(Cross-posted at the new Appalachian Voices blog)

From the Fayetville Online

Its first nickname was “R2D2” after the “Star Wars” robot, butnow they just call it “the dog” when it’s time to drain the grease at Burgerville USA.

“The dog” is a small, stainless steel tank and pump combination on wheels that the Northwest restaurant chain has pioneered to channel used cooking oil to a biodiesel producer.

At 33%, I don't know if finding Bin Laden would pump his approval rating above 50%. These numbers are from Fox News.

Now is no time for a pity party. This is one of those times when kicking a man when he's down is A-OK.

Larry Kissell is a strong progressive candidate and he is on track to take North Carolina's 8th Congressional District away from Republican Robin Hayes. Larry has tailored his issues to the voters in the district and his stance on each reflects true progressive ideals.

A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to meet Larry. I hadn't realized he would be at the Democratic convention in our county. I had been interested in this race from the beginning as I live on the border of his district, but not in it. I had initially thought Tim Dunn was the candidate to beat Hayes, but long before Dunn bowed out I had started to gravitate to Kissell. I wanted to meet him to see if all those qualities I felt he had - humility, integrity, compassion - were real.

Grab a cuppa and read the rest...

Today's installment of Know Your Enemies focuses on a creepy little extension of the Puppetshow called The John William Pope Civitas Institute, Inc. The cast of characters is a veritable Who's Who in North Carolina Wackoland, and the boss man is non other than Jack Hawke, Art Pope's poor twin and occasional water-carrier.

There's more . . .

There will be protests in nine North Carolina cities to protest the execution of Willie Brown today. Sorry that I did not get this out there sooner, but I just found the information on all of the events this morning. If you have time and are interested in voicing your opposition to the State of North Carolina killing in your name, please attend one of these:

In the swirling miasma of the lottery, the Puppetmaster, lying Congressmen, and politicians who place expediency above ethics, it can be hard to know which particular form of political sleaze matters most. And while I find myself getting caught up in all of them at various times, crushing the Bush Family Crime Ring is the driving force behind my political life right now.

I figure this announcement should be good for attendance: my appearance tonight at DL will be brief—I've got an exam in the morning and I'm still working out the differences between § 11 and § 12 claims under the Securities Act of 1933. So if you've been staying home to avoid me, tonight's your big night!

The meeting is, as always, at Tyler's in Carrboro (102 E. Main St.), back in the speakeasy.

We've had a few comments on this race from Republicans visiting the site, so when I saw this posted on Charlotte.com, I thought I would see what interesting tidbits I could learn about the race.

I don't usually like to enter the Republican mind. It's a dark scary place, full of cobwebs, traps and noxious gasses. (Remember, I have personal experience with trying to figure out the Republican mind since I'm married to one.)

Find out what's so odd about this one below the fold..

Exam studying; no complete sentences from me. Link:

Members of the House Democratic Caucus heard news Tuesday night that many of them have been waiting to hear for a long time and it had nothing to do with Speaker Jim Black.

House Appropriations Chair Jim Crawford told the closed meeting that state revenues were running well ahead of schedule and that there would be money available this session.

The text of a MCDP press release:

On April 28, the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party (MCDP) will hold a BBQ fund-raiser at which the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair, Gov. Howard Dean, will be the featured speaker. The visit will be Gov. Dean's first to Charlotte as DNC chair.