• Diana, Princess of Wales.
• Anything involving Britney Spears.
• Owen Wilson’s hard life.
• Tony Snow’s PMS.
• Katrina: Two Years Later.
• Larry Craigs’ bathroom antics.

And the number one thing I’m tired of hearing about…

• Fred Thompson’s new acting gig as candidate for President of the United States.

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

Last night I was tagged by Matt with one of those “tell me about you” memes.

Here’s my answers:

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My biological father.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

The snark in me wants to say the 8-7 loss by Atlanta to the Reds on August 21st (loss after Reds blew an early lead, but won by one after Atlanta tied up in the 5th).

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

No.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Roasted beast beef.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Yes. You’ve all met Mini.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Probably. I’m occasionally pretty fun to be around.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?

The question is: Do I ever not use sarcasm…

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS

Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Yes.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Kashi GOLEAN Honey almond flax.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Yes. I’ve already destroyed a pair of shoes from not doing it…Learned my lesson.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

No.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Vanilla.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Eyes.

15. RED OR PINK?

Red.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

My droopy and sometimes lazy eye.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

Not really big on “missing” people, but I’d have to say some friends from the Marine Corps (I’m talking to you, Matt and Sylvia).

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?

Sure.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Black shoes, black slacks.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Cream soda jelly bean.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

The tapping of keyboard keys.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Green.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Freshly cut grass.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Mini.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?

Yes.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Baseball.

27. HAIR COLOR?

Brown.

28. EYE COLOR?

Green.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

Yes.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

Macaroni and cheese.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Gotta love happy endings.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Transformers. It was teh awesome.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Blue and white stripes.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

Hugs.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Cheesecake.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

I ain’t taggin’ nobody.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND

See above:D.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

The One Percent Doctrine and The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Photographers.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

I don’t need no stinkin’ mouse pad.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT?

Scrubs season 1 DVD.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

I don’t really have one.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

The Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Africa.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

Not really.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Charlotte, NC

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

I already told you once, I ain’t taggin’ nobody.

Since my post yesterday on Alberto Gonzales’ resignation as Attorney General, several theories have been published on who would be the new DoJ chief.

CNN says, Homeland Defense Secretary, Michael Chertoff, was the front-runner. Shortly after, Larry Thompson, Ted Olson, Paul Clement (current Solicitor General and soon-to-be acting Attorney General), George Terwilliger, and Judge Laurence Silberman were named.

My personal favorite, and the most conspiratorially based, theory is that Senator Joseph Lieberman will be tapped. This would be the masterful Bush move that would ensure an Administration shill would be at the Department of Justice and toss the Senate into Republican control (Connecticut has a Republican governor who would nominate a Republican to replace Joe, making the count 50-50 and giving Vice President Cheney the tie-breaking vote). It’s a frightening prospect, no doubt; But it’s just as unlikely.

Senator Lieberman doesn’t have the legal experience to be Attorney General, especially when compared against the long-time Justice veterans named by CNN.

That said, Lieberman could be named to DHS to replace Chertoff. His experience heading the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee makes him a much better choice for that spot than the other considered shill, Clay Johnson (who works at OMB and has no credible germane experience or knowledge).

Personally, I think the Bush Administration is going to recess-nominate Paul Clement to be the full-time Attorney General and avoid the musical chairs scenarios. The recess nomination would last to 2009, avoid a bloody campaign for votes in the Senate, and avoid the even-more-destructive hearings that would delay the appointment and expose more skeletons from the Administration’s closet.

At last night’s special meeting on the tax referendum, the Board (less Commissioner McLaughlin) voted to allow voters the opportunity to approve a .25% sales tax increase.

The Jacksonville Daily News reports:

The voters of Onslow County will have the opportunity to let county commissioners raise the sales tax, but that vote will not happen this year.

On Monday night, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 to place a referendum on the May 2008 primary ballot to authorize raising the sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent.

Commission Chairman, Martin Aragona, Jr. (the lone dissenting vote) felt that the Board was “doing the General Assembly’s dirty work” which is a sentiment I do not understand. The additional sales tax will go to the County’s coffers, not the State. He also fails to realize that the Board’s vote gives voters the chance to vote on their taxation.

I will vote for the tax increase, but I maintain my belief that voters should also be allowed to decide what programs will be funded with the increased revenue (of about $4 million). Onslow County would be well-served by a functional public transportation system.

Commissioners Buchanan, Collins, and Midgett all voted to add the referendum, while McLaughlin was absent from the meeting.

It seems like quite the important issue for Mr. McLaughlin to miss.

CNN.

Embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, senior administration officials told CNN Monday.

During his tenure, Gonzales has often been at the forefront of bad decisions. He called the Geneva Convention “quaint” in regards to detention and treatment of prisoners, he’s lied to Congress (several times), he’s politicized the Department of Justice, and he’s managed domestic surveillance and data-mining programs targeting Americans. Who knows what else he’s been up to…

Gonzales has done much damage to the Constitution and the American way of life. Good bye, Mr. Gonzales. Good riddance and don’t let the door hit you…Well, you know the rest.

The Jacksonville/Onslow Council for the Arts has started a blog.

I’m hoping it’s just the beginning of expanding the arts presence in Onslow County.

On Friday, August 24th, the Governor signed into law the Fire-Safe Cigarette Act/Fire‑Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act or House Bill 1785.

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the House Vote records for the bill. Onslow’s representative, George Cleveland, voted against the bill in the House a total of three times (twice for the readings in the House and once for concurrence of the Senate changes).

This law requires cigarette manufacturers to test, certify, and label cigarettes as “in compliance” with the statute. The performance measure is that “no more than twenty‑five percent (25%) of the cigarettes tested in a test trial in accordance with this section shall exhibit full‑length burns”.

Cigarettes are the leading cause of home fires and deaths. This legislation will reduce the number of these deaths. Our Representative George Cleveland doesn’t believe that’s something worth standing up for.

It’s time to send a new Representative from Onslow County to Raleigh. It’s time to send someone that’s going to act in the best interests of the constituents.

Edited: Changed subject from “Why doesn’t George Cleveland Want to Protect the Citizens of Onslow County?” to “Letter to the Editor: Why doesn’t George Cleveland Want to Protect the Citizens of Onslow County?”.

I’m on the road to Greensboro to attend tonight’s Sanford-Hunt dinner.

I should be in Greensboro early (around 3ish) and will probably find someplace to roam and take pictures for a while.

If you’re going to the dinner and want to meet, email me (thomas(AT)brocknet(DOT)net.

Enjoy the day!

Quite succinct and, unfortunately, quite accurate.

It looks like the all-Republican Onslow County Board of Commissioners is chomping at the bit to give voters the opportunity to establish a new tax.

On August 27th, the Board will meet to discuss (among other issues) resolutions to direct the County Board of Elections to place on the November ballot a referendum to establish a local sales and use tax or a land-transfer tax.

For the record, I support adding the referendums to the ballot, I would even support the land-use or transfer tax, but only with a caveat: Voters should be able to dictate the use of the funds with the referendum.

The meeting will begin at 7pm and will be held in the Main Branch of the Onslow County Library on Doris Street. If you’re planning on buying or selling property in the near future, it’s probably a good idea to attend the meeting to voice concerns to the Board of Commissioners.