Legivangelists and Others who Praise the Lard

Having grown up in a small town in the deep South during the 1970’s and 80’s, it was not uncommon to view televangelists on weekends, especially when only four or five channels were available to watch. Claims made by these people were seemingly noble and altruistic, but they always asked for money to do God’s … Continue reading Legivangelists and Others who Praise the Lard

UnLOCKEing the John Locke Foundation – Teachers and Advanced Degrees

The GOP-led NC legislature’s 2013 decision to end graduate degree pay bumps for new teachers entering the teaching profession was not only misguided, but another wave in the assault on public education here in the Old North State. I confess there exist numerous studies that have shown that advanced degrees do not correlate with higher … Continue reading UnLOCKEing the John Locke Foundation – Teachers and Advanced Degrees

My Bruce Springsteen Mixtape for Pat McCrory

Remember the 1980’s when you used to make mix tapes for people? They were the soundtracks for different facets of life. You put them in your cassette player and immersed yourself down a path of memories and emotions where only certain songs could lead you. When I found out that Bruce Springsteen was cancelling a … Continue reading My Bruce Springsteen Mixtape for Pat McCrory

UnLOCKEing the John Locke Foundation – Dr. Terry Stoops and Charter Schools

This open letter is written to Dr. Terry Stoops, the Director of Research and Education Studies at the John Locke Foundation, particularly in reference to his March 3, 2016 perspective in EdNC.org entitled “Charter schools are here to stay, so deal with it.”     Dr, Stoops, Again, public education is a focal issue in … Continue reading UnLOCKEing the John Locke Foundation – Dr. Terry Stoops and Charter Schools

Uncommon Nonsense and the Common Sense Fallacy

Now that North Carolina’s state government has officially named the red herring as its state fish, it is worth noting that other logical fallacies are at play in the explanation of recent legislation aimed at discriminating the LGBT community. Allow me to introduce to you the “common sense fallacy”. A double first cousin of the … Continue reading Uncommon Nonsense and the Common Sense Fallacy

Gov. McCrory’s Orwellian Freudian Slip

When Pat McCrory began his second gubernatorial election campaign, Charlotte Magazine ran a feature article in its April, 2013 issue entitled “Pat McCrory is the Right’s Man for the Job”. In it, Michael Cooper quoted, “He’s a fan of George Orwell’s 1984.” In a WRAL profile from January 14, 2008 (McCrory’s first campaign run for … Continue reading Gov. McCrory’s Orwellian Freudian Slip

I Don’t Believe Bruce Springsteen Will Ever Proctor a Test in North Carolina

The Boss has spoken on HB2. This is for him.   Calling all proctors. Calling all proctors. Is there a proctor in the house? It’s testing season here in North Carolina and the all-calls have been placed by all public schools to recruit enough proctors to watch over our students as they take tests which … Continue reading I Don’t Believe Bruce Springsteen Will Ever Proctor a Test in North Carolina

Gov. Pat McCrory – My Guilt-Ridden Deadbeat Darth Vader Dad

First, I must say that Gov. Pat McCrory is not my father except maybe in a metaphorical way like in the best of the Star Wars movies, The Empire Strikes Back. Remember that scene? You know the one where Luke has his hand cut off by Darth Vader who then says, “I am your father.” … Continue reading Gov. Pat McCrory – My Guilt-Ridden Deadbeat Darth Vader Dad

North Carolina’s State Fish – the Red Herring

North Carolina has the dogwood as the state flower, the cardinal as the state bird, the plott hound as the state dog, the Fraser Fir as the state Christmas tree, and the emerald as the state gem. We also have the channel bass (red drum) as the state fish. But that needs to change. I … Continue reading North Carolina’s State Fish – the Red Herring