Knoxville News Sentinel: Social media underused in Gatlinburg firestorm A Personal View

Excerpt from the article:

A spokeswoman for Gatlinburg said neither the city nor its public safety agencies had any social media accounts when the Nov. 28 inferno responsible for 14 deaths, more than 180 injuries and the damage or destruction of more than 2,400 structures struck the city. Officials said damage from the fire will exceed $500 million.
Since the disaster, spokeswoman Marci Claude said, the Gatlinburg Police Department "has created a Facebook page to share information with the community."
In contrast, officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park continuously updated information on its Facebook page and Twitter account throughout the day warning of the growing danger. National Park officials warned of the unpredictable fire, the increasing winds moving flames toward Gatlinburg and ongoing evacuations within the park.
The park started sharing information at 10:46 a.m. on Nov. 28 about the fires marching north toward Gatlinburg.
Read the entire article on Knoxville News Sentinel
This is so sad. Too many in local governments look down on social media as a tool, or view it as a tool to build personal fiefdoms.

The failure of Sevier County to deliver information to residents has probably resulted in the deaths of some of the people they were responsible for protecting. Of course, they would not have been in that situation had the Chimney Top Fire been set. I know a lot of people hesitate to blame their local government when they make mistakes, or fail to properly do their duty. That kind of behavior needs to stop. The only way anyone, even governments, can improve is to acknowledge mistakes and work to make sure they don't happen again. Wildfire Today has an excellent article analyzing the events that led up to the firestorm. [WildFire Today]

The article points out that the National Park Service had been warning of the approaching wind event. The Incident Command Team in our area had been preparing for it for days by burning out the Camp Branch Fire and patrolling fire lines on the other fires.

In the daily weather briefing that was published at 5 am on Monday morning, Macon Media warned of the high wind event that was coming. [LINK] When it did get here, downed power lines did spark fires, but our volunteer firefighters were prepared and stopped them from spreading.

[Harold Ledford Road] [Gorge Fire] [Power Outages]

COMMENTARY

(I probably shouldn't post this commentary because it goes against the general policy I have established for Macon Media of not expressing an opinion on news items. --Bobby Coggins).

A lot of elected officials and bureaucrats in our area tend to either look down on social media, mock it as a source of "fake news," or use it in a fashion that limits who can see official updates. The ones here who tend to do use it, share official information on personal profiles with privacy settings that mean only their friends can see the information and it cannot be shared outside that circle of friends unless it is copied and pasted, which one of the news outlets here tends to do.

My personal experience during our wildfires was that getting information out of the local county government was a mixed affair and other news outlets were given access Macon Media was denied. Some department heads were generous with sharing information (I won't name those who helped because I don't want to potentially get them in trouble), while others would always point me to other department heads or the PIO of the Health Department.

Once I contacted Rabun and Jackson Counties and requested information, they were very professional and timely with sharing information for me to relay to the public.

The USFS was wonderful to work with and they were professional and timely in delivering information. Because of the workflow and open design of the USFS and the National Interagency FIre Cache websites in creating maps and compiling data, I often had information hours before the daily morning briefings at the Command Post were presented. The Daily Briefings at the Command Post in Franklin were, according to what I was told, "not for the press or public" while the Daily Briefings for the Rock Mountain Fire were streamed live online, so there were differences in the way the ICTs (Incident Command Teams) viewed their role in delivering information to the public.

McCRORY VISIT

Macon Media and The Macon County News and Shopping Guide almost missed the visit of the governor to the local Command Post even though we arrived early and checked in with both the CP and the governor's staff. I would not even have known of the visit had someone had not gone outside the chain of command and told me. We were in the lobby with a state senator waiting to be told the governor had arrived and were never notified when he arrived. If the reporter for the Macon County News had not got up and just went back to a briefing room in the back I had not been aware existed, but she did, neither of us would have been able to cover the story from a first person perspective. Of course, a reporter from The Franklin Press was already there in the briefing when we arrived, having been given access we were not.

SOLUTIONS AND A LOOK AHEAD

In 2017, I will be more aggressive in obtaining official information held by local, state and federal bodies to share with the public. In the past, I have been far too passive in this regard. I will clearly identify those who are difficult to work with and those who favor certain news outlets over others. When I do share observations or opinions, they will be clearly marked as such so you can decide if you agree or not.

As always, when I make mistakes (and I inevitably will) feel free to let me know. When you do that, you help Macon Media become better at delivering accurate information. It is my personal view that news collection, interpretation and delivery is a collaborative effort, and will become even more so in the future, and not something just for elite "journalists" to tell you what is important or what to believe or who act as cheer leaders for local government when they should be holding their feet to the fire. Cheer leading the local government is the job of county employees. The proper role of the media is to deliver accurate information and to dig for news, not to be the local pravda.

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Storm Chasers Get Too Close to Tornadoes in Oklahoma Is it Time to License Chasers?

I'll just leave this here and let you compare the hypocrisy of The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes speak for itself. People like him, Brandon Sullivan and Reed Timmer give legitimate severe weather chase teams a bad name with their blood lust for better footage in the name of TV Ratings and profit from the sale of footage of tornadoes.


Mike Bettes in 2011 on storm chasers who get too close to storms, risking getting flipped and injured:


“Chasing can be an educational and exhilarating experience, but it also is inherently dangerous. An increasing trend I see happening is chasers trying to get as close as possible to one-up their competition, and cash in on dramatic video. And the one thing I always hear from professional chasers is how safety is their number one concern, and warning the public is their number one priority. Me? I Call B.S. on that one. When you’re being hit by debris, and you’re flipping your car while pursuing a tornado, you’re not very concerned about your safety, or anyone else’s. You’re setting a bad example for a younger generation of chasers who follow your lead.” - Mike Bettes, 2011 

Compare that to the following video from yesterday, where he gets too close, gets flipped and suffers minor injuries:


Video of Brandon Sullivan purposefully driving into the circulation of a tornado and getting pounded by debris:

Commentary

The videos above show examples of the type of "storm chaser" that gives legitimate severe weather research teams a bad name.


I am a small government type of guy, but I believe the time has come for storm chasers to go through a licensing process by the federal government, probably the National Weather Service and licenses should be permanently revoked for getting this close to a storm unless they're in an approved research vehicle.

The people in the above videos should NEVER be allowed in a storm area unless they live there.

One way to stop this storm chasing for profit would be for the legitimate research teams to start providing footage to the networks and TV Stations for free or next to free. And perhaps they could have Public Information Officers to liaise with the media and the public via social media and live streams.

If you can devalue the sale of video footage and photographs of tornadoes, then that might stop some of the nonsense of people chasing to solely sell video.

People like Reed Timmer and Brandon Sullivan is an example of the type of "storm chaser" that gives legitimate severe weather research teams a bad name. 

At this point, as I mentioned above, I would even support a type of federal licensing program, but I think it would be a bear to set up and monitor. Perhaps it could be like what amateur radio operators have to go through that would subject the license holders to severe fines if they violate the terms. 

I am sure this will be a topic of discussion on Monday night's episode of "Weather Brains." You can follow along  on Google Plus or their website.


PS: Here are some guidelines for chasing severe weather responsibly:

Responsible Chasing

Acting responsibly is a good way to ensure that chasing isn't associated with yahoos, wackos, and thrill-seekers. Apart from ensuring that safety is a constant consideration and courtesy is an automatic action, what do I mean by responsible storm chasing?

1. Keeping our enthusiasm for violent weather in the proper place. If you've had your home and perhaps loved ones taken from you by a tornado, then you are probably not going to react favorably to a bunch of folks whooping it up enthusiastically over a tornado. When I first drove into the damage path of the Union City tornado, shortly after it left town, I realized that the tornadoes that I wanted to happen could wreak havoc on people's lives. After some reflection, I realized that what I wanted didn't really change the weather (good thing, too!), and that by happening in front of trained observers, what we learned could be used to mitigate the impact of such storms in the future. But I still feel uncomfortable dealing with tornado victims. Talking about death and destruction as a good thing in front of the wrong people, even as a joke, can create an awful impression of storm chasers. Virtually all storm chasers would be delighted to have tornadoes happen only in open country where not even crops would be damaged.
2. Chasers can be of tremendous help to science and to the public if they will take a few moments to report what they have seen. Call or visit the appropriate NWS office and give the report of what was seen, including the location of the event(s) and the time(s) of occurrence. I personally do not believe it is necessary to break off a storm chase to call in a report, unless you have some electronic communication aboard your chase vehicle so that you can make a report without terminating the chase. However, as soon as possible afterward, you should report the event(s). If you feel that the storm is about to strike without any warning and you have the opportunity to do something to warn people, then by all means do what you are able to do.
3. Responsible chasers don't endanger themselves or others. Keep in mind that your actions might be used to portray storm chasing as a whole. If you behave recklessly, without regard for your safety and, especially, the safety and well-being of others, then you invite people to make the unfair comparison. I don't want the job of having to answer for your irresponsible actions!
4. Effective chasing is a constant learning process, and responsible chasers need to be aware of what is going on in severe thunderstorm and tornado science. It behooves all of us to be informed about the latest scientific findings, even if the only rationale is to make us better chasers. Participate in the process and don't be selfish with it. If you have seen something noteworthy, you can be responsible for preventing future disasters through sharing what you have seen. Knowing what is noteworthy requires you to be knowledgeable about the science of severe storms, so it is a two-way street that works most effectively when everyone shares what they know for scientific and educational purposes freely.
5. Chasing can become a dangerous obsession. Student chasers who let their studies go to follow the convection run the risk of sacrificing their careers. Chasers who neglect their family responsibilities to chase are not folks I admire, no matter how much they "succeed" in chasing. Letting chasing get in the way of any work responsibilities is also a problem, in my view. Some folks wear their obsession about chasing as some sort of badge of honor, but I say "Get a life!" Everyone has to decide on an individual basis what is their operational definition of "responsible" chasing from this personal point of view. All I know is that building a life totally around storm chasing, in my opinion, is not a very responsible life.
6. Stay out of tornado damage areas if possible. During a chase, this seems fairly obvious. Damage paths are full of hazards that no one would enjoy if it is possible to avoid them; downed power lines, jagged pieces of sheet metal, boken boards, etc. When the chase is over, some chasers may want to do their own damage survey ... in general this is a bad idea! Stay out of such places unless you have been invited to participate as part of an organized storm damage survey or a cleanup crew. You are likely to be in the way of cleanup and folks who have been hit by a tornado tend to be suspicious of strangers in their midst. Gawkers are not appreciated and being taken for a potential looter is not likely to make you welcome!

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Who Does the US Constitution Apply To?

I think most people entirely miss the point when they discuss what rights we have or don't have in our Republic, the United States of America.

The recent debate on gun rights is proceeding under the assumption that the federal government has the right to put restrictions on the citizens as to what type of firearm they can own and what they cannot, and whether or not it is to be registered, or if certain types can be banned.

The federal government does not have the right, or the authority, to infringe upon our right to own firearms. The National Firearms Act (whether 1934, 1968 or any future act) is unconstitutional. It is null and void. Anyone sitting on a jury that is trying a case where someone is charged under any of these acts should return a verdict of "not guilty" regardless of what instructions they receive from a judge.

Below is a more clear statement of these ideas in general...

The important point is that the Constitution doesn't apply to Americans, it doesn't apply to citizens, it doesn't even apply to "people." It applies to the federal government. The body of the Constitution tells the federal government what it is allowed to do, and in some places it explains how to do it (election procedures and such). The Bill of Rights tells the federal government what it is not allowed to do . . .

1. Make no law abridging freedom of speech, press, religion, or assembly,
2. Do not infringe on the right to keep and bear arms.
3. Don't quarter soldiers in peacetime.
4. Don't conduct unreasonable searches and seizures.
5. Don't commit double jeopardy or force people to testify against themselves.
6. Don't deny an accused a speedy trial.
7. Don't deny an accused a trial by jury.
8. Do not impose excessive bail.
9. Just because certain rights of the people aren't mentioned in this Constitution doesn't mean you're allowed to usurp them.
10. Don't exercise any power not authorized in this Constitution.

Where exceptions were meant to apply, they are specifically stated. And there are no exceptions stated for any type of guns, for any type of speech, for any specific crimes, or for crimes where non-citizens are involved.

~Harry Browne [1]

Hat Tip to Kernersville Lawyer on Facebook, who posted an excerpt of this earlier on his page. And that posting prompted me to look for more information. 

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A Short Rant About Political Calls

The worst thing about election season is the phone calls that come from parties/organizations and/or candidates that reveal these organizations don't have a clue when it comes to political organizing for getting out the vote (aka GOTV). They seem to think that having a list of phone numbers and volunteers is the answer, much like the morons who paint the roads with yard signs.

If these people had done the tiniest amount of research in order to target their calls, they'd know that I am someone who votes at every opportunity and am someone who is active online (and offline) promoting conservative candidates. My name would be stricken from all but lists involved with reminding me to vote, and once I had indicated I had voted (or my name showed that I had voted this cycle), remove it from their call lists as well.

I am especially looking at the Republican National Committee and NC Victory 2012, who are the most egregious offenders of these shotgun calls that are a total waste of resources.

I'll save my rant about yard signs for another day.

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McClatchy Plans Paywall Expansion

We will offer readers a combined print and digital subscription package that will include access to web, certain mobile and replica editions for a relatively small increase to print home-delivery rates. We’ll also offer online-only digital subscriptions to users after they read a certain number of pages. Once the first wave is launched, we intend to expand this model to our other markets beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

Read more at Poynter

Commentary
Well, McClatchy Newspapers doesn't get the Internet. They're expanding paywalls on their newspaper websites. This is the exact opposite of what they should be doing...they should be expanding their operations online with an eye toward becoming the ultimate go-to resources for information in their markets.

I recently overheard an editor for a local paper remark to someone that it was a mistake for newspapers to make content available online for free. She could have not been more mistaken. Erecting paywalls is the mistake. Her business model is broken and stuck in the mid-twentieth century.

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NewsBusters Report on Liberal Bias in the Legacy Media

Mitt Romney's week-long international trip resulted in unrelentingly negative coverage from the big three broadcast networks, a stark change from the glowing press awarded to then-candidate Barack Obama's world tour in 2008. While Obama was treated like a rock star (from the Associated Press: "It's not only Obama's youth, eloquence and energy that have stolen hearts across the Atlantic...."), Romney endured a focus on gaffes and the trivial.


MRC analysts examined all 21 ABC, CBS and NBC evening news stories about Romney's trip to London, Israel and Poland between July 25 and July 31. Virtually all of these stories (18, or 86%) emphasized Romney's "diplomatic blunders," from his "golden gaffe" at the Olympic games to "missteps" that offended the Palestinians.

Source: News Busters   (Go read the entire article)

Commentary

I'm not surprised in the least.

I consider the Legacy Media an active opponent in the election process, they are firmly on Obama's side. There is little we can do about it now, other than point it out and use it to energize us to work even harder on the local level to get out the vote this fall.

Eventually, I would like to see a grass root network of citizen journalists rise up and offer alternative news reporting than what is provided by the "news" networks.

But first, these grass root networks need to begin on the local level before moving up to regional, state and national news reporting.

I've already started the process in my county...I would love to see others start doing the same kind of thing, both where I live and where you live. There is room enough for us all.

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Beware Who You Share Your Info With Online

Just got a call from the NC GOP Victory Office in Asheville using info I had given on Mitt Romney's website. The caller has no idea where my town was and thought it was close enough to Asheville to go make calls from there for Romney. (I live an hour away from Asheville)

I'm not happy that my info was shared with anyone. Even more so that it was shared with a NC GOP Victory Office. The Romney campaign might as well contract these calls out to the Democrat Party because the Victory Offices in North Carolina are next to useless.


Not to mention that I am extremely upset that my name and phone number were shared with the NC Victory Office organization. The Romney Campaign would serve itself very well if they avoided getting entangled with that organization.


I wanted to help the Romney Campaign, not the NC GOP Victory Offices.

/rant


Yes, I have shared my concerns with the Romney Campaign. I just thought it would be a public service to warn you that your information may be shared with your state party.

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Franklin Aldermen React to Article in Smoky Mountain News

**update** The story continues to be pushed by the Legacy Media. There has yet (to my knowledge) been an official communication from Chief hicks to the Town of Franklin or Macon County.

Editorial in the Franklin Press:

Franklin residents, if your town asks you serve on a committee, you might want to give it a second thought.


That's the message that emerged from the May 7 meeting of the Franklin Board of Aldermen, with the abolishment of the Nikwasi Mound Committee.


The town had asked several people to serve on this committee. The specific concern that led to its formation was maintenance - the town hoped to find a less labor-intensive solution to caring for the ancient landmark. However, committee members were also encouraged to look at other options to make the mound more attractive and prominent, because of its historical value.


Although town aldermen have since disparaged the committee's work, claiming that it dawdled and didn't reach a conclusion, in fact the members gathered whenever they were asked to do so. They considered a range of options, and they did make recommendations to the town.


Members included representatives of the Historical Society and Cooperative Extension; the editor of this newspaper, the mayor and an alderman (Bob Scott). Other persons having an interest in or knowledge of Cherokee history, landscape design and related fields were invited to various meetings to share their ideas. This could not be said to be a revolutionary guard by any stretch of the imagination; the group's recommendations were conservative and easily accomplished. For example, the committee asked that signage be cleaned up and rock boundary corners replaced. These were maintenance matters; perhaps they should not have required a committee to instigate them. However, the committee made these points, the work was done and the Mound property looks much better as a result.

Source: The Franklin Press "Town to citizens: Just Shut up (title taken from printed version of editorial)

And more from the Smoky Mtn News:

Franklin leaders declined last week to offer a formal apology to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for using weed killer on an ancient Indian mound.

“I don’t think we did anything destructive,” said Franklin Alderman Sissy Pattillo. “And I have a problem with the chief or whoever saying we did something disrespectful. That just bothers me.”

Principal Chief Michell Hicks earlier this month said he was “appalled” by Franklin’s use of a weed killer to denude the mound. Hicks called on the town to formally apologize for what he termed a culturally insensitive action and one that demonstrated a marked lack of respect for the Cherokee people.

Alderman Bob Scott was the lone town leader who wanted to issue an apology. He had drafted a letter to the chief expressing regret for what had taken place, and said that perhaps the dustup could serve as a means of opening new dialog between Franklin and the tribe. His call to send the letter received a lukewarm response from fellow town board members, however. The other aldermen pointed out that they had never been formally asked by the tribe to apologize, but instead the demand for an apology had come only through the media.

“I’ve got a question,” Alderman Farrell Jamison said to Scott at a Franklin town meeting last week. “Was there actually a letter or are we just listening to media stuff? Do you have a copy of a letter?”

“I do not,” Scott responded.

Source: The Smoky Mountain News "Franklin balks at apology for killing mound grass"







The full video of this meeting will appear in a day or so at is.gd/12F0507




Thundertorial 


For all the people who 'said' they were upset about the Town of Franklin spraying the Nikwasi Indian Mound with weed killer, not one of them actually cared enough to attend the town meeting  where it was on the agenda to add their voice to the discussion to express their concerns or to hear what the town had to say.

If they had, they would have heard the explanation that the grass had to be killed before it was replaced with something else. This is something that anyone with an ounce of common sense would have known. Remember not to believe everything you read in local (or regional) papers. Sometimes, there is an agenda that we may or may not be aware of, or it may simply be an attempt to gin up circulation. 


Here is an excerpt of the article they were responding to:

A move by the town of Franklin to spray the ancient Nikwasi Indian Mound with weed killer is not sitting well with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks last week described himself as “appalled” and called on the town to formally apologize for what he termed a culturally insensitive action and one that demonstrated a marked lack of respect for the Cherokee people.

“I’m going to make an issue out of it. I am not a happy camper. I’m not happy at all,” Hicks said in an interview. “I think this is really disrespectful to the tribe.”

Hicks said he plans to talk to both town and county leaders in Macon County.

Source: Smoky Mountain News

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FAA Harasses Delta Passenger for Filming Bird Strike

A Delta passenger who filmed birds striking his plane over New York City's John F. Kennedy International airport received a scathing letter from the Federal Aviation Administration condemning his use of an electronic during flight takeoff.


Grant Cardone, 54, became a viral hit after posting a video of birds being sucked into the engine of his Los Angeles-bound Delta flight on April 19. The plane was forced to turn back to the airport and landed safely, the New York Post reports.


Soon afterward, Cardone received an official letter from the FAA complaining the video was taken illegally because he used his iPad to film the strike, and use of portable electronic devices is prohibited during "critical" phases of a flight, such as takeoffs. Electronic devices also cannot be used during an in-flight emergency.
"Your failure to comply with flight attendant instructions during a critical phase of flight and an aircraft emergency could have affected the safe outcome of the flight," the letter says.

Source: Fox News (read the entire article)

Hat Tip: Drudge Report


Full incident audio recorded from the Internet:





Here is an excerpt of what I posted on Facebook regarding this incident:

I wonder if the Federal Aviation Administration realizes that there are tens of thousands of videos on Youtube documenting every phase of flight? Why are they harassing this guy?

WHy did they not come out and attack the people who filmed shuttle launches from planes http://is.gd/Mb5UF9 Takeoffs http://is.gd/takeoff and even landings http://is.gd/landings even other birdstrikes have been filmed without FAA harrassment http://is.gd/birdstrikes

Why pick on this guy and not the others? What makes him different?

Here are other videos of bird strikes, takeoffs and landings. There are also pilots who film their own flights, so what is the big deal about this? The pilots and crew all behaved in a professional manner. I suspect it has more to do with an idiot bureaucrat who needed to intimidate someone to make his (or her) life just a little bit more bearable.

If anything, these videos bring to light the skill and professionalism of the pilots and air traffic controllers and the letter to the passenger who filmed the bird strike reveals a petty and arrogant federal bureaucracy.

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Santorum: Might As Well Have Obama Over Romney Full Video of San Antonio Speech

The latest brouhaha in this excrutiatingly long and drawn out 2012 Republican Primary (thanks for nothing, RNC dimwits) implies that Rick Santorum would prefer President Obama to President Romney. I think his words have been taken out of context. Mind you, I am saying this as a supporter of Mitt Romney. First, as is my custom, I present the full speech so that you may gain an understanding of the context of how and when the words were said, so that you don't have to rely on soundbites created for political spin and to generate page views by irresponsible journalists and political pundits:

Rick Santorum Addresses The USAA in San Antonio, Texas



Rick Santorum Press Availability 


The full extent of Rick Santorum's remark is as follows:

What I’ve said in this campaign is that if you look at the record on a lot of issues, I’ve taken a consistent approach throughout the course of my career. I believe in these fundamental freedom and the way we solve problems in America. And there are many on the Republican side of aisle who don’t… 

That’s the sort of the approach. That’s the differentiation, if you will, between me going up against Barack Obama, where there really are real contrasts on the issues, as opposed to a lot of these candidates where it’s a race between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. That’s not how you win. 

In the last century, there’s one person, one Republican candidate, who defeated a Democratic Incumbent for re-election. One in the last century. And that was Ronald Reagan. Almost every other time we ran a moderate because we had to win. Republicans and Conservatives were so worried about getting control back that we have to win so we have to nominate someone who can appeal to- 

No, you win by giving people a choice. You win by giving the people an opportunity to see a different vision for our country not someone who’s just going to be a little different from the person we have in there. If they’re going to be just a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk on what may be the Etch-a-sketch candidate of the future.”

Source: USAA Speech in San Antonio, Texas, transcribed from the first video in this blogpost.

He was answering a question during the Q&A Session that followed his speech to the USAA in San Antonio, Texas yesterday. No one at the event seems to have objected to the words in their original context. Someone decided to make a mountain out of a molehill.

For an example of the spin and yellow journalism as "journalists" sought to generate controversy where there is none, check out this article from CBS News:

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Thursday said Republicans should give President Barack Obama another term if Santorum isn’t the GOP nominee and for a second day compared rival Mitt Romney to an Etch A Sketch toy.

Santorum reiterated an argument he has made before: The former Massachusetts governor is not conservative enough to offer voters a clear choice in the fall election and that only he can provide that contrast.

“You win by giving people a choice,” Santorum said during a campaign stop in Texas. “You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there.”

Santorum added: “If they’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk of what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate for the future.”

Source: CBS News

I will repeat what I've said in other blogposts, on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and in conversations: This tinkering with the Republican Primary schedule so that the nomination process takes longer has done nothing but harm the party, the candidates and the chances that the eventual nominee will win the general election this November.

In a more perfect world, every member of the RNC who voted for this change to the Republican Primary Calendar should be brought up on the stage during the RNC Nominating Convention in Tampa, be tarred, feathered and rode out of the convetion on a rail so that they might be properly humiliated for their role in harming the Republican Party. I've embedded a visual aid below:

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More Problems With Frontier Communications DSL: Unacceptably Slow Speeds Today

The never-ending saga of slow or interrupted Internet Service provided by Frontier Communications is continuing today. 


Today, my speed test results are: (courtesy SpeedTest)


Ping (closest and lowest ping) was 719 milliseconds (It usually ran 20-40 milliseconds w Verizon) 
Download Speed was 0.78 Mbps (It usually ran in the 3-4 Mbps range with Verizon)
Upload Speed was 0.54 Mbps (It usually ran in the 0.7 to 0.8 range with Verizon)


This is unacceptable. Every time I call Frontier, I get a different explanation, a line cut in Salisbury or Sylva, or a server down in a number of different locations.


Due to the technical failure of frontier, I will likely be unable to listen and report on the proceedings of the NC General Assembly today if they are unable to clear this up before 9am. I can't even play the video I recorded last night to confirm that it works properly. 


Previously: Dear Frontier Communications, Where Is My Internet?

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Dear Frontier Communications: Where is My Internet?

Thanks to the utter incompetence of Frontier Communications, I've been unable to post to this blog lately. Several of my friends on Facebook have posted notices that Frontier has left them high and dry as well, so I know the problem isn't with my line.


Allow me to vent...


Dear Frontier Communications:


How could you screw up the excellent DSL Internet Service that Verizon has so ably maintained so very badly??? Verizon hardly ever went down, and you chuckle heads seem to go down at least once a week for hours at a time.


Please post SOMETHING on your facebook page or website indicating what the problem is...


According to the coomunity at DSL Reports, you've been providing subpar service nationwide, not just in our area:


Six Month Rating

Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I am considering picketing your offices in order to raise awareness and give people a rallying place to express their dissatisfaction with the level of service your company has been providing. Up until a few weeks ago, my DSL Service has been good, with only intermittent outages that were annoying, but usually only lasted a few minutes at a time. 


Bottom line, get the problem fixed, or tell us what the problem is.

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From My Email: Some Things Cannot Go Unanswered My Response to Adam Kokesh being Body Slammed

Image courtesy of The Silent Majority. See their article on the Traitor Adam Kokesh.

I get a lot of unsolicited email. A lot of it is conspiracy theory hyping chain mails that never seem to die despite having been proven wrong over and over again. A recent email hit a nerve, and I'm posting it and my response for the public record. 


I have removed the name of the sender, but if you are familiar with the local conspiracy theorists, you'll know exactly who sent this particular email.


Adam Kokesh and fellow retards engaged in an illegal protest at the Jefferson Memorial. Here is video of his invite to people to participate in the protest:






Now, here is the Email (altered only by the removal of names of the sender and recipients):

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From: [NAME REMOVED]
To: [NAMES OF SEVERAL RECIPIENTS ALSO REMOVED]
Sent: Wed, June 1, 2011 2:39:46 PM
Subject: WARNING!! ALERT!!!DANGER!!! SHOCKING!! THE MOST DISTURBING THING YOU WILL EVER SEE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jUU3yCy3uI

IF YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO AND ARE NOT ASHAMED OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS BECOME THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THIS IS THE MOST APPALLING VIDEO ON THE NET. DONT THINK YOUR NOY ON A LIST

PRIVATE: This is Not A Public Communication!

This private email message, and any attachment(s) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521, and is for the sole use of the intended recipient and contains privileged and/or confidential information. To all public servants, including but not limited to Federal, State, or Local corporate government(s): I accept your oath of office as your firm and binding contract between you and me, one of the People, whereby you have promised to serve, protect, and defend me, guarantee all of my unalienable rights, and defend the Constitution for the united States of America. Any/all political, private, or public entities, International, Federal, State, or Local corporate government(s), private International Organization(s), Municipality(ies), Corporate agent(s), informant(s), investigator(s) et. al., and/or third party(ies) working in collusion by monitoring My (this email) email(s), and any other means of communication without My express written permission are barred from any review, use, disclosure, or distribution. With explicit reservation of all My rights, without prejudice and without recourse to any of My rights. Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or all intellectual property rights or reserved rights.

Notice to Principal is Notice to Agent / Notice to Agent is Notice to Principal

a de a de a de THATS ALL FOLKS!

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Here is the video in question embedded for your viewing pleasure:

And here is the response I sent to the sender and all the others on the receipt list:

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The only thing I see wrong with the video is a bunch of retarded children making a scene and disturbing the peace. I commend the police for their restraint in subduing and arresting these idiot protesters who were desecrating the Jefferson Memorial and crapping on the memory of one of our Founding Fathers.

As far as Adam Kokesh goes, he is liar. He went around for years claiming to be a Sergeant and failed to inform people that he was demoted to Corporal before being less than honorably discharged for bringing a looted pistol back from Iraq (technically, that makes him a war criminal). He is not even eligible to join the VFW with his DD214 discharge papers. The guy is a fraud, [Name Removed].  [Link] 

The patriots at the Patriot Action network have more about him. [Link]

The Green Room has even more about him. [Link]

~Bobby, aka Thunder Pig.

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Commentary on the Macon County Comprehensive Plan

Maconians packed the Commissioners Board Room to listen to the Macon County Commissioners discuss the Macon county Comprehensive Plan.

Commentary

I attended a meeting of the Macon County Commissioners last night where we were told (once again) that nothing in the Macon County Comprehensive Plan was binding, that it was just a list of recommendations for the future development of Macon County. 

The Commissioners spent over three hours going over the recommendations that the Macon County Planning Board had spent two years working on...line by line I might add...and removed entire sections, added new paragraphs emphasizing that the recommendations were only recommendations, even at one point, a preamble to an Introduction. 

I am told a local paper (The Franklin Press) even published an editorial urging the passage of the Comprehensive Plan for the good of the citizens of Macon County.

The Commissioners Board Room was nearly full for a good bit of the meeting. As someone who has attended all but three meetings of that body in the past two years, I can tell you that it is rare that more than three citizens attend, let alone a room full. 

Commissioners mocked some things that were in the plan (like the idea of a Convention Center) and fought cinematic Last Stands to keep some things in it. 

It sure is a funny way for people to be acting over a document that is non-binding, 'just a road map', and a toolbox of options for the future, isn't it? 

I am very tempted to give every member of the Macon County Planning Board a copy of Friedrich von Hayek's "Road to Serfdom" to show them just where all this planning will take us.

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