You can find out more about the creators of the video at their website.
Blogging the world around me.
Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.
Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.
Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.
Photos from my photoblog.
Rash, unwise act, Thunderpig.
You and the Stompers may be legally liable for posting that video:
You either plagerized the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey — thereby possibly violating Intellectual Property Rights law — or possibly violated copyright law if you posted actual snippets from the movie without permission from the production or distribution company.
If you’re a Stompers member and they supported you uploading this, the entire group could conceivably be sued.

Source: Hickory Daily Record
McHenry says the stimulus will be rebate of $250 or $300 and similar to one implemented in 2001.
“Anytime we can give people back their money, I’m for it,” McHenry said. “This is a bill I can be for.”
Still, he says the best economic stimulus is to “control (government) spending and make tax cuts permanent. We can right our economic ship if we do that.”
The nation’s current economic woes come from the mortgage crisis and, specifically, the liquidity problem.
“The effects on Wall Street are hurting Main Street,” McHenry said.
McHenry fears Congress will overreach, harming residents who want to refinance their homes.
The congressman recently hosted a home mortgage seminar in Lenoir. Seventy people attended. A surprising fact is about half of residents who undergo foreclosures don’t ask for help.
“We want them to know the options they have,” McHenry said.
Congress also is working on a border security immigration bill. McHenry expects the bill will address “a dire need” for immigration reform. About 100 Republicans and 40 Democrats are signed on to the bill, he said.
Arratik and I, after loading up with kegs of Caffiend’s finest roast, ventured into the blowing snow and made our way to UNC-Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium for the first of six scheduled debates between the Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor. Moderated by NC 11th District Democratic Party Chairman, Luke Hyde, and organized by the NC Young Democrats, the debate allowed too much time for each response and too little chance to compare candidates stances. Each of the four men meandered away from the prescribed questions. They’re politicians, after all, and they’re going to keep talking if you let them. Very few questions were answered at the Jan. 19th debate, but the ones that were reveal four distinct personalities running on four different records.
The debate was dominated by environment and energy issues, and this being Asheville, that’s no surprise. I imagine that each debate will have its own set of pet issues, so I’m hopeful that we’ll have a comprehensive picture of each candidate by the end of the series.
Source: MNF-IRAQ
We have provided several briefings over the past year focused on operations against al-Qaeda Iraq, and while considerable progress has been made we still have much work to do. Operation Phantom Phoenix, an Iraq-wide operation targeting al-Qaeda, has been underway for two weeks and the effects of these combined coalition and Iraqi Security Force operations has been substantial.
Since January 1, Operation Phantom Phoenix has conducted 18 battalion-level operations, detained 1023 terrorists and killed 121 terrorists. Among those captured or killed were 92 high-value targets. Coalition and Iraqi forces have also found and cleared 351 caches, 410 IEDs, 3 VBIED and IED factories, and 4 tunnel complexes.
I thought it would be helpful to spend some time today discussing what still remains as Iraq’s most lethal enemy and its greatest threat to peace … al-Qaeda Iraq.
What is al-Qaeda Iraq? Who are its leaders and who makes up their rank and file? How are they organized, funded and how do they operate? What are they hoping to achieve in Iraq? And finally, what effect have they had on the people living here? These are questions I hope to be able to provide some perspective on by summarizing the fight against al-Qaeda Iraq over the past year.

Up to 500 trillion cubic feet-- US$ 1 Trillion -- of unconventional natural gas deposits lie within the north Appalachian Plateau, within the US. New gas drilling technologies--spurred by higher prices for natural gas--make possible an extended era of natural gas in the US.

The Civil Guard detained the suspects in Barcelona as part of a joint operation with Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI).
Several premises were searched and, as the operation is ongoing, more arrests have not been ruled out.
Spain suffered at the hands of Islamist militants in 2004 when 191 people were killed in the Madrid train bombings.
This is an open caucus. Union members will be standing in the same room with other union members. Or maybe even their shop steward. Or their foreman. Or possibly even a union official. Everyone will know which candidate you're backing. And if you're a member of Culinary Workers Local 226, and you don't caucus for Senator Obama???
"Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not, and a way that Bill Clinton did not. We want clarity, we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing."**UPDATE** I found the video:
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
January 16, 2008
"I have to say, you know, my leading opponent the other day said that he thought the Republicans had better ideas than Democrats the last ten to fifteen years. That's not the way I remember the last ten to fifteen years.
"I don't think it's a better idea to privatize Social Security. I don't think it's a better idea to try to eliminate the minimum wage. I don't think it's a better idea to undercut health benefits and to give drug companies the right to make billions of dollars by providing prescription drugs to Medicare recipients. I don't think it's a better idea to shut down the government, to drive us into debt."
"Her principal opponent said that since 1992, the Republicans have had all the good ideas," Clinton told a crowd in Pahrump this morning. "It goes along with their plan to ask Republicans to become Democrats for a day and caucus with you tomorrow, and then go back and become Republicans so they can participate in the Republican primary. I'm not making this up, folks."Source
He then asked which ideas were better in the last 15 years "than the new ideas I brought to Washington," outlining issue-by-issue where Republicans stood on his accomplishments.
"I can't imagine any Democrat seeking the presidency would say they were the party of new ideas for the last 15 years. But it sounded good in Reno I guess," he said. "So now it turns out you can choose between somebody who thinks our ideas or better or the Republicans had all the good ideas."

CROWD FUNDING
If you're of a mind, and can afford it, a dollar a month (or more) from enough people will make a huge difference in improving the quality of coverage of local meetings and events, as well as allowing remote weather stations and weather cams to be deployed throughout the county that you will be able to access online.
Currently, 20 people have pledged $99 a month. This is a tremendous help. Please visit www.patreon.com/MaconMedia for more information on how to contribute.
Businesses can underwrite this coverage by day sponsorships, surplus equipment donations, etc. Inquire at editor@maconmedia.com for more information.

