http://www.pittcountynow.com Tue, 7 Sep 2010 04:48:31 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/388/41/liberaltarians-the-new-political-activists-in-bed-with-ron-paul-and-barack-obama.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/388/41/liberaltarians-the-new-political-activists-in-bed-with-ron-paul-and-barack-obama.html A growing number of the American youth is bridging the gap between American liberalism and Libertarianism as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And by ‘youth’, I’m sadly enough referring to a certain class of people under the age of 40; specifically the ones who still frequent bars and get the bulk of their news from The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

It’s as if they don’t realize, or care, that the economic components to American liberalism and Liberta... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:43:48 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/387/35/pcs-is-now-officially-on-the-sell-block.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/387/35/pcs-is-now-officially-on-the-sell-block.html On August 17, 2010, BHP Billiton of Australia tendered an unsolicited offer to purchase Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan for 38.5 billion dollars (US currency), or 130.00 per share. At the point of this corporate announcement, they also flatly rejected the bid. Today they are reported to review the hostile takeover bid to advise shareholders of what action they should take.

BHP Billiton operates as a diversified natural resources company in Australia, the Americas, and southern Africa. The ... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:32:05 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/386/28/county-commissioner-and-hosptial-commissioners-provides-an-update-on-the-hospital.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/386/28/county-commissioner-and-hosptial-commissioners-provides-an-update-on-the-hospital.html We are about 30 days away from receiving replies to the Request for Proposals (RFP) that were sent to 14 hospital management companies. We can expect the Proposals to address the issues set out in the RFP's. The RFP asks for specifics about how the submitter intends to insure the delivery of quality health care. You can review a copy of the RFP by clicking here. The RFP is solid, but it does not address some of the important issue the Hospital board will have to address. One of those issues is s... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:15:35 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/385/7/civitas-gives-beaufort-county-government-an-a-for-efficiency.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/385/7/civitas-gives-beaufort-county-government-an-a-for-efficiency.html Say what you will about Beaufort County government, but the numbers are in, and Beaufort County has secured its distinction as one of the most efficient counties in the entire state, according to the Civitas Institute Report Card on County Government Growth.

This distinction is especially notable, in that only 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties managed to earn an ‘A’ in government growth for the first decade of the 21st Century, by lowering the number of county employees at a time when ... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:08:46 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html Ripped from the headlines…

On August 4, a federal court in California struck down the gay marriage ban, popularly known as Proposition 8, and handed a victory to thousands of gays and lesbians who demanded they be entitled to “marry” their partners. Civil unions weren’t good enough, for in their eyes they are a “separate-but-equal” classification that made them feel like second class citizens. True equality was their desire. From plaintiffs’ standpoint,... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:56:51 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/383/5/fiddler-on-the-roof.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/383/5/fiddler-on-the-roof.html
"L'chaim! To the best musical of all time!"

Most people either simply adore musicals, or think they are ridiculously contrived. Even aware of the risk, I can say without fear of mockery that the 1971 film adaptation of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof is not only one of the best musicals of all time; it is also one of the best movies ever made.

I understand that a five-star rating is a bold move, so I’m starting with a full disclosure: I am one of those ‘silly’ peo... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:32:30 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/382/23/don-t-let-backyard-veggies-spoil-make-garden-couscous.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/382/23/don-t-let-backyard-veggies-spoil-make-garden-couscous.html This summer I was surprised by the number of people who had taken to gardening. I suppose that one positive effect of the recession is that it’s teaching us to consume less and produce more. My parents have grown vegetables before, but this year they planted produce in nearly every natural area in their yard. It seemed like every other day that they were sending me home with squash, zucchini, okra and peppers. And just when I thought I might actually need to visit the grocery store for tom... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:27:06 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/381/39/silent-hill-3.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/381/39/silent-hill-3.html The global corporation, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., specializes in the console video games market; they serve as a developer, publisher, and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. In 1999, Konami released the game Silent Hill, its first entry into the survival horror genre. Rather than replicate the shock-based thrills popularized by Capcom's Resident Evil series, Konami set out in a darker, creepier direction. They raised the baleful bar in everything from the game's en... Read More]]> Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:53:18 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/380/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-economy-part-i.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/380/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-economy-part-i.html (The twin disasters of the Stimulus Package and the response to the Gulf Oil Spill)

Or maybe he just continuously takes is eye of the ball. Then again, I rather like the Kanye West’s approach to summing up complex issues, as he did in his evaluation of George W. Bush’s response to the Hurricane Katrina natural disaster. In fact, maybe Kanye could write this piece himself about Barack Obama’s apathy towards the economy; however, considering Kanye’s education level an... Read More]]> Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:46:54 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/379/2/oxford-murders.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/379/2/oxford-murders.html
“When a Butterfly Flaps its Wings: Does it Start a Hurricane on the Other Side of the World?”

This farcical hypothesis was presented at a symposium by mathematician / philosopher Arthur Seldom, played by character actor John Hurt. His premise that everything is interconnected was one he could not endorse.

What he could support was that there were no simple answers, and truth was a rare commodity. Factor in the remarkable occurrence that murders of the elderly, and the infirmed, bega... Read More]]> Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:05:43 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/371/40/a-second-supply-of-lawyer-jokes-supplied-by-our-favorite-lawyer.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/371/40/a-second-supply-of-lawyer-jokes-supplied-by-our-favorite-lawyer.html This is the second edition of lawyer jokes from our favorite lawyer, Diane Rufino. They sure make me laugh.

Lawyer joke #1
Where can you find a good lawyer?

In the cemetery.

Lawyer joke #2
What do you do if you run over a lawyer?

Back over him to make sure. Then, make another notch on the steering wheel.

Lawyer joke #3
What do lawyers and sperm have in common?

One in 50,000,000 has a chance of becoming a human being.

Lawyer joke #4
What's the difference between a porcupine an... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:52:46 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/370/23/getting-comfortable-with-spice-shrimp-lo-mein-oriental-spinach.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/370/23/getting-comfortable-with-spice-shrimp-lo-mein-oriental-spinach.html Even though I grew up in an ‘all-American’ family, ethnic cuisine reminds me more of Home than of any foreign land. Everything my parents cooked was infused with enough red pepper, garlic and other spices to satisfy the entire Rajya Sabha of the Indian Parliament. I think my dad would even add chili peppers to our omelets; garlic was cooked whole, almost as a separate vegetable. My mom could make any dish fun by adding freshly grated ginger to it. At the Deatherage dinner table, my ... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:48:52 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/369/40/things-that-are-difficult-to-say-when-drunk.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/369/40/things-that-are-difficult-to-say-when-drunk.html Publisher's Note: Material submitted by Diane Rufino.

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate


THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I'm married.
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. No thanks, I'm ... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:42:21 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/368/19/gop-narrowly-votes-to-not-replace-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/368/19/gop-narrowly-votes-to-not-replace-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html The Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee voted, 10 to 8, at a special meeting this afternoon, against appointing a new candidate to replace former Republican candidate for Beaufort County commissioner Cindy Baldwin, who voluntarily withdrew from the race on Aug. 3.

The special meeting was closed to media, and I was only permitted to attend as my father, Republican county commissioner candidate Stan Deatherage's, campaign manager. I will respect the wishes of Beaufort County Republica... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:26:20 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/367/14/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-on-the-road-busch-gardens.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/367/14/every-picture-tells-a-story-don-t-it-on-the-road-busch-gardens.html I have always loved theme parks. It is an incurable urge that draws me to these monstrous ribbons of steel that allow roaring, rolling collective groups of stangers strapped into a transitory thrill box to be shot up and down and all around, until the itch to be thrilled is surely satisfied. They're called roller coasters, and you either love them or hate them; never just tolerate them. Busch Gardens placates that itch for me, as well as it does for most of the members of my family. Does it ... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:19:13 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/366/3/tea-is-brewing-in-the-original-washington.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/366/3/tea-is-brewing-in-the-original-washington.html Super TEA Party Rally on October 2, 2010 on the waterfront in Washington's Harbor District.

On Thursday night, Aug. 5, a group of about 20-25 people got together with Mr. Buzz Cayton of the Beaufort County Patriots in Washington, North Carolina to discuss the planning of a super TEA Party rally along with waterfront in Little Washington on Sept. 25th. The Beaufort Patriots is the TEA Party movement recently formed in that county, by members of the Conservative Men's group. Buzz is President of... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:11:16 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/365/40/the-9-words-women-use.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/365/40/the-9-words-women-use.html Publisher's Note: This contribution is submitted by my wife, Lynn Deatherage, and trust me, she knows from whence she speaks. I have been a wise man to these dictums, erh, her dictums, well, the dictums of all prudent women ... Obviously, she will be reading this post.

Given the certain event that not knowing my place could invite great turmoil for me, as surely would as well for most of you, I advise all of you read and heed these wise words of advice here below. And remember, heed the signs.... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:05:51 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/364/19/gop-to-vote-on-replacing-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/364/19/gop-to-vote-on-replacing-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html A special meeting of the Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee has been called to vote on whether or not to appoint someone to replace former Republican candidate for Beaufort County commissioner Cindy Baldwin, who voluntarily withdrew from the race on Aug. 3.

If Baldwin stayed in the race, she would have been trying to win one of the three commissioner seats available in November, along with the two Republican incumbents Stan Deatherage and Al Klemm, Democratic incumbent Ed Booth, De... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:46:23 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/362/7/chamber-director-brands-washington-as-a-triathlete-destination.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/362/7/chamber-director-brands-washington-as-a-triathlete-destination.html Thanks to the incredibly successful third-annual Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce Olympic and Sprint Triathlons, which was held last Saturday, over 300 triathletes from across nine states now have our own Washington, North Carolina, circled on their events-destination maps.

In 2007, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Catherine Glover tapped into her youthful creativity and connections to reach this unique demographic of competitive athletes, and three years later, 350 triathlo... Read More]]> Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:07:30 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/361/25/august-2010-the-new-reality.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/361/25/august-2010-the-new-reality.html The big story in August is that the national market is, in fact, stabilizing; but is doing so at historical lows (or either the short-lived, artificial recovery is petering out, but, at least for now, my fingers are crossed). Both the jobs and housing markets have rebounded, somewhat, from where they bottomed out in early 2009, but are still a long way down from the peak of prosperity--and perhaps that's a good thing. Our economy will have much more integrity if it finds success through hard wor... Read More]]> Fri, 6 Aug 2010 17:14:34 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/360/1/a-plethora-of-lawyer-jokes-supplied-by-our-favorite-lawyer.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/360/1/a-plethora-of-lawyer-jokes-supplied-by-our-favorite-lawyer.html This begins with Diane telling me a funny lawyer joke that I have sense lost, so I will try to recount it to you now, before we begin with the jokes that Lawyer Rufino contributed, here below.

It begins:Two lawyers are walking down a city street when a fetching young women walks by them and smiles.
One lawyer comments to the other lawyer, "I'd like to screw her.
The other lawyer remarks to the commenting lawyer, "Out of what?"

Lawyer joke #1
A fellow at a bar stands up during happy hour... Read More]]> Fri, 6 Aug 2010 17:08:46 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/359/28/charity-comes-from-the-heart-and-not-from-laws.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/359/28/charity-comes-from-the-heart-and-not-from-laws.html Publisher's Note: Our most prolific contributor, Diane Rufino, will have her uncharacteristically short editorial published in the Greenville Daily Reflector in the next few days as a response to another opinion piece published in that same publication by Etsil S. Mason of Farmville, North Carolina. Mrs. Rufino is certainly doing her part to further President Obama's, and all Democrats', desire to countinue our "national discussion on race."

Located directly below Diane's short op-ed is Ms. M... Read More]]> Fri, 6 Aug 2010 17:06:15 EDT http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/358/40/men-s-age-as-determined-by-a-trip-to-home-depot.html http://www.pittcountynow.com/post/358/40/men-s-age-as-determined-by-a-trip-to-home-depot.html Publisher's Note: Material submitted by Diane Rufino.

You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house - mowing the lawn, putting in a new fence, painting the living room, or whatever. You are hot and sweaty, covered in dirt or paint. You have your old work clothes, T-shirt with a stain from who knows what, and an old pair of tennis shoes.

Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to Home Depot to get something to help complete the... Read More]]> Fri, 6 Aug 2010 17:00:05 EDT