Woodright's School

Roy Underhill (of PBS fame) has opened a woodworking school on Hillsboro Street in downtown Pittsboro. He can take as many as 10 students at a time...Kristy, do you want us to sign you up? Just another cool thing right here in the "Pitt".

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/

GUNS...

"A well regulated Militia, necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

How many people have got to be shot by a crazed individual who has easily obtained a gun and walked into a classroom building, assisted living facility, fast food restaurant, women's clinic, post office, any place. This morning another individual suggested that if the people in the Carthage Assisted Living Facility had been armed they could have protected themselves. This ridiculous "solution" has been suggested for teachers, students, everyone and would be feasible only if people had their gun loaded and ready at ALL times no matter where they were. For some reason I have a real hard time imagining elderly residents of a home packing heat in their wheelchairs and walkers. If these people could raise a weapon, aim, shoot, and hit a person who was not standing still, they probably would not be in the assisted living facility (unless there was someone to "assist" them in shooting).

And, oh by the way, the 2nd Amendment does not guarantee individuals the right to own a gun. Read it again. The press allows the gun lobby to yell and scream without being questioned every time one of these tragedies happens.

It's Saturday and its NOT raining!

Good work Tarheels!!!! Oklahoma scares me so be ready! So much for my CBS sports bracket. Good thing I did not bet money.

Two closings this week make us happy, send us some business....the Triangle is a great place to live.

so much for dook

oops

Please ignore every basketball thing I have previously said... My real bracket on cbssports on facebook is doing much better however. Duke beating Pitt to play UNC in the Final Four. Louisville, UNC, UConn, and Duke. I am giving Duke too much credit I know, but I think they play smart bball and I want another matchup with the Heels. What a party there will be in Chapel Hill for that one. If you are tired of me writing about Basketball...just remember when its all over I will have to get back to politics.

A New Place in Town

There's a new eatery in the "Pitt"! Angelina's Greek Takeout. Need I say more. We tried it out and it is quite good...real Greek food except for the few Lebanese dishes like tabouli. Pat got to hear about all the Greek news in the Triangle and the scandal about the new Greek church in Durham. It gets better every day in the "Pitt".

Aside from Angelina's, I must point out how I laughed out loud coming down Thompson Street on my way home, to see the Pizza takeout in the Neighborhood School doing a booming business, right next to Dias car repair with Mercedes, Jaguars, and BMWs in the lot... with trailers behind the shop all crammed next to the Wash n Fold.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations Alan and Lyn on your new home in Chapel Hill!!!!!

The Economy

Everyone needs to go back and read some history...You could start with George Washington's administration and examine the economic steps that were taken. A NATIONAL Bank was created which held government deposits and whose stock was held by the US Treasury and the public. Those who were owed money by the Revolutionary government (usually very wealthy individuals) could redeem their bonds at par and the money to do this came from the creation of a permanent debt! The idea being to create a bond between the public and the government. Those who held wealth and invested would have a stake in the success of the newly created government of the United States. The radical ideas of Adam Smith were compatible with the Enlightened political ideas of the Founders, but there was a need to push things along with government help....not really a true free market.

We laud the pioneer spirit of all those who went west to seek their fortune, but it must be noted that they were GIVEN land by the government. the Homestead Act only required that one be 21 years of age and live on and improve the land for five years.

What about the Vanderbilt's, Stanford's, et al, those icons of the free enterprise system? They acquired the land to build their railroads from none other than the US Government. They were even given a 10 mile right-of-way on either side of the track to SELL.

General Electric, IBM, Raytheon, Boeing...you could list forever... do not prosper in a free market, they prosper because they get huge contracts from the US Government.

The idea that a partnership exists between the government and the people is not a bad idea, but the idea has gone astray. If an individual or company partners with the government and receives the benefits, there must be laws in place to protect the public and these laws must be enforced and obeyed. A free market is not one where the profit is protected but the risk belongs elsewhere. We do not have a true free market system. Those who have tried to take us down the "yellow brick road" for the last 30 years have truly taken us to the wizard who knows nothing. We now have to recognize that we must regulate the economy and make sure everyone plays by the rules. The lesson of the 1920's was that banking, investment, sales of stocks and bonds, and credit must be regulated.

Twenty Nine Years!!!!

Twenty Nine years ago about this time Pat and I were married!!!! This morning as we sat out on our little patio with a fire in the pit, we looked at our wedding pics. Some of you were there and gosh have things changed. Leonard, you, however look the same. We were reminded of what great friends we have!!!!

It has been a wonderful 29 years and I love my Pat so much.

The ACC isn't doing much dancing.

Duke and UNC heading for another showdown? Both need to get through the next round and it's the battle of the Blues for a third time!!!! I have Louisville and the Heels playing for the championship just like Obama. Wake Forest has let me down AGAIN...that's it no more sweets for you deacons.

Leo!!!!

My niece, Sarah, arrived on Thursday with my great-nephew Leo....what a cutie!! I think Bruz is very proud...but the question remains, what will Leo call him? Poop?

spamed by photobucket!!!!

If any of you have tried to see what's been going on in the "Pitt" you were greeted with a photobucket "something". I have found that photobucket is owned by none other than FOX. Of course they would spam my little blog trying to trick me into PAYING them...don't think so.

Kristy came for the weekend and we had a great time as always.

all things are possible

It is possible to have an all ACC Final Four!!!!!!

THE Tournament

We are home now and contemplating the NCAA picks. Carolyn, St Mary's was discussed but didn't make it, They should have in place of Arizona. I am soooo happy that the SEC finally got judged for its real performance...only 3 teams (oh well, football season will be here soon).

Day in DC

We're at the Rhino Bar in Georgetown watching the Tarheels versus FSU. Let's go UNC!!!! Well, so much for that. Shopping?

When Emily and I left on Sunday morning we were leaving across the 14th Street bridge but everything was closed, police everywhere. I panicked and thought something had happened to the President. No worry it was the St Patrick's Day Parade...but it wasn't St Patrick's Day.

MADNESS!!!!!!!

Do you see UConn in my Sweet Sixteen picks???? I don't think so. Tubby's Boys look good. Tarheels today at noon...Win!!!! Georgia Tech put up a good fight.

My brother invited us to his office to watch the UNC game today and said to bring chili. We thought it would be a little gathering. We should have taken a hint yesterday when the people at Krunkleton's asked if we were coming back for the UNC game, we told them we were going to the Shep Center and they all chimed in...oh, the hotdog party. Well this is an annual event, 23 years old, lots of food and people. Fun in the ACC.

FSU and UNC tomorrow.

Bristol

Well so much for the sanctity of the family unit.

B-ball

okay, okay...my basketball picks are terrible. A huge shoutout for Georgia Tech today beating Clemson. We watched the game in our favorite Chapel Hill bar, Krunkleton's. Since the big east is doing funny things with their bracketts who knows what is going to happen on Sunday night.

a finding

At the top of the hill in our neighborhood there is a path that goes further up the hill. One day Katrina and I took it and we ended up in a field and there was this stone fireplace. The never ending surprises of the "Pitt".

Should I write about Rush or basketball?

Basketball! Rush gives me a headache. Now I ask you what ACC game would be 7 minutes into the game and the score is 4 to 5? Well that's the big 10...Michigan v Minnesota. Is there really a question of what conference is the best? The Big East is 2nd for sure but I do not think they have the depth that the ACC has. There are some very weak teams in the Big East so there are easy games. Other than GA Tech there are no easy games in the ACC and Tech has spurts. In the end an ACC team may not win the title, it may go to a conference standout like LSU. This does not mean that the SEC is a good conference...LSU has had it pretty easy all year where Carolina, Duke, Wake, etc have played like crazy THE ENTIRE SEASON.

Evansville is out, losing yesterday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Oh well, if they had done well I would have looked really good.

My new little guy pick is Saint Mary's in the WCC

It is so much more fun to obsess over basketball rather than politics because the future of the free world is not at stake.

Davidson has disappointed me this season but a one man team is risky business.

Tubby's boys are doing well...leading at the half. They might dance after all.

Oh great FSU put on probation...I knew they should have never been allowed into the ACC, the criminals (sorry Bob).

I posted on my Facebook wall that I was wishing for UNC v Duke tickets...my brother called and said he had some did I want them....He was kidding and I have only now recovered.

Hot News

Sanjay Gupta will not be the Surgeon General after all. I am really upset. A "study" indicates that Sarah Palin was hurt in the election by her looks...REALLY! Could it not have been her stupidity.

Things that have made me smile today...

At noon on many days I have heard church bells from one of the churches in the Pitt. Today the door was open and the bells were playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"....smiling going on. And there is a frog (or maybe two) in our pond in the backyard that is chirping up a storm...smile

Juricks Come to Town!!!!!

Liz and Katrina hit it off!!!!

Good dinner and Stevie came...haven't seen him since Carolyn's wedding.

Liz and Em

Dean Dome from the athletic directors box. Go Tarheels!

What a great time. It is always fun and thanks for the wonderful dinner!!!!!! Sorry about the Jackets Liz.