A Priori Concepts

State Democrats with the ethics commission don’t want the state auditor to investigate a claim of abuse of power by a staffer from Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue’s office.

Imagine that.

N&O:

“The State Auditor’s office believes that it is truly unfortunate that Commission staff filed suit instead of working with auditors to resolve hot-line complaints and public reports of abuse of power (favoritism), possible evidence tampering and the possible retaliatory firing of an employee,” the statement said.

The auditor began investigating the commission after receiving a tip in the fall of 2007 that Will Polk, Perdue’s general counsel, visited the office and was allowed to look at her financial disclosure statements alone in a closed office. Ethics commission officials said visitors typically review the files in an open conference room, at times with a staffer observing. The conference room was in use when Polk visited.

One of the coolest songs I’ve ever heard. Can’t speak for the anime composition, but Material and Burroughs makes a great combination.

Players are wanted for the Blogsboro FFL. The league is open to the first 10 bloggers who join. The league is free, but requires free registration with ESPN.

To join, visit this link and type “Blogsboro” in the search field. Then click the link for “Blogsboro Football League” to join in the challenge.

Email me or leave comments if you have questions.

The plan is to have the draft at 10am on Saturday. If you can’t make the draft, the auto draft will select the best available player for you. That way you can still participate in the league.

This note comes from the McCain campaign, but I was surprised to find this out:

Senator Obama decries the influence of special interest groups, but in 2005 he voted for the Bush-Cheney Energy Bill, which gave billions of dollars in tax breaks to the oil companies. That is not change we can believe in.

By contrast, John McCain broke ranks with his own party and took on the special interests, voting against the Bush-Cheney Energy Bill. In fact, John McCain has a 25 year record of taking on special interest groups. During his entire Senate career, McCain has never requested a single pork barrel project.

GNR’s Doug Clark scores last night’s gubernatorial debate a 3-1 victory for Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

McCrory deftly pointed out quite correctly that Democratic Gov. Mike Easley and the Democratic legislature have not been champions of open government. Perdue didn’t try to defend them. On crime, McCrory recounted the frustrations he and other mayors had for years trying to get the governor and legislators to pass tougher laws to deal with gangs. He also mentioned the Eve Carson murder case as evidence of the broken criminal-justice system.

Watch the debate online here.

From the online music collaboration folder comes this wonderful work in progress by some online friends.

Trippy John Lennon meets Ralph Stanley meets Led Zeppelin 3.

Wilkes Test by The Pogue

Here at A Priori Concepts I attempt to employ many literary methods, such as absurdity, satire, wit and scorn. This post is not one of those times.

I want you to read this story and stop to think about what type of society we are living in. What type of government have we created when a hospital that receives public money has three shifts of nurses and technicians that allow this to happen.

Read the entire story all the way to the bottom. Then read the comments related to a previous report.

Nurses at the state’s mental hospital in Goldsboro walked past a patient sitting in a chair for more than 22 hours without giving him food or helping him to the bathroom before he died, according to an investigative report released Monday.

The hospital’s treatment of Steven H. Sabock, 50, who was found lifeless after a day without food, is one reason federal officials told state officials last week that they may stop sending federal money to Cherry Hospital, one of the state’s four psychiatric hospitals.

The hospital’s security video recorded Sabock’s care from April 28, when he choked on his medicine while a nurse stood by without helping him, and through his day without food until his death from a heart problem. Health care technicians, according to the report, are seen on the recording watching television through the night, playing cards, and talking on a cell phone while they were in the room with Sabock.

Here’s a bass groove track I put together this week. I needed an outlet for some tension so I went to the studio.

I thought about calling this track “Tax Family Robinson”, but then I decided to call it “James Protzman’s Half-million Dollar Bogaloo”. But that was too long and tedious so I settled on “Mrs. Perkins Runs That Stench Down” (apologies to Miles)

It’s not perfect, and I recommend listening on headphones in order to hear the bass. It may be a little loud because I was experimenting with compressors. Be warned.

That’s me playing bass and lead and using BetaMonkey loops for drums.

Mrs. Perkins Runs That Stench Down

NYT multimedia has a good video of a cell mate of John McCain’s commenting on how that experience shaped the candidate’s political career.

Additionally, I watched the discussion last night with Rick Warren. I felt like both candidates represented themselves well.

I commented to a friend that this is the first time in my life that I will be satisfied with either candidate. I prefer Sen. McCain and will campaign for him, but I don’t see this as a “good versus evil” election as I have so many in the past.

I think the country will be well served by either candidate and I look forward to the debates coming up in September and October.

Last week I learned via Richard Moore that the word about Wentworth was that Mrs. Tom Robinson had been hired by the county. Fresh on the heels of the Mary Easley scandal and the exorbitant revelations of Maurice Green’s contract, that kind of caught my attention.

At the time, Richard Moore stated that he had heard rumors and was unable to get past the county’s new automated answering system to get details. Never being one to be satisfied with rumors, I decided to check it out myself.

Sure enough. I forwarded the information I gained to local media sources in the form of an anonymous tip. Since no one else has reported the details, here goes.

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Bethany Fire Chief Michael Lee was named “2008 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year” by Fire Chief Magazine. Lee was nominated by his department.

Congratulations Chief Lee.

Via Marketwatch:

Chief Lee started his professional career as a member of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He volunteered with the Bethany Fire Department in 1989. He was with the Greensboro Fire Department serving as Senior Training Officer before becoming Fire Chief with Bethany in 2005. Lee serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer Combination Officers Section and also as a member of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs and the North Carolina Fireman’s Association. Lee is a Chief Fire Officer Designee, Fire Officer II, EMT, Level II Fire Instructor, Rescue Technician, Firefighter Level II, Fire Inspector Level I and Hazardous Materials Operations Level and Emergency Driver.

“And there is the practical issue that illegal immigrants cannot legally be employed, so that training illegal immigrants for employment further encourages disrespect for our laws. “

How cogent.

If you agree with Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, please call at least two members of the State Board of Community Colleges and tell them as much.

Or call system president, Scott Ralls at 919-807-6950. Be nice to the receptionist.

From Berger’s press release:

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But as long as they expand “early childhood education” I guess no one will care …

Carolina Journal:

UNC President Erskine Bowles stumbled into some ethics issues when he joined the N.C. State University Board of Trustees in supporting first lady Mary Easley’s pending $180,000-per-year, five-year employment contract at the university.

Bowles has a business relationship with NCSU Board Chairman D. McQueen Campbell, and Campbell’s company has used Bowles’ position as UNC president in real estate investment promotional material. State law prohibits a public official from knowingly allowing his public position to be used in advertising activities that might generate financial gain for him or others.

A sign of things to come?

Boston.com:

Current law requires most employers with more than 10 full-time equivalent employees to offer health coverage or to pay an annual “fair share” penalty of $295 per worker. It gives companies an option of paying at least 33 percent of full-time workers’ premiums within the first 90 days of employment or making sure that at least 25 percent of their full-time workers are covered by an employer plan.

“I think there is going to be a revolt over this,” said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, a trade group with 3,000 members. “This is tough economic times, and I don’t think they fully understand how many small businesses are going to be hit hard by this.”

Raleigh News & Observer

Ricky Wright hosted a fundraiser two years ago for Beverly Perdue.

Wright was one of two people named in federal court last week as investors in Agri-Ethanol Products, a company that has tried to build a plant in Aurora. A former state official said he made a deal with Agri-Ethanol in which he would help with the environmental permitting process in exchange for $100,000 cash and a consulting contract worth almost $100,000, David Ingram reports.

I’ve been maxin’ recently with MMW’s Combustication, a laid back groove collection featuring DJ Logic.

Works well when leaving Atlanta in the HOV lane at 2 a.m. or saying goodbye to your 20s in Asheville with your best friends from two worlds at Bele Chere.

Highlights are Start-Stop and Latin Shuffle

An Ed Cone post points to tech companies and smaller nations aiding the Georgian government in the face of Russian cyber attacks against the tiny nation’s access to the web.

Tell the world you support the Georgians here.

As bad as Sherman?

Almost.

The Russian invasion of an independent nation is an unacceptable act of brutality that cannot be allowed to stand. The images of shell-shocked women and children and dwelling homes blasted to nothingness are a true symbol of the Bear’s nature.

She has not changed. With Yeltsin dead and Kasparov marginalized, the oligarchs in power are free to resubdue former Russian colonies.

But what can we do about it?

My personal opinion is that we should strike the Russian forces in Georgia with the power available. That means airstrikes and cruise missles. I know its not popular, but it would be justified. The Russian forces are not in Russian territory and should be pounded back to the border where they belong. At least we could hit their tanks and give the Georgian soldiers a chance to defend their honor man to man.

This is no different than the Sudetenland, but not quite the invasion of Poland.

For the West to watch as Russian forces obliterate the national aspirations of free men and women is the ultimate in hypocrisy. Just as in Bosnia 15 years ago, appeasers in the West only stir when you mess their wallets.

Seems like the Olympics are going well. Why do the Russians have to screw up the Olympics by invading other countries?

Anyway. Big basketball game tomorrow, according to Carmello Anthony:

“I think close to 3 billion people are gonna be watching that game,” said forward Carmelo Anthony. That’s what they say. That’s what I hear. That’s a lot of people.

“The atmosphere is gonna be crazy. We’re playing against the home team to open up the Olympics and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be crazy and energetic in there. Everybody in that building is gonna be jumping. It’s the biggest game on the biggest stage in the world.”

Yep. I think tv game time is 10:15 am EST tomorrow.

I’ll be one of the billions watching.

Here is the venue.

Team USA sked.

Here is John McCain’s latest tv ad. I think it’s pretty good.

View video.

Curtis grooves with Taylor Dane and David Sanborn.

Chills.

Yao Ming carries the weight of a biliion people.

Perhaps the “biggest” basketball game of all time goes down Sunday when Team USA squares off with Yao Ming and host China.

Epic is an understatement.
Team USA versus Russia (video below)

Kobe 360 at the 54 sec mark.

Warm up versus the Aussies

Somebody is missing

Full sked

Add this to the list:

Ten months ago, Amanda Thaxton made a notation in a public records log at the State Ethics Commission that now has the agency’s own ethics under investigation — and may have cost her a job.
Thaxton, 24, was an office assistant at the commission when an aide to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue visited in October to look at the Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s financial statements. Thaxton watched an assistant director, Kathleen Edwards, let the aide review the statements alone behind closed doors. Thaxton thought that was contrary to policy.

The Perdue aide “reviewed files in … office alone with door closed,” Thaxton typed into the electronic log, which tracks requests to review commission files.

Somebody stop me if I’m wrong.

Here at A Priori Concepts part of the purpose is to roll with the flush of first thought to see where it takes us.

This article in the Raleigh paper caught my attention:

“Road checkpoints alarm Hispanics”

The lead of the story is thus:

Highway checkpoints will go up statewide today as part of a push to catch drunken drivers — but some fear they will catch more illegal immigrants than imbibers.
State law prohibits illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses, and word of widespread checkpoints prompted panic this week in the Hispanic community.

Immigrant advocates, religious leaders and doctors who work with immigrants said they have gotten calls this week from people all over the state who fear a massive immigration roundup.

“People are scared to death and going underground,” said Dr. Luke Smith, a child psychiatrist from Hillsborough who works with Hispanic patients. “People are afraid to get health care. They’re staying home from their jobs. Their kids are missing days of school.”

Now Phil Gramm recently caught a lot of flack for saying we had become a nation of whiners, but Phil was right. Everybody whines. Everybody wants what they want and they want it now. They want their special exception.

The story above is ridiculous for its tone of sympathy for the poor illegal immigrant. If I go to any country in the world without proper documentation, well first I won’t get in, but let’s just say I do. If I go there and run up on some police while in a state of conflict with the laws of the given society I’m going to jail. And that’s where I belong.

If an illegal immigrant is here in American, they need to do two things. Well three really. First they need to go back home and thus end the existential condition of being illegal. Second, failing the resolution of their existential condition, they need to refrain from being in a state of conflict with the laws of the United States, its various states and localities, and the social traditions which contribute to the well being of society in general. Third, while here in a state of perfect harmony with the properly aligned planets and all, they need to contribute something positive to the economy, not just seek medical, education and other social services while they are here (in a state of existential conflict with the laws of the land none the less).

Did I fall asleep and wake up in Absurdia or what? Another not so complicated issue.

If an officer comes upon a person in the performance of their general patrol or special enforcement duties and has probable cause to believe a person is in a state of conflict with the laws of their jurisdiction, or any larger enforcement agency, that officer is sworn to uphold the laws and constitution and by definition is duty bound to enforce same.

What is wrong with you people?

Subjectivity is a simple concept. We each view reality through the lens of our own understanding. No matter how much we position ourselves as bastions of objectivity and rationalism, we are ruled by the limits or our own theories of knowledge and objects.
I say that because I am about to launch into a long pent-up examination of an issue that has weighed on my mind for several years now.

It’s a political conflict and it basically boils down to the two archetypes of modern American discourse: the Christofacist and the Radical Liberal.

I’ve been paying pretty close attention to current American politics for almost 30 years now. I am also well versed in the historical evolution of the American political experiment.

I’ve been struggling with the intense desire to write about several issues for months now, and really resorting to the guitar and the bookshelf to avoid having to deal with these conflicts.

But I don’t want to anymore.

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