Here's what you are missing over on Mammoth Oaks Drive:
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
DA Gilchrist Sued by Former ADA
The "local paper" is reporting that a former Mecklenburg prosecutor Sean Smith who won a district court judgeship last month is suing outgoing District Attorney Peter Gilchrist, claiming he was improperly fired after giving an on-camera interview.
Sean Smith defeated Mecklenburg District Court Judge Tyywadi Hands in November's general election, and will be sworn in this January.
Smith's six-year career as a Mecklenburg prosecutor ended in July, when Gilchrist fired him just days after he criticized a local defensive driving school in a televised interview.
"Plaintiff's right to free speech was violated because he was terminated for making statements on a matter of public concern and in order to silence and discredit him from speaking further," Smith's lawsuit says.
Gilchrist wouldn't discuss at the time why he fired Smith. On Thursday, Gilchrist said he hadn't yet been served with the lawsuit and couldn't comment. He also declined to discuss Smith's firing.
Cedar Posts has obtained a copy of the filing which is here and copies of plaintiff's exhibits "1" and "2".
The rest of the "local paper" coverage is here.
Sean Smith defeated Mecklenburg District Court Judge Tyywadi Hands in November's general election, and will be sworn in this January.
Smith's six-year career as a Mecklenburg prosecutor ended in July, when Gilchrist fired him just days after he criticized a local defensive driving school in a televised interview.
"Plaintiff's right to free speech was violated because he was terminated for making statements on a matter of public concern and in order to silence and discredit him from speaking further," Smith's lawsuit says.
Gilchrist wouldn't discuss at the time why he fired Smith. On Thursday, Gilchrist said he hadn't yet been served with the lawsuit and couldn't comment. He also declined to discuss Smith's firing.
Cedar Posts has obtained a copy of the filing which is here and copies of plaintiff's exhibits "1" and "2".
The rest of the "local paper" coverage is here.
Tisdale Got On The Plane How?
According to News Channel 14 Cedar Posts is wrong!
Delvonte Tisdale didn't climb a fence under the cover of darkness, he simply walked through the airport ducked out an unlocked door and climbed aboard a parked aircraft right under the noses of everyone.
While I think my answer is plausible, even understandable, this newest revelation might explain Jerry Orr's hubris attitude and no comment hunker down posture. This is the same curmudgeon who happily slammed the TSA right before Thanksgiving, giving countless on camera interviews.
Delvonte Tisdale didn't climb a fence under the cover of darkness, he simply walked through the airport ducked out an unlocked door and climbed aboard a parked aircraft right under the noses of everyone.
While I think my answer is plausible, even understandable, this newest revelation might explain Jerry Orr's hubris attitude and no comment hunker down posture. This is the same curmudgeon who happily slammed the TSA right before Thanksgiving, giving countless on camera interviews.
From News Channel 14: "A teenager who stowed away in the wheel well of a plane gained access to the runway from inside Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, two sources with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday.
The sources, who didn't want to be identified, work directly with the Transportation Security Administration. They said speculation Delvonte Tisdale breached security by getting through or over a perimeter fence is incorrect. Although the sources described how he accessed the plane, News 14 Carolina is choosing not to reveal that information for security reasons.
"That kind of security glitch raises a concern that somebody could do it with the intent to cause harm to people on the plane," said Dr. Cindy Combs, a UNC Charlotte professor who has assisted the Homeland Security Department on counter-terrorism for more than a decade.
Combs said it's very plausible Tisdale did get onto the tarmac by getting around security inside the airport. She said the incident sheds light on a lack of vigilance among those who work on the runway; they're required to watch out for and report anyone not wearing proper identification.
"Most of the breakdown is in, what we call 'operational breakdown,'" Combs said. "The people know theoretically what they're supposed to do, realistically, in a busy system, you're not going to check."
An airport spokesperson wouldn't comment on the open investigation, but did say this is the first time she's heard Tisdale went through the airport.
Airport officials are hoping to learn more about what happened. Aviation Director Jerry Orr asked Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to assemble a task force to investigate the incident. It'll include CMPD officers, as well as federal authorities.
If true Cedar Posts is wrong and and security at Charlotte Douglas International is worse than I expected. In any case expect much finger pointing in the coming weeks.
Salvation Army Bell Ringers Redux
It's that time of year again and I have to admit I love the sound of the Salvation Army bell as it echos across the parking lot. I know ringing the bell is not easy work on a cold night.
Last night, I watched a guy go out of his way, wide circle to the right at Harris Teeter just to avoid walking past the Army bell ringer working the Stonecrest store.
Guilt is such a powerful force! Give it up! It won't kill you!
I don't know why but I like the process of folding a ten dollar bill in half and then half again and pushing it into the red kettle or maybe its just the joy in saying Merry Christmas on a cold winter's night.
Even more so when it's Mrs. Cedar ringing the bell.
Last year's post about the Salvation Army is here.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
CMPD Grabs More Than Perps
Cedar Posts is a little late with this news, but it seems that don't ask don't tell has become don't grab or I'll tell at least under Rodney Monroe.
Case #1 Involves two sergeants one who got a handful of the other's backside. The grabbee, didn't take kindly to the unwanted attention and has sued CMPD for the usual reasons, distress, humiliation, PTSD and so on. The grabber is still at large, or on the loose in the same position as before, while the grabbee/plaintiff has been reassigned.
Case #2 You might recall was a frontside grab to Deputy Chief Kerr Putney by former CMPD super hero Lisa Shores, the settlement was a pretty good amount of change so we hear. And Major Shores resigned. Or so we can assume since she didn't make the top 400 list released by CMPD a couple of weeks ago.
Case #1 Involves two sergeants one who got a handful of the other's backside. The grabbee, didn't take kindly to the unwanted attention and has sued CMPD for the usual reasons, distress, humiliation, PTSD and so on. The grabber is still at large, or on the loose in the same position as before, while the grabbee/plaintiff has been reassigned.
Case #2 You might recall was a frontside grab to Deputy Chief Kerr Putney by former CMPD super hero Lisa Shores, the settlement was a pretty good amount of change so we hear. And Major Shores resigned. Or so we can assume since she didn't make the top 400 list released by CMPD a couple of weeks ago.
Wednesday's Check This Out!
Making a Difference in Haiti - On January 12, 2010, at 4:53 pm local time the island nation of Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake, the official death toll in excess of 230,000. The toll on those who remain continues to be unimaginable.
12 months after the live news crews announced "we're clear" for the last time and our flat screen televisions in the states faded to black and the headline writing news reporters have moved on, life in Haiti continues to struggle as best it can.
But there are those among us who have ventured back to Haiti. Those among us who are willing to help beyond writing a check to the Red Cross. Those among us, who are getting their hands dirty for they are the "boots on the ground" in Haiti.
One among us has stepped forward to make a difference and his name is Billy Fehr.
In his own words:
Down in Haiti, in a small town called Babancourt there is a schoolhouse with a need that I feel compelled to try and fill. Either new or used LAPTOP Computers are in great demand at the primary and middle school.
Photo Billy Fehr
These computers will not be used to surf the Internet, so they do not have to be the latest, greatest or fastest new machines available.
The computers will be loaded with education software that will help teach the children language skills, mathematics and science and help the children acquire basic computer skills often taken for granted in the modern western world.
With that said, I know that the problems in Haiti will not be solved by me or anyone else for a long time to come. There is no need to try and solve the greater problems on the large scale if some of the smaller basic needs cannot be taken care of.
If you have the resources, I ask that you donate a new or used Laptop Computer to the school in Babancourt through Pastor Lyonel's Haiti Mission in Port Au Prince.
No nay saying, here's how this will work:
-I will be running this "Laptop Round Up for the Real" for the next month. The closing day for this computer drive will be January 15, 2011.
-Contact me immediately at whereonearthisbill@gmail.com with any donations you may have and
I will explain all of the logistical details at that time.
You can read Billy's entire post at Laptop Round Up
Cedar's Take:
The call to action is simple, give up that old laptop by emailing Billy Fehr or Cedar Posts. Let's dig up a bunch of laptops for the kids in Babancourt.
And check out his amazing photos of Haiti here, here and here.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Charlotte Douglas International Airport Not Secure? Why You Shouldn't Be Surprised.
Photo Washu Otaku
Charlotte Douglas aviation director Jerry Orr addressed the Charlotte City Council Monday night and told council that the airport doesn't plan any special review of security after a teenager apparently stowed away in the wheel well of a US Airways jet bound for Boston's Logan International.
According to the "local paper" the TSA is responsible for screening passengers and luggage but the City of Charlotte is responsible for security measures such as fencing, locks on doors and other ways to restrict access to planes.
"We'll take a look at that," Orr told reporters before the City Council meeting on Monday night. "But we take a look at that all the time." he quipped.
Photo Washu Otaku
"The Massachusetts police (are) investigating," Orr went on to say. "All we know is what we have read in the paper."
On Friday, Norfolk, MA, District Attorney William Keating called the incident a serious public safety issue. "It appears more likely than not that Mr. Tisdale was able to breach airport security and hide in the wheel well of a commercial jet airliner without being detected by airport security," Keating said.
The fear is that if a 16-year-old could climb into a passenger jet's wheel well, a terrorist could do the same.
The TSA told the "local paper" last week it was planning to investigate but the federal agency declined to comment further.
Orr said the airport didn't have a lot of information yet about the apparent breach, which happened a month ago and refused to speculate on how Tisdale might have gotten onto the tarmac and into the plane's wheel well.
Orr said the airport is surrounded by a 6-foot-high chain-link fence, topped by strands of barbed wire.
A US Airways spokeswoman reached by the "local paper" late Monday declined to comment on what investigation the airline was doing into the incident, citing the ongoing probe in Massachusetts. She also would not comment on how Tisdale might have gotten into the plane.
City Manager Curt Walton, who is Orr's boss, said he hadn't spoken with Orr about security at the city-owned airport.
Airport security wasn't discussed at the City Council's dinner meeting Monday. After the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon said he expected a report from city staff about security measures. "We need to know that security is as stringent as it should be," Cannon said.
Cedar's Take: Wake up Charlotte not one of your city leaders has stepped up to address this issue. Jerry Orr is an old goat who should be forced into retirement. Walton and the City Council have thier collective heads in the sand and the TSA and Homeland Security are clueless.
Charlotte Douglas is not secure and I'll go on record that two easy entry points, the "old" Carolina's Aviation Museum and the General Aviation ramp may have been familiar to the young Air Force Junior ROTC member. And between the two, 145th Airlift Wing also known as NC Air National Guard.
Photo Washu Otaku
The above photo was taken on April 3, 2010 at the "old" location of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. Click on the photo for the big view. What do you notice? Broken pipes, loose wires and sign that says "All Maintenance Stands Must Be Locked and Chained to the Fence"! Nothing like making it easy.
And in the background a US Airways Jet bound for Boston. They are so close you can throw rocks at the planes.
Anyone who understands night ops at an airport knows you are blind on the ground from a cockpit. You see nothing but lights and anyone could run up behind a plane waiting just off the the runway.
I quick drive around the airport and you will find a dozen points of entry. Open gates, broken fencing, and areas that are overgrown with cover.
The "old" Carolina's Aviation Museum is where Cedar Posts believes Tisdale found his last ride.
Cedar's Update:
In a two-paragraph statement Tuesday, police in Charlotte said Jerry Orr, the director of the airport, asked CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe to investigate the incident.
The department is organizing a task force that will include "various disciplines within the department as well as federal partners," the statement says.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Charlotte City Council Member Dulin to Target CMPD Retirement Benefits
Last Thursday morning Charlotte City Council member Andy Dulin told WBT's Stacey Simms and Al Gardener that Charlotte's Police Officers and firefighters retirement benefits are too rich.
Council member Dulin on a "bed of nails" at Charlotte's Discovery Place.
Dulin the republican who represents Charlotte's Council District 6 was commenting on the recent report issued by Mayor Anthony Foxx that suggests Charlotte's budget will not have enough money to pay the city's firefighters or police officers within two years.
Dulin suggests that the problem is the retirement packages and the retirement ages of CMPD and CFD employees.
Dulin: "We have retired city employees that are making $100,000 a year and there is no way a community can sustain that."
Dulin goes on to explain his problem with the age that some CMPD officers retire.
Employees "that are hired at 20 or 25 years of age are retiring in 30 years and are still very young and have their retirement packages for their life. And so we've got folks who are retiring at 55 years, that we pay for another 40 years if they live a long time.
It really does come to catch up with you and its coming to catch up with the City of Charlotte in two years."
Dulin promises that the Charlotte City Council will be discussing the pensions during the upcoming budget talks.
Dulin: "It will be a major topic of our budget discussions this year and after voting no for the last couple of years on pay raises I hope this year that the majority on council will start listening to me."
Cedar's Take: Andy Dulin has long been the court jester of Charlotte's City Council. While his quips are often funny and his posture conservative he sometimes lacks a basic understanding of the fundamentals of City Government.
Along those same lines Dulin also seems to lack an understanding of basic pension fundamentals or the understanding that without a pension many CMPD officers would have quit long ago.
But we must remember Dulin is a city councilman, and as Charlotte's Jeff Taylor notes, members of City Council are nothing more than potted plants. Nice to have around but rarely bearing fruit.
Council member Dulin on a "bed of nails" at Charlotte's Discovery Place.
Dulin the republican who represents Charlotte's Council District 6 was commenting on the recent report issued by Mayor Anthony Foxx that suggests Charlotte's budget will not have enough money to pay the city's firefighters or police officers within two years.
Dulin suggests that the problem is the retirement packages and the retirement ages of CMPD and CFD employees.
Dulin: "We have retired city employees that are making $100,000 a year and there is no way a community can sustain that."
Dulin goes on to explain his problem with the age that some CMPD officers retire.
Employees "that are hired at 20 or 25 years of age are retiring in 30 years and are still very young and have their retirement packages for their life. And so we've got folks who are retiring at 55 years, that we pay for another 40 years if they live a long time.
It really does come to catch up with you and its coming to catch up with the City of Charlotte in two years."
Dulin promises that the Charlotte City Council will be discussing the pensions during the upcoming budget talks.
Dulin: "It will be a major topic of our budget discussions this year and after voting no for the last couple of years on pay raises I hope this year that the majority on council will start listening to me."
Cedar's Take: Andy Dulin has long been the court jester of Charlotte's City Council. While his quips are often funny and his posture conservative he sometimes lacks a basic understanding of the fundamentals of City Government.
Along those same lines Dulin also seems to lack an understanding of basic pension fundamentals or the understanding that without a pension many CMPD officers would have quit long ago.
But we must remember Dulin is a city councilman, and as Charlotte's Jeff Taylor notes, members of City Council are nothing more than potted plants. Nice to have around but rarely bearing fruit.
Hottie of the Week Ashley Greene
And you are thinking to yourself, where have I seen this girl before? Any guy who has sat through one or more of the Twilight movies knows this raven haired 20 something as Alice Cullen. But more recently she's been watching you fumble for your Harris Teeter VIC card from the cover of the January 2011 Cosmo which is here in case you haven't noticed.
News from the "Local Paper"
Sometimes what pops up at the "Local Paper" on line addition is just dumb. But it's always fun dumb.
A few weeks ago the paper reported that someone was "killed dead" a few days later there a car accident that was reported as "...the women accidentally drove off the road to have the accident."
Here's today's gem:
Police are looking for a man in a ski mask who they say carjacked a woman and sexually assaulted her in northeast Charlotte.
The assault was reported just after 9 p.m.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Capt. William Boger said officers had only a vague description of the man -- a white man, of average build, wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife -- but believe he fled on foot.
Boger said the woman thought she was having car trouble on East W.T. Harris Boulevard. She pulled over to take a look, and that's when she saw the man with the ski mask and the knife, Boger said.
The man forced her to an area near Rocky River Road and sexually assaulted her, then locked her in the trunk of her car, Boger said.
Anyone with information on the crime or the man's whereabouts should call 911.
A few weeks ago the paper reported that someone was "killed dead" a few days later there a car accident that was reported as "...the women accidentally drove off the road to have the accident."
Here's today's gem:
Police are looking for a man in a ski mask who they say carjacked a woman and sexually assaulted her in northeast Charlotte.
The assault was reported just after 9 p.m.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Capt. William Boger said officers had only a vague description of the man -- a white man, of average build, wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife -- but believe he fled on foot.
Boger said the woman thought she was having car trouble on East W.T. Harris Boulevard. She pulled over to take a look, and that's when she saw the man with the ski mask and the knife, Boger said.
The man forced her to an area near Rocky River Road and sexually assaulted her, then locked her in the trunk of her car, Boger said.
Anyone with information on the crime or the man's whereabouts should call 911.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wreaths Across America
Morrill Worcester received little attention when his company Worcester Wreath Company requested permission to deliver 5000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery 1992.
The idea of was to honor our country's fallen servicemembers by laying the Christmas wreaths a the base of headstones in Arlington. A tradition that was repeated annually with little notice.
Then in 2005 Worcester received nationwide attention after a photo of a snow covered Arlington Cemetery decorated with wreaths started circulating via email. Some people even thought the photo was a fake.
A volunteer carries wreaths during Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery, Dec. 11, 2010. More than 7,000 volunteers placed 24,000 wreaths on the headstones of fallen servicemembers. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jared Forsyth
On Saturday 24,000 wreaths were placed at Arlington National Cemetery by volunteers, as this act of remembrance was repeated across the country and overseas at more than 500 locations.
One man's thoughtful gesture, a single photo, and someone with enough sense at Arlington National Cementary to think outside the box and say "OK" has become a national event of amazing protortions. Just think if that person said I don't think we can to that, or its against the rules.
The non-profit group Wreaths Across America was officially established by the Worcester Family in 2007. You can read more about the Arlington story here.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Coco and St. Nick
This story first ran in the Post and Courier's online blog edition. But I like it and this is my show so I'm posting it again!
Things have turned quiet at the Charleston City Marina. Gone are the mega yachts, those gleaming white ships made of spotless fiberglass, bright shinny chrome and their perfectly tanned crew members.The cruising crowd has gone south as well. Those retired couples, enjoying their life aboard fuel efficient trawlers that have become the floating equivalent of motor homes.
On the vast and now mostly empty mega dock a straggler of the snow bird procession arrives in a sailboat with a faded yellow hull, that chalks away in a yellow and white cloud of dust. The boat is a 1977 Erwin sloop 28 feet long named Elizabeth. A boat that has been floating since what appears to be time began.
Two weeks before Christmas and I'd swear that his name might as well be St. Nicolas or even Santa Claus. Nick or at least his near likeness is really named George, complete with a pipe whose smoke encircles his head like a wreath, a full neatly trimmed gray beard and a head full of thick silver hair tucked up under a red wool cap.
I guess that George is nearly 70 though he could be 100, he is an attractive man for his age, with strong weathered features and a crooked smile like that of Harrison Ford.
His only passenger is Coco, an overly excitable Chocolate Lab that bounds off the boat the second the first dock line touches the cleats.
Coco has spotted a dolphin and wants everyone to know about it. Running back and forth along the dock and barking endlessly with George yelling Coco, Coco, CooooooCooooo!
Finally Coco obeys and wanders with his head hung low back to the sailboat but still his tail wags nonstop.
I suspect that George has traveled a lot with Coco as they both seem well suited to each other. Coco knows his job is to be the dolphin spotter, and George over looks Coco's inability to truly fulfill his role as first mate.
George doesn't offer many answers, not even a last name, not that he's unfriendly more so just private. His wife Elizabeth I learn, passed away nearly 15 years ago, he has a daughter in Texas and a son in Florida, neither, I decide he has seen or spoke to in a number of years.
To the question of where is home? George simply points to the boat. Where are you heading? And he points south.
Coco needs some private time on some green terra firma and so George and Coco head down the dock.
I glance at the boat and discreetly try to appraise the boat’s seaworthiness. Yellow, Red and Blue Plastic jugs are lashed to the life lines running along both sides. The hull hasn’t seen soapy water, a brush or wax in at least a decade but it seems sound, except where the deck is cracked in three places. Elsewhere rust abounds, duct tape holds a port light closed and I determine that I'd not sleep on this boat even if I was wearing a life jacket and cradling a fire extinguisher.
But I should not judge, for one man's love of the sea and a life of travel is not always what another would wish or tolerate.
It's not long and George is back, “too expensive for me to stay here” he says. “They (the dock office) gave me an hour”. “I'll do some shopping and I'll be on my way”. “Might just anchor over yonder”, George continues while pointing to the mooring area just off the mega dock.
He repacks his pipe as Coco spots another dolphin and of course he’s off on a run barking with George in pursuit, a noticeable stiffness in his stride.
The last of the winters light has faded by the time George and Coco have moved off the mega dock and anchored on the other side of the Ashley River Channel.
After night fall, by the dim light of a Coleman lantern I can make out the silhouette of Coco and George and I imagine them enjoying a fine dinner of the beanie weenies and Miller Lite I helped them load aboard upon their return from shopping. I wish to join them and simply listen to all the tales George would offer.
All I can think of is Captain Jack Sparrow singing quietly…
"Yo Ho Haul Together
Hoist the Colors High
Heave Ho Thieves and Beggars
Never Shall We Die"
His voice echos across the stillness of a cold winter night.
Dawn and George and Coco have already pulled up anchor. The sea birds circle overhead and though the morning mist I can make out the two of them motoring slowly towards the connector to a destination not yet known but heading south none the less.
I suspect that Christmas Eve aboard Elizabeth will be spent like most every night, watching the stars and enjoying the quiet except when Coco hears a dolphin break the surface 100 yards distant. I fear that should something happen to George and Coco, no one will ever know, much less care. But then the song returns.....
"Yo Ho Haul Together
Hoist the Colors High
Heave Ho Thieves and Beggars
Never Shall We Die"
And it reminds me that Dogs, Pirates and St. Nick will live on forever.
Things have turned quiet at the Charleston City Marina. Gone are the mega yachts, those gleaming white ships made of spotless fiberglass, bright shinny chrome and their perfectly tanned crew members.The cruising crowd has gone south as well. Those retired couples, enjoying their life aboard fuel efficient trawlers that have become the floating equivalent of motor homes.
On the vast and now mostly empty mega dock a straggler of the snow bird procession arrives in a sailboat with a faded yellow hull, that chalks away in a yellow and white cloud of dust. The boat is a 1977 Erwin sloop 28 feet long named Elizabeth. A boat that has been floating since what appears to be time began.
Two weeks before Christmas and I'd swear that his name might as well be St. Nicolas or even Santa Claus. Nick or at least his near likeness is really named George, complete with a pipe whose smoke encircles his head like a wreath, a full neatly trimmed gray beard and a head full of thick silver hair tucked up under a red wool cap.
I guess that George is nearly 70 though he could be 100, he is an attractive man for his age, with strong weathered features and a crooked smile like that of Harrison Ford.
His only passenger is Coco, an overly excitable Chocolate Lab that bounds off the boat the second the first dock line touches the cleats.
Coco has spotted a dolphin and wants everyone to know about it. Running back and forth along the dock and barking endlessly with George yelling Coco, Coco, CooooooCooooo!
Finally Coco obeys and wanders with his head hung low back to the sailboat but still his tail wags nonstop.
I suspect that George has traveled a lot with Coco as they both seem well suited to each other. Coco knows his job is to be the dolphin spotter, and George over looks Coco's inability to truly fulfill his role as first mate.
George doesn't offer many answers, not even a last name, not that he's unfriendly more so just private. His wife Elizabeth I learn, passed away nearly 15 years ago, he has a daughter in Texas and a son in Florida, neither, I decide he has seen or spoke to in a number of years.
To the question of where is home? George simply points to the boat. Where are you heading? And he points south.
Coco needs some private time on some green terra firma and so George and Coco head down the dock.
I glance at the boat and discreetly try to appraise the boat’s seaworthiness. Yellow, Red and Blue Plastic jugs are lashed to the life lines running along both sides. The hull hasn’t seen soapy water, a brush or wax in at least a decade but it seems sound, except where the deck is cracked in three places. Elsewhere rust abounds, duct tape holds a port light closed and I determine that I'd not sleep on this boat even if I was wearing a life jacket and cradling a fire extinguisher.
But I should not judge, for one man's love of the sea and a life of travel is not always what another would wish or tolerate.
It's not long and George is back, “too expensive for me to stay here” he says. “They (the dock office) gave me an hour”. “I'll do some shopping and I'll be on my way”. “Might just anchor over yonder”, George continues while pointing to the mooring area just off the mega dock.
He repacks his pipe as Coco spots another dolphin and of course he’s off on a run barking with George in pursuit, a noticeable stiffness in his stride.
The last of the winters light has faded by the time George and Coco have moved off the mega dock and anchored on the other side of the Ashley River Channel.
After night fall, by the dim light of a Coleman lantern I can make out the silhouette of Coco and George and I imagine them enjoying a fine dinner of the beanie weenies and Miller Lite I helped them load aboard upon their return from shopping. I wish to join them and simply listen to all the tales George would offer.
All I can think of is Captain Jack Sparrow singing quietly…
"Yo Ho Haul Together
Hoist the Colors High
Heave Ho Thieves and Beggars
Never Shall We Die"
His voice echos across the stillness of a cold winter night.
Dawn and George and Coco have already pulled up anchor. The sea birds circle overhead and though the morning mist I can make out the two of them motoring slowly towards the connector to a destination not yet known but heading south none the less.
I suspect that Christmas Eve aboard Elizabeth will be spent like most every night, watching the stars and enjoying the quiet except when Coco hears a dolphin break the surface 100 yards distant. I fear that should something happen to George and Coco, no one will ever know, much less care. But then the song returns.....
"Yo Ho Haul Together
Hoist the Colors High
Heave Ho Thieves and Beggars
Never Shall We Die"
And it reminds me that Dogs, Pirates and St. Nick will live on forever.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday's Check This Out!
Arvin Fant - Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have suspended former homicide detective Arvin Fant without pay.
Fant had been on administrative leave with pay since August. The process to terminate Fant is all but complete and opens up a can of worms regarding other cases the former detective may have been involved with. The civil service board must approve the firing, which should happen within the next sixty days. Stay turned.
A Few Good.... Women?
(Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
That's right boy scouts these 3 girls are Marines.
Say hello to Sargent Sheena Adams, 25, and Lance Corporal Kristi Baker, 21, and Hospital Corpsman Shannon Crowley, 22, US Marines with the FET (Female Engagement Team) 1st Battalion 8th Marines, Regimental Combat team II pose at their forward operating base on November 17, 2010 in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.
There are only 48 women working the volatile front lines of the war in Afghanistan. More photos of the "All Female Engagement Team by Paula Bronstein are here.
Marcus Jackson - In a very smooth deal, Assistant District Attorney Samantha Pendergrass told the judge that all of Jackson's crimes – low-level felonies and misdemeanors – could be punishable by probation for a defendant like Jackson, who has no prior criminal record.
The ADA's suggestion of probation and not asking for the maximum that could have reached into the 10 range comes as no surprise. A deal was apparently made that gave Jackson the option of a guilty plea or a full court press and the possibility of a very long sentence if he went to trial.
Judge Yvonne Mims Evans clearly saw the ADA's suggestion of probation as not acceptable and ordered Jackson serve at least 25 months as well as register as a sex offender.
Jackson's nearly one year in jail awaiting trial will count towards his sentence of 25-39 months, meaning Jackson could be out as early as February 2012.
But the guilty plea means we may never know the truth about Jackson, and how this scumbag was not only recruited into our police department but how he was turned loose on Charlotte's streets and who had first hand knowledge of Jackson's background.
Charlotte Christmas Lights Display Locator Updated - Also known as tacky Christmas lights list has grown again.
I've noticed that Penguins are showing up all around Charlotte though I suspect that they have been partying over at 501 Mammoth Oaks Drive for sometime.
Tune into 100.1 FM before entering Mammoth Oaks Drive. The signal reaches all the way to the to the corner of Providence and Fairview Roads. Be sure to hang around long enough for the Hot Chocolate song from Polar Express.
The complete Cedar Posts Christmas lights list is here.
Fant had been on administrative leave with pay since August. The process to terminate Fant is all but complete and opens up a can of worms regarding other cases the former detective may have been involved with. The civil service board must approve the firing, which should happen within the next sixty days. Stay turned.
A Few Good.... Women?
(Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
That's right boy scouts these 3 girls are Marines.
Say hello to Sargent Sheena Adams, 25, and Lance Corporal Kristi Baker, 21, and Hospital Corpsman Shannon Crowley, 22, US Marines with the FET (Female Engagement Team) 1st Battalion 8th Marines, Regimental Combat team II pose at their forward operating base on November 17, 2010 in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.
There are only 48 women working the volatile front lines of the war in Afghanistan. More photos of the "All Female Engagement Team by Paula Bronstein are here.
Marcus Jackson - In a very smooth deal, Assistant District Attorney Samantha Pendergrass told the judge that all of Jackson's crimes – low-level felonies and misdemeanors – could be punishable by probation for a defendant like Jackson, who has no prior criminal record.
The ADA's suggestion of probation and not asking for the maximum that could have reached into the 10 range comes as no surprise. A deal was apparently made that gave Jackson the option of a guilty plea or a full court press and the possibility of a very long sentence if he went to trial.
Judge Yvonne Mims Evans clearly saw the ADA's suggestion of probation as not acceptable and ordered Jackson serve at least 25 months as well as register as a sex offender.
Jackson's nearly one year in jail awaiting trial will count towards his sentence of 25-39 months, meaning Jackson could be out as early as February 2012.
But the guilty plea means we may never know the truth about Jackson, and how this scumbag was not only recruited into our police department but how he was turned loose on Charlotte's streets and who had first hand knowledge of Jackson's background.
Charlotte Christmas Lights Display Locator Updated - Also known as tacky Christmas lights list has grown again.
I've noticed that Penguins are showing up all around Charlotte though I suspect that they have been partying over at 501 Mammoth Oaks Drive for sometime.
Tune into 100.1 FM before entering Mammoth Oaks Drive. The signal reaches all the way to the to the corner of Providence and Fairview Roads. Be sure to hang around long enough for the Hot Chocolate song from Polar Express.
The complete Cedar Posts Christmas lights list is here.
Tweet of the Week!
@erperkin (Erin Perkins):I can now say I have peed in the Pacific Ocean. Tick one off the bucket list.Runner Up:
@fredthompson:Study: 25% of Gitmo releasees return to terrorism. Obama reportedly "troubled" by their 75% unemployment rate.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
CMPD's VCAT Unit Takes Down Habitual Felon Jucorey Pruitt
Looking rather unhappy in his latest glamor shot photo Jucorey Pruitt was processed a little after 4 on Wednesday afternoon.
CMPD officers took the wanted felon into custody during a felony traffic stop.
Additional charges include Marijuana, Felony B&E, Injury to personal property, and Interference with an electronic monitoring device. His bond is set at $38,000.00.
Props to CMPD for making short work of Mr. Pruitt's time on the run.
ĪĪ±Ī»Ī¬ Ī§ĻĪ¹ĻĻĪæĻĪ³ĪµĪ½Ī½Ī±
In case you were wondering ĪĪ±Ī»Ī¬ Ī§ĻĪ¹ĻĻĪæĻĪ³ĪµĪ½Ī½Ī± is Greek for Merry Christmas. This Sherwood Forest Drive home is just one of many on the Cedar Posts Christmas lights tour of South Charlotte.
The complete list is here.
CMPD Looking for Jucorey Pruitt
Let's give CMPD's VCat unit a little work today, and get this pile of human waste who likes to beat up on women off the streets. 19 year old Pruitt gives his address as Huntersville, North Carolina but he could be anywhere in our area.
With nearly 2 dozen charges since January of 2009 Pruitt has been processed at least 8 times jailed and released. His last arrest on Decemeber 1st for assult on a female earned him a court ordered electronic monitor which he promptly cut off.
From FOX News Charlotte: Police need your help locating a breaking and entering suspect.
Pruitt has an extensive arrest record in Mecklenburg County including armed robberies, drug charges, felony assault charges, probation violations, resisting a public officer and numerous misdemeanor charges.
Pruitt is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Pruitt’s whereabouts should immediately contact the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) at (704)336-VACT or call 911.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor
December 7, 2007 - Medal of Honor recipient Lt. John Finn (Ret.) pays his respects to the Sailors and Marines killed aboard USS Arizona during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Finn received the Medal of Honor in recognition of heroism and distinguished service during the Japanese attack. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist David Rush
Navy Lt. John W. Finn, received the Medal of Honor for mounting a daring counterattack on Japanese airplanes from an improvised machine gun post during the raid on Pearl Harbor.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, then-Chief Petty Officer Finn was in charge of aviation ordnance and munitions at the Kaneohe Bay air station 15 miles from Pearl Harbor and Battleship Row.
He was in bed with his wife, Alice, that Sunday when, just before 8 a.m., he heard the rumble of low-flying aircraft and sporadic machine gun fire coming from the hangar a mile away.
Amid the confusion, he threw on a pair of dungarees and his chief hat, and started driving as calmly as possible to the nearby hangar, maintaining the base's 20-mph speed limit.
"I got around, and I heard a plane come roaring in from astern of me. As I glanced up, the guy made a wing-over and I saw that big old red meatball, the rising sun insignia, on the underside of the wing," he said in an interview with Larry Smith for the 2003 book "Beyond Glory," an oral history of Medal of Honor recipients. "Well, I threw it into second, and it was a wonder I didn't run over every sailor in the air station."
When Chief Petty Officer Finn arrived at the Kaneohe Bay station, he commandeered a heavy-caliber machine gun and set it up on a makeshift tripod of spare pipes -- out in the open, where he had a clear view to give the Japanese what he called a "warm welcome."
He fired at wave after wave of strafing Japanese Zeroes for more than 2 1/2 hours, because, as he later said, "I didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain."
He was credited with bringing down one plane on his own, but he played down his achievement. "I can't honestly say I hit any," he told the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2001. "But I shot at every damn plane I could see."
More than 2,400 service members and civilians died in the surprise attack, which led to the U.S. entry into World War II. By the end of the onslaught, Chief Petty Officer Finn had suffered more than 20 injuries, including a bullet wound in his left arm; a broken left foot; shrapnel to his chest, stomach, right elbow and thumb; and a laceration on his scalp.
He finally left his improvised machine gun post under specific orders to seek medical attention. After a few bandages, he returned to the hangar to help rearm returning planes. He later spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from his wounds.
Nine months later, on Sept. 15, 1942, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by Pacific commander Adm. Chester W. Nimitz on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in Pearl Harbor. Of the 15 Medal of Honor recipients from Pearl Harbor, 14 were for rescue attempts. His award was the only one awarded for combat.
John William Finn, a plumber's son, was born July 23, 1909, in Los Angeles. He dropped out of school after the seventh grade and enlisted in the Navy at 17. He became an officer shortly after receiving the Medal of Honor.
Last year Lt. Finn turned 100, making him the oldest surviving recipient of the nation's highest honor for valor.
John Finn passed away on May 27 of this year, at a veterans home in Chula Vista, California. United States Navy Lt. John Finn an American hero.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday Odds and Ends
Some Over Due Kudos - Last week CMPD and Huntersville police officers worked fast to track down accused murderer Jamarr Springs.
The one man crime spree was heading north when CMPD first received the call around 10:30.
Fifteen minutes after the first call the suspect had forced a driver out of his vehicle and took a passenger hostage. The passenger was released a short time later unharmed.
As police closed in, Springs fled on foot down Sam Furr Road. Officials say Springs removed most of his clothing and was wearing only his underwear when he was arrested.
But according to FOX News there was consider behind the scenes drama that played out over the airwaves.
From Fox News: There were some tense moments of radio communication in the field that could have been the difference between life and death for police.
CMPD uses the communication center in Uptown Charlotte while Huntersville uses North Mecklenburg's.
CMPD's call center was trying to sync up with North Mecklenburg's, they asked for approval, but there was a delay.
CMPD Captain Chuck Adkins says we were unable to get that approval in a timely manner, so just for the officers safety out there, we made that patch."
Besides Huntersville and CMPD officers the folks in CMPD's communications unit get a major shout out for working through the issues that prevented CMPD and Huntersville officers from talking to each other directly.
Cedar's Take: You would think that now nearly ten years after 9/11 we would understand the importance of functional radios. Are you listen Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners and Charlotte City Council?
Panthers Steve Smith - File this one under men behaving badly.
Carolina Panther's Steve Smith rips a sign from a Seahawk fan during Sunday's loss in Seattle. The Panthers are dealing with the teams worst season in history.
Not that anyone can blame Smith or anyone else from getting a little frustrated with yesterday's beating at the hands of the Seahawks.
The Panthers are now 1-15 (yes I count the pre-season games), and its probably a little late to get frustrated. But yesterday's second half was so bad that it makes you wonder if they threw the game. Remind me not to invite John Foxx as a 1/2 time motivational speaker anytime soon or to have Smith do any pet sitting for me. More on next season, the lock out and the next head coach from Jeff Taylor at the Meck Deck which is here.
WikiLeaks - Nothing worst than finding out someone has hacked into your email account and read all of your rants about your neighbor, boyfriend, ex-wife, or about your drug deals, government bribes or next corporate takeover target. Especially if you happen to be the United States Federal Government. Caught with your pants down, the only thing you can do it threaten arrests and claim treason and espionage.
On the other hand if your an American citizen and they hack into your GMail account then its just our government doing their job under the patriot act.
Cedar Says: Its a pretty sad reflection on our government's ability to protect and to keep their computers secure. In the age of the Internet we as citizens have come to accept that there is no privacy, so hows it feel Washington?
Tiger Woods - Golf's golden child choked and went back to his club throwing ways on Sunday.
Tiger reacts after missing a putt on the seventh green during the final round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Woods blew a four-shot lead as US Open Champion Graeme McDowell sunk an awesome birdie putt on 72nd hole to force a playoff, then holed a birdie on the first hole of sudden death finish off the number 2 ranked Woods.
The one man crime spree was heading north when CMPD first received the call around 10:30.
Fifteen minutes after the first call the suspect had forced a driver out of his vehicle and took a passenger hostage. The passenger was released a short time later unharmed.
As police closed in, Springs fled on foot down Sam Furr Road. Officials say Springs removed most of his clothing and was wearing only his underwear when he was arrested.
But according to FOX News there was consider behind the scenes drama that played out over the airwaves.
From Fox News: There were some tense moments of radio communication in the field that could have been the difference between life and death for police.
CMPD uses the communication center in Uptown Charlotte while Huntersville uses North Mecklenburg's.
CMPD's call center was trying to sync up with North Mecklenburg's, they asked for approval, but there was a delay.
CMPD Captain Chuck Adkins says we were unable to get that approval in a timely manner, so just for the officers safety out there, we made that patch."
Besides Huntersville and CMPD officers the folks in CMPD's communications unit get a major shout out for working through the issues that prevented CMPD and Huntersville officers from talking to each other directly.
Cedar's Take: You would think that now nearly ten years after 9/11 we would understand the importance of functional radios. Are you listen Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners and Charlotte City Council?
Panthers Steve Smith - File this one under men behaving badly.
Carolina Panther's Steve Smith rips a sign from a Seahawk fan during Sunday's loss in Seattle. The Panthers are dealing with the teams worst season in history.
Not that anyone can blame Smith or anyone else from getting a little frustrated with yesterday's beating at the hands of the Seahawks.
The Panthers are now 1-15 (yes I count the pre-season games), and its probably a little late to get frustrated. But yesterday's second half was so bad that it makes you wonder if they threw the game. Remind me not to invite John Foxx as a 1/2 time motivational speaker anytime soon or to have Smith do any pet sitting for me. More on next season, the lock out and the next head coach from Jeff Taylor at the Meck Deck which is here.
WikiLeaks - Nothing worst than finding out someone has hacked into your email account and read all of your rants about your neighbor, boyfriend, ex-wife, or about your drug deals, government bribes or next corporate takeover target. Especially if you happen to be the United States Federal Government. Caught with your pants down, the only thing you can do it threaten arrests and claim treason and espionage.
On the other hand if your an American citizen and they hack into your GMail account then its just our government doing their job under the patriot act.
Cedar Says: Its a pretty sad reflection on our government's ability to protect and to keep their computers secure. In the age of the Internet we as citizens have come to accept that there is no privacy, so hows it feel Washington?
Tiger Woods - Golf's golden child choked and went back to his club throwing ways on Sunday.
Tiger reacts after missing a putt on the seventh green during the final round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Woods blew a four-shot lead as US Open Champion Graeme McDowell sunk an awesome birdie putt on 72nd hole to force a playoff, then holed a birdie on the first hole of sudden death finish off the number 2 ranked Woods.
Hottie of the Week Shawn Dillon
It might be cold in the Carolina's but this Sarasota hottie thinks the temps in Florida are just right for taking a swim in the late afternoon. Just a little something to make your cold Monday morning bearable.
A bonus photo of Shawn is here.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
CMPD vs Meck DA Continues
Last Wednesday Cedar Posts pointed out the curious case of Iaian McClellan.
Weeks ago the news was the Demetris Montgomery case, and now details have emerged of a second case where a judge has sanctioned the prosecution. This time during the murder trial of Iaian McClellan. He was accused of killing a man during an armed robbery and shooting at police officers. The rest of the post is here.
Last Thursday the "Local Paper" ran a story stating "Marsha Goodenow, a veteran Mecklenburg prosecutor fired last week, is going back to work putting away criminals."
After a ton of fluff the Local Paper gets to the meat of the story:
"Gilchrist may have been unhappy with Goodenow over what he perceived as a lack of communication between the two over problems with some cases.
One of those cases, according to a source who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity, involved a recent plea deal given a defendant accused of killing a man at an east Charlotte apartment complex in 2008.
Prosecutors, agreed to scale back the charge to manslaughter because Charlotte-Mecklenburg police failed to turn over evidence, which weakened the prosecutors' case.
McClellan got between nine years and 12 years in prison - far less than the lifetime sentence for first-degree murder.
Goodenow didn't try the case but supervised the prosecutors who handled it."
Now things begin to make sense, but still without a direct answer from DA Gilchrist it takes an outside source to get to figure out what is going on. The Meck Deck's Jeff Taylor rolls both stories up in a very tidy package here.
Which really makes you wonder what is going on between CMPD and the Meck DA?
Question: What is wrong with Charlotte Mecklenburg public officials? What makes it q normal practice and standard operating procedure to hide the truth? It doesn't matter if we are talking about the CMPD, DA's office, City Council or United Way, every one of these operations are in continuous cover up and dismiss mode.
Weeks ago the news was the Demetris Montgomery case, and now details have emerged of a second case where a judge has sanctioned the prosecution. This time during the murder trial of Iaian McClellan. He was accused of killing a man during an armed robbery and shooting at police officers. The rest of the post is here.
Last Thursday the "Local Paper" ran a story stating "Marsha Goodenow, a veteran Mecklenburg prosecutor fired last week, is going back to work putting away criminals."
After a ton of fluff the Local Paper gets to the meat of the story:
"Gilchrist may have been unhappy with Goodenow over what he perceived as a lack of communication between the two over problems with some cases.
One of those cases, according to a source who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity, involved a recent plea deal given a defendant accused of killing a man at an east Charlotte apartment complex in 2008.
Prosecutors, agreed to scale back the charge to manslaughter because Charlotte-Mecklenburg police failed to turn over evidence, which weakened the prosecutors' case.
McClellan got between nine years and 12 years in prison - far less than the lifetime sentence for first-degree murder.
Goodenow didn't try the case but supervised the prosecutors who handled it."
Now things begin to make sense, but still without a direct answer from DA Gilchrist it takes an outside source to get to figure out what is going on. The Meck Deck's Jeff Taylor rolls both stories up in a very tidy package here.
Which really makes you wonder what is going on between CMPD and the Meck DA?
Question: What is wrong with Charlotte Mecklenburg public officials? What makes it q normal practice and standard operating procedure to hide the truth? It doesn't matter if we are talking about the CMPD, DA's office, City Council or United Way, every one of these operations are in continuous cover up and dismiss mode.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Another TSA Homeland Security FAIL
Because my "real job" requires me to visit areas around Charleston that are secure, ie USCG Sector Charleston, Charleston's Cruise Ship terminal, and Container Ship Terminal as well as being a "accredited merchant mariner" aka USCG licensed Captain, I'm required to hand over $132.50, submit to a through background check and sit still long enough for a glamor shot all for the purposes of being issued a "TWIC" card.
According to GAO, more than 1.7 million maritime workers (Cedar Posts included) have obtained a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards. And, while this provides a nice bump to the economy and a few select private contractor’s pocketbooks, it has done little if anything to ensure port security. Surprised?
The card readers (the card has chip in it that when scanned tells everything about me including my 2 divorces and the crayons I stole from Becky in the 3rd grade) are largely unavailable, because they are still in test mode and where testing has been done, the TSA has not shared the information on reader results. But it must not have been a very good roll out.
However my very official looking TWIC card is a lot of fun to pull out at TSA security points at the airport (some TSA workers even know what it is), but is currently good for little else other than meeting family members at the gate.
GAO promises more data in February of 2011 – but (please, correct me if I am wrong) we’ll still be no closer to the security blanket envisioned by those who cooked up the TWIC cards in the first place.
As Cedar Posts has noted in the past our ports along the east coast are wide open and despite a burdensome list of rules and regulations, the truth is any Muslim nut case can steal a yacht load it full of boom and drive it right up to say downtown Savannah, Georgia or anywhere else and no one is going to think twice about it until after the news crews start filming.
According to GAO, more than 1.7 million maritime workers (Cedar Posts included) have obtained a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards. And, while this provides a nice bump to the economy and a few select private contractor’s pocketbooks, it has done little if anything to ensure port security. Surprised?
The card readers (the card has chip in it that when scanned tells everything about me including my 2 divorces and the crayons I stole from Becky in the 3rd grade) are largely unavailable, because they are still in test mode and where testing has been done, the TSA has not shared the information on reader results. But it must not have been a very good roll out.
However my very official looking TWIC card is a lot of fun to pull out at TSA security points at the airport (some TSA workers even know what it is), but is currently good for little else other than meeting family members at the gate.
GAO promises more data in February of 2011 – but (please, correct me if I am wrong) we’ll still be no closer to the security blanket envisioned by those who cooked up the TWIC cards in the first place.
As Cedar Posts has noted in the past our ports along the east coast are wide open and despite a burdensome list of rules and regulations, the truth is any Muslim nut case can steal a yacht load it full of boom and drive it right up to say downtown Savannah, Georgia or anywhere else and no one is going to think twice about it until after the news crews start filming.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Charlotte Christmas Lights Display Locator
I needed to score big on a couple of local Christmas light displays to entertain my brother in law's kids. So I sent out a couple of tweets asking for a little help.
Over the last few days I got a couple answers via the back channel that pointed out some that sound promising.
First up is the Penguin drop and Penguin Roller Coaster just off Providence Road near Fairview at 501 Mammoth Oaks Drive Charlotte, NC 28270. The display is reported as "painstakingly put together and a must see" another email said: great show and "wait for Santa to soar over the roof".
Then over to the SouthPark area and One Morrowcroft Center between Colony and Morrison Blvd for an upclose look at a couple of giant toy soldiers.
Next stop 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive Charlotte, NC 28226 a dead end street off Colony between Rea and Carmel. Reports are that one house it totally maxed out and the neighbors area pretty impressive as well.
On down Colony which becomes Rea Road to take in the lights at the shopping center at Colony at Rea, The Shops at Piper Glen at Rea Road and Bevington.
Then making a right turn onto Bevington and across Elm Lane to 6400 Cape Ferry Court Charlotte, NC 28277.
Back to Rea Road and south towards the Stone Crest Shopping Center.
Then Kevin Cook's House at 10732 Honeynut Drive Charlotte, NC 28277 which is reported as one of the sharpest displays out there.
Check out Kevin's home above and his web page which is here.
Then head east along Ballentyne Commons Parkway crossing Providence Road turning into McKee Road and eventually Pleasant Plains to find your way to 1100 Aringill Lane Charlotte, NC 28105. This one is aways back in the subdivision but it might be worth the look.
Later catch Independence aka 74 to Indian Trail and the Lake Park development where the family at 4019 Lake Charles Way Indian Trail, NC 28079 goes nutty with lights and a low wattage FM station they also have a web site which is here.
Other places folks were kind enough to let me know about:
7761 Windsor Forest Place Harrisburg, NC 28075 The Naylor Family Christmas Web site is here.
133 Springtime Lane Morresville, NC 28115 James Family Christmas - the web site is here.
16201 Raptor Court Charlotte, NC 28278
If you know of a really fun Christmas lights display please post a comment or back channel me. I'll update this list and the reports as emails come in.
Here's another link that was sent my way "UglyChristmasLights.com" photos of over the top Christmas Light displays.
Un-confirmed Displays in Charlotte:
14004 Loch Loyal Drive
411 E Dixon Street
8733 Sam Dee Road
Tweet of the Week!
@darrellHansen "I think people should lighten up on Obama. Just three weeks ago he got jobs for 63 Republicans."
Thursday, December 2, 2010
New National Threat Level System
What Cedar Posts is hearing is that we’re soon going to get Threat Level System 2.0 AKA: The Alphabet, wherein the alleged threat to the country is graded between A and F, followed by a decade of constant confusion as to whether A is good and F is bad, or F is good and A is bad, and - possibly - whether B+ is better or worse than A-.
Maybe we should just opt for Pass/Fail? or better yet Pass/Do Over?
It can’t be any worse than the Rainbow Of Terror.
Maybe we should just opt for Pass/Fail? or better yet Pass/Do Over?
It can’t be any worse than the Rainbow Of Terror.
WSOC News Talking Heads
WSOC's Holly Maynard describing an attack in Uptown Charlotte last night.
"The man was hit over the head with a fluorescent light bulb, but is expected to survive".
Just plain dumb.
I know its not the news anchor it is the staff that makes the anchor look dumb, unless the news anchor reads the same dumb statement more than once. And in this case "BINGO" Holly is just dumb enough not to realize a fluorescent light bulb is clearly not a lethal weapon reading the same lines from the 9AM news again at Noon.
Stupid is as, Stupid does - Forrest Gump
Charlotte's New and Improved Street Signs
Around Charlotte's Government complex there is no argument for stupid as Charlotte's City Council rarely has enough backbone to stand up to to anyone much less the Federal Government.
So over the last couple of years the Charlotte Department of Transportation has been busy making new street signs and spending money as fast as they can so that all of Charlotte's street signs will comply with a federal mandate by 2012.
In a document titled The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the federal government outlines a number of requirements for street signs. They must be upper and lower case (INDEPENDENCE BLVD, bad! Independence Blvd, GOOD); the letters must be at least six inches high; and they must be on reflective material. And as all good federal regulations go the last part of the law doesn't need to be complied with until 2018.
Charlotte's sign shop, like hundreds of other cities across the country buy materials from a select few companies. Those companies are members of The American Traffic Safety Services Association, which lobbied the federal government for these new regulations. Surprised?
A quick survey of signs along Sharon Amity show that the changes are at best hit and miss. But at least the new signs already seem to meet the 2018 reflectivity standard.
The law regardless of intentions means every street sign from coast to coast must be replaced by 2012 the costs are unimaginable.
The rationale for this change is safety, as is often the case to justify anything. Studies have shown, according to the Federal Highway Administration, that people find it easy to read upper and lower case words, therefore the new signs will be easier to read and will cut down on accidents.
Linda Durrett, Charlotte DOT Communications and Public Relations manager, told Charlotte's New Channel 14:
"It's believed it's easier for an aging population to understand and be able to read those signs".
So why the deadline? Couldn't the new signs be installed as the old signs wear out over the next 15 years or so? Nope. The inconsistent styles might confuse elderly motorists. Suddenly the calls to cut government spending make the Tea Party sound like it's making sense.
Let's at least hope they get the spelling right.
Photo from Justin Ruckman of the CltBlog.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday's Wild, Weird and Wonderful
Wild - Another Mecklenburg County murder trial goes down the drain due to police errors.
Weeks ago the Demetris Montgomery case, and now details have emerged of a second case where a judge has sanctioned the prosecution. This time during the murder trial of Iaian McClellan. He was accused of killing a man during an armed robbery and shooting at police officers.
Iaian McClellan
Late Tuesday night WBTV's Sharon Smith reported the following:
Judge Linwood Foust sanctioned the case because CMPD SWAT officers failed to turn over evidence from their database they deemed irrelevant. A veteran homicide detective also failed to request radio traffic recordings be saved. Instead, they were erased.
Judge Foust said SWAT officers would not be allowed to testify.
The case was going down the drain for prosecutors. They offered McClellan a plea deal before the case went to the jury.
Instead of life in prison, McClellan got a sentence which could have him out of prison in ten years with credit for time served. Watch the WBTV report here.
Bus Crash - Just after 6 PM Tuesday a Greyhound bus slammed into logging truck. The bus was traveling north on I-95 a few miles before the I-26 interchange when it struck the truck.
More than 2 dozen people were injured, including the driver of the bus who was pinned in the bus by logs that had pushed through the windshield.
Some patients were transported to Colleton County Medical Center, while others are being taken to MUSC in Charleston.
Officials were not able to use helicopters due to the weather conditions and the accident closed both north bound traffic lanes for more than 4 hours.
More Details here.
Weird - Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange is either villain or crusader, it just depends on whether you are the target or the benefactor of the "leaked" information.
On Sunday 28th Novembre 2010, Wikileaks began publishing 251,287 leaked United States embassy cables, the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents may give an unprecedented insight into the US Government's foreign activities.
Now Wiki Leaks claims to have 5 gigs of documents from a US bank. The rumor is that the target is Bank of America.
Scott Silvestri, a Bank of America spokesman, told the New York Times Dealbook blog in a statement: “More than a year ago WikiLeaks claimed to have the computer hard drive of a Bank of America executive. Aside from the claims themselves we have no evidence that supports this assertion. We are unaware of any new claims by WikiLeaks that pertain specifically to Bank of America.”
While many condemn the "leaking" of recent US State Department documents, the pattern of weirdness is so overwhelming that one can only imagine what is lurking in the wings for B of A. Wikileaks is here.
Wonderful - The photo could be of Black Friday shoppers lined up at the local Target or Best Buy store anywhere in the country. But the line that stretched down Meeting street in Charleston was not for super sale deals on huge flat screen televisions, this line was for the most basic item a $50 gift card from Piggly Wiggly.
Photo by Andy Paras Post and Courier
Star Gospel Mission on Charleston's Meeting Street greeted 1,000 people who received a $50 Piggly Wiggly gift card when the doors opened at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Some people started lining up as early as 3 p.m on Sunday. By the time the doors opened, a line stretched along Meeting Street, onto Line Street and onto Nassau Street where it went all the way to Columbus Street.
"It's the longest line I've ever seen," Star Gospel Mission Pastor William Christian said.
The church gave out 1,000 gift cards Monday morning. Officials said as many as 500 people had to be turned away after the cards ran out.
The rest of Andy's story is here at the Post and Courier.
McAdenville is Christmas Town USA, and while other Christmas light shows come and go, McAdenville has been lighting up the town in an organized manner since 1956.
Wednesday the 55th year kicks off with the "Official Lighting of Christmas Town USA".
The ceremony starts at the Pharr Family YMCA Center starting at 4:30 pm, and the "big" switch is pulled about 5:30 pm.
The red, green and white lights are on from: 5:30-9:30 pm weekdays and 5:30-11 pm on weekends now through December 26. The best part is McAdenville is free.
Cedar Says: Christmas light tour driver etiquette, whether you are in the long line of cars at McAdenville, Charleston's Holiday Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park, or the new Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas its proper to kill your headlights while creeping along at 5 mph.
Weeks ago the Demetris Montgomery case, and now details have emerged of a second case where a judge has sanctioned the prosecution. This time during the murder trial of Iaian McClellan. He was accused of killing a man during an armed robbery and shooting at police officers.
Iaian McClellan
Late Tuesday night WBTV's Sharon Smith reported the following:
Judge Linwood Foust sanctioned the case because CMPD SWAT officers failed to turn over evidence from their database they deemed irrelevant. A veteran homicide detective also failed to request radio traffic recordings be saved. Instead, they were erased.
Judge Foust said SWAT officers would not be allowed to testify.
The case was going down the drain for prosecutors. They offered McClellan a plea deal before the case went to the jury.
Instead of life in prison, McClellan got a sentence which could have him out of prison in ten years with credit for time served. Watch the WBTV report here.
Bus Crash - Just after 6 PM Tuesday a Greyhound bus slammed into logging truck. The bus was traveling north on I-95 a few miles before the I-26 interchange when it struck the truck.
More than 2 dozen people were injured, including the driver of the bus who was pinned in the bus by logs that had pushed through the windshield.
Some patients were transported to Colleton County Medical Center, while others are being taken to MUSC in Charleston.
Officials were not able to use helicopters due to the weather conditions and the accident closed both north bound traffic lanes for more than 4 hours.
More Details here.
Weird - Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange is either villain or crusader, it just depends on whether you are the target or the benefactor of the "leaked" information.
On Sunday 28th Novembre 2010, Wikileaks began publishing 251,287 leaked United States embassy cables, the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents may give an unprecedented insight into the US Government's foreign activities.
Now Wiki Leaks claims to have 5 gigs of documents from a US bank. The rumor is that the target is Bank of America.
Scott Silvestri, a Bank of America spokesman, told the New York Times Dealbook blog in a statement: “More than a year ago WikiLeaks claimed to have the computer hard drive of a Bank of America executive. Aside from the claims themselves we have no evidence that supports this assertion. We are unaware of any new claims by WikiLeaks that pertain specifically to Bank of America.”
While many condemn the "leaking" of recent US State Department documents, the pattern of weirdness is so overwhelming that one can only imagine what is lurking in the wings for B of A. Wikileaks is here.
Wonderful - The photo could be of Black Friday shoppers lined up at the local Target or Best Buy store anywhere in the country. But the line that stretched down Meeting street in Charleston was not for super sale deals on huge flat screen televisions, this line was for the most basic item a $50 gift card from Piggly Wiggly.
Photo by Andy Paras Post and Courier
Star Gospel Mission on Charleston's Meeting Street greeted 1,000 people who received a $50 Piggly Wiggly gift card when the doors opened at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Some people started lining up as early as 3 p.m on Sunday. By the time the doors opened, a line stretched along Meeting Street, onto Line Street and onto Nassau Street where it went all the way to Columbus Street.
"It's the longest line I've ever seen," Star Gospel Mission Pastor William Christian said.
The church gave out 1,000 gift cards Monday morning. Officials said as many as 500 people had to be turned away after the cards ran out.
The rest of Andy's story is here at the Post and Courier.
McAdenville is Christmas Town USA, and while other Christmas light shows come and go, McAdenville has been lighting up the town in an organized manner since 1956.
Wednesday the 55th year kicks off with the "Official Lighting of Christmas Town USA".
The ceremony starts at the Pharr Family YMCA Center starting at 4:30 pm, and the "big" switch is pulled about 5:30 pm.
The red, green and white lights are on from: 5:30-9:30 pm weekdays and 5:30-11 pm on weekends now through December 26. The best part is McAdenville is free.
Cedar Says: Christmas light tour driver etiquette, whether you are in the long line of cars at McAdenville, Charleston's Holiday Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park, or the new Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas its proper to kill your headlights while creeping along at 5 mph.
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