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Religion
The Season of Lent
The Season of Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. It includes 40 days. That number was significant in the Bible. Lent is a time of Repentance, Renewal, Reflection, and Resurrection. What is the point of the church’s liturgical calendar? It’s just a simple way to keep organized in remembering the Holy Days....
Public Policy
ICE (not Bad Weather)
The reorganization of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security created the ICE in 2002. They are allowed to: interrogate, arrest w/o a warrant if they see a violation or have a “reason to believe” that an illegal immigrant is about to escape, and to search at the borders without a warrant. Within the country, they use an “administrative” warrant rather than a “judicial” warrant. That does NOT include authority to enter a home without a judicial warrant. Recent Supreme Court rulings have allowed them to make stops based on “reasonable...
Politics
North Carolina Politics
We are one of only five states that have held a primary election this year. Phil Berger got a big surprise in that he lost his bid by a razor thin election. Of course, he has appealed, but it appears that the results wwill not be enough to change the election. He appeared to think that he was entitled to his seat since he has won several re-elections....
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ Media is Alive and Well
In spite of a complete shut-down of LGBTQ employees in any aspect of government (not everyone was fired), the media industry is still distributing LGBTQ products. The Administration has targeted transgender folks for dismissal, and often it criticizes the media for LGBTQ coverage. The 37th Glaad Media Awards presented about 90 videos (film & TV) in 13 categories....
Travel
Historic Kinston NC
Kinston has been the County Seat of Lenoir County since 1791. Prior to the English settlement, the area was inhabited by the Neusick people along the Neuse River. Richard Caswell introduced the bill forming the city and later became the first Governor of the state of North Carolina. I have toured his home, Harmony Hall, which is now a museum...
General
The Count of Monte Cristo
I can only offer my opinion as a non-professional reviewer. The mini-series got rave reviews as being the best adaptation of the book, but some took shots at the acting. I agree that it drags at times since I binged watched rather than spaced it out on a weekly viewing. The plot is rather simple since the protagonist spends years seeking revenge for his 15-year false imprisonment. Aside from the fact that the villains are all sleazebags, it isn’t clear why they hated him so much....