Fitzsimon: Parton for culture secretary

"Oh scharrison, you're just a little sensitive PERIOD."

that I'm overly sensitive! :)

"For cryin' out loud, would you deny that BlueNC is just a we bit prejudiced in one direction or another? Would ya NOT recommend that a lot of the stuff on *any* blog be taken with a grain of salt?"

Our blogs (and bloggers) range from meticulously objective to extremely prejudicial, and all points in between. I consider myself somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, which means I'm probably more prejudicial than I think. But when passion (as opposed to money) dictates the desire for "raising awareness" on a given issue, that passion is difficult to restrain, and is often expressed through persuasive language. It's frequently a messy business, but for those who value content over form it can be incredibly informative, as well.

I think the "grain of salt" approach should be applied to all forms of information, and whatever you pick up in a newspaper, blog, 24 hour tv news outlet, etc., should merely be a jumping off point for further information-gathering. Unfortunately, most people don't do that. They place too much faith in too few sources, and their judgment suffers for it.

Oh scharrison, you're just a little sensitive PERIOD.

For cryin' out loud, would you deny that BlueNC is just a we bit prejudiced in one direction or another? Would ya NOT recommend that a lot of the stuff on *any* blog be taken with a grain of salt?

I consider myself a blogger, though some of you all don't include me in that category. I take everything I read with so much salt that my doctor says I should cut back on my sodium intake...

— RTB 

"I intended that as a self-deprecating comment."

I'm just a little sensitive when it comes to the classification and/or marginalization of blogging in general, and more specifically as it is often portrayed by those in the print media. If you peruse a newspaper from front to back, you'll often see glowing references to "hobby" blogs, like gardening or local/family history sites, but when it comes to political or issue-oriented blogs, they are often portrayed as prejudiced in one direction or another and should be taken with a "grain of salt".

While that does seem to be changing somewhat in recent years, I think there's still a tendency to view "citizen journalism" as a possibly amusing distraction from "real" news, which I view as a casual insult to the time and research many of us put into our work.

In case it's not clear, I intended that as a self-deprecating comment.

— RTB 

"Sounds like a good working definition of a blogger to me..."

Besides, you can't always eat just the muffin top and toss away the rest. Eventually you no longer know what a muffin is supposed to taste like.

And I've got one for our JLF pal from Charlotte:

Department of Public Instruction: John Hood. Incredibly adept at creating and disseminating propaganda, using newspaper editorials and a vast network of regional blogs, subsidized "grass roots" organizations and strategically placed talk-radio stations. And his success is proof-positive that you're never too old to learn something new and untrue.

No specifics, would just say that any recommendation from Marc Basnight should count as an automatic disqualifier.

"Uncanny ability to be fascinated by the picayune."

Sounds like a good working definition of a blogger to me...

Anyway, everyone already knows the best place in town is the Toot 'n' Tell. 

— RTB 

Making your party the CURRENT one?

And what did the KKK have to do with slavery? As repugnant as that institution was, the KKK was worse. It was a terrorist organization founded AFTER slavery was abolished to oppose majority rule - which is apparently where you sit today.

I find every cutesy alteration of other people's names really annoying, whatever the basis for it. That is, when people of my persuasion call you a "Repug" or your current leader any of the various unattractive epithets he's worked so hard to deserve, I find it offensive even if I agree with the underlying sentiment. Your KKK garbage I find a great deal more offensive. There have been occasions I agreed with your basic premise, but your hatefulness negates the agreement, which makes your communications pretty ineffective except in rallying those who feel exactly as you do.

They're the ORIGINAL 'party' of SLAVERY you know...still ENSLAVING us daily in NC!

Department of Correction -- Jim Black. Uniquely qualified having seen the department operate both from the inside and out.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources -- James Protzman. Instant alt-energy program. Just combine his hot air with windmills.

Department of Cultural Resources -- Ryan Teague Beckwith. Uncanny ability to be fascinated by the picayune makes high-dollar jaunts to Europe highly unlikely. Possible RTB mission -- trip to Garner in search of good take-out.

Department of Commerce -- Pat McCrory. Needs the work, still looks good in cheerleader outfit.

Department of Revenue -- Me. Extensive experience flipping couch cushions, being broke, avoiding creditors.

Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention -- Chris Fitzsimon. Walking object lesson in what NOT to do with your life.

Department of Administration -- Bev Perdue. She'll need to keep busy signing things with Gov. Basnight in office.

JAT

Randy Parton would be better on the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, no?

Then we could line up two-by-two for executive Partons.

By the way, I just heart the way FFC1304 makes every reference to the Majority Party in NC as Klansman. CLASSY!

sounds like he's already a corrupt insider, and a loiwyer to boot!

Wilson is already on the board of a NC Turnpike Authority, which needs to be immediately abolished!

Wilson just sounds like a HUGELY CORRUPT democrackkk from down east. Just what status quo sugar dumplin will require.