Stories written by Mark Pellin
An award-winning journalist and former editor of The Rhinoceros Times in Charlotte, Pellin has been called everything from a misguided troglodyte to a professional agitator. He prefers the label of a realist, the guy in the crowd telling everybody that not only doesn’t the emperor have any clothes; he’s trying to steal ours. Pellin has covered the Char-Meck scene for the better part of two decades, earning his fair share of fans and more than a few critics who wish he’d move to Nome, Alaska, and be eaten by wild bears. When he’s not writing, he stays busy enjoying time with his wife and two kids. When he can break away for some R&R, he likes to fly fish (even if he doesn’t catch anything) and camp (even if it rains).

#Occupy Pinehurst

In case you missed it, the Charlotte City Council held its annual planning retreat last week and in a move of fiscal responsibility and general sanity, councilmembers elected to hold forth in the basement of the Government Center. Wait, what? That can’t be right. And of course, it isn’t. Councilmembers shacked up for the three-day […]

February 8, 2012 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,City Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Women Behind The Wheel

Unpossible. I mean, I haven’t launched a month-long, scientific study using covert cameras to spy on people’s driving habits, but a weekly trip to the local ‘Teeter is sufficient to prove that men are better at parking than women. Especially women trying to drive their super-sized SUVs. Flat-out scary, or comical, depending on how close […]

February 7, 2012 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Super Saturday Night House Party

In which we gear up for tomorrow night’s main event: 52” 1080p HDTV – check; mini-fridge stocked with cold ones – check; hot wings – check; pita wraps and lemon garlic hummus – check; Fuel pizza – check; chips and salsa – check; good friends, family and fun – check. Game on: Mitt’s flip-flops extend […]

February 4, 2012 | Posted in Mark Pellin | Read More »

Immigration Debate Takes A New Twist

It’s become an almost boilerplate response to the issue of illegal immigration, from both sides of the political aisle, to emphasize that the problem isn’t immigration; it’s illegal immigration. But what happens to the debate when you take the illegal out of illegal immigration? We might be about to find out. The Federation for American […]

February 3, 2012 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Bob Etheridge Jumps Into Gov Race

What could go wrong? Aside from bullying college students during his Congressional days in D.C., Bob Etheridge supported the trifecta of reckless spending and government overreach, voting for Obamacare, the stimulus and TARP. He’d later be tapped by Gov Perdue to oversee North Carolina’s office for management of those same federal stimulus dollars and to […]

February 2, 2012 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Groundhog Day For The GOP

You know, when Flip-flop Frontrunner climbs out of a primary hole, sees the shadow of momentum breaking his way, and promptly sticks his foot in his mouth. First it was “I like to fire people,” then “It’s not worth getting angry about,” now “I’m not concerned about the very poor.” After winning the Florida primary, […]

February 2, 2012 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Brushfires Of Freedom

How is it that Ron Paul finishes dead last in Florida, doesn’t even break double digits, and walks away with the best post-primary speech of the night – from Nevada, no less? Here’s a clue: “An irate, tireless minority does very well in caucus states,” Paul told the crowd, noting that the campaign is currently […]

February 1, 2012 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Town of Cornelius: County Reval Gave Us The Shaft; UPDATE II: Full steam ahead for appeals

Cornelius Mayor Jeffery Tarte, at the direction of and on behalf of the Cornelius Town Board, this week fired a shot across the bow of Mecklenburg County’s revaluation process, giving official voice to simmering frustrations from homeowners who think they’ve been dealt “the short end of the stick.” In a letter to Mecklenburg Commissioners Chairman […]

February 1, 2012 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,County Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Not A Sports Blog, But…

… a week with dueling monster dunks, too good to pass. I give the nod to Griffin for sheer slam-jam power awesomeness, but both are impressive:

January 31, 2012 | Posted in Mark Pellin | Read More »

Monster Deficits For Next Decade

That’s according to the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office, which forecast trillion-dollar-plus federal deficits stretching over the next 10 years. This from The Hill: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said President Barack Obama’s budget would lead to annual deficits averaging nearly $1 trillion for the next decade. The estimates are for larger deficits […]

January 31, 2012 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

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