http://www.beaufortcountynow.com Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:35:45 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/262/29/non-english-speaking-students-accommodate-or-teach-them-to-think-in-english.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/262/29/non-english-speaking-students-accommodate-or-teach-them-to-think-in-english.html There is always a danger when one frames a complex issue that oversimplifies the issue that much will be lost. But such is often essential in order to foster a useful debate of that complex issue. Bilingualism is such a case. Having said that we will attempt here to frame that issue in a simple manner in the hopes of contributing to a significant debate here in Beaufort County that seems to only grow as the years go by.

Simply stated the issue is: To what extent must and should we accommodate... Read More]]> Mon, 8 Mar 2010 22:12:39 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/261/48/are-you-ready-to-buy.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/261/48/are-you-ready-to-buy.html There's absolutely nothing wrong with not being able to buy a house. I am a Realtor and an advocate of home ownership, who is currently renting a home. Of course, I would love to build equity, feel the security of having title to my own piece of earth, or simply have a real interest in remodeling my kitchen, but I am financially unprepared for such a responsibility.

Instead I'm happily setting myself up to take on this responsibility by working hard, paying off debt, saving money and getting my... Read More]]> Fri, 5 Mar 2010 15:07:06 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/260/48/what-to-do-before-listing-your-property.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/260/48/what-to-do-before-listing-your-property.html For many, selling property marks the end of an age. It’s a physical representation of the changing dynamics within your family, your relationship, or your career. A change of this magnitude isn’t easy. Leaving memories behind can be incredibly difficult. Take photographs, host a moving party, but before you put that For Sale sign in your yard, make sure you and your home have said your goodbyes.

It may sound harsh, but once it goes on the market, you are open for business and the c... Read More]]> Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:35:35 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/259/39/stimulus-funds-trickle-down-into-local-weatherization-assistance-program.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/259/39/stimulus-funds-trickle-down-into-local-weatherization-assistance-program.html Going green is likely the last thing on the minds of those living in lower-income households. A family with an income at 200 percent below the federal poverty guidelines is understandably more concerned with paying the bills, than reducing their carbon footprint.

Thanks to the expansion of the Weatherization Assistance Program, administered through North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity, lower-income households can go green and save green simult... Read More]]> Thu, 4 Mar 2010 16:42:06 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/258/1/republican-commissioners-express-fear-of-losing-dominant-culture-to-hispanics.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/258/1/republican-commissioners-express-fear-of-losing-dominant-culture-to-hispanics.html The debate over the hispanicization of America continued at yesterday’s Beaufort County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The new Beaufort County Board of Education Superintendent Don Phipps appeared before the commissioners to discuss concerns related to the Spanish translation of the Beaufort County Schools’ Code of Conduct, which can be found on their Web site.

The Code of Conduct is, currently, the only material on the site available in Spanish.

Phipps defended the necessity of a Spanish v... Read More]]> Tue, 2 Mar 2010 14:55:19 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/257/21/a-primary-is-in-the-offing.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/257/21/a-primary-is-in-the-offing.html I have a primary for Beaufort County Commissioner. I did not want a primary, but I welcome one nonetheless. On the negative side, a primary diverts some of my attention from my personal business. That, obviously, will not be avoided, because there are now 5 aspiring politicians running for the three Republican nominations vying for the three open commissioner seats in the November 2nd, General Election.

On the other hand, a primary in early May offers me an opportunity to campaign, and, i... Read More]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:38:05 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/256/48/long-the-markets-right-now-get-ready-to-have-your-lunch-money-taken-for-the-next-50-years.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/256/48/long-the-markets-right-now-get-ready-to-have-your-lunch-money-taken-for-the-next-50-years.html Since the March 2009 lows in the major American indices (S&P 500, Dow, NASDAQ), it’s been a wild ride straight up as markets attempt to digest information and find a new equilibrium in the aftermath of the largest private sector debt bubble in history (not to metion the world wide public sector debt crisis set to take place within the next 5-10 years). Many investors are thoroughly convinced that we’ve found that equilibrium here in the 9,500- 10,700 range.

They are optimistic... Read More]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:04:26 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/255/29/school-board-confirms-it-s-spending-money-like-there-s-no-tomorrow.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/255/29/school-board-confirms-it-s-spending-money-like-there-s-no-tomorrow.html Facing a multi-million dollar shortfall, they just keep spending

Beaufort County Schools officials (Dr. Don Phipps, School Board Chair Robert Belcher and Finance Officer Laurie Modlin) met with the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners in special session Thursday afternoon to review budget matters and for a "get acquainted" session with the new superintendent.

Most of the time was spent going over details of the financial reports.

On the page at the link above entitled Capital... Read More]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:05:51 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/254/20/beaufort-county-government-s-general-meeting-agenda-monday-march-1-2010.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/254/20/beaufort-county-government-s-general-meeting-agenda-monday-march-1-2010.html The Beaufort County Board of County Commissioners Will Meet to Discuss the County's Business

The Government of Beaufort County meets every month for at least one General Meeting to discuss and act on the county's business. Beaufort County employs the County Manager Form of Government, which stipulates that the board of county commissioners allow the county manager to set the agenda, and bring issues before them.

This is defininitely the third or second slowest, least ambitious general meet... Read More]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:36:16 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/253/40/why-no-jobs.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/253/40/why-no-jobs.html The Democratic "leaders" in Congress and the General Assembly assure them things are fine. "The recession is over," they crow. "The president's plan has brought hundreds of thousands of new jobs," etc, etc, etc. Each statement a bigger lie than the one before. Meanwhile citizens of North Carolina can't find work and are struggling to survive. Increasingly it becomes more difficult to pay for food, utilities, the mortgage and needs for the kids.

The debt bubble is ... Read More]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:47:26 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/252/42/i-no-longer-represent-the-dirty-dirty-dirty-south.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/252/42/i-no-longer-represent-the-dirty-dirty-dirty-south.html
I’ve never cared much for perfectly straight teeth, but clean teeth and fresh breath are essential. I mean, who could really stand wearing a clear, plastic retainer every night for the rest of their life? I’d just loose it in the cafeteria trashcan anyway.

My orthodontist tried so hard to get my teeth in line, but my chompers have always had a mind of their own. As soon as my braces came off and the belt sander was moved a safe distance from my mouth, it was as if my large teeth removed thei... Read More]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:51:50 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/251/29/new-superintendent-knocks-it-out-of-the-park-on-the-social-studies-controversy.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/251/29/new-superintendent-knocks-it-out-of-the-park-on-the-social-studies-controversy.html Jury still out on the sex ed. issue

The current controversy in North Carolina with the social studies curriculum was a focus of attention at Monday (2-22-10) night's School Board meeting. Three community members addressed the board in the Public Comment section on the agenda and the Superintendent, Dr. Don Phipps addressed it in his Superintendent's Update.

The controversy has been an on-going one in Beaufort county, long before it boiled over at the state level. Over a year ago Commissioner... Read More]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:27:05 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/250/42/good-circadian-rhythym-has-just-enough-zzzz-notes.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/250/42/good-circadian-rhythym-has-just-enough-zzzz-notes.html Last night I slept nine hours on the couch and awoke feeling restless, jittery, but still groggy. The cushions were ajar, the room messy, and I felt anxious—as if I were already way behind for the day.

I’ve decided that getting a lot of sleep isn’t the answer to stress--the biggest single burden on my health. Sleep may be restorative to my body, including my brain and nerves; but it does nothing for my To Do list. My To Do list is backed up like a traffic jam, which only manages to free five o... Read More]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:08:57 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/248/30/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-part-viii.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/248/30/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-part-viii.html Downtown Washington, North Carolina is a Regional Mecca for Art

This article is born out of two purposes: To give a short expose of some of the new art that was on display in the Washington, NC area and to finally give some exposure through our publication of some shows I attended since the first of the year, 2010. I intended to do 3 separate articles but time did not permit anything other than what I can offer at this juncture … and since this is art, and pretty fine art at that ̷... Read More]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:40:54 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/247/42/drink-plenty-of-liquids.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/247/42/drink-plenty-of-liquids.html Oh, la pauvre! Though I responsibly abstained from Mardis Gras debauchery, and drank one pure white glass of wine, instead of six fiery tequila sunrises, I woke on Ash Wednesday feeling perfectly puny.

Five days of Lent passed, and I, due to my infliction, was no more able to follow certain dietary restrictions than to withstand bumper carts at Wal Mart. I prayed all week for a swift recovery, but, instead, alternated between mal and tres mal. (Perhaps reading the nauseating, but enviably well ... Read More]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:26:42 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/245/29/the-charter-school-debate-heats-up-in-n-c-with-significant-issues-for-beaufort-county.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/245/29/the-charter-school-debate-heats-up-in-n-c-with-significant-issues-for-beaufort-county.html There is a storm coming in public education in North Carolina. We have previously reported on the case of Sugar Creek Charter School et. al. v. CMS. And we have told you about the direction the U. S. Department of Education is headed. Both events indicate that charter schools are poised for a surge.

Charter schools are public schools that are tuition-free to students and supported by the same tax dollars as traditional public schools. And that is what the court ruled. They must get the same dol... Read More]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:01:19 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/244/48/deflation-isn-t-such-a-bad-thing.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/244/48/deflation-isn-t-such-a-bad-thing.html Market "experts" and CNBC talking heads may have many of you worried about runaway inflation resulting from the massive amounts of cash our wonderful Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, with the help and encouragement of our bankster-controlled political mafia, dumped into the financial system. Whilst inflation, or the threat of hyper-inflation, would be a very valid concern if these enormous amounts of surplus cash ever made it into the real economy; that simply is not, and will not be, the case.

The ... Read More]]> Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:20:36 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/243/42/mardis-gras-shmardis-gras.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/243/42/mardis-gras-shmardis-gras.html Last night, while thousands lived out the Easy Rider fantasy on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I was perfectly sober in the fluorescence of my small-town grocery, hunting for fresh-caught salmon.

Like I promised in yesterday's blog, I was using Mardis Gras to prep for my date with righteousness, rather than to have one last Hoorah, and be hungover for it.

(If you are truly ready to be married, Brandia, there will be no desire to have a bachelorette party.)

So, I'm at Food Lion and all I can ... Read More]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:51:20 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/242/43/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-part-vii.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/242/43/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-part-vii.html It is a rarity indeed when we get a four plus inch snow in eastern North Carolina. On this February 12, Friday, at 10 pm, the moderate snow started falling and continued in light flurries until about 11:00 am.

With the bread all but gone on the grocery shelves, and the uncommon fluffy snow transforming our mundane winter's day into a winter wonderland, I made a few pictures which I will share with you here below as my testimony that rare beauty of my world bathed in snow.

In the flurries... Read More]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:45:41 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/241/46/greece-is-just-the-beginning-of-the-sovereign-debt-crisis.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/241/46/greece-is-just-the-beginning-of-the-sovereign-debt-crisis.html Determinism is defined as follows: The philosophical doctrine that every state of affairs, including every human event, act and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedent states of affairs. (http://www.answers.com/topic/determinism) In short, decisions that are made in the present affect options available in the future. This is important because, since the end of WWII, the entire world economy has become increasingly dependent on the credit quality of the United States.

Since the Uni... Read More]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:13:36 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/240/42/a-mardis-gras-promise.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/240/42/a-mardis-gras-promise.html Confession: In my entire life of 28 years, I have never kept to a diet or exercise plan for much longer than 24 hours.

This Lenten season, which begins tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, I am making a public promise to give up the biggest sin a young woman can commit against her body--not taking care of it.

Good genes are a gift from God, and I fear that I may have all but squandered that gift. I'm a tough cookie, with high standards, but when it comes to two of those seven deadly sins--gluttony and sl... Read More]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:03:38 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/239/29/our-schools-are-headed-for-the-perfect-storm.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/239/29/our-schools-are-headed-for-the-perfect-storm.html School board candidates should tell us how they intend to weather that storm

If there was a Category 5 hurricane a hundred miles off our coast and headed straight for Beaufort County would you expect our School Board to to preparing for it?

There is a "perfect storm" coming for our schools and our local Board of Education is still playing like an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand. As this article documents, the root cause of the impending storm is the exhaustion of Federal Sti... Read More]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:36:46 EST http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/238/22/beaufort-county-commissioner-hood-richardson-announces-his-candidacy-for-n-c-senate-1st-district.html http://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/238/22/beaufort-county-commissioner-hood-richardson-announces-his-candidacy-for-n-c-senate-1st-district.html Incumbent Senator Marc Basnight has a challenger for the seat he has held since 1984. Enter 4 term Beaufort County Commissioner Hood Richardson, who has long given voice to the unwavering conservative Resistance in eastern North Carolina for nearly 14 years, as his deceptively energetic Republican challenger. Commissioner Richardson is scheduled to meet with the State's leading Republicans in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, to engage their support.

Senator Marc Basnight has long bee... Read More]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:06:36 EST