It Ain’t Me, Babe

Several years ago, when Asheville citizens relied on the Citizen-Times for city council coverage, I circulated flyers about positions city council incumbents running for re-election had taken in their last term of service. I did not sign them, as I didn’t see any reason to plaster my name all over the place. This got me in trouble. I recall one conversation where a would-be-recipient challenged me. When I said I was the author, he scoffed. Not only was one supposed to claim their work, they had to have credentials to pamphleteer. I had only sat through every city council meeting for the past four years, losing one night of sleep a week typing up the drivel for this group and that. What did I know?

Well, now Asheville has a new website, The Asheville Progressive. The blogs are the work of admin, and the “About Us” page informs us:

The Asheville Progressive is a platform for voicing solutions and concerns that affect the local and larger political community. The Asheville Progressive seeks to encourage political action in conformance with progressive ideals. We’re here to entertain your ideas and comments. All are invited to participate in this process. If you are a free lance writer and write something of interest to people in this area send it to us for a look.

Nada mas.

It could be a front for the Republican Dirty Tricks Committee. If not, I believe the reason for the double standard is the inability of conservatives to think for themselves. I’ve often thought Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck had spyware on my computer.

Disengaged Public

A report from the last Macon County Commissioners’ meeting covers the highlights, if not the entirety, of a public hearing for the Comprehensive Transportation Plan:

• Franklin and Highlands had already received it well.
• A lot of work went into the plan.
• It should last five to ten years.

One nuts-and-bolts cowboy, Charlie T. Cowie, addressed the representatives of The NCDOT, requesting a reduced speed limit on US441-S.

I Got Some Money in My Pocket, I Don’t Remember Where I Got It, I Gotta Get It to You

The following was reprinted in the Mountaineer:

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service is now accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Haywood County landowners to install practices that improve water quality on agricultural operations.

This program is being offered through the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Bill programs.
Interested farmers should stop by the USDA office located at 589 Raccoon Road, Suite 203, Waynesville, NC 28786 by Oct. 14, 2011, 4 p.m. to submit an application.

Cost share practices include watering tanks, fencing, streambank stabilization, pastureland improvement, sediment control on agriculture lands, agri-chemical buildings, forest stand improvement and many more.

Cost share assistance for contracts will pay a percentage for actual costs of installation of projects.
For more information, contact Kara M. Cassels, district conservationist at 452-2741 x 3 or email at kara.cassels@nc.usda.gov.

It is not as bad as the email I received today:

Attention leslee kulba:

You may be eligible to receive a Stimulus Check.

Please Click Here to see if you qualify. (Deadline is August 31st)

We have been trying to reach you in order to deliver
this Stimulus Package offer to you.

Visit our website and confirm your details before August 31st.

We wish you all best,
Mary
Stimulus Department

Trying on the Fad

It is now Saluda’s turn to develop earth-moving regulations.

I Was Told, “Never Believe Anything You Read in Newspapers”

Lastly, I offer some sage advice from my big hero, Justin Hayward:

I rarely read newspapers – when I was a boy people used to say, “They are just tomorrows chip paper,” (because they used to sell fish and chips wrapped in newspaper).

Try doing that with a blog.