newsobserver.com projects - cell phones - Comments

Re: Prison smoking, cell phone ban passes

Hondov65 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:05:39 -0400

There is always a officer outside the Single Cell Facility smoking especially Single Cell B. This ought to be interesting.

Re: Prison smoking, cell phone ban passes

Hondov65 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:46:26 -0400

There will be more of a problem with Correctional Officers than inmates as far as smoking goes.

Re: Prison smoking, cell phone ban passes

carbonLib — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:06:11 -0400

it's SUPPOSED to be PRISON! .......not a layover at an airport hotel from snow!!

Re: Senate: no cell phones in cells

jemphd — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:59:44 -0400

The only cell phones allowed in NC prisons are those provided by the state to employees subject to being needed in emergencies.

Myrick

jonoflocke — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:37:42 -0400

Just like a politician to think that it's the government's business to deal with anything she doesn't like. Just because a representative is discomfited on a plane doesn't mean it takes an act of Congress to prevent future encounters with boors. I have to admit, however, I love the direct allusion made to smoking.

You watch; she'll complain about intrusive government from the Obama administration, but she's part of the problem here.

Re: Quick Hits

tangoz — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:07:30 -0500

LOL

Re: State bills that poll well

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:16:28 -0500

Fair enough. I've posted a follow-up to address this question.

— RTB

Re: State bills that poll well

MKleinschmidt — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:01:29 -0500

I think I understand how you got that number. You used general support for the death penalty (58%) to claim support for a bill that would re-authorize executions. Wouldn't a better use of the Elon polling data have been to report that in fact MORE people (46.6) actually SUPPORT the current moratorium than DON'T (44.7), or at the very least to have reported that opinion is split down the middle (since the margin of error is 3.6 pts).

The story of the Elon poll is that while most North Carolinians support the death penalty in theory (58%), less than half actually name it as the most appropriate punishment for first-degree murder (47.8). The question about the moratorium is important because it suggests that there are strong concerns in the minds of about half our citizens that if we're going to have a death penalty, it needs some work.

You may disagree with what I believe the numbers suggest when looked at together, but one thing the moratorium question certainly does reveal is that S.B. 161: Execution/Physician Assistance Authorized IS NOT a bill that belongs on a list of bills over which there is "broad agreement." Even adding the margin of error (44.7 + 3.6 = 48.3), less than half of North Carolinians disagree with the moratorium.

Re: State bills that poll well

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:24:23 -0500

Not a direct question. You're right that support is mixed, but the point is that there is a moratorium on the death penalty right now which the bill would overturn. This question shows support for the death penalty generally.

— RTB

Re: State bills that poll well

MKleinschmidt — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:59:59 -0500

After reading this, I went to the Elon poll site and reviewed the questions related to the death penalty. To my surprise less than half of respondents (47.8) believe the death penalty is the most appropriate punishment for first-degree murder and only 58% support the death penalty generally -- a number that has been decreasing slowly but steadily for a decade now.

Also, a plurality -- 46.6 support the halt on executions that has been in place in recent years.

I didn't see a question about support for S.B. 161

Re: What North Carolina thinks: Elon

FFC1304 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:35:55 -0500

As an ELON alumnus...would you please poll people on their opinion for the Constitutional need for states rights and sovereignty from the federal government? thanks!

Re: Quick Hits

CitizenOpinionated — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:19:01 -0500

Hagan spokesman David Hoffman tells Shenan, hey, wait a sec. She’s just doing her job. “We’re simply announcing funding in North Carolina that main municipalities have been waiting on,” he defends.

“A large part of Sen. Hagan’s job as a U.S. senator is keeping folks informed.” And he does note that they do give Dole credit.

OH REALLY SENATOR HAGAN - THEN HOW COME YOU ISSUED A PRESSER YESTERDAY ANNOUNCING THE AFGHANISTAN DEPLOYMENT OF 17,000, WHEN TEAM OBAMA DID SO ON FEBRUARY 17,2009.

How come your office has no stance on the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, yet you are claiming credit for the grants it might produce?

Re: Quick Hits

CitizenOpinionated — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:16:53 -0500

March 03, 2009
Categories: Antics
Shenanigans: Hagan hitches ride on omnibus

Sen. Kay Hagan replaced Elizabeth Dole in the Senate, but that hasn’t stopped her from trying to take some credit for Dole’s past doings, anti-Haganites say.

Hagan sent out a release last week boasting about the omnibus bill:

“HAGAN ANNOUNCES $5.2 MILLION IN FUNDING TO HELP PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATION.”

More: “U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-N.C.) announced today North Carolina will receive more than $5.2 million in funding as part of the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which is expected to be voted on next week.”

She’s super-duper excited about all the “funds [that] will create jobs, expand access to education, provide hardworking North Carolinians with greater access to affordable housing, strengthen our infrastructure and keep our communities safe. There are nearly 397,000 North Carolinians out of work right now, and as we work hard to get our economy back on track, many of these projects will help spur the economic growth we need.”

That’s funny. It’s nice that she’s excited about money that’s coming to her state, but she clearly had nothing to do with that money.

Luckily, there’s a short sentence — which is the best line in the whole thing — where she does admit: “The funds were requested for 13 projects across North Carolina by former Sen. Elizabeth Dole.”

One North Carolina GOP-er scoffs: “In this new era of transparency, at least Hagan acknowledges that she had nothing whatsoever to do with securing the funding and that it hasn’t even passed yet — not that that would get in the way of trying to take credit for it.”

“A large part of Sen. Hagan’s job as a U.S. senator is keeping folks informed.” And he does note that they do give Dole credit.

Quotable:

“It is time for Mr. Liddy to come back from whatever planet he is on and visit us here in reality

Just thought it was interesting...

Re: Bill: No solicitation by cell phone

Gosh — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:26:20 -0500

Why a big ol' heart RTB, what else?

Not only do many cell phones not have carrots, but many blogs read them as html. So a cap L has to do.

Of course, that explanation only makes sense if you already know a less than symbol and 3 means I heart u.

So, can you just imagine the text required in a bill to cover all this? And the Judge that has to decipher it all in a public hearing?

All Wittgenstein aside, the bottom line is you can't "solicit" someone that has given you their number to do so. A cell phone is not a public chat room. Anyone asking A/S/L on a cell phone is guilty of a prank call, not solicitation for sex.

This is beyond stupid and not a case of "the technology is ahead of our legislation." It's a case of outdated legislators not keeping up with the Jetsons.

Has Mr. Tillman not heard of "poking" on Facebook? I'd think stopping "poking" from random people, like that you used to know, and befriended just to be nice, but oh my god why won't they stop poking me, would be his first priority in this economy. 'Cause frankly I'm sick of it.

Re: Bill: No solicitation by cell phone

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:38:01 -0500

OK then, what's L3?

— RTB