The string of Tax Day tea parties across North Carolina generated a number of speaking opportunities for John Locke Foundation experts. Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar Roy Cordato headed to Charlotte, while Director of Educational and Academic Programs Karen Palasek traveled to Morehead City and New Bern. N.C. History Project Director Troy Kickler also headed east, traveling with the Americans For Prosperity pig to speak in Kill Devil Hills, Currituck, Edenton, and Washington (as noted by the Beaufort Observer). JLF Fiscal and Health Care Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti also traveled with Ten Pence the AFP pig to speak at a Tea Party in Asheboro. Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray spoke at tea parties in Winston-Salem, Statesville, and Mooresville. Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops highlighted outrageous pork-barrel projects during a Tea Party speech in Fayetteville. (In addition to his Tea Party appearance, Stoops focused on education issues during speaking engagements this week with the N.C. Public School Forum’s Education Policy Fellowship Program and the Cabarrus County Republican Men’s Club.) Legal and Regulatory Policy Analyst Daren Bakst helped rally Tea Party protesters in Goldsboro (as described in the News-Argus) and Greenville (as reported in the Daily Reflector). Executive Vice President Kory Swanson shared his expertise at a Rutherfordton Tea Party.  Program Specialist Michael Moore spoke at the first of two Raleigh events, while Research Intern Abby Alger took the stage for the follow-up Tea Party outside the State Capitol. (Moore also spotted prime placement of a JLF Freedom Club bag in a News & Observer photo.) President John Hood, who attended Tax Day rallies in Greensboro and Raleigh, attracted attention earlier in the week from the primary national Tea Party Web site, TaxDayTeaParty.com, for a column promoting the protests. Hood also discussed the tea parties with The Charlotte Observer, and TownHall.com columnist Lorie Byrd cited Hood in a piece promoting the protests. (Speaking of promotion, Americans for Prosperity linked to JLF video of an earlier Tea Party protest to promote the April 15 events.)  On Tax Day, Paul Chesser turned his attention away from Climate Strategies Watch temporarily to keep up with Tea Party developments for the American Spectator blog. His series of posts included entries on a disgruntled CNN reporter; those blog entries ended up attracting attention from the Drudge Report. (Fans of Chesser’s work on global warming alarmism also saw an American Spectator column this week pointing to the dearth of benefits associated with proposed climate-related taxes.)