Third Party Comes To North Carolina

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Health Care, Local Interest1 Comment

It always warms my heart when I read and hear about Tea Partiers rebelling against the Repubican Party and forming their own third party.  Nothing would ensure the future of the Democratic Party more than having conservatives divide their loyalty between the Grand Old Party and the Raging New Party. Which is what makes me concerned about this: North Carolina Democrats' … Read More

WS Journal Letter To The Editor Of The Day

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Local InterestLeave a Comment

Uphold Scripture I completely agree with the writer of the letter "YMCA's purpose" (April 2) that the "C" in YMCA stands for Christian and the YMCA must uphold Scripture, which is God's law, and our Christian faith, by denying family memberships to gay and lesbian couples (Leviticus 20:13). But the problems at the YMCA do not stop there. Yesterday I … Read More

No Wonder You Feel Bad

Ken AshfordHealth Care, Local InterestLeave a Comment

From CNN iReport, the "pollen cloud" that hangs over the Southeast: Pollen season is unavoidable.  Here in central North Carolina, the pollen count at the peak of pollen season is typically no higher than 1,500 grains per cubic meter. But on Tuesday, the pollen count in Raleigh was 3,524 grains per cubic meter. And Tuesday in Forsyth County?  An astounding 9,632 grains … Read More

Spooky-Dog

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, TheatreLeave a Comment

From Yes Weekly: Irreverence reigns supreme in Theatre Alliance’s Spooky Dog this weekend Theatre Alliance of Winston-Salem has scared up a treat for Saturday-morning television fans with its latest production, a staged reading of Spooky Dog and the Teenage Gang Mysteries, which opens Thursday for a limited engagement. Eric Pliner and Amy Rhodes’ ribald spoof takes its cue from one … Read More

Cable Snafu In NC Causes Kid’s Channel To Show Playboy Channel

Ken AshfordLocal InterestLeave a Comment

Time Warner screwed up here in NC, according to USA Today: For two hours, some young viewers of children's programs in North Carolina also got a glimpse of the Playboy channel, the Charlotte Observer reports. An equipment glitch early Tuesday at Time Warner Cable beamed previews of adult shows on the Playboy channel into the right corner of the Kids on Demand and … Read More

Forever Plaid: The Plug

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Theatre1 Comment

From the Winston-Salem Journal: Tried and true colors – Nostalgia for a simpler time keeps crooners coming back for just one more performance By Mary Martin Niepold SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL Published: February 7, 2010 They've done it before. Audiences loved it, so Theatre Alliance will reprise one of its hit shows as a Valentine offering. Forever Plaid, a musical … Read More

Federal Judge Rules Forsyth County Prayers Are Unconstitutional

Ken AshfordConstitution, Godstuff, Local InterestLeave a Comment

And indeed, they are unconstitutional: Federal District Court Judge James A. Beaty this morning ruled that Forsyth County is violating the U.S. Constitution by allowing prayers with sectarian references before meetings of the county board of commissioners. Beaty ordered the county to stop allowing prayers under its current policy, which had come under fire from those who said that the … Read More

Storm’s A Brewin’

Ken AshfordLocal InterestLeave a Comment

Yikes, this one isn't kidding.   Weather Channel: As you can see in the graphic, plowable snow will also be found in Paducah and Jackson, KY, Roanoke and Norfolk, VA and Winston-Salem and Raleigh, NC.  There is no question this is a very sizeable snowstorm for these cities. 

Local Woman Posthumously Wins Darwin Award (Runner Up) [Warning: Gallows Humor]

Ken AshfordLocal InterestLeave a Comment

The Darwin Awards are given every year to "those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it."  In other words, the awards are given to those who are too stupid to live… literally. The 2009 Darwin Award winners were announced, and they included a Greensboro (N.C.) woman: (3 June 2009, North Carolina) Greensboro was innundated with four inches … Read More

Independent Cinema Coming To Winston-Salem

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Popular CultureLeave a Comment

About time, too. I heard it on the local NPR this morning.  A new arts cinema is opening — 2 screens, 160 seats, beer, wine, and a whole bunch of movies you’ve probably never heard of — all in downtown Winston-Salem. It's called Aperture Cinema and as the video shows, it's coming together fast…. Their first showings are scheduled for … Read More

Stimulus Spending In Forsyth County

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Local InterestLeave a Comment

I don't want to create problems for anyone, but $221,000 seems like an awfully big chunk of stimulus money to go to a psychiatrist's office (Christopher Spaulding PSY.D). [Source] Recovery.gov states that the purpose of the loan was: TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS BY PROVIDING LONG TERM FINANCING THROUGH THE SALE OF DEBENTURES TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR and also says … Read More

New Laws Which Take Effect Today In NC

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Crime, Local Interest1 Comment

Let's take a quick look at some of the new laws which take effect today in North Carolina. The big one is, of course, no texting while driving.  Now, don't think you can be cute about this.  But no, it applies to emailing, too.  In fact it applies to any time you "manually enter multiple letters or text in the device … Read More

Foxx’s Latest Stupid Statements

Ken AshfordHistory, Local Interest, Race, RepublicansLeave a Comment

During a debate on the House floor today over designating 21 miles of the Molalla River as "wild and scenic," Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who opposes the legislation, tried to claim a progressive environmental record for her party. "Actually, the GOP has been the leader in starting good environmental programs in this country," said Foxx. She didn't say what those … Read More