gregflynn's blog

When Al Gore spends time at the North Carolina coast he stays at Figure Eight Island in a 7,000 square foot house voted most likely to fall into the ocean.  A thin stretch of beach separates the house from the rising sea along with a temporary line of sand bags 25 feet away, due for removal May 2008 in compliance with coastal regulations.  Sand bags on the beach are double edged swords, protecting the land side while accelerating erosion on the ocean side.  Owner Parker Overton filed a spirited variance request with the Coastal Resources Commission in February for a March hearing. 

Part of the variance request referred to the passing of SB 599 (what I refer to as the Terminal Groin Injury Act) in 2007 due to be heard in the House 2008 which would allow a terminal groin pilot project, presumed to be destined for a location close to the house.  Among political contributors on Figure Eight Island Parker Overton and his wife are the most generous.  As recently as December 2007 they each contributed $4,000 to the campaign of Marc Basnight. 

While looking around for Patrick McHenry's sources of income, money that we don't know about, I came across some money that even Patrick McHenry doesn't know about. Among McHenry's top contributors are industries like Commercial Banks, Real Estate, Insurance, Securities & Investment. It seems he gets so much money he can't keep track of it all. This is surprising for a Congressman who is charged with keeping track of Federal money by serving on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Via Discover Magazine: Space Travel For Every Budget: 7 ways to be a space tourist—even if you’re broke.

a Northrop Grumman–sponsored flight of schoolteachers, who were videotaping a variety of experiments to show their students. This meant a full cabin, which at times resembled a human washing machine as the teachers bounced off each other while trying to do their experiments and line up their cameras for a good shot.

Bill Clinton spoke in Raleigh at the Hillary Clinton Campaign HQ at 11:00pm Monday May 5th 2008

How does Patrick McHenry manage to stand tall financially? His personal accumulation of assets through property deals has been a wonder. I’ve always been curious how a paper entry on a form turns into a cash windfall later. Now it seems he has a business partner in Republican State Senator and Lt Governor candidate Robert Pittenger, Lord of the LLC land deals, to help him along.

My good friend Ann Cowperthwaite passed along this Letter to the Editor that her mother just wrote with the simple commentary:
"I am pretty proud of my mother over this one...."

Read the letter from white, female, 87 year old, Republican, senior citizen, June Peacock:

As I write the PA returns have passed 60% of districts and the spread in the Democratic Presidential Primary has settled down to Clinton 54% Obama 46%, an 8% margin (which was my own personal prediction) for Clinton who is now addressing supporters. So no surprises, except perhaps this strange image from the Pennsylvania Department of State Elections Information site earlier tonight:

Pam did a great job with her post Wrap on the Raleigh Obama Town Hall. While there is certainly more video of the event to be found out there I wanted to shared some firsthand flavor of the moment in all its shaky grainy glory.