Funny how these thing's are so accurate

You're 1984!

by George Orwell

You have this uncanny feeling that you're always being watched. Thus
life has become a bit of a show as you try to portray yourself as much more reputable
than you actually are. All around you, people seem to accept an unending stream of lies
and propaganda without flinching. Your only hope may be a star-crossed love affair, but
pain seems stonger than love. If you have any older brothers, be very wary of
them.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Memorial Day Thoughts

Because a whole bunch of people have already said it better:

Samuel Adams:
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Aeschylus:
"Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny."

John Stuart Mill:

"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things;the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is
much worse.A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight,nothing which is more important than his own personal safety,is a miserable creature and has
no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Demosthenes:
"Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master."

John Locke:
"If the innocent honest Man must quietly quit all he has for Peace sake, to him who will lay violent hands upon it, I desire it may be considered what kind of Peace there will be in the World, which consists only in Violence and Rapine; and which is to be maintained only for the benefit of Robbers and Oppressors."

Sir Winston Churchill:
"Still, if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not so costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no chance of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."

Compromise may not prevent Nuclear Option

The Nuclear Option that our senators should be discussing.

"What that does is ensure that Iran continues with its suspension of processing
of nuclear materials,"

Of course before ensuring that the Iranians have continued their suspension of processing, it might be useful to prove that they EVER suspended their processing of nuclear materials. The problem is there is no reliable method of verification. We found THAT out with Saddam. Lying is a way of life in dictatorships. The people lie to the government, the government lies to the ruling party, the ruling party lies to dictators. And generally no one really knows whats going on. And since western intelligence efforts focus on finding out what the "Bad guy" knows. (or thinks he knows) we definetely won't have any idea either. Totally unverifiable. Finding methods for supporting reformists in Iran should be the focus. Because the misdeeds of democratic, relatively free countries comes to light quickly. And they also tend to actually care if they violate their agreements. But heck, why not just take their word for it.

Any Country...

where people still admit to being Trotskyists, should have a deep sense of national shame.

“Europe is the only political idea that can make the young dream,” Olivier Mollaz, 25, a student leader and Trotskyist, said. “But the constitution’s Europe has been built in such an undemocratic and antisocial way that we can only refuse it. For 20 years we have suffered from the Thatcher Reagan counter-revolution and we have never approved it.”

Rabun County EDA decapitated.

The Rabun County Economic Development Authority has had 3 major resignation announcements recently. Bobby Cheek, the Chairman, has resigned. Mark Smith, president of Community Bank and Trust was promoted to Chairman, only to Resign. Smith says that he's not someone who likes Political Unrest, and so he's staying away from the conflict between the CVB and the Chamber of Commerce. AND Randy Deliot, Executive Officer of the EDA has announced his intentions to resign, and will be retiring as of June 30th.

Developing....

Another Suicide attempt in Rabun County

Yet another suicide attempt here in Rabun County. This one was inside Clayton city limits. The Police responded quickly, and got the woman to the hospital. According to folks at RCH the damage was pretty superficial. I wonder if it isn't just me who thinks this is a big deal. I spoke with "Misty" at an intake facility that does evaluations for mental health when people are brought into ERs. And she said Rabun County isn't even one of her bad counties, compared to counties like Forsyth. She said she does about 2 people in Rabun county, compared to about 20 in places like Forsyth. But still, just because we are better off than some of our neighbors, doesn't mean it couldn't be improved. Keep this in mind:

"Civilizations Die from Suicide, not by Murder"
-Arnold Toynebee

Sorry

My apologies folks, for the failure to update regularly lately. Things have been a little dull as late.

Main thing in my world, yesterday the Rabun County Commissioners went into Executive session for at least an hour to discuss litigation. Came out of executive session, and made no motions.

That means they talked for an hour about some highly important topic, and made no decision and took no action of any kind. They didn't even instruct their attorney to look into something. (they usually make motions for that kind of thing, I'm not sure if they explicitly have to.)

The reason this is important is because if they make a motion, it gives me an inroad into figuring out what the deal is. I can ask them why they voted the way they did on the motion etc. I CAN'T ask them what was said in the executive session. Well I could, but they are legally prevented from telling me, and its not my goal to get people in trouble. What my goal IS is to let people know what their officials are doing on their behalf. And if they county or its representives is under legal stress, the people ought to know at least the general sort of trouble. I can presume that the discussion was related to the litigation surrounding their current appeal, but you can't put presumptions on the air!

I'm developing a strange attraction to the girl who does the "fruit buzz" commerical for McDonald's. Starts off with two girls talking about Monday mornings. Strangely hot, who knows why.

Rabun Republicans

On Saturday I went to a monthly breakfast meeting of the Rabun County Republican Party. It was interesting, and entertaining. Quite a few characters making up the GOP here in the mountains. Talked to the State Senator for our district, Senator Nancy Shaffer about her plans for next session. Illegal Immigration is a big on for her, and she's got a couple others but she wouldn't let me know what they were, said she, "might change her mind." Thought that was a bit odd.
The meeting was at Cupboard Cafe, no suprise there since owner Billy Johnson is Chairman of the party. Food was good.
Couldn't get Shaffer to weigh in on the CVB though. She remained adamant that the original legal compromise should have solved any disputes. She may be right. But whether it DID solve them is another question.

Good Audio

Some really good audio from Commissioner Pete Cleveland saying that the money for tourism needs to go to the CVB. I'd put it up as an MP3, but 1. I don't know how, and 2. the audio is the legal property of Sky 104/ 1370 WGHC, so you can't have it. Sorry.

Also some good audio from Officer Scott Dills of the CPD, about targeting shoplifters. Thanks to Officer Dills coming through for me on that. Although there was the strange problem, when i edited Dills on the computer, I picked up the sound of our broadcast on the AM. Bizarre. I donno why, I am not a tech.

But for Bad Audio, shame on Paul Harvey. Or rather his tech people I guess. The first ten mintues of his show didn't air. But fortunately Louie Armstrong singing "Mack the Knife" backed me up till ABC got it straight, and the show reappeared.

How do you spell Insurgency?

S..Y...R..I..A

A Fee a day keeps.. the Public at bay?

The Clayton City Council will now charge citizens who request a re-read of their water meter because they believe their bill to be incorrect. The charges only apply if the bill proves correct the first time. Of course I understand the reasoning for the motion, proposed by City Councilman Mike Smith. The city has to pay their man for re-reading meters, so it seems reasonable to charge those demanding multiple readings without cause.

But then, It is the city which has had some significant problems with NEEDING water re-reads, because of improper use of the system. And while Smith's motion included controls on those problems, such as insisting on the proper use of the electronic meter reading, It seems largely unnecessary to charge people for double checking their bill, when its been the city, by their own admission, which has had a problem getting the reliable numbers. Perhaps Councilman Smith has it right, and is cutting down on the current problem, and the next possible problem regarding re-reads. That's certainly possible.

But then, perhaps the citizens have a right to keep a close eye on their water bill, when the city's had such a rough time getting bills straight. Everyone at the Council seemed convinced that the requiring of proper hand held scanning technique is going to practically eliminate water bill mistakes. But I think I would have waited till I had a reputation of correctness before I charged people who second guessed me.

P.S No fireworks on Ramey Bridge DOT contract. Everything went as smooth as silk. City attorney Davis Boumen laid down how the thing was gonna work, and everyone seemed happy with it. So no problems there.

Awful!!!

I butchered my 8 o'clock news. I donno why, but I couldn't get the worlds " Tri-county Association of Volunteer Administration" out. Oh wait, I know why. That's the WORST name for an organization EVER. At least it only appeared once in the story. Although I could have called it TCAVA. which is also a mouthful.

Some words you simply can NOT get out. like a wire crosses in your brain, and its just terrible. well Practice practice practice.

In other an update, I am bringing two tape recorders to the Clayton City Council Meeting. If there are fireworks I WANT THEM!

Hitchens gets it right, as per usual.

Better than I could say, but I'm working on it.

Looks boring but...

Look for possible fireworks at the Clayton City Council tonight over the Ramey Bridge DOT contract. I can't confirm specifics, but it was a pretty heated topic at the Work Session on Thursday. I'll let you know if it gets dealt with smoothly, or if it gets exciting tonight.

Technocracy

I spent most of the night at the Clayton City Council Work Session last night, where the council spent its time reviewing city ordinances being proposed with major developers Ed Poss and Howard Silverman.

As they discussed curbs, gutters, soil erosion, water dispersion among a myriad of other issues I felt my eyelids collapsing under their own weight, and my brain cells threatened to commit seppuku en mass unless I relieved them of what to me was nothing but mindless drivel in a language that may as well have been Navajo as English for all I got out of it. I could tell from studying the faces of several of the councilman that they didn't entirely disagree with me. No doubt they had a better grip on the situation than myself, and for that I commend them, but it was clear that almost everyone was a little out of their league amidst environmental gibberish and legalese.

I don't say that to fault anyone, but rather to point out that governance today, even in the smallest community, is so intensely organized, with laws at local, state and federal level covering every concieveable topic that a government OF the people is a near impossibility. Our forefathers had it easy by comparison. Any gentleman farmer (Washington, Jefferson), solicitor (Adams), publisher (Franklin) or beer maker (Samuel Adams) can know and speak about freedom, human liberty, the virtues of a republican form of government.(that's republican, small r, oh ye of partisan minds!)

The city councils, County Commissioners, or what have you today can't take the time to worry about the philosophical impact of their actions, they have to spend 120% of their concentration on worrying if they are installing Technokineticthingamicallits of no less than 20 Snoddlenarkers per Zorp. And I think we all agree that that's a hell of alot more important than Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

British no Spainards...

According to early reports an explosion has hit the British Consulate in Manhattan today. Given that today is the British election in which Tony Blair, recieving a media pounding, but still up in the polls, will go for a historic 3rd term, this is not a coincidence. Someone is trying to pull a Madrid.

There are no reports of injured right now, which, if true, will make this a symbolic, but ultimately unsuccessful attack. Whether in the end there are casualties or not, the British will prove they aren't the Spanish. I predict NO effect from the bombing.

I hope for the sake of Britain's good name, (at least on my lips) that I'm right. After all, if you've gone from fighting them "on the beaches, and in the streets," You oughta manage to head to the ballot box and do whatever the heck it was you were going to do anyway. The Iraqis did for pete's sake. So stiff upper lip chaps, and go about your business.

Quiet Times in Rabun County

Things have been quiet lately, and for that I apologize. It isnt' that things aren't happening, its that my post on Monday was deleted due to computer gremlins, and I was so irate I couldn't so much as look at the blog till recently.

I've been hush about my special report coming up. I'm still hanging in there for a potential interview which could add another day to what I hope to be a multi-day report.

Things are churning in Rabun County however. This Siltration issue is not going away. Chairman Melton openly said that the standards for protecting the watershed being advocated, (they're called Best Management Practices) "Don't Work." Well I was in sound byte heaven for that, even if the tape deck made him sound like the little diver guy at the bottom of a fish aquarium. A big :) for Chairman Melton on that.

But unfortunately he has to get a :( for telling me that to turn off my tape deck while he addressed the Commissioners about a rumor that was going around that needed dispeling. According to my understanding (and printed copy) of the Open meeting act, any time the commissioners have a quorum, and speaking on a public matter. (the rumor involved the Hospital Sale. A more public matter does not exist at present) it requires an open meeting. I appreciate that they were adjourned, and this was just a side note, and no one wants to be taped when they say, "So have you tried the Buck Creek Tavern Ostrich steak? It's awesome." But in my mind the burden of proof is on the organization to find a reason NOT to allow me to record, rather than my only being allowed to tape between the motion to Open and the motion to adjourn the meeting. I'm hoping I speak with him about it today, he'll understand where I'm coming from.