We've had a number of technical challenges recently, all made worse by the fact that I experienced a series of strokes in May which have compromised my ability to use the left side of my body. In practical terms, that means BlueNC is on the ropes and probably nearing the end of its natural life. I can barely type these days and am spending a lot of time in physical therapy, with occasional communing with our chickens.

I've also been thinking too much about the past. After 17 years of trying to hold NC politicians accountable, I can safely say that BlueNC has mostly failed.

I don't know who President Biden has helping him on messaging, but whoever it is, thank goodness for them. Two specific instances of stellar communications have occurred in the past several days. See if they caught your attention.

North Carolina's biggest joke this week is the NC Supreme Court. In the tradition of the execrable US Supreme Court, the NC Court today reversed establish precedent to deliver more partisan advantage to their Republican bankrollers.

This came via email, but it also ran in the New York Times. Take a look then let's discuss. (The picture here is Graig Meyer of Durham. He's quoted in this column.)

Tressie McMillan Cottom is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science, the author of “Thick: And Other Essays” and a 2020 MacArthur fellow.

My recent column generated a lot of mail.

Let me explain why "woke" is on my mind so much lately.

For starters, in terms of generic meaning (not political), woke is an infinitely positive word. It's the past tense of "wake" and it's grounded in the concept of "awakening." In case you missed it, Heather Cox Richardson has a new book out called "Democracy Awakening." That seals the deal for me.