Cabarrus Cheap Seats

[In case you're wondering what the Tarheel Tavern is - you can get more information here]

If you want to find the best music, you don’t ask critics - you go to musicians. If you want an entertaining read, consult an author. If you want to find the best blogs and news sources, ask your friendly, local blogger.

When I decided to host this week’s Tarheel Tavern, I thought it would be cool to find out where other Tavern bloggers lurked - and they didn’t disappoint.

Even though on St. Patrick’s Day, most of us were drinking Irish Coffee - Over at Scrutiny Hooligans the favorite was Pam’s House Blend. Here’s a taste:

She’s built a vibrant community at the Blend, and Hooligans encourage you to get your monkey asses over there. Get your refresh button set, because Pam posts more than almost anyone on the internets.

Next up is nicomachus, and he highlights a site, Endangered Durham, that would be of interest to the civic types that make up the bulk of Cheap Seats readers.

Endangered Durham, Kueber’s medium for developing his preservationist ethic, is website dedicated to showing what happens to a city when poor planning decisions dominate its development culture. Probably the most striking feature of his project are the before and after photographs. Using historical photography from archives, libraries, universities, and books, he identifies areas of Durham that have changed significantly — and identifiably — over the years. As you can imagine, much of the time this change is not for the good.

Feeling hungry? Slowly She Turned has a yummy blog for ya.

Just found a nearby food blog, Needs More Garlic, that I added to the blogroll - another locavore, it would appear. The recipes and photos he provides make my stomach growl, and they’re made with fresh whole “slow” ingredients. I like his attitude. He and I have one local farmer in common (Weatherhand Farm), not to mention that I was just thinking yesterday about how there was no such thing as too much garlic.

Of course, a food blog is useful for parents of pre-teens, as is the blog featured by Moomin Light.

Breakfast with Pandora has an entertaining post, A Memoir in the Voice of Haven Kimmel, about the downs, and ups, of group work in middle school:

In sixth grade we were in Mrs. Woolridge’s class. She was a large, perpetually annoyed woman who spent her life attempting to carry out the latest educational methods on a class that was about as cooperative as a mule on Mr. Pibb.

At Blog Around The Clock, it’s not other blogs - it’s cartoons. Rather funny ones at that.

At Cognitive Daily - the least likely blog to be frequented by our own Harold Smith - a more serious article on the upcoming HBO Series on addition.

On Thursday, March 15, HBO will premier an ambitious series of documentaries entitled Addiction. Although HBO is a premium cable service usually costing an extra $10 or more per month, they are offering their service for free to regular cable and satellite subscribers during the four-day weekend beginning March 15, and all the shows will play at some point during that time. According to the press kit they sent me, you’ll also be able to stream the shows from their website. (It’s not clear whether all 14 programs will be available in this form. Right now all that’s up is a short teaser video. [Update: The series publicist informs me that the entire series will be available online after it airs])

From science to psuedoscience, Sister Toldjah tells us about Charles Krauthammer’s critique of the latest diagonsis of Dick Cheney by the New Republic.

Personally, since Cottle evidently is trying to pass herself off as some type of expert on mental health, I wonder if she’d be willing to diagnose this? Or this? Or this? Or this? Or …

And the award for Best Named NC Blog goes to - Dependable Erection. There’s a mixture of fun and hard news there. This week we’re sent over to a blog from a local radio personality there in Durham.

Christa’s one of my favorite radio hosts. Betty Hutton’s her favorite performer.

Betty died this week. Christa talks about what Betty meant to her.

Jon Lowder found an article that tells us why it’s always a guy who tells us our fly is open.

Coyne adds that this difference doesn’t just occur with images of people. Men tend to fixate more on areas of private anatomy on animals as well, as evidenced when users were directed to browse the American Kennel Club site.

We really are a bunch of dogs.

Just to prove that we’re a bunch of dogs, Mama’s Bloggin talks about an article on boobs and it probably has the most traffic, but some guys may be disappointed when they realize she’s just being thoughtful and informative.

Back in July 2006, indignation rippled through the blogosphere. Pro- and anti-breastfeeding mothers the world ’round spouted their opinion of a baby obviously nursing on the cover of BabyTalk Magazine. Obviously (at least, to me) ANY magazine about babies these days is going to show a little boob.

Wet Feet did a blog entry about it, and I contributed to her listing of “Boobs around the ‘net”

While we’re on the subject of anatomy, Betsy Newmark references Politico.com and demonstrates how Harry Reid just might be without a spine.

Stoller said the bloggers told Reid that the issue was spoiling his popularity with the party’s Netroots: his DailyKos straw poll approval rating, they told him, had gone from the mid-80s to around 40 percent recently.

Reid backed off of his support of the debate, contending that he had had nothing to do with the decision, adding, “I don’t like Fox News.”

By the end of the day, the debate was cancelled. Read the rest of the details and you’ll have an inside look on how things now work in the Democratic Party. When the bloggers yank the chain, Harry Reid jumps.

Percy Walker assures us our butt is staying out of jail (OK, last anatomy reference) even if we participate in our friendly office pool.

The News & Record, Greensboro’s hometown newspaper, says that the chances of you getting in trouble for illegally participating in your office pool are less than the chances of Salma Hayek breaking up with her French billionaire fiance (note: despite press reports, the fiance isn’t a billionaire, his dad is) and marrying you

Windows Toward The World tells us of the Encyclopedia of North Carolina

The first single-volume reference to the events, institutions, and cultural forces that have defined the state, the Encyclopedia of North Carolina boasts more than 2,000 articles by some 550 volunteer contributors. The Encyclopedia of North Carolina is available now through the University of North Carolina Press’ online service and everywhere books are sold. To purchase a copy or for more information about this landmark publication, click here.

And if you click here, you’ll find my name on the list of contributors.

From an article about credible sources to a commentary on less credible ones, Viewfinder Blues gives some thoughts on citizens’ media on the local news.

Here’s a cool reference that you can use on your own site. Ever looked at your Sitemeter report and wonder, “Why does the People’s Republic of China have the most people; but none of my visitors are from there?” Well, Vintage has the answer.

I just came across a site called ”Great Firewall of China” which allows you to type in any URL and see if the page is blocked in China. I was obviously curious (who wouldn’t be?) so I typed in our fair iNDiEBlogs.com. I figured the site would be unblocked because, first of all, I never mention China or criticize China (except for one entry), and secondly, my opinions aren’t that controversial. So you can imagine my surprise when it turned up the following result:

iNDiEBlogs.com
Your URL has been blocked!

Guarino shares some thoughts on the Cato’s Institute article on Ireland - just in time for your St. Patty’s Day hangover recovery reading:

Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute has an excellent St. Patrick’s Day article on NRO discussing the modern state of Ireland.

He points out, correctly, that the nation has had recent stunning economic success after having been a ” backwater” for many years. Edwards credits the country’s newfound devotion to free markets, diminished governmental spending and lower taxation.

The Scribe brings us a story of a Union County Commissioner who’s tired of being referenced:

None of the reporters covering Union County can be happy submitting questions in writing and not knowing who is actually answering the questions. It will be interesting to know whether this applies to all reporters or just those who ask embarrassing questions.

Charlotte Observer: Commissioner not talking to media

Ed Cone brings us a joke from both Brad and Britt, and Rush Limbaugh. No blurb - just follow the link…and the joke is really funny - regardless of who’s telling it

In case you’re wondering if blowing off chores and making your spouse mad as you try to put one more blog article out of the door - your idea could change the world. Piedmont Biofuels brings us just such a story:

I just finished Karl-Henrick Robert’s first person account of the Natural Step Story; seeding a quiet revolution.

He was a cancer researcher in Sweden who was inspired to define sustainability, and to get a conversation started with all of Sweden. It’s a fantastic story. With no money, and no experience, he managed to mobilize the thought leaders of his country, which in turn spread his ideas to the world.

His is a head-through-the-yoke, straight row telling of what inspired him, what obstacles he encountered, and about the power of simple ideas.

Finally, I’m sharing the latest from the series of posts that inspired this idea. The latest in my Better Blogs series, features Citizen Servatius:

It’s an accomplishment to be featured in Creative Loafing - second in circulation in Charlotte’s collection of left-leaning publications - with the Observer being first; and on the most-listened-to right-leaning radio station in Charlotte - 1110 WBT. Tara Servatius does it with ease.

How does she pull this off? By being smarter than most of her older counterparts at both gigs.