Kudos to Southern Shores

The Coastland Times reports that the Town of Southern Shores is starting a series of initiatives designed to raise awareness of global warming and provide simple ways that its constituents can help. The paper reports several programs including the provision of reusable grocery bags, the installation of compact flourscent bulbs in town buildings and perhaps most importantly a flexible scheduling program for its employees allowing some to work 4 days a week reducing their transportation costs and the associated pollution.
None of these programs will make a dent in the global climate problem but they are none the less noteworthy. Local government is by far the largest employer in Dare County. If even half the government employees were able to make a 20% reduction in work related driving the savings would be meaningful, both to the workers and to the envrionment. Likewise putting some low power bulbs in one or two buildings won't produce much but if it encourages a town-wide move then the savings will increase.
It will be interesting to watch the impact of these changes. They schedule change must be balanced against maintaining service levels. Enviromental improvements often require significant initial investment paid back only over long periods. Southern Shores has not shown any desire to fund major capital initiatives (nor has any other local government recently).
Mayor Smith, the Town Council and Manager Reid deserve credit and support for these programs. Lets hope they are successful and are imitated widely. Nags Head are you listening??

N&O "a matter of conscience"

Would you retire rather than honor a man you believe was not honorable? The News and Observer reports that is what L.F. Eason III, the manager of the state standards lab did yesterday. He retired rather than order the flag at his office lowered to half staff to honor the late Senator Jesse Helms. The Dept. of Agriculture debates whether Eason was given an ultimatum but it is clear that Eason was told "lower the flag or face the consequences".
The consequences were disciplinary action and possibly dismissal. Eason chose to resign. A superior then ordered another employee to lower the flag.

Separate articles explain the Ag Dept.'s version and provide an emailed explanation Eason sent to coworkers. The email reads in part:

"I made a decision to refuse to lower our flags at the NC Standards Laboratory to half mast in honor of Jesse Helms as soon as I heard of his death. I cannot in good conscience honor such a man who fought so hard against Civil and Human Rights throughout his life. Even to his death bed, he refused to apologize for the damage he caused. Now, I stand by this decision. It is a personal decision, but obviously affects my job at the lab. It has been over ruled by Division and Departmental Management and as I look out my window, I'm ashamed to see the flags lowered ...

"I also understand that my decision is not acceptable. You cannot ignore that fact. There is the law, but there is also a higher law I must follow as a matter of conscience."

Resignation in protest is a not uncommon statement. Attorney General Archibald Cox refusing to fire the special Watergate prosecutor for Pres. Nixon comes to mind. The Iraq war has generated a few less notable examples as well. Resignation in protest, though, separates the employee from the ongoing actions of an organization. Eason's action seems somehow different. By honoring Helm's, the state certainly provided at least tacit acknowledgment of his discredited views on race and Helm's other objectionable actions. By resigning Eason called attention to those views but he changed nothing in state government since state government does not espouse Helm's views. All he seems to have accomplished is gotten an honorable man an early out. I am not sure that was a good thing.
I applaud Mr. Eason's convictions and his courage. I wish him well and hope his decision does not hurt him or his family. I think I would have just stayed home.
Ciao

Helms Another View

Good post on the Helms legacy at Pam's House Blend, a Greensboro based blog. It picks up on some of my earlier themes but also focuses on Helms' racism and his conservative views. She uses some famous quotes from Helms to document his views. Warning, someof this is difficult to read and may seem shocking in these more tolerant (or politically correct) time.
Ciao

Why Jesse Helms Won

Photo by abbyladybug

When I think of Jesse Helms I think about a generator. Helms passing on Friday took me back to my early days living in North Carolina. I was trying to overcome my stereotypical view of Southerners as hillbilly hicks, or more accurately, racist hillbilly hicks. My liberal friends from the north couldn't understand how I could live in the state that sent Senator No to DC. My mother mentioned Helms frequently when we talked about politics. To her Helms symbolized everything that was wrong with American politics. My mom was a New Deal Democrat, Jesse Helms was the anti-Christ.
When elections rolled around I was polled first about Helms' chances then harangued about the ignorance of North state voters. People who didn't like Helms and didn't live in NC could not understand why anyone would vote for Jesse.
Over time I gained an appreciation of Senator Helms. No, I didn't become a zealot on government spending or blockading Cuba but I did learn why Jesse Helms drew so many votes even though many of his most controversial policies did not reflect the views of the voters he represented.
Jesse Helms understood what won elections, money and constituent service. He was a master of both. The NC Congressional Club was networking conservatives long before Al Gore invented the Internet, before we know what a personal computer was. Helms grew a support system that gave him an enormous edge in fund raising. At a time when most political money was raised within a candidates district Helms was raising money nationwide. He used his polarizing rhetoric to excite contributors and to draw hard lines on the political landscape. In doing so he kept the true believers happy and sending in those checks. Ever wonder who created the type of single issue, scorched earth politics used so successfully by the national environmental groups, their model is Helms' model. His was the early success story that so many groups copied. Few, if any, have done it better.
Money was only half the Helms magic, there was a second, possibly more important component to getting voters to pull his lever. Helms and his Senate staff were masters of constituent service. They helped people deal with the federal government. Problems with Social Security, a call from Senator Helms office could cut tons of red tape. Can't get FEMA to respond to your call, they get very helpful when the Senator intervenes. This is not about profit or power but about helping people solve problems, problems that the federal bureaucracy could easily solve when they were properly motivated. When you help people they remember it, they remember it when they go to the polls.
I worked for a radio station in Wanchese in my early years on the beach. When the emergency generator finally died it was Sen Helms who arranged for the replacement, an army surplus generator that powered the station through many dark and stormy nights in the 80's and 90's and may still be running. One of my jobs was to run it for 30 minutes every Sunday to make sure it started and it always started. If it hadn't, a call to Jesse's office would have fixed it. I don't remember how I knew but I knew Senator Helms was responsible. The community knew as well and they appreciated his help.
My mom celebrated the day Senator Helms left office. She announced the end of an era, the end of the Prince of Darkness. I saw the end of an era as well, the era of responsive government. Along with other local elected leaders we mourned the end of an office that would take our calls then do something about them. Senator Helms would be a tough act to follow.
Money and service make an unbeatable combination in an election year. Jesse Helm understood this and used the combination to defeat some tough opponents in his six terms in the Senate. Anyone thinking of running for office should copy Helm' politics. No not his conservatism but his basic strategies that still can't be beat.
Thanks for the help Senator, even if I didn't vote for you.
Ciao
Note: There is a good piece on Helms at Wikipedia. Sadly editing of this article by new or unregistered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. Even in death Helms stirs strong emotions.

Nathan;s Hot Dog Eating Contest: LIve blogging

Photo by Dietrich
Added after the fact

Time to do some live blogging.
Great shots from ESPN. of the Nathans hot dog eating competition

Kobayashi is holding in second early on. With Chestnut at leading with 15 after 3 minutses.

The scene is amazing.

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The ESPN Commentators are really covering this well. Example:"Is he a Bret Favre or will be be the next Ryan Leaf"
About half way through Chestnut is up by 3 dogs. Koby is hanging back

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Halfway. Kobyashhi is starting to close. Chestnut has a 2 dog lead but "both of them have a dog in the fight"
The "Black Widow" is keeping a good pace but still can't match the men.

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Now the annoucers are suggesting the Kobayashi may have been using performance enhancing drugs to cure his ailing jaw. TIme will tell
With 3 mintues left just one dog between Chestnut and Kobayashi.

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Kobayashi has moved into the lead inside two minutes. Will Lance Armstrong date Jennifer Anniston? Will Koby hang on? ONLY Time will tell..
3

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One minute left Kobayashi by one.+

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Ten, nine eight (you get the point). One. Its over and the unofficial results show 59 dogs for both men. This is still unofficial. there may be an eat off.
Each of these guys have enough dogs to reach from the baseline to NBA 3 point line.,

It is a TIE. We go to a 5 dog eat off. Just Amazing. Like Tiger and Rocco.
Don't miss the eat off.

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Eat off is on. Chestnut leadin but don't count Koby out.
And its over. Joey Chestnut has retained his crown and beaten the six time champ. Too much.
More when I relax and get the rest of the story.

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Interviewing the loser but he has no answers for the juggernu(a)t the is Joey CHestnut. He is a great champion and a true American hero on this July 4th.
Asking him why do you do this (much as you are asking me) I know he speaks for all of us when he says "Because I LOVE IT!!"

Scandal in Gotham City, Holy Hot Dog Batman

Photos by Alan Cordova

Another big scandal coming out of New York City and this time there is no sex or politics involved. The Brooklyn Paper reports that Takeru Kobyashi will be vying for the July 4 Hot Dog eating crown through what is being called a "sponsors exemption". The Brooklyn Paper explains it this way:

Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time world hot-dog-eating champion who lost his crown last July 4 in Coney Island, will try to win back the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt from Joey Chestnut this Independence Day to compete at the annual Nathan’s frankfest.

But unlike everyone except the reigning champion, Kobayashi is getting his place at the so-called “Table of Champions” without earning it at a regional qualifier.

He’s getting a “sponsor’s exemption,” said George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, the governing body of all stomach-centric sports.

Joey Chestnut, left, and Takeru Kobayashi.
“I want us to continue to be good rivals,” Mr. Chestnut said today.
(Photo: Dima Gavrysh for The New York Times)

Not everyone thinks this is such a good idea. Kobayashi got beat last year by arch rival Joey Chestnut. The worlds greatest competive eating journalist Gersh Kuntzman:

Shea tried to spin this reporter, but that simply can’t be done. Let’s remember, I have been chronicling the heroic exploits of our nation’s gustatory gladiators since the days when little Joey Chestnut couldn’t even finish one hot dog at a backyard barbecue — and given my wealth of knowledge, I think the whole thing stinks (not the hot dogs themselves, of course; they’re delightful, with a hint of spices and a touch of garlic — I’m talking about Kobayashi’s exemption).

Kunzman has a long piece that explains just what fraud this whole exemption thing is. I'm picking the American again this year. I think Chestnut will crush the interloper agian this year the America's greatest sports title will continue to be held by an American when this great American holiday is done.
Ciao

Happy July 4th.

Photos by Bobxnc

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Happy July 4th, a day to celebrate the idea that people must control their government, not the other way around.
Ciao

Note: Very nice article on the Declaration of Independence in Wikipedia. Good interpretation of what is a very misunderstood document (IMO).

Nags Head Fireworks Info

Photo by view photostream Uploaded on June 21, 2006
by Jeff Belmonte

Lets open with this note:

The Town of Nags Head wishes to express it’s gratitude to Andy and Lovie McCann and the entire staff of the Nags Head Fishing Pier for agreeing to co-host this event.

The Mccanns have allowed the town to use the Nags Head Pier for fireworks for the last several years. They give up pier fishing revenue for the day and endure a lot of commotion as the pyrotechnics are set up and then removed.
Thanks andy and Lovie.
Nags Head fireworks kick off at 9:25 or so. They got left out of the list in the Va. Pilot.
If you go to the beach PLEASE use a public access (unless you are in Southern Shores where there aren't any!!). Be safe, and have a great 4th of July.