In North Carolina, be sure to complete your ballot. Even if you vote the straight party ticket, you still need to vote for President and the non-partisan races separately. This may be the case in other states as well. Please vote early!
Category: Life
Life
I got my assignment for election day. I’ll be working at the polls as a greeter, rather than driving voters. I think this will be more fun. I’ll get to see more people that way.
I’ll be glad to see this election over and done with. We’re all getting tired of the negative ads and speeches. I hope people are just ignoring them.
Please read this story and then tell NC Governor Mike Easley’s office and the Department of Public Safety NOT to allow this officer to be reinstated! In fact, ask them to see that he is criminally prosecuted!
10/18/2008
Associated Press
A former North Carolina state trooper fired last year for kicking his police dog should get his job back, the state government personnel office has ruled.
The State Personnel Commission ruled Friday that the N.C. Highway Patrol failed to prove that Charles Jones’ actions amounted to personal misconduct, the News & Observer of Raleigh reports. The Commission also says Jones should get back pay.
Jones, a 13-year veteran, was fired from his state job last year after he was caught kicking his dog on a cell phone video. The former sergeant was shown suspending the dog from a railing and then kicking it at least five times.
He has been working as a police officer in Apex since earlier this year. A veterinary examination showed the dog, which has been retired from the patrol, was not injured.
The commission also ruled that the patrol lacked clear discipline standards for police dogs and found Jones’ actions were consistent with patrol practices. But the commission did rule that the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety had just cause to discipline Jones “for unacceptable job performance.”
The patrol initially planned to discipline Jones with a lesser penalty but fired him after the governor’s office got involved. Seth Effron, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Easley, referred questions Friday to the Public Safety Department.
Secretary Bryan Beatty had not seen the panel’s decision but “still believes that the Highway Patrol made the right decision in dismissing Jones, and that we will appeal the decision,” Highway Patrol Capt. Everett Clendenin said.
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Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com
I usually don’t watch stuff like this, but I’m tuned in to the Travel Channel to see “Most Haunted Live.” It’s a seven hour live “Most Haunted” marathon. Let’s just say that I’m skeptical. When I was at the Travel Channel, Sue Norton, executive producer, asked us to watch. So I am. I even brought a poster back with me to put in our window on SW Broad Street.
Speaking of haunting, I’m going to be at the Inn at the Bryant House tomorrow to shoot some video. The Inn is possibly haunted. :) We’ll see. There have been reports of disembodied voices being heard and other such things. I’ll let you know more about it after I get back.
I had the extreme good fortune of meeting the challenger for the NC Sixth Congressional District seat, Teresa Sue Bratton. I asked her to give me a few seconds of her time and asked what she believed was one of the most important issues we face. Dr. Bratton (MD) wants us to have better health care and prevention. I agree 100%. In a country were health insurance is tied to our jobs, it’s one of the first things to go when we get sick. A catastrophic illness can result in job loss, which results in the loss of coverage. Then what?
Dr. Bratton knows that we can prevent many diseases through education and by making better choices. We also need to fill the gap between the insured and uninsured. Nobody should have to go without health care when it’s needed.
Please visit her web site for more information and please vote! My vote’s going to Dr. Bratton.
I volunteered to get voters to the polls either on election day or to early voting. It’s very important to vote this year November 4th (or earlier). Don’t let lack of transportation get in your way. Someone will come and get you! Call your local party’s headquarters and ask if there’s someone there who can come and get you. Don’t be shy!
If you’re a US citizen and are eligible to vote, please don’t let anything stand in your way. Vote on November 4th or use early or absentee voting. Watch this video I got of Cyndi Lauper encouraging us all to vote. Sorry about the camera movement at the beginning. It took me a little while to find her.
I never heard of Falun Gong before Saturday. I was at the National Book Fair in DC on Saturday when I met Mrs. Yan near the Air & Space Museum. She goes there every Saturday to draw attention to the plight of practitioners in China, who are persecuted by the government there. I asked her to tell me a little bit about her cause.