Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Happy New Year! I wanted to have my new layout ready; but locusts conspired against me. So, I welcome the best bloggers in the Carolinas to my humble blog with a layout based on a stock Blogger template.

Just a quick note to those who are a little puzzled as to what the Tarheel Tavern is. The Tarheel Tavern is what’s known as a Blog Carnival. Every week, a person collects posts submitted by bloggers and they collect it in one post. Each week, a different blogger “hosts” the carnival. This week, I’ve opted to do it. The Tarheel Tavern is a great way to learn about new blogs and keep up with a diverse collection of North Carolina blogs.

The first post is from Tarheel Tavern faithful, Bora. From Science and Politics, he gives a list of Essential Science Fiction. What was amazing about this list is that it’s not the usually geek fare; but from someone who discovered Science Fiction from English translation. As someone who samples Science Fiction from time to time, I have to say that it is a fantastic list.

The next post is from Gordon Smith AKA Screwy Hoolie on his blog Scrutiny Hooligans. His submission When Technology Outruns Ethics covers issues related to wiretapping and the implications behind it. A interesting and telling post.

Looking back at the year, Billy Jones AKA Billy The Blogging Poet on BloggingPoet.com is looking for nominations for this Idle Handy Awards. Basically, the award is given to someone whose existence wastes taxpayers dollars, internet bandwidth, television and radio air-time, etc. Past winners and nominees include the current and former presidents. I recommend that we all participate to find some local candidates for this award and keep it here in North Carolina. I may have a few ideas.

Marcus‘ blog Fixin’ Healthcare reminds us of how Happiness and Health are interconnected. His is a very interesting blog as it is focused on health and well-being. I’m sure I’ll be scouring it for more information as my wife and I are expecting our first child in July.

You know those great background images that your co-workers seem to have and you don’t? I’m always stuck with the stock images. It’s because I haven’t stopped by …slowly she turned and check out what Laurie has put up. Her latest submission is a great collection of photos titled 2005 Sunset Christmas.

Following up on the beach picture theme, Teri-Lynn brings us the Best of 2005 on her blog Nearest Distant Shore. These are great photos and the post shows that she put her Mother’s Day gift of a digital camera to good use. The rest of the blog gives a good insight into being a parent of a young child. Something I’ll be checking out given what’s up on the horizon.

For the next post, we have a retrospective of 2005 in My Blogging Year 2005 from Jude AKA Iddybud on Iddybud Journal. It’s a very interesting look at someone who has successfully used a blog to make a difference.

Laura tells us on Moomin Light how the some of the best laid plans of new parents get diverted when they meet reality. As a future parent, I’m taking notes after reading Non-Sexist Child Raising (or The Horror of Pink)

Last, and maybe least, I figured I’d submit some of my latest work as I’ve been catching up during my week off. You Don’t Have to Go Home; But You Can’t Stay Here is a look at a resolution which appeared at the most recent Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners to battle Illegal Immigration. An amazingly similar resolution was presented and rejected by the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.