tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77544512024-03-07T13:10:25.483-05:00Jay Ovittore's BlogThis is my personal weblog. This site is solely my opinion... well a few facts here and there. Mostly political in nature, but some other topics as well. This is my outlet to get stress off my chest and voice my views of things going on around us all, that effect us all. I hope you enjoy what I have to say. I also encourage you to post comments and debate what I have to say.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-10526650542895298042007-11-13T22:24:00.001-05:002007-11-13T22:50:57.015-05:00End of the RoadAs I embark on new endeavors in my life I have chosen to retire my personal blog, at least for now. Maybe I will continue here in the future, maybe I won't. I will not remove this blog until after Election Day '08, so as no one can cry foul about it's removal. If I remove it at all.I appreciate all the dialogue on this site and the opposing views which were debated here. This site has Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-47121863707090930562007-10-30T22:10:00.000-04:002007-10-30T22:11:25.610-04:00A GOP HalloweenScary stuff! Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-50969961195276227122007-08-28T00:29:00.001-04:002007-08-28T11:10:32.241-04:00Yvonne Johnson Kick Off EventMy weekend of politics continued back at the Koury Center on Sunday at 2pm. I attended the Yvonne Johnson kick off event. I walked into the Koury center to the sounds of hand drums and it really put a swagger in my step. I looked around and figured out that my swagger was part of a contagious energy that is found anytime you are around the Mayoral candidate and long time City Councilwomen Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-12282980755152345312007-08-27T23:16:00.000-04:002007-08-28T11:13:08.380-04:00A Wonderful Weekend of PoliticsI attended three wonderful political events this past weekend. My weekend started on Saturday afternoon at the Koury Center here in Greensboro for the NC Democratic Party State Executive Committee Meeting. This is my party's semi-annual Executive Committee Meeting. For disclosure purposes, I am a State Executive Committee Member, with full voting powers. We conducted our normal business and Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-5660272356564903012007-08-13T00:04:00.000-04:002007-08-13T00:11:51.932-04:00Italy-Smugglers-Arms and IraqI read this story today on Yahoo(via AP).Scary stuff. The Italian Government was probing possible drug smuggling and stepped in to a much bigger pile then they had thought. Apparently the smugglers were not dealing in drugs, but instead were dealing in arms. According to the AP story they found out about 100,000 Russian made automatic weapons selling on the black market to be shipped to Iraq.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-63110165028235657262007-08-10T21:31:00.000-04:002007-08-10T21:41:53.220-04:00Human Relations AppointmentI've been to busy with work to post this since Wed., but I served my first day of my recently appointed position as a Commissioner on the Human Relations Commission. I was appointed on 7/17/07 and will serve until 8/15/08. I have to pick two committees to serve on as well and I have chosen my first to be the Fair Housing Committee. I am interested in the Education committee as well. I look Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-25011963876614829882007-07-28T12:25:00.000-04:002007-07-28T00:25:59.098-04:00My Great Uncle Tom EvelleAs a kid I spent my summers in my Dad's home town of Mount Vernon, NY. I stayed with my Grandma Connie and my Great Uncle Tom. One particular day sticks out to me as one I will never forget.I was playing baseball in the huge back yard, where the beaten down garage served as our backstop and the massive roots of the old trees served as bases. The game was really just me and the neighbors kid Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-54620390776243314892007-06-20T23:08:00.000-04:002007-06-20T23:22:46.372-04:00Is NC Senator Phil Berger A Racist?HB91, In Person Registration and Voting passed the Senate today. It passed with a pretty bad amendment attached to it. Republican Senator Phil Berger(Guilford, Rockingham) got his amendment passed that requires all voter registration forms to be in English. This forces me to ask the question, Is Phil Berger a racist? Regardless, according to the US Dept of Justice website, the amendment can Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-6605334081606593252007-06-20T21:15:00.000-04:002007-06-20T23:07:06.865-04:00State Auditor's Personal AgendaNC State Auditor Les Merritt has been in the news an awful lot lately. He has stood up against HB91 In Person Registration and Voting, which has already passed the NC House and today passed the NC Senate. It had a long road to get there. Let me tell you the story.The Young Democrats of North Carolina held their first ever day at the legislature a few months back. The goal was to advocate in Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-73152245382724561602007-06-20T10:25:00.000-04:002007-06-20T10:31:08.823-04:00Coolerfest 2007: FREE COFFEEI have been drinking a lot of Caribou Coffee at Friendly Center and wanted to let the word be out on their Coolerfest 2007. It is tomorrow, June 21st from 2-3pm. It's easy, show up at Caribou between 2 and 3 tomorrow and get a yummy 12oz Northern Light Cooler free. They have Vanilla, Caramel and Chocolate. I have had all three and they are all good. So I repeat FREE COFFEE TOMORROW. How can Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-38231139885990133932007-05-29T16:47:00.000-04:002007-05-29T17:13:38.758-04:00Tonya Clinkscale Is AnnouncingI received an announcement flyer from Tonya Clinkscale this past week. Tonya is holding an announcement on Thursday at noon at Warnersville Rec Center, 601 Doak St. Tonya will run for the embattled seat of Diane Bellamy Small, District 1 City Council.I have sat with Tonya a few times in the past months and she is a viable candidate. She has a plan and a vision for the folks in her community.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-32273223880937537522007-05-12T22:29:00.000-04:002007-05-12T22:33:19.051-04:00Happy B-Day BoJust writing to let you know I remembered. You would have been 29 today. Happy Birthday brother, I still miss you.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-25496404390441446352007-05-07T23:48:00.000-04:002007-05-08T00:01:57.770-04:00New Burn Energy Drink ComingI stopped by Source Energy Drinks and spoke with President Tyler Benedict today. He informed me they have a new 16oz sugar-free Burn on it's way somewhere around June. It will have the same great taste, but it will have some new features to it's make-up. It will have ECCG, a powerful antioxidant, and Calcium. Should be good, I'll let you know when I get a taste. In the mean time go to the Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-74134410762166290882007-05-07T23:43:00.000-04:002007-05-07T23:48:45.397-04:00AP- Wrong or Right?The AP by-line on this photo:Suspected terrorists are interrogated by Iraqi troops at a Iraqi military base in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, May 7, 2007. Six Iraqis believed to be linked with al-Qaida were detained in a raid near Baqouba. (AP Photo/Adem Hadei)It says 6 were detained, I count seven blindfolded men. And the big one...does the soldier Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-4712819126968215162007-05-06T17:27:00.001-04:002007-05-06T17:27:46.673-04:00Some New Faces For City CouncilWe know Yvonne Johnson(pdf) is running for mayor. No opponent has surfaced yet. I hope none does, but either way Yvonne will be a great mayor for Greensboro. Florence Gatten(pdf) isn't running for anything. I'm glad about that. I've never been a big Gatten fan.Diane Bellamy Small's(pdf) seat will be hotly contested by Luther Falls and impressive newcomer Tonya Clinkscale.At large seat's will Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-19577086123481240642007-04-19T09:53:00.000-04:002007-04-19T09:53:13.937-04:00Universal Health CareGov Easley talked a few months ago about exploring Universal Health Care for the state of NC.If it was possible to do Universal coverage in the state what would you want the coverage to be like? What would you be willing to give to get it?I would want some personal responsibility, like a co-pay or deductible. That would avoid abuse of the system. I would want a residency restriction, like 2 Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-24265856324986954922007-04-11T20:52:00.000-04:002007-04-11T21:00:01.653-04:00Group Health Insurance For OneDan the Insurance Man has a great post on getting group health insurance rates even if your working for yourself with no other employees. State law requires it. This has been passed through the local blogs from Matt to Me, Me to Sean, and Dan can facilitate it. If you own your own business this is a must read for insurance savings.I'm sitting down with Dan on Monday to discuss my insurance Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-68942810275056770052007-04-10T23:59:00.001-04:002007-04-12T10:19:40.518-04:00My WFMY AppearanceI was the main subject in the lead story on WFMY news tonight. Video is available online at WFMY. I will try to get the video up here if I can. Erich Spivey came by my house today, after asking my wife about the recent door to door panhandling in our neighborhood. She directed him to me.We don't have many problems in this quaint neighborhood, but this one could become a little scary. We had Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-62907487489459607942007-04-10T17:07:00.000-04:002007-04-10T17:28:21.830-04:00The People, YesLocal blogger Sean Coon is working very hard on his uber cool project The People, Yes. TPY is a blogging and community site that empowers the homeless and less fortunate to have a voice online and share experiences as well as get experience. I signed on long ago to help as an instructor when the day comes. This tool to empower people who are as unempowered as one can be, is innovative, Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-30819067371876057362007-04-06T23:56:00.000-04:002007-04-07T00:02:03.535-04:00MLB and CableSen John Kerry opens his mouth and does something good for a change. He mediated a deal between Major League Baseball and InDemand (which provides the MLB Extra Innings for cable companies), which brings the MLB package back to cable. This ends a horrible exclusive deal for MLB and DirecTV which would have cut a lot of fans out of being able to watch baseball this season and the next six Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-60247995162865896322007-03-31T17:07:00.000-04:002007-03-31T17:09:27.910-04:00My Re-ElectionI haven't had much time to write lately due to other responsibilities. I will be back soon I hope. I did want to let all know that I have been re-elected to another term as 3rd Vice Chair of the Guilford County Democratic Party today.I have a lot to catch up on. Soon I promise.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-5437481659586860042007-03-17T14:18:00.000-04:002007-03-17T14:53:03.656-04:00Play Ball or NotMLB announced an exclusive agreement with DirecTV last week for their MLB extra innings package, cutting out cable and Dish Network. It is a 7 year, $700 million deal. Not only is this bad for baseball, but this is bad for (once again) baseball fans. If cable and Dish Network do not get cut into this deal, as MLB says they will before seasons start, this is the equivalent of Bud Selig taking Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-26447519164051910772007-03-10T11:36:00.000-05:002007-03-10T11:52:50.738-05:00The Family Values CrowdFrom Bill Maher last night, a discussion about marriage. Newt Gingrich on his third, McCain on his second and Giuliani on his third, and the only guy who practices monogamy, Mormon Mitt Romney. Now that's irony from the family values crowd. Newt admits this week to an extramarital affair while trying to fry Bill Clinton for the same thing, now Falwell rewards him with commencement speaker at Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-35225716555738787072007-03-10T10:42:00.000-05:002007-03-10T10:56:41.492-05:00Dan The Insurance ManOver at Dan's Message, he tells a story that will make you need to use your health insurance for an upset belly, it also might make you call to see if anger management is covered on your policy, assuming that you can afford any of this stuff in the first place. Head of Blue Cross Blue Shield makes 5.6 million in salary at the non-profit in 2 years for salary! At $4800 a year for an average Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754451.post-16677642098261025392007-03-07T18:46:00.000-05:002007-03-07T19:25:23.455-05:00Edwards Coming To GreensboroFlyer from the campaign:How many times do we get to see a Presidential candidate in Greensboro? I urge all to attend.Jay Ovittorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05761128359904926515noreply@blogger.com0