puts the lie to the scare tactics used in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act -- that it would not, as the Dole campaign asserts, "revoke the rights of workers to vote by secret ballot."

No currently available employee options for forming a union, by petition or secret ballot, would be revoked under the Act. What the Act would do is no longer allow employers to demand a secret ballot if employees choose to utilize another existing option for forming a union. The Dole campaign is resorting to misrepresentation to support their scare tactics. As they've previously done, the Dole campaign underestimates the intelligence of North Carolina voters.

Obama, McCain tied in latest NC poll

The latest poll of North Carolina voters has Senators Obama and McCain tied at 46% each. Obama has a 24 point lead with the 58% of voters who say the economy is their most important issue.

News & Record edits letter writer's name

My dad wrote a letter to the editor of the News & Record (Greensboro, NC) that was published today. He showed me his original submission that was clearly submitted as "From: Roch C. Smith, Sr."

The N&R took it upon themselves to publish the letter as from Roch Smith.

I'm very proud of my dad and we align closely in our politics, but dad tried to make it clear that the letter was not from Howard Coble's web site designer (thanks, dad). My liason with Coble's campaign was way too cool about it. I asked him if he read today's N&R. "Yeah, I saw your letter" he said. A staffer had faxed the letter to him with a note attached saying, "Our web designer." Before I could explain, my contact continued, "That's alright, you are entitled to your opinion. As long as you are doing a good job on our web site, we don't mind if you express your thoughts..." Finally, I cut him off and explained. We had a good laugh.

But really, with the N&R's reluctance to edit letters for accuracy, why in the world would they go through the trouble of changing a writer's name?

Triad News Wire: Spammers

I received an email today from Triad News Wire--a summary of recent public relations announcements from area businesses. The email informed me that I was "receiving this email as a subscriber to our website." Bullshit.

I am quite certain that I had never previously visited this website much less subscribed to their email list. An introductory email that invited me to subscribe would be one thing; it's an insulting pain in the ass to have been subscribed without my knowledge or consent while pretending that I had. It's a poor reflection on Triad News Wire and the companies they represent that the first impression they are creating is one of dishonest annoyance.

I say, sir, my portoflio suggests a suckiness of Bush economic policy

So, you like the effects of the Bush economic policies on your investments?

In the 7 years and 8 months since Bush took office:

S&P down 11%
DOW up 3.6%
NASDAQ down 21%

As a comparison, under 8 years of Democrat Bill Clinton:

S&P up 209%
DOW up 222%
NASDAQ up 299%

Source

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News & Record letter writer misquotes Palin

In a letter to the editor in today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC), Diane Manzi of Greensboro writes:

"Speaking about her son deploying to Iraq, Palin said: 'Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God’s plan.'"

That is not an accurate quote. I'll leave it to readers to decide the extent to which the actual quote changes the meaning (I think it does), but what Palin actually said was:

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right also for this country; that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

See the video here. This quote at the 3:35 mark.

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News & Record corrects erroneous letter to the editor

The News & Record (Greensboro, NC) offered a correction today of erroneous information printed in a letter to the editor regarding Sarah Palin. Terrific! I hope the N&R is turning over a new leaf and that this is the beginning of the end of allowing plagiarism and fabrications to go uncorrected. Thank you N&R, for being big enough to step up and do it better.

Waste Deep

Mark Binker wades into the bullshit that currently masquerades as campaigning by the Dole and Hagan campaigns.

Excerpt:

"[I]f you're like most of the folks who are going cast votes in this election, neither Kay Hagan nor Elizabeth Dole are like you. They own stock and shares in oil wells that are worth more than your net value several times over. If either of them tries to convince you they're feeling the same pain at the pump you are, your BS meter should not only immediately go to red but start smoking, beeping and eventually break down from exhaustion."

Read the whole thing.

Sarah Palin speaks the truth

Sarah Palin, three months ago:

"I say this while our nation is at war, while we're fighting in some sense over energy supplies."

Video here (at the 8:00 mark)

Sarah Palin last month:

"We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources..." [Source]

John McCain once expressed the same opinion, saying we need to “eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.” But he took it back. [Source]

You are dumb. I will lie to you. You will vote for me.

Haven't we had enough dissembling and obfuscation in the last eight years? Do we really need another administration that thinks lying to people is ok?

John McCain has posted a web ad that says "Barack Obama on: Sarah Palin" followed by Obama saying, "You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig."

Here's what Obama said in context. Does it sound to you like he's talking about Sarah Palin or does it sound to you like the McCain campaign thinks it is ok to mislead to people?

OBAMA: Let's just list this for a second. John McCain says he's about change too. So I guess his whole angle is watch out George Bush. Except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove style politics, we're really going to shake things up in Washington. That's not change. That's just calling the same thing something different. But you know, you can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig.

You are an idiot. I will stoke your irrational fears. You will vote for me.

As election season heats up, it's going to be interesting to see which candidates offer an honest appeal to your good judgment and which think you are are an idiot who can be manipulated through deception. We've already seen one good example of the latter from Senator Liddy Dole who thinks her campaign can just make stuff up and that North Carolina voters are too gullible to notice. "I'm insulting your intelligence, morons. Vote for me, Elizabeth Dole."

Today we have another example. Local blogger (and fantasy football foe) Jeff Sykes of A Priori Concepts offered a post titled "Obama on education." It is a posting of the latest McCain attack ad--an ad that also assumes that voters are idiots; that misdirection can be used to pull the wool over our eyes and manipulate us to fear.

The ad offers the frightening warning that Obama favored teaching "comprehensive sex education to kindergarteners. " Be afraid! Be very afraid--unless you take the time to understand that this "sex education" was about age appropriate teaching of inappropriate touching so that children are less likely to become victims of sexual abuse. And if you didn't think that's a good idea, your kid didn't have to learn it. It was optional. But don't let the facts get in the way of fear. [Update: McClatchy fact checks the ad here.]

The ad offers derogatory quotations about Obama and cites authoritative sources. Here's the thing though, while the McCain campaign cherry picks a word or two from those sources to impugn Obama, those very same articles were much more critical of McCain on educaiton. McCain is hoping you are too dumb, too busy or too lazy to notice. Here's the real scoop on the sources cited in the McCain ad:
------------------

What sets this ad apart is that every article save one that the McCain camp cites as being critical of Obama's education policies either has far more derogatory things to say about McCain himself or goes on to praise the Illinois Democrat.

In the spot, the McCain campaign references a June 2008 Washington Post editorial that called Obama "elusive" on school accountability. That same editorial, however, stated that McCain "has not been forthcoming with any detailed plan." Moreover, when the Post editorial board revisited the subject of education last month, it found that "Obama has given the issue more attention" than McCain, whose plan was "both late in coming and still a work in progress."

Moreover, the specific "elusive" claim is in reference to a David Brooks op-ed in the New York Times that was noted by the Post. But in that piece, Brooks was far more critical of McCain. "Obama endorses many good ideas and is more specific than the McCain campaign, which hasn't even reported for duty on education," the Times columnist wrote.

In its press release accompanying the ad, the McCain campaign also cites an Education Week article which states that, as a legislator, Obama "hasn't made a significant mark on education." The same story, however, goes on to add: "Sen. Obama may have a unique perspective among the candidates seeking the presidency in 2008. As a private citizen, he led Chicago's portion of the Annenberg Challenge school reform initiative financed by the late philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg--an experience that shaped Mr. Obama's perspective on the critical importance of principals and teachers."

Additionally, during the heat of the Republican primary, Education Week ran a withering story on the lack of McCain accomplishments in the field, titled "John McCain on Education: Where Art Thou?"

"With Republican presidential contender John McCain poised to make a strong showing--or even win--tomorrow's primary in New Hampshire, it seems appropriate to re-examine his views on education," read the story. "That's not such an easy task. Education doesn't make the Arizona senator's list of issues on his campaign website. ... McCain is a campaign-finance, foreign-relations, anti-abortion, tax-cut candidate. Education is not his thing."

Indeed, only one article referenced by the McCain campaign doesn't, in turn, rip the Republican nominee even harder than Obama. That article (which is misleadingly attributed in the ad to the Chicago Tribune) is a July 2008 op-ed by libertarian columnist Steve Chapman, who has also argued for abolishing the Department of Education.

[source]

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Senator Dole: Fibber

I am very disappointed to see that Senator Dole's campaign is going ahead with the bogus and insulting TV ad first revealed as disingenuous by News & Record reporter, Mark Binker. The ad, which derides Hagan by saying "They call her fibber Kay," expects North Carolinians to be gullible saps, but Dole proudly endorses it. What a shame. What an insightful revelation of what Dole thinks of us.

Here is what the News & Observer has to say about the ad:
------------------------------

The ad does not specify who "they" are who call Hagan "Fibber Kay."

The Dole campaign said they did not come up with the nickname, but they did not know who did.

"We're not sure who coined it, but we hear people call Kay Hagan 'Fibber Kay' on the campaign trail and we hear it frequently," said spokesman Hogan Gidley.

A search of North Carolina newspapers, blogs and Web sites did not return any references to "Fibber Kay" from before the ad began airing, and nearly all written since were about the ad itself.

The ad does not name any of the supposed "fibs" that Hagan has made.

More fact checking of the ad here.

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Change? What does that mean?

I was listening to Brad and Britt on WZTK FM Talk 101.1 this morning and I heard a caller bemoaning the fact that, despite both presidential candidates now promising change, he had no idea what kind of change was being proposed -- that the details are missing.

Look, if you find yourself of the same opinion as the caller, there are two possibilities. Either there are no details to be found or you are getting your information from sources that don't offer details. Which is more likely?

The details are indeed out there. If you don't have them, make a concerted effort to change your information gathering efforts. If you plop yourself down in front of Fox and Friends every morning or tune into Michael Savage every evening and find yourself coming up short on knowledge, maybe you are wasting time with the wrong media. Take some initiative. Try different programs, spend an hour on the Net Googling topics of interest to you. Read some national magazines. Ask your friends where to turn. The information is out there. Go get it.

Letter-writer Paul Greene of Greensboro fabricates his own (erroneous) facts, News and Record gives stamp of approval

Is the News & Record letters editor awake? Today the paper published another letter with factual errors, adding to the N&R's stellar history of publishing lies, plagiarism, factual errors, more errors of fact, more plagiarism, and more lies. The letters page editor simply seems incapable of or unconcerned with checking letters for accuracy. Printing an opinion is one thing; printing a statement of fact that is wrong is an endorsement of mendacity by our daily newspaper.

In today's letter, Paul Greene of Greensboro offers a quotation from Senator Barack Obama's presidential nomination acceptance speech. What Greene puts in quotation marks though is not what Obama said. Greene made it up.

Greene wrote:

Obama said, “They say (the Republicans) you must make it on your own. You want to go to college? You’re on you own. If you are down, pull yourself up by your own boot strings; you’re on your own.”

What Senator Obama actually said was:

For over two decades, he's [John McCain] subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy — give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is — you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps — even if you don't have boots. You're on your own.

This is the kind of distortion that demands a correction. The News & Record won't print one. They don't care for accuracy.

Will Dell bail on North Carolina?

From Reuters:

Dell Inc (NasdaqGS:DELL - News) is trying to sell computer factories around the world in efforts to cut cost and improve profitability, the Wall Street Journal said.

In recent months, Dell has approached contract computer manufacturers with offers to sell the plants, the paper said, citing people familiar with the matter.

One person briefed on the plan told the Journal that he expects Dell to sell most, possibly all, of its factories "within the next 18 months."

The most likely buyers of Dell's factories will be big contract manufacturers, most of which are based in Asia, the paper said.

Dell's factories were originally tailored for a PC market that was driven by corporate customers ordering large volumes of desktop PCs.

But over the past three years, growth has shifted to laptops sold to consumers at retail stores. Round Rock, Texas-based Dell has lagged behind competitors in coming up with a streamlined system to build portable PCs.

Dell could face several obstacles in selling its plants. Contract manufacturers may be hesitant to buy factories in places with high labor costs, like the United States, a person with knowledge of the talks told the Journal.

And some facilities could be encumbered by agreements with local governments. Dell's North Carolina plant, for example, received several million dollars of state and local tax incentives that are contingent on the factory meeting certain employment and local-investment goals by 2015.

Though Dell's plants are still regarded as efficient at churning out desktop PCs, within the industry, company-owned factories aren't considered the least expensive way to produce laptops.

Contract manufacturers can generally produce computers for less money because their entire operations are narrowly focused on finding efficiencies in manufacturing, as opposed to large firms like Dell, which must balance marketing and other considerations.

No one was available at Dell for immediate comment.

Listen now, "They" have something to say

Mark Binker takes note of a new ad in support of Elizabeth Dole that begins with "They call her 'fibber Kay' Hagan," referring to Dole's senatorial opponent Kay Hagan.

Who calls Hagan "fibber Kay?" You know, "They" -- meaning the people that wrote the ad. Elizabeth Dole must think that North Carolinians are a bunch of dumb saps who can be played if she thinks we'll fall for this.

More evidence that Dole thinks we are stupid hicks: The same ad states that Elizabeth Dole "has been consistently voted one of the ten most admired women in the world" and cites as its source, "Gallop Poll."

The last time Dole appeared on this list was 2006. Dole fell off last year's list of most admired women.

Fudging the facts, making stuff up--in this instance it is coming from the Dole camp, but whenever somebody tries to put one over on us in this manner, it's a huge insult to the people of North Carolina and candidates are dumber than they think we are if they don't expect us to notice.

National Enquirer is legitimate, right?

Remember how local bloggers and commenters were insisting that just because it was in the National Enquirer didn't mean it wasn't true?

News & Record letter writer gets his facts wrong. N&R prints it anyway

Today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC), publishes a letter from Dan Holsenbeck of Greensboro. Holsenbeck writes:

"Last year, Barack Obama made a speech in front of NARAL, stating that if he was elected, that his first action as president would be to fight for the repeal of partial-birth abortion ban."

Holsenbeck has his facts wrong. First of all, the speech was to Planned Parenthood, not NARAL. Secondly, Obama did not say that he would "fight for the repeal of partial-birth abortion ban." Obama said that he would "sign the Freedom of Choice Act." [Video here -- at 30:15]

The Freedom of Choice Act, consistent with Roe v. Wade, allows states to make laws prohibiting abortions after fetal viability as long as there is an exception to allow for the life and health of the mother.

Consumer Report: May Roofing, Highly Recommended

A few months ago, our house suffered some some damage in a hail storm. It shattered the two skylights in our sun room. I was having a difficult time finding a roofer to do the repairs. Problems ranged from not having phone calls returned, to roofers telling me they couldn't get replacement skylights. One company even sent over a guy to start work before we had an estimate. I posted my lament on my blog.

That's when I got a call from Tim May of May Roofing in McLeansville. Tim found that, indeed, the usual supply houses either did not have the skylights or they only offered extremely expensive replacements. Tim didn't give up though, "Let me keep looking," he told us. Soon he called to tell us that he found suitable skylights at Lowe's at a reasonable price. He suggested that we purchase them and he gave us a price for the labor required to install them.

Tim and his crew just finished installing the new skylights. When it came time to pay, Tim told me, "That wasn't quite as hard as I thought it would be," and he knocked 20% of the price he had quoted us.

Tim is honest, cost-conscious, and willing to go the extra mile to help a customer out. The next rain will test the installation quality, but Tim made it clear that if there are any problems, he'll come back. This was a relatively small job compared to most, but Tim gave us great professional service. I get the sense that Tim likes pleasing people. I'd highly recommend him. You can reach May Roofing at (336) 697-8868,

Obama's VP: I think it will be Clinton

I'm not very good at political prognostications. Although I was impressively close (impressive to me) in predicting Obama's margin of victory in the North Carolina primary, I am as often wrong as I am right in guessing political outcomes. Now that I've covered my ass, I think Obama will pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

I like Biden, Dodd and Richardson, they and Hillary all have things to offer that meet the test of conventional wisdom about what would make a good VP. But here is what I see as the bottom line: Winning (with someone who shares Obama's goals).

I think Obama is sincere when he says that his primary consideration will be to pick someone who is qualified to be president. Either of these four qualifies. Of equal importance though is to maximize Obama's chances of winning in November. There, Clinton is the superior choice. Sure, Obama can still win with another running mate, and sure, he'll have to face the prospect of managing Bill Clinton if he picks Hillary, but as a simple matter of winning, an Obama/Clinton ticket would be a juggernaut.

The Clinton Economy Was a Disaster

I took it for granted that anybody over 30 knows that the economy was better under the administration of Bill Clinton than it has been under George W. Bush. Whether one attributes this to congress or the executive branch or both, I suppose there is room for debate. But there is no doubt that the policies under Democrat Clinton resulted in a more robust economy than those of Republican President Bush.

Or so I thought.

I was recently challenged by a commenter on another blog to show that that is true. My first attempts to chide the commenter to return from the land of make-believe and simply acknowledge reality, were met with an insistence that the Clinton economy was a disaster. Sigh.

Against my better judgment, I spent some time gathering some statistics that illustrate how good the Clinton economy was and how anemic the economy has been under Bush. I'm sure the commenter will insist that everything good that happened during Clinton's eight years was a benefit of the Bush before him and that everything bad that happened under the current Bush is the fault of the previous president. If you don't fall for the self-contradictory silliness of such a view, you might find it interesting to see just how Bush's economic record stands up against Clinton's:

1. UNEMPLOYMENT
When Clinton took office, he inherited an unemployment rate of 7.3%. When he left office, unemployment was 4.2%, a 43% decrease.

When Bush took office, unemployment was at 4.2%. Today it is at 5.7%, an increase of 36%.

2. BUDGET DEFICIT
When Clinton took office, the federal budget deficit was $320B. When he left office, it was $32B, a 90% decrease.

When Bush took office, the federal deficit was $32B, it is projected by the CBO to be $482B this fiscal year. (And that's with the war being "off the books"), a 1,500% increase.

3. STOCK MARKET
When Clinton took office, the DOW was at 2,700. When he left office, it had grown to 10,800, an increase of 300%.

When Bush took office, the DOW was at 10,800. Today it is at 11,450, an increase of 6%.

4. PERSONAL INCOME
When Clinton took office, per capita income (in 2006 dollars) was $21,000. When he left office, it was $26,000, an increase of 24%.

When Bush took office, per capita income was $26,000. Today it is $26,300, an increase of 1%.

There are plenty of issues of importance for the upcoming presidential election, certainly the economy is among them. When you hear people saying that the economy will tank under a Democratic president, you may ask yourself if you should be frightened by fairy tales or make a decision based in reality.

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Scam: Greensborosingles.org

If you get an email inviting you to visit greensborosingles.org, don't bother. The email invitation itself should send up red flag warnings. The email refers to "greensboro City," a term that anybody familiar with Greensboro knows isn't used to describe this place. Another clue is the supposed address of the greensborosingles.org home, 5657 N. Classen Boulevard -- there is no such street in Greensboro.

The domain name is registered to the IMAT Group, a company located in India that specializes in marketing and lead generation. Bother to "sign up" with greensborosingles.com and you'll be required to provide a lot of personal information including your gender, income, height, weight, phone number(s), marital status and more. Once provided, you won't get access to a dating site, you'll get a promise (warning?) that someone will call you soon.

It's a scam to generate sales leads.

Are punching and kicking part of GPD's arrest techniques?

Timothy X video tapes a Greensboro police officer punching a suspect in the head and kicking him in the stomach (hat tip: Greensboring). It is very clear that the suspect is not complying with the officers' commands, but seriously, are the GPD not trained in techniques for apprehending a suspect that do not include punching and kicking?

News & Record double-speak: McCain flip-flop consistent

In an article in today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC), reporter Mark Binker writes "McCain has been a consistent supporter of expanding offshore drilling..."

Say what? Binker is a great reporter and usually spot on accurate. But this is just flat out wrong. Until June of this year, McCain was against offshore oil drilling. That hardly makes McCain a "consistent supporter." I'm sure a correction will be published tomorrow.

Tom Shuford: Letter writer, partisan clown

Today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC) publishes a fear-mongering letter from Tom Shuford of Lenoir, N.C. in which Shuford quotes Senator Barack Obama as saying:

"'Nobody in the Senate, other than maybe Ted Kennedy, has been more consistent in saying we need to have a pathway to citizenship for those who are undocumented. ...' (Obama in an interview with Univision, the Spanish-language network)."

Shuford conveniently forgets the Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill (Oooooh, KENNEDY!), legislation that would have provided precisely a "pathway to citizenship" for illegal immigrants. McCain has since reiterated his support for a pathway to citizenship, recently telling a group of elected Latino officials that he would make a pathway to citizenship "my top priority."

Funny, Shuford. Like a clown, you amuse me.