Linux Action Show LinuxFest Northwest 2012

Jupiter Broadcasting's Linux Action Show talks about all things Linux...

More Info:

Show Notes

Jupiter Broadcasting

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"Why Marxism?" An Evening at FEE with C. Bradley Thompson

The video above is a lecture by C. Bradley Thompson of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism.

Hat Tip: Trevor Loudon


Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism

The Lecturer

C. Bradley Thompson is the BB&T Research Professor at Clemson University and the Executive Director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. He has also been a visiting fellow at Princeton and Harvard universities and at the University of London.

Professor Thompson is the author of the prize-winning book John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty. He has also edited The Revolutionary Writings of John Adams, Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860: A Reader and was an associate editor of the four-volume Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment. His current book project is on “The Ideological Origins of American Constitutionalism.”

Dr. Thompson is also an occasional writer for The Times Literary Supplement of London. He has lectured around the country on education reform and the American Revolution, and his op-ed essays have appeared in scores of newspapers around the country and abroad. Dr. Thompson's lectures on the political thought of John Adams have twice appeared on C-SPAN television.

For more information on why Marxism is so evil: (Occupiers should read this to learn why their movement, if successful, would lead to the deaths of millions of Americans)

Why Socialism, Communism and Marxism Don’t Work and Never Will

Why Marxism Always Fails

How Many People Did Communism Kill?

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Fighter Pilot

A program that originally aired in IMAX format that focuses on the experience of one pilot at Top Gun at Nellis AFB.

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Highlights of the April 26, 2012 Annual Joint Meeting of the Macon County Commissioners and the Planning Board

Here are the highlights of Thursday's joint meeting between the Macon County Board of Commissioners and Planning Board that took place at Fat Buddies in Franklin. I'll have the full video out early next week.

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Macon County Senior Services Center to be Dedicated to Dorothy and John Crawford Today at 2pm

At 2pm today the Macon County Senior Services Center will be dedicated in honor the many years of service to the citizens of Macon County by Dorothy and John Crawford. If you are in the area, please attend this event.

I plan on attending and recording this event that will recognize a couple who have selflessly given of themselves longer than I have been alive.

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Charles Thomas Resigns Chief of Staff Post After News & Observer Discovers Intimate Relationship with Lobbyist

Former legislator Charles Thomas is now also the former Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the NC House after an intimate relationship with a lobbyist has been exposed by the Raleigh News & Observer.

Thomas, a Republican, served in the North Carolina House of Representatives representing the 116th House District in Buncombe County after defeating Doug Jones by less than 500 votes on November 6, 2006. He did not seek re-election.

An excerpt from the N&O article:

RALEIGH -- The chief of staff to state House Speaker Thom Tillis has been in an intimate relationship with a lobbyist for the North Carolina Home Builders Association, a special interest group that often seeks help from the legislature and provides money to political campaigns across the state.


Charles Thomas, Tillis’ chief of staff, resigned Thursday evening after being questioned about the relationship by The News & Observer.


Tillis issued a brief statement to The N&O, saying Thomas “verbally offered his resignation. I have accepted it this evening.”




Photographs, video and reports of eyewitness accounts show Thomas sharing intimate moments in public with Jessica B. Hayes, who records show has been a lobbyist for the home builders since 2008.


State ethics laws seek to ensure that public officials exercise their authority “free from impropriety, threats, favoritism, and undue influence.” Lobbying laws regulate the point at which a lobbyist intersects with a public official, mostly aimed at prohibiting gift giving.

Source: Raleigh News & Observer

Commentary
The News & Observer reports that Charles Thomas believes 

...someone is out to get him, probably connected to a local issue in his hometown of Asheville, in what the former Army soldier called an “assassination.”

Perhaps so, but that does not excuse him, or Mrs. Hayes, from committing adultery...especially in public, and especially while he was employed by an elected official. He should have known better not just on moral grounds, but should have known that he would be under extra scrutiny from Lefties and the Lefty Media since he was working for a Republican in a Republican-controlled legislature...which has been a rare thing in North Carolina history. This is his fault for being bold and careless enough to be engaged in infidelity in public places. He has no one to blame but himself.

Thanks for nothing, Charles Thomas.

Previous coverage of Charles Thomas:

NC Representative Charles Thomas Attacks Congressional Candidate Carl Mumpower After Radio Debate

Asheville Rally Report (Part Two) 

Charles Thomas Files Complaint Over Democratic Dirty Tricks

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In Defense of the God-Defined Institution of Marriage

Commentary by Scarlet Holland
Counter Progressive Unit
Founding Member and Director


On May 8th, North Carolinians will have a very important chance to stand up for traditional marriage as designed for mankind by his Creator, between one man and one woman by voting whether or not to add a section to the North Carolina Constitution. It reads:


"Sec. 6. Marriage.
Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."


This is important because it makes it that much harder for those who oppose the natural state of mankind, and his Creator, to have the law overturned and perversion become the law of the land.


The description of how marriage came to be taken from the second chapter of Genesis:

¹⁸ And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ¹⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

²¹ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

²³ And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

The people who oppose the Marriage Amendment have tried to claim this proposed amendment to the North Carolina Constitution is a violation of their rights or some even claim that they were born homosexual. However, the Book of Romans, chapter 1 makes it very clear that whenever any person lives in a homosexual or lesbian lifestyle, it is a choice they made, not a genetic predisposition that cause them to be that way:


20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (Romans 1:20-28, New King James Version)

 The Word of God is the final authority on the sexual orientation of all human beings. God made us male and female and it was the purpose of His creation that males have relation ship with females. If a person is in a same sex relationship, that is a sin choice that they have made, just as any other sin choice. There is forgiveness and eternal life available for anyone who repents of this lifestyle and surrenders their life to Jesus Christ.


I have friends who once claimed that they were “born gay” and today have turned from their sin and have been living happy and fulfilling lives by being married in heterosexual relationships . All of them admit that they used the excuse that they were born gay to justify their sin, but in reality they knew in their hearts that what they were doing was wrong. I personally believe that all people know when the way that they are living is wrong by the witness of God’s Spirit with out spirit.


All those precious people who suffered through the loss of one or both parents in their families as they were growing up can find the love and the acceptance they were longing for in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. He longs to meet the needs of the broken hearted and hopeless. Remember to pray for those who are still suffering the pain of missing the loving family atmosphere of having two parents who loved and nurtured them.

Here is a copy of Senate Bill 106


GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011






SENATE BILL 106


Short Title: Defense of Marriage.

(Public)

Sponsors:
Senators Forrester, Tillman, Soucek; Apodaca, Blake, Brock, Brown, Daniel, Davis, East, Goolsby, Gunn, Harrington, Hise, Hunt, Jackson, Meredith, Newton, Pate, Preston, Rouzer, Rucho, and Tucker.
Referred to:
Rules and Operations of the Senate.
February 23, 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding the following new section:
"Sec. 6. Marriage.
Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."
SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election on November 6, 2012, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."
SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 4. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2013.
SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law.

Senate Bill 106

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Severe Weather Possible in WNC Mtns this Morning

A line of severe thunderstorms that has developed into a bow echo is headed toward western North Carolina this morning. Please be careful and aware of your surroundings this morning.

For more information, please visit The National Weather Service.

I will be away from my house this morning in Jackson County, so I won't be able to post minute by minute updates as usual. I will post what I observe via twitter. I have embedded a widget below for that purpose:

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NC General Assembly Calendar for 04-26-2012

The North Carolina General Assembly [link] has convened for the short session. The NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are not scheduled to meet today.

I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I plan on listening and recording what I can (but not today), so be sure to check back later today and see what audio I've managed to upload.

Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website. [link]

If you experience problems listening to the meetings via the links below, try the North Carolina General Assembly website. [link]

9:30 AM	Environmental Review Commission Committee Members | Agenda	[audio]  544 LOB
10:00 AM	Banking Laws Modernization, Jt. Leg. Study (2011) Committee Members	[audio]  643 LOB
1:00 PM	Diabetes Prevention Task Force, Jt.Leg (2011) Committee Members | Agenda	[audio]  643 LOB
1:00 PM	Trusts Drafting Committee of the General Statutes Commission - UNC School of Law Member List of Subcommittee Not Available | General Statutes Membership	Off-site N/A

Here are the deadlines relating to filing bills for this session:




2012 Bill Drafting and Filing Deadlines

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Contrails and Cirrus

I love watching cirrus and contrails march across the sky.

Below is a time lapse video I shot in February 2010 of contrails marching across the sky:

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NC General Assembly Calendar for 04-25-2012

The North Carolina General Assembly [link] has convened for the short session. The NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are scheduled to meet today.

I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I plan on listening and recording what I can, so be sure to check back later today and see what audio I've managed to upload.

Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website. [link]

If you experience problems listening to the meetings via the links below, try the North Carolina General Assembly website. [link]

9:00 AM	Session Convenes (House) Pursuant to House Rules, the following bills must appear on the Calendar; however, no votes will be taken. UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILLS HB 7 Ingle, Cleveland and McCormick (Primary Sponsors) - COMMUNITY  COLLEGES/OPT OUT OF FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM.  (Vetoed by Governor - 4/13/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 351 Lewis, T. Moore and Killian (Primary Sponsors) - RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN  GOVERNMENT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11)  (Veto Override Vote Reconsidered - 7/26/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 482 Burr - WATER SUPPLY LINES/WATER VIOLATION WAIVERS.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 709 Rucho, Brown and Tucker (Primary Sponsors) - ENERGY JOBS ACT.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) PUBLIC BILLS SECOND AND THIRD READINGS HJR 940 Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House - ADJOURN  RECONVENED SESSION.  (Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House ) (1st Edition)	[audio] House
9:15 AM	House Select Committee on Childhood Obesity -- CORRECTED (House) Committee Members	[audio] 643 LOB
9:15 AM	Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government (House) Committee Members	415 LOB
10:00 AM	Session Convenes (Senate) SB 795 Apodaca P. Berger Tillman EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT	[audio] Senate
10:00 AM	Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force Task Force Meeting Must be recorded (no website that I could find)	1027/1128 LB
10:00 AM	Program Evaluation Oversight Comm., Jt. Leg. Committee Members | PDF of Agenda | Download MP3 of last meeting	[audio] 544 LOB
12:00 PM	Rep. Rick Glazier Press Conference	[audio] Press Room LB
1:00 PM	E-Procurement, House Select Committee on Committee Members | Agenda |	415 LOB
1:00 PM	Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, House Select Committee on Committee Members	[audio] 643 LOB
2:00 PM	Senate Judiciary I - Pharmaceutical Liability NC Senate Judiciary I | Agenda	[audio] 544 LOB

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Mitt Romney Sweeps April 24th Primaries

Mitt Romney swept all five states in the April 24th primaries and made the official pivot toward the general election last night. The remianing candidates, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, failed to make a case as an alternative to Mitt Romney. This primary was more or less over since February, now, all but the most obtuse can see that it is over.

The Results

Mitt Romney won all five states yesterday and here are the results, minus the delegate wins, which should be overwhelmingly in his favor. According to the AP estimate, Mitt Romney has 844, Rick Santorum has 260, Newt Gingrich has 137 and Ron Paul has 79 delegates. 1,144 is needed to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I project that by May 22nd or 29th, Romney should clinch the Republican nomination battle and all that will be left is the official voting by the delegates at the RNC National Convention in Tampa, Florida.









Mitt Romney: A Better America



Transcript:

Thank you Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York! And tonight I can say thank you, America. After 43 primaries and caucuses, many long days and more than a few long nights, I can say with confidence – and gratitude – that you have given me a great honor and solemn responsibility. And, together, we will win on November 6th!

We launched this campaign not far from here on a beautiful June day. It has been an extraordinarily journey.

Americans have always been eternal optimists. But over the last three and a half years, we have seen hopes and dreams diminished by false promises and weak leadership. Everywhere I go, Americans are tired of being tired, and many of those who are fortunate enough to have a job are working harder for less.

For every single mom who feels heartbroken when she has to explain to her kids that she needs to take a second job … for grandparents who can’t afford the gas to visit their grandchildren … for the mom and dad who never thought they’d be on food stamps … for the small business owner desperately cutting back just to keep the doors open one more month – to all of the thousands of good and decent Americans I’ve met who want nothing more than a better chance, a fighting chance, to all of you, I have a simple message: Hold on a little longer. A better America begins tonight.

Tonight is the start of a new campaign to unite every American who knows in their heart that we can do better! The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it’s not the best America can do!

Tonight is the beginning of the end of the disappointments of the Obama years and the start of a new and better chapter that we will write together.

This has already been a long campaign, but many Americans are just now beginning to focus on the choice before the country. In the days ahead, I look forward to spending time with many of you personally. I want to hear what’s on your mind, hear about your concerns, and learn about your families. I want to know what you think we can do to make this country better…and what you expect from your next President.

And I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I’ll probably start out talking about my wonderful wife Ann – I usually do – and I’ll probably bore you with stories about our kids and grandkids. I’ll tell you about how much I love this country, where someone like my dad, who grew up poor and never graduated from college, could pursue his dreams and work his way up to running a great car company. Only in America could a man like my dad become governor of the state in which he once sold paint from the trunk of his car.

I’d say that you might have heard that I was successful in business. And that rumor is true. But you might not have heard that I became successful by helping start a business that grew from 10 people to hundreds of people. You might not have heard that our business helped start other businesses, like Staples and Sports Authority and a new steel mill and a learning center called Bright Horizons. And I’d tell you that not every business made it and there were good days and bad days, but every day was a lesson. And after 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery!

Four years ago Barack Obama dazzled us in front of Greek columns with sweeping promises of hope and change. But after we came down to earth, after the celebration and parades, what do we have to show for three and a half years of President Obama?

Is it easier to make ends meet? Is it easier to sell your home or buy a new one? Have you saved what you needed for retirement? Are you making more in your job? Do you have a better chance to get a better job? Do you pay less at the pump?

If the answer were “yes” to those questions, then President Obama would be running for re-election based on his achievements…and rightly so. But because he has failed, he will run a campaign of diversions, distractions, and distortions. That kind of campaign may have worked at another place and in a different time. But not here and not now. It’s still about the economy …and we’re not stupid.

People are hurting in America. And we know that something is wrong, terribly wrong with the direction of the country.

We know that this election is about the kind of America we will live in and the kind of America we will leave to future generations. When it comes to the character of America, President Obama and I have very different visions.

Government is at the center of his vision. It dispenses the benefits, borrows what it cannot take, and consumes a greater and greater share of the economy. With Obamacare fully installed, government will come to control half the economy, and we will have effectively ceased to be a free enterprise society.

This President is putting us on a path where our lives will be ruled by bureaucrats and boards, commissions and czars. He’s asking us to accept that Washington knows best – and can provide all.

We’ve already seen where this path leads. It erodes freedom. It deadens the entrepreneurial spirit. And it hurts the very people it’s supposed to help. Those who promise to spread the wealth around only ever succeed in spreading poverty. Other nations have chosen that path. It leads to chronic high unemployment, crushing debt, and stagnant wages.

I have a very different vision for America, and of our future. It is an America driven by freedom, where free people, pursuing happiness in their own unique ways, create free enterprises that employ more and more Americans. Because there are so many enterprises that are succeeding, the competition for hard-working, educated and skilled employees is intense, and so wages and salaries rise.

I see an America with a growing middle class, with rising standards of living. I see children even more successful than their parents - some successful even beyond their wildest dreams – and others congratulating them for their achievement, not attacking them for it.

This America is fundamentally fair. We will stop the unfairness of urban children being denied access to the good schools of their choice; we will stop the unfairness of politicians giving taxpayer money to their friends’ businesses; we will stop the unfairness of requiring union workers to contribute to politicians not of their choosing; we will stop the unfairness of government workers getting better pay and benefits than the taxpayers they serve; and we will stop the unfairness of one generation passing larger and larger debts on to the next.

In the America I see, character and choices matter. And education, hard work, and living within our means are valued and rewarded. And poverty will be defeated, not with a government check, but with respect and achievement that is taught by parents, learned in school, and practiced in the workplace.

This is the America that was won for us by the nation’s Founders, and earned for us by the Greatest Generation. It is the America that has produced the most innovative, most productive, and the most powerful economy in the world.

As I look around at the millions of Americans without work, the graduates who can't get a job, the soldiers who return home to an unemployment line, it breaks my heart. This does not have to be. It is the result of failed leadership and of a faulty vision. We will restore the promise of America only if we restore the principles of freedom and opportunity that made America the greatest nation on earth.

Today, the hill before us is a little steep but we have always been a nation of big steppers. Many Americans have given up on this President but they haven’t ever thought about giving up. Not on themselves. Not on each other. And not on America.

In the days ahead, join me in the next step toward that destination of November 6th, when across America we can give a sigh of relief and know that the Promise of America has been kept. The dreamers can dream a little bigger, the help wanted signs can be dusted off, and we can start again.

And this time we’ll get it right. We’ll stop the days of apologizing for success at home and never again apologize for America abroad.

There was a time – not so long ago – when each of us could walk a little taller and stand a little straighter because we had a gift that no one else in the world shared. We were Americans. That meant something different to each of us but it meant something special to all of us. We knew it without question. And so did the world.

Those days are coming back. That’s our destiny.

We believe in America. We believe in ourselves. Our greatest days are still ahead. We are, after all, Americans!

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.



Get Involved

If you are interested in defeating President Obama this November, I suggets that you become involved in the Romney Campaign. Visit the campaign website. [link] Find your local Romney Coordinator or grassroots group and start activating voters for the November election. Just posting crap on the Internet is not going to help win this election. Getting involved in an organized effort will be more effective than being a Keyboard Commando.

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Notice of Special Meeting at Fat Buddies Restaurant Macon County Commissioners and Planning Board April 27, 2012 at 6pm

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be hosting a joint meeting with the Macon County Planning Board at Fat Buddies Restaurant this Thursday night at 6pm. I have embedded the notice and agenda below...

Notice of Special Meeting between Macon County Commissioners and Planning Board

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NC General Assembly Calendar for 04-24-2012

**2.36 pm** Here is the audio of the NC House Select Committee on Public Private Partnerships. Note that there was some problem with the audio and two parts of the meeting were not recorded. This leaves me to wonder what kind of morons we have in Raleigh for this type of problem to be so persistent. These committee rooms have had this problem for years and haven't been repaired. This is unacceptable for a state government live audio feed to continually have this problem. ~Bobby

Download MP3







The North Carolina General Assembly [link] has convened for the short session. Neither the NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are scheduled to meet today. They did, however, meet yesterday. [link]

I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I plan on listening and recording what I can, so be sure to check back later today and see what audio I've managed to upload.


Also, since I am moving my Conservative Thunder Social Network to Google Plus, if you wish to be included in our NCGA Project Circle so that you can receive my updates over there, circle me on Google Plus  [my G+ Profile] and send me a message on that network indicating you wish to be added to the NCGA Project circle. Once you are in the circle, you will be given opportunities to become part of our reciprocal NCGA Project circle (this means you will be able to see posts by the Conservative Thunder members of the circle that relate to the North Carolina General Assembly).

Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website.

9:00 AM	CANCELLED - Governmental Operations, Joint Legislative Commission on	Unknown LB
10:00 AM	Military Affairs, House Select Committee on [web]	414 LOB
1:00 PM	Appropriations Subcommittee on Education [web](House)	421 LOB
2:00 PM	House Select Committee on Public-Private Partnerships [web] (House)	[AUDIO] 544 LOB
2:00 PM	Methamphetamine Abuse, House Select Committee on [web]	1228/1327 LB

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Macon Co Sheriff Office to Hold Identity Theft Program called "Community Shred-It Event"on June 2, 2012

As you can see from the flyer above, on Saturday June 2, 2012, the Macon County Sheriff's Office will be holding a program to raise awareness about ID Theft at the Law Enforcement Center on Lakeside Drive.

The event will feature a free shredding event for the public from 11 am to 2pm. All paper must be bagged or boxed. Donations will be accepted for the annual Shop With a Cop Program.

Click here for directions to the Law Enforcement Center.


For more information on the Macon County Sheriff's Office, please visit their website. [link to website]


For more information on how to avoid Identity Theft, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's website. [link to website]


Here is a video from the FTC on Identity Theft:

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NC General Assembly Calendar for 04-23-2012

**3.33pm** Senator Berger introduced a bill [link] to reform education at a press conference just after noon today.


Reforms in the Excellent Public Schools Act include:

· Adding new reading-intensive instruction for students who struggle with reading. Nearly one in four North Carolina students fails to graduate from high school and many drop out because they never mastered the ability to read by the fourth grade.
· Emphasizing the importance of literacy by ending social promotion of students who can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade. Nearly 97 percent of third-graders are promoted to the fourth grade. Yet 66 percent of fourth-graders cannot read at grade level.
· Allowing parents and the public to clearly identify high-achieving, average and failing schools by creating a transparent system to grade schools A to F. This will encourage weak schools to improve and allow parents to determine the best options for their children.
· Establishing a North Carolina Teacher Corps program – modeled on Teach for America – that will give the best and brightest recent college graduates and mid-career professionals a direct path to teach in low-performing schools where students need the most help.
· Rewarding the most effective teachers with bonuses and merit-based pay increases.
· Boosting accountability in the classroom by employing teachers on annual contracts that are renewed based on performance. The current system rewards mediocrity and punishes excellence by granting job security to all who teach a few years.
· Providing transportation and non-instructional support funding for the five additional instructional days already added to the school calendar.
· Allowing state employees to volunteer in a public school literacy program for up to five hours per month.

Source: North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus 


Here is a copy:

S795v0 "Excellent Public Schools Act"




The North Carolina General Assembly [link] is convening for the short session, and for once, it will truly be a short session since the Republicans are in charge. Both the NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are scheduled to convene at noon today.

I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I plan on listening and recording what I can, so be sure to check back later today and see what audio I've managed to upload.


Also, since I am moving my Conservative Thunder Social Network to Google Plus, if you wish to be included in our NCGA Project Circle so that you can receive my updates over there, circle me on Google Plus  [my G+ Profile] and send me a message on that network indicating you wish to be added to the NCGA Project circle. Once you are in the circle, you will be given opportunities to become part of our reciprocal NCGA Project circle (this means you will be able to see posts by the Conservative Thunder members of the circle that relate to the North Carolina General Assembly).

Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website.

8:30 AM	Transportation Oversight, Jt Leg Committee	1228/1327 LB
10:00 AM	Judiciary Subcommittee B - CANCELLED (House)	421 LOB
10:00 AM	State-Owned Assets, House Select Committee on [web]	[AUDIO] 544 LOB
12:00 PM	Session Convenes (Senate) [Calendar PDF]	[AUDIO]  Senate
12:00 PM	Session Convenes (House) [Calendar PDF] Pursuant to House Rules, the following bills must appear on the Calendar; however, no votes will be taken. UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILLS HB 7 Ingle, Cleveland and McCormick (Primary Sponsors) - COMMUNITY  COLLEGES/OPT OUT OF FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM.  (Vetoed by Governor - 4/13/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 351 Lewis, T. Moore and Killian (Primary Sponsors) - RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN  GOVERNMENT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11)  (Veto Override Vote Reconsidered - 7/26/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 482 Burr - WATER SUPPLY LINES/WATER VIOLATION WAIVERS.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 709 Rucho, Brown and Tucker (Primary Sponsors) - ENERGY JOBS ACT.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) PUBLIC BILLS SECOND AND THIRD READINGS HJR 940 Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House - ADJOURN  RECONVENED SESSION.  (Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House) (1st Edition)	[AUDIO]  House
12:00 PM	Senator Berger Press Conference Press Conference

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